75 WORD CHALLENGE -- November 2011 -- MOONBAT VICTORIOUS!

[Culhwch]

RULES:

Write a story inspired by the chosen theme in no more than 75 words, not including the title.

One entry per person.

All stories Copyright 2011 by their respective authors, who grant the Chronicles Network the non-exclusive right to publish them here.

The complete rules can be found at Rules for the Writing Challenges.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm GMT, November 23 2011

Voting Ends at 11:59 pm GMT, November 28 2011

You do not have to submit a story in order to vote -- in fact, we encourage all Chrons members to take part in choosing a winner.

The Magnificent Prize:

The Dignified Congratulations/Grovelling Admiration of Your Peers
and the privilege of choosing the next month's theme or genre.

The Theme for November:

Redemption

The Genre:

Fantasy

Best of luck, everyone!!

[The Spurring Platty]

.

All’s Well, That

“You lost the maiden?”
He gripped his mug of ale.
I’d seen that look on many a patron’s face at this part of the story.

Then she came down the stairs, beautiful still after all these years.
Gracefully she moved behind the bar, to my side.
She met the patron’s eye and said, “He got me back.”

I pointed back at the dragon’s head mounted on the wall.
“You thought that was fake?”

.
.

[Mith]

Sacrifice

I’ve led armies and conquered kingdoms. I’ve razed the very earth from atop a great dragon.

I’ve been a loyal servant to an unjust king, destroying in his name, glorying in battle. Damning my soul.

Am I evil?

I was saved by a child. Pure, innocent and heir to a throne. Ordered to die. In her eyes a plea for help.

I died that day, but not in vain. In protecting her I earned redemption.

[reiver33]

The Lombards Of Gehenna

The door bell jangled as I entered. The shop was a graveyard of dreams, of futures pawned to pay for past mistakes. Nicholas sat behind the desk, a hunched figure in rimless glasses, threadbare shawl draped around his shoulders. I slid the ticket across the well-worn wood.

He frowned. “You wish to redeem the soul of Casanova? To what end?”

My spread wings burst into flame.

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned”.

[Quokka]

Sire


Sometimes news can harden into history, before softening back into legend. Rarer still does anyone stand tall throughout.

But once a man had feasts and festivals, patronage and payment. Was lauded a hero, a gentleman, a saint.

For an accident, for killing a mother and bringing her body to the streets of Silene, while her child remained in the shallows.

That’s part of our story but it’s what George did next that dragons still remember.

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

The Final But Willing Victim Of The Goblin Invasion

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”


Jack had done wrong, and it did not allow him a clean conscience.
He had killed. In this new world, he had killed.
Jack covered the trap door, keeping those who found his way to him safe.
His redemption was at hand, and did nothing as he felt the blade descend upon his throat.

[hopewrites]

Plea

My demands become the dart
No right to ask of severed heart.
Light my path and lead to right
Guide me back into the fight.

Valiant Knight my soul to save
Return to me before this grave
Of your goodness to me lend
Prove, to me, undying friend.

Your love for me now renews
A heart once broken and abused.
Though I broke your sacred trust,
Save me from the ‘dust to dust’

[Hex]

Selkie

She stands by the bed, no tears in her sea-deep eyes. She won't cry for me. Seventeen years I've kept her here unwilling.

I force out words. "Your pelt... beneath the apple tree."

My breath rattles and I close my eyes on her sudden dawning hope.

I long to see her swim again. But everything is too late now.

Then, undeserved benediction: the fall of her tears, hot against my gaoler face.

[Starbeast]

The Moonbeast's Party

I have been rewarded for my first kill, jewelry adorns my naked werewolf body. All of the evil humans, half-beasts and creatures cheer my name, guzzle drinks and laugh with sickening pleasure at the innocent victim who laid upon an alter. I look at her beautiful peaceful face, kiss her hand and spoke words that hushed the crowded mansion, "Forgive me..." Then I leaped into the monsters, slaughtering them, I made sure none escaped.

[southron sword]

War Munchies

A horn was heard and all looked up towards the rise. The Goblins had finally come. As they lazily made their way down to the battle lines the Goblin King moved toward the Orc Chiefs.

“You are willing to fight this time?” The Valley Clan Chief roared angrily at the King.

The Goblin King smiled a hideous smile, showing yellow teeth and stepped up towards the towering Clan Chief.

“We got hungry.” The King said.

[paranoid marvin]

A Lamb to the Slaughter

The jeering crowd for now grow silent
As fallen hero breathes his last
And louring clouds of storm so violent
Obscure a sun now overcast

For us he dies, this man so gentle
Crownéd with thorns upon his head
A King our sins bears for a mantle
That in his footsteps we might tread

[Phyrebrat]

The RMS Iceberg

It’s coming up to 100 years now so I’ve decided, that’s it: Time for reparations - sort of. Last week the Arctic Times reported that Egypt’s the most arid country in the world, with 1503 Egyptians dying from dehydration in 2010.



I'm hundreds of years overdue for a holiday so I’ve planned my trip; Labrador, Gulf, Canary. Not sure how I’ll navigate the Mediterranean but I’ll manage somehow.



It’ll be a nice end for me.

[David B]

Payback

Darkness blitzed into searing illumination, blinding polarised sensors. An electromagnetic pulse fried suit electrics, killing hypnotic voices. A shockwave hurled him through disintegrating domes and towers, crumpling crippled armour under radioactive rubble. Dust choked through cracks in a disinterred visor. Overhead no alien ziggurat marred Earth’s skyline. An expanding mushroom cloud blotted out the sun. He would soon be dead, a fitting end for a suicide commando. Nuking the invader’s hive was payback, redeeming London.

[springs]

SOW DRY, SET WET

“I do it for the children.”

I watch him toil under the hot sun, his once muscular frame thin, his body aged. He plants seed, taking the water he has carried, and wets the parched ground.

Then, he moves to the next, hoping this time they grow, giving him redemption for the war he wrought on the once verdant land, the towns razed, the crops burnt, until he’d left only a rotting husk

[Tisiphone]

SLAVE

Entrapped into slavery.
Beaten, black and blue.
Ravaged by the hounds, defiled daily.
Stripped of modesty,
Of dignity.
She seized her moment, escaped.
Her pursuers pursued, relentlessly
And was caught.
She died, purity in her soul,
Forgiveness in her heart
And as they set fire to her broken body,
Calm.
The heavens opened with a thunderous roar
Lightening struck
Her attackers turned to dust.
And where her broken body had lain
A butterfly fluttered away.