Work Text:
The last sunrise
A little girl in an unnamed world. Her eyes were like stars in the dark night sky and her smile brighter than the moon. She ran around the castle, in the prettiest gowns with wind in her hair. Carefree of her future as the daughter of the king.
She ran into the garden, hands dirty and her hair wild, even the sky couldn't help but smile at the princesses' innocent and brightful nature. Her mother, the queen, sat delicately in the greenhouse, even the flowers surrounding her were jealous of her beauty. The queen's hair was long and wavy like the sea, yet with the color of tree bark - deep and rich. Her eyes were the color of the green leaves - gentle and intriguing. The girl ran into her mother's sweet embrace, wrapping her arms around the queen’s neck. “Aurora! There you are” the mother laughs into the crown of her daughter's hair. Aurora’s arms were filled with bruises once again and the Queen took notice of her daughter's state. “You haven't been naughty have you now, Aurora dear?” she asks her daughter while cupping Aurora's chubby cheeks. “Of course not mother! My brother and I were simply sparing!” Aurora smiled at her mother's sweet nature. “You are so unlike the others, Aurora.. “ The queen sighed with a smile. “you are going to be strong and save us all, are you not my dear?” The queen kissed her daughter's forehead only for her child to laugh. “Of course, mother! I'll save everyone!” Aurora smiled with confidence and pride as the sun showered the pair in light.
This was a time before Christ, before humanity had truly flourished. A time where in an unnamed world on earth had found their way to bind demons to human souls. Where legends and myths are as true as the sun and moon. Where physics, science and technology is advanced. Where the angels and demons fight for their place with humanity of that world. Where nature is an entity in of itself. The sky, the sea and the earth are sisters, getting drained from the unnamed world. The name of that world now being “Hefna” meaning to avenge, because that's what it is all about, right? To get revenge, to be better than everyone else. If that's the truth, then can we even be saved? Are we doomed from the beginning? Are we just going to sit back as demons and angels fight even if no one is right or wrong?
Aurora, the little human child. Daughter of the king himself. The king who shares his soul with the 2nd demon of hell, Luther. The king whose eyes once shone the prettiest ocean blue is now fading and the red demon's eyes are taking over. He is obsessed, utterly memorized to force two demons to share one soul. Something known to be dangerous and utterly insane. A mere human can only have one demon bound to their soul. Even the gods of Hefna prays for the king to stop, to stop the endless torture of the innocent souls who's fate is sealed by his corrupted mind.
The little princess, Aurora, is still so innocent and pure. She doesn't yet know her father's insanity, she is the only one who is blinded by the facade of a perfect family. She doesn't see her mother's naivety, her father's obsession and her brother's pride.
"Mother..?" Aurora whispered to her mother from under the covers. “Yes, my dear?” The queen whispered back as she sat next to her daughter. The cold air swept through the princesses bedroom. Candles lit up Aurora's eyes, a color that was just as mesmerizing as the queen’s. “Could you please tell me the story of the moon again, it’s my favourite to fall asleep to…” Aurora spoke gently. The little girl was tired from running around and sparing all day, yet she felt truly at home by her mothers side. “But you always hear that story, Aurora dear. How about I tell you another story? A story of how our land, our kingdom came to exist for us to inhabit?” The queen spoke as she cuddled up to her daughter. Aurora laid her head on her mothers chest and began to listen.
“It all began with the Mother of life, Ether. She breathed life into three nymph sisters. The eldest nymph is the ground we walk on, the trees that shield us from the sun and the soil we eat from. She gave us this land to make love and bring peace - she imbodies our emotions of love and pain. Every tree that grows, every tree that is cut down, every root taken out of her body, she feels it. She feels how our hearts beat. She is fundamental for us, we cannot live with her that’s why we give back to her. We plant flowers, trees and make love in her honor.” Aurora looks up at her mother with curious eyes as she cuddles further into her mother's warm side. “What about the second nymph sister… Who is she..?” Aurora whispered, her curiosity never ending. Her mother just smiled as she wrapped her arms around her daughter.
“The second oldest nymph is the vast blue sea. She is the waves, the life and the water we drink. She has always helped her older sister flourish, but she never gets anything back - because what can you give someone who already has everything? She may be an essential for our survival but her nature is unpredictable. She is both the gentle waves and the strong undercurrent and we have yet to understand her. Her two faced nature is never-ending, and the endless abyss she calls home is filled with danger and pain. So be vary of her, Aurora dear. She is one I hope you will never meet” The queen muttered as she caressed her daughter's cheek. “But if the second sister is the sea, then how come we have storms..?” Aurora quietly asked. She wanted to understand everything, to make sure she prayed for the right gods, legends and myths at the right time. Because the gods, legends and myths were real. She knew she met one of them one day, not only in death but in life.
“Oh the storms… That is the doing of the youngest, the Nymph of the sky. She is the most misunderstood out of the three sisters. Some might say she simply contains us here, so we can not confuse ourselves with the gods and let us stay humble… But..” The queen stopped for a moment, to rethink her story approach. Aurora looked up at her mother, wanting her to continue. The queen smiled and took a deep breath. “But she is much more than that… Unlike her other sisters she is not blinded. The eldest is blinded by her need to be useful and her insecurities, the second is blinded by her own pain and frustrations of not being understood… The youngest sees their pain and suffering, she sees our suffering, Aurora. That is why she creates storms, she wants us to understand that… That our future is dire… She wants us to change our ways before it’s too late and her sister's pain and wrath takes over…” The queen whispered ever so gently, almost careful her story wasn't overheard by someone. Aurora and her mother looked at each other, a silent moment in a changing world. “But… But mother… Are we not friends with the gods, the legends and myths..? You always tell me to pray and respect them, so why are they suffering? Can they not hear us?” Aurora asked innocently. The queen sighed and kissed her daughter's head goodnight. “My dear child, you are too young. You shall have to wait before you can understand the world we live in…” The queen slowly stood up. “But never stop praying, my Aurora. If you keep in touch with the gods, the legends and myths, they will tell you everything…” The queen smiled as she blew out the candle next to her daughter.
“Sleep well now, my little hero…”
The universe, the stars, the moon, sea and sky and everything in between are getting desperate for a savior. Humanity is getting greedier. They want more power, they want to become gods, legends and myths. But there is no place for greed by those who are gods, legends and myths.
“Come on, Aurora! You are so slow!!” A voice shouted from across the courtyard. A tall young man was making faces at the princess. He too looked like the queen while being more charming than beautiful then her. “Brother! You are no fun! You know I can not run as fast as you!” Aurora gasped for air as she finally reached her older brother who stood with a smirk. The sun was beaming down on them, lighting up their eyes. Her brother's eyes were different from her human eyes. His eyes were a gentle blue with a hint of green from their mother, but his pupils were that of a predator, a demon. The sun highlighted how different he was from his sister. A big fluffy tail swayed behind him, wolf-like ears stood high on top of his head and even his teeth were different, with long canine teeth. “What? Are you going to tell mother you lost to me again?” Her brother laughed loudly at the state of his little sister. Aurora huffed and pouted. “You think you are better because you got the demon mother was supposed to get! Without the help of that demon you would lose to me!” Aurora mumbled angrily as she crossed her arms. “You little rat! I could bet you even without a demon!” Her brother began to poke at his little sister. His tail continued to sway, a clear indicator of his mood. He ruffled Aurora’s soft brown hair. “Did you do your own hair again today? Because it looks all messy!” Her brother teased her again. Just before Aurora could protest and scold him for being mean again had he already taken out her front braids and pigtails. “Let me help you before someone sees you and your birdnest of hair” Her brother simply laughed softly, his less prideful and soft side shining through as he fixed her hair with gentle hands. “Aurora, promise me you will never get any demons, okay?” Her brother finished her hair before kneeling down. It took Aurora by surprise, she had never seen him like this. “Why? Both you and dad have one, many in the village too” Aurora stated as she looked at him with curious eyes. “Well just because I have one does not mean you should get one too…” Her brother sighed deeply before standing back up. “How about this? The one who first gets to the old church will have to do everything the other person says for the rest of the day! I bet you can’t win even if I let you run first!!” Aurora’s brother turned back to his prideful self. Aurora shook her head, eager to prove her brother wrong. Before he even said go, Aurora was gone like the wind. But before he could run after his little sister was someone calling his name. Their dad, the king, called for his son. Nobody dared to disobey him, his word being final. All that her brother could do was leave Aurora on her own. “Yes father…” The son walked towards the father judging gaze, his ears falling back and his tail stopped swaying. “A disgrace… You should act more like royalty and not some low born” The king said coldly. Their eyes locked just for a moment before the son had to look away in shame. “..Yes father…” He mumbled. “Weak. You are the prince, you dare bare my blood! And yet you are still this pathetic?” The king's eyes turned more and more red the longer he looked at his son. A hand flew across the brother’s cheek, hard and loud. With that the king turned around and walked away, his son following him with his pride hurt and hatred for his father growing. Aurora was unknown to what just had happened as she continued to run to the old church. Nature had taken over the old ruin, forget me not flowers were blooming all over the place and the sky was clear enough that the shadow of the moon could be seen with the naked eye. She had done it, she got there before her brother! But what now? Should she just wait for him? She finally had the chance to explore the place. Aurora looked around, she could see everything! From the castle, the villages and farms to the vast sea, the tall mountains and vivid flower fields. She stood there in awe, she had never noticed the beauty of that place. It felt safe and almost warm. Everyone had clearly become too busy to care about the church. “It’s so peaceful… But where is my brother?” Aurora mumbled to herself as she looked around. It was weird, she didn’t feel alone like she did at the castle when everyone had their duties to do. Like someone was watching out for her. She was a little girl in a big world, a world with its beauty and its horrors. She sat down in the middle of all the “forget me not” flowers. They were small just like her, often overlooked by the bigger flowers. The wind rushed through the flowers, their pretty petals taken by the wind and found their new home in her hair. A hum followed the wind before stopping again. “Hello? Anyone here?” Aurora spoke softly as she looked around, surely she had heard someone humming. But there was no one. Then it was there again. The hum was clearer now. It was a melody from a lullaby the queen used to sing. “I know that lullaby!” Aurora stood up eagerly and looked around from where the melody came from. She followed it with slow steps, a smile forming on her lips. She could almost imagine her mother humming the melody for her. And without realizing it Aurora had already ventured inside the church ruin. Her brother had warned her to never go inside because of how old and dangerous it could be. The sun had begun to set outside casting an array of beautiful colors her way, and with every step she took the flowers seemed to bloom more and more. The closer she got to the center the more flowers woke in her wake. It was not just “forget me not” flowers now. White roses, orchids and different types of lilies. And there in the middle of the room stood a statue. The moon. Her beauty seemed otherworldly. The flowers bloomed and glowed in her presence. The stained glass window behind painted the area in purples, blue, pink and green. The stained glass was a motif of the goddess herself. Greenery and vines had climbed up the sides of the window and filled every little crack. The goddess stood tall with her hands in the air, holding a crystal ball that seemed to faintly glow. The humming had turned to actual words. Aurora knew the melody but not the lyrics. Everything felt so unnatural and godly she simply stood there. Even the most luxurious ballrooms back at the castle were nothing compared to this. Even her mother's garden would be jealous of that place's beauty. “You must be the goddess of the moon… I remember your story…!” Aurora smiled as she thought back to a few days ago when her mother told her the story yet again. The moon. While the sun helped life on earth, the moon gave them their powers, protected them and showed them their way through life. She gave them a reason to live, to make love and to die. All in the beautiful circle of life. Aurora reached out her hand to touch the enchanting statue. “Aurora! Where are you my dear?!” Her mother's cries could be heard loud and clear outside. Aurora was quick to forget about the goddess and ran out to her mother.
“Aurora!” Her mother smiled with tears in her eyes when she saw her daughter peak her head out of the old church. She ran up to Aurora and fell onto her knees and embraced her daughter tightly, even if it ruined her gown. “You have been gone for hours! Are you alright?” The queen quickly made sure that her princess was alright before pulling her back in. “But why are you here, Aurora dear?” The queen whispered as she looked around. “Well, my brother never got here after we made a bet on who was fastest…” Aurora whispered back, without knowing why. The queen looked at her daughter before sighing. “Aurora, you know that your brother has other duties and he can not play with you all the time”