Once Upon A Time (Ali Topan)

I am a college student. I always do my college stuff everyweeks. One day, I found something interesting in my campus which remind me of a story that always be my guidance. This is my story.

Light of sunshine in the early morning had never bothered my sleep to continue dreaming, but there was only one thing; I hated having heard a sound always kicking, wounding and tearing my ears apart. The earsplitting sound which blown my dream away makes me, sometimes, angry of it. However, even if it was annoying, it always be my duty to response the call. I woke and turned off the sound of my alarm, because its time to explore the world and found my future. Like a fireball, I grabbed my towel and went to bath until I felt the freezing sensation which turned off my fire and frozen me to death. Doubts filled me and made me think twice to do my exploring, maybe I should sleep again or I shouldn’t have to wake, but I couldn’t loose to this doubts and to beat this freezing water was a must!

I started my journey to explore the world, I went to my campus. After those troubles I had, the freezing water and the sound of my alarm, I arrived but couldn’t find any space at the parking lot, even a tiny space. I was stressed, need fifteen minutes just to find the space, but it was the registration week that made it a full house, then I couldn’t imagine how full my campus will be. I came to my department after parking my bike, saw my schedule and then attended the class. It was a lovely day that I could see my friends again after our holiday, it had been three months, then we had a chit chat and other things which we always do.

In the middle of the day, I heard someone yelling out loud when I was with my friends sitting in a bench park at my campus. I wonder who was it, so I took a peek. There were some new students who were yelled by their seniors. “We are your seniors, we here to be respected by you, because you are nothing than some fresh-school graduates who know nothing about college, respect us if you want to survive or else!” they said. Wow! Such a words they got there, such an arrogance. I couldn’t believe my eyes, my ears, even myself that someone out there still had and held that thoughts.

I talked to myself, “Have they listen a story of Lion and Mouse? I would tell them the story if I had a chance. But, I guess..it won’t work.” Right, I would tell them that story if I could, a kingdom story which always be my guide.

In a middle of nowhere, deep inside a jungle, there was a kingdom who was ruled by Lion. Arrogant and selfish, the Lion was. He ruled the kingdom for over hundred years. It was a peaceful kingdom, in his point of view, but not for his people. Even if their ruler could guarantee his people safety from outsiders, especially the Hunters, they were never saved from their ruler. By his muscular and mighty figure, he treated his people haphazardly. He took their foods when he want to and he won’t listen their complaints. No one dare against him, because when someone does, their bones would rattle like loose branches just by his roar of anger.

One night, a wise, smart and friendly wanderer slipped through their guards and got in to the kingdom. His name was Mouse. He was confused, hungry and felt sleepy. He need an inn but couldn’t find any.

“What’s wrong with this town?” he talked to himself. He kept walking through the darkness untill he found one.

“Finally, I can rest...” He walked in to the inn and sat on a chair and waiting the inn-keeper. The keeper was in the other room when he came and she was surprised by his present.

“Visitor?” there were interlude, then she said, “Can I help you sir?”. With confused expression, she offered Mouse some help.

“I just need some food and room to sleep,” he smiled, “by the way, why you look so surprised and confused? This is an inn, right?” he wondered.

“Yes it is! or it was ..... I’m sorry for my rudeness, it just ... we have no visitors for a long time. I’ll get your food and room, just give me a moment,” she prepared the room and cook some dinner for Mouse while he was sitting, confused. The dinner was ready, she served it on his table.

“What do you mean it’s been a long time?” Mouse asked.

“Our king, Lion, close our gates for outsiders. He said it’s for our safety. But he have no idea what will happen to us if the gates closed. However, we are not surprised by his attitude, he just afraid of losing his kingdom. No one dare against him,” she said sadly.

“Can I talk to him?” he asked.

“No you can’t! He doesn’t like visitors. But why you wanted to talk to him?” she confused.

“I need to open his mind so you and your people won’t suffer anymore,” He smiled.

“Don’t you dare or he will eat you! You can’t even beat him with your tiny and skinny figure, sorry I’ve said that, but afterall you are just a stranger. He won’t listen!” she was shocked. A stranger wanted to help them!

“Hahahahaha, don’t mind saying that! I am a tiny and skinny person, but I won’t use my physique against him. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” he started to eat. He ate like a monster, even he was tiny and skinny.

He left the inn with a note for it’s keeper. It said, “Keep the room for me, just in case.” He walked straight in to the castle, after talking to the guard they got in. The king was sitting on his throne holding a cup of wine when they came.

“Who are you?” Lion said it furiously. The guard’s body was trembling.

“He is Mouse the wanderer your majesty!” nervously said.

“Leave!” Lion was angry to his guard. Then he stared at Mouse, with piercing eyes. After the guard leave the room, Lion asked Mouse.

“Who are you, really?” he asked with suspicious tone.

“I am nobody, just your humble servant, your majesty,” Mouse answered.

“Speak then! I don’t like visitors,” he said it peevishly.

With cunning eye, Mouse asked, “Pardon me sir, I just have one question. Why did you close the gates?”

Lion stood up from his throne, then walked and stopped right in front of Mouse, “Who are you dare to ask my policy?! I close the gates for defending my people from the Hunters!” he yelled to mouse face.

“Do you realize what happen to your people, sir? There are no customers now or someone who come here just for a visit,” Mouse said.

Lion became more furious by that fact and after interlude he ask, “Then what do you want?”

“Not what I want, but what you want. I think you need an advisor, sir,” Mouse answered.

Lion couldn’t hold his anger anymore, he roared furiously then threw the cup that he held. With anger he said, “Are you saying that I am not wise enough to rule my kingdom?! Are you saying that I, alone, can’t defend my kingdom?! You are just a stranger! You know nothing about my kingdom!”

“You are twisting my words, sir,” Mouse defended.

“Leave my room! Or I make you!” the guards came, “Show him the exit!” he yelled, again.

Mouse left the castle and went back to the inn. “Anything?” the keeper asked. “Nothing,” he smiled with sad face, then he went to bed.

Morning came after a long night but something unordinary happened in that morning. The castle was held captive by Hunters. They slipped through the guards last night and went straight to the castle. They didn’t kill Lion, but held him for ransom. Unfortunately,  no one would pay for him because he never treat his people well. They were happy, some of them thought the kingdom was better without him, but Mouse thought otherwise. Kingdoms always need a king, so he went to the castle to save him.

Inside the castle, at throne room, Lion was tied up. Yelled to the Hunters, “I am The Mighty Lion! You can’t do this to me! All of you, face me like a man!”

“They won’t listen. You are alone in this room,” someone said it at the corner of the room.

“Stranger! What are you doing here?” Lion was surprised when he found the stranger. He was Mouse.

“To help you, your majesty,” Mouse bowed.

“Nonsense! With your tiny figure, it’s impossible you could beat the Hunters.” he doubt Mouse.

“Then what’s your brain for?” Mouse smiled.

 “I don’t need your help, just call my guards!” he asked.

“There are no guards. They are celebrating with your people.” Mouse sat beside Lion.

“Celebrating? Of what?” Lion confused.

“Of you being held captive. It is a proof that your way of leading was wrong. Will you still denied it?” Mouse said.

Lion was thinking for a moment, then he answered, “No. I relize it now. It was my arrogance who made this kingdom doomed.”

“I’ll save you on one condition. Would you be a good and wise king? Who always treat his people well and listen their complaints?” Mouse said.

Lion smiled and answered, “Would you be my advisor, stranger?”

“My name is Mouse, your majesty,” they smiled each other while Mouse cut him loose. Together, they fought the Hunters and push them out of the kingdom. Lion kept his promise and peace came to his kingdome, the real peace.