I was on Discord one day, when a conversation rose up about living in an inflatable castle. Eventually the conversation lead to the idea of popping that castle and letting it sink and crumple, then fixing and airing it back up for more fun. With that idea fresh in my mind, I got to writing this lovely short story! This happens to be the first story I've ever finished, mainly due to lack of motivation, and ideas. Nonetheless, enjoy!




WARNING: This is a story that contains the light popping of a big inflatable castle! If that's not your thing, feel free to turn back. But if this is something you're comfortable with, then sit back, relax, and enjoy!


A shiny Ninetales opened his eyes and stretched, looking at the air-filled ceiling above. He sat up and gently bounced on the inflatable floor below, which hadn’t lost any air from the night before. The fox gave a satisfied smirk and patted it, before hopping over to the stairs to the upper floor. The inflatable castle was a grand, air-filled abode, crafted by none other than the prince himself on a lazy, unoccupied day.

He climbed the stairs and looked at the possessions stored inside the second floor. A few books in an inflatable bookcase, some other lovely toys and balloons, a patch kit, and an air-pump. That was for the toys he brought, as well as the big inflation valve downstairs, which brought the whole castle to life from the air pumped inside. The Ninetales smiled at everything being in place and gave a few of his air-filled friends a nice hug before hopping down the inflatable staircase.

He walked to the back wall, and there it was. A big air valve sticking out from it, begging to be opened so more air could enter, or perhaps be released. Hugh pulled on the valve before stopping when it was halfway open. A simple deflation would be satisfying, but not too exciting. He pushed the valve back in place and bounced on the floor, thinking of something to do. The fox thought of the pressure being put on the castle by his weight, and one thought lead to another before the lightbulb went off in his mind.

He pulled out a small needle that was located in the fur of one of his many tails, hidden and kept in by a mixture of his magical and psychic powers. Hugh looked at the needle with his eyes full of a mixture of excitement and hesitation before putting it back in his fluff. The Ninetales hopped up the air-filled staircase and deflated all his beloved toys, not wanting them to get hurt in what’s to come. The Kitsune then grabbed all the books and stuffed them into a sack along with the toys, grabbing the pump and patches as well before walking downstairs. Hugh set down the sack outside of the castle, and took out the pump and patch kit. He knew he’d need them later. The fox took the pin out of his tail, approached the left wall, and took a deep breath.

Cognitive dissonance filled his mind about what he was about to do. This beautiful castle was completely air-tight, and keeping it that way was a goal. But the feeling of it deflating and leaking from a puncture was just too good not to experience. Keeping in mind that he could mend his new home with a bit of magic, the fox plunged the needle into the inflatable castle. A pang of regret filled Hugh's heart as a loud hiss arose, and the air started to spill out of his beautiful palace. He gently pushed one of his bare feet into the floor to test the pressure of the leaky castle, but there wasn't much give. The fox's sadness soon turned into a hollow, empty feeling as he stared at the single, small hole.

It would take hours, if not days for all the air to leak from his palace at this rate. He took the pin and poked more holes into the wall of the castle, a tingle of bittersweet excitement tickling his heart as he did so. The Ninetales' ears twitched and picked up the loud hissing that emerged from all the holes. He wiggled his bare toes on the floor of the palace, and it was slightly softer than before. A good start. The fox walked up the slightly squishy stairs and looked at the inflatable bookcase, which was getting a bit floppy from the air leaking out of the castle.

He approached a window at the front of the room, which was made of a thick sheet of clear vinyl. It looked as the day was still young, so the prince could have all the fun he wanted with his deflatable home. He gave the nearby wall a few stabs to spring up a few more leaks before heading down the steadily softening stairs. The Kitsune's heart was fluttering with that bittersweet excitement as the beautiful inflatable palace he made only two days before was now full of holes, and leaking away.

The prince gave the right wall a big hug, feeling it slowly soften in his arms. He gave the wall of the deflating castle some loving kisses, feeling his feet gently sink into the floor as well. The fox let out a soft, pleasured moan and pressed his snout into the soft vinyl wall, taking a deep whiff of the rubbery scent. The scent of vinyl had already filled the air of the rubber palace from the gushing leaks, but the walls were even scentier! It helped that the vinyl used to make the castle was nice and fresh, combined with the many holes releasing precious air. All of this gave the whole interior the lovely, strong scent of fresh rubber. Hugh took in deep breaths of the scent, soon getting lightheaded and falling onto his back.

The prince gave a shaky, loopy smile, his body slightly sinking into the deflating castle's floor. The fox eventually picked himself up, and climbed up the staircase for the final time. The bookshelf on the second floor was nearly completely deflated, and the ceiling was starting to cave in from the loss of air. Hugh couldn't help but give the vinyl bookshelf one last hug and kiss to squeeze the rest of the air out before hopping down to the ground floor.

His feet completely sunk into the vinyl floor, the walls of the palace looking very wrinkly and soft now. "O-Ohh... M-My beautiful castle..." The prince couldn't help but moan aloud, wiggling his toes on the squishy floor of his inflatable home as it leaked away. The soft vinyl felt very good on the bare soles, and gave a soft squeak with each step he took. The fox approached the leaking wall and kissed the holes, his silver face blushing a deep red from the thrill of his lovely palace deflating from under him.

He looked up, and the ceiling above was sinking in. His beautiful inflatable castle was giving out from all the holes. The prince lied on his back and watched the ceiling slowly sink, a bittersweet smile forming on his face. It wouldn't be long before all the air worked its way out, and his palace would be no more... He closed his eyes as he sunk into the vinyl floor, ready to embrace what's to come...




Hugh pulled himself out of the mess of wrinkly vinyl, and looked at what used to be his castle. The previously air-filled abode was completely deflated now, not even having enough air to keep any form. He let out a saddened sigh as he reached back into the pile of rubber, pulling out his patches, and pump. Repairing the place would be hard, tedious work, but completely worth it. The Kitsune wiggled his way back into the popped palace, holding the heavy vinyl ceiling above his head and making his way to the right wall.

He kept the ceiling above him with his psychic powers as he tore into the patch kit, applying a patch to each of the holes. Once the first wall was fixed, the fox walked to where the staircase once was, and released his hold on the ceiling. It came down and hit the floor with a soft "whump" and left the prince on the second floor.

The Ninetales approached the remaining holes, unable to stop himself from give the leaks some soft kisses before patching each one. Pump in hand, the royal Kitsune lifted the ceiling back up, and made his way to the castle's valve. He pulled it open and plugged in his pump, smiling a bit more happily. Hugh worked the bike pump steadily, keen on reinflating his squeaky castle. The patches had to set, of course, but it would take longer to have the place back to its former glory.

Slowly but surely, the palace began to regain its form, the ceiling able to hold just above the pumping fox without use of his powers. It took many long hours of pumping and a few breaks, but soon, Hugh's inflatable castle was back to its former glory. The prince gave a big smile once his home was filled back up and closed the valve.

He walked back to the wall and eyed the patches, which were set and airtight. It was tempting to tear them off and let the castle deflate again, but... His arms were sore from the hours of pumping. Hugh thought of mending the holes with his magic, but he liked the look of the patches. The fox walked out and grabbed his pouch of books and toys, hopping up to the second floor.

He pulled out his favorite book and favorite balloon, a large Flygon. A bit of puffing into the bug's belly made him very big and soft, with a wide grin on his face. The prince grinned back at the big toy and gave him a tight hug, pulling up that book and opening it to where he left off. It had been a long day of hard work and thrills, and he had earned the right to relax with a squeaky friend in his big, inflatable castle...