Hero's Journey

The same story
has been told a thousand
million times.

The young hero on a quest,
friends at his side,
or hers.

Whether she's really a princess
raised by fairies or farmers,
or the son of a dead king,
or just a kid with an interesting scar
or a sweet tooth,
the journey is always one
of self-discovery.

How much can he take?
How much can she trust?
How much pain can he bear?
How much loss?

One friend (sidekick) turns betrayer,
Maybe one becomes a love interest,
one is the steadfast and loyal companion
always,
always.

Seems the wise mentor always dies,
or at least goes away,
and there's always a point
when the hero is alone,
utterly,
to make her own shaky, head game-y way
for a while.
The reunions are so satisfying.

Destroy the magical ________,
Defeat the evil _________,
Save the __________,
Overcome darkness with
love
trust
friendship
light.

And they always do.

And we read it again.