Fire Mushrooms

They cavort and dance in the lightless realms below the world. Some phosphoresce dimly; others shine nearly so brightly as suns. But they are all fire mushrooms; the light in the darkness, the hope in absence.

When I was but a youth, I ventured into those realms beneath the world. I prepared carefully, in accordance with all I had read, and all written by those doctors that hath passed the censure of the Church. I bought armament, of the appropriate sort for use in those lightless realms. I brought lanterns (electric and oil), torches, rope, rations, exactly one hundred daisy-chained razor blades, and a large pillow. Then I set out into the tunnels leading to the realms below the world.

In short order, all was lost. The armament, in a pitched battle against grunchkrits, was destroyed, forcing me into undignified flight. The rope and rations were eaten by the dreaded dire mole-rats, against whom I now had no defense. My lights, simultaneously and inexplicably, stopped working, except for the torches. Those I used, choking and coughing in the black smoke as I delved ever deeper, until I was assailed by a nocturnist. I attempted, in the proscribed manner, to use my razor blade chain against it. Upon my brandishing of it, every single blade rusted into fine particles; whereupon the nocturnist was free to make away with my torches, and leave me in darkness unrelieved.

I stumbled about, injuring myself and struggling to make any progress. My maps and notes were useless. After what I thought to be hours (though there was no way to tell), I sat down and wept, certain that I would never see the surface again.

Then I saw something.

I saw something - the faintest little prick of light!

That was all I needed. I forged on, running on a twisted ankle and bruised leg towards this near-hallucinatory light. Soon other lights appeared, in the distance, appearing like a cloud of stars.

I have written elsewhere of the wonders I found in the realms beneath the world. They are many and manifold, and I will spend the hours necessary to fully repeat myself here. But I will say this: the Fire Mushroom, the humble, silly little creature, saved me from madness and despair in my darkest hour; and for that, I will ever hold it close in my heart.