( prologue - - - )
A small, frightened wail pierced the eerie solemnity of the otherwise pitch darkness.
Suddenly, the room flooded with light as a door swung open and a tall, slender woman walked in, her ebony eyes sunken and weary from a long and stressful day.
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
A tiny child emerged into the light, his eyes glistening with fresh tears. He sniffed, wiping his nose on his pajama top that was about two sizes bigger than he was.
"Mommy… it's too dark… and I'm scared…" he whimpered, his lip trembling and his eyes growing bigger.
The older woman sighed, but kneeled on the floor and took the boy into her arms.
"It's alright, dear- it's okay," she cooed, "You don't need to be afraid of the darkness. Not anymore."
As her words didn't seem to settle the child in his fearful state, she sat down, placing the child into her lap.
"Do you know why we're afraid of the dark?" she asked the boy soothingly. He shook his head.
"Because we're afraid of what's lurking inside of it."
The boy sniffled again. His body trembled, either from fear or the cold air that was coming in through the open door. His round eyes stared up at her, unblinking, trying to comprehend, but he was too young to understand.
"But nothing will hurt you," she continued, "Do you want to know why?"
The child continued to stare, his eyes filled with yearning as he took in every word she said to him.
"A long, long time ago, before you were born… before even I was born… there was a boy…"
As she paused, the child snuggled close to her, urging her to continue just for the comfort of her voice.
"He was almost your age, but a few years older. He was small, and not as strong as other boys, but he had a pure heart, and eyes that were the color of the sky…"
"One night, when it was dark, he was faced with terrible monsters that took him away from his home and his family…"
Moments past as the mother told her child the legend many ears had heard before. About a boy, named after the sky, who had rid the world of the evil that lurked in the shadows. The young child lingered on every word his mother spoke. She described the countless adventures of the boy and his journey home: how he learned to conquer his fears and follow his heart, and overcome temptation and illusion on the search for his friends and the return to his own world.
The listener was oddly silent; his eyes heavy with sleep, as he listened intently to the story about the brave boy. As he absorbed the tale he was being told, his heart fluttered with a newfound strength. He was on the verge of sleep now, as his mother reached the end of the story, and as she lay him back on his soft bed, she whispered something in his ear…
"Remember, my son… amongst the darkness, there is always light."
( author notes - - - ) So I decided to completely rewrite my old fanfiction, Pieces of the Sky (POTS). I tried to simplify the plot so that I wouldn't write myself into a corner like I did previously. I hope everyone enjoys this new version! Don't be afraid to leave comments for me.