Can I join? This sounds really interesting!

@Darkking, that's totally fine. You can still stay in the competition if you would just like to miss our on the first three rounds, but it's your choice.

@Kitten, sure! It's okay if you miss out for this round with the short notice, but if not even better!

Aaaaahhhh I am frantically trying to finish my story by tomorrow and I'm trying to make sure it's short enough...ugh XD

This isn't exactly a short story, and it probably needed more revising, b*t here it is anyway: my short story witho*t the vowel between t and v:

The mockingbird flitted across the sky. Its wings kept it effortlessly aloft, condemning the clomping of the apes below. Perching on a pine tree, it watched their exertions. Its little brain was not able to comprehend their lack of wings. Lifting off again, it circled again and again. With glee it enjoyed the wind on its back and the drop of its stomach as it dived down, down, down to the apes. 

They looked to the sky in amazement, as it had hoped. Tracking the mockingbird as it swooped in excited circles, their faces mirrored the happiness the bird felt. It dived down again and landed on one of them. Alas, their shrieking alarmed the very core of the bird, and it was forced to flit off again, back to its domain in the sky.

With sadness it looked back down to the poor apes. It wished it was able to do more for them; nevertheless, it knew that land beings can never fly, and therefore never feel real happiness.

Well. Um. I guess I'll be skipping this round. I've been really busy, but I've been trying to work on my short story (which is a Cinderella retelling, excluding a) and it was going so well. Except that last night I kinda got stuck, and I realized that it was too long and there was still too much to fit in. And I didn't have time. So...no story. 

(It was pretty epic though. ;l ) 

You know what, is it okay if I post a section of the story? Like, as a short story documenting Cinderella's story up until her sisters start getting ready for the ball? I don't know if it's too late to do this or if it counts. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. I guess I just don't want it to go completely to waste. 

Here. (Sorry for the mini-rants)

A retold fairytale excluding a

Cinder (or: Burnt Grey Crumbly Wood)

Elle crouched on the cold stones before the fire. Her fingers, covered with crumbled burnt wood, mindlessly smudged one line of grey over her cheek when she brushed her brown locks out of her eyes.

She looked into the flickering fire. Fire is so pretty, if you see it in the right moments. Some people think fire is something to be frightened of, but some, like Elle, liked it for its loveliness.

Elle frowned when she felt the smudge on her cheek. She rubbed it with her fingers but only succeeded in smudging it more over her cheek.

She sighed in discontent.

If her stepmother did not view her like some lowly-esteemed housekeeper, urging Elle's two stepsisters to do it too, forcing Elle to fetch, tidy, serve, dust, help with this, be scolded for the other--well, if Elle's stepmother did not perform so cruelly, with Elle's stepsisters too, Elle would not be tending the fire. She would most likely be in her old, prettier dresses, with her brown tresses styled up. She would not be covered in dirt, dust, burnt crumbly grey wood….Elle used to be nobility.

But Elle, kinless, only possessed her wicked stepmother now. Her doubly wicked stepsisters, too.

"Elle!"

Elle turned from the fire to see her stepsister, Hettie. The corners of Hettie's mouth turned up upon seeing Elle. "Or, possibly, it is dusty Elle? Firetender Elle? Sooty Elle?"

Elle kept silent but glowered sort of disconcertingly in Hettie's direction.

"Or--ooh." Hettie smirked. "Cinder Elle. Cinder Elle, Cinder Elle, Cinderelle--or just Cinder. Since you're frequently covered in soot I see no problem in you being Cinder from now on."

Elle fervently wished to fling some dust into Hettie's squinty green eyes.

"Well, I'm supposed to tell you to come to the front room. Mother received some pressing news for us girls. Or for just me, or Hilde too, which is likely. But you're supposed to come."

Elle silently got up from the fire, brushing her fingers off on her dress.

***

"Girls!" Elle's stepmother smiled over-sweetly from the settee by the fire. Elle found her bejeweled fingers, plus her frivolous, ruffly dresses, quite sickening. Her stepmother, Ruby, somehow continued to be stick-thin while Elle's stepsisters were quite chubby, not possessing the skill to ever keep their selfish fingers off of sweets.

Now, Hettie went to hover behind her mother. Hilde perched on the cushioned bench next to them.

"Well. I've got some very exciting news! One week from now, there will be one splendid reception held by the sovereigns of this kingdom. It is to extend over three nights. It is rumored--I just got word of this--Prince Chor is going to be looking for his close-future bride there. Every young miss in the kingdom is invited. I've got proof here," Elle's stepmother shook something white--her letter.

Briefly, it grew silent. Then Hettie screeched loudly in excitement. Hilde shrieked.

"This--" Elle's stepmother shook the letter--"This could be our opportunity! If one of you finds the prince's eye, we could become--sovereigns! We could be rich! Or, richer I suppose." Ruby fluttered the letter. Then she turned to Elle, who stood just inside the door, envisioning herself present during the prince's reception. She herself felt no interest in the concept of the prince, but just to go, to be there, she would like it.

"Now Elle, I will expect you to help out with getting your lovely sisters equipped for the reception."

"But…." Elle disliked begging her stepmother for things. However. "But couldn't I go too?"

Ruby considered Elle spitefully. Elle shifted her feet.

Her stepmother twisted her red mouth. "If your work this week is excellent, I will consider it." Then she got up, ending the discussion.

Hettie jumped up, pulling her younger sister with her. "Come, Hilde. Let's go inspect our gowns." She looked to Elle. "You too, Cinder. You'll help us."

"Cinder?" Ruby inquired. "Hmm, I like it, Hettie--itt sort of fits. Now go, girls, I will tell Mrs. White to come, I expect we will need to get you girls some new dresses."

Cinder closed her eyes briefly, wishing for the permission to go to the reception. Then she followed her stepsisters out the door.

----

Words I couldn't use because they used a: Ella/ball/dance/daugher/father/death/remarriage

/fairy/was/had/at/waltz/seamstress/maid/servant

I know it's really late to submit my entry, but technically it's still the 12th so I hope you don't mind. The letter I'm excluding is O, since everyone else is choosing U. 

I flutter between the leaves, which appear like delicately placed green ice. My relative Layla is visiting my family, as she lives far away. I didn't feel like talking with her at the time being. I guess I'm being a bad friend, which is what Ma tells me all the time. But if she asked me, I think that Layla's the bad friend. She is sullen and quiet, and super critical regarding everything.

I dart between the shrubbery, gliding with my delicate fairy wings. I can hardly see my place, far away in the distance, tucked between a tree branch. If a human gazed upwards, underneath us, they never saw a tiny sprite dancing between the leaves. I'm hardly watching, because I hardly see when Layla bursts straight in my path, arms stretched meaning I cant keep flying. I halt quickly, nearly crashing into my "friend". "Where are u headed?" She mumbles. 

I hardly say anything, gazing at my feet. I feel my face burning bright red. 

"Running away?" She shrugs. 'I get it." She put her hands at her  hips. 

"I..." I can't say anything in my defence. 

"It's fine," she shrugs again. "I might as well if we were switched places." My jaw widens in disbelief. "I've been aweful, I understand." She adds. "I've just been really upset regarding leaving my place and I made my relatives upset as a result. I feel bad. Is this alright with u?"

I smile, hardly daring to believe it. "It's fine. I'll try make sure u feel less upset because u left hxme. Friends?" 

"Definately." She grabs my hand and we flutter away, darting into the distance playing hide and seek until dinner time. Ma was happy I finally get  what she meant by being an understanding friend. 

The end.  

Thank you all for the amazing entries. All eight stories were amazingly written and I had a great time reading them all. Ive decided to judge only  the top four (sort of). 

Okay, here are the results: 

In fourth place, we have a tie between.... Secret and Moonlight! (2 points*)

Good job, guys. Secret, your story was fun to read and you did a good job with word choice. Moonlight, I really loved the plot and moral, and how you managed to create such a well told story in a short word limit. 

In third place, we have Kitten! (3 points*)

Your story was delicate and poetic - I really loved reading it. 

In second place, we have yet another tie between Leafpool and Micearenice. (4 points*)

Both were well told and I admire how you were able to create such a great story while excluding such an essential letter. 

And finally, in first place, we have *drumroll*... Soren Infinity! (5 points*)

Your story was so heartfelt it made me cry. It was really well written and I would love to read a longer version.  

Again, thank you all for the great entries.

*These points will be added on to your final score if you make it into the grand or semi final.  

Round Two is the Pi short story. Hopefully all your questions about this round have been answers (look back through the pages or check the opening post of this thread). I'm hoping to get more entries this round, so the deadline will be the 20th of February - this leaves us more time to prepare for Valentine's Day reunion as well. 

Good luck! *Coroline out*