Young Writers Society

I come from a world that is hidden by a cluster of stars in the galaxy. This world is called Merlasia, a small planet where we, creatures, live. I have heard stories about a bigger planet in the galaxy, Earth. I have never been to the planet called Earth, but I want to visit sometime soon. My father, Eron, is the king of our world. He would never think about letting me visit earth, but the planet has caught my attention the past few years, and I think I just might go there. I want to go to earth to learn more about this thing called the ???afterlife???. I have never been one to believe in such a thing, but my father won???t talk to me about it, which makes the subject that much more intriguing. He thinks I am too young to be bothered with something of this sort. But my mother has passed away from our world, and we set her being adrift down our main stream, Cleodra, here in Merlasia. This is why I need to get to earth, so I can see if I will be able to see my mother again in another life. The best philosopher, Ammon, won???t even dare speak of the afterlife, for he says it isn???t something to be worried about, it isn???t something that even exists. But I want to know if the place my mother has gone is somewhere where I want to go one day too. Here in Merlasia everyone has different abilities or gifts. My father, King Eron, has the gift of light, which is how we have light on our planet, for he is the one who provides it. My mother, Aedre, had the gift of water, and that is how we got our water supply. Others in our world have special gifts, like being able to grow things, or being able to disappear, but my gift is something people say is useless. I have the gift of turning into objects, sort of like a shape shifter. Here in Merlasia, we try not look down on people and their flaws. We try to look past them, for somewhere out there we believe someone looks past our flaws as well. Merlasia is a brightly colored planet; never a dull color will ever be seen here. We work hard to keep our planet beautiful. My father and I live in the palace our fellow Merlasians have gladly built us. The people here seem to have no reason to not trust my father, since he had bought their trust when he was just a mere prince. My mother had come from one of our neighboring planets, Perloh, to escape her unfortunate fate to marry the evil king, King Alva. When King Alva heard of her disappearance, he sent many knights and soldiers over to our planet to capture her and throw her into their prison. When the soldiers showed up we had our army assembled, ready to fight. My father knew that her coming here would start a war, but he wanted to do everything in his power to protect my mother. The two planets fought day and night for two long years. Suddenly, a soldier had cornered my grandfather, King Lohman, and planned to kill him. As soon as the arrow flung off the bow, my father jumped in front of him, taking an arrow to his shoulder. The soldier ran back to his troops, and thinking they had killed the most precious thing to the king, they all left. My mother supplied water to my father, and brought him to the healing room. This is how King Eron gained the trust of his people, by protecting not only his love, but by protecting his father. Merlasia is the place I love, the place I would never want to let down. But I have to learn more of the place my mother has gone. I feel if I don???t, I will ever get to see her again. And I don???t want the thought of me never being able to see my mother again to cross my mind. For I believe she is somewhere out there, helping me to go forward with what I want to do. My father can???t always protect me, I will soon have to find a groom and he will be next in line for the throne. Since my mother has passed, some of the Merlasians have been pressing my father into getting another bride, but my father refuses. He has loved only my mother, he wants to continue that love for her while she is gone, and not betray her in getting betrothed once again. I don???t blame him, if my groom ever passes, I wouldn???t want to betray my groom by betrothing again. It???s a connection, a pull towards the person you are meant to be with that keeps you two together. You sort of hold each other down on the ground, just by the power of your love. The people of Merlasia love one and only one, unless of course, a situation arises and they have to get another love. But that doesn???t happen very often around here, for the people of Merlasia tend to live longer than the people of earth. We have a certain way of living that keeps us alive longer, keeps us healthier, and stronger. I don???t want to let my father down, or the kingdom, but I have to go and soon. I will go to the planet earth, and no one will be able to stop me. Aira and Dagan, two of my close friends, have promised to help me escape. It hurts me to do this, but I know I have to. I know there is another world where one passes to after they leave us on our planet. I can feel it. And I will find it