The Water Bearer

There is a town that prospered in gardens and greenery. Thousands of fruit and vegetables. It was paradise. Every month they would pour a huge jug of water off the side of a cliff and into a water tower. That jug would be filled by other jugs throughout the month. Every year the tower would be filled with water, just in time for the peak of crop season. They would have a town festival for the release of the tower. They kept track of the water levels, and planned the festival accordingly. Once the water was released it started the wonderful flourishing of every plant in the town for climax of season. It is an honor every year for one special person to tip the jug and fill the tower. That person brings nourishment to all.

One year, the town started going through a dry spell. There was less water to fill the tower for a while. Less crops, less green, and more shriveling and brown. Dust began to blow, and people began to die. Years and years this went on, and almost everything was gone. There were no more festivals, and no more paradise fun. At one point, in what would normally be climax season, an outsider came. A man who visited long ago, when everything was green. He was shocked at what he found,
"No more green? What about the tower?"
"Less water to fill the tower." Says a local townsman.
"There's water. There's plenty of water. You just need to find it, get it, and pour it into the tower." The man said with enthusiastic optimism.
"We need water for ourselves now. We can't afford to use the jug." Said a woman in the crowd.
"Trust me. Make it your main priority to fill the jug and tower. Just like you use too. No matter what. Do it, and I promise that when the tower is filled, the release of it will bring so much happiness in your life that you could never imagine. Your crops will grow again, and continue to do so until you have a paradise better than the last." He says with a huge smile and pure sincerity in in bright blue eyes.
"Will you help us?" Cried out a small boy in the middle of everyone.
"Yes, will you stay with us and help us until it is released?" Says the boy's mother.

The entire town looked at the man, desperate for his answer. The man scanned the eyes of the town and made an honorable smile, "Yes, I will gladly stay to give help and support to get done what needs to be done."

The town cheered and they began immediately by scrounging in their houses and finding whatever water they could spare, and filled the jugs to fill the bigger one on the cliff.

After a short while, people had thought it had been a long while. They began to feel as if they were suffering. Some were angry at the man for coming and confiscating their water. Some thought he was evil for what he was doing. They called him Aquarius The Water Bearer.

Aquarius began to get mass amounts of people together to dig holes and prepare crops for the season, and dig other bigger holes to search for water. Aquarius also sent people away from town to search for water, and bring it back. People continued to die more and more for all sorts of reasons.

"What's he doing? Things aren't better at all! They're worse! We should have never trusted him." An angry woman shouts at the town meeting.

More shout, bicker, and argue about how bad they got it because they have to give up a little more water. Aquarius stands prominently and says, "Excuse me, I know times are hard, and times are down. None of you seem to realize how little of time has passed since I've arrived, and we have been going according to plan. Right on schedule. There's more water in the tower, and looking at an on-time release..."
"All that water in the tower, and we're here dehydrating. We want to survive!" A man stands and says firmly, as the majority ramble behind him, cheering him on.
"Sounds like you just need to ration your water. Everyone needs to. Enjoy it when you need it, and if someone needs water for life or death situation, then share your own and stop being stingy, and stop blaming me. Help each other. I'm not a bad person. I'm doing this for the better of everyone like you all wanted me to. Don't hate me for this. I've used eight ounces in 3 days. How much have you used? Everyone will see how much better the end result will be."

The town was frustrated and upset, but they kept going along. Things have to get worse before they get better. And it got worse. Certain people began to plot against Aquarius to take him out, and release the water ahead of schedule, but Aquarius also has people looking out for him, so, no one could get him. Just when the town seemed like they would all kill themselves, Aquarius gives information to a group of children to run around the town and shout, "Water Festival Tomorrow!"

People in the town got excited and anxious. They had many things situated for the release and held a meeting to set the festival off. Everyone was happy and apologized for their words and actions towards Aquarius, but Aquarius wasn't there. Nowhere to be found, and no one knew anything, except the information given to the children. They planned and set up the festival anyway, but some were scared, skeptical, and pessimistic about the whole thing.

The next night the town crowded around the tower, waiting for Aquarius and the water release. Some thought he fled, and it began to get the crowd frustrated and contemplating bad decisions. Aquarius shows up with a big grizzly beard, and a jug of water, "This jug should fill the bigger jug, then the tower. Releasing what we've all been waiting for."

Everyone was surprised and happy that he came through. He kept his word.
"So, do it!" Someone shouts.
"Yeah!" Shouts the rest of the crowd.
"Can I?" Aquarius asks with a grateful smile and watery eyes.
"You're meant to!"
"You're supposed to!"

Aquarius gets excited and begins his triumphant, determined march up the mountain with the jug in hand, never spilling a drop. He reaches the top, and walks to the jug on the cliff. The sky is clear, stars are bright, the moon is full; a perfect back drop for this moment. He climbs the ladder, pours the water in the jug, and climbs down. He gets underneath the jug, and pushes it up. Everyone's eyes widen and smile as they clench their hands. Their stomachs churn, hearts pump, and faces turn red. Including Aquarius, who strains to topple the jug. The jug finally tips and every drop falls into the tower. The water ripples and splashes. There's a rumble, a click, a pop, and the hatch slides open.

Water rains down, and cleanses the town. The river fills, streams run quickly through the town, and more flows out into the land to soak.

Aquarius stays on the cliff by the jug, watching the town get what they want, what they deserve, and celebrate. He enjoys seeing them the happiest they've ever been their entire life.

The town continued to flourish better than before. Just as Aquarius promised. He will live on forever in the highest regard ever in this town. Aquarius The Water Bearer, and Bringer of Rebirth.