The Constellation Leo

(A/N: My English teacher assigned us to write a story with Greek mythology mixed in so here's one of my homework assignments. She required the least amount of personal pronouns and 'to be' verbs, she always challenges us, so that's why their names are repetitive in each sentence. I hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear any advice or criticism. I know that it is a bit tedious and sped up but keep in mind this is my first actual story I've written I think and it's the first thing I'm posting on Wattpad. I'm crossing my fingers for positive feedback! Enjoy!)
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Many have pondered how the constellations came to be. All of the stars hold precious stories, but one of the most interesting is the constellation Leo. Leo once actually was a human being and not just a bundle of stars in the sky. This man lived as a prince in a castle. The royal family had strong and brave members so the family's symbol was a ferocious lion. Like most portrayed royals, Leo glowed with pride and looked down on the people living in poverty. Spells and witchcraft existed in this time, and Prince Leo unfortunately angered a young woman with the power to cast spells. The witch goddess Hecate gifted few of the power to cast spells and even fewer to make advanced potions. Hecate sheltered the young woman and taught the mortal all about potions, especially transfiguration curses. The young woman, Eloise, fell in love with the prince and his luxurious life. The two crossed paths and Prince Leo denied Eloise's declaration of love. Eloise went home flustered and outraged. She couldn't believe the prince bluntly denied her love. Eloise's uncle kept a position as a leader of the guards, and Eloise stole a suit of armor. The young witch had a retribution that encompassed her mind: she would transfigure Leo into his family's symbol! The lion was like no other; it was three times the size of a regular lion and claws that tore through the toughest of metals. None of Leo's family had ever faced a lion such as Eloise's figment of a lion, so she was sure everyone would fear Leo instead of adoring him. Eloise stirred up a potion to transform Leo, and she snuck into his birthday feast a few days later.

Eloise poured her potion into the prince's drink right before the chalice was delivered. After gulping almost all of the wine down, Eloise became disappointed that her potion didn't work. Eloise went home upset and locked herself in her room for she finally realized that the love of her life didn't reciprocate that love.

Leo slept uncomfortably the night of his birthday, and felt ill the next few days. It was only when he was blinded by extreme hunger that he passed out during a walk. Leo awoke in the middle of a forest and with a pounding headache. He stood up and tried to call for help, only to find that the only sound from his mouth was a terrifying, bone-chilling roar. Bewildered, the prince rushed to the nearest body of water and saw that his reflection didn't show a handsome prince but an enormous lion! The only thing the same was a necklace around his neck that he wore as a human. The lion panicked for a few minutes before deciding to ask for help. The leonine prince bolted across the forest and came upon a small village. The people became afraid as a lion, bigger than average, leaped into the village border. Women hid their children as the men grabbed their strongest weapons and started to attack the lion. Before the men got a hit in, Leo ran away and followed his internal compass to the royal palace.

The palace was surrounded by a village blooming with agriculture and trade. As more and more people spotted the lion, sirens announcing danger went off. Eloise heard the sirens and the shouts of a lion roaming the village grounds and she ran to the castle. Leo trampled many plants as he sprinted towards the castle gates. The villagers threw spears but they wouldn't pierce the fur of the lion. Hercules was in a neighboring town that was only ten minutes away and Leo's sister called for his help. Leo almost ran into many traps as the guards tried to hinder the beast. Hercules rushed over to aid the guards in defeating the lion. As cocky as he was, Leo never meant to hurt any of his people, but many people were injured and killed. The prince broke through the gates and stopped short in front of his family and saw the fear in their eyes. Eloise only made it to the castle in time to see the demigod Hercules pierce and kill the lion. Her heart shattered. Leo's last thoughts were full of regrets: regrets of not loving Eloise back and regrets of treating the lowly like they were dirt. The royal family saw the necklace on the neck of the beast and concluded to the fact that the lion murdered the future king. Later that evening, the royals had a party of the death of the lion and to celebrate Leo's life with Hercules as the honored guest who avenged the royal son. At the same time they toasted Hercules, Eloise ran away and drank a potion of forgetfulness. The death of her beloved was too painful to grieve.

The goddess of wild animals, Artemis, watched Leo's story unfold before her eyes. The goddess protects wild animals and failed to protect Leo. To honor Leo, Artemis made a lion with the same qualities as Leo and it protected the poor and needy that Leo ignored. Artemis took pity on the lonely prince, and cast his soul in the stars. Each fragment of his soul was placed in a separate star, for not even a supernova could contain so much of an entity. The constellation Leo remains in the sky to allow the once haughty prince to exist forever in people's minds.