Legendary Myths

Story 1 || 6 words: Fearing the Sun, the Moon pales. Story 2 || 50 words: Long ago, the Moon was made the wife of the Sun. Alas, the Sun was very angry when the Moon ran ahead of him, so the Moon grew small and pale. Now, the Moon grows larger for a while but soon fades away again, remembering the Sun's anger and temperament. Sun and Moon - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to write my own versions of Why of the Moon is Pale. The original story tells of how Small Turtle made Sun out of Lightning and made Moon his wife. Now, Moon was smaller than Sun, but equally as bright. The animals bore a hold through the earth so that Sun and Moon could begin their journey again in the east. Alas, when Moon ran ahead, Sun grew very angry. Frightened at Sun's anger, Moon grew small and pale. Small Turtle tried to make her large again, so now she grows big, but she grows small and pale again when she remembers Sun's anger

I spent my days wandering the woods, hunting for deer and boar. This was my livelihood, and with my rewards from my hunt, I provided for my lovely wife and young daughter. I dearly loved them both and did my best to care for them. One day, one of the king's messengers sent for me. I obliged to come forth, though I questioned why he would summon such a common huntsman as myself. I later learned that the queen had summoned me to do away with her step-child. She loathed the child greatly, for the child had grown to so beautiful that the queen's beauty paled in comparison. The queen bade me to lead her step-child, Snow-White, in the middle of the woods and take her heart out as a token of the treacherous deed. Now, I was reluctant at first, for I was unwilling to kill such a young and fair maiden. Still, the queen persisted, offering large amounts of gold and silver to me. Knowing that I should do well to support and care for my own family, I agreed to do her bidding. So, I l

There was once a very beautiful queen. In the middle of winter, a daughter was born to her. She had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony, just as the mother had wished. However, the queen died when the wee girl, Snow-White, was born to her. After a year had passed, the king took another wife, but she was proud and unwilling to be surpassed in beauty by any other maiden. She possessed a magic looking-glass, to which she asked who the fairest maiden was of them all. Every time she asked, the looking-glass would say that it was she was the fairest of them all, for it only spoke the truth. Now, Snow-White grew prettier, and when she was seven years old, the looking-glass proclaimed her as the fairest of them all. The queen was greatly angered by this proclamation and set about Snow-White's doom. So, she called upon a huntsman to take Snow-White out to the woods and take out her heart as a token. Upon arriving in the middle of the woods, the hunt

There was once a poor fisherman and his wife who lived by the sea shore. They lived in an old hovel, and the wife was quite unhappy with it. One day, the fisherman went fishing and sat waiting all day long for a single catch. At last, he reeled in a great flounder, but he discovered that it was an enchanted prince. The prince begged the fisherman for his life, adamant that he will not taste well. So, the fisherman released the flounder back into the water, walking home empty-handed from a long day of hard work. Upon coming home, the fisherman is met with dismay and outbursts from this wife for coming home with no fish. He then told his wife of the enchanted flounder he caught, to which she asked if he had asked it for a wish. Hearing his reply, the wife insisted that the husband return to the fish and ask for a little cottage, for the old hovel was much too small and cramped for the wife. So, the fisherman returned to see the fish, and the sea was green and yellow, quite a peculi

Story 1 || 6 words: Men who disobeyed turned into monkeys. Story 2 || 2 sentences: God told men to not fish on Sundays. Yet, the men fished, so they were turned into monkeys. Fishermen on a Lake - Courtesy of Phelps Law Office Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to write my own versions of The Origin of Monkeys. The original story tells of how a man of God came to men and told them not to fish on Sundays, for the fish needed a day to feed. The men obliged and went about home to rest. Then, a woman came and saw the many fish feeding in the water. She came home to the men at once and bid them to go fish, else they be loved no more. So, the men head out to fish again, but God turned them into monkeys for disobeying. For my first microfiction of 6 words, I tried to remain abstract in my word choice. Readers who know the original story will be able to make sense of the few words. Conversely, readers who are unfamiliar with the original story will be able

I was but a little devil. I toiled under the earth's surface but could bear no more. I yearned for some fruits of the earth, so I went on about my journey to the surface. There I surface, upon a pile of hot coals, in a peasant's field, where I watched him work the soil. Here I lay in wait until he approached me. So, when the peasant finished with tending to his field, he began making his way home when he spotted me. Having peaked the peasant's curiosity, I patiently waited until he arrived. Upon his arrival, he asserted that I sit on top of a treasure. To his blunt assertion, I confirmed his suspicion, for I had brought with me a treasure of gold and silver to bribe him of some of the fruits of his hard labor. So, I extended my offer out to the peasant. For the next two years, he shall give me half of everything his field produced, and in return, I shall give him my treasure of riches. So, it was agreed that for the first year, I shall receive everything that grew abo

This story begins with a clever and with peasant who had been working in his field all day. As it was getting quite dark, he made preparation to head home when you spotted a pike a burning coals in his field. Amazed, he ventured toward the pile of coals and noticed a little black devil. So, the peasant asserts that the devil must be sitting upon a treasure. The devil slyly agreed, stating that it contained more gold and silver than the peasant had ever seen in his life. Then, the devil bargained that the treasure shall be given the peasant in return for half of everything that is grown from the field for two years. The clever peasant agreed, swearing to give the devil everything that grew above the ground and keeping everything that grew below the ground for himself. Unfortunately for the devil, the peasant planted turnips. Upon harvest time, the devil was left with withered leaves, and the peasant left with his harvest of turnips. So, the devil would not be bested. Now, he shall

There once was a poor shoemaker that only enough leather for one more pair of shoes. So, he cut the leather before bed, intending to finish the shoes in the morning. He went to bed, prayed, and slept a good while. The next morning, he woke and discovered to find a finely-crafted pair of shoes on his workbench. The shoes were so exquisitely craft, the shoemaker was absolutely amazed. Soon, a customer came by and paid more than the usual price for them. So, the shoemaker now had enough money to buy leather for two pairs of shoes. He cut the leather once more, intending to finish the shoes in the morning. He performed his nightly routine and woke to find the pairs of shoes already finished. Again, customers arrived and paid for the finely-crafted shoes. So, it continued. The shoemaker would buy more amounts of leather, only to find pairs of shoes readily made by morning. The shoemaker now had a steady income and was quite wealthy. Now, he and his wife wanted to find out who was craf

Story 1 || 50 words: Turkey didn't have such a great voice, so he asked Grouse to give him lessons. After several lessons, Turkey had gotten quite good, so Grouse thought it was time to try his voice. Grouse gave the signal, but Turkey was so excited that he could only muster up a gobble. Story 2 || 25 words: Turkey was very eager to sing after his lessons with Grouse. He was so excited that, upon hearing the signal to sing, could only gobble. Turkey - Courtesy of Britannica Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to write my own renditions of Why The Turkey Gobbles. The original story tells of how the Turkey did not have a good voice. So, he asked the Grouse for lessons in exchange for some feathers. Thus, Grouse how his collar of turkey feathers. After a few lessons, it was time to test Turkey's voice. So, Grouse tapped upon the log to signal Turkey to begin, but Turkey was so excited that he could only gobble. So now, Turkey gobbles whenever h

I proudly served the King, and I revered him greatly. When word got out of the outlaw Robin Hood's meddling actions, I felt great need to bring him to justice. For years, I sent countless men to thwart him in his efforts and capture him. Alas, many have tried and all have failed. This is much to my demise, but the common folk have come to like the fellow, for he has protected their so-called best interests and rallied against the rich. So, it seems the law of the land has no meaning for I can not touch this Robin Hood. However, though I lacked in my ability to bring Robin Hood to justice, I can still enforce the law upon others. Such as the poor three squires I had captured two nights ago for killing one of the King's precious deer. Though, many wept within the walls of Nottingham for the poor fellows, I was stern in my punishment and upholding of the law. So, they would be punished to the same extent as the fate of the King's deer: death. Then, a seemingly poor soul ha

Robin Hood grew weary of his days in the green forest and hunting deer. One day, he had a bright idea. Fishermen made more money than any other merchant, so Robin Hood was set on becoming one. Thus, Robin Hood set on to Scarborough to be a fisherman. So, Robin Hood went on alone to Scarborough, where he stayed at a widow's house. She asked this stranger of his name and origin, to which he replied that he had come from afar and had the name of Simon. Thus, the two made merry. The widow asked Simon to be her man in return for her ship, to which Robin Hood eagerly accepted the offer. So, they set sail upon the sea. While others cast their baited lines, Simon cast an empty line, for he had no knowledge of fishing. So, the great master of the ship scorned him, for he was deemed not to be worthy of the sea. Thus, Robin Hood yearned to be home in the green woods, chasing deer and dawn as he had done so before. Upon the sea, they spied a pirate ship that approached quickly. All was i

This story begins with Robin Hood roaming the forest, when he spied a sorry woman wandering through the path. Robin Hood approached the woman, asking what is causing her great sorrow. She told Robin Hood of the terrible fate of her sons, for they have killed the king's fallow deer. Thus, they were condemned to die. Robin Hood immediately pressed the woman to return to her home and worry no longer, for he would travel to Nottingham for the sake of her sons. So, he pressed on along his journey towards Nottingham when he came upon an old beggar. Now the beggar man was also creeping and weeping along the way, so Robin Hood asked what the matter was. The beggar told Robin Hood of how all of Nottingham wept and wailed for the three squires, for they were to be hanged. Then, Robin Hood traded forty shillings and plenty of drinks for the old beggar's coat to aid in his disguise. So, to Nottingham Robin Hood went, and he came before the great sheriff. Now, Robin Hood pleads with t

Story 1 || 6 words: Always home, Tortoise never went out. Story 2 || 50 words: Jupiter threw a banquet with all the animals. All came except the Tortoise, for he never cared for going out and preferred to stay home. Annoyed, Jupiter decreed that the Tortoise shall carry his home upon his back, never being able to leave his home even if he so wished. Tortoise and its Shell - Courtesy of Wikipedia Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to write my own versions of How the Tortoise Got Its Shell. The original story tells of how Jupiter was about to marry a wife, and had a banquet for all the animals to come celebrate. Though, all came except the Tortoise, for he didn't care for going out and preferred to stay home. Jupiter was annoyed at this reply and decreed that the Tortoise shall carry his home upon his back, unable to leave away from his home even if he wished to. For my first microfiction of 6 words, much of the detail of Jupiter's banquet and

Long ago, I remember naught about my childhood. The faintest memory I retain is that of my family. Though they weren't my birth family, I regarded them highly as such. My father went by the name of Sir Ector. I was the foster-brother of his son, Sir Kay. Thus, we lived together quite happily. Now, Uther Pendragon had passed, and the whole of England had succumbed into much turmoil. Many Knights yearned to seize the throne, but none were deemed worthy. Yet, there came word of a challenge that whomever shall seize a sword from a stone in front of the Great Church in London shall be the rightful King. Upon hearing this, Sir Ector, Sir Kay, and myself made great haste to travel to London for the great challenge. Alas, Sir Kay begged me to travel back home to retrieve his sword, for he had left it the night before. So, I travelled back home as swiftly as I could to retrieve his sword. Upon reaching the home, I found the door locked, as my mother had left to witness the tournament.

In search of the Holy Graal, Sir Lancelot came before a stone cross in front of an old chapel. Here he decided to tie his horse to a tree and take off his arms. Lancelot yearned to enter the chapel to be before the altar, but he could not, for he had a heart heavy with sin. So he turned back sorrowful and and lay down to sleep at the foot of the stone cross in front of the chapel. As he rested here, he saw a sick Knight come by, ailing over his turmoils from his quest for the Holy Graal. At this moment, a table of silver appears with the Holy Graal before it. The sick Knight rose up and prayed before the Graal, being made whole again. After that, the Graal went back into the chapel, and Lancelot yearned to pursue. Alas, he could not move, for the weight of his sins weighed down upon him. The sick Knight rose and kissed the stone cross. Seeing Lancelot, he questioned how a sleeping Knight could not wake when the power of the Graal was so near. The squire then replied that Lancelot

This story begins with the death of Uther Pendragon, leaving behind an absence of a King of Britain. Every Knight yearned to seize the crown, and the country soon fell ill to broken laws and poor yields of corn. Merlin the magician came forth and rode to the place of the Archbishop of Canterbury, agreeing that the lords of Britain shall meet at the Great Church in London on Christmas Day. So it was said, and so it was done. As the lords left the Church on Christmas Day, they marveled at the sight of a sword struck in the midst of a large stone. So it was told that whomever shall pull this sword from the stone shall be the rightful King of England. Many Knights could not hold back their eagerness and sprang forth to try their luck at freeing the sword. Alas, many tried and all failed. Following their failures, two Knights were called forth to keep guard over the sword. Among the Knights was Sir Ector, with his son, Sir Kay. Arthur, Sir Kay's foster-brother also travelled with