Story
The Prince of the Lunar Sky
There was a land that was in constant twilight, and only went from dusk to night. There was no day in between. I knew no such thing as daylight.
I live in this land, and inhabit its kingdom. I am the land's prince, and my name is Artemis Lunis. My kingdom is the Starlit Kingdom of Neopia, a once beautiful and pure place.
I've been told that before I was born, our kingdom saw the kissing light of the sun, just like the rest of the world. Sadly, after my birth, savage Werelupe Warlords raided our kingdom. They kidnapped my mother. My father nor his knights could save her, and my people watched desperately as their beloved queen was stolen from us. We never saw or heard of her again since that day. My father was a broken man, without his wife to be there beside him. He began to slowly wilt away and lose him self. His heart turned cold and black, and he began to turn his back on his people, and our kingdom was cast into eternal darkness. Some believe it was a curse called upon us by the king, to reflect his sadness and desolation. By doing so, it made the entire land miserable and ill-fated. Our home was deemed undesirable.
Growing up, I witnessed my father's cruelities towards our people. He would tax them to the point of leaving them with absolutely nothing; his knights would mindlessly beat the townspeople at random, for no reason; if they dared to come and ask the king to help with their problems, he'd either ignore them, or throw them in the dungeon.
I wanted to do something to stop it, but my father was just too powerful, and I dare not cross his path in that manner. I couldn't take it anymore. I had left the castle and lived among the outskirts of the land, but was not able to survive well in the wilderness. It was harshly cold, and so little vegetation survived in the outskirts. By some strange fortune, I came across a household that lived amongst the very tip of the sunset, trapped forever with the sun always appearing as if it were setting on the horizon. This was more closer to daylight than I ever saw back home.
My my, are we not fortunate to have found a guest? came a voice from nearby. I found myself wandering towards this building. Hungry, cold, and tired, the person that the voice came from took hold of my arms and led me inside the building. They put a blanket around me and gave me some warm broth to drink.
Tell me, traveler, do you come from the direction of the kingdom to the west? I never have guests come to my inn from the west. My guests come from the other cardinal directions, from the part of the world that sees both pure daylight as well as night. Everyone who travels past my inn always goes parallel to the kingdom in the west, and always walk completely around it. Everyone avoids it. Not even the warlords who raided the castle all those years ago returned, after perpetual darkness came to cloak the land. It was deemed evil. I am forced the go through the curse as well, though not quite the same. As you can see, all I suffer from is having to be eternally stuck in the sunset. Why is it that you had come from the west? Surely you don't live there, how could anything live there. Oh, forgive my poor manners, sir. I am Rynad. As you can plainly see, I own this inn. Tell me, what is your name? asked the old man.
...Artemis... I ...well, I am the prince of the kingdom in the west of which you seem to fear. Although, its not as awful as you make it out to be. I am surprised that there are legends of my kingdom, as if we were a kingdom of old, from decades and decades ago. My father, who is the king of the land, seemed to have brought it all upon us. I am ashamed to admit it, but, well, I ran away. I left everything behind, save for this sword that was given to me on my birth, named Selene.
I was never taught how to properly handle a sword, and foolishly thought maybe I could save my people by challenging my father's place on the throne. But, how could I if I don't even know how to properly fight? I didn't know what else I could do, so I left."
Ah, I see. Well, I used to be a knight back when I was younger, in another kingdom off in the north. I can teach you the way of the sword if you'd like. I wonder, if your father was taken off the throne, if daylight would finally return to your homeland.
I had wondered this as well. But, could it just be as simple as that? Or would he have to be killed?
Rynad took it upon himself to become a teacher to me, to teach me the proper way of battle, since I made the decision to take my father off the throne any way I could. Although he looked frail from his old age, he surprised me when he demonstrated his skills. He was nimble and flexible. He flipped in the air and his sword seemed to be as if it was his arm, not just a sword. It was amazing to watch him. Before, he was hunched over, and using a cane to walk. He seemed like a different person. His sword barely skimmed the blades of the grass upon the ground and the edges flew into the wind as they were cut.
Wow, amazing!
Yes, back in my younger years, I was the best knight there ever was. I retired when I got older, and moved out here to open an inn. Now, take your sword, and let us begin training.
It was roughly two months that I stayed with the innkeeper. He had took me in as his son, and was more like a father to me than that of my own. He taught me the ways of battle overall, not just fighting with a sword. I made the decision to go back to my home and lead a revolution to remove my father as king.
Rynad, I thank you for taking me in and teaching me. I'd like to ask you to help take part in the revolution, and if I succeed, I would like for you to become my advisor. It's the least I could do to repay you for all your kindness."
Thank you, Artemis, but this is your fight. I am getting too old to fight in actual warfare. Yes I am still able to manuever well enough, but I will have to pass on your offer on battle, although, do let me know if you win, for I would like to be your advisor. Good luck, my boy.
Slightly disappointed, I bowed to show my respects and started my journey back home. I walked through the fields and as I approached the castletown, it seemed to be darker and more quiet than when I had left. It seemed more like death itself.
A few days later, when I finally returned through the gates, I saw once again the sadness of the people. Immediately, when they saw me come into the streets, they crowded around me. Their eyes began to shine with hope.
Artemis! Prince Artemis! You've come back to us! Why did you leave us?"
Please your highness! We need your help! We need you to aide us! The king has reached the most cruelest level ever! Please help us!'
Yes your highness! It is your rightful place to take the throne, and its now the time to do so!
Overflooded with cries from my people, I jumped out of the crowd and onto a scaffolding above.
My people, quell your pleas! Please, do not look at me as a coward who fled and abandoned his people as his father did. I, Prince Artemis, have come back to deliver you from my father's dark deeds. Although I too fear my father just as you do, I have decided to lead a revolution. I will provide the means to battle, train you, and devise a battle strategy. Though I have turned my back on him as he did us, his knights stay true to the king. You must not utter a word about this to anyone, his knights may pick up word by ear and the king will have us killed. It may be a difficult battle, but we will prevail. It is time my father fell. I will also need your help to defeat him.
The blacksmiths went to work on armor and swords to add to the collection I had stolen from my father's vault. Daily, up until the war, I trained the people who were going to battle. We strategized, and plotted. My father became suspicious of me and the villagers around the castle, and put double the number of knights on guard duty.
Finally, after a month of secrecy, our date for the revolution arrived. I gathered the revolutionaries outside the gates to the castle.
As soon as I walk in there to dethrone my father, he will call war. So I want you all to prepare. I will lead us all as a group up to the castle yard, after I get rid of the gaurds, and you wait there. He will send knights out to rid you all. I will face my father. It shall be my duty to take him down.
Prince, are you saying you're going to kill your father? questioned one of the townspeople.
I..I do not know, but if it has to come to that, it will happen. Just let me deal with the king."
I went up to and waited in the scaffolding of the castle, and one by one, I silently took out the knights with powerful arrows strong enough to pierce through iron and steel.I then went down to the drawbridge and let it down to signal the troops to come in. More knights were pouring out into the castle yard, swords at hand.
Fire!! came a yell from the crowd of the townspeople. The next moment, cannons and arrows started to fall upon the knights, and I went in through the castle doors, where the king stood in wait.
Son, you are a traitor of these lands. How dare you defy your king.
You are no longer a king, father. You are a tyrant, who cares nothing for his people! Step down from the throne now, and I will not have to use deadly force.
My father stood there, staring at me, and then let out a big, bellowing laugh that echoed through the corridors.
Surely you jest, Artemis. You? Fight me? Preposterous! Ha ha!! My boy, you are about to make a grave mistake. Draw your sword!
My father took his sword from his sheath, and it was a magnificent sword. I prayed my sword would be stronger. It would be a fight to the death, I thought to myself.
My father took off his heavy cloak from his shoulders, and his servants dressed him in his armor. My heart raced as we prepared to enter battle. I myself had no armor, for I had hoped my agility would be enough to help me avoid getting wounded, a grave mistake to be made in time to come. Unsheathing my sword, it glinted in the dusted light that fell in through the windows of the castle.
Please, Lady Battle Faerie, hear my request, give this sword your strength...I prayed inside my mind.
Aaaaauuhhhhhhhhh!
My father's battlecry echoed through the castle, bouncing off its high cielings. Closing my eyes and breathing in a deep breath to calm my nerves, I took off running, my feet barely touching the floor. We drew in close, and our swords collided, the sound of metal crashing ringing in the air. As I jumped around him and turned to face him, he immediately came back towards me. He was faster than I thought.
I jumped onto a hanging rug and used it to climb up to one of the windows, briefly checking on the battle right outside the castle doors. It was getting bloody, the townspeople were beginning to be outnumbered. Being caught off-guard, the king threw a dagger at me and hit my side.
Aaoouugh!! Gaah..
Grabbing hold of my side, I briefly checked my wound, and it was a cut. Relieved it was not a deep wound, I jumped again onto the hanging rug and swung down to the floor, my sword dragging on the stone causing sparks to fly. I used the rug to my advantage and as I swung over my father, I cut at his arm holding the sword, which knocked his sword out of his hand. Finally landing on the other side of the room, I then realized how bad my wound actually was. I cut off a piece of cloth from a curtain hanging behind the rug and quickly tied it around my waist to put pressure on the wound and to stop it from bleeding.
My father retrieved his sword, and I tried to ignore the pain of my wound, and went at him again. By some means of luck, my father missed me entirely, since he had to use his other hand, and I sliced at his side like he did mine.
VICTORY!! I heard the victorious glory of the townspeople from outside. They had done their part, now it was my time to do mine and take down my father.
Look father, king, your knights have all been taken down, we're both wounded...let's say we end this now and you can step down from the throne and spend the rest of your days in the castle dungeon prison."
My father looked at me with mad, insane, and empty eyes. He did not reply and only came at me again with his sword. Our swords clashed again, and he pushed on me with all his strength, and I fought desperately to push him back and take him down. All of a sudden, my father's eyes started to shed tears, his heart aching because he knew he was going to lose everything. He had already lost his beloved wife and sanity, and now he was possibly about to lose his throne if not his life. I felt his strength draining, and used this to my advantage to push him down to the floor. My father lay there patheticly, sobbing like a child. I pointed my sword at his head.
P..pl..please, son, kill me..put me out of my misery..please...
I pulled my sword up to my face.
No. You will spend the rest of your life in prison."
..Y..you...co...coward!
It's not being cowardly, its being merciful. I spared your life, father. Be greatful."
I bent down and took his crown that had fallen off of his head when he crashed to the ground.
I declare myself the new king.
I placed the crown atop my head, and grabbed my father my his neck of his armor, and dragged him outside. Stepping into the twilight of the sky outside, the townspeople roared with applause.
This revolution is over! I, Artemis, am your new king! The old king is to spend the rest of his pathetic days in jail.
The crowd was cheering and joyous. The tyranny was over.
A few months had passed, and our kingdom was up on its feet again.The cloak of night finally lifted, and for the first time in years for some and first time ever for others, we saw the golden sun rise on the horizon. I had new knights and servants, and we were in our golden days. I remember returning to Rynad's inn as the new king, inviting him to become my advisor. He was overcome with joy. Each day I'd go down to visit my father in the castle dungeon. It had come to where he became completely mute. He would not speak a word to anyone.
So its come to this, eh father? It's saddening to see you this way. You were a great king, up until...that day, when she was taken...
Out of nowhere, my father bolted to the bars and grabbed my collar, pulling me to the bars and choking me. I saw in his eyes the yearnfulness to shed the tears that he lost on that day of the revolution, when he lay on the ground sniveling and sobbing like a child. The guards immediately came to my aide, and freed me from my father's grasp. My father looked into my eyes and moved his mouth as if to speak, but not a word came out of his mouth. He then sunk to the ground and turned away, giving sign for me to leave. The guards followed, and locked up the cell.
About a year later, my father finally passed away. Reasons for, unknown. Possibly from old age, conditions of the jail cell (which I made sure were top shape, I didn't want him to be treated any lesser of a person), or the broken heart and shattered soul of a man that just simply couldn't take on living anymore. Some of the guards say they heard him singing before he passed on, of his wife, my mother.
The kingdom held a funeral for him a few days later. Even though he treated the townspeople poorly, be it high taxes, invading their houses and randomly beating them and stealing their valuables afterwards, or totally ignoring them in time of need, we came together to remember his good deeds, before he became corrupt. He was to be buried next to a memorial built in honor and memory of my mother, after she was taken by the warlord.
May you rest in peace, father, now that your soul is free, I spoke as the casket was lowered in the ground. We were moving into a new era.
