Microcosms 9

26 February 2016

Today is (supposedly) Tell a Fairy Tale Day. So I thought we could take some fairy tales from around the world, mix them up, and turn things on their heads. Sound like fun? Let’s do it!

As usual, our contest will begin with three things: character, setting, and genre.

We spun, and our three elements are character: cat, setting: under the sea, and genre: romance. (Sorry!)

Feel free to write a story using those or spin a new set of your own. Be sure to include which three elements you’re using.

princess
frog
wolf
prince
witch
king/queen
mermaid
genie
beast
homeless child
chicken
tailor
servant girl
shepherd
dragon
emperor
fairy
fish
fox
wizard
goose
simpleton
beggar
giant
devil
cat
thief
dollmaker
lion
ice queen
warrior

castle
forest
lake
falling sky
magic lamp
ancient Persia
beanstalk
Japan
workshop
cave
jungle
the Serengeti
under the sea
ancient China
battlefield
“the streets”
in the sky/clouds
field
underworld
cottage

horror
sci-fi
steam punk
mystery
fantasy
romance
drama
comedy
poem

Spin!

Judging this week are yours truly and last week’s epic winner, Dana Faletti. 🙂

All submissions should be 100 words in length, give or take 10 words (90 – 110 words). You have until midnight, New York time to submit.

Winners will receive a copy of the Kindle version of Fairy Tales: By The Grimm Brothers (Illustrated & Unabridged)

(currently available in the US, the UK, Australia, and other territories), or a similarly priced book of their choosing; alternatively, winners may elect to have the monetary equivalent donated to World Reader or another literacy-related charity.

If you like, you may incorporate the following photo prompt (not required).

an old book sits on a wooden table outside — old book by Griszka Niewiadomsk

42 responses to “Microcosms 9”

Avalina Kreska

26 February 2016

@KreskaFiction
110 purrs
cat\under the sea\romance

Title: Vain Hope

One-eyed Sue sank to the bottom of the fish tank; her faulty swim bladder and hunger unable to keep her afloat. Furious that his aquatic soul mate had been forgotten, and with the precision of a soft mouthed Labrador, Mr. Nibbles picked up his breakfast and leapt onto the sideboard. One-eyed Sue protested in vain at the pilchard that fell like a lead weight – before disappearing underneath it. Attempting to look nonchalant Mr. Nibbles walked away; his heart as broken as the rare £9,000 black Swarovski crystal bull that once stood proudly on the mantelpiece. Spectacles are not becoming for one as a noble as a cat.

Reply
Santino Prinzi

26 February 2016

@tinoprinzi
109 words
cat/under the sea/romance

‘Born this Way’

Tabby always felt different to the other kittens growing up.

“Mummy, I’m a fish.”

“No, honey, we eat fish,” Tabby’s mother told her. “Besides, cats don’t like water.”

“I do because I’m a fish.”

Tabby’s mother did everything she could to stop Tabby. She even took her to a conversion camp. “You’re not a dirty little fish!” she hissed.

Tabby knew who she was, and built a device allowing her to breath underwater. That night she broke out of camp and swam out to sea. When her eyes fell on Roland the Tuna she knew it was love, the type she’d dreamed, and realised this was no fairy tale.

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  26 February 2016
  
  “Fish in the sea
  You know how I feel…
  It’s a new dawn
  It’s a new day
  It’s a new life
  For me
  And I’m FELINE good.”
  
  Great tail… er, I mean TALE, Santino. 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Geoff Holme
    
    26 February 2016
    
    I forgot to say that the quote is from a song by Nina SALMON.
    
    (I’ll stop now…)
  2. Bill Engleson
    
    26 February 2016
    
    don’t. there must be more.
  3. Geoff Holme
    
    26 February 2016
    
    I wouldn’t want to outstay my WHELKome… That would be SHELLFISH…
    (Now I’m scraping the barrel in which they shoot fish.) 🙁
Sal Page

26 February 2016

Slightly Green

‘How giant was this frog?’
Mum’s eyes widened in horror, trembling just hearing of it.
‘About your size, Mum.’
She gasped. ‘What?’
The woman who’d rescued me from spiders – picking them up while I screamed the house down – was petrified of frogs.
‘Bright green too.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Kissed it!’
‘You did what?’
I laughed as Mum visibly shuddered. I’d got over my creepy-crawly fears. To walk in the jungle you need courage. I’d managed to be brave. It’d paid off. Fantastic holiday. Life-changing in many ways.
‘Come in Fred. Mum, meet my handsome prince.’
He was still slightly green but it’d always been my favourite colour.

@SalnPage
110 words
#FlashDog
Frog – Jungle – Horror

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  26 February 2016
  
  Still slightly green… Was his full name “Fred O. D. Neil”?
  Well done, Sal.
  [ ‘Come in, Fred.’ surely, Sal? (comma before the vocative) – ‘Come in Fred.’ means… well, let’s not go into what that means… 🙁 ]
  
  Reply
  1. Sal Page
    
    26 February 2016
    
    Well done to you too. For passing my test. Flying colours. All different shades of green. 😉
Brian S Creek

26 February 2016

A GLASS DIVIDE

* * *

Brian S Creek
109 words
#FlashDog
Cat/Under The Sea/Romance

* * *

“What is wrong, my love?”

Mr Zazzles turned from the port hole. “Nothing,” he purred.

Goldie swam over. “You look so sad.” She kissed the side of the glass helmet enclosing his head. “Do you no longer wish to be with me?”

“Oh Goldie,” meowed Mr Zazzles. “I long to feel your lips upon mine. I can’t bear being trapped behind this.”

“But that helmet is the only thing allowing us to be together.”

“And yet, we are apart.”

“What are you saying?”

Mr Zazzles placed a paw on each side of the helmet. “I’m saying I’ll always love you.” And with that he removed it. “Now you’re free.”

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  26 February 2016
  
  O
  0
  “No!” bubbled Goldie in horror.
  
  Still stuck in the past, Brian? (I mean the PAST photo prompt from the latest FlashDogs anthology, TIME – available NOW at all good Amazon stores!)
  
  Lovely piece of whimsy. (“Mr Zazzles” – aw-w!!) 😉
  
  Reply
Puss in Fins | ParkInkSpot

26 February 2016

[…] words, for this week’s Microcosms (9). Key words: cat/under the […]

Reply
D. E. Park

26 February 2016

Puss in Fins
D. E. Park, @ParkInkSpot
100 words, cat/under the sea/romance
—
“King Tigershark,” said Carabas, “I thank you for your most generous offer, which is far more reward than a simple cat of my humble origins could ever expect.”

“As for the lovely Princess Catshark, I’m so sorry, but I cannot accept. For my heart belongs to another, your majesty.”

“To whom?” the king inquired.

“Your majesty, my heart belongs to cleverest cat in the seven seas.” Carabas swam a sophisticated adiago and tour en l’eau, striking a pose. “It belongs to me, of course.”

Thereafter, Puss in Fins retired to his previous life, swimming only after whatever fish he desired.
—

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  26 February 2016
  
  “Puss in Fins” – that made me snorkel! Why do I hear the voice of Antonio Banderas when Carabas speaks?
  Nice work, Dave.
  
  Reply
  1. D. E. Park
    
    26 February 2016
    
    Everyone else seems to, so why not?
Geoff Holme

26 February 2016

@GeoffHolme
#FlashDogs
Word Count: 110
Simpleton / Forest / Comedy

(Still trying to get a podium place for this tale…)

Coming From the Fair

Simon squatted, dangling his fishing pole in a puddle.

A wagon pulled up, the driver wearing a white baker’s hat. ‘Fishin’, son?’

‘Yup. Gonna catch me a whale,’ the boy replied.

‘Ha! Any luck?’

‘It be a waitin’ game. You The Pieman?’

The stranger, sighing, pointed to his sign. ‘Caint ya read?’

‘Nossir.’

‘Now why don’t that surprise me none? You hungry?’

‘Ain’t hardly never without hunger, Momma says.’

‘Ma bakery’s over on yonder side of the forest. Give me a hand unloadin’, you kin he’p yerself to a pie.’

‘Jeepers! Them whales kin wait. With a pie inside me, I’ll be as happy as a puppy with two peckers!’

Reply
Voima Oy

26 February 2016

Island of Cats
@voimaoy
106 words
cat / under the sea / romance

“There is an island under the sea” the old sailor said, “curled up like a tabby cat or a striped shell. Every 100 years or so, it rises from the Sea of Japan, a tiny island of narrow streets where the cats gather at dusk by the docks waiting for the fishermen to return. You can see it flashing on the horizon–that’s the sea maids sitting on the rocks, drying their hair in the sun. I read about it years ago in a book I found in an old shop in Lisbon. Of course, it could all be a story. But I would take you there.”

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  26 February 2016
  
  Ah, clever stuff, Voima – playing on the different meanings of ‘Romance’: (1) a term for languages developed out of popular Latin, such as PORTUGUESE, (2) A tale of chivalry, (3) a fictitious narrative that passes beyond the limits of ordinary life, (4) maybe a love affair too.
  
  Classic, Voima Oy – love it!
  
  Reply
  1. Voima Oy
    
    26 February 2016
    
    Thank you for reading, Geoff! You are so kind–an amazing scholar and writer. But really, I am not so clever. I was thinking of a sailor’s story, perhaps. Lisbon is a sea port…and an island rising out of the sea is a very romantic notion….there really is an island of Japanese cats—just ask AJ…
  2. Geoff Holme
    
    26 February 2016
    
    Yes, I’ve seen the island of cats on a David Attenborough nature programme: there are far more cats than people, if I remember correctly. In London, there is an Isle of Dogs… but that’s just the name of an area that isn’t even an island!
  3. Voima Oy
    
    27 February 2016
    
    Thanks Geoff–Isle of Dogs is most intriguing!
Stephen Shirres

26 February 2016

Anywhere Else
@The_Red_Fleece
Word Count = 106
Servant Girl/Castle/Steampunk

Heat and noise, the castle’s heating system was never anything else. Ilene’s leather mitts were as hot as the brass chimney she’d climbed. The broken steam valve screamed like a day old child. This was Cindy’s job before she disappeared but the prince was getting married. Ilene wished she was anywhere else.
“I’m sure we could arrange that dear.” The Fairy Godmother stepped onto the chimney’s platform, a friendly looking woman with gentle grey hair.
Ilene shook her head. “Not with you. I’ve heard the rumors. I don’t want to be one of our girls.”
“Why dear?” The Fairy Godmother smiled. “All their dreams came true.”

Reply
Bill Engleson

26 February 2016

Timeless

“Once upon a time…”

“Didn’t you hear about time?”

“No. What?”

“Time is missing.”

“That’s terrible. What happened?”

“No one knows for sure. You know how time was always dawdling…taking its time.”

“Oh, do I! Walking in the woods, wasting precious moments…”

“Time sure did have, how shall I put this, lots of time on its hands. And then…there were the rumours.”

“Rumours?”

“About how time supported itself…”

“I didn’t believe that for a minute.”

“No, me neither. Still, time has travelled a lot. Travel isn’t cheap.”

“Well, I’ll never believe that time is a thief. Time is just…so precious.”

“I agree. Well, goodbye. Time will tell, I suppose.”

“Always does.”

Thief; Forest; Drama
110 time zones
@billmelaterplea

Reply
Firdaus Parvez

26 February 2016

@firdausp
(109 words)
Happily (n)ever after

Very quietly the Princess crept out of the old, dusty book on the shelf, dropping to the wooden floor with a thud.No one was around in the small wooden cottage.
She twirled around with glee.
This was the real thing!
Finally, she was free from her happily ever after. A monotonous blissful existence, full of sweet smiles and sugary words.
She’d visited Snowhite and Cinderella, both, like her were unhappily happy.
Now, here she stood at the window and breathed in the smells of the forest. She spotted a young man, carrying an axe, heading towards the cottage. She waited excitedly.
Time to meet a real man.

princess/cottage/fantasy

Reply
1. D. E. Park
  
  26 February 2016
  
  Unhappily happy. That’s something akin to quiet desperation.
  
  Reply
2. Daisy Warwick
  
  27 February 2016
  
  I love the idea of the Princess physically getting out of the book and down from the shelf.
  
  Reply
Daisy Warwick

26 February 2016

@WarwickDaisy
Words – 110
Cat, In the sky/clouds, Fantasy
‘From Above’

Once-upon-a-time, Felines lived high above the ground. Until…

“Crack!”
Lightning noisily shot from Emperor Whiskers’ tail into a field of dog-walkers.
“Go and see if I hit it,” he said, enthusiastically using his tail as a pointer from his perch on a cloud.
“But Dad, it’s two kilometres to get down there!” protested his offspring, Junior.
“Don’t have inherited ‘the lazy gene’. Confirm whether I hit that beastly Chihuahua or not. No dog growls at me. Off you go.”
“It wasn’t growling at you. It can’t see you,” said Junior.
“I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s too cold to keep living up here, but now I’ve got a plan. Go!”

Reply
Stephanie Ellis

26 February 2016

Gone Fishing

110 words
elements: fish, lake, horror

@el_Stevie
#FlashDog

Dead-eyed silver glittered the surface of Lake Godless, reflected back by the sly grin of the moon. Laughing voices echoed on the distant bank. A spark of gold added to the tableau, a small beacon around which laughter now mixed with song.

The grin widened.

Voices moved from land to water, drunken oars stabbed its silent surface. Flushed faces peered over the side.

A worm stirred in the deeps as an unseen fisherman cast his line, snaring skin, hooking flesh. Songs turned to screams. Thrashing bodies overturned the boat in their frenzy.

The sightless worm rose from the deeps, ready to feed and Lake Godless sank once more into silence.

Reply
1. Voima Oy
  
  27 February 2016
  
  simply stunning!
  
  Reply
  1. Stephanie Ellis
    
    27 February 2016
    
    Thank you Voima, always such kind comments. Much appreciated 🙂
Stella Turner

26 February 2016

@stellakateT
#FlashDogs
109 words
Shepherd/ Battlefield/ Romance

Battle of Loyalty

A beautiful field, he could tell by the quality mud he was laying in, good soil, great drainage, this would have suited his sheep. No chance of foot rot. Once upon a time he was a shepherd, had a fine sheep dog and a loving wife. Then conflict came.
His wife left him when he became a foot soldier said his loyalty should be with her not some government that couldn’t live peacefully with neighbours. He would die in this field amongst the already dead. Glazed eyes showing their souls had gone to a better place. He hoped his wife would know he loved her more than the dog.

Reply
1. Voima Oy
  
  26 February 2016
  
  Great story, Stella. Love the description of the soil of the field, the already dead…the beautiful last line!
  
  Reply
Emily Clayton

26 February 2016

Emily Clayton
@emilyiswriting
109 words
elements: dragon/battlefield/fantasy

Dragons: A Documentary

“What rubbish!” Winnifred Firebreather said as she plopped down upon the beige settee. “They aren’t moving.” She gazed in annoyance at the troops on the field. “Terrible programming. Do change channels.”

“I tried, dearest.” Wilfred’s nails tapped on the armrest, quartz-like threads raining in all directions. One large shard ricocheted, slicing across the chest of the nearest soldier.

Winnifred flicked a shard from her iridescent décolletage. “What’s for supper tonight?”

Mr. Firebreather suppressed a sigh. “Skewered game with roasted vegetables … minus the game. Don’t suppose—”

Winnifred had already launched herself away, swooping at top speed for the freshest, juiciest foot soldier.

The episode had just become interesting.

Reply
A.J. Walker

26 February 2016

Date Night
A.J. Walker

Our parents said; ‘Play together, stay together’. Absofuckinlutely!

We turned our passion into a hobby. Forms the basis of date night. Gets us out the house. Keeps us fit; you tried herding cats? Jayne’s a natural. Gives ‘em the eye. They almost walk into the sacks without even a meow.

Then we gets down the dock, into our lovely boat, then pops ‘em over the side. You heard the death meow of a cat? Fair lush!

Later it’s beef chow mien down Yang Sing. Feel obliged as they get the blame for the disappearing cats. Don’t even like Chinese, but we loves date night and the silence of absent cats.

——
WC 110
@zevonesque
Cat/Under the sea/Romance

Reply
1. Sal Page
  
  26 February 2016
  
  Excellent! ‘They almost walk into the sacks …’ 😉 This pair really need to start taking holidays in Morecambe.
  
  Reply
Craig anderson

26 February 2016

Ro-Meow & Ju-Gill-et

I broke the unbreakable rule. what’s the point in having 9 lives if you don’t take a few chances? Turns out it was unbreakable for a reason.

It was only a moments hesitation. I don’t know why I didn’t gobble her up like all the others. In that pause I fell head over heels, the one time I didn’t land on my feet!

How am I going to meet her parents? I’m terrified of water and they aren’t exactly great on dry land. Besides, I think I may have already eaten one of them.

Let this be a lesson to you all. Love your food, just don’t LOVE your food!

@todayschapter
110 words
Cat-underwater-romance

Reply
1. Geoff Holme
  
  27 February 2016
  
  The puns in your title are even more groan-worthy than the ones I’ve been making… Love the last line though!
  
  Reply
Meg Kovalik

26 February 2016

@meg_mediocre

109 words

Cat; Under the Sea; Romance

Cursed

Cat yearned after the waning moon. His name was lost to the ocean centuries before but he could still remember the crescent reflected in his lover’s eyes the night they were discovered.

The gods were vindictive in their response; now he was simply “stowaway,” ship’s ratter.

A kill lay at his feet as he gazed into the murky depths. “Kraken, my love” he purred, “from my heart.”

As the mess of fur tumbled overboard a tentacle breached the surface to place a sardine at his feet and caress his fur with impossible tenderness.

“And from mine” the wind sighed as the rat was drawn into the icy darkness below.

Reply
Dave James Ashton

26 February 2016

Draconic Dreams

Far below the ocean waves is the demense of Phương Ngọc the water dragon. Deep in slumber she lies, on a bed of sunken pirate gold.

Long may she rest! For it is foretold that when Phương Ngọc awakens she will fly up to Heaven, taking her handmaidens the stormclouds with her. Rain will become a thing of the past. Parched, the very Earth itself will crack in twain, for our tears shall not be enough to slake its thirst.

And that is why my darling we burn sweet smelling incense on the second Tuesday each month, to placate her so her dreams are untroubled.

104 words
@davejamesashton
dragon/under the sea/fantasy

Reply
1. Voima Oy
  
  28 February 2016
  
  wonderful story!
  
  Reply
Anywhere Else – Author's Notes – The Red Fleece

20 March 2016

[…] Friday I entered Microcosms 9 with my flash fiction tale Anywhere Else. Thanks to the Microcosms spinner the […]

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Microcosms 9

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