Revised Version

Rama was hunched over, talking to Lakshmana and Vibhishana in a small huddle debating the next plan of attack. Rama straightened up to get a better look at what was happening with his fighters. Rama couldn't help but see an unusual image over on the front of the battlefield. It was the strangest thing, a warrior was covered in writings and letters.

"Vibhishana!"

Vibhishana was startled out of the discussion with Lakshmana and had looked over to see Rama fixated on the front line."Yes, Rama."

"Who is the Rakshasa that is protected with letters?"

Vibhishana and Lakshmana followed Rama's line of sight to see said Rakshasa viciously attacking and throwing all of the monkeys and bears he came across.

Vibhishana only hesitates as to sigh and faces back to Rama. "His name is Taranisen. He is not covered in letters but in your own name, Rama."

Rama looks to the warrior breaking through the defences as Vibhishana explained further. "He is a very devoted worshiper of you, Rama. He has been blanketed in your name for protection with the exception of his teeth. The only way to break through the barrier is to strike him there. Surely a blow from you in his vulnerable teeth would kill him."

Rama looked out toward Taranisen approaching their small group slowly through a fight with a line of monkeys and bears. With his trust in Vibhishana he began to move towards the Rakshasa determined. He came within fighting distance of Taranisen who, once he had seen Rama, smiled in certainty that Rama could not defeat him. Rama did not hesitate to strike Taranisen in the teeth as hard as his body allowed. Taranisen collapsed at Rama's feet defeated.

As Vibhishana and Lakshmana made their way towards Rama he turned to regard them.

Rama looks at Vibhishana directly. "How did you know his teeth would be uncovered? There was no way to know before I had approached."

Vibhishana looked down at the corpse with a despair behind his eyes for a fleeting moment.

"I knew Taranisen as my son."

Lakshmana and Rama looked to each other while Vibhishana shook his head. Not able to look at the limp body that was once his son any longer he closed his eyes and remained there silent.

Lakshmana pulls Rama to the side by grabbing his arm and walking him a few feet away from Vibhishana.

Lakshmana turned Rama away from where Vibhishana stood over Taranisen's body. “There is no time for this. We must keep pushing forward as long as we have the ability. We cannot let this hold us back.” Lakshmana paused for just a moment with a tense expression. “We might have to leave Vibhishana behind.”

Rama took a moment to collect himself. “To get to Sita we must keep moving forward.”

Lakshmana nodded his head. “Of course, this war will require many sacrifices, but we must persist."

Rama looked decisive and locked eyes with Lakshmana. “We can move forward but I am not going to leave Vibhishana behind. He has shown true allegiance to our cause by sacrificing his son. There is no way to leave someone who has helped our cause as much as he has behind. He will not let this hold our forces back. I trust him and I know that he will not let us down.”

Author's Notes: I stuck to the original events from Tiny Tales Ramayana while mostly adding details to have more development. The changes are cosmetic and keep the story the same. I wanted to write in more details to reflect what I would imagine would happen during the battle between Rama and Taranisen. I added a few details between the brothers and Vibhishana as well as details of the battle. The original story shows how Taranisen is a great warrior and is destroying many of Rama's fighters. I love a good battle seen and decided to stick with the original characters and setting while delving in and making the characters develop. Vibhishana is given more characterization because I like how he proves his loyalty throughout and has also given a lot that I can expand on. I chose this story to rewrite since the original story gave a lot of room to make dialogue and add more elements. I was also intrigued by the last line when Vibhishana says that Taranisen was his son and how there was nothing in the story that hinted at it. That excited me and pushed me to add more elements and emotion throughout the story.

Gibbs, Laura. Ramayana - Page 16.