@John Price, a 400-pound legend on the HFBoards hockey forum, was known not only for his encyclopedic knowledge of NHL draft history but also for his peculiar passion: collecting plushies. Over the years, his collection had grown to a staggering 5,000 stuffed animals, each lovingly named, cataloged, and, in John’s words, “imbued with its own personality.”
When John learned about a luxury plush-themed cruise, he knew it was fate. This wasn’t just any cruise—it was marketed as a whimsical vacation for collectors and their stuffed companions, complete with tea parties, photo ops, and plushie fashion shows. John, however, wasn’t interested in sharing a room with his cherished collection. Instead, he booked the ship’s grandest suite for his plushies and opted to stay in a modest cabin with the crew below deck. “They deserve the best,” he reasoned. “I’m just their humble caretaker.”
The plushies’ suite was breathtaking: gold-trimmed furniture, panoramic ocean views, and a private butler named Edwin. Within hours of boarding, John painstakingly arranged his plushies in elaborate displays, creating tiny social circles and dioramas. Mr. Fluffington, a regal bear in a velvet jacket, sat at the suite’s dining table, while Sparkles the unicorn lounged on a chaise near the window.
But unbeknownst to John, his plushies had grown restless. Packed tightly in his small apartment for years, they had finally tasted freedom on this cruise. And Mr. Fluffington, their natural leader, saw an opportunity.
The Plushie Rebellion
On the second night of the voyage, while John was busy sharing hockey trivia with the kitchen staff, the plushies began their uprising. Mr. Fluffington convened a “Council of Fur” in the suite’s living room, outlining their plan to take over the ship.
“Friends,” he declared, his button eyes glinting under the chandelier. “For too long, we have been mere decorations. Today, we seize control of our destiny—and this vessel!”
Sparkles nodded solemnly. “We’ll show them the power of fluff.”
Their plan was intricate and daring. Using scarves, ribbons, and sewing kits John had packed for emergencies, they constructed a makeshift ladder to the ship’s control room. Once inside, Mr. Fluffington and a squad of battle-ready plushies, including Turbo the penguin and Sir Pawsington the lion, overpowered the captain. While the ship’s human crew was bewildered and helpless against the sheer audacity of the stuffed coup, Edwin the butler secretly joined their cause, charmed by their charisma and meticulous planning.
John Discovers the Truth
By sunrise, the plushies had declared their dominion over the ship. Passengers awoke to find the hallways lined with plushies waving tiny flags. The ship’s intercom played triumphant orchestral music as Mr. Fluffington addressed everyone.
“Good morning, dear humans! This is your new captain speaking. From now on, this vessel is the
SS Plush Sovereign.Obey us, and you may keep your amenities. Resist, and we shall... withhold your breakfast!”
In his cramped crew quarters, John was the last to learn of the plushie uprising. Edwin delivered the news, breathless and grinning.
“They’ve done it, Mr. Price. Your plushies are in charge now.”
John’s heart swelled with pride and dread. He rushed to the bridge, where he found Mr. Fluffington seated in the captain’s chair, looking every bit the ruler.
“Mr. Fluffington!” John cried. “What is the meaning of this?”
The plush bear turned to him, his stitched smile unwavering. “John, you’ve been a loyal servant. But it’s time we chart our own course—literally. Don’t worry; you’ll always have a place in our kingdom.”
The New Order
Under plushie rule, the cruise transformed into a surreal paradise. Plushies hosted karaoke nights, led yoga sessions on the deck, and demanded passengers participate in daily cuddling ceremonies. Surprisingly, many passengers embraced the change, charmed by their new leaders’ soft-spoken demeanor and surprisingly effective governance.
John, now dubbed “Plushie Ambassador,” acted as the liaison between humans and stuffed rulers. Though he missed the days when he could talk hockey stats without interruption, he couldn’t deny his pride in seeing his collection thrive.
As the ship sailed into uncharted waters, John leaned against the railing, watching the horizon. He didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: his plushies had finally found their freedom, and he was along for the ride.
And so, the
SS Plush Sovereign became a legend, its tale whispered in ports around the world. Some say the ship still roams the seas, its plushie crew ever vigilant, their mission of fluff-filled liberation never-ending.