Tales of Merlia: The Tale of Holly Day

Part 1

The air was cool and crisp in that warm summer evening. Another day had risen and fallen over the Earth, and it had been yet another peaceful day of harvest and happiness.

The moon rose into the sky, glowing full like a gold pearl among stars that shimmered like diamonds against the dark sky. They formed a thick band across the sky, swirling like the thin clouds muddled among them a bridge stretched across the distance that seemed endless.

Holly stood at the balcony of her home. The Celestial Palace formed of pearl and amber. Her bright spin-drift eyes watched from above the walls surrounding the castle, looking out into the world that dipped below the paved marble steps that stretched down into the villages of the living.

A soft warm breeze smelling of golden grass and wheat ran through Holly's fuzzy black hair, rustling though her crown two holly branches, twisted to fit atop her head like and stick out of her head like horns bearing red berries and glossy green leaves.

She clutched her green pine green cloak of velvet and wrapped it close to her pudgy body for comfort. She couldn't help but smile the peace before her. She watched as the village below glow with tiny amber dots slowly as the dark closed in between them.

"I did it Did you see it? Did you?"

Holly turned to glance behind her, her heart warming at the sight of little Luna bounding towards her, wearing a cloak of sapphire trimmed with silver that was far too big for her. Her catlike diamond blue eyes were bright and her periwinkle scales glittered in the moonlight with her long braid dotted with pearls that shown like stars.

Holly nodded, "I saw it, you did wonderfully."

"I put the moon up all on my own! I didn't even ask Solaria for help!" the mer chattered, "I made the stars myself too!"

Holly chuckled, "I figured you did, no one can make stars as beautiful as yours."

"I'm gonna watch for trouble tonight!" Luna's scales twitched with excitement.

"No you are not."

Luna turned to see a tall thickly built woman with hair pure gold that stuck out messily like flames crackling on her head. The moonlight made her tan skin glow along with her soft brown eyes. She stood there, amused at the child, with a glint of kindness in her jasper eyes.

"But Solaria! I raised the moon all by myself! You saw me!" Luna pleaded, "I wanna guard the humans and mers like you do! Pleeeaaassse let me come with you?"

Solaria shook her head, "No, you're still too young for that and Estellaria would have my head if something happened to you."

Luna stamped her foot in frustration, "I'm strong too, you know I am!" she glanced at Holly, "Holly! Please?"

"And risk Estellaria's wrath?" Holly scoffed gently, "No, I'm sorry little star. Maybe one day, but not now."

Luna crossed her arms, defeated, "I wanna fight too..."

Solaria rolled her eyes at this, but her smile was warm and kind, "I know you do. But you are needed here."

Holly nodded quickly, kneeling to meet the child's gaze, "Right, who am I going to tell my stories to? I have a story about a fluffy bunny who pushed a mountain into the sea?"

Luna's jaw dropped, "A bunny did all that?"

"Yep, his name was Snuffles."

"That's a dumb name!" Luna scoffed.

"Just because the name is dumb doesn't meat the being behind it can't do amazing things."

Luna blinked for a moment before nodding, "I...I wanna hear it."