Once, only a true original could be real. If you could see it, but only a shadow, then was it really there, did it really exist? No one ever questioned this rule of life, and Earth was among them. He knew his purpose, he knew that he guarded the land, and he did just that. He took pride in his work, loved watching the world around him grow and change, and knowing that it was he who led it in this routine.
The day came when Earth was leading the world around him to change once more, the trees to come alive once more and the ice to melt away, when he felt a change around him. A strange presence seemed to materialize out of the wind itself, not there one moment, then living the next. Earth looked around himself, but could see no one there, though the feeling remained. Brushing it off as a strange coincidence, Earth continued his work of opening a large ravine in the ground, where a river would soon flow. After this, he moved on down the path, to a small grove of trees and plants.
He was just about to slowly plant the seeds for the new year, when a small flower bloomed on the branch above him. Perplexed, Earth could only watch as more of the tiny white blossoms came to life above him, acting as if it was natural to bloom so soon after being planted.
With a wave of his hand, Earth tried to send them away, to tell them that it was not yet their time to live, but they wouldn’t obey him. The blooms stayed in place, as lovely as if they had been blooming naturally.
“I’m sorry, young ones, but it’s not time for you to be here. Why don’t you listen to me anymore?”
“Because they are not alive to listen.”
Startled, Earth turned around to find a smaller figure standing behind him, staring up at the flowers above them.
“How can they not be alive?”
“Because they’re nothing but images, copied from what the real ones are.”
Confused, Earth turned to stare back at the flowers, then the smaller figure.
“Who are you?”
“I am Illusion. This is what follows me wherever I go. Just like these flowers you see. They are illusions, just like myself. Not truly here, but here nonetheless.”
Earth studied Illusion for a moment longer, considering him.
“But how can you not be real? You’re here with me now, I can see you perfectly clear, just as I can see these flowers.”
Illusion shook his head, and with a wave of his hand, the blossoms fell from the tree, each one vanishing before they could touch the ground.
“They are like me. With such a simple gesture, sent away. Illusions can never match that which is real, as I’ve come to understand. I’m very sorry to have bothered you in your task. I’m only passing through, to find a land where illusions can belong. Goodbye, Earth.”
Without another word, Illusion turned and began traveling down the path, leaving Earth watching him curiously.
Illusion seemed real, more real than many things he had ever encountered. He could think, he could feel, he was real… Earth didn’t know how to explain it, but he knew that Illusion was real, even if Illusion himself didn’t believe that.
His mind made up, Earth began to follow Illusion. He couldn’t have gotten far at all.
Suddenly, the sky above turned black, a sudden Spring storm moving in around the world. A torrent of rain followed, washing down over Earth, nearly blinding his vision completely. He may have had control over the world around him, but the rain belonged to another, and Earth had no control or defense against it. He hurried on, looking for any sign of Illusion ahead of him. Soon, he came to the ravine that he had created earlier, but not seeing Illusion anywhere. Earth couldn’t tell which branch of the path he had taken. In fact, Earth couldn’t see much around him at all, the rain had become so vicious.
The sound of breaking rocks suddenly reached Earth’s ears, as well as the sound of something hitting the ground in the ravine. A frantic thought suddenly occurred to Earth. He had known to watch out for the new ravine, but Illusion…
“Illusion!”
“Earth?”
The call did come from the ravine, just as Earth had feared.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, yes, but I can’t get out with all this rain falling…”
His tone almost sounded annoyed with himself, the thought of being momentarily helpless clearly bothering him.
“Wait for just a moment longer. I’m coming to get you!”
As quickly as he could, Earth dropped himself into the ravine, finding that water was already rising in it, flowing in the way he had intended. It didn’t take him long to come across the smaller figure, who was already struggling against the rapidly rising river.
“Illusion, come here, I’ll help you get out.”
Not needing to be told twice, Illusion took Earth’s hand without hesitation, Earth quickly lifting the smaller figure out of the water. He then carefully made his way up the side of the ravine, finding that the rocks and dirt beneath his grasp were sliding away already. He’d have to hurry to get out, before the ground was too unstable to hold their weight…
Earth soon reached the edge, lifting Illusion out of harm’s way, where he could easily crawl onto the ground outside the ravine. Earth found that he was having more trouble though. With the constantly falling rain and the ground already slipping away from his fingers, he doubted if he’d be able to pull himself on to the ground…
“Earth!”
The ground beneath his fingers was slipping, the water running past him and down into the ravine, threatening to take him with it as well.
Warmth suddenly overcame Earth, and he noticed that the water had stopped coming as viciously as it had been. In fact, the ground beneath his hands was already drying, which was impossible…
Looking up, Earth saw Illusion looking to the sky, where the sun was suddenly shining brightly upon them, an unnatural heat drying everything around them. Without waiting any longer, Earth quickly pulled himself out of the ravine and beside Illusion, who looked back down when he sensed the presence beside him.
“An illusion?”
“Yes, all of this is an illusion. The moment I end it, the rain will fall again, and the ground will return to its proper state. I just wanted to give you enough time to get out, and for us to get away from this place…”
“I think this is quite a real illusion, don’t you?”
“No, it’s just a fake, nothing more than that.”
“That’s funny, because the sky seems to think it’s real, since the rain has stopped. The ground seems to agree, becoming dry again. And I agree as well. I believe all of this to be real.”
Illusion side glanced Earth, that weariness back in his eyes.
“But does that really make this all real?”
“Of course it does. As long as you believe that it’s real, then it is. And I believe that you’re real.”
Illusion stared at him a moment longer, confusion and shock coming to his eyes.
“You believe me to be real?”
“I do, Illusion.”
Illusion looked away, appearing deep in thought. Finally he looked back, the weariness vanishing from his eyes.
“In that case, I suppose I am.”
Earth smiled at him, before standing, then helping Illusion to his feet as well. Together, they both made their way back to the small grove, where an orchid of white flowers waited to greet them.
Once, for something to be real, it had to have the proper substance. A figure, a shadow, a being. But then one day, it was learned that even the shadow of beings could exist, even if they were created by another. If in the mind it was real, then it was; it existed. Such is the case when it comes to love. For when two beings both believe in it, both feel it inside their selves, then it is more real than all the world.