I Want to Live, Part One

I am only going to tell this story once, so listen well. Actually, I guess since I am writing this you could just read it whenever you like as much as you like. I don’t know why you would want to once you know how my story ends; I doubt I will get a reread, but I guess one can always dream. Anyways, I am writing something down that I probably shouldn’t, but I just gots to tell you all the truth of it. First, I guess introductions are in order. I will just go ahead and leave a space for you to put your name in ______________

I am assuming you took the time to put your name in the space above so, “Hello (your name here), I am Never You Mind. I am the ruler of the Sckaen kingdom. I was one of the first of the “new” breed of yellow Sckaen. What I have been led to believe is that this “new” breed means that I was one of the first Sckaens created under the ownership of Zoltuce. This Titan became our master, after apparently our former master Smolder became interested in taller versions of us. Am I offended by that? No, why would I be? Zoltuce was a good master, and there is nothing that a tall Sckaen can do that I can’t. Given time. Also, resources. But other than that, I can do it just as well. Also, Zoltuce was a great master, he taught us how to read and write, among other things like mining, smithing, masonry, carpentry, and torture techniques. All sorts of things, so yeah all in all not so bad being a slave to a Titan, probably worse ways to live. I mean King is by far better, but still not bad. I can assure you it was better than what my subjects have now, but we don’t mention that so I probably shouldn’t be writing it down. I’ll get it in the edit. So, moving on.

Zoltuce, for a Titan, was a bit unfocused; he had a thing for not being able to stand still and lost interest super easy. So, I probably should have said he began teaching us instead of taught us, but as everyone can see from looking at these words, we finished our learning just fine. We worked in his different lairs cleaning, organizing his things, getting him food, sometimes being his food, entertaining him, being his snack, you know, usual stuff that I do to my subjects. Well, I stopped eating them, but I definitely punish them sometimes for entertainment. I can’t let all customs just die out right? I mean if we did all these things admirably, we weren’t eaten, unless it was entertainment, or Zoltuce was really hungry, or really mad, or really happy. So, there were a few exceptions, but not an outrageous amount. I have also made a few exceptions in my laws, gotta do what I know works. Like I said, no eating, just punishments usually, fun things like ‘find your toe before the pig does’ or ‘I got your nose now try to get it back’. You know, classics.

The lair I grew up in was really big, so some of us began to think, what if we find a way to hide from Zoltuce when he is in an eating us mood? So, we started building a whole bunch of little tunnels and caverns that Zoltuce couldn’t fit in. He was so gracious that he allowed this. So, the rule became ‘if you were too slow you were dead like Joe.’ Who was a Sckaen that tried to see if he could use stone clothing to try to resist Zoltuce’s lightning. Except he was slow now, so yeah, Joe got chomped on. To this day I don’t understand why he just didn’t untie the laces and take off the stone shoes. So, I, in order to maintain our traditions, have built us little tunnels that I can’t fit through, and if a Sckaen that is up for punishment or for entertainment can get in one of those little tunnels or chambers, then they are exempt from the execution of their punishment. So far, no one has been able to escape me. Part of me wishes that they would, because all the running after them is exhausting. No one has tried a wardrobe change yet though, since no clothing has suited us well so far. Either way, this all has nothing to do with the story I am going to tell you. Well, I mean, maybe it will, just keep reading and see if it ends up working itself out.

Our lives before I became King were as such; you were born, your parents took you to the dragon; who either ate you or named you. You went back home, where for the next five years you also tried to not get eaten and had a normal childhood. My parents, unfortunately, were never able to get their schedules to match up with Zoltuce though, which happens, he was a busy Titan. Unfortunately, most youth get their names when they are sent to their purpose, whatever job that needs done at the time. Usually, it is during this time that if a Sckaen hasn’t been officially named, he will either live his life with a nickname, or perhaps get fortunate enough to work under the direct supervision of Zoltuce and therefore usually earn themselves a name. I tried really hard to get the dragon’s attention, I moved from job to job just hoping that one day the dragon would walk by and see what a good job I was doing and say, “I don’t remember naming you.” I would respond, “it’s because you haven’t given me such an honor yet.” He would respond with “I haven’t?” so shocked at my good work and talent and hardly able to believe he hadn’t named me. Then he would call me Skip, or Yummy, or Quiet; there were a lot of Quiets in the lair, you don’t want that name that’s for sure. Maybe it would be Hmm or What, or Leave, or Stupid. I had met a few Stupids, I liked that one. So, I followed the course that every Sckaen had before me, not realizing that I was about to CHANGE THE WORLD!

To be continued.