Hero's Journey - M - Attempt 1

[Finished Loading Hero's Journey]

What the- what is happening to my computer? Why is it just a clear blue sky right now?

[Once upon a time, there was a hero that went on a journey, in the story called Hero's Journey...]

Huh... the camera is panning downwards...

Wait. Is this a recreation of my story?

[That hero would be known as the one that defeated the demon king, bringing peace to all humankind. While wielding the Excalibur he just so happened to find, the hero would be invincible!]

Crap, it is!

Um, you there, please leave right now. Please, please, please leave. Back then, I didn't really care, it was more of just you being annoying. But right now, if you don't leave, then I will be in great amounts of pain, and you will be as well.

[Oh yeah, and for some reason, there's also a maiden that would be captured by the demon king, destined to be rescued by the magnificent and charming hero]

Oh god... please stop. I'm remembering things I don't want to remember!

[...The system will stop when you achieve the perfect ending. Control over your computer will also be given back.]

Ok... ok... um, reader just leave for now. I'm saying this in good faith for you, as the next part will probably be really painful.

[Stop trying to drive the readers away. They are the only ones that are able to vote on decisions.]

What? Vote on decisions?

[To get to the perfect ending, certain decisions must be made. Only the readers can make the decision. Not you.]

...You've got to be kidding me. I have to leave everything to the reader?

[Yes]

...

Um, hey reader. I think we got off on the wrong foot, don't you think?

Look, I know I was trying to drive you away this entire time, and you honestly have no real reason to stay anymore but...

Ok well, I honestly don't know what to give you.

Wait! You wanted to read a good story right?

I know some really good stories out there, and I will recommend them to you. If you help me out in getting control over my computer back, then I can share them all!

Trust me on this, and no, they aren't my own book. I mean, I deleted all of them.

...Or at least, I thought I deleted them.

Anyway, if that's not enough, we can talk about what you want later. Just help me complete this!

Uh, as for getting the correct decisions, don't worry, you can leave it to me. As much as I want the fact that I wrote this story to be forgotten, it doesn't change the fact that I did indeed write it, so getting the perfect ending should be a breeze.

Minimal effort from both sides, easy enough, don't you think?

Alright, I'll assume you said yes.

My memories are a little hazy, but I should be able to recall the events as we get there. This will be a piece of cake!

[Anyways, with a story of such a legendary hero, that slays mythical beasts like dragons and one that even challenges gods, naturally there is only one point that makes sense to start in.]

Haha, I did make the hero pretty strong. There should be little to no challenges!

[That is, the maiden]

Wait what?

[The fair maiden was always a beautiful one, even when she was just a child. It made people a little confused and scared that even a baby was able to look beautiful, but because it was a relatively harmless thing, nobody cared too much about it.]

Wait, wait, wait. Why aren't we starting with the hero? Isn't the maiden just supposed to be captured by the demon king?

[For whatever reason, everyone within the maiden's village came to the consensus that the fair maiden would be kidnapped by the demon king. It is unknown how such a rumor could've even spread, but nobody questioned it.]

Ok, stop jabbing at my poor storytelling skills and get us on track to the real story! You know, with the hero and everything?

[And so, now we find the maiden staring off in the distance while sitting by the river. There was a forlorn look in her eyes as the wind gently blew by.]

You can't be serious right? How would the story start with the-

Oh wow... she is beautiful.

Maiden: I'm even hearing voices in my head, huh? It really seems like the pressure is driving me crazy.

Eh? You can hear me?

Maiden: Hmm... this voice in my head is really annoying. How do crazy people even deal with something like this?

Wha!

Well, I wouldn't call myself annoying. Sure, it might not be the best experience to talk to me but-

Wait, no that's not important you can hear me! That means I can help guide you through the story.

Maiden: Being crazy really is strange. I never thought these would be what the voices say.

Hmm. It seems you don't believe me at all.

Reader! What do you think I should do to convince her?

Wait, no, I can do this by myself! I'm the writer of this story after all.

Ok, listen maiden. I can prove to you that I'm not just some voice in your head by predicting the future!

[The maiden blinks a few times, visibly confused by the strange voice's request. Though she is confident she has simply gone crazy, she decides she might as well give the voice a chance.]

Maiden: Well alright, then tell me what's going to happen.

Yes, yes. I can tell you in a jiffy!

In the next moment, you will...

You will...

I, uh, don't remember.

[The maiden let out a sigh, now convinced that the strange voice was indeed just a manifestation of her insanity]

What! Wait, this isn't fair!

Now that I think about it, the only part that I wrote about the maiden was that she was beautiful and that she gets captured! In fact, I never even described how she looked!

Hmm. When I say all these words out to myself, it really puts into perspective how badly I wrote this story.

But anyway, you aren't even giving me a chance here!

[If you actually wrote the character with an actual backstory, then you wouldn't have this problem]

...

Maiden: Even the voices in my head know that I'm going to be captured by the demon king.

[The maiden lets out another sigh, contemplating how this destiny had fallen onto her]

Maiden: But what did I do wrong to deserve this? Is it my beauty?

[The maiden looks down at the river, catching glimpses of her unstable reflection in the rippling waves]

Maiden: I never asked for this! I just want to live a normal life, like everyone else in the village. Why does the demon king even want to capture me?

I... I'm sorry. I just needed someone for the hero to save, you know? I never really thought about...

Maiden: And this annoying voice is still interrupting my thoughts.

What! You-

How is it annoying? Are you making fun of my accent?

[The maiden stood up from the river, now with a resolved look on her face]

Maiden: If I'm just going to be captured by the demon king anyway, then I might as well go to him myself! Even if it's only the illusion of control, I will at least be able to take hold of my own destiny!

Wait, hold on! That sounds like a terrible idea! Maybe we can do something that prevents you from being kidnapped in the first place.

[The maiden slowly shook her head]

Maiden: Oh foolish voice in my head, there is no avoiding destiny. The only thing that can be done is embrace it.

What? Just think about this logically, you aren't actually kidnapped right now, but you were given a warning about it. If you take steps to prepare, then you should be able to avoid it altogether!

[The maiden decided to ignore the foolish pleas of the strange voice, resolved in her decision]

Maiden: See? Even the world agrees that what you are saying is foolish.

You-

...Wait you can see that?

Maiden: Of course? You can too, no?

Um, you would question my existence, but aren't going to question some voice that is narrating your entire existence?

Maiden: And why would I do that? Is it not natural?

Uh... never mind.

[The demon king's castle was far, far away. Naturally so, as it wouldn't make sense for it to be close to a village, else it wouldn't even be able to exist in the first place. Though that detail was left out, by whoever wrote this story.]

Ok, that's just uncalled for!

[To get to such a faraway place was quite frankly a nearly impossible task, requiring one to traverse through a dense forest, mountainous terrain, and even unfathomably deep oceans. But this was something the maiden knew and was something she was mentally prepared for.]

Maiden: Alright... here I go.

Um, I still think that this is a bad idea-

[The maiden crossed the river despite the fact it got her shoes wet. Just past was the forest that was strictly forbidden to cross into due to the many dangers further in. But this did not phase the maiden as she started to trek through it.]

Oh god, if you are really going to do this, at least bring something more with you! Like, take some food and some tools that will help you out in the journey!

[With nothing but the clothes she was already wearing, the maiden went deeper into the forest. It did not take long for the river to be out of sight, while the buzzing and chirping sounds of bugs filled the air.]

...Should I just be quiet?

Maiden: So this is what the forest is like. It doesn't seem as bad as how the villagers put it.

[Although that was what the maiden said, she would quickly find that the forest was indeed as frightening as her fellow villagers had said, filled with scary wild animals like starving wolves.]

Maiden: Oh god! Not wolves!

Eh? Shouldn't you just go back to the village then? I can't imagine actually meeting them would do any good.

[The maiden sighed once more while shaking her head]

Maiden: Silly voice, don't you realize that it narrates simply what will happen?

I...

[After telling the voice off, the maiden continued to walk through the forest. The further she got, the worse of a feeling she got. It almost made her want to turn around and leave, but she had to first see the starving wolves.]

Maiden: Oh dear! This is not good!

[And it was at that point that the maiden came to hear growling in the distance. Yet, to her surprise, it was not in front of her, but actually behind!]

Maiden: No!

[She turned around to see the glow of a starving wolf's eyes in the distance. The fright nearly caused her to freeze in place, but at that moment, she quickly came to a decision.]

[Loading choice list...]

Huh, it seems like the world is frozen now. What's up with that?

[1 - Cry for help!]

[2 - Run away!]

[Please choose the desired choice by liking the chapter comment that describes said choice. After roughly 24 hours, the comment with the most likes will be the one that is chosen. In the case of a tie, then a random choice will be selected.]

Oh, is this the choice function? I guess it does have to pause for us to decide.

Hm... like the system said, I can't do anything. Damn, only if my computer was a touchscreen!

Oh wait, yeah, you just have to listen to me!

Um... let me think.

Well there's no point in running away, right? Wolves are like, way faster than humans. Pick the one that says cry for help! It will be our only chance!

...You are going to pick that one right?