~ This is dedicated to shestaysunknown for making the previous cover for this story. :)

In the beginning, there was only darkness. The single source of light that existed on Earth was that of Zeus' lighting. Gods roamed blindly on Earth, forming the structure of the land.

Then one day, a daughter was born to Zeus and Hera. When she was born, the Earth filled with light. Her parents named her Aegle, meaning light, radiance, and glory. Not only was she the illumination for the Earth but her beauty buried the magnificence of the Goddess of beauty and love, Deirdre, herself. As Aegle grew older her glow and beauty doubled in intensity.

One day the God of heroes, Eros asked Zeus for Aegle's hand in marriage. When Deirdre heard of the news she was furious. Deirdre, consumed with jealousy, went to Aegle and asked her to decline Eros' proposal. Aegle was beautiful but she was also gullible and naive so she agreed. Seeing Aegle's innocence Deidre decided to take advantage of it. Deirdre smiled, "Aegle, you are so beautiful but you can be so much more." Aegle listened intently.

Deidre told Aegle of a box that was hidden deep in the underworlds. Deidre explained how the box made any beholder the perfect God or Goddess. Aegle was hesitant at first because she knew if she left. the world would be in darkness. "Kind Deidre, I would love to be the perfect Goddess but if I leave, the world will be in darkness."

"If you are away for only a little while, the world won't die," Deidre responded. Greed took over Aegle and she decided to go down to the underworlds and search for the box. As Deidre watched Aegle walk down to the underworlds a sudden pang of guilt hit her, for she knew that Aegle would never make it back alive with something non-existent. Deidre sighed and explained the dangers of the underworld to the naive Aegle and gave her a coin.

"What's this?" Aegle questioned. Deidre responded with a small smile and pushed poor Aegle towards the underworld.

Aegle happily made her way to the underworld. When she reached the Styx River, Aegle froze. "How will I ever cross this river, it is terrifying." Aegle tried to muster up the courage to cross the river cross but every time she walked on to the boat, fear would consume her. Aegle stood at the Styx trying to figure out whether to go on or make the journey back home. Many hours passed but sweet Aegle couldn't get the courage to cross the river of the dead.

Meanwhile, darkness filled the earth for several hours. The Gods and Goddesses started to worry that their many years of light had disappeared once again.

When young Aegle finally came back after several hours the world filled with light once again. Aegle's father heard the news of Deidre fooling his daughter and he was furious. He made sure to make Deidre's life miserable. Deidre was given a poison that made her lose her beauty. She still walks the earth trying to make everyone else around her unhappy.

Innocent Aegle still thought that there was a box full of untouchable treasures. Aegle continues to go down to the underworld every day to search for the box. Although she never makes it across the river, so she comes back to the world of the living. This is how there is darkness and light in the world. The world dreads the day when Aegle will make it across the river for Aegle will never be able to make it back, plunging the earth into total darkness.

|| Author's Note ||    

I wrote this for an assignment in my freshman year at high school. My writing has changed drastically since then.