The Menovia Kingdom - By Amayah Barran

Written By: Amayah Barran

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the imaginative short story "The Menovia Kingdom," Amayah Barran takes readers on an unexpected adventure from a simple school field trip into a realm of fantasy and wonder. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Barran's work is a testament to the power of storytelling to transport us to other worlds. This tale, categorized under Short Story, invites readers to lose themselves in its vivid imagery and compelling narrative.

About the Work

"The Menovia Kingdom" is a vibrant tale filled with rich imagery and a sense of wonder. The narrative captures the exhilaration of discovery and the allure of the unknown, as a seemingly ordinary day at the circus transforms into a fantastical journey through time and space. With a touch of whimsy and a nod to classic storytelling, Barran crafts a narrative that is both enchanting and thought-provoking.

THE MENOVIA KINGDOM

Original Submission by Amayah Barran

THE MENOVIA KINGDOM

THE sweltering heat was almost intolerable as my class embarked on our field trip to the “AMAZING WONDER AND FUN CIRCUS.” Electric pulses surged through my bones as I bubbled from jubilation with ear to ear, cogitationing that this would be the best day of my life but in the end I experienced something no one could have imagined.

Two days ago, I vaguely recalled my teacher telling us that we were going to watch a circus performance. My excitement grew limitless. As soon as the curtains were ajar we bolted to our seats. We were greeted by a jester who mounted the stage and began his first act which was juggling colourful pins .Everyone in the circus was laughing as if they were being tickled relentlessly to death.Suddenly,out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something faintly glowing in the distance.

I told my teacher that I was going to the bathroom. I departed from my chair and cautiously throttled to the glowing object. My eyes widened in shock as I realised that it was a shiny,gold key. My eyes then changed directions over to a small,wooden door. I used the key to unlock the lilliputian door. I crouched down to look into the door and what I was met with blew my eyes out.

When I opened the door, I saw galaxy blue and purple cushioned walls almost like the one in my favourite horror movie “Coraline”. “What in the world?I must be dreaming!” I shrieked as I was completely taken aback by the sight before me. I took one last look at my classmates who were completely lost in the circus performance before crawling through the door. Multiple thoughts traced through my mind as to why I was doing this.

Once I crawled out to the end of the door my brain immediately exploded into a thousand pieces. It looked like I was in a kingdom but not just any kingdom, a nineteenth hundred’s kingdom. Everyone was dressed in old vintage dresses and suits.The people who passed by looked at me as if I had cake frosting all over my face and forgot to wipe it off. It was probably because I was just in a sweater and jeans.I walked up to an old woman who was selling miniscule cupcakes by a booth.”Excuse me madam,can you please tell me where I am?” I questioned curiously."Oh dear! You startled me but anyways you are in the Kingdom of MENOVIA.” she replied elegantly.”MENOVIA what in the world is that?” “It is the oldest kingdom in the world, if you wish to find your way to the castle just go straight right down that path over there.”

I knew deep down that this was a bad idea so I immediately sprinted back to the tiny door that I came through but to my surprise it was gone. My mind was consumed by shock and confusion. I decided to listen to the old lady and go to the castle. I followed the path that curled ahead like a serpent slithering through trees. Once I reached in front of the castle gate, I told the guards that I was here to see the king.The castle was massive,it was bigger than my entire home town.The castle was white with gold detailing of a floral design all over it. One of the guards led me to the throne room where the king sat on his massive throne.I explained to the king what previously happened.The king held out a golden, metal box and proclaimed,”To return back to the circus,this is the key that you seek.”The king opened the fancy box and my eyes were met with a golden replica of the key that I had found in the circus.

I took the key and expressed my gratitude to the king before darting out of the castle. I felt as if I was on cloud nine. As I reached the door, I eagerly unlocked it and crouched out of it. My classmates were still watching the performance. I checked my wristwatch and I realized that it had only been five minutes but to me it felt like three hours. I ascended back up to my seat again still replying to my shocking experience.To this day, I have never forgotten that very moment and I have not told anyone.I surely hope that I can re-live that fairytale moment once more but maybe just try not to get stuck there again.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates creativity and the art of storytelling. Bringing together writers from around the world, the competition offers a platform for diverse voices and unique narratives to shine. It fosters a community of writers and readers who appreciate the beauty and power of the written word.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Amayah Barran for sharing "The Menovia Kingdom" with us. Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 is a wonderful contribution to the world of creative writing. We hope this story inspires many and look forward to more of her imaginative tales.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.