released December 21, 2012

~The Story of Pulchritude~

Chapter 1 - King of Oblivion
The universe was silent and still. Light years away, stars from distant galaxies sparkled in the darkness. The tranquility was broken by a loud explosion and the recently empty space was filled with trees, rocks, other debris and all of the inhabitants of Stars World. Teddy bears flew like projectiles through space in various directions. Some screaming, some crying while others were flying through the air while quietly in shock.
Randolph opened his eyes as he felt cold all around him. To his horror, he saw his beautiful Stars World flying around him. Fellow citizens were grasping in the air as they flew away from their homeland. Randolph was mortified as he realized it was because of himself. His inability to control the demon inside of him caused this destruction. Randolph had to close his eyes as tears streamed out. Through his closed eyes, he sees the maple leaves fluttering above him, smells the grass singing to him and feels her paw in his. The moment was perfect before she held him close and told him she was finished with Randolph. The demon had used Randolph’s heartache to control him and Droopy was born into existence.
Beauty and love destroyed an entire world, thought Randolph. How could it be so powerful, cause this much destruction? Randolph wiped his paw across his face, drying it. Well with Stars World destroyed what will happen to all of the survivors. Randolph did not know if the guilt or heartache hurt worse.

Chapter 2 - Nuru The Tree
Randolph flies to a far-reaching rock where he is able to stop and contemplate where he is. The rock was not as large as a planet but much larger than the biggest island in Stars World. It was comfortable with two suns to warm the beaches by the water. There is a beautiful mountain with a large valley on the other side. He notices that there is only one tree amongst all of the bushes on this island type rock. Walking towards the tree he starts to notice the beauty of this tree. The tree was large with many flowing branches full of leaves that made a slight humming sound when the wind blew through. It was a color that Randolph had never seen in a tree before. In fact, this tree was more beautiful than any women he had ever seen. He feels Droopy deep inside him tremble with hatred for this tree.
“How could you still love beautiful things?” Droopy growls inside Randolph's mind. Randolph pushes through the thought and stares at the lovely tree that seemed to invite him towards her. He steps forward and hugs her trunk and Randolph smelled the most delicate dessert. The tree was perfect in every way and at that moment Randolph decided he loved it.
“Hello, Randolph.” Randolph jumped back in surprise and notice that the tree had eyes and a mouth and was smiling at him. “My name is Nuru and I have had a vision of you Randolph. I know what you did and I know how much pain you are in. I want to fix your pain, Randolph.”
“How?” squeaked Randolph, still in shock that the tree was talking to him.
“If you care and tend to my needs I will care and tend to yours Randolph. You need to right your wrongs and help the remaining survivors in the universe.”
“How will I do this Nuru?” Randolph would do anything she asked, despite the growl from Droopy inside.
“Bring them to this paradise and build a new place for them to live. It will help mend some wounds. They will have everything they need here. Look into my leaves Randolph” He looked up and saw golden sunlight pouring through them and he felt the anguish and fury inside him dissipate and he could no longer feel Droopy inside.
“I have lightning in my soul Randolph and that lightning will take the thunder from you and help you heal.” Randolph felt like he could do anything and love everyone. It was freeing and he was ready to go find the survivors.

Chapter 3 - Monstrosity
Nuru asked Randolph if he could tell her his pain so he begins the tale. He told her of his past. His parents were always unhappy and they neglected Randolph because of drugs. The feeling of being alone and trapped for so many years. He met the love of his life that took all that pain and helped to heal him. No matter how much she had loved him, however, he was never completely healed and so she left him. This tore open his wounds so he left to Stars World to try and start over. He knew he had been running away but he did not know what else he could do. He was always afraid people would see through his happiness and call him fake. Being in the bright bustling city had helped him and then he told Nuru about seeing the most gorgeous woman who approached him, against his will. He did not want to be hurt again but how could he turn down this love? Sure enough, he fell for her stormy purple eyes.
Randolph’s heart started to hurt as he started to recall the day at the park under the maple tree. Nuru reassured him as her leaves brushed lightly against his back. Randolph just could not understand how he could feel that way for her but she did not feel it back. He told her about huddling away and trying to contain his sadness and rage. Nuru told him she understood how holding back his feelings turned into the hurricane of destruction on Stars World. Randolph told her about Droopy and how he ate the warheads that imploded the world and how happy it had made Droopy. Nuru shushed him and soothed Randolph into sleep under the golden sunshine through her leaves.

Chapter 4 - Deceiving Nothingness
"If you keep your head high, keep up your stride and look to the brighter side... you can have a good life," she said. "Wipe that frown off your face and stop doubting yourself, I know what you have done and I forgive you. I know what it's like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Have no fear, I'm here to help you and we will push through together. I will be there for you as long as you will be there for me." Randolph agrees and they begin the process of fighting back against Droopy. Randolph stays on the bright side and starts to love being with Nuru and starts to build a sanctuary for the survivors. The two of them work hard and together they realize it is time to look for them scattered across the stars.

Chapter 5 - Blazing Fury
Randolph starts to go out in a rocket ship that he built with Nuru’s magical help. He is afraid the survivors will know he is the one who caused all of their sufferings. Nuru calms him and reminds him that by helping them it will help himself. He can finally get away from the pain in his heart. Randolph is confident he can improve the souls he destroyed. Whenever he found a survivor they were skeptical but after a while they trusted him and he brought them to the Rock in middle of the universe. Everyone did love the sanctuary Randolph had built but they were so sad and Randolph felt as if he needed to inspire them. He tells them all they will laugh again and the sun will shine beautifully for them and the destruction and fear are gone now. His talks seem to help everyone and he watched happily as they started farms and started raising families all around him. Randolph becomes known as a hero with the biggest heart anyone has ever known. All the citizens of the newly titled city, Nuru Nation would seek his counsel and wisdom. He was known to be sitting under the branches of a pink tree with the sun always shining through the leaves and he loved every single soul.

Chapter 6 - Better Days
One day, Randolph was surveying the sanctuary from atop the mountain and he could not help but smile. Better days have finally come. Randolph had overcome his demons and helped others overcome theirs. As he thought about the beauty, dark thoughts started to swirl around in his head. He had not thought about this pain in so long. All of a sudden they were back and they were stronger than ever. Randolph grasped his heart and started to weep. He could not let Nuru see him suffer like this. He tells himself how delusional he has been at all the fake happiness around him. He snaps out of it for a second and tells himself better days will come. He feels a tremble inside of him but then he snaps out of it again. "The past is the past, I can't change that. I need to forgive and forget, I am not going back to that... Better days are on their way" he says to himself. The negative thoughts will not leave him alone. He starts to bring himself down further and further into the abyss of his emotions. He feels like he wants to die and as he steps back his foot catches a rock and tumbles off the mountain into a little ravine. Landing a few feet down, he rolls over on his back to looks at the clouds moving across the sky. Realizing he is crazy, "What would life be like as a zombie?" he thinks to himself in a daze. "Better days have found their way..." Randolph begins to drift into his mind.

Chapter 7 - Color of Dirt
Nuru realizes there is something wrong with Randolph immediately. She asks Randolph is everything is ok and she can tell he is lying as he nods “yes.” He tells her he is hungry and that he does not want to talk to her. In fact, he exclaims, he doesn’t want to see her ever again. Nuru cannot handle this anguish. She transforms herself into a beautiful woman that causes Randolph’s mouth to drop. She is lovely and shining pink and purple hues. Droopy starts to scream inside Randolph’s head, “we don’t need her, she is not beautiful. She is red and evil!” Randolph grabs his head and yells at Droopy to leave him alone. Droopy just starts to laugh maniacally. “You will never be rid of me Randolph, never! You will never be able to feel happiness.” Randolph Screams that is not true but he looks up at Nuru who has her arms outstretched towards him. He sees a golden light shine from her hair and before his eyes she turns into the maple tree from Stars World. Nuru starts to scream and yells for Droopy not to hurt her. Randolph watches in horror as the maple tree is ripped from its roots and thrown into space by Droopy.
Randolph runs and runs into a doctor’s office and starts to demand drugs. He needed them to suppress Droopy. Randolph doesn’t realize that this will not suppress him but on enable him more. Randolph screams and tells Droopy to leave him alone but Droopy just laughs and takes the medication. “You are my drone Randolph and soon I will be rid of you as well. You are insane Randolph and I will be able to do much more good than you can ever accomplish.” Droopy laughs as smoke starts to fill Randolph’s vision and he sleepily opens his eyes. He stares at the moon and tries to gather where he is. He was still in the small ravine on the mountaintop. He must have hit his head on the fall. Thank god it was a dream he thought as he ran down the mountain towards Nuru to make sure she was truly safe still.
When Randolph sees his beautiful tree rooted where she always has been he felt tears of joy come to his eyes. “I felt your pain and it was so great that I thought I had lost you!” Nuru said as he grabbed her trunk and smiled. Her leaves brushed his back and shushed him.
“You must have been dreaming dear Randolph. Is everything alright?” She asked lovingly. Randolph looks up at Nuru and realizes what his dream was telling him.
“No Nuru, I’m not ok. I must kill myself, to save your soul.” He told her and watched her face turn to shock.

Chapter 8 - Tough Decisions
As Randolph regains composure, he also regains his rage. He hates Droopy to the bottom of his core. His whole body is swarming with what feels like angry wasps ready to sting. He keeps pacing, trying to figure out what he should do. Nothing he can ever do will get rid of the demon. Nuru is so upset with what Randolph had told her but he knew it was the only way to save Nuru and all the inhabitants of Nuru Nation. He tells her that they both know what the demon can do and recently it's been talking to him. Killing himself will get rid of Droopy once and for all and he was willing to sacrifice himself to guarantee Nuru’s safety. She asks him if he could just leave for a little while and deal with Droopy far away from all Randolph loved. Randolph realized that she does not understand the demon's capabilities. "It will crush all of your dreams and all of mine" Randolph tries to explain.
"Shut your mouth! We will find a way how... This I vow..." cries Nuru. Randolph tries to comfort her but she yells "No goodbye! You're still that bear I have always known."
"No matter how hard I try... I'm still that demon deep inside. Don't think of it as suicide, it's more like self-sacrifice..." Randolph kept mumbling excuses while Nuru kept crying "Don't go... Don't go... Please don't go..."
"I have to Nuru... It's for the best because I love you..." says Randolph.

Chapter 9 - Like Never Before
Even as he tried to make Nuru understand he could feel the demon inside him relishing Nuru’s pain. Droopy was evil and he fed on sadness and pain. Randolph knew he was getting stronger every minute. He walked into town to get a peace offering for Nuru and he was shocked to see the townsfolk acting strangely. They were acting possessed and crazy. The demon was infecting them and feeding on their woes. He was sent from the devil himself to lure souls into hell. Someone noticed Randolph and started to yell, “There he is! That’s the demon trying to control us! Get the torches and pitchforks. Let’s run him out of town!” People started to yell and scream and throw rocks at Randolph.
Many people started to run out of town and into the mountains behind the lake. Randolph’s heart started to ache as he felt the fear and hatred from his fellow people who once had loved him.

Chapter 10 - Palaver
Randolph had made up his mind. He was leaving but he had to let everyone know how much he loved them.
‘We’ve been through a lot. I brought you to this sanctuary when you had nowhere else to go. I let you cry on my shoulder and I gave you as much comfort as I could. I am sorry that I have hurt any of you and know that I have a demon inside of me. I will take this demon far away and get rid of him once and for all. “ Randolph took a deep breath, “ I am the demon that destroyed Stars World.” He shuddered at the gasps he heard from the crowd. “I ruined your lives once and I could do it again but, I don't want to. The demon takes control sometimes and I don't know what I'm saying or doing. I just get lost and fall into an abyss. I fear one day I won't be able to crawl out of that hole and the demon will have complete control. It looks like the only way I can save you is if I say goodbye.” He felt relieved to get that off his chest. "I don't want to see your sad faces, even when we've hit dire straits. Look up into the gleaming rays that keep shining on you from deep space. If you should ever need me then consult this tree, her name is Nuru and she will help you.” He said. "The demon says he hates beauty but beauty will prevail forever.” The crowd was silent but understanding. Randolph left to say goodbye to Nuru one last time.

Chapter 11 - Soarin'
Randolph swallows his fear because he knows the secret that he must now tell Nuru. He knew he would have to tell her ever since his dream in the mountain.
“Where will you go?” asked Nuru and he approached her.
“Somewhere I can burn away my demons. The sun,” Randolph watched Nuru shift her leaves uncomfortably.
“You do not need to leave Randolph. I love you and look at everything you have created. You are a good person and I thought you would never hurt me. You are hurting me by leaving.” Nuru gazed at Randolph as he took a breath.
“Nuru, I have something to tell you. You are from Stars World. I am not sure how you survived but you did not have a vision of what I had done. You were there and Droopy tore you from your roots and flung you into space. Somehow you landed here and lived. “ Nuru looked confused as Randolph told her the grave news. “Nuru, you were that lovely maple tree that we were laying under that fateful day. You saw my pain and that is why you understand. You must have lost your memory in the turmoil.” Randolph stood looking at Nuru, waiting for a response.
“I forgive you, Randolph. I know who you are even if you cannot see it. You are a loving soul and you will beat your demons. I love you Randolph and thank you...” Randolph hugged Nuru and he walked away from her and climbed into his rocket ship. His paw paused over the launch button and he looked out at the city he had created. With a smile, he pressed the button and the rocket roared into life and he sped away from his home towards the every brightening sun.

The End