Behold the majestic rainbow as it arches across the sky;
With seven colors, clear and bright, to remind us, you and I,
That seven keys will one day come, each with a precious jewel,
To unlock the Messiah’s dungeon, finally ending the Reaper’s rule.
The Reaper sprang from Hell’s dark pit and gathered his mighty power.
In seven wands he placed his strength. Then, in his darkest hour,
His wands mastered the elements; from them he gained control
And captured the Son of Aradun, to be locked in the Well of Souls.
Seven times the Messiah escaped from within the Reaper’s jail,
But seven times jeweled chains gave chase; they reached from beyond the veil.
Dazzling links of chain shot forth, each from an element wand,
They caught the Messiah; dragged him back to his cell in the dark beyond.
Locks were forged in the Well of Souls and dark magic words were spoken.
The seven elements bound Him, with chains that are unbroken.
Still He languishes, horridly, far from the world of love,
And only the rainbow remembers, in the grey stormy skies above.
But seven Keys will open the Well and free the Creator’s Son;
They’ll break the chains and destroy the wands; the Reaper’s works undone.
The Seer shall come, gather a host, and seven there shall be
With the power to open the Well of Souls, and each shall wield a Key.
They’ll be chosen by seven Nymphien queens; each will die with their choice.
But when the Seer is given his Key, he will follow the voice,
To search and find the other six; it’s for his strength we pray,
That he’ll somehow unite the Keystones, and together they’ll win the day.
Can you name all the Wands of Power, wielded by the shades of night?
Can you name the seven rainbow keys, hidden so long from sight?
Here they are, seven in a row, whispered names, unbidden,
When the wands appear our doom is nigh if the Keys themselves stay hidden.
The Red Wand, Cealzor, like flowing blood; the end has come at last.
Dark rubies glistening like blood when spilled, wet drops upon the grass.
The Ruby Key is named Ciad, ‘round the neck of the shade,
The Key that stops Death will be revealed when his master’s at last betrayed.
The Orange Wand, Arazor, like flames erupting to lick the night.
Fire Opals capturing heat in a jewel so fiery and bright.
The Fire Opal Key is Diog, quenching flames that ravage.
The Key to douse Fire will be revealed on a creature who’s a savage.
The Yellow Wand, Illinzor, staining a sick and corrupted land.
Yellow topazes, their golden glow, revealing strength at hand.
The Topaz Key is named Trian, found with the one who’s lost.
The Earth healing Key will be revealed with the bridge that was broken crossed.
The Green Wand, Nimzor, a flowing river; torrential drenching rain,
Green emeralds shine like water; a gurgling choke its refrain.
The Emerald Key is Dair, found where a waterfall is pure.
The Key to hold back the Water is awarded to those who are sure.
The Blue Wand, Maladzor; its power sends a chill down to the bone.
Blue diamonds sparkle, clear and cold, and harder than any stone.
Eadha is the Blue Diamond Key. Winged ones are dying.
Restoring air to the smallest race, who bring laughter without trying.
The Indigo Wand, Beathazor, like warm blood under the skin.
Indigo Sapphires reveal life’s power, buried deep within.
Fèarn is the Sapphire Key, found with the last of his race.
It points to the ancient, deathless ones, who all vanished without a trace.
The Violet Wand, Pentazor, a spirit’s soul beyond the dark veil.
Violet Amethyst, rarest of gems, the end of life’s long tale.
The Amethyst Key is Glaisrig; it’s found upon the Seer.
The Spirit Key lies with one afraid, but one day he’ll master his fear.
These are the Seven Wands of Power, from a magic wrought in Hell,
These are the Seven Element Keys, made to counter their spell.
The rainbow, stretched across heavens, colors wrought in the sky,
Reminds us a terrible war’s being fought—on whose side do you lie?
Do you side with the Wands of Power and choose to worship the night?
Or do you pick the jeweled keys, and choose to worship the light?
If the Well is opened, we’re saved! It’s to the light we pray;
Only in light shines the rainbow; it can only be seen in the day.
The rainbow above reveals the truth: The Creator is the One.
It is His side that we choose; we’ll fight till the battle is done.
When darkness succumbs at sunrise, its then we’ll know we’ve won,
And like the rainbow, our soul will shine forth with the rising of the sun.
–submitted for Writer’s Digest 2014 Annual Writing Competition