Rufus vs Tride part 3

Back in the amphitheater where Tride was again being looked down on by a human and felt helpless. Tride tried to attack with his last remaining arm, but Rufus just push kicked him back to the ground.

Rufus placed his hand on Tride's head. Tride looked at Rufus who unlike the humans that had tortured him he didn't smile. Rufus had a frown. Rufus looked with eyes of pity at Tride.

"The grey skins are ruined. The humans will deceive them and more will suffer," said Tride in a quiet voice looking at Rufus.

Rufus understood what Tride said.

"I will not let any grey skin suffer. I will fight for it with my life. I promised this to Tenzin and I will promise this to you too," Rufus said and looked at Tride.

Tride knew he had lost.

"Do not break your promise...…" Tride said and closed his eyes.

Rufus made the head of Tride explode killing him. The body of Tride fell to the ground and the armor fell off.

The entire amphitheater was quiet. The body of Tride fell onto the cold ground. When the body hit the ground the half of the grey skins who had wanted Rufus to win burst into an extremely loud cheer.

The other half was silent. All of them clenched their teeth. They looked at the body of Tride. They all had been badly hurt by the humans. Tride had promised them a future, but also revenge. They would never accept a human as a Raja.

They looked extremely mad and were starting to take out weapons. They started to walk towards the ones cheering for Rufus.

"Hey! We will never bow down to a human. NEVER!" yelled one grey skin and attacked the grey skins on the other side of the amphitheater.

The other grey skin joined in on the fighting. The entire amphitheater had exploded into anarchy. What Rufus had done didn't unite the grey skin, but had caused huge friction between them.

An arrow hit one of the grey skins that were on Tride's side. He was killed by Amala. She urged all the grey skins to kill all those who opposed them.

Rufus looked at the anarchy. He saw that this was not Tenzin's dream. It looked more like the slums where the slumdogs were fighting against each other than rather fight the nobles who had caused their misery.

"SILENCE!" Rufus yelled in a grey skin voice.

The fighting ceased immediately.

"Humans are evil. I have seen that many times. I have experienced it many times. I have seen humans attacking other humans. I have seen grey skins attacking other grey skins. Enough is enough. We are all practically the same. Struggling for survival.

"Haven't we all had enough of this? Tired of being pushed around. Tired of constantly trying to survive and fighting against the elements. Seeing children die while other people live off in large homes and eat three meals a day. I am at least tired of this. So please let us all work together and I promise you I will protect all of you without caring are you human or grey skin. Please help me," Rufus proclaimed and bowed his head to all the grey skins in the audience.

At first, all the grey skins were silent. They were surprised first that a human knew them so well their language.

One grey skin started to chant Rufus's name quietly. Soon another one joined in on the chant, and another and another. Seconds later all of the grey skins chanted Rufus's name from the grey skins who wanted Rufus to win to even to the grey skins who backed Tride who were ready to start a revolt and a civil war.

Amala was astonished at Rufus. He was not just able to get the Dechen tribe to acknowledge him. He had shown everyone that he is willing to fight for anyone. He was the embodiment of Tenzin's dream. A human, but with a grey skin's heart. He was Tenzin's dream and future.

"Did you know?" Amala asked from Pema.

"Did I know what?" Pema asked back.

"That Rufus could win. That he could be a worthy Raja everyone would accept," Amala said and looked at Rufus.

"Maybe," said Pema and smiled and also looked at Rufus.

Amala looked extremely happy.

"Thank you, Rufus. I will forever be with you from the lands to the stars of the universe," Amala thought to herself and gave a small tear.

~~

[back in Jacobstadt in Haufen's bar]

Old man Haufen and Mrs. Jean were able to survive the purge against the black rats. They were not considered part of the gang and were considered civilians.

The bar had not seen a single customer since then. The slums had become a den of anarchy. Food was scarce and before the black rats were keeping the peace, but now it was every man to himself.

"Damn it...Another silent day," Haufen said while lifting the chairs of the bar.

Mrs. Jean was silent and sitting on the floor. She was extremely tired since they had not been eating properly in days. Haufen looked at his wife and felt like he had let her down.

Haufen went to the pantry. He took a jar with him and an expensive-looking wine bottle. He then sat on the floor and opened a jar of pickled vegetables.

"Here have some," Haufen said and offered some to her wife.

Jean ate the pickles and smiled at her husband. She touched him on the cheeks and kissed him on the forehead. She looked at the bottle and looked surprised.

"Where did you get that bottle from?"

"Oh, this? I think Haley swiped it from a rich man once. She then gifted it to us as our anniversary present."

Mrs. Jean smiled.

"No, don't open it."

"What for? It is a shame unless we drink it."

"Let's wait until Rufus and Haley return. Let's open it then as a way to celebrate," Mrs. Jean said and gave a weak smile.

Haufen smiled and realized his wife hadn't yet lost hope and that neither should he. He put the bottle down and kissed his wife.