Journey to the Oracle

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. The valley was the Free Realm of the faeries and elves. They had always lived there and, although they were equal, the faeries liked to think they kept the elves in check. The elves liked to get up to mischief and were often a little more skeptical, especially Joran.

Joran lived by the river. He paid attention and saw a lot. He didn’t speak much and was forever up to tricks. He had a sword he called Lumi that would catch the light. ‘Today, I need Lumi to perform’, Jordon frowned as he thought about why.

Joran raised Lumi to the light and brought it down to cut through the water at lightning speed. Lumi raised droplets into any form he liked. Today the water sprayed and danced like a blue butterfly in the breeze.

Blaze lay on the soft green grass looking up at the sky. The sky was streaked with clouds. She watched them float by as she saw the shapes of animals and gods dance in the sky. The breeze rippled gently through the blades of grass and a shiny blue butterfly danced in front of her eyes and landed on her nose. She went cross-eyed as she lay still, not wanting to frighten it away.

‘Don’t just lie there. You have work to do’, the butterfly said to Blaze through the butterfly to faerie mind line. Butterflies don’t talk. That’s how they communicate with faeries. ‘THE DRAGONS ARE COMING!’.

‘What? What! Oh, oh dearie me. I must do faerie things! it’s my day off! I’m supposed to be relaxing!', cried Blaze

‘Come on. This is a serious matter. This is butterfly intelligence. It’s not just the little dragons this time. it’s…….’.

A large dark shadow passed overhead and a loud swishing sound made Blaze shiver and her wings ripple. 'Surely not', thought Blaze.

'Come now. Joran sent for you. Sparkle up! This is no time to dally’. In an instant, they were gone in two balls of light.

Joran paced the riverbank. They needed to act fast. If what he thought was true they had a problem in the Free Realms and it wasn’t just your usual stuff

‘About time. No, pretty quick actually. Just as well. Whilst you’ve had your head in the clouds, I’ve had my ear to the ground, and I’ve heard rumblings from the dragons’.

‘About what?’, cried Blaze. ‘How on earth didn’t I?’.

‘Different frequency. Plus, it all happened so quickly, and it is your day off.’

‘That’s true’ said Blaze.

We have to go and see the Oracle. She will know what to do about it’ said Joran. Joran trusted Blaze with his life. They had grown up together and had a special bond forged in past adventures.

‘About what? I don’t even know what is happening yet’.

‘Until now, we have been able to get along with the dragons, but we were only given the little dragons to contend with. We never thought about where the big dragons were. Now everyone in the Free Realms has a little dragon at home. They play with the faeries and the elves' children and keep them entertained for hours. Our young ones don’t see the danger in dragons because the young ones only know the friendly young dragons. For that matter so do we. Remember when they came?’

‘Yes, that night the sky was pitch black, only the light of our wands and swords lit the way. It was eerily quiet and then there was the brightest flash of white light and a boom that shook even the sleeping awake.’

‘Yes, the steam rose in the valley. The river was as warm as a bath and filled with large soft eggs. We all came to the river and watched as the dragons started hatching.’

‘It was so cute watching the little dragons open their eyes and blink. They found their homes pretty quickly.’

The faeries and elves had become fond of their little dragons. At first, they wondered if they should be keeping them, but the dragons had made themselves at home and were great entertainment. When the dragons were little they didn’t breathe fire, they only ate plants and kept the young ones entertained and happy. They were never lonely or afraid if their dragons were around.

No one had asked where the eggs came from. Where was the mother of the dragons?

In the valley of the Free Realm, no one ventured further than the mountains or the sea. The valley held everything they needed and life was peaceful. Blissful. A bit of magic here and a bit of mischief there. Any big disputes went to the council to make a decision. Any matters that were beyond the council had to go straight to the Oracle for answers.

The journey to the Oracle was a test. Not just anyone could get to see the Oracle. The Oracle only delivered her message to the pure of heart. No one knew what the journey to the Oracle would involve. The Oracle reached deep inside the heart of those that made the journey.

Joran sighed, ‘I had a vision as I sat by the river and played with Lumi. When I drew Lumi through the water, this time I saw a dragon that filled the sky. Its eyes blazed red with fury and fire torched the forests in its path. I saw destruction and chaos on a grand scale like nothing we have ever seen before. Just as quickly as the vision appeared in the droplets, it disappeared again. I had no control over it this time. That is why we have to see the Oracle. I know the vision was blocked by unknown forces. The story is only hinted at and the rest is a mystery, but I have a bad feeling about this.’

‘No one in the Free Realms would believe the dragons could be dangerous’, said Blaze, ‘everyone loves their dragons’.

‘Yes, but we have only ever seen the small dragons. We never questioned what would happen when they grow big. You know Lumi never lies’, said Joran.

‘True’. Blaze was quiet for a while. Was peace in the valley going to be a thing of the past? Would they be threatened by the dragons? Where was the mother dragon? Were there more of them? What did they want in the Free Realms? Blaze shivered at the thought of the journey to the Oracle.

Blaze and Joran had never been to the Oracle before. Blaze looked at Joran and stiffened with resolve. 'Let's not worry the others about it yet', said Blaze. 'If it's a false flag then there is nothing to worry about, but if your vision has wings and fire, then we need to know what to do, and quickly!'

They held each other’s hands and both said in unison, ‘My heart is pure. I seek the answer to a great problem. I trust the vision. May the spirit of the Free Realms keep us safe and guide us to the Oracle. May we pass the test and receive the way forward for us all. May our hearts be filled with the courage of love to see us through any challenge that is sent to try us.’

Joran held Lumi to the sky and Blaze swirled her wand in the air scattering a sparkle of energy that wrapped around them both.

A shiver passed through them and confirmed the urgency to act now. On a wing and a prayer, Joran and Blaze set off to venture through the magical forest.

The journey to the Oracle was a journey into the subconscious stuff of nightmares, fears, and doubts. The magical forest only tested those who entered with the intent of consulting the Oracle. Otherwise, the forest only played with those that entered in a light-hearted way. Only those with a strong will and a pure heart could make it through to the next stage of the test.

As they entered a voice called through the branches of the trees, 'Do you wish to speak with the Oracle?'

'Yes, we have to seek the wisdom of the Oracle and protect the Free Realms from imminent danger,' the both spoke through their minds.

'You understand if your heart is not pure you may never return?'

'Yes. We would not come if it was not of the utmost urgency.'

'The Oracle will receive you if you pass the tests. Take heed. You may begin the journey.'

Suddenly only the forest surrounded them and the path back to the Free Realms disappeared. There was no way back.

'There is only one way now and that is forward' said Joran.

'On, on', shouted Blaze and they vanished with the shake of her wand. Only a sprinkle of faerie dust remained dancing in the shafts of light. The forest suddenly became alive. The trees started moving and the mushrooms glowed as the only light source in the dark that had befallen.

This was the heroes' journey and Blaze and Joran knew that this may well be their last. The forest knew this would be their test. The oracle knew if they did not complete the journey a new era of darkness was about to begin.