The...Princess Bride
Part III: The Fire Swamp
OR
Roberts' Secret
OR
Flame Jets and Snow Sand and Rodents, Oh My!
* * *
Part 3 is here, with the lovely little sojourn into the FIRE SWAMP! And please understand that there's enough flames in this chapter, so please don't add your own. And, isn't everyone so happy that Daisuke isn't dead? I hope you are. Anyway, before I start rambling (yes, I know, too late for that), here is part III of The...Princess Bride.
* * *
"Daisuke, my love...what happened?" Daisuke smiled at the blue-haired man laying on top of him.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Ken stared at him, bewildered.
"Well, you were dead."
"Death can't stop love, Ken. It can only delay it for a while. And I know that when I left you, I thought I loved you. But now, that we are reuntied, I know I love you more than any person can for another." After several light kisses, they stood up from the canyon floor, making sure they weren't seriously injured. And Ken spoke.
"I will never doubt again."
"There will never be a need."
* * *
Miyako stood staring at the rock, holding a vial to her nose.
"Iocane. I'd bet my life on it. And there, Ken's footprints lead towards the canyon. In fact, they are headed right into the Fire Swamp. We will follow them."
* * *
Daisuke laughed and pointed at the canyon top.
"Your fiancée comes too late, my dearest! Just a few more steps, and we will be safe in the fire swamp!" Ken opened his mouth, about to protest the extreme contradiction in terms, when the horses of Miyako's search party were bearing down on their route. However, the two lovers plunged into the Fire Swamp moments before Miyako could reach them.
"We'll never survive," Ken pleaded as they exited the canyon. Daisuke laughed mockingly at the statement.
"You only say that because no one ever has!"
* * *
I will take this oppurtunity to make a note about the Fire Swamp. The Guilder/Florin Fire Swamp, unlike normal fire swamps, was a place that no person would ever enter willingly. The flame jets caused by explosions of gas were particularly frequent, and the presence of lightening sand made the journey especially treacherous. But the true terror of the Fire Swamp were the ROUS's, creatures with voracious appetites and a sharklike lust for blood. When they frenzied, no one would stand against them. It should be noted that when Ken and Daisuke entered the Fire Swamp, Daisuke made the comment,
"It's really not that bad." After a glare from his lover, he continued, "It's not like I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are quite lovely." And so, let us join them...
* * *
Ken leapt down from a tree root, followed by Daisuke, whose hand he had not released since the canyon. Suddenly, a popping noise filled the area, and a moment later, a jet of flame set Ken's pants on fire. Daisuke worked quickly to smother the flames, and then smiled at Ken.
"Are you okay?" Ken nodded. "That was an adventure, now, wasn't it?" They continued, wary of the bursts of fire.
* * *
Ken stepped over some dead leaves, and Daisuke followed him. When the popping began, Ken pulled Daisuke towards him, and the fire erupted where he had been standing.
"I've got a question," Ken began. "How can you be the Dread Pirate Gennai when you only left me three years ago, and Gennai's been marauding for twenty?" Daisuke smiled.
"It's one of life's little quirks. What I told you before is true, the please intrigued Gennai, and he decided to let me live. Except, he took me on as his valet. However, he kept telling me I'd die the next morning. It was 'Good night, Daisuke, I had a wonderful day, I'll most liekly kill you in the morning.' I took to learning everything I could, and Gennai and I became friends. So one day, he told me the secret of his position.
'I am not Gennai. My name was Michael. Neither was the man I inherited the boat from. The real Gennai is retired and living in Jamaica. The secret is in the name.' After all, no one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Daisuke! So, he decided to retire, and let off his sailors. And then we took a new crew, with him as the first mate, and he called *me* Gennai. However, now that I've found you again, I will retire and pass the name on to someone else." Ken nodded, or would have, except he stepped right into a patch of lightening sand. Lightening sand is deadly because it is the finest grade of sand possible, so that one falls forever in it, and dies of asphyxiation. There is very little material on it, so its presence came as quite a surprise. However, before Ken had even disappeared, Daisuke cut a vine with his sword and leapt in after his love.
* * *
"We will circle around the Fire Swamp and meet those two when they emerge. There is no way that kidnapper will escape me!"
* * *
Daisuke pulled himself from the sand, and dragged Ken after him. The two lay next to each other on the forest floor, coughing and sputtering. Ken, never having been an optimist, said,
"We'll never make it. We'll die in the wretched place." Daisuke pulled him up, smiling warmly.
"But Ken, we've already made it! What are the three dangers of the Fire Swamp? The flame bursts? We know how to avoid those; there's a popping noise before each burst. The Lightening sand? No problem; you found out what *that* looks like." Suddenly, Ken gripped Daisuke grimly.
"What about the ROUS's?"
"Rodents of Unusual Size?" Daisuke scoffed, "I don't think they exist." Which is why he was so incredibly surprised when one leapt onto his shoulder.
* * *
ROUS's are one of the greatest-feared creatures in the world, but only because they are found in swarms. If one attacks you, it will most likely not kill you. ROUS's will aim only to draw blood, for then, others will be attracted. They can smell blood for miles, and go into a frenzy. In this way, they are like sharks, and are believed to share a common ancestor with these fish.
* * *
Daisuke grabbed for his sword, screaming as the rodent bit into his arm. The sword was far from his reach, and he could hear other beasts approaching. Suddenly, there was a scream from his adversary, and it rolled off him angrily. Ken was standing there, holding Daisuke's sword menacingly at the ROUS. He swung it angrily, stabbing repeatedly into the beast, until it lay as a still form on the ground. Daisuke hurried over to him, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"My hero. Now-we have to stop the blood on my shoulder. Put mud, cloth over it, or the ROUS's, they'll frenzy. We have to get away from here before the others get here." Ken gladly ripped his shirt, wrapping the cloth around Daisuke's injury as they continued moving quickly-yet cautiously-towards freedom. "My ship, the Revenge, is waiting for us on the other side of the forest. Once we get there, we'll be scot free." It wasn't quite so simple as that. It took them six hours to trek through the forest, and the first was the easiest. There were other terrifying creatures in the Swamp, and traps of nature that went beyond the deadly lightening sand. However, eventually, they sighted the edge of the forest, and laughed with relief at the sight of sunlight.
* * *
Daisuke pulled Ken after him, both men dirty, tired, and smeared with more than a little blood. And suddenly, it all fell apart.
"Surrender!" Miyako snapped, standing before the two of them. Daisuke stepped back, pleased.
"You mean you wish to surrender? Very well-"
"Hand over the prince, kidnapper!" Ken paled, grabbing Daisuke's arm. Daisuke glared at the purple-haired princess.
"You know, we can go right back into the Fire Swamp. We know its secrets, and can survive quite well there." Ken started; a dozen men with crossbows aimed their weapons at Daisuke.
"Surrender," Miyako said plainly.
"DEATH FIRST!"
"Will you promise not to hurt him?!" Ken snapped.
"What?" "Huh?" Ken stepped forward.
"If I go with you, Miyako, will you promise not to hurt Daisuke? He's a pirate on the ship Revenge, so will you return him?" Miyako smiled.
"May I live a thousand years and never hunt again, if I do not do this for you." Ken turned to Daisuke, tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't bear it if you died again. I can live without love; I cannot live knowing I found you only to see you die." He hurried forward, and allowed Miyako to pull him up. She galloped past her second-in-command, Countess Sora, and smiled.
"Take him to the Pit of Despair, and do what you wish," she murmured, and Sora bowed.
"I swear it shall be done." When the royals had left, Sora turned to the brown-eyes man. "We must get you to your ship, Daisuke." Daisuke frowned at her.
"We are people of action; lies do not become us. You plan to kill me; simply say so." Sora smiled at him.
"Quite smart, aren't we?" Suddenly, Daisuke saw the woman's right hand, twitching under a custom-made glove: with SIX FINGERS! And he remembered that Yamato had never seen the face of his father's murderer. "What are you looking at?!" Daisuke smiled.
"I just know someone who was looking for you." The Countess slammed his head with his sword butt, and Daisuke slipped into unconsciousness.
* * *
'Someone's washing my wounds. Who?' Daisuke's eyes opened, and he saw an albino man washing his shoulder.
"Who are you? Where am I?" The albino coughed.
"The Pit of Despair. Don't even THINK of trying to escape. The chains are unbreakable, and don't imagine someone rescuing you. Only three people know the entrance, which is completely hidden."
"So, am I here until I die?" The albino chuckled.
"Until they kill you, yes." Daisuke smiled sardonically.
"Torture? I can handle it." The albino shook his head.
"Sure, I'll bet you're strong, but no one, NO ONE-goes against...THE MACHINE. By the way, my name's Wallace, and I hope you have no complaints about your treatment here. I'll be back in five."
* * *
The king died that night, and Miyako and Ken married the next morning. And that afternoon, Ken met them again, this time as the King.
"My people, my father's last words were, 'Love him as I did, and there will be great joy!' And so, I give you, the King, Ken!" There was a fanfare, and the people backed away from their Queen's consort, watching him with respect. And one person booed.
"Boooo! Booooo!"
"Why do you boo?" Ken asked nervously. There was an old crone, glaring at him.
"YOU HAD LOVE IN YOUR HANDS, AND YOU GAVE IT UP FOR GOLD! Love saved you in the Fire Swamp, and you dropped it like garbage! So bow down to the King of Feculence, bow down to the King of Filth and Slime, the King of Muck, the King of Putrescense! Boooooo! Boooooo! Booooo!"
* * *
Yes, I'm sorry that this chapter is so short, but it's not a long part. Anyway, all honest feedback is appreciated.
Part III: The Fire Swamp
OR
Roberts' Secret
OR
Flame Jets and Snow Sand and Rodents, Oh My!
* * *
Part 3 is here, with the lovely little sojourn into the FIRE SWAMP! And please understand that there's enough flames in this chapter, so please don't add your own. And, isn't everyone so happy that Daisuke isn't dead? I hope you are. Anyway, before I start rambling (yes, I know, too late for that), here is part III of The...Princess Bride.
* * *
"Daisuke, my love...what happened?" Daisuke smiled at the blue-haired man laying on top of him.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Ken stared at him, bewildered.
"Well, you were dead."
"Death can't stop love, Ken. It can only delay it for a while. And I know that when I left you, I thought I loved you. But now, that we are reuntied, I know I love you more than any person can for another." After several light kisses, they stood up from the canyon floor, making sure they weren't seriously injured. And Ken spoke.
"I will never doubt again."
"There will never be a need."
* * *
Miyako stood staring at the rock, holding a vial to her nose.
"Iocane. I'd bet my life on it. And there, Ken's footprints lead towards the canyon. In fact, they are headed right into the Fire Swamp. We will follow them."
* * *
Daisuke laughed and pointed at the canyon top.
"Your fiancée comes too late, my dearest! Just a few more steps, and we will be safe in the fire swamp!" Ken opened his mouth, about to protest the extreme contradiction in terms, when the horses of Miyako's search party were bearing down on their route. However, the two lovers plunged into the Fire Swamp moments before Miyako could reach them.
"We'll never survive," Ken pleaded as they exited the canyon. Daisuke laughed mockingly at the statement.
"You only say that because no one ever has!"
* * *
I will take this oppurtunity to make a note about the Fire Swamp. The Guilder/Florin Fire Swamp, unlike normal fire swamps, was a place that no person would ever enter willingly. The flame jets caused by explosions of gas were particularly frequent, and the presence of lightening sand made the journey especially treacherous. But the true terror of the Fire Swamp were the ROUS's, creatures with voracious appetites and a sharklike lust for blood. When they frenzied, no one would stand against them. It should be noted that when Ken and Daisuke entered the Fire Swamp, Daisuke made the comment,
"It's really not that bad." After a glare from his lover, he continued, "It's not like I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are quite lovely." And so, let us join them...
* * *
Ken leapt down from a tree root, followed by Daisuke, whose hand he had not released since the canyon. Suddenly, a popping noise filled the area, and a moment later, a jet of flame set Ken's pants on fire. Daisuke worked quickly to smother the flames, and then smiled at Ken.
"Are you okay?" Ken nodded. "That was an adventure, now, wasn't it?" They continued, wary of the bursts of fire.
* * *
Ken stepped over some dead leaves, and Daisuke followed him. When the popping began, Ken pulled Daisuke towards him, and the fire erupted where he had been standing.
"I've got a question," Ken began. "How can you be the Dread Pirate Gennai when you only left me three years ago, and Gennai's been marauding for twenty?" Daisuke smiled.
"It's one of life's little quirks. What I told you before is true, the please intrigued Gennai, and he decided to let me live. Except, he took me on as his valet. However, he kept telling me I'd die the next morning. It was 'Good night, Daisuke, I had a wonderful day, I'll most liekly kill you in the morning.' I took to learning everything I could, and Gennai and I became friends. So one day, he told me the secret of his position.
'I am not Gennai. My name was Michael. Neither was the man I inherited the boat from. The real Gennai is retired and living in Jamaica. The secret is in the name.' After all, no one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Daisuke! So, he decided to retire, and let off his sailors. And then we took a new crew, with him as the first mate, and he called *me* Gennai. However, now that I've found you again, I will retire and pass the name on to someone else." Ken nodded, or would have, except he stepped right into a patch of lightening sand. Lightening sand is deadly because it is the finest grade of sand possible, so that one falls forever in it, and dies of asphyxiation. There is very little material on it, so its presence came as quite a surprise. However, before Ken had even disappeared, Daisuke cut a vine with his sword and leapt in after his love.
* * *
"We will circle around the Fire Swamp and meet those two when they emerge. There is no way that kidnapper will escape me!"
* * *
Daisuke pulled himself from the sand, and dragged Ken after him. The two lay next to each other on the forest floor, coughing and sputtering. Ken, never having been an optimist, said,
"We'll never make it. We'll die in the wretched place." Daisuke pulled him up, smiling warmly.
"But Ken, we've already made it! What are the three dangers of the Fire Swamp? The flame bursts? We know how to avoid those; there's a popping noise before each burst. The Lightening sand? No problem; you found out what *that* looks like." Suddenly, Ken gripped Daisuke grimly.
"What about the ROUS's?"
"Rodents of Unusual Size?" Daisuke scoffed, "I don't think they exist." Which is why he was so incredibly surprised when one leapt onto his shoulder.
* * *
ROUS's are one of the greatest-feared creatures in the world, but only because they are found in swarms. If one attacks you, it will most likely not kill you. ROUS's will aim only to draw blood, for then, others will be attracted. They can smell blood for miles, and go into a frenzy. In this way, they are like sharks, and are believed to share a common ancestor with these fish.
* * *
Daisuke grabbed for his sword, screaming as the rodent bit into his arm. The sword was far from his reach, and he could hear other beasts approaching. Suddenly, there was a scream from his adversary, and it rolled off him angrily. Ken was standing there, holding Daisuke's sword menacingly at the ROUS. He swung it angrily, stabbing repeatedly into the beast, until it lay as a still form on the ground. Daisuke hurried over to him, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"My hero. Now-we have to stop the blood on my shoulder. Put mud, cloth over it, or the ROUS's, they'll frenzy. We have to get away from here before the others get here." Ken gladly ripped his shirt, wrapping the cloth around Daisuke's injury as they continued moving quickly-yet cautiously-towards freedom. "My ship, the Revenge, is waiting for us on the other side of the forest. Once we get there, we'll be scot free." It wasn't quite so simple as that. It took them six hours to trek through the forest, and the first was the easiest. There were other terrifying creatures in the Swamp, and traps of nature that went beyond the deadly lightening sand. However, eventually, they sighted the edge of the forest, and laughed with relief at the sight of sunlight.
* * *
Daisuke pulled Ken after him, both men dirty, tired, and smeared with more than a little blood. And suddenly, it all fell apart.
"Surrender!" Miyako snapped, standing before the two of them. Daisuke stepped back, pleased.
"You mean you wish to surrender? Very well-"
"Hand over the prince, kidnapper!" Ken paled, grabbing Daisuke's arm. Daisuke glared at the purple-haired princess.
"You know, we can go right back into the Fire Swamp. We know its secrets, and can survive quite well there." Ken started; a dozen men with crossbows aimed their weapons at Daisuke.
"Surrender," Miyako said plainly.
"DEATH FIRST!"
"Will you promise not to hurt him?!" Ken snapped.
"What?" "Huh?" Ken stepped forward.
"If I go with you, Miyako, will you promise not to hurt Daisuke? He's a pirate on the ship Revenge, so will you return him?" Miyako smiled.
"May I live a thousand years and never hunt again, if I do not do this for you." Ken turned to Daisuke, tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't bear it if you died again. I can live without love; I cannot live knowing I found you only to see you die." He hurried forward, and allowed Miyako to pull him up. She galloped past her second-in-command, Countess Sora, and smiled.
"Take him to the Pit of Despair, and do what you wish," she murmured, and Sora bowed.
"I swear it shall be done." When the royals had left, Sora turned to the brown-eyes man. "We must get you to your ship, Daisuke." Daisuke frowned at her.
"We are people of action; lies do not become us. You plan to kill me; simply say so." Sora smiled at him.
"Quite smart, aren't we?" Suddenly, Daisuke saw the woman's right hand, twitching under a custom-made glove: with SIX FINGERS! And he remembered that Yamato had never seen the face of his father's murderer. "What are you looking at?!" Daisuke smiled.
"I just know someone who was looking for you." The Countess slammed his head with his sword butt, and Daisuke slipped into unconsciousness.
* * *
'Someone's washing my wounds. Who?' Daisuke's eyes opened, and he saw an albino man washing his shoulder.
"Who are you? Where am I?" The albino coughed.
"The Pit of Despair. Don't even THINK of trying to escape. The chains are unbreakable, and don't imagine someone rescuing you. Only three people know the entrance, which is completely hidden."
"So, am I here until I die?" The albino chuckled.
"Until they kill you, yes." Daisuke smiled sardonically.
"Torture? I can handle it." The albino shook his head.
"Sure, I'll bet you're strong, but no one, NO ONE-goes against...THE MACHINE. By the way, my name's Wallace, and I hope you have no complaints about your treatment here. I'll be back in five."
* * *
The king died that night, and Miyako and Ken married the next morning. And that afternoon, Ken met them again, this time as the King.
"My people, my father's last words were, 'Love him as I did, and there will be great joy!' And so, I give you, the King, Ken!" There was a fanfare, and the people backed away from their Queen's consort, watching him with respect. And one person booed.
"Boooo! Booooo!"
"Why do you boo?" Ken asked nervously. There was an old crone, glaring at him.
"YOU HAD LOVE IN YOUR HANDS, AND YOU GAVE IT UP FOR GOLD! Love saved you in the Fire Swamp, and you dropped it like garbage! So bow down to the King of Feculence, bow down to the King of Filth and Slime, the King of Muck, the King of Putrescense! Boooooo! Boooooo! Booooo!"
* * *
Yes, I'm sorry that this chapter is so short, but it's not a long part. Anyway, all honest feedback is appreciated.