The Aztec Sun Stone

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

The Aztec Sun Stone — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Aztec Sun Stone — book cover — Wonder Books
The Aztec Sun Stone — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

"Step right up, seekers! Wonders from every dimension!" boomed a six-armed merchant, his voice echoing through the kaleidoscopic marketplace.
"Step right up, seekers! Wonders from every dimension!" boomed a six-armed merchant, his voice echoing through the kaleidoscopic marketplace. Maya tugged her brother Leo's sleeve. "Look, Leo! A creature that juggles suns!" she exclaimed, pointing to a furry being with glowing orbs circling its head. This place was unlike anything they'd ever seen, a chaotic swirl of bizarre creatures, floating stalls, and shimmering portals to unknown worlds.

"Step right up, seekers! Wonders from every dimension!" boomed a six-armed merchant, his voice echoing through the kaleidoscopic marketplace. Maya tugged her brother Leo's sleeve. "Look, Leo! A creature that juggles suns!" she exclaimed, pointing to a furry being with glowing orbs circling its head. This place was unlike anything they'd ever seen, a chaotic swirl of bizarre creatures, floating stalls, and shimmering portals to unknown worlds.

Page 2

"Careful, Maya, don't wander off," Leo cautioned, his eyes darting around. Suddenly, a hooded figure bumped into Maya, dropping a small, intricately carved…
"Careful, Maya, don't wander off," Leo cautioned, his eyes darting around. Suddenly, a hooded figure bumped into Maya, dropping a small, intricately carved stone. "Oh, excuse me!" Maya called, picking it up. The figure vanished into the crowd. "What is it?" Leo asked, examining the stone. The stone pulsed with a faint warmth, its carvings depicting a radiant sun.

"Careful, Maya, don't wander off," Leo cautioned, his eyes darting around. Suddenly, a hooded figure bumped into Maya, dropping a small, intricately carved stone. "Oh, excuse me!" Maya called, picking it up. The figure vanished into the crowd. "What is it?" Leo asked, examining the stone. The stone pulsed with a faint warmth, its carvings depicting a radiant sun.

Page 3

"It's an Aztec Sun Stone," a wizened old woman with twinkling eyes said, overhearing them. She wore layered robes of shimmering emerald and gold.
"It's an Aztec Sun Stone," a wizened old woman with twinkling eyes said, overhearing them. She wore layered robes of shimmering emerald and gold. "Legend says it holds immense power, but only for someone with a pure heart." Leo frowned. "What kind of power?" The old woman smiled knowingly.

"It's an Aztec Sun Stone," a wizened old woman with twinkling eyes said, overhearing them. She wore layered robes of shimmering emerald and gold. "Legend says it holds immense power, but only for someone with a pure heart." Leo frowned. "What kind of power?" The old woman smiled knowingly. "As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.' You must find the Sun Temple!" she declared before disappearing, leaving Maya and Leo to decide what to do with their discovery.

Page 4

"The Sun Temple? Where even is that?" Leo asked, scratching his head. Maya consulted a crumpled map she always carried. "I think...
"The Sun Temple? Where even is that?" Leo asked, scratching his head. Maya consulted a crumpled map she always carried. "I think... I think it's on the Floating Isles of Xochitl!" she exclaimed. A gruff voice interrupted: "The Floating Isles? That's suicide!" A hulking creature with bronze skin and feathered armor towered over them. He introduced himself as Itzli, a warrior from Xochitl. "My home is in danger! The Shadow Lord wants the Sun Stone," he revealed.

"The Sun Temple? Where even is that?" Leo asked, scratching his head. Maya consulted a crumpled map she always carried. "I think... I think it's on the Floating Isles of Xochitl!" she exclaimed. A gruff voice interrupted: "The Floating Isles? That's suicide!" A hulking creature with bronze skin and feathered armor towered over them. He introduced himself as Itzli, a warrior from Xochitl. "My home is in danger! The Shadow Lord wants the Sun Stone," he revealed.

Page 5

"The Shadow Lord?" Maya asked, her voice trembling slightly. Itzli nodded grimly. "He seeks to plunge our world into eternal darkness.
"The Shadow Lord?" Maya asked, her voice trembling slightly. Itzli nodded grimly. "He seeks to plunge our world into eternal darkness. The Sun Stone is the only thing that can stop him! The Aztecs understood the sun's power!" He explained that the islands were powered by concentrated sunlight. "The Shadow Lord is draining the light, causing the islands to fall!" He pointed to one island noticeably lower than the others.

"The Shadow Lord?" Maya asked, her voice trembling slightly. Itzli nodded grimly. "He seeks to plunge our world into eternal darkness. The Sun Stone is the only thing that can stop him! The Aztecs understood the sun's power!" He explained that the islands were powered by concentrated sunlight. "The Shadow Lord is draining the light, causing the islands to fall!" He pointed to one island noticeably lower than the others.

Page 6

"We have to help!" Maya declared. Leo hesitated. "But... it's the Floating Isles! It's too dangerous!" As they argued, the ground beneath them began to rumble.
"We have to help!" Maya declared. Leo hesitated. "But... it's the Floating Isles! It's too dangerous!" As they argued, the ground beneath them began to rumble. A massive crack appeared in the marketplace floor, spewing dark smoke. "The Shadow Lord's minions!" Itzli roared, drawing his obsidian sword. "They're after the Sun Stone!"

"We have to help!" Maya declared. Leo hesitated. "But... it's the Floating Isles! It's too dangerous!" As they argued, the ground beneath them began to rumble. A massive crack appeared in the marketplace floor, spewing dark smoke. "The Shadow Lord's minions!" Itzli roared, drawing his obsidian sword. "They're after the Sun Stone!"

Page 7

Itzli charged forward, battling shadowy figures with his sword. "Go! Get to the portal to Xochitl! I'll hold them off!" he yelled.
Itzli charged forward, battling shadowy figures with his sword. "Go! Get to the portal to Xochitl! I'll hold them off!" he yelled. Maya grabbed Leo's hand, pulling him towards a shimmering archway. "We can do this, Leo! Together!" she shouted over the din. Leo took a deep breath. He knew Maya's bravery was contagious; he couldn't let fear hold him back now, for his sister, the warrior, and this strange place.

Itzli charged forward, battling shadowy figures with his sword. "Go! Get to the portal to Xochitl! I'll hold them off!" he yelled. Maya grabbed Leo's hand, pulling him towards a shimmering archway. "We can do this, Leo! Together!" she shouted over the din. Leo took a deep breath. He knew Maya's bravery was contagious; he couldn't let fear hold him back now, for his sister, the warrior, and this strange place.

Page 8

They burst through the portal and found themselves on a rapidly descending island. The Sun Temple loomed ahead, shrouded in shadow. "The Sun Stone!
They burst through the portal and found themselves on a rapidly descending island. The Sun Temple loomed ahead, shrouded in shadow. "The Sun Stone! We need to get it to the temple!" Itzli shouted, catching up to them. But a shadowy figure blocked their path. It was the Shadow Lord! He lunged for the Sun Stone. Maya held the stone high. "Not today!" she cried. The stone pulsed with light, banishing the shadows, and she shouted, "Brave hearts find the way!"

They burst through the portal and found themselves on a rapidly descending island. The Sun Temple loomed ahead, shrouded in shadow. "The Sun Stone! We need to get it to the temple!" Itzli shouted, catching up to them. But a shadowy figure blocked their path. It was the Shadow Lord! He lunged for the Sun Stone. Maya held the stone high. "Not today!" she cried. The stone pulsed with light, banishing the shadows, and she shouted, "Brave hearts find the way!"

Page 9

The Shadow Lord shrieked as the light burned him. The Sun Stone's energy surged, restoring the islands to their former glory. Light flooded the temple.
The Shadow Lord shrieked as the light burned him. The Sun Stone's energy surged, restoring the islands to their former glory. Light flooded the temple. The Shadow Lord vanished in a puff of smoke. Leo stared in amazement. Maya clutched the stone, exhausted but triumphant. "We did it!" she exclaimed. Itzli clapped her on the back. "You saved our world!"

The Shadow Lord shrieked as the light burned him. The Sun Stone's energy surged, restoring the islands to their former glory. Light flooded the temple. The Shadow Lord vanished in a puff of smoke. Leo stared in amazement. Maya clutched the stone, exhausted but triumphant. "We did it!" she exclaimed. Itzli clapped her on the back. "You saved our world!"

Page 10

Back in the marketplace, Maya turned to Leo. "We did it!" she said with a smile. Leo nodded, a newfound confidence in his eyes.
Back in the marketplace, Maya turned to Leo. "We did it!" she said with a smile. Leo nodded, a newfound confidence in his eyes. "We faced our fears and helped save an entire world! You know, Maya, I think you were right all along!" Maya grinned, putting her arm around his shoulder. "We learned that courage and kindness can defeat any darkness! Now, what do you say we get a sun-juggling pet for the trip home?"

Back in the marketplace, Maya turned to Leo. "We did it!" she said with a smile. Leo nodded, a newfound confidence in his eyes. "We faced our fears and helped save an entire world! You know, Maya, I think you were right all along!" Maya grinned, putting her arm around his shoulder. "We learned that courage and kindness can defeat any darkness! Now, what do you say we get a sun-juggling pet for the trip home?"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

More Wonder Books stories

All Wonder Books stories · Open the library