The following story is by guest author Cole Bryant.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, before the sun had ever climbed over the horizon to bring the world a new day, there lived three beings that drifted along together in the vast ocean of emptiness called space. None of them knew what the other looked like because light had yet to be created. Instead they recognized each other by the sounds of their voices.
Now two of the three were very much in love and were almost never apart. And although they lived without light, they could almost be seen glowing with happiness at the mere whisper of the other’s voice. Their hearts were pure and unsuspecting, and their names were Sol and Luna.
The third companion, however, was not so fortunate. For although he was a master of magic and had the ability to use his powers for immeasurable good in such a vast and dark universe, a thicket of bitterness grew in his breast, and the thorns of envy surrounding his suffering heart allowed room for nothing but jealousy and contempt. He hated Sol because he alone was the object of Luna’s love and affections. The others called him Celos, and for as long as the three had wandered the cosmos together, he had done nothing but think of ways to separate Luna from her Sol. Being incredibly crafty, Celos only thought of using his powers for deceit, and he was confident that he could use his dark magic to win Luna’s heart.
One day, Celos happened upon Luna floating by herself, and he thought that by using his magic to imitate Sol’s voice, he could get Luna to swear her love to him.
“Now is my chance.” he thought, and he changed his voice to match that of Sol, greeting her warmly while hiding mischievous deeds in his mind, “Dearest Luna, will you promise to be mine and love me forever?” Celos grimaced at the great skill of his trick, knowing that his voice sounded exactly like Sol’s. Smugly did he wait for the ever-devoted Luna to pledge her heart to him.
However, Luna was not fooled. For although the voice sounded like Sol’s, it was laden with greed. In fact Celos’ words were so burdened by malicious selfishness that Luna barely heard them as they struggled greatly just to reach her. Whereas when her greatest love spoke to her, it was always in winged words that went straight to the innermost depths of her being. For they were ever so light that no matter how many times she took them to heart, they never weighed it down, but rather she bore them aloft as easily as songbirds carry their innocent melodies.
So Luna gave a smile and replied, “I cannot love you as you desire Celos. For all my love is for Sol, and he alone shall have my heart.”
Disappointed but not defeated, Celos summoned more of his magic and drew nine and ninety thousand diamonds out of the nothing that surrounded them. Casting them all about he sought to dazzle Luna. And indeed the gems were beautiful, but they couldn’t sparkle for there was still no light to make them shine. Yet their intricate designs could be known by touch. So after passing her hands carefully over each and every one, remarking at their beauty in turn, Luna tried to soothe her companion’s desperation with kind words.
“Truly you are an impressive conjuror Celos. I know that neither Sol nor myself could so cleverly craft so many precious stones,” she professed in tender tones as she held one of the diamonds with admiration in her hands, “But not even a million such jewels could sway my heart,” she said softly to Celos, hoping that he would give up his purposeful advances.
However, at these words Celos was overcome by a jealous rage. It had dawned on him that he must destroy Sol himself if he were ever to have any hope of calling Luna his own. And so he called forth every ounce of magic that flowed through his veins. Indeed his very blood changed course as he pulled his own life from his limbs in a final attempt to tear Luna away from her Sol. With all of his hatred and jealousy he cursed his rival to be consumed by his own love.
And there hung Sol, just out of earshot, but not out of the reach of fate, transfixed, gazing in total wonderment at the change occurring within him. For his heart started to glow like an ember. It was, in fact, the first light of the universe that burned so truly within his breast. Whilst faint at first, the light grew more brilliant and the three beings, in awe, beheld each other for the first time.
Yet their amazement was too short-lived, as Sol had but enough time to look upon Luna’s beautiful face before being overcome by love’s fire which burned ever brighter until it was all that was left of him.
Now Celos was indeed a gifted sorcerer, but he did not truly understand love. For what little, genuine love he bore for Luna was constantly masked and dominated by his jealous nature. Thus he did not know that true love never fades, but when freed will outlast eternity. And so he looked on in disbelief as Sol’s love did not burn out, but rather hung there devouring the once ever-present darkness.
Luna, in her sorrowed shock was struck pale by Sol’s metamorphosis and drifted towards him without fear, unaware of the danger that lay in store for her. For just as Sol was consumed by untamed love, so too would Luna be engulfed by these the first flames of the cosmos.
Celos understood that his own treachery had put his beloved in danger. So as his spirit began to leave him, exhausted by his deceitful acts, he cast one final spell to save her. Drawing an invisible tether, he bound Luna to himself, and with his last breath he pulled with all his might. Though his intentions were finally pure and true, the little strength left to him was not enough to totally escape Sol’s powerful rays. However, it was just enough to keep Luna away from the flames that were her only love.
And so have the three been ever since. For thousands of millions of years Celos’ last act of saving Luna has kept the three of them together, Sol always making the universe shine with love, Celos ever-spinning in circles around his former foe, forever keeping Luna close and safe.
Nor does Luna want for Sol. For although Celos’ ties never let her stray too far, even today she glows from his loving beams which can best even the largest tracts of space which divide them.
As for Celos, his last hope of saving Luna took what spark of life and love was left in him. And so he rests in an eternal slumber. However, it is said that a drop of pure magic, unencumbered by jealousy, remained deep within him, and when Sol’s love-born rays reached him, it mixed with the magic to create life. And so it was that from Celos grew every living creature and plant that we know today. Every daisy that brings fresh color to a meadow, every doe that nibbles the dew speckled grass, and every newborn boy and girl are born from this first, great love that brought light into the world. And just as new life came from love mixed with magic. So does the love that courses through every living being contain small amounts of that last enchanted drop, giving everyone and everything the power to bring life and light into the world anew.
And what’s more, Sol’s brilliant light reached every one of the nine and ninety thousand diamonds that Celos had created for Luna. And now they sparkle every night for all the world to see. So even when Luna can’t be found gliding through the night sky, we can still see signs of the light that resides in all of us, a light that if you look closely enough, you can see in a loved one’s eye or a friend’s smile. And though now many people know these first three creatures by different names all over the world, the story of the love that joins them all remains the same to this day.
So be it under the sun or the moon at night, know that wherever you are, love shines bright.
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