Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a black and white kingdom, colonized by a very beautiful, but envious creature called “Manlilinlang”
Manlilinlang took all the colors in the kingdom even the citizens’ colors. All was left is black and white.
They were once called the colorful kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom was naturally born with different bright colors from head to toe. They were full of colors and so happy with their lives, until Manlilinlang tricked them all.
She made all the people in the kingdom feel incomplete and eventually persuade them to exchange their colors with the things Manlilinlang offered. Until one day, people just woke up feeling sad for having a dull life without their colors.
Except to the young ones. They are in bright colors. They were happily playing around the palace and feeling contented with their lives. Amazed of their colors, Manlilinlang can’t trick them easily. So she will wait for them to grow and be old to finally fall in her trick.
Oneday, Manlilinlang met a young maiden. It shocked her and got her furious.
“Oh my! Oh my! Who is she? Why does she still have her colors? She’s old enough to be colorful! This is ruining my day!” Manlilinlang complained to her soldiers.
“She is Princess Color. The princess of this palace. Her parents, the King and Queen, passed away,” the soldier replied.
“That was long time ago. Offer her pretty clothes in exchange of her colors,” Manlilinlang commanded.
Soldiers went off and do as she said. Soon they returned without the princess’ colors.
“Offer her a big house with beautiful clothes,” Manlilinlang commanded. The soldiers followed at once, but failed to return with her demand. She was angry and her envy grows.
She started observing the princess, looking for a chance to trick her and have her colors. Visiting the princess everyday and talking to her was her way to offer things she might want, but the princess just kept on saying, “I wanted to have one, but I cannot exchange my colors for this.”
Until one day, the princess curiously asked.
“You already have all the colors in the kingdom, why do you still want my colors?”
Manlilinlang started to get impatient.
“These colors are God’s gift to us, others were not contented of what they have and easily give in” said the princess.
“YOU ARE RUINING MY DAY! “
Manlilinlang was so angry. She transformed into her real self.
Amazed, the princess looked at Manlilinlang closely.
“You are so beautiful, Manlilinlang!” exclaimed the princess.
Manlilinlang looked at her real self. She was so envious with everyone, claiming their colors and covered her real identity for so many years.
Small sparkling crystals all over her body. Her eyes shine like green diamonds. With hair like sunshine in the morning covered with flowers were magnificent.
They continued talking for a long time.
Manlilinlang realized that she already have many things to be thankful. She doesn’t need others property to make her happy. She is even guarded by the most loyal creatures in land.
Slowly, her anger fades away. Her crystal skin sparkles feeling the contentment in her heart made her happy, unexpectedly.
“Thank you, Princess Color. Finally, I learned how to be happy. “
Manlilinlang was so glad and returned all the colors in the kingdom. She even gladly handed back the Kingdom to the princess and they became friends.
Since then, the people once again found happiness in their hearts. They realized one important thing. The creator had given them enough to be happy.
The End
Friends give colors to my life, same goes with this short story where friends contributed their art works and skills to make it a beauty.
Special thanks to the following princesses.
Thank you Teacher Mary Joyce Bernardo for your youtube video of Princess Color. Videos in your youtube channel were awesome and this one is precious.
Thank you Teacher Rhoda Mae Boleros for the poster paint of Manlilinlang. That makes her character mysterious.
Thank you Teacher Shiela Rose Banate for the Black and White Kingdom acrylic painting. It is more than I imagined.
Thank you my dear friend Teacher Sheenlee Galeno for turning a a piece of drawing alive.
Thank you Teacher Shirley R. Parreño for editing the story to make it more readable.
(More artworks from friends will be uploaded soon, so watch out for it!)