The Moon Princess

                          Chapter Nine: The Descent of Kaguyahime

Kaguyahime found herself lying in the sand just outside Calaf’s kingdom, her hair askew over her face, covering those expressive eyes of hers. Sh pulled herself onto her knees, her clothes stained with sand and mud, and tidied herself slightly. Once on her feet, and looking slightly more presentable, she made her way slowly to the palace. She paused only to lift herself over the heavy iron gates and through into the blossoming grounds.

She entered quietly and watched the Emperor, stroking his beard and gloating over his latest kills; he saw her and his smile faded quickly. “What do you want now?” Calaf asked, annoyed at being disturbed and especially by her “more peace talks? More stupid interference? Do you wish for more dead?”
”No” Kaguyahime answered, “I’m going back, I just wanted to let you know that and I really think you should consider ending this war…it hass killed so many.” Calaf looked surprised at this reply and he broke out into a smile again, cold and almost victorious

“Well good riddance Princess” he said “such a shame that you won’t see me win this war”

“Please…make peace…it is better for everyone…including you!” she said almost pleading.

“Just go Princess if you are leaving, and do not come back here in my reign, I need no woman telling me what to do, it makes me so angry and you know what happens when I’m angry don’t you?”

“I know all too well” Kaguyahime replied as she turned and left, leaving Calaf laughing behind her.

She walked round the town square for a while watching the movement of Calaf’s people, movement had always fascinated her and none more so than the movement of those who had no riches, and yet seemed at ease with world.. She sighed deeply, saddened they did not seem to care about the lives that their ruler and his soldiers had taken, and entered the burning, hypnotic sands of the desert for the last time.

Solor thought about the Princess a lot, more today then ever, leaving the earth was going to be hard for her, she had tried so hard to end this war. “Good luck my Princess” she said softly looking down at the earth “I hope you will return soon” he sat down on the cold surface, raking it with his fingers then let the sliver dust slip through his hands and float away.

Timur held his head in his hands, his poor people, all dead; all mutilated by that monster Calaf, and how he wished he hadn’t threatened Kaguyahime, she would have comforted him, offered help. He looked up, his white beard wet with tears and saw the Princess standing in front of him and suddenly he was filled with anger once again. “How dare you come back here?! I have a good mind to call my guards and have them kill you!” he voice failed at that point. “No, I could never kill you” he got up and threw his arms around her thin body “what am I going to do Princess? All my people are dead! Please help me, dear lady! I beg you!” Kaguyahime stiffly put her arms round him

“Not all of them…one woman, man and child did not follow me into the square, they are still alive and hiding in their basement.” Timur pulled away and looked at her in surprise

“You mean that?”

“I would never lie…”

“I am so pleased! They will come to the palace and live safely!” He cried “and what about you, will you stay?”

“No…I came to tell you I am leaving, I am not wanted here”

“I want you Princess; I didn’t mean what I said before!” Timur cried to her. Kaguyahime shook her head

“It’s not just that…I realise I can’t end this silly war, I only increase hatred…just promise me one thing for when I’m gone”

“Anything”

“Talk with Calaf, end this, only you and he have the power to do that without making more conflict.” Timur nodded and

“I promise…but how I wish you would remain by my side, a beautiful advisor and be treated like the Goddess you are.”

Kaguyahime said no more but raised her hand in a gesture of farewell and faded away into small sparkles of blue and silver.

A surreal music echoed over the tall Chinese buildings and the moon shifted in orbit as if dancing to it, travelling through clusters of heavens stars the music reached the bed of the Moon Princess, Kaguyahime. Once again she slept for another millennium until the earth needed her. Watched over by her faithful servants she slept deeply, the moon reflecting shadows over her perfect facial features. She had not succeeded in helping the earth this time but one day she would float from the heavens and bring peace to the entire world.