The Never Ending Waterfall (part 1)

It all began in a classroom, a very plain classroom to be exact.  There was a table that functioned as a desk in the front middle of the room and there were quite a few rows of desks, too many to be worth counting though.  Green chalkboards lined the front, right, and back walls.  There was a door near the front right corner and a trash can in that corner.  Windows and a heater lined the left wall and there were two air conditioners in the windows.  The floor tiles looked dusty and were very scratched up showing the age and use of the room.  The atmosphere of the room was always quiet and thoughtful, even during class discussions and group editing sessions.  One day something strange happened though.  The room began to fade and my vision became blurry.  Strangely enough, I felt as though I were falling through a waterfall, or the mists at the bottom of a waterfall.1

When my vision finally cleared I was sitting in a circle in a grove of Oak trees with several other youths dressed in light blue or grey robes.  Looking down at myself I noticed that I too wore a blue robe.  There was an elderly man standing in the center of the circle wearing a brilliant white robe.  He had long white silverly hair and a long beard of the same color.  At this point he had not noticed me as he was listening to the young man across form me recite some complex poem.  Well, at least it seemed like a poem though it was not in a language I'd ever heard before.  The youth soon finished his poem and the elderly man turned to face me with a brilliant smile on his face.2

"Welcome Bryn, I trust you had a safe journey."3

Journey, I wouldn't have exactly called watching your college English classroom fade into and Oak grove much of a journey.  I needed some answers though and I was sure that this man could give them to me, but before I could speak he continued, addressing the group....4

"Everyone, this is Bryn, she is from a parallel world, as the rest of you are.  Since she is new here I expect you all to treat her with courtesy and help her with anything she needs.  You were all new once, I expect you all to remember that.  Dimitri, you will show Bryn around the school grounds.  Welcome to Oakwood academy of Mysteries Bryn."5

Oakwood what?!!!  This was too much for me to take.  I had never been involved in anything resembing a weird cult so why was i here?  There were too many questions buzzing around my head for me to focus on even one.  The young man, Dimitri was it, beaconed me to follow him.  What else was there for me to do but to follow?  Perhaps Dimitri could tell me what this was all about.6

"So what world are you from?" he asked me when I came to walk beside him.7

"What world am I from?!  Earth, where else?"  Dimitri grinned at this response.8

"Oh, so I suppose you're from one of those worlds whose forgotten that they're not alone.  They have forgotten the existence of the Never Ending Waterfall."9

"Never Ending Waterfall, what the blazes is that?"  I was feeling so confused at this point.10

"It's what brought you here of course.  It is a portal of sorts that connects all of the parallel worlds in the Universe.  I'm sure you're quite confused so ask whatever questions you want and I will do my best to answer them."11

Parallel worlds?  A "Never Ending" Waterfall that connects them?  This was too much for me to take.  It didn't make any sense.  How could all of the worlds in the Universe be connected?  Well, I decided I'd better take advantage of Dimitri's offer to answer my questions; there were quite a few to be sure.12

"So, why is this portal called the Never Ending Waterfall?" I started off with.13

"Because as far as we know, it is never ending.  No one knows how long it is and we probably never will since new worlds are being created all the time.  We attach the word "waterfall" to the end because of the sensation one feels when they are traveling through it.  I'm sure even you felt it."14

"Yes, I did think of a waterfall or of waterfall mist when I was being transported.  So why did I get transported here and why from my English classroom?"15

"There are portals leading to the Never Ending Waterfall in each of the parallel worlds.  We do not know where they are all located but it seems that the Waterfall itself chooses where to set up the portals, in order to suck in specific people."16

"So you're saying that it meant to bring me here?" I gasped.17

"Yes, that's how all of use got here.  The Never Ending Waterfall seems to choose specific people from different worlds to come here to learn about it and the mysteries it contains.  Master Galenis the teacher here, he was the elderly man who addressed you earlier.  Our mission is to learn how to travel through the Never Ending Waterfall at our own will and to help maintain the peace between the world of the parallel Universe.  The Waterfall chose you to undergo this training as it did the rest of us."18

"This is too bizarre," I exclaimed, "I don't even know if I believe what you are saying.  I need some time to think."19

I started to walk ahead of Dimitri down the path.  The forest opened up into a vast clearing.  There was a beautiful shimmering castle on the Cliffside in the distance and beyond that a vast blue ocean.  It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.  "Beautiful," said Dimitri, coming up behind me.  I was so busy looking at the scene before me that I didn't notice my legs begin to sink into the ground.  When I finally did notice it was too late.  The rest of me fell abruptly through the ground before I could utter a scream.20

I felt as though I were falling through the mists of a waterfall again.  This was too bizarre.  First I vanished from my classroom only to appear in a strange Oak Grove, and now here I was, falling again.  I began to panic.  What if what Dimitri said was true?  What if the Never Ending Waterfall had complete control over me and took me to another parallel world?  What if it was an unfriendly world?  With this last thought in my mind I felt myself hit hard on solid earth once again.  Unlike the beautiful scene that I had just left, this place was grey and dark.  It left and eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach and I began to get really scared.  What was I going to do?  I was in a dark barren wasteland with no sign of life in sight.  I felt myself wishing that at least Dimitri were here with me.21

"Lost and alone are we," cackled a voice from the shadows.22

"Who's there," I replied shakily.  A cold wind blew past me and I shivered all the more.  This was the most terrified I think I'd ever been.  I felt as though I were being drained of all of the happiness and hope within me.  Then I heard the voice again, chanting a rhyme over and over again......23

A power there once was, but now is lost24

Soon it will be found but at what cost25

Dread the day when it will come26

Fear will enter all hearts but one27

Death and destruction in this world we built28

Our bodies returning to dirt and silt29

This power must not reach the hands30

Of one who wishes to cover all the lands31

In a darkness there was but once before32

In a world where hope was nevermore.33

After the chant had been spoken three times I saw a figure begin to appear from the shadows.  It was an old woman, she was hunchbacked and dressed in grey rags.  She carried a disfigured wooden staff that she used to keep her balance.  I cringed as she hobbled up to me.34

"So you're the one," she said in a raspy voice, "You don't look like anything special to me.  Why the Never Ending Waterfall chose a silly nonbeliever like you from a world who does not believe anything that's not two feet in front of their nose I will never know."35

"What do you want with me, why am I here?" I replied trying to muster some courage.36

"What do /I/ want with you child?" she said lifting an eyebrow, "It is not I that wants anything.  The Never Ending Waterfall chooses those it sees fit to accomplish its missions, I do not argue.  You were brought here to see what destruction could be in store for all of the parallel worlds.  It is up to you and all those at Oakwood academy to prevent what you see before you.  Did you not listen to the prophecy?"37

Prophecy?  Just then Dimitri landed right next to me.  He looked exasperated and worn out and even a little angry.38

"Ragnell," he said, "How could you do this to Bryn?  She wasn't ready to see this.  Most of the second years at the academy haven't even seen this."39

"Twas not I that decided this.  I answer to the Never Ending Waterfall.  What it bids I must do, whether I agree or not."40

"So you're saying that the Waterfall wanted her to see this, why?"41

"Do you think I know all of its secrets foolish boy?  Perhaps she was brought here that she might see the purpose for her being summoned to Oakwood by the Waterfall.  Ask her if she is a believer now why don't you?"42

Dimitri turned to face me.  During his conversation with Ragnell I had been contemplating all that I had learned.  I did believe in the Never Ending Waterfall now.  Being transported through it twice to two very different worlds tends to convert one.43

"Well Bryn," he said, "What do you say to coming back to Oakwood to fulfill your mission?"44

"I will come back to Oakwood," I replied slowly, "I will accept my destiny."45

"Good.  Take hold of my hand so that I can transport us back to Oakwood."46

Before we left I looked quickly back at Ragnell.  "Thank you," I said, "for helping me to understand."47

"Go fulfill what you were brought here to do child and if you ever need me you have but to call my name."48

With that I felt myself fade with Dimitri back into the Never Ending Waterfall.  Before I knew it we were standing back in Oakwood looking at the beautiful scene of the castle on the Cliffs and the beautiful ocean beyond.  I don't know what trials I will face in the future but now that I have accepted my destiny there is no going back.  Dimitri turned and smiled at me, "Welcome to your new home."  We then walked side by side towards the beautiful castle as the sun began to set in the west.49