Despite spending many years on [[Earth]], ruling over a majority-human population, PrincessMeredith felt she did not have a good grasp on what the everyday life of a human was like. One day, Princess Meredith had an idea: to better relate to the experiences of her human subjects, she would '''become human for a day'''. As you may well imagine, Princess Meredith was not well-prepared for the less pleasant aspects of life as a human. Within the first 10 minutes of Meredith's transformation, her partner, DameAdorabelle, realized that Meredith would need ''very'' close supervision to avoid accidentally harming herself...or worse. <> == Hunger == ''(Princess Meredith barges into Adorabelle's study.)'' '''Princess Meredith:''' Adorabelle, I need some advice. I feel a strange emptiness deep within myself...and that emptiness seems to be giving me a compulsion to shove organic matter into my mouth. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' It sounds like you're hungry. You should eat something. '''Princess Meredith:''' I see. What shall I eat? '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Well, since this is your first time eating, you should start with a special treat. Down in [[TheGalleriaAtSerenityCircle|the shopping mall just outside the palace grounds]], there's a BetterBurger restaurant. Why not go try one of their world-famous cheeseburgers? '''Princess Meredith:''' Then it is settled! I shall make my way down to this "BetterBurger" at once! ''(A short while later, Meredith comes stumbling back into Adorabelle's study, clutching her stomach in pain)'' '''Princess Meredith:''' Adorabelle, help! Something is wrong with my stomach! I think this is what you call "pain"? What did I do wrong? '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Huh. You just had a cheeseburger, right? '''Princess Meredith:''' I started with one, but the sensation it caused in my mouth was so delightful that I ended up eating several more. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' How many did you have altogether? '''Princess Meredith:''' After the seventh one, the BetterBurger staff refused to sell me any more. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Oh dear...you're going to be in for a rough time, my love. I suppose this is as good a time as any to explain what a toilet is for... == Sleep == ''(Princess Meredith throws open the door to Adorabelle's study in a panic.)'' '''Princess Meredith:''' ADORABELLE, HELP! I THINK I AM DYING! '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Whoa, whoa, don't panic! What's wrong? '''Princess Meredith:''' I seem to be losing my ability to...be? I do not know how to describe it. My body seems to simply want to...shut down. AM I DYING, ADORABELLE? IS THIS WHAT DYING FEELS LIKE? '''Dame Adorabelle:''' No, no, no. You'll be fine. I think I know what the problem is. You're tired. You just need a little bit of sleep. '''Princess Meredith:''' ''This'' is why humans sleep? Your day-to-day existence must be abject torture! '''Dame Adorabelle:''' All mortal creatures need sleep. It's just in our nature. Now come on, I'll lead you to a bed... == Dreams == ''(Princess Meredith enters Adorabelle's study looking deathly serious.)'' '''Princess Meredith:''' Adorabelle, I need to talk to you. Something deeply concerning has just transpired. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Did you not sleep well? I know you were really really tired... '''Princess Meredith:''' On the contrary, I am feeling refreshed and full of energy. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Then what's the problem? '''Princess Meredith:''' In the midst of my "sleep" session, I somehow found myself transported to what seemed to be another world. I was seated at a dining table in the kitchen of a small house. You were nearby, making pancakes at the stove. I picked up a newspaper from the table and tried to read it, but the words kept changing, and they never made any sense. The next thing I knew, you were gone, and I was wandering down an empty corridor that seemed to have no end. It was only then that I realized I was not wearing any clothing. I continued walking, calling out your name as I went. Then, abruptly, I found myself in this world once more, lying in the bed exactly as I had started. Naturally, I was quite alarmed at what I had just experienced, so I immediately came up here to speak to you. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' It sounds like you just had a dream. Dreams are always kind of confusing like that. It's nothing to worry about. '''Princess Meredith:''' You mean to tell me this is a known phenomenon? Humans regularly get transported to strange alternate worlds while they sleep? '''Dame Adorabelle:''' No, see, you didn't actually ''go'' anywhere. It was a dream. A fantasy. It only happened in your mind. '''Princess Meredith:''' So...I am experiencing vivid hallucinations? The situation is much more dire than I thought. I am calling upon the Royal Physician at once. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' There's no need for all that. Nothing is wrong. Dreams are ''supposed'' to happen while you're asleep. ''(Princess Meredith stares down at the floor, apparently deep in contemplation.)'' '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Are you going to be OK, dear? '''Princess Meredith:''' To be honest...those pancakes you were cooking in the dream looked rather appetizing. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' I'll tell you what, Meredith, sweetie: Let's go over to my kitchen, and I will make you the best pancakes you've ever eaten. '''Princess Meredith:''' But I have never eaten pancakes before. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' Then I have a pretty low bar to clear, don't I? == In summary... == '''Princess Meredith:''' I learned a lot from that, but also, I never want to do it again. '''Dame Adorabelle:''' That summarizes all the best experiences in life, really! ---- CategoryVignettes