Title: Momentum of a Round Stone
Author: Pompey
Universe: ACD
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Word count: 221B
Summary: Watson goes into a metaphoric battle at Holmes' orders.
Prompt: July 25 – unusual battle cry
A/N: From Sun Tzuh's "Art of War": Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.
I am no stranger to battle. Whether it be on a literal battlefield soaked with men's blood, the midnight battle against sickness and the power of death itself, or a battle of wits that pitched Holmes and our agency against the criminal element, I was quite familiar with it all.
However, a battle of wits is inclined to take the strangest forms at times and be played upon the weirdest of fields with the most bizarre weaponry.
When I suspected Holmes of malingering even to me after Baron Gruner's cowardly attack, I understood this to be part of his plan to convince the public he was at death's door. Keeping the scoundrel overconfident and self-assured would provide us a weapon – the element of surprise.
Then Holmes sent me off to metaphoric battle armed with naught but a priceless blue saucer, a card with a false identity, and a brain freshly filled with all the knowledge of Chinese pottery that I could cram into it in twenty-four hours.
As far as battle cries go, I admit "Shang, Zhou, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing" is not one that will readily rouse the blood. Yet I chanted these names as my carriage rattled to Vernon Lodge. I remain convinced this manta provided a serenity of mind to face the baron.