Castle. NARRATOR.
NARRATOR :
Years before this tale, how terrible the night was. A long night centuries old, has recently been killed by the light of seven suns of seven colors. The Long Night finally ended, the seven rulers of this world divided the land. Of these seven dynasties, we will follow closely only one.
Enters the LYON KING, LYON QUEEN, and LYON PRINCE.
These are the dynasty of the Lyons. These rulers, with their posture full of pride, would soon meet a terrible tragedy. But for now, they ruled in peace, a peace that sees no war but knows strife. With its people in need, this family sees no better idea than to fight their own flesh, and did not lend help to it. Though the end of the Long Night was a hardship, it was still but the dawn of what would come.
NARRATOR exits
Castle. LYON KING, LYON QUEEN, ROYAL ADVISOR.
ADVISOR :
Oh proud king and queen. This year will mark the third edition of the great congress which you must attend. Although I am sure you would prefer to tend to your people, this is the one time where you must take your leave.
LYON KING :
The congress... Tis folly to associate with these people.
ADVISOR :
Which do you mean, the people or the Congress ?
LYON KING :
Both ! Both ! The people does not appreciate our kindness, and the other kings are terribly self interested. Nothing good will come from that congress.
LYON QUEEN :
And yet, even so, by obligation we must go. Were a king absent at the congress, the other countries should attack us and hold us hostages.
LYON KING :
I suppose you are right. Heavy are the shoulders of a ruler.
ADVISOR :
Very well. A ship will be made ready for departure at dawn tomorrow. You two shall give goodbye to your son, then rest for the journey ahead.
LYON QUEEN :
Give goodbye ? Nay, I say. The prince will follow to the congress.
LYON KING :
Indeed. Ifever something were to happen to us, he will remain behind as the sole ruler. He needs to know how a congress goes.
ADVISOR :
With all due respect, benevolent tyrants, are you really thinking of taking a child with these people ? Should I not remind you of the terrible kings, ones that would mark the tender flesh of a child with a searing memory, akin to a terrible dream ? Even if he is your son, the child is only seven of age.
LYON KING :
His young age is all the more a reason to take him. This congress presents the nightmare that is ruling a country, and this nightmare is one that should be seared into his mind. 'Tis a terrible burden, to be a king, and one my own father and mother made me carry at a young age also. It's for the better that my son, the prince, would finally become worthy of his title, and should attend the congress.
LYON QUEEN :
Yes, and it should be in his infancy that he should meet those who will be his opponents for the remainder of his life.
ADVISOR :
Reconsider, however, the event of an assassination, or a shipwreck. I am far from praying for this to happen, and would be strongly stricken by grief, but if these events would happen, and the prince was with you, then no one would be left to rule the land of your ancestors.
LYON QUEEN :
A good point. Then, I shall remain here, and the prince shall go to the congress with his father.
ADVISOR :
No, this is not good. If one of you were to stay, and those who went to the congress were to not return, then you shall rule until your own death, and leave your country with no ruler afterward.
Silence.
LYON KING :
Very well. We shall go give our goodbyes to the prince.
LYON KING and LYON QUEEN exit
ADVISOR :
I worry for the young prince. I have no doubt that the King and the Queen will return safely, but if ever... if ever... No. No, shake that thought, strangle it, drown it, throw it in hell. They will come safely, if not for their land, for their son, and if not for their son, for their pride.
All exit.
Boat. LYON KING, LYON QUEEN, SAILORS
a SAILOR :
My king, my queen ! Take cover, take shelter. A storm is brewing ahead, and I fear you should protect yourselves from the disrespectful rain !
LYON KING :
This cannot be ! Just this morning, as we left the harbor, the skies were clear !
LYON QUEEN :
For all of this journey, there was not a cloud ! How can this happen !
a SAILOR :
My liege, my lord, the weather can be unpredictable at times. But for now, you should wait in your cabin, as we will take care of this problem.
LYON KING and LYON QUEEN exit
a SAILOR :
Ah ! how terrible a situation this is. This storm is unending, and our sails are already ripped and torn. The hull is pierced, and all hands are busy already. The lifeboats have already been thrown to sea, empty, and overturned and sank. The same fate awaits us it seems, and now we can do nothing but watch as the sky forsakes us.
All exit
Castle. LYON PRINCE, ROYAL ADVISOR
ADVISOR :
My prince, my prince, wake up. I have come bearing grave news, my liege, my prince, my master. Yesterday, your parents left on a journey. They left to go to the congress. They left by boat, during the hour before dawn, and sailed on a cloudless sea.
However, at the day and hour at which they should have arrived, no sail appeared on the horizon. The congress sent many letters asking us if they had ever departed, and we sent many letters saying they had, until recently, something was discovered.
Hold your tears, my prince, you must stay strong. The light of the world has disappeared, but, just like our ancestors fought and survived, so shall you.
My liege, the wreck of your parent's ship was discovered. Floating around the wreck, washed on the shore, bloated by sea and salt, floated the bodies of many sailors.
And, within the carcass of the boat, nestled in the bleached, white skeleton of the hull, were the bodies of your father and mother, holding tight onto a life no longer theirs.
the LYON PRINCE does not cry
My liege, do not look so sad. Although these are horrific words I am ashamed to have spoken to you, they also bear good news. Since your parents have died, you are now the new ruler of this land, the king.
the ADVISOR crowns the LYON PRINCE, then leaves.
NARRATOR enters
NARRATOR :
And so the sad tale begins. The prince may have held his tears, but the sorrow within his heart was not any less than you might expect. On this day, at the age of seven, he became the young leader of his country. His advisor hailed this as a great omen, but was it really ? only the future shall tell...
Castle. LYON PRINCE, ROYAL ADVISOR
ADVISOR :
My prince, today many hearings are planned. You are to listen to the people, then decide of what you wish. You should be kind to your people. Your parents wished to prove the pride they held in their heart, and to prove it they chose cruelty. But you can be kind, as the only real way to prove one's pride, is to be kind, generous, and humble.
a PEASANT enters
PEASANT :
Your highness ! Your higness, please hear our plea ! As you have seen, it has not rained in the last month. As such, the land is dry, and crops do not grow ! We are forced to draw from a well, but after a month, even the deepest wells are starting to dry ! Soon, we will have nothing to feed to our livestock !
ADVISOR :
And what do you suppose a king can do about the weather ?
PEASANT :
Please, my king, higher than the suns ! Please let us draw water from the royal lake, reserved for the castle ! Please let us use its water to tend our crops, to feed our stock, to feed ourselves.
The LYON PRINCE thinks, then shakes his head in refusal.
PEASANT :
My liege ! My liege !
ADVISOR :
Guards, take this man away. Our king has already heard and answered his plea. Let the next one enter.
Another PEASANT enters.
PEASANT :
Your higness ! you who holds his head higher than the highest flying birds ! Hear our prayer, we beg of you ! Since not too long, a plague has started ! It affects not the people, but our livestock, and those who eat it fall ill and die. Please hear us ! Please, lend us your best doctors, to find a cure to the illness ! without that, we too, shall die !
ADVISOR :
My prince, this seems serious. You should grant the people your doctors.
The LYON PRINCE hesitates, but shakes his head
PEASANT :
Your higness ! Please ! Your people will die ! You have to help us !
The LYON PRINCE raises a hand, and guards take the PEASANT away.
The prince's room. LYON PRINCE, NARRATOR
The LYON PRINCE is huddled on his bed.
NARRATOR :
Oh young prince. Must you walk in the steps of your parents ? Must you rule as they did, deaf to your people's screams, blind to their blood, and unfeeling to their wounds ?
Muted sobbing can be heard from the LYON PRINCE
Now, now. I can see that you still grieve for your parents. Still, after just under seven years, you cry for them. Is that why you stay deaf to your advisor's voice as well ? Just as they were hard headed, you too refuse to see what the other wants to say, and instead you push for your very own. In that way, your parents are still alive. In a way, you are the same as them, an empty armor, only inhabited by a small, fearful child. Tell me, young prince, what are you so afraid of ?
Castle. LYON PRINCE, ROYAL ADVISOR
ADVISOR :
My king. It has been seven years.
LYON PRINCE :
...
ADVISOR :
My lord, you are now fourteen of age. It has been seven years since you have begun to mourn your parents
LYON PRINCE :
... I know.
ADVISOR :
My liege. In a week, the congress will be held again. You will have to go, as the ruler of your country. But I will come too. You are not alone.
LYON PRINCE :
Advisor. You are not needed. Not anymore, and not ever before. I will go alone, for in this country, only I know of the burden of kings.
ADVISOR :
My prince ! You aren't thinking correctly ! Please reconsider.
LYON PRINCE :
No. I am sure in my ways, as I have always been.
Guards take the ROYAL ADVISOR away.
ADVISOR :
Your highness ! This is madness !
Boat. LYON PRINCE, SAILORS
a SAILOR :
Your highness ! You look sick. You should not stay inside, but come to the deck and breath fresh air.
a SAILOR (from off stage):
A storm ! Stormclouds at 12 o'clock !
a SAILOR :
Your higness ! Don't go further inside ! The storm is not big, and offers a spectacle you cannot forget !
a SAILOR (from off stage):
Oh ! Oh ! Tighten the sails !
a SAILOR :
My prince are you... are you afraid ? The storm is waning, if that eases your worries.
Oh ! He peeks out !
a SAILOR (from off stage):
The storm is over, and the sky is back to a bright blue. Your higness ! Land ahead !
Congress grounds. LYON PRINCE.
LYON PRINCE :
...
He looks around.
This room... Tomorrow, the seven most powerful people in this world will get together, and discuss matters of great importance. I am one of such people.
An ATTENDANT enters.
ATTENDANT :
Ah, you must be the Proud Lyon Prince. You have come early, for the congress will only start tomorrow.
LYON PRINCE :
I wanted to learn the terrain before the battle.
ATTENDANT :
I want to remind you that tomorrow, a battle will not be held. In this room, utmost civility is expected, and the participants are to work together. This congress is not an event in which the rulers rank themselves, but instead an event in which they work on global solutions to better the lives of everyone.
LYON PRINCE :
I know that. And yet, I can't shake the feeling that a battle will take place, waged by seven warriors with smiling, complacent masks.
ATTENDANT :
Then, to rest before that battle of yours, do you want me to show me to your room ?
The OTTER KING enters.
OTTER KING :
That will not be necessary, dear attendant. You must be tired after all your duties today. I shall guide this young one to his room, so go to yours and relieve yourself of these weary shoulders.
The ATTENDANT leaves.
Now, young prince, shall we go ?
The OTTER KING offers his hand to the LYON PRINCE. The PRINCE refuses. They leave together.
In front of the Prince's room. OTTER KING, LYON PRINCE.
OTTER KING :
And here it is, your very own room, at least for the duration of this congress. If you need... anything, tell me, and I shall come for you.
LYON PRINCE does not answer.
Was your travel here made in good weather ? I heard about the death of your parents, seven years ago. I am truly sorry about what happened. It was a tragic accident.
LYON PRINCE is silent.
Are you all right ? Your palor and your silence gives you an air of sickness that is certainly unpleasant. Is there anything I can do ?
LYON PRINCE looks away.
How cold you are. For years, I have longed for you. Ever since I have learned the taste of your parent's love, and ever since I have lost it, I felt loveless in this world, roaming to and fro with no attachment. But once I learned of their child, I rejoiced. Finally ! I thought, Finally ! I would be able to taste that flesh again.
And so I ask you, dear sovoreign. Let me taste your flesh, let me taste your mouth, let me taste your love.
LYON PRINCE is shivering. Strong steps can be heard from the hallway.
BEAR CZAR (shouting): Otter ! This is but a child, and already you wish to steal the innocence of such a young soul away ? Have you no shame, no control ?
BEAR CZAR appears, running, and punches the OTTER KING in the face. The OTTER KING is sent back.
Leave at once, Otter, and do not show your face again before tomorrow if you know what is good for you !
Prince's room. BEAR CZAR, LYON PRINCE.
BEAR CZAR :
Beware of the other rulers. Even if they show an amiable face, they all have terrible intentions underneath. You are not safe. Do you know of the rulers ?
LYON PRINCE shakes his head.
Very well. I shall tell you. First of all, is the Otter King, who you witnessed just now. He is a surly king, who certainly rules with diligence, but requires those around him to pay with their flesh.
I myself am the Bear Czar. Although I am uptight in my way, I am said to give way to anger too easily. I would not count this as a flaw.
The Cat Queen is a generous ruler, but is often too lazy to show this, and will not go out of her way to enact something, even if it would do her good.
The Hog Emperor is a gluttonous leader, who demands great taxes from his citizens, all in the form of food.
The Wolf President is a lawful one, but he will not lend an ounce of generosity to anyone. His land is currently in the middle of a famine, and has been for years.
And finally, the Platypus Count is a young ruler, only slightly older than you. However, not knowing of the hardships of life, he is jealous, and will ask the world of everyone.
That is all. As you can surmise, nothing good will happen tomorrow. Yous should prepare defenses well, but also your weapons, as because you are a newcomer, no one knows what how you will act.
Sleep well.
Prince's room. LYON PRINCE, NARRATOR.
NARRATOR :
Ah, ah. So, are you worried, prince ? Are you shivering with the fear of your parents ? But, I will tell you something. Something to help you. All of these rulers, these kings and queens, all of them who seem so powerful and evil... All of them are just like you. Behind their armor, all of them are unsure, lost, shivering children.
And just like for you, all of them long for the congress to end so that they can go back to their great fortress and stop exposing themselves to the unfamiliarity of the other.
So, my prince... Are you scared ? Of course you are. Are you uncertain ? Well, there is no point in asking this as well. So what will you do ?
NARRATOR leaves.
The LYON PRINCE is left alone, shivering.
Congress grounds. LYON PRINCE, OTTER KING, BEAR CZAR, CAT QUEEN, HOG EMPEROR, WOLF PRESIDENT, PLATYPUS COUNt, ATTENDANT.
ATTENDANT :
I declare the 62nd edition of the Congress of the Seven Lands to be open. All will swear allegiance to the congress itself, and as such to everyone else.
RULERS (all together):
I swear allegiance to this congress. I will respect mine brethern, and solve the problems plaguing this troubled land with the help of my six equals.
ATTENDANT :
Very well. Let us begin. The first subject of this congress is something which none of you probably holds any attention to : your people. In every one of your territories, they are unsatisfied, starving, angry, plagued, diseased. And many com to you, and yet nothing changes. It is believed that your subjects are planning a revolt of some sort.
BEAR CZAR :
Unforgiveable. We should strike down and start a rule of terror.
WOLF PRESIDENT :
That could work, but we could do it by collecting bigger taxes and slightly relieving the taxes of those who agree to work with us.
CAT QUEEN :
Oh, but dear Czar and dear President, this would never work. In this situation we should be kinder to our people to water down their flames.
HOG EMPEROR :
Queen, you speak of this and yet your own country is in much the same situation to ours. Even if you speak big, you never back your actions ! Personally, I agree with the Czar, but not the president. We shouldn't make exception to taxes.
OTTER KING :
No, we shouldn't. But we could offer... other services. How about Soaplands ?
PLATYPUS COUNT :
Otter King ! Stop it ! You always talk about these kinds of things. Personally I think that we should make the people work harder ! But also we should make entertainment. That way, once they go home from a hard day of work, theyll gobble up our propaganda !
BEAR CZAR :
Oh ?
WOLF PRESIDENT :
Hmm. Are you quite alright, Count ?
HOG EMPEROR :
I must say, this is uncharacteristic of you.
CAT QUEEN :
And how do you propose we make them work, Count ?
PLATYPUS COUNT :
In big factories manufacturing for me.
BEAR CZAR :
While I appreciate the idea behind this, I think this is too subtle.
CAT QUEEN :
Personally, I quite appreciate it. It doens't require much change, and the system is self serving. It also means we give more to the people.
OTTER KING :
I can see a few problems with it and appreciate the tax terror solution, but it has an... elegance.
ATTENDANT :
We have reached a stalemate then. To decide us, which one do you prefer, Lyon Prince ?
LYON PRINCE :
... Neither. We should make the people work harder while not offering anything else, and publicly execute revolutionary leaders.
ATTENDANT :
Then, the stalemate is not solved. Ah... you're not making this easy.
Lights dim as they continue debating.
Congress grounds. LYON PRINCE, OTTER KING, BEAR CZAR, CAT QUEEN, HOG EMPEROR, WOLF PRESIDENT, PLATYPUS COUNt, ATTENDANT.
ATTENDANT :
Well then. I officially announce the end of this congress. The decisions taken are : execution of revolutionary leaders, overworking with propaganda, tax terror, Soaplands, totalitarian rule, and big factories.
If I'm fair, none of you are seeing neither the forest nor the trees, but instead how you could chop them up for your own good.
BEAR CZAR :
Attendant, I don't recall you being asked for your opinion.
ATTENDANT :
I excuse myself.
CAT QUEEN :
I'm not sure such an affront can ever be excused. Are you calling me greedy and misguided ?
ATTENDANT :
Ah, I-
WOLF PRESIDENT :
Queen, are you implying greed is a default ? I would posit that greed is a virtue, as it allows you to make good ruling of your money.
HOG EMPEROR :
I agree, greed is a virtue, maybe better than gluttony, but certainly not better than wrath.
LYON PRINCE leaves.
PLATYPUS COUNT :
Already we have lost one. I envy this care-less-ness.
OTTER KING :
Oh, I should hurry to find hi-
BEAR CZAR :
Otter King, you shall go nowhere. We have much to discuss you and me, and I fear none of it will be to your liking.
OTTER KING :
I cannot wait.
ATTENDANT :
I will ask you to discuss this somewhere else. The congress is over, and the grounds are to be deserted.
All but ATTENDANT leave.
Good graces, another congress passes, and still they refuse to alleviate the suffering of their people, only wanting to silence the screaming mouth.
ATTENDANT leaves.
Boat. LYON PRINCE, SAILORS.
a SAILOR :
Oh, Prince, will you help us with navigation ? Already a few sailors have fallen ill, and so we are short on hands.
LYON PRINCE refuses.
Prince ? Are you refusing to work, even if it benefits only you ?
LYON PRINCE :
I am the ruler of your lands. With a wave of my hand, all of your family could be executed before your eyes. Are you wanting me to work ?
a SAILOR :
Prince, are you really going to attack us like such ? You may be the leader of our lands, but currently you are on our boat. With a wave of our hand, we could send you to the same fate as your parents.
LYON PRINCE :
Tell me, sailor, were you the ones who overthrew my parents and killed them ?
a SAILOR :
You dolt ! My colleagues died in that shipwreck, because your parents were too scared to act ! And yet you accuse me ? Do you know how many I saw go to see to never return ?
LYON PRINCE :
No matter how many you saw left, my parents count for a thousand each.
a SAILOR :
Your insolence has reached its limit, Prince. Everyone ! Help me put this snot nosed brat back into his rightful place !
Many SAILORS arrive, and push the LYON PRINCE into a lifeboat, then launch the boat at sea.
Lifeboat, at sea. Cloudy skies, looking like heaven, LYON PRINCE, NARRATOR
NARRATOR :
And here we are. This is how you arrived here. Is that correct ?
LYON PRINCE :
You... you told that story well.
NARRATOR :
To be honest, you had it coming. This, all this, was deserved.
LYON PRINCE :
I doubt it.
NARRATOR :
Worry not, though, for this is the end for everyone. I wanted you to hear my own story, though.
The NARRATOR removes their hood, revealing they are a mouse.
Long, long ago, years before this tale, how terrible the night was. A long night centuries old, has recently been killed by the light of seven suns of seven colors. In this long night, before its death, I was born. Born in a farm, as many were before, but as none are now.
In this farm, I was given to a traveller. A traveller writing a book, and under his guidance, I learned his knowledge, and his craft, until finally I took his name.
My name is Rorhk, Rorhk the clairvoyant.
LYON PRINCE :
Rorhk ? That name has been nearly forgotten. I can only doubt your claim.
RORHK :
With my own eyes, I saw the suns appear. With my own eyes, I saw the genocide of my people. And since these days I have searched for you. And only today can I meet you, a seventh of the perpetrator of the genocide. And still I am ashamed for you, as even after all that, you mistreat your own people, and act as if you wished to reenact that genocide.
LYON PRINCE :
It's simply what is best for them.
RORHK :
Is it ? They do not seem happy. They are famished, plauged, suffering from droughts, and, most of all, angry.
LYON PRINCE :
I knew of that but angry ? Really ? At whom, at the sky, who unleashed these punishments unto them ?
RORHK :
They are angry at you, and at the other sovereigns. This isn't a punishment, this is simply their existence, but with proper help and coordination, they couldwork thorugh that and make this world the best they could. However you, and your six colleagues, are holding them back.
LYON PRINCE :
You are an idealist.
RORHK :
Maybe so. But I would rather be an idealist than a tyrant.
LYON PRINCE :
Earlier, you said that this was the end for everyone. What do you mean ?
RORHK :
The cards told me this : today, the seven suns will regroup into one, just as it was before the Long Night.
LYON PRINCE :
This should be great news, but somehow my heart feels a chill at this thought.
RORHK :
The cards have also told me that today, an ancient ritual will end, and that all beasts will die.
LYON PRINCE :
How good are your cards ?
RORHK :
It is with these cards that I could learn all of your life.
LYON PRINCE :
Then this certainly is not a good thing.
RORHK :
Do you have a final word ?
LYON PRINCE :
No, not necessarily. I don't regret much, and although I think much of today, I could not articulate it.
RORHK :
Then let us watch in silence.
The seven suns, each in a color, regroup into one.
The boat is overturned.
Be it a few seconds,
or a thousand years,
the Flood happens.