A short bit of an allegory I wrote . . .

  “You will need a new name for this journey.” Everything told me, smiling. “Dreamer—that is the name I have picked for you. Use that name, because that is what you are now. Also be sure to have at least one companion going up the mountain—there will be five others heading up the mountain today.”
I nodded, and slung my pack over my shoulder. “I’m ready now.”
"Head to the base of the mountain." Everything said. "The other travlers with come along soon.
                                                                   *****
I made it to the base of the mountain in less than a half hour.
    There stood a tall girl; she had full red lips and color in her skin. Her short blonde hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail, and her grey eyes were bright with determination. From the first glance I could tell she was strong, both inside and out. She looked as though nothing could take her down--not even Fear himself.
"I am Tenacity." She replied, her voice was strong and steady. "You're going to climb that?"
I nodded.
"Me too." She said, pulling her short blonde hair back into a ponytail. "Do you want to come with me?"
"N-no." I stuttered. "I'm fine."
"Suit yourself." She said, heading up the mountain path.
                                                                      *****
An hour later another girl appeared. She had dusky red hair, fine green eyes, and a grin played on her bright red lips. Her skin was light but it contained a deep blush. She was slender, her dark eye lashes fluttered, and she walked high and mighty.
"Hey!" She called to me. "I'm climbing this mountain, are you?"
"Yeah." I said, not nearly as enthusiastic.
"I'm Resolute by the way-- you wanna come with me?" Her voice sounded light, but yet strong somehow.
"No." I replied. "I'm good."
She shrugged, and continued on her way.
                                                                *****
It was only a few minutes before the next on came along. She was about my height, but she had long angel blonde hair with purple and blue highlights. Her blue eyes were dark but smiling, and there was certain brightness about her face that is hard to describe.
"Hey!" She exclaimed, waving and coming over to sit by me. "What's your name?"
"Dreamer."
"I'm Lucky." She said, shooting me a genuine smile. "I'm gonna try to climb that mountain." She continued on, gazing up at the large mountain. "Are you? And if ya are, do ya wanna come with me?"
"Yes I am, but no thanks. I'm gonna wait here a while longer." I stated.
"Um, okay." She said, standing up. "It was nice talkin' to ya!"
                                                                *****
The next one took a couple hours to arrive, but there she was. Her head held high, and her soft blue eyes fastened on the mountain. Her brown hair fell neatly around her beautiful face. She walked as though she had no Fear at all.
"Hey! What's your name?" This time it was me who called out.
She glanced over at me for the first time and replied, "Fearless. You?" "Dreamer." I said. "You going up that mountain?"
"Of course." She answered, continuing on her way.
I sighed. She certainly didn't want me to come with her, why was she the only one that didn't ask me?
                                                           *****
I would have to take the next one. Dread  had said there were only five.
Curly dark brown hair, blue eyes, a musical laugh. There was the last one of the five. She was gorgeous—like all the others—she had full lips, light smooth skin, and a slender build.
Her voice was like music when she turned to me and said, "Hiya! What's your name?"
"Dreamer. What's yours?"
"Blithe." She smiled at me and motioned towards the mountain. "I'm climbing it, are you?"
"Yep." I replied. "Can I come with you?"
"Sure!" She chirped, waiting for me to come up beside her. "Let’s get started! Maybe we can finish climbing before night fall!"
“I doubt that.” I murmured, but I don’t think she heard me.
As we walked the mountain seemed it grow longer, and the path seemed to get steeper. I couldn't quite understand it, but every time I looked Everything seemed different.
Blithe looked over at me, and for the first time I noticed a glint of Fear in her eyes.
"It's getting harder to climb," She said. "And look at those rocks!"
She felt it too, the wind blowing against us, the path getting steeper. The rocks though looked treacherous, and with the wind they would be impossible to climb. No, not impossible, but hard. Very hard.
"There's no way around them either." Blithe murmured. "We had better start climbing."
Nodding I gripped the edge of a rock and pulled myself upward. Placing my foot on another rock, I brought my hand up to find another hold. Blithe followed behind me.
                                                         *****
"We made it to a ledge where we can rest." I said, sticking my hand over the cliff for Blithe to grab.
A shaking hand grabbed mine, and I pulled her up. The sight that met me wasn't what I expected. The girl that I had once seen in Blithe wasn't there anymore. No smile played about her now parched lips that were once so full of color. She looked like every last drop of energy had been drained out of her.
"I can't do this." She whispered, her voice cracking.
I stared hard. Was this really the Blithe I knew? No, it wasn’t. This was not Blithe.
“Who are you?”
“I’m sorry Dreamer.” She murmured. “But I’m not really Blithe, but Misery.”
Stifling a sob, I figured I had to be strong. Even though I was a wreck inside I couldn’t let her see that. She depended on me to much for me to break under the pressure of the mountain.
Swallowing hard, I stepped forward and put my arms around her. “It’s okay.” I said. “I’m here for you, I’m not gonna leave you. Remember Everything? The One who’s gonna help us through all this, the One who promised to always be there."
Blithe nodded. I stroked her limp dark brown hair, and then took her raw hands in mine.
"He'll help us through this, darling." I told her, leaning back to wipe away a drop from her tear stained face. "He's always here, and I'm here."
"Thank you, Dreamer, but I can't help but to think that nobody cares about me. How could anyone? Look at me Dreamer, I'm worthless."
      "No, no," I said softly. "You're strong, you're beautiful, I've seen the real you. You can make it through this, I know you can, Blithe."
"Dreamer, I'm not Blithe . . . . I'm Misery."
"But who gave you that name? Fear did didn't he?"
Blithe nodded.
"Then no. You can't go by that name, because Everything gave you your true name--Blithe." I said. "That's who you are to Everything, and that's all that matters, dear."
Blithe looked over at me, a new spark of light in her eyes. Standing up, she walked over to the rock wall and began climbing once again.
Smiling, I followed. I'm so proud of you Blithe . . .


~Black Rose