#mycreativewritingpractice

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Folktale

Pip the apple seed boy

Once upon a time, there was a husband and wife. They lived on an apple farm, and were very happy together. However, they wanted a child but were unable to have one

They traveled to see an herbalist who lived in the woods. They asked her for help. With a smile, the herbalist asked, “Do you have any fresh fruit?” The husband and wife looked confused, but the husband reached into his bag and took out an apple that he had picked that morning and handed it to the herbalist. The herbalist took the apple and began mixing many different things from her shelves into a bowl. She then dipped the apple in the strange mixture, and the apple shone brightly. The herbalist said to the wife, “When you get home eat this whole apple core and all, except for a single pip. Plant the pip in your garden, somewhere it will be safe. If you do this, you will have a child.” The husband and wife didn’t if they should believe the herbalist, but they paid her for her service thanked her. Then they went back home not knowing if the herbalist’s potion would work.

When they got home, the wife did exactly what the herbalist had said. She took out the apple and ate the whole thing, careful to remove one of the pips before she finished. She planted the seed in a sheltered corner of the garden where it would be safe.

After some weeks had past, the wife was happy to announce that she was pregnant! She and the husband were full of joy. And in the corner of the garden, a little plant began to sprout. The wife took good care of the sapling that was growing from her apple seed, watering it every day and helping it to grow. Over the next few months the Wife’s stomach grew bigger and bigger. Then the big day arrived, and the baby came. The husband and wife had a little baby boy. The husband and wife and become a mother and father. They decided to call their son Philip, and for short they called him Pip.

Pip grew slowly, and when he was old enough to go and play with other children some of them made fun of him for being small. They called him Pipsqueak and didn’t let him play with them. Pip asked his mother why he was smaller than other children. His mother took him to the young apple tree growing in the garden. She told him “This apple tree is like you, it is small and grows slowly. But it will get bigger and bigger and bigger like the trees you climb and your father picks apples from. Just because something happens slowly, doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen, you must be patient,” Pip didn’t like being patient, but he liked the idea that he would grow big and strong like an apple tree, so his mother’s advice had made him feel better.

Years passed, and Pip continued to grow slowly, but grow he did. Even though he was small he made many friends, including a beautiful girl who he fell in love with. And she fell in love with him too. Just like his mother said, Pip grew with the apple tree. When everyone else finished growing, he continued. And he got bigger and stronger. All the boys that made fun of him before were now jealous and tried to ignore him, but Pip was very popular because he was so kind and friendly so even more people knew him when he also became big and strong. One day, Pip was talking to the girl he loved. One of the mean boys was walking nearby and hid so he could listen to the conversation. Pip told the girl about the special apple tree in his mothers garden, and soon it would grow fruit. He wanted the girl to have the first apple from the tree, Pip would share the special fruit as a gift of his love. The mean boy was angry and jealous that Pip had everything, so he made a plan to cut down the tree and get rid of all the fruit. Two nights later, the mean boy took an axe to Pip's house and went into the garden, and he began chopping down the tree. Chopping a tree makes a lot of noise, and suddenly the door to the house opened and light shone into the garden. Pip saw the boy chopping the special apple tree and shouted at him to stop it. The boy didn't listen and carried on chopping, so Pip ran at him and pushed him away. The two boys started to fight, they hurt each other a lot. Pip's father came outside and stopped them. The mean boy was in big trouble, and was taken home. Pip was also in trouble for fighting, but his mother and father were happy that he saved the tree.

A few days later, just as he'd promised. Pip gave the girl the first apple from the special apple tree. The girl took a bite. It was the most delicious apple she'd ever eaten. Pip also went to talk to the mean boy. He took out a second apple and offered it to him. Pip said to the boy that they don't have to be enemies, they can be friends instead. The mean boy took the apple and ate it quickly like a greedy animal. When he was finished he was quiet for a while, and then said 'Thank you'.

Years later, Pip and the mean boy were friends. Not best friends, but friends. And Pip married the girl he loved. When they wanted to have a baby, Pip's mother gave them an apple, and told the girl to eat the whole thing even the core, except for a single pip which she should plant in a safe place.

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Utopian Steampunk City with a Dark Core

I had a pretty empty work day last week, so I asked friends for a creative writing challenge. One friend challenged me to create something with the theme that I’m using as this post title.

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The City of Sturgas

Sturgas is a vaguely oval or egg shaped city from a birds-eye view. The ground is naturally tiered toward the center of the larger end where atop sits the castle.

There are 4 tiers in all even though there is no vertical difference between the 3rd and 4th, but they are separated by a wall none the less, for defensive purposes.

The 1st tier as mentioned is where the castle sits on its own, central to its plateau with a glorious garden surrounding it, a servants quarters at the back and a guard house built into the entrance gate. It is here that the current reining family the Strugas, after which the city is named, reside.

The 2nd tier is the nobles and higher shopping district where the rich live and buy expensive cloths and spices,

The 3rd tier is at ground level and where the common folk go about their day and the manual labour force work away their lives in service of the reigning family.

Finally, the 4th tier is the slums. While not considered a place of poverty, it is home mostly to the sick, disabled and jobless. When there is not a famine or general supply shortage, “the 4th” is granted a charity basket twice a month of basic food and medicine, clean water, old clothes and blankets, whatever the people of other tiers donate.

To the south sit the docks with direct access to the 3rd tier and both stairs and ramps to the elevated 2nd tier.

Outside of the city walls are the vast (for the city’s size) agricultural fields. These areas have no protective wall, but the outer guardhouse makes regular patrols on a route that encompasses all the farmers’ homes, though not the outskirt fields.

Each tier of Sturgas is defensively walled. The 1st and 2nd tiers being circular shaped while the 3rd and 4th to the west are crescent shaped. This seems, to many, like separation of the classes, but the gates are always open during the day and the walls are in fact merely built upon the fortifications from the previously nameless city’s previous “government”.

Sturgas was once a disreputable town where pirates and criminals spent their time either planning, celebrating, or wallowing from their ventures. It started as a hideout built by a now forgotten bandit group, as the group gained success and expanded so too did their base of operations. In time they made deals with other groups to use the newly small settlement to hide and fence their wares. It then became a trading post for thieves of all kinds, and fortifications were erected to protect them if the authorities were able to track them down.

Other residents were people down on their luck and those who were unsuccessful or unaccepted anywhere else. They became downtrodden townsfolk so to speak, joining ventures or serving the thieves just to keep from starving to death.

The Sturgas family was a noble family in search of their stolen goods. They discovered this reasonably fortified settlement and somehow managed to take it for themselves and making it a part of the kingdom the Sturgas family hailed from, not only to disband the groups that had accumulated there, but also to help the innocents who were only trying to survive, charitable as the family was.

How this came about, no one truly remembers. Some say the Sturgas rose an army and fought away the bandits and pirates who were not bonded as allies and fled without thought to each other. Others say the Sturgas infiltrated the city in disguise and assassinated the governing bandit group, taking the city from the inside. The less reputable rumour is that the governing bandits were bought off with gold and pardons.

The true story is lost in time, though the decedents always tell the ones that put the family in the best light.

The royal family is six large. The previous queen, Raven, who is mother to the current duke Renee.

Renee married Eliza, who bore him three children. The eldest child; Robin, who is seventeen and eligible for marriage. The middle child, Rowan, the first son who is twelve and learning the ways of leadership and government. Being groomed for his future as duke. The third child; Gale aged nine, who was a great surprise as it was thought the Duchess was past child bearing age. Since Rowan was born just over five years after his elder sister, it was thought to be great for luck the Duchess to give birth to a son before it was too late. Then three years later, Gale was born much to the joy of the entire family and surprise of the physicians.

It is Sturgas tradition to name daughters after birds, and sons, names that begin with R. Family traditions are strange, and so this one was paid no mind by others.

Sturgas’ main export is timber from the great woodland north of the city. It was this woodland that helped keep the city hidden when it was still a bandit town.

Though in the last decade, a mine was discovered full of metal ore, it has since begun expanding into a full quarry for the apparently limitless supply of metal, coal and stone.

Five years ago, there was an attempt on Duke Renee's life, resulting in him being bedridden, the culprits never caught. Renee named his wife regent until their son had completed his studies to the highest standard should Renee not recover.

The assassination was attempted with magic, and so magic was outlawed in Sturgas. Anyone found who could use magic but had not, or who did use it but not maliciously are exiled from the city. Those who used magic to gain power over others are imprisoned outside of the city pending trial. Those who are believed to only be a stone’s throw from violent acts and those who had used magic for violence either have their hands cut off and/or their tongues removed so they could never cast again, or are publically executed.

With the duke still bedridden for many hours of the day, the feelings toward magic remain strong. Duchess Eliza won’t even allow casters to examine her husband to determine what magic was used for fear they might try to finish the job.

A degree of xenophobia has been fueled as well. Races with natural magic abilities such as Gomes and Samsarans are treated with disdain even if the individual doesn’t practice casting. Any race or person potentially capable of casting magic is blacklisted in the 4th tier and arrested if they approach the gate unless they are already a prisoner and clad in irons under the escort of guardsmen.

Though this attitude is slightly more lax in the 2nd tier, semi-lax in the 3rd tier where people won’t call you out but will avoid you, and nonexistent in the 4th tier as many potential casters end up living there in certain circumstances.

This attitude towards magic had created a void in convenience. Blacksmiths and Inventors worked hard and broke into the emerging Steam, Clockwork and Alchemical technologies. Steam machines and clockwork or alchemically fueled gadgets rule the city. The Steamsmiths, Cogsmiths and Brewsmiths are renowned as great inventors.

Steam powered factory equipment, short distance steam or alchemy powered carriages, wind-up wagons and carts, and small messenger carriers that can only go in straight lines or along a prebuilt track but can also double as children’s toys. Sturgas advanced greatly from the abundance of resources and the fascination with this new technology, which is not seen as a great threat because you can take away a workman’s tools, but you can’t take away a casters ability to cast spells. Not nicely anyway.

City structure

As mentioned before, Sturgas is made up of 4 tiers

1.    Castle

2.    Noble district

3.    Commoner district

4.    Slums

There is also the agricultural circle around the city. But that is outside the city walls.

The main gates in and out are at the north entrance to the 3rd tier, and the west entrance to the 4th tier.

The docks as mentioned are on the south side of the city. They are built on the edge of the 2nd and 3rd tiers to gain access to both. Naturally the docks are unofficially split in half, the west side delivering standard supplies and materials for the common folk and craftsmen, the east side delivering finer foods, cloths, spices and high quality drink.

The only access to the 1st tier is via the 2nd tier, so there is no direct access from any main gates or the docks, making it the most defensible place in the city.

The 2nd tier is home to the nobles and aristocrats. Members of the royal council reside here closest to the gates to the castle. There are up to 3 dozen manors in this Tier, around half of which have servant’s quarters on the grounds or in a basement level of their manor. The other half with smaller properties employ the better educated and better looking individuals from the 3rd tier to work for the often unreasonable hours.

This tier also houses high quality shops, fashionable tailors, decorative bakers, interior decorators and furniture up-holsters.

The city’s barracks is built into the wall and is a part of the gate that separates the 2nd and 3rd tiers making it as central as possible so guards can be deployed to any part of the city. This also has the benefit that folk from both the 2nd and 3rd tiers can be employed there due to it being close to both.

The 3rd tier is the common folk and labour force of the city. Mostly honest citizens, they work hard and squeeze their pennies to save for emergencies, but by no means are they poor. The factory section is to the south near the docks, so that water is easily available if there is a fire, close to the 2nd tier gate are many crafters and sculptors trying to gain the attention of nobles passing by. Most of the food grown by the fields comes here, except for the best quality stuff which goes straight to the castle and 2nd tier as part of their tax and to earn more money by selling to a higher market, but the 3rd tier gets the majority and so it is home to the cities thriving market place. A ring of shops and taverns with inns behind and a fountain in the center, paid for by donations from the 1st and 2nd tiers, temporary tarpaulins fill the space between. Everything the city makes is available here for purchase or viewing to have delivered later, having it all in open view gives the Market Ring a feeling of wonder, but as it’s not close to the edges of the city any thieves won’t have an easy time escaping.

With the open gate policy, the 3rd tier fraternizes with both the 4th and 2nd tiers. Despite the difference in class everyone seems happy to mingle in these open spaces and sometimes strike up a conversation in the taverns.

The 4th tier has no tourist appeal, the people have little to do and so the west guard house employs them as foot soldiers to patrol the edge of the city and look intimidating. The people are also sometimes temporarily employed as helpers by people of the 3rd tier if workers are sick or extra hands are needed for something big. But with plenty of free time, the people of the 4th tier invent the most interesting games to pass the time, which they often share with any friends they make in the higher tiers. Unfortunately, the lack of money and bountiful time also makes the highest chances for slum inhabitants to become thieves.

Each wall has its own guard house. And each guard house has holding cells. But the major prison of the city is in the 3rd tier to the north, not far from the market ring as most pickpockets and shop lifters are apprehended there, and the journey is shorter when there is a prisoner that will have a public flogging, execution, or to be put in the stocks.

The other major prison is the Magic Spire. Ironically named, it is a tower where proven malicious users of magic are sent if they are found guilty of malicious intent, either for the rest of their lives, or until execution. The tower stands six stories tall, the first two of which are guard’s quarters to make sure the only way a caster can escape is by jumping out of a window onto the Pikes below.

Technology

The differences between the three new technologies, and the reasons behind their competitiveness, are that; Steam is reliable and safe but requires large amounts of fuel and large machines to use it effectively. Alchemy is more powerful than Steam and so can be used in smaller technologies, unfortunately it’s also more dangerous if the mixture is off or the machine or container is damaged. Clockwork is both reliable and safe, unfortunately the devices require winding regularly which is inconvenient, and when broken they take time to fix due to multiple small intricate parts.

All three technologies have their own usage niche, but occasionally try to break into each other’s, with little success because people are happy to continue with the tried and tested rather than spend time and money trying something new and different.

Steam is used for factory equipment, conveyor belts, a powered mine-cart, and other large devices.

Alchemy is used in explosives to help mine the quarry, and in purposefully weak Combustion Engines for supply wagons to assist horses and people move heavy loads short distances. Not for transporting people due to the risk of explosions.

Clockwork is used in timepieces, and timepiece connected devices, much like a bird can emerge from a cuckoo clock, a timepiece can be devised to trigger cog and gear controlled devices at a specific time. Clockwork did manage to break its way into transport and rival the Combustion Engine with a safe windup engine. It didn’t take off well and the two remained equal rivals with Alchemy keeping a slight lead because it was better known and had been in use longer, also refueling wasn’t as much of a hassle as regularly winding an engine.

Weapons

Firearms are common place in this world, but kept off the streets. Only official guards above recruit rank are allowed to use a firearm when needed and only squad leaders and higher can carry a firearm while on duty, other squad members must be given permission to open the firearm chest and arm up.

All three of the new technologies have created firearms for use.

Steam has created pressurised canisters connected to a gun via a rubber tube. When the trigger is pulled it opens the valve just long enough to propel the bullet.

Alchemy created a combustible cartridge to replace the powder horn making reloading much faster.

Clockwork created a wind-up trigger, using the built up tension of a powerful spring to propel the bullet at incredible speeds. This doesn’t save time, but it eliminates the need for powder which can be spilled or gotten wet.

Wrap-up

Sturgas is a near utopia. Well defended, an abundance of resources, all citizens are taken care of within reason, and being part of a larger kingdom it can call for aid if it is ever in trouble. The only major problem? What really happens to the arrested casters?

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Random Thought

Been a while since I’ve been creative, here’s a little idea that popped into my head. ______________________________________________________________ Yin-Yang separation alternative concept.If someone has their light and dark sides split, rather than it being good and evil, it ends up being Lawful and Chaotic. So both of the resulting beings are still good, just at different ends of the personality spectrum. Villain: “With this <insert light and dark splitting device here> we will split <insert heroes name>'s inner light and shadow, once we do we shall imprison the light side and recruit the evil shadow half to fight for us!”-One of the new forms is like a shining knight who speaks in ye-olde style and is completely selfless:Lawful: “Haha! Foiled by your own plans you clod-brained scullions, for now you face the wrath of not one but two mighty heroes. Come brother, have-at thee!” -And the second is still good, but being the chaotic side means he's a dick:Chaotic: “Fuck. Do you know what you've done? Now I'm going to kick your asses twice, once for whatever evil thing it is you're doing, and second for making it so I have to listen to this git for as long as it takes to turn us back to normal! At least when we were one person that voice only came around once in a while, now how he ain't going to shut up!”Villain: “But I thought that we were separating your light and dark sides, resulting in good and evil versions or the original!”Lawful: “Such villainous schemes would surely result badly for you, for creating a being of pure good would only make them all the more driven to end your nefarious ways!” Chaotic: “Right! And I may be the shadow side but I'm not evil, I'm just less likely to help an old lady across the street and more likely to break bones for kicks because I don't have Mr goody-two-shoes restraining me”

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Sequel Sort - Monsters Inc

The moon shone through the bedroom window, offering limited illumination to the cartoon posters on the wall and toys littering the floor. A young boy lay fast asleep in the bed.

Slowly, the handle on the closet door began to turn. The handle clicked. The door began to open.

The nose caused the little boy to stir slightly, his eyes began to open. As his vision became less blurry he looked around, and noticed the door had swung ajar. Ignoring this the boy laid his head back on his pillow. A shadow moved across the floor and over his bed, the movement caused the boy to stir again. As the boy turned over, a silhouetted figure rose up in front of the window, eyes glowing, teeth gleaming. It wasn’t very tall. Its mouth opened and it spoke,

“Good evening sir how are you on this fine night? Doing well I hope,”

The boy sat up staring at the green ball with one eye and tiny horns that had sat himself up on a stool next to his bed, and was now talking to him. The boy remained silent.

“Okay, tough crowd tonight; we’ll start off easy, you go to school yet? School is great, you’ve got learning and friends and exercise, I was never good at Phys Ed though. Except for Doge Ball, I hit practically every target; of course that’s pretty easy when you’re the ball,”

The boy continued to stare,

“All right, even easier, my name is-”

“Mike. Wazowski,” another voice cut the little creature off before he could finish.

Mike turned away from the boy and toward the corner of the room which the closet door had cast in shadow. A teenage girl stepped forward into the low light of the moon, she wore plain lavender leggings with a pink top, and her hair was tied back in a pony tail,

“Boo?” Mike whispered,

“He’s real Mary, just like you said!” shouted the boy, jumping from under his sheets and up and down on his bed,

“Yes he is Tyler, this is Mike, an old friend,” Mary took another step forward so the light could reveal more of her face, “It’s nice to see you again, can we see Kitty?”.

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Emotional Short - Monsters Inc

Ever since the events of the Waternoose trial, James Sullivan had taken over Monsters Incorporated and converted the company to produce power from the much more potent children's laughter. Everything was was right with the world, but something was missing. So when Mike lead Sully to the training room to find a reconstructed door to Boo's room, Sully's heart had skipped a beat. Sully had inserted the final shard of the door, the bulb that indicated the door was working had lit, and he had entered to find her waiting for him.

Ever since that day, Sully had taken every opportunity he could to visit Boo before she went to sleep. Together they played with her toys and games, they read books, and Suy would always let her fall asleep in his soft furry arms before tucking her into her bed and silently returning to the monster world. Sometimes Mike would even join in when he had some free hours. This went on for months, Boo would wait patiently in her room hoping that “Kitty” would be able to visit tonight. But as time went on, Sully heard shouting coming from beyond Boo's bedroom door. Arguments from her parents as they fought with each other, Sully did his best to keep Boo distracted and shield her from the words that were being said. Words like “hate” and “divorce”. Sully knew that he couldn't keep seeing Boo forever. She would start school soon and have her own life and human friends, he also knew that he could not continue risking the exposure of Monsters.

One night he decided, this would be the final night, he would show Boo the best time she had had in her life so far. On this night when Sully entered Boo's room, he took her back through the door into the Monster world. When there Sully took Boo to a monster amusement park, where they went on rides and played the games, and he introduced her to all of his friends and any passers by who happened to inquire as to her identity, which was most of them. It was only a couple of hours but as Boo's eyelids began to sag, Sully knew he had shown Boo the best time he could. So they returned to Monsters Incorporated, went back through her door, and like he always did Sully tucked Boo in to bed. This time he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, stroked her cheek, and just like the last goodbye, he said “goodbye Boo, kitty has to go now,”. Tears filled Sully's big eyes, and as he moved away they began to gently flow down his fluffy cheeks and were soaked up by the fur. Sully reached the door, turned around to look at Boo one last time, and did not take his eyes off her until the door had completely closed.

[mycreativewritingpractice-blog]

Romance 2

A sequel chapter to a post I made a while ago.

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Rin lay on his bed reading a sports magazine. His interest was focussed on an article about swimming techniques. If we was going to keep up with Haru without being able to swim with him then he would have to do everything he could to improve his ability.

Rin's attention was so engrossed in the article, he had forgotten that Aiichiro was sat at the desk, “helping” him with a report, so when Aiichiro sneezed it nearly made Rin fall from the bed.

“Keep it down, I'm trying to read here!” Rin yelled,

“Sorry Rin-kun, but I was only sneezing, and you should really be working on this essay,” Aiichiro whined, “It's due in soon, and it's very important to our final grade. If you don't do the work then you won't be able to do extra curricular activities, so you won't be able to-”

Aiichiro was cut off by the glare on Rin's face that told him he should shut up now.

“Why do you think you're helping me, I suck at these writing things and you're so good, I can always count on you,” Rin complimented, but the glare only softened slightly,

This lifted Aiichiro's spirits somewhat and he continued to write the report.

After a few minutes of continued silence, the only noise being the sound of Aiichiro's pen running across paper, there was a knock on the door,

“Aiichiro, the door,” said Rin, not looking away from his article,

Aiichiro rose from the desk and moved toward the door,

“Who is it?” Aiichiro asked through the door,

“I need to see Rin,” came a familiar voice,

“Makoto?” Rin said, finally looking away from the magazine, “Open the door,”Aiichiro did what he was told and allowed Makoto enter. Makoto smiled at Aiichiro as he walked in and stood by Rin,

“Rin? Can we please talk; in private,” requested Makoto, turning to face Aiichiro as he spoke,

“Chiro, hit the road for a bit,” said Rin

“Yes Rin-kun,” replied Aiichiro, in a tone of voice that matched his sinking spirit. He turned and left, making sure to shut the door as he did.

“What's wrong Makoto?” asked Rin as he put the magazine down and sat up, he indicated the Makoto should sit as well. Makoto did, and his expression turned from his usual smile to one of sadness,

“I told Haru, how I feel about him, I let him know my true feeling,” Makoto paused, tears began to form in his eyes, “But, he didn't return my feelings, he tore my heart into pieces,”

“Makoto, you knew that this was a possibility, the last time you came to me about this I told you he was too much of a free spirit to be in a relationship,” Said Rin in an attempt to comfort Makoto,

“I know, but I had to try, I couldn't go on just being friends, it hurt too much, but I don't know if that was worse than how I feel now,” the tears began to roll down Makoto's cheeks, he turned to face Rin with eyes filled with sadness,

“Maki, you will feel better eventually, in the mean time, I'm here,” Rin slid closer to Makoto's side, “I'm here for you when you need to talk, or anything,”

Makoto's face still conveyed feelings of sadness, and the stream of tears did not slow.

“I'm here for anything, anything at all,” Rin continued to move closer, his face came close to Makoto's. Makoto turned to face Rin completely, his expression included a hint of confusion. This feeling only lasted moments because as Makoto looked into Rins eyes, Rin closed them and pressed his lips against his. Makoto's eyes widened in shock, then they softened, and then they closed as he gave into the kiss.

Outside the door, Aiichiro stood. He hadn't hit the road like Rin had told him, he had decided to wait, like he had always waited for Rin. He could hear the muffled conversation through the door, and listened intently. And then it came, the silence, the absence of sound that meant that Rin was done talking. Aiichiro knew what this meant, and as he leant against the wall, he slid down it to meet the floor, just as his heart sank to the depths of his soul.