Far, far way in a land of mystical beauty, a beautiful deep blue sea filled the land of Cascades. Large patches of green meadow filled the misty cloudy air and the cool breezy essence of the wind brushes across the village of Eos; deep within the heart of the Cascades. In Eos village, lived a man name Frank, with his wife Elisabeth and their seven beautiful daughters named: Mary, Patricia, Lily, Susie, Darla, Anna, and Victoria. Frank’s family was very poor, and lived at the peak of the village. Every morning, the beautiful daughters would get up early to feed the lovely doves on the green Garden of Eclipse.
One starry night, the youngest daughter couldn’t fall asleep, and swiftly got up to see the moon set in its original spot. She quietly opened the wooden window, and set her crossed arms upon the window’s pane. Pressing her soft beige face upon her arms, she stared into the star lit sky. With the moon light beaming upon her face, Victoria softly hummed to herself. Deep within her heart, she desired for a handsome young man, one that would sweep her off her feet, and will love her until the end of time. Humming softly along with the crickets, Victoria fell asleep in no time.
Above in the heavenly realms, God saw how pure, gentle, and loving Victoria was. There was not a man on the face of the earth, that was great enough for Victoria and her kindness; but deep in the sea, was a handsome young prince named David, with blue eyes, brown hair, and a well built human body. Whenever it rained, a rainbow would slowly form across the sky. When the rainbow formed, or when it rained, Prince David would turn into a high sky dragon. He was a powerful dragon with great wealth, but the sad thing is his life will end soon if he doesn’t get the Parsnip plant. One pouring day, when the rain dripped dry, Prince David decided to walk on land to see the beauty of the cascades, and the view of his palace from the rocks that settles upon the earth’s surface. His main reason was to get the Parsnip plant which is a strong scented plant cultivated for it’s long edible roots. The Parsnip is the plant that holds his life. The plant grows only once every two thousand years. If the plant dies, the prince dies.
Walking upon the earth in human form, Prince David strolled slowly passing each person in the village of Eos. Every plant that he passes he observes with interest. Before long, he had seen a dozen lovely doves flying swiftly over his head landing amongst the green garden of Eclipse. He wondered which people of the human race can take such wonderful care of a garden, lacing it with such detail. Every plant in the garden had a speck of life. All he could imagine was every rain drop trickling slowly down the Parsnip plant, dripping upon the rich dark soil. He knew the Parsnip plant grew within this magical garden.
With delight, Prince David headed towards the garden. A spark of engrossment blending within the crowd of the village. As he got closer, he was amazed to see seven beautiful ladies watering every vine, root, flower, and plant. He secretly glanced at each of the beautiful daughters, and Victoria caught his attention. Never had he seen a woman of such graceful features. Thinking to himself, he decided to courageously speak to Victoria. Entering the garden humbly, Prince David shyly walked with pace towards Victoria. While Victoria was still watering the short little plants, Prince David murmured with a low tone of voice, “Good afternoon Madame, How do you do?” Victoria triggered with fear and quickly cleared her throat. “I’m fine today, Monsieur. What brings you here?” He replied, “It is you who attracted me.” Secretly giggling, she shyly turned away and continued watering the plants.
“May I ask who these lovely ladies with you are?”
“They are my sisters; and you Monsieur, what is your name, and where have you come from?”
Feeling uncomfortable, he spoke in a clear concise voice, “I am David from the far East, in search of something, which I cannot say. Say, what is your name, and what are the names of your father and mother that created such a lovely mortal?”
Victoria replied, “Why my name is Victoria, my mother and father are Elisabeth and Frank.”
“Very well then, if it’s alright with you, may I have the pleasure of seeing you later Victoria?” Looking upon her flowers, she did not reply wondering why such a handsome young man just all of a sudden wanted to see her, or even talk to her. “So may I?” he asked.
“Certainly sir, but my mother is sick, and I ought to take care of her first,”
“What is wrong? Is there anything I can do to help?” he replied.
“No sir, the only thing to cure her illness is a long lost plant. Perhaps, if you want, you can help me find it?”
Feeling confused, Prince David stared at Victoria with a blank face. “What kind of plant are you searching for?” Looking deep into his eyes, she softly spoke and said, “The Parsnip plant sir.” After he heard this, he was really disturbed.
“I’ll try.” Then he left, without listening to any of Victoria’s response, in such an insistent manner. As night fell, he walked along the sea trembling. “Was this love at first sight? This can’t be.” Rattling under his tongue. “It can’t be now. My time is almost up and I don’t want to fall in love. Why God, must I choose? Should I take the plant selfishly to myself and feel guilty the rest of my life? Or should I be generous and let her mother have it for her health?” Prince David was longing to glance at Victoria once more before he can leave home. Intangibly, and jittery, he decided to past the garden again, to see if Victoria’s presence was there.
There she was, standing like the first star out during the night. Singing so passionately, and so perfect, he couldn’t resist her; all of a sudden the dark skies flashed lightning, lighting up the entire sky. Thunders roared angrily, and Prince David was petrified. Afraid he might take form of a dragon, he ran desperately towards the old oak tree. Victoria, wanting to hear the beautiful tunes of the rain beating amongst the ground, she stayed inside the garden hoping for Prince David to meet her. Crawling with devastation towards the sea, Prince David turned into a high sky dragon pouncing upon earth’s solid grounds. Victoria stared with great fear, and fainted.
The dragon feared that Victoria would ramble on with what she saw took place, to the village folks. He was afraid these mortals will destroy his kingdom searching for him. Yet he didn’t remember that all these humans thought it was just a loud pounce of thunder. With his long enormous neck, he slightly stretched it towards her; He opened his large jaws, and blew upon her the breath of sea life, and carried her with his large mouth down under to his kingdom. All the sea creatures and sea people came to see what the Prince had brought back from the land above. The Prince ordered the sea maids to take care of Victoria with great supervision; not letting her have any contact with any earth mortal of any kind, until the time is right. When Victoria slowly became conscious again, she thought she had died and started a new life, in a new place. “Maybe my vision of the dragon was real.” Above the sea, Frank and his wife was really disappointed and extremely concerned about their youngest daughter.
“Elisabeth, where can she be? I can’t believe you didn’t keep an eye on her.”
“Frank, Victoria has never wandered off before. What do you expect me to do? I am so ill right now, my vision is blurred. Why don’t you ask your daughters? They were last with her.”
With frustration and anger, Frank raised his voice violently at the other six daughters. “Where is your sister?! You all must know something, and are purposely hiding it from your mother and I.”
“Father,” replied Anna, “Please do not accuse us. There was a young gentleman speaking to Victoria yesterday at mid afternoon. He said he was from the far, far, East; he left already though.”
Frank heard this and was furious. He stormed out of the door so fiercely that dust swayed everywhere. The whole family was worried about Victoria, and her safety. “What can we do now girls? We must find your sister before she is in trouble. She knows not a thing of what is out there. It is very dangerous,” said the mother.
Frank went to each house, inviting everyone to gather at the creek of the crevices. The whole village showed up to see what was so important. He announced, “My dear village, my youngest daughter Victoria is gone, I do not know what to do, or how to find her. Please, from the bottom of my soul, find my daughter. Her mother is very ill, and she will not get better if she doesn’t see Victoria.” As Frank made his announcement, his face flowed with endless tears. He loved each and every one of his daughters so dearly. Hurting so deep inside, it felt like a knife stabbing him, but he won’t die.
Beneath the surface of the sea, Prince David can hear mourning of Frank, Elisabeth, and the girls. This strikingly disturbed his thoughts. “Somehow, I have got to find a way, to get the Parsnip plant, and have Victoria give it to her mother. With myself, I am not worthy of living anymore.” He decided that he should tell her the whole truth. He walked with great shame to the room where Victoria was. Seeing Victoria so peaceful and sweet, he was so sad. Yet he knew he had to face his problems sooner or later. Victoria shyly lifted her head up, along with her deep aqua green eyes and gazed into Prince David’s honey brown eyes.
At this moment, Prince David knew he was too deeply in love with this woman. Never had he seen such a precious thing in his days of ruling the kingdom. Desperately trying to hold back his tears, he just couldn’t. His tears flowed with sorrow along with the tides of the sea. “Why are you crying David?” asked Victoria; as she brushed the tears away that strolled down his cheek. “David? I know I haven’t mentioned this to you, but the first time I met you, I knew I loved you.”
Prince David gave her a long hard look, and asked “Do you remember your family? Do you recall your mother being ill?” I promised you I’d help you find the Parsnip plant for your mother. Do you?” With a lost look on Victoria’s face, all the puzzle started to fit in. Each recaptured memory fit piece by piece. “Victoria, I do not want to you to say one word until I am done with what I have to say to you. Do you comprehend?”
“Yes sir, I understand.”
Sighing deeply, Prince David began. “The first time I set eyes on you, I fell in love with you. I was afraid to give you my heart, because my life line would be up. The reason I came to your garden, was to grab the Parsnip plant. The plant is my life line. If it dies, I die. If someone else takes it, I will die as well. You maybe unaware but I am the dragon you saw. I was afraid you would tell the village, and they would try to find me, and destroy not only I but my kingdom as well. Two days under the sea, has been two years in earthly time. To this very day, your mother holds strongly onto her life until she sees you. Your mother wants to see you one last time, before she can depart from this world in peace. She is weak, with no strength. Let me tell you where the Parsnip plant is, it is in between the only two lady slipper flowers you have planted in the middle of the lilies surrounding it. After you give the Parsnip plant to your mother, use this dagger in my hands, and do the honor of releasing my life.”
Victoria cried with great sorrow. All her deep hidden pain, made her mourn even more. Deep within her soul, she loved Prince David so compassionately. Now she knows she either has to save her mother’s life, and let her Prince David go, or save her Prince David’s life, and let her mother go. These were her two choices and only one will win. While she was still mourning, Prince David took her above the sea onto land, taking her to her house. When the sisters saw her, they all rejoiced with happy tears; hugging Victoria so tight. Frank was out searching for medicine elsewhere, and wasn’t present while the sisters rejoiced.
Walking into the garden, between the two lady slippers surrounded by the lilies, there laid the Parsnip plant, glaring and glistening. Victoria had never noticed it before. Victoria pulled out the Parsnip plant. After awhile, she heard loud cries of pain. The villagers had tied Prince David against a pole, and beat harshly upon him. Frank was still so upset about his daughter being gone, he whipped Prince David until he almost took his last breath of life. “I love you Victoria. We weren’t meant to be. Maybe in the next life time, we can be together.”
Struggling and battling with her conscience, in whom to give the Parsnip plant to, Frank fiercely snatched the plant and gave it to his wife. Instantly, Elisabeth became well. Prince David looked at Victoria for the last time, and said, “After the rain drips dry, I will be the rainbow in the sky, watching over you.” Took his last breath, and he was gone, departing from his true love.
