Who Needs Moats When You Have A Cardboard Trebuchet
Vinyl Scratch the Awesomest surveyed her troops that were dutifully lined up in formation in front of her glorious castle. She knew the battle would be tough, especially with the enemy queen that would be arriving over yonder to challenge her. However, it was of no concern to Mr. Dave. Her husky mount that had just had a village for breakfast in preparation for the battle had been and would always be an immediate challenge for any enemy that attempted to overtake her fortress.
The fortress consisted of walls that towered so high that it hid her secret weapon; a cardboard trebuchet that was able to launch pillows at any attacker. Her fort sat in the corner of the underground of her stronghold (more well known to others as the basement under her house). Most will say she was lazy and built it in the corner to only have to build two walls, Vinyl liked to call it a tactical advantage that would easily be used to gain the upper hand. The tower at the far corner allowed for her to observe the whole basem-stronghold easily. The back corner held her quarters, enough for a beanbag and snacks, with a space in the wall for insertion of a tablet for entertainment while the long fortnights passed by.
There! The queen of Harmoniconia, Octavia Philharmonica, was in the distance, descending into her layer. “Stop, heathen! You dare cross into my territory?”
Octavia giggled, “Why yes Vinyl, I am here to take your booty.”
“Well might-” Vinyl snickered, unable to hold in her laughter. Breaking character she continued, “Did mom say you could stay and sleep over, ‘cause I didn’t build you a fort and this one took way too long.”
Octavia nodded, moving to the entrance and poked her head in, “Wow, this is quite interesting. You seem to have put some legitimate work for a ten year old.”
Vinyl scoffed, “Hey, just ‘cause you’re like almost thirteen doesn’t mean you can boss me around.”
“I am almost certain it gives me apt leverage over you. At least, occasionally Scratch.” Octavia eventually made her way up to Vinyl. “Never mind that, I would like to ask if I get one of those things down in the courtyard.”
“I mean, I think you should make your own ultimate weapon. ‘Cause like-” Vinyl paused, taking note of Octavia’s puppy eyes glistening and piercing Vinyl’s heart. “Or, or I could just build another one while you build your place.”
Octavia smiled ear to ear, “Why that sounds splendid Vinyl. Might I ask where you obtained your supplies from?”
Vinyl hopped down from her perch, gesturing for Octavia to follow, “Yeah, just follow me. Mom still has some cardboard boxes left from the move here. We can grab some-oh, have you had lunch yet?”
Octavia shook her head, “No, my parents had work today so they dropped me off here.”
The two made their way upstairs, catching up since they hadn’t seen each other since yesterday. After some PB and J’s, the duo made their way to where the rest of the cardboard was being stored and grabbed what they thought would be enough to build Octavia’s fort. In a couple hours they had built a different version of what Vinyl had built, something that fit Octavia’s more dignified aesthetic. Though, Vinyl had no idea what the word even meant. She had learnt over time that it was better to just go along with what Octavia said.
Vinyl looked over the Disney-like castle, comparing it to her fortress, “It fits you Octy.”
“Thank you Vinyl. I think you did exceptionally well with its armament. I especially like how my sleeping bag is able to be put in the tower, a nice touch I must say.” Octavia went inside the castle, “Shall we go to battle, dear nemesis?”
“Yes!” Vinyl yelled excitedly, waking up Mr. Dave, “Come on Mr. Dave, I need ya for phase two part seven of my master plan.”
Mr. Dave and Vinyl stationed themselves at their fortress, with Vinyl in the tower and Mr. Dave guarding the gate. Right as Vinyl was about to give further orders to Mr. Dave he was hit by a pillow moving at a breakneck speed.
“MR.DAVE NO!” Vinyl looked over yonder, seeing the evil Queen Octavia grinning nastily, “I won’t let you get away with this!”
Rushing down the tower and quickly manning the trebuchet, Vinyl launched a volley of pillows at her rival. She ran out of pillows quickly, and once that happened she took a peek through her front gate. Octavia had knocked down Vinyl’s tower and bent one of her walls. However, Vinyl had knocked out a whole wall and the Octavia’s main tower. She let Octavia continue to fire at her stronghold, deciding to grab a stray pillow and sneak to Octavia’s blind spot.
It worked perfectly, as Vinyl had successfully made her way through one of the holes made from her pillows filled with blocks. They had been specifically aimed for penetrating the walls, she just hadn’t told Octavia about the modifications. Slipping through the hole Vinyl saw Octavia occupied with launching pillows. She snuck up silently, waiting till Octavia placed another pillow in the trebuchet to then pounce.
“Hyah!” Vinyl tackled Octavia, brandishing the cardboard sword she had made in secret. She hadn’t told anyone, not Mr.Dave or even the reader. “Do you surrender to my superior awesomeness?”
Octavia grinned, unfazed from Vinyl’s attack, “Ah, if only you had known better.”
“Better?” Vinyl began to become uneasy.
“Why Vee, I know your secret weakness.” Octavia chuckled, “It must be such a shame to have put yourself in a position for me to exploit it.”
“Tavi,” Vinyl sighed, “You know your big words lose their effect when I don’t understand what they mean.”
“Fine. I suppose I have to show you.” Octavia hit the sword away, lunging toward Vinyl.
“Ahhhh!” Vinyl yelled, unsure of what Octavia would do. Her horror quickly turned into laughter, as her sides became tingly. She couldn’t stop laughing, “Alright! Alright, I surrender! You win Octy!”
They both fell to the ground giggling. Octavia looked to Vinyl, “Wanna go get some snacks and do it again?”
Vinyl popped up, “Heck yeah I do!”
Author's Note
I'm back for a bit with a quick one-shot that places Vinyl and Octavia in their younger years. I always to write them young and see where it took me, so here's the end product. If you have any OctaScratch ideas, throw them in the comments! Thank you all for reading, I hope to be back soon with a new (futuristic and action packed) concept involving OctaScratch soon!
