My Short Fantasy Story

Well I had an assignment in my English class. And it was to write a one page fantasy story that takes a mundane journey, and make it something fantasic. So I wrote a story about me going to school from my house if I lived in a fantasy world. However, being the lame overachiever I am, I wrote a five page story instead.... So here it is.

‘Twas early on a Monday morning after a grueling weekend. The first rays of morning shined into the window and onto the face of young William. His eyes blinked and fluttered into wakefulness. He wearily stood from the comforts of a warm bed and stood there looking out the window. Suddenly, he remembered what day it was, and that he had to attend his studies at the schoolhouse. Being that it was late September and the sun had just risen, he judged it was about 6:45, which meant he had just forty-five minutes to travel just over half a league. Running to the stone basin, he quickly washed his face and pulled on a clean tunic after he brushed off the pixies that infested his house. He grabbed the provisions necessary for the day and rushed out the door. As he took the first few steps out of his abode he considered just abandoning school learning for the day. After all, he could use the extra hour or two of sleep, and work instead. But the schoolmaster was a fearsome man, and William had already missed three school days in the last two weeks. Unwilling to take the chance and risk being put on punishment; he hung his head and started out. He walked down the path leading from his house down to the Road of Raining Trees. As he turned right he crossed his fingers, in hopes that he would not come upon a circle gnome. Circle gnomes were mischievous creatures, who were easily enchanted by anything circular. Some were harmless, while others were quite dangerous. They were best to be avoided altogether, but there was no way he could get to the schoolhouse in time without passing this circle. He took a deep breath and walked a few steps into the circle that connected the Road of Raining Trees to the path alongside the Fiery Woods. At first he crossed slowly, but then quickened his pace as it became apparent that there was no gnome sitting at the center, as they normally do. From there, William needed to decide which route he would take. If he ventured north, he’d have to come across another circle, however crossing the River Tienken would be easier that way. He could also continue eastwards, he could take the path passing Dinah’s house and cross the river there. However, the population of poisonous Teira Batfish was far more concentrated there, and they presented a threat as well. Weighing out his options, he decided to risk crossing another circle, since he had not heard of any recent sightings. So he turned north and quickened his pace as he passed the Fiery Woods. He did not much like the Woods, for they carried an ominous sense. The trees that make up the woods occasionally spontaneously burst into flame, which created fires that could range from small, transient, and insignificant to huge, prolonged, and terrifying. He paid no attention to the small fire he saw smoldering near the edge of the forest, for he needed to concentrate on the task at hand. He approached the next circle, and took another deep breath. He inched his way forward, staring at the flora gathered in the middle of the circle, hoping he would not see the ugly, potato-shaped head of a gnome. Unfortunately, a plump, gray, horribly hideous gnome poked his head out of a bush located in the center. The gnome cocked his head, and stared at William. “Well, look what we have here!” exclaimed the gnome in his sneering voice. William sighed to himself; this was not one of the innocuous gnomes. “What business have you here?” asked the gnome. “Well, sir. I wish only to pass your beautiful circle so that I may reach the river,” William replied. The gnome glared disapprovingly. William added, “But, Mr. Gnome, I would make it worthwhile to you. You see I have brought you a present!” He had just remembered that while he was hurrying out of his house, he had grabbed himself one of his mother’s doughnuts to eat on the way. He began looking through his pack for the food. He took out all of his things and laid them on the ground in his search. He looked at the bottom of his bag and to see one of the ubiquitous pixies eating the last of the doughnut. Cursing his bad luck and his inability to depixify his house, he looked back towards the gnome, who looked livid. He called, “Well?! What is it?!?” Unable to think on the spot, William was only able to mutter and stutter. Suddenly, the gnome realized that William had something on his finger. In fact, it was a golden ring, something that any gnome would treasure. “Your ring!” he cried, “Give me your ring!” Of course, William would not part with his ring, as it belonged to his great-great-grandfather once. He quickly realized that he would not be able to get past the gnome, for he was getting more ferocious by the second. He turned to go back, but the damage had been done. The gnome wanted the ring, and would do anything to get it, including gnawing of William’s finger. William took off as fast as he could, but gnomes are speedy imps, and a footrace against one would be a futile attempt. William didn’t know what to do; this gnome was murderous. As he looked over to his left at the forest, he realized the only thing he could do. The Fiery Woods were scary for a human, but just think how terrifying they’d be for a tiny gnome. So, without a second thought, he ran straight at the small cluster of blazing trees he had seen. The gnome hesitated for a moment, lingered at the edge of the path, and let out a yell. He stomped his feet and stayed where he was, waiting to see if William would come out. William thought to himself, “How foolish of you! You know the dangers of crossing paths with a gnome! Why take the risk?!” It was certainly a risk he wouldn’t take again. Panting, William thought of what to do from there. He still was of the opinion that going to the schoolhouse would be far better than getting whipped by the schoolmaster, so he decided to cut through the Woods as best as he could, and he should come out somewhere on the Road of Raining Trees. He evaded the flames near him. And started off in the direction he thought was southeast. He skirted as many trees as he could, but of course in a forest it is impossible to avoid all trees. Suddenly, the leaves of a tree he was standing right underneath sparked and ignited. He dived out of the way of the falling foliage. Conveniently for him, the leaves landed in what else but a circle. Panicking, he ran around the base of the tree, which itself had been spared, looking for a gap in the flames. Upon seeing none, he climbed up the tree, hoping that perhaps the fire would burn itself out, and leave him with an escape. The flames crept towards the trunk until it was quite apparent that the tree would be destroyed by the fire. So, yet again left with no alternative, William scooted over down a sturdy limb as far as it would support him. He looked down at the fire, and then in front of him at the edge. He closed his eyes and leaped with all his might. He opened them when he felt himself collide with the ground. He had made it, though just barely. Without another thought, William ran. He knew not where he was running or what he would do once he got out of the accursed woods, but he knew he must leave as fast as he could. He ran and ran and ran and ran. He berated himself for being so foolish to go running through the Fiery Woods, another mistake he would not soon make again. Suddenly, the dark green of the cover of the trees was replaced by the bright blue of the sky. He looked around and found himself to be right near Dinah’s house. Dinah was a sweet old woman, who had always been fond of William, and she was sitting on her porch sipping some lemonade. Seeing William in distress, she beckoned him over and pulled up a chair for him as he told her of his adventures of that morning. “Hmmm,” said Dinah at the conclusion of the tale, “Well I guess the best thing for you to do know is just to go on to school.” For William was far closer to school than his house. “And what’s more, I’ll let you use my raft!” This was good news for William, who had assumed he would have to wade through the water. This was never a fun task, for one had to take special precaution in the river, for there were many Teira Batfish about. Something as little as a touch could leave the unfortunate wader to seize up and lose the ability to move for a good hour or so. Presently, Dinah sent him on his way, for he had no time to lose, despite his makeshift shortcut. He reached the river, and found Dinah’s raft tied up right at the end of the path. He saw in the distance on the far shore the students gathering for the day, and rejoiced at his being on time. He got into the raft, and rowed almost halfway across when he saw something on the shore he had just left. There appeared to be a child with fishing with a net. As he squinted his eyes, he realized that it was not a child. It was the gray gnome that had chased him into the woods! And when he brought up his net, there was no mistaking the blue and purple fish that was inside. It was a Teira Batfish, which could only mean bad news for William. The gnome flung the fish with a fierce grunt. The fish fell with a splash into the water only a foot from his raft. No sooner had William recovered from the shock of the close encounter, than the gnome had caught and flung another fish. This one landed even closer. In fact, it fell on the edge of his raft before it plopped back into the water because of its flailing. But the shore was approaching quickly, and William was paddling with all of his might. In his last attempt, the gnome vehemently threw another fish. The fish came rocketing at William’s face and he just barely ducked in time to avoid it. Safely on the other shore, William sprinted as fast as he could to the schoolhouse. He got through the door just as the schoolmaster announced that class was starting. As he wearily took notes on the lecture, William thought of all the trouble he would have saved himself if he had woken up half an hour earlier and taken the safe route.

Please leave a comment, because so far my friends have given me good reviews. But they're biased. lol.

-Will