The Attic

"Why do we have to be here so early?"

The crowd roared as the stage sparked to life, smoke, and confetti with laser lights and disco balls.

"Why do we have to be here so early?" Sarah said, in the middle of a yawn. "We must be early, for it is the kings' order." Zaza bleated. "They mean we don't have a choice." Freddy yawned.

The crowd silenced as a cloaked figure got onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome King Shroom-Shroom!" An announcer's voice boomed. 3 human-like cats came up to the stage, they pushed a small cart covered in a royal cloak and a lever sticking out.

"Hello, hello to my subjects!" A voice from the cart yelled. The cart grew taller and taller, eventually being as tall as the stage. "I'm so glad you came, my subjects! I require a donation!" The voice said.

"A contribution?" Zaza asked. "Yes, my goat friend! As you may have heard my castle is in great peril, and the statue of our great hero, me, has taken up all of our fundings." The king sounded sad. "It would be such a good deed if you all could contribute to me, your ruler, your king!" The king fell into the cart, saddened.

"Why can't you make your own money?!" Someone yelled. "You dare speak to someone of higher ranking than thou?" The king spat. He got out of the cart, his body was small and short. He was purple with elf ears and a big red nose with chubby feet and clothes a few sizes shorter than he was.

"How dare you!" The king pulled out a spectator and aimed it at the person, it glowed red at the shot a beam of light, blasting them into a tree. "Thanks to your little friend, I'll force you into a donation!" The king laughed "You owe me regardless! I am your ruler!" He spat, getting on his cart and rolling away.

Zaza opened the door, they saw a furry, green giraffe-like creature in royal clothing. "Hello, Miss Goat. I'm here to take your weekly taxes." The giraffe said smugly. "Have you no heart?! Are not you exhausted from the king's actions?! What about money for food? Do we not deserve to eat food?" Zaza yelled, "Miss, I'm here to collect your taxes." The giraffe said.

Zaza handed them the money and grumbled, getting back to their book on the counter. "We need to do something, Freddy," Sarah whispered, a bunch of books waddling around them. "What can we do? Sarah? I'm just a librarian. I can't disobey the king." He said, picking up a walking book and placing it back onto a shelf.

"Who said anything about disobeying the king?" Sarah spoke.