Read it over and think about it and submit a second or third page to us through our email at submit@neverendingstoryproject.com
Written By:
Page 1: Stephanie Cooke
Page 2: Simon O'Brien
Page 3: AND YOU!
The World Imagined
This story is about a boy named James, who lived alone in the country with his mum. James was an only child who was often left to his own devices. His mother was always in far-away places in her mind, so James did the same. He created whole worlds with his imagination and made friends with anything he could find. There was his friend Archimedes who was a gopher. There was Tally, who was a small garter snake that James had found in his garden. There was also Bubbles, the chickadee who would sometimes perch on a nearby branch and sing to him. His friends would accompany him on great adventures around the yard and into his imagination where anything was possible.On this particular day, James’ mother was upstairs staring off out the window and James knew that he would be again, on his own. He grabbed his wooden sword and put on his cape, that was really just his baby blankie, and he grabbed a mixing bowl from the kitchen to use as his helmet. Prepared for battle, James put on his rain boots, for one should always be prepared for anything and he headed into the great unknown.
As soon as he stepped outside his backdoor, the backyard changed into a world James had once seen in a fairytale. All around James were trees, big tall trees that were as old as the world. In the distance, James could make out a magnificent white castle on a hill with big winding spires and waving flags. That’s where James’ princess would be, after of course, he saved her. James could never win the heart of the princess without a valiant deed to prove his love.
In reality, James found girls to be of a curious sort. They didn’t like the things James liked, like frogs and snakes. Most were into things like dresses and ribbon and kittens. James’ princess would have great adventures with him and when they weren’t saving the realm from evil, she would catch frogs with him and skip rocks on the water. If they ever had children, he would never die and he would be with them always to protect them and keep them safe.
James looked away from the castle and noticed a cave that had smoke coming out of it. It had to be from a ferocious fire-breathing dragon. James stepped into the cave fearlessly and saw that there was indeed, a dragon. However, the dragon appeared to be crying, so he approached it, “Dragon, why are you crying?” James asked it.
The dragon appeared to be startled by James but did not make any threatening movements, so James sheathed his sword and listened as it spoke back to him in a calming voice not unlike his mother’s, “My baby has been taken from me and I fear the worst. Would a Knight such as yourself take pity and help a mother find her only baby?” James thought this through. It wasn’t exactly what he had had in mind, but he WAS a Knight and he was sworn to help those in need.
Although he was a brave and committed knight, sworn to duty and action, there was nevertheless a feeling of 'apprehension' swirling in James gut. In his 'imagined' world there lurked very 'real' dangers. As in his ordinary physical world, not everything in his ‘imagined’ world was to be trusted. There were forces of darkness lurking everywhere always trying to undermine the forces of good.
James found himself reflecting for an instant, remembering his mentor, the Great White Knight of Alzoria , 'Jonathan The Brave', and his words, the last time they had met..
"Remember, fortune favors the brave James!" the handsome knight had shouted, with his throaty 'devil may care ' laugh as he wrestled the reins of his fearsome steed Fasborne in one hand, his other saluting the boy as equal! In an instant the great knight was gone a tiny figure on the horizon, galloping over hill and dale.
Flashing back to the present, James steeled himself, nevertheless feeling a deep sense of foreboding. He sucked in a single breath, and motioned towards the dragon. He needed more facts..
"The creature that stole my baby came from inside the cave and disappeared deep into the darkness. It is a big cave that seems to go for miles" bleated the dragon convincingly.
"Can you show me which direction the kidnapper went?" enquired James.
"I will do my best!" wept the dragon, pathetically.
The cave was incredibly dank and dark inside, and the sound of water dripping from the ceiling on which various stalactites had formed gave it a creepy and menacing feel. In actuality entering the cave was one of the bravest things James had ever done, he was usually somewhat afraid of the dark, and he literally felt sick with fear moving through this unsighted , unfamiliar space. But as he entered the cave James noticed two things that somewhat stilled his fear, the first was that the wooden sword he held in his hand was no longer a crude imitation of the real thing it was a 'real' sword, heavy, and made of tempered steel with a handle bedecked in jewels. It shone magnificently, in the last glimmer of light, as he entered the darkness. The second thing James noticed was that he was no longer a boy, that he had somehow transformed into a finely proportioned man!
Barely had James entered the cave when the dragon disappeared! Suddenly the cave had become so dark that he could no longer see in front of his own face, nor even trace the path by which he had entered!
"Dragon, Dragon!" James stammered, "Where are you?!"It was then that his foot hit a fairly large object obstructing his path. He felt down for it...it felt like, like...
"Oh no!" he thought, as he touched the large bone with a tiny bit of gristle and tendon still attached! His instincts immediately told him it was a trap!
James gripped his sword, sweat dripping from his palm, as he refined his movements into a protective arc!
It was then he heard the voice, the’ hideous’ voice...It was female, and old and sounded human, different from the dragon’s rasping tone. It reached ominously from the darkness...
"And now I am hungry for the flesh of a man!" She spoke, simultaneously sniffing her meal like an animal of prey, smacking her lips...
An explosion of light momentarily blinded James, but as he focused through his now squinting eyes, he made out the form of the witch. A shape-shifting cannibal, no doubt, she had made one serious mistake though revealing herself. But that was to intimidate him, as the dark-side gain ‘power’ feeding from the fear of others. As she enhanced her light source blinding his vision again he knew it was time. He needed magic to fight magic. He reached with great subtlety into the small draw-string satchel he wore under his shirt, the one the strange old man had given that ‘fateful’ day but a month ago during another adventure in a far off corner of the kingdom.
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