My hunger is a fire that cannot be quenched,
The power I desire is such that is insatiable,
The love I have for you is overwhelming,
Just like the fire in my stomach.
~Gulliver~
It was a typical day in the Kingdom of Gula, a land of excess and indulgence. The streets were lined with stalls selling all manner of delicacies, from roasted meats to sweet treats, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking.
The kingdom's people were known for their insatiable appetites, gorging themselves on food and drink with abandon. But even among this decadent populace, one man stood out for his gluttony: King Gulliver.
As the servants scurried to fulfill his demand, King Gulliver's booming voice echoed throughout the grand hall. 'More, I say, more!' he bellowed, his words accompanied by the clink of his goblet against the table.
The hall was decked with sumptuous tapestries and glittering jewels, a testament to the king's vast wealth and power. But even in the midst of such opulence, Gulliver's attention was solely focused on the food before him.
'Visiting my brothers is always such a chore,' Gulliver thought, savoring the juicy meat he greedily devoured. 'If only they knew the toll it takes on my mental health - and my stomach!'
Giving himself a quick glance in the diamond-encrusted mirror, he exclaimed, 'Ah, I am the very image of a well-fed and well-to-do king! A little oil and fat is the evidence of a life well-lived!'
As King Gulliver continued to gorge himself on the feast laid out before him, his thoughts turned to his next course of action. 'Perhaps I should expand my kingdom,' he thought, rubbing his well-fed belly in contemplation. 'There are lands to the east that could be ripe for the taking.'
But as he contemplated his next move, a knock at the door interrupted his train of thought. "Enter," he bellowed, curious to see who dared to disturb his meal.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," said a deep voice from the doorway. "There is news that requires your immediate attention."
Gulliver paused mid-bite, glaring at the intruder. "There had better be a good reason for this interruption, Chubstar," he growled. "I'm in no mood for idle chit-chat."
Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty," Chubstar replied, his voice trembling slightly. "But your brother, King Kshipa, has arrived and requests your presence. It is urgent."
Gulliver's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Kshipa? Here? Where is he?"
"He is waiting in the throne room, as we speak."
Gulliver huffed and shoved the remains of his meal aside, rising from his seat with a flourish.
"If this is about that blasted ritual, don't bother," Gulliver growled, stomping towards the throne room. "I've made my decision, and I'm going solo."
Kshipa, leaning against a marble pillar, took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him like a poisonous snake. "Good day to you too, brother," he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I trust you've been stuffing your face with food and drink, as usual?"
Gulliver's nostrils flared at his brother's remark, but he kept his anger in check. "Why are you here, Kshipa? I'm sure you didn't come all this way just to insult me."
Kshipa smirked, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
"Oh brother, it's fine if you're fat but must you be stupid as well? Do you think you'll succeed if you go solo?"
Gulliver's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing to slits. "Watch your tongue, Kshipa. You may be my brother, but even kings have their limits."
Kshipa scoffed, casually flicking ashes onto the marble floor.
"I'm not here to waste your time, brother," he said, stepping forward. "I have a deal to propose, one you'll find hard to resist."
Gulliver's brow furrowed, skepticism clouding his features. "What kind of deal? More wine? Food? Power? I can have those myself. I don't need anyone's help."
"How about Mary?" Kshipa asked, his smirk widening.
Gulliver's eyes widened. "What about her?"
Kshipa's tone grew colder, his words dripping malice. "The flesh of a holy dragon. That's the last thing you need to wake her up, but, holy dragons are extinct. Yet I have one."
Gulliver's eyes were wild with shock and disbelief. "You're saying you have a holy dragon? You can't be serious. That's impossible. You're not trying to trick me, are you?"
Kshipa's smirk remained, his voice smug and self-assured. "I have no reason to lie, brother. I have the dragon and you have the means to wake her up. All I ask is for us to work together for the ritual." Kshipa paused, letting the weight of his words setting between them.
Gulliver's gaze shifted, his mind racing, "You need my help for the ritual? That's suspicious. What's to stop me from infiltrating your Kingdom and seizing the dragon?"
Kshipa shook his head, his expression unyielding. "You know I've always been one step ahead, Gulliver."
Gulliver's jaw clenched. "You need my help for the ritual? Why me, Kshipa? Out of all our brothers, why did you choose me?"
Kshipa smile remained, his voice oozing with self assuredness."Because you have what I need and I have what you need. So do we have a deal?"
Gulliver paused for a while, the looked at Kshipa with determination in his eyes, "As long as you have what I need, we'll work together for the ritual. So yes, we have a deal."
"Excellent," Kshipa replied, his smile widening. "Then our partnership is sealed." He extended his hand, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Gulliver considered the outstretched hand before him, weighing his options. Finally, he clasped Kshipa's hand, sealing their dangerous alliance.
"When do we begin?" Gulliver asked, his mind already racing with strategies.
"The sooner, the better," Kshipa replied, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Mary, if you can hear me, I'm doing this for you. Please don't hate me," Gulliver murmured to himself, his fear mingling with the adrenaline coursing through his veins.