Ming Zhu and The Pearl that Shines

Chapter Thirty-Six - Going Home

After Dong Zhi had passed, Mother decided to visit her parents again. Braving the cold, she brought Xiao Xiao along.

There Ye Ye and Nai Nai made them the best hotpot with the best preserved vegetables and spiciest of peppers. The broth warmed Xiao Xiao's stomach and pooled nicely in her heart. She drowsed while listening to Mother speak to Ye Ye and Nai Nai in her natural dialect, not the courtly language she had grown used to listening.

~*~

The sea had not iced over. It was simply the sea, vigorous, powerful. Ming Zhu stood, letting the sea breeze comb her hair and caress her face. It reminded her somewhat of her mother's gentle hands.

Xiao Xiao handed back the green pearl back to her, but the dragon princess shook her head slowly.

"Keep it," Ming Zhu smiled, like sunlight breaking through dark clouds. "Besides I still need to protect your sister."

Xiao Xiao smoothed the sea-green sleeves with her hands. Ming Zhu wore a courtly hanfu, reminiscent of the kelp forest. "Will you be back?" she asked quietly. How about us?

"Of course, I will be back," Ming Zhu said, her palm on Xiao Xiao's heart. "I will never leave."

With a sigh, Ming Zhu turned around and leapt off the cliff. Xiao Xiao's heart clenched tightly. But then a silver dragon emerged, laughing, her scales shining under the sun. The dragon plunged into the sea in a spray of sea water.

In the distance, the dragon king cried out, like a coming storm. His daughter was coming back.