Short Stories

How The Sun & Moon Came To Be

Long ago, the sky was always dark, save for the few stars that dared peek out at night. Humans lived in both awe and fear of the gods, loving them for their magical powers, and hating them for their unwillingness to help them and give them light. But while they cursed their names and shook their fists at the heavens, no one dared to try and speak to the gods.

Until one day, two girls with no one but each other decided to be braver than anyone else and try to reach the heavens.

They studied and learned spells and rituals for years, until they finally believed themselves ready. When they decided to begin, they were confident that they would be able to talk to the gods and come back alive.

But they were wrong.

It happened before either of them could react. A flash of light, red blood on brown skin, long black hair flying as Ala fell to the ground, struck down by the gods themselves.

Cyra cradled Ala's broken body, dark skin against pale arms, sobbing, hoping and praying that somehow, she would come back.

But she was gone.

So Cyra reached deep within herself and drew upon her own magic, knowing that she may be too late, and poured every bit of magic, every bit of her that she could give, into Ala's still form.

And still she did not wake.

So Cyra sat there, her own rusty copper hair brushing against Ala's face, and begged. She begged the gods to help her, begged them to bring back the girl she loved, the girl she couldn't live without.

And finally, someone answered her.

A being descended from the sky, so bright, and yet filled with so much sorrow, that Cyra could not bear to look at her.

"Why do you call me?" a voice asked her, filled with the joy of summer days and the misery of eternal loneliness.

"Please help me," she begged, holding Ala closer to her, "please bring her back to me."

"And why should I do that?" they asked, their voice cold.

"I cannot live without her," Cyra sobbed, "and if you will not help me, at least take my life as well, so I do not have to suffer like this!"

There was a pause, and then they spoke again, their voice filled with the weight of someone who had lived countless lives and lost countless loves.

"I cannot bring her back here," they said, "but I can send you both far away, where you will watch her dance across the sky, and you will only be together once a month, when the sky is dark and no one can find you."

"Then do it," Cyra sobbed, filled with both relief and misery all at once, "I beg of you."

The being tilted their head, as if considering whether to help her or not, then disappeared in a flash, leaving Ala to cry over her beloved's body, feeling her last spark of hope go out.

But then, as if by some miracle, Ala stirred in her arms.

Ala opened her eyes slowly, looking up at her, and in that moment, Cyra wanted nothing more than to lie there and hold her, feel her heartbeat, and know that she was alive, that she was there with her.

She was still crying, but now she was crying tears of joy, of happiness and relief and the knowledge that everything would be okay, because Ala was here, and she was going to be just fine.

For a moment, she let herself be lost in this happiness, to love Ala with all her heart and not worry about what might happen to them.

But the moment was over far too soon.

She felt Ala fade away, turning into a silver mist that enveloped Cyra in warmth, then disappearing from her arms.

And far above her, a new light appeared in the sky.

The moon.

Cyra watched her dance through the sky, wild and free, and knew, without a sliver of doubt, that no matter what, they would be happy.

So she closed her eyes and let the feeling take over her, turning into pure golden light and floating up to join her.

From then on, the moon danced through the sky every night, followed by the sun, who watched her from afar, quietly admiring her beauty and grace. And on the nights where there was no moon, when the sky was dark and the stars were the only ones watching, they would dance together, enveloped in each other's warmth.

And that is how two girls brought light to the whole world.

Hi!

I haven't been here in so long, but I'm back now! (At least for a little bit.)

This was an assignment for Exploring Space Science; we had to write a myth about space. I think this might be one of my favorite stories so far! (Also I couldn't resist making it into a gay love story.)

What do you think?

Question of the chapter:

What's your dream job?

My dream is to be either a fashion designer or an author, but they're both very hard to make a living with.

See you soon! (Hopefully.)

~Sita