Cupcakes

A Chapter by Amber Tasch

pleeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me what you think or ill die!!

Chapter one: Cupcakes

Wind rolled over the sweet grass and farmers tended to their livestock. The Land of Candy was at peace, but its princess was not. Princess Buttercup was pacing in her throne room with her golden hair flowing behind her, matching the movements of her purple silk gown. Her chocolate servants worried for their young princess, and for their country. Buttercup looked nervously over her shoulder at the large oak door that sealed off the room.

"Do not worry ma'am. I'm sure that he will return soon," one of the servants spoke up.

"The sooner would be nice." Buttercup said as she continued to pace. "I wish that I had sent younger bones to fetch the news. Perhaps I work him to hard and he has fled. Perhaps the news was too great for his weak heart to bear and he has departed."

"My dear lady! Why have such a gloomy outlook on the situation? What if the news was good?"

"Then he would be here sooner. The Land of Sweets does not take kindly to us and you know that. The news is without a doubt, horrid." And with that she sat in her peppermint throne. Hours would pass before her white-chocolate advisor came through the oaken doors, so she saw no point in pacing any longer. She began to lick her finger and swirl the red peppermint into the white. she had turned the mint pink by the time her advisor showed up, breathing heavy, but with a smile.

She stood abruptly and went to her advisor's side. Though buttercup was eager for news she knew that she had to let the old man rest. He drank some sweet nectar and spoke.

"Princess, there is grave news. A war is brewing and the only light out would seem to be to meet the demands of their king." The old man coughed until his face was as pink as the peppermint on Buttercup's throne.

"Speak up silly man! What demands are these? What requests are needed to be met?"

"Princess, he wished to marry the cupcake prince to you."

Suddenly she stood a little straighter, acting as educated as she could. "I would rather kiss a bitter apple than his lips in matrimony. Of all the ridiculous requests that I have heard in my life, that is the most ridiculous. Scribe!"

A small man made of licorice came over to her in a hurry. "yes ma'am?"

"Write to this king and tell him-" suddenly she was cut off. Her advisor had his hand on her shoulder.

"Mistress please," he said in a pathetic voice. "Think on this matter. We cannot afford to go to war, not in these times."

"You silly old fool, would you trade in pride for you're country for the safety of you're people? Of course you would. But did you not think that we could win? Of course you didn't. However you are my advisor. When mom and dad died you took care of me and I trust you're judgment. I will deliberate on the matter at hand."

"Thank you. Despite the first comments, you are quite mature."

Buttercup blushed and turned quickly to hide it. She walked to the window and sighed. Never had she thought that she would have to make such an enormous decision in her lifetime. She was young and unprepared. She was even a little scared though she would not show it when her servants and advisor were around. She dismissed then and asked to have the throne later fixed of the damage she had done to the arm while waiting. She paced a little longer pondering her marriage, they decided to give up and go to bed.

As she went up to her room she realized something as the situation sunk in. What IF she said no? She immediately went to her chamber and pressed a chocolate button on the gram-cracker wall. A small tray popped out to reveal a map of the two kingdoms, Candy and Sweets, and small marker representing flanks or the armies. She began to work out a strategy, studying the war tactics of the Land of Sweets, and created a backup plan. She left no time to think about marrying such a horrid man and went to sleep to avoid the matter entirely.

Buttercup never dreamt. She always had nightmares and could never do a thing to get anything else. The stress of todays news was no exception. Her sleep was filled with the choking scent of blood and the piercing screams of her people. All the candy hills crumbled and the sugar stalks died. Her servants and advisor melted along with all the other candy people. She was utterly alone with only herself for company. Eventually she became so weakened by hunger she had to go to the Land of Sweets and beg for food, only to find that they were at war and she had lost.

She awoke the next morning to find that her people where happily living their lives and completely unaware of what was happening on the inside of the palace. "Good," she thought to herself. "I do not want them to worry for themselves. They are good people and should be living freely." She felt sweet tears drip down her face and fall onto her silk dress and absorb. She wiped them away and went to the dining hall for breakfast.

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