Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2018 23:44:48 GMT -4
archive.froast.io/forum/153945729#153954957
Three and a half years ago, I accepted a challenge that would prove to be more difficult than I could have ever imagined. At the surface, it was a fun short story challenge, which joiners could "accept" and then write six different stories based on six short prompts. However, it would become much more than that. It was a curse. Something that would force me to make a choice, consciously or not. To accept defeat, and put down my pen for good, or to turn back, and fight. A battle against writer's block. A true challenge indeed.
Three and a half years ago, I laid down my pen in defeat. I did not have the knowledge and strength that I needed back then to stand and to fight. But today, with the skills that I have accumulated against creative burnout, I stand up once more. And I will fight.
Because this battle never truly ended. I took the time I needed to stay away from this project, and I've let go of the guilt and anxiety that pressured me into quitting in the first place. I've learned that it's okay to work slowly, and I've gained the wisdom to take much needed breaks when necessary. And, most importantly, I've learned how to better realize when I need to take a break, and to give myself time to recharge my energies before approaching the project again. It has taken years for me to fully realize this, and even now, my skills are not as sharp as they may one day become. I will continue to learn. And I will continue to fight.
So here is my battle cry. I have finished two prompts already. Today, I will slay the third. Beyond that, it may take days, or it may take months; but I will someday slay them all. Because this challenge is never-ending. And I will either finish each one of the prompts in this life, or I will die and write the rest in hell.
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PurringThunder Accepts the SSSC (Prompt #3)
On the Shoulders of Giants
Long, long ago, the Earth was roamed by Giants. They lived in great civilizations, with technology far surpassing our own. They figured out how to sustain life without relying on Mother Nature’s goodness and kindness, and they even learned how to fly. But their knowledge was sacred and forbidden. It went against the Earth goddess’ wishes. Mother Nature warned the Giants that their deviance must stop, but the Giants refused. The Giants insisted that She only wanted them to stop so that She would have control over them once more.
This angered the Earth goddess greatly. She sent out her creatures to attack the Giants, to teach them a lesson. Yet the Giants had anticipated Her attack. They were readied with swords, bows, and arrows alike. They shot the creatures down and ate their meat for dinner, just to spite Her.
Mother Nature did not give up. She crafted a plague to rid the Earth of these monsters. But again, the Giants were ready. By the time the plague had infected the Giants, they had already created an antidote, and the sickness was stopped. Again Her plan had come to a failure at the hand of the wicked Giants.
Our Mother had had enough of these Giants. Her creatures had been killed. Her plague had been stopped. If She was to rid of the Giants for once and for all, She decided, She must do it herself. So She sprouted herself from the forest floor, Her body made of plants and vines. With each step, She left behind a trail of holy flowers. Until finally, She reached the Giants.
“GIANTS!” She roared. “YOU HAVE DEFIED YOUR GODDESS, AND FOR THAT, YOUR END IS NIGH.”
The leader of the Giants scoffed at Her warning. “We have defied no one. Go home, maiden of plants. You do not belong here.”
“IT IS YOU WHO DO NOT BELONG. YOU HAVE KILLED MY CHILDREN, AND YOU HAVE DISOBEYED THE LAWS OF NATURE. YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS FORBIDDEN, AND YOUR ACTIONS ARE DISRESPECTFUL TO THE GODS. YOU WILL SURRENDER TO THE EARTH, OR YOU WILL DIE AND BECOME ONE WITH IT.”
“We will do no such thing,” the Giants insisted. “We have free will, and we will do as we please. We do not bow down to you, maiden.”
“THEN YOUR FATE IS SEALED,” Lady Earth declared. With that, both sides attacked. Our Lady sent barbed vines in every direction to slash against the skin of the Giants. Yet their skin was silvery, and seemed to be made of metal. Still, Our Lady did not give up, even as the Giants bombarded Her with swords. Chopped vines meant nothing to Her, for She was a goddess, and no physical attack would hurt Her. She breathed poison into the air, suffocating the Giants around Her. With a sense of satisfaction and victory, She watched as one by one, the Giants’ attacks slowed, then stopped, and with a thud they fell to the ground, dead.
The Giants had been vanquished.
Or so She thought. One Giant, behind Her, had not. The King of the Giants. “You cannot kill me, maiden,” he spoke. Our Lady turned around, astonished that one was still standing.
“But I will,” She said, as she breathed another breath of poison. But it seemed to have no effect on the monster.
“Your vines could not hurt us, for on our bodies we wear armor made of steel. And your poison will not kill me, either, for on my face I wear a mask to protect my lungs. Give up now, Earth.”
“Why do you don a mask when none of your friends do? Because of you they are dead,” Mother Earth told him. “How can you have no shame?”
“Only one mask could be made with the time and materials we had. Thanks to your incessant meddling, might I add,” the Giant responded. “You are the one who killed my brethren. And for that, you will pay.” He began to chant a forbidden spell.
Our Mother tried to stop him, but the Giant was again ahead of Her. He had immobilized Her, and now… now he was going to kill Her. As Her strength drained from Her soul, the Giant became stronger, until finally, He had become a god. With Her last ounce of strength, however, Mother Earth spoke Her own chant, and banished Him to live in the sky for all of eternity.
The Giant vanished into thin air, while Mother Earth’s body fell to the grass and became buried by vines. This would be Her resting place.
From the trail of holy flowers Our Mother left behind, new life formed. And from that new life, a new civilization was created…
“Which is why you should be thankful and eat your vegetables,” Grandma Rose told Ivy patiently. “Mother Earth gave them to us so we could survive!”
“I’d rather eat dirt,” Ivy muttered, under her breath.
“What did you say, Ivy? Speak up, dear,” Rose shouted.
“I said okay!” Ivy shouted back, then shoved the rest of her cauliflower into her mouth. “See? I ate it!”
“Good, good. Our Mother would be proud,” Rose smiled warmly. “You may go out and play now. Take care.”
“I will! Thanks, grandma!” Ivy said, running out the door, and glad to get away from the place. Everyone here seemed to be so obsessed with religion and how they were supposedly “created” by Lady Earth’s goodness. Ivy didn’t believe in any of those fairy tales. Besides, most of the time they didn’t even make sense. Magical creature died for us; therefore… eat gross stuff from the ground? Why?? Not like, be a nice person or something?
It seemed like the adults just told her that stuff to get her to behave. And yeah, maybe it worked when she was a little kid, but… she’s twelve years old now. Couldn’t they just drop the act and admit they were lying to her?
Apparently not. She sighed as she walked down the forest path. At least here, amid the plants, she could be alone and not have to deal with any of that “Mother” crap.
“Why does everyone worship her, anyway?” Ivy muttered, kicking a rock on the ground. “She wasn’t even a nice person in the stories; everybody just assumes that since she was a goddess that she must have been right.”
“That’s a very good question,” a voice in the air answered, startling Ivy. She looked around, but no one seemed to be there.
“Who said that? Show yourself,” Ivy called, searching the bushes near her for any signs of another person.
“I’m afraid I can’t,” the voice answered. “I don’t have a body anymore.”
Ivy was wary, but admittedly intrigued. “Who are you?”
“I think it’s best I save that for later. What I want to know is, who are you? Not many people go down this way.”
Ivy thought for a moment. “I’m… Lily. I just like walking in the forest. Why do you care?”
“Because you seem a bit troubled,” the voice responded. “And because I don’t usually get many chances to talk to people.”
“Hmm,” Ivy said. “Well, I guess you seem nice enough, so I’ll tell you something I haven’t told anyone else. I don’t believe in religion like my family does. The whole town seems to think that this dead plant lady will solve everyone’s problems, but I think it’s bogus. She’s dead. Dead people don’t do anything.” She crossed her arms and looked at the ground. “So, what’s up with you? How come you can’t talk to anyone?”
There was a moment of silence, then the voice answered. “Same reason you don’t feel safe telling anyone in town what you just told me. They’re superstitious and stupid, and don’t take the time to question if their beliefs are justified.”
“What do you mean?” Ivy asked, though she sort of understood what he was getting at.
“Think about it. I’m a disembodied voice, and that’s not even scratching the surface. You think they’d trust a thing like me?”
“No, not at all,” Ivy said. “If anything, they’d probably try to kill you.”
The voice chuckled a little. “I can’t say I’m exactly worried about that. Not many people would know how to kill a god.”
Ivy was angered by this, and turned around, trying to find where this person must be hiding. “You must think I’m a fool if you think I’d believe you’re a god.”
“No, I don’t take you for a fool, Ivy. Though I understand if you don’t believe me.”
“Ivy-? But I said my name was Lily!” Ivy said, trying to hide the panic that was welling up inside of her.
“I know what you said,” the voice answered. “But do not take me for a fool, Ivy."
Ivy did her best to keep a strong face. "Well, mister, I don't know why you bothered to get my name wrong and then pretend to be a god, but if that's all, I'll be going home now." She turned her heel to leave.
The voice was silent, and she walked, then ran, all the way back home.
Years later, Ivy had still never come back to that particular path. For that matter, neither had anyone else. Matthias was alone, banished to living invisibly. He'd explore around sometimes, but in the end, he always found himself coming back to that spot. And really, how could he not? This was the place where his kind had been killed. All their inventions, all their work, lost to the world forever, because some lady made of plants didn't like it when her creations spun out of her control.
And he, the only survivor, was banished from ever walking the Earth again. He couldn't save his own people, and he couldn't even save his own way of life from decomposing as the plant life took over. Matthias may have won the battle, but it seemed the Earth had won the legend and the land.
The children of Mother Nature would walk on the corpses of Giants for generations to come, without ever even knowing where they stand.
Three and a half years ago, I accepted a challenge that would prove to be more difficult than I could have ever imagined. At the surface, it was a fun short story challenge, which joiners could "accept" and then write six different stories based on six short prompts. However, it would become much more than that. It was a curse. Something that would force me to make a choice, consciously or not. To accept defeat, and put down my pen for good, or to turn back, and fight. A battle against writer's block. A true challenge indeed.
Three and a half years ago, I laid down my pen in defeat. I did not have the knowledge and strength that I needed back then to stand and to fight. But today, with the skills that I have accumulated against creative burnout, I stand up once more. And I will fight.
Because this battle never truly ended. I took the time I needed to stay away from this project, and I've let go of the guilt and anxiety that pressured me into quitting in the first place. I've learned that it's okay to work slowly, and I've gained the wisdom to take much needed breaks when necessary. And, most importantly, I've learned how to better realize when I need to take a break, and to give myself time to recharge my energies before approaching the project again. It has taken years for me to fully realize this, and even now, my skills are not as sharp as they may one day become. I will continue to learn. And I will continue to fight.
So here is my battle cry. I have finished two prompts already. Today, I will slay the third. Beyond that, it may take days, or it may take months; but I will someday slay them all. Because this challenge is never-ending. And I will either finish each one of the prompts in this life, or I will die and write the rest in hell.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PurringThunder Accepts the SSSC (Prompt #3)
On the Shoulders of Giants
Long, long ago, the Earth was roamed by Giants. They lived in great civilizations, with technology far surpassing our own. They figured out how to sustain life without relying on Mother Nature’s goodness and kindness, and they even learned how to fly. But their knowledge was sacred and forbidden. It went against the Earth goddess’ wishes. Mother Nature warned the Giants that their deviance must stop, but the Giants refused. The Giants insisted that She only wanted them to stop so that She would have control over them once more.
This angered the Earth goddess greatly. She sent out her creatures to attack the Giants, to teach them a lesson. Yet the Giants had anticipated Her attack. They were readied with swords, bows, and arrows alike. They shot the creatures down and ate their meat for dinner, just to spite Her.
Mother Nature did not give up. She crafted a plague to rid the Earth of these monsters. But again, the Giants were ready. By the time the plague had infected the Giants, they had already created an antidote, and the sickness was stopped. Again Her plan had come to a failure at the hand of the wicked Giants.
Our Mother had had enough of these Giants. Her creatures had been killed. Her plague had been stopped. If She was to rid of the Giants for once and for all, She decided, She must do it herself. So She sprouted herself from the forest floor, Her body made of plants and vines. With each step, She left behind a trail of holy flowers. Until finally, She reached the Giants.
“GIANTS!” She roared. “YOU HAVE DEFIED YOUR GODDESS, AND FOR THAT, YOUR END IS NIGH.”
The leader of the Giants scoffed at Her warning. “We have defied no one. Go home, maiden of plants. You do not belong here.”
“IT IS YOU WHO DO NOT BELONG. YOU HAVE KILLED MY CHILDREN, AND YOU HAVE DISOBEYED THE LAWS OF NATURE. YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS FORBIDDEN, AND YOUR ACTIONS ARE DISRESPECTFUL TO THE GODS. YOU WILL SURRENDER TO THE EARTH, OR YOU WILL DIE AND BECOME ONE WITH IT.”
“We will do no such thing,” the Giants insisted. “We have free will, and we will do as we please. We do not bow down to you, maiden.”
“THEN YOUR FATE IS SEALED,” Lady Earth declared. With that, both sides attacked. Our Lady sent barbed vines in every direction to slash against the skin of the Giants. Yet their skin was silvery, and seemed to be made of metal. Still, Our Lady did not give up, even as the Giants bombarded Her with swords. Chopped vines meant nothing to Her, for She was a goddess, and no physical attack would hurt Her. She breathed poison into the air, suffocating the Giants around Her. With a sense of satisfaction and victory, She watched as one by one, the Giants’ attacks slowed, then stopped, and with a thud they fell to the ground, dead.
The Giants had been vanquished.
Or so She thought. One Giant, behind Her, had not. The King of the Giants. “You cannot kill me, maiden,” he spoke. Our Lady turned around, astonished that one was still standing.
“But I will,” She said, as she breathed another breath of poison. But it seemed to have no effect on the monster.
“Your vines could not hurt us, for on our bodies we wear armor made of steel. And your poison will not kill me, either, for on my face I wear a mask to protect my lungs. Give up now, Earth.”
“Why do you don a mask when none of your friends do? Because of you they are dead,” Mother Earth told him. “How can you have no shame?”
“Only one mask could be made with the time and materials we had. Thanks to your incessant meddling, might I add,” the Giant responded. “You are the one who killed my brethren. And for that, you will pay.” He began to chant a forbidden spell.
Our Mother tried to stop him, but the Giant was again ahead of Her. He had immobilized Her, and now… now he was going to kill Her. As Her strength drained from Her soul, the Giant became stronger, until finally, He had become a god. With Her last ounce of strength, however, Mother Earth spoke Her own chant, and banished Him to live in the sky for all of eternity.
The Giant vanished into thin air, while Mother Earth’s body fell to the grass and became buried by vines. This would be Her resting place.
From the trail of holy flowers Our Mother left behind, new life formed. And from that new life, a new civilization was created…
“Which is why you should be thankful and eat your vegetables,” Grandma Rose told Ivy patiently. “Mother Earth gave them to us so we could survive!”
“I’d rather eat dirt,” Ivy muttered, under her breath.
“What did you say, Ivy? Speak up, dear,” Rose shouted.
“I said okay!” Ivy shouted back, then shoved the rest of her cauliflower into her mouth. “See? I ate it!”
“Good, good. Our Mother would be proud,” Rose smiled warmly. “You may go out and play now. Take care.”
“I will! Thanks, grandma!” Ivy said, running out the door, and glad to get away from the place. Everyone here seemed to be so obsessed with religion and how they were supposedly “created” by Lady Earth’s goodness. Ivy didn’t believe in any of those fairy tales. Besides, most of the time they didn’t even make sense. Magical creature died for us; therefore… eat gross stuff from the ground? Why?? Not like, be a nice person or something?
It seemed like the adults just told her that stuff to get her to behave. And yeah, maybe it worked when she was a little kid, but… she’s twelve years old now. Couldn’t they just drop the act and admit they were lying to her?
Apparently not. She sighed as she walked down the forest path. At least here, amid the plants, she could be alone and not have to deal with any of that “Mother” crap.
“Why does everyone worship her, anyway?” Ivy muttered, kicking a rock on the ground. “She wasn’t even a nice person in the stories; everybody just assumes that since she was a goddess that she must have been right.”
“That’s a very good question,” a voice in the air answered, startling Ivy. She looked around, but no one seemed to be there.
“Who said that? Show yourself,” Ivy called, searching the bushes near her for any signs of another person.
“I’m afraid I can’t,” the voice answered. “I don’t have a body anymore.”
Ivy was wary, but admittedly intrigued. “Who are you?”
“I think it’s best I save that for later. What I want to know is, who are you? Not many people go down this way.”
Ivy thought for a moment. “I’m… Lily. I just like walking in the forest. Why do you care?”
“Because you seem a bit troubled,” the voice responded. “And because I don’t usually get many chances to talk to people.”
“Hmm,” Ivy said. “Well, I guess you seem nice enough, so I’ll tell you something I haven’t told anyone else. I don’t believe in religion like my family does. The whole town seems to think that this dead plant lady will solve everyone’s problems, but I think it’s bogus. She’s dead. Dead people don’t do anything.” She crossed her arms and looked at the ground. “So, what’s up with you? How come you can’t talk to anyone?”
There was a moment of silence, then the voice answered. “Same reason you don’t feel safe telling anyone in town what you just told me. They’re superstitious and stupid, and don’t take the time to question if their beliefs are justified.”
“What do you mean?” Ivy asked, though she sort of understood what he was getting at.
“Think about it. I’m a disembodied voice, and that’s not even scratching the surface. You think they’d trust a thing like me?”
“No, not at all,” Ivy said. “If anything, they’d probably try to kill you.”
The voice chuckled a little. “I can’t say I’m exactly worried about that. Not many people would know how to kill a god.”
Ivy was angered by this, and turned around, trying to find where this person must be hiding. “You must think I’m a fool if you think I’d believe you’re a god.”
“No, I don’t take you for a fool, Ivy. Though I understand if you don’t believe me.”
“Ivy-? But I said my name was Lily!” Ivy said, trying to hide the panic that was welling up inside of her.
“I know what you said,” the voice answered. “But do not take me for a fool, Ivy."
Ivy did her best to keep a strong face. "Well, mister, I don't know why you bothered to get my name wrong and then pretend to be a god, but if that's all, I'll be going home now." She turned her heel to leave.
The voice was silent, and she walked, then ran, all the way back home.
Years later, Ivy had still never come back to that particular path. For that matter, neither had anyone else. Matthias was alone, banished to living invisibly. He'd explore around sometimes, but in the end, he always found himself coming back to that spot. And really, how could he not? This was the place where his kind had been killed. All their inventions, all their work, lost to the world forever, because some lady made of plants didn't like it when her creations spun out of her control.
And he, the only survivor, was banished from ever walking the Earth again. He couldn't save his own people, and he couldn't even save his own way of life from decomposing as the plant life took over. Matthias may have won the battle, but it seemed the Earth had won the legend and the land.
The children of Mother Nature would walk on the corpses of Giants for generations to come, without ever even knowing where they stand.
