The sun rose over the frost covered forest as the young man stumbled into a clearing. The thick undergrowth had been tripping him up and making the past four months of hiking miserable. It didn't help either that he had been left alone for the past eight miles. The hero climbed to his feet and slowly made his way over to a small rock in the clearing. As he sat there considering the past four months and what had happened he couldn't help but feel depressed and wanted to just sleep. He knew that when he went to sleep that just meant he had to get up in the morning and start the hike again. As he sat and contemplated the past little while he thought of the hope he had and the ambition that came with it. The idea of starting a better life and moving on from a forest that seems to have no end.
As the sun continued to come up the young traveler could see movement just within the edge of the trees. For days he had been alone with no one to speak with, the thought of another person frightened and excited him at the same time. As he tried to focus his eyes on the spot where he noticed the movement a pinprick of light flashed to his right, darting through the trees a tiny illuminated speck sped past. He could hear a ringing of a small brass bell in the distance but some how close by at the same time. The miniscule light circled him time and time again, passing in front of his eyes fast enough to make him dizzy. The ringing continued to get louder but never to the point that hurt his hears, it remained a constant pleasant sound. Finally with out warning the light popped, sounding like a fire cracker the speck of light vanished in a small shower of sparks.
Confused and unsure what had just happened the weary man sat back down with his back against the rock and his face in the sun. The warmth felt good after a night in the cold. He began to feel like his old self again, confident, happy and hopeful. The sun seemed to recharge his spirits for his journey. Even as his mind wandered to tender subjects: lost companions, distant family, even the distant little girl he only ever heard stories of, he felt...peaceful. Then it came, the feeling, someone was watching him. He opened his eyes and with out moving his head tried to scan his surroundings. Nothing, no one was with in miles; as he lowered his head he saw her, him, it.....the little person standing on his bent knees. Scared he may scare it away, the hero dared not move. He sat in wonder of what was standing on his leg. The it spoke, or so he imagined. All he could hear was the ringing of a bell, the same ringing from before, but now as it rang his mind was forming words. "Why are you here? Where are you going? Who are you? What are you looking for?" the tiny little mouth formed words and the ringing of the bell carried their message. He answered, in a quaking voice, scared he may be losing his mind. "I am resting, and I am trying to find a way to the better land. I am just a young traveler,....." the last question eluded him, not sure how to answer. Slowly the words came "...I am looking for happiness....I guess."
They were questions he had never thought of before, now that he had the boy was unsure of his journey. Unsure of the direction and the purpose. The small person continued "I can show you what you are missing, the one you wish to see. Your reason you keep going." as the words faded the creature popped and sparks flew and it was gone. The light came again, this time close to his head, another pop and sparks and the thing hovered, glowing bright gold in front of his face. "If I gave you the ability to see would you use it? It has the possibility to make you understand. Would you regret using it?" The magical being continued to float, seemingly with out effort looking in to his face, asking. "I'll take it." the words slid out of his mouth, unsure if that's what he really wanted. "Then it's yours." the shining person bowed deeply, popped and sparked and was gone.
Our hero, jolted. He had been sleeping. His eyes still blurry with sleep could see only vague shapes in the small clearing, the rock poking into his back and the wetness on his legs made him realize he had been there for a while. As he came more aware of his surroundings he thought back on his dream, that creature, the questions it asked. But wasn't he awake when he first saw the light? When did he fall asleep? None of that mattered now. The young man reached for his bag to grab a small bite before setting back off down the densely covered path. In his bag his hand felt something unfamiliar. Something cold and hard. Carefully he pulled out the foreign object. Turning it over in his hands, a large flat rock had some how found it's way into his bag. He stared at it's smooth surface, no tool marks could be seen, as though it had always been this shape. There was nothing seemingly special about this stone tablet. Carefully he set it down as to not break it. Reaching back into his bag he found the small pouch containing his small morsels of food. As he took a bite of the old hard bread he studied the stone trying to find any clues as to where it came from. There was nothing, not one sign.
After spending a few moments stressing over the rock he decided it was not worth the headache and decided to go back to relaxing and enjoying the sun shine. As he sat there his mind wandered in and out of subjects; from the warmth of the sun and the comfort of the soft grass, to the dread of having to go back into the forest down the path. The thought of the path naturally led to the great friends he had gathered as he moved down the path. As he thought of one in particular, one that referred to himself solely as The Admiral, the stone popped, the same pop he heard in his dream. His attention snapped to the tablet and there out of the stone shone a picture of The Admiral, the likeness was perfect. As he looked at it words appeared below the picture, writings that seemed to come directly from The Admiral him self. Writings that seemed to be his thoughts. The hero sat amazed at this projection from the stone. In one of the writings The Admiral makes mention of an acquaintance they had met as they walked the path. As the man thought of this acquaintance the stone popped again and just like The Admiral the acquaintance appeared, writings and all.
The young adventurer realized quickly this stone could possibly show him anyone he thought of, and their most recent thoughts. He had to test it, he thought of his mother...pop...the stone reflected the warm happy face he had so long had seen on a daily basis. Her smile brought one to his own face. Quickly he thought of best friend from long ago at the academy...pop...the colorful young man he had known for years appeared. Looking older but still with the same familiar mischievous grin. This too made the young traveler happy. The man thought for a second, it seemed to work with anyone, what if......? No, that was the past. He didn't dare bring up something that may cause problems for him self.
He had to....... The temptation was too great......
He turned his thoughts to the travel companion of old, the one that he had left and in turn left him.....pop.......it worked. There she was. A wave of fear, happiness and sadness rushed through him.
"I told you I could show you."
