Sing O’ Muse of Link the swordsman so bold

Protector of Hyrule, Zelda’s hand to hold

For ninety-nine years peace reigned across the land

Until boredom crept, impossible to withstand

Near Hyrule’s lake close to the castle’s spire

Zelda still sleeps, bound tightly by magic fire

Link roams the fields, seeking solace for his stead

When an idea sparks—he’ll see the guy in red

Beside the shore sits Ma...

“Is this some kind of joke?” he mutters to himself, his voice echoing in the dim, hollow room. The place barely resembles a museum, feeling more like a neglected storage closet. Charcoal-painted walls swallow up the sparse lighting and seem to cast everything in an eerie glow.

At the center of the tiny room, under a single, narrow spotlight, sits a flimsy folding table that carries a single objec...

I lower my tray table, eyes locked on the snack cart as it creeps closer. Mom raises her eyebrows, and I know I have a decision—cookies or pretzels. I’m leaning toward cookies when, out of nowhere, the cart rolls right past us without stopping. I huff, leaning toward Mom. “Did they seriously just take away our snacks?”

She chuckles and pats my hand, but I feel Disgust stirring in my head, like in...

The unblemished soles stepped one by one onto the green-gray carpet. In a fluid motion they pivoted, then glided past the more modest leather gathered around the long translucent table. As they were about to reach their destination, they halted, prompting a quad of silver wheels to obediently roll aside. Taking advantage of the vacuum, the shoes quickly adjusted their position until they were fram...

a dash to the gate

few minutes ‘til late

dodge and weave

a travelers siege

such an endless blur

bags crossing the floor

sneakers pair suits

new army recruits

a neck-hanging child

cart, suitcases piled

jackets with shorts

busy food courts

order-is-ready calls

folks staring at walls

both big and small screens

transportation machines

announcements on air

man wheels a chair

the boy has a cast

crowd pu...

Jab against my coat, sharp and sly

Finger darts, then shoots right by

I whirl around, my pulse a flare

But the source is gone, no one there

A tap, a spark, like secret code

A thrill, what fun, like a la mode

Look again, empty space, such a pill

The poker, so quick, unseen but still

The nudge runs down my sleeve like fire

Fast whip around, my thoughts conspire

But nothing shows, no trace to see

T...

Samwise Gangee stood there, staring down at the small, golden ring he’d just pulled from the pocket of a plain white shirt. His first reaction was disbelief, a shocked laugh that caught in his throat. _This couldn’t be,_ he thought. _That’s just a story… right?_ But there it was in his hand, as real as the lint he usually pulled from these pockets.

A thousand scenarios flashed through his mind. B...

“Remember when we swapped the bathroom signs and Fred got yelled at by Marge?” Gibson laughs as I finish my taco. “Yeah, that was pretty epic. But karma might still want a say, you know,” I frown, glancing at my watch. “Hey, we’re gonna be late for the standup.”

“Oh, you’re right—let’s go!” Gibson throws some game tokens on the table, then adds, “Actually, Bill… let’s take the _tube_.”

I grimace...

If only I were an experienced sage

Or perhaps a powerful black mage

Words would just flow to the page

And I would totally be all the rage

But like in that ancient adage

You should know all the world’s a stage

Just break free from your mental cage

You’re ready now, it’s time to engage...

Detroit, 2077, Earth-21109.

Murphy scanned the mission area: “Threat assessment: High.” Three targets. Two of the hulking mechs had already dropped to the ground, their hydraulics whining in protest. The third was recklessly descending from the massive cargo plane, fast. Before it could join the fray, Murphy was on it—his recent upgrades kicked in, and he closed the distance midair.

Missile laun...