The trees were glistening beneath the dawning sun. Dew drops sparkled amongst healthy leaves and warm earth while a shroud of frost cooled the air and mystified the morning. The forest on the other side of town had long been nurtured by the sun and its brilliant rays; light had chosen its favorite side and remained there. Here, life was prospering in a golden sanctuary with the burning sphere as its mother.
Towards the end of town, to some, the end of the world, the sky was very dark and depressed, filled with grey, unhappy clouds that had become nothing more than mere shadows. Another forest stood, now completely dead and barren. Animals would invest their time in it, and move on to find a place more friendly; a place more suitable to raise a family and call home. Although unoccupied, with little company aside from the occasional wanderers, the trees here continued to reach for the sky and stiffen their strong, elongated branches. They tried ever so desperately to attract visitors; to look handsome and welcoming; and they were. Being leafless, weathered and drained of spirit, however, was not a thing of beauty to some. Lacking nourishment and color made the forest appear threatening, cold, and dangerously dry, but this did not intimidate four boys from venturing into its depths to remove the pain and cure the sadness. Because of them, the trees had made life-long friends, and were forever grateful.
The magnificent orb of light that blazed the entire far side of town always fascinated the four boys. Living in a desolate, hopelessly lost land had aroused them to appreciate a thing of such splendor. Never a day went by these boys didn’t wish to rid their grim home of defeat and air the gloomy ambiance; to bring comfort to their friends and families. The sun was the only thing that could start life anew.
Unfortunately, the boys were not able to steal the sun and carry it away, for it was extremely hot to the delicate touch, and much larger than could be handled. Instead, each boy grabbed a jar from their kitchen cupboards and journeyed great lengths to the illuminated kingdom. They each caught and filled their jars with tiny sunspots. The first boy fixed himself on top of a mountain to collect his, the second climbed to the crown of and old oak tree, the third found his bouncing joyfully off of the glossy, polished surface of the sea, and the fourth was given his by a smiling field of flowers. With their gifts from the sun, the boys returned to their home at the end of the world.
The entrance to the forest was frightening and unkind, but the boys had built up their courage and advanced into the sleeping unknown. The wind’s chilling voice disturbed them and caused their bones to tremble, and they were becoming increasingly uncomfortable and terrified; but then all their fears melted away. The faces on the trees were old and worn, hiding many memories of the past, and purely full of sorrow. Their branches reached for the boys in a display of love and affection, and the boys were no longer afraid. The boys promised to help, and caressed the trees’ elegant, colossal trunks. Leaving with a smile was enough to lighten the trees’ heavy hearts.
At the center of the forest, the canopy opened up to the sky and a small area was cleaned of any foliage. The four boys each picked a section of ground and dug until the aura of light surrounding them dimmed to a dismal glow. Below, the boys planted their jars of jumpy sunspots, and waited, day after day, for something wonderful to happen.
Months later, the town awoke to a blinding flare penetrating their bedroom windows. All ran out to see the source of light, but it was not the sun. The forest had blossomed into a rich habitat; it was breathing so well, and overflowing with green goodness that it encouraged and promised a sparkling future. The trees grew tall and straightened themselves proudly, shimmering in a mirror-like manner. Within, animals were building and gathering food, resting and enjoying the excitement. All had been re-grown; life was fresh and sweet.
The four boys diligently took care of the forest, trimming the shrubs and rushes, planting flowers, keeping the trees and other creatures company and chatting mixed conversations; the weather was a most popular topic. Over time, the boys went through schooling, fell in love, and raised a family of their own, leaving few spare moments to tend the forest; but the trees carried on with dedication, and appreciation of their gift from the boys.
Time continued endlessly. The boys got older and wiser and eventually descended into illness, finally coming to pass. As one boy left, a piece of the forest went with him, until slowly, and mournfully, the forest had become what it always was. Its light diminished, darkness encumbered the small town once again.
A while back, the boys had made a bond to be buried in their creation; underneath the world at the end of the world; and each was. Nothing was thought to come of this; just a place to lie in peace and comeliness. Months went by that shaped into years, and on the fourth year something phenomenal happened, as proof of heavenly magic. Being buried in the forest had reunited the four boys with those cheerful children of the sun they had captured when they were young and adventurous. The sunspots had found their way to the boys’ hearts, erupting a solar beam that burst from the earth into the sky, raining down in a fiery luminosity to form a shining globe; a second sun. The forest flourished once more and was looking alive and well. Trees were sprouting in every direction, vines wrapped around grand houses forming blankets to toast its dwellers, and animals were running pleasantly throughout the streets and simply riding along immense roots. Growth, good fortune, and plenty were all around; and would forever be. As the hearts of the four boys cultivated the heart of the forest, the light never went away again. Both towns were now unclouded and vivid. The sky was pleasantly sunny, and the air comfortably warm, forevermore.
The trees always looked their best for their friends, the boys, and cherished the immortal existence they had given them. Their branches could now relax and sway in the scented breeze everlastingly, with the celestial light from the two guardians always watching over the land.

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...