The Island of Tristíssima🔊

Once upon a time, there was an island named Tristíssima, shrouded in dread and sadness. The island was filled with inhabitants who dressed in dark shades, their faces sullen and drained of happiness. The sun seldom shone upon them, and the clouds seemed perpetually looming.

Tristíssima was ruled by a harsh king, Regis. Regis was a tyrant, consumed by his own misery, who believed that joy was an illusion and forbade his subjects from expressing happiness. Punishments were harsh, happiness was confiscated, and smiles were downright outlawed. Posterity was a luxury, hope a dream, lament the daily bread.

In a grim corner of this forlorn island lived a young boy named Eli. Unlike others, Eli was a ray of sunshine, embodying optimism despite all odds. He had a peculiar habit of etching a smile onto a stone every morning, a symbol of secret defiance to King Regis's rules.

One day, while Eli was at his usual task, he found an intriguing golden stone, unusually warm to the touch. It sat heavy in his palms as if holding a secret. Intrigued, Eli, on instinct, carved his customary smile on it. As the final stroke was etched, the stone pulsed with a radiant light and then, he felt an outpouring of pure joy.

The stone was enchanted, a 'joy stone,' forged by ancient witches of Tristíssima who foresaw the perpetual melancholy that would enshroud the island. Its magic was activated by Eli's unblemished joy. The stone carried the power to spark happiness but needed a genuine heart full of life and optimism to unlock it, and Eli was the perfect fit.

Now that the stone was awakened, Eli was determined to restore joy on Tristíssima. A daunting task, almost impossible under the watchful eyes of King Regis. So, Eli contrived a plan. He started by sharing the joy with his best friend, Ana. The effect was instantaneous. Her face which was once clouded with gloom, lit up with the lost emotion - happiness.

Word spread, and covertly, the joy stone worked its magic, cascading from one person to another, breathing life back into the people. Every person touched by its joy found strength to hope and dream. Laughter started creeping back into their lives, hearts were beating with a renewed vigour, and the atmosphere seemed less melancholic. However, each one had to maintain the facade of sadness to not arouse Regis's suspicion.

Soon, even the island responded to the stone's magic. Flowers began to bloom, birds started singing again; the dreary clouds made way for the golden sunlight. The island vibrated with an energy it had not felt in years. Yet, there was no smile on the faces, only a twinkling in the eyes, a light concealed closely in hearts.

One day, the impossible happened. A woman broke into a spontaneous dance, twirling, her face split into a grin, oblivious to the crowd that gathered around her. As expected, she was summoned to the king. Regis prepared to mete out harsh punishment when Eli stepped forward and confessed about the joy stone, offering it to Regis.

Regis held it and felt a wave of happiness he had forgotten existed. With a burst of laughter, he dropped the stone, and it shattered into countless tiny shards, each piece sparking joy until everything was enveloped in the happiest sunshine. The decree was rescinded, and the island celebrated like never before. From that day forth, Tristíssima turned into an island of joy, hope, and happiness, all thanks to a boy and an enchanted stone.