Ethereal Bonds
A long time back, eons ago, lived 7 celestial guardians: the Wind Guardian, Sun Guardian, Water Guardian, Fire Guardian, Moon Guardian, Frost Guardian, and the Time Guardian. They each had their own realms correlating to their powers and titles.
The Wind Guardian lived in a lush, ever-growing forest, populated with more flowers and bird songs every day of spring. The Sun Guardian lived in a forest as well. However, hers had flowing yellow lakes, sparkling and glittering as the sun shone its light on it. Small sunfish swam in the ponds and streams, making treats for her cats and other friendly creatures.
One day, three cruel fairies played a prank on the Wind Guardian, adding drops of a special love potion, created by the Moon Enchantress, into his drink. The Wind Guardian fell enthralled with the Fire Guardian, leaving the Sun Guardian devastated and depressed.
Deep in her kingdom, her peers grew worried. She was the only Guardian able to make the sun rise and fall, leaving the citizens of every kingdom on Earth in the cold, never-ending twilight. Many travelers tried to convince her to please get up and help them, but it was no use. She stayed in her dark room, the only light being the twinkling of the gems on her head, slowly dying every day. She had no energy left to bring back the warm sun.
Once the gems on her head stopped twinkling, she was forced into a deep slumber on the Day of the Dead.
Blinded by her own self-loathing, she hadn’t gotten up for months on end, but in her restless dreams, she was standing, walking even. It seemed she was in a palace of some sorts but not hers. Soft music echoed from behind a golden corridor, and when she stepped in, she was met by spirits dancing with each other, swaying to the song. As she passed through different ghosts and ghouls, a path opened to a tall spirit wearing a suit and long white hair.
“Please,” the spirit held out his hand towards her. “Dance with me.”
The Sun Guardian was almost too stunned to speak, but as she gripped hands and gently waltzed with him, all her worries faded. She forgot about the Wind Guardian, only focused on the delicate way the spirit held her hands.
As the ballroom’s grandfather clock ticked to 12AM, she was forced to leave the spirit world.
“I don’t know when, but I will see you again, my sun. Promise,” the Spirit said, looking at her solemnly through white eyes. “So until then, take care of yourself for me, okay?”
She didn’t understand why she had to wake up, but her face gems were shimmering again with yellow light. For days on end, she had the same recurring dream of the spirit sitting in a dull garden, late at night. As if waiting for her to return to him. Longing for her to. The Sun Guardian knew what she had to do.
The next day, she woke up and immediately commanded her gardeners to create an exact replica of her dream, using the last of her energy to stand around. As they finished, it was nearing midnight. The Sun Guardian slipped into the middle of the garden and lie on the grass. As if the ground was hugging her, she felt heat rising into her body as her head gems dimmed out like a torch in the wind.
In her last moments before falling into a lifetime slumber, she felt only warmth. Only love.
Athena S. is a 6th grade writer.
