"And You're Sure That This Will Work?" I Questioned The Tinkers I'd Assigned To This Position.

Decay exists as an extant form of life

The golden crescent of the beloved moon hung peacefully in the ebony star dusted sky. Here, alone with the night, I could forget all of my problems, all of my duties, my regrets and mistakes, everything. I watched for I don’t know how long now but it was worth it, staying up and loosing sleep. As time slipped by, the moon sank closer and closer to the horizon. I didn’t want to but I pulled myself away from the window, feeling an awful feeling that nagged me that I was abandoning one of the only ones who listen to my problems. There were things I had to do in the morning. I carried myself off to my bed of starlight and fell into a dreamless sleep.

There were shrieks and peals of laughter as some little kids ran by. Today there was a festival being held for both the sun and moon. Most people, myself included, believed that the Elementals of the festival walked around and visited during the festival.

I've never seen them here but it's still fun to attend. Besides, the citizens put forth their best efforts for all festivals but especially for this one. I've made it a point to visit the vendors and buy something. You should see their faces light up when one of their kings deems their product worthy of purchase.

Sometimes, I see a little girl (almost never the same girl) selling flowers. Depending on the girl, the flowers vary from freshly picked to wilted and a few days withered. It didn't matter to me. I always bought a small cluster of flowers and gave more than enough to cover the cost. Those little girls were like the other vendors - get excited and happy that a king came to buy some of their flowers. But they would run to show their parents what they'd earned. I loved seeing that.

There was a married couple looking at some wares that a teenage boy was selling. They were talking to each other rapidly in another language.

I silently looked over the man's shoulder. The currency he was carrying wasn't one that I'd seen before.

Politely, I cut in and handed over a handful coins to the young man. I told the couple that if they wanted something, they could have it and that I'd covered the cost.

His smile warmed me like the sun as he thanked me. He picked out a small wood carving that depicted both the sun and moon. His wife selected a necklace with black pearls.

As they turned to leave, I asked if they planned on staying at least until the festival was over. They said that they were traveling across the land and decided to stop at the festival today. I gave them each a few coins and welcomed them to the kingdom. They both graciously thanked me for everything I've done so far.

Before the man got too far, his wife caught sight of the flowers that I bought from a little girl and complemented them. I directed her to where she could find the little girl who was bound to still be selling the flowers. I hesitated when I saw her downcast look when I just gave her directions. I planned on leaving them at the alter of the moon like I do every year.

I smiled and handed the flowers over, telling her that if she liked them so much, she could have them. Today was a day of celebration and I couldn't help but feel fuzzy in my heart when she smiled and caught up with her husband.

It wasn't going to kill me to help the little girl out again.

Later, after all the celebrations died down, I was almost to the alter of the moon. When I got there, there was a slip of paper waiting for me. Sometimes the moon would leave a message like this.

It read:

Thank you for helping the Sun and myself earlier today. He likes you.

Also, please be sure to thank that little girl who raised and picked the flowers you bought.

They're beautiful.

Yours Truly,

The Moon

As I walked out under the night sky, I muttered a prayer. It wasn't continuous but mainly when ever I saw something that caught my eye, I'd say a quick little thank you prayer for it being created.

When I'd get back from my walks, I always felt better and ever grateful.

My therapist just told me my problem is that I need to write more fanfiction.

The cat is waiting for his interview and the newscaster won’t stop laughing. How rude and unprofessional

"Tobias," I sighed.

"Yes, my king?"

"How long do you think we can honestly hold out for him to come home?"

"We're beyond that point, my king. The plant and animal mages are doing what they can to help."

I nodded. I'm tired and I know I can't rule without my brother to help me.

"Why are there so many sunflowers, especially by the boarders?" my stranger asked when we passed a field of some bowing sunflowers.

"There's some bad magic, I don't know what, that the king has tried to protect the kingdom from. But everything he tried didn't work. Ages ago, the mages who used the magic I use figured out that sunflowers were the best defense."

"Did they ever tell the king what they found out?"

I knew he was looking at me but I couldn't tell which he was more concerned for - me or if the king found out sunflowers were good protectors against magic in general.

I stopped to look over the elderly sunflower field. They should be getting ready to go to seed so the next generation could defend the kingdom. But that also means that I have to work in some black gold deep into the soil for them.

"No. They never told him and he never found out," I solemnly stated. It's just not how we were.

“Lost things have a way of showing up when you need them most,” the king replied to the minister’s concern of a beloved object that belonged to the king’s disappearance. “What was lost will show up before you know it.” He lightly patted the minister’s shoulder before going off to face the festering crowd.

so wholesome