Why the Sky is Blue

   Hey there! Thanks for checking out this short folktale that I've created in my English class. As you can see, it's inspired by African literature, so please enjoy! I do the best of my ability to recall most of the details! 

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   Before there was animal, plant, or human, an uninhabitable world coexisted with the cold ends of space, but this world wasn't alone. She was not yet born, but with the help of her two brothers, the Ocean and the Sky, she would soon carry the lives of millions on her rocky surface. 

   The Ocean, who was the eldest brother, worked alongside with his younger brother, the Sky, to shape their younger sibling. While the Ocean carved many grand  canyons, quenching the dry, brittle terrain, the Sky watched over his progress, jealous of his brother's mighty powers. He wished, when he was old enough, he would one day become powerful enough to even stand next to his brother and work with him. No, only time would tell, so he reluctantly endured the loneliness and looked on. 

   As the firey serpents rolled underneath the floor of the Ocean, volcanoes emerged and spewed hot, sticky lava which soon gave way for fertile soil and land for the future. Pleased, the Ocean continued building with the volcanoes. The new landforms, only neophytes formed from levitated rock, received this gesture of respect as a signal to spew more lava. As this was a success for the eldest brother, something terrible was about to happen. 

   As much time passed by, the peppered clouds of ashes caused a turning point for the Sky's health. As they accumulated in the atmosphere, the Sky grew more sick, turning a sickly shade of grey and red. I feel terrible, he thought, but I can't disturb my brother now. Our sister has been born. So he stayed by, but unfortunately, the volcano's ashes continued to wreak havoc on the Sky. One unfaithful day, the Sky could no longer speak. The poisonous clouds have taken its effect. 

   One day, feeling accomplished of contributing new microorganisms in his lair for the new world, the Ocean decided to tell his younger brother the great news, but just one glance left the elder in utter shock. The Sky was disease-strickened, smoked in numerous shades of death, and not a single word or puff of air escaped his atmosphere. 

   His pride now crumpled into a heavy state of shame. The Ocean knew he had failed to take care of his younger brother. He tried desperately to find out what had caused his brother to become so ill, until he stumbled upon the volcanoes. Tendrils of smoke came out of their heads. The volcanos stuttered as they apologized, but the humble Ocean pardoned them, for he was not the type to punish severely. Nonetheless, there seemed to be no solution on this problematic situation. 

   The new world gazed longingly at her brother. She didn't want to see him like this, she wanted to help her brother and not make him feel sad anymore, so the new world decided not to bother him just yet. Observing her land, she found nothing that would come to use. Then her eyes fell upon the tiny animals invisible to the naked eye. She rememebered the Ocean teaching her about the organisms and what talent they had to produce a sweet tonic that could heal anything in the world. That led to her thinking of the reason for his healthy color: blue. 

   Confident in her observations, she told her brother her findings and what he could do: give some the sweet tonic to the Sky so he could heal. The Ocean smiled affirmingly at the wise young girl and followed her advice, and gave his brother clouds worth of the solution, and it took a while. Years have passed, and the Sky gradually grew better, turning into a healthy shade of blue just like his brother. The Sky had regained his voice once again. 

   The Ocean promised himself to be a better leader after the ordeal. As a result, he supplied his brother with the plentiful tonic created by the small animals and new creatures that soon arrived. The new world rejoiced with her brothers.

   The time came when the brothers had to name their sister merely a toddler. After much debating, they chose the name Earth, a name both wise, beautiful, and heavenly. 

   To this day, The Ocean, Sky, and Earth prospered as they created new enviornments, life, landscapes with the abundance of the tonic. In the end, humans came into the play, a sober yet grand film the siblings watched, intervening from time to time to steer the humans and other life from the brink of trouble. 

   The Sky played a big role on Earth and the Ocean, creating a barrier strong like steel to trap the clouds of tonic, what the humans called oxygen, from escaping to space. Shining a brilliant blue, the Sky could now play a helpful part for life.

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   Thanks for reading! If you liked it, please leave a comment, vote, and share! If you want, please feel free to check out my others works, and if you like 'em, you know what to do! ^_^