Toshiro's Dream

The art of storytelling is one of the pillars in our community. Not only can narrative be engaging and insightful, it's down right fun to explore. So, today I want to introduce one of the many things we do here at the lofi misfits.

One Illustration will be chosen at random (courtesy of pixabay) that will serve as a reference for a short story. My goal is to get y'all involved too so if you have some dope art you want to submit or your own interpretation of the image I've chosen, hit us up at lofimisfits@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do to have it posted. Or, if you want, shoot us a DM @lofimisfits on IG or Twitter.

Anyways, here's the story I came up with. Enjoy.

Toshiro's Dream

Source: Pixabay

"She can't do this anymore. Her father demanded that the powers the gods have blessed their family with are to only be used for their benefit and the benefit of their people. No one in the clan dared to disobey his commands. But the fruits of despair have been poisoning Toshiros's thoughts and haunting her dreams every single night.

A child of the ocean, commander of currents and the beloved princess of the Yoshisuji clan, Toshiro was powerful in the hydro arts, much like her mother. Sadly, her precious mother passed away five years ago but not before she was able to train Toshiro to control the very power she possesses. Lately, her absence has left Toshiro fearing that she might drown in her tempest. She tries to explain this to her father but he doesn't understand. He never did.

Toshiro doesn't know when the visions started but their reoccurrence is too peculiar to be coincidental. Every night, they would all begin the same way but tonight, something was different. The nightmare was much more vivid.

It always starts with the princess completely submerged under water. A beautiful headband covered with precious gems and gorgeous water lilies crown her very head as her ebony silk hair flows from underneath. There is this heaviness in her chest that made it very difficult to breathe and she despised the irony that she might drown in the one element she was taught to control. For miles, all she could see was the royal blue ocean until the revelation washed itself in front of her.

The world, in all it's beauty and glory, materialized right before her eyes before it was plagued with famines and droughts. Baron wastelands stretched until they touched the horizon and every nation across the globe was reduced to piles of bones and carcasses. Walking amongst them was a young girl, reduced to nothing but skin and bones. Her frail hand would reach out to Toshiro, trembling, as the word "help" hanged from her lips.

Toshiro would weep but never looked away from the face of the child. It wasn't until she blinked that the girl would disappear and the ocean would return. Usually, the dream would end after this but tonight, something was different. Toshiro could not wake up and anxiety started to shake all over her. Something in the distance was swimming towards her but she couldn't tell what it was until it got up close.

It was a single, blue Siamese fish swimming towards her with lime green fins that sparkled like emeralds. It swam around Toshiro's head a couple times before it spoke. It had the voice of a woman but not just any woman; this was the voice of Toshiro's mother.

"Toshiro," said the fish. "Do you see what has become of this world?"

"Mother?" said Toshiro, her voice trembling. "Is that really you?"

"You must heal the world, Toshiro. It's what I've trained you for."

"The world?" she asked. "But--I don't kno-"

"You know what you must do. It's been on your heart the moment you were born. Now go!"

Immediately, the vision disappeared and Toshiro jumped out of bed. Her younger brother, Gaku, was asleep beside her and got knocked to the floor, forcing him to wake up.

"Toshiro, what the heck!" said Gaku. Toshiro ignored the fact that her crept into her bed again and started rambling, telling her brother what had occurred. Gaku had no response and tried to get back in bed until Toshiro revealed that she was thinking of leaving the very home and family she swore to protect.

"Are you crazy!? Father will never let you leave!"

There was too much conviction in her spirit for her to not go. The honest truth was that Toshiro had always dreamt of leaving the clan for something bigger. Secretly, she was looking for an excuse as to why she should leave and tonight was her confirmation. Gaku saw it in her eyes. She really is going to leave?

She attempted to say goodbye to her brother but Gaku refused to let her go. So he decided he will go with her to keep her company. Toshiro knew the real reason why Gaku wanted to join, how he wanted to escape their father's constant regret over the fact that Gaku did not wield a power of his own. So Toshiro smiled at her brother and decided he will join her.

And so, for the first time, two members of the Yoshisuji clan were leaving their homeland to venture into the world."

***

Let me know what you think. I might continue this story in the future but for now, I leave it as that.

So now, I ask you what do you see? Don't be afraid to expand on the idea/story you come up with when you look at her. Run with it, even if you are unsure where the destination will be.

Keep being dope and I'll see y'all real soon. Later.