Fishbone Cinderella (gorgeous, spellbinding East-Asian inspired fantasy)

Part II - The Shadow

Part II

The Shadow

Come winter, the star-faced girl was set to marry. She ran to the river as soon as she heard the news and pleaded for her friend the fish to help.

“Take my bones,” he said finally. “Pray to them, and they will bring you far from this place.”

“Your bones?” she cried. “Then what will happen to you?”

“I shall be with the far side of the moon. A shadow until you return what you have taken.”

“I won’t forget.”

She did as the fish bade, and true to his word, she vanished.

Alone once more, the fish did not mourn his lost bones, only his lost friend.