The Persian Fighter 
By Crossmanx
When two great civilizations try to take over a 'weak' neighbour, be sure they truly are weak!


By Crossmanx at crossmanx@hotmail.co.uk - Comments and ideas welcome

The Persian Fighter

Much has been written about the ancient Greeks and Romans, their
accomplishments, their culture, their civilisation, their empires and their
wars, but here is one story that you might not have heard before.

It was many years ago when the Greek empire was losing it grip and influence
and falling into disarray and the newly emerging Roman's where just thinking
about starting their empire. To the east of both of these lay Persia and their
empire, unlike the Greeks and Romans they were happy with what they had and
were not keen on expansion. As this meant spreading their army, wealth and
draining their resources, so they were content with what they had. Both the
Greeks and Romans saw Persia as a prize to behold, the gateway to greater
riches and new treasures.

But as always there where many other issues and problems, the Greeks wanted
Persia but they were in decline, gaining such a trophy could bust their empire
and prevent it falling. For the Roman's Persia meant the start of its empire,
a bold start that would spread fear and make other nations submit to their
rule. For Persia they saw the desire in both these empires and kept a keen eye
on everything they did. Militarily the three nations where evenly balanced,
The Greeks with the largest army, but it was wore and tired and had not moved
with modern times, the chariot was king, but still the Greeks did not have
any. As for the Persians, they had an average size army, with average soldiers
and average weapons, they could hold their own but that was it. Lastly there
were the Romans, good, strong soldiers, new weapons and new tactics but only a
small army; the size not the power was their problem.

Three army's and it would all end in stalemate should they go to war, and
their leaders knew this, yes there was the odd skirmish on the boarders and a
few trade ships taken, but all minor stuff. Time went by and the normal
'diplomatic' messages went to a fro 'Give us this land or we will attack'
'Surrender to us or you will brought to your knees.' The normal threats that
where never taken seriously as no one ever did anything, no one attacked, and
no one took any land as they all feared a long protracted war that would win
them nothing.

That was until one year when the treats where replied to, both Greeks and the
Romans had sent their normal 'friendly' messages 'We will take your lands if
you do not submit to us!' and 'Our empire will crush you if stand in our way
of taking what is rightfully ours!' This time the Persian's replied 'Send your
best fighter to our capital; there they will fight our best. You win and our
lands are yours. We win and you will never impede us again.' It was not an
opportunity that neither Rome nor Greece could turn down; they both knew the
other empire was interested in Persia and couldn't afford to let such a prize
fall into the others hands.

So the challenge was accepted and each sent their best fighter to win Persia
for them. From Rome came the soldier Marcus and from Greece the warrior
Cyrillus, both arrived in the Persian capital Babylon. Each of the challengers
was accompanied by an ambassador to speak for their empire and a boy to look
after the fighter and carry his supplies and equipment. The two empires drew
lots to see who would undertake the contest first, Greece won and the small
group was lead along the royal palaces ornate corridors to a large set of
doors. The doors were opened and the party entered into the great hall of the
Persian king, normally this was where he met with visiting guest and
dignitaries, but today it was set aside for combat. The fate of Persia would
be decided in this room.

The room was enormous, in size and prestige, lavish carpets and decoration
covered the room, statues in marble, bronze and even in gold where laid out to
impress the visitors to the palace and they certainly did just that. At the
far end of the room was the king sat up high in his chair on a plinth looking
down on all those that approached, next to the king was his senior advisor and
a tall, hard looking man, a general who had seen war and taken many enemy
lives.

As Cyrillus bowed to the king he looked at the man and knew that this was the
one he would be fighting. The king addressed the ambassador, explaining that
this was a fight to the death, and the winner would only be declared when
their opponent was dead. It was agreed and the king indicated that the area
before him would be where the contest would take place, Cyrillus moved himself
to the side and indicted to the tall general to come down and make himself
ready for the fight.

"No Cyrillus, this is my most loyal general, he will not be taking part" the
king informed him "you're contest will be against out champion." The king's
arm waved over to the side of the room and from behind the large plinth a
figure stepped forward, the Persian champion and Cyrillus opponent. "This is
Princess Yasmin, Persia's champion, your opponent, my daughter and a Princess
of Persia!"

The ambassador and Cyrillus looked shocked and were stunned by the kings words
'the champion of Persia was a woman!' The two men looked at each other as if
to check that what they had heard was correct, and as the woman moved opposite
Cyrillus and tool her position, they both realised that this was no joke, or
was it! The confused men protested as they beseeched the king to explain,
their protest and questioned filled the great hall; the only one to look at
the woman was the young lad that accompanied Cyrillus, the shield bearer and
general dog's body to the great warrior Cyrillus.

The men carried on with their protests, and the lad carried on looking, the
woman before him was stunning, a woman of sheer beauty and radiance, she was
fit to sit next to the god's themselves and was truly a princess indeed. She
was tall, as tall as any male warrior that the lad had seen and dressed in a
long silk skirt, although it was filled with many different and exotic colours
the fabric was thin and he could see through to her long legs. They were
shapely and firm, legs of a dancer and toned from dedication to her craft. The
skirt had several splits in it so those legs could move freely and be seen
even more clearly. Further up and the skirt met a silver coloured band than
hung around her well-formed hips and was decorated with fine and sparkling
jewels.

The lads eyes moved up to her slender waist, two or three chains decorated her
body here and her belly button was adorned by another large jewel, then his
eyes were drawn onto her large breasts that where held in a slimily ornate top
that hugged her. The glitter and shine from the gems and stones that decorated
her top only added her already great charm in this area. Her body was slim,
slender and shapely, but also, to those who looked a little closer, it was
also, toned, trim and firm. An indication to the lad that there was more to
this woman than first seemed.

Finally the lad dragged his eyes upwards to behold her face, and she was a
truly beautiful sight, her face was radiant, a true vision of perfection that
the lad could have ever dreamt of looking on. Her slender face with deep blue
eyes that where enhanced by long dark lashes, then a very attractive nose and
full lips, slightly apart in a half smile, or was she going to say something?
Then her long dark brown hair that fell over her bare shoulders. Hair that
looked as if it had been brushed a thousand times to make it look so straight
and perfect. To add to her overall stunning look were various ornately
decorative necklaces, chains and bracelet, on both her lower and upper arms.

The lad gave out a sigh of delight at seeing such a woman, even though the
ambassador and Cyrillus were still protesting, he wondered why they weren't
looking at her in the same amazement he was rather than talking to the king,
he knew what he would rather do. It was at this point that the lad also
noticed there were two others with the Princess, two other women. Both were
dressed similarly, in thin silk skirts, large waits bands and decorative tops,
their bodies where both firm and trim, pleasing and very agreeable. But the
women were different from any he had seen before, as was the Princess herself,
never had he seen a woman so beautiful, but these other women were also new to
him.

The one to the left of the Princess had skin that was dark in colour, black
and she was unlike any he had seen before. He'd heard rumours of people to the
south, savages who lived with dangerous and wild animals, could she be from
there? Then she caught his eye and the look told him that yes she could be
dangerous! The other woman, to the right of the Princess was also different,
her skin was much light but not the same as his, a tone, colour that he had
again never seen before, her hair was long and so dark and her eyes looked as
if she was permeantly squinting at him. He had also heard of stories of a land
far to the east and beyond where the people were civilised and cunning, where
they lived in housed made out of paper, could she be from there? This woman
also noticed the lad looking and starred back, her calculating look made him
shiver.

At this point the king had had enough of the Greek ambassador and Cyrillus
protests, he gave them the ultimatum, 'this is our champion, either fight to
the death or forfeit and leave in shame and dishonour!' Even though both the
ambassador and Cyrillus though this was some ploy to bring embarrassment and
disgrace to Greece they would go through with it. For Cyrillus this would be a
quick fight, and Greece would have Persia and all its riches, but still to him
something didn't seem right in all this. He returned to where his boy stood
and took his helmet, shield and spear; ready to do battle he stepped forward
and took his position.

At the same time Princess Yasmin, stepped forward, she looked at the man,
Cyrillus was like Greece, he was old, not too old but past his prime, he now
relied on the wisdom and knowledge he had gained, rather than strength and
speed. A true warrior learns and uses his enemies weakness to defeat him, that
was what made Cyrillus champion of Greece. The king spoke "are you ready?"
Cyrillus held up his spear in acknowledgement, the Princess just stood there,
'she had no weapons, no shield and no armour, how could she win against a
warrior like him?' "You may start!"

Cyrillus wasted no time and rushed at the Princess, he let loose with his
battle cry and charged at Yasmin, his spear aimed at her, running at full
speed to win a very quick and decisive victory for Greece! But as the lad had
thought, there was more to this woman, and only a fool would take her for
granted. Princess Yasmin spun around, her years of dance coming in very handy
as she twilled out the way and Cyrillus ran straight past her.

As she turned, spun and came around the Princess arms reached out, she grabbed
onto the warriors leather armour and gripped onto him, then using her own
strength and his momentum WOOOSSSHHH! THUD! The man, the Greek champion was
grabbed, turned and thrown down to the floor of the great hall. There was a
burst of laughter from the young lad as his master, Cyrillus, was sent
tumbling down by an unarmed woman. Cyrillus quickly turned over and looked up
at the woman who just stood there, a smirk on her attractive face, shock and
surprise were very quickly replaced by annoyance and anger. The great hall
echoed with the sound of the warrior slamming his shield into the floor in
frustration, the slave boy shut up as he realised he was mocking his master.
Princess Yasmin looked over the now very embarrassed lad, pleased to see the
slave boy make fun of his master.

Cyrillus was up onto his feet quickly, he knew a man on the floor was an easy
target to his foe, so long as that foe was another male warrior, of course,
WHACK! What he didn't realise was that this unarmed woman was stood so close
that it made her an very deadly foe, as the Princess had kicked out and her
leg shot through one of the splits in her skirt allowing her foot to find its
mark, the man's face! The Greek staggered backwards from the full force of the
woman's kick, as he staggered, she throws herself into another spin and this
time CRACK!

Her other foot had now come hurtling around and slammed into the man's chest,
knocking hard into him and sending him flying off his feet again, sending him
crashing back down to the floor and making the young lad laugh out once more.
Cyrillus was quicker this time, as he landed he throw himself into a roll and
turned, enabling him to come around. Even if he was crouched down he knew
where she was and now he had the advantage, he was far enough away and out of
her reach but close enough to thrust his spear forward and impale her. But
again her skill as a dancer came in as she twisted out of the way of the
pointed metal tip and as she came spinning around her foot struck out, hitting
the spear and so knocking out of Cyrillus hand. As he was at fall stretch the
sharp jolt of her foot striking the wooden shaft was enough to dislodge the
weapon out of the warrior's hand.

The clattering sound of the spear hitting the floor and rolling away filled
the great hall, much to the shock of the ambassador and the boy as they looked
on. The Princess cartwheeled across the floor to where the spear lay, the boy
was sure the last turn she made was done without her using her hands on the
floor, quite some move and quite some woman. As, the shocked, Cyrillus got to
his feet Princess Yasmin was already retrieving the spear for the floor. She
started to spin and twirl the spear in front of her, moving it faster and
faster and in different direction, around and around using both hands then out
to the side, still spinning using one hand. The spear was long, heavy and a
man's weapon so how could this woman wield it so effortlessly and with such
skill?

But Cyrillus still had his shield and every good Greek warrior knows how to
use it as a weapon should they have too, Cyrillus knew that he still had the
advantage, she maybe a woman with a spear but he was a Greek warrior with a
shield WHACK! The bottom of the spear shot upwards as she was spinning it and
struck the 'warrior' on the bottom of his jaw. His head shot back as he
started to fall backwards, Princess Yasmin struck again as the flat end of the
spear collide with the man again, this time the woman had thrusted it into his
stomach. Cyrillus called out in pain and he carried on staggering backwards
WALLOP! UUFFFHHH!

The spear struck once more as the Princess carried on her display of spinning
and twirling, she struck at his body and arms, she weakened him and the arm
holding the shield with each strike she delivered, until SMACK! ARRRRHHH!
CLANG! She smashed his arm with the spear, it was hurt bad, and he dropped the
shield, Cyrillus now had no protection and no weapon THUD! OOOWWWW! Again the
blunt shaft struck, now into his shoulder, then SMACK! into the side of his
head. The twirling spear stuck out with great accuracy, each time she lashed
out she made sure it was the flat end that struck, she could easily have sent
the metal tip end into Cyrillus, but didn't want him to suffer that much, just
yet!

Princess Yasmin pounded the warrior, knocking him backwards until he fell
against one of the large columns that ran down each side of the great hall
CRUCH! ARRRRHHHHHH! She drove the end of the spear into his face, blood
splattered out, she turned, holding one end of the spear and bringing the
shaft around so that in now thundered into the man's legs. The wood shattered,
as did Cyrillus leg CRUNCH! ARRRRHHHHHH! The sound of broken wood and broken
bone, splintering and shattering, stunned everyone there; the injured man was
taken off his feet and up into the air, followed by his broken body slamming
down into the floor. It was a devastating sight for the ambassador and boy to
watch, and a stomach churning sound for them to hear.

Then to finished things off, and the man, Princess Yasmin grabbed onto what
remained of the metal tip end of the spear as it flew through the air after
the shaft had shattered. She grabbed the now broken end with one hand and
THUD! OOOUUUWWW! She drove the spear end into Cyrillus's chest as he lay there
on the ground, his last gasp signified that the Greek warrior had lost, beaten
by the Persian Princess, who'd dispatched his with his own spear, a fitting
end to the man. Greece had lost and Persia had won, the male warrior was dead
and the female dancer was triumphant, the ambassador and the lad looked on in
horror as their champion lay motionless. The Princess stood there and without
a word her two handmaids came over each of them grabbed a leg of the fallen
man and then dragged him away to the side, out of the way and forgotten.

The king was happy, very happy at his favourite daughter's performance, he
called for the Roman ambassador and soldier to be brought in so they could
challenge Persia's greatest fighter. The Greek ambassador and boy moved over
to where the two women had dragged their champion, still in shock at what they
had witnessed.

Now steps forward the Roman ambassador, champion soldier and another young lad
who acted as the soldiers salve and servant. Princess Yasmin returned to where
she had started the first challenge, with her two handmaids either side of
her. When she was introduced as Persia's champion there were the same protests
and disbelief from the Romans as there had been from the Greeks. And as before
there was another set of young adoring eyes that were more interested in the
Princess as a woman rather than as an opponent. And as before these eyes could
only stare in awe at the Princess and her accompanying handmaids.

The king listened to the Romans protest and gave them the same reply he'd
given the Greeks 'this is our champion, either fight to the death or forfeit
and leave in shame and dishonour!' Marcus the Roman champion could see the
laid out dead body of the Greek, but he was an old man and Marcus was young
and strong he would easily win for the glory of Rome, so it was agreed.

Marcus walked over to the young Roman lad, took his helmet, shield and sword
off him, and pushed him back out of the way as he tried a couple of practice
swiped of his sword. Then moved into his position opposite the Princess and
again two contestants faced each other, Marcus looked the Princess in the eye
'this would be easy, she's just a woman, how could she be a fighter!' Princess
Yasmin eyed up her second man, he was like Rome, young and strong, eager and
keen to act, which was why he was the champion soldier of Rome. But like Rome
he was also overly ambitious and would take too many risks. "Are you ready?"
the king asked, Marcus raised his sword then brought it back down to his
heart, he was ready "you may start!"

The Roman soldier marched to his opponent, a deliberate fast walk towards her,
shield held in front of him, as he got close he raised his sword to strike
down, he was upon her and this arm came crashing down THUD! But the woman
struck first, she had shown off her dancing skills to him by twilling around
just as he was on her, and as his sword had come down, it struck thin air as
she wasn't there anymore. She'd spun around and to the side of him as he
approached, coming out of her spin behind the man and now in a position to
make her strike. Her knee had shot up; at the same time she twisted her body,
to add that extra force behind her knee as it drove hard into the man's kidney
area.

The man leather armour was no match for the woman's powerful strike which sent
him tumbling forward, as well as sending a sharp pain into him. As he
staggered and was in the process of losing his balance the Princess hopped
onto her other foot. Spun around and sent her second foot into the backside of
the Roman soldier, assisting him with his staggering fall and making sure he
fell to the floor. There was a sudden burst of laughter from the Roman slave
boy, the sight of his master being kicked up the arse by a woman and then
falling to the floor was more than he could hold in. The Greek lad also found
this amusing and sniggered as well.

Marcus was furious, he was on his hands and knees as if he'd been subject to
some practical joke back in the barracks, his sword came crashing down into
the marble floor, his annoyance obvious to everyone there. He rolled over and
brought himself back up onto his feet, with determination, frustration and
anger etched on his face and with his sword and shield ready. He moved, a
steadfastly move towards his enemy, for she was that now after humiliating him
in such a way. As he moved forward THUD! THUD! THUD!

The Princes went into a series of spinning moves each time she spun around her
foot slammed into the Roman's shield, so stopping the soldier moving forward,
but 'she can't get at me', Marcus was confident in his firm hold and secure
position. But the Princess carried on spinning and striking out at the shield
THUD! THUD! THUD! The woman's spun around and around each time moving to a new
position, Marcus had to move himself around to meet her next kick with his
shield. Slowly the woman circled the man, as she spun around delivering kick
after kick, and all he could do was stand his ground and move around in an
even smaller circle.

The constant shuffling around to block each of her kicks frustrated the
soldier, then THUD! WOOSSHHH! As the princess struck he throws his shield arm
to the side, forcing her away and so allowing him to use his sword arm and
strike out at her, well that was the plan but WOOSSHHH! THUD! ARRRHHHHH! The
Princess knew the eager solider would get frustrated and make a mistake, as he
pushed his arm away Marcus had left himself open to her attack. The woman had
flipped herself over and onto her other foot, she now spun around in the
opposite direction and her foot came around landing squarely into the
unprotected chest of the Roman.

Marcus was knocked backwards SMACK! Another whirling spinning kick landed in
the man's chest, making him stagger further. Princess Yasmin let loose with a
torrid delivery of more twirling feet that pounded the man. She struck his
chest, stomach and head, each kick more devastating than the one before and
each one more painful to the man then the last one. The ambassador and slave
boy looked on in amazement, the lad at how awesome the woman was and the envoy
in shock horror at what was happening to the champion of Rome.

Marcus was being kicked and hurt, his head misted over with hurt and pain and
his body cried out for the woman to stop. He could not think straight so
lashed out with his sword, the Princess easily twirled out of the way of the
blade as it fell towards her. The Roman lashed out again, trying to clear his
head, but now at least he was moving forward and taking the fight to her, but
the woman spun and was missed again then WHACK! She struck him; Marcus
staggered backwards again, SMACK!

She strikes again; and everything was a blurred, WHACK! WOOOSSSHHH! THUD! The
Princess hit hard, moved in close grabbed Marcus and throws the champion Roman
soldier to the floor. She slammed him into the marble floor; the sound of a
woman throwing a man reverberated around the great hall. As Marcus hit the
ground he lost his grip on his sword which went flying up into the air,
Princess Yasmin saw this straight away, she spins around, reaches out and
grabs onto the sword in mid-air, spun it around and, with both hands she
grabbed the swords handle and drove the pointed blade down into the marble
floor and into Marcus as he lay there before her CRUNCH! ARRRRRRHHHHHH!

The sword drove through the man and then deep into the marble floor, the sound
of metal going through the man and then on into the floor was one that drove
fear into all those that heard it. The Roman ambassador and slave boy where
stunned and froze is pure fear of the Persian Princess. Rome had lost and
Persia had won again, the male soldier dead, slayed by his own sword and the
female dancer was again all conquering. Again the Princess' handmaidens came
over; together they removed the sword and dumped it on Marcus' body before
dragging him away and out of sight.

The Persian fighter had defeated the Greek warrior and the Roman soldier, her
job was done and she now moved over to the high plinth where her father had
sat and watched. The king called the envoys of Greece and Rome to him, still
stunned by what they had seen the ambassadors approached. The king gave his
grand proclamation about how the Persian champion had defeated their champion
and that Persia was now to be left alone. The ambassadors could only agree,
after what they had witness, they didn't want to upset 'anyone'!

But before the king dismissed the envoy groups the Princess stepped forward
and spoke "I have one demand to add to both Rome and Greece." The elder
statesmen looked at each other 'what could she demand of both Greece and
Rome?'

"The boys will stay here" she pointed to the two youth's that had carried
their fallen masters equipment "they are both beautiful and will make a good
addition to my harem." The ambassador's looked shocked, she was a woman and
she had a harem? "These boys look as if they can entertain and amuse me, for
now, and each year you will send me your most beautiful boy to join my harem.
Or else I will come to both Greece and Rome and I will rape your lands, burn
your cities and lay waste to your armies." The ambassadors where left with no
choice they handed over the young lads to Princess Yasmin.

She smiled and looked so beautiful, but the youths wondered what was in store
for them! "For now my concubines will take care of the boys" The dark skinned
African woman moved up close to the Roman lad, whilst the wily Oriental woman
steps closer to the Greek boy. As the ambassadors left to travel home to
somehow explain everything that had happened here the boys were lead away for
their new lives in the Persian Princess harem.

To this day there is still a Princess of Persia, a title handed down to the
most stunning and formidable female 'dancer', and not many know her as she
keeps herself to herself. But in the high class areas of Istanbul if you see
the most beautiful woman accompanied by an attractive African woman and good
looking Asian woman, then you have found the Persian Princess. Oh and you may
also see her accompanied by a two youthful lads, for as part of that original
bargain both Greece and Italy still sent their most beautiful young man to her
each year. These boy's join the Princess harem to entertain and amuse her, for
if these youths are not sent to her, then the Princess of Persia may very well
again defeat all their warriors and solders again!