The coronation feast of King Mohg the Fourth was meant to be perfect.
The tables were aligned by rank and tradition. Platters were placed with mathematical precision. Guards stood at every door, alert and proud. The court had spent weeks ensuring that nothing unexpected could possibly occur.
It was formal.
It was impressive.
It was very quiet.
Too quiet.
Pebble had no crown.
No title.
No hesitation.
She came from nowhere.
One moment the feast was intact, and the next she was there—small, fast, unstoppable—slipping past the guards as if doors had never been meant to stay closed. She beelined for the food with singular purpose. Platters tipped. Chairs scraped. Courtiers gasped. A roast vanished.
Someone shouted. Someone tripped. Someone tried to grab her and missed.
Pebble refused to be caught.
The feast collapsed into chaos.
The court demanded removal.
King Mohg the Fourth did not rise to his feet.
He did not issue a command.
He did not look displeased.
Instead, he sat on the floor.
He placed his plate between them.
Pebble stopped running.
She ate.
The court waited for a reprimand that never came. When Pebble finished, she pressed close to the king, utterly unbothered by the silence she left behind.
From that moment on, she did not leave his side.
History would later record the event with characteristic restraint:
“The Fourth King did not summon his companion.
She arrived.”
The following document is preserved in the Royal Archives of Bleb under Feasts, Incidents, and Lessons Learned (Reluctantly).
Official Court Record of Bleb
Filed under: Disruptions, Culinary (Significant)
Date: First Feast of the Fourth Reign
Subject: Regarding the Sudden Collapse of the Coronation Banquet
Presiding:
King Mohg the Fourth
(Seated. On the floor.)
Statement of Incident
At the second course of the coronation feast, while all dishes remained in compliance and all guests were accounted for, an unidentified small canine entered the Great Hall at speed.
Entry point: unknown.
Authorization: none.
Confidence: absolute.
Sequence of Events (As Best Reconstructed)
- The intruder bypassed three guards without slowing
- Proceeded directly to the central table
- Removed one (1) roast of ceremonial importance
- Triggered widespread disorder including:
- toppled platters
- displaced seating
- raised voices
- one spilled gravy incident (now memorialized)
Attempts to apprehend the intruder were unsuccessful.
The intruder displayed:
- advanced agility
- strong food prioritization
- complete disregard for hierarchy
Court Response
The court formally requested:
- Immediate removal of the intruder
- Restoration of order
- Clarification as to how this happened
At this time, King Mohg the Fourth declined all three.
Royal Action (Unprecedented)
Rather than issuing a decree, His Majesty:
- Sat upon the floor
- Placed his plate between himself and the intruder
- Shared his meal
The intruder ceased movement.
Noise levels dropped.
The intruder ate.
No further disruption occurred.
Identification of the Intruder
Name: Pebble
Title: none
Status: companion to the Crown (unofficial, immediate, permanent)
Aftermath
- The feast was concluded informally
- Several nobles ate standing
- One table was declared “beyond saving”
- Morale was reported as “confusingly high”
Pebble followed the King for the remainder of the evening.
All attempts to separate them failed.
Recommendations Moving Forward
- Doors are to be closed more carefully
- Guards are to expect the unexpected
- Extra plates are to be prepared
- No further action is advised
Final Addendum
The court notes that while protocol was compromised, the King appeared pleased.
This has been entered into the record without comment.
Filed and sealed by:
The Royal Scribe
(who would like it noted that the feast was excellent before the interruption, and oddly better after)