Myths of Mythaltania

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Swooping down from above, three ginormous dragons flapped their wings as they grazed just above a mountain. Beneath them lay an expansive, abundant, and luscious land filled with green grass, wildflowers, mountain peaks, and crystal clear rivers. In the grass reside Gnomes and fairies, in the rivers lay mermaids and merman, and flying alongside the dragons were unicorns.

In a land where mythical creatures are not myths, anything is possible. Magic interlaces between each blade of grass, illuminating rainbow-like crystals to make even the grass appear magical. The fairies and the gnomes got along quite well and tended to the land together in perfect harmony. The mermaids and mermen were responsible for collecting seafood to feed the society of mythical creatures that existed on this land. The dragons and unicorns watched over the land from the sky, always protecting it and taking the higher perspective.

Everything in Mythaltania was in perfect order. There was absolutely no disruption, because there were no humans. The mythical creatures knew exactly how to work in perfect harmony with the land to create a symbiotic world. Every now and then, a human would find the land. But they never stayed for too long. Only one man, who ended up staying on the Island for an entire year. The creatures welcomed him in with love, sensing that he had no bad intentions. After all, no other humans existing on the earth would ever believe the stories that the rare human would tell. To the rest of the world, the creators here were just myths.

In Mythaltania, every mythical creature had its role. The dragons were meant to protect and watch over the land, whilst bringing warmth and comfort. The gnomes and fairies tended to the land beneath them, and helped keep order amongst the mythical insects. The mermaids and merman worked alongside the water creatures to bring fish and seaweed to the land, for the Dragons, Unicorns, Gnomes, and Fairies alike to eat. Everything was in perfect structure and order in mythaltania. There was no fear, no war, no anger. Everything was simple and loving.

Do you remember all of the story books you read as a child? What you did not learn was that those mythical creatures and stories were in fact real. All of the stories about dragons, and fairies, and unicorns alike were not simply fables that writers came up with in their imagination. They were real.

All of the mythical creatures came from a land far, far away called Mythaltania. Mythaltania was said to exist in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, north west of Australia. This island was kept hidden from the majority of society. Only several humans have gone to Mythaltania and back, and lived to tell the tale. Many did not believe this to be a real place - simply, a place of imagination. Those who did say they made the journey were deemed crazy, and their stories reduced down to just… Myths.

On the Island of Mythaltania, no electronic devices could work. The island existed at a frequency much higher than the internet, and so any form of technology would break down if it entered into this Island. Nobody could ever record videos of the Island, protecting it from being physically seen by most of humanity.

Mythaltania was not known by the majority of the world because you needed to believe in myths in order to find it. If one did not believe in the magical, their boats would simply not find the Island. Mythaltania appears only to those who believe in its magic.

If only humanity knew of Mythaltania. Or, more-so, believed Mythaltania to be real. Imagine the possibilities if they did…

James woke up suddenly to the sound of his alarm. Ugh, why do I have to be awake so early… James thought internally, as he glanced at the clock flashing 7:00am in bright red colours. He got up out of bed drearily and headed to the bathroom to begin to brush his teeth and commence his morning routine. It was James’ first day of Senior year in high school. James wasn’t the biggest fan of school, and would rather spend his days with his nose in a good fantasy book. He spent his summer volunteering at the local library and reading through the entire fantasy section while he was at it. He loved entering into mythical worlds of creatures and characters and getting lost in them. He loved it.

As James was brushing his teeth, he thought about a book he was currently reading. It was called Myths of Mythaltania. It was about an Island in the Pacific Ocean full of mythical creatures. James found the novel absolutely fascinating because the writer claims that it is not fiction, but a recount of his experience going to this land. Many people considered the writer crazy and a nutcase, and wrote him off with having a playful imagination.

But there was something about the intricate way that the author described the Island that really stuck with James. The way he wrote was so in depth and full of detail and emotion that it really felt like the author really did go to Mythaltania.

This book had gotten quiet popular over the internet because of groups of people who actually did believe that the author went to this land, and that this Island does exist on present day Earth. Some of the arguments that these groups make on the internet were valid. James began to believe that maybe it was a real place.

James finished brushing his teeth and went back into his room, and opened the book to the back, to the map of Mythaltania. This has to be real, he thought. He looked at the map and saw a vast island filled with mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, and oceans. There were symbols representing where the different mythical creatures existed. The author claims that he drew this map based on his personal experience of the island. The more and more James read the book, the more James started to believe that Mythaltania really wasn’t just a myth.

As he was looking at the map, James remembered the first time that he was given this book. His uncle gave it to him as a gift when he was just seven years old. James couldn’t read it at the time, but he did always look at the map. He read it for the first time when he was twelve, and has read it every summer since. He didn’t know if he just felt like it was a real place because he had grown so familiar with the story, or if it was because it was actually real.

James uncle was one of the people who believed the land to be a real place. He always jokingly mentioned that one day, when James was old enough, they would go try to find the island together. His uncle did some in depth studying of the book and about the author, always trying to gain more information. James uncle seemed very serious when he said that they would go to visit it one day. He always secretly hoped that they would.

“James,” he heard a loud, feminine voice yelling from down the stairs.

“I’m coming, Mom,” James replied. He rolled his eyes, not ready to face the day. He went to his closet to grab his backpack for the first time since the end of Junior year, and put his book in the backpack. He never brought it to school before, but something about his morning made him want it with him.

He left his bedroom and walked down the stairs of the two floor victorian home and into the kitchen where his mom prepared a breakfast for him before school.

He sat down at the table and began to eat rapidly, recognizing how hungry he was.

“So, are you ready for your last first day?” James mother asked him happily, excited to see her son graduate in the next year.

“Not really,” he murmured. His mom knew that James wasn’t the biggest fan of school, but was just grateful that he was at least an average student. He always attended class and got good grades. It made her happy.

“I’m sure it will be a good year. I remember my senior year. It was the best year of high school!” She exclaimed as she cleaned up the kitchen.

James just nodded, keeping to himself. He still had some time before he had to leave for school, so he took the book out of his backpack and started to read it again.

“When I first saw the Dragons, I was terrified. You know, most stories and movies about Dragons depict dragons to be scary, vengeful fire-breathing creatures that you should be fearful of. I looked at them with wide-eyes, expecting to meet my doom in that moment. The dragons swooped down from the sky and landed on the sand of the beach right in front of where I had docked my boat. They walked towards me and instead of breathing fire onto me, they breathed fire onto some logs near by to start a fire for me. I heard a noise from behind me, and recognized a mermaid. I thought to myself, mermaids are real, too?. The mermaid handed me a fish with a smile, and motioned to the fire. I learned in that moment that the creatures of this land were not something to fear. They were helping me out. I wondered why they were being so kind to a human that has shown up on their land. Many humans are territorial. We would go to war with someone who stepped foot on our land unexpectedly! These creatures must know what they are doing. Although it did not seem like these creatures spoke English, even the mermaids, I was able to enjoy their presence.”

James was absolutely fascinated by the way that the author wrote the novel. It really feels like he lived it, he thought to himself. James could not believe that this could be a work of fiction. He knew that authors can create imaginary worlds out of nothing, but there was something too drawing about Mythaltania. James knew instinctively it had to be a real place.

“You’re still reading that book?” His mother asked him.

“Of course I am. You know it’s my favourite,” James responded back to her.

“Oh, I know. You used to sleep with it when you were a kid, you know? You believed it was real. You used to play pretend with your friends that you were travelling there. You always pretended to meet the Dragons and become friends with them. But you know Dragons are evil and scary creatures. Even if mythaltania was a real place, there’s no way anyone could be friends with them!” His mother explained to him. James mother was a hardworking stay at home mom. James dad was a pilot and wasn’t home very often. His mom got the opportunity to raise him most of his life, and she loved him deeply.

“I get what you’re saying, but I don’t believe Dragons are all that bad. I know society paints them out to be these wicked creatures, but I don’t think so. Maybe they're only mean if you try to fight them,” James suggested.

“I don’t know. All I know is if I ever came face to face with one of those, I’d be running the other way,” his mother finished, before taking James empty breakfast plate away from him and putting it in the dishwasher.

James gave his mom a half smile and looked at the time.

“I’ve gotta start going soon. I’ll miss the bus if I don’t leave,” James recognized, standing up from his chair.

“Okay, hunny,” his mom said. “And please. At least try to enjoy this year of school. You’ll end up looking back and miss it when you’re all old and grey like me”

“I’ll try,” James nodded, going to give his mom a small hug. James headed out towards the door and put his shoes on. Just as he was about to twist the doorknob to open it, he heard a loud bang on the door. James crinkled his face in confusion. Who would be knocking on the door this early in the morning? James questioned to himself. He opened up the door, and saw his uncle standing on the doorstep looking frantic. He had a safari hat on, a large hiking backpack, and a small suitcase. He looked impatient.

“James. Don’t worry about going to school today,” his Uncle said, rushed.

“Uncle Tom, why?” James responded, feeling extremely confused.

“Because,” he explained, taking a step towards James before looking him directly in the eyes. “We’re going to Mythaltania”.