Ancient legends tell of powers and mystics wonderful enough to turn time, change fates and heal even the greatest of sorrows. These legends have been passed through generations, spread by gentle whispers at nighttime or by loud booming voices in the heat of the day. They inspire young children, filling their hearts with joy and hope. They remind adults of what is good in the world, despite the horrors that they come across every day. Every story has a beginning, middle and end – but what ties them together the most is that they all have a lesson to teach. Every legend holds some intricately woven tale of bravery or love that reminds us how to be in our everyday life, how to persevere even in the face of adversity. These lessons are what we grow on, where we discover the many meanings of life.

Some legends are made up, spun from the rich imaginations of mothers and fathers and grandparents wishing to teach their small child how to use their manners. But some legends, often the most famous, have an element of truth to them. They hold the fragile skeleton of a real event, something that changed the lives of everyone involved. The famous stories that you and I were told every night when we were tucked in all have a ghostly remnant of a true happenstance in history; Cinderella really did lose her shoe, although it wasn’t glass and the Prince certainly didn’t go all over the town looking for it, oh no, he simply sent out a notice in the mail. The Little Mermaid did fall in love with a handsome captain, but in reality their ending was not a happy one. All stories, good or bad, have a beginning, middle, and end – and a valuable lesson that we must take away from them.

Our story starts far out in the depths of the skies, in a time so long past that we cannot even fathom the true date on which it took place. Centuries ago, a droplet of something we call sunlight fell from the sky; something rare, but not unheard of, as this world was still one of magic in these times. What makes this occurrence so spectacular, however, is what became of this small, glorious splash of our star. As it connected with the soils of the planet, the roots of a plant began to form. Soon, a flower was born. This flower glowed with a golden brilliance that was reserved only for the most wondrous of things. It also possessed qualities that held much promise for the future of a nearby kingdom; when sung to, the flower could heal any wound. Any dysfunction of the body or spirit could be cast away with the verbalization of a nine-verse melody, and the singer would be restored to their full being.

The people of the kingdom whispered about such a creation. Children claimed to find hundreds of these miraculous plants hidden in gardens or forests; of course, they were very wrong, as the flower on which we set our focus sat on the edge of a rocky cliff near the ocean. Apothecaries and vendors alike claimed to have vials of the flower’s aptitude; however anyone who ever bragged about having access to the power was sorely mistaken. This flower was secluded, hidden away from the world and very precious indeed.

For centuries, only one person knew the location of the magical plant. A woman, rapidly aging and desperate for youth, stumbled across it while searching for herbs. She created the song that unleashed the power; for you see, the flower took to the first nine verses it ever heard. Soon, the woman, greedy and hungry for eternal life, began to return every evening to harness her source of power. Using a cover made of leaves and mud, the flower was then covered, and consequently hidden from everyone else in the kingdom.

Centuries later, after many cycles of royalty and rulings, the kingdom was governed by a King and Queen who brought much peace to the land. The Queen became pregnant after years in power, and every person in the court anxiously awaited the coming of their prince. Murals were painted, crowns were bejeweled and gifts were sent to the King and Queen as blessings.

But in the world, not everything goes according to plan.

The Queen became deathly ill in her last term, leaving her husband and midwife to worry about the health – and survival – of her coming child. Quickly, ideas and stories were thrown into consideration, until finally a young boy remembered the bedtime tale of a magical golden flower that could heal any discomfort.
The search began immediately. Soldiers were sent to every corner of the kingdom’s reign, overturning bushes and trees and everything else in the path of the effort. Finally, late in the evening, one of the men laid eyes on their miracle; a bright golden light shining on the edge of a hill. This light is the center of our story, what makes everything fall into place.

The Queen was healed the very next morning. A beautiful baby boy was born to her, with stunning blue eyes and shimmering dark blond hair. His smile was something of great joy, to the villagers and to the royal family itself, and he quickly became the center of attention at all times. All was happy and bright for the King and Queen.

However, I’m sure you’ve come to wonder what became of the old woman, without her source of youth. Alas, she did not crumble, because if she had then our story would not exist for me to tell you. No, what the woman did was an act of selfish, greedy, horrible treachery. On a late, cloudy night, she stole away from her secluded home and scaled into the bedroom of the King and Queen. Ever so quietly, she crept up to the baby’s resting place, looking him over with fond and malicious eyes.

What she did next was unspeakable.

The baby was taken into her arms, and as she dropped down to the grass below from the royal balcony, the King and Queen were awoken by the clashing of their windows. Their child, the Prince and future King of the kingdom, was gone.