The Loveliest Dance

Also really old :

The castle is overrun and in disarray.
The walls of the Inside are crumbling around him.
This kind of merciless onslaught is unheard of.
He can't repair the walls this quickly.

The battle rages on.

He's surrounded with his back against the wall, sword and shield in hand, and blazing words of power at the ready, burning his tongue in anxious anticipation.
Fatigued, wounded, and outnumbered, as always.
This is his Last Stand.
He'll probably die here.
He prepares for what could be his final battle, except:

Paralyzed; for the first time ever, he can't move.
His body won't respond.
The enemy is closing in, and he can't move.
He can’t even lift his shield.

Delicate ribbons of crimson lace abound, and beautifully pattern the floor as they fall.
His foes strafe and weave through space, avoiding the airborne ribbons and the patterns they create.
Even in battle this enemy knows true beauty, no matter the source.
Interfering, or worse yet, destroying would be heinous.

Blades flash, flesh parts, armor tints spectacular shades of Bronze, Ruby, and Garnet.
What an absolutely wondrous display.
And what’s more?
They just keep on dancing, and dancing, and dancing; utterly entrancing.
It’s too bad he can only dance like this for so long; it’s like to the most pleasant of dreams.
Alas, Reality and Art don’t always mix so well, you know?

He drops his shield; his arm falls to his side, useless and limp.
His knees buckle; his breathing grows shallow.
He barely stands; supported only by his sword plunged through the floor and into the earth below.
Thus he completes the bloody mosaic begotten by his opponents’ deadly waltz.

Is this fear?
Hopelessness?
Why can't he defend himself?
Why won’t he move?

As his vision fades, the grip he has on his sword slackens, and his thoughts turn to oblivion, he realizes:

Where he thought there were many, there is only one...

Reviews

[Spat Queen]

I read this upside down, inside out and backwards and each time found something new in imagery and possible meaning. I wanted to feel as though I understand it but was relieved when I admitted that I don't. The words flow so magnificently with the inclusion of the images of dancing; I pictured the intent to cause the image of appearance of a bloody, raging battle being romanticized through some choreographed performance. Interesting, to say the least. Well penned.

[Butterflymom]

WOW, beautiful description, and imagery. This was well written, and captivating.