Chapter 9 – The Cake Island & the Festival of Lightning

It might have been a game
A battle of sugar and laughter
But at the heart of that adorable madness...
There was a truth.

The love of one’s own is a treasure rarer than gold.

The sea had finally fallen silent.

After the marshmallow storms, the praline tempests, the lemon-scented lightning, and the caramel cannonballs, calm had returned It hovered over the waves like a sweet mist, light, warm a contented breath, full, and gently tired.

And as the last bolts dissolved into the cream-colored horizon, a gentle miracle occurred.

From the very center of the vanilla sea, an island rose not in a crash, but in a sigh as if the world itself had decided to take a break.

It wasn’t made of rock, nor of earth It was made of an immense cake, soft, still warm, with foundations of dense caramel and divine cream the beaches were crunchy meringue the coconut trees, twisted by the wind, hung fruit with the taste of melted candy the hills breathed cinnamon and atop it all floated a small flag painted sweet blue: the seal of Saphira.

It was her, after all, who had brought it to life , with a soft bolt, with a tender thought with the simple will to offer those she loved a place to rest their sugar-made weapons.

The party began before it was even announced.

Hope danced atop a giant flan, waving a wand dipped in cosmic whipped cream the slimes slid down the powdered sugar dunes, leaving trails of glowing ribbons behind
Élya served drinks to the guests Infusions in gelatin shells, light as promises.

The ships docked slowly, rocked by the vanilla waves.

Kael, in an open golden jacket, was the first to descend his stance still noble, but his smile disarmed.
Diva, covered in cream, rolled with laughter, each chuckle shaking her oversized pirate hat.
Destiny, silent, wore a hat embroidered with the inscription king of elegance without irony.
Iris, as always, had not a hair out of place, despite the war
Dante, serene, held in one hand an iced tea, in the other a biscuit speckled with stardust
 Pink, arriving last, kept her dignity… but her fingers bore traces of stolen pink sugar
Morphée was already asleep, nestled on a living cushion that snored along with him
Hadès grumbled… but with a smile on his lips, biting into a dark chocolate éclair
Héra prepared a speech she might never read and Zeus, laughing, tossed divine popcorn by the handful, puffed by his bolts.

When Saphira stepped onto the marshmallow stage, dressed in a blue gown woven of sugar clouds, silence fell naturally.
Hope placed a royal marshmallow crown on her head, then stepped back with a bright smile.

— “As queen of this sweet world,” declared Saphira,
— “I hereby award the prizes of this glorious and delicious naval battle…”

And everyone held their breath, or a bite.

Epic pirate award: Kael
For striking down a wave with elegance… while reciting a haiku.

Crunchy chaos award: Diva
For transforming a catapult into a marshmallow-blaster… then dancing on it.

Stylish silence award: Destiny
Because he said nothing, but did everything even the tea.

Phantom grace award: Iris
We still don’t know how she won that duel… but she did smiling.

Zen pirate award: Dante
For drinking tea during the entire war… without spilling a drop.

Beauty cannon award:  Pink
Because her cannonballs exploded into flower shapes. And it was magnificent.

Sleepy cloud award: Morphée
He put an entire ship to sleep without getting up another mystery.

Dark biscuit award: Hadès
He growled while eating candy we all got scared even Zeus.

Divine light award: Héra
For protecting the wounded slimes with rainbow bandages.

Living firework award: Zeus
Because even the candies fear him and he’s proud of it.

Best ship award: the crew of Saphira’s gliss’slimes
Because a blob armed with a sugar sword deserves a medal.

Evening descended slowly, like a warm blanket
The stars, in a tender whim, came to settle on the sea gentle, glowing, ready to listen.

The gods, the captains, the slimes and the dreams mingled , the laughter softened arms draped over shoulders.

Diva whispered jokes
 Pink gazed at the moon
Destiny read
Iris meditated, her eyes lost in a firefly
Dante wrote by the light of a sugar-lamp
Kael watched them all and smiled.

Saphira, curled against a giant slime-shaped pillow, gently closed her eyes
Élya slept against her chest, her breathing was calm, her dress glowed faintly.

And in one final breath, she whispered:

— “It was a good day.”

And everyone agreed.
Even the stars.

End of Chapter 9 — The Cake Island & the Festival of Lightning