The Lonely JellyFish
In a land far beyond the horizon, where magic and mythical creatures roamed freely, there lived a princess named Kolanii. Kolanii was a fierce and brave princess who had a mind of her own. And she was raised by a kind but strict man, the King, who took care of her with love in his heart. Unfortunately, Kolanii was a strong-willed personality with a mind of her own, and she wanted more freedom from her life. She almost always was trapped in her room at the very top of her castle.
One fine morning, when the birds and the sun was shining, Kolanii still hadn’t woken up. She felt a wet air on her face and started stirring in her bed. When she woke up, she came face to face with a masked figure standing right in front of her. Kolanii let out a deafening, shrill scream. “Who are you? Get out of my room!” she screamed. “I thought you wanted more freedom, but I suppose if you want me to go, I shall leave.” The mysterious figure casually said. “More freedom? What do you mean?” Kolanii said curiously. “I was planning to give you a wonderful gift, but since you want me to leave so bad, I shall take my leave.” The stranger said mysteriously. As the figure turned for the window, Kolanii quickly had a change of heart. “Wait! Don’t leave please, I want to see the gift, please forgive me…” Kolanii said regretfully. “Well! I’m glad you changed your mind! You wouldn’t believe what I had to do to acquire such a rare gift!” The stranger chuckled. The mysterious figure slowly turned to its duffel bag and slowly pulled out an ornate box. He pulled off the top slowly, careful not to bother whatever was inside. “What is that?” Kolanii questioned. “A magical crossbow is an ornate weapon of incredible power and beauty. Its intricate design is both elegant and intimidating, reflecting the ancient and mysterious magic imbued within it. Whenever the crossbow is activated, it emits a soft, pulsating hum that can be felt in the air, a sign of the immense power that is about to be unleashed. With this weapon, the wielder can strike down even the most elusive and powerful foes with ease, making it a prized possession among adventurers and warriors across the realm.” The stranger said proudly. “Wow, thank you! I love it! I shall practice every day and never put it to waste!” Kolanii said gratefully. “You’re very welcome, ” the stranger said with a slight smile. Kolanii peered down at her new prized possession, but oddly enough, as soon as she looked up the stranger had vanished without a single trace.
Ever since the day the stranger had barged in on her room, Kolanii spent all of her free time practicing the crossbow. From sun up, she was an obedient child who followed her parent’s requests, and from sun down she was a rebel, practicing her crossbow secretively in the middle of the night. One night, after Kolanii had finished practicing her expensive violin, she made sure her parents had left the room and then slowly pulled out her magical crossbow. “Oh, you don’t know how I long to use you every day!” Kolanii said excitedly. Then Kolanii heard a gasp, coming from her doorway. “Princess! What are you holding in your hands? A crossbow? That’s evil! You are absolutely not allowed to use a crossbow! What if you get hurt?” The guard raged. Kolanii knew she had to escape, so she tied a string to the bow, shot the tower next to her, and ziplined down, right out the window. “Get the Princess!” The guard screamed to the others. When Kolanii zipped all the way down, she was so exhilarated and excited that she stopped for only a second. But that second was enough for the guards, and her dad to catch up with her.
“Kolanii, I loved you all my life, and took care of you. And this is how you repay me? By practicing the crossbow of all things? I am more than angry with you, I am disappointed.” The king said sadly. Kolanii tried to explain, “Father, I just needed something in my life that isn’t being in the top of my tower all the time!” “Not another word. You have disappointed me; I am very ashamed of myself for raising you like this. Guards, take her away and make sure she never comes back.” The King said dejectedly. “No! Father! Please understand!” Kolanii said frightened as to what was about to happen to her. But it was too late, the guards had already dumped her on the boat, and banished her to the sea.
As Kolanii started drifting toward the middle of the sea, what was happening to her slowly sunk in. Kolanii started crying uncontrollably, regretting all her decisions. Meanwhile, a lonely Jellyfish was watching from afar. Slowly, the Jellyfish swam toward Kolanii. “Why are you crying?” The Jellyfish asked quietly.
Kolanii was too depressed to be startled. “I made a mistake and now im banished to sea. I don’t know how I will ever get back!” Kolanii said loudly. “I can help you, if you want.” The Jellyfish said calmly. “Yes! Yes, thank you!” The princess exclaimed. Kolanii tied her long hair around the jellyfish, and allowed it to lead her to land. When she reached the docks of a new kingdom, Kolanii gratefully said, “Thank you ever so much! What can I ever do to repay you?” “Well, I don’t want anything but a friend, and I don’t suppose you can stay with me in the sea forever.” The Jellyfish said wistfully. Kolanii wondered for a second and then had a marvelous idea. Kolanii cut off her long luscious locks, and tied it into a jellyfish shape. “There, I have made you a companion to keep you company in the dark and gloomy seas.” Kolanii said happily. The Jellyfish took hold of its new acquaintance, and waved the Princess goodbye, leaving Kolanii to start a new life in her new kingdom.
The lonely Jellyfish became not quite so lonely, and started having amazing adventures with his new companion. He took his friend everywhere he went, from the top of the sea where they could watch the shining stars, to the bottom of the sea where they could hunt for shiny pearls. One fine morning, when they were trying to see who could find the most bedazzled rock in the sea, the Jellyfishes companion got caught on some coral. When the Jellyfish turned around to leave, his companion wasn’t moving, so he tugged harder. When the jellyfish finally pulled out his friend, they went on with their day. A few hours later, the Jellyfish was wading in the waters when his companion started to unravel. The jellyfish felt his friend slowly disappearing, when he turned around, the hairs were slowly floating away into the abyss that is the ocean. The Jellyfish, who was panic-stricken, hustled to gather all of the hairs, to somehow put it back together again. The jellyfish was so terrified and distraught, that he didn’t notice that his tentacles were getting tied up. When he looked down, he didn’t care that he was all tied up, all he cared about was his friend. The Jellyfish only had one more strand of hair to grab onto, but as soon as he strained to get ahold of the hair, he burst into a million pieces, and the hair fell apart with him. All was lost for The Jellyfish, but that’s when a glorious light fell upon the sea. The magic in the princess’s hair and the love in the Jellyfish’s heart, brought the two together, and the chunks of the Jellyfish and the hair combined to bring the Jellyfish back to life. But not just one, trillions of Jellyfish were born that day.
From that day forward, the new kingdom had an abundance of Jellyfish that would glow bright and shimmering in the waters. The people in the kingdom marveled at the beauty of the Jellyfish and knew that it was a sign of hope and love that the Princess and the Jellyfish had discovered. The Jellyfishes never forgot the kindness and love that the Princess had shown them, and whenever they glowed in the sea, it was a bright reminder of the love that can conquer all. And as for Kolanii, she lived the rest of her life free and happy, always remembering the help that she had gotten from the kind but lonely Jellyfish.
ILLUSTRATION BY, DOODLER
