Chapter 2:
It takes me mere minutes to deduce where I could find the kitchen tool in question, though the walk to Sur La Toilette and back would likely add an hour to my journey—one of the many disadvantages of being only three inches tall. When I conquer the world again, I will have to install moving sidewalks.
Still, I smirk as I walk; clearly, Mr. Itch only possesses a fraction of my intellect, if he could not complete the simple task of finding a piece of kitchen equipment. No wonder he failed.
The triumphant expression fades from my features. Despite my genius, I had come awfully close to being bested by that devil, to losing Pinky forever.
The first day without Pinky hadn't been much of a challenge. Although I was unused to the peace and quiet, writing out my first laws as new ruler had kept me busy.
On second day, as my minions worked to dismantle boundaries between states and countries and to erect multiple statues of my royal self, I decided to alter the palace. After adding the Royal Library, however, I hit a block. My creative powers only extended as far enough to come up with schemes for world domination. Despite some of his ridiculous ideas, Pinky had an eye for beauty; I had always planned to let him design our castle when we took over. Provided that I held veto power on his decisions.
During day three, I had been touring every continent to check on / be honored by my people. They showered me with glory and gifts: works of art, precious stones, fancy cheeses, and more. While I laughed and watched them bow, I found myself turning to speak to an empty space again and again ("go try some of that Roquefort, Pinky, it'll taste much better than food pellets," and "take this sapphire for your crown, Pinky—I want you to look like a proper world conqueror.")
The tour was over by day four, but I was tempted to leave the lab-turned-castle again within an hour. The peaceful quiet had become oppressive silence. That was when I dragged in Snowball to be my jester, simply for some levity, some laughter, some sound. I felt somewhat smug watching him jump around and jingle his idiotic bells, but the air remained heavy.
By day five, I barely had the energy to rise from my throne. It felt like when Pinky went to hell, he took all of my emotions, too.
I had sorely missed Pinky after just five days without him. What if I had lost him forever? To experience that loneliness, that emptiness, that stillness, that heaviness for the rest of my life...the thought is nightmarish.
"Ow!"
A smack to my enlarged cranium jars me from my musings. I peel myself off the surface and realize that I just walked into the clear glass door of Sur La Toilette.
"Ugh, the amount of brainpower I'm expending on that imbecile is unacceptable."
A patron of the store exits holding a bag of new, likely useless purchases. With a small shake of my head, I rush through the door before it shuts. Once inside, I force myself to focus on my goal: to find that garnish-making device for Pinky.
Pinky...
Am I really so reliant on that fool? My first instinct is to dismiss the thought, but I force myself to actually consider the prospect.
Pinky is hardly an essential to my plans of world domination, though his assistance has been valuable—not that I require him specifically, of course. Though, I must admit, his ramblings had inspired some of my most brilliant plans. Still, I hardly need him.
Yet I had fallen into such a funk when Pinky was stolen from my side, and I had fought demons and hellfire to get him back. If it wasn't because I need him, then perhaps I acted as I did...because I care about him.
My throat goes dry. I must have grown overly attached to that silly mouse; I can't deny that I've grown to consider him a friend, but could my feelings really run this deep?
That's pathetic.
That's terrifying.
That's the only logical explanation.
Memories rush through my head: exuberant hugs, perfect cups of tea, oddly charming verbal tics, the feeling of another warm body curled against mine in the bed on cold nights, the gentle curves of his body when he wears dresses, his beautiful sky blue eyes...
And as I stand in the middle of the isle of a store for overpriced cookware clutching a "radish rose whatchamawhozits," I realize that I am wholly in love with Pinky.