A Kings’s Gift

Art stood in shock, his eyes wide as he saw nothing in sight. With the stairs now gone, he noticed the village was on top of a strange flat hill with, different levels to it. His ears were ringing from the multiple high pitched sounds. His clothes were clean and in perfect condition. The smell of burned grass filled the air. 

"Lad, answer me!" Art felt a hand on his shoulder shake him.

When the ringing stopped, he looked at Doan, the same shocked expression on his face. Just mere minutes ago, they stood on a built stairway, with houses in front of them. The sound of silence carried a sorrowful tension in the air, that wrapped around Art, keeping him in his daze of shock.

Doan realized he wouldn't be able to get anything out of the boy, so he led him down the flat hill, climbing down by jumping down, and helping Art get down. Once he had reached the bottom flat hill, he jumped off it running through the burnt grass, in the direction where the front gate used to be. He increased his speed when he saw a body of armor laying in the grass. 

Doan grit his teeth, unable to take in what he was witnessing. King Dulcee laid on the ground with pink armor. He seemed fine, but the armor had slits in several parts of the body. The armor was strong enough to protect him, but the beam managed to hit the slits. Parts of his torso were gone. No dust from being disintegrated, and no blood either. They were simply gone, the other side of the ground being seen through the king's torso. 

His body stirred, as his honorable knight kneeled next to him. The king woke up weakly, and sat up, looking at Doan, and Art who still looked shocked, now approaching them. 

"Your majesty what can I do for you?!" Doan shouted, feeling rather ill at the thought of the king dying.

"It's no use lad, I am perplexed at the technology they used, but they somehow got rid of my organs internally and externally, without causing total blood loss. However I've lost a few important things, any time now my body will shut down if I may assume." The king placed his hand on Doan's shoulder, giving a weak smile.

"That lad there." He turned to look at Doan, who Art was approaching. When he finally reached down he looked at King Dulcee, noticing the holes through his body. He kneeled down, following Doan's style. He turned to Doan, then to the king and finally spoke.

"Why?" Art asked, a blank face and a wide eyed stare.

The king gave the boy an empathetic caress on the cheek.

"I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that dear boy."

The king removed his arm off Doan's shoulder and grabbed his wrist with the bracelet on it. The bracelet was made of shiny black metal. It had a small chain design in a glossy red color. At one end it had a pink gem, and the other end had a clear gem.

"However, I do have something for you." The king said, as he proceeded to take off his bracelet, and handed it to Art. 

The boy who was still lost, stuck his palm out and turned it around, as the King placed the bracelet in is hand. He closed it into a fist, then turned his hand around. He opened it and looked at the bracelet, curiosity peaked.

"What is it?" 

"Well, I never gave it a name, but it will allow you to use the candy energy you received from the dispenser there." King Dulcee nodded in the direction of the candy dispenser. 

Art pressed the button on his candy energy dispenser, and popped the pink pebble that came out into his mouth. The tingling sensation he had felt every time he ate one, now seemed duller, ever since he got used to it.

He put on the bracelet and it began to give off a dimly lit pink glow. The colors seemed odd and out of place for Art. He was wearing a blank gray short sleeve shirt, and some white elastic shorts. His hair was a light blue, with the slight gray piece sticking out at the top of his head. 

"Go ahead, try creating something." The king encouraged.

Art closed his eyes, a great beam of yellow light being the only image in his mind. He tried to create exactly that. He felt something in his hand. He opened his eyes, and saw a small tiny stick, rolling in his hand.

Doan chuckled and the king nodded.

"A good control for a beginner, especially someone your age."

Art gave a small nod, acknowledging the words, but not in the mood to celebrate over a compliment. He stared at his wrist. He moved his new bracelet to the top of his arm and back down, playing with it. 

He looked at the bracelet, and then back at the king.

"Thank you."

"Nonsense, I've heard of your great accomplishments, you carry great potential to become a wonderful Sugar Knight." The king looked around. 

"It's a tragedy that the people won't see your great accomplishments in the future, myself included." He carried a pained expression.

Art finally recovered from his daze. He blinked and turned his head looking around normally. He turned to look at the king, wanting to ask him some questions.

"Is it true you're evil?" Art asked.

The king frowned, and stroked his beard pensively. 

"Now why would you think that."

"A guy named Tempo told me." Art revealed. He had remembered the conversation he had with Tempo, and couldn't seem to forget the part where he mentioned the king and his deeds.

The king felt like he was being told a joke. He hadn't heard that name since he was young. He never even met the person known as Tempo, and now Art was talking about a mysterious figure known as Tempo. 

The king chuckled lightly, before patting the burnt field around him. 

"Sit down and let me tell you the truth."