King Skarl's Donation Dome

     “Ah, Brie, you’re up! I guess we have everyone here then?” Lania took a look at the small crowd gathered and nodded as if checking everyone off her mental attendance sheet. “Now that we’re all here, I have some news!” She paused in suspense. Everyone looked on, some with concern, some with excitement. “King Skarl will be visiting Dacardia in a few weeks!”

     Rather than cheers and whoops of excitement, murmurs and whispers grew. Brie understood the islanders’ concerns. Past visitors haven’t been the most… friendly, to say the least. There was Kaia, Benny the Blade, and even a giant Grundobot! Brie had no clue why they were visiting Dacardia while the island was still rebuilding from the crazy storm that hit them, but one thing was for sure: the island was going to be in a frenzy again.

     Crabby Hopbobbins was the first to stop the commotion. She clicked her big red pincers together to get everyone’s attention. At once, all eyes were on her. She was small, but she had the energy to conduct a crowd.

     “I know the reputation King Skarl has, trust me. But we will welcome him regardless, without Dacardian hospitality, just like any other visitor!” Her voice, though mousey, was strong and unwavering. “Every visitor is an opportunity to tell Neopia we’re here, despite it all. Our island may be in ruin, but our spirit isn’t!” She raised one pincer dramatically. “Let’s do our best to welcome King Skarl!”

     Brie had heard the spiel before, but Crabby Hopbobbins was incredible each time. The way she commanded the islanders dissipated all concerns that lingered. Pride and camaraderie swelled among the islanders, and everyone applauded and cheered. As she clapped her paws in support, she dreaded the work that was to come.

     After some discussion among the main organisers of such visits: Crabby Hopbobbins, Lania, Pan, and Ariel, work assignments began to go out. It was decided that with King Skarl’s reputation for an appetite, omelettes would be the priority. Next would be a Neohome filled with furniture pieces that could put even the Grumpy King himself at ease.

     Since the storm ended, residents of Dacardia had grown quite adept at managing their resources and fixing things up. So when each was told what they had to do in preparation for King Skarl’s visit, things fell into place easily. The buzz of hard work filled the salty air once again.

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     Brie was in charge of gathering Seaweed and Driftwood from the beach, for omelettes and furniture. She didn’t mind the hours spent by the water, feeling the scratch of the sand, warm beneath her paws, and the soft waves lapping up against her legs playfully. She loved the beach.

     Seaweed lay across the beach, and driftwood was piled carefully in stacks. After a long morning of gathering, Brie stretched her front legs out and arched her back. It’s been a while since she felt her muscles ache so wonderfully, but it was time for a break.

     She padded over to the Omelette Slab, where Gerald had been assigned to cook omelettes. The Blue Lupe was always bouncing, full of energy. Perhaps he would play in the sand with her.

     “Hey Gerald, how’s it going? Wanna splash about at the beach while I’m on my break?“

     The Blue Lupe looked up from the sizzling Seaweed Omelette. He looked exhausted, which was extremely out of character for him. Beads of sweat dripped down his temple, and his eyes stared, unblinking, at the omelette, as if staring at the omelette could make it cook faster.

     “I can’t talk now, Brie. Maybe in 19 minutes and 20 seconds. These omelettes need flipping!” Gerald snapped up to answer Brie, before whipping his head back to the skillet and skillfully flipping the browning omelette at the perfect time. “Why omelettes?! I’m not some chef cooking up a feast at Faerieland. I want to go back to the caves! But Crabby Hopbobbins doesn’t want rocks, she wants OMELETTES!”

     “Ok then…” Brie slowly backed away as Gerald turned back to the stove and flipped another omelette. “Maybe another time…” She didn’t think the Lupe heard her as she dashed away.

     Maybe Luna would play with me! Brie thought excitedly as she bounced over to the garden. The Blue Shoyru was also assigned to gather materials, berries and straw specifically, so maybe she wouldn’t be in the same state as Gerald was.

     As she got closer towards the gardens, she spotted the Blue Shoyru among the berry bushes, sweltering under the Dacardia sun. Luna looked up at the sound of Brie’s approach and smiled brightly.

     “Brie! Are you on your break now?” Luna wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, her wings fluttering to create some cooling breeze.

     “Yeah! And it looks like you need one too. Wanna head over to the beach for a bit?”

     Luna offered Brie a freshly-picked berry from her basket, and Brie accepted it, savouring the sweet tanginess in her mouth. “Sorry, Brie, I’ll have to pass on that! I’m gonna get back to picking berries in a little bit. I’ve got a really good groove going, and I don’t want to break that! Maybe another time.”

     Brie turned, hiding the scowl growing on her face. No one has time to play anymore. Everyone’s busy, busy, busy! She looked over all of the Island Plaza. Not a single idle Neopet. Lania was busy hammering away at the castle they eventually decided on for King Skarl (“A simple cottage Neohome isn’t fit for a king!” Pan had argued.). Crabbybots scuttled around all over, dotting the green grass with reds. Gone were the carefree days before the storm, where Brie could spend days on the beach with not a care in the world; just her, the beach, and her friends beside her. Everything has changed since the storm blew over, and she knew why, but it was taking her some time to feel welcome to this change. Her friends were always in work mode now, and no one ever had time to play.

     Maybe she should grow up and move on just like everyone else.

     Brie decided to push that thought away for now and get back to her gathering. It was only a few days until King Skarl arrived, and she needed to do her part. Just because she missed the good old days didn’t mean that she could let her friends and the other Islanders down. And so, back she went to the beach and carried on the day, gathering seaweed and driftwood.

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      King Skarl stood on board the wooden ship, hands on his hips and overlooking Dacardia with disdain. The voyage here wasn’t easy, having to go eastward from Meridell, over Maraqua and Moltara, before arriving on this island that was once covered by the storm. Skarl was never a fan of sea travel - trapped on a boat with no entertainment and a limited supply of food. Meridell didn’t travel long distances by sea often, and hence, there was no need for the country to have prepared a luxury ship for this one trip. Regardless, he would have chosen to travel here by ship rather than scaling the rough peaks of Terror Mountain or braving the scorching hot sand of the Lost Desert. He could deal with a few days of boredom and food rationing on a ship.

     Given the limited resources they could bring along, Skarl could not have his usual full crew along with him. Instead, he chose his two most loyal guards to accompany him on this journey. As Skarl stomped off the ship and onto the docks of Dacardia, his two Draik guards trailed behind, their metal armour clanking loudly against the wooden boards.

     “Welcome to Dacardia, your highness! We have been most excited for your arrival. My name is Lania Cragg” A Red Lutari greeted with a bow. Several other islanders welcomed King Skarl and his crew with deep bows.

     “Yes, yes, now show my men and me to your main plaza.” Skarl dismissed their greetings with a wave. Formalities and niceties! He didn’t have time for that. He wanted to sink his tired bones into a soft bed after what he had to endure getting here.

     “Well, this is it, your highness.” Lania gestured toward the island with an outstretched arm.

     “Pah! What a sight! Or should I say none at all!” Skarl scanned the island, and it was pathetic. He knew a strange storm had destroyed the island, but he had thought the rebuild efforts had been ongoing, if not complete. The barren land that lay before his eyes couldn’t have been all the island had. Off the docks and onto the beach, debris parts lay in piles. As soon as he looked over, a Yellow Kougra islander rushed to clean up the pile.

     “Since the storm, we have been working hard to restore the island and rescue residents who were trapped! It’s still ongoing for now, but we hope you can relax with what we have to offer for now, and return someday to see Dacardia in its full, former glory.” An elderly Purple Draik spoke up, bowing so low his glasses almost tilted off his nose.

     “Hmm, yes, that mysterious storm… Regardless, show me to my lodgings immediately! I want to get some rest while my men unpack. And of course, food! Show me what Darcadians have to offer!”

     “Yes, of course, your highness. Please, follow me.” The Purple Draik raised his head from the deep bow and walked ahead, toward what looked like a Neohome built like a castle.

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      As Brie stuck her head out from above the waters, seaweed dangling from her mouth, she heard the commotion.

     “NOT ANOTHER OMELETTE!” King Skarl crashed out of the castle doors, huffing and puffing in anger. The Draik Guards, still in their heavy metal armour, rushed out behind him, beads of sweat dripping profusely down their faces. Brie couldn’t imagine how uncomfortably hot it must be inside the armour. Pan and Crabby Hopbobbins trailed behind. Pan’s face wore a panicked expression, while Crabby Hopbobbins just frowned, her spectacles bouncing up and down her stalky eyes as she scuttled to catch up with the group.

     “Your highness, the omelettes of Dacardia are a delicacy, made from fresh ingredients, locally sourced! The Islanders have worked hard for your arrival, gathering only the best ingredients and cooking only perfect omelettes. You might enjoy our Sushi Omelette, made with fresh fish and crab caught at our very own Seacret Beach!” Pan’s anxious attempts to appease King Skarl seemed to work, as the King’s pace slowed down slightly.

     Brie got out of the water and sorted through the piles of seaweed, fresh fish, crabs, and the few electric eels she found at the beach today. She listened as King Skarl allowed Pan and Crabby Hopbobbins to serve more omelettes to him, but only if he was left alone for a moment to relax by the beach. Pan and Crabby Hopbobbins bowed deeply before rushing to the Omelette Slab.

     Other than the scuttle of Crabbybots around the beach clearing up debris piles that seemed to appear every few minutes, and the sound of metal from King Skarl’s guards, the beach was peaceful. The sound of the waves lapping against the ocean was one of Brie’s favourite things about living on an island. She tried to work as quietly as she could, not wanting to ruin the King’s quiet time on the beach. She wanted him to understand how beautiful Dacardia was, without all the bustle. Sometimes all one needs is a quiet day at the beach.

     “We’ve set up the beach umbrella and chair for you, your majesty.” The two Draik Guards bowed deeply behind King Skarl. With his hands on his hips, he surveyed the area and slightly nodded in approval, looking satisfied with the area. Brie felt a small surge of pride form in her heart as she watched from a distance.

     All of a sudden, the Blue Skeith pulled off his iconic red coat in a dramatic motion. A few unsuspecting Crabbybots were blown away by the King’s sudden gesture, the debris bits from their little claws along with them. Now the King stood on the beach in nothing but a pair of red and white beach shorts. Well, of course, his golden crown still sat upon his head. He held his coat on his outstretched arm like a coat rack and continued to look out towards the sparkling ocean. One of the Draik Guards hurriedly grabbed the coat from his hand, not wanting to keep him waiting for more than a second longer. He settled into the shade of the umbrella, on the big beach chair. The two Draik Guards stood watch behind him on either side, their faces stoic and sweaty.

     “Can you believe they don’t have any meat on this island? Just Omelettes! Unbelievable!” The King spoke out loud.

     “It truly is unbelievable, your majesty.” The Draik Guard on the right responded promptly.

     “You’re right, your majesty.” The Draik Guard on the left followed.

     The King huffed, satisfied that the guards agreed with his statement. He sat quietly, fingers intertwined against his blue belly. For some moments, he just stared out towards the shimmering water. Brie wondered if the beaches at Meridell were as beautiful as the ones on Dacardia - if they had any beaches at all. Brie thought that the perpetual grumpy expression on the King’s face softened just a little. Beaches did have that effect. She understood it, and felt a small seed of pride bloom in her heart.

     “Beautiful island though, eh,” the King suddenly commented, his voice blanketing the sound of the lapping waves. “Too bad they got hit by that storm. How can a few islanders rebuild an entire island!?”

     Brie continued her work of gathering as she listened to the King’s rant about the lack of resources on the island, and once again, how the residents only ate omelettes. Brie wanted to shout that of course they ate other dishes! Like fish, and berries… and they did have more restaurants and resources before the storm. She wished she could show the King how brilliant Dacardia was before the storm destroyed the island, how the dense jungle was swarmed with all sorts of creatures he would never have seen before in Meridell, and how the crystals from the Dacardite mines shone when the sunlight hit at the right angle. There was so much more to Dacardia that no one could see now that half their island remained in ruins.

     All these emotions welled up within Brie and she was overwhelmed with sadness and nostalgia. She missed the way things were around. She didn’t want visitors to think Dacardia was a small island of ruins. It wasn’t like this before.

     She tossed the clump of seaweed gathered in her paws to the side. As she left the beach, she swung her tail in defiance and knocked over a stack of driftwood. Caught up in her own thoughts and worries, she didn’t realize that the loud clatter of the driftwood falling against the rocks scared King Skarl, and neither did she realize that he wondered if he had spoken too harshly and too loudly as he watched as the Yellow Kougra’s back grow smaller away from him.

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     A few days after King Skarl’s departure, Dacardia had fallen back into its peaceful daily rhythm. The tension that sparked the air was now gone. Even Luna and Gerald finally got away from their work stations to play with Brie at the beach.

     They were in the middle of building the third sandcastle when Gerald pointed towards a ship coming towards the island from the horizon.

     “Who could it be? We weren’t expecting another visitor, were we?” Luna asked.

     Neither of them knew the answer, and decided it would be best to find Crabby Hopbobbins and the others. Gerald ran off to fetch them since he was the fastest runner among the three of them. Luna and Brie headed toward the docks as the ship came closer and closer. Brie and Luna gasped at the same time when they both spotted the flag of Meridell flying on the mast of the ship. Did King Skarl return?

     Gerald returned with Crabby Hopbobbins, Lania, and Pan, just as the ship docked. The familiar Green Draik Guard stepped off the boat and greeted them.

     “Apologies for the sudden appearance. The King insisted we make haste once he arrived back at his castle after his journey. He sends his thanks to Dacardia once again for everyone’s hospitality.”

     “He sends his thanks? Does that mean he’s not here?” Lania inquired and peeked over the guard’s shoulders.

     “Oh dear, no. I don’t think our King could handle another sea voyage so soon. He sends provisions. Something to help your desolate island.” The Draik Guard explained and went back up onto the ship and shouted to the rest of the crew. “Alright, everyone! Quickly! Let’s unload as fast as we can before our journey back. And remember, leave our own provisions alone or we’ll starve till Meridell!”

     One by one, crew members and other guards descended from the ship. Some rolled wheels of cheese from the gangplank to the dock, and others carried heavy crates. They worked quickly and methodically, leaving the crates and wheels of cheese in a row before going back up to grab more. The residents of Dacardia were left speechless as the mountain of provisions grew. Lania pried open the crates. Potatoes, marrows, medieval berries, and even chicken and gammon! The residents ooh-ed and ahh-ed as they looked upon the ingredients.

     “Please, tell the King that Dacardia is extremely grateful for his generous donation.” Crabby Hopbobbins stood on one of the closed crates and spoke to the Draik guard. The residents of Dacardia echoed her sentiments, praising the King for all the food and supplies they now had.

     The Draik Guard bowed and saluted. When the crates were unloaded, he shouted at the crew to prepare the ship for the return trip.

     “We hope you will visit Meridell some time. Our King has graciously invited the residents of Dacardia. I believe he truly enjoyed his time here. Now then, we’re off! Take care.” He bowed deeply once more and headed back up the ship.

     Everything happened so quickly that Brie could not believe what happened. King Skarl, the grumpy glutton King Skarl, turned into the generous giving King Skarl? Brie thought to herself with a smile: it must have been the beach.

     The End.