Yes, I should’ve add references from the time I added my first post. I totally forgot and it is totally my bad.
I made this version of Narada but decided to scrape it. Yet, I love the story too much to flush it down the drain and eject it completely from recycle bin so I decided to upcycle it. Go green.
Back into the topic, I was not planning to have Narada to be a stern and straightforward character. It just come out like that at first but then as days go by— since I have to work, ah the bitter bile of real life— Narada’s personality grew into something different. He is the Supreme Advisor, that meant he has to be really smart with his words and mouth. That also means he is used to going around before arriving in the main destination without being to conspicuous.
So I figured maybe we delve into Narada’s mind and see on how it could’ve panned out if Narada jumped into this problem head on and too strong.
HIS NIGHTMARE
I made this version of Narada but decided to scrape it. Yet, I love the story too much to flush it down the drain and eject it completely from recycle bin so I decided to upcycle it. Go green.
Back into the topic, I was not planning to have Narada to be a stern and straightforward character. It just come out like that at first but then as days go by— since I have to work, ah the bitter bile of real life— Narada’s personality grew into something different. He is the Supreme Advisor, that meant he has to be really smart with his words and mouth. That also means he is used to going around before arriving in the main destination without being to conspicuous.
So I figured maybe we delve into Narada’s mind and see on how it could’ve panned out if Narada jumped into this problem head on and too strong.
HIS NIGHTMARE
Narada was pacing within the greeneries of the sanctuary. He took a final stride toward the waterfall and grabbed a handful of transparent grain from the nearby vegetation. Then he sat by the shore and scooped the milky white wave with his hand. He dropped a couple of the transparent grain. It absorbed the wave and turned into pearly white. He put it inside a fibrous cup and rested it under the only treehouse there that was lighted. He knocked the trunk and left. While walking away, he pulled out a couple of the grain and popped it into his mouth. Unlike other times, he ground the grain rather harshly within his mouth. He swallowed and inhaled slowly. He muttered, “let’s hope for the best,” as the darkness dressed him like a shawl.
The next morning, his outing plan with his cousin went underway. They met up and strolled down to the face of the earth as they did probably hundred times before. They talked about their subjects, mainly the beings that looked like an incomplete version of them. After going around about everything else in Svargaloka that was good and some that need improvements, the dreaded topic finally came up.
“It was three, Guru. There were three eggs.”
“Three huh? It was not a coincidence that one survived. The flawless one.” Guru fixed his eyes ahead of them.
Narada looked away to follow Guru’s eye view and gasped. He waved his hand in front of Guru to erase the trace of his cousin’s creation within the jungle below them. Without realizing it, Guru had carved Nyi Pohatji face into the earth.
“Guru. Stop with your obsession.”
Guru’s eyes full of lust and fury stared back at Narada.
“Guru.”
“Don’t stop me, Narada! I am the master of Svargaloka. Nobody shall defy me.”
“Guru.” Narada raised his arms and talked slower, “Guru, Bhatari Uma nursed her. She even breastfeed her. The blood of your wife is coursing through her. She practically your daughter.”
“Practically, not biologically. She is not related to me by blood, maybe my wife but not me,” Guru raised his fist and punched the air. It propelled Narada several mountains behind, even when he was anticipating it. Narada landed on his feet and crouched.
“Guru. It is dishonorable to marry her,” Narada growled.
“Marry her? Yes, you know me so well, cousin.” Guru smirked.
“You would lose face and respect from everyone. There will be chaos in Svargaloka. There will be chaos everywhere. Don’t you care deeply about your subjects?” Narada still tried to persuade his cousin as he rolled and dodged the attacks.
“I cared deeply about my feeling. My love for Nyi Pohatji.” Guru peeled the skin of nearby palm tree and whipped a thousand circle in the air. At first, Narada tried to push his way ahead until he felt the air slashed him like a sickle. He somersaulted back to avoid another whip. Not having a time to spare, he threw multitude of boulders and pounced forward. The air was filled with sand when the boulders burst from its contact with the air. Narada ghosted within the clouded air and scooped the molten lava inside a volcano. With a flick of his hand, the lava waved in the air to form an antler-like appearance. He flattened the lava in between his palm and grabbed the newly formed daggers. He threw it to Guru from different directions.
“Show yourself, Narada!” Guru deflected all the daggers with acute precision. “Have you no shame in hiding?”
“Speak for yourself, Guru!” Narada spoke within the thunderous earthquake that rising from the ground. Narada shook the earth and splattered Guru with a tsunami of lava, then he pulled the wall of oceanic wave to bury Guru.
“HAAAARHHH!” Guru’s skin peeled but as soon as he spilled his blood, the wound closed and healed. “NARADA.” Guru stomped the earth and the mud undulated toward Narada. It swallowed a part of him and spewed out gas that grew boils all over him.
“GRRRH!” Narada shouted in anger. He rolled on the thorned branch while gritting his teeth. When he stood up, his skin once again smoothed out. He jumped into the ocean and disappeared.
“You think you can run away?! So disappointing. Then it’s time to end this.” Guru dived down to track Narada.
Narada eyed Guru and left a fake trail that lured his cousin into the deep cove. Guru, in his rage followed without thoughts. Narada bit his cheek and cried within his heart.
You are right, my once beloved cousin, it is time.
He crushed Guru within the cove and pulled a long spear that he dug from the deepest trench. It wasn’t heavy and it wasn’t look threatening at all.
“HUAHAHAHAHA! You think you can hurt me with this. Ouch. That really hurt, Na-ra-da,” Guru mocked him.
Narada’s tear was carried away by the underwater current as he muttered the enchantment that was carved on the spear.
“Argh…Na…ra…da…I’m, I’m drowning…Narad…a that…really…hurts.” Guru’s voice was getting fainter.
Narada pulled the spear that had became thousands times heavier. With Guru’s body pierced, he swam back to the surface. Narada dragged Guru to the shore and closed his eyes. He drove the spear deeper and Guru’s blood was spilled.
“I am sorry, my cousin. You would’ve destroy the peaceful Svargaloka. I…I don’t have other choice.” He sobbed and landed on his knee.
“Nara…da…” Guru was struggling to speak, “You…trai…tor.”
Narada shook his head and hovered on top of Guru’s face. “You leave me no choice! You supposed to be the wisest in Svargaloka. You suppose to be the leader. How you have fallen.”
With his last effort Guru forced his hand into Narada’s chest and ripped his heart out. “My death means yours too.”
Narada gasped for air as Guru rammed his heart to the ground where it crumbled together with Guru’s body. Narada’s own hand gripped the spear and soon his eyes felt heavier. But the spear pulsated and gave him a wave of awakening.
Na…ra…da…
Na…ra…da…
Na…ra…da…awake. Stand. Open your eyes.
Narada clutched his chest and gasped for air. His eyes snapped open. His wound was no longer there, but the whole world around him had changed. No more green lush vegetation. No more majestic mountains. Mo more clear blue ocean. All he seen was destruction. As he stood up, he realized the pattern that carved and forever changed the land. The blood that they both had spilled obliterated the earth. Like acid, it melted everything that was perfect and beautiful and left only barren desert with opened red hot wounds that was the earth molten crust. Like a poisonous liquid, it disintegrated everything while every creature’s fright and scream of despair began to fill his ears.
Narada fell to his knee and cupped his ears to no avail. He looked up and the spear was then emitting purplish lightning. It began to consume the soil as it decomposed around it. Then he heard the unmistakable voice.
Narada.
Lord Uncle?!
Oh son.
I…don’t know what else to do. It wasn’t suppose to go like this. Guru…I…I…killed your son.
Svargaloka has no longer have its keeper, and you know why I choose him instead of you. I already knew you would’ve refused.
The position was never mine to hold. Isn’t my calling.
I know that already. Therefore you were suppose to be my voice in midst of every chaos. Now you have invited maelstrom into your own home.
How could I have prevented this?
You could’ve Narada. Now, you will be forever walk among the decay with a thirst that is impossible to quench. Your calling will to fix everything knowing that your effort will be fruitless. So long Narada.
The anguish of the earth swallowed him whole as he wailed for his own salvation.
Very dark eh? Yes. This version of Narada made me feel the need of confrontation. A possible fighting/action sequence. But, it was not really the Narada that became the Supreme Advisor. He shouldn’t come in too strong like that. Perhaps, in his nightmare he made a mistake. Perhaps, after centuries of wandering, his Lord Uncle— the utmost knowledgeable and almighty master of the world, Sang Hyang Kersa, Guru’s father— decided to give him a second chance and it changed the whole outcome. Maybe, just maybe, this is not the first time it happened.
All fictional stories are mine. I borrowed the character from the beliefs that had been passed down through generations. What do you think about this version? Like it? Hate it? Love it? Comments and discussion are surely welcomed.
The next morning, his outing plan with his cousin went underway. They met up and strolled down to the face of the earth as they did probably hundred times before. They talked about their subjects, mainly the beings that looked like an incomplete version of them. After going around about everything else in Svargaloka that was good and some that need improvements, the dreaded topic finally came up.
“It was three, Guru. There were three eggs.”
“Three huh? It was not a coincidence that one survived. The flawless one.” Guru fixed his eyes ahead of them.
Narada looked away to follow Guru’s eye view and gasped. He waved his hand in front of Guru to erase the trace of his cousin’s creation within the jungle below them. Without realizing it, Guru had carved Nyi Pohatji face into the earth.
“Guru. Stop with your obsession.”
Guru’s eyes full of lust and fury stared back at Narada.
“Guru.”
“Don’t stop me, Narada! I am the master of Svargaloka. Nobody shall defy me.”
“Guru.” Narada raised his arms and talked slower, “Guru, Bhatari Uma nursed her. She even breastfeed her. The blood of your wife is coursing through her. She practically your daughter.”
“Practically, not biologically. She is not related to me by blood, maybe my wife but not me,” Guru raised his fist and punched the air. It propelled Narada several mountains behind, even when he was anticipating it. Narada landed on his feet and crouched.
“Guru. It is dishonorable to marry her,” Narada growled.
“Marry her? Yes, you know me so well, cousin.” Guru smirked.
“You would lose face and respect from everyone. There will be chaos in Svargaloka. There will be chaos everywhere. Don’t you care deeply about your subjects?” Narada still tried to persuade his cousin as he rolled and dodged the attacks.
“I cared deeply about my feeling. My love for Nyi Pohatji.” Guru peeled the skin of nearby palm tree and whipped a thousand circle in the air. At first, Narada tried to push his way ahead until he felt the air slashed him like a sickle. He somersaulted back to avoid another whip. Not having a time to spare, he threw multitude of boulders and pounced forward. The air was filled with sand when the boulders burst from its contact with the air. Narada ghosted within the clouded air and scooped the molten lava inside a volcano. With a flick of his hand, the lava waved in the air to form an antler-like appearance. He flattened the lava in between his palm and grabbed the newly formed daggers. He threw it to Guru from different directions.
“Show yourself, Narada!” Guru deflected all the daggers with acute precision. “Have you no shame in hiding?”
“Speak for yourself, Guru!” Narada spoke within the thunderous earthquake that rising from the ground. Narada shook the earth and splattered Guru with a tsunami of lava, then he pulled the wall of oceanic wave to bury Guru.
“HAAAARHHH!” Guru’s skin peeled but as soon as he spilled his blood, the wound closed and healed. “NARADA.” Guru stomped the earth and the mud undulated toward Narada. It swallowed a part of him and spewed out gas that grew boils all over him.
“GRRRH!” Narada shouted in anger. He rolled on the thorned branch while gritting his teeth. When he stood up, his skin once again smoothed out. He jumped into the ocean and disappeared.
“You think you can run away?! So disappointing. Then it’s time to end this.” Guru dived down to track Narada.
Narada eyed Guru and left a fake trail that lured his cousin into the deep cove. Guru, in his rage followed without thoughts. Narada bit his cheek and cried within his heart.
You are right, my once beloved cousin, it is time.
He crushed Guru within the cove and pulled a long spear that he dug from the deepest trench. It wasn’t heavy and it wasn’t look threatening at all.
“HUAHAHAHAHA! You think you can hurt me with this. Ouch. That really hurt, Na-ra-da,” Guru mocked him.
Narada’s tear was carried away by the underwater current as he muttered the enchantment that was carved on the spear.
“Argh…Na…ra…da…I’m, I’m drowning…Narad…a that…really…hurts.” Guru’s voice was getting fainter.
Narada pulled the spear that had became thousands times heavier. With Guru’s body pierced, he swam back to the surface. Narada dragged Guru to the shore and closed his eyes. He drove the spear deeper and Guru’s blood was spilled.
“I am sorry, my cousin. You would’ve destroy the peaceful Svargaloka. I…I don’t have other choice.” He sobbed and landed on his knee.
“Nara…da…” Guru was struggling to speak, “You…trai…tor.”
Narada shook his head and hovered on top of Guru’s face. “You leave me no choice! You supposed to be the wisest in Svargaloka. You suppose to be the leader. How you have fallen.”
With his last effort Guru forced his hand into Narada’s chest and ripped his heart out. “My death means yours too.”
Narada gasped for air as Guru rammed his heart to the ground where it crumbled together with Guru’s body. Narada’s own hand gripped the spear and soon his eyes felt heavier. But the spear pulsated and gave him a wave of awakening.
Na…ra…da…
Na…ra…da…
Na…ra…da…awake. Stand. Open your eyes.
Narada clutched his chest and gasped for air. His eyes snapped open. His wound was no longer there, but the whole world around him had changed. No more green lush vegetation. No more majestic mountains. Mo more clear blue ocean. All he seen was destruction. As he stood up, he realized the pattern that carved and forever changed the land. The blood that they both had spilled obliterated the earth. Like acid, it melted everything that was perfect and beautiful and left only barren desert with opened red hot wounds that was the earth molten crust. Like a poisonous liquid, it disintegrated everything while every creature’s fright and scream of despair began to fill his ears.
Narada fell to his knee and cupped his ears to no avail. He looked up and the spear was then emitting purplish lightning. It began to consume the soil as it decomposed around it. Then he heard the unmistakable voice.
Narada.
Lord Uncle?!
Oh son.
I…don’t know what else to do. It wasn’t suppose to go like this. Guru…I…I…killed your son.
Svargaloka has no longer have its keeper, and you know why I choose him instead of you. I already knew you would’ve refused.
The position was never mine to hold. Isn’t my calling.
I know that already. Therefore you were suppose to be my voice in midst of every chaos. Now you have invited maelstrom into your own home.
How could I have prevented this?
You could’ve Narada. Now, you will be forever walk among the decay with a thirst that is impossible to quench. Your calling will to fix everything knowing that your effort will be fruitless. So long Narada.
The anguish of the earth swallowed him whole as he wailed for his own salvation.
Very dark eh? Yes. This version of Narada made me feel the need of confrontation. A possible fighting/action sequence. But, it was not really the Narada that became the Supreme Advisor. He shouldn’t come in too strong like that. Perhaps, in his nightmare he made a mistake. Perhaps, after centuries of wandering, his Lord Uncle— the utmost knowledgeable and almighty master of the world, Sang Hyang Kersa, Guru’s father— decided to give him a second chance and it changed the whole outcome. Maybe, just maybe, this is not the first time it happened.
All fictional stories are mine. I borrowed the character from the beliefs that had been passed down through generations. What do you think about this version? Like it? Hate it? Love it? Comments and discussion are surely welcomed.