The Ashen Dolls

    By giliandthehunter

    The Ashen Dolls cover image

    29 Aug, 2023

    King Rose sat in his prison cell, trapped within the cold, lifeless stone walls. The ashen dolls, the transformed God and Devil, were kept under heavy guard in the castle's treasury.

    He shook his head, his resolve unwavering. The world had gone to waste and only he, the imprisoned king, could restore the balance, as impossible as this task seemed.

    Suddenly, a rat emerged from a hole in the wall. Rose perked up, recognizing the creature; he’d seen it many times before his imprisonment.

    The rat scurried towards him and dropped something at his feet - a small ivory key. King Rose's eyes widened in realization.

    He hurriedly grabbed the key to unlock his cell. The freedom tasted sweet, but time was of the essence. The world was waiting for its hero.

    King Rose made his way stealthily towards the treasury. The guards were asleep, unaware of what was to unfold. They, too, were victims of this desolate world.

    He reached the treasury and found the ashen dolls. Their still forms echoed the silence of the cosmos, a silence he was determined to break.

    He picked up the dolls, feeling their cold, charred skin against his warm palms. It was a chilling reminder of the magnitude of his mission.

    He remembered the legends - to restore the balance, one must journey to the cosmic gate, where the dolls could be revived. Time was against him.

    King Rose embarked on his journey, clutching the ashen dolls. Through the barren fields, frozen rivers, and endless forests, he pushed forward.

    The journey was arduous, fraught with danger and despair. But King Rose pressed on, driven by the hope of restoring balance to his world.

    He was tested by the harsh elements, wild beasts, and the echoes of his own doubts. But the King's spirit remained unbroken, his courage unwavering.

    The cosmic gate, an arch glowing with ethereal light, finally stood before him. Rose approached it, the ashen dolls in tow, his heart pounding in his chest.

    He placed the dolls in the designated slots on the gate. The mystical structure began to hum, its power awakening after eons of silence.

    The light from the gate enveloped the dolls, seeping into their ashen bodies. A tremor jolted through the gate, rippling through the cosmos.

    Suddenly, the ashen dolls began to glow. Their charred bodies softened, and slowly, they morphed back into their divine forms, God and the Devil.

    The celestial beings thanked King Rose for his bravery. A wave of divine energy radiated from them, rippling through the cosmos, restoring life and color.

    The barren fields bloomed with flowers, frozen rivers flowed freely, and the once desolate world was filled with life and laughter once again. The balance was restored.

    King Rose returned to his kingdom, greeted by his grateful subjects. The joy in their eyes was the greatest reward he could have asked for.

    His once lonely prison cell was now a distant memory, replaced by the warmth of his people’s love. His mission had been fulfilled; he had saved the cosmos.

    Every night, he'd gaze upon the celestial bodies, knowing the divine beings watched over them. A silent gratitude echoed between them, grounding him in his duty.

    His journey gnarled him, forging a leader out of a captive king. And thus, he ruled wisely and justly, beloved by his subjects.

    He was no longer just King Rose, the imprisoned king. He was King Rose, the Savior of Cosmos, the beloved ruler of a thriving kingdom.

    His tale was sung by bards, his courage celebrated, and his wisdom revered. In the end, his name was immortal, his legend eternal.

    Thus, King Rose lived his days in peace and prosperity, knowing that he had been part of something much larger - saving not just a kingdom, but the cosmos.