Why We Have But One Sun
This is just a quick write up of one of my favorite stories. It's just one fox's version of an ancient Chinese legend. I hope you enjoy.
Long ago, when the days were very short and eight great suns orbited the earth, deep in the lush green mountains east of here, there was the mightiest hunter the world had ever seen. His bow stood taller than other man alive and with it, the Hunter was very skilled. He came from a very poor village where crops would not grow and wild game would not come near, so each day the Hunter would stand atop the jagged peaks and look down at the animals below on the other side of the mountains. With great precision, the Hunter would use his mighty bow to kill deer, pigs and other wild game and the grateful villagers, unable to hunt for themselves, would walk into the forest and take from the bounty the Hunter so generously gave them.
Eventually, as most great things do, word of the mighty Hunter reached the ears of the Emperor and, of course, the Emperor wanted to see these feats for himself. He sent for the Hunter to visit the palace, which was a very rare honor.
A day of festivities was held when the Hunter arrived. He performed many great feats of skill with his bow and impressed the Emperor very much, but it also impressed the Princess as well. She had never seen such an extraordinary man before in all her young life and his modesty in regards to his skill and his generosity towards the people of his village spoke highly of his character. And he, the Hunter, having seen the magnificent splendors of the wilderness far and wide, felt he had never seen anything that could compare to the natural beauty of the Princess.
Though the night was very short back then, they knew it was the only time they could be together fore the Emperor would forbid such a union. And under the stars, the two fell in love.
The Hunter and the Princess made plans to run away to the mountains together. There, they could provide for the people while being free to live the lives they chose. However, when the Emperor heard word of this, he banished the Hunter from his kingdom and sent the Princess to the one place the Hunter would never be able to reach her, the moon.
With the moon sinking from the brief night sky, the Hunter cried out in tremendous fury as he watched his beloved depart.
The night was short and the day was long with so many suns, and the Hunter felt could not live like that. He longed in his heart to see his beloved princess and if he could never touch her again, at least he could spend his days looking up at her for all eternity.
The Hunter raised his bow to the horizon and "Bam!" out went the first sun. He raised his bow again and "Bam!" went another. Exploding like fireworks in the sky.
Through tears and sorrow the Hunter continued to destroy the very light of heaven. "Bam! Bam! Bam!"
"Wait!" cried a familiar voice. It was the Princess calling to him from the surface of the moon.
"I cannot wait," the Hunter replied. "I must see you. I long for your beauty," and "Bam!" went yet another sun.
"But why must you destroy the light of heaven? Why must you cast the world into darkness and despair?" the Princess cried back.
"I see no reason for heaven's light if I cannot see you. Nothing the light of heaven touches can compare to your beauty. You are all the light I'll ever need and more," the Hunter replied and fired yet another arrow. "Bam!"
By now, the last sun in the sky was making its way towards the horizon, trying desperatly to sneak past the Hunter. The Hunter raised his mighty bow and took aim.
"But," cried the Princess, her voice filled with tears. "If you destroy the last sun, how will I ever see you?"
The Hunter lowered his bow and dropped it to his feet where it grew into a mighty tree. And now, for all eternity, the Hunter stands watch at night, gazing up at his Princess.