The Emperor and The Dragon

The Festival

(Play video above on loop for a better reading experience.)

Long ago, The Emperor giggled childishly, as he crouched down to escape through the small hole in the stone walls that stood behind the Imperial Palace.

"Watch your head, Your Highn-...Nei-Yon." Laan-Mei warns in a small voice.

Nei-Yon could feel his heart race, as he hurriedly squeezed through the hole. As he has finally came through, a large grin appeared on his face, as he could finally be free from the shackles of being a monarch for a few hours. And he would be spending it with a friend.

"What do you wish to do first?" Laan-Mei questions.
Though she had seen countless of humans celebrating this very occasion countless of times, she was never one to participate. She would only look at the party-goers in her cloud in the night Sky.

Granted, she knew some beasts were to come here and join in on the celebration too—disguised as humans, of course.
She was bound to see some disguised beasts tonight.

The entire place was beautiful. Vendors sold wonderful smelling foods, while some sold expensive trinkets and flowers.

The entire place was lit up with pink and orange lanterns that made the entire place glow.

The cool, evening air swept through Ka'ng Ruan. Not a single sweat dripping down on anyone's foreheads.

The pink leaves of the trees fluttered and fell down to the stony street. Making it seem like the entire earth was made with soft, pink soil.

"Laan-Mei! Over there!" Nei-Yon calls out like an excited child.

Laan-Mei cranes her neck to see a large fountain in the middle of the road.

Children of all ages yell in glee, as they try to catch fishes in all size and colors by their paper nets.
One boy cried out, as a fish broke through his net, ruining it.
His friends pat his back comfortingly as he wiped his tears, and went back on to cheering his friends that still had their remaining paper nets.

"Can we go?!" The Emperor asks too excitedly.

Laan-Mei had to restrain herself on giggling like a lovesick wife at how adorable the human man was.
"Anything you want to do tonight, We shall do it." She assures.

Nei-Yon beamed at this, and held the Dragoness's hand tightly as they approached the fountain.

"Two nets please, my good man." Nei-Yon requested at the man who stood by the fountain, and held countless paper nets.

"Enjoy, sir!" The jolly man hands two nets and two, small wooden bowls.

After thanking the man, Nei-Yon crouched down and began to dip his net into the water to catch a fish.

Minutes had passed by, and the Emperor was beginning to lose hope, as the fish seemingly knew how to avoid his net. In a matter of seconds, his paper net became too soft to catch a fish.

With a frown, Nei-Yon grumbled.

"May I try?" Laan-Mei voices out.

Nei-Yon scooted an inch, as Laan-Mei crouched close to him. Their arms touching.

As Laan-Mei looked at the water in determination, Nei-Yon took this chance to closely look at her.

Her pretty, sun-kissed skin that always just seemed to sparkle when a light shines on her.
Nei-Yon yearned to kiss—

"What? No! Do not be an idiot! She is your Musician! Your friend! Your...."

"Oh! Goodness!" Laan-Mei exclaims, followed by a sweet laugh as a large, black fish was caught in her net.
The fish squirmed, breaking the paper, yet it was still stuck on the net.

Nei-Yon's jaw was slacked in amazement, at the large fish.

"I am afraid we might need a larger bowl for our fish, mister." Laan-Mei stated in amusement.

Nei-Yon looked down to the wooden bucket that contained the large, black koi fish.
He looked at it so proudly, that it made Laan-Mei chuckle in amusement.

A small store caught the Dragon's eyes, her feet bringing her closer and closer to the elderly woman that sold trinkets and many more.

Nei-Yon silently followed behind, as Laan-Mei began to converse with the old lady.

"How much for this ribbon, ma'am?" Laan-Mei questions, as she points a bandaged finger to a beautiful, silky, blueish-lavender ribbon.

"Three bronze coins." The crone declares.

Fishing for the exact amount in her small pouch-bag, Laan-Mei presents hands three coins made out of bronze to the old woman.

The She-Dragon takes the silky ribbon, feeling its unnatural softness and eyeing its beautiful colors.

"N-Nei-Yon?" She calls out, his name foreign to her tongue, yet calling him without his title made her feel like a butterfly's wings patted her heart.

The Emperor looked at his Musician, as she beckoned him to  sit on bench made from a log.

As Nei-Yon settled himself, Laan-Mei shyly requests if she could braid the Emperor's hair.

Nei-Yon did not take a moment to think, and immediately gave affirmation.

As Laan-Mei skillfully braided Nei-Yon's silky hair, the sound of flutes and strings echoed throughout Ka'ng Ruan.
The skies had gotten darker, the lanterns glowing into a bright orange.
The lights of the lanterns made the fallen pink leaves appear as if they were red and orange.

The celebration of the Spring at day, when the Sun sets, it be Autumn.

"Do you hear that?" Nei-Yon questions.
The jolly music had now stopped, and was replaced by another tune.

"It seems we have missed the Blossom Dance." Laan-Mei comments, as she finished tying the ribbon to his silky locks.
In her heart, she was deeply disappointed. She was looking forward to dancing with the Emperor tonight.

"So it seems." Nei-Yon voices out, secretly disappointed too.

Laan-Mei stood up from her seat, dusting off the dirt from her robes. The pouch that hung on her wrist dangling.

"It is almost late, Your Maj—.... Nei-Yon. We must head back." She announces.

With a nod, the Emperor pushes himself off the log bench, tightening his grip on the wooden bucket that contained the large fish.

As they both linked arms together to walk down the street, the words Nei-Yon wanted to say throughout this entire night was finally on the tip of his tongue.

"Laan-Mei." He calls out.

The woman faces him, face illuminated by the red lanterns that made her beauty truly ethereal, and that was enough to make the young Emperor's breath hitch and his heart skip a beat of a drum.
"What is it, Nei-Yon?" She answers.

"I have a proposal—"

His words were interupted by the loud booming of the fireworks that exploded into the sky.
Pink, red, oranges, and blues, and purples danced in the dark skies.

"May the Spirit of Ka'ng Ruan be with us!" The people cheered.

"What is it that you wanted to say to me, Nei-Yon?" Laan-Mei returns the Emperor's focus.

Deeply exhaling, the Emperor looks at his Musician in the eye.

"Would you play for me as I sleep?"