Fortune Cookie

Chapter ONE, Dream

The Moon Lady

“This feather may look worthless, but it comes from afar and holds all of my good intentions.”

-- Amy Tan

This fall was another subsequent Moon Festival, where the Moon Lady would drop from the moon and host a celebration. Fire crackers, moon cake, laughter and fun would be showered throughout the village. It was the best time for elders, parents, children and infants. It is an ancient Chinese tradition, as well.

Usagi slipped a silky lock of violet hair behind her ear as she sat on the bridge of the crescent moon, looking down on earth. It was autumn, and the beginning of autumn meant the Moon Festival, when the Moon Lady would come to town.

The Moon Lady was named Usagi, after The Rabbit in the Moon. She had long flowing violet hair, and mysterious dark eyes. Her skin glowed eerily, like the pale light of the moon. The Moon Lady was beautiful beyond compare.

She looked down at the Asian continent below her. It was a sickening view, but being the Moon Lady, Usagi was not afraid of heights. Taking a bight of chocolaty moon cake, she hopped of the glowing silvery moon and dove through the black sky.

She dove down into the atmosphere; soon descending through the clouds in the cold night sky. Air rushed past her face and her long violet hair streamed behind her.

She fell into the cold night and looked about the village, hovering in the air. Usagi soared over the surface of Tai Lake and the harsh little waves nearly nipped her face. Boats of all kinds, large and small danced on the waters of Tai Lake. Their red Chinese lanterns flickered as they swayed with the rocking of the boat.

When Usagi had been little, she recalled the time when she first saw the Moon Lady. She was beautiful, tall and slender, and had ravishing long dark hair. She wept and sang the story of the nine blazing suns, and how her master archer husband had shot eight of them down.

She was first four years of age when she’d seen the story, and did not completely understand it. But it was still such a wonderful experience for her. It was the sparkling night sky looming over her, stuffing her face with creamy, chocolaty moon cake, whispering into the Moon Lady’s ear of her “secret wish” that made the night magical.

Tai Lake seemed to be alive now, cheers and laughter washing into the village. Excitement was going on for everyone; the best time of the year was here! Children celebrated excitedly, the adults just as enthused.

Usagi wore a beautiful long black robe, one pink cherry blossom at the bottom corner. She tried to make the same performance as the old Moon Lady, delighting all the children, enhancing their dreams and lighting their hearts.

The play soon ended amongst all the people. Everybody cheered as Usagi bowed modestly. Firecrackers exploded her behind the stage and lit the sky up orange, pink, blue and purple.

“Look, Mama,” a boy shouted hopping up and down in the crowd. “It’s the Moon Lady! It’s the Moon Lady!” The mother quickly silenced the boy and shunned him lightly, waving to anyone who happened to look her way.

Usagi heard a mother telling her excited child to go tell the Moon Lady her secret wish. “Go on, now,” she said giving her and shove and a smile.

The little, timid girl toddled up to the Moon Lady, who leaned over and stroked her soft black hair. “What is your wish, tonight, sister?” she asked soothingly.

The little girl blushed and looked up at the Moon Lady. She cupped her hand around Usagi’s ear. “I want to be just like you, Moon Lady.”

The girl scurried back into the crowd, embarrassed and excited at the same time. The Moon Lady stopped and looked around the crowd. The little girl was just like her when she was a child. They’d both had the same wish.

Despite the long line of children waiting to tell the Moon Lady their secretive wish, Usagi called the girl back up onto the stage and whispered back into her ear, “I know you will.”

That night, Usagi soared back up to the moon and watched longingly down at earth, her heart settled and happy. The little girl was just like her, almost a reincarnation. Resting her chin on her palm, Usagi fell soundly asleep until the next Moon Festival, when she would come back to lift spirits.

Today, you can still see her sound asleep, The Rabbit in the Moon, her ears, legs, body and tail highlighted by deep shadows. Find her and tell her your secret wish.

A/N: How do you like it? I’m not sure I know the entire story of the Chinese Moon legend in complete detail, but I explained it well enough, I suppose. Oh, and sorry about this confusion, but you see “Usagi” is a Japanese name and I’m using it in a Chinese story in case you all were wondering. Thank you for reading and reviewing,

—Nina-Chan