Magic that came from the Moon part 9

The Stray Animals of the Moon

          One night a commotion was happening in the palace. The palace maids were shouting and running along the corridors. They were shouting words like ‘catch them’ or ‘don’t let them escape’. Queen Luna came out of her room and demanded to know what was going on; she was not happy to be woken up in the middle of the night. The maids apologized to the queen and told her that two stray animals, a cat and a dog, had sneaked their way into the palace. “Oh dear,” said Queen Luna “they better be caught soon, otherwise they might break something”.

          Meanwhile Serena was woken up by some scratching noises outside her room. She got out of bed and opened the door to see what the noise was. The noise wasn’t coming from outside her room, it was coming from somewhere near her room. She followed the sound of the noise along the corridor, and then she saw what was making the noise. A light grey dog and a white cat were scratching at a door that was at the end of the corridor. “What are you doing?” Serena asked the cat and dog. The cat and dog ran past her, and then ran down the stairs. “Hey come back here” Serena called out.

          Serena was about to chase after the cat and dog, but the cat and dog got caught by some servants. “Finally we’ve caught them” said one of the maids. The maids asked Serena if the cat and dog had broken anything. “No they haven’t broken anything,” said Serena “they have only scratched the door at the very end of the corridor on the right”. “Oh that’s okay then,” said the maid “as long as these two haven’t broken anything valuable that’s okay”. Serena stared at the dog and cat and realized that none of them had any collars. “These two animals must be stray animals and must have been searching for food in the castle” she said. “I’ll give this cat and dog something to eat,” said the maid “but they must be put outside at once; animals are not allowed in the palace”. This rule was true; animals were forbidden into the palace in case they would break something.

          Next morning, the royal family were having breakfast. Serena was thinking about the stray cat and dog last night. “Excuse me mother,” Serena said to her mother “that door, that the stray cat and dog were scratching last night, at the far end of the corridor on the third floor, what’s behind that door?” “Oh that door leads to some stairs, which leads up to the attic of this castle”. “The attic?” said Serena “I don’t think I’ve ever been in the attic before”. “The attic has lots of old things in there,” Queen Luna explained “old paintings, old books etc., and all sorts of things”. That gave Serena an idea; maybe there were statues in the attic. “Can I have a look round in the attic please mother?” “Of course you can,” said Queen Luna “just be careful while you’re up there”. “I will mother” replied Serena.

          After breakfast, Serena headed to the door, at the far side of the corridor, on the third floor. She was holding a candle holder, with three lit candles, because her mother had said that there was no candle lighting in the attic. Once she opened the door, she saw the stairs, went up them and entered the attic. The attic was very dark and quiet and it was full of cobwebs and dust. There were also old paintings, old trunks full of things like old books, old clothes, old china, decorations for special events like christmas and birthdays, and many other old things.

          So far Serena didn’t see any statues, but after looking between some trunks she found two statues. There was a wolf statue and a lion statue, and they looked almost real; so real Serena thought they looked frightening. The wolf statue was dark grey coloured and the lion statue was bronze coloured. “I should ask mother to have these statues moved into the palace garden,” she said to herself “I mean they look so real, I think they could frighten off intruders”. Serena looked at the bases of the wolf and lion statues, and there, between the two front feet of the wolf and lion, were two dull looking beads. “I thought that there might be some moon beads in here” said Serena, happily.

          After gathering the dull beads, Serena left the attic at once to search for the dull beads owners. ‘I think I may have an idea of who these two dull beads belong to’ she thought, blowing out the candles. Serena was thinking that maybe the beads belonged to the stray cat and dog from last night? To see if she was right, Serena went out into the palace gardens and called out for the dog and cat. “I do hope that the cat and dog are still here” she said. At that moment the cat and dog appeared in front of her. Serena bent down on her knees and held out the two dull looking beads. The cat and dog ran over to her and stared at the beads in her hand, and then suddenly they began to glow and change. The cat turned into a white lion and the dog turned into a grey and white wolf.

          Serena felt very nervous of the Moon Lion and Moon Wolf; she knew very well that lions and wolves were dangerous. The Moon Lion and Moon Wolf went over to Serena. Serena braced herself; she feared that they would attack her. But they didn’t attack her; they nuzzled her instead. Serena was relieved that the Moon Lion and Moon Wolf weren’t attacking her and she stroked them on the heads. “I’m glad you two aren’t dangerous” she said to them. The Moon Wolf and Moon Lion liked Serena and kept on nuzzling her to be stroked some more.

          Suddenly the Moon Fairy and Moon Archer came out of their moon beads. Once the Moon Lion and Moon Wolf saw the Moon Fairy and Moon Archer, they ran over to them at once. The Moon Fairy happily hugged the Moon Lion, and the Moon Archer petted the Moon Wolf like crazy. This scene made Serena realize that the Moon Lion was the Moon Fairy’s animal partner, and the Moon Wolf was the Moon Archer’s animal partner. “I’m glad I was able to find your animal partners” she said to them. “We thank you for finding Moon Lion and Moon Wolf for us Serena” said the Moon Fairy. “Yes thank you” said the Moon Archer. The Moon Lion growled and Moon Wolf howled to say thank you. Then the four moon spirits went back into their beads.

          As soon as the four moon spirits went back into the beads, a maid came up to Serena. “Please excuse me your highness,” the maid said “but some stray animals are running loose in the palace, and we need help with catching them”. “Which stray animals is it this time?” asked Serena. “Some rabbits” said the maid. “Oh well,” said Serena “at least it’s not as bad as having stray cats and dogs in the palace”. Then she went with the maid to catch the stray rabbits.

Magic that came from the moon part 8

The Moon Bird of Prey

          Days later, after the lunar festival was over, Serena was walking around on her own, in the palace gardens. It was a beautiful day and Serena thought it was the perfect day to spend in the palace gardens. There wouldn’t be any moon beads in the garden though, because Serena had checked the statues and it made her wonder where she should look next for more statues, to find more moon beads; she had already checked through the palace grounds and checked a lot of the palace rooms for more statues but she still hadn’t found any more moon beads yet. Serena began to worry about her search for the moon beads. ‘Oh dear,’ she thought, worriedly, ‘I still need to collect eight more of the sixteen moon beads, and I have not found any more statues, which holds them. I don’t know what I’ll do to find the rest, if I don’t find any more beads’. Serena didn’t feel like giving up, she just felt unsure what to do at the moment.

          Serena began thinking about where she had found the moon beads. She had found the Moon Eagle at the new library, the Moon Pegasus and Unicorn at the horse race track, the Moon Fairy in the forest, the Moon Maiden in the palace, the Moon Archer at the field where they held the archery tournament, the Moon Dragon at a mine and the Moon Knight in the village, where the soldiers stayed. “I fear that I’m running out of places where the moon beads would be,” Serena sighed “I’m going to have to think very hard about where to search next for the remaining moon beads”.  

          Just then she noticed three gardeners putting up a statue stone base on some grass. “What are you doing?” she asked the gardeners. They explained to Serena that they were putting up a new statue in the garden. Serena was pleased to hear that; maybe this new statue would have a moon bead with it. “What kind of statue is it?” she asked. “We do not know yet,” answered one of the gardeners “we haven’t seen it yet, but it will be up in the garden this afternoon”. “I see,” said Serena “then I’ll see it myself this afternoon then”. She went back into the palace to pass the time, till afternoon.

          That afternoon, Serena went back into the palace gardens to see if the new statue had arrived. To her delight, it was there; it was a statue of a hawk. The gardeners were not there because they had gone to take care of something else in the garden. Serena immediately ran over to it to see if there were any beads on it, and there was. The dull looking bead was on top of the base of the statue, and Serena took it at once. “Since this bead was with a statue of a hawk,” she said to herself “I reckon that this bead belongs to the Moon Hawk, and if it does the Moon Maiden will be happy about that, after all she did tell me that the Moon Hawk was her animal partner. Now I just need the bird that belongs to this dull bead, and I think I may know where the bird is”.

          Princess Serena was thinking about all the birds that lived in the forest, where she found the Moon Fairy. Sure there were birds in the palace gardens, but Serena decided it would be best to check the forest first. Serena asked her mother at once for permission to go to the forest for a while, and Queen Luna agreed. Once Serena got to the forest by horse and carriage, she started to search for the Moon Hawk right away. The only trouble was that the forest was really big and there were lots of birds in the forest. How was she supposed to find the one bird, which was really the Moon Hawk? After all the Moon Hawk would be in a different form of bird, like the other moon spirits were in different animal and human forms before. But then she had an idea; she released the Moon Maiden from her bead. “I need your help Moon Maiden” she said. She explained to the Moon Maiden that she had found its bead, but needed help to find the hawk in the forest, since the Moon Hawk was her animal partner. “I will be happy to help you Serena,” said the Moon Maiden “just as much as I will be happy to see the Moon Hawk again”.

          Serena and the Moon Maiden began to walk together through the forest to find the Moon Hawk. Serena held the dull looking bead from the hawk statue in her hand. She figured that if she held up the moon bead in her hand, the bird that was really the Moon Hawk would come to her. So far there was no success; none of the birds were interested in the moon bead and they just flew away once they saw Serena and the Moon Maiden. “I do hope that we find the Moon Hawk soon” said the Moon Maiden. “Don’t worry Moon Maiden,” said Serena “I’m sure the Moon Hawk will be here, and it it’s not we will just search somewhere else until we do find it”.  “Thank you Serena” said the Moon Maiden.

          Suddenly a brown and white sparrow flew to the ground in front of them. Serena jumped in surprise and nearly dropped the bead in her hand. “I do wish animals didn’t do that, creeping up on people” she said. Then the sparrow flew up to the Moon Maiden, landed on her right hand and sang to her. “Since this little sparrow seems to like me a lot, I think this is really the Moon Hawk” said the Moon Maiden. “Only one way to be certain” said Serena. She held up the dull looking bead towards the sparrow, and then both the sparrow and bead started to glow. The sparrow turned into a grey and white hawk. The Moon Maiden and Moon Hawk were happy to see each other again, and Serena was happy that she had been able to find the Moon Hawk for the Moon Maiden at last.

          Before the Moon Maiden and the Moon Hawk went back into their beads, Serena asked the Moon Maiden who the human moon spirits were partners with the Moon Unicorn, Pegasus and Dragon. “I’m sorry Serena, but I don’t remember,” said the Moon Maiden “I have been separated from the other moon spirits for such a very long time, I can’t remember which moon spirit was partnered with whom”. “Oh never mind Moon Maiden,” said Serena “I’ll just keep on searching for the rest of the moon beads, so that all sixteen moon spirits will be together again”. Then the Moon Hawk and Moon Maiden went back into their beads.

          Serena was happy to have found another moon bead, but she still needed to find seven more moon beads. Before she set off for home, she checked the statues in the forest to see if there were any beads on them, but there weren’t. It was quite clear that there wouldn’t be any more moon beads in the forest, so Serena had to search for moon beads someplace else, question is where though? “Dearie me,” sighed Serena “I fear that finding the other moon beads will be more difficult than I thought, but I can’t let the moon beads down, especially since they all want to be together again.”

Magic that came from the Moon part 7

A Knight of the Moon

 

          Today was an exciting day in Lunaasia. Lunaasia was starting its annual lunar festival today. There was to be lots of stalls, music to dance to and a parade of soldiers was going to be marching through Lunaasia. The story is that about one hundred and fifty years ago, Lunaasia was at war with another kingdom called Valrana. The king of Valrana at that time, King Herold, was an evil, tyrant king, and he wanted to take over Lunaasia for himself. So Lunaasia had to fight against Valrana, to stop King Herold with his plan. In the end King Herold was defeated and killed in that war, so Lunaasia was safe and Valrana was no longer a threat. Lunaasia and Valrana had been at peace ever since. Every year Lunaasia would hold a weekly festival to celebrate the day when they won that war one hundred and fifty years ago. At the end of the festival hundreds of candles were to be lit up at night for the souls of the ones who fought in that war.

          In the castle, Princess Serena and Princess Diana were dressing up for the festival. The royal family always made an appearance at the first and last days of the festival to make speeches, and to watch the parade of soldiers. “I can’t wait for the festival to start Diana” said Serena. “Neither can I,” said Diana “I have always found the festival fun”. “I can’t wait to check out the stalls and the dancing,” said Serena “oh and to see the parade of marching soldiers”. “You and me both Serena” said Diana. Just then Queen Luna came into the room. “Come along now my daughters,” she said “it’s time to open the festival now”. The royal family left the castle and went to where the festival was being held in the village.

          When the royal family reached the village, the festival was already. All the stalls were set up and ready to sell things, plenty of flags and bunting were put up, and lots of musicians were ready to play music. Everyone in the village was waiting for the festival to start. Queen Luna and her daughters stood on a little stage and Queen Luna began to speak. “People of Lunaasia,” she said “I welcome you to our 150^th lunar festival. I thank all of you for setting this entire festival up and running and I hope you will all enjoy yourselves. And now I declare the festival opened”. Everyone cheered and musicians started to play music at once.

          Serena and Diana asked their mother if they could look around the festival. Queen Luna agreed, but she told her daughters to stay together, not wonder off and take good care of their money. Serena and Diana headed off towards the stalls. Some off the stalls had things to eat like cakes and other treats. The rest of the stalls had goods to buy like toys, jewellery and other nice things. Serena was looking at a stall, which had figurines of animals and people all made out of glass. Serena saw a glass figurine of a lady sitting on a crescent moon. The lady in charge of the glass stall said that the figurine was to represent the moon goddess. Serena decided to buy it at once. Diana saw a necklace she liked on the jewellery store, which was next to the glass figurine stall, and decided to buy it.

          Suddenly Serena and Diana had their purses snatched out from their hands by a thief. “Hey stop thief!” shouted Diana. She and Serena chased after the thief. As the thief was running away from Diana and Serena, a soldier ran in front of him and punched him really hard. “I don’t give kindly to thieves” he said, taking back Serena and Diana’s purses. At that moment, some guards arrived at the scene and arrested the thief. Serena and Diana went up to the soldier that stopped the thief. “Thank you for getting our purses back sir” said Diana. Both Diana and Serena curtsied to the soldier. The soldier saluted to the princesses. “It was my pleasure your highnesses,” he said “I’m glad I was able to stop the thief, before he was able to get away”.

          Just then the soldier saw the moon bead bracelet on Serena’s right wrist and stared at it. Serena noticed that the soldier was interested in her bracelet. ‘He’s staring at the moon beads,’ she thought ‘could this soldier actually be a moon spirit?’ Diana and Serena thanked the soldier again and went back to buying the glass figurine and necklace that they wanted.

          When Serena and Diana met up with their mother again a few minutes later, they showed her all the things they had bought at the stalls. Then they told her about the thief and the soldier who helped them. “My goodness,” said Queen Luna “I shall thank the soldier at once for helping my daughters”.

         The queen and princesses headed over to a big mansion where the soldiers were staying. They were getting ready for their military parade. Queen Luna asked the general for the soldier, who helped her daughters earlier. The general had heard from the guards, about the soldier who had arrested the thief, and brought him to the queen at once. “I thank you for helping my daughters from being robbed by that thief” said Queen Luna. “I’m glad that I was able to help your majesty” replied the soldier. Serena then asked if she could speak with the soldier alone. “I have something that I would like to discuss with this soldier alone” she explained. Queen Luna and the general saw no harm in that and agreed to Serena’s request.

          Serena and the soldier went into another room of the mansion. No one was in the room, so Serena and the soldier could talk alone. “You are a moon spirit aren’t you?” she asked the soldier. “Yes I am,” the soldier admitted “but where is my bead?” “I don’t know,” Serena replied “I haven’t found any more beads yet”. Just then the moon bead bracelet glowed. Serena looked around and then she saw a statue of a knight in the room. “I wonder” said Serena. She walked over to the statue and there, on the base, was a dull looking bead. “I think I have just found your bead now” she said to the soldier.

          At that moment the soldier glowed and transformed into a white haired knight, with a white cape and sword with a silver handle. “I should have known that you would be a Moon Knight spirit,” said Serena “after all a knight is an early soldier”. “I thank you for helping me turn back to my real form your highness” said the Moon Knight, bowing to her. Suddenly two moon beads on the bracelet started glowing; it was the Moon Eagle and Moon Maiden beads. The Moon Eagle and Moon Maiden came out from their beads and they were happy to see the Moon Knight. The Moon Maiden ran into the Moon Knight’s arms and the Moon Eagle landed on his shoulders. “Are the Moon Maiden and Moon Eagle your partners Moon Knight?” asked Serena. The Moon Knight explained that the Moon Maiden was his partner and the Moon Eagle was his animal partner. “Have you seen the Moon Hawk yet?” the Moon Maiden asked Serena “the Moon Hawk is my animal partner”. Serena said that she hadn’t, but promised Moon Maiden that she will find it as soon as she can. Then the Moon Knight, Moon Maiden and Moon Eagle went back into their beads.

          As soon as the moon spirits went back into their beads, Princess Diana came into the room. “We have to go now Serena,” she said “it’s almost time for the military parade to start”. So Serena and her mother and sister left the mansion. Thanks to the moon beads magic, no one remembered the soldier that had stopped the thief from stealing Serena and Diana’s purse. Soon the military parade had started and the crowd were cheering for the soldiers.

          Serena was too busy concentrating on her moon beads. She still had more to find and since she knew that the moon spirits were partners with each other, there was no doubt that a lot of the ones she had already found were missing their partners. ‘I hope to find the others soon,’ she thought ‘because I wish for all of them to be together again’.

Magic that came from the moon part 6

The very big Moon Lizard

 

          Down in one of the valleys of Lunaasia, there was an abandoned old coal mine. Long ago miners used to dig around there for coal, but the mine ran out of coal over the years and now the old mine was worthless and had been abandoned.

          One day, Queen Luna decided to visit the old abandoned mine, and arrived in her carriage with Serena and James. Princess Diana wasn’t with them because she didn’t want to visit the old mine. “Why have you decided to visit this old coal mine your majesty?” asked James “I mean this old coal mine doesn’t have any coal any more”. “I know James,” said Queen Luna “but it may be worth checking out; you never know we may find something interesting in the mine”. “As you wish your majesty” said James.

           Queen Luna, Serena and James got out of the carriage and looked at the mine. Some miners were already there, checking it out. The head miner went up to the queen and bowed to her. “Welcome your majesty” he said. “I’m happy to be here,” replied Queen Luna “now what has been going on so far?” “Well your majesty,” said the head miner “my men have started digging, but so far all we’ve found are rocks and dirt. So we’ve found nothing much yet”. “I see,” said Queen Luna “well never mind. Your men have only just started, so I’m sure they will find something later. But do make sure that you and your men are careful in there. I don’t want any accidents happening and nor do I want anyone hurt”. “Oh don’t worry your majesty,” said the head miner “my men and I have checked this mine over lots of times, and it’s safe”. Queen Luna was relieved to hear that.

          Meanwhile, Princess Serena was playing around with some chalk stones she had just found on the ground. She was drawing some pictures on the ground near the carriage, so that she wouldn’t get in anyone’s way near the mine. It was also easier for James to keep an eye on her that way. She had drawn a bird, a fish, a butterfly, a crescent moon and a star. “Those are good drawings you’ve done your highness” said James, who had been watching her draw. “Thank you James,” said Serena “I love drawing with chalk because it’s fun”.

          Suddenly something walked across Serena’s chalk drawings. It was a white lizard and it was nearly the same size of a baby crocodile. “I wonder where that came from” said Serena. The lizard walked over to Serena’s right hand and stared at her moon bracelet. Serena noticed this and wondered if the lizard was not really a lizard at all, but a moon spirit instead. She asked James if there were any statues around the mine. “Actually there is one statue in there your highness,” said James “it is just at the front of the entrance of the mine. I will take you to it”. James was right about a statue located at the front of the mine, it was a white statue of a dragon. “Wow what a statue,” said Serena “but I thought mines would only have statues of miners”. “Ah well they do,” said James “but they say that this statue was put here a long time ago to bring luck to the miners, and to protect them from harm. It seems to have worked because no accidents have happened here over the years”.

          Serena looked carefully at the base of the dragon statue, to see if there was a bead stuck in it, and sure enough there was. The dull looking bead was on the top of the base, right between the dragon’s front feet. While James wasn’t looking, Serena grabbed the bead and placed it in her pocket. ‘I wonder where the spirit of this bead is?’ she thought.

          At that moment, the white lizard that Serena saw earlier walked past her and James. “I wonder where that lizard is going” said Serena. The lizard walked into the mine, and then it turned its head to Serena and James. “That’s funny,” said Serena, admiring the lizard’s behaviour, “you don’t suppose it wants us to follow it do you James?” “I doubt it your highness,” said James “but I don’t think it would hurt to follow it. But we better tell your mother where we are going first”. James and Serena told Queen Luna that they were going to explore in the mine. Queen Luna didn’t mind, but she told them to be very careful. The head miner gave them some helmets to wear, to be safe, and he gave James two lanterns so that he and Serena could see in the dark mine.

          Just as James and Serena started to enter the mine, James had just realised something; how were they going to find their way back to the entrance of the mine? Serena had an idea. “If I press my chalk stone against the wall, while we are walking, the chalk stone will leave a line,” she said “then we can follow the line to find our way back to the entrance”. “That’s a very smart idea your highness” said James. So once Serena and James started walking in the mine, Serena drew a line on the wall for a trail, and James held one of the lanterns up so that he and Serena could see them easily. He used the other lantern to keep an eye on the white lizard they were following.

          The white lizard led Serena and James deeper into the mines and they passed many twists and turns. “It’s a good thing we are leaving a trail of chalk,” said James “otherwise we would be completely lost here in this mine”. Serena agreed with James. Finally the white lizard stopped at a big blank wall. “I wonder why the lizard has stopped us here,” said James “I mean there is nothing here”. As he said those words, the lizard went through a small hole in the wall. “Do you think that there is something behind this wall?” Serena asked James. “There is only one way to know that” James answered. James left a lantern with Serena, and then he followed the trail to get back to the miners, leaving Serena alone.

            While James was gone, Serena held out the bead from the dragon statue. The white lizard came out of the hole and then it started to glow with the bead. Serena picked up the lantern and stayed way back from the lizard. She watched, in wonder, as the lizard transformed into something else. It was now a white dragon, with silver streaks on the tip of its wings. Serena couldn’t believe her eyes; she had only seen a dragon in stories, not in real life. The Moon Dragon lowered its head to Serena. Serena gulped as she moved her right hand towards the dragon to pet it. Once Serena touched it, she didn’t feel scared anymore. “Hey Moon Dragon,” she said “I don’t suppose you can show me what’s behind that blank wall could you?” The Moon Dragon whacked the blank wall with its tail really hard, and then the wall collapsed. Serena feared that the mine would start to collapse, but it didn’t, thank goodness. Serena stared at where the blank wall had been, and then she gasped in shock. Behind the wall were lots and lots of quartz crystals. “Wow,” said Serena “mother will be surprised by this”. She thanked the Moon Dragon, and then the Moon Dragon went back into its moon bead.

          When Queen Luna, James and the head miner saw Serena’s discovery, they were amazed. “You are a good miner your highness” the head miner said to Serena. “You were right your majesty,” said James “it was worth it to come to this abandoned coal mine and check it out”. “Indeed” said Queen Luna. “I’ll have my men check all the walls of this mine to see if there are any more quartz crystals” said the head miner.

          So the old coal mine was now a quartz mine, and would never be abandoned again. Serena kept a big chunk of quartz crystal for herself as a souvenir. And she also had another souvenir; the Moon Dragon bead. 

Magic that came from the moon part 5

The Moon Sprit of Archery

          Serena and her family had just got back to Lunaasia from visiting a royal family in another kingdom called Solar Isle. The kingdom was called Solar Isle because the royal family and the people of Solar Isle had worshipped the sun god, Helios, for centuries. The reason why they had visited Solar Isle was because the youngest prince, Prince Helia, of Solar Isle was Princess Diana’s fiancé. Prince Helia and Princess Diana were in love with each other and their parents had agreed to let them marry in the future. Prince Helia’s youngest sister Princess Raye was the same age of Serena and they were also best friends with each other. So both Serena and her sister had a good time at Solar Isle, because they were happy being with Prince Helia and Princess Raye.    

          Serena did have a good time on Solar Isle, but she was happy to be back home again. She had taken her moon bead bracelet with her just in case there were any moon beads on Solar Isle, but she didn’t find any there. It seemed to her that the moon beads were probably only in Lunaasia, so she was glad to be back in Lunaasia again, so that she could go looking for them again.

          Unfortunately Serena couldn’t go looking for the moon beads right away, because today she had to attend the archery tournament. Once a year, at the beginning of autumn, Lunaasia held an archery tournament, and the winner got a golden arrow for a prize. It was a tradition that had been held ever since Serena’s great, great grandfather, King Quacey, was king. King Quacey loved doing archery when he was alive and he started the archery tournament tradition, and the tradition still went on after he died in memory of him.

          The archery tournament was held in a big field outside the forest and everything was set up. There were colourful flags, ribbon covered poles, and buntings put up everywhere, a lot of things to eat and drink for the guests and lots of targets were set up for the archers. There was also a little stage, with three big chairs where the royal family would sit and where the winner would be presented with the golden arrow. Some statues were in the field a well; mostly statues in shapes of soldiers and hunters, and there was also a statue of King Quacey, which had been around ever since he started the archery tournament.

          Queen Luna and her daughters arrived early to see if everything was ready and to greet the guests and archers. Serena noticed the statues and asked her mother if she could take a look at them. Queen Luna agreed, but Serena had to be quick though because the tournament was going to start soon. “Serena certainly has been into statues lately” Princess Diana said to her mother. “It’s probably a trait she had picked up from Archer,” said Queen Luna “your father was interested in arts too”. “I see” replied Princess Diana.

          Serena walked as quickly as she could to search the statues for any moon beads. She first checked the statue of her great, great grandfather, just in case; next she checked the statues of soldiers and then the statues of hunters. Just then the moon bead bracelet started to glow; a white stoned statue of an archer was in front of Serena. “Finally I’ve found another bead at last” she said. The dull plain looking bead was on the stone base of the stoned archer and Serena pulled it out. Then she had a thought; “If this bead was on a statue of an archer,” she said “then maybe one of the archer’s here is actually a moon spirit”. Her thought was soon put to the test.

          It was now time for the archery tournament to begin and Serena was now sitting in one of the three chairs next to her sister and mother. The archers all took their places on the field, where the targets were, and they all got their bows and arrows ready. Soon arrows were flying across the field towards the targets. Some hit the targets and others missed. “Archery certainly looks difficult” said Serena. “It is difficult,” said Princess Diana “archery always takes a lot of practicing, especially if you want to make a bull’s eye”. “I wonder if any of these archers will make a perfect bull’s eye” said Serena.

          Sure enough an archer did make a perfect bull’s eye. It was a man, with blonde hair, and he looked cool as a cucumber while firing an arrow from his bow. Not only did the man make a perfect bull’s eye once, but through the whole tournament. ‘Wow,’ thought Serena ‘this is the first time I’ve seen an archer that can make lots of perfect bull’s eyes. I wonder if he might be the moon spirit of the moon bead I just found’. Soon the archery challenge was over, and the winner was the man who made perfect bull’s eyes. Queen Luna presented the golden arrow to him and he thanked her and bowed to his daughters. When he bowed to Serena, he noticed her silver bracelet. His eyes were saying ‘I wish to speak to you in private’ to her. Serena slightly nodded her head to him to say ‘I understand’.

          As soon as the tournament was all over with and with all the congratulating and speeches were all done, Serena and the archer went to the statues together to privately talk with each other. Serena held out the dull looking bead to the man and then suddenly the man and bead began to glow. The man turned into a man, with white hair, and was wearing a white cape with his clothes. He also had a silver bow with a dozen silver arrows. “I had a feeling that you were a moon spirit” said Serena. “That is correct, I am the Moon Archer” said the Moon Archer.

          Suddenly the Moon Fairy’s bead glowed and then she came out of her bead. “Moon Archer!” she cried, and flew into his arms “I missed you”. The Moon Archer hugged her back. “I’m glad to see you again Moon Fairy” he said. Serena saw the two moon spirits hug each other. “I take it you two are best friends?” she asked. “Actually we’re partners” said the Moon Archer. “He’s right,” said the Moon Fairy “all of us human moon spirits are partners with each other”. “Oh I see,” said Serena “what about the animal moon spirits?” “They are our animal partners as well” answered the Moon Fairy. Serena was surprised by that information because her moon bead picture book didn’t say anything about it. “Wow,” said Serena “well I better try and find the other beads soon. That way all of you will be together again”. “Thank you Serena” said the Moon Fairy. “Yes, thank you” said the Moon Archer. Both the Moon Fairy and Moon Archer went back into their beads. The Moon Archer’s dull bead turned into a white bead, with a picture of an archer on it.

The Last Christmas Eve

          In a big hospital, which was looked after by nuns as well as doctors and nurses in the countryside, the day was very busy. It was Christmas Eve and the nuns were going round making sure the patients were all right and the hospital was kept clean. The patients were having their families visit for christmas tomorrow, except one.

          This patient was an old woman named Grace. Grace had no family to come and see her; she lost her parents to an illness when she was a child, and once she grew up she got married and had children but they both died to a plague. She did get married a second time and had a child with her second husband, but she lost them to an illness too. Grace never did marry and start a new family after that ever again; she had her heart broken so many times in her life that she feared that it would only hurt her if she ever married again. After becoming widowed and childless for the second time, Grace spent the rest of her life in a nunnery. She decided that being a nun was the only way for her to not have her heart broken again. Over the years she worked hard in the nunnery, helping out with teaching children and caring for other people in the hospital. But now she was old and not in the best of health, so she was now a patient being cared for by the nuns, doctors and nurses.

          That day on Christmas Eve, Grace was reading a bible and sitting comfortably in bed. Just then she heard someone calling out for a nurse or nun. It was an elderly man named William. Seeing that there was no nurse or nun about, Grace got out of bed and asked William what was wrong. “Oh Grace,” said William “I am very thirsty but my water jug is empty”. “I’ll get your water William” said Grace, grabbing the jug. “Thank you Grace, you’re an angel” said William. After fetching water for William, Grace went back into bed to read her bible.

          An hour later another patient called out for a nurse or nun. This time it was a woman named Martha and Grace asked her what was wrong. “Oh Grace my left leg feels very itchy” said Martha. Grace took a look at Martha’s leg. “It seems you have a rash,” she said “wait one moment and I’ll go and get the ointment to put on your leg”. “Thank you Grace” said Martha. Grace got the ointment and placed some on Martha’s leg at once to stop the itching.

          At that moment another patient called out; this patient was a woman named Mary. “Is something wrong Mary?” asked Grace, walking over to her. “Nothing important,” answered Mary “but no one has set up a nativity set in here, and I don’t feel at ease without a nativity set in here”. A nativity set was always placed in the hospital wards at Christmas time; it always made the patients feel that the Virgin Mary was watching over them while they were in hospital. “We can’t have that, I’ll sort this out now” said Grace. She found a nurse and told her that a nativity set hadn’t been set up in the ward she was in. In no time at all a nativity set was set up in the ward and Mary felt at ease at last.

          That evening a doctor was talking to Grace. “I’ve heard that you helped the patients in this ward all day today Grace” he said. “I may be a patient doctor,” said Grace “but I haven’t forgotten my times as a nun on how to help out the patients”. “I’m sure that God will bless you for your kindness Grace,” said the doctor “but you should get some rest now”. “Yes I do feel tired after today” said Grace. “You have a nice rest and someone will check up on you later” said the doctor. Grace silently did a prayer to God, made herself comfortable in bed and went to sleep.

          Unfortunately Grace didn’t wake up the next day on Christmas Day; she had died in her sleep. So that Christmas Day was Grace’s funeral day. Nuns, nurses and doctors mourned for her while she was buried. Lots of the patients from the hospital were sad for Grace too. “She was a good nun at the nunnery” said a nun. “Yes and she was also a great help at our hospital too” said a nurse. “But now she has left to be with God in heaven” said another nun.

          Even though it was a sad day, Grace had happily joined her parents, two husbands and children in heaven. She was never to experience sadness and loneliness ever again, and would live a happy life with her family in heaven forever.               

Magic that came from the moon part 4

A Moon Maiden in the castle

 

          There was a lot of work going on today in the castle of Lunaasia; Queen Luna was holding a banquet in the main hall of the palace. It was her birthday today and a big banquet and ball were prepared. Maids and butlers were bustling all over the castle like crazy, making sure that everything was all neat and tidy. The cooks in the kitchen were cooking nonstop and all the gardeners in the castle gardens were working nonstop too. Everything always had to be perfect in the castle.

          Serena and her elder sister Diana were in the castle library, studying about their royal duties. They were learning about all the things that royalty needed to know about banquets, both royal banquets and normal banquets. As Princess Diana was going to become the next queen of Lunaasia this was important for her. It was also important for Princess Serena to learn all this as she was also a princess. “Phew I find it hard trying to remember all of this information that we need to learn” sighed Serena. “I do too,” said Diana “but it is important for our future, so we need to learn all of this”.

          Just then the royal steward James came into the library. “Please excuse me your highnesses,” he said “but Queen Luna needs your presence Princess Diana. She said she had something to say to you”. Diana left the library with James, leaving Serena with her studies. “Now that they are gone, I can now search around this library” Serena whispered to herself.

          Truth is ever since Serena found out the real truth of the moon beads by the Moon Fairy; she had been thinking that maybe some statues that held any moon beads might be in the palace. The entire castle had statues in almost every room of the castle. So far Serena hadn’t had the chance to check all the statues for moon beads; her princess studies, duties and going to places with her mother and sister got in the way. But since everyone was concentrating on the banquet tonight, she thought that this may be her chance to search for moon beads.

          There were some statues in the library; manly statues in shapes of humans. Serena had her silver bracelet on her right wrist and checked all the statues to see if any of them held any moon beads, but none of them did. Serena sighed. “Oh dear,” she said “since there aren’t any moon beads here, I will need to search somewhere else for them”. Just then James came back into the library, and Serena quickly opened a book from a shelf to look like she was still studying. “Excuse me your highness,” said James “but her majesty, your mother, wants you to go to your room and get ready for the banquet tonight”. “All right James” replied Serena. She placed the book back onto the shelf, gathered her notebooks and other things and left the library.

          Serena passed a lot of rooms on the way to her room. ‘Trying to find the moon beads in this castle will be difficult,’ she thought ‘there are a lot of rooms in this castle and I don’t think I will have any time to search through all of them for the moon beads’. When Serena got into her room, a castle maid was in there. “I was asked to help you get ready for the banquet tonight” said the maid. Serena thanked her and started to get ready at once.

          While Serena got ready for the banquet, she kept on sighing and felt fed up. The maid noticed. “Is something wrong your highness?” she asked. “Yes there is,” replied Serena “there was something that I wanted to do today, but with this banquet going on I don’t have the time to do it. And I can’t do it tomorrow because I have to visit a royal family in another kingdom, with my mother and sister”. “There is never enough time during the day for anybody,” said the maid “whether you be a royal family member or not. I have been a maid for a long time and I hardly have enough time to relax”. Serena wished that she did have enough time to look for a moon bead in the castle before the banquet; she wanted to fulfil her promise to Celina of collecting all the moon beads soon.

          At that moment, Princess Diana entered Serena’s room. “Mother said that the banquet will start in another hour Serena,” she said “so you can do what you want until then. But don’t go near the banquet hall or any other rooms where the visitors will be going into. And keep yourself neat and tidy too and make sure you are fully ready in an hour”. “I understand Diana” replied Serena. After Diana left, Serena thought that maybe this would be her chance to search for moon beads again before the banquet. ‘I’ll only have time to look at statues in one room,’ she thought ‘and I know just the room, the art gallery room. There are lots of statues in there as well as paintings.’ She told the maid that she was going to the art gallery room for a bit. The maid asked if she could go with her, because she had never been in there. Serena agreed and the maid tagged along with her to the art gallery room.

          The art gallery room was on the first floor of the castle, five rooms away on the right from the stairs. There were paintings, statues and sculptures in there, and they all looked magnificent. Serena and the maid took a good look round the gallery as soon as they entered the room. Serena hoped she would find a moon bead in this room, before the banquet started. Just then her silver bracelet started to glow. ‘A moon bead is in here’ she thought happily. While the maid wasn’t looking, she looked for the moon bead under her silver bracelet’s guidance. At last she found a dull looking bead in one of the statues. It was a statue of a young woman and the bead was on the stone base. ‘I’ve found the bead,’ thought Serena ‘question is, where’s the moon spirit of this moon bead?’

          Suddenly the dull bead glowed and then another glowing white light appeared in the room. The light came from the maid. Serena gasped as the maid turned into a beautiful young woman with white hair and was wearing a long white dress with a silver sash and white shoes. The woman was the Moon Maiden. “I take it this is why you were eager to come to the art gallery with me then?” asked Serena. “Yes, and I thank you for finding my bead Serena” said the Moon Maiden. Serena and the Moon Maiden looked through the art gallery again together to see if there were any more in the art gallery, but they didn’t find any more. “I’m sorry that you couldn’t find any more moon beads today Serena” said the Moon Maiden. “It’s all right Moon Maiden; I’ll find them the next time that I have any spare time for myself” said Serena. The Moon Maiden went back into her bead, which became a white bead, with a picture of a maiden on the front.

          After the Moon Maiden went back into her bead, Serena left the art gallery room and quickly made her way back to her room. She got back into her room just in time; Diana came into her room a minute later to tell her that it was now time for the banquet. Serena placed her silver, white beaded, bracelet back into her jewellery box for safe keeping and went down to the banquet hall with her sister.