Rescue Me, My Love

Home is Calling

     The old snake king was very aggrieved that Mo Yuan's young sons had been cursed.  He promised to get to the bottom of it.  Mo Yuan landed them at the gate nearest Taichen Palace.  They entered and were taken straight to the room where the boys were.  He touched each one of them and sighed.  He turned to Mo Yuan.  "You have come none too soon for me.  A few more days and they would become blood suckers for life.  I can help them.  I need high god Zhe Yan here with me and Donghua Dijun.  The rest out."  Reluctantly Mo Yuan stepped out with everyone else.  For over an hour they were in the room fighting for the little boy's lives.  When they finally came out, the old king asked to see Junjie.  He scanned him, held his hand over his chest and drew the last piece of spirit from him.  He spoke a spell and turned the piece into a small black marble.  He handed it to Dijun.  "Guard it well.  She could use that to come back.  That was probably her intent.  I shall return to my kingdom now."  Mo Yuan stepped forward to speak but the old king stopped him.  "You owe me nothing High God Mo Yuan!  It is repayment for the atrocities you suffered as a young man and for saving our kingdom.  Farewell!!"  Mo Yuan walked in to find his little sons waiting for him.  His eyes turned gold as he reached for them.  No longer needing his blood, they looked at him carefully.  They too had felt the bond to their Fuqin breaking.  Taiyang reached for him and grunted.  Mo Yuan held him close and sighed.  He kissed his cheek and put him back in his crib.  He picked up Zhenzhu.  He cuddled him close and kissed him.  He put him back beside his brother.  "Sleep now!  Your rest will be good and your mother will be here for you!  Good night my little ones!"
     Unable to contain himself any longer, Mo Yuan jumped to an empty pavilion in the lotus pool area and sobbed.  He was exhausted and he hadn't eaten for days.  He laid down in an exhausted sleep.  Ye Hua saw him there.  He cloaked himself and shot energy to his brother.  He knew he was suffering because of the little twins.  He could feel his heartbreak but also his relief.  He jumped him to his own bed and left him to sleep in peace.  Bai Qian was beside herself because Mo Yuan had not been to see her.  Ye Hua came in and consoled her.  He told her the whole story.  She was shocked that he had said nothing to her.  "Why didn't he say anything?   He let them drink his blood without a word?  Is he ok?  Where is he?"  "JieJie, I jumped him to his bed after I found him asleep at the lotus ponds.  He's exhausted.  We can move you and the new twins back home tomorrow.  You rest now.  Your babies need you to be healthy and strong."  She sighed loudly.  "Alright then.  Tomorrow I go back to our palace." 
     Mo Yuan awoke to a quiet room.  Slightly disoriented, he raised up and looked around.  He realized he was in his room.  He jumped up, dressed himself and headed for Taichen Palace.  Ye Hua met him at the door.  "Not so fast, Da ge!  You're going to eat first.  I know you haven't eaten for days.  Come with me.  JieJie and those boys will be there when you get there.  Now eat!"  "Since when did my Didi get so bossy?"  "Since a stubborn Da ge won't take care of himself!  Eat!  We are in the process of bringing JieJie and the new twins home.  Now for once in your life don't be so hard on yourself!"  They went to the garden where Ye Hua had breakfast brought for them.  Mo Yuan ate like he hadn't ever tasted food before.  Satisfied, he sat back and drank his tea.  "Thank you, Didi.  I needed that.  Did you say Qian Qian is coming back to our palace?  Is she ok?  How about the boys?  Last night they seemed much better."  "The boys are doing fine now.  They are still thin, but with plenty of mother's milk they will recover in no time.  JieJie said they eat a lot when they nurse.  I believe they will be ok now.  They are so special, Da ge!  Have you wondered about the marks on their foreheads yet?  I must admit I'm curious about them."  "I too, am curious about those marks.  I've never seen or heard of anything like that before.  I'm going to investigate it.  Is Zhe Yan still there with Qian Qian?  I need to see him."  "Are you injured or something else?"  "It's not serious, yet."  "What is it, then?  Care to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?"  Mo Yuan held up his hand with the finger the twins had been sucking.  It was red and swollen.  Ye Hua gasped out loud.  "Da ge!!  Why didn't you say something?!?!?  That is very serious!  I'll send for Zhe Yan right now!"  Ye Hua called for Baohu.  "Yes Shushu?  How can I help you?"  "Baohu, bring Zhe Yan to your Fuqin's garden right now please!!  And hurry!!"  "What's wrong, Shushu?"  "Just bring him please!"  Baohu came running in with Jinzi and Zhe Yan.  Ye Hua pointed at Mo Yuan.  "Da ge, show him your hand!"
     When Mo Yuan raised his injured hand, Jinzi ran to his side and gently took the hand into his.  He scanned the hand and sighed deeply.  "It's ok, Fuqin.  It's only poisons from their saliva that has made this injury.  Do you agree, Shifu?"  Zhe Yan scanned over his hand.  "Hmmm, I think something else is there.  Scan again, Jinzi."  Jinzi scanned the hand again.  "Ah, there it is.  This might hurt, Fuqin."  Jinzi drew his brows together and drew energy to his fingers.  A cut appeared right in the middle of the swollen area.  Jinzi drew out four small fangs.  He held out his hand and showed them to Zhe Yan and his Fuqin.  He healed the finger.  "All better now, Fuqin?"  Mo Yuan flexed his hand.  He nodded.  "Yes, Jinzi, it's much better!  I had no idea those fangs were there.  I'm assuming they were trying to rid themselves of that curse too?"  "It seems that way.  I think they were more disturbed over your bond with them breaking.  In fact, they have been looking for you this morning.  They should be here shortly.  They want only you, Mother, or one of us, especially Xue or JinDe since they are very much like Da ge and Er ge." 
     No sooner than Jinzi told his Fuqin about them, than Xue and JinDe came walking in with them.  When they saw their Fuqin, they transformed and flew straight to him.  He held them close as they hummed and whined against his neck.  Tears came into Mo Yuan's eyes as he held them.  "It's alright now!  Fuqin is here!  Nothing will ever harm my baby boys!  Fuqin is here!"  They nuzzled his neck and started purring.  Mo Yuan brought forth Jinlong.  Jinlong purred and talked to them.  "Fuqin is here!  Quiet now.  Rest yourselves for you have been sick.  How about a song for you?"  He conjured his quqin and had it start playing the lullaby his mother played for him and he played for Ye Hua.  As it played, their tails swayed back and forth gently and they hummed against their Fuqin's neck.  Slowly they went to sleep.  He conjured their crib and laid them in it.  JinDe walked over and smiled.  "That lullaby gets them every time.  Mei Ying plays it for our boys."  "Fuqin, why are they so attached to you?  Is that normal?"  "Xue, I really can't answer that.  Maybe it's because I spent so much time in their company.  Maybe my energy sustained them the most.  I just hope all of you don't get jealous of the time I'm going to have to give to them!  You know I love each and every one of you!"  Junjie hugged his Fuqin.  "Fuqin, we know you love us!  We don't mind if our Xiao Didis need you!  Do we?"  He looked around at all of his siblings.  They all agreed.  Xue replied for them.  "Fuqin, we know they need you.  I have a feeling those two are going to be worse than Baohu and Jinzi ever thought to be!  You should just be on your toes!  Who knows what will happen?"  Mo Yuan thought for a moment and sighed.  "I swear I'm getting too old for this!"  "Just how old are you anyway, Da ge?"  "Do the math, Ye Hua.  I am old by some standards."  Ye Hua was counting in his head.  "Da ge, according to my figures you are over 300,000 years old!"  Mo Yuan just grinned.  "Doesn't matter how old he is.  He can still kick my butt",  JinDe declared with relish.  "Fuqin, are you really that old?"  Lei Lei looked at her Fuqin with concern.  "You won't die soon, will you?"  Her face became a mirror of sorrow and pain.  "Please say you won't die!!"  He hugged her close.  "Lei Lei, Fuqin feels very good and I have had no signs that my time is near.  I believe Fuxi promised Jinzi I would live a very long time so no worries!"  He cupped her face and his thumbs wiped away her tears.  "Now I must go see your Mother.  I'm sure she thinks I have totally deserted her!  Xue, you and JinDe bring the boys and their crib to my room for now.  We'll figure things out later."
     Bai Qian was very impatiently waiting for Mo Yuan to come to her.  She was laying in their bed propped up on pillows.  She was surprised, to say the least, when he walked in with his entourage of ten children, one Didi and Zhe Yan.  She smiled.  All of their children in one place!  Life was very good to them!  Very good indeed!  "Qian Qian, I'm very sorry I haven't seen you since yesterday!  How are feeling today, my love?"  He sat on the bed and took her hand into his.  He kissed her palm and blew hot air on her hand.  She smiled and reached for him.  He gently lifted her into his arms and held her close.  His children observed the tender moment between them and smiled.  Things had been hard, but they still had an everlasting fated love.  Baohu, never one to be outdone and certainly willing to speak his mind commented.  "So Fuqin, are you going to carry Taiyang and Zhenzhu with you everywhere?  It seems they only look to mother as their milk cow."  Xue spit out his tea he was drinking, JinDe and Ye Hua choked on their own air, Jinzi looked at him like he wanted to slap him and the quads giggled.  Mo Yuan for once was speechless.  Bai Qian was not.  "Bai Baohu Zhe!  Did you just call me a milk cow?  You just wait until I can get my hands on you!  It seems you forgot just who kicked your butt the last time, didn't you?  Hmmm?"  He quickly bowed knowing he had just dug himself a very deep hole.  "Mother, I remember well that you put me in my place.  I meant no disrespect.  I just meant that they seem to want Fuqin and only look to you as their food source.  Mother you know I love you!!"  Finally finding his voice after the initial shock, Mo Yuan laughed.  "Baohu, once again your mouth has overloaded you!  If your Mother was well, I'm sure you would be running all over the nine heavens to escape her!  Don't ever forget her tails!"
     Life settled back down but it became clear that Baohu had been right.  Taiyang and Zhenzhu wanted their Fuqin.  Period.  After they were fed and cleaned they patiently waited.  If Mo Yuan wasn't there they protested.  Loudly.  No amount of consoling would work.  The minute he walked into the room, they started reaching for him.  He would sigh, pick them up and sit down with them.  If he was busy, he took them with him.  It mattered not where he went, they went too.  If he sat at his desk, they would play in their crib.  If he went to visit their mother, they would go to her.  If he left, they cried.  He was beside himself.  Finally having had enough, he called Baohu to talk to them.  He could have himself, but he wanted a mediator.  Baohu walked in and grinned at his didis.  "Good morning my didis!  How are you this morning?"  "Baohu, I want you to ask them why they must be in my presence at all times.  Their mother is rather hurt that they don't want her at all.  She went through a lot to give birth to them."  Baohu sat down in front of them and looked at them for a moment.  He asked them what was the problem.  Mo Yuan watched as the conversation was going on.  Finally he nodded and looked at his Fuqin.  "Fuqin, Taiyang said he feels safe when he is with you.  He knows you are very powerful.  He said your dragon is very powerful.  He said he loves Mother very much but you make him feel safe."  "What about Zhenzhu?  Does he feel the same?"  "Fuqin, Zhenzhu is afraid of you, but he wants to be with his Da ge.  He won't say why."  Mo Yuan handed Taiyang to Baohu and cuddled Zhenzhu close under his neck.  He brought forth Jinlong and purred and cooed dragon sounds to him.  He nuzzled under his Fuqin's neck.  He laid his head right on the vein.  He was intensely listening to his heartbeat.  After a moment, he smiled a baby smile and sat up to look into his Fuqin's eyes.  He saw the love there.  He looked at Baohu.  "Fuqin, Zhenzhu says your heart beats like his heart.  It's that sound that they find comfort in.  He says he now knows you didn't mean to hurt them.  He loves you very much, but he loves Mother too.  He wants Mother now."  "Good!  I will take them to her right away.  She has been very sad." 
Mo Yuan walked into his bedroom with both baby boys.  Bai Qian was rather lost and forlorn over their forsaking of her.  He smiled as he brought them to her.  "My love!  I have brought our baby boys to you!  It seems they had an epiphany today and now they want you.  I hope you can forgive their temporary indiscretion."  They both held out their little hands to her.  "Come to Mother, my babies!!  I love you so!!"  He left them nuzzling under her neck and receiving kisses.  All was well now.  All was well!  Or was it?
     Mo Junjie Jin was still not feeling right.  His sleep was interrupted by dreams of the snake queen.  Ever since the battle, he was involved in his own personal battle to control his own mind.  After waking up in the middle of the night for the eighth day in a row, he decided to seek out his Fuqin.  He finally found him in the garden.  He plopped down on a stool at the table where his Fuqin was sitting.  "Fuqin, I need your help.  I haven't been able to sleep at night and I keep having dreams of that snake queen.  I need help, please!!"  Mo Yuan looked him over carefully.  He sent a message to Jinzi to come and check his brother.  Jinzi came running in like a hurricane.  "Didi, what's wrong?  Can you explain it to me?"  "San ge, I can't sleep.  Images are in my mind and I feel helpless to stop anything.  That snake queen is in my head.  When I fall asleep, she comes into my mind.  I haven't slept for eight days now.  I'm exhausted from the battle in my head."  Jinzi carefully scanned Junjie from one end to the other.  "Si ge, this is a battle in your spirit.  It is not physical, except for your loss of sleep.  I'll be right back."  He left and came back a half hour later with Donghua Dijun.  "Jinzi tells me you are being bombarded in your spirit.  I'm going to take a look now."  Donghua scanned Junjie from top to bottom.  His face scrunched up as he passed over the snake venom wound.  He made several moves with his hands and brought forth a sickly yellow energy.  He held it in one hand and brought forth the black marble the old snake king gave him in his other hand.  Slowly he joined his hands together and the energy entered the marble.  It swirled yellow for just a second and returned to it's black color.  "It seems, Junjie, that we didn't remove all of the essence of that cursed queen.  You should be able to sleep now."  Junjie nodded, conjured a quilt and laid down in the thick grass by the pool.  He was snoring in minutes.  "That boy must have been exhausted!  I'll just sit here a little while he sleeps."
    Mo Yuan left Junjie asleep by the pool and went to check on Qian Qian.  She was dressed and sitting on their bed.  "My love, should you be up yet?  Here!  Let me carry you!"  He sat beside her and moved stray hair behind her ear.  "Anywhere in particular you wish to go?  The garden maybe?  Just name the place!"  She cupped his face with her hand.  "Dearest, you should have told me about the boys.  I had no idea of the stress you were under!  Are you ok now?"  "Qian Qian, I'm fine and the boys are recovered.  Why don't we go sit by the hot pool for a while?  Junjie is there taking a nap."  "Oh?  Alright then.  Carry me there, please!"   "Anything for you, my love!"  He picked her up and carried her to the table nearest the pool.  Junjie was still asleep.  "Why is he so sound asleep, Mo Yuan?  Is he sick?"  "He was, but Dijun healed him.  He's catching up on his sleep.  I'll be right back.  I'm going to get the baby boys."  He jumped out and was right back with them in their crib.  "Now!  Hopefully they will sleep on but I won't bet on it.  My love, I'm thinking it's time for us to return home.  This palace is wonderful, but I miss our home on Kunlun.  How about you?"  "It's strange you should say it because I was thinking the same thing.  I miss it.  When do we return?"  "The end of this week.  The divine energy on Kunlun will be good for us all.  Ye Hua is happy and is a great ruler.  His life is settled.  Xue and JinDe are happy and have made their places here in the nine heavens.  Baohu needs to start his training in earnest and Jinzi needs to return to the peach grove to study.  Chin Chu, Chen Bo, Liang Lei and Mo Junjie need more classroom time and more combat training.  Now we have Taiyang and Zhenzhu.  The energy of Kunlun will help their healing.  Yes, we shall return home."