Short Stories

The Jade Moon

Things you should know:

This was originally a script written for a sixth grade puppet show (@CordeliaWolf (happy birthday) and a few other people wrote part of it) but I decided to turn it into a short story.

This was based off of two Chinese stories so ic an not take credit for a majority of the events and characters. 

A long ago in China, during the birth of myths and legends, there were 11 suns, each carrying their father's legacy and honor. Taking turns, one would rule the sky while the others slept. They gave warmth and light to the living and allowed water to gather into great thunderstorms.

One day, after the oldest sun returned to the heavens, the youngest and smallest took his turn in the sky. Soon, the oldest got bored and started to wonder why they would have to take turns. So he turned to his brothers for help

"Why should we take turns? The moon is always out and so are the stars. We are the rulers of the sky and should all be up there at the same time." The other suns agreed and soon, there were suddenly 11 suns in the sky. The sudden heat and brightness frightened the mortals and animals as they hurried for protection inside crowded caves. It didn't take long for all the plants to die and water to evaporate, turning a planet of life, into a great desert. Even the nights became short and dry, the only water coming from the underground caves.

"Look what you have done!" The youngest sun shouted in anger and fear. "The gods and goddesses will be outraged!"

"We refuse to let someone else tell us when we can be in the sky! You can go back down if you'd like but we are staying!" The oldest shouted back. The youngest disappeared back into the heavens and was not seen again by the other suns.

Some time later, the moon goddess sat on the moon trying to block out the brightness by the suns. She had not been on the moon lately because of the commotion in the heavens about the ten sun brothers. She also did not like her planet being torched by arrogant suns like a worthless marshmallow. The animals were suffering and her head ached with all the pleas from the mortals.

Ungrateful mortals. Don't they know we are doing everything we can right now? The animals are more generous than they are. Suddenly, the goddess had an idea. Animals... generous... hmm....

The goddess teleported herself onto the Earth and changed into an old lady. She draped her moon cloak over her shoulders and head to keep out the heat as she ventured through a dying forest.

It didn't take long for the goddess to find a bear, a fox and a rabbit arguing over a branch with berries.

"Please help me." she croaked. "I'm hungry and thirsty." The fox didn't have any interest in sharing as he attempted to drag away the branch. The bear quickly snatched the branch in his mouth and the two animals fought in a game of tug-a-war. The rabbit looked at the berries, then at the disguised goddess.

"I can try to find something else," the rabbit said and started to hop around the dry and lifeless forest. The rabbit looked around for a few days, not only looking for food for the mysterious lady, but also for herself but could not find anything to eat. She felt her strength slowly drain away by the hour and one night, she could not get up from the ground.

Looking to the stars and the moon, the rabbit started praying for the Earth. I am sorry I failed the lady and I hope she found some food. I hope one day the Earth will be better and life won't have to suffer.

In the heavens, the moon goddess head the rabbit and pitied her. So the goddess flew down to the collapsed rabbit and enchanted her.

"You will be immortal and live on the moon. Your job is to help me will my duties. When you reach the moon, your first task is to make more of the immortality pills." Life was suddenly given to the rabbit as she bowed in front of the goddess before floating into the night sky.