Autumn had come to the kingdom of Magnolia. There was a chill in the air and the leaves of the trees in the surrounding forest had turned various shades of amber. Most residents of the kingdom were none too happy to see the back of summer, least of all school children. They already missed feeling the heat of the sun and the sweet scents in the air to which they had become so accustomed.
Even with the sweet taste of summer beginning to fade, Prince Bambi found himself in an oddly good mood. Though not being particularly fond of cold weather himself, he could't help but be glad of it as it meant the approaching of a very special day that came but once a year. One particular day, he was standing on the balcony of the topmost castle tower, leaning forward on the stone banister and gazing up into the afternoon sky.
"It's almost here, Mother," he said. "Just a couple more weeks til your birthday."
Every year since her death, Bambi had done something special to celebrate his mother's birthday. Nothing particularly grand or extravagant. He usually just asked Theodore's parents to prepare tea and a small cake, which he would eat under the tree in the courtyard, alone in the flesh but feeling her presence all the same. Maybe it wasn't much, but it was special all the same. Special because he did it just for her and he knew it would've meant the world to her.
He was planning to do the same thing this year, but hoped that this time the guest list could be brought up to two. And I'm sure you can guess whom he hoped his anticipated company would be.
"Better go ask Dad," he said brightly, turning to leave.
He decided he'd try Barron's study first, since it was closer. He went down several flights of stairs and was just about to turn a corner that he knew would lead him to his destination when he suddenly found his path blocked by a strangely excited looking King Barron.
"Hi, Dad. Can I ask you something?"
"Just the man I wanted to see," said Barron, clasping Bambi on the shoulder. "I have something very important to tell you, Bambi."
"What is it?" Bambi asked, slightly surprised by his father's enthusiastic greeting.
"Come with me."
Barron led Bambi a short ways to a door Bambi had almost never seen opened. He knew it led to the trophy room, which housed numerous awards that various members of his family had earned over the years, but having never won so much as a blue ribbon for anything, he had almost never set foot there. He wondered, therefor, why Barron wanted to speak to him there, unless he thought it was an ideal place to talk in private.
Barron opened the door and ushered Bambi inside. The trophy room was a long, narrow room lit by a single window. Three or four large glass cases were positioned against the walls, each holding a variety of medals, ribbons, and small trophies. A dozen or so plaques covered the otherwise bare walls. It had a slightly abandoned quality and it smelled vaguely of dust. It was plain to see that this was a room that almost never got used or visited.
"So what's up, Dad?" Bambi asked, wondering more than ever why his father wanted to talk to him here of all places.
Barron closed the door behind him and held up a small roll of parchment.
"Do you know what I have here, Bambi?" he asked, smiling broadly.
Bambi shook his head feeling puzzled.
"This is the approval for you to participate in this year's Royal Strengths Quest Challenge," said Barron.
Judging by his father's excitement, Bambi assumed this must have been a big deal. And he would've liked to agree, but there was just one problem.
"What's a... Royal Strengths Quest Challenge?" he asked.
"It's an age-old competition and a fine tradition around these parts. Young princes partake in a series of challenges designed to root out each one's most noble defining trait. You could say it's a rite of passage of sorts. Here, let me show you," Barron said.
He put a hand on Bambi's shoulder and they walked a few paces over to the nearest glass case.
"Do you see all those medals?" Barron asked.
He pointed to a shelf that lay beyond the case's glass window. It was lined with at least a dozen golden medals. Bambi looked closely at them. They were all similar in style, but each hung from a different-colored ribbon and was engraved with a different word, "Bravery", "Strength", and "Wisdom" among them.
"Yeah," Bambi answered.
"These were all awarded to generations of princes in our family who have competed in the Strengths Quest Challenge," Barron explained. "There's mine. See?" he said, pointing to the end of the line of medals.
Bambi studied the last medal, which indeed looked a bit newer and less tarnished than the others. Its ribbon was royal blue and it bore the word "Traditionalism".
"Yeah, that's you alright, Dad," joked Bambi.
Barron chuckled and ruffled Bambi's hair. "It's a feeling like no other, earning that medal and the title that comes with it," he said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "It's a real moment of self-discovery. You get to learn about yourself and your greatest strengths, some of which you may not have even known you possessed. That inspires you to show those true colors more as you grow older. And by the time you take your place on the throne, your character will have developed as much as you have."
"And you think I'm ready?" asked Bambi.
"Why not? You've reached the age requirement. Anyway, you've learned a lot these past few months," said Barron proudly.
Bambi thought of every challenge he had faced that year and of the lessons that had come with them. Facing a menacing foe, hosting a royal event, taking charge in an emergency, even standing up to loved ones. Each of these had been difficult in their own way, but he had indeed gotten through them all and had grown braver and wiser because of them. Maybe, he decided, if he could handle all of those challenges, then this new one should pose little threat. Also, he had to admit, after hearing his father describe the feeling of discovering one's greatest strength, he was now extremely eager to learn what his was.
"This year's Challenge is in the kingdom of Olympia, one week from now," said Barron.
Bambi privately thought that was appropriate. Though he'd never been there, he knew Olympia was a large kingdom that took great pride in its architecture and masonry industries. From what he'd heard, they even had an enormous amphitheater where audiences could enjoy plays, circuses, and even the occasional sporting event. What better place to have such a grand event as this challenge? Bambi imagined people from all over the land came for the chance to watch their future kings compete. This gave him a sudden thought.
"Can I invite my friends to come and watch?"
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" asked Barron, smiling and pointing to a door on the opposite end of the room.
Confused, Bambi walked over to the door, turned its knob, and pulled it open. To his surprise, Theodore, who seemed to have been leaning against the other side of the door, let out a brief shout, fell forward, and landed face-first onto the floor at Bambi's feet. Bambi stared at him for a second and then noticed that he was not alone. Faline, Florean, Oswald, and all of Theodore's little sisters seemed to have been listening at the door with him.
"Told ya not to lean on the door," said Trixie smugly to her brother as they all stepped over him and walked inside. "It's one of the most important rules of eavesdropping."
"Yeah, yeah," said Theodore, pushing himself off of the floor with one hand and rubbing his cheekbone with the other.
"Sorry, have you all been there this whole time?" Bambi asked the group at large.
"You bet, buddy," said Theodore. "Your dad told us all about this Challenge... thingy. And we wanted to be here to A. congratulate you and B. ask you if we could not only go with you, but to serve as your entourage."
"My entourage?" asked Bambi blankly.
"Yes, lad," said a beaming Oswald. "This is indeed a great honor, and not just for you. I've been around to see your father and your grandfather partake in the Challenge and it would be my pleasure to help and assist the next generation in any way I can."
"And we'd all love to be there to support you," said Faline, folding her arms around Bambi.
"Yeah! We wanna see you compete with other princes!" said Trixie eagerly.
"And to find out your most noble defining trait," said Ria.
"Ooh! I'll bet it's courage!" said Daisy. "No, maybe wisdom! Or kindness! Leadership? Oh! I know! I know! Handsomeness! Is that noble?"
"Please, Bambi?" Tessie implored, smiling up at him with her shining blue eyes.
"You wouldn't say no to a face like that, would you?" Florean asked Bambi.
Bambi tried not to look too closely. Florean was right - he (Bambi) had always been a sucker for Tessie's sweetness. That aside, he did begin to strongly consider both competing in the Strengths Quest Challenge and allowing his friends and family to assist him. They all seemed genuinely excited for him and wanted to help him. Plus, who really would he be without all of them?
He then put on a teasingly defeated smile and said, "Looks like we're all going to Olympia."
"Yeah, buddy!" shouted Theodore, putting an arm around Bambi's shoulders and pulling him close for a noogie.
Bambi found himself suddenly bombarded with words of praise and congratulations. Every one of his friends was speaking over one another and he couldn't tell who said what. He could only make out a few distinct statements like, "So exciting!" or "We're going to Olympia!" and more than once, "What can I do, Bambi?"
Bambi could only smile humbly and thank everyone individually for their kindness and eagerness to help. After a few minutes, they all parted to give him some room to breathe. It was then than Barron asked, "Now Bambi, was there something you wanted to ask me?"
Was there? The news of the Strengths Quest Challenge had completely driven all other thoughts from his mind. Bambi thought for a moment, trying to remember what it was that he had wanted to ask, but came to no conclusion. He decided that whatever it had been, it couldn't have been more important than the Strengths Quest Challenge.
"It can wait," he said with a shrug.