Ep. 0: A Humble Citizen's Recount
Once upon a time, in a land simply known as The Kingdom…
The skies were perpetually gray. The Kingdom, once a vibrant and joyful place, had lost its luster. The fields lay barren, the rivers ran dry, and the laughter and sweetness that once echoed through the streets and its people had long since faded into silence.
One evening, as the weary residents of The Kingdom prepared for another night of restless sleep, a brilliant light streaked across the sky...
As the star descended, it grew brighter and more magnificent until, finally, it landed softly in the heart of the town square near the dilapidated castle.
From the glow of the fallen star emerged an adorable princess, adorned in an elegant gown that shimmered like the finest whipped cream. Her hair cascaded like waves of soft, vanilla sugar, and her cheeks were as rosy as the ripest strawberries. Her presence was enchanting, and she radiated warmth and sweetness. Her smile was tender and comforting, and her eyes sparkled with kindness. She introduced herself as Princess Cake.
Princess Cake raised her delicate hand, and with a wave, the ground beneath her began to transform. Flowers bloomed in vivid hues, the rivers flowed with crystal-clear water, and the oncebarren fields sprang to life with lush greenery and bountiful crops. The air was filled with the sweet scent of strawberries, and a sense of wonder and amazement spread through The Kingdom.
"My sweet friends, your sadness is no longer,"
Princess Cake said elegantly; her small voice heard for miles as it was decreed for all to hear.
"If you will have me, I would love to restore joy and vitality to your land."
A cavalcade of questions flowed from the villagers:
"Where did you come from?"
"Why should we trust you?"
Through the confused interrogation, the beaming smile did not fade from Princess Cake's face once. She simply allowed them to speak.
Before long, the questions faded and Princess Cake spoke again.
"I know that you have many questions." Princess Cake said, "That's okay, I'll answer them all to the best of my ability in the coming days. I only ask for a chance."
As the days passed, Princess Cake worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the land. She danced through the fields, her laughter like music, and her presence brought an undeniable magic to the once-depressed kingdom. She met the royal staff of the castle, and with a simple handshake was able to imbue knowledge to the staff on how to cultivate the land, nurture the rivers, and care for one another. Under her guidance, The Kingdom flourished, and its people began to rediscover the joy and camaraderie they had long forgotten.
One evening, as the sun set in a sky painted with the colors of a thousand sunsets, Princess Cake gathered the residents for a grand celebration. The Kingdom was now a place of beauty and happiness, and its' people were eager to express their gratitude. They feasted on a sumptuous spread of delectable treats, including a magnificent strawberry cake that mirrored the elegance of their beloved princess.
The royal baker had his staff cutting and passing out slices of the cake to subjects of the kingdom. Princess Cake looked out over the joyous faces of the people as they ate their cake. Her heart swelled with pride and love for the kingdom she had come to cherish. She glanced to the side as one interaction caught her attention. It was from a small child, barely learning to speak:
"Mommy, I wuv Princess Cake!"
The child beamed, shoving mounds of cake into his mouth and leaving traces of whipped cream on his cheeks. The mother chuckled and wiped her child's face clean, "I do too, sweetie. But don't make a mess now - wait!"
In the moment his mother was smiling, the small child boundlessly bounced right up to Princess Cake, taking her by surprise. Besides the royal staff, no other subjects had spoken to her directly.
"Princess Cake!!!" The child beamed, "Thank you for all you've done, I wuv you! And this cake is dewishious!!"
His mother caught up to her rambunctious child and scooped him into her arms. "Your Highness, I'm so sorry! He just ran off." "Thank you, Princess Cake!" The child blurted out again from his mother's arms.
Princess Cake giggled and caressed the child's cheek,
"Thank you, sweet child, for being the first of my subjects to say hello."
"It's okay!" Princess Cake smiled
"Please excuse him, he's just learning to speak,"
The mother continued, turning to her son," Honey, that's not how you say it. It's not dewishious, it's -"
"It's really okay," Princess Cake repeated, taking the mother's hand into her own. "I think it's cute. Very fitting for a young land finding its sweetness again."
“Thank you, Princess Cake!” The child blurted out again from his mother’s arms.
Princess Cake giggled and caressed the child’s cheek,
“Thank you, sweet child, for being the first of my subjects to say hello.”
With a gentle smile, Princess Cake turned and addressed the crowd.
"My dear friends, it has been an honor and a joy to share this journey with you and I know even sweeter days are to come. From this day forward, with your permission, I would like to christen this land…”
There was a moment of anticipation as the subjects waited for what to call their new home. Princess Cake’s eyes sparkled as she caught the gaze of the small child and his mother.
“I would like to re-christen The Kingdom as…” Princess Cake continued, “The Dewishious Kingdom.”
There was another beat of silence that before long erupted into cheers- her new loyal subjects hugging each other in celebration that their land’s dark days were over.
“Continue to nurture the land, cherish one another, and spread kindness and love." Princess Cake said, “We have all just met but I am so happy to have you all in my life now. We will continue to find the sweetness of life’s secrets - together.