Welcome to the thrilling first chapter of The Tale of the Lost Heart. This story puts us into a world of covert operations, hidden allegiances, and high-stakes missions. Join us as we explore the complexities of duty, the weight of responsibility, and the thin line between order and chaos.
Designed by Edu14463
The Tale of the Lost Heart follows History, a second sergeant in the Special Forces of Club Penguin, who the legendary Counselor Scars unexpectedly summons to investigate the theft of a Red Stone, an artifact crucial to maintaining order in their society. As suspicion of a traitor within the ranks grows, History and Scars uncover a conspiracy that threatens to tip the balance of power in favor of the chaotic Blue Rebellion.
CHAPTER 1 – THE CALL
It was the beginning of Spring when Diwix, Captain of the Special Forces, called me:
— Soldier!
— Yes, sir! — I responded.
— His Excellency, Counselor Scars, is calling for you.
— What does he want?
— He said it was urgent and confidential.
I found this summons quite strange. At that time, I was nothing more than a Second Sergeant. Being called by a Counselor was something reserved for much higher ranks. In fact, I wasn’t even prominent in that role; I was only known for my literary abilities.
So, I went to the second floor of our palace, where Scars was waiting for me. I opened the door to the meeting room, holding my cap in hand as a sign of respect. There he was, alone, sitting at the head of the table — since one only stands to receive more important people — dressed in his black suit with veteran and legend stripes, his head covered with a hat.
— Your name? — he asked me.
— H-History is my name; Lover is the surname, Your Excellency!
— Please, sit down — he requested, extending an open palm towards the seat at the opposite head of the table, near me.
I settled into my seat.
— Second Sergeant HistoryLover — he spoke —, I need your help.
— For what, Your Excellency?
— It’s been a long time since we’ve faced such a worrying situation — he said. — This time, I’ll have to intervene directly. Are you with the Force?
— Of course, Your Excellency, in anything! — I replied, though I felt a knot in my stomach. Since his retirement, Scars had dedicated himself to study and solitude. In fact, I had never seen him in action, something that, they said, only happened in catastrophic situations. Now, the catastrophe was a head of the table away.
— Excellent — he concluded.
Suddenly, he fixed me with a grave stare and said:
— They’ve stolen a Red Stone.
At that moment, my eyes widened, and I almost jumped from the table. Perhaps the reader doesn’t know what a Red Stone is. I’ll explain.
There are seven stones that maintain the order of society: the red stones. However, there are six stones that caused chaos: the blue stones. The Special Forces are an army — something between a state and a military force — whose purpose is to protect the red stones and destroy the followers of the blue stones. It originated with the stone inherited by Link3000, received from the Cheetos Army, a defunct group with the same mission. Since its founding, the Special Forces has recovered two more red stones, bringing the total to three. Losing one was equivalent to losing all the gold in a mansion, and even more. It was the complete failure of our mission. It was precisely to fulfill this mission that we underwent the harshest and most grueling training. Having a stone stolen made all that effort feel futile.
— But… but who did this? The Green Army? — I asked. In case you don’t know, the Green Army is another force, serving the blue stones, with which we were at war.
— Honestly, I don’t think so — Scars replied, standing and walking over to the nearby window. — The red stones are protected with the utmost security. There’s only one explanation: we have a traitor.
— A t-traitor? — I stood up from my chair. — This makes things much worse.
— Perhaps — Scars remarked, impassive. — Listen carefully. I haven’t told this to anyone else, except the leaders present here, and I don’t want this news to spread in any way. Understood?
— Yes, Your Excellency! — I affirmed, in a low voice.
— I will investigate the situation myself — he continued. — I recognize your writing skills, and I want you to accompany me and document everything that happens.
— You can count on me! — I said, forgetting the rules of politeness. — I mean, affirmative, Your Excellency!
— The crime was reported at six in the morning, during the first inspection of the day. In the inspection the previous night, the red stone was still in the chamber where it was kept. Therefore, the theft occurred during the night. Are you listening to me?
— Yes, Your Excellency.
— Whoever did this is not very experienced. We already know the time, and since the thief is likely one of us, the suspects are limited to those who were here at the time of the theft. The first step, Major History Lover, is to investigate the crime scene.
The fact that he called me “Major” meant I would be promoted to an officer rank if I fulfilled my duties. On the other hand, I knew I’d likely be demoted or even worse – banned from the army – if I frustrated the Counselor’s plans…
— The one who carried out the inspection and reported the theft was Captain Diwix, through whom I called you. He said he heard strange noises the previous night, so we need to investigate that as well.
— Understood! — I replied.
— Shall we go? — he invited me.
— Yes, Your Excellency! — And thus, I began to write this journal.
Would you like to be featured in the next chapters of this story? Did you enjoy the plot and the setting? What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
Edu14463
Editor-in-Chief
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Army Legend. Former Water Ninjas leader. Founder and Leader of the Elite Guardians of Club Penguin. Current Club Penguin Armies Editor-in-Chief.
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