My Own Fairy Tales

The Magic Pipe

The Magic Pipe

Once upon a time, in a mountain village of Japan, there was a little girl named Ayaka. Ayaka was a good and sweet little girl and was the joy of her parent's life. But her life was not a happy one. The villagers accused her of being a witch and she was bullied every day by the children. The only friend she had was her cousin Mamoru. Mamoru lived with Ayaka and her parents. His parents died when he was young and his aunt and uncle had raised him ever since. Mamoru didn't believe that Ayaka was a witch and protected her from the bullies.

One day Ayaka and Mamoru were sitting by a stream, while Ayaka was playing her pipe. Ayaka's father made that pipe for her on the day of her birth and she had kept it with her ever since.

"You get better playing that pipe every single day" said Mamoru.

"Thank you Mamoru" Ayaka sighed "but playing this pipe is why I get bullied". It was true; the villagers thought that when Ayaka played her pipe something would happen. There was one time when they thought that she made a flower grow very quickly by just playing her pipe. But of course just by playing the pipe didn't do that.

"Ayaka" said Mamoru "don't believe anything that the villagers think about you. You are not a witch, you are you".

"Thank you Mamoru" said Ayaka, with a smile. Ayaka always felt safe and happy with Mamoru; even though her life was filled with misfortune.

Unfortunately things went from bad to worse for Ayaka that winter. The mountain village had a tradition of sacrificing a seven year old child to the mountain god, every seven years. They believed that doing that would bring full harvest to the village. Sadly Ayaka was chosen to be the sacrifice; she was seven years old. Ayaka's parents were devastated by this; Ayaka was their only child and they didn't want her to be a sacrificed. Mamoru was also upset and believed that Ayaka was chosen because they all thought she was a witch. But the village elders had spoken and that was all there was to it. So Ayaka was dressed in priestess clothing, said a prayer to the mountain god for a good harvest, and then was locked in a shrine, on a hill, where she was to die from hunger.

That night Ayaka was playing her pipe in the shrine, she decided that playing music, until she died, would help her die in peace. Suddenly the shrine door unlocked and opened by itself and behind the door was the spirit of the mountain god. Ayaka ran over to him and kneeled in front of him. "Mountain god" she cried "if you have come to take my life away. Please do it quickly".

"Don't be afraid Ayaka" replied the mountain god "I have not come here to take your life. I have come here to present you with a gift". The mountain god gave Ayaka a pipe that looked the same as hers. "This is a magic pipe" he said "play the tune you always play every night and the village harvests will flourish. But whatever you do, do not ever break this if you do you will die".

"But what happens if someone else breaks this" asked Ayaka.

"You will be spared but the person who does break it will die instead" answered the mountain god.

"I understand" said Ayaka. Then the mountain god disappeared.

After the mountain god disappeared, Mamoru appeared. He had come to get Ayaka out of the shrine, but was surprised that she was already out. Ayaka explained about her meeting with the mountain god and his gift to her. Then she warned him about what happens if the magic pipe got broken. "Then we better be very careful with that pipe" said Mamoru. Mamoru explained to Ayaka that her parents sent him to get her out of the shrine and provide food and clothing for her every night. "Thank you Mamoru" said Ayaka "but I'm worried that this will get you and my parents in trouble".