Chapter One: A Long Journey Ahead Far to the West of Pepperville, a place where a large junkyard lies, the most unfortunate vegetable wanders these areas. Thoughts of the old routines sickened him to his core, of eating from piles of garbage and drinking expired juice, no more than a street cat. That was the only thing he did his entire life…but it is not this day. Under a messy cave of garbage and under layers and layers of trash, a nameless chili pepper wakes to a start, the blazing fire in his eyes everlasting. This day, he will achieve what his previous decades of life could not. The nameless chili pepper got up from his garbage-piled bed, hovering two inches into the air, and drank out of a can that he hadn’t finished the day before, then found his way out of his tiny yet messy chamber to collect food. This area isn’t just of edible things, but contains objects like bikes and cardboard signs. Something to eat was rare, for someone usually finishes before discarding, it must be from those sloppy kids who always leave a chip or two. He glided to a lunchbox several meters away, finding an entire uneaten burger and sandwich inside, they weren’t even moldy! The chili pepper couldn’t believe his fortune. The vegetable gathered swiftly—magically lifting things without arms, and arrived back to his cave in no more than an hour, an eaten burger long gone. Normally he would just go outside and find something to play with or just sit down and wonder if he ever had a friend, yet this new decision of his was completely different. The chili pepper lifted his dirty backpack and filled it with his next few meals. He looked around. This place, where he had lived for decades…was worth a remembrance, even if it’s just garbage. After a while, he wore his backpack and went outside. The chili pepper looked back to his garbage hill and sighed, then smiled after wondering, what a long path I shall travel. He shifted his backpack and hovered another inch into the air. Turning to face his journey, he took a moment to exhale, the shimmer in his fiery eyes gleaming brighter than ever. The chili pepper’s decision was now unstoppable, he had a whole adventure in front of him, leaving his home behind. The journey of his epic tale begins. ____________________________________________ Everything was going well in Pepperville. This place rarely received threats, for it was too small to draw attention. To the West was a large junkyard, to the East was an endless forest, and the south was undiscovered by these vegetables. Only the North proved to have fatal forces. After centuries Pepperville has forgotten its history with them, yet the North remembers every detail of what happened during that time. Bendar lived in Pepperville, with a good mind but weak determination. His parents weren’t rich but made enough money so Bendar didn’t have to earn some by himself. The bell pepper lived a peaceful life, and even had some friends. Humor was just his thing. It was morning, and he was just about to get up with his eyes closed when…SPLASH!!! “Aahh!!!” He screamed. Bendar jumped out of bed and found his friend Jyra with a dripping bucket. “No need to scream like that,” she laughed. “How did you get in here?” The bell pepper asked. “You didn’t secure the door,” the jalapeno replied. “Hm…that’s weird.” Bendar was very sure he told the vines to tie onto the door before he went to bed. “Why do you get out of bed so late?” “I woke up pretty early!” the bell pepper exclaimed. “And even if you woke up earlier, why would you come stalking me?” “Well the door was not locked, which is almost telling me, get in here now!” she said.
“Whatever, just get out before my parents realize! QUICK!!!” Bendar pointed towards the exit with an arm motion, he still didn’t know why an unlocked door meant I should sneak into this house in Jyra’s perspective. “Okay, fine but be outside in less than an hour. I’ll be refilling this bucket so come quickly,” The jalapeno responded calmly. Bendar could never look intimidating, but it’s his humor and voice acting that fended off gangs, yet eventually, his humor might not be enough. The bell pepper hasn’t even encountered many enemies yet, his friend jump-scaring him was nothing compared to what was soon to haunt the village. ___________________________________________ To the North, a place forgotten by its surroundings—yet greatly feared centuries ago—beheld a powerful ruler. This land is known as Jalapenia, a place of fierce Jalapeno warriors full of evil ambitions. The worst part was that these Jalapenians wanted to wipe Pepperville off the map. This Northern land is shaped as a huge jalapeno, some say the king did it just to scare its border enemies off, yet others view it as a cursed land. Jalapenia is almost two times as large as Pepperville, yet its king back then, Varnor, has not managed to pass down the information after losing a battle, leaving none of his troops to return. Kilzar rested against his throne, with a large golden crown over his head. The jalapeno king was huge, almost a giant, an entire seven feet tall jalapeno. Kilzar imagined how he would crush Pepperville, not knowing that the tiny village didn’t have a single defender to fight. A jalapeno ran in, breathing heavily. From his shape and size, it was easy to tell that he wasn’t a fighter, one out of hundreds. “I received the test results of your forces, it is way more improved compared to last month, my lord,” he said. The jalapeno king seemed satisfied with his answer. “It better be…” “Is there anything else?” “Prepare five hundred of the best warriors,” Kilzar replied. ”War is near.” “Understood, I’ll have them ready tomorrow morning.” Then he left. The jalapeno king’s chilling laugh lasted long before he waited in silence, for the messenger’s return.
