Nijeer’s role model, superhero, and father were all the same person. Nijeer admired his father and for his kindness and awesomeness. His father always played toy guns with him, and he let Nijeer hold his king’s scepter multiple times, since he was small.
Most of all though, Nijeer’s father seemed to be endlessly smart. He always made good decisions for the kingdom as well as keeping it modern and safe from danger.
On this particular day, The King peaked inside his son’s small room, where Nijeer laid in his bed, his tummy rising and falling as he snored.
The King tip-toed over to the bed, raised his hands slowly… and then tickled the boy!
Nijeer immediately woke up and bused out laughing. “Dad!”
Nijeer quickly sat up, and the two kept chuckling until The King fell onto the bed.
“I know you usually sleep in on Sundays, but today I woke you up early to say bye before I go off for two days,” the King explained.
Nijeer then frowned. “Aw, Papa, why are you leaving?”
“I’m going to be off at a royal connection’s meeting two realms over. I’ll be back before you know it though.” The King smiled.
Nijeer followed his father to the breakfast table.
Though the shiny wooden table could seat thirty-six, the family usually all sat at one end of the table all cooped up together.
The Queen was busy flipping bacon, when she started to have a coughing fit.
“Mom, don’t cough over the bacon! It’s the best part of the meal!” yelled Nijeer.
“Sorry Nijeer. I just fell a bit out of sorts,” said The Queen.
As the family ate their bacon and pancakes, The King began to explain the arrangements he made for while he was gone.
“As always my love, you are in full control of the kingdom while I’m gone,” Nijeer’s father said to his mother. “Just make sure you send the market goods people out west to trade with the Well’s kingdom, and whatever you do, do NOT open the dungeon gates until we find out how to deal with… the problem.” The King explained.
Nijeer’s Mother sniffled and nodded, while Nijeer imagined what it would be like to rule the kingdom once he grew older.
“Alright, I’m off. See you in two days,” said The King.
“Goodbye Dad.” said Nijeer. The King scraped all his leftover bacon onto Nijeer’s plate because he knew Nijeer loved bacon, and then he was off, horse and carriage clackeling down the road.
Nijeer frowned, sad to see his father go, while his mother had yet another coughing fit.
Nijeer turned to her. “Mom, are you alright?”
“No, I think I’m sick!” The Queen exclaimed.
“Well don’t you worry Mom, I’ll take care of the kingdom while YOU recover!” Nijeer got up and pushed his mother to her room.
“Are you sure, Nijeer? You’re only five!”
“Yes, I’m sure. I’ve watched Dad make all his great decisions, and Dad is the best king ever! I’ll be just like him and lead the kingdom to greatness!” Nijeer yelled as he sat his Mom down on her bed gently, then he ran and grabbed a box of tissues and handed them to her.
“Alright son. Don’t get carried away!” yelled The Queen, but Nijeer was already off.
Nijeer walked confidently over to his father’s office. He couldn’t wait to make all the decisions, to be a king!
His climbed into his father’s black rolling chair, and was surprised of how soft it felt. He played around with his fathers golden pens, and accidently knocked over a box of staples.
While Nijeer was picking them up, adviser Shawn came into the office.
“King Robert?”
Nijeer popped his head up from behind the desk. “It’s King Nijeer for now.”
Shawn looked surprised for a second but then shook his head. “The market people are ready to sell their goods to the Well kingdom.”
“Ah, yes, send them east!” said Nijeer. East is where his father had told his mom to send the market goods people, right? Yes, east sounded about right to Nijeer.
“Are you sure young King Nijeer? Because the Well kingdom is-”
“Yes I’m sure Shawn, send the people east.”
And with that, Shawn left the room.
A guard came into the office.
“Hello, I am stand-in King for the moment, so what may be the problem?” Nijeer asked.
The guard raised an eyebrow. Then he sighed and said, “A woman from the outer villages says she’s seen hostile enemies invading the land in search of oil. What are we to do, King?” Asked the guard.
Nijeer smiled. Right now he was facing a real actual problem! And unlike with the market goods people situation where he was just repeating his father’s orders, Nijeer would actually have to make a choice of his own on this problem.
“Send a fleet of soldiers to the village!” Nijeer told the guard. “Don’t let them take our oil!”
Right after the guard left, an adviser came into the room.
“Prince Nijeer,-
“KING Nijeer for the time being.”
“Well, King Nijeer, the problem with the ‘monster’ is getting worse.”
“Monster? What Monster?” Asked Nijeer.
“The monster in the dungeon! He’s resisting!” repeated the adviser.
“Show me,” Nijeer said.
“But-”
“Show me!”
Nijeer and the adviser walked over to the dungeon. Upon Nijeer’s order, the huge, 100 foot gate was opened, and Cerberus, a colossal black dog with three heads, was released.
The dog growled at the knights. It’s growl was so powerful, the ground shook and the knights armor jingled.
“AAHHHHH!” yelled Niijeer. He began to run and Cerberus chased him. He tripped and curled up into a ball, preparing to be eaten, but Cerberus ran past him and invaded the capital village.
“King Nijeer! Cerberus is invading the village!” Yelled one villager.
“King Nijeer, the Well kingdom out west was planning on the market goods people arriving today. What’s taking them so long? Should I write an apology note?” an adviser said, taking out a quill and paper.
Oh no. The Well kingdom was out west!? Nijeer had sent them east!
“King Nijeer!”
“Where’s the real king!?”
“Who let Cerberus loose!?”
Nijeer couldn’t take it. “He had sent the market goods people the wrong way and let out Cerberus!? He had to be the worst prince ever.
Nijeer closed his eyes and screamed. “FATHER!!!!”
Everyone immediately stopped and stared at the boy, who began to cry.
“Aw, poor thing. He’s only five. He can’t handle being a king yet,” said one of the castle staff, which only made Nijeer cry harder. He wanted to be a good king, not screw things up and be told he wasn't ready to be king yet.
The castle staff took Nijeer inside, made him some milk and cookies and sent him to his room.
Eventually The King was called and filled in on what happened, making him go back to the kingdom to fix things.
Nijeer went out on his balcony to watch the sun set. He messed things up today. All because he thought he could be stupid king. Why did he send the villagers the wrong way? Why did he insist on opening the dungeon?
Soon the stars had come out, and everything was pitch black.
He heard his balcony screen door slide open, then closed.
“Cerberus has been captured and released into the vast plains of the kingdom. The market goods people were sent west. Everything is fine.” said The King’s deep voice.
“I’m sorry Dad. I really messed things up. I thought I could be a great king, like you.” said Nijeer, not once turning away from the stars.
His father walked over to him and leaned on the railing.
“You didn’t mess everything up. The general tells me you sent a fleet of soldiers out to protect one of our outer villages from intruders who just wanted their oil. You saved a village today.”
Nijeer smiled. “Yeah, I guess I did do one thing right today.”
“Mm-hmm. More than I can say I did right for my kingdom when I was your age.” The King said.
Nijeer looked up at him. “You tried to be king when you were my age too?”
The King nodded. “When my father went away for a bit. You’re too hard on yourself, Nijeer. You’re only five, and you were just looking out for your mother as well as the kingdom.”
“But, I made you leave your meeting early!”
“I can always reschedule,” The King said. “This was just your first time trying to rule, Nijeer. The first of many times in your life were you will get to practice being king.”
Nijeer smiled, and gave his father the fistbump he’d been offering.
Nijeer smiled. “And I’ll learn to be an amazing awesome king like you!”
But The King said, “You won’t be like me, Nijeer. You’ll be better.”
Nijeer couldn’t believe his ears. He suddenly felt himself again.
No, he felt better.
I've got NFT's!
Meet the Algo Pound Cakes! there will only be 1,000, and you can find them here!: https://algogems.io/collection/3265
Check out my other NFT’s on Ab2.gallery: https://ab2.gallery/address/VFJRN2LQ3F6I65YKQIMF6ULSYVF3B5HJRNLOQMTYTBNPJQNSYJANGFL6KU
Thanks for reading!