Short Stories

Sleeping Handsome

In a land, far, far away, there were two kingdoms who declared war with each other. These kingdoms were the Kingdom of Hylia and the Kingdom of Yggdrasil. These two kingdoms were natural enemies and despised each other since the beginning of time. The King of Hylia, Daphnes Nohasen, sent their strongest and bravest knight, Midna. She was given the task of searching for the Kingdom's finest blacksmith, Altair. Before the young Midna left in search for this person, she equipped herself in case of any signs of danger.

Before she left her district, District seventy-eight, in search of the wanted, her friend, Shane, shouted out, "Midna! Wait up! Don't go as yet!" The boy was breathless when he reached her. "I want to give you something, before you leave." "What is it, Shane?" Shane caught his breath and gave her a pouch. "It's dangerous to go alone. Take this." Midna opened the pouch and found military food pills. She was shocked, but replied, "Thanks Shane. I would be needing this during my journey." Midna turned around and began her quest for the blacksmith. Shane mumbled to himself, "Good luck my friend. Come back strong and alive."

Midna wandered around the districts, wondering where to go. She took out her map and tried to locate the location of the blacksmith. Midna was alarmed, since her destination was District seventeen, the poorest district in the whole kingdom. Midna fumbled, "Oh great. Just great. This journey is going to take more than a century." She pondered of ways to get there much faster. Then, out of the blue, she thought, "A horse! Why not?" Since she was in District seventy-two, there were many stables, filled with cows and horses. She thought of Lon Lon Ranch, the most famous stable in the kingdom.

Midna raced to the ranch, stole the swiftest horse named Thunder Bolt, and was on her way. In a matter of days, she arrived at her destination. She was starving and remembered that she had the military food pellets Shane gave her. Midna snatched a pill out of the pouch and immediately ate it. She felt energized and new. Midna jumped off her horse and found herself in a countryside-like area. She wondered, "This is where a blacksmith lives? Jeez, this is really weird."

Midna explored the area and found nothing but farm animals, and a lot of thorny bushes. Then, she heard a strange sound, emanating from one of the bushes. She took out her sword and shield and investigated the bush. In the bushes, lay a man, and was asleep on a rock, filled with green, stringy vines. This was the blacksmith, Altair. She stood at his side and thought, "What is this? Some kind of joke?!" Altair snored so loudly, that no animal was near the bush. Midna remembered the story of "Sleeping Beauty" and knew that there would be no way a royal knight like her would kiss a blacksmith like him. There was no way whatsoever.

She had no other choice but to scream at him to wake him up. She yelled, "Wakey, wakey! Eggs and bakey!" Altair snapped awake and shouted, "Holy mother of... What was that about, woman?!" Midna replied, "Sorry if I scared you. By the way, my name is Midna, not woman. I am a royal knight of the Kingdom of Hylia, from District seventy-eight." He responded, "Nice to meet you. I am Altair, the finest..." "Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't need your whole life story. The King sent me to find you. We need you as soon as possible." Altair was reluctant at first, but then whispered, "Alright, I will come to your aid, but you must do one thing for me." Midna became confused and replied, "What is it you want?" A smirk came across his face and replied devilishly, "You must do the same thing that Prince Charming did with Princess Aurora from 'Sleeping Beauty'."

After hearing this, Midna yelled, "What?! Are you out of your mind?!" He replied confidently, "Nope, I'm not out of my mind." The young knight was in absolute shock. "Is this the only way I can get you to come with me?" He replied, "Yes, yes it is." She was very reluctant and thought to herself, "This is a blacksmith? I doubt it. I really doubt it." But, what could she do? She had to carry out the task given to her, even if it means kissing the wanted in order to get him to follow her. She kissed him gently and said, "Happy now?" Altair responded, "Yep. I'm better now. Much better." Midna snapped, "Good. Now let's go, before we're too late."

Altair gathered all his gear and jumped onto his horse's back. He yelled, "Hiya, Skywing!" The horse nayed and the knight and blacksmith were on their way. Upon arriving District seventy-eight, Midna ate a food pellet and gave Altair one as well,. They were both refreshed. Midna ordered, "Altair, we need to meet the king. He is waiting on you." Altair nodded his head and was taken to the castle where the king lives. King Daphnes Nohasen was very pleased to see the young and strong blacksmith. He said heartily, "Welcome, young Altair. I have been expecting you." Altair knelt on one knee and replied, "It is an honor, King Nohasen. you have requested for me. I am at your service. What do you want me to do for you, my lord?"

The king thought long and hard. Then he said, "I want you to make the strongest and most powerful weapon that the Kingdom of Hylia has ever seen. I want you to make something indestructible." Altair replied, "As you wish, my king. Please excuse me, as I must begin creating the most powerful weapon any kingdom has ever seen." Altair went to his hut that was provided by the king and began his task. In a matter of weeks, the blade was complete. Altair said, "This is the finest blade I've ever created. Since the types of metals is so pure, I will call it the Master Sword." The king took the blade, and said "Thank you, brave one. I will now give this blade to the strongest and bravest knight in all of Hylia."
The king called upon Midna and said in a strong voice, "Midna, I want to give you this blade. I want you to take it into the war we are going to experience in a while from now. Please, take good care of the blade known as the Master Sword." Midna replied, "I will, my king."

The war finally began between the two kingdoms to see who will rule both kingdoms. The Kingdom of Yggdrasil were defeated very quickly, for the fact that they were under-armed. The Kingdom of Hylia, however, were successful for the fact that Midna wielded the Master Sword. The King of Yggdrasil, King Xander, admitted defeat, and was forced to be a slave for the Kingdom of Hylia for as long as he lives. The remaining survivors from the war became either slaves of the kingdom or became travelers.

After the war, Midna continued to serve the king and became the general of the Hylian army. A few years later, she became seriously ill with lung cancer. Before she died, Shane stood by her bedside. She said, "Shane... I don't... believe I would make it..." Shane cried and replied softly, "No... you can't... please, don't leave me. Don't leave the kingdom, we are not ready to let you go... please." Midna looked up and said, "Shane, my time has come. Until then, I will see you... in another life. Farewell, my friend, and tell the blacksmith Altair... thank you for me." After she mumbled those last words, the brave and strong royal knight passed away. Everyone in the kingdom were in tears.
King Nohasen prepared a funeral for the knight and said that this funeral would be 'the most memorable funeral of all time.' He invited everyone in the kingdom, man, woman, child and even the slaves. The people in the kingdom had their heads looking at the ground while the funeral took place. As the rain fell from the heavens, the king mumbled, "The heavens weep to see this tragedy take place. Our finest knight has fallen, and the heavens show their pity on us." From that day on, the Master Sword was laid to rest in a sacred stone, and was heavily protected by the forces of the kingdom.