Darlyne paused, holding still as she peered around. She thought she had heard a noise....but no sign of trouble. She continued on her way through the forest. Not ten seconds later, she was assaulted by a big hairy projectile...."Amber!" she cried out in delight as she greeted her doggy. Darlyne continued homeward, her spirits raised by the appearance of her lifelong companion. Her heart was buoyed by the fact that she would finally return to see her family after three long years.
Sangfroid. His opponent was a giant. Paul had never faced a real opponent in battle. Now he found himself in a pickle. Sangfroid. He mentally shrugged, squared his shoulders and gave a mighty roar. He grinned at his adversary, raising an eyebrow. The giant looked puzzled. The break in concentration was all the opening Paul needed. He danced in, did some cool wrestling thing and the giant found himself on his back. Paul was a practitioner of Sangfroid. It had yet to let him down.
No sooner had Darlyne gotten used to living at home again, when she got the hunger to take to the road. A chick-warrior's job is never done. She donned her breastplate, belted on her sword and took to the road, humming a little '70's ditty. Darlyne, being a naturally trustworthy and exuberant chick-warrior never had want of company on the road. People just seemed to find her all the time. This trip proved no exception. She came upon Paul not long after he had slayed his umpteenth dragon.
Paul was still breathing hard as he turned to face this new opponent. For some reason -- he could explain, even years later, what went wrong. The famed Sangfroid focus, after being a part of his life for so long, left him. He went into instant battle frenzy and attacked the chick-warrior. No matter that she had a sharp blade with which to run him through, and he only had his wrestling jersey. He spurned weapons, prefering to hone his body sharper than even Excalibur itself.
Darlyne drew her weapon without fear. Here was a wild creature and she had the means to civilize him. Or kill him. As they engaged in battle, Darlyne was startled to hear the ringing noises that she usually associated with sword to sword combat. Sword sinking into flesh was generally a little bit juicier sounding. Who was this guy? Wolverine??
Alternative Ending #1 Paul's incredible stamina was too much for Darlyne. She was well aware that the longer the battle wore on, the better his chances to win. She had to finish him off fast. She started changing her sword strokes from her usual compact jabs to long sweeping strokes. Paul grinned. As Darlyne drew her sword arm back, he used her own backwards momentum and shoved her even farther backwards. As she stumbled off balance, he grasped her sword hand and knocked the weapon away. He did some more fancy wrestling tricks, and the battle was over. He swept her unconscious body up and threw it over his shoulder. "Now what am I gonna do with this chick," he mused to himself as he made his way down the road once again...
Alternative Ending #2 However tough Paul's body was, Darlyne had a much longer reach with her sword. She was able to keep him to the outside, and away from his most effective zone -- in close. Try as he might, to get within grappling range, her sword kept him at bay. Without the all-important sangfroid, Paul could not think clearly. He began taking risks. Too many risks, as it turned out. Darlyne did some fancy swordplay. Paul fell to the ground. Darlyne surveyed her vanquished foe as she sheathed her sword. She bent down and patted him on the cheek. "Nice try, little boy", she murmered to him. She straightened up and sauntered off down the road, humming "Independent Woman" to herself as she went...
Alternative Ending #3 The battled for hours, now one gaining an advantage, now the other. It was clearly a stalemate. But each was too stubborn to admit it! So they fought on. Until there was suddenly a very loud noise. It was as if thunder had struck, or a car had backfired or something. There stood Kristine, resplendent in her royal robes. "Stop clowning around right now", she commanded. Her voice left no room for even a thought of disobedience. "You guys are a disgrace! Shake hands and make up." Paul, quick to forgive and forget held out his hand. Darlyne stared at it distastefully, her arms folded across her chest. And stared and stared. Eventually, she started squirming under Kristine's glare. She reluctantly shook his hand. The queen smiled evilly. One of her minions brought a pair of handcuffs and cuffed them together. Darlyne and Paul stared in dismay. The pair of enemies got on their knees as one, indeed, as if they were joined physically, and begged the queen to release them. Kristine simply laughed as she swept off with her retinue. For the rest of their days, Darlyne and Paul were doomed to wander the earth together. They never did stop bickering for more than ten minutes during their waking hours. Occasionally, Darlyne would become particularly infuriated and draw her sword. They would fight. These things happen. To this day, they still wander the earth, joined together for an eternity....
THE END
Cal your story writing RoXX! Plus I really really dig Fantasy Fiction (that's my book genre of choice hands down)! I feel that Kristine got a sweet role in the story, being Her Highness and wearing her gorgeous royal garbs... but thanx for making me a bad-ass, sword-swinging "knight" chica/diva! In the 6th grade our class had a Medireview Party and all the girls were princesses and all the boys were kinghts... except for me and my good guy friend, where we decided to switch roles. Sorry... went off track regressing.....
I really enjoyed that story and I feel quite drawn to alternative Ending #2 *wonder why*..... next story Calvin, make sure you are in it too!
Paul and Kris: Whaddaya think of Calvin's novel? Are you content with your characterization?
Dar
It was amazing very well done!!!
Of Course, the only realistic ending is #1 *deep encompassing chuckle*
Paul
Ok Paul... yes, me wielding a mighty sword is a far cry from realism... then again, so is the fact that your body is made of adamantium (like Wolverine) and you slayed a dragon (your umpteenth). Nope, I believe whole-heartedly that ending #2 is just as possible and realistic.... besides, you can't fling me to the ground... I wouldn't let go of your neck, therefore you and the earth would get acquainted too *sticks out tongue*
Lady Dolap (Miss Knight supreme, femme fatale) =)
sounds like a challenge
Paul
and I say to Paul: "Bring it on!" *pulls hair back in a twist & clip*
Miss Knight Supreme, femme fatale who fights for justice and for clear bowling gutters! (Cal & Kris: I promise next time we hang out I will NOT cause trouble and will behave!),
Dar =)