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Write about someone who has trained all their life for one moment.

Posted in Character on Jun 21, 2024

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✍️ 44 stories

Empress Evangeline

Submitted to Contest #256

“Evangeline?”“Yes, she can keep the name, Tokarov. We are Overlords, not monsters.”“Can I see her?”“Why would you ask such a ridiculous question?”“The child, she's alright?”"With all you, and we have invested in this offspring, why would you question it? It thrives, the first Human/Sabinarath hybrid. It feeds, grows, the other Overlords are impressed. This hybrid might be able to populate New Eden successfully. We have located a fertile planet, yet, there is one final obstacle."“What? What do you mean?”“You must rekindle your warrior spirit....

24 likes 8 comments 8
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North Shore Boards

Submitted to Contest #256

Kailani balanced on her Alaia wood surfboard as a Hawaiian goddess, her bronze skin flecked with the spray of salt water. A thick black braid flew behind her as she rode down the face of the wave, her fingers trailing in the crystal blue wall of water. One more day. She recited her fortune, told by her Auntie that morning , the one year anniversary of her Father’s death. ‘Your new future will land soon’. Kailani knew, deep in her heart, that tomorrow her whole life would change. “Damn, look at her fly!” Another surfer shouted as...

16 likes 10 comments 10
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In the Moment

Submitted to Contest #256

Hector finished the sparring round. His second touched gloves with him and left the ring. Hector leaned on the ropes. Heart pounding, his lungs ached for breath. ‘How many punches make a round?’Vinnie, his manager, approached the ring smiling like a shark. A snappy dresser, he shopped at the thrift store across from the used car lot.“Great job, kid! Keep that up, you’ll mop the floor with him. You’ll have Reese begging for mercy. This is your moment. Everything will be different after Saturday night.”Hector didn’t understand. “My moment?”His...

14 likes 14 comments 14
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The Day I Turned Fourteen

Submitted to Contest #256

I choked on the last dregs in the cup. The particles stuck between my teeth, and a bout of nausea surged through me, though my cracked lips were grateful for the moisture. It was bitter in my throat. I had begun the cup with such fervor, such ravenous righteous reverence, that in my excitement, dribbles from either side of my mouth had rolled down my neck, soaking my perfectly white linen tunic. Every day of my 14 years, each lesson taught in the dusty, harsh air under the stark suns, each prayer and sermon and rite held in the cool temples ...

12 likes 4 comments 4
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The Battle of the Bulge!

Submitted to Contest #256

"I suppose you think this is funny, O Easter Bunny?" Narelle muttered at the golden foil clad bunny, smirking at her. It was now months past Easter. A kind friend had months ago gifted her with this cute top of the range chocolate bunny, symbol of new life and hope for us all.Unfortunately, over that fateful holiday, Narelle had indeed met her Gall Bladder surgeon. Her gallstones had been as those old pizza pies she had eaten. Yes, okay, having recovered from emergency surgery, Narelle was still being classified as 'fair, fat and forty.' "O...

12 likes 4 comments 4
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The Finish Line of Life

Submitted to Contest #256

- Mr. Peterson, may I ask you a question? I was in a huge crowd of people who seemed to want to eat me alive. I couldn't see anything and I was trying to find a quiet place. Somewhere where no one can bother me with questions I don't want to answer. Yesterday I went to my mom's funeral. When I saw her last time, she was so excited about me going to this championship. She smiled and laughed, and I saw life in her eyes. I've been training really hard these past few years. I gave it my all in this championship to show off my skills and prove I'...

11 likes 2 comments 2
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The Moment of Life

Submitted to Contest #256

With my gym bag slung over my shoulder, I boarded the Express bus to the city.  I found an empty window and placed my bag on the floor and sighed, trying to wrestle with butterflies in my stomach coupling with the sizzling elation.  Hard as I tried, I could only get maybe four hours of sleep the night before competition day.  While the bus was idling heavily, I watched as the black soot passed by my window, momentarily obscuring my apartment complex. I smiled at the memories of all the training I had done w...

11 likes 7 comments 7
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Competition Day

Submitted to Contest #256

Trigger Warning: This story contains dark themes, including violence and death.Competition Day slowly crept closer and closer, like a snake slithering towards its prey, waiting for its moment to strike. In the town of Elderswood, it was required of every young man who turned 18 to participate—a rite of passage observed for generations. Taking place once a year from sunrise till nightfall, those who did not attend when politely invited to compete were imprisoned and tried for failing to uphold years of tradition and law. Tradition was heavily...

10 likes 3 comments 3
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Substitute

Submitted to Contest #256

Ellie took a deep breath; she knew what she needed to do. She was way past nervous, her mind and emotions numbed whilst every cell in her body vibrated with an intensity that bordered on painful. Her limbs did not feel like they belonged to her and every movement required conscious effort. Oh, not now, struck by a sudden urge to vomit, she leaned against the wall of the tunnel, pressing her head against the cool brickwork. The change of focus brought unexpected resolution and, oblivious to the looks and shouts from her astonished team-mates,...

9 likes 2 comments 2
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The Race

Submitted to Contest #256

The crowds are gathered along the sides of the track. I feel butterflies in my stomach when I hear their excited voices but I must focus on the finish line. That is my goal.I am doing this for my grandfather. He competed in the Old Limp Dicks years and years ago. If I win then it will prove I have inherited his jeans. My father never got into sport the way my grandfather did. I do this now in my grandfather’s honour. They say that the sporting jeans must have skipped a Jenny Ray’s son. I do not know Jenny Ray or her son, but they are in my m...

8 likes 3 comments 3
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The Last Race

Submitted to Contest #256

Most people awaken from a dream into reality, but to Jack the opposite appeared to have occurred. As though from nowhere he found himself surrounded by a cacophony of chaos and confusion. At first it made no sense, but the reader will have certainly been in a stressful or confusing situation where nothing makes sense and yet, at some deeper level, our minds battle to eventually create reason from surreal madness.For madness could be the only description for what Jack was experiencing. Sports events were always noisy, frenetic mayhem and, lit...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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From Now to Now

Submitted to Contest #256

I was spindly, wild and always hunting for that place in nature where no one could find me. Except, of course, the toadstool fairies and elves I loved hiding with. Ducking under the bushes in the backyard, I crawled into a semi-clearing around an old tree stump. My toadstool.Here I conversed with that world no one else seemed interested in. The translucent other side. The realm where loud words did not have to fall out of my mouth. I was simply and fully understood.Here even smells were translucent. Sun-warmed grass, breeze-blown thicket lea...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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Just Another Reason

Submitted to Contest #256

    “On your mark.”    He took a deep breath as he crouched down at the ready, fingertips lightly grazing the lip of the block. He shut out the sounds of the crowd, the creak of the block under his weight, and even the hum of the lights overhead. All that was left was the thunder in his ears, and the anticipation of what was to come.   A flash of light, muted by his goggles, followed by the sharp beep signaling the start of the race. He hated the sound, dreaded it in the hours before a m...

7 likes 0 comments 0
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The Ninja from the Suburbs

Submitted to Contest #256

Note: Contains scenes of violence and brief mention of mental health"I am sorry, ma'am, " the out-of-shape, African-American woman FAA officer interjected my mother politely. "We can't let you carry this.""But why?" My mom interjected. "I am allowed a carry-on. I am 67 year old diabetic patient with heart problems, cholesterol…"."Ma'am, I am sorry. But these are the rules. Our overhead compartment is full.""How can it be full? We didn't even go in." She objected."Com'on mom, don't be a Karen." I tried to make it light."No wait. Why should I ...

7 likes 6 comments 6
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Formosa: Swim

Submitted to Contest #256

He dives into the water. The chill wetness invigorates him as he thrusts back up for air. He is instantly comforted by the embrace of the water, which has been hugging him since he was just a small child. He looks to the horizon, still fish-gray colored at the crack of dawn. Sitting on a boat beside him, Tamu stretches out his arms and yawns, “So how many kilometers are we going for today?” “Eight. We don't have school today.” “Good grief!” But he is smiling and starting the motor, “Let's get started!” He starts to swim along the coastline,...

7 likes 6 comments 6
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