Episode 13: Illycrium: City of Hardships

Pretty Princess Man and Bonnie the Blue Bumblebee

Episode 13: Illycrium: City of Hardships

In the land of Gorgeous, there existed one man and his sidekick in order to ward off the forces of evil and ugly. That man was Pretty Princess Man, and his sidekick was Bonnie the Blue Bumblebee. Together this unstoppable force fights with power and precision and has no mercy for the forces that stand in their way.

* * *

“Well now this is dreary,” Kindhearted Kitty stated.

“No kidding,” Breathtaking Bunny commented.

The land of Ugly looked completely the opposite that of Gorgeous in its prime. Ugly’s atmosphere was near toxic and the plants, if you could call them that, looked as if it were painful for them to be alive. The sun in the sky was a dark red and looked as though it was fueled by the spilled blood of the innocent. All in all the land was, just as it was named, Ugly.

The band of our six heroes had just left the Death Shrine and was in search of the Five Sacred Verses, the Death Scripture being the fourth. They had no idea where they needed to go, so they just continued along a path that connected to the Death Shrine. The path was rugged and filled with sharp rocks that dug into the feet of the six.

“This is ridiculous,” Little Pumpkin said. “We aren’t getting anywhere.”

“Yeah,” Frolicking Fawn agreed as he sat down and massaged his hooves.

“We must be getting somewhere,” Glittering Grizzly said. “There has to be a town or city somewhere in this forsaken land.”

“Unless this world is all nowhere and we never reach somewhere,” said Pretty Princess Man cunningly.

At this Frolicking Fawn, Breathtaking Bunny, and Kindhearted Kitty snickered while Little Pumpkin remained silent and Glittering Grizzly shook his head. The sun was setting on the desolate landscape and as the light was fading so did the hope the heroes seemed to have.

Then out of nowhere a new flood of hope rushed over Frolicking Fawn. Frolicking Fawn seemed to see a city in the distance. There were lights coming from it. “Guys look!” Frolicking Fawn excitedly said pointing in the direction of the newfound city.

“Somewhere does exist here,” said Glittering Grizzly directing his statement towards Pretty Princess Man.

“I guess it does,” said Pretty Princess Man.

With time the six reached the brightly lit city. The city was surprisingly exciting for being located in the land of Ugly. Lights poured out of every single building and all if the inhabitants, although hideous, looked like they were enjoying themselves.

There was a tremendous gate, which was the only entrance and exit to the city. The gate had the native name of Gruesome Gate. As the six approached it, the gatekeeper welcomed them.

“Welcome,” said he. “Welcome to the city of Illycrium. From the outside it looks like a place of joy and fun, but do not be fooled quite so easily. You may endure some trial, but that is nothing. Look at the city, it is fun. Why, what am I saying? This city will be a delight. Enjoy yourselves, lose yourselves, and…” With that the gatekeeper stopped. “My name is Faust. I shall see you around.”

Faust seemed to vanish and as he did the gates were opened and the six found themselves face to face with the city of Illycrium. The city was as Faust described it: joyful and fun. The six could hardly wait to delight themselves on what the city seemed to promise.

“Well,” said Glittering Grizzly, “we need information. I shall seek it. As the city is very populous, I am assuming some knowledge must reside here.”

“Little Pumpkin and I will go with you,” said Pretty Princess Man. “That is if she wants to.”

“Of course,” Little Pumpkin replied.

“I think I see a Creative Creature Cards Store!” Kindhearted Kitty said with enthusiasm.

“Oh! Let’s go there,” Frolicking Fawn suggested.

“Well I have always wanted to get into Creative Creature Cards,” Breathtaking Bonnie thought aloud. “I’ll go as well.”

With that the six split into two groups: one group going to the Creative Creature Cards Store and the other going on a quest for much needed information. Faust did not seem to find much worth in the first group; ergo he decided to tail the second group.

Pretty Princess Man, Little Pumpkin, and Glittering Grizzly headed toward the center of the city. Along the way they passed building after building. The first building had a party going on inside and everyone was having a grand time. The same was true for the next few establishments, but things began to change. The further the three went into the city, the worse things seemed to be. The buildings looked more worn down, and there were not as many people inside. In a couple buildings creatures were passed out on the floor and a couple creatures were even bleeding.

“This place is creepy,” Little Pumpkin said. “Remember that strange warning Faust gave us?”

“What warning?” asked Faust stepping out from the shadows. “This place is wonderful. Look around.” Faust raised his arms and gestured to the surroundings. The buildings were magnificent. Fountains spewed, great décor was seen inside them, and no one seemed out of place.

“But…” Pretty Princess Man started.

Faust was gone.

“What happened to the buildings?” Pretty Princess Man asked.

“Who cares?” asked Little Pumpkin, and then remained silent.

“I care!” exclaimed Pretty Princess Man. “Things don’t just change from bad to good. It takes work and patience, not just the blink of an eye.” Pretty Princess Man was getting fed up, but Little Pumpkin just stayed silent.

“Why don’t you talk?” he asked Little Pumpkin.

“I’ve just been stressed out. I’ve had a lot on my mind,” Little Pumpkin said quietly.

“And you don’t think I have?” asked Pretty Princess Man. “I’m pretty sure we’re dealing with the same thing.”

Little Pumpkin stood there for a moment and then softly said, “Some things, yes. But you haven’t had to deal with friends who all of a sudden start hating you for no good reason at all.”

“Well then they aren’t really your friends,” Pretty Princess Man said, “and it shouldn’t matter what they think. It is really tough talking to you when you’re like this.”

Glittering Grizzly felt it best if he moved on and so he went into a building and started talking to the locals to see if he could find any information.

Little Pumpkin stared into Pretty Princess Man’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been stressed. I usually am, and I usually handle it very well, it has just been overwhelming these past few days.”

“I like hate talking to you now.”

Pretty Princess Man turned and left entering a nearby building, while Little Pumpkin turned in the opposite direction and left, furious with Pretty Princess Man. Faust smiled amongst the shadows.

As soon as those words left Pretty Princess Man’s mouth he regretted ever saying them. The tongue is like a sword though and as a strike with a sword cannot be reversed neither can an attack with the tongue.

Little Pumpkin sat in a chair in her building and began mulling over her thoughts. She did like Pretty Princess Man; he was a great guy and all, but to say he hated talking to her? This made her angry. Shouldn’t he be more understanding? Couldn’t he see what she was dealing with? They need to talk determined Little Pumpkin.

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Glittering Grizzly was getting nowhere in his conversations with the Ugligorians, for Glittering Grizzly was a Gorgeousian so as a result he was the most beautiful one there. All of the Ugligorians focused their attention on him and would not leave him alone. After much frustration, Glittering Grizzly left the building and continued on his way towards the center of Illycrium. The buildings were again rundown and the mood was depressing and somber, but Glittering Grizzly pressed on.

He passed building after building, Ugligorian after Ugligorian, finding out only trivial facts. Finally, after what seemed an eternity in the lake of fire, Glittering Grizzly reached the center of Illycrium.

In the center of this Godforsaken city was a shack labeled, “INFO.” Glittering Grizzly walked up to the shack and knocked on the door.

“Enter,” said a voice from inside the shack.

Glittering Grizzly entered. “Faust!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. “I see you’ve reached the information booth, so what is the information that you seek?”

“I wish to know-”

“Hold up!” Faust interrupted. “Don’t you want to know how to lave the lady of your dreams?”

“Well that would be nice, but I want a woman to love me for who I am and not for cheap tricks. What I need to know is-”

“How about boundless riches? You would run the worlds financially. No one would be richer than you; you would define economy.”

“I have never had a need for the lowly pursuit of money. I have friends that I love and care for, so there is no need for money. Now Faust what I need to know is-”

“Power,” interrupted Faust. “I can make you ruler over all. Everything you see, everything you touch, everything you want, and it shall all be yours. I can provide you with secrets unknown to all.”

At this Glittering Grizzly paused. He ran his mind over the possibility, but responded, “Faust, you are a devil! Not once have you allowed me to ask the information that I seek. I need to know about the Five Sacred Verses! Tell me where I can find them, you devil!”

Faust knew then that he had been defeated and replied, “South.” Faust vanished leaving Glittering Grizzly with only one word of information to go on.

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Pretty Princess Man and Little Pumpkin had found each other and were starting to talk. Pretty Princess Man could not have been more scared, more worried, and more sorry in his entire life.

“Pretty Princess Man,” Little Pumpkin began, “you know I like you, but things cannot continue to be like this. I’ve been going through a rough time and I’m stressed out. Please see that. It’s who I am and you have to accept that.”

“I know. I am sorry. I don’t hate talking to you. I enjoy it, a lot actually. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“Yeah,” Little Pumpkin agreed.

There was a long pause of silence.

“You probably shouldn’t have said them,” Little Pumpkin continued. “Couldn’t you see that I was stressed? I don’t want it to be this way.”

Another period of stillness occurred.

Softly Little Pumpkin whispered, “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that this entire time all you have done is blame me. I know that you’ve been stressed before, but never this much. Or at least, you have never let it show this much. I feel like all of this is my fault. You make it sound that way.”

“Don’t,” pleaded Little Pumpkin. “Please don’t feel like that. It’s not all your fault.”

“Okay,” muttered Pretty Princess Man.

This ushered in the longest period of silence.

“Are we good now?” asked Pretty Princess Man.

“Yes,” answered Little Pumpkin.

Little Pumpkin and Pretty Princess Man embraced and forgiveness could be felt. Neither one ever wanted to feel the pain they had just felt again. Although in the city of Illycrium one can never let his guard down for the enemy is cunning.

After Little Pumpkin and Pretty Princess Man let go of one another, they split up in search of Glittering Grizzly. Pretty Princess Man turned around and once Little Pumpkin was out of sight Faust appeared out of the shadows.

“Whoa!” stammered Pretty Princess Man.

“Hey,” Faust said. “How are ya?”

“Fine now,” Pretty Princess Man returned. “You?”

“Well I’m a bit hurt,” Faust began. “You see I can obviously tell that you come from a different land where no one is like us and they automatically hate us for who we are. Not all Ugligorians are bad you see. Only a few extremists, like that Amor Association, give us a bad rep. Well anyways, I’m pretty sure that girl of yours hates us for the mere fact that we are all Ugligorians, and that pains me.”

“Well I am pretty sure she hates Ugly and most of the Ugligorians as well. I should talk to her about it. Thanks Faust,” Pretty Princess Man said, but Faust was already gone with a sinister smile on his face.

۩ ۩ ۩

Pretty Princess Man eventually found Glittering Grizzly and Little Pumpkin. “Hey,” he called.

“What’s up?” asked Glittering Grizzly.

“The sky,” Pretty Princess Man replied. “Anyways, Little Pumpkin not all Ugligorians are bad.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked.

“Because they aren’t,” Pretty Princess Man said as Glittering Grizzly nodded in agreement. “You can’t take the actions of a few and account them for an entire people.”

“Have you seen what these people have done?” asked Little Pumpkin obviously becoming irritated. “They cannot be forgiven, and I will not forgive them.”

Pretty Princess Man sighed with disapproval. “You come from a place where you are taught that. You are just a redneck from Northern Gorgeous. I live there now too, but I wish I didn’t. I hate how people automatically assume we hate others because they are different.”

“I am not a redneck,” Little Pumpkin snapped. “What makes you say that?”

“You ride horses in Astonishing,” Pretty Princess Man quipped.

“Not everyone who rides a horse is a redneck!” Little Pumpkin exclaimed.

“I’m sorry,” Pretty Princess Man said. “I just don’t like how you automatically hate Ugligorians.”

“Pretty Princess Man I have had personal experience with them, and with my experience I have determined that they are not a good people. I’m leaving now before this gets out of hand.”

“This is what I hate. You are a perfect example of a North Gorgeousian. You automatically hate others and won’t ever accept the truth even when it’s staring you in the face. Yeah, I’m mad now!” Pretty Princess Man said angrily.

“I don’t even care,” Little Pumpkin said.

“You don’t even care that I’m mad at you?”

“No, not really.”

“Well whatever. You say that you like me more than I like you? What a joke! I would be breaking down if you were mad at me and you don’t even care!”

“I wouldn’t harmonize caring and being upset with the fact that you are mad at me as the same thing. I can understand why you are mad, and I didn’t want to make this into something bigger than it was.” Little Pumpkin explained.

“Okay,” Pretty Princess Man said. Pretty Princess Man hated himself just then. He had just apologized to Little Pumpkin earlier and now they were fighting again. He liked Little Pumpkin so much. He had even dreamt about a day, way far off, that he would start a family with her. That would be years away, but it seemed like a possibility no matter how minute the chances. Now things seemed hopeless. Things seemed so awful and they were fighting. A future without Little Pumpkin seemed inevitable. Tears filled Pretty Princess Man’s eyes and he choked out the words, “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Little Pumpkin said trying to comfort him.

“No, but it’s not okay. I said sorry earlier and h we are fighting again. It shouldn’t be this way. I like you so much Little Pumpkin and I want to be with you, but I have never been more terrified of losing someone than I am now. Please forgive me.”

“I do. This has been tough and I like you too, but if things don’t get better, than I can’t see us being together anymore. For now nothing’s going to change though.”

“Thank you Little Pumpkin.”

“Can we go now?” asked Little Pumpkin.

“No, I need to make sure we are okay. I hate right now that you have been thinking over the possibility of ending us, of ending how happy I’ve been because of you. I want to be positive we are okay and that we will be better.”

“We are okay,” said Little Pumpkin smiling a little bit.

“Thank you,” Pretty Princess Man said. “I promise things will get better.”

۩ ۩ ۩

With that Pretty Princess Man, Little Pumpkin, and Glittering Grizzly returned to the Gruesome Gate. There Kindhearted Kitty, Frolicking Fawn, and Breathtaking Bunny were waiting for them.

“I won the Creative Creature Cards Tournament,” Kindhearted Kitty said.

“This is the most confusing game ever,” Breathtaking Bunny commented.

“I did so awful,” complained Frolicking Fawn. “I never got any good Creative Creature Cards. It angers me.”

The six then talked as the left the city of Illycrium through the Gruesome Gate. As they passed through the gate, Pretty Princess Man and Little Pumpkin saw an etching in the wall that read, “This is the city of Illycrium, of hardships, of sure failure, and of seldom success.” As they passed by it, they knew they were a few of the seldom successes, and all the while Faust lay hidden in the shadows cursing there existence.

* * *

That concludes the story of Pretty Princess Man and Bonnie the Blue Bumblebee for this week. Tune in next week to find out what our heroes will do to save and protect the land of Gorgeous.