New Story Whale Bedtime Chapter: A Popcorn Playoff 🍿
Princess Hanna fights for victory in the first challenge of the Fire Festival…
We’re back!
The last chapter in Princess Hanna’s story finished on a cliffhanger. It’s the first proper challenge of the Fire Festival and all of Hanna’s training is on the line.
Here’s a link to that recent chapter:
And here’s a link to the full series:
Thank you to everyone who has been following along. I will try to get the next chapter out in two weeks.
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Now, here’s today’s new chapter!
All of the competing young dragons except for Hanna unleashed fire at the popcorn kernel-filled cauldrons in front of them, faces growing gradually redder and redder. As the rules had stated, there were no second breaths of fire allowed.
Very quickly, the town square filled with the sound of popcorn popping. It smelled amazing!
Hanna took a final breath to compose herself and then she began a stream of fire at the cauldron in front of her. Low and slow, low and slow. She wanted to gradually heat the cauldron as a whole, not just one concentrated part of it. That way the popcorn would be more likely to pop around the same time.
Some of the other competing dragons were not quite so cautious...
Suddenly, there was a burning smell coming from a nearby cauldron. Hanna looked over and saw smoke. It smelt horrible. Realising what they had done, the competing dragon in front of the smoking cauldron threw up their hands and let out a sob. They were done for.
Following her mum’s wise advice, Hanna continued to keep her fire gentle and gradual. The popcorn in her cauldron wasn’t popping anywhere near as rapidly as the dragons around her, but she knew she had to not worry about that. She was running her own race. She needed to trust what her mum had taught her.
Soon enough, the other dragons around her were starting to stop. The sound of popping slowed down as most of them finished up.
Hanna was still going, repeating to herself in her head, low and slow, low and slow.
Just like that, it was only Hanna and Michael left. Michael must have received similar advice.
After a short while, Michael stopped and then it was just Hanna.
The popping in Hanna’s cauldron was slowing down. This was where she had to be extra careful. Eventually, it was as slow as a dripping leak in a roof during some rain.
Finally, she stopped.
There were a few last pops and then the cauldron went silent.
The crowd cheered for the young dragons, although the young competitors were too nervous to really take it in.
A dragon judge started to check the cauldrons one by one. The crowd was on tenterhooks as the judge looked into the bowl of the first cauldron. The judge had a big wooden spoon which they used to stir the popcorn around, searching for any burnt pieces or unpopped kernels. The judge paused for a moment. It was a bad sign for the competing dragon. The judge then reached their hand into the cauldron for whatever it was that they had uncovered with their spoon. They lifted up a handful of burnt popcorn and the crowd sighed empathetically and gave a light round of applause. The competing dragon was devastated, holding back tears.
Next up was George. He stood by looking very confident as the judge dragon sifted through his cauldron of popcorn. Having found no burnt bits or unpopped kernels, the judge nodded and moved on to the next dragon.
The next dragon was one of George's good friends and seemed to make it through the challenge with flying colours as well.
The two dragons after both failed as well, and then it was Michael's turn.
Michael barely paid any attention as the judge searched his cauldron. He just looked bored, like he'd rather be reading a book or working on a painting.
The crowd cheered as Michael was given the all clear. Michael, however, looked disappointed.
There was one more dragon before it was Hanna's turn. The dragon in question didn't take up more than a few seconds of the judge's time. This was the dragon whose cauldron had looked like a smoking chimney. They already looked devastated, knowing they were done for.
The judge continued over to Hanna and started to stir through the popcorn in her cauldron. It was a long tense wait. Everything had been leading to this moment. It was all out of Hanna's hands now.
The judge gave Hanna the same nod she had given the other passing dragons.
The crowd erupted.
Eventually, the King of Scale City stood up and the crowd went quiet.
"It would seem we have our finalists!" he said. "Now, who feels like some popcorn?"
The crowd cheered more than ever. Suddenly, there was movement everywhere. The dragons in the crowd were jumping out of their seats and running across the town square towards the cauldrons.
Michael took Hanna's hand.
"You might want to get out of the way," he said with a smile.
Hanna quickly grabbed a handful of popcorn for herself and then scrambled out of the way with Michael.
Laughing together, they watched on as the crowd dug into the cauldrons of popcorn.
*
That evening, Hanna and Michael were treated to a feast at the Scale City markets. Hanna's dad and uncle were there and so were Michael's parents. Carrie was there too, of course.
They all sat together at a long table in the middle of the busy markets. Passing dragons were recognising Hanna and Michael from the day's challenge and were congratulating them for doing so well.
Food was being served that Hanna and Carrie had never even heard of. Things like paella and spicy Szechuan noodles and gumbo and hot dogs.
There was a moment early on in the meal when Hanna suddenly paused eating. She was getting caught up in the fun and excitement and incredible new foods. She told herself that she needed to focus. She told herself that she needed to stay serious. She couldn't be distracted by fun and games.
Hanna’s uncle saw her suddenly zoning out from the festivities. He looked at her and calmly nodded. It meant, "It’s ok. Don't worry about the Festival. Just enjoy yourself."
Hanna smiled. He was right. It was time to enjoy a feast with her family and friends.