Short Writing

I entered a writing contest. It had to start with A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…, similar to star wars. The page limit was 2, so it turned out like this:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… there was a dude. He looked like any other person. But he had something unique within him, a power that would once again bring joy of being in the ocean to his planet.

Randeriz lived on the small isolated planet of Mynteron. His humanoid species’ appearance had a great resemblance to humans, but their skin was blue. Their sun had emitted radiation, that had slowly, over the course of centuries, turned their skin to blue. It didn’t necessarily give them any advantages, but Randeriz was at exception. He was a special one, one in a trillion chance to be exact. He had developed gills.

Unfortunately, the water was one of the things that Mynteronians feared. Unlike Earth, countless cruel deformed sea monsters lived in the oceans who had eaten countless Mynteronians, and had sunk countless of their fleets. Their armored skins were impenetrable, making it impossible to kill them.

Randeriz also understood the words of nature, adding on to his gills. He understood what all creatures were saying, even trees. Trees seemed to be boring life forms. All they do was staying stationary until they fall. But Randeriz knew better and actually found them one of the most intelligent “species” on his planet. Randeriz never told anyone about his secret abilities, thinking others might look down on him and treat him as an outcast.

But Randeriz wanted to do something for his people with his talent. He thought of a plan. He was going to talk to the sea monsters.

This was no doubt a daring act, as it could be trip of no return. But the motivation for people to respect his talents and him make it worthy. The last thing he wanted to be was a Mynteronian with wasted power.

Randeriz’s father oversaw a famous shipyard, owning many of the most luxurious cruisers on Mynteron. But the people’s fear of the ocean had put him out of business. But the Mynteronian government allowed him to keep his cruisers, as a memorial.

Randeriz walked past the rusted sign: Wernyon’s Boats. After his father’s business had collapsed, he never polished the signs. Randeriz thought to himself how a polished sign would lighten up the gloomy mood of the place. He walked along the muddy stone path, crawling with bugs and worms. He knew his father wasn’t quite organized, but was still surprised how the shipyard was left at. His father lived in the house he grew up in, a shabby two storied wooden building, with countless windows. It sat at the edge of the Vuctino River, polluted with brown guck. When they had first bought the house, the Vuctino river was as blue as the sky, and now, it was the same color as the dirt surrounding it.

Randeriz found his father slowly swinging on his hammock, chewing on garlic. Garlic was Wernyon’s favorite food. He added it into everything that he cooked for Randeriz.

“Father?” Randeriz said quietly, stopping at the hammock.

“Mmm?” Wernyon didn’t move, but Randeriz knew he had his attention.

“I need a boat. I was wondering if you could lend me one.” Randeriz said. He and his father always had this awkward tension between them. It all started after Randeriz found that he was adopted.

“Oh sure, you know I have plenty,” Wernyon hesitated, “Why do you need a boat? These days with that many monsters lurking in the water, no one wants a boat.”

Randeriz cringed, he found no alternative but to tell his father his plan.

After hearing the plan, Wernyon silenced, but then agreed, to give Randeriz his top yacht. Years ago, this had been a beauty, named Ruler of the sea. Now, it was just scarred, with moss growing on the sides, like the house, the shipyard and the whole land.

 “I’ll take it.” Randeriz said, quietly.

Then he set off, to talk to the monsters of the sea.

Four hours into his journey, Randeriz started feeling anxiety in the middle of the sea. He didn’t know where that came from, but he felt it nontheless. He was ready to meet the sea monster, face to face.

Then it happened.

A strong essence suddenly appeared in the area below him. The ocean around him was illuminated. The once polluted brown water transformed into a beautiful light blue, like it used to, years ago, but Randeriz knew what was behind this serenity.

The ocean roared, and his boat was lifted twenty feet into the sky. A horribly deformed face showed up in front of him. It had scales hanging from every inch of its face. Its expression would scare anyone for the rest of his life. Its mouth didn’t move, but words echoed in Randeriz’s brain.

PUNY, PRIMITVE LIFE FORM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, DO YOU WISH TO ENTER THE AFTERLIFE?

For some reason, the voice reminded Randeriz of his English teacher. He looked up, “No, I’m here to talk.” The monster’s eyes widened, surprised at the fact that an unintelligent Mynteronian was able to hear him.

AFTER ALL THE THINGS THAT YOUR SPECIES HAVE DONE TO MY OCEAN, YOU DARE COME TO TALK?

Randeriz looked confused. My species did something to the ocean?

YOUR SPECIES HAS POLLUTED MY OCEAN! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FISH HAVE DIED?

So that was how the water turned into muddy brown, it was actually us? Looked at the blue clear water around them, Randeriz had no trouble sharing the monster’s disgust.

“By speaking on the behalf of the Mynteronians, I’m sorry. I didn’t know about the pollution before my time, but I want to start the change to get the world back to what it was, the ocean to what it was.” He added, “could you give me the chance?”

He had little hope that the monster would trust him. But surprisingly the monster didn’t yell nor roar, it stood there, as if thinking. Every breath it let out felt like a hurricane washing over Randeriz’s face. Stood his ground, Randeriz decided to push it after considering his next words, “I’m sorry, O’ Large One, it was never our intention to pollute the ocean and we were already published in many ways. But I think there is still hope, I know a well designed cycling process, could bring the green seas back to its old self. But for that to work, you need to stop sinking our ships and let us in, Deal?”

The sea monster loomed over Randeriz, drool of the size of cars dripping on him. It seemed that time of infinity passed. Then it spoke, in a low voice, “Deal.” It then submerged beneath the ocean suddenly, just as it emerged, its long, jagged tail flipping behind it.

Randeriz stood on where he was, speechless. He had just negotiated with a sea monster!

His mind grew grim soon enough. Now he had a promise to honor, a big one. He turned the ship back, and headed for land.

These days every Mynteronian elementary student knew that the great cycling invention was made by the world genius Xitypo, which over the years returned Mynteron the blue sea, the clear sky and the blossom. The sea monsters no longer sank ships, and the ocean once again was filled with yachts and cruise liners.

It is a planet, where Mynteronians and sea creatures have learned to coexist-peacefully.