chapter 6 – the festival of the bouncing biscuit

She had seen war
she had seen tears
but today, she saw slimes jump for glory,
and a sticky cloud find love
and sometimes… that’s exactly what you need.

When you live in a world woven of sugar, fluff, and laughter,
you have to celebrate it someday.
Saphira hadn’t planned anything
she hadn’t organized a thing
but in the kingdom of Hope, festivals bloom like flowers:
spontaneously, from the pure joy of existing.

That morning, the paths of the great rainbow park had been carpeted in golden marshmallows
the trees hummed slow melodies, almost shy,
as if waiting for their visitors' approval before raising their voice
in the air floated sweet pollen confetti,
and mist unicorns danced above lukewarm lemonade fountains.

It was the Bouncing Biscuit Festival.

A tradition… born the day before.
The Slime Princess, in a burst of uncontrollable enthusiasm,
had jumped so hard that a cookie flew from her hands,
bounced off a marshmallow balloon,
crossed a quantum portal…
and returned in the middle of the night, onto her pillow.

— "And it came back!" she declared at dawn, arms in the air.
"So now, we jump, we sing, and we eat bouncing cookies!"

And everyone agreed.
Because here, joy is law.

The games began with sunrise,
which looked like a warm, melty biscuit.

There was the living plush toss,
where the plushies bounced while laughing,
and tickled anyone they caught.
Saphira, of course, won a trophy
not for her physical performance,
but for maintaining absolute calm in the face of tickling:
the Supreme Calm.

Further on, the Slime Race brought together eight joyful blobs,
sliding at full speed over a hard candy track.
The winner, a translucent, panting orb,
received a crunchy caramel crown,
and fainted with happiness in the arms of the princess.

There was also the singing cloud fishing:
you had to catch a gray cloud humming an old sad song.
Once comforted, it transformed into a soft pillow,
perfect for an unexpected nap.

And the highlight of the festival:
the Slime Knights costume contest.

Saphira had sewn small sparkling satin capes for each of them herself.
One of them burst into gooey tears, declaring between hiccups:

— "I’m… the most stylish slime… in the universe."

She patted his head.
And he nearly evaporated with gratitude.

But no festival, even a sweet one, is complete without a small disaster.

And this one came in the form of a giant pink cloud.

It descended slowly from the sky,
weeping drops of sticky syrup.
Wherever it passed,
tablecloths turned into melted caramel,
flowers tripped over themselves,
and the slimes screamed with laughter
while sinking down into the bubbles.

— "OH NO!" cried Hope, trying to run… and sinking to her knees.
"It’s THE STICKY CUDDLE CLOUD! he’s sad… so he clings to everything he touches so he won’t be alone!"

Panic could have spread among the festivalgoers.

But Saphira did not move.
She slowly raised her arms
and spoke
not to command
but to welcome.

— "You can come, Bouboule but gently we’ll help you."

She summoned a blue lightning umbrella, woven of patience.
The syrup, upon touching it, transformed into floating bubbles,
round and warm
like cuddles that no longer frighten.

Then she entrusted Élya to the wind.
The doll floated to the cloud and gently embraced it.

And Bouboule… melted.

Literally.

He became a flabby, pink slime, splashing with joy.
Then he started dancing.
And everyone, even the trees, danced with him.

The biscuit sun slowly descended,
soaking the horizon in warm milk.
Lanterns lit up, soft as sleepy children's thoughts.

Saphira sat on a waffle bench, a little apart.
Hope fell asleep against her arm,
a smile stuck to her cheek.

The Slime Knights snored gently in a fluffy pile.

Élya sipped hot chocolate from a marshmallow cup.

And Saphira, eyes half-closed, whispered in the falling light:

— "It’s peaceful here.
And no one is afraid.
Not even the clouds."

And in the sky…
one last bubble rose.
Inside, a single word: thank you.

End of Chapter 6 – The Bouncing Biscuit Festival.