"Magonumous! Stop!" Magonumous' quivering blade stopped a hairbreadth
from Triston's forehead. He turned to me.
"Sorry." His disturbing eyes glinted in the mid day sun. He put down his sword and apologized to Triston. Triston nodded, swallowing nervously.
"It's okay." Said Triston. On the sideline, several of the older children, both boys and girls, either smiled or laughed. Except for one. I noticed this and grimaced. Dimitri was the problem. The outcast. He often started fights with the older boys. Dimitri was the one who would not join in laughter, or smiling.
While I thought, Magonumous walked over to me. He handed me his training sword, and whispered: " I told you, call me Magnum!" "Okay, Magnum." I whispered back.
It had been several years. Magnum was now only nine now. By my species standards, I was still only some what of a teen, and in a few years, Magnum may gain a physical advantage on me.but I wasn't about to let Magnum and his fellow students know that.
Tuff had been right. Many from all over dreamland eagerly brought their children to me when they found out what was going on. Many of the parents even helped to build a bunkhouse for the students. But Many things had happened since the forming of my class.
Magnum was now a leader. Though he was by far the youngest, he handled swords the best. He was one of the few I let handle a real blade. He commanded respect.
At first, the older children had picked on him, teased him. But amazingly (some how I didn't witness this occurrence) he put them all in their places. I learned later from one of the girls, Anastasia that he had fought them all. and proved to be stronger and more skilled than all of them.
I was astonished by his composure. He had several friends out of the group, but only two that he constantly had with him. I watched tolerantly as he and Triston wrestled near by them. Their names were Garther, and Cinsta. I called Triston.
"Triston! Go check on Claris!" He ran happily towards the mountain trail. Claris was making lunch. Magnum turned to me, his eerie eyes glowing. I was shocked. His likeness to Meta Knight was uncanny. It wasn't physical, but the way he held himself, the way he stood. Behind him, Garther and Cinsta completed the picture by standing faithfully by just as Sword Knight and Blade Knight once had. I mentally shook myself.
"Dimitri!" I yelled. "Into the circle!" Dimitri swung his heavy oak practice sword over his shoulder and swaggered into the sparring circle. I looked around for a sparring partner. All around the area, I saw eager faces. Many wanted a shot at the stocky, confident, young Dimitri. The most urgent of all was Magnum. He and Dimitri had been rivals for the entire time of their acquaintance.
But I couldn't let them fight. Not yet, anyway. "Goliath!" I chose. The hefty young man stood forward. I examined him. He was well muscled, and looked confident, but he was a newer student, and less experienced. It would be a good match. "Goliath, into the circle." Goliath lifted his pine staff, a long tree branch that took many of the other students to lift.
Goliath walked into the circle, and stared down at his tiny opponent. "Are ye rea'y to figh' ye wee litt'l un?" He rumbled in his far northland accent. "Goliath, since your new, I'll tell you the rules that go along with the circle." Goliath turned an attentive ear to me. "One, if I say stop, you stop. Don't listen to anyone else. Two, you don't stop until I say stop, unless your opponent forfeits, or is knocked unconscious. Third, try your best not to draw blood. Your goal is to knock Dimitri to the ground. Lastly, have fun. Take this seriously, as it is training, but relax."
Goliath nodded and turned back to Dimitri, and leveled his staff. Dimitri remained unworried. So much in fact, he closed his eyes and yawned. Goliath slammed his heavy staff with surprising speed, and missed. Dimitri had side stepped. Without pause, Goliath continued his strike by sweeping his staff along the ground. He was trying to trip Dimitri, and almost succeeded: but with an easy stroke, Dimitri blocked.
I heard a few mildly impressed murmurs among the crowd of students. Dimitri's quivering wood-sword had stopped Goliath's attack, with its edge barley touching the ground. A small movement had stopped Goliath, but I could see the strain of pressure on Dimitri: he knew he was wasting energy by holding the attack at bay.
Goliath did something surprising then. He pulled out, and with several small strikes, the staff flashed between Dimitri's ankles. Dimitri tried to over step the staff, but found it was already on his other side. He swung down with his sword, looking slightly more nervous, but still confidant. Goliath saw his chance.
"Ha, ye litt'l brut'!" He shouted. He twirled his staff, and caused the other side of the long pole to come whipping around, angled at Dimitri's head. For a scarce moment, I thought the fight was over, but I was mistaken.
Dimitri did a side flip. something I'd thought him incapable of, but he did it non-the less. As Dimitri spun horizontally through the air, Goliath's pole swung in the empty space over his opponent. His momentum carried him off balance, and Dimitri finally struck out. He landed first on his hands, and doubled over backwards. I knew what was coming. Dimitri had used this technique before. Dimitri's feet dug into Goliath's stomach, and pushed up and forward. Dimitri spun on his hands, and with a strong kick Sent Goliath hurling to the ground.
There was a hushed silence in the air that bristled with a strange hum. No one cheered, as they usually did when a friend won, or the fight was good. Just an unsettling quiet. It seemed to me that Dimitri's victory some how infuriated the other children. like they hated him more for his success. I disrupted the stillness.
I walked over, and clapped a dazed Goliath on the shoulder. "Good fight." I told him, and helped him to his feet. I wondered about Dimitri. He was advancing quickly. Soon, it would be time to pair him with Magnum. soon, but not today.
Triston finally came, sliding/running down the mountain path. "LUNCH IS READY!" He shouted. I Clapped loudly and stopped the entire class from dashing in a wild stampede. "WALK! SINGLE FILE!" The entire group groaned, but followed orders. Dimitri turned and sneered at me. One day. I thought, I'm gonna put that kid in his place.
In the bunkhouse that Tuff and I, along with a few fathers had constructed, we all sat down to lunch at the long-table. Claris sat few seats down from me; her light black hair tied up, with a few stray strands floating about her neck. She folded her hands and waited patiently. Tuff was the one we were all waiting for. He had gone out side with Magnum for "a moment" but still hadn't come back in.
I leaned forward and glanced down the table. Garther and Cinsta were mumbling to themselves. I chuckled, hearing a few snips of their conversation. Anastasia, the girl that had informed me on Magnum's strange accomplishment, seemed to have taken a shine to Magnum. I wondered if Magnum felt the same way.
Finally, Tuff and Magnum re-entered. Tuff looked pleased, and I almost fell off my chair with silent laughter at the way Magnum was walking: Full of pride, he entered the mess hall with his chest in the air and hands on his hips, with a rolling swagger. It took me a moment to realize why he would walk like that. He was sporting a new sword at his side, in a thick leather sheath.
I saw that the other students were happy for him. No one usually got jealous, especially of gifts from another student's parents. It was one of the virtues that I taught. Magnum sat down between Garther and Cinsta, who admired his sword for a short moment, and waited for me to start the meal.
I bowed my head, and clasped my hands, along with everyone else. I lead them in Grace. "Thank you for this food," all said in unison, "for the people who made them and the peace enough the eat without worry." Before I had even lifted my eyes, the children had already dug in. + + +
I listened to the noises of the night, and began to finally feel drowsy. An odd feeling had been resting like a knot in my stomach, but it was going away. I rolled over, and stared out the window. Across the hall from my chamber, I could hear faint snores of the children, sleep talking, and chatting. perhaps, I thought, It is the children keeping me awake. I laughed quietly and began settling down. CLONK! I heard a muffled noise outside.
I got up, and left the bunkhouse quietly. I kept the building to my back and my hand to my sword. Meta Knight's sword. and crept silently toward the noise that repeated itself. CLONK! I feared that it maybe one of the odd wolves Tuff had mentioned so long ago. we had seen the prints often, always soft, but there.
I finally turned the corner. How? I wondered, because what I was seeing was impossible.
(HAHAHAHAHAHA! I am so evil! YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT KIRBY WAS LOOKING AT! HA! AND HA AGAIN! But seriously, read and review! Tell me what you think!)
"Sorry." His disturbing eyes glinted in the mid day sun. He put down his sword and apologized to Triston. Triston nodded, swallowing nervously.
"It's okay." Said Triston. On the sideline, several of the older children, both boys and girls, either smiled or laughed. Except for one. I noticed this and grimaced. Dimitri was the problem. The outcast. He often started fights with the older boys. Dimitri was the one who would not join in laughter, or smiling.
While I thought, Magonumous walked over to me. He handed me his training sword, and whispered: " I told you, call me Magnum!" "Okay, Magnum." I whispered back.
It had been several years. Magnum was now only nine now. By my species standards, I was still only some what of a teen, and in a few years, Magnum may gain a physical advantage on me.but I wasn't about to let Magnum and his fellow students know that.
Tuff had been right. Many from all over dreamland eagerly brought their children to me when they found out what was going on. Many of the parents even helped to build a bunkhouse for the students. But Many things had happened since the forming of my class.
Magnum was now a leader. Though he was by far the youngest, he handled swords the best. He was one of the few I let handle a real blade. He commanded respect.
At first, the older children had picked on him, teased him. But amazingly (some how I didn't witness this occurrence) he put them all in their places. I learned later from one of the girls, Anastasia that he had fought them all. and proved to be stronger and more skilled than all of them.
I was astonished by his composure. He had several friends out of the group, but only two that he constantly had with him. I watched tolerantly as he and Triston wrestled near by them. Their names were Garther, and Cinsta. I called Triston.
"Triston! Go check on Claris!" He ran happily towards the mountain trail. Claris was making lunch. Magnum turned to me, his eerie eyes glowing. I was shocked. His likeness to Meta Knight was uncanny. It wasn't physical, but the way he held himself, the way he stood. Behind him, Garther and Cinsta completed the picture by standing faithfully by just as Sword Knight and Blade Knight once had. I mentally shook myself.
"Dimitri!" I yelled. "Into the circle!" Dimitri swung his heavy oak practice sword over his shoulder and swaggered into the sparring circle. I looked around for a sparring partner. All around the area, I saw eager faces. Many wanted a shot at the stocky, confident, young Dimitri. The most urgent of all was Magnum. He and Dimitri had been rivals for the entire time of their acquaintance.
But I couldn't let them fight. Not yet, anyway. "Goliath!" I chose. The hefty young man stood forward. I examined him. He was well muscled, and looked confident, but he was a newer student, and less experienced. It would be a good match. "Goliath, into the circle." Goliath lifted his pine staff, a long tree branch that took many of the other students to lift.
Goliath walked into the circle, and stared down at his tiny opponent. "Are ye rea'y to figh' ye wee litt'l un?" He rumbled in his far northland accent. "Goliath, since your new, I'll tell you the rules that go along with the circle." Goliath turned an attentive ear to me. "One, if I say stop, you stop. Don't listen to anyone else. Two, you don't stop until I say stop, unless your opponent forfeits, or is knocked unconscious. Third, try your best not to draw blood. Your goal is to knock Dimitri to the ground. Lastly, have fun. Take this seriously, as it is training, but relax."
Goliath nodded and turned back to Dimitri, and leveled his staff. Dimitri remained unworried. So much in fact, he closed his eyes and yawned. Goliath slammed his heavy staff with surprising speed, and missed. Dimitri had side stepped. Without pause, Goliath continued his strike by sweeping his staff along the ground. He was trying to trip Dimitri, and almost succeeded: but with an easy stroke, Dimitri blocked.
I heard a few mildly impressed murmurs among the crowd of students. Dimitri's quivering wood-sword had stopped Goliath's attack, with its edge barley touching the ground. A small movement had stopped Goliath, but I could see the strain of pressure on Dimitri: he knew he was wasting energy by holding the attack at bay.
Goliath did something surprising then. He pulled out, and with several small strikes, the staff flashed between Dimitri's ankles. Dimitri tried to over step the staff, but found it was already on his other side. He swung down with his sword, looking slightly more nervous, but still confidant. Goliath saw his chance.
"Ha, ye litt'l brut'!" He shouted. He twirled his staff, and caused the other side of the long pole to come whipping around, angled at Dimitri's head. For a scarce moment, I thought the fight was over, but I was mistaken.
Dimitri did a side flip. something I'd thought him incapable of, but he did it non-the less. As Dimitri spun horizontally through the air, Goliath's pole swung in the empty space over his opponent. His momentum carried him off balance, and Dimitri finally struck out. He landed first on his hands, and doubled over backwards. I knew what was coming. Dimitri had used this technique before. Dimitri's feet dug into Goliath's stomach, and pushed up and forward. Dimitri spun on his hands, and with a strong kick Sent Goliath hurling to the ground.
There was a hushed silence in the air that bristled with a strange hum. No one cheered, as they usually did when a friend won, or the fight was good. Just an unsettling quiet. It seemed to me that Dimitri's victory some how infuriated the other children. like they hated him more for his success. I disrupted the stillness.
I walked over, and clapped a dazed Goliath on the shoulder. "Good fight." I told him, and helped him to his feet. I wondered about Dimitri. He was advancing quickly. Soon, it would be time to pair him with Magnum. soon, but not today.
Triston finally came, sliding/running down the mountain path. "LUNCH IS READY!" He shouted. I Clapped loudly and stopped the entire class from dashing in a wild stampede. "WALK! SINGLE FILE!" The entire group groaned, but followed orders. Dimitri turned and sneered at me. One day. I thought, I'm gonna put that kid in his place.
In the bunkhouse that Tuff and I, along with a few fathers had constructed, we all sat down to lunch at the long-table. Claris sat few seats down from me; her light black hair tied up, with a few stray strands floating about her neck. She folded her hands and waited patiently. Tuff was the one we were all waiting for. He had gone out side with Magnum for "a moment" but still hadn't come back in.
I leaned forward and glanced down the table. Garther and Cinsta were mumbling to themselves. I chuckled, hearing a few snips of their conversation. Anastasia, the girl that had informed me on Magnum's strange accomplishment, seemed to have taken a shine to Magnum. I wondered if Magnum felt the same way.
Finally, Tuff and Magnum re-entered. Tuff looked pleased, and I almost fell off my chair with silent laughter at the way Magnum was walking: Full of pride, he entered the mess hall with his chest in the air and hands on his hips, with a rolling swagger. It took me a moment to realize why he would walk like that. He was sporting a new sword at his side, in a thick leather sheath.
I saw that the other students were happy for him. No one usually got jealous, especially of gifts from another student's parents. It was one of the virtues that I taught. Magnum sat down between Garther and Cinsta, who admired his sword for a short moment, and waited for me to start the meal.
I bowed my head, and clasped my hands, along with everyone else. I lead them in Grace. "Thank you for this food," all said in unison, "for the people who made them and the peace enough the eat without worry." Before I had even lifted my eyes, the children had already dug in. + + +
I listened to the noises of the night, and began to finally feel drowsy. An odd feeling had been resting like a knot in my stomach, but it was going away. I rolled over, and stared out the window. Across the hall from my chamber, I could hear faint snores of the children, sleep talking, and chatting. perhaps, I thought, It is the children keeping me awake. I laughed quietly and began settling down. CLONK! I heard a muffled noise outside.
I got up, and left the bunkhouse quietly. I kept the building to my back and my hand to my sword. Meta Knight's sword. and crept silently toward the noise that repeated itself. CLONK! I feared that it maybe one of the odd wolves Tuff had mentioned so long ago. we had seen the prints often, always soft, but there.
I finally turned the corner. How? I wondered, because what I was seeing was impossible.
(HAHAHAHAHAHA! I am so evil! YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT KIRBY WAS LOOKING AT! HA! AND HA AGAIN! But seriously, read and review! Tell me what you think!)