Mikal Norton

Fictional Writing
WHAT MAKES A STEPMOTHER WICKED?

KLING! KLANG! RING!

The heavy impact of metal on metal jarred my bones from head to toe and stabbed my ears.
How can men do this for a living; if they manage to live at all! Whoa! That almost took my head off!
Another barrage of heavy sword swings and I just barley manage to block and doge them all.
How is this a fair fight? This rusted warrior has been attacking me non-stop with that big nicked sword of
his and all I have between me and a severed head is this blunt poker.
This is madness! How could a man this old be this ferocious and fast? All his armor is rusted to
almost nothing, his white beard hangs out of his helmet visor all the way to his torn belt andACK! My
Poker!
Hes going to hack me in half! It cant end this soon! I barely got a chance to save them! AAAH!
BONNNNG! BONNNNG! BONNNNG!
Oh, thank goodness. The challenge is over. That one minute seemed like forever to face this
warrior.
Snork! What? Where hmm, must have dozed off again.
I dont believe it. The whole time I was defending myself, the whole time I had nearly been
hacked in half, the whole time this knight had been attacking me he was asleep?! What kind of man is
this?
Hmm. Strange I thought I was in the war fighting the French... or was that the Celts? Hm. Oh well
back to my post.
In a war, he dreamt he was fighting in a war? Thats why he attacked me in his sleep? Doesnt he
realized he was on the verge of killing me? No, he doesnt even realized Im here. What is this man doing
here in the first place? Why is

Mikal Norton
Fictional Writing
If I were you, my sweet,
Id get back on the trail and start running on my feet.
Two more obstacles still lie ahead
But be warned, my dear, each one hides dread.
Each hides dread, what was that miserable thing talking about? Was it not enough that he it,
was making me do this absurd task of going down this trail of strange obstacles? What does that
creature that calls its self Ecnirp Fle want from me and my sonser step sons? For heavens sake, of all
the forests those two boys could have run away into why did it have to be this insane place?
This unseen fairy creature, its all its fault that Im in this mess; not to mention all those stories
about wicked step mothers and enchanted forests. Those stories warped the poor childrens minds into
thinking Im some sort of monster and now here they are, in the clutches of a real monster. Now Im
forced to go down this bizarre forest trail with heavens know whats lying ahead for Gah!
A river? I let myself get so deep into thought I hadnt noticed I had stepped right in to it. I guess
this is the next obstacle I need to pass. Doesnt look that deep and the current doesnt look too strong. I
can see the trail on the other side. I can make if I
Can someone help me?
Who was that calling, is it one of the boys? Theres someone coming down the bank towards
me, its them! No, its not them, theres only one and his voice sounds different. Strange, he doesnt look
like a boy or even a human. Whatever is coming towards me is going on all fours. Gasp! Its a bear! A
bear cub.
Scuz me lady, cud you help me get to the uder side pleaz?
It can talk?! Well of course it can talk, why not. This is an enchanted forest of some kind after
all, theres no telling what can happen here. Its stopped in front of me and keeps asking Hey lady!
Scuz me, lady? I better answer it. Please dont have it turn into a ferocious beast.
Um, why do you need to get across the river?
Theres a big tree on the uder side wif lots and lots uf honey in it! I hafent eaten in days and I dont
think I cun swim acoss it un my own. Cud you carwy me acoss, pleaz? Im so hungwy.
Talking or no talking I couldnt help but feel pity for the poor thing. I guess it reminded me too
much of my step sons, they talk the same way it did and they had the same pleading brown eyes it had
as well. I decided I would help the poor cub acoss, er across. Not to mention I didnt want it getting the
idea that it could eat me instead.
Yes, Ill help you.
Yay!
Hes such a sweet animal. Hmm, the river isnt deep here, I guess the best way is to carry him on
my back as I wade across the shallowest part. Please let nothing in the water try to eat me.

Mikal Norton
Fictional Writing
I better crouch down to let the cub ride on my back. Oh, he knew exactly what to do. Hes
clambering on my back and placing its arms around my neck and hugging its legs to my waist. Hes
either a very smart bear or hes done this before to others. I wonder if others have had to go through
the same things I have.
Very well, here we go Brrr! The waters pretty brisk, but not unbearable. Unbearable. Ha! I
hope after this I can make it out of here with my sons. No! I need to stay strong, Im doing pretty well so
far. Im already half way across the river, the rivers up to my waist but I can manage. This thick mud is
making things a bit slower than it should though.
Come on lady! Keep going! Were almost there!
Calm down, Ill get us there.
Ugh, he keeps bouncing up and down on my back and ouch, his claws keep digging into my
shoulders. Doesnt he realize if I fall I might lose him in the water? This mud isnt helping either, if feels
like its getting thicker. Ah, I just lost my boot. I cant stoop down to find it, this bear cub is getting too
frantic.
Hurry up! Hurry Up! I can smells the honey!
Never mind him being cute, hes just annoying. Hes oblivious to the fact that I am trying my
best to get him over there and yet he just keeps making it worst. In fact, the closer I keep getting the
worst things get, the mud had almost stopped me in place and the bear keeps getting more
rambunctious. This is driving me mad!
Come on one more step. Ha, yes! I feel solid gravel under my exposed left foot, no more mud!
Were just inches from the bank. Ouch! That cub just launched off my back and is now heading down the
bank to a hug oak tree. Well I hope he enjoys it! That cub left me a nice sets of scratches on my
shoulders and side. He can talk and he didnt even bother to say thank you.
Well done, only one obstacle to go,
Keep up the pace, dont be slow!
It was Ecnirps voice again.
Oh, do shut up! I screamed.
I was in no mood to hear anything from this invisible devil.
You are frustrated that I see,
But think on this, is this the only choice that needs be?
Is this the only choice that needs be, what is this creature playing at now?
Consider this and ponder it well, my shining star
You have one obstacle to go, but it is the most difficult by far
Succeed, stranger will still be you and sadness they will be

Mikal Norton
Fictional Writing
Yet happiness and love there will ever be here with me
What? Hes saying I should give these children to him? What kind of fool does he take me for, as
frustrated as I am with them and this misadventure I still love them very dearly. Yet, some of his words
still ring truth. Theres still the possibility the children will continue to resent and mistrust me. And what
do I do if word that Henry has died in battle comes? How will the children react to me then? Will they
ever be happy with me?
You are pondering, that is good
Yet doubt there is, that is understood
Please know, imagination is power
So here they will as Gods and foes will ever cower
In exchange, for you and your love wealth and banishment of the spear
Ever will it be yours and the joy of motherhood with children wholl love you dear
What this being is offering me and these children is an incredible offer, yet any normal mother
would have said no in a heartbeat, but for me For me these children are convinced that I am a wicked
step mother and I dont know if they ever will truly find love and happiness with me, especially if their
father never comes home. So the question is, in which choice am I really the wicked step mother?