The Tales of Wonder

The Guide Stone

Once Upon a Time, many years ago, there was a time, when the light touched the water. It was as if the sky god Ouranus had found a way to reach his Earth goddess Gaea, and held her hand through the water. This was only the beginning of something extraordinary.

There was also a sailor. He wasn't the greatest of sailors, but he was one with a big heart. The Sailor had begun his journey in search of a cure, for his sister had been plagued with an illness, and he feared her death.

He had managed to make it across the sea okay and got the cure, a vial of pink liquid, but on his way home, he'd run into a terrible storm, and was thrown off course!

He wandered the seas day and night, praying that he would see land, but alas, none appeared. Until the day he was pulling up water in his bucket, and found a stone with an arrow on it. The arrow glowed, and the Sailor heard the voice of the gods himself.

"Follow the arrow home." Was what they said. The Sailor spun the small stone in his hand, until the arrow glowed its brightest. The Sailor followed the glow home, where he had reached just in time to save his sister.

She was on her deathbed, until she saw her brother walk into the room.

"My dearest brother!" She cried out. "You have returned!" The Sailor went to his sister, holding the vial out to her.

"I have, my sister. And I bring the end of your suffering. You shall live to see another day!" The Sister gasped as she took the vial from him.

"But how, dearest brother? You call yourself Sailor, yet I hear tell that you were lost at sea from a terrible storm." The Sailor pulled the guiding stone from his pocket.

"This stone led me home. It was sent from the gods themselves, I'm most certain of it." The Sister took the stone carefully in her hand, staring at in awe.

"Then I have this simple stone to think for the return of my brother."

Years past, and the Sister kept the stone, cherishing it. She held it close to her always, certain that she may need it to lead her home, as it led the Sailor. And she was correct.

She was in the market, and a man came up to her. He demanded her money, but she refused. So he took her and locked her away, telling her she would never get home. But the guiding stone had led her to a door that led out the basement, usually meant for storms, and the stone led her home.

The stone was passed from generation to generation, leading many people to where they needed to be. This was how a Maiden had found her Prince.

The Maiden had been orphaned young, her parents dying after the stone had led them to the Summerlands, where they picked up a summer illness that they weren't used to, for they had come from the Winter Wonderlands. The Maiden still kept the stone, hoping it wouldn't lead her to her own demise.

Until one day, the Prince of the Winter Wonderlands came through her small village. This was before there were Chiefs and such.

When the young Maiden lay eyes on the Prince, she was immediately smitten by his good looks, and fell in love instantly. So the stone had led her to follow the Prince back to his palace, where it never glowed unless she tried to walk away.

The Maiden was soon found, freezing outside of the palace doors, and was brought to the Prince. When the Prince saw her, he too fell in love with the girl. But his mother would not allow their marriage, so he instead allowed the girl to stay in the palace as a maid.

The Maiden was tortured with the fact that the Queen would never allow their marriage. So, by the stone's guidance, she went to the Glittering Grotto, after a powerful spell that would change the Queen's mind. The Imperius Curse, a curse that allowed the Maiden power over the Queen.

As soon as she had cast the spell, the Queen immediately allowed their marriage. But the Prince immediately recognised the Imperius Curse, and threw the Maiden out.

The Maiden was heartbroken, and blamed the Guide Stone. So she threw it deep into the ocean, never to see it again.

Let this be a lesson to you now. No matter where you're guided, the selfish choice is never the correct choice.