Week 09 Story: To Be Worthy of a Happy Ending
To Be Worthy of a Happy Ending
Prince Ucay looked nervously about the grand hall. His bride-to-be beside was not an unpleasant woman, but he did not love her. He pined for his love who he kept secret from the world for he was too afraid to admit to his father he was in love with the daughter of his father's most hated rival, a witch.
The doors to the hall burst open. The guests screamed. His bride-to-be cowered beside him. For a brief moment, Ucay's heart was elated. It was his love!
His heart fell. She did not come toward him with a smile. She came toward him with eyes red from tears and hate on her face.
"You have betrayed and destroyed any love we once shared! For your timidity and cowardice, you will be transformed into nothing more than the performing monkey you are. And what better place for a monkey to live than the tallest tree in the forest. And what better subjects for a monkey prince to rule over than the other animals in the jungle!"
At her commands, Ucay shifted into a monkey. His kingdom transformed into a thick jungle with the wedding hall being changed to the tallest tree. His subjects shifted one by one into animals.
The daughter of the witch smiled ruefully. "You will not regain your true form until five centuries from now when a girl will love you above all things." She laughed and disappeared back into the forest.
And all was thought lost.
For 200 years, Ucay stayed in his tree. He refused to leave for his heart and pride had been broken so badly he had no desire to move. On the first day of the third century, a horrible storm came. It swept Ucay off his tree and to the forest floor where the floodwaters whisked him away.
When the water subsided, he found himself deep in the woods. He started his forlorn journey back to his tree.
He hadn't gone far when he spotted his love. She was older but only looked to have aged several years. He opened his mouth to call her name but found it was no longer in his memory.
"You have removed it," he cried. "Could you at least not leave me with your name?"
The daughter of the witch, who had by now become a full-fledged witch herself, turned and saw him. Her expression twisted with disgust. "Go back to your tree, monkey. I have no business talking to animals like you."
Against his cowardice and pain, Ucay followed her through the forest. She tried to lose him, but he was determined. When the sun started its descent below the horizon, she grew tired and returned to her home. Ucay remembered where it was and went back to his tree. He would come back to her, even if she had removed her name from his mind.
Ucay brought nothing but himself the first day. He bowed until his nose touched the ground and apologized for his actions that had led to both of their sorrows.
"I have already wasted my life until now thinking of and serving only myself," he said. "Even if you do not accept my apology, let me work until I have at least earned it from you."
The witch turned him away scornfully, but he was not deterred. He went back every day for a hundred years. On the first day of the fourth century, she gave in and sent him to do chores. He did all she asked of him. He traveled far and wide outside his kingdom and the surrounding forest but always came back ready to accept and complete the next task.
One day, he saw a beautiful flower. It was common, one he had most likely passed many times, but this time he picked it up and brought it to her.
"I know this will do nothing to serve you," he said to her, "but I saw it and thought of you. Please accept it."
She threw it out and ordered him to not bring her another thing like it.
He followed her order, and the next day brought her sweet fruit instead. The witch again cast it aside and ordered him not to bring her another thing like it. And so he spent his days working as she commanded and bringing her gifts.
And each morning when he arrived and each evening before he left, he would bow and offer her his apology. As each day passed, the humility, strength, and wisdom Ucay had learned showed itself more and more to the witch. Her heart softened to it and she found herself soon accepting his gifts.
"Tomorrow is the 500th day of the curse," she said. "Are you not distressed at the news?"
"Not overly much. I have no desire to be with anyone else aside from you, and if it means I am forsaken in this form, then so be it."
"I cannot love you above everything, for I cannot love you above myself," she said. "That was my mistake those centuries ago."
"I would rather belong to this form and be equals than to have my true form and have you forsake yourself to me again."
As the sun rose on the 500th day of Ucay's curse, the witch transformed him with a flash of light to his original form. He stared as his kingdom sprang back up around him, and his subjects returned to normal.
He cried tears of joy as her name was returned to his memory. "If you would have me once again, Diwa, I would like to court you publically without shame."
Diwa agreed, and they lived happily for many years.
Author's Note
This story is based on "The Enchanted Prince" from the Filipino Tales unit. In the original story, Prince Ucay spends his 500 years kidnapping girls to find one who he can get to love him above all things. I thought this was really unfair to the witch's daughter, who goes unnamed in the story. It didn't seem like Ucay had really earned a happy ending since no justice was really served to the daughter of the witch. So I changed it to where Ucay apologizes and atones for what he did and because of that, the daughter learns to forgive him, and they both get a second chance. I thought that sounded like a much better story.
Bibliography
The Enchanted Prince from Filipino folklore by Dean S. Fansler
Hey Natalie, I have to say that I enjoy your version a whole lot more! The fact that Ucay just kidnapped girls to try and reverse the curse is honestly so unfair to the witch's daughter, and it lets him get away with his behavior even though he doesn't deserve forgiveness. So, I really enjoy that in your version you had him work for that forgiveness, but also for the possibility of regaining his true form. It was a good read, and I enjoyed the gradual change in the character's attitudes. It was sweet to see!
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie, your rewriting story is just amazing! You put several images into your website which could help each reader to imagine some scenes and pictures in their minds (just like that picture of the forests!). I think this is a really good strategy for us to build the website.
ReplyDeleteHey Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI think this story was so interesting to read, I was very invested in the story. The only thing that I would suggest to add is just a little more physical descriptions of both the setting and character actions and thoughts. I think this extra detail is really enhancing to the reading experience and really helps you get your point across.