Ted the tubby

The White Blade

Ted heaved his gut in the doorway as Henry shot passed him, pulling Jessica close to him. He still looked horrible. The skin round his eyes was pink, and his arms seemed to weigh him down. Jessica cast a concerned look at Henry's hand before bursting into speech. Henry looked at her in amazement. And then he kissed her. A good long kiss that lasted up until Sylvia burst in.

"Burst in" was an understatement. Sylvia blew the door off its hinges, sending it smashing against the wall. Henry pulled Jessica behind him and Ted yanked Sir Bryan the Brave's replacement sword form the bar. Sylvia stood about three strides before she launched herself at Henry.

"NO!" Jessica flung herself in front of her love, shielding him with her slim arms. Sylvia stared at her. Then she laughed. "Henry gone the same as Stephen? The same as Bryan?" Jessica's nose flared. Her eyes flicked to the Ted as he raised his sword behind Sylvia, but she was too quick. Sylvia spun around and laughed. "If that's how you want to play!"

With a clever twist, a dark red sword twisted into view, the end materialized inches from Ted's face, crossing his sword in an X. Ted stepped back a little bit, and swung his sword in a sloppy arch. The duel had begun.

Ted was a knight, but Sylvia was a witch. She disappeared out of the way of Ted's sword, reappearing behind him. She moved with incredible speed and agility, using her wings to knock his sword aside. Ted knew there was no way to beat her. He was of course, out of shape and already tired. He didn't know what to do, and he only came to that conclusion when Sylvia knocked his head with the butt of her sword. Ted flew backward and skidded to regain his footing. Sylvia turned quickly, scattering her hair, and threw her sword right at Jessica.

And missed.

Henry grabbed her arm and yanked her away last second. Sylvia hissed like a snake and ran to retrieve her sword, but Henry got there first. He raised it slowly. "Sylvia I don't want to hurt you." The witch laughed. "Don't worry. You can't." Henry watched Ted stand behind Sylvia's back. And slowly, Ted arranged his words. "This isn't you. This isn't you. I miss you. I miss you Sylvia. My maiden. My beautiful girl. You weren't a monster." Sylvia made another sword. This one was white. "You don't know me Ted." Sylvia spun away from Henry and pressed her sword against Ted's throat. "Wrong. I could've know you more though. If you hadn't become this." Sylvia set her jaw and pushed Ted against the wall. The sword pressed harder to his throat. Red dribbled over the white blade as Ted struggled weakly. "Sylvia... maybe I could've loved you. And Thursday... she wanted you to be happy... this... isn't... happiness..." Sylvia's chest hitched and the sword's pressure loosed slightly. Her wings shot through with a vein of black.

Henry pressed his full force into his sword but Sylvia caught the blade. Her hand didn't bleed. Henry pushed. Sylvia didn't even look at him. Her eyes were fixed on Ted, the sword still lain on his throat. Her wings were darkening rapidly. Ted stared into her eyes and realized that this witch could've been something amazing, but the other side of her had overcome whatever she used to be, and he was witnessing an amazing moment of vulnerability. Ted realized he could never get her back. A tear splashed on the sword.

Sylvia kissed Ted on the head for a single brief moment, and then spun around, releasing Henry's blade, which went deep into her stomach.

Her wings became pure white, like an angel's before she hit the ground. Her hand hit the floor, and her sword hit the floor too, still stained with Ted's blood.

Henry screamed. "I KILLED HER! I'M A KILLER! I KILLED.. I... I... killed..." Ted stood, white faced and stunned. "No Henry." Henry was on his knees. He looked up at Ted. "I killed her Henry." Jessie pulled Henry to his feet. "She made her own choice. She knew she was going to hurt someone. She did it for all of us." Jessie pulled Henry close to her and Ted left the bar.

Darkness enveloped him. Ted was on a roof somewhere, in the darkness. He tucked his knees under his chin and sighed. Suddenly, a low meow echoed around him. Ted looked up and observed Lewis striding towards him. Ted's shoulders sagged. "Oh Lewis. I know she was long gone. But I miss her anyway. I'm lost." Lewis meowed until Ted let him crawl on his big stomach. "Let's go home Lewis." Lewis jumped up and scampered off, leaving Ted to scramble after him. As he slipped and stumbled on the roof shingles, Ted realized that being a knight was great as you became one, but the aftermath was horrible. It was kind of like being fat. They went together well, Ted realized. Ted stopped right next to Lewis perched on the chimney. "I think I'll be both Lewis." He said. "I'll be an unusual knight, but I'll still be Ted. Ted the Tubby."