fiction, fantasy, & spiritual writer
Moonshine
Every story or book was inspired by something or someone. My new adult fantasy book, The Fairest, was inspired by a short story I wrote while in high school. It's a fantasy retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with my own little twist in it. I came across this story three years or so later and decided to expand it. However, a new idea was born. I reimagined the characters, the situation, and even the setting to the masterpiece that has become my baby.
Moonshine
(a retold story of Snow White)
Written by LeQuita C. Harrison, 2011
Oh fair moon why do you glow so bright?
Caressing me with your heavenly light?
If I should be shadowed from your sight
Oh God have mercy on my soul tonight…
​
Narcisa gawked at the soloist’s choice of song for her celebrated day. Every three years they would sing the same boring song to bring forth the Fairest. At first it was a lovely song speaking of her beauty and power, but now it was time wasted from continuing to the festival’s finale; her.
Her servant Gino snapped open his pocket watch, bopping his head with a joyous smile across his face. “It’s almost time, my Queen.”
The time would’ve come minutes ago if the Grand Host, as old as he was, hadn’t remembered the cursed song. But she was the Queen here, surrounded by the people of Ardana to celebrate the Silver Moon, and could whip time to her own satisfaction.
“Stop that singer and remove him from the platform,” she ordered Gino.
The short stout man threw her shocked green eyes. “But it’s the song.”
“I don’t care. Remove him or I will do it myself.” She whispered, waving her fingers to remind him of her magical gift. This was her day as well as the magic that would be given.
Any time wasted meant this special night was drifting away along with what it possessed. The showers from heaven had kept her from aging and gave her power over the mountainous kingdom with its compacted cities and lack of magic because no one was as fair as her.
Gino bowed and scurried towards the platform where the Grand Host stood with his eyes closed, indulged in the man’s harmonic voice. Narcisa smirked at the sound of silence and gazed around at the many faces gathered in the courtyard. A white moon hung full above them, gracing them with its light on the many faces staring back at her from her platform some feet away. Rich and poor, waited for the reason for this sudden interruption.
She patted down her puffy silver and burgundy gown, rose to her feet, and plastered a smile on her face. “People of Ardana. I am thankful to say this year’s Silver Festival turned out at its best, as usual,” a cheer responded. “And I wish my late husband could’ve been here to witness it.”
“May King Allan rest in peace,” the people said in unison.
Narcisa groaned and nudged on her white gloves, “Of course. But unfortunately, the festival must come to its end, but not before the honoring of the Fairest of Ardana.”
With that as her cue, she came down her platform, her guards formed a path through the crowd for her, and she walked through. Chin raised and red lips sneered at those eyes who wanted to be her. Why wouldn’t they want to be her? She was young, beautiful, with a full figure, and red hair that flowed to her waist, and she was royalty. Men could barely speak when they were in her presence in the throne room and women averted their eyes ashamed of themselves. Then there was the Silver Moon which had chosen her as Fairest ten times in a row, a rare thing in a small kingdom.
Once at the circular platform, the Grand Host helped her up the five marble steps. Like many times before, she took her position in front of a stone fountain no thinner than her figure, with crystal water spewing from its center, catching the moon’s light.
She exhaled to release the tension in her shoulders and settle the cheesecake in her stomach. The Grand Host took his position on the other side of the fountain, facing the silent crowd. He lifted his arms, Narcisa closed her eyes, and the clattering of armor drained what was next.
Her eyes flashed open to the approach of soldiers wearing gold armor. Laranians, she scorned. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Narcisa, please excuse our unexpected visit,” said a familiar voice.
The Queen snarled at the man’s disrespect and squinted to see his round bearded face.
“Who are you to address me untitled?”
“Your king,” said the man. He stepped into the showering light and everyone gasped.
“Hollan.” The name was sour on her tongue.
“Yes, that is I. And here I bring my sons, from eldest to youngest; Gideon, Gorman, Gabe, Germane, Grisonce, Gamiah, and Gale.”
She glanced up at the full moon as if it had disappeared suddenly. “You and your sons are here unannounced. You old fool. I am the Queen of Ardana. Go back to Larania and govern it as was agreed.”
"As was agreed died away at the passing of my brother,” said the grizzly man, hair sprinkled with gray.
“May King Allan rest in peace,” hesitated the people in unison.
“Oh silence yourselves,” she couldn’t constrain her anger from leaking through her voice.
“My rule is fair, said the Silver Moon.”
“No, your gift may be fair said the Silver Moon, but your sense has lacked. But let me give you three choices, Narcisa.”
“Queen Narcisa, to you, you old fool.”
“Hey, don’t disrespect our father, witch,” shouted the youngest of the seven brothers standing behind Hollan.
Some giggles festered from the crowd bringing her blood pressure to a boil. The tips of her fingers began to tingle with the remaining of magic still trapped in her soul. She could kill them all now, she thought instead of making deals.
“Silence, Gale,” Hollan demanded then to her, “Do you accept the choices I give?”
“It depends on what they are,” Narcisa scolded.
“You must take a husband, a new king to rule by your side.”
She growled, “Or?”
“Or let the Silver Moon chose the Fairest-,”
“Which will be me.”
“-and let that man or woman have the crown.” The thought of that didn’t sound too good with her, but she waved him on.
“And the third choice, you would freely step down and give the crown to me.”
Narcisa stood there with everything balancing on her head. She looked to Gino for guidance only to receive the balled spot at the top of his head. Clenching her teeth together, she turned to the Grand Host who was admiring the crystal water. The weight of eyes upon
her made her desperate to run and disappear forever.
This was her night, she reminded herself. The Silver Moon will choose her and she would still be queen.
She straightened her back and raised her chin, glaring down at the old man and his seven worthless sons. “Let the Silver Moon chose the Fairest of Ardana. It is the wisest of us all.”
“As you say, Narcisa.”
They gestured for the Grand Host to continue on with the ceremony. A cheerful tickle ran through her veins as she waited for her expected acknowledgement.
“Let it be known tonight, at this hour of the Silver Moon, the Fairest man or woman of Ardana to take on the crown and the responsibilities as ruler.” The Grand Host began to hum, waving his hands above the fountain.
With a thunderous voice, the Grand Host shouted to the sky, “Oh Silver Moon, shining so bright. Tell us who is the Fairest in your sight.”
Immediately, the white pearl in the sky transformed into a silver ball. Its calm shower expanded into a single beam that scanned everyone in the courtyard. Narcisa sucked in the fresh cool air, waiting patiently for her moment in the glorious spotlight.
The people gasped and she fell confused. Where was her spotlight? It never came. She looked for it, following the turned heads, to a girl standing in the midst of the crowd. Her long hair was as black as coal, contrasting with her chalk white face, and puckering red lips. Slowly, as if fearful of a sudden death, the people backed away from the pretty girl.
“No,” Narcisa managed to say, staring in disbelief at the teenage girl now receiving the rain of magic. Her rain of magic.
Forgetting she wore heeled shoes and the fact she agreed to one of Hollan’s choices, Narcisa made her way to the foolish girl. Someone grabbed her arm. Gino. “Let me go,” she ordered.
“If you interrupt the possession you will be cursed forever,” he said worriedly.
“I don’t care. I am the Fairest,” she screamed breaking free of the man. In one stride she was before the girl, eyes closed, face to the sky, as the silver rain of magic soaked into her pores. Narcisa gave a loud snarl and shoved the girl from under the silver beam with her green polished claws. Detecting the interruption and the intruder, the rain turned red as blood, scorching her skin, then disappeared.
Screaming in agony, Narcisa backed away caressing her smooth skin now torched with black scars. She searched for the stupid girl and found her unconscious on the ground, an older man hovered above her calling for help.
“Stop,” Narcisa tried to shout, tears streaming down her face, but soldiers and caretakers were already running to the girl’s aid. No one was looking at her except Gino who flapped open a blanket to wrap about her.
She shoved him away, “Don’t touch me.”
“But you are burned and pieces of your clothing has been burnt as well,” he said following her to the fountain.
“I am the Fairest, Gino. I am,”
“Yes, you were.” He froze, seeing his mistake. She slapped the blanket from his hands and pushed him away.
“Get out of my face!”
Hollan approached, wearing a mocking grin, “I had a feeling this was going to happen.
After all of the reports that reached my table in Larania, I just knew you weren’t the same Narcisa from ten years ago. And the Silver Moon saw that.”
Narcisa clawed at the man’s face, but he was quick and stepped back out of reach. He gave a hearty laugh, “Let me go and see of the well-being of the new Queen of Ardana.”
~*~*~
Three months had gone by since that horrible day. The blasted girl named Moonshine of all names, had claimed her throne and taken one of Hollan’s sons as her husband. Through every street, and from every house the girl was praised and honored because of her sweet and caring heart and what she did with her magic.
“I was once sweet and caring,” she told the air. She grumbled to herself and hobbled her way to her black vanity table where a cracked mirror sat upon it. Squeezing her eyes closed to hold back the tears, Narcisa prepped herself to look in the mirror.
Her stomach cringed and her arms trembled at the hideous creature staring back at her. “Curse the Silver Moon and Moonshine,” she sputtered from her flat, cracked lips.
With boney hands adorned with black scars, she picked up the brush and began brushing what little hair she had left. Her once olive-skinned face was now a lump of gray wrinkles and her moon glazed teeth were brown and cracked. No matter how many times she tried brushing them, the stains only worsened. The only feature that miraculously stayed the same were her almond shaped eyes, sugared with malice.
“I shall have my revenge.” She licked her lips, only for it to accomplish nothing. “And I know how I will get it.”
Narcisa placed the brush aside and picked up a half scroll. Her eyes threw flames at the words bouncing off the parchment, a wicked grin created new wrinkles on her face.
~*~*~
The orchestra played a jolly song while acrobats did tricks on clothes from the ceiling and guests joined hands in a familiar dance. Narcisa, wearing her best burgundy cloak to help conceal her identity, hobbled through the crowd. Every step brought unwanted pain to her spinal cord now bent over into a hunch, but she kept going.
Queen Moonshine and her fiancé Prince Gale, sat on their throne. Her throne. She eyed the many gifts festering the back section of the platform and wanted to burn them all.
Yet she waited patiently as those before her held their attention and walked away in laughter. Moonshine rose and came down the platform to greet her. “Oh hello, Madam, how are you today?”
“Doing just great, great,” Narcisa said, making sure the hood casted a shadow over her eyes. “I brought you something. Something to wear.”
“Oh, you did? Let me see,” she said bright and cheerful, eyes radiant with love and respect.
Narcisa chuckled within as she reached into her bag and pulled out a small decorative box. She carefully opened it and revealed a red diamond ring. The lights from the chandelier above glistened off its intricate curves. Moonshine gasped with joy. “Oh my! This is for me?”
“Yes, please take, Fairest of us all.”
The stupid girl took the ring and observed it closer. Narcisa shifted feet, scrapping her teeth together. “Go on. Try it on and show your fiancé.”
She licked her lips and dared not blink as Moonshine brought the ring to a finger.
Then Gino appeared from out of nowhere. Narcisa jumped and shielded her face.
“My Queen,” the mouse of a man said. “This song is designated for you and Prince Gale.”
The uplifting song being performed by the orchestra beckoned for the Queen and her fiancé to lead the next dance. The girl took the jewelry box, placed the ring into its perch, then handed it to Gino. She gave a sweet giggle. “Thank you, Madam for your gift. It will be an honored addition to my jewel sets.”
Narcisa stood agape, speechless, as the stupid young couple who had stolen what belonged to her, walked onto the dance floor. The throng of the top tower’s clock echoed outside, informing her that midnight had come too soon. Her plan was a complete fail. If she didn’t have to wait in the long line to see the stupid girl, she would’ve had more time. Now the poison spell would evaporate from the ring, leaving her to form a new plan. She growled at the idea of returning to her little hut in the Granted Forest.
She tugged her cloak closer about her scarred neck. “I will get you one day, Moonshine,” she grumbled and made her way towards the exit.
THE END
Thank you for reading my short story. This is the short story that inspired my new adult fantasy book, The Fairest. I wrote it in my late teens. If you are a writer, do not throw away old writings. You never know if it would become the inspiration you need to write something amazing. If you enjoyed this quirky short story, please LIKE this page and check out The Fairest series. – From LeQuita