75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- VICTORY TO PERPETUAL MAN

[Teresa Edgerton]

Rules

Write a story inspired by the chosen theme and genre in no more than 75 words, not including the title

One entry per person

All stories Copyright 2012 by their respective authors,
who grant the Chronicles Network the non-exclusive right to publish them here.

The complete rules can be found at Rules for the Writing Challenges


Contest ends at 11:59 pm GMT, August 23, 2012

Voting Ends at 11:59 pm GMT, August 28, 2012


You do not have to submit a story in order to vote -- in fact, we encourage all Chrons members to take part in choosing a winner.


The Magnificent Prize

The Dignified Congratulations/Grovelling Admiration of Your Peers and the challenge of choosing the next month's theme or genre


THEME:

Unrequited Love


GENRE:

Fairytale Fantasy​

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[Culhwch]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

La Barbe bleue

She’d heard the rumours, of course, but he was wealthy, and her parents poor, and she hadn’t wanted to disappoint them.

When she found the room, she was shocked, horrified – but not overly surprised.

She didn’t hear him approach. ‘I loved them all, you know,’ he said softly, ‘but they never loved me.’

‘I love you,’ she said, her voice barely – barely – quavering.

He sighed as he unsheathed his dagger. ‘I wish I believed that.’

 

[Phoenixthewriter]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Between Soldiers and Maidens

The end. It came so swiftly I can barely believe it. Swords, shields, magic, and kings; I joined the legion to prove myself, to show her I'm worthy of her heart.

As this spear approaches however, I see, I was but a shadow.

When she married, only an empty existence remained. I left for war to forget my heart, forget love, to forget... possibilities. A life we may have had, once upon a time.

 

[Abernovo]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

You Can't Always Get What You Want...


I'm forgotten, an old dream. Unnoticed, unseen, but I stick around. To keep her safe.

The prince she's betrothed to isn't bad, I suppose, but his mother wants him to marry some simpering nitwit who'll inherit lands and wealth. She sent her huntsmen to kill Sophie.

They never expected a small, elfin girl to be waiting in the trees, armed with a bow. But then, Sophie never expected a frog to turn into me, either.

 

[Luiglin]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

What we do for love

White flanks quivered as virginal scent filled the air. With nostrils flared, a majestic head tossed a mane of moonbeams.

The damsel, golden sunlight tresses hiding her face, sat still. Kneeling reverently, its wildness lost to the intoxicating aroma of innocent love, the beast laid its head upon her lap.

A quick wrench and the horn came free.

The young man threw off the wig. "I'm sick to death of being a virgin!"

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

A MATTER OF CLASS




SPELL TO ENSURE LASTING LOVE # 56

Prawn tails, two

Mags reached out a perfectly manicured hand, lifted two and sniffed. Nicely whiffy.

Tuna;, one can, drained

Lovely.

Salmon flakes

Each blessed with a whisper of devotion.

Stir.
Recite.

She closed her eyes, squeezed so hard her forehead hurt.

“Being mine, staying mine, bound until the end of time.”

Easy.

#

Mmmmm… Purr - fect tails… salmon….
No crayfish?
Lobster?!
Time to bag me another witch.

 

[booksforlunch]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

The Hedge Witch
​

Where my thorn-shredded feet touch the ground a new brambly hedge springs to live, its magic subduing the court in sleep. Then tears them apart with thorns like scimitars.

I find the 'Prince' who sired me. “My beloved”, mother had called him. How could she know him, 'love' him when he took her, once, during her sleep?

It matters little. Her sacrifice gave me power. I honour her love by uniting them in death.

 

[ratsy]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Out of the Dark​

From the shadows I watch my love.
Her hair is long and golden. Birds sing as she passes and so does my heart.
I have read the stories; Beauty and the Beast they would call us.
But I am no prince and there is no changing what I am.
I step out to meet her. The flowers fall from her hands.
This story will not have a happy ending.

 

[StilLearning]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Everyone has feelings...
​

The good fairy levelled the humming wand at her beaten nemesis.

"Tell me why." She grated.

*

"….knew they wouldn't feel the same, and, it was like, like I was melting, and I was so angry!"

"All that destruction Vicky!" The fairy shrieked hysterically. "Because of a stupid crush on a stupid bloke!"

Vicky the witch started to cry. "Not a… not a… ...boy…"

The fairy suddenly remembered the unsigned valentines day cards....

....Oh.

 

[Bowler1]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Three Wishes

Fergus loved her from the first and he always wore his best green suits to impress her, to little affect.

Day and night he hammered shoes for her, his best ever work.

He even raided every rainbow he knew of and fetched pots of gold for her, piled high on the beach.

# # #

Nerissa, hated gold it did not float and shoes were no use to a mermaid.

He was a pest.

Nerissa wished him gone!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

The Tallest Tower
​

Cylari climbed the tower to the top. There lay the princess, in the depths of magical sleep.

Cylari wandered up to her, kissing the princess awake, then went to the window she climbed through.

The princess smiled, placing her hand in Cylari’s, kissing her.

“My heart is yours, dear angel,“ the princess said. Cylari laughed as she pushed the royal brat out of the opening.

“Sorry, but I’ve only come for your house.”

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

The Ugly Duckling​

The other ducklings were golden fuzziness; she was mud-coloured. Their bills were smooth salmon-pink; hers was a hooked shadow. Their feet were webbed; she had four feet, clawed and webless.

Hugo was her prince among ducklings. But he was Beauty made flesh; she would never take his heart. All she ever had from him was the beating that drove her from her home.

She licked her wounds and watched the griffons fly overhead...

 

[kshRox]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Pixies Lament . . . ​

Soft globe running down the crease of skin below the eye sliding pell-mell seeking desperate purchase along the chin ridge before falling, falling, falling forever for a moment, sudden violence exploding against the delicate petal of my love bowed against the cruel wind.

My heart pulls in tandem as she shifts avoiding the harsh cold biting her face.

Down into the earth she abandons me.

Come Spring my heart unfurls in joy to greet her.

 

[r_j_dando]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

A Queen’s Reflections

A thin slip of a girl, alluring eyes and ebony hair. I want her - all of her; the true lover I never had.

~

Her beauty leaves me aching with longing.
Wine puts words in my mouth I never thought to speak out loud. “My heart is yours.”
Rose-red lips curl in a sneer. She walks away, disdainful.

~

The huntsman’s gift is warm in my hands. Now her heart belongs to me.

 

[stormcrow]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

The Woodcutters Arms

I yearn for the woodcutters’ arms
away from Grimalkin Ginger
Not some skittish girl like Beauty
never swoon if I pricked my finger!

If he took me through forest and pass
far far away from the city
Hang up my broomstick and hat
use magic to keep myself pretty!

Alas, not to be; he’ll never love me
strong arms will never embrace me
Alone in The Woodcutters Arms
I’ll let the Devil come take me!

 

[reiver33]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Behind My Eyes I Grieve

The winged carriage disappeared amidst the clouds. My betrothed was the last to escape our besieged city.

I turned to the chained imp. “I am High Priestess of Tyr. Name your price to save us from the Faceless Host.”

He leered at me. “My freedom. In return all outside these walls will die.”

I broke my staff in two.

The imp vanished in a swirl of flame.

I loved the man who fell to earth.

 

[Kylara]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Death of a Dragon

The great emerald dragon lies in dismay.

'This was not how it was to end!'

The unlucky man quivers between ebony claws.

'I'm sorry - but a wingéd beast…'

'Beast? BEAST?!’

Molten tears spew, dripping dangerously close to his death.

‘My love was not a beast!'

‘But I love the King’s daughter, and must kill a dragon for her hand…’

‘Oh of COURSE you do!’

Roars rend the sky.

‘But where’s my happy ending? WHERE?!’

 

[allmywires]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

My Mind's Eye

Once, I saw her singing, bathing by the stream.

Once, I ignored her.

Twice, I saw her laughing, picking apples in the orchard.

Twice, I ignored her.

Three times, I saw her talking with the witches, playing with the fairies, dancing in a gingerbread house-

-but they tell me this is not real, not real, and I cry and cry over my copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, bleeding red on the pages, the colour of love.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Good Night, Sweet Prince

With flowing locks and bulging pecks
The envy of his gender's sex
A charming beau imparts a kiss
Upon the lips of sleeping miss

Departing from the land of dreams
Arising out of slumber's realms
She gently opens eyes so fair
To gaze upon her rescuer

But this Princess doth like her sleep
And cares not for the Prince's keep
Shrugging off his am'rous grapple
She bites once more the poisoned apple

 

[Hex]

Re: 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- August 2012 -- READ FIRST POST!!!

Shoe-erly Not


"… marrying Lorelei deBrassica!"

"No! I thought he’d found True Love?"

"That girl from-"

"- the Masked Ball. Yeah."

"She ran off at midnight! Left her shoe."

"A shoe?"

"Yeah -- and it's glass."

"Glass?"

"Truly! He lifted it, licked it –"

"Eww!"

"I know. Totally nuts -- said he’d marry whoever it fit."

"Risky!"

"Insane! Anyhow, he’s standing on the marble staircase, waving this little glass shoe, then…"

"What?"

"Well, then he drops it."