Once upon a time, there was a little soldier in the army.
Now this little soldier owned a fine sword, and a shield. He was immensely proud of them, and often spent his time polishing the sword carefully, making sure it stayed shiny. He did the same for the shield, carefully cleaning it, making sure no dirt stayed on it. These things he did everyday, for what better friend hath a soldier than his trusty sword and shield?
Now then, there was man in the army, who used neither sword nor shield, but a dagger. Hated was he by the little soldier, for he thought the dagger a sign of stealth, and he did not consider stealthy battle to be honourable. And so the little soldier shunned him, believing him to be a creature of the shadows, for the man hid his face in his cloak oft, that others could not see his true visage. Yet, deadly was his dagger, and many feared him for it.
One fine day, the little soldier wandered a little farther from camp, for the weather was hot, and he wanted to search for a cool little spot to rest in. Taking the path winding neatly through the forest, he came to a little glen, where the trees' bended limbs formed a little shelter in which he could rest. Sweet flowers grew profusely, and pretty butterflies flitted gaily about. Here the little soldier chose to stop, for a sweet breeze blew through the wood and cooled the sweat upon his brow. Using his shield as a pillow, the little soldier lay down his head; very soon, he fell fast asleep, his trusty sword tucked safely against him.
Ah, but did he know? In the sweet bower where he slept so peacefully, a viper lived. Now then the little soldier had placed his shield right above the burrow of the creature, and it hissed upon finding its nest covered by a strange metal thing, and began to slide its way out from beneath it.
Upon hearing a strange hissing sound, the little soldier awoke in time to see the viper slide out from under the shield. With a great yell, he leapt up, whereupon the creature began to coil upon his shield, its eyes glittering dangerously. And so he called upon his trusty sword to defend him, for a shield lying useless upon the ground could not protect him.
Ah, woe is me! Try as he might, he was not able to pull his sword out of its scabbard! The sword refused to budge even an inch, and in despair, he threw it down onto the grass, and resolved to face his death, thinking bitterly how unhelpful his fine sword and shield were, for they had failed to defend him in his hour of need. And so, he closed his eyes, waiting for the fatal blow, for the creature was poised to strike, and death seemed inevitable.
Ah, but then, the creature bit him not! Upon hearing a hiss, the little soldier opened one eye, and lo, behold, the snake was no longer poised on its shield, but pinned neatly against a nearby tree, the glittering hilt of dagger quivering from its head. Turning in shock, the little soldier observed a cloaked figure standing quietly behind him, a hand outstretched, for it was he who had thrown the dagger. And the little soldier knew not what to say, for no other was he but his most hated nemesis.
Yet, it was he who saved his life, while his own trusty sword and shield had not.
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