AUGUST 2021 75 Word Writing Challenge -- VICTORY TO MOSAIX!

[Guanazee]

To Asimov

The legend of humanity...born of one planet...current biological perfection acquired by random mutation alone.

All other species throughout the Galaxy blended, designed, even accidentally introduced to foreign amino acids by spacefarers...yet humans persist in believing this legend.

One shuffles long lost records.

Two asks, "Should we tell them?"

 

[PigMonkey]

Hometown Legend

Art stood before the poster of Larry Brooker the myth, the hero. Every small town had one and in Big Hollow, it was Larry. Of course, Larry was dead now, which meant he was untouchable. It was infuriating. Art was far better than Larry, but keeling over mid match of a heart attack makes you a hero to the other 400 people in the isolated mining town. Next year's hotdog eating contest will be legendary.

 

[StilLearning]

Legend: What Gets Written​

Banocles the Blessed (ancestor of Brian) parried the last Trojan's sword and drove his dagger into its owner, roaring: “For Greece! Achilles?!”

His servant scurried from behind a pillar, bringing water and tending the warrior's wounds – and dropping a parchment from his satchel.

“What's this?”

“N- nothing! A letter! To... Callista”

Banocles peered uncomprehendingly; “Odysseus's scribe? HA!” He slapped little Achilles on the back. “'You'll be talk of the camp you cheeky sod!”

 

[Elckerlyc]

Bronk the Hunter

The hunters, tense, their spears poised, approached the agitated aurochs. Time slowed.
Bronk tentatively raised his spear over his head... and threw. The other hunters stared at him, nonplussed, nearly missing how the spear miraculously pierced the aurochs’ eye and brain.

They feasted on fresh meat that night and, for the first time, told the tale of Bronk the Lucky Fool; Listen children, never let go of your spear!
But humankind’s waywardness is legendary.

 

[Peter V]

Heroes, Great and Small

“My grandpa.” Luke pointed proudly at the towering statue of a marine firing his laser rifle. “Bravest man ever.”

Jon envied his friend. All he had of his grandfather was an old photo and that not even digital; just a crinkled Polaroid from when he was a boy.

Long before the man he was to become begged his girlfriend, pregnant with Jon’s mother, to take his place on the last shuttle off a doomed Earth.

 

[atsouthorn]

Klimt the Conqueror

“He took my leg!”

“So? Go get it.”

“I can’t. I only have one leg!”

“You’ve won three wars and killed thousands by your blade. You defeated Satan in Earth’s core. You turned back time and judo chopped Hitler’s head clean off.”

“With two legs, when I wasn’t bleeding to bloody death!”

“A real legend would go get his leg back.”

“Help me!”

“I expected better to be honest.”

“Arrghghhhh.”

“I’m taking the kids, Klimt."

 

[paranoid marvin]

Unwelcome Company



Folk said that treasure lay beneath the unmarked gravestone in the churchyard. One night Joe took a lantern and spade there, determined to find it. As he dug, the shadows cast from his lantern seemed to cavort on the upturned soil around him.

Folk also said anyone unearthing the treasure would never again want for company. As Joe's spade struck metal, the lantern's flame began to wane, drawing the shadows closer and closer towards him.

 

[Flaviosky]

Unworthy

“Take it out for me!” his charred palms still hurt.

His arm chokes her “The sword repels you…”

“Let go of her!” his hands on the grip, yet without strength.

A wry smile under his frenzied eyes “Don’t make me try to break the seal with her blood!”

The blade seems to glide out from the stone “Don’t hurt her!”

“Don’t...Do it. I love you...”

Her red-stained tears meet the ground. The sword shines.

 

[Betok_Haney]

Prelude

The old woman lay on the bed, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow.

He sits beside her, holding her withered hand, his eyes wet with tears.

He whispers, "You have done so much, healed so many. How can such legend end?"

Quietly, like a fresh breeze, his mind fills with her thoughts.

Her thoughts answer, "I have only started my work. This is my beginning."

Then, she breathes her last breath, and begins her journey.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

The Thing about Cronticles

Klump, Klump.
Went the thing on the hill.
'My body cries out for the thing that goes Klump'.
The Cronticle then spoke to the hill.
'It is said that you cannot be climbed, but if ya just moved to the side that thing would roll down to me'
Klump, Splang.
'I could, if you told me what it's like to be a Cronticle'.
'I could, but now it's splanged, I no longer want the thing'.

 

[Astro Pen]

Broadsword


He could run like the tireless wind across the land and carry two injured men through woodland.

They say that, in combat training, the King's sword unintentionally pierced his breastbone but didn't kill the young prince. Instead it cleaved his atria, forming two hearts.

When he, in turn, grew old and it was time for his son to inherit the throne, he took the young man aside, bared the prince's breast and drew his sword....

 

[bedyak]

I’m a Big Deal

The Banshee screamed, the cave shook. The gentleman stood unfazed.

“Really?! The coat, the gun, the talisman, nothing stands out here? Don’t you know who I am? Honestly” he sighed.

Her eyes widened in recognition, she screamed again.

“Look, just return the kid and I won’t shoot you in the face” he promised.

The Next Day…

“How did you slay the beast?” Lord Penrose asked.

“Just talked to her, banshees aren’t unreasonable, if you listen…”

 

[DanielOwen]

Dragonslayer

I watch myself battle a dragon; this will break legendary on my socials. The skydive's fake too, but nobody checks. Nobody cares. When I see my pinwheeling .gif self fall and fall into infinity, my stomach lurches.

There are legal limits on visual algorithms but around too many, thinking gets swimmy. The memeographer's shop is a virtual rainbow haze of them.

On screen the beast roars, I duck. I remember the heft of my sword.

 

[johnnyjet]

A Wormhole Called Bethesda

The Wormhole Resort was legendary.

The plush, decadent rotating disk stared directly into the heart of the wormhole called Bethesda. The sick, lame, and dying came because of the legend.

When a yellow stirring occurs within its depths, anyone passing through is instantly healed. However, you didn't know where you'd end up on the other side.

The reporter asked the owner, "When was the last healing?"

He shrugged, smiling. "No one's returned to say."

 

[Valtharius]

Hic erant, sed sunt?

“This is as far as I go.”

“You’re abandoning us?”

“We’re at the edge of their territory. I go no further.” With that, their guide turned and went in the opposite direction.

“Now do you believe me?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” He went onward to top of the hill. “By the gods!”

“What is it?” He ran to meet his faster companion and see.

The valley was filled with dragon bones.

 

[Parson]

Parson: A Legend in His Own Mind​

Win or Never Go Home! The aliens named the game. Rock Baseball was their choice. Big as silos they were. But the earthers had to win.

Captain Doug pitched a flat rock. The rock broke 15 feet. Strike one! No alien had ever seen a rock curve before. Still, it was ruled legal.

Last inning; Doug’s bat smacked the stone flush. It flew over the fence.

Victory!!

Another day, another victory.

He was a legend!

 

[Starbeast]

The Peculiar Tale of Pyrite Pete, the Pie Throwing Pirate​

2221 - Space Station: Bradbury 4


“How about a bedtime story?”

“Tell us about the Pie Pirate.”

“You kids heard that a hundred times.”

“Again, Grandpa! Again!”

“Okay... Woe to those who mention this scurvy dog’s name. For they’ll be cursed immediately upon uttering...Pyrite, Pete!” SPLAT! “Arrg. Yes. The bilge rat’s name is Pyrite Pete!” SPLAT! “He baked pies…” SPLAT! “Custard…” SPLAT! ”Chocolate…” SPLAT! “Brandy...” SPLAT! “More Brandy.”

“Wait, Grandpa. We need more pies.”

“Okay.”

 

[Hugh]

The Crow's Daughter​

When great Odin hung for those nine long days and nights on the tree Yggdrasil, the spear Gungnir piercing his side, sacrificing himself to bring wisdom and healing to humanity, Ratatoskr, the squirrel, became greatly alarmed, rushing about the tree screaming hysterically.

Thankfully, Krakr, the crow’s daughter, carried drops of water in her beak from Mimir’s dark Well, moistening great Odin’s lips and bringing him back to life.

Her memory has been sacred ever since.

 

[chrispenycate]

The Hero's return​

My home village! When I marched out to war I'd hardly started shaving. Now I don't dare, fear of slashing my face to ribbons.

But I was good. Lucky, yes, but that's not enough to keep two thirds of my force alive, when nobody else kept half - and it hadn't been the officers, who'd been useless for everybody. My troop was recruiting everybody's strays...

Now, scarred and bald, would the Youngers even recognise me?

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Kajar and the Tailor

The tailor stopped sewing as Kajar entered his shop.

"I seek a mystical artefact," announced Kajar. "Its power transforms the most debased into the most refined, bringing its owner sophistication, elegance, and the confidence to mingle effortlessly at high society soirees. It even bestows the ability to enjoy opera and ballet. Know you of where I may find such?

The tailor smiled knowingly. "You seek The Philosopher's Cravat. Sorry, but that's just an urbane legend."