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Part 20: The Great Shift
“Are you ready to take a leap of faith,” asks the Mysterious Stranger the Seeker. They walk the last steps up to the volcanic hole. To the summit of the great mountain. Twelve animal spirits walk behind them. A curious bunny, a clever fox, a passionate squirrel, a proud eagle, an optimistic dog, a perfectionist cat, a kind bear, a creative goat, a quiet pigeon, a brave chicken, a funny fish and a twisted scorpion. All of them walk slowly, with some hesitation in their steps.
“We went through countless lessons,” continues the Stranger, turns around and faces the group. “And see how far we have come. I hope you are now ready for the first test. Are you ready to face the UNKNOWN?”
Suddenly something up ahead catches the attention of all animals. The Seeker turns around. A woman in a red dress walks down the stairs.
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“Don't listen to him,” shouts the red-head woman. “If you follow him, you will die! He is insane!”
She stomps down the mountain, rambling angrily. All eyes are caught on her until she fades out of sight.
“Who the hell was was that?” asks the Seeker confused.
“Explaining this would take too long,” responds the Stranger. “Let's just say, that the walls between the timelines are very thin up here.”
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The Stranger continues walking. The animals follow hesitantly with a seed of doubt flowering in their minds.
“Did you know, that this volcano is called 'the Great Shift'?” converses the fox, breaking the unnerving silence between him and the bear.
“Some say, that somewhere on this mountain, there is a hidden portal... A gate into a higher timeline. That's at least what some of the alchemists told me... But it's just an old myth. No one ever found any proof of that... Just some ancient inscription of an unknown language.”
As the bear learns the mountains name, he thinks of something funny. He stops listening, impatient to finally tell his joke:
“Great shift you say?” blurts out the bear, as soon as the fox ends his sentence.
“moRe LiKe 'biG ShiT' aM I riGhT?”
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All steps halt. Every conversation suddenly drops. All eyes gaze at the bear. A painfully awkward silence.
“It sounded funnier in my head,” mumbles the bear spitefully.
The journey continues. The bunny hops to the front position to talk with the Stranger.
“Where are we going?” asks the curious bunny.
“It's time to take our first test,” responds the Stranger. “This is our examination. Are we ready to trust our hearts? Are you ready to take a leap of faith and jump into the UNKNOWN?”
The Stranger and the Seeker suddenly stop. All animals stop as well. They made it to the top, to the end of their path. They all stand at the edge of the volcanic hole. All eyes peek down below. There is glowing lava.
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“So this is where the path ends,” comments the eagle.
The goat sighs. “See?! I told you all along, hiking up here is a waste of time.”
The chicken swallows his spit. “But... They told me the volcano was inactive!”
The Stranger turns around and faces the crowd.
“This is now the time of decision. Your names have been called. Will you answer the call, or will you go back to where you used to be? Are you willing to follow your heart? Not your emotions, not your thoughts. This inner intuition. This unconditional love. This light within you. The heart of your soul. Will you jump? Or will you go back?”
All of the animals look at the Stranger in shock.
“Jump?” asks the pigeon confused. “You mean like... Down there?”
The pigeon points at the lava. The volcano looks threatening. Bubbles of lava popping.
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“Yes,” confirms the Stranger. “We need a leap of faith to progress further. Both in a metaphorical and in a literal way. When we jump into the hole, it will open up a portal to a different 'area' of the 'map' in this 'game'. Or a different timeline, so to speak.”
“You really expect us to jump down there?” questions the bewildered eagle. “It's steaming hot! We'll melt in the fucking lava!”
“No one in their right mind would ever jump down there...” screams the cat.
The fish starts getting nervous.
“¿Por qué estamos aquí arriba? ¿Y por qué estáis todos tan amenazadores en el borde? ¿Quieres sacrificarme? ¡Oh María Madre de Dios protégeme de estos locos!”
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The Stranger addresses the entire crowd:
“Look... It's not about you trusting what I am saying or believing in me... Or any other nonsense... It's about you having faith in yourself. In your heart. In your way. Trust in your own path. And if your heart tells you 'don't jump', then don't do it. It just means you have a different journey.”
He turns to the Seeker.
“Seeker, I respect your choice. It is entirely up to you, whether you wanna jump or not. There is no better path, both are equally valuable. Just make sure to follow your heart. Don't give in to fear or illusions. Don't regret your decision afterwards. And never forget, there always is a way! Make sure to read the desired ending first. I would also advise you to return to checkpoint 4 and start again from there. Anyway my friend... I hope, that I will meet you on the other side. I believe in you. See ya.”
The Stranger takes a deep breath, his eyes are burning. The Stranger jumps headfirst into the depths of the volcano. Like a swimmer jumping from a springboard into a puddle of glowing lava.
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The Seeker and the animals are standing in shock at the edge of the hole. All witness, how the Stranger drops into the lava, flowing through it, as if there were no physical barrier.
Suddenly there is a deep, loud thunder from below vibrating in all things. A pillar of light suddenly emanates from the volcano and illuminates the sky.
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Then suddenly everything is quiet again.
The eagle, fox, cat, goat, pigeon and bear all get together to discuss what to do next. The dog, bunny and squirrel play catch. The scorpion meanwhile tries to explain Non-duality to a fish, who only speaks Spanish.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“It's bullshit,” whispers the eagle to the others in the circle. “If we jump down there, we will die!”
“Didn't you see that flash of light?” questions the fox. “This is clearly the portal. It's real!”
The cat meanwhile shuffles her deck of cards. “How strange,” she utters quietly. “No matter how often I reshuffle, I always get the fool.”
The goat cries: “My legs hurt. I want to leave this place. My life sucks. Earth is a prison planet!”
The pigeon thinks about jumping. They analyze various possible outcomes.
“Will you jump, chicken?” asks the bear and turns his face. The bear suddenly notices, that the chicken moved. The chicken stands alone at the edge of the volcanic hole. He looks down into the pool of lava.
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“I have been here before,” utters the chicken, staring into the lava hole. “This already happened before...”
The chicken receives a download of information into his mind. A shiver strikes though his spine. His heart gets warm. His eyes first light up in awe, then the fire within starts burning.
“This is it,” he says in realization. “This is my second chance.”
He screams: “This time, I won't chicken out... This time I will live without regrets. I will follow my heart.”
Suddenly all conversations get silent. All eyes stare at the chicken in anticipation.
“What are you doing?” shouts the bear worried at the chicken. “Standing there is dangerous!”
“No need to worry mate,” interjects the fox calmly. “He's too scared to jump, anyway.”
The eagle laughs smugly. “Hey chicken, if you don't move away from the hole, you'll be fried chicken soon.”
The chicken turns around quietly. The Seeker and the chicken exchange eye contact, before the chicken faces the edge and jumps into the hole.
“I will be brave,” screams the chicken, while falling into the depths.
He flaps his wings and slows his fall. As he touches the lava, he floats through it, without any loss of speed.
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Again a heavenly sound thunders through the land and a pillar of light emanates into the sky.
All animals stare in shock down below. No one expected the cowardly chicken to actually jump.
The bear takes a look around. He is frustrated by the inaction of the other animals.
'You cowards! Why is no one doing something? Will you all leave the chicken behind? Isn't he your friend?'
But then the bear suddenly has a realization. His eyes glow up, it dawns on him. “I am his friend.”
His heart warms up, his eyes are burning. The bear takes a deep breath and sprints towards the edge of the hole.
“I'll be there for you,” growls the bear, while forming a cannonball and jumping into the lava. Again the earth vibrates and the volcano shoots a light beam up.
The eagle shakes his head. “Guess then I'll need to do it too. I can't lose against that damned chicken... Let's just hope that jumping really worth it...”
With a warm chest, the eagle flies up and dives right down, straight into the lava.
“I'll become worthy!” shouts the eagle, as a new light beam glows up.
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The fox has dreamed all his life for this moment. It was finally coming true.
'There it is,' he thinks to himself. 'My way out of here. But should I really take it? It will be hard... Harder than anything I ever faced before. Should I really do it? Or should I go back and just chill on my couch?'
The fox takes a deep breath in and laughs amused. “I face the challenge head-on. Let's see, if the legends are true. If the portal truly exists, then I'll take it. New timeline, let's go!”
With burning eyes, the fox jumps into the hole and shouts: “I will live without regrets.” Another pillar of light.
The cat takes a deep breath in, as she listens to her heart. It warms up. A shiver through her spine.
'I will jump,' she thinks to herself silently. 'But I don't know what happens next. I have no control, where I'll end up. I am scared. I might die. I don't wanna do it. I shouldn't do it... I will...'
The cat suddenly shakes off the intrusive thought. With determination in her voice and resolve in her eyes, she purrs. “I follow my heart. I won't give in to fear!”
The cat runs towards the hole and jumps over the edge.
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However just before jumping, she changes her mind. She loses balance and falls, while clinging to the edge. For a moment she grasps tightly, but then it looses. She takes in a deep breath, closes her eyes and lets go.
“I will land on my feet,” she prays with burning eyes, as she floats through the lava surface and another pillar of light appears.
The goat wants to go back to the inn. But something within tells him not to. Like the promise of an unexpected miracle happening in his life. He remembers his vision. Where he stood on this mountain singing in a chorus, wearing golden fleece on his skin. He tries to keep his face from breaking in tears and walks forward.
“I want to change,” speaks the goat from the depths of his heart. “I want things to change in my life. If this is what it needs... then I'll do it.”
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The goat jumps into the hole and screams: “I will be happy!”
A new pillar of light appears.
The fish in a plastic bag is moving closer to the edge. The animals start to notice. The squirrel, the bunny and the dog cheer on him. The pigeon observes quietly.
The fish screams in terror: “¡Necesito ayuda! No tengo control sobre la bolsa. ¡Rueda solo! ¡Para! ¡Debes hacer algo!”
The bag rolls ever closer towards the edge. The animals clap in unison.
“Go for it, bro!” shouts the dog.
“You can do it,” cheers the bunny.
“¡Ay dios mío! ¡Ahora empiezan a cantar! ¡Por favor no me sacrifiques! ¡Tengo un hijo!”
The fish fights against the movement of the bag. He pushes in the other direction. But it's useless. The bag with the fish falls over the edge.
“I will be heard,” shouts the fish in English before he drops into the lava and a new light appears.
“Now it's my turn,” shouts the dog excited. “Finally it's my turn.”
He sprints towards the edge. But he stops himself just before jumping. His eyes are frozen. “I don't know any cool catchphrases,” realizes the dog in terror. “I can't just jump without a catchphrase. Everyone else had a catchphrase. What will people think of me, if I jump without catchphrase? I should think of a catchphrase... Something that is unique to me. Something that people want to hear.”
The dog smiles, as he realizes something. “I got it,” he shouts and jumps down into the hole.
“I will be true to myself,” barks the golden retriever, while falling into the lava. Another pillar of light.
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'I am next,' thinks the squirrel silently. 'But I can't just leave behind my stash of nuts... They are my entire life savings.'
The squirrel thinks about the thousands of nuts she stored in a street lamp. It took her months to fill it up.
'No,' she thinks to herself. 'Anyone could just take my treasure, while I am gone. I can't just leave it behind. I need to protect, whats mine!'
The squirrel shakes off her thought. “When I am hungry, I'll just find new nuts,” she proclaims with burning eyes. She charges right towards the edge and jumps into the volcano.
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“Now it's my turn to say it,” shouts the squirrel, while falling into the lava. “I will be--”
She is cut-off mid-sentence. A sudden burst of light shooting upwards, illuminating the sky.
“Did she say tree or did she count three,” asks the bunny the pigeon.
The pigeon shrugs. “I don't know...”
There is some silence between the pigeon and the bunny.
“Are you scared of jumping,” asks the bunny the pigeon and breaks the ice.
“No,” lies the pigeon. “Are you?”
“Yes,” admits the bunny. “Do you think we'll die?”
“I guess it will be a bit like dying,” contemplates the pigeon. “I mean... If this truly is a portal into a timeline, where I transform... Then the old 'me' must go for a new 'me' to take it's place... So yeah... You could say, no matter whether its lava or a portal... to jump means to die...”
“I am afraid to die,” speaks the bunny. “But I know, it can't stay that way forever... I need to take things seriously... I am here for a reason and it's time to accept responsibility.”
The bunny stares into the distant horizon and breaths in. “I will jump. What about you?”
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The pigeon thinks for a moment, before responding:
“You know, I come from a flock of 6 identical looking gray pigeons. My actual name is pigeon number 3. I'm neither the first of the pigeons, nor am I the last. I am the most mediocre one. I have no outstanding talents. There is nothing special about me. I am a forgettable nobody. I am just the background character in other peoples stories...
All the time I think, I am wrong here. I shouldn't be part of this group... I have nothing of value to contribute... And yet... I stand here... above this pit. Even though, I am just a boring pigeon... I am now offered a purpose. I am treated with the same respect, as all those extraordinary people. For the first time, it feels like I don't need to hide behind the shadow of someone else, but become the star myself.
And you know what... My answer is YES. I will jump. Even if it means the death of the old me... I want to see that new version of myself come into existence. I want to take the highest path. I want to become the greatest version of myself.”
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The bunny smiles. “How about we jump together?”
The pigeon nods. “Let's do this!”
Together the bunny and the pigeon jump into the volcanic hole.
“I will be mature,” screams the bunny.
“I will be helpful,” shouts the pigeon.
Two pillars of light flare up one after the other.
At last, the Seeker stands alone on the summit of the volcano. Everyone made their choice. Now it is time for the Seekers choice. The Seeker takes a deep inhale and closes their eyes.
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GO TO POST-CHAPTER AUTHOR NOTE TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE
THE CANONICAL ENDING
The Seeker breaths out and opens their burning eyes. “I will jump,” they speak with determination.
Lurking in the Seekers shadow, hides the scheming scorpion.
'Now is my chance,' thinks the scorpion quietly. 'Everyone else is gone. No witnesses. Now, I can finally end the Seeker.'
The Scorpion clings to the Seekers heel. But before he can sting them, the Seeker jumps from the cliff down into the puddle of lava. The scorpion falls into it as well. As both touch the lava, it becomes transparent. They both float out of bounds.
The Seeker suddenly sees geometric patterns. Like going through a tunnel or zooming in on infinite fractals. It feels like eternity. A state out of time. Then everything fades into darkness.
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The Seeker wakes up in a strange room. It looks like a throne room. With them are the scorpion, the pigeon, the bunny, the squirrel, the dog, the fish, the goat, the cat, the fox, the eagle, the bear and the chicken.
“I am glad to see, that this time, all of us have made it here,” grins the Mysterious Stranger. “This is now, where the journey truly begins.”
TO BE CONTINUED