(A/N): I wrote this little story a few years ago because I wanted to say that I’d written my own fairy tale. It’s written in a very simplistic style, but I’m proud of it because I made it up.

The Downfall of Peter Popperneil

Little Peter Popperneil was a beautiful youth. He was striking as a child and grew even more so as years passed. He had hair of gold and skin so fair, but what gave him his undeniable beauty was his eyes of blue, ocean-fresh water that hid timidly beneath long lashes. Those eyes gave him everything he wanted from anyone he desired to cast his spell on. There was a bit of supernatural quality to those eyes. His stare stopped anyone in their tracks and whatever their confrontation had once been about, the one that had chosen to stand up against Peter Popperneil’s stare was forced to turn and walk away without words. No one knew where this amazing power had come from, but everyone in the village was aware of this strength – and Peter himself was keenly aware.

Women swooned over those eyes, but never had Peter seen a creature that was worthy of his loving gaze. It was seventeen years before Peter saw any woman that he desired to look upon forever. Sweetness and love alone were not enough for him. He placed his faiths in only what his eyes told him was good and perfect, and only by chance did he find he find his perfect girl.

Peter was traveling home one day, following along the fencerow of a cattle pasture, on a lovely summer day. The day was quiet, so the scream of terror reached his ears easily. He jerked towards the pasture and saw a young woman running toward him across the field – being chased by a crazed bull! Peter was quick to act. He jumped the fence and just as the woman fell to the ground in exhaustion, Peter threw himself between the girl and the bull. The bull charged on, but when Peter’s eyes locked onto his, the bull’s hooves dug into the dirt and the beast slid to a stop. They held still, staring at each other for minutes upon minutes, neither one faltering, but as the tenth minute passed the bull rose, snorted, then turned and trotted away.

Peter had never before tested his unique power against an animal, but finding that it had worked made him feel even more powerful than before. The deed done, he turned to meet the girl he may have just given his life for.

As soon as his eyes fell on her, he was completely entranced. As soon as her eyes met his, she was under his spell. Her name was Catherine, and she was the loveliest girl he’d ever seen. She was simple, a farmer’s daughter, but still she was intoxicating. From then on, the two desired to spend every waking hour together.

Word spread quickly of the deed Peter had done. Everyone was interested to see the new skill he had acquired. Peter turned away animals of all sorts and even unbelievers who tested his skill were proven wrong. There was some kind of power behind those eyes. Nothing could stand against him. Life, for Peter, was perfect and as he and Catherine prepared for their marriage, Peter Popperneil was indeed a champion.

Despite Peter’s good fortune and all the respect he’d gained from the town, there were some who still loathed him. One of these was a young carpenter named Billy Barker. Billy’s life had once been like Peter’s was. So close was it in fact, that Billy had once had the lovely Catherine for himself! Sadly, Catherine had been done with him the very day she had looked into Peter’s famed eyes. This had filled Billy with hatred, and had in fact added a jealous twitch to his own eye; an eye that lent all priority to seeking revenge.

Billy plotted and plotted but nothing seemed right until one day while hammering on a roof, sweating beneath the blazing sun, an idea hit him. It was a stroke of genius! A work of pure brilliance! Not only was it perfect, but it would not fail. Immediately, he devoted all of his time to working his plan out to the smallest detail.

It happened on a bright day not but a week later. Peter and Catherine were in town where Peter had just used his skills to move a rock from atop a workman’s leg. There were people gathered in praise and awe, and Billy saw that this was the very opportunity he was waiting for. He would give his proposal, and whether or not Peter had bad thoughts about it, he knew that Peter could not refuse. He could not back down in front of all these people.

“Peter Popperneil!” Billy called out, gaining the crowd’s attention. “There’s no question that there is no man that is a match for your skills. You’ve also proved your strength against animal and object. But there is still one thing left untested.”

“Should you want me to test my power against God?” Peter asked, thinking this was the only thing he had not yet tried. “Why should I wish to stand against the one who gave me this power?”

“Not God,” Billy said, “but his grandest creation!”

Billy lifted his eyes to the sky and the crowd followed his gaze. The sun burned brightly above and suddenly they all understood.

“Make the sun hide its face!” Billy challenged.

Peter hesitated. Would the sun, the most dutiful creation of God see fit to turn away from him? Could he make this happen?

Billy began to scoff at Peter’s silence. The people stood around, faith filling their eyes. They believed in their champion. He could not let them down.

“I will accept the challenge of the sun. I will not back down until the sun hides its face!” declared Peter.

The people were proud to hear it and a cheer arose for Peter Popperneil.

Now the sun was currently peaking past three, and Peter headed for the highest hill in the village to prepare for his confrontation with the sun. The people’s faith in him made him confident and the fact that his power had never failed him before made him trudge up the hill just a little faster with his head held just a little higher. And when he reached the top of the hill, there he stood.

Billy watched from afar, smiling happily. He knew that the sun would not back down for Peter. All he had to do was wait until sunset, because only then, when the sun hid its face from the earth, would Peter stop his stare.

But Peter was determined. He stared towards the sun, refusing took look away, or to leave his spot on the hill. For hours he stared, sweat pouring down his face and soaking his clothes. Yet still, the challenge had been made, and he would see it until its end.

As the hands of the clocks in the village slipped past seven, the sun hid its face. A cheer went up for Peter, because, blinded by faith as they were, the villagers had failed to see the truth of it. Peter stood alone on the hill even after the sun had left. He was the people’s champion still, yet he too had been blinded by the promise of glory.

Catherine ran to join Peter on the hill, her face lit with happiness in the dark.

“You did it, Peter! You are still the hero!”

Peter turned to the woman that he’d loved, but for once, in all the time he’d known her, he did not smile. She didn’t have to ask why, for when she saw his face she knew. His skin was red from the sun’s burning, but it was the sight of his eyes that made the smile fall from her own face. He’d defeated the sun, but the sun had taken from him the one thing that had given him all his happiness: his eyes.

He walked away from Catherine then, the girl he had once loved, because he loved her no more. He only trusted what his eyes told him, and since he could no longer see, he could not love, or feel anything else.

The villagers continued to cheer for their champion, and his ears heard every sound. For the first time he could truly see clearly, and he pitied them.

They were all just as blind as he was now.