Active Imagination Part 1

Can't Touch the Ground

I grip the edge of a book case, and the solid floor melts away into a cauldron of burning lava. A quick glance around reveals my brother diving onto a chair and my sister sitting on the couch.

My muscles tense and my eyes focus on the treadmill. I squat down and push off with a yelp. I sail through the air only to find myself landing in the fiery abyss. I wiggle in pain as I wither in the lava.

I reset to the bookshelf. My eyes dart back and forth. Chairs and tables are too far away. The closest object is an old Singer sewing machine that used to be my grandmothers. The thing is the size of a desk. The old beast must be handled carefully, or I will meet my doom. I struggle across the black metal legs and pedals. My legs slipping in frustration until I reach the other side.

With nothing else close enough, my sister throws me a pillow and with a grimace, I reluctantly step onto it. I then move from the pillow, to the couch, to the large pile of pillows.

I collect a few pillows and soon all three of us are moving freely around the scorched earth.

Reaching back I pick up a pillow behind me and toss it forward. It lands further than I expect, but I know I can make it. I pull back to the edge of my current pillow in order to get a small running start. I then dash and jump. Everything moves slowly as I fly. The air rushes by, the lava flows below, and the steam spirals around me as I see my target approach. I land hard and the pillow slides a few inches under me. I try to balance but fail. I fall and a foot brushes against the intense lava. "Merely a flesh wound," I tell myself as I smother the burn in the pillow and make sure no one else noticed.

Just then the Mighty Overlord Monster (M.O.M for short) begins to descend the stairs, the floor solidifies, and the three of us find a new game to play.

Foundation of Pillows and Blankets

As siblings it is time to build a community. All my siblings gather around and claim plots of land and building materials. Some favor the sturdy couch, others a group of chairs, and the daring or misfortunate take smaller odds and ends. My building materials of choice are a card table and large blanket. There are a few disagreement. I wanted the blue blanket, but received a brown one. Multiple people want to use the couch. Some bartering takes place the homes begin to be erected.

I throw the blanket over the table and quickly have the main part of my new home. I then push it over to a book self and grab a smaller blanket to extend my home. I have to end up using a few more odds and ends in order to prop the ceiling up a little more. Then we begin to furnish the homes with our favorite books, toys, and a sleeping bag.

Once we are finished, we begin our house warming parties. I enter one sibling's home. With pride, they show off their two story house using the couch. Another has created a multiple roomed home using a combination of chairs, pillows, and blankets. With pride, I highlight my vaulted ceiling by using the table once again. We share feasts of imagined cakes and hot chocolate as we discuss the new sprawling town that covers the basement.

As the sun begins to lower we make a few more final preparations before crawling into our sleeping bags for the night.

Two Against an Army

My brother and I stand at the top of the stairs looking down into the entrance of an evil villain's lair. I imagine a sword in one hand and a fire ball in the other.

There is only a slight pause before we charge in. I release a stream of flames, and my brother rains lighting down from above. The barred gate and the guards vanish in an instant from the surprise attack, and we quickly take advantage of the chaos.

I strike enemy after enemy as I dance around the fortress. Nothing seems to be able to stop me, but things change as the enemy begins to organize. A large group of armored guards protect a few mages that begin blasting us back. Reluctantly, I take cover behind some rubble. I need to disrupt the group.

I focus my power and begin to tear the ground from under the group. This forces the group to break apart as my brother jumps at the mages with a smile on his face, but the distraction almost gets me killed as an enemy comes bearing down onto me.

I am only just able to form an ice shield as his mace comes smashing down. I continue to create ice barriers as I try to regain my footing. When I am finally standing, two more soldiers have joined in fight. I quickly parry blows and a beautiful ballet begins as we weave amongst each other, but in the end, I clean my sword with the three others at my feet.

I then turn to help my brother. Using a gust of wind a redirect arrows that begin to rain down. My brother then freezes them forever in stone with their second arrows notched.

The evil Lord then enters the battlefield clad in his armor of jet black mist. The world explodes around us. I feel a wound above my eye and my breath is heavy, but I join in the dance amid fire, ice, and darkness. My exhausted, but happy brother comes in from one side while I come in from another. It feels like fighting a hurricane as our foe knocks us around and angrily taunts us.

In the end we pull back. We won't be able to defeat him today, and besides it's time for dinner.

david stoddard