Beach Filler Episode (OPEN)

[Gildarts]

“Once upon a time there was a lovely princess, her name was Mol-Monica, she was happy, the entire kingdom worshipped the ground she walked on, she had money to buy whatever she want, and she could mostly do what she pleased but she could’ve been happier. She was alone, she had responsibility, to keep up an appearance of being the best. The pressure was on, and it only made her more lonely and isolated.. She had friends she told stories to, smiled and laughed with, but she feared they only liked her for her title. She lived a lonely childhood, and sought a mate when she came of age, she set out on a quest.” Molly began.

“Hey, this is already pretty scary,” Piqui said with an intrigued tilt of her feline ears. “Loneliness is nothing to joke about.”

Gildarts felt himself blink. That was both dark and true.

“On her quest, she wore a fake mustache and impersonated a knight as she traversed from town to town, looking for her own knight in shining armor. But most of the men were brutish or very, truly grotesque in nature. Could she find no one noble to stand by her royal side for she was to become a queen soon and she almost couldn’t bear the thought of doing it alone, let alone the customs.” Molly continued.

“This darkness has layers,” Piqui said. “And a consistent theme. What will the ending twist be?!”

“Finally, her horse stepped on a thumbtack and she was forced to go to the closest person for help, it was a farming family, nothing special, but her horse was helped and she stayed while the horse was healing due to the farmer’s good hospitality. But she got more and more familiar with the farmer’s son, they became friends, true sincere friends of the heart, and not merely surface deep for title’s sake. For she was still impersonating a boy, see.” Molly nodded and braced herself to speak the worst part.

“Then, it was her last day and she was about to set off, and revealed her true identity to all of them. The farmer and his wife were glad, for she gave them gold. The farmer’s son however, couldn’t look Monica in the face, he said, “So our bond has been based upon a lie?!” and there was hurt in his eyes. Monica protested, begging him to come to the castle with her, saying the young man’s whole family could live their lives in peace, never having to lift another saw or scythe in their life.” Molly gulped.

“Well the boy didn’t like that, he said “You never understood, this is who I am, you do not accept me, therefore I know you do not care for me at all.” And Monica was in tears, “That is not so!” she cried, “I… I’ve sought so long for companionship, spent months on the road alone only to find that your nobility and compassion to help me, a stranger with a limp horse, touched my heart.” The farmer’s son frowned, “What, so you must have me, future queen? Me a farm boy dressed up in the wrong clothes just like everything fake else in your castle?” and Monica’s heart felt like it had been battered with stone. “Friendship and love isn’t about possession, it’s about being there for someone through their times of struggle. There’s only so much you can buy with money. Or didn’t you already learn that?”” Molly took a breath, this was getting lengthy.

“Shouldn’t they have accents?” Piqui critiqued.

“Shh! It’s getting good!” Pinkie Pie hushed the chocolate and cream cat.

“Monica didn’t know what to do, it had seemed a plan infallible, “But, I…” she was speechless. It had been exactly what she was trying to avoid. The truth was a tough blow for her to take, especially when her expectations of the farmboy were so high after he’d shown true kindness despite her political and royal rank. So what happened next, you say?” Molly paused for the audience.

“Well, I’ll tell you. The farm boy did not return to the castle with her, despite his parents begging him to give them a nice retirement. The farm boy could not deceive himself, he had only done what was right and stayed true to himself, something that Monica would have to learn the hard way. She set out on the road again, feeling like a worthless piece of trash princess in knight’s armor. There was a raid from barbarians going on in the neighboring city, the flames licked the sky and smoke hazed her gaze. The female looked down and noticed the sword sitting there, idly, it was meant for a knight, and well, she was wearing the armor. Maybe this was who she was meant to be. She died in that battle, defending innocent strangers like the farm boy. In the end, she’d become her own knight in shining armor. In the end, with purpose within her and with the knight’s sword as her companion, she did not die alone.”

There was a silent reeling and the fire crackling filled the empty space.

“That wasn’t scary!” Piqui said.

“I didn’t say mine was going to be,” Molly stuck out her tongue to her bantering friend.

“That was… Really dark. And just sad though,” Piqui said as she thought about it.

“Left a resounding effect on ya now did it?” Molly smirked.

“Please, never take up acting,” Piqui snickered and Molly placed her hands on her hips defensively.

“Well, I think we can all at least learn something from my story, what’s yours going to be about, catching fish?” Molly teased back.

“Humph! Fish are holy to cats, and I’m sure it would make a far more interesting story than yours if I did!” Piqui sassed.

“Well why don’t you go next then?” Molly challenged.

“I still have to think of one,” Piqui stated with her tail wiggling shyly between her legs.

“Right then, who’s next? And everyone be supportive, of other people’s story,” Molly said though she shouldn’t have to add it.

“And keep it PG thirteen,” Gildarts added looking at the horndog and the intoxicated succubus.

Obviously that wasn’t a scary story, but Molly IS a little girl and wouldn’t know too much about the horror genre’s reach and appeal to most adults. So I couldn’t have her tell a story that didn’t suit her character. To her the scariest thing is unhappy endings. Though she liked the ending, if it’s any consolation, even if “Monica” didn’t get her prince in the way she thought.