I have sent my story.
Screenshot name: Chicken Migas
Title of story: The Light
Story:
For as long as Migas could remember, he had been running; running from conflict, fleeing instead of fighting, constantly hiding from every creature in the night. He had heard of one place he could retreat in peace, a place no monster would go. But it was a fabled place. He wasn't even sure if it actually existed, but still, he tried. He had been searching for years, fueled by fear, for the legendary Mooshroom Island. Along his travels, he had created for himself the costume of a chicken, because that's what he accepted he was: A chicken, a self-proclaimed coward. He wore it, not because he was proud of it, but because he believed he deserved to be marked as such.
While on his journey, Migas had noticed something very odd. He was being followed by a flickering, floating light. At first, he ran faster from it, scared of the tiny orb. But after realizing it kept its distance, he allowed himself to relax a bit; and, with time, he came to think of it as a silent companion. One friend in a sea of monsters. And so he kept searching for the Island with his little light, nicknamed "Leor," for a few more years.
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One fateful day, after miles and miles of running through what seemed to be a never-ending forest, his feet stumbled upon something different. He looked around with confusion and studied his surroundings. Mushrooms littered the lavender landscape, some so large they grew over his head. A herd of mysterious creatures grazed on a hill not far from where he was. He warily approached them, wanting to know more, but not quite wanting to get too close. Leor flew ahead and weaved through the animals, and Migas saw that they were peaceful beings not interested in harming anything. He realized at that moment that he had found it. He had finally found his sanctuary.
He spent his days gathering mushrooms and building a small home. His first few nights were spent cowering, still not sure if he were actually safe. Eventually though, his fear dissipated. He happily accepted that there was nothing that could harm him anymore. He had come to find the mushrooms had some magic in them. After eating them, he grew to the size of a mountain, which helped him become even less afraid. And the stew the mooshroom cows gave him lifted his spirits and was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. His first few days on this new land were the best he had ever experienced.
After a few weeks of being settled down, Migas walked over to his favorite hill, sat on its cliffside, and looked out over the landscape he now called home. Far off in the distance, he could faintly see the forest he journeyed through to get here. And he came to the conclusion that this place was not exactly everything he was hoping for. It was no longer a happy place to him. It was a place of boredom and solitude. Sure, he no longer felt much fear, but he also struggled to find a sense of purpose.
Leor quietly drifted over and hovered above his shoulder, and Migas said aloud, "I spent so much of my life running away from everything, trying to find a place where I'd no longer need to hide. But now that I've found it, I just feel empty. I didn't realize that the journey and the struggle it took to get here is what made me feel alive. I'd rather be running."
Migas felt more lost than ever. He thought to himself,
What was the point of all of this? I should be out living, experiencing adventure, embracing the risks. Not existing day by day wearing a chicken outfit, eating stew that doesn't even taste good anymore. The second he came to this realization, little Leor slowly floated up to Migas, stopped right in front of his face as if it were looking straight into his eyes, and a voice echoed all around him.
"The time has come. Follow me."
Little Leor had finally spoken.
While Migas no longer feared monsters and beasts, he still had a strong fear of the unknown. But if his visit on Mooshroom Island had done anything for him, it had helped him realize that his time being fearful had made him stronger and more capable. He wouldn't let fear stop him this time.
He removed his chicken costume for the final time, left it on the ground at his feet, and followed his little light, now knowing what was to come, but finally excited and ready to live.
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After Migas took his first few steps off its land, the Island sighed with a renewed sense of peace and accomplishment. Its magic had worked.
