How the Northern Lights Came to Be

          You probably know the story of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone. However, you probably haven’t heard of Demeter’s other daughter Aurora Borealis. For those of you who do know Aurora, do you ever wonder what happened to her? Wonder no more, because this is her story.

          Demeter was always depressed when Persephone had to spend the winter with Hades; as queen of the Underworld. What Demeter wanted more than anything was another daughter to love and care for all year. To her great happiness, that winter she and Zeus had a baby girl. That baby was Aurora, and she was a most charming creature. Her hair was the color of the wheat her mother helped her mother helped her to grow, with the skin the color of honey, and eyes the color of the night sky.

         Time passes fast on Mt. Olympus, and before Demeter knew it, her daughter was a teenager with a love of beautiful things. Demeter has been so happy those past 13 years, that she had forgotten to be depressed when Persephone traveled to the Underworld. As a result winter no longer occurred. The earth flourished all year, and the mortals were most pleased.

          Aurora, unlike her mother and older sister didn’t like to grow things or paint flowers; her passion was twirling flags. Her father Zeus had made her small flags to play with when she was little, and he had promised when she was 13 she could use them to make beautiful pictures in the sky. The brightly colored streamers she played with were made of gold and silk highly valued on earth, but hardly a trifle on Mt. Olympus. She had become an excellent flag waver.

           On her 13th birthday Zeus summoned her and said: “Now, Aurora, I promised you that when you reached this age you might wave your flags in the sky.  I am a man who keeps his promises. would you still be interested?”

           “Oh, Father, yes. YES!” she cried, hugging him.

           Zeus chuckled, and Aurora eagerly began. She was now given The finest materials to weave her pennants from; fluffy clouds, star dust, and even fire from the sun. Her streamers were so bright, and alive they seamed magical.

          Each day, Aurora streamed her banners across the sky for everyone to see, and to the mortals, they were the loveliest pictures ever. She had created a marvelous rich blue for the sky, a soft white for the clouds, and an enchanting green for the sky when tornadoes were near. By far, her most beautiful banners were of the sunrise and sunset.

          Apollo, the sun-god, had always made the sunrise and sunset rather plain and dull. But Aurora insisted on making them spectacular shows every night. The mortals noticed the extra flair the sunrise and sunset carried with them now.

          “What a lovely sunset!” “How colorful!” “How bright!” they would all comment as the watched the sun rise and set every day.

          Demeter and Zeus were pleased with their daughters cleverness. Apollo however was deeply jealous. No one had ever complimented his sunrises or sunsets.

         “That’s my job!” he muttered to himself often. “And now she’s stolen it from me!”

         Apollo was near his breaking point. One sunset in particular was the straw that broke the camels back. Apollo was preparing to let the sunset in his usual, boring way. He was in a good mood, for he hadn’t seen Aurora showing off all day. He was about to let the sunset when;

        “Hello, Apollo!” called a light clear voice. Apollo froze he knew that voice all too well. He slowly turned to see Aurora, holding her magnificent pennant of gold and fire, wearing a friendly smile.

         My it’s been an exciting day, hasn’t it?” she asked happily. “Time to do the sunset you don’t mind, do you?”

          It was obvious Apollo did mind, for he had turned very red, and had let out a low growl. Unfortunately for her, Aurora did not see him. She began to make the sunset. This one was so splendid that every person on earth turned to watch it, and when she finally let the sun sink below the sky, every single person applauded.

          This was to much for Apollo. He waved his hands furiously. Aurora felt herself being lifted from where she was treading air. She finally looked upon Apollo and began to tremble. He was shaking from anger and hysteria.

          “There!” cried Apollo. He had grabbed her banner, the banner she had worked on for so long, and ripped it to shreds. He grabbed Aurora and threw her up into the sky. “There!” Apollo screamed agin. “You have the whole sky to your self! Are you happy now?”

          Apollo had thrown her with so much force she was unable to stop herself from sailing through the air she was more frightened than in her entire life. Then she saw her multicolored flag hurtling towards her, and the only memory of her life up until that point. She reached out and, with her last ounce of strength, grabbed it. It glittered faintly in the night sky. That was the last Apollo saw of Aurora before she disappeared behind a cloud never to be seen agin.