Wild horses and the songs they ceaselessly sing, traversing my way home.

Where victory was founded with you in my heart, your words swirling within my dreams.

Upon your gaze I could never lie. You are my greatest strength, my greatest hope.

A Wild Hope found in the folds of this forgotten eufaula.

Perhaps, the boy had wandered too far. He had left his home valleys ago,crossed rivers, climbed mountains. He knew not the land that laid before him, only the cries of nature in his far distant past. But the boy, was just a boy, and he had a world that he needed to explore. Some, like his grandfather, knew that they couldn’t keep him trapped. By asking him to stay, they were killing him. In his eyes, the grandfather saw the hint of danger, the glint of adventure. The granndfather heard the sound of restlessness in the boys words and saw the boys look always to the beyond. So the grandfather, held everyone’s hearts together, as they let the boy go. And the grandfather gave him the words that he needed to go, “don’t come back boy. don’t come back until you found the place while your heart is settled and your mind is at peace. Because boy, when you get there, you will know that you are home. And you’ll never come back. “

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 Mario, stout and spry Plumber of pipes and mushrooms—this is no lie Both fishing with lines, but waters stay so still No bite, no splashes… there’s just time left to kill

He tells of a place that leads far, far away To lands unexplored where adventurers play Link chuckles aloud, knowing what he must do Off to the world of Super Mario 2

Within a dream lies a portal too obscure A pipe to new worlds, so strange and unsure While Zelda still sleeps, her slumber unbroken A restless resolve in Link has awoken

Through twilight’s haze, with his horse Horsey near He finds a strange vase, its design oddly clear And warps to a room of pipes, surrounding ground Three choices await where his fate will be found

One’s etched with a sword, one’s marked by a shield And one bears a croissant—a baker’s fine yield He skips sword and shield, sure that Zelda will wake Croissants bring him joy from the bliss that they make

Through pastry’s marked pipe, he leaps with delight Emerging at dawn in a city so bright He spies a tall tower, its cone-shaped design The bakery’s glow calls out, a splendid sign

The people all watch as he strides through the crowd A hero of legend, both humble and proud Yet guards block his way, their voices cold and clear But Link ever bold, slips away from their leer

He devours croissants, their layers so divine The buttery splendor feels frozen in time Yet the guards soon return with swords and their hounds But Link swift as light, leaps past pipes in quick bounds

Back through the vase, he returns to Hyrule land Where shadows and mist now tighten their dark hand Evil stirring with a force so unbound And Link hears the call of destiny’s deep sound

For what is a hero without quest or fight? What worth has peace, if it dims the brightest light? With sword in his grip, shield shining and steady Link charges ahead, his heart and will ready

One strike of his blade—the magic unwinds Zelda stands freed, and now the hero’s face shines Thus ends this great tale of the hero swordsman’s fight Who followed his heart to the last croissant bite

Ten minutes. We agreed he’d only stay in the star gate for ten minutes. Just long enough for him to get a quick look around to try and establish the time and place the stargate lead to and then straight back.

Do not be seen, do not be heard. Get in, get out. Those were the rules.

I was tasked with waiting here, with the horses. We agreed Cal would be back in ten minutes. If he’s not, I wait no longer than one additional hour before alerting Professor Gamby to our shenanigans and begin the task of figuring out how to rescue Cal.

I watched the symbols of the stargate etched into the red bedrock begin to fade, when the swirling electrical sound of the stargate opening started back up. It had only been about two minutes, I figured Cal had ran into trouble early and had to jump back through already.

At least I hoped it would be Cal.

As he stepped back through, I was relieved to recognize the black snake tattoo wrapping around his forearm immediately but as my eyes made their way up to his face, my brain had a hard time reconciling the image in front of me because this man looked like he could be Cal’s dad, definitely closer to 50 and not the 28 year old man that just walked through that Stargate a minute earlier.

‘Ellis?’ he asked, his voice definitely that same, gentle tenor I’m familiar with. I’d know that voice anywhere.

I nodded slowly, unable to take my unblinking gaze from his face, which was sporting a whole new set of soft wrinkles around his eyes and mouth that were not there just moments ago.

Rushing toward me, he caught me in an embrace, wrapping his arms around my stiff, still uncertain body. ‘Oh my god, Ellis, I can’t believe you’re actually here. How did you know I was coming back? How long have you been here?’

Confused by his question, I shook my head pulled his arms from around me and held his hands between us, ‘What do you mean, Cal? You just went through like,’ I looked at my watch to read the seconds as the timer countinued counting, ‘2 minutes and 12 seconds ago.’

The color drained from Cal’s now-mature face.

‘Impossible.’ Now it was Cal’s turn to stare blankly at me.

‘Look,’ I say, as I turn my wrist for him to see the timer, still clicking.

He grabbed my wrist and held it in one hand then slowly dropped it and turned his eyes back to mine, a despair there I had never seen before. ‘Ellis,’ he gulped. ‘I was in there for 22 years.’

Kayla sat amazed by the view in front of her as her horse slowed to a stop near the cliff Kayla’s eyes scanned the four high mountain tops the suns sunset rays glowing on the peaks made it appear a blueish pink colour Into the sides of the mountains where several different signs and symbols etched into the rock Kayla dropped her head down her hand shielding the sun from her eyes as she looked at the map this was it…..

I feel a presence If I go too fast I lose it I rest I eat a little And dream of who I am in sky worlds The presence floods me My large wings open I could dream forever Soar, drift, watch I have many bodies In many worlds I rest in pieces

Part 2

As Amaya settled into her quarters, Master Takeshi walked alone through the moonlit gardens. His thoughts drifted to his own past, to the tragic events that had driven him to seek redemption.

Twenty years ago, his family was brutally slaughtered by a rival clan. Master Takeshi, then a young samurai, was unable to protect them. The guilt and shame had haunted him ever since.

He paused beside a serene pond, its surface reflecting the starry sky. "I failed them," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

A gentle breeze rustled the nearby reeds, carrying the whispered words of his sensei: "Redemption lies not in the past, but in the future."

Master Takeshi's eyes narrowed. "Amaya, the chosen one, is my chance to make amends."

———————————————————————————

The next morning they arrived at a secluded clearing, surrounded by cherry blossom trees. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

"Today, we begin your training," Master Takeshi announced, handing Amaya a katana. "Kenjutsu, the art of sword fighting, will be your foundation."

Amaya grasped the hilt, feeling the weight and balance of the sword.

"Observe," Master Takeshi said, demonstrating a series of precise strikes.

Amaya mimicked his movements, her initial clumsiness gradually giving way to fluid motion.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the clearing, Master Takeshi offered words of encouragement.

"Your progress is remarkable, Amaya. But our journey has just begun."

With the day's training concluded, Master Takeshi led Amaya to a tranquil pond.

"The rogue samurai, Lord Shinoda, seeks to exploit the prophecy for his own gain," Master Takeshi warned, his expression grave. "His darkness spreads, threatening our land."

Amaya's determination grew. "I will not let him succeed."

Master Takeshi's eyes narrowed. "Your training must accelerate. We will face Lord Shinoda soon."

As night descended, Amaya retired to her quarters, her mind reeling with the weight of her destiny.

———————————————————————————

The next morning, Master Takeshi pushed Amaya to her limits. "Today, we will test your agility and strategy."

In the training grounds, Amaya faced a series of obstacles: swinging pendulums, treacherous terrain, and surprise attacks from Master Takeshi himself.

"Anticipate, adapt, and respond," Master Takeshi instructed, as Amaya navigated the challenging course.

With each trial, Amaya's reflexes quickened, her mind sharpening. She began to sense Master Takeshi's movements before they happened.

As the sun reached its zenith, Master Takeshi presented Amaya with a final challenge: a duel against a mysterious, masked opponent.

"Your opponent is skilled," Master Takeshi warned. "Trust your instincts, Amaya."

Amaya drew her katana, her heart pounding. The masked opponent emerged from the shadows.

The duel began.

“How much longer until we get there, Master Takeshi?” Amaya sighed.

**“Maybe two weeks, if you keep talking”, he chuckled. **

Amaya frowned. “And what if I don’t talk?.”

**Master Takeshi paused for a moment, his eyes scanning their surroundings.”hush my child, we are drawing near to the **lands of the Kage no Mura," Master Takeshi finished, his voice low and mysterious.

Amaya's frown deepened. "The Shadow Village? I've never heard of it."

Master Takeshi's gaze returned to the path ahead. "Few have. It's a place where the veil between light and darkness is thin. Where one's true nature is revealed."

Amaya's curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Master Takeshi's expression turned serious. "The Shadow Village holds many secrets, Amaya. Secrets that will help you unlock your potential as the—"

He caught himself, glancing around cautiously.

"As the samurai you're destined to become," he finished.

Amaya sensed there was more to Master Takeshi's words, but she pressed on. "And what secrets do I need to unlock?"

Master Takeshi's eyes locked onto hers. "The secrets of your own heart, Amaya. Your deepest fears, desires, and strengths. Only then can you truly wield the power of the Shinsei no Samurai."

The trees seemed to close in around them, casting long, ominous shadows.

As they walked, Amaya's mind wandered to her friends back home. On their 16th name-day, each girl embarked on a journey with her teacher, learning the intricacies of womanhood. Lady Sakura's teachings focused on elegance, poise, and diplomacy. Lady Emiko's emphasized grace, compassion, and household management.

But Amaya's path diverged. Master Takeshi's training honed her martial skills, strategic thinking, and resilience. The prophecy's weight settled heavy on her shoulders.

"Why must I be different, Master?" Amaya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Master Takeshi's eyes softened. "You weren't chosen for this path, Amaya. You were born for it."

Amaya's thoughts swirled. Born for it? What did that mean? She recalled stories of her childhood: climbing trees, playing with wooden swords, and dreaming of adventure. Her parents, though puzzled, had always encouraged her passions.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Master Takeshi led Amaya to a secluded clearing. A small pond reflected the starry sky.

"Tonight, meditate on your heart's desires," Master Takeshi instructed. "Listen to your inner voice. What does it whisper?"

Amaya sat beside the pond, closing her eyes. The water's gentle lapping and crickets' soothing melody calmed her mind.

In the silence, Amaya's thoughts emerged:

I want to protect our people. I want to wield a sword with honor. I want to fulfill the prophecy.

But at what cost?

Amaya's eyes fluttered open, the starry sky above. Master Takeshi sat beside her, his eyes closed.

"Master, I remembered something," Amaya said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Master Takeshi's eyes opened. "What is it, child?"

Amaya's thoughts tumbled out. "I was a child, playing in the gardens. A wise old woman approached me. She spoke of... of destiny and sacrifice."

Master Takeshi's expression turned solemn. "The Oracle's words. I had wondered if you'd recall."

As the night deepened, Master Takeshi led Amaya to a secluded campsite. A crackling fire cast flickering shadows.

"Tonight, we share stories," Master Takeshi said, his eyes aglow. "Stories of our past, of those who shaped us."

Amaya settled beside the fire, her gaze locked on Master Takeshi.

"I was once a samurai of the Imperial Guard," Master Takeshi began. "Sworn to protect the Emperor, I witnessed darkness within the palace walls."

The flames danced, casting eerie silhouettes.

"A prophecy emerged, foretelling a great imbalance. The Shinsei no Samurai would bring equilibrium. I sought out the Oracle, seeking guidance."

Master Takeshi's voice dropped to a whisper.

"The Oracle revealed the samurai's identity: a young girl, born with the mark of the crescent moon. I vowed to find and train her."

Amaya's heart pounded. "You've known me since birth?"

Master Takeshi's eyes locked onto hers. "I've watched over you, guided your path. The time of revelation draws near."

(Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reading! I just started on this app, no more to say except that I am working on PART 2!) ~Elana Pruitt

Time away from everything brings peace to weary minds. Let’s camp with nature and leave our troubles behind. You and I beneath the starry skies.

Reconnecting our souls in whispered sighs. The pit of fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows. An owl hooted in the distance, marking the night’s secrets.

3 nights of ease, becoming friends again. I missed us and how easy it used to be. In the quiet solitude, our laughter echoed like a forgotten melody.

This is our chance to mend the pieces frayed by life’s demands.

If there was anywhere he’d rather be… well, there wasn’t. He enjoyed the little things most, the way the sky would turn blue and pink at that perfect moment before the sun fell behind the rocky mountains. The scurries of desert mice, the cries of soaring sparrows, the whistles of the wind. However, there was nothing he loved more than his horse, Luna. The sky, the mice, the sparrows, and the wind, paled in comparison to the joy he felt when on her back.

There was no place he’d rather be, because her back is where his heart was. And with his heart, his home. The desert meant nothing if she was not there with him. And so, in the middle of this forgotten desert, among the cacti, sand, and heat, was the happiest man on earth. Sweating under layers of clothing, losing weight and dizzy from lack of food and water, he smiled. The sun crept below the mountain, and the stars began to twinkle against the dark blanket of the night. “Luna,” he whispered, and pointed to the moon. “You are beautiful in every form.”