The Man of the Moon and the Day of Darkness

Long ago there was an inn under a bright green hill. Fertile and rich, the land produced some of the biggest and tastiest crops around. The beer from those crops was dark and full of flavour. It did not take long for the beer to be known widely as the best beer ever made.

So it came to pass that even the Man of the Moon became aware of this beer. During each of his journeys across the sky, he would always look down upon the inn and hope for a chance to taste the ale. Every single time, he continued on and kept moving, performing his duty. But he kept hope that one day he would be able to.

One day, the bartender organized a party with good food, great music and far too much of this famous beer. It happened that on this night the Man of the Moon crossed the sky right above the inn. He heard the party music and curiosity finally triumphed over duty. He abandoned the Moon and went to the inn for a beer. One beer became two, two became four, and quickly he lost track of time while in the bliss of this beer.

A long time passed. Soon the Sun began to rise, but the Moon was still in the sky! The Man of the Sun pushed and pushed, but could not rise.

So the world remained dark.

All over the world, people began to panic. Why was the Moon still here? Why was there no sunlight? What was happening?

Soon, panic turned to chaos across the world.

After a long time of pushing, the Man of the Sun was finally able to partially bring the Sun into the sky. It was still blocked by the Moon, so only a small circle of sunlight was seen. Yet the world became brighter at last. The light fell through the windows of the inn.

The Man of the Moon was shocked by this and he hurried back to the sky and made sure that the Moon would set again. Yet, the damage had been done, and the equilibrium was disturbed.

As the Man of the Moon went to his rest, the Sun now high in the sky, the Lady of the Earth called him down to speak with her. She showed him the mess.

"Do you see what you have done, and the chaos that you created?" she said to him. "As punishment, you will go around the world when the Moon is not in the sky and gather the darkness which you created."

The Man of the Moon bowed his head, nodding to the punishment, and began his long quest. He went from place to place and took the darkness which he created, bent it and folded it until it instead became a bright light. Each of these lights, he placed in the sky. Now the sky would be filled with light all night long, there would never be such chaos again.

Even now, some new stars appear in the sky, when some of that old darkness is finally folded into light.

Originally told by Naly Vintergard during the second Day of Stories. Recorded, written and embellished by Minto T Fuzzypaw.