'I never wanted all this... I wished for more than I could handle. Here I am surrounded by those who follow me as their leader. I am the king of all I see. King of my world. How did this all happen you ask? Well... it all started three months ago...'
Three months ago...
A man sits on a tree stump at late night. He is under a bridge cooking beans from a can in a barrel in front of him. The man wears a grey beanie, a dirty brown jacket, tattered jeans and brown boots with holes in the toes. He eagerly stirs the beans around the barrel, licking his lips at the thought of a meal. A train rushed over the bridge, causing the barrel to spill onto the man's lap. The man brushed the liquid and beans off his lap as he spoke to himself.
"I guess I should get some shut-eye." He sighed glumly.
The man walked over to a large cardboard box and lay down inside it. He pulled a sheet on newspaper pages over his body as a makeshift blanket and pulled his beanie over his eyes.
"I just wish I could get out of the gutter and just... live large. Like a king..."
The next morning the man pulled the beanie off his eyes and rubbed them. He stood up from his box and stretched his arms and legs. As he did so, he noticed his clothes were neither covered in dirt nor torn and tattered. He looked around in disbelief with a smile. All of a sudden he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. He turned around to see who it was. The man saw a short man in a yellow full-body robe with the hood pulled over his head to hide his face.
"Good morning, my master." The robed man said with a bow.
"Master?" The man replied with a confused look on his face.
"Indeed." He chucked in reply while standing upright "I am your loyal servant"
"Is this some kind of joke"
"No joke. I am absolutely, one hundred percent serious"
"Well then, what is your name"
"Moza." The robed man replied with glee.
"Moza, huh? Name's Jack"
"I need not know your name, master. I shall just call you master."
Jack scratched his head in confusion as he tried to work out what was going on. He looked down at his clothes once more and noticed a tag on his left sleeve.
Made in Wonderwood
"What's Wonderwood Town?" Jack asked with a puzzled look.
"A city, but more importantly, your kingdom!" Moza replied with a chuckle.
"M-My kingdom"
"Have you forgotten? You rule Wonderwood as our king"
"Do I have a castle and everything"
"Of course! What's a king without his castle?"
Jacks eyes widened with surprise. He was a king of a city named Wonderwood. He sighed with relief when Moza explained that he had a castle to live in. He no longer needed to sleep in a cardboard box and cook beans from a can. He looked at Moza and smiled at the man.
"Take me there. Take me to Wonderwood"
"Your wish is my command, master!" Moza shouted out cheerfully.
Moza pulled a golden rod from his robe and thrusted it into the air. Sparks emitted from the rod and swirled around the two men. The two spun around with the sparks and shot into the air and eventually disappearing. When the men reappeared, they were in a bustling city square. The city looked medieval with bazaars and tradesman as far as the eye could see. The houses also looked medieval with clay walls and hay roofs. Moza pointed in the opposite direction and Jack followed Moza's finger. Moza pointed a large castle with towers in each corner.
"How clich?" Jack muttered to himself, yet smiling at the wonder.
"That is your castle. Do you wish for me to give you a tour?" Moza asked with a smile.
"Of course!"
The two men headed up a stone path towards the castle.
'I think I'm going to like this... A king...' Jack thought to himself, still smiling.
Jack and Moza approached the large wooden gates of the castle.
"Are you ready to go inside?" Moza asked with a smirk.
"You bet I am"
"Close your eyes."
Jack closed his eyes tight. Moza looked over at Jack as he pushed the gate's doors open. He took as step inside as his eyes widened.
"Oh dear!" Moza cried in terror.
To be continued...