Traveling Worlds

I didn’t know what I was expecting to find when I followed the voice bringing me towards the woods, but it wasn’t what I found. It was a normal day at home, I had just perched in front of my bay window to do my online schoolwork. Since the virus, we had not been to actual school in 2 years. The world we live in now is a complete 180 to where it used to be. You have to have a mask on at all times, even in your own home if someone else is there. Grocery stores have limited supply because the borders are closed so you can’t get some items. TV shows are practically non-existent because you can’t have 100+ people on a set in order to make the shows. It is a miserable world.

The voice was small at first, just quietly calling my name. Easy enough to ignore but still catches my attention. I did not think anything of it until I went outside to feed the dogs. The closer I got to the tree lined dog house, the louder the voice became and the more I had the urge to follow it. It was a pretty day out, so I just followed my instinct into the woods. What was the worst that could happen, right?

Walking down the sun lit path, basking in the warmth, was relaxing. The birds were chirping and it was otherwise quiet beside the voice that grew louder and louder. It seemed to be at maximum volume when I was passing this overgrown tree, and changed from calling my name to telling me to turn around when I did pass it. What was so special about this tree? I stared at it for a long time. Pushing on the branches low enough to reach, knocking on the wood. It wasn’t until I went to move the moss that I saw a human sized hole that seemed to have a light on the other side. Leaning into the hole so I could see what was producing the light, I felt like something was trying to shove me. I stood up turning around real fast, checking to see if someone was messing with me. No one had followed me into the woods right?

Turning around, I did not see a soul but a bunny that had run past me. I am not losing my mind, I am just being paranoid. The voice had disappeared, maybe I am just having one of those crazy dreams. So, I turned back to look into the tree. That's when I felt a hard shove and began to fall.

Falling down the hole felt like eternity but like I was falling at a high rate of speed at the same time. I could not see anything but the blinding light at the end that I was approaching fast. I knew I had to have been dreaming at this point. The light became super bright and blinding, right before I landed on a huge plump mushroom.

Jumping up from the mushroom, I was startled to see I had landed in this colorful dystonia type world. There were flowers the size of school buildings with the brightest colors of blues, reds, purples, and yellows. The grass was tall and flowery with the purest color of green you could imagine. Butterflies were about the size of my head, which made me realize I did not even want to know what the snakes and spiders looked like for this world. Amazed by the bright colors compared to the dull world I lived on, I started to panic. Where the heck am I? How do I get home? Am I still on earth? The ground began to shake like an earthquake which knocked me out of the mushroom.

I turn around to see this giant troll like man walking towards me. He has to be around 9ft tall, with elephant sized ears and bright red hair neatly braided down his back. He is wearing blue jeans that look like knee knockers torn up, and a simple purple shirt. When he spots me standing out in the open he kneels to me. I turn to run and hide but realize I have been spotted and there is no hiding from this giant. The friendly giant man let out a loud belly laugh while shaking his head at me trying to hide from him.

He slowly starts to reach down and pick me up, grabbing me with his thumb and pointer finger. Bringing me to his face he says to me, “Ah we have been waiting for you my dear! We are so glad you finally listened to our calls!” Confused, I asked, “What are you talking about? Where am I? What do you mean you have been waiting for me? HOW are you so tall, almost like a giant!” Seeing that I was confused he gently sets me back down to the ground and plops down next to me like he was getting ready to tell me a story of some sort.

He noticed I was standing kind of far from him and he chuckled and said “No worries, I would not dare harm the ruler of the land. Every descendant in my family was born and raised to protect the ruler for when she made her final arrival, I am just excited I get to be the one to actually protect you. My father would be so proud and excited.” I stopped him in the middle of his little spill, “Wait who is the ruler of the land? Me?! Am I supposed to be your queen of some sort? I don’t even know where I am. I was just walking through the woods following some voice in my head and the next thing I know I am falling down a hole in a tree, landing in a GIANT mushroom, and talking to a man who is 9ft tall!”

He responds, “I know this is scary and weird, but you are our ruler of the land. We have been calling to you since you were born, and even in your past lives. You were never meant to be up on earth with the dull and cruel people of that world. Centuries ago you were actually down here ruling over us, and you were a great ruler. Everything was great until the rival village from the land over were trying to kill you in order to take over our land. SO to save you, we gathered around using our powers to send you somewhere we knew you would be safe until we could get things handled here. You, my dear, cannot be replaced ever so if something was to happen to you, our land would lose its colors, its rights, and it's magic.”

He proceeds, “If you will allow me, I would love to take you to your kingdom and let everyone know that our ruler has finally found her way home.” I looked at him with hesitation but slowly walked towards him shaking my head in agreement. I was not sure if I believed him at this point but something in my heart was telling me to trust this giant man who otherwise had not given me any reason to not believe him. Mother would always tell me I was too trusting for the world, but I am no longer in the earth world, so maybe following my trusting instincts would not be a bad thing to do. Maybe that is why I always felt so out of place on earth, never feeling like I fully fit in anywhere.