Fortnightly Writing Competition - TV Tropes (WINNER)

[Chef!]

    Alright here goes, It's a little long.. but length is very subjective.  Besides whats a little under 5000 words between friends?  My tropes are the keystone army, Merlin and Nimue, and I'm sure there is one about king Arthur so I tossed him in there too.  Anyways, give yourself plenty of time, and enjoy!

               

Merlin



   Merlin's head was pounding as he slowly awoke. His arms and legs felt numb with pain.  When his vision finally cleared he realized he was in serious trouble.  Nynave and Morgana stood before him viciously regarding their prisoner. 

   â€œWhat have you done my love?”  he asked neither in particular.  If his circumstances were not so dire he might have laughed.  His love for Nynave had died long ago and lately he had grown tired of Morgana.   Time was weighing her down like it had the others and his interests had wandered elsewhere. 

   â€œWhom do you address dearest master?”  Nynave asked rhetorically.  “Is it I you love or did you mean Morgana?”

   â€œYes Merlin is it I you love or were you addressing poor Vivien.”  Morgana smiled sickly and both jilted lovers stepped aside so he could see what their vengeance had wrought.

   Vivien lay dead.  She had been stripped naked and staked to the ground. They had brutalized her to death.  Merlin wrenched his body furiously but is was no use.  His whole body was encased in an iron cast.  “That was not necessary”  he said tiredly.  At least they hadn't killed Niniane, his most recent infatuation.

   â€œPerhaps not, but it was delightfully fun and we had to do something while we waited for you to wake up. Plus we needed the blood of a witch.”  Nynave smiled over to Morgana and Morgana picked up the helmet and placed it over Merlin's head. 

    As his eyes lined up with the helmet's visor he saw Nynave slit Morgana's throat.  “And the blood of two witches is better than one,”   She cackled merrily .  Nynave took both her hands; her left was bloodied with Morgana's blood and her right with Vivien's.  “I stood beside you for a thousand years while you hid away.  Then after your children had all warred and died and we finally return, you leave me for these strumpets!  Goodbye Merlin, I would have given you the world once..  Now I'll keep it for myself,”

   Nynave leaned forward and placed her bloodied hands on either side of the tree behind him.  While whispering the proper words she pulled the trunk around him, locking him in the tree forever.


                  *   *   *
   
   He had been trapped inside the great tree for an eternity.  At first he had went mad.  Unable to move, unable to see or hear anything and completely cut off from magic .  Slowly though as the time passed by in complete solitude he began to sense something within reach.  It was almost imperceptible, a new force that felt completely alien and unresponsive.  Eventually he began to understand the force  he felt.  It was the mind of the tree or the tree's equivalent.  More than that though Merlin realized it was a keystone to all magic.  The great tree's mind was a link between the nether and the ether.  Trapped as he was he could access neither directly but through the tree's mind incrementally Merlin began his escape.
   

                  *   *   *

   Arthur galloped out of the shadows speeding ahead of his sister to lead the charge against the Empress's prison guards.  As he closed in on the enemy he could sense that something was wrong.   The guards were stepping aside,  and the prisoners -were not prisoners.  They were mages,  Arthur swallowed as the chains binding them fell free.

   â€œFall back!”  He cried veering to the left, but it was to late .  He could see the fire coming and he dove from his saddle.   His sister had fallowed suit landing half on top of him. He rolled over her to protect her as the fire swept over. 

   Men and horses screamed in the fire.  Arthur jumped to his feet and dragged his sister Madeline with him as the fire passed.  “Back to the forest” he called as they ran.  Only a handful ran with them zigging and zagging to dodge bolts of fire and arrows.
   
   As they came to the forest Lancelot rode out of the trees swinging and it all made sense.  Lancelot had betrayed them.  The traitors blade bit John's head in half but Sam managed to roll clear.  Lancelot left him there and made strait for Arthur and his sister. Madeline was already in her trance, calling to the shadows in the forest to hide them.  With mages so close it took her full concentration.  Hounds were baying, the enemy from behind was closing in. 
   
   Arthur had no choice but to hurl his sword like it was a dagger.  It was a well balanced blade and he would miss it.    It had served him faithfully for years and its last use was no different.  The blade sank deep into the chest of Lancelot's steed sending the betrayer tumbling as it crashed dead on its feet.   

   Arthur tipped his sister onto his shoulder and ran into the shadows of the forest.
                  
                  *   *   *

   The acorn fell to the ground from the great tree and a squirrel quickly gathered it up.  Then a  falcon swooped in and gathered up the squirrel.  The bird flew off toward the forest with its prize.


                  *   *   *

   Madeline screamed as something smashed down the front of her dress.  She quickly covered her mouth as her brother Arthur glared back at her.  “What is it now?”  Her brother said sternly, but quietly.  “Another spider Madeline?  They will kill us if they find us!”

   â€œSomething hit me! Its not my fault you trusted him,  I never trusted that pervert.”  Madeline retorted quietly as she reached down into her adequate cleavage.  “Look! Its an acorn”  she said quickly cutting off one of her brothers scathing reply's.

   â€œWow, no way, lets scream and tell Empress Nynave!”  Arthur said snidely, “and he brought ten good men with him, brave men who died along with us back there!”

   â€œArthur there are no oak trees”  Madeline said, trying to change the subject.  Her brother looked around but shook his head.

   â€œI don't care Madeline throw it away or eat it but shut up before they find us.”   He was done, now.  Too exhausted from running to argue. That suited her just fine, her brother argued intolerably.  Unknowingly she tucked the acorn back between her bosoms.

   They walked on, heading ever deeper into the forest. 

                  *   *   *

   Arthur suddenly stopped and turned on his sister.  “What are you doing?”

   His sister looked lost, “I wasn't doing anything.”

   â€œYou we're muttering something, speaking in tongues”

   â€œNo, I don't believe I was.”  His sister looked scared.  “Don't look at me like that.”

   Arthur relented, but he kept listening as they walked on.  They had successfully evaded their pursuers and he was no longer in a rush.  They needed to save their energy.

   â€œ..alakazam alakazoo abra kadabra!”

   â€œWhat-”  Arthur turned around suddenly and Madeline screamed

   -but not at him, she was digging fiercely at her bust.  Something was bulging and getting bigger.  His sister shook her dress vigorously and an acorn bigger than his fist fell out of her skirts and it was still growing.  “I thought I told you to-”

   â€œ-Eat it?  Ya that would have been ingenious brother.”  Madeline said pointing to the object that was now the size of a pumpkin. 

   Arthur held his dagger at the ready while his sister drew her bow.  The acorn stopped    anticlimactically when it was waist high.  Brother and sister shared a glance but they did not let down their guard.

   Bang!  They were both thrown back deafeningly as the acorns cap blasted skyward. 
   
   Arthur climbed to his feet as a naked man emerged from the smouldering shell.  Arthur was ready to attack but the stranger held up his hand.  “Bigger. Problems.”  he said gagging on smoke while pointing in the direction of baying hounds.  “I can help.”

   Before Arthur could reply the man set his fingers to his temples and closed his eyes.  Soon after wards sounds of battle echoed through the forest.  Between flashes of mage fire they heard the horrible sounds of dogs turning on each other and their owners.  Then the screams of men burning and the sounds of iron on iron and iron entering flesh and those accompanying screams.  Then finally silence.

   The naked man opened his eyes.  His eyes were the deepest of blue. Arthur knew at once who this man was and he was not happy.
                  
               *   *   * 

   Madeline had seen it all. Had felt the subtlety of this mans sorcery as he bent their pursuers minds into such a frenzy that they killed each other off.  It was a quiet form of magic akin to what she  used to manipulate shadows.   When he finally opened his eyes Madeline almost melted.  They were so blue.  Bluer than her own and her brothers combined and he was so handsome.  Taller then her brother but not as brood, and he was naked.

   â€œMerlin”  Her brother said the name like a curse.  “Madeline get behind me.”  It was an order. Madeline hated being ordered.

   â€œHe saved us Arthur”  She protested as she moved to where she was told; but only to regard him behind her brothers back.  He was slender but well built, very well built.  Madeline smiled and Merlin smiled back.

   â€œDon't smile at her like that!”  Arthur shouted.  “Its disgusting, she is your grand daughter!”

   â€œSo that's why she's so pretty. Madeline is it?” Merlin asked ignoring her brother.

   Before she could answer Arthur cut in.  “No, You do not use her name, if you talk to her again I will cut off your incestuous cock.”

   Merlin laughed in her brothers face.  “Incestuous, that's just semantics, after all I'm everyone's great great something.”

   Arthur laughed mockingly.  “So your claiming to be the father of humanity Merlin?”

   Merlin waved a dismissing hand.  “No, Gaia had six sons, Atum, Cronus, Pangu, me-”

   â€œ-Ha”Arthur cut in “So we're supposed to believe your Gaia's, the Earth Mothers son.”     

   Merlin crossed his arms, impatiently waiting to continue.  “Gaia bore six son's and then in turn we six gave her many more children-”

   â€œThat is even more disgusting!”  Arthur spat to ward off evil.  “Having sex with your own mother!”  Madeline had to agree, frowning she averted her eyes, for a moment.

   â€œYou know nothing, Gaia takes many forms, the flesh I made love to was paler, like ours.  She was younger, slenderer, yet soft in all the right places.  She was beautiful and she was insatiable”  Merlin's eyes wandered in blissful reminiscence before snapping back to reality.  “Completely different from the gaia who birthed me.”   

   â€œBut still very much incestuous”  Arthur righteously declared holding his dagger purposefully.

   â€œNevertheless, Boy”  Merlin said stepping forward. “It is where you came from. I might not be the father of mankind, but I can and do claim the Celts as my own.”

   Her brother scowled.  “It matters not, you seduced our grandmother Niniane Pendragon, princess of the realm, while she was betrothed.  You destroyed her life.”

   Merlin was unmoved.  “Aside from the obvious, had I not been trapped in a tree, that would not have happened.  This is all Nynave's fault.” 

   There was only one person her brother blamed more than Merlin, and that was the Empress Nynave.  “So what will you do to make things right old man.”  Her brother used the term as an insult but Merlin looked only slightly older than her brother.

   â€œI would kill her and place the rightful ruler upon the throne.”

   Her brother smiled.  “How”

   Merlin whispered but one word.

   â€œBetrayal”

               *   *   *


   The first part of the plan involved a body.  The boys were searching the fallen soldiers for a suitable candidate while Madeline took care of the food.
   
   Merlin had found a corpse with the right build and they now carried it back to camp.  “You can't expect her to fall for this?”  Arthur asked looking down at the dead body.  His hair was wrong his eyes were the wrong colour, the nose was crocked and his beard was all patchy.   

   â€œWhy not? He looks just like me.”  Arthur looked again and almost dropped the corpse.  The  resemblance was now uncanny right down to the blue eyes full of life.  “As long as  I-”  Arthur really did drop his end of the corpse when it talked up to him with Merlin's voice.

   Merlin dropped the illusion and the corpse returned to normal.  “-As long as I stay close no one will be the wiser.”  The young man still looked unsure.

   â€œYour sure she won't see through the magic.”

   Merlin sighed.  “Its not that kind of magic, its like what your sister does.”

   â€œShe calls the shadows”

   â€œNo she doesn't, she makes people think its darker, wherever your hiding she puts a blind-spot in their eyes. Instead of doing that I'm going to make them see this poor fellow as me.”

   â€œStill if things should go wrong, then what?”  Arthur said play-fighting with his dagger.

   â€œAh”  Merlin said, “let me see that.”

   Arthur handed him the dagger. “Show me your sword arm.”  Arthur did as he asked and Merlin sliced open his palm.

   â€œGods!”  Arthur cursed. 
   
   â€œQuiet boy! Do not waste the blood, pour it over the dagger, yes.  Now come here.”  Merlin pulled him over to a waste high boulder.  “coat the stone and keep it coming.”   Merlin held up his dagger and began speaking in tongues

   Arthur was getting light headed and began to sway but he didn't miss it when Merlin suddenly plunged the dagger into the stone burying the handle.  Arthur shook his head.  “Its gone, what good  is that?”

   â€œStop being a dammed fool, reach in there and take it back, or better yet take the sword you really want.”   Arthur was a bit queasy but he reached out and felt the stone, sure enough it was solid.

   Merlin muttered a string of curses under his breath and grabbed Arthur's still bleeding hand.  “Picture your sword boy, picture your sword the way you always wanted it.”  Merlin flicked him in the forehead.  “Close your eyes boy and picture your sword.”   The wizard said impatiently. 

   Exhausted, Arthur went along with it.  He pictured the sword he had lost the day before. The one that had saved them and slayed Lancelot's horse.  In his memory the sword was longer, and lighter.  In his imagination it was stronger and sharper and it had a grip made of sharks gut.  The pommel was gold and it was in the shape of a dragons head the dragon looked-

   Merlin slammed his hand downward  “Don't look!  Take the hilt, take it.”  Arthur's hand felt like it was in stew but he reached around and grabbed hold.  “Now pull it out!”  Merlin cried.

   Arthur tried but the blade was stuck.  He tried again but it would not budge.  “Pull boy! Did you think it would be easy?”  Arthur rolled his shoulders, bent his knees, squeezed the grip and pulled.  He pulled on the handle like it was the boulder and the boulder was trapping his sister in a burning house.  Arthur stumbled backwards as the blade came free now light as a feather.  Arthur looked at the sword.  It was the perfect blade, just as he had pictured it. 

   â€œGood, now put it back until you need it.”  Arthur looked up at Merlin as if he'd gone mad.  Merlin snapped his fingers and the sword flew to him.  He slammed it into another rock and it disappeared.  Then he walked over and pulled it out of a tree before slamming it into the forest floor. Then he pulled it back out a few steps later and slammed it back down.  “Give it a shot, reach in and grab it.”

   Arthur closed his eyes and plunged his sword arm into the earth.  Remembering the battle he had retrieving the blade last time he went in full strength and came up armed with more than a smile. 

   â€œLunch is ready”  Madeline called.  Arthur reluctantly sheathed his sword in a tree and went back to the corpse

                  *   *   *
   
   Madeline didn't care for this plan.  It wasn't heroic or brave in the least.  The worst part was she was the one watching the ever rotting corpse.  She had to concede though, that so far the plan was working splendidly.  When they made the rode soldiers came upon them.  Arthur invoked the right of parley while she held the dagger to Merlin's(the corpse's) throat. 

   After that they were escorted right into the castle where Nynave met them in the courtyard.  Merlin was trailing them a few steps back hiding in plain site dressed as any other mage.  Madeline still held the blade to the corpses throat.

   â€œSo you wanted to parley?”   Nynave asked snidely.

   â€œYes”  Arthur said bowing.  “We come to make peace.  As a gesture of good faith, we bring you your lost prisoner.”  Rising he ripped the bag from the corpses head.

   Nynave's cackled.  “So it is true you do have him, when I heard I checked the tree.. but how, how could you two brats capture Merlin.”

   Now it was Madeline's turn.  Merlin had made her repeat this story over and over.  “He,”  Madeline started shyly “He wanted me.”

   The Empress looked confused “And you resisted his charms?”  She asked disbelievingly.

   â€œNo,”  Madeline said before adding “yes. Not at first but, but he's my grandfather I couldn't.. So I gave him poisoned spirits.”

   Empress Nynave smiled.  It was a story she could relate to.  “Why did you bring him to me child?”

   Madeline didn't want to over do it but she could not stop the tears from falling.  He looked so real.  “We tried to kill him, we tried everything.. He can't die, he can't die and he'll come for me I know it!”  Madeline said the words as a lie but deep down she knew they were true.  Merlin would come for her.  She would not say no,  she would be as cursed as all his other women to follow the same path.

   For her part the Empress actually looked sympathetic for a moment.  “You did the right thing darling, but still, you'll both have to die.  Guards!”  The Empress ordered.  Madeline and Arthur were quickly surrounded.  Lancelot stood in front, sword at the ready with a serpentine smile on his thin lips.  Arthur's fingers were digging between the courtyards cobblestones.

   â€œHold!”  Nynave shouted looking confused.  “Bring them along first, they might as well watch”  The Empress sounded unsure but she quickly recovered and led the way to her secret garden.  Lancelot couldn't resist  giving Arthur a cheap shot to the guts.  While Arthur recovered he whispered to Madeline with a wink “I hope she keeps you alive a little longer, so we might enjoy your company.”  Madeline bit her tongue till she tasted blood.

   When they arrived in front of the great tree the Empress ordered the guards to nail Merlin's body to the tree.  For his part Merlin made the body moan rather convincingly.  “How did he come to you children?” 

   â€œAn acorn Milady”  Madeline said kneeling face down. 

   â€œShe is your empress!”  Lancelot said before kicking her in the stomach.

   â€œThat is enough Captain.  An acorn you say?”  The Empress cackled.  “You were always such a clever man Merlin, it was too bad you always thought of your cock first.  Only out one day and it already landed you in trouble.”  The empress had walked up and was now pinching the illusions face.  “Well we can fix that”  She said reaching down but something made her stop.  She stood for a moment looking confused again.  “We can fix that”  she continued, “no more acorns, no more leaves, no more branches.”  Nynave was laughing hysterically “Witches, bring me witches blood!  It was good seeing you again Merlin.”

   Madeline watched amazed as the Empress pulled the trunk around the body. She then walked  back ten paces and reached into the dirt still speaking in tongues.  The ground started shacking terrifyingly.  Stones fell as whole ramparts collapsed but the Empress would not desist.  Finally the Empress stood holding the tree roots and all.  “Goodbye. Merlin”  She said grunting under the strain.  With a deep breath she tossed the great tree into the air where it flipped and landed back in its hole upside down with a crash.

   As the dust settled Nynave whispered “what have I done?”

                  *   *   *

   Merlin was very relieved when it was finally over.  Keeping the charade up for the journey was tiring but manipulating Nynave had taken all of his willpower.  Now the charade was over and Merlin started laughing out loud at the foolish woman who had dared to trap him in a tree. 

   â€œWho is laughing! Kill that man!” Nynave shrilled.

   â€œI think not Sweet-ems”  Merlin said stepping forward the empress shrieked like a child in fear.  She raised her hands to cast a spell but nothing happened.  “You fool, you severed the bridge when you flipped the tree.  Your powerless.”

   â€œThen so are you, Archers” The empress called.  “Kill this one first.”

   Merlin glanced around focusing his mind.  The archers turned about and shot each other.  “What?”  Nynave said astonished “Guards kill them all!”  She called as she ran.

   Merlin turned his mind to the guards and they turned on each other. Controlling the minds of men was much simpler than that of a tree. 

   â€œNo!”  Arthur demanded  “leave them to me.  Go take care of the Empress” 

                  *   *   *

   Madeline had called the shadows as soon as the fighting started.  She had learned that she was not actually calling the shadows but that is still how she thought about it.  The guards had rushed in upon her brother thinking Arthur was unarmed.   They were very surprised when he reached down and  pulled his sword up from the cobblestone at the last second.  He had deemed the blade Excalibur and he flashed the blade right around him deflecting their blows and driving them back. 

   â€œAttack”  Lancelot shouted.  “Shields up! He's just one man.”

   Arthur didn't wait for them to close in. He dove at the closest guard driving Excalibur  through the mans shield.  He buried the hilt in the shield and the blade in the guards belly and left it there as he headed for the next guard. 

   Her brother moved like a wolf, avoiding the mans sword he punched into his shield and pulled out Excalibur slicing the mans chest open as he withdrew.

   Madeline could see Lancelot circling around trying to stab her brother in the back.  She moved in keeping the shadow's with her she moved to hobble his ankle with the dagger Merlin had helped her conceal.  Lancelot jumped at the last second, somehow sensing her.  He turned to her and Madeline ran summoning the shadows.

                  *   *   *

   Arthur caught a glance of his sister running from Lancelot.  Arthur's blood went cold.  “Coward!” he called, but the betrayer did not stop.  Five guards remained.  Arthur flung his sword at the first.  Without watching the kill he reached down into the cobbles and withdrew Excalibur in time to block another guards attack severing his sword at the hilt.  Before the second guard could recover he cut the man in half, shield and all.

   After seeing this and seeing their captain flee the remaining guards abandoned the fight.  Arthur ran after his sister.  She could still use her magic because it didn't require nether or ether.  Arthur didn't know what that meant but that is how Merlin explained it when he told them his plan.  His sword would still worked because it was mystically bound to him he was told.  The magic came from within and not without.

   There was an open door in the corner of the garden that led into the cookhouse.  Arthur followed a trail of pots and pans out into the servants dining room where he saw Lancelot heading into a stairway he ran after him.

   â€œCome back and fight me you wretch.”  Arthur called as he flew up the stairs.  He did not stop when he came to the open doorway and he ran through only noticing the strange shadow when it was too late.

                  *   *   *

   Madeline ran up the stairs and out the door onto the rampart.  She could hear Lancelot behind her as she climbed onto a battlement nestled in the towers shadow.  She was focusing her mind on concealing herself when she noticed Lancelot was no longer chasing her.  He was waiting for someone coming up the stairs.

   Arthur.  Madeline acted instantly but she was too late.  Lancelot was already swinging when she dove onto his back thrusting her dagger into his throat.   She watched Lancelot's sword cut into her brothers belly and she stabbed him again pulling the traitor to the ground.  She saw her brothers blood on his blade and she stabbed him again and again crying as the blood splashed into her eyes.

   She stabbed and stabbed until someone stopped her.  “Its alright.”  She looked up, it was her brother. “Only a flesh wound Sis, a few broken ribs but the armour took the worst of it.”  Her brother smiled down at her and Madeline hugged him until he moaned “broken ribs Sis.”

   She released him feeling sorry but he wasn't looking at her. He was looking up at the top of the tower. Where Merlin was dangling the Empress over the battlements by her neck.

               *   *   *

   â€œAt least tell me how you did it, you owe me that.”

   â€œI owe you nothing, you knew exactly what you were getting into and you chose to come along.”  Merlin squeezed her neck tighter and watched her eye's bulge.

   â€œI was young then.”  She croaked and Merlin lessened his death-grip.  He could afford to listen. He could hold her out here all day. “I was a fool. I was in love. You used me up and made me barren and tossed me away like a whore.”

   â€œI told you you would bare me no children.  Cronus was at war with his children, a war he lost.  The same fate befell Atum and the others.”  They had had this fight a hundred times but he supposed he could have it one last time. “My children planned to overthrow me so I left for Avalon.  I told you I'd sire no more heirs and I told you I would make no commitment after Avalon.”

   â€œBut it was a thousand years, It took a thousand years for the last of your children to die.  You are immortal. It was easy for you to start over, but I got older.  I couldn't start over. Why couldn't you have just waited for me to die!”

   Merlin had had enough of her whining and he dropped her.  Her scream did not last long.  He supposed he should have killed her when they returned from Avalon, but she had not deserved it.  Nynave had been a wonderful companion throughout his absence.  It was only when they returned from Avalon and his eye's started to wander when things got nasty.  She had had enough when he started things with Morgana and left him.

   Merlin didn't want to think about any of that and he was glad to see Madeline and her brother waiting for him below.  “So what happens now?”  The brother asked.

   â€œI guess your King”  Merlin replied while looking at Madeline.  “Are you ready my darling?”

   â€œYes” she replied and Merlin took her hand.

   â€œMadeline”  her brother called to her, but she was not listening. She was his now, his until he grew tired of her.

[Ponch]

I'm glad Chef made the deadline, but I won't. I'm just too busy at the moment. Heck, this is the first time I've logged onto the forums in four days. Good luck to the writers!

[Adeel]

My trope is Weakness Turns Her On. This story is based on a true story and is somewhat lengthy (but this time carefully edited).

YOU DON'T KNOW YET ITS LOVE

        Slim, slightly short than the rest of the children in his class and having somewhat weird walking style were his qualities. Edwin was called a nerd and foolish in his class. However, he was an intelligent boy and also had been taking 1st Position since one class / grade. Edwin had reached fourth class / grade now but still he lacked the common sense and was unable to calculate the outcome of his decisions; while his class fellows were much ahead of him.

   Jealousy, you have to earn it. Edwin had earned it for himself by continuously taking 1st position and thus gaining the sympathy of teachers. His class fellows especially boys used to bully him, particularly Edward and Solomon but this poor boy foolishly used to trust them all and even considered Edward his fast friend.

   One fine day, he heard news from a fellow girl, Mercedes (who didn't bully him), that her cousin was going to take admission in fourth grade/class. Edwin then waited for the day she would join so that he would at last see a new face in class and hoped that she wouldn't bully him.

   At last, the day came. Mabel was not the most beautiful thing on the earth but Edwin found her to be quite pretty. Seeing her, Edwin got embarrassed because he was too shy.

   But one day he gathered enough courage to talk to her in private and offered his hand for friendship. She, thinking for a second, accepted it. However, Edwin warned her not to behave 'too friendly' with him in the class otherwise class fellows will get suspicious.

   After this incident, Mabel started to act rather coldly with him. Surprised, Edwin confronted her alone and said, "You don't have to be this cold with me in front of everyone. What I meant to say was: We should not be too friendly otherwise they (class fellows) will take it wrong”. Mabel agreed.

   Now that Mabel was friendly. Edwin got delighted because he was seeing her as his true friend. Sometimes, he would sit beside her on the same bench. Edwin was infamous in his class for not sharing his things with others but he surprised everyone by sharing his possessions with Mabel.

   Whenever the teacher was absent from classroom owing to some reasons. Edwin talked to no one but Mabel and his cousin, Mercedes. But deep down, Mabel was the only important person for him and he only wanted to talk with her. Soon Edwin and Mabel became close friends.

   It is said that no boy and girl can remain fast friends without any one of them developing the affection towards other. Similarly, Edwin had started to develop feelings for Mabel. But he didn't know about it himself. This was the purest form of love, free from all the materialistic desires. Mabel liked him too and Edwin was sure of it. What the extraordinary thing was that she liked this bullied, weak & nerd: Edwin. Maybe, his weakness, his innocence turned her on and she got attracted towards it while the others used to laugh it off.

   Mabel had then started to compliment Edwin for his style. Edwin, at most of the times would keep his left hand in his pocket and she liked it. Once, Edwin drew a sketch imagining how he would look like in future when he would grownup and Mabel saw it with great interest. She even asked him to give his sketch to her. He immediately agreed, pleased with himself.

   She had not given her cell phone number to anyone in the class and even tried to shrug it off, when Edwin had asked first. But on his second request, she gave her cell number to him but the shy boy, while delighted to get her number, never called or texted her.

   Although Mabel would talk to other class fellows as well but she preferred to talk to Edwin and he also would not waste his time to make her only talk to him. Together they laughed and complimented each other; she told him her stories and he would listen with attention.

   Up to the present day, there are two semesters in Edwin's (former) school. First Semester was near. But what he didn't know was that his worst fear had come true. Class fellows seeing them this close together, started suspecting them. Behind their backs, they discussed whether an "affair" is going on between Edwin and Mabel or not. Edward resolved to ask Edwin his opinion on this matter.

   One month later, first semester's result was announced and as usual, Edwin had got 1st position in the class and hence he was very happy. Mabel wasn't present at that day. Edward, who was sitting beside Edwin, used this as an advantage and asked him his feelings about Mabel. Edwin under the delusion of his achievement, spilled out his heart foolishly. Edward then told him as to how all the classmates were wondering whether there was an affair going on between him and Mabel. Edwin disregarded this and didn't understand the sensitivity of Edward's statement; foolish boy didn't know what was going to happen in the near future.

   A few days later, when Edwin was absent; Edward told the whole class what Edwin had confessed to him. Whole class was outrageous upon hearing this. In a conservative society, this was deemed as nothing but a sin, although this was a pure love but kids are, after all, kids and couldn't understand the difference.

Edward had already told Mabel what Edwin thought about her. She refused to believe and thought Edward was lying. To make her believe, Edward told her that the next day when Edwin is going to come, he will ask him again; he'll surely answer.

   Next day, Edwin came to school. Edward confronted him in a corner of the class and asked that whether he loves Mabel or not. Edward first denied but on the threat of reporting him to principal, he admitted, failing to realize that Edward couldn't report him since he had no authentic proof. Mabel was watching this and became quite furious. Edwin was unable to understand what was going on.

   Edward then went near to Mabel and whispered something in her ear. Edwin asked what he was whispering and he replied, “Yesterday, when you were absent. I had accidentally hit her while playing with ball in the class. Therefore, I am asking her to forgive me”. Edwin believed him, not realizing the fact that it was a white lie.

Edwin then asked her whether this was true but she refused to talk. After a while she said that I weren't expecting you to be so dirty minded and I am going to report you to principal.

   This made him quite frightened. Edwin immediately started refusing that he didn't like her but she wouldn't listen. Class reported Edwin to Annie, the science teacher. She scolded him but to his relief didn't report to the principal since she knew that he was a good student.

   Edwin was now being bullied even more than before. Some of the class mates had leaked that Mabel is the girlfriend of Edwin. Since he was popular in school for securing 1st position and often regarded by teachers as genius, other class mates were also somewhat jealous of him. This provided them an excellent topic to taunt him.

   Edwin somehow managed to bear all the taunts but he was hurt by the fact that Mabel was not talking to him. He wrote a letter explaining that how he had been framed and tried to give it to her but his class mates reported it to Miss Annie and she confiscated it.

   Edwin would always say to Edward that how he perceived her to be his best friend only and was only joking to him and he, Edward, had spread it everyone. Edward started feeling guilty and resolved to make Mabel talk to him.

   Days were passing, the taunts were becoming unbearable. Final Semesters were approaching fast. Few days before the final semester, Mabel began to talk to him but now they were strangers to each other. Although, they had started talking again but it didn't contain any of the warmth of friendship and love like it used to be before. It was pretty clear that Mabel was defamed because of rumors and wasn't going to forgive Edwin anytime soon.

   Soon the final semesters came. Edwin busied himself in studies and forgot about Mabel and all the taunts. When the results came, as usual, he had topped in his class.

   In the prize distribution ceremony, Edwin saw Mabel and went near him. She was quiet and sitting in a corner with her mother. Edwin wanted to say a lot of things to her. She looked like that she, too, wanted to say something. But he couldn't muster the strength mostly because of her mother sitting beside her and walked away quietly with the regret of saying nothing to her.

   A week or two later, Edwin came to know that Mabel had left the school forever. She had been defamed enough. Edwin had lost her. He had lost his best friend. He had lost his love. His own class fellows had taken away his only delight in the pool of depression.

   Years have passed since that incident but he isn't able to forget this incident up to this date. Although this incident was over but it would still haunt him; he was bullied and taunted same as before.

He also witnessed few years later as to how Edward proposed Hannah and got rejected. It's true, you get what you saw. Time was teaching Edward a bitter lesson and was taking the revenge for Edwin. He saw many ups and downs of his class. But he neither did nor could forget what damage his class had done and peacefully forgotten.

He has now graduated from school and has left all behind this with the school. He has moved on and definitely, Mabel has too. Edwin often wonders whether Mabel still remembers him or not and secretly hopes that they would meet again so that he could say sorry to her. Ask her to forgive for defaming her.

He still has this question in mind: Why? Why did they separate him even when he and Mabel weren't doing harm to anyone? Why didn't they tolerate the friendship and beginning of love between him and Mabel? After all, she was the one who had accepted him as he was, liked him from her heart. Only she was the one who had chosen this physically weak boy as compared to all the others. Edwin's innocence and foolishness had attracted Mabel and yet his innocence and foolishness had taken her away from him.

   One bitter truth Edwin has now finally realized. In this material world, nobody cares for spirit. Here, spiritual love is considered less than the materialistic love. Here, in the world of impurities: Pure love is always taken away while impure love i.e. love solely for materialistic desire is higly appreciated…

THE END

[Sinitrena]

Time's up.

We've got five entries:

kconan's AfroAssKicker
Armageddon's TrueArtIsIncomprehensible
Baron's The Trope Troop
Chef!'s Merlin
Adeel S. Ahmed's You don't know yet its love

And it is time to vote.
You have 3 votes for best story. You can distribute them however you want (3 points for one story, one point each for three stories, 2 points for one story, 1 for another). In addition, because everyone had a different trope, you have 1 vote for the best usage of the chosen trope.

Please vote until the 17th.

[Chef!]

Good stories all around. 

Gotta say I am not in love with the voting system.. 

Baron's Heist takes the cake even though the plan was miserably flawed and they didn't actually steal anything.  Baron gets 2 votes.

Kconan deserves props, that was a tricky trope and he pulled it off quite well.  Kconan gets 1 vote for Best use of trope.  (I'd give you two but that doesn't seem fair to Baron.)

Adeel's tragic love story showed me a world unknown.. on the one hand I'm glad there is a place out there where the kids are not all sexed up by middle school. On the other hand wherever the story was set took things way too far.  1 vote for Adeel

Sorry Kconan 4 vote system

[kconan]

Baron - 2 votes (best story)
Chef! - 1 vote (best use)
Adeel - 1 vote

[Ponch]

1) Kconan
2) Chef
3) Baron

Good reads all around. I wish I'd been able to finish my story in time, but I'm just working too much these last few weeks.

[Adeel]

Okay everyone. Here are my votes:

1) Baron
2) Kconan
3) Armageddon

Good Entries all around. Well done!

[Baron]

Phew, made it back to the internet before the voting closed!  I had printed off all the stories to read them while I was off the grid -that was a lot of paper, folks!  Here's my votes:

1) kconan (2 votes) -That story was pure awesome.  I love how it just wasn't based on tropes but clichés as well.  But the most impressive bit was your thorough research of jive-talk.  Great work.

2) Chef! (1 vote) -The interpersonal drama between Merlin and all his ho- I mean, sorry, kconan's story is still stuck in my mind -and all his women was a pretty interesting read.  I usually don't go for that combat fiction, but it was pretty interesting how the sword could be pulled out of any inanimate surface.

3) Adeel (1 vote -best trope) -I think it was a pretty courageous thing to pick this trope.  The rest of us could just joke around or bash in a bunch of heads, but his trope was a real challenge.  I agree with Chef! that it was hard, from a liberal Western up-bringing, to appreciate the social code that formed the backdrop of the story, but nevertheless I think it was a compelling and thoughtful story that he wrote.

[Sinitrena]

I'm a bit late with the results, sorry...

Ponch and Adeel, your votes don't line up with my voting system, at least not unambigiously. I took your 1) as 2 votes, your 2) as 1 vote and your 3) as vote for best usage of a trope. I am sorry if I misunderstood.

Nevertheless, here are the results:

First place goes to Baron: What a funny story and so many tropes. Well done!

Second place goes to kconan: Just as funny and a great way to use this trope. Thank you.

Third place is shared by Adeel S. Ahmed and Chef!: Both stories bring us to different worlds, one magic, one a - as Baron said - world with a different social code than our western one. Good work.


Interessting enough, every story recieved exactly one vote for best usage of the chosen trope. Complete tie in this category. Good job all around guys.

Baron, you're up for the next round.

[Baron]

 

Well, it was a good competition all around.  I thought the topic was clever and flexible, and the stories all worked with the topic in quite unique ways.  Congratulations to all participants, since we all equally won the "best use of trope" award.  Good work, and keep up the good writing.

As for subversion of the voting system, I'd like to take this opportunity to blame Ponch.   His radical libertarian politics and nationalistic phobia of hanging chads makes him extremely sceptical of innovations in democracy.  I vote 1.36 times for him to undergo a messy grass-roots version of the Ludovico Technique to be reconditioned as a line-toeing member of society.

Stand by for the next topic in the continuing saga of.....

THE FORTNIGHTLY WRITING COMPETITION!

[Adeel]

At last! My work is starting to pay me some reward!

Thanks to everyone who voted for me. Each and every story was an absolute piece of beauty. Congratulations to everyone. Congratulations to Sinitrena for choosing such a flexible topic owing to which we got to read different stories. Thanks to Sinitrena for extending the deadline.

Sinitrena, you have taken my votes as they were intended to be (sorry for not clarifying).

Chef! and I wouldn't mind sharing the third place, after all our stories are similar in a way . Just downloaded the trophy to keep it as a record.

Happy Writing & Reading!

[Gilbert]

Baron won? Stupid. There is nothing worth congratulating...



...except the fact that he is now a Grand Slam Winner!

Congratulations!

[kconan]

I'd like to dedicate my 2nd place victory to actor/badass Jim Kelly, who died recently.


Fun game!  Really good, diverse entries overall.  Congrats on the triple crown Baron!

[Ponch]

As for subversion of the voting system, I'd like to take this opportunity to blame Ponch.   His radical libertarian politics and nationalistic phobia of hanging chads makes him extremely sceptical of innovations in democracy.

I can't be bothered to read any rules regarding new voting procedures. I'm old and set in my ways! And it's hard to read when you never stop dancing!

Congrats to the winners and RIP Jim Kelly. I owned several of your movies on VHS when I was a kid. You were awesome, sir.