The Warrior-Princess, Demon And The Magical Emerald Peacock— A Short Story
Once upon a time, in the Land of Divine Goodness, a dazzlingly beautiful woman resided in great splendor. She was as pure and loving, as she was lovely. At one time, she had lived as a mortal on Earth, with a vicious, unkind man who was driven to all kinds of drink, women and excesses. He had passed on before her but she knew not which Land he had been sent to. She herself had been a virtuous woman, and had simply accepted her husband the way he was and loved him anyway. Now, as a princess in a divine realm, she was troubled about his fate, a small furrow ruffling her smooth brow. A melodious voice, as sweet as honey cakes served on flowers interrupted her deep reverie. ‘Anita?’ The hint of a smiling query colored the tone.
Anita got up quickly from her perch on the swing, her cheeks flushing hesitatingly at the unfinished question. She looked up at the Divine Goddess, surrounded by the resplendent blossoms of the garden, making the pure air spicy with fragrance. Some of the blooms adorned her long hair, like jewels nestled amongst midnight velvet. Her eyes were as soft as those of a doe, filled with a love and kindness fathoms deep. An intensely golden light seemed to emanate from Her, turning the atmosphere around Her instantly blissful. A gentle, all knowing smile played on Devi’s lips as she surveyed the slight confusion of her favorite friend. “What troubles you can be resolved and you shall receive what you seek. But you will have to work for it”, said Devi.
“I will do what it takes,” Anita promised, taking Devi’s outstretched clasp. They walked along the silvery-gold waters of the Ageless River, that kept all the residents of the Land of Divine Goodness, eternally youthful.
“Then I shall tell you about Dushyant, your husband. Because of his past deeds, upon leaving the mortal plane, he took on the form of a vile demon and he is now called by the name Brahma-rakshasa, living upon the Land of Ashes, a remote land created by the emissions of all volcanoes within the universal grid, that spew poisonous lavas. Even celestial snakes are afraid to venture there, out of fear of the deadly venom of that Land,” Devi said, softly. “But,” Devi continued at Anita’s cry of distress, “because of your pure karmas and compassion, I will provide him with another chance so that he may be forever released from the chains of self created agony that bind him.” As she raised a gentle finger, they both found themselves transported into a chamber constructed of blue and pink sapphires, in the shape of a peacock poised to take flight. Anita was used to the magnificence of the writing table, pure white marble inlaid with gold leaf and with bookshelves filled with the rarest and most ancient of scrolls documenting every moment of universal time. A small crumbly parchment tightly wound up appeared in Devi’s hand. After a moment, she reached into a compartment of the writing desk and took out an object that streamed a brilliant green aura. With a few murmured incantations, the light dimmed to nothing and Anita found a strange emerald key in the shape of a peacock feather in her hand, along with the crumbly parchment. The feather key throbbed as if with a life of its own. “Keep this safe,” Devi’s melodious voice chimed, “because this is the key to King Emerine’s Emerald Peacock.”
The Celestial Chariot named Divya Ratha, was a comfortable vehicle. Drawn by four snowy white horses with silver wings and manes, the chariot itself was made of beaten gold. But its fancy looks disguised a fantastic flying machine faster than Light — and lighter then the feather of a celestial bird. In a flash, the chariot was descending with Anita into the Land of Emerine, a divine land, home to the emerald people, who were the original creators of the crystalline structure of the emerald gemstone. They were some of the kindest and most powerful people in the Universal Grid but these days they were troubled by the despotism of their current ruler, who descended from a demonic bloodline, but called himself King Emerine.
“This so-called King Emerine, is a woe to his people”, Devi had said. “ Many years ago, the kingdom of Emerine was ruled by Mani, a valiant king of the Emeraldic dynastic order. The people were happy, peace filled and prosperous during the 300 celestial years of his reign. But one full moon night, Kaalnemi, a wicked sorcerer, tricked him and snatched away Mani’s kingdom. Today, a 1000 celestial years later, Mani languishes in the dungeons while Kaalnemi misrules the land as King Emerine. He is as black and evil as his name but you will end all that.”
“ Challenge Kaalnemi to battle alone as soon as the Divya-Ratha touches down in the Land of Emerine. It will be a moonless night and Kaalnemi will have a mere fraction of his usual strength and powers. On this night alone, all his physical, mental and magical prowess are absorbed by the Emerald Peacock that adorns the center of his royal crown. The Emerine moon hides totally only once in a thousand years, so tonight is your window of opportunity. Use the Emerald Feather Key as I showed you,” were Devi’s parting words, Anita recalled as she stood outside Kaalnemi’s Palace in the pitch black night. As the night grew blacker, Anita drew upon the reservoir of her own mystical powers, calling upon divine weaponry from the subtle levels of the Universal Grid. Fully prepared now, she focused her intention to create a red-hot thought arrow of challenge which she launched at Kaalnemi’s mental aura. Within a few minutes there was a sudden, blood-curdling roar as a large pitch dark bullish being charged in her direction, nostrils snorting smoke and eyes red with venomous malice. The royal crown was still on his head. Kaalnemi was an accomplished shape-shifter, Anita knew as his pointed horns came closer, attempting to gore her. Another instant, he transformed into a tigerish creature brandishing a dozen flame-swords.
The battle raged with desperate angst for several hours and finally, just as dawn crept over the horizon with tiptoes, Anita drew out the Final Weapon — the emerald key that Devi has given her. The Key in her hand sensed her wish and transformed into a sharp pillar made of emerald stone. With blinding alacrity, Anita launched the throbbing pillar of green light at the center of the royal crown, piercing the shining emerald peacock studded there. A blood curdling howl of agony pierced the air as Kaalnemi dropped to the ground. The green emerald feather key, now fused with the emerald peacock, flew back into Anita’s hand, just as the Celestial Chariot swooped down to a stop before her. As she took off, Anita could hear the cheers resounding in the freed realm.
Spewing volcanic lava lit the way as the flying vehicle descended into the Land of Ashes. Dismal cries and howls percolated the air with restless soul despair. Anita entered the Bubble of Happy Energy before stepping out into the venom-filled environs. Invoking the Divine name of Devi she called upon Dushyant, her husband-now-turned demon to appear before her. Instantly, a low growl warned her as she turned around in time to see a fiendish creature come upon her, barring its fangs lustily. Brushing away tears of grief she commanded the creature to halt. But as he lunged at her, she stretched the emerald peacock and feather towards him and a blindingly green light stopped the creature in his tracks. To her amazement, the emerald green peacock transformed into a solid cage with bars that throbbed with Light and Energy, entrapping the demon inside. All his roars of fury were to no avail, the cage would not move or break an inch.
As Devi had instructed, Anita stepped back and unrolled the crumbly parchment scroll she had been given. Sacred chants of the Universe enveloped the dark land. For 28 days and 28 nights, the chants of divine will continued purifying the deeds of the demons in this land and invoking forgiveness. Flowers started growing again, trees began to shine with green leaves and poison-flow morphed into gurgling brooks of mountain water. On the night of the 28th day, as the milky moon gazed down benignly, the emerald cage was filled with an ethereal white radiance, rivalling those of a thousand suns and the demon imploded into a handsome youth, filled with love, his deep baritone singing the song of the Universe. Husband and wife reunited at last and returned to the Land of Divine Goodness, where they lived in bliss forever after receiving the Grace and eternal blessings of Devi, the Divine Goddess.
