Getting your arms tied by licorice is silly, yet delicious. Metal cuffs, however, do not taste so great.
Silent moans came from the distance.
The faint dripping of water.
Alice is near the bars, trying to figure a way out. Dorothy is nowhere to be seen. Our clothes are still intact.
"Alice"
"Ah you're awake", she says, fiddling with three locks at once.
"Where are we?"
"Don't you remember?.. Give it a few seconds. You'll launch into a flashback any moment now"
"What do you mean laun—"
We were captured by the royal guard.
For what reason? Who knows.
Assembled at the courthouse was a whole bunch of ministers, poets, prophets, sages and whatnot. Amongst the din was one prominent figure, and that was of course, the king.
He seemed a bit... jumpy.
"What brings you three here hmmmm?"
Alice decided to speak up first.
"Your Majesty, we were just passing by. We were told that we're needed in Orches"
"Bah. What good are three peons in a thriving kingdom like this?"
The court hushed at the raised tone and we became the cynosure of attention.
A minister came to the king and quickly whispered in hear ear.
"So you're the prophecy children, eh?"
"Why... does that sound mocking?", I ask.
"Bah. I don't believe in that hogwash. You're all just intruders that disrupted the peace of the streets of Orches"
"Disrupted? What d'you mean?"
The king raised his eyebrow.
"That's the problem with your generation. Always causing a ruckus but never looking around"
He pointed to the window behind us and allowed us to gaze at the tarnished scenery. Some carts and shops here and there were upturned or demolished. Fruits and handicrafts lay on the ground. In a neat lane from afar, it looked like specks of dirt on a white sheet.
The wolf.
It was the wolf. We were so engrossed in chasing it that we didn't notice the carnage that we were leaving behind.
Dorothy faced the king.
"Hey king, there's a perfectly good explanation to all o—"
"Save your words. And show some respect, fool. Don't you know who I am?"
"Uh No"
That was a rather curt reply, earning a plethora of "oooooh"s from the crowd.
The king got up and showed an extravagant display of clothing that he donned.
"I am Emperor Emperor IV and these are my new clothes"
Alice couldn't help but facepalm.
"We met a grand elder named Grand and now an emperor named Emperor? What's with this lazy writing?"
"You dare belittle my lineage? I am the fourth of my name and my fathers and forefathers were all mighty emperors"
"Yes. Quite literally"
The king smirked.
"Since I'm in a good mood, I'll allow you to go apologise to the vendors. After that it's off to the dungeon for 4 months"
"4 months? But why?"
"That's how Orches works"
"But it wasn't even out fau—"
"Now now, scurry along. I haven't got time to waste on you"
YOU ARE READING
「Final Fable」
خيال (فانتازيا)"And they lived happily ever after", your mother would say, as she gently kissed your forehead and put you to sleep, placing the grimoire of fairy tales on your bedside. And you'd fall asleep, with pleasant dreams and cheerful thoughts. Cinderella'...
