It was Halloween morning, and Princess Xena awoke in her royal bed, stretched her royal paws, and prepared to begin another perfectly ordinary day of being adored.
But something was different.
From somewhere beyond her bedchamber came a strange sound.
Jingle, jingle, JINGLE!
“WHAT,” demanded Princess Xena, “is making that dreadful racket?”
Into the room bounded Fritz, wearing a magnificent purple-and-orange jester’s hat. Tiny golden bells dangled from every point.
“Your Highness!” he exclaimed, bowing so low that his bells nearly touched the floor. “Your royal entertainment has arrived!”
“Your royal headache has arrived,” muttered Xena.
Before Fritz could demonstrate his newest trick, a trumpet sounded from the doorway.
TOOT! TOOT! TOOOOOOT!
“HEAR YE! HEAR YE!” announced Lady Chia, Royal Herald of the Kingdom. “All subjects shall rise and greet Her Royal Highness, Princess Xena, Protector of Treats, Defender of Toys, and Supreme Ruler of All Comfortable Furniture!”
“Very good, Chia,” said Xena approvingly. “At least someone understands royal protocol.”
Chia beamed.
Fritz jingled.
Xena sighed.
“Now,” continued the princess, “what is on today’s royal schedule?”
Lady Chia unrolled an enormous scroll.
“First, Your Highness, we shall inspect the kingdom’s pumpkins. Second, we shall greet the visiting peasants. Third, we shall collect the royal tribute.”
“Tribute?” asked Xena, suddenly interested.
“TREATS!” shouted Fritz, performing a somersault and setting off approximately seventeen bells.
“Excellent,” declared the princess. “I approve of this Halloween business.”
“There is just one problem,” said Chia.
The princess raised a royal eyebrow.
“What problem?”
“According to the ancient laws of Halloween, Your Highness, the treats must be earned by performing tricks.”
Silence fell over the royal bedchamber.
Then Princess Xena slowly turned toward Fritz.
“Well,” she said, “at last we’ve found something useful for the jester to do!”
And so it was that Princess Xena, Lady Chia, and Fritz the Court Jester set forth to conquer Halloween.
Fritz jingled all the way.
Chia announced their arrival at every doorway.
And Princess Xena collected the treats.
Which, when you think about it, is exactly how a properly organized kingdom ought to operate.
Happy Halloween from Lucy, Princess Xena and Her Royal Court!
Haha! That was fun! Somewhere we have a jester’s hat, too…only I don’t think there are 17 bells on it! Your dream was purrfect for Halloween, Lucy!
Maybe now you can be a princess for real, Xena, and Chia would truly make a great herald. NOt sure what Fritz should be…I guess the jester fits him well!!
Happy Halloween!
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