“Let there be light!”
A swirl of gas formed the sun. Its light illuminated half of a small globe to reveal splashes of green and blue.
“Another one of your trials?” Darkness asked. “Why don’t you just make a big planet with billions of people already? That would be fun.”
“I need to find out what a perfect world with the perfect people are before I can make a bigger world. I need to be very sure,” Light replied.
“You’ll never succeed, brother. This is your what, millionth trial? Yawn!” Darkness drifted off, passing by Light’s many other experimental planets.
Light ignored his brother and returned to his experiment. With a snap, he created a couple - a man and a woman. He found this by far the most optimal combination.
The couple looked around, wondering what they should do. They began to observe their surroundings. Within days, they had crafted some equipment and started to clear an area for their farm. This was always how they began. Light would always help them by providing the best weather and environmental conditions. The crops flourished and the couple had wonderful lives.
Next came the family. They were blessed with twins - a boy and a girl. Light accelerated the children’s growth. Within days, they were teenagers and started to help their parents at the farm. As always, the harvest was bountiful. The parents were always happy. Unfortunately, the teenagers did not share their positive attitude. They dreaded the work they had to do the next day.
Tomorrow, the family had to labour to clear the old crops so that they could replant. The teenagers loved the harvesting because they got to reap the benefits. Sadly, they hated the clearing because they got nothing out of it other than hard work. They were not able to think beyond the current situation.
The teenagers woke early and went to a nearby clearing in the forest. Away from their parents, the spot was ideal to discuss how they can avoid the laborious task. There did not appear to be any solution. A storm cloud loomed above them, further dampening their mood. The cloud blocked out the sun’s light. At that instant, Darkness let loose a lightning bolt. It struck a nearby log. It burnt instantly with such great intensity that the twins had to back away.
They stared at each other happily. The fire made their face glow. A plan began to take shape. Farther in space, Darkness smiled, too. He had successfully implanted the idea into the twins.
As the cloud cleared, the twins set about to put their plan into action. The boy surrounded the crops with hay while the girl went to look for flint. They met again after one hour.
“Are you ready?” the girl asked eagerly. “I’ve got some extra flint. You can start the fire at the other end of the farm -“
“- so that it burns faster! That’s a good suggestion, sis,” the boy cut in. “Ready as you are.”
The girl bent low and started the fire as her brother raced across the farm. Within moments, dark smoke rose from both ends of the farm. The fire, aided by wind that Darkness conjured, spread quickly. Its hunger further fed by hay. By the time the parents came out of the house, the fire had became uncontrollable. The flames had engulfed the farm and were spreading outwards into the forest.
Trees burned. Smoke darkened the afternoon sky. The fire was strong enough to consume everything in its path. For days the small world burnt. The fire died only when there was nothing else to burn. By then, the sun was completely blocked out. The family of four had perished together with almost all the animals and foliage in the world.
Light held the world in his palms. He was disappointed that this one ended so abruptly. He squeezed his hands together and the world disappeared in a blinding flash. A loud, deep explosion echoed into eternity.
“In the next world, I will do better,” Light said.
Darkness smiled.
- The End -
