[Gpdd] SILLY-- Palace of the Piggle, Installment 4 (and a brief sideline)

[Kimberleigh]

Hey there PotP fans:
I just wanted to thank you, thank you for the wonderful feedback I've recieved
thus far on my piggie tale. It's just overwhelmed me with joy to see that my
work is bringing enjoyment to so many. I'm truly touched. Also, I apologize
for both the lateness and the shortness of installment 4-- technical
difficulties were preventing me from progressing the story as much as I would
have liked. However, the reason this installment is so short is that I spent
most of my writing time working on a more solid storyline to follow. So
subsequent installments should be of a more satisfactory length and quality,
for both you and me. ^_^ So please bear with me, the tale is about halfway
through and all the best excitement is yet to come! Of course anyone who knows
the name of my little princess at home recognizes that I wrote her into the
story. Queen Chloe is the ruler of my bedroom and I couldn't resist putting
her into the Palace of the Piggle. Anyhow, enough preamble-- here's the story!




Parsnip, Marigold, and Wildflower awoke with a start. There was a horrible
noise coming from all around them—was the dungeon caving in?! 
It took them a few moments to realize that the commotion was coming from
outside. A group of guinea pigs was doing a great deal of angry yelling. The
three crowded closer to each other and crept near the opening of the dungeon,
straining to hear what was being said. 
The kingdom had found out that Wildflower was imprisoned. Rumblestrut had
never imagined his subjects could stand up to him this much—then again, he’d
never done anything as risky as imprisoning the kingdom’s most beloved member.
There was a great commotion outside the royal burrow. Several pigs were
shouting for Wildflower’s immediate release. Some were crying out that
Rumblestrut had gone too far. He had to act fast or he could have a full-blown
riot on his paws! 
“Silence, quiet all of you and listen to your prince!” Rumblestrut bellowed in
a voice that left no room for argument. The subjects quieted, but it was an
uneasy silence. 
“Listen to me. Wildflower is in the dungeon, yes. She got there by disobeying
my orders and aiding another pig in mutinous behavior. Any further ruckus out
of you lot and I’ll have you ALL tossed in the dungeon! In one week, you may
present argument for her release, but not one minute sooner. And if you can’t
keep your arguments civil you’ll be dismissed immediately. Is this clear?”
The other pigs were flabbergasted. For Rumblestrut, this was reasonable, even
fair, treatment of his subjects. No one would have expected him to take the
civilized approach—which was exactly what he’d been counting on. It had the
desired effect. The pigs calmed immediately, bolstered by Rumblestrut’s not
falling into a temper. Now he had a week to come up with further plans against
resistance and to get his subjects once again squarely beneath his heel. 
Delighted at their prince’s sudden reasonableness, the pigs dispersed
respectfully, not wanting to do the slightest thing to wreck his generous
mood. Now they had a week to prepare arguments for the princess’ release.
Surely, if they came up with an argument that was both logically sound and
compassionate, even someone like Prince Rumblestrut might be persuaded to
listen! They gathered together the most eloquent speakers and forward-thinking
pigs and organized a meeting at once. 
Back in the dungeon, Parsnip, Marigold, and Wildflower breathed sighs of
relief. “Well that ended peaceable enough,” Mari said. 
“But my brother must be up to something. He has never acted this way before.
If he had been a little more like this, he wouldn’t be such a terrible ruler.
No, my friends, something is definitely up. Rumblestrut would never allow
himself to appear vulnerable, for even a second, without something going on
behind the act.”
Parsnip nodded. “You’re right there, princess, but this gives us a week. We
haven’t much down here to do except think and talk anyway, so between the
three of us I bet we can figure something out! We’ll have to try and guess his
plan and think of ways to prevent this from becoming war. I can tell this is
bigger than anything that’s happened since Rumblestrut came into power. Mark
my words, this’ll be the deciding battle. So it’s time to get serious.”
The girls nodded their agreement with Parsnip’s wise words and the three of
them settled down to wrack their brains. 




-- 
~~Kimi
http://www.thiscrazysite.com