The night air wisped around the ostentatious castle as it rose above the crsytal like mountains. Their peaks gleamed like actual diamonds like the paddies and rice fields at its base. The people slept in their homes, secure from the worst of the world.The King and Queen of the land would not sleep that night,  not when it was the night of the Lune.

The King paced to and fro the length of his room. The Queen sat up with a grim expression on her usually radiant face. A wolf howled ominously. Soon it wasn't the only one. The night air reverberated the growls and howls of the creatures of the night like a creepy five part harmony. The King shot an alarmed look at his Queen who returned the gesture with her hands covering her mouth in absolute shock. His hands quivered as he pondered over the situation.

"It cant be true, can it?!" The Queen cried," oh, tell me it isn't true! I can't just stand by and watch this cruelty. Please answer me Hellio, my King. Please answer the questions of this bleeding heart!" Hellio threw open the doors of the balcony, completely ignoring his wife. He rushed out and watched in horror as the lļlppforests surrounding the palace grew and freed   themselves. He saw them stumbling in to the town, leaving all intact, and gathering near an old, broken shack. They bent their branches into a staircase and it glowed with demonic possession. Slowly, winged humans descended from the canopy but something seemed off. They had crimson red eyes, the hue of blood, a warning of death.

"We are leaving right now Leonara. Pack whatever you deem neccassary and follow the chambermaid to the next kingdom," he glowered, rage and concern spilling from his brim.

"My child. What about my child?! Tell me what-"

"There is no other way, my dear. The fate of the kingdom lies with him becoming a demon."

"No!" Leonara shrieked, begging her husband to show a sliver of mercy. She lept off her bed as the King came in and clutched on to his burgundy robes. "I beg of you my King, I beg! Do not punish this poor soul for our misdeeds. He deserves so much better!"

"Stop it this instant!" He bellowed. "Why do you turn a blind eye towards the safety of your people! Do you not see? If we do not sacrifice our son, there will not be a kingdom to rule nor people to serve. We will not have anything, and I dare say that the same goes for our lives." He looked panicked, an expression that was seldom seen contorting his features. The cogs and wheels in his mind turned. There was no other path they could take that would  ensure the safety and prosperity of the kingdom. He shook his wife off his attire and started walking to the bell to summon a servant.

"Was this the only way?" the Lady asked slowly, still sitting on the floor delicately. Although she continued to stare at the floor, she spoke with an unwavered confidence. "You saw it fit to sacrifice your own child for a piece of property on this wretched planet? A few good years on you for a whole life? An injustice for a corrupt land of death? How?" Her composuture snapped and she lashed out,"YOU THINK IT IS MORALLY CORRECT TO DEPRIVE A MOTHER OF HER CHILD, THE ONE SHE BORE?! THIS ACT WILL DAMN THIS LAND!" Her words slowly softened. Her eyes were overflowing with tears. She felt her life drain out of her as she said these words,"Mark my words, this is the end of the Nami family and it's last descendent, you, King Hellio."

Her limbs failed her as Leonara sank to the floor, a slow but definite breathe could be heard escaping her lips every now and then. Hellio sighed and continued to call the chambermaid and a few more hand ladies to carry the limp body of the Queen to the neighbouring country. The King was in a frenzy as he filled countless chests with gold, food, supplies and wealth and sent them after the procession. In his hurry, a single golden and black detailed card having the ace of spades was left unnoticed on the balcony railing. It held the power of a thousand elements of nature all together but could only be held by the true heir of the Lunera kingdom. Nobody knew why they thought so but nobody questioned it either.

The King stayed back and watched as his successor to the throne was being carried to the depths of the canopy. His mouth felt dry and cold. His only son would soon be a demon. He would be the father of a beast that haunts this planet. Hellio's mind was spinning amd he was slowly losing consciousness. The demons were casting that sleepy daze but to succumb to it would feel like bowing down to the enemies he fended off. The King clutched the railing tightly and watched on as a bright light shone. It was blinding. Soon, it had consumed the kingdom in itself. But no one was awake to see this. Not a soul saw the trees slither back to their places because even the King and all his servants, loved ones and peopke had fallen into a death like slumber.

Although this sounds a bit like 'The Sleeping Beauty', these two stories are far from similar. How so, do you ask? That can only be told when we peer into a more recent story of a girl whose sleep had ended just as the kingdom of Lunera had fallen asleep..........