Princess Muscles

[wolflightning13]

Princess Muscles





      "This is your chance, my dear!  This is what you have been dreaming about your whole life, is it not?!"

   "Yes, Mother!  I just didn't expect it to actually happen!  I haven't even finished my knight training yet!"

   "My dear, Joseph.  It doesn't take a knight to rescue a princess.  Anyone can do it.  You just have to be brave enough.  Can you do that?"

   "I think I can." 

   "Don't think.  Do.  I know you can.  And I know the princess will be forever grateful.  Regardless of what happens, I will be proud of you.  Take the leap."  Joseph's mother, Helena said, kissing him on the forehead. 

   "I won't let you down."  Joseph said. 

   "I know you won't dear." 

   Joseph mounted his trusty steed Pickle and rode off into Burly Forest, known for its massive trees, trunks so wide a dragon could fly through the middle of one.  He needed to make it through the forest during the day when all of the animals and other various creatures were sleeping.  No one that entered the forest at night ever returned.  Were they killed?  No one ever knew because they were too afraid to find out.  Joseph pushed Pickle to his limit dashing over and under the giant roots as they barreled through the forest at full speed, making it to the edge just as the sun had begun it's descent.  They pushed on to the foot of the massive dormant volcano, Mount Power, and made camp for the night, safely out of the clutches of the creatures of the forest.  It was said that an evil dragon slept inside the belly of Mount Power guarding an endless treasure trove, but again no one dared to find out.  The kingdom of Strongstein was not known for their courage, but for their kindness.  They were never attacked by any other kingdoms, simply because they were too nice to everyone.  Joseph was the only one who had shown a true adventurous side in nearly two hundred years. 

   It would take at least two days to get around the volcano to get to Muscle Falls, the largest waterfall in the entire land.  There was an old rickety rope bridge that crossed about fifty feet above the falls, cliff to cliff and then finally down through Thunder Valley which ran between two mountain ranges running parallel to each other.  Thunder Valley got it's name from the explosive storms that tore through it every day.  Monster tornadoes with winds spinning so fast they could rip parts of the mountains away had been said to pass through the valley.  Then there was the possible torrential downpours that could either cause flashfloods or mudslides, lightning that seemed to actually target anyone passing through, freak blizzards with air bound ice shards so sharp they could slice a man into pieces, not to mention a sweeping cold that could literally freeze the blood in your veins. Just to name a few of the dangers.  Joseph had read of a secret path that went through a cave around the valley, so he was hopeful he would be able to skirt the madness.  And then finally nestled in a great field of flowers was the tower.  A 100 foot tall, perfectly built masterpiece of a prison, holding a princess that was said to the be the most beautiful woman ever seen.  It's not exactly known how she was trapped there- rumors rang aplenty, but Joseph cared not.  He just wanted to free her. 

   So he and Pickle rode day and night, surprisingly without any problems whatsoever.  He was truly shocked that even Thunder Valley was dead silent.  In fact, it was so quiet with not a cloud in the clear blue sky, that he pushed Pickle right down the center of the valley, not bothering to look for the secret path.  And they made it.  Swiftly arriving at the beautiful field of flowers, they could finally lay their eyes on the tower.  It loomed above the boundless rainbow of colors, a perfectly round structure made of grey stone with a flat roof, and one lone window near the top.  There didn't look to be any door.  He would have to climb.   Luckily he brought a rope.  The only problem was actually getting the rope up to the window.  He couldn't throw the rope up a hundred feet.  And the outside of the tower wasn't made to climb.  He would have to hope the princess could help in the rescue process. 

   "Princess Adaline!  Can you hear me?"  Joseph shouted at the top of his lungs. 

   "Who is it?  Have you come to rescue me?"  Princess Adaline answered, a pure sweetness to her voice. 

   "My name is Joseph.  I have a rope, but I don't think I can get it to you."  he called up. 

   "Wait!  I think I have something that could help."  Adaline yelled back. 

   Joseph heard a loud crashing sound from far above.  Something popped out of the window and started to lower down, tied to some sort of curtains or bedsheets.  Was that a chandelier? 

   "Try to throw your rope over it and I can pull it up.  Then I can tie it off up here so you can climb up."  Adaline yelled. 

   Once the (it was a chandelier!) was lowered far enough down by the endless amount of sheets tied together, Joseph wound up and threw the rope.  Somehow he made it on the first try.  The rope passed over the chandelier and fell in, snagging on the lights. 

   "Ok!  I think it's hooked in."  Joseph yelled. 

   The chandelier began to rise along with the top of the rope, until they both disappeared into the window.  A few minutes later, Adaline called out again. 

   "Tie the rope around you and I'll pull you up!" 

   She'll pull him up?  How?  Did she have a pulley?

   Although slightly flustered, he did as she said.  This was indeed a strange rescue.  Definitely not what he heard in other stories.  Wasn't the rescuer supposed to do most of the work?  He wasn't a true knight, so maybe this wasn't that odd at all.  All that mattered was that he got her out of the tower.  He tugged on the rope when he felt he was safely tied in.  The rope jerked hard, nearly knocking the air out of his lungs, and then he started to rise steadily as Pickle watched from below.  About ten feet from the window, the knot around his stomach began to loosen. 

   "Oh no!" 

   He grabbed onto the rope with both hands, only to see that the rope was also starting to fray, just out of his reach.  The closer he got, the more strands of the rope began to pop.  The knot unraveled about five feet from the window, leaving him hanging on for dear life.   To make matters worse, sweat was greasing up his hands causing them to slip.  Two feet away, another strand snapped.  One foot away.  He wanted to reach for the ledge, but knew if he let go with one hand, that would be the end.  All he could do was pray the rope lasted that last foot.  But as soon as the last fraying strand passed over the ledge, it broke.  Before he could even begin to contemplate the fall, a small hand shot out of the window and grabbed the front of his shirt.  Too surprised to react, he felt his body go limp, held mid-air by the small hand.  A small hand attached to a forearm that would be the envy of the best blacksmith in the land.  A viable ham hock of muscle nearly as big as his head, covered in gnarled veins that snaked down from the back of her powerful hand, muscle fibers twitching under skin so razor thin it was almost transparent in places, hugging the two heads of the beastly muscle that never wavered as it held up his entire weight.  It was only seconds, but it felt like hours, hanging there nearly a hundred feet in the air, his sweaty hands desperately grabbing for the steely meat of the arm.  He finally was pulled through the window and gently set on the stone floor. 

   He gasped for air, heart beating so hard it felt like it was trying to smash through his chest.  Most of the room was covered in darkness, save for the long rectangle of light crawling along the floor.  Whoever the arm belonged to was lost in the darkness. 

   "Princess Adaline?"  he croaked.

   "It's nice to meet you Joseph."

   "Where are you?  It's hard to see." Joseph asked. 

   "I need you to promise something first.  Please don't be frightened."

   "Frightened of what?"

   "Of me.  Do you promise?" 

   "Yes."

   The moment Adaline stepped into the light, Joseph's breath caught in his throat. 

[wolflightning13]

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[wkm1959]

Excellent.

[As]

Nice fantasy adventure

[hatour]

Amazing start. I can't wait to hear her story.  Karma for all!

[wowser1016]

You have our attention! Definitely a great start please don't leave us hanging. K+

[phil123]

Great start and I hope for more.