FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Somewhere far away in the depths of the earth, a Kingdom sat quietly among a surrounding umber. The buildings of the town closest to the royal castle are shrouded in shadows that are cast in a strange glow against the occasional flickering of blue candles and lanterns within the buildings. Each home and edifice is curved and gnarled inward like hooks and arrows pushing in strange ways as if warped by some sort of unseen force. Even if the lights are on in every building and even though a light shimmers down on the square of the city, there is nothing there except for the sound of a distant flame crackling. A shadowy geyser spears the sky from behind the castle, surging as if alive when so few exist in such a destitute place. It is a lonely place where none exist and none would ever tred. The other Kingdoms steeped in the darkness have their royal subjects, Kings, Queens and more; but this place only has a sole Prince who lives by himself in the castle. Young Prince Ralsei.

Buried in the shadows of the castle, the young Prince prepared for the day. A wrap of green curled around his body with a single black heart at the center as if to show to the world that he wore it plainly for all to see. Both of his hands secured a steeple hat on his head of the same color as his wrap before he reached down to take hold of a large red scarf. As he passed a thumb along the surface, he wondered if today would be any better? There were so many things to be done and so many things that he could do but none of them would amount to anything unless he had help. His life here among the castle walls had grown more and more stagnant as the years had gone by. Everyone in the Kingdom had gone somewhere, either rotted away with the rest of the world or simply left to find a better place. Perhaps, they were all in a better place, so what kept him here?

The other Kingdoms seemed to be fine with the degradation of the land in part thanks to a strange knight that had shown up. Ralsei could gather the people to overthrow the knight and the corrupted King that sat atop the throne and then perhaps restore some semblance of order and peace to this place, but at the same time, it wouldn't bring back his people would it? Nothing would truly be right unless the heroes of light appeared, but how long had he been waiting? Ralsei could feel the years creeping up his back. He was still so young and yet felt so tired, felt so ragged. Today, he could go back to sleep, he could simply let the world fade away for a day and come back to it another time when he felt better. Slumber sounded so nice in comparison to a life of loneliness and anticipation but that wouldn't help anyone? It wouldn't even feel satisfying, it would only bring him down deeper into that abyss.

Ralsei took a breath and wrapped the scarf around his neck, eyes shimmering white in the darkness as he began to walk through the halls of the castle. Each step made an echo that reminded him of the fact that he was entirely alone. A few times, he swore he could hear a voice or two calling out in the darkness, but he knew better than that. Every little step became harder to take until he found himself at the castle entrance. There he could see the stairs leading down into the empty town that awaited the arrival of its prince. Ralsei breathed in and out before allowing a small smile to dot his features. This place was devoid of life, devoid of anything except darkness and loneliness, but that didn't matter. Someday, everything would be better.

With that tiny assertion of hope. It reminded him of the fact that the heroes would be coming any day, any year, any moment. It didn't matter how long he had to wait so long as they came and so long as in the end, the world would be saved both here and out where the light shone brightly. Determination touched his heart and he reached to touch his chest before starting his trek down the large steps into the town.

Again, the young prince's steps were the only thing echoing in the dark but the weight of that loneliness didn't seem to bother him anymore. He kept his chin held up and looked toward each of the buildings he passed before inclining his head toward each as if to say hello. Ralsei continued to do this on his way down the steps until he reached the center of town. Each building he passed was another little memory and another little reminder that he needed to keep hope in his heart or else never see this place alive again and face that fact that the entire world would rot away. The prince wouldn't let this happen, couldn't let it happen. After all, he wanted to bake a cake for so many people he knew and so many people he had not yet come to know. Speaking of cakes, though, he remembered that he was low on supplies. He had a bit of gold to spend and certainly enough to buy what he needed but he paused as he reached the end of the town. Out and to the east he could find a shop deep in a field that would sell him what he desired but...There were those loyal to the cruel King that would accost him on sight simply because of his desire to aid the heroes whenever they arrived. With a sigh, he looked out into the distance hoping above all else that he could avoid a fight today and if a confrontation happened, he wanted nothing else except for there to be a peaceful resolution. The young prince shook his head. Of course, there could be a peaceful resolution, of course, he could avoid fighting if he just tried. All he had to do, was go out there and talk. Surely no one would bother him if all he was there to do was a little shopping and besides, it would be nice to have a conversation, even with an enemy.

East of the city and through a massive gate lined with gold was an expansive field with purple grass and red leaved trees. It wasn't anywhere near as quiet as the town and nowhere near as lonely for the sheer fact that the scenery was different. That, and well, there were other monsters here. Rudinn slithered with big smiles on flaming diamond heads. They patrolled back and forth through the field but paid him no mind. One Rudinn, in particular, halted his wandering and the prince did his best to smile as the other monster bore down on him with sword drawn.

"Say..." Began the Rudinn, "I know you. The King says to watch out for you because you'll be traveling with the heroes. Are they here yet?"

Ralsei blinked and looked left and then right before staring directly at the monster and shaking his head, "I'm afraid not. We'll have to wait just a bit more before the heroes come. I promise you that with their help this world will be better."

The Rudinn snickered at that, "Hah! I bet! I'm just bored patrolling this place without anything to do y'know? But...If they aren't here, what are you doing here?"

The prince rubbed at the back of his head, "Well, goodness...I'm just out here on a little grocery trip. Is...Is that allowed?"

"I guess it is! I'm only supposed to stop the heroes if they ever come and I mean, if we fought I'd feel really bad about shaving your fluff for no reason." Said the loyal monster.

Ralsei bowed deeply and as he rose he said with a happy chirp, "I don't think you'll be able to stop them when they come but I'll be sure to convince them to persuade you all rather than fight. I think that would be a preferable future, wouldn't it?"

The Rudinn bounced from side to side as if considering before sighing, "Geez geez, I guess that sounds like something good if you can make it happen little prince. Anyway. Hurry along and if anyone asks, we got into some sort of super amazing battle where you floored me! Or just tell them the truth since lying is bad."

Ralsei chuckled, "Of course! Thank you, friend."

With that done, the prince walked as the Rudinn stepped aside. He found warmth spreading through him at a rapid pace. It was nice to talk to someone but more than that, he had avoided a confrontation. There had been no need to fight the Rudinn and the conversation itself had reminded him that the majority of monsters in this place were kind souls that just needed a little bit of talking to. Even the King could be persuaded if given a chance. What he couldn't do on his own, was put an end to those dark geysers. Well, everything would be solved when the heroes arrived. Ralsei just needed to wait is all.

It took a bit of walking to get to where he needed to be. There were more monsters patrolling for the King and most who stopped him were just curious whether or not the heroes would come and whether or not they existed. He assured them, he laughed with them, he told them that he would convince them all when they time came...And none of them really tried to hurt him. A few of those monsters brandished their weapons and a few chucked a few dangerous things but mostly they just wanted to play. Everyone seemed so lonely and so nervous even if they were smiling. Ralsei was glad to play their games and it was easy to take note of how they held back their attacks or curved their magic to miss him. Maybe it would be different when the heroes came but he truly wanted to convince each and every one of these people that everything would be okay if they just held out hope and stepped aside for the heroes.

Finally, he arrived at his destination. It was a patchy looking place with various tarps stitched together and a crude sign that said, 'Shop.' He could have foraged for what he needed nearby but what he desired could most likely be found at this little shop. More than that, Ralsei enjoyed visiting the store just to pass the time with an old fellow who seemed like he needed the company and well, seemed interesting enough. When the prince stepped inside of the store, he looked around to see that nothing had changed in the time he had been gone. Everything was still tattered and worn except all the various odds and ends that were on display. From weapons to various food items, the owner of this little curio had it all.

With his entrance to the store, he heard a raspy gasp along with a chuckle, "Well well! If it isn't the prince here to visit the ragged seap of ol' Seam."

Ralsei smiled as he bore witness to the tiny tattered store and smiled further when he saw the patchwork catch with one button eye and shaggy fur. He bowed his head and bowed deeply as he replied, "Good to see you Seam. I hope you're in good health."

The ragged puppet's mouth moved, half of it partially stitched making his words rasp just that little extra bit, "I'm as good as I'll always be until the end haha. Now, you just don't pop in unannounced without wanting something so feel free to browse while I rest my old non-existent bones behind the counter."

Ralsei nodded, "Yes. I'm looking for a bit of sugar. I figured that you've collected some from the various candies that grow on the trees. I just um, I ran out of it and I'd personally like to bake the monsters patrolling the fields a cake."

Seam grinned, blackened fangs showing, "Really now? Aren't you sweeter than the stuff you're buying? Do you really have the coin for it?"

The prince fished through his poncho before he produced a small bag and set it on the counter, "Um...I think I have enough." He poked through the bag and saw that he did indeed have enough, just enough for that and nothing else. "W-well, I do have enough, as it turns out!"

Seam peered into the pouch and nodded, "Yup. Sure looks like it...But if I took this you'd be left with nothing and you might need something else right? How about I throw you a discount!"

Ralsei's ears flicked and his eyes brightened at that, "Really? What would I have to do in exchange?"

Seam laughed and opened his arms, "Come behind the counter and give this dusty body of mine a hug."

The prince stepped around the counter and gladly did just that. Both of his arms came around the old puppet's waist and squeezed tight just as the puppet returned the motion. Mouth at his ear, a whisper came gently as ever, "For a hug this sweet...Just trading sugar is a steal. Go ahead and take it and take your gold. If you need any food for yourself go ahead and take that too. I collect things for entertainment and I know there are those that need it more than me." Ralsei blinked and pulled back to see that the old feline puppet was grinning, "You'll need your strength for when those heroes get here right? Besides...If you ever spend all your coin then that means you'll never come back here to shop!"

Ralsei found tears nearly touching his eyes from the gesture but blinked them away and beamed, "Of course I'd come back! You've been so nice and your stories are always fantastic. Tea time is pretty great too when you've got it ready! B-but..." He looked down at the ground between them, "Wouldn't it be better if you were with others or at least one other? You and some of the other monsters could move into town and..."

A tattered paw touched his head and he looked up just as the old cat cackled, "That's a rich offer coming from you! But I have a counter-offer and question, why aren't you out here with us?"

Ralsei blinked and looked back toward the door before sighing, "Because it is my home."

Seam nodded and gave the prince one last squeeze before letting him go to turn around and collect what the boy needed in a bag, "Yes indeed. Leaving home can be the hardest thing ever, especially if you've made it yourself. Everyone is loyal to the King despite everything that has happened and you're still loyal to your home even though no one lives there anymore and everyone here is seemingly against you...But...We aren't really alone now are we."

The prince stepped back around the counter, taking hold of his pouch to put it away while he replied quietly, "I suppose not. We're all in this mess together even if we're on different sides. I think everyone understands what needs to happen but it is hard to see it that way when we've spent so long without hope."

Seam laughed as he turned and set a large bag down with what he assumed was more than sugar, "Yes indeed! Hope is for the hopeful and those of the light. We are born in the darkness and eventually, we all go a little mad. I think you yourself might be the craziest of all."

Ralsei blinked as he took hold of the bag, "Why so?"

The old puppet leaned in and grinned, "Because...Who else but a madman would have the strength to wait for so long for something that might not even exist? Who else but a madman could hope at all?"

Ralsei looked down at the ground before squeezing the bag to his chest and huffing, "Crazy for hoping huh? Well...I guess I'm more insane than anyone in this because I believe with all my heart that we'll see a brighter future! For everyone. Not just me and not just for the monsters outside of this shop but you too. You'll see!"

The prince then stepped back and looked up toward the old puppet before bowing deeply to thank him for his kindness and get up to head on out with a little hop, the sound of Seam's cackling echoing in his ears. There was no way that he would let this world fall to ruin. There was absolutely no way that he could let that happen. He ran home and ran and ran without stopping. Monsters waved and some attempted to stop him but he continued on running with furrowed brow and bag held against his chest. Until those heroes arrived he'd bake cakes, he'd visit the monsters even if they tried to throw things at him and tell him he was wrong, he'd do everything in his power to be some sort of light in this darkness even if he was the prince of the Kingdom of Darkness.

When he finally arrived back at the empty town, his heart filled with a sudden yearning. He wanted so badly to see those heroes here not to satisfy his own desires but so that he could prove everyone wrong. He squeezed the bag to his chest, huffing and puffing as all the running finally caught up to him. When he looked down he saw that besides the bag of sugar, the old puppet had filled his bag with various vegetables and even a container of tea leaves that seemed rather rare. Squeezing the bag again, he started walking while reminding himself. He waited here not for himself, not only for his Kingdom but for every single person living in this world.