Krog replaced the top on his sunder-pen and closed his book. “Now for Chapter Two.”
“What are you writing now, O Prince?” said a voice. From the throne in his royal traceship, Krog saw the hulking shape of General Kurg walking down the stairs towards him.
“It’s a diary,” he replied. “So my dad can see all the skilled-up conquering and world-ending I’m doing.”
“By the Inevitable Victory! How could King Kroak be anything other than proud of you, Your Majesty?” cried General Kurg, placing a massive hand upon Krog’s shoulder. “From the first wave to the second, you’ve been a consummate conqueror. You’ve scorched the earth, blackened the skies – total catastrophe!”
“Yep! No doubts on toast – I conquered this world to pieces,” said Krog. He rubbed the back of his head. “I wonder how the other nine hundred and ninety-nine princes are doing with their worlds…”
“By the Right to Smite! I almost forgot – I rounded up the last of the native rebels so they can cower at your feet. Would you like the pleasure of brain-slaving them?”
“We did that yesterday – and the day before,” said Krog. Then he hopped down from his throne with glee. “Let’s do it again!”
Krog quickly adjusted his shiny black crown and cape, and raced out of the traceship. He emerged in the devastated remains of a once glorious palace of Kingdomland. Above him, the sky churned with black clouds and the comforting sounds of explosions could be heard from far and wide. In the centre of the courtyard, Kroakan troopers had surrounded a handful of kneeling prisoners.
“Yoiks, what’s that smell? Oh, I know, it’s the stink of defeat – and you all reek of it!” declared Krog, as he surveyed the rebels.
There was Princess Rainbow, daughter of the slain King and Queen of Kingdomland, her guardian, Man-Lor the barbarian, a crimson-scaled bragon by the name of Nigel, and a grubby-looking sheep.
Krog held out his hand and General Kurg passed him a handful of slave-nodes. “So, do you have anything to say before I void your brain space and load it up with slave juice?”
“You’re a silly stupid-head and I hate you!” snapped Princess Rainbow. “You killed my mummy and daddy!”
“Actually, I just ordered them to be killed,” Krog replied. “When you’re a top prince like I am, conquering is mostly delegating. Mostly…”
Prince Krog threw one of the nodes, which stuck fast to the princess’s forehead. Her eyes grew wide … and a moment later they turned inky black.
“Ka-SLAVE!” cried Prince Krog.
“Man-Lor begs for mercy,” said the barbarian. “I am Man-Lor.”
“Please spare me, by gosh!” added the winged creature.
“Woof!” said the sheep.
“Too late!” said Krog, throwing slave-nodes at each of their foreheads. Then he noticed a fifth prisoner, kneeling in the shadows. He was wearing a long black cloak, and his head was covered with a hood.
“It’s slave o’clock, you rebel stink,” Krog snarled. “Any last words?”
“Since you ask, yes,” replied the hooded figure. “I’m proud of you.”
“Begging won’t save— Wait, what?” blurted Krog.
“I said I’m proud of you!” said the figure, getting to his feet. Then he reached up and lowered his hood.
Krog’s own face peered back at him.
“This is my kind of conquering!” said the figure.
Krog pressed his fingers to his temples. “What’s going on?” he cried. “What… This isn’t right… I’m supposed to… Oh bumdrops! Bumdrops to the moon times a million! I’m dreaming! This is all UNSLUMBER!”
“Well, obviously,” sneered the figure. “I wasn’t sure if you were ever going to work it out.”
“I’m not Krog, I’m Frog … Frog!” roared Frog, hammering the sides of his head with his fists. Then he looked up at the figure, his own face staring back at him. “And you’re King Kroak!”
“What do you want, a prize? You should really be on top of this dream stuff by now,” chuckled King Kroak. He pulled a black crown out of his cape and put it on his head. “I have to admit, though, all this does seem very real. I mean, look at you! Prince Krog, the mighty Kroakan prince, merciless conqueror of Kingdomland … just like you’ve always wanted.”
“This isn’t what I want!” Frog blurted. “I don’t want to be a conquering anything and I don’t want to be Prince Krog!”
“Are you sure?” scoffed King Kroak. “Look around, Frog … this is what you long for, even if you won’t admit it. This is the world of your dreams.”
Frog was about to speak, but for the first time in his life, he couldn’t think of anything to say. He could see the prisoners, their minds enslaved, feel the heat from the scorched earth, smell the smoke from the blackened skies. It was as vivid as anything in the real world, and something about it felt … right.
Finally, he said, “You told me I was different … from your other sons. What did you mean? How am I—”
WHiiiiiiSHT – SHUNK!
“What the … whAAAH!” Frog cried, glancing at King Kroak. The King had an arrow sticking out of his forehead.
“Ow,” said King Kroak, giving the arrow a prod. “Looks like someone’s trying to interrupt our UnSlumber party.”
Frog followed the arrow’s path to the top of a ruined tower. There stood Kryl, already drawing another arrow.
“Wake up, Frog!” she cried. “Your dreams have no hold over you! Don’t let the King’s lies poison you!”
“Lies?” howled King Kroak. “That’s rich coming from you, Keeper! You’ve done nothing but lie to Frog since the day he hatched!”
Kryl said nothing. She unleashed another arrow, but this time King Kroak caught it in mid-flight, inches from his face. He glowered at the nearby Kroakan troopers.
“Has anyone noticed the traitor shooting arrows at the King?” he said. “Kill her!”
The troopers unleashed a volley of sunder-beams, destroying the tower and sending Kryl flying through the air. She landed hard on the ground, her arrows scattering in all directions.
“Kryl!” Frog yelled – but King Kroak was already looming over her. He wrapped his fingers around her throat and hoisted her effortlessly into the air.
“I know what you’re trying to do, Keeper,” he began, squeezing her throat. “You think if you destroy me in the UnSlumber, I’ll end up with my brain all stunk up in the real world. Arrow to the head and it’s all over, am I right?”
“Wake … up … Frog…” Kryl wheezed.
“Stop…!” cried Frog. He raced towards King Kroak, but his limbs were slow and heavy, like he was moving through turnip soup.
“But there’s one thing you didn’t count on – I’m the mightiest of the mighty by a million. And do you know why?” King Kroak tugged the arrow out of his head. “BECAUSE I’M KING KROAK, STUPID!”
With that, he thrust the arrow into Kryl’s chest. She gasped, once, and fell limp. King Kroak turned to Frog and winked.
“See you soon, son.”
Frog was frozen to the spot. All he could do was cry out, “NOOOOOOOO—”