Sunlight

By: Kaitlin Humphries

Prolouge Once long ago, the sky had disappeared the stars did not show nor did the sun or the moon. This was called the age of darkness. Once lit up and beautiful the goddess of the skies gazed down on the world. She envied the humans just as much as she loved being in the sky. So one day she decided to leave the sky to go to earth. But when she left the sky it turned dark. The sun disappeared the stars were gone and the moon crumbled into nothing. So she made a carriage to place them in until she returned and she put a spell so no one who stepped in it could see the sky that was held inside unless they were her. But that did not stop her from enjoying the view of the earth with its vast creatures and vegetation. She stayed as a human named Amia. But only days after her visit to earth, she was slaughtered in the field war that she had accidentally stepped into. But she vowed to one man that came to her side to aid her that she would come back and return to the sky bringing light to all once more. She died after she told him where her carriage was and he took those words to heart for a 70 years he waited and when she still had not shown he told the secret to his 5 year old grandson even wrote it down for him to remember. By then the animals had died... the trees and plants withered the earth was a barren wasteland. Then on his death bed he was laid in a casket painted with the sun the moon and the stars to represent the legacy he held. We start our tale 30 years later with a 15 year old girl and the mans own grandson as a man with a carriage and a secret he has held for years.

The story
Alaina gazed up at the dark abyss that was the supposed to be the night sky. Yet not a single star twinkled, not even the brilliance of the moon shined through the swirling black clouds. Another day of darkness Alaina thought. Alaina! Come! We must pay respects! called a voice. A light from a burning candle came into view and her sister Asmia bent over her. Why must we pay our respects? Alaina asked. Asmia rolled her eyes. Alaina always brought this up in her dismal way and tone. I mean Asmia he says hell bring back the moon. But there is no moon. He said hed bring us the sun yet there is no sun.

Asmia grabbed Alainas arms and pulled her to her feet, we have not shown him enough demotion to earn the sun, the moon or even the stars. And plus he can probably tell if there is even one person who does not believe in him she stated glaring at Alaina as they stepped into the candle lit walkways of the town. And plus today we wont be going to the temple because they say he is coming here! she blabbed excitedly. They pushed to the front of the crowd that had gathered on the walkways near the street. When the horses of a gold carriage, with moons and stars decorated on it and a sun on the top, came into view every one bowed keeping their eyes to the ground. Everyone except Alaina. She watched the carriage standing tall. And to her surprise the carriage stopped and the driver looked down at her and smiled. Now the stopping she could take but a smile was uncalled for. Whats you name dear one? asked the driver. Alaina Smithington she stated with a smile. He returned the smile with much warmth. By now everyone was sneaking a peak in curiosity. Alaina took his smile with much care as she peeked into the carriage, to see it not only empty but shabby and not as elaborately decorated. Wheres Shikosu? she asked the driver; her hands going to her hips in anger, defiance and triumph that this man may not be real. That he may have just been a pigment of ones imagination who turned him into an extravagant and unearthly man, who could supposedly relinquish this place of the darkness that ensued them. Alaina threw open the coach and turned to the townspeople, we have been mislead! Lies have been

spread for the past 100 yrs! She cried stepping aside so they could see into the coach. The people gasped as they crowded around to see the rotten and poorly furnished inside of the coach. Even their own shabby coaches were in better shape than the inside of this one. The driver stepped towards Alaina as she spoke again, We would prostrate to him in falseness! The man we revered, the man we thought to be true is fake! At this the driver grabbed her arm. It wasnt rough enough to bruise but it did make her wince, maybe you should step inside he whispered. Alaina looked down at him form her post on the step, why? He drew closer, who said it was a man whom they looked to? he whispered in her ear. He gently pushed her into the carriage and she did not protest as she went in. surely he would not be able to do anything with the people around him like this? Inside, once the door was closed, everything became bright. The sun, though she had never seen it she knew exactly what it was, shone above her. But its scorching heat did not harm or bother her in any way. No instead she basked in the brightness inside the carriage. The sun, the thing she had been dreaming of, floated above her in all its brilliance, unmarked by its beauty in her eyes. Outside the carriage the people could see nothing. They peaked into the curtains only to be met by darkened shadows. But the driver would not stop smiling as they awaited Alainas return from the inside of the carriage. The bright beautiful sun disappeared revealing a moon and thousands of twinkling stars. The sight of it left her breathless. By the time she caught her breath the stars

began to fall around her. She smiled as they clung to her clothes and hair. The cool breeze that ensued made her close her eyes with a sigh of happiness. When she stepped out of the carriage her eyes sparkled like the stars that clung to her hair. And her face shone like the sun her round face representing the beauty of the moon. Everyone smiled and awed at her. Then the clouds parted as she gazed up at the sky. The moon shone through and the stars twinkled happily. Alaina threw out her arms and smiled as she rose into the sky joining with the stars in the sky above them. The barren wasteland that the town was built upon suddenly bloomed with life. Animals came and nested, trees that were thought long dead bloomed with leaves and luscious fruit. Bushes and wild flowers grew to their fullest. The people stare up at the sky as Alainas face appeared in the stars. The driver turned to the people with a wide grin on his face, the goddess has returned to the sky! Peace and Prosperity has returned! The people cheered happy to know that the Earth will be watched over once more. Alaina smiled as her face disappeared and the stars returned to normal. The sky was then brightened with millions of stars shining their brightest for happiness of their return. This is why every few years for a little while the sky is plunged into darkness. So the goddess can roam the beauties of the earth and return to keep it alive without worrying of the troubles that it would cause.