Hey there! This is a response to Alicia's Storyteller's challenge. I almost didn't send it, because I wrote it and then read hers, and it was in the same style and bleck. Then I thought, well, it's not a rip off because I wrote it before I read hers, so I'm sending it. :)

In this story no one belongs to Marvel. I suppose that the gods do, in a way, but . . . ah . . . well, you'll see. :) Comments loved, criticism considered, flames laughed at and horribly humiliated.

All right, all right then. Sit down and I'll tell you a story. No, you sit down too. Alex, am I going to have to come over there and . . . thank you.

Now. What would you like to hear?

Sorry? No, that's just a rat. Leave it alone, Jesse. Which story?

Jesse, what did I just say? All right. What? No, I'm not angry. Just don't do it again. Now, which story? If you kids don't choose--

Do I have to tell that one?

Oh, what a sweet child, but we both know that I don't tell it the best. Are you sure you don't want to hear a different story? What about the one with the dragon?

No?

Oh, fine. This one is such a bunch of rubbish, though.

Well, your mother is wrong. It never happened. I think these people never existed.

All right, all right, enough. I'll tell the story already, if everyone will kindly sit down, Alex?

Thank you. Now, once upon a time, back before the Outbreaks . . .

What?

No, sweetheart, the Outbreaks were what killed most of our people, and destroyed--yes, you've heard about it before.

Now, as I was saying, it was before the Outbreaks. In fact, it was even before the camps.

Yes, Alex, there was a time before the camps.

The world was young then. It was green, and peaceful. Oh, sure, they had some wars, but nothing like the ones we have today. Bodies weren't lying, rotting in the streets. The days were mostly drowsy afternoons, and few people froze to death before they woke. In this era of warmth and light, there was a sword.

That's right, Jesse. Excalibur. Do you remember the other story about the sword?

Yes, it had King Arthur. You're so very good at remembering these stories, Jesse.

Well, it was said that whoever held this sword would have the power to cure people, and help them. Now, in this time of peace it so happened that a young man had this sword, and so he had powers. He was the god of night, and looked like a demon. His name, they say, was . . .

Was . . .

Yes, that's right. Thank you, Alex. It was Tarantula. He was named after a very deadly insect. Well, actually a tarantula is a spider, and those are arachnids.

What, Chelsea?

Oh. Well, some legends say his name was Marabunta, some say it was Tarantula, some say it was Centipede, it was so long ago no one is sure anymore what it was. I'll say Tarantula.

Tarantula was so horrible to behold, that it was said anyone who looked at him would die of fright! He had a tail that could reach around and strike you down--just like a scorpion--and yellow wolf eyes that could see in the dark. He had been a minion of the Underworld before he found the Excalibur sword, and he still held his demon appearance. He was a very nice demon, except that he had trouble sharing things.

His sister was a ghost.

Yes, a ghost.

I did? Well, a ghost and a wraith are the same thing. Her name, they say, was Panther. She and Tarantula were brother and sister--they had the same mortal mother--and they were very close. Though Panther was a ghost and could not wield the sword, she stayed with Tarantula and helped where she could anyway.

One day a small cult of people came, and tried to raise the devil from the Underworld. He was going to unleash the Outbreaks, and only Panther knew it. So she went as fast as she could to the nearest mortal--a demi-god who could shoot fire by thinking of it--and asked him to find her brother and tell him.

Now this man--

What?

Well, I suppose he was frightened by seeing a ghost. But he was a demi-god, and so he couldn't get too scared. Anyway, this man went quickly to where Tarantula dwelled, but before he knocked he remembered that if he looked at the demon he would die with fright. So he closed his eyes tight and went inside.

And what do you suppose was inside?

That's right, Jesse. The sword was there, sitting on a table.

Well, the man couldn't help himself. He could feel the power of Excalibur, and had to pick it up. Just as he did Tarantula came down the stairs and the man shouted what Panther had said, then picked up the sword.

Tarantula was so angry that he pulled the demi-god around, and before the man could react he was dead of fright. Tarantula took his sword back, and ran for his sister. They got there, and Panther got him inside, where the people looked upon his horrible visage and all died.

Now, Panther was very sad that Tarantula had--

No, Alex, he didn't feel bad about killing those people. Gods never do, you know.

Panther was sad that Tarantula had killed the man, for she had fallen in love with him. So she looked into his face, making herself die again. Her spirit was banished into the Underworld, where she spent days and nights looking for her demi-god.

Now Tarantula felt awful about his sister, for he loved her dearly, and finally he went to the lord of the Underworld and asked for her back. But the lord replied that it would never happen, because the girl had found her love and they were happy.

Well, yes, they were dead.

You can be happy when you're dead.

Yes you can.

Who's telling this story, you or me?

Thank you. Now, Tarantula went on a quest to find his sister, for family is more important than anything, and finally, after fighting the three headed dog and the great silver giant, he found her. But she wouldn't leave without her love, Enlightenment--

I didn't? Oh. Enlightenment was the demi-god.

Anyway, she told Tarantula that. Finally, so very sad at the world for keeping his only sister from him, he returned to the Upperworld.

Hush, Jesse. You'll spoil the ending for the other children.

You see, Tarantula was not willing to share anything with anyone, not even for his sister. So do you know what he did?

That's right, Alex. He brought down war upon the world. He called down all the gods, and threw Excalibur--that which kept peace no matter who welded it--into the Great Rift where no one would ever find it. Famine and drought broke out, running rampant across the globe. All for the love of his sister.

What's that?

Yes, Jesse, you're right. This story does have a moral. Little girls should do as they're told, no matter what.

What, Chelsea? Oh. Well, yes, Tarantula did bring all that down on us. But it was because of his sister, Panther.

Well, I suppose that if the human god had been nicer Tarantula might have liked him more . . . but, no. All little girls must do just as they're told. It doesn't matter what.

Yes, that is why your friend Amanda had to die. It was not her place to argue, and she did. Just like Panther. So never, ever argue with your superiors.

Now it's time to go to bed, I'll tell you another story tomorrow.

What? No, Jesse, you may not keep that rat.

Good night.

Back to the X-Mansion
Back to the living room