We stood a few feet apart, our stances mirroring our personalities. He was always the more aggressive, and it showed. He held his sword before him, both hands gripping the hilt as though he were choking it. He leaned slightly forward, like some battle-crazed spirit was pushing him. Every muscle was tense, waiting to spring into action. I, on the other hand, was relaxed. I knew my strengths, as well as my weaknesses. I was smaller than anyone else here. The next closest to me in size and age still had 3 years and 50 lbs on me. I compensated for that by being agile and smart. With my blade pointed at the floor, I looked far more unprepared than I really was. I even looked resigned to losing. A carefully cultivated impression; in my mind, I had already won. I knew how he would move, where he would strike. I knew them all, better than they might believe. Everyone else thought I was timid, but our sensei and I knew the truth. I was simply better than them. And as soon as he moved, they would know it, too. 2008-04-01T21:55:21Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/26558 <p>Well done, W.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53697 2008-04-01T21:55:21Z gemminx http://ficlets.com/authors/gemminx <p>Thanks, Mistress Elsha Hawk. Proof that I sometimes put too much &#8220;thought&#8221; into my stories. ;)<br />What I&#8217;d really like to know is why that&#8217;s the most common mistake I make when writing.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53686 2008-04-01T21:28:16Z Capital "W" Writer (LoA's Geekus Awesomeus) http://ficlets.com/authors/capital_w_writer <p>&#8220;W&#8221; , I think you mean though instead of thought in the second paragraph, and then your story will be flawless! Well executed!<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53681 2008-04-01T21:23:32Z Mistress Elsha Hawk http://ficlets.com/authors/mistress_elsha_hawk <p>I think you mean <em>Brawn</em> Blu. Gr8 story!<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53679 2008-04-01T21:09:42Z Lone Writer http://ficlets.com/authors/solopen <p>hehe. Brains vs bronze! Brains rock!<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53675 2008-04-01T20:58:31Z Blusparrow http://ficlets.com/authors/blusparrow <p>I was about to write a story like this&#8230; stole my idea&#8230;=grumble=... but anyway, love it, sounds like me.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26558?basename=53674 2008-04-01T20:55:44Z Mask By The Moon http://ficlets.com/authors/mbtm