Was It Us After All?

The Nine Heavens

Mo Yuan

I'm up early this morning.  I have to get everyone together.  I will be taking all of my disciples with me.  I will be prepared for anything at this point.  I am sure that Haode will try to declare war if Ye Hua does not comply with his orders.  I have to have one more meeting with Ye Hua.  I know he will be torn.  After all, he was raised in the NIne Heavens.  Now that he knows more about me and our parents, I believe he has a much different outlook on things.  I also believe he is remembering things that happened around him while he was in the lotus.  I hope he does.  Many things were there for him to see.  I go to the door of Ye Hua's room and knock.  He is up and dressed too.  It seems that we do think alike.  "Ye Hua, I wanted to have one more meeting with you before we go to the Nine Heavens this morning.  Are you ready?"  "Da ge, I am ready.  I've been thinking about a lot of things.  Can we go to your garden?"  I nod yes and we walk together in silence to the table there in my garden.  We sit down.  I watch him as he looks around at the plants and flowers that are there.  "Da ge, I feel like I have been here before.  I think I was walking around as a spirit right before you died."  "Were you?  Do you remember me coming to stand by the lotus right before I went to war?"  "You had on your armor and a gold battle crown.  You said something to me.  What was it .....Ah, you said if you didn't come back for me to be a good boy."  I have to admit that tears came into my eyes.  "Yes, that is what I said.  I can see that you were a good boy growing up.  It's a shame that I couldn't raise you.  I would have showered you with love and care.  I believe that you got none of those things in the Heavens, did you?"  "No, I didn't.   I was taken away from my Mother when I was a baby.  When I could sit, my lessons started.  I had no one to love.  Only Third Uncle cared for me.  He was the only one."  "That will change now.  You can live here for a while if you wish it.  You can acclimate yourself to a life that you could have had."  I pat his hand and look into those eyes that are as black as night.  "Now on to business.  It's possible that a war will be declared today.  Haode will try to remove me from my position.  If I remove my protection from the Nine Heavens, it would leave him to fight the demons by himself.  I don't wish for that to happen.  I worried that the demons will hear of our dissension and try to start a war.  The Ghost Realm is in disarray.  I don't look for them to try to enter into any war.  I'm sure that Haode will demand for you to return to the Nine Heavens and forsake me.  I will let you decide what you wish, although I want you to be near me.  I've waited a very long time for you."  "Da ge, now that I know you, I want to be around you.  I want to train with you.  I know there are things that you could teach to me and Ali.  I don't want Ali to return to the Nine Heavens.  He is doing well here.  Better than he ever did in the Heavens.  I am glad that you and Bai Qian are doing well together.  I am sorry for the things that I did to her.  She was not fated to me.  She was fated to you from the beginning.  I have to admit that I was jealous.  Will you forgive me?"  I put my arm around his shoulder.  "Ye Hua, I forgive you.  You were manipulated and pushed into doing things.  Haode wanted to try to get control over Qing Qui.  He has failed there.  Many of his allies are pulling away from him.  Many only followed you.  If you and I walk into the throne room as a united front, many will side with the two of us.  It's possible that we could make Haode give the throne to you.  You are the rightful heir.  Do you wish it?"  "If it means that the realm will have peace and prosperity, then yes, I would take the throne.  If it means war, I admit that I will be torn."  "I understand.  After all, it has been your home.  I am taking my disciples with me.  They will be stationed around the throne room there.  I don't want anyone trying to harm you.  Put a barrier over yourself.  I don't want any more spells being thrown at you."  "I can do that now.  I wasn't able to before."  "Good.  As soon as we are all together, we will leave for the Nine Heavens."

Zhe Yan

We are all gathered in the hall ready to go.  Mo Yuan addresses us.  "When we get to the throne room, my disciples will position themselves around the wall there.  Ye Hua and I will enter together.  Bai Qian and Ali will be behind us.  Bai Zhi and Bai Zhen will be behind them with Zhe Yan in the rear.  I am sure that remarks will be made about Qian'er and I.  I will handle those.  I have all of my power back.  If anyone thinks that I am weak, they are mistaken.  It is our goal today to get Haode to relinquish the throne to Ye Hua.  I will tell the realms that Ye Hua was suppressed nearly to his death.  I want to see their reactions to that information.  Are we all ready?"  He looked around to make sure that we were all together.  He leads us out so we can cloud jump to the Nine Heavens.  When we arrive at the gate, we are blocked from entering.  Ye Hua demands they move.  When they see him, they try to take him.  He blocks their attempt.  "I will go to my palace now.  These are my guests.  Move aside."  "Crown Prince, we have orders to stop you."  "I belay those orders.  I will enter and you won't stop me."  Ye Hua moved them aside with his magic and pinned them to the wall.  They all entered.  He released them when they were far enough away. We hurry along to his palace.  There are more soldiers there.  Tian Shu was there trying to stop the soldiers from entering.  When he saw Ye Hua, he bowed and stepped aside.  Ye Hua addressed the soldiers.  "What is the meaning of this?"  "Crown Prince, we have orders to bring you to the throne room."  "I am going there now."  "We were to bring you alone."  "You can make a choice today.  You can follow me or be against me.  If you are against me, then be prepared to die."  The commander of the soldiers hesitated for just a second.  "I am for you, Crown Prince."  "What about the rest of you?"  They all bow to Ye Hua and step to the side.  I think it's time for us to go to the throne room.