Light and Darkness by Daria Kobulyanska

Once upon a time,

in a land where the sun always seemed to shine a little brighter, lived two young girls, Gold and Shadow. They were peers, almost like twins, born on the same day, and both gifted with magic. Their lives, however, were about to become very different. Gold was a young girl full of energy and kindness. She had bright, golden hair that always seemed to catch the light, and eyes the colour of the summer sky. She was tall and strong, but she moved with a gentle grace. Gold loved to help people, especially with her magic. She could make plants grow quickly using the power of light and could heal small injuries with a touch. The girl enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the smell of flowers, and the sound of laughter. Her heart could not stand anything that caused pain or sadness, and she hated the cold. Gold always tried to see the good in everyone. Shadow, on the other hand, was more mysterious. She had jet black hair and her eyes were a deep, stormy grey. The girl was the same height as Gold, but she carried herself with a quiet power. Shadow`s magic was connected to the night. She could make shadows move, take different shapes, and find things that were lost in the dark. Shadow loved the quiet of the night, the stars, and the feeling of mystery and loneliness, but she could not stand loud noises, bright lights and people who were dishonest. She often kept her feelings hidden, but was very clever. Even though they were peers, Shadow's heart began to fill with a dark ambition. The girl wanted more power than anyone else and she believed that Gold stood in her way. Shadow started to practice her magic in secret, trying to find ways to make it stronger and more dangerous. She discovered old, forgotten spells in dusty books and learned how to control shadows not just to find things, but to trap them. One day, the people of their land were preparing for a big festival, a celebration of the sun and the moon. Gold was helping to decorate with beautiful flowers, making them bloom in amazing colours. Shadow watched her from a distance, her eyes were filled with envy. She decided that it was her chance. As the festival began, with music and dancing, Shadow used the magic to create a thick, dark fog. It rolled in from the edges of the land, covering everything. People started to panic, unable to see where they were going. The bright colors of the festival were hidden, and the joyful music was replaced by worried whispers. Gold knew that something was wrong. The girl tried to use her magic to make the fog disappear, but Shadow`s power was too strong. The shadows twisted and turned, blocking Gold`s light. Shadow appeared before Gold, her eyes were glowing in the darkness."This land will belong to the gloom," Shadow said with a cold voice. "And you, Gold, will not stop me." The girl was shocked. "Shadow, what are you doing? This is not right! We should use our magic to help people, not to scare them!" "Help them?" Shadow laughed. "They are weak. I will show them true power." The girl sent her gloom to attack Gold. The shadows were like sharp claws, trying to grab Gold and pull into the darkness. Gold used the magic to create shields of light, but the shadows kept coming. She felt herself getting tired, but the girl knew she could not give up - she had to protect the people. The fight between Gold and Shadow continued through the night. The people of the land hid in their homes, afraid of the darkness outside. Gold remembered all the good times she and Shadow had shared and felt a deep sadness. The girl did not want to fight her mate, but knew she had to. the girl thought about the sun, its warmth, and its life-giving power. Gold closed the eyes and focused all her energy on that feeling. She imagined the sun's rays pushing through the darkness. Slowly, a small light began to grow inside her. The light grew stronger and stronger, pushing back the shadows. It was a warm, golden light, like the sun itself. The fog began to disappear, and the gloom started to shrink away. Shadow cried out, her power was weakening.

Finally, with a great burst of light, Gold pushed the darkness away completely. The fog vanished, and the stars shone brightly. Shadow fell to her knees, defeated. Gold did not want to hurt Shadow. She reached out her hand and said, "Shadow, it does not have to be this way. We can use our magic together, for good." The girl looked up at Gold with the eyes of shame. She saw the kindness in Gold`s face and knew that her opponent was right. Shadow took Gold`s hand and the two girls felt a connection again. From that day on, they learned to use their magic together. Shadow learned to control the powers with care, and Gold helped her to see the beauty of the daylight. The girls worked to help people, using their combined magic to make the land even more wonderful than before. The people celebrated the sun and the moon, the light and the dark, knowing that both were important. And so they lived happily ever after.