When she was a young girl, the woman who would be known as Sparkle liked nothing better than to watch her father at work. Sparkle’s father was a jewel cutter, and was known throughout the western lands as the greatest living man to cut jewels. A jewel cut and polished by his hands was said to have facets so sharp it reflected back more brilliant light than the sun. Men and women told stories of how his jewels were so exceedingly perfect that no wrong decision could be made by anyone who held one in his hand.

The jeweler was pleased to have Sparkle sit with him as he worked, for she was his only child, and attentive besides. He nicknamed her Sparkle because, he said, “You are my greatest treasure, and no jewel I cut will ever match the sparkle in your eyes.” The jeweler showed Sparkle all the ways of his trade, and he trained her to cut jewels as he did. In this way, Sparkle learned to strike with precision, to find the most beautiful facets of every jewel, and of course the virtues of patience.

Her father was well-pleased at her skill, and he spoke of a wisdom far beyond any mere technical skill. The diamond was the greatest of all the jewels, he told her, for it was the purest and the brightest, and the only jewel which truly captured light. But though he loved to see the enthusiasm and skill with which his daughter adopted his trade, he cautioned her: “You must learn another trade, for if we only follow in the footsteps of those who teach us, we will never learn anything of ourselves.”

Time passed at its orderly, gentlemanly pace, and it led the girl Sparkle out of her childhood into her womanhood, as time so often will do. Following her father’s wisdom, she learned went into the world to find her own way and, as is to be expected of a woman having all the skills of a diamond cutter, she became a masterful swordfighter.

Sparkle’s blade was made of steel so polished it gleamed like silver, and the pommel of her sword was a diamond she cut herself. It was the most perfect cut she had ever made, and it was said the facets of the jewel were so exacting they lent her blade preternatural guidance, sending it along the true path through any opponent’s guard. She fought many a duel, and for a time she lent her blade in the service of the armies of the western lands. In every battle she fought, her sword cleaved through those of her enemies, and struck each one with the truth and purity of the diamond in its pommel.

Her father was very proud, and when she would come to see him, he would say, “I am happy to see you have found fame and fortune, and it warms my heart to see you are still guided by the diamonds and their purity. But I am growing old and you are my only daughter. Will I ever hold a grandchild in my arms?” Sparkle would smile and reply, “I have met no man who is my equal, but perhaps some day I shall, and then you shall have your grandchild.”

It was no secret that Sparkle had no interest in anyone who was less than her equal, and though a great many suitors crossed far to the western lands to challenge her swordplay, none of them were her match. However, three brothers who lived far to the north heard of the great swordswoman and determined that one of them must meet her challenge.

Thus, they set off and journeyed across the great land for three days and three nights. The first brother carried a heavy sword of damascus steel, with an enormous ruby set in the hilt. On the first night, a raging wild boar attacked their campfire, and the first brother split it entirely in twain with a single blow. His sword was so powerful it could cleave a mountain and the first brother was as strong as a hundred men.

The second brother carried a fine rapier, flexible as a whip, but sharp as jealousy, with a beautiful emerald set in the hilt. On the second night, a cougar stalked the three brothers’ campfire, but before it could leap, the second brother had skewered it through the heart three of a thrice times. His blade was so swift it could strike the life from a man a day before he knew he was dead, and the second brother was faster than ten men.

The third brother carried no weapons, though his first and second brother often sought to arm him. “I know where to find the finest steel for your blade, my brother,” the first would say. “And I,” would say the second, “know the finest smith in nine kingdoms to forge your blade.” But the third brother demurred and, so long as anyone had known him (and his two brothers had known him from his first breath), he carried only a plain staff, carved from pine. On the third night, the third brother excused himself momentarily from their campfire, and when he returned the brothers were not troubled for the rest of the night. They did not ask their brother where he had gone, for he was ever laconic, and they knew him to be more clever than any other man in nine kingdoms.

On the fourth day, the three brothers arrived in the great city of the west, and made it known they wished to vie for Sparkle’s hand. She was eager for the challenge, and she met the first brother in the duelists’ square, before the greatest bridge of the city. He bowed to her and said, “My name is Ruby, and I will test my sword against yours, for it is empowered by the darkness of the ruby in its hilt. Come, let us see how easily your glimmering pushes aside the night.” And with that he leapt to his attack.
He struck a powerful blow, but in the twinkling of an eye, Sparkle stepped to the side, and his sword struck the ground, opening a great chasm. He swung again, but with a flash of diamond and steel, Sparkle’s sword struck his blade to the side, and he clove a second great chasm in the ground. He moved for a third blow, whereupon Sparkle struck the hilt of his sword and, with an adroit twist, knocked it from his hand. Ruby’s sword fell into the chasm, and vanished into the depths of the earth. “Your sword and strength are impressive, good sir, but you must concede our playing is at an end, and yield,” spoke Sparkle.

The first brother could do nothing else.

The next day, the second brother challenged Sparkle, once again meeting her in the duelists’ square. He bowed to her and said, “My name is Emerald, and I will test my sword against yours, for it is empowered by the intensity of the emerald in its hilt. Come, let us see if the clarity of your diamond can overcome its vibrancy.” And at that he took up his guard and prepared to meet her attack.

Sparkle struck at the second brother and, more swiftly than eyes could follow, his sword darted out and batted aside her blade. She smiled and circled around him, then struck again. Once more, it was as if the wind itself pushed her blade to the side. Thrice more she struck, and thrice more the emerald rapier interposed itself. Then, as she struck a fifth time, the second brother saw his opening, and made his riposte. But Sparkle’s blade moved even more swiftly than his, and as he made his strike, her sword came down across the emerald rapier and shattered the blade. “You have speed like no other,” she said, “but, good sir, you must concede our dance has concluded and yield.”

The second brother found he had to agree.

The next day, the third brother did not challenge Sparkle. But, knowing they were three of a kind, she made her way to the duelists’ square anyway, and there she found him waiting. “So,” she said, “what exotic blade do you have to try my diamond against?”
He merely shrugged. “I have no blade, and seek no challenge. I have only my good staff and it has served me well as any steel, and got me into less trouble for that.”

Sparkle laughed. “Come now, I know you are three brothers. You must seek some challenge. You cannot mean to be serious when you place your staff on equal footing as forged steel!”

The third brother shrugged again. “No steel blade has ever barred my path. I seek no challenge, but to walk across this square.”

Now she smiled. “Very well, good sir. If this is the case, then let no steel bar your path, and let you walk across this square if you wish.” And at this she drew her sword and stood in his path.

The third brother said, “As you wish,” and walked forward across the square. Sparkle stood in his path and, as he approached her, she struck. The blow was so fast that she could not be seen to move, and so powerful that the wind from her strike tore the leaves from the trees. But as she struck, the third brother took his staff in both hands and interposed it between himself and her blade. Her diamond sword passed cleanly and exactly through the middle of the staff, and there it was stuck.

The third brother twisted his staff and let it fall to the side, and so he and Sparkle both stood before one another, empty handed. “Your pardon, m’lady,” he said. And he walked the rest of the way across the square.

So in this way Sparkle learned that where strength and swiftness failed, the simple knowledge of where and when to yield might succeed. She married the third brother, and they had many children, each one as strong as the Ruby, as swift as the Emerald, with all the skill of Sparkle, and each one more clever than the third brother. And if they have not died, they are still alive today.