Journey to the Moon Kingdom
Not a soul can exist devoid of love, in particular a sovereign under a wicked curse. So with a heavy heart and many tears, King Endymion left the Golden Kingdom of Elysion, in what scores of inhabitants believed to be a futile quest. For many feared the wicked witch Beryl right. For whom could possibility feel affection for a polar bear? Still with a faint glimmer of hope burning brightly in Endymion's heart he began his quest.
Endymion's travels took him to the remote reaches of the Earth, and yet after many months of travel, he still couldn't locate a human whom could love him. Many of the women he pursed fled at the sight of him. A number of people even tried to hunt him for sport. He was alone and abandon and it filled his heart with great sadness. Even when he looked at his reflection he couldn't see himself anymore. He was just a monster and it would seem he'd be destined to be one for all eternity.
Then during the twilight of the equinox he discovered the Harmony Bridge. The link that was fashioned from sunbeams and moonlight magically intertwined leading the way to the Moon Kingdom. He glanced at the silver moon in wonder. Could he possibly find love on the Moon, when he had failed to find it on the Earth? Could a Lunarina truly be the one he was meant to be with?
Seeing as he had nothing to lose he began the journey up the magical bridge. It was a lonesome journey and he was extremely exhausted. Still he found the strength to endure and continued on the difficult quest.
Right now Princess Serenity was lacing up her skates. Despite she was a klutz she one way or another was a graceful goddess on the ice. It was one of the few joys she felt on her home on the Moon. She waved good-bye to her mother and glided onto the silver ice.
As the Princess glided on the enchanted frozen lake she didn't know she was being watched. For King Endymion had at last reached the Moon. His shimmering blue eyes gazed at the foreign landscape in wonder and amazement. It was so different from his land and yet it was still beautiful. He treaded nonchalantly on the alabaster footpaths that lead the way to the city. He had just reached the edge of the lake and collapsed from sheer exhaustion. As his blue eyes little by little gave way to the sleeping spell he saw a glimpse of something gold and white. His ocean blue eyes for a single moment became locked upon eyes as blue as the heavens. For a moment both saw one another and he lost consciousness.
The young Princess stopped skating at once. Her breath became still and her eyes locked upon the spot where she had seen a flash of blue. Curious as a kitten she slowly glided over to the spot she had seen the blue. And by doing so she left the sight of her people and mother. They could no-longer distinguish her. She realized as she glided silently that she had never journeyed to this region of her sovereignty. For this part was for ever and a day shadowy and barren. It was the edge of the Moon Kingdom. It was the one place that her mother had always warned her to stay away from, but she had to see where that blue had come from.
When she had reached the edge of the lake she let out a gasp of surprise. Lying on the rock-strewn and barren shore was a beautiful snow white bear. She had never seen such a creature before in her land. He looked weak and hungry, for he was incredibly emaciated and breathing unevenly. She kicked off her skates and dashed over to the poor animal.
"Oh, you poor baby!" she cooed tenderly to him as she stroked his soft fur. She kissed his forehead and then reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of fruit. "Here, eat this. You'll feel better," as she gently pried open his mouth and feed him a peach. But even with this bit of nourishment he was still too weak to eat it. So she helped him eat it.
After a few moments he gradually regained consciousness and she smiled warmly at him. Seeing him waking up she then tipped-toed over to the lake. She then took one of her skates and slammed it into the ice. She then gathered the water and poured it into his mouth.
"There, there. You'll be okay. I'll take care of you. Don't you worry," she assured him as she now began to tear up her beautiful gown up so she could tend to his wounds. He smiled weakly at her. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. As their eyes met it became obvious to them this was a true rare case of love at first sight.
"Thank you, kind woman. I'm most grateful for your kindness. I've seen so little of it on my many travels. Thank you."
"I believe that there a lesson to be learned in all of us, and so we should be kind to those around us. I find unbearable to not show love and kindness for others. It's so inhuman not to care or look after another. For that is what humanity is, love, and if we lose that we are nothing but beast. And to be human you must care more about someone or something more then yourself. That is the true meaning of humanity is."
In the meantime the Princess and the King talked her mother Queen Serenity had become troubled by her daughter's absence. She couldn't see her precious treasure any longer on the ice.
"The Princess is missing! Take a party of men and find her at once!"
"Yes, my Queen! C'mon everyone! The Princess is missing! She could be in trouble! We must find her quickly!"
But Princess Serenity wasn't in any trouble. She had finished tending to Endymion's injuries and now was brushing his soft fur, and he was playing with her long golden hair. "So tell me, dear bear, why are you so far from home? Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm not a polar bear," he confessed sadly through his tears. He raised his head and looked into her sky blue eyes. She brushed his tears away and he continued on. "I'm the King of the Golden Kingdom."
She dropped the brush at these words and felt her heart skip a beat. "You are the ruler of Elysion? The capital city of the Earth? But how? How did you come to be like this?"
"An evil witch named Beryl cursed me when I refused to marry her. I left home to find my one true love. But I've been so far fruitless in that quest," as he confessed the star locket fell off his neck and sprang open. The Moon Princess gently picked it up and the sweetest melody she had ever heard was playing.
"This is a most priceless treasure," she said as she admired the pretty locket. She had an affectionate look etched upon her delicate features. She sighed once and held the locket to her heart. It song became louder and her heart had begun to beat in sync with its melody. "Such a romantic song, I've often heard this melody in my dreams, the dreams of my one true love, the one who walks through the gardens of flowers."
"My mother gave me this locket. She said it only plays for those meant to be. I can only give it to the one I marry."
"It's you," she whispered as she hugged him and kissed his forehead. He then nuzzled close to her heart and they knew it. They knew they'd found their destined lover. As Serenity gazed into his ocean blue eyes she could see the tender and gentle heart within.
"Go home now. I'll return in three days for you. Then we can go together back home to Elysion."
"Alright, my love, I've waited this long for my dreams of love to come true. I can wait three more days. See you soon," she replied as she pocketed the locket. She then put her skates back on and glided back to the palace. She took one fleeting look back at her love as he disappeared back into the wilds of the moon. Soon she was back at home and she glided past her mother without noticing her frantic and scared expression. She just glided by her as if nothing was wrong.
Her mother followed back into the palace and confronted her. "Where have you been? Do you know how worried I've been? What happened out there? Why is your gown torn and stained with blood? Where you attack or something? Tell me what happened, Serenity?"
The young princess didn't seem to notice her mother's qualms. She was gazing at her reflection with a dreamy expression etched on her face. Her attractive sapphire eyes were gazing longingly as if entranced in some happy daydream. However, her mother was still concerned about her daughter and her odd behavior.
"Serenity!"
At the sound of her mother's raised voice she snapped out of her daydream. "Oh, Mother! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you. Why are you looking at me that way? Is something wrong?"
"Of course there is something wrong! Look at you! Your beautiful gown is torn and blood, you're covered in filth, and we didn't know what happened to you. There was a full hour and a half you vanished! I sent people out looking for you! What happened to you?" she demanded to her daughter sternly.
Princess Serenity merely smiled at her mother. She giggled at herself and how messy she was. Her mother frowned upon her daughter's antics. "This isn't time for jokes, Daughter. What happened?!"
"I'm not laughing at you, Mother. I'm laughing at myself. You needn't be worried, Mother. I was on the far edge of the Moon. You see I encountered a beautiful white bear. But he's not really a bear at all; you see he's the King of Elysion. He was cursed by a witch. Nevertheless he's so benevolent as well as affectionate. Furthermore I love him."
"What are you talking about, Serenity? White bear? Spell? King?! You know we don't' believe in that kinda nonsense. You're the one under a spell! Can't you understand he only wants you for his next meal?"
"No, Mother, he doesn't want me for his next meal. For I gave him the first meal he's had in ages. He wants to marry me and take me to Earth. Don't you see, Mother? He loves me and I love him. Here's the proof that we are meant to be," showing her the golden star locket. Her mother stared at the locket and found the tune romantic and tender. She still looked worried.
"You see, Mother? He said his mother told him that it only plays for those meant to be. He's been alone so long and I've been so lonely here myself. Still we won't be alone anymore, now that we found each other. He promised he be back for me in three days."
Her mother held the locket in her hand and then slammed it shut. "No."
"No? What are you talking about?"
"No, as in no! You're not leaving with that beast! I won't let some deranged beast take my most precious treasure away from me! We'll chase it back to Earth where it belongs! LUNA!"
The black cat came dashing in. She bowed her head once, "Yes, Queen Serenity? What is it?"
"I want you and Artemus to take my daughter to her room and make sure she stays there! Afterwards I wish for you to inform each and every one of the guards to protect the palace. Tell them they need to be on the look out for a polar bear!"
The adorable kitty seemed a bit bemused by her queen's orders, but nevertheless she followed them. She took the reluctant princess to her bedroom and the locked the door behind her. Then she went and informed the guards of the Queen's orders.
Princess Serenity wouldn't be detrude from her heart's desire. She spent her next three days looking at her picture while listening to the locket. She even picked the lock to her balcony to gaze at the Earth. Finely the day came when the polar bear king would come to take her to Elysion.
Queen Serenity was out in the front of the palace. She looked determined to keep the bear from taking her daughter away. Princess Serenity looked on from her veranda. Her heart gave a jump when she saw the approaching ocean blue eyes from afar. "My love!"
"Steed fast, men! We can't let him get any closer!" Queen Serenity shouted loudly as she threw her arms up. But the great white bear continued its approach to the palace. He stopped in front of the castle and gazed confused at the Queen. She looked just like his love except her hair was sorta of lavender white. Still he approached her and said.
"Where is she? The girl with the cornflower hair? Where is my angel?"
"You're not getting to my daughter, Beast! Go back to which you came! Leave now!"
King Endymion looked up at the Queen and then roared. The Queen stared at him and the guards rushed forward at started to attack the bear. But he simply shrugged them off. He looked towards the balcony and could see the Princess.
"I shall return tomorrow. I will wait for as long as it takes to be with my beloved," and with that he left.
That night Princess Serenity went to see her mother. "Dear, Mother, please try to understand. You must let me go. I need to be with the one I love. I will always love you, and I will always love the Moon. But my heart belongs with the Earth. Please let me go."
"You believe you could leave the splendor and tranquility of the Moon? I know how you long to see the Earth, but how could you betray your home like this? There is a reason such relationships are forbidden. I know you better then you know yourself. I've who've loved you and cared for you for the last fourteen years. You truly think I don't know you better then you know yourself?"
"But, Mother, even you must realize one can never be truly happy if they cannot be with the ones that they love. And a parent can only provide their child two things, roots and wings. You've given me my roots, but now you must give me my wings. Please, Mother, you must let me go."
And with a heavy heart when the polar bear king came back the next day Princess Serenity with her mother's blessing left upon the great bear back and rode away from her home and to the mysterious world of the Earth.