Some random fiction I wrote some time ago. Just thought you guys would like it, what with all the killing and all.
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It's supposed to be similar to a fairytale, and it does have a moral.
There was once a king of a great northern kingdom, just and fair. He was a practical man, and saw little purpose to the various luxuries indulged in by others.
One day, he surveyed his kingdom and let out a heavy sigh. He saw gilded villas and mansions, people with bloated bellies and clouded minds, and not anywhere to be seen was the signs of productivity.
And so he made a drastic decision; he mandated that all paintings all art all luxury from his palace be removed leaving only that which is absolutely necessary.
The royal palace became a model of Spartan living. Its walls were made bare and all luxuries removed. Yet, as the king surveyed his kingdom, he saw that nothing had changed, and his people were still too comfortable for their own good.
And so a solution sprung to his mind; he mandated that all paintings and all art be removed from his kingdom, perceiving that this is where the wasteful lifestyle originated.
That night, the soldiers came into the city, taking all the paintings and art that they found. And later, as the king surveyed the kingdom once more, he still sighed. Now the people rarely if ever left their homes, living a sedentary lifestyle. They simply sat inside, wandering the rooms and being entertained by the objects inside as the days passed unnoticed outside.
And so he had an idea; he mandated that all houses be reduced to the bare minimum, with only a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom.
Shortly thereafter the houses were reduced, the unnecessary rooms demolished. The houses were now built using only the most basic architecture, with little decoration and the most utilitarian of designs. But when the king once more surveyed his kingdom, he saw that his people were still not performing to his satisfaction. For now that they were unable to express themselves through art and in their homes, they placed even greater value on their clothing and on fashion. They began to wear more and more extravagant costumes, trends would change unpredictably and most of their time would be spent predicting future trends and deciding what to wear.
And so the king came to a decision; his people would henceforth wear a drab ans simple tan uniform, thus preventing them from taking pride in and being distracted by their garments, instead focusing on productivity.
That same day, all clothes were taken from the people and replaced with the uniform. The king surveyed his people again, and were satisfied. There were no longer any means with which the people could distract themselves, and the kingdom became more productive than ever. He walked the streets proudly, seeing the simple building and efficient workers, oblivious to their hateful looks.
They seized him, there in the streets, and seized the queen in her palace. They beat the king, and hung them both in the middle of the city, where they all could see. The young prince they let live however, and they cheerfully placed him at the front of the crowd during the hangings and beatings. And upon the monarch's death, the people rejoiced, for the tyrannical reign was over and the people would be oppressed no longer.
The young prince was nurtured and raised with the people's ideals by the people.
And the first thing the new king did was to abolish all the restrictions set forth by the old king, freeing them. And the people rejoiced.
One day, the king looked upon his kingdom and its high stone walls, ominous and forbidding. As he gazed upon these fortifications, he though, My people are trapped within these city walls, unable to leave by night and herded through gates. Surely they deserve better that than this.
And so, when the king returned to his palace, he decreed that the city walls be knocked down, so that his people would be able to roam freely. It was done quickly and effectively, and the people applauded the king.
Some time later, the king wandered around the palace, and when he came to the barracks, he overheard a conversation. The soldiers weren't to happy about their current situation, and longed to get back to the families which they were plucked out of during the former king's reign. Many had to travel far from their homes, and had not heard from their relatives for a very long time.
The king took pity on the soldiers, and as he had been brought up and reigned in peaceful times, saw little use for them. When he came back to his throne room he decreed that all soldiers be sent home safely with a generous parting gift to feed their families until they find other work. The soldiers left happily, and though some were worried, many cheered for the king and his kindness.
A few more days pass, and while the king was surveying the city one morning, he saw the farmers working hard and long, backs bent and sweating. The king took pity on these humble workers, and thinking them envious of the soldiers' recent happy departure, relaxed production quotas and declared new holidays.
The people continued to applaud their new king, despite some recent shortages in supplies. Eventually production fell behind demand, but as there was a large surplus left behind before, the king thought nothing of it.
And so the king gave generously to those who asked, and even to some who did not, and was oblivious of the rapidly emptying vaults. Starvation lurked just around the corner though, as supplies dipper ever lower. A neighboring nation, who were envious of their success and long wanted the land as their own, seized this as an opportunity to strike.
The kingdom was caught unprepared, and the invading forces met little resistance. Impromptu militias were raised and felled as few if any remembered their training. The siege on the palace lasted but a few days, as supplies were minimal and the soldiers had been retired.
And so fell the great northern kingdom.
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Topic: Here's some fiction for you guys to tear apart. (Read 2160 times)