My Favorite Movies

Hey guys,

Yeah, this is another list of non-book and non-writing related stuff. But deal with it, ok. This list was gonna come at some point. 

So, I've seen a lot of movies. And I've enjoyed most of them. Now there are some that I thought were just kinda stupid (not that I'm gonna mention any names Ghostbusters) but here are (so far) my top ten favorite movies:

#10: Jurassic Park (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Michael Crichton
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Summary: A genius dude finds dinosaur DNA, replicates it, and makes real dinosaurs. Then a jerk tries to steal the DNA and accidentally lets all the dinosaurs loose on the island that contains them, allowing them to run amok and forcing the visitors to try and escape.
Why I Like It: First of all, it's Steven Spielberg. Second of all, well, it's got dinosaurs. Third of all, well, JEFF GOLDBLUM! In all seriousness, the concept was brilliant, the acting was great, and it was just so well-paced.
Best Scene: When the T-Rex first appears.
Quotes: Richard Attenborough-- "Welcome to Jurassic Park!"
Samuel L. Jackson-- "Hold on to your butts."
Rear-View Mirror-- "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

#9: The Help (2011)

Director: Tate Taylor

Writer: Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett

Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain

Summary: In the early sixties in Mississippi, an aspiring journalist lady writes a book from the point of view of the racially mistreated Help.

Why I Like It: Octavia Spencer, for one thing. I mean, she one an Oscar for it! But they REALLY got this film right, and the acting made it superior. Great job, Tate!

Best Scene: When Minny gives Hilly the "chocolate pie." :)

Quotes: Bryce Dallace Howard-- "Have you lost your mind?"

Octavia Spencer-- "No, but you 'bout to."

#8: Avatar (2009)

Director: James Cameron

Writer: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang

Summary: Dances With Wolves + Pocahontas, the story of a bunch of humans who go to the most epic planet of all, Pandora, to mine some little rocks. But then there are the Navi, the blue kitty people of the planet, who act like monkeys and try to fight off the humans. Then the humans make this technology that makes them look like the Navi, and it all just gets complicated.

Why I Like It: Yeah, yeah, whine all ya want, but this was one of my favorites. It was visually and audibly STUNNING, and the world that Cameron created was AMAZING! The characters were pretty cool, especially Sigourney Weaver's, and it was just...breathtaking. 

Best Scene: When Trudy attacks the baddies with her copter (which has war paint on it) and shoots the crap out of them. 

Quotes: Michelle Rodriguez-- "You're not the only one with a gun, b----."

Stephen Lang-- "You're not in Kansas anymore. You're on Pandora."

Sigourney Weaver-- "See? They're just p---ing on us without even the courtesy of calling it rain."

Zoe Saldana-- "You don't thank for this."

#7: Les Miserables (2012)

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: William Nicholson, Victor Hugo

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen

Summary: A fugitive during the student uprising of France in the 1800s, Jean Valjean tends to the lost and abused girl of a dead lady while being chased by a jerk named Javert.

Why I Like It: Songs=Amazing, Acting=Amazing, Amount of Tears From Me=Amazing. It was just AWESOME, and if it doesn't take home Best Picture at the Oscars, then I will cry. Seriously. And yes, Russell Crowe's singing was fine. Deal with it.

Best Scene: I Dreamed a Dream. Duh.

Quotes: Anne Hathaway-- "I dreamed a dream in time gone by..."

Hugh Jackman-- "God on high, hear my prayer..."

Cast-- "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?"

Cast-- "ONE DAY MORE!"

#6: The King's Speech (2010)

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: David Seidler

Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter

Summary: An unexpected heir to the British throne during the world wars has trouble speaking. He's screwed, unless Geoffrey Rush has anything to say about it.

Why I Like It: Freaking. Geoffrey. Rush. And Colin Firth won an Oscar, just FYI. And OH! IT WON BEST PICTURE! 

Best Scene: When Bertie and Lionel first meet.

Quotes: Geoffrey Rush-- "Do you know any jokes?"

Colin Firth-- "Timing...isn't my strongsuit."

Geoffrey Rush-- "Why should I spend my time listening to you?"

Colin Firth-- "BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE!"

Geoffrey Rush-- "Yes you do."

#5: Doubt (2008)

Director: John Patrick Shanley

Writer: John Patrick Shanley

Starring: Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

Summary: So there's this Catholic school in da Bronx. And there's like this really evil nun principal lady. And then there's this priest who might have had a...tickle fight...with a child. And then the evil lady goes all, "I'M GONNA GET YOU OUTTA HERE!" on this priest guy. And then another nun tries to make peace, and it just gets outta handish. Yeah.

Why I Like It: BEST ACTED MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN HOLY FLYING MACKERELS. Meryl Streep is brilliant. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant. Amy Adams is brilliant. Viola Davis is brilliant. And they were all nominated for Oscars. The cinematography was great, the writing was great, it was so suspenseful, and the ACTING WAS LIKE...WICKED COOL. 

Best Scene: When da Priest and the Evil Nun are facing off. Which is pretty much...the whole movie. But when she explodes at him. Epicosity in a Parish.

Quotes: Meryl Streep-- "Cut your nails."

Meryl Streep-- "I WILL STEP OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS THE DOORS SHOULD SHUT BEHIND ME! I WILL DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!"

Phillip Seymour Hoffman-- "You haven't the slightest proof of anything!"

Meryl Streep-- "But I have my certainty!"

#4: The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan 

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment

Summary: A kid freaking sees dead people, and a psychologist tries to help him. NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST.

Why I Like It: Well, it's creepy as crap, and it's brilliantly conceived, and there's an ending that TOTALLY MAKES YOU WANNA PUNCH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. But it's amazing. 

Best Scene: The little game thingy that Malcolm plays with Cole that involves moving forwards and backwards. 

Quotes: Haley Joel Osment-- "I see dead people."

#3: Signs (2002)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin

Summary: A guy who lives on a farm with his brother and two kids begins to realize that an alien invasion is happening, all while mourning the death of both his wife and his faith.

Why I Like It: THE SUSPENSE IS KILLER. It is SO dang well-built and paced that it demands I love it. The story is wonderful, the characters are great, and of course Mel Gibson ain't too shabby, either. It's amazing, so if you aren't easily scared, WATCH IT!

Best Scene: The baby monitor.

Quotes: Abigail Breslin-- "There's a monster outside my room, can I have a glass of water?"

Cherry Jones-- "What kinda machine can bend a stalk of corn over without breaking it?"

Joaquin Phoenix-- "Move, children! Vamanos!"

#2: Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Director: Peter Jackson

Writer: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen

Summary: Oh, gosh, no. Go look it up. Otherwise I'll be here all day.

Why I Like It: ACTING=EPIC WRITING=EPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY=EPIC NINE ENDINGS=EPIC STORY=EPIC SETTING=EPIC CHARACTERS=EPIC TO AWESOME DOES NOT COMPUTE. And it's J.R.R. Tolkien. These guys nailed the books.

Best Scene: The part where Gandalf goes all boss on the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad Dum.

Quotes: Ian McKellen-- "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

Sean Astin-- "I wasn't dropping no eaves, sir!"

Sean Bean-- "One does not simply walk into Mordor."

Billy Boyd-- "Great! Where are we going?"

Sean Astin-- "I can't carry it, but I can carry you!"

And finally..........

#1: Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writer: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, and MICHAEL CAINE, BABY!

Summary: Some guy with a creepy dead wife can go into people's dreams and steal their thoughts and ideas for business espionage. But there his more to his job than meets the eye....

Why I Like It: The concept is BRILLIANT! Holy gerbubblesons! And the acting is great! And Paris was flipped over, for Pete's sake! And wow, it was confusing. But wow, it was awesome.

Best Scene: When Ariadne makes Paris fold over on itself. BOSS.

Quotes: Tom Hardy-- "We mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

Leonardo DiCarprio-- "Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange."

Leonardo Dicaprio-- "I have it under control."

Joseph Gordon-Levitt-- "I'd hate to see out of control."

Ellen Page-- "What's happening?"

Joseph G-L-- "Your subconscious is looking for the dreamer. Quick, give me a kiss."

Ellen Page-- "They're still looking at us."

Joe G-L-- "Yeah, it was worth a shot."

Leo Di-- "That price on my head, was that dead or alive?"

Tom Hardy-- "I don't know. See if he starts shooting."

Ellen Page-- "They're going to attack us?"

Leo Di-- "No. Just you."

MICHAEL CAINE BABY-- "Come back to reality, Dom."

Honorable Mentions: Lincoln, Up, Batman Begins, Hunger Games

Thanks for reading! Any movies you really love? Put them in a comment!

c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.

Idea of the Day--Skye

Skye

Hey guys! It's been a while since I have presented you all with and Idea of the Day, so here goes. This one is probably the ONLY "realistic fiction" (if you can call it that) story that I have ever come up with. It's a little bit...mature, but I just do it for a certain character that will become very apparent when you read the summary:

In a sleepy town near the beaches of southern California, there is a school. Leaver J. High School, an old, run-down place that has seen better days. The teachers are too old to keep the rowdy students under control, and those kids constantly fight to hold their labels and their popularity. 
But there is someone else at this school, and he is the student all students fear.
Mason Sharp, a ruthless, cunning, powerful, vindictive senior, has more control over the students than the principal, and whenever he walks down the halls, everyone goes SILENT. He is known for his use of intimidation by randomly reciting "The Hangman" and by not being afraid to put shaving cream in a kid's locker who has gotten out at dodgeball and made him loose. He ALWAYS wins, and he will do anything to keep that reputation alive.
Enter Laura Williams, a preppy cheerleader girl who is possibly the most popular girl in the school. She is dating someone that only boosts her popularity, Michael, and she remains in the spotlight constantly. So when she is hit VERY HARD across the face with a dodgeball by Mason, the teachers finally question his behavior and suspend him, launching a massive celebration throughout the school. Laura's popularity skyrockets to the top, making her the new school hero.
But Mason isn't really suspended. 
He reveals himself during the first meeting of the teenagers' "dating club," where popular kids get together with their dates and show off, and he instantly ruins Laura's reputation and her relationship with Michael. 
This is where the REAL story begins.
During cheerleading practice one day, after Laura has been completely humiliated, she meets a girl named Skye and notices that the mysterious girl has passed as positive on a pregnancy test. Laura immediately launches into a campaign to protect Skye from her secret being revealed, and things get messy when Mason sets out to get the expecting teen expelled. It's the story of a cheerleader, her boyfriend, a pregnant girl, and the devil in high school.
Welcome to California.



c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved. 

Ten Characters We All Know and Love

I know I generally do creative writing, but in case you didn't know, I'm pretty media-heavy in my fangeeking life. So here's a list, in no particular order, of ten characters in TV, movies, books, or anything like that, that we all know and we all love.

#10: Professor Severus Snape

Yeah, you knew he would be here. I don't know about you guys, but this dude was my favorite Harry Potter character in both movies and books. He was so intriguing and not to mention so mysterious he would keep us reading for days on end. "GOOD OLD J.K.!" 

Quote: "Mr. Potter.......our new...celebrity."

What He's From: Harry Potter (Book and Movie Series)

#9: Coach Sue Sylvester

The tough...the cheerleading...the vindictive...the ruthless...SUE SYLVESTER! I have to be honest, this lady is the one reason why I watch Glee. It's a great show, but it just wouldn't be that way if Jane Lynch hadn't stepped into the scene. She is mean, has a way with coming up with EXTREMELY AWESOME INSULTS and making fun of Will Schuester's (Matthew Morrison) hair.

Quote: "I can't suspend a kid for shoving you into a locker. He'll say that he tripped and accidentally pushed you. That excuse works like a charm; I use it all the time."

What She's From: Glee (TV Show)

#8: Mr. Echo

LOST is an amazing show that probably has crack somehow put into it, but when I tried to think of the best character, I always came back to this guy. He is tough, mysterious, BRAVE, and to top it all off, he's a Christian priest from Africa! What more could you want from an amazing character? And one of my favorite moments on the show was when he recited Psalm 100. Awesome.

Quote: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."

What He's From: LOST (TV Show)

#8: Dory

Don't act like you don't JUST...LOVE...DORY. She is hilarious, has short-term memory loss, and, well...at least...I think she does.

What was I talking about, again?

But in all seriousness, Dory is a brilliant conception by Pixar (like everything else that they make) and to top it all off, she is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. 

Quote: "I will call him squishy, and he shall be mine!"

What She's From: Finding Nemo (Disney/Pixar Film)

#7: Haymitch Abernathy

Yeah...he's a drunkard. But do we care? NO! Suzanne Collins (Author of The Hunger Games) forges such a funny, interesting, mysterious, and emotionally deep character that we almost forget about the fact that Gale is being whipped or that Katniss needs medicine. And we can't forget about Woody Harrelson's portrayal of Haymitch; he was just as funny in the movie!

Quote: "So it's you and a syringe against the Capitol? See, this is why no one lets you make the plans."

What He's From: The Hunger Games Trilogy (Book and Movie Series)

#6: GLaDOS

Yes, she's from a video game. Do I care what you think about that? No, because video games can tell stories just as well as movies, books, and TV shows. The Portal games by Valve are perhaps the most brilliant games I have ever had the pleasure of playing, and here's why:

-Ingenius gameplay concept

-Character chemistry is amazing

-The writing is outstanding

-Ellen McLain does a PHENOMENAL job as GLaDOS

-Graphics are great

-The story is wonderfully intriguing

Need I say more? 

The Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, A.K.A. GLaDOS, is the ruling A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) of the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. She is ruthless, cunning, vindictive, and COLD-HEARTED, doing anything she can to cause maximum pain for the silent protagonist (named Chell, who the gamer plays as). She is masterfully voiced by Ellen McLain and I find myself quoting her frequently.

Quote: "Oh look, here are the test results: 'YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON.' I'm not kidding, that's what it says: 'YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON.' Funny. We weren't even testing for that."

What She's From: The Portal Games (Video Game Series)

#5: The Doctor

You knew this was coming. Admit it. And he has every good reason to be on this list; he has endured for OVER FIFTY YEARS OF TELEVISION. OVER FIFTY YEARS. He is funny, dynamic, entertaining, lovable, and he changes with every new actor, so it's awesome to see his varied personalities! My personal favorite is the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, but they are all FANTASTIC, and the whole "It's bigger on the inside" thing NEVER GETS OLD. 

Quote: "ALLONS-Y!"

What He's From: Doctor Who (TV Show)

#4: Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi

Yes, there is a Star Wars character on this list. But boy, is he a good one. Obi-Wan Kenobi (the original one played by Alec Guinness) is our favorite character out of hundreds. He's a FREAKING SPACE-WIZARD! Dude! But seriously, he is great. He is wise, and kind, and sacrificed himself to keep Vader from getting the rebels on the Death Star (or maybe just to keep the story from being cheesy), and he first introduced us to "THE FORCE."

Quote: "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

What He's From: Star Wars (Movie Series) and its Spinoffs

#3: Captain Jack Sparrow

Admit it. Pirates of the Caribbean would be crap without this guy. Played by Johnny Depp with hilarity, charisma, suavity, and many other things, this captain of the Black Pearl is smooth, half-drunk, and funny. He is always cracking little remarks about his situation or doing the most obviously but hilariously stupid things during his battles.

Quote: "I've got a jar of DIRT!"

What He's From: Pirates of the Caribbean (Movie Series and Disney World Attraction)

#2: Uncle Iroh

I'm not gonna lie; Avatar: The Last Airbender was and is one of my favorite TV shows. Yes, the movie was terrible. But to me, out of all the dramatic and wonderful characters on the show, Uncle Iroh was the most colorful. He was INCREDIBLY wise and cared for his nephew, Zuko, more than anything else in the world. He was the rightful heir to the throne of the Fire Nation, and yet, all he wanted to do was sit in a tea shop and make tea for the customers. He was so humble and amazingly well-crafted as a character, it was impossible not to love him.

Quote: "Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!"

What He's From: Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Show; the movie was terrible, so don't watch it)

And finally....

#1: Gandalf the Grey

DUUUUUUH! Of course Gandalf is the NUMBER ONE! Who else?

I am obsessed with Lord of the Rings. No shame in it. And from when I first started it, I knew that my favorite character was none other than Mithrandir himself. This guy ROCKS. He was brilliant in the books. He was brilliant in the movie. Shoutout to Ian McKellen for such a riveting performance! Gandalf the Grey is wise, great, powerful, epic, badass, and bearded (and no, badass is not a bad word in this context).He is the epitome of all things fantasy and wizard-like, and yes, he is cooler than Dumbledore. If you question me, I might through into the fires of Mount Doom. He deserves every bit of the highest place on this list, and because of this, he gets THREE quotes!

Quotes: 

-"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

-"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning or are you saying it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you are saying that you feel good on this particular morning. Or maybe you are suggesting that it is a morning to be good on."

-"There is only one Lord of the Rings. And he does not share power."

What He's From: Lord of the Rings (Book and Movie Series) and The Hobbit (Book and Movie Series)

Thanks for reading! Have any other great characters that you think deserve an honorable mention? Put them in the comments below! I will be writing another list like this soon: "Top Ten Best Screen Villains of All Time." Stay tuned!

c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.

The Clearing

The Clearing
By T.B. Ward

It was quiet in Whitehall Shores, Oregon.
It was winter time, the snow had settled upon the grass and trees, the early January frost mixing in with the silence and grim.
Just outside of the large town that sat, still, in its valley beneath the western hills, a forest rose from the earth, dense and thick with trees that stretched into withering pines and frayed like ropes at their tops. The smothering ice had covered their leaves, making everything white and completely silent.
It was January the fourth, and the high schools had just begun their classes after a relaxed break from their work. All of them were upset to wake up to their new 2013 calendar and their schoolbooks just waiting for them. They all trekked to school and rode in their vehicles to begin the rest of the year's labors that they dreaded so much. None of the friends felt up to talking to one another, and the only sounds that could be heard were the putterings of the occasional passing car.
When the day was about to begin and the sun had once again sunk behind the thick clouds, a certain high school student took a different path to her destination. And after years of waiting, she had finally reached the day when she was going to go to a different place.
She dropped her books and supplies in her locker and crept, almost invisible to the oblivious crowd, down the long hallways and back out into the cold and desolation of Whitehall Shores. The snowing had stopped, but the thick film of ice and fog was unbearably strong, keeping even the strongest of eyes from being able to see. And this particular student was no stranger to excellent sight.
When the mischievous girl reached the edge of town, she gazed off into the woods that were filled with silence and mystique. It was time for her to do something that hadn't happened for an immeasurable amount of years. It was time to find the Clearing.
Not hesitating, the clever girl undid her single Dutch braid and let her fiery red hair burst forth like a flame on a puddle of oil. The curls were hooked and awry, which was exactly what she wanted; it was time to do what she felt was herself.
With that, she braced herself and whisked of into the forest, running at inhuman speeds and dodging any sort of object that might lie in her way. Fallen trees were scattered like leaves in a storm, and the thick swarms of icicles hung like wet hairs on their branches.
When she came upon a frozen stream, she knew that she was almost there. The thick, deep creek was embedded into a ditch that was at least ten feet across and five feet down, into a heavy layer of frozen liquid. Pine needles and miscellaneous objects stuck out of the ice like spines on a porcupine.
Unfazed and instead anxious, the girl reared back and leaped without effort across the stream, landing on her feet with perfect precision on the opposite side. Triumphant, she glanced back across the creek to gather her senses in the brisk air.
There was no turning back.
It took possibly five more minutes of trudging through the ice to finally reach the area that the girl was looking for. She knew it when she saw it, but had only been there once before in her life, as a tiny infant.
A clearing, almost perfectly circular, smothered in snow and a thin layer of fog hung at ankle level, like a pool of swirling gray liquid. The area had the nearly the circumference of a cottage, just the right size for the powers that were to meet here today. Most distinct were the area’s statues, placed in a fashion around the clearing that made the place seem of being under guard; the statues were tall and man-sized, decorated uniquely with eerie blank eyes and a pose that gave them the appearance of being lifted to heaven. Ancient, they were, covered with leaves and growth and underbrush, and some had been chipped to barely anything at all. It was silent in Whitehall Shores and in the woods that surrounded it.

The girl, bright, gingery hair aloft, stood high in the center of the snow-smothered clearing, glancing expectantly at the mysterious woodlands around her. She could feel the frosty vapor that hung in the air, and she was shaken by the looming overcast sky that seemed to tell her to turn back. A thick, slightly violet puff of hot steam arose from her lungs.

It was two days away from the Winter Solstice. The time had come, the time that humanity had forgotten long ago. A gathering was about to happen, one that hadn’t happened in over thirty years. How she knew that it was time, she did not know, but the girl was ready for it.

The girl, her clothes torn and ratty, had been raised by her father in a small house at the edge of the town. Her father, named Jacob Sky, was a businessman, owning a small office supplies shop on a street corner in Whitehall Shores. The girl had never been interested in his work, so instead she stayed at home or went to school. She spent most of her free time in her room, generally not going out to hang out with friends, for she had little. Instead she stayed home and studied ancient lore and wrote stories, intrigued by the human imagination and the things that were inside it. A few friends she had, yes, but she only saw them at school, for they were otherwise busy with boyfriends or playing on their new electronics. The girl had a cell phone that she used to text with, and that was about it for outside-of-school communication.
Her name was Emily.

Emily Sky, a high school freshman, did not care about the worries of the world or the gossip-related problems of her friends. Instead, she liked to stay at home, in the quiet and comfort of her bedroom, letting her mind go wild with wonder. Some thought that she was weird or socially awkward, but she did not care; they didn’t understand how vast her imagination had become.

But Emily had a secret. A dark, unusual, unknown secret.

And that was why she was in the clearing.

The snow crunching softly beneath her feet, Emily Sky turned back and forth, looking around the clearing for any signs of life besides the trees. A thrush flew overhead, landing in a high branch and sending several icicles plummeting into the ankle-deep snow.

Then Emily heard a noise, and she knew that the Gathering was about to begin.

A light PUFF-like sound, just barely audible, came from behind her. For a brief second, the noise was mixed with a blast of ethereal screams, but Emily dismissed it with certainty that it was nothing. She turned around and then caught an eyeful of who was behind her.

A man, or more of a boy, stood at full height, probably in his twenties. His face was young but sharp, and his hair was long and slightly frazzled at the ends. He was clad in a purple suit, not unlike that of a modern-day business suit, but without any tie. The violet hue was faded and dark, and ashen dust smothered the man from head to toe. His eyes shone out with vivid aura, a rich green color that no other human had. And in the man’s hand was a walking stick, fashioned of a dark, metallic gold material, smooth in a perfect circumference except for the gold-fashioned miniature chameleon on the top.

The man, swatting away bright neon green particles of an unearthly nature away from himself, glanced at Emily with curiosity and a slight amount of contempt.

“So,” he said, looking Emily up and down, “You’re the new one, huh?”

His voice was thick with American drawl, a slight deep rasp accompanied with a young word rhythm. Emily nodded with slight uncertainty, having only a vague understanding of who the man was and what he was doing.

The man lifted his golden staff to his ashen-scarred face, still continuing to stare at Emily. He whispered something in an ancient language, and Emily watched as all of the scars and bruises and patches of dust vanished, leaving his face clean and untouched. Emily was only slightly amazed.
She nodded, answering his question.

“Well, dear old Rain must have finally kicked the bucket,” he said, stepping towards her and looking her up and down. “My, you’re quite the poor one.”

Emily didn’t move. She felt slightly offended by the man’s comments, but she knew that he could say what he wanted; he had power way beyond her reckoning. He walked around her, getting an eyeful of her features and clothing.

“Good God, why did it have to be YOU?” he remarked, full of contempt, “I mean, Rain had seen better days, but seriously; a low-salary redhead with absolutely no idea what I’m talking about.”

He was right; Emily had no idea what he was referring to. All she knew, by instinct, that she had to be here at this precise moment. And she knew that she wouldn’t be the only one.

She shook her head, confirming the man’s comments.

“Well,” he said, stopping in front of her and looking her in the eye, “We might have to fix that.”

Emily smiled, ready to learn anything.

“Good,” he stated, brushing ashes from his suit. “Now, where should I start?”

“Probably why the hell I’m here,” Emily said, finally speaking to him, and feeling a little annoyed as to why she had been called poor. Twice.

The man’s eyes widened, and he held up a scolding finger. “Ok, first of all, don’t EVER say that word to me, because you have never been there.”

Emily was immediately scared, for the man’s fiery aura had caused the sky to suddenly go dark and some of the snow started to melt beneath his feet.
“And second of all, I’ll do the talking.”

Emily snapped. She HATED being bossed around, and that was what had caused her to be sent to the principal’s office at least once a week at school. “EXCUSE YOU,” she barked, furious, “A LITTLE RESPECT, PLEASE.”

Then he snapped, too. But he did not shout. He went cold and the now-revealed grass beneath him began to fizzle and wrinkle. The sky went darker.

“You know, Explosion-Head, you may be the newest and most important of the group, but you definitely aren’t the most powerful. So why don’t you just let me…well…boss you around.”

“Excuse you, but—”

“No, that wasn’t a question.”

Emily went completely silent. He had power and both of them knew it.

“Good. Now, let me explain.”

Emily reluctantly gave in, and the man smiled. He waved his staff over his head thrice and then whipped the chameleon tip into a position that caused it to face the ground directly in front of Emily. A blast of white-hot flame burst from it, shooting into the grass and igniting it, making a fire that could easily be used to roast marshmallows. Emily jumped, but the man did not flinch, instead he sat down in front of the fire, warming his hands. His staff stood up on its own, in a perfectly balanced position. There was magic about them, and Emily had no problem sensing it.

“Sit,” commanded the man. She did as he told.

“Now, hold your flee-bitten horses, and listen up,” he said, and Emily rolled her eyes. “I am going to hand you a piping hot bowl of ’This is what’s up.’”

“Alright, bring it on,” commented Emily, intrigued.

“But first, how about a nice, tall glass of ’Shut the heck up.’” He half-scowled, half-smiled, knowing that she had no choice but to obey. She did, realizing that being annoyed was not going to help her.

“Good. Now listen up, and if you make a sound, I will vomit in your mouth.”

Emily shuddered.

“Alright. So, let me start with the basics. Long ago, when the land was young, and things like ’Gangnam Style’ and ’Channing Tatum’ didn’t exist, there was a race of—”

“Hey! Channing Tatum is perfectly cute!”

“Shut the heck up. Anyways, there was a race of powerful beings. Or rather humans, but…powerful.”

“Got that part.”

“Well, no one cares what you think. The powerful beings lived alongside men, in a very quiet and peaceful way. Eventually some set themselves up as gods or ruled nations. Ever heard of Shakespeare?”

“Who hasn’t?”

“Your mom.”

“She’s dead.”

“Precisely. Well, Shakespeare was one of them. He had the social status of…say…George Clooney, except people didn’t faint when he walked in the room. But then, the powerful people divided themselves into seven categories: the Wizards, the Enchanters, the Warriors, the Elementals, the Diviners, the Architects, and the Astrologers. Each had their own unique abilities, but every one of them was devoted to one thing, and one thing only: they were trying to harness the deep power that was in the earth.”

“So what happened to all of them?” inquired Emily, intrigued.
“Cool your jets, lady, I was just getting to that. Well, HUMANS happened."
"Humans?"
"Yup. They overtook the world and eventually got rid of us. You know the Salem Witch Trials? Those were our darkest hours. But a few of us escaped and hid in the wild, still making magic and communicating with each other by means of it. Some of us then went crazy because of too much pipe weed, and-"
"Like you?"
"Shut the heck up. And others...well...were killed."
Emily paused. "Killed? By who?"
He did not respond. His eyes drooped and went dark, and he looked as if a deep pain had overcome him.
Then he spoke.
"You know, Emily, just because there are great powers in this world, doesn't mean that all of them are...compassionate."
"Are you saying that-"
"Yes, I am. But let's not worry about those things, shall we? We have more pressing matters to attend to."
"Are some of the...bad ones still out there?" inquired Emily, slightly fearful now.
Again he looked pained. 
He gulped.
"Yes."
With that, he stood up and grasped his golden staff, turning and walking back to a large rock that stood at the rear of the clearing, and it faced in the direction of Whitehall Shores. Emily knew that he was done talking about the bad ones, so instead, she changed topics.
"So, um, what exactly am I doing here?" she asked, shaking her head and giving a puzzled expression. By now, the man had disappeared behind the large rock and was out of sight.
"We," he said, raising his voice so that she could hear, "need to find out what you are."
"What I am? What do you mean, what I am? I'm a human!"
He scoffed, and was still out of visibility. "HUMAN?" he said, chuckling. "Lady, you are VERY far away from being a human."
Emily wasn't sure whether or not she was offended. She didn't speak, instead, she stared at the snow.
"So...what can each of the different types of magical person...well...do?" she asked finally, as the man finally came into view as he stood on top of the rock, which was probably about the height of a mini van. The wind whipped in his thick hair and his green eyes shone out like the eyes of a cat in the darkness. His suit was dark against she night sky, and the snow beneath him melted under his power. As the wind picked up, he spoke.
"You'll see, in good time."
Emily, still puzzled, watched as the man lifted his staff as if he were going to strike the rock.
"Wait," she said, stopping him, "I haven't even learned your name." 
He looked slightly annoyed, looking like she had just interrupted a funeral with a wedding cake. 
"My name is Druid Night," he declared, resting his arms and letting his staff lightly make contact with the rock, "I am the fifty-second incarnation of the Wizards, and am known by many names. I am the Fire-Wielder, the Potion Master, the Aura-Tamer, and the Wind-Whisperer. I am Kuthaladrax, and I am Marianor,in the Ancient Tongues of the Elves. I have spoken with the ocean itself and have commanded the Northern Lights to do my bidding.I am three hundred and twelve years old, I am the brother of the most powerful Elemental that ever lived, and am the last of my kind." His voice remained soft but strong, and the wind whipped around him and around Emily, who watched in awe. "Any questions?"
Emily couldn't speak. As the sky grew darker, she tried to watch as she could notice a thin layer of glowing green light emanate from Druid. She shook her head to answer his question.
"Good," he said, raising his staff once again, "Now let's find out what you are."
He brought down the staff with great force, his green light blaring out and his voice booming as he spoke in a language that Emily could not understand.
"Hunemair mon tharadrain, kelemoon mai grundensath," he boomed, his voice echoing like a war horn. Emily stumbled backwards as light shone all around him, and she watched as his powerful aura caused bright, glowing green symbols to appear in the ground. In fact, they appeared everywhere; in the rocks, the trees, the snow, and even on her. The only place that they did not emerge was on her face. Druid was covered with them, too, and his glowing green aura shone strong as he leapt from the rock and landed only a few feet from her. The symbols remained, and they represented great power, one that Emily had trouble fathoming.
"That was the language of Old High Wizard Tongues, a language that no longer comes from the lips of mankind," he informed her, stooping down to meet her height, "And these," he pointed to all of the symbols, "are Crescent Runes."
She took them all in with awe, and she wasn't nearly as shocked as she should have been.
"Now," Druid spoke, leaning in so that he was only a few inches from her face. He read the runes that were on her body, carefully inspecting everything. Then he turned back to her face. "Let's find out what you are."
He held up his hand to his mouth and pursed his lips, breathing out a hot puff of his glowing green aura, in the form of a light mist. He guided the cloud of it over to her face and touched it to her forehead. She could feel it as one large, powerful rune shone out from her skin. Druid smiled as he read what it said.
"Well?" asked Emily, after a few seconds of impatience.
"Looks like you're an Enchantress," he informed her, smiling. "And you are FULL of great power." She smiled, but only with uncertainty, for she had no idea what the Enchantresses could do.
She tried to ask, but all she could say was "Now what?"
He stood and whispered something under his breath. All of the runes vanished, and she could feel the last one to disappear was the one on her head. He turned to face her, sticking his staff in the snow and the sky returned to its usual gray color. 
"You need training," he told her, looking her up and down to decide what she would need. "And you need it soon. But my time here grows short."
He suddenly stopped speaking, as if he had heard something. His face went serious.
"Alright, poor lady," he said, fumbling through his suit's inside pockets, "You need protection."
She watched as he pulled something out and held up in the air for a moment. He seemed hesitant, but all Emily noticed was the fact that all he had was a small pouch that was closed by drawstrings at the top. 
"This should do it," he said, handing the bag to her, "Take this, and guard it with your life."
"What is it?" inquired Emily, not yet daring to open it.
"A Caster Cube," he informed her, "It'll keep the Bad Ones away. For now."
"Well, what do I do now?" she asked him, as he turned to leave.
"Wait. When the time is right, you'll know, and your training will begin."
She pulled back the drawstrings to reveal a cube, perfectly formed, probably about six inches in height, length, and width, colored gray with small specks of green emerald.
"Oh, and by the way," he said, for one finally thought, turning back to face her. "Your name isn't Emily."
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"It's Ember," he told her, picking up his staff, "Ember Sky."
And with that, he turned and walked in the direction of the tree line. Then Ember blinked, and he was gone.






Happy New Years, guys!


c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved. 

     

Creatopia Logo

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a red letter day.

Creatopia, as it grows ever faster, is turning into quite the organization. A YouTube Channel has been made for it which I will give the link to in a few days, and plans are in progress for the future! Yay!

Well, this post is short, but I just wanted to show you guys the logo that my brother, using "Gimp," made for the blog:

Awesome, isn't it?

Well, that's all for today! Remember, tomorrow is when the New Year's Day post will make its debut, so keep watch! It should be posted around 4 or 5 o' clock in the afternoon. Thanks for reading!

-T.B. Ward



c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.

Me the Fan-Geek

Dear my Esteemed and Wonderful Readers,

Today is a day of lovely wonderfulness. IT'S CHRISTMAS! I hope that all of you have had a great start to the holiday, and I hope you will live out the rest of the year in awesomeness.

I have been preparing a large blog post for you guys with a holiday theme, but because it is far from being finished, I will release it on January 1st. Until then, here's a shorter post:

The things I Fan-Geek out about:

-Hunger Games (May the odds be ever in your favor.)
-Lord of the Rings and all things Tolkien (Myyyyyyy precioussssssssssssssssssss.)
-Doctor Who (It's bigger on the inside!)
-LOST (4 8 15 16 23 42)
-Avatar:The Last Airbender (Will you go penguin sledding with me?)
-Slenderman (Always watches...has no eyes...)
-Halo Games (Remember reach.)
-Portal Games and all things Valve (The cake is a lie.)
-Harry Potter (NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU)
-Minecraft (Sssssssssssssssssss....)
-Percy Jackson and all things Rick Riordan (Seven Half-Bloods shall answer the call...)

Yeah....I've been wanting to get that off my chest. Anything that you guys Fan-Geek out about? Leave it in the comments below.

I know this post is a little lame, but hey; I'm a nerd. Anyways, the REAL holiday post is coming out at the dawn of 2013, so stay tuned! Until then, Merry Christmas!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Doctor Who Christmas Special to watch. ALLON-SY!

NINE Excerpt

Dear my esteemed and wonderful readers,

NaNoWriMo is finally over! For a geek freak like me, it was probably one of the top three coolest things I've ever done, and I have to say, it was rewarding. I completed the challenge and reached 50,000 words in thirty days, but I am sad to say that my novel is far from over. Nevertheless, I thought that I might share an excerpt with you all. Hope you like it! (Keep in mind, it is still a first draft, so some parts might seem crummy; those will be dealt with during revisions.)

We all stand in a big clump, gazing around the area to try and familiarize ourselves with each other. Osmond looks as if he wants to say something.

         “Well,” he says awkwardly, “hello.” He tosses his hands up in a feeble attempt to be friendly, but he seems more shocked and nervous than socially skilled.

         “Oh, just cut to the chase,” says the nun, apparently having woken up on the wrong side of the underground rock. “My name is Sister Eleanor Grace, and you will call me by nothing else.”

         I am not sure how to respond to her angry, authoritative attitude. Should I feel like I have met my soul mate, or should I object and take charge myself?

         “This is the drunk—I mean, the gentleman—Mr. John Terrence,” she says, gesturing towards the tall and scrawny man. He nods faintly, still staring off into space.

         “You like alcohol, huh?” I ask him, trying to remain friendly to one of my people. “What’s your favorite kind?”

         Before he can answer, Sister Eleanor Grace looks at Osmond and points at me, not even glancing at my face.

         “Who is this?” she asks, straightforward and almost rude. Osmond looks slightly taken aback, and I know that I am, because I stand up and retaliate with full force; it’s not time to lose to this woman. I have decided: I don’t like her.

         She finally looks at me, with a scowl on her face to match mine, even possibly surpass it.

         “My name is Donovan Cuthbert Montgomery,” I state, matter-of-factly, with a proud and gruff aura. “I am a lawyer of London, England, a graduate with three college degrees from Cambridge University, and way above your league, you rosarie-wearing, gila monster-faced, rude sister from St. Richard’s Catholic School.” I put on a half-scowl, half-smile expression, as she gives me a slightly puzzled look. “Oh, I know who you are, NUN,” I continue, answering her obvious facial question, “The Dragon Lady of St. Richard’s Cathedral isn’t exactly a quiet subject in my township.”

         She doesn’t smile, but she looks back at the redhead for a moment, who shrinks back and gives me a look that clearly tells me to quit before she starts talking.

         But naturally, I don’t; how could a nun beat a lawyer in a debate?        

         She holds her finger up to grab my attention, with not a drop of low confidence about her aura.

         “You listen here, JOWLS,” she demands of me, scowling. “I’m sure you have grown up believing that you were superior to people, but tell me, has anyone ever told you how beefy you are?”

         Slightly taken aback, but not completely, I respond with a simple:

         “Yes, in fact, and I haven’t cared in the slightest.”

         “Well, I’m going to tell you again, because you deserve it: you’re fat. I say, that roll of skin that hangs out of your collar is just as thick as your skull, which is saying something.”

         As she takes a breath and thinks of other things to hold against me, I glance over at the redhead girl, who grins in amusement; I can tell that she has seen Sister Eleanor Grace in action before.

         “Now, you may have been told that you are smart, powerful, or even useful in your life before, but listen to me now, and I won’t lie to you like those people in your past: you are a reptile so low and so flat, not even your mother with all of her size and massive proportions could crush you with her heel, which I am sure she has been longing to do since you were first born. And believe it or not, she is probably almost as hefty as you are.”

         I just let my jaw slowly drop, only half aware of it as it moves. Her tone remains powerful, sturdy, neutral, and taunting as she speaks to me, making sure that I will never ever retaliate.

         “So, one final warning, you incredibly large lawyer: you are in my domain now, and no one comes into my domain and OVERTHROWS ME.”

         The redhead just sinks to her rear end, as if trying to remain inconspicuous.

         “Get the picture?” she finishes, putting on an even more distinct scowl and smile as she stares at me.

         I refuse to be treated this way. I won’t be taken down by a NUN.

         “Well, did you know that your cheekbones resemble the eye sockets of a rotting skeleton?” I ask her cruelly, narrowing my eyes. I can feel the air of intensity and suspense as we face off, already clashing for power after about two minutes of knowing each other. I will not stop, however, until I win, and she will have to accept that.

         “The fact is, Mr. Montgomery, you look about as much better than me than a tarantula does to Queen Victoria,” she responds, still not giving way. “The fact is, you are trying to beat me and gain the position of most respect and power, but here’s the thing: you THINK that you are superior to ME, but I KNOW that I am superior to YOU. Any questions?” She continues to glare triumphantly, but I still will not let her win this.

         “Well, you black-dressed, grumpy old she-male, let me get one thing straight: you think you have the right to insult me when all you do is clean your church all day and act like your very own aunt has passed away in a meat grinder. Why is this? Is there some sort of motive behind your feeble reasoning?”

         “I can see a million reasons, but instead of answering your question, I’m going to put you down to prove that I have every right to be winning this debate. I’m going to make one point clear, and then you’d better keep on walking, because I’ve got people to talk to that could make you look like…well…yourself; the truth is, I admire your attempt at trying to persevere and beat me, lard-face, but why don’t you go try your insults on someone who actually cares next time? Sorry, JOWLS, but you just can’t win today.”

         And with that, she smiles tauntingly and walks past me, briskly introducing herself and the others to Osmond, Andrew, and Adelaide. I just stand with angry defeat, staring off into space like a drunken monkey. As John and the teenager pass by me without a word, the redhead stops directly next to my head and whispers in my ear.

         “Yeah, I don’t like her either,” she states, keeping her voice so low that I can hardly hear her, and I’m only a few inches away. “She did that to me when we first met.”

         She glances at me, proving that she is on my side.

         “Well, my name is Rowan,” she says, outstretching her hand to shake mine. Instead of rejecting her kind gesture like I usually do to people, I return it, looking her in the eye with slight confusion. “And I will help you bring down Sister Eleanor Grace.”

         I smile. “Ready to take on the hungry dragon?”

         “Oh, yes. And I am definitely ready to slay it.”

         “Bring it on,” I finish, with a newly-kindled confidence.

c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.