Simply Legendary (and Other Tales of the Iron Flower)

By Billy Wong

Five action-packed short tales featuring the indestructible female warrior known as the Iron Flower.

Simply Legendary - When Rose's husband Finn is accidentally sucked away to a magical realm, both warriors must undertake perilous journeys to reunite with one another.

The Longest Shortcut - Told of a shortcut through an abandoned part of the city by her friend Alicia, Rose stumbles upon a haunted school and takes it upon herself to free two little ghosts from their purgatory.

Arms of the Horsemen - After his village is freed from a tyrant's rule by Rose and Finn, young orphan Rob joins them on their quest to cleanse the land of a magical scourge.

Birth of the Semenoid - A young boy comes into contact with the seed of the slime god, and after being saved by Rose gives birth to its gooey avatar. Now it falls to Rose to stop it before it grows too much bigger...

Little Warriors - Eight year-old Rose and her friends go on a quest to learn a famed warrior's legendary special technique.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Billy Wong
• Release date: Jul 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310413841

Billy Wong

Billy Wong is an avid fan of heroic fantasy, with a special love for strong female warriors. He draws inspiration from the epic legends of old, and is on a quest to bring over the top deeds and larger than life heroes back to prominence in today's literary world.Billy lives in Coney Island, Brooklyn and as one can see from the picture, works as a ninja.A Chinese ninja.

Book preview

Simply Legendary (and Other Tales of the Iron Flower)

by Billy Wong

Smashwords Edition

Simply Legendary, The Longest Shortcut, Arms of the Horseman, Birth of the Semenoid, and Little Warriors Copyright © 2015 Billy Wong

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.

All characters in this compilation are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

If you would like to be notified of new releases and special deals, please sign up for my mailing list and receive my book The Golden Dawn (#1 in Chronicles of the Floating Continent series) for FREE!

https://my.sendinblue.com/users/subscribe/js_id/2rsmo/id/2

Table of Contents

Simply Legendary

The Longest Shortcut

Arms of the Horseman

Birth of the Semenoid

Little Warriors

Credits and author page

Sample of The Golden Dawn

Simply Legendary

Finn staggered to his wife's side and knelt, eyes teary from a blow to his head. Rose's wounds were severe and many, the worst being a deep stab through the gap in her breastplate below the armpit. Her face was calm when she looked up at him, but she frowned as she asked, Finn? Are you crying?

No, he said, raising her to sit against him, why would I be? Looks like you'll be fine. Why'd you fall down, though? You had me a little worried.

Most people would fall after being stabbed in the lung. We're just lucky I'm capable of getting back up again. She shifted in his arms, as if to rise.

Finn held her close and stroked her lovely dark mane. I know you could, and how tough you are. But you don't have to; the fight's over, and we didn't stray that far from Count Brandon's knights. Rest now, I'll get help for you.

Rose's frown deepened. Finn? What's wrong with you? I'm okay, just help me up.

I'm not underestimating you, love. I know you could still fight off a dragon if you had to. But you're a mother now, and you shouldn't waste your energy just to look strong. We can afford to let you rest, so let's do that.

She stared into his eyes, not seeming to understand what he was thinking. At last she nodded and said, All right, I'll wait. I still don't know why I should, but if you insist...

You want to wait lying down, or sitting up?

I'll sit.

He dragged her back to rest against a nearby tree. Then he gave her a grateful kiss and hurried off, wondering how Count Brandon's end of the fight had gone. Rose and Finn had chased a group of fleeing monsters right into an ambush by their kin. While Finn knew Rose's superhuman vitality was more than up to handling her wound, he had watched her lurch about like a dying woman as often as he could stand. This time, he would see that she got proper medical aid, like other wounded people did.

As he made his way across the muddy field, he noticed a robed human corpse among the monstrous dead. A man, face maimed to the point of being unrecognizable, but what had he been doing here? Finn bent to examine the body, and an object tucked into its belt caught his eye. It was a miniature door, complete with frame, and out of curiosity he pulled it free and opened it. A blinding flash washed the field from his vision. Slowly the light faded, allowing the world to flow back into view. To his complete shock, two mail-clad warriors appeared before him and swung shining swords.

#

Rose dragged herself up against the tree, smearing the trunk with her blood. Where the hell was Finn? She began to stagger in the direction he had gone, wondering why she had let him convince her to come here with him. Mighty as she was, she felt a responsibility to fight for the weak whenever she could. But Brandon and his men were only cleaning up the remnants of the star-monster army which had recently threatened his domain, and might well have managed that task themselves. Had she really needed to be here? She missed her kids, and her inadequate devotion to her motherly responsibilities nagged at her conscience.

She was still debating the merits of her trip with herself, limping across the battlefield, when a great bulk rose up among the corpses before her. A hunched giant draped all over with long, shaggy hair, massive of limb and simian in countenance. Dried blood covered the side of its head; it must have fallen stunned in the battle, to be taken for dead.

It lunged with a fearsome wail, arms reaching out to encircle her. She ducked between them and smashed her shield into its jaw, knocking it back. Her sword whipped up, cleaving through a forearm raised to block. The beast howled, but in response lashed out with a huge fist and sent her flying.

Rose landed on her back, mud splashing around her. She sat up, but searing pain lanced through her chest and she coughed blood. Damn lung wound... Her grip tightened on her sword as she glared at her approaching foe. Come on, then. It was welcome to underestimate her as long as it could...

Her eyes widened as a small red shape flew over the monster's head from behind, pulling the creature facefirst to the ground with a wet tearing sound. It did not rise, and Rose realized a knife had been driven through the underside of its chin. Its attacker rolled up, revealing a lean auburn-haired girl in red silks.

Well, your extra bulk did you little good, she said while she turned towards Rose, pulling down the mask over her lower face to expose an arrogant smile.

Rose did not argue that the girl had killed her opponent with a sneak attack, nor that she would likely have won on her own, as her husband might have. She had little use for pride, though she did feel a slight urge to defend her heavy build. Thanks, she replied simply. Who are you, and why are you here?

I am Madeline, she declared, supreme champion of Garresad. As for why I'm here... I don't know. One minute I was sparring with my men, and the next, standing in mud surrounded by corpses!

#

Finn stepped to the right, easily avoiding one slashing sword while batting aside the other with his mace. That blade shattered, and his gigantic fist crumpled its wielder. The other warrior hesitated, staring, before a kick drove the breath from his lungs and sent him sprawling. Finn heard a movement behind him and spun, caught hold of an extended arm and tossed a man through the air. Then he looked around, finally taking in his surroundings. Across the dirt floor gaped many armored men. Beyond them loomed sturdy stone walls, along one of which rested a row of archery targets. Somehow, he concluded, he had been transported into a