Beginning!

There once was a warrior named Tyranius Buford Carlemaine the Third, whom his friends called Joe. Joe was a relatively poor man, but he had his house. Though he had few possessions, he had a horse, Precious, a dog, Bucky, and a sword, which he had forged himself, named Rebecca. Joe, Precious, Bucky, and Rebecca lived together for many peaceful years until one day a man in glorious armor came crashing through his front doors.

"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse," said the man, who was obviously of royalty.

"Seriously?" asked Joe.

"No," said the man, "but didn't it sound good? I liked it!"

Joe looked at the man in shock. Was he insane?

"I could use a horse though, you know. Sorry, my name is Robins. King Robins of the Southlands."

Joe was seriously surprised. King Robins was in his house! "I'm. . .I'm Joe."

"Well, Joe. I want a horse. I'm afraid I'm going to have to push my sovereign power and take it."

With these words, the King left with Precious. Though Joe was deeply saddened, there was little he could do.

One day, a year later, a man came crashing through the front door again, King Robins himself once more.

"Ah, Joe. I am in need of your services. Come, a great war is starting."

Joe followed the King to where a great army was waiting. As he joined the ranks, they began to march.

When finally the fighting began, Joe felt almost relieved. Here he was doing what he did best: swinging his sword and hacking apart bodies. Indeed, he was happy.

But soon there arose before him a huge man with, in his hands, a halberd. Joe felt fear for this man could easily slay him. As he blocked the downward stroke of the halberd with Rebecca, he felt her shatter.

Joe cried out and fell to his knees, holding the broken pieces of the sword in his hands. As he awaited death, he grieved for Rebecca.

The war soon ended as the army of the Southlands overwhelmed the Hinterland berserkers. But Joe, who had been seen destroying line after line of their forces, was still upon the ground with Rebecca.

A year passed, with Joe and Bucky living alone in their house. Rebecca sat in a box in three pieces, but Joe had not the money to rent out a forge and repair it.

And so it was that one day King Robins, the curse of Joe's existence, came crashing through his door once more.

"Joe! 'Tis good to see you, lad. Ah, to be your age again...but, nevertheless, perhaps I could borrow your dog? I wish to hunt and need a dog to flush out the birds. Oh yeah! Sovereign power and all. I claim your dog in the name of the Southlands!!"

Completely numb and shocked, Joe complied with the King's demand. Bucky gone, Joe was all alone.

A week passed, and then two. Joe grew deeper and deeper into himself.

And then came the news of King Robins' death. It seemed that on a hunting excursion one of his dogs had bitten him on the rump, and the resulting infection had cost him his life.

Even more strange was that the King had included in his last words the order that Joe be made Prime Chancellor over the Southern and Hinterlands. His dog and horse were returned to him and his sword reforged. He had everything back and more.

A month later Joe was stricken with a bad case of the chicken pox and died.

Remember that sometimes things don't turn out the way they should. Also remember that chicken pox are nasty. Those little critters run around eating pizza and the flesh of unlucky victims, hence the saying, "When chicken pox are in your town, hide your pizza or you'll frown!"

AN ENDING OF SORTS

Wesley Adams, Adam, Adam Wesley, Adam Lugibill

Prophet, Sage, Magus, Bard, Jack-of-All-Trades, and WRITER (for pretend)