The Purple Citadel

There are two things on the table. Thing number 1, I created in a good mood. It holds happiness, it holds the ability to bring happiness, it is fun, and it is nice. Thing number 2 was born of a bout of sadness. It holds a lesson well learnt and cherished henceforth, and it holds the ability to bring about thought. It is also nice, but not in the same way as Thing number 1. I put much effort into making both of these things. I am quite happy with the way they each turned out. It is clear, however, that neither thing is anywhere near complete. It occurs to me that the two things are drawn to each other by their need for completion, but not much else. Yet, I am overcome by a desire to put them together, perhaps in the hope that somehow, they will fit just so, and the stars will align and hail down blessings upon the perfect match. I worry also that by combining these two things, I shall forever cancel out what could be a better future for each thing, and prevent them from finding ...

I took a bulldozer to the enchanter's tower. What choice did I have? He would not let me in. He sat coldly in his enchanted tower that had neither door nor window that could be opened from the outside, and watched me suffer. Of course, I knew a bulldozer could not place a scratch upon his tower that was protected by magic. It was more for the concept of the thing. Perhaps it would amuse him and then he would laugh at me and let me into his arms again. So I was more than shocked when the tower that touched the clouds came crashing down around me, crushing leg and lung. All I could feel was glass, metal, brick, and pain with no remedy. There might have been wood as well, but I could barely see through the pain. I looked up to see the enchanter watching me die in his illusion, and he watched me as I awoke, gasping and sobbing, at the foot of his unharmed tower and he himself. "Do you remember when you asked me how you made me feel?"

"Knot, what was it like to fly?"   "You know, Pebble, I can't say it was what I expected. Everyone talks about the freedom and the exhilaration, but no one mentions the cold wind. I was supposed to have a bird's eye view, but birds must have stronger eyes than I do. I couldn't see for all the tears in my eyes. On the whole, it was more trouble than it was worth."   A silence.   "Pebble, what was it like to swim?"   "You know, Knot, I can't say it was what I expected either. Everyone talks about the buoyancy and the ease, but no one mentions the first time water goes up your nose and how you splutter. I was supposed to look through clear, blue waters and witness beauty, but I could scarcely see what was in front of me. I got no serenity through all the noise in my ears. The water doesn't feel good in there either."   A silence.   "You can say that you liked it. There is no need to imitate me."   A silence.   "Th...

"I would like to rent a room with you indefinitely." The silence hung heavily in the room, as did the thick curtains that blocked out the daylight. "Indefinitely?" "Yes. Indefinitely." "On which floor did you wish to rent a room?" "The Purple one." "Of course," he didn't say. "Of course," they didn't say either. They said instead, "We hope you enjoy your stay." _+_~ "I would like to end my stay." The flickering candles made shadowy shapes on the thick curtains, none of which appeared particularly friendly. "End your stay?" "Yes. I have achieved that which I came for." "You have only been here a day. You stated that you would be staying-" "Indefinitely, indeed, and now I define the bounds of my stay. As it happens, a day was all I needed to raze the place to the ground." The shadowy shapes o...