Fantasia - Lady Moon

Entry for Fantasia Contest - Set to Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy.


Once, in a castle by the sea, there lived an old king. He had two sons, both of whom he loved dearly. His eldest was a great man, learning the ways of kingdom at his father's side in preparation for the day he would rule in his father's stead. The younger son, a good man in his own right, was a dreamer, and delighted his father with the stories he told.

The King, who now was old enough to worry about his sons' wellbeing after he should die, sought to find brides for his sons to complete their happiness. The eldest found his love almost instantly, a good lovely woman who would rule wisely by his side. But the younger son only sighed and stared up at the moon from his balcony.

Every evening it was the same, the king would bring forward some lovely smiling girl, but for all of her beauty and smiles and laughter, the prince cared not. Unmoved, He'd heave a great sigh and turn to the moonlit window once again. The king grew ever more worried each night, what would happen to his son after his death?

Every night, he'd watch his son upon his balcony, staring up into the sky at the bright moon. The king watched his sighing son, and saw that he was in love, but he loved only an idea. The king fell into despair, for no woman could be as beautiful as the moon, no matter how fair of skin they were.

What the king did not know, was that far, far up in the sky, Lady Moon stood at her own balcony window, staring back down at the lovelorn prince. She sighed the same sighs, wished the same wishful thoughts, and moaned the same moans. And every night was spent the same, staring at their distant love.

One night, when the moon was bright and full, and the king was holding a ball in one last, great attempt to stir his son's attention towards some pretty mortal girl, and not the unattainable moon, a moonbeam danced lightly across the water. Down this moonbeam Lady Moon floated, and, as she alit upon the prince's balcony, her great dark cloak fell billowing to her feet.

Into the ballroom she strode, her long, silver hair trailing after. Her eyes were such a pale grey that they seemed almost colorless. Her glowing skin shone brightly with moonlight, and her dress sparkled as if lit by a thousand tiny stars.

The prince ran to her, knowing he had found the girl he had sought for so long. Her hand upon his arm, they approached the king on his thrown. He stared wonderingly at her, could this creature truly love his son as much as the man loved her?
The king's fears vanished as he watched the two together, they seemed completely lost in each other's eyes.

They danced together all night, till it was nearly dawn, and the moon hung low in the sky. Then, they again approached the king. The king saw the question held there in their eyes. Could the father let his son go? The king smiled sadly, and bade his son go with his lady love.

With a kiss to the king's cheek, the lady led her prince away. They began one last dance, and as they danced they floated out above the sea. Up they floated, dancing along the moonbeams. Up they floated, higher and higher, till they were lost into the mysterious moon. While far, far below, in a castle by the sea, a tearful king waved a last goodbye to his beloved son.


My apologies if my story is a bit long winded. Hope you like it.