The First Guardian

Chapter 7: Calypso

I've been dealing with an abundance of crap lately. This is why I haven't updated - sorry.

The first thing I remember when I awoke was a concerned face over mine. A girl was looking down at me, her blue eyes wide in fear.

"A-are you okay?" She asked hesitantly.

I nodded slowly. "But I have an awful headache."

The girl nodded. "That's to be expected. You fell on the sand over there. It didn't look pretty."

I smiled slightly. "Yeah, I sort of figure that ..."

The girl's eyes became hardened. "I'm ... Calypso."

I raised n eyebrow. "Like the Greek Myth Calypso?"

She shook her head. "I was named Calypso because of the myth. And BECAUSE of that myth, my parents left me on this island. It's barely a pinprick on a map."

"Where even are we?" I asked.

"The Bermuda Triangle."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Why? Do you not believe me?"

"Not really, no. The Bermuda is supposed to be ferocious."

"Have you been here before?"

"No ..." I said resignedly.

"Then what right do you have to judge on something that you've never seen before?"

"Well there's the fact that I read credible stories on the triangle."

"Like?"

I hesitated. "Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters?"

"That's fiction."

I sighed. "You're right." Turning on my sarcasm I added, "Why don't you show me your beautiful magical land?" Then with a tone of defiance I ended. "Make me change my mind."

Calypso sighed. "There's absolutely no need for sarcasm."

"Uh, yeah. I might as well be the Guardian of Sarcasm as well as the Woman in the Moon. I use sarcasm on a daily basis. I can't live without it."

"Sarcasm is a form of lying."

I gritted my teeth. Calypso's brilliant green eyes bore into my soul. I met her gaze evenly, my eyes meeting hers.

"Sarcasm is NOT a form of lying." I replied evenly.

"I do believe it is." Her gaze hardened and I had to look away.

"You shouldn't talk to me like that," I said, crossing my arms.

"Why not? You're trespassing on my home."

"I'm the Guardian of the Moon. The First Guardian."

"I do believe you're using sarcasm." She said sweetly. She turned away and her calf length light blue dress swished as she walked away.

Calypso: 1

Iri: 0

It had been awhile since I had talked to Calypso. I was still mad at the goddess-like girl. I was mad at her beauty. I was mad at her personality. I was mad at her lilting voice. I was mad, period.

I don't know why I was so mad, exactly. Maybe I was just mad at Lupa for taking away my ability to go back to the moon. That evil little canine.

When Calypso came up next to me, I was looking at the Moon with longing. When could I go back? When could I get my abilities? Was Calypso supposed to be a guardian? Is that why I'm here?

Calypso sat down quietly. She stared at the Moon with me. It was awhile before she broke the thick silence. "They say that the Moon is a grotesque ball of rock that doesn't have it's own beauty. They say that the Moon was jealous of the Sun's beauty and so stole some of the Sun's glorious light." She sighed wistfully. "I've always dreamed of being the first woman on the Moon. It's ... it's something I've dreamed of for a long time."

I was silent.

"What's it like?" Calypso asked me.

"Hm?"

"What's it like in the Moon?"

I hesitated. How did she know? "Well," I started slowly, "the Moon is a chunk of rock, but I feel as if it's beauty is deeper. To some, it's a chunk of rock that stole the sun's glory. To others it's much more than that. It's something that helps the waves move. Others ... they think that the Moon has its own light. They claim that it doesn't need the sun's light to shine." I knew that the Moon did need the sun's light to shine. The Moon reflects the sun's light, but it still has so much beauty in it. It's beauty is deeper than what the sun can give it.

"Oh." Calypso said quietly.

I put my arm around her. "Hey, it will be okay. All you have to do is lift your head above the clouds and smile bravely."

Calypso was silent. I feared as if I might have killed her with my overbearing kindness. She got up and brushed her pale pink dress off.

"I think I need to leave."

"Leave? I thought you couldn't." I said, slightly confused. Was there something I was missing?

"I ... I haven't tried it yet, to be honest." Calypso said, looking at the sand. "I grew up in an abusive family. I wanted to leave. I needed to leave. Da would always ... well. Yeah. Ma wouldn't do anything to stop the beatings. It was never ending torture. I was glad when Da put me on this island."

"But ... why do you want to leave, then?"

"Because ... I don't know. I need to see the world. I need to get out and see if Ma is okay. But ... I don't know if I have the courage."

"You'll do fine." I said, standing up. I embraced the girl in a hug. "I believe in you."

Calypso offered a slight smile. "Thanks."

"You're okay with this life? Living in constant fear? Solitude?"

"I only fear when I get strangers on my island. Solitude isn't all that bad, y'know. It gives one time to think. I've almost finished my novel. I hope to get it published. I'm going to call it The Plight of a Girl on The Island of Dreams." She sighed. "I hope for it to be a best seller."

"It probably will. You're a creative girl. What will you do with the money?"

Calypso's face contorted into an expression of confusion. A few seconds later her face turned into that of recognition. "Oh. I'll ... give it away. I don't need it."

Interesting. She's willing to give up money for others. Not many people would do that out of the goodness of their hearts.

A tug at my heart pulled me closer to the Moon. I could feel slight power coming back to me, little by little, then all at once.

The Moon was calling and I should answer.

I looked over at Calypso. She was looking at me in awe. "You weren't being sarcastic," she said softly. "You're ... glowing. Why?"

"It's because it's time for me to go home." I said simply. "Promise me I get the first book of yours that's published. And sign it."

Calypso nodded. "I'll see you later, I hope." Her tone was sad, but hoping.

I nodded and smiled a bittersweet smile. The light that surrounded me lifted me up into the air. The light got brighter and brighter, and suddenly, I was on the Moon.

Lupa was staring at me.

That wasn't all, though.

Lupa was staring at me with fear in his eyes. "Something's wrong." He whispered.