Adventures of Cosmo
By Kevin Luo
I was sitting on the front porch of my home staring at the sky while the sun was shining brightly and white clouds were floating like huge marshmallows.There were birds chirping and the sounds of laughter from kids playing were off in the distance. The wind was gently walking around making a whistling sound.
My home was quite large compared to other houses in Rome. The outside was made of oak wood painted light brown and the front door was a dark mahogany color. Delicate windows were also dotted around the walls. In the back, there was a peaceful large landscape where all my cows grazed gnawing at the dry yellow grass.
I started staring blankly at the sky while drinking some wine from my golden goblet. After just a couple more glasses, I was feeling a little hazy. Memories attacked my brain. I was overflowed with memories from a long time ago. Memories I had locked up. I remembered myself when I was just a young man. I was stronger and taller than other people in my village. Like the other villagers, I had messy, chocolate colored hair, but my wise blue eyes strongly resembled my mom. My skin was covered with ash from working in the blacksmith. The smell of coal blocked my nose and all my clothes were old and torn up.
One afternoon when I had just came home after working in the blacksmith, I started to hear loud screams and the ground shook. I thought it was the angry Poseidon, god of the sea, so I immediately went to the temple to pray for his forgiveness for whatever I had done. But I was wrong. It was not Poseidon’s fault. It was something much worse.
As I walked home in fear passing the blacksmith, I saw something in the reflection of a silver shield. Monsters started pouring down the hill led by the feared minotaur and the most feared gorgon ever, Medusa. The minotaur was carrying his large double headed axe. His large horns and muscular body brought fear over the village. While on the other hand was Medusa peacefully walking down the hill. The snakes in her hair moved anxiously around in anticipation to kill people. Lucky for me, I only saw her in the reflection of a shield, but I couldn’t say the same for others. There were already about 12 stone cold statues in the distance.
Everyone was in great panic. The screams of dying men and women filled the air.
But I wouldn’t let this happen. No. I had to do something. I couldn’t hide while my comrades were slaughtered. I immediately entered the blacksmith, shoved open the thick oak door, and started to prepare.
I grabbed an iron breastplate and helmet. Picked up the sharpest spear and sword I could find and took off for the hill.
The amount of corpse on the ground increased like wildfire. Blood was splattered over walls and houses were torn apart.
I charged at a cyclops. He was twice the size of a house and wielded a wooden bludger with spikes at the end. Adrenaline surged through my body. The cyclops saw me and tried to smack me with his bludger, but hit a huge boulder next to me. Rocks sprang up and pelted into me. But I wouldn’t go down this easy. I got right up and stabbed my spear into his thigh. He fell and let out a huge groan. I finished him off with my sword which I stabbed into his eye.
I was extremely tired but picked up my weapons and went on to kill my next enemy. As I sprinted up the hill, I noticed a chimera burning down my house. My parents were running around in panic. Its fire breath was shooting out of its mouth with no signs of stopping. As I engaged I noticed it had three heads. One of them was a lion with a huge golden main. To the left of it was a emerald green serpent with a long tongue and razor teeth. And to the right was a goat with sharp horns. The Chimera had a body of a lion with blood red wings.
I knew that I probably couldn't have killed this beast like I had done to the cyclops but I was going to try. As I approached, the serpent noticed me and within an instance the fire stopped and it was staring right at me. By this time, I was tempted to run but it was too late for that. The chimera could easily catch up to me and probably eat me as an on to go snack. So, I decided to stand my ground.
Suddenly, fire started to sprout out its mouth. I tried to dodge it but bits of the fire still hit me and burnt my clothes. I started to get tired, so I tried something risky. I charge straight at the Chimera and got into stabbing distance of it. As my arm lifted into the air with my sword, the serpent on its head bit me. A deep cut sprouted in my arm and blood poured down on the burnt grass. I dropped my sword as the poison rushed through my veins. The pain was unbearable. As I slowly closed my ears, I saw the chimera eat my mom and dad whole. And then I was dead.
My soul slowly drifted through the underworld. It was very dark but some areas where lit up with dark red lanterns. In front of me the the god of the Underworld himself, Hades. He was wearing a dark purple cloak and had lightning blue hair. In one of his hands he carried his helm of darkness and in the other a golden scepter with a tip made of diamond.
I tried to warn him about the monsters but no sound came out of my mouth.
As I slowly drifted helplessly through the land of the dead, something didn’t feel right. I passed all the other souls who were drifting helplessly like me and entered what seemed like Hades palace. It was a dark, tall building with fires lit all around it and a tall fence separating it from everything else. Inside was a huge hallway with a dark red carpet and blazing torches lit on the sides. The ceiling went so high up that I couldn’t see the top. I still didn’t know where Hades was taking me.
Suddenly, we entered a huge room with a gold tiled floor and walls covered with shiny gems. Hades who still had a dark look on his face set down his helmet and took hold of his scepter with both hands.
“You, Cosmo have been recognized by great gods of Olympus as a brave hero,” thundered Hades in a deep voice, “You my friend shall be given the gift of a second chance ordered by Zeus himself.”
“Uhhhh, thanks,” I replied realizing I could speak again, “Can you bring back my parents too?”
“I am afraid I cannot do that, it is very rare one man is given another chance much less an entire family”
“Thaaats ok,” I replied with tears running down my pale ghostly face.
“As you are probably well aware of the most feared monsters we know are gathering up their forces to take down Mt Olympus once and for all,” said Hades in a desperate tone, “As you haved proved your heroic ability, Zeus has ordered me to ask for your assistance in the crisis.”
“Sure, I want to get revenge on that stupid chimera for killing my parents.”
“So, it is settled then, now I will help bring you back to life”
I slowly closed my eyes and waited for what was going to happen next. Thump! Hades hit the ground with his scepter and as I opened my eyes to see what was happening white light surrounded me and next thing I knew I woke up in the middle of a field.
It was a bright, sunny day with few clouds in the sky. I stared around but to only find that the dark green grass seemed to go on forever.
“Was this a prank?” I thought to myself.
With nothing else to do, I strolled around with no expectation of finding anything. There were snow white rabbits prancing around with their bright pink ears. Bees were busily buzzing around gathering pollen.
Then, the lovely goddess Demeter appeared out of thin air.
“Ahhh!” I screamed.
Demeter wore a white cloak that smelled like honey. On her head, she wore an olive leaf wreath that sat upon her blonde hair.
“Sorry to scare you,” Demeter said, “Zeus has sent me to take you to Hephaestus, god of the fire and forge.”
“Why?” I stammered.
“He is to craft you divine armor and godly weapons.”
“So then, where do we go?” I replied with great excitement.
“Oh that is not what I am here to do,” said Demeter as she pointed to the sun, “that is up to Apollo, god of light and truth.”
Apollo descended from the sky in his bright orange chariot lined with gold. He wore a cloak matching the color of his chariot and held a small wooden harp in his hand.
“Com
e aboard!” Apollo laughed.
I slowly climber aboard his chariot and seated myself on one of the seats.
“Hold on the something!” He yelled.
The chariot zoomed into the air. It was going so fast that everything around me was a blur. It felt like seconds since we were in the grassy field and now me were in a mountain.
“Here’s your stop!”
The chariot stopped in front of tall steel door imbedded in the mountain. I climbed out of the chariot and the door flew open. There stood Hephaestus. He was a very tall and muscular man and wore an oversized cloak smothered in ash. His hair was full of soot and his face covered in dust.
“Welcome Cosmo!” Hephaestus thundered.
He let me inside the mountain where there was a huge hall way. We both walked forward in silence until I noticed a beautiful set of armor.
“Excuse me,” I said with a shaky voice and pointing to the set of armor,”Is this the actual set of armor Achilles wore in the Trojan War?’
“Yes, yes ,yes I remember making that beauty all too well, but today I will craft you something even for magnanimous.
Now I was feeling excited. We walked on passing a couple more sets of armor and then we stopped.
“Ok, I need you to stretch you arms out,” Hephaestus said while fumbling through a shelf.
I did as told.
“Ahh, there it is,” Hephaestus said as he pulling out a tape measure.
He pressed a button and tape measure flew into action. It measured the length of my arms, my height, and somehow my weight.
“Why are you measuring me?”
“It is to see how I should craft your armor.”
“Ohhhh,” I said feeling stupid.
“Sit here,” Hephaestus commanded as he pointed to a comfy looking chair.
I sat down and immediately felt relaxed. It was a steel rocking chair with super soft cushions.
Hephaestus left the room and in what seemed like ages came out with unbelievable set of armor, a bow, and a sword. The armor was made a rare and durable metal called celestial bronze. The sides were spoiled with jewels. I tried it on. The armor fit so perfectly it felt like I was wearing a regular shirt. The sword was also celestial bronze, but the part that caught my eye the most of the middle of the sword. Diamonds were spaced evenly in the middle.
I was amazed and over overjoyed. I picked up the blade and instantly I realized that it was the lightest sword I had ever held. The hilt was soft and fell perfectly into my grip. Lastly, I examined the bow. The hilt was made of beautifully decorated cherry wood. I picked up the light bow realizing I didn’t have any arrows. Before I could say a word, Hephaestus had gone back into the room, made a quiver full of arrows and came back out.
“Sorry about that,” said Hephaestus.
I was speechless.
“Thank you so much,” I said finally finding my voice again.
“No problem,” replied Hephaestus with great pride.
Hephaestus escorted me to the steel door and there was Apollo again.
“How was it?” he said.
“It was incredible,” I replied, “here look at his.
I passed him the dazzling sword.
“That is something!”
“Yeah, I can’t believe that it is mine.”
I jumped in Apollo’s chariot and said my goodbyes. And yet again, I was speeding through the sky. This time we were traveling to a different mountain. One much taller.
As we arrived at the top, I finally got a glimpse of the one and only Mt. Olympus. It was a huge palace made of solid gold and perfect marble columns. In front, was a well tended garden. A marble fountain sat in the middle and a rainbow of flowers surrounded it. And hovering over the fountain was the king of all gods. He wore a golden olive wreath that gave a strong resemblance to a crown. The sides were spoiled with rubies and emeralds. His vanilla white cloak was lined with gold and had a thunderbolt design in the middle.
“Welcome, welcome!” roared Zeus as he descended to the ground,” I see that Hephaestus has made you some pretty snazzy armor.”
“Yeah, it is so comfortable and the sword and bow are also amazing!”
“Good, good, good, you will needs them for what is coming next.”
“What are doing next then?”
“All the gods are preparing to defend our home,” said Zeus in a worrying voice, “Hermes has found out that the monsters are attacking today.”
“Uh-oh.”
“You should get prepared too, we are all going to meet at the fountain once everyone is done.”
“Ok.”
Zeus led me inside a small room in the great palace. I didn’t get much of look inside, but I noticed everything was made of expensive gems and metals. The room wasn’t very big, but had marbles walls carved with a plethora of designs.
I quickly equipped my armor, put my sword in my quiver, and took hold of my bow. I rushed outside to find all the other gods all ready and prepared for battle. Almost everyone was there. Artemis and Apollo both held bows. Artemis’ had a moon on it while Apollo’s had a sun. Ares and Athena were both wearing armor like mine and held long, pointy spears. Hephaestus also wore godly armor and held a dangerously big hammer with spikes on both sides. Lastly, there were the three legendary brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Zeus obviously had his famous lightning bolt and Poseidon had his trident. Then there was hades. He looked the way I had seen him in the Underworld. He didn’t look prepared at all and only held his helmet (to be fair it could make him invisible) and a stygian iron dagger which could drain the life out of anyone. But that was all he had.
“Hey everyone put these on,” said Hephaestus as he passed everyone strange pieces of clear material, “put these on your eyes and you won’t turn to stone when you look at Medusa.”
Everyone obeyed.
“Everybody listen up!” roared Zeus, “We need to be ready from all sides when the monsters attack so I want everyone in there positions and Cosmo I need a quick talk with you.”
“Sure.”
“I know this is a little out of your comfort zone but…”
“Don’t worry, this is going to be a piece of cake… right?”
“Yeah it’s just that the gods have never fought these monsters before because they have made heroes do it for them, so I need you to put in your all to set an example for the other gods.”
I was astonished. “You’re kidding right?”
“No, the whole reason we have brought you all this way is because we have seen your potential and skill.”
“Ohh thanks….but do you think I can take on all those monsters?”
“That is why I have asked Athena and Ares help you.”
“How?”
“Ares had given you strength and Athena has made you impossible to hit with any weapon but…”
“But what?”
I turned around and there they were. The monsters. There were only cyclops and harpies, but most of us knew they were only sent to tire us out. The more powerful monsters were nowhere is sight. Apollo and Artemis were doing to most damage standing on a balcony on the palace with their bows. Soon, the floor was littered with dead cyclop and harpies covered with arrows and blood. So far, no one was really tired but Apollo and Artemis. They both sat down to take a little break while the rest of us got ready for the more powerful monsters.
All of a sudden, the army of monsters appeared across from us. The front lines were made up of more cyclops and the occasional harpy. But behind them was the real deal. The most feared monsters ever could be seen towering over the cyclops. And then I saw it, the chimera that killed my parents. We stared each other in the eye and now I was determined to take it out. Without thinking, a raced at it. I mowed through cyclops after cyclops with my godly sword. My mind was overflowed with anger and the thought of vengeance. I was so focused on getting to the chimera I forgot about everything else. In the distance I saw the mighty brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades holding off the min
otaur, Medusa, and the hydra. Ares and Athena were taking on the dangerous typhoon while Hapetus was lazily sitting on a cannon he had made shooting balls of flame at the cyclops. But something didn’t seem right. Where was scylla?
As if right on cue, scylla appeared behind me. She snatched me up with one of her six months and tried to chew me up like a dog toy. Lucky for me, Hephaestus’ armor was no match for scylla’s teeth. Her teeth couldn’t pierce my armor but only made little scratches.
“Help!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Artemis and Apollo got up and started showering arrows on scylla but there were too many harpies around her acting as a shield. I started to panicked. Thoughts of death flooded my brain.
“Cosmo use your sword!” hollered Artemis and Apollo.
I abruptly snapped out of it and drew out my sword. I swung at the monster's neck and barely managed to cut it off. I fell out of the sky and landed on the ground with a huge thud. Now the scylla was furious. It tried to catch me again but this time was shot down by the talented archers.
“Thanks!” I screamed while I walked away and remember my initial task.
The chimera was still in the backlines breathing out fire hoping it would hit one of the gods. It didn’t take long for me the get in front of the chimera because a Athena’s help. Every time the cyclops tried to hit me with their bludgers, they missed and I was able to stab them with great strength because of Are’s help.
Swiftly, the chimera turned towards me. Its three heads still as scary as ever.
I pulled out my bow and shot a couple of arrow at its body. They all hit but didn’t seem to do anything. I was pretty confident that the chimera couldn’t hurt me so I did something stupid. I tried the thing that got me killed. I charge head on at it with my sword. This time I was ready for the snake. It tried to bite me but I cut it off right on time. What I didn’t expect was the goat. It hit me hard in the chest and I flew back. It took me awhile to get my breath back but when I did I charged again. I managed to dodge the goat and impaled my sword in its chest. Before it fell the lion used all the strength it had left to breath fire at me. Even my armor couldn’t hold it off. The flames were so hot that I crashed to the ground along with the chimera.
Unanticipatedly, I woke up in the middle of what seemed like hospital. I saw a blurry faces above me but had no energy to get up.
“Open your mouth,” said a familiar voice that sounded like Apollo.
I used all my strength to open my mouth and Apollo slipped a yellow pill in it. All of a sudden I felted alive and sat up.
“What was that?” I asked.
“A medicine I created for the gods, but seeing as you were really hurt I gave you some.” replied the god of medicine, Apollo.
“Well, thanks then.”
I stood up and found numerous burnt marks on my skin.
“Can you get rid of these burns?”
“Sorry, I tried and got the majority of it but it was really bad.”
“Sooo, what do I do now?”
“Go ask Zeus, he is by the fountain with the other gods.”
Disappointed, I walked toward the fountain. As a entered the courtyard where the fountain stood, all the gods from the battle bowed towards me.
“What happened when I was out?” I asked surprised that everything looked normal again.
“Well, all of us were really busy fighting to monsters that we didn’t notice you were missing until the battle was over. After it was done all of us looked around to find you and Apollo was the first to do so. He took you to the medical room and let you rest awhile.” replied Zeus.
“How long was I unconscious?”
“About three days.”
“Wow! Ummm thanks a lot for everything.”
“Actually we should be the ones thanking you. You heroically slayed the chimera and helped take out scylla. Because of this, we have decided to award you with an infinite fortune, swift travel wherever you go, and constant protection provided by us.”
“Thanks so much. I can’t believe I deserve all of this.”
“You should be very proud of yourself. Apollo will take you wherever you want.”
“Good bye then everyone.”
“Bye!” called all the gods.
I strolled over to the edge of the mountain and somehow Apollo was already waiting for me in the front seat of his chariot.
“Where do you want to go.”
“Rome.”
We took off and soon enough I was in Rome.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem, have a great time.”
Apollo sped off and was out of sight.
With all the money I had, I bought the large mansion I am living in today.
Now, I knew what the last word of Zeus’ sentence before the battle was. The four letter word “fire”.
The Ugly Girl’s Acceptance
By: Jaden Ly
Long ago, in Greece, there was a girl named Ida Forester. She wasn’t the most attractive, the most graceful, or the most popular. She never had perfect, straight brunette hair and to be honest she had lacked style. She was a smart one, though. All Ida needed was to be smart from preschool to middle school and she would be fine. Well, that was what she thought until she got to high school.
Ida went to school at Olympus High with her best friend Daniel Alston. Daniel was the type of guy who was envied by the other boys of Olympus High and all the girls wanted to be noticed by him. He had that light chocolate brown hair and ocean blue eyes that all the girls drooled over. Except, he had a secret. Daniel had liked Ida ever since they were only five years old. He just never got the courage to say something to her. Yet, he was still the perfect best friend a girl could have.
One day, Ida and Daniel were walking down the mile-long halls of Olympus High when Daniel saw a poster that posted a competition. It was for which student could make the best invention and the grand prize was a humongous five thousand dollars.
Daniel pulled Ida to the bulletin board and said, “You should join! You’re smart and creative and I’ll even help you!”
“I shouldn’t. I wouldn’t even know what to do,” she answered.
“Come on, please,” Daniel begged, “it’ll be fun working together!”
Finally after twenty minutes of pleading, She finally agreed and for the next week they worked their hardest on the invention. he drew the plans, she made the measurements, they bought the materials, and then put all of it together to match the blueprint.
Three weeks later, Ida and Daniel had finished their invention and entered it into the competition. They had won and at the school assembly the principal announced to the whole school in an assembly that their invention won. Ida was extremely happy, so much so that she could even taste the victory. It was the best day ever for Ida until the “Mean Girls” that had bullied Ida since forever came up to Ida to “congratulate” her.
“Ha! Look at this, the nerdiest, dorkiest girl in the world wins,” said Lena while flipping her long, gorgeous, curly balayage honey colored hair.
Red-haired Anna spoke up to say, “Yeah, why don’t you take your five thousand dollars and go buy yourself some new clothes and a sense of style. Another tip, get yourself some makeup for that mess,” while gesturing her hands at Ida’s face.
Ida ran off to the janitor’s dark, disinfectant smelling closet and sat down on the ground against the door to make sure nobody came in.
“Why doesn’t anybody like me? Daniel probably doesn’t even like me. He’s just my friend because he feels bad for me,” Ida cried into her dry, cracked hands.
Ida heard a knock on her door and Daniel yelling at her to open up. She didn’t want to.
Daniel yelled, “Ida, open up, please!”
“I… I don’t want to,” Ida replied.
“Are you crying? Ida, open the door. Please.”
“Daniel… stop!” Ida screamed at him with her voice coming out louder than expected.
“Just
tell me what’s wrong.”
Finally, Ida gave in and let him in. Right after Ida opened the door, Daniel went in and immediately hugged Ida and consoled her.
When Ida got back home, she thought of what Lena and Anna had said and she ran up the stairs as fast as she could and slammed the door behind her. She collapsed on her bed and thought of what she could do to make herself pretty and popular. An idea popped into her head and it was to ask Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, to help her.
Ida got on her hands and knees, looking up to the sky, and pleaded to Aphrodite and said, “Aphrodite! Help! Please! I can't take this anymore. Lena and Anna, won't leave me alone.”
Aphrodite granted her wish and gave Ida trendy clothes, beautiful makeup, and voluminous hair. There were sparkles flying around Ida and when all the sparkles finally settled Ida went to her silver full length mirror to see her transformation. She loved it. She had straight, soft brown hair. A black and white silk dress with sparkles. It was perfect.
The next day, Ida went back to school feeling more confident than ever. All the popular girls were looking at her and their faces were full of envy. Well, not Lena. Lena and Anna saw how all the boys noticed her and they got angered. Their faces were red, smoke was coming out of their ears, and Lena’s fists were clenched like she was ready to punch something or even someone. Lena roughly pulled Anna off to the side and they planned to ruin Ida’s life for as long as possible.
Ida saw Lena’s red, fuming face and Anna’s look of jealousy. Except she didn’t know that they were going to ruin her life so she just continued her day. Being beautiful was going great for Ida until Lena and Anna eventually got all the other girls in the school to turn on Ida.
The whole day Ida got shoved, tripped, laughed at, and even got food spilled on her. So again, Ida went back home and sobbed her eyes out. Eventually, Daniel had called her.
“Hi,” Ida answered weakly.
“I saw people were being harsh to you today,” Daniel answered.
“Yeah…. why weren’t you standing up for me?”
“Okay. First things first, why did you change yourself? Next, I liked you just the way you are. Lastly, why would I stand up for a person I don’t even know?”
“What do you mean you don’t know me. I’m Ida, your best friend since we were like babies,” Ida told him astonished.
“No, I don’t know you. Actually, don’t even talk to me. I don’t want to be friends with somebody who lets other people affect their life and somebody who thinks that nobody loves them for who they are.”
Daniel hung up.
Ida could practically hear the disappointment in his voice. She could barely believe what he told her, but she didn’t care. She went on with her life day after day. But, day after day she kept getting bullied by all the girls and even Daniel didn’t hang out with her anymore so she had to fend for herself, all alone. Even after being transformed into a beautiful human being, she still went home every day sad.
She couldn’t take it anymore.
Ida pleaded and begged Athena, goddess of wisdom, to transform her back. Athena knew when she saw Aphrodite change Ida that it was going to be a train wreck. Even though Athena knew this would happen, she still fulfilled Ida’s wish because Ida was still her favorite mortal. Again sparkles surrounded Ida, but this time she was back to her old self.
“Oh, thank you Athena,” praised Ida relieved, “You are the most amazing goddess in all of the world. Also don’t tell Aphrodite this, but she didn’t help my situation with the bullying and the “Mean Girls” at all”.
Athena promised not to tell, but she is a goddess so who knows.
After the transformation, Ida called Daniel many, many times, but he never answered. So, she went to their “place” which was the café right down the street from their neighborhood.
The café was small, but crowded. It had walls of burgundy and diamond shaped windows. Ida went in to order a medium green tea. After she got her tea, Ida went to look for Daniel. He spotted her first. When Daniel saw her, he ran up to Ida, hugged her, and spun her around. Daniel was relieved that Ida was back to her normal self and she was the same, clumsy, messy haired, beautiful girl that she was when he fell in love with her. He decided it was time. It was time to tell her how he felt.
“Hi!” Ida greeted.
“Hey, what happened?” Daniel inquired.
Daniel interrupted her before she could respond, “Wait, hold on, don’t answer that. I need to tell you something... I’ve wanted to tell you for like 12 years.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“Ummm…. I don’t know how to say it. So, I’ll just straight up say it. I have loved you ever since we were five. So, please never change the way you look for other people and liking a person is not just about looks, but about their personality.”
“Woah, you like me?” that was all Ida could take out of his love confession.
The rest we’ll never know. Only Ida and Daniel know what happened after that. We just know it ended well for Daniel after having to wait 12 years. Ida also learned she doesn’t have to modify herself to please other people.
Later that day, Ida was reading a book when she got a call from a company. When she answered a man with a rough and scratchy voice told her that his company wanted to offer her a deal since the they thought that her invention could make them tons of money not just for themselves, but also Ida. She agreed on the deal, obviously.
After the deal was offered, she traveled around the country and even the world, talking to kids about her journey and life. The kids, especially the little girls, looked up to her because she overcame self-doubt, bullying, and teasing to become a very successful business person.
Ida got married to Daniel becoming Ida Alston. They had four kids, which were three boys and one girl. Her life turned out great and she learned that being herself was the best thing that she could be.
The rest is history.
The Story of the Sun
By; Siler Lyle
Once upon a time, there was nothing but darkness. Nothing but darkness and fairies and dragons. There were people, who had never seen light except for an occasional moon fairy who was drifting along.
The humans were in small tribal groups. It was typically families and close friends that lived in neighborhoods. One of the humans, known as San, dwelled with his lovely family lived in a small walled off town that was against a massive mountain.
The mountain, Mount Moon, housed hundreds of moon fairies and dragons wouldn’t go near it because of its brightness. San, had befriended some moon fairies who came to his house and tribe and made light so it was easier to live. Dragons would stay away from moon fairy groups because of their immense mountain of light. They only attacked them if they were alone and easily picked them off.
San’s parents, Crie and Glass, were the most important things in his life, he did whatever they wanted and helped them whenever they needed. They lived on top of a river that ran right through their village. The wall was on one side while sheer cliffs enclosed the other three. He was an only child and had no friends, he had never seen a dragon but knew what they were.
They lived off of delicious azul berries that grew underground and required no light to grow. They had massive plantations underground and you only needed to dig a 3 inch hole to get to a plant. The ground squished beneath their feet and mud stuck to their feet as they trudged throughout the land. Their buildings were built of smelly tree roots known as delorian trees that were sturdy and easy to shape.
There was sunlight and stars hundreds of years ago but the stars and light got taken away as a man known as Cyeye killed Ares pet, the hydra and as a punishment to man, ever since there has been no light. Giants always roaming and cyclops always picking fights with them and causing lots of problems around the land. There were also lots of raiding parties scavenging lately, they had spears and makeshift shivs. No fire, the gods had banned it because it could help us out too much. We had little
warmth in our houses and had to create a lot of heat to keep our homes livable. They were a lucky family and lived near the stream where they had set up a series of watermills to create friction and act as though a heater.
As life was going on, there was occasional raiders but nothing too serious. One day, after he had harvested enough azul berries to have dinner, he was stumbling about in the dark finding his way home with three moon fairies guiding him. It had rained the day before and the storm was still firing lightning bolts at tall buildings and at water. It was three days since the storm started after Zeus had had a fit over his baby being banished to the land because of Hades evil pet cyclops had taken him down to the underworld and then cast a spell casting him to live there forever, but Zeus was leader of the gods and made Hades undo the spell, however the spell had its effect and Zeus’s son, Surge, had been caught in between the two on the Earth’s surface.
Surge had amazing abilities within him, he could run incredibly fast, see in the night, and had a small glow surrounding him. He was wandering around when he found the wall.
“Hello?” he shouted “hello?” His enormous voice could be heard from miles away.
The guards posted on the wall saw the light and heard his voice. They sent a team of people to go investigate. San insisted on coming. Because he wanted a friend to hang out with.
“Stay where you are!” ordered Barch, one of the guards, “We are armed.”
“Don’t hurt me,” Surge called back timidly, “I’m the son of Zeus,”
They appeared in his dim light that looked so bright, San was the first to speak.
“Hello, I’m San, prince of Moon City,” he told him, he was proud to be the prince and was respected by all the people.
“Hi I’m Surge,” Surge replied “Prince of Olympus.”
“If you are,” Barch said smugly, “What are you doing down here?” He laughed and taunted him.
“I swear I am,” Surge said in protest, “I am only 11 years old and I don’t know how I got here, but I know my dad is Zeus.”
Everyone laughed at that, they teased him and taunted him until he had enough.
“I’ll show you,” he said firmly as his eyes lit up and lightning started firing out of them. He rose ten feet into the air burst into flames while lightning bolts shot out of his eyes, then his flame turned blue and white and he rose another 20 feet into the air, he was mad, he started cracking the ground below him with his increasing heat as he rose higher and suddenly exploded as a shock wave knocked everyone over. Only San remained standing, Surge returned to the ground making the whole ground tremor.
“I told you,” he replied angrily, but he noticed San was still standing, “how did you not fall over from that?” he asked.
“I...I don’t know, it must've missed me,” he was confused when everyone fell but him.
Suddenly, Barch got up, “Hey kid,” he said “we will give you a home, just don’t do that again,” he mumbled.
Surge got up, he followed them home and took a spare room in San’s house. They had gotten used to the dim glow and liked it to see in the dark and the moon fairies had also gotten familiar with him.
Suddenly, the house caught fire! It light up suddenly! And only San’s parents were in the house as it caught fire! Surge ran over, he looked in but couldn’t go further because the door was locked and all hope was lost. San was heartbroken and prayed to the gods to bring them back. Suddenly, Zeus appeared, he looked angry and San knew from the moment he saw Zeus, Zeus had made the fire, Zeus had killed his family, Zeus was the culprit! He tensed up and his face turned bright red, eyebrows angling towards his nose as sweat dripped down.
“Quiet,” whispered Zeus, “I can bring your parents back if you do one task for me,” his voice boomed into San’s ears.
“What would a god like you want from a stupid mortal like me?” San asked sarcastically.
“I need you to kill Hades, or bring the light back to this place,” he answered greedily. Gesturing towards the dark surroundings
“Why would I help you?” San sneered.
“You will help all your mortal friends, bring your parents back, and become immortal forever,” Zeus was hesitant about the last thing but needed San’s help.
“Ok, I will do it,” he said anxiously, “but I need one more thing,”
“What is it?” Zeus asked.
“I need to have my town become a great kingdom,”
“Ok as long as you do one of the tasks I gave you, by the way which one?”
“I will bring light back to earth,”
Zeus explained to San what he had to do, he had to go to Mount Olympus, climb to the top, find the secret kingdom, and take the dragon stone and bury it deep within the ground. If he didn't bury the stone, the dragons would change to like the light and terrorise the world even more. He would start his journey the next day and Surge would come with him. Three moon fairies would come too to guide them for the moon fairies had all come from Mount Olympus.
They packed up and headed off. It was damp because of the rain the last night. They had enough food for two months and enough supplies for a couple of weeks. They were walking because the town had no spare horses although there was a path that had been cut by travelers before them who got lost in the tall grass. They had walked eight miles before they hit Mount Olympus. It was home to a wyvern. The wyverns were very similar to dragons although they had one key advantage, they could withstand light. This particular one had one thousand years behind him and was going for another thousand. He was the biggest, meanest, and fastest of all the wyverns and dragons.
“Lets just walk around it,” said San.
“No, we have to fight it, it has the key to the lost city of Olympus,” Surge replied.
They had swords and shields but nothing that big. They wandered into the cave, San regretting ever coming. There was evidence of hundreds of men coming to fight with ten times better armor and weapons than them, dying. San was shivering; he’d always been cold but this was different, he was scared. Surge seemed to just walk along not minding the bodies until he saw something. He reached down and picked up a spear. It was normal, no it wasn’t, it had a string wrapped around it and the tip was a rock, no two, no three, there were lots of rocks fastened to it in a triangle shape that was covered in blood.
Suddenly, there was a shriek,it was loud, louder than San ever heard. Then the earth shook. Rumbling beneath their feet, it was getting closer. Then there were two glowing lights. A burst of purple and blue flames came barreling right at San and Surge! San jumped and knocked Surge to the ground. Then came a swirl of dust, the speed picked up, San was flying. He flew into a wall, Surge heard crack, was it rock or bone, or both. Surge flew up, but he controlled himself, then hurled the spear into the wyverns open jaws. It shrieked then flew away leaving a glowing stone behind. Surge ran over to San, flipped him over and gazed at his lifeless body. He gazed at him then a smile came to San’s face, he got up and picked up a key. It was the key to the lost city! They did it.
The wyvern returned with two more at the door, picked them up at the door and threw them into the dark sky. The stone was in San’s hands as well as the key. He dropped them both right in front of the lost city. As San and Surge flew out into space they saw Zeus.
“One of you will be a hero, and the other nobody,” Zeus said and then disappeared.
Suddenly the boys started fighting, they used swords and shields and fought each other in mid air. San slashed Surge on the arm knocking it off and Surge got stabbed to death right after. Zeus came back, “congratulations you won, the light will be named after you and anything it makes,” he said then chuckled and zapped him with a lightning bolt killing hi
m. But even to this day the sun is called the sun and sand is called sand. Zeus never kept his promise and San’s parents never came back, and his town never grew, Zeus had lied.