The video game bleeped and blipped in front of Jeff Hardy, as he pounded the controller buttons even harder. He swore as he watched the computer image of his friend Lita grab the belt before the image of him could. �Dammit!� he screamed. �Dammit what?� a voice from the doorway asked. �Did Lita just beat you for your title again?� �You stay out of this Matt!� Jeff yelled at his brother. �My ribs hurt bad and I can�t believe Vince has me on the injured list.� �You got hurt bad last week little bro. It would be stupid to get back on the road, let alone in the ring with how hurt you are.� �I know, but I�m so tired of these video games.� �You mean you�re just tired of watching my girlfriend kick your ass.� �Okay, that too.� There was a pause. �Matt, tell me a story.� �What?� �A story, tell me a story.� �Why?� �I just wanna hear a story�please????� �About what?� �Anything. Make it like a storyline, but better.� �Okay, okay, where do I start? Once upon a time there were these two brothers who�oh damn it, I can�t do this!� �Do what?� another voice asked, interested. �Oh, hi Lita,� Matt smiled at the red head. �Hi Matt, hey Jeff.� Noticing the abandoned controller. �Did I beat you again?� �No�I just got bored and Matt can�t tell a decent story to save his life.� �Okay, okay, let me try,� Lita sat on the edge of Jeff�s bed. ************************************************************** Long ago, there was a princess named Stephanie. Stephanie was a kind young woman who lived with her family in the kingdom of Greenwich. There was nothing she liked more than riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy, Chris Jericho. �Boy, fetch me my saddle,� she�d order him. �As you wish, you dirty skeezy disgusting brutal bottom feeding trash bag ho!� he�d reply. �Boy, hand me that pot,� she�d tease him. �As you wish, you dirty skeezy disgusting brutal bottom feeding trash bag ho!� he�d reply. Finally, one day, Stephanie realized that when Chris called her a dirty skeezy disgusting brutal bottom feeding trash bag ho, he was really saying, �I love you.� So it was that the two decided to marry, and Chris left to seek his fortune. But, after a week on the sea, the Dread Pirate Lionheart, who never took prinsoners, attacked his ship. After hearing that her true love was dead, Stephanie locked herself in her room and refused to eat or sleep. All she said was �I shall never love again.� A year passed, and in the following spring, the Prince Hunter gathered his people together to introduce them to his bride. �In honor of our kingdom�s 500 anniversary,� the Prince began, �I have chosen to begin the celebration with my wedding to a beautiful young woman, who was once much like all of you. But, now, she is to be your queen. I present to you, Princess STEPHANIE!� Stephanie entered the courtyard, her head held high, but her eyes secretly filled with tears. She had agreed to marry Hunter, but her heart still ached for her one true love. Her only joy in her day continued to be her daily ride through the kingdom. Until one day, she happened upon three travelers in the woods near the coast. �Excuse me, madam,� the tallest one began. His hair was a strange yellowish-white color and he had a teasing smile on his face. �Could you help us?� �With what? I have no money on me,� she protested. �Oh, no. We are but three lost circus performers, my name is Bob,� the man then indicated the woman to his left. She was a cheery blond girl who stood proudly with her hands on her hips. �My cousin Molly.� Then, with a sneer, he pointed to the other man on his left, who stood smaller then Bob, but puffed himself up to look bigger. �And my stupid cousin Crash.� �I�m a giant!� Crash proclaimed. �Shuddup!� Bob ordered. Then he turned back to face Stephanie. �Now, as I was saying, we are lost. Is there anyone around here?� �No,� Stephanie shook her head. �Not for miles.� �Well, then there shall be no one to hear you scream.� The three moved towards her, the rest was a blur before she faded into darkness. When Stephanie awoke, she was faced still with darkness. Ah, she had been blindfolded. She tried to move her hands, but they were bound behind her back. The rocking beneath her told her she was on a boat. From a distance, she could hear a ripping sound. �What are you doing?� Molly�s voice sounded as she watched Bob tearing some fabric before hanging it from the horse�s saddle. �This is a piece of cloth from the uniform of an officer of the army of Victoria. Once the prince sees this and finds his bride to be missing, he�ll assume that she�s been kidnapped. This will be confirmed when he finds her dead body in the outlands of Victoria.� �Hey!� Crash protested. �You never said anything about killing!� �I hired you to help start a war, it�s a prestigious line of work!� Bob yelled at Crash. �Do you wanna go back to where you were? At the circus, pretending to be a giant!� �I AM a giant!� Crash protested. �And you!� Bob began on Molly, �Do you want to go back to waiting tables in a bar full of drunks? Or worse yet, being put through tables by a bar full of drunks?� The girl shook her head no. �Good, let�s set sail.� |