Patience Grasshopper fiction

[EM Mystique]

Sitting at a low table concentrating on a beautiful bonsai cherry tree the Master waited for his student to return. It had been long and arduous training this particular student, whom he still named Grasshopper. Despite the uncanny resemblance to the insect the term was used not as an endearment but as an indictment on his lack of focus and ability to follow instructions. He was flighty and prone to jumping into things before fully considering all the possibilities.

In rushed the Student, as if on cue. He was out of breath and in a panic as if hell were on his heels ready to overtake and crush him. Pressing hard against the wall threatening to tear the delicate rice paper, he finally paused to see that the Master was unfazed by the rush of information barely coherent. Collecting his thoughts and his breath the Student stood and faced his Master bowing from his waist low and respectfully. Beginning again he told of his adventure and the findings he had discovered.

The news that was delivered was unsettling at best. The forces of Chaos were amassing against the Empire and would soon be in a position to strike. It would be up to the Force of Order to keep the balance in the lands. This would indeed be a time to test all that the Student had been taught, and how well he would be able to lead others.

Releasing the flock of pigeons, each with a note attached to their leg, the word was sent that help was requested. Together the Master and Student prepared for the battle. Final lessons were reviewed and tactics were formed.

to be continued...

 

[EM Mystique]

Late on a lovely summer evening a dark shadow filled the thresh hold of the Master’s Palace. A messenger of Feng the Wicked filled the door waiting impatiently for permission to enter. He followed the rules of civility and waited invitation, but his ire was stirred and he was clearly impatient at having to wait.

As he slowly walked the hallway of the unused rooms, the ancient teacher reflected on past glory, breathed in their tired energy and hoped for renewed honor to return to his Palace. Plodding and methodical the Master made his way to the entrance of his home to greet the dark stranger. He knew the day would come when a challenge would be leveled, but he had hoped more of his house would be in order before that day arrived.

Standing calm and tall, much taller than his petite frame would deem possible, the Master greeted his guest with a standard greeting and slight bow. The messenger returned the bow but not the greeting but instead shoved a parchment into Master’s hand. With a grunt and a growl, trying desperately to sound intelligent the Messenger tried his own hand at lobbing threats and insults loudly into the old Palace. Obviously out of his element it was almost painful to listen to the poor oaf. Saving the pride of the ridiculous fool the Master thanked him for his message and dismissed him.

Once back upstairs the Master sat at a low table to unroll the messy parchment. The words were clear, but obviously not scribed by a trained artisan. Unaccustomed to the sloppy work of an untalented hand the Apprentice was brought in to read the scroll. As the Master sat back with tired eyes closed he listened as his student read the words on the page.

“Feng the Wicked demands that you defend your honor on the field of Battle! The field is near the Shrine of Isamu, my Army is Great and my Power will destroy your pathetic excuse for a Palace. We will reduce you to rubble and ash, you will scream my name as your dying breath.”​

As Grasshopper read the words scrawled down the page the color left him. He had been in training for such a long time was there any possible way he was prepared for such a challenge? His mind raced and panic began to overtake his emotions.

“Peace, Grasshopper, will come through Balance. Even Chaos, in time will bow to the ways of Balance, as all things must.” The Master stated matter of fact to the Apprentice.

“Patience, Grasshopper, patience. Now go meditate and clear your mind. We will need to call on friends from far off lands to assist in this matter, tomorrow we will begin.

 

[EM Mystique]

Rose Blaque had wanted to take BriarPatch on a long jaunt and hunt for quite a while, so she used this excuse as an opportunity to drop in on the Ancient Palace in the Tokuno Islands. When she arrived in this strange land so many months ago she had run into the Old Master and he befriended her. She had not been free to visit him and his new apprentice in quite a long time.

Traveling up the winding path Rose and her wolf companion made their way romping through fields, battling the creatures they crossed and enjoying the fresh air. They were almost to the Old Palace when a lone creature full of venom and evil turned on them full bore. Charging at them, blood fever blazing in his eyes, the creature fumed a wicked poison essence and claws that were razor sharp.

In a mighty leap the Wolf and the Creature met mid air, claws and fangs laid bare. The commotion was horrible as the two great beasts tangled. Fur and scales flying along with the blood and acid, it was difficult to tell where one beast started and the other ended. Rose took steady aim with her GrapeVine staff and leveled a mighty blow that landed square between the creature’s eyes. As quickly as it had begun the battle was over. BriarPatch was much better off than the Creature, who lay dead in a fuming pile of oozing acid.
Rushing to the Ancient Palace, spurred by the event with the strange creature, Rose and the Wolf continued on their way. When they arrived the Master was standing at the thresh hold as if expecting them. He welcomed them with warm greetings and ushered them in to sit at a low table. The Wolf laid on the floor behind Rose licking wounds while Rose relayed the tale of what they had encountered.

Learning ways of order and patience the Grasshopper meandered in to the room with a fresh pot of green tea and a towel draped over his arm. He placed the pot on a low heating stand before approaching BriarPatch in the attempt to assist in cleaning wounds. The acid that was collected on the fur of the great Wolf was a new development. There would be a great deal of harm to come from the Army of Chaos.

A new urgency rushed over the Grasshopper. His panic rose to a new level and the ebbing control he held in check was quickly flowing away from him. They needed an Army of their own! Who would come to attend such a weak creature as he? He was no match for the perils he now saw.

“I will call my friends.” Came the simple reply from Rose.

 

[EM Mystique]

Re: Patience Grasshopper fiction *To the Plains of Hell*

To the Plains of Hell:
Rise of the Phoenix

“We Won, Sensei! I can’t believe we Won!” the young Grasshopper cheered hopping about the Palace like a small child.

“But of course you did.”Came the response so matter of fact it took Grasshopper completely by surprise.

“The force of Balance must always win; it is the way of the worlds. I would hope, young Apprentice, that I have taught you at least that.” Said the Sensei with a look of deep sorrow in his eyes.

“Remember one more thing, Grasshopper. This battle is yet just begun. There is a great deal more at work here for us to complete. Do not forget the work of Order is never complete.” And with that Sensei turned and shuffled slowly back to his chambers closing the delicate paper door behind him.

A while later that same day Rose Blaque came to visit the Sensei and Grasshopper. Her concern was deep as she felt the previous battle was far too easy. Chaos was a great force and not to be taken lightly, she was certain there would be more conflicts. The staff she carried also picked up great disturbances within the ground throughout the previous battle field. She felt compelled to share her information with Sensei, he would certainly know what to do.

 

[EM Mystique]

Slinking in the shadows of the land were no longer an option for Feng the Cursed, he was now a glorious blaze of beauty and power. His minions would certainly listen and obey him now! The other Chaos Leaders of the land would recognize him for his greatness now that he was a mighty phoenix. This was a sign from the deity signifying his dominance and the seal of his right as ruler. There was no other explanation of why this had happened to him, he was a Chosen.

His treachery was only matched by his boundless arrogance as he massed his Army of Chaos together in preparation to approach the Great Sleeping Dragon. Of course he was worthy to wake the mighty beast, he was Feng a Phoenix! They must be almost like family with the shape he was in at that moment. The flaming footprints he left in his wake were difficult to control, but such a sacrifice for the great honor he was given.

Boldly Feng approached the lair of the Sleeping Dragon, the great cave entrance would allow only those who were ‘worthy’ of an audience. A momentary pause as he puffed himself to full height, closing his eyes he stepped with confidence into the hole hoping it was not a wall in disguise. When he opened his eyes a smile drew long and slow across his lips, he had been allowed entry! Blinking to adjust his eyes to the darkness, Feng continued to venture into the cave, his glowing feathers illuminating the path around him.

Finally taking a long sweeping bend the path opened into a large treasure chamber. Piles of gold and jewels, gems of all rarity and color covered the ground making the bottom of the cave disappear in a mountain of riches. Feng could not help himself as he stood in awe of all that lay before him.
A deep rumbling that echoed throughout the entire cavern broke him from his trance and forced Feng to brace himself in a rather undignified manner against a wall. The Great Sleeping Dragon stirred from its slumber annoyed and impatient to know who had dared to enter his lair. A billowy puff of smoke curled from its nostrils filling the space with the stench of brimstone and sulfur causing Feng to gag. The piercing emerald green eyes were in startling contrast to the ruby red scales of the mighty beast. Even in a whisper the voice of the dragon shook the chambers and rattled the earth around the cave.

“Who dares to wake me?” came the command.

“It is I, Sinister Feng the Cursed, commander of the Army of Chaos and defender of the Shield. I boldly approach you, Great Sleeping Dragon, to claim your assistance in the defeat of the “Top Worlders” and their so called Order. We will crush them and I will sit with you as we rule together in a new era of Glory and Chaos!” Feng replied forgetting his place and audience.

A loud growling roar emanated from the center of the room making gold coins chatter and jingle as the mound of treasure shifted at the weight from the Dragon. Higher and higher it rose towering above Feng. As the Great Dragon leered down on the glowing speck of incompetence he decided to send out some of his minions and younglings if for nothing else to rid his presence of the nuisance called Feng the Cursed.

“I will allow some of my brigade and younglings to help your cause, but if anything happens to them I hold you personally responsible. If any of my army comes to harm, do not bother to show your face here again!” and with that the Great Sleeping Dragon turned around in his nest of gold and gems falling back to sleep puffing little wisps of gray smoke as he breathed.

 

[EM Mystique]

Feeling so much more confident and proud of himself Feng the Cursed left the Great Sleeping Dragon’s lair with a trail of burnt ground in his wake. His new “gift” of blazing feathers were worn as a badge of honor, never mind the fact he was not an honorable man. The feathers burned his skin especially when landing, but even this he took as a sign of his righteousness. His Army of Chaos would rule the worlds and he would be exalted by the Great Sleeping Dragon personally!

Calling together his minions once again to prepare them for battle Feng introduced the new elite Brigade. Feng the Cursed was so excited and giddy at the introduction he almost made a complete fool of himself.

The battle field was chosen, the messenger sent back to Sensei and the Grasshopper to prepare for a rematch and his troops were amassed and ready to engage the Enemy. If he could keep the news away from the Rose Blaque woman all would go as planned. Sensei would need to lead his own troops into battle.