Daughter of the Moon Goddess Drabbles

Fengmei: gilded

I was not born yet when the sunbirds were slaughtered. When my mother's friends were shattered, never to rebuild themselves again.

I never knew her friends before that. I never knew my mother before that. I only knew her after.

Since that day when 9 suns had set never to rise again, she had been planning to protect her family. Even the Empress hadn't been able to protect her kin. The Celestial Emperor only looked out for his own, and at that barely.

So I had to become a celestial. Or at least marry into them. I didn't fall in love with Liwei, you know. But, unlike him, I didn't have a whole love story already in motion.

And I had been terrorized by my mother's paranoia for years enough to not argue this fate, my freedom traded for safety. And at first, it seemed like a real catch.

Lewei's parents were no in-laws to brag about, but my husband to be was kind and good, if a bit dismissive. I sensed he loved someone else. He was pretty obvious, actually. I mean, he kept glaring at that army captain at the party when our betrothal was announced.

But hey, no relationship is perfect. And again, Lewei was kind. At least I was getting chained to a kind, if heart-broken, man and not someone like his father.

And then I was, you know, kidnapped. And you know what I thought about as these masked immortals kidnapped me and dragged me to a magical jungle?

For her overprotectivness, my mother had never taught me how to fight, how to strengthen my magic, or anything I could use in my defense.

Hindsight is rarely a skill immortals learn. And yeah, I was scared okay. I had seen the signs of mind magic in these loyaless soldiers. I was terrified what they'd do to me.

And I was angry--that they'd captured me, that they scared me, and mad at myself that I had no way to help myself.

And then Xingyin rescued me. And let me tell you, I can see why Lewei loved her. And she was so nice to me--despite the crossed ties in our lives. And then, after everything, I saw the tassles, the sky drop tassles. A matched pair.

Oh my gods, I was the one keeping them apart. I felt so bad--especially because Lewei and I could never love each other as they did.

But my mom would not be moved, now even more protective. She actually thought about hiring Xingyin as my personal guard. Man, would that have been drama.

But of course she refused anyway, having this whole quest to free her mother, so my mom got someone else.

She came in heavily-plated armor and walked with a musical stomping, but could juat as easily sneak up on the Emperor himself. She chose to be loud so people would hear.

Black hair pulled into a high topknot, scrolls wrapped around her hands like gloves, purple eyes like crystal.

A master of mind magic. From the demon realm. My mother, of all people, had gotten my protector from those who'd captured me.

But you know, I was more okay with it then I should have been. I mean, she was gonna marry me to a man I barely knew. How was this any different? For this guard--Peng, as I'd learn their name was--would be with me for the rest of my days, like a husband. I wondered how she felt about all of it.

I did not wonder for long.

Allowed with me alone in my room--she had to have used some of her magic on my mom to get that permission--I learned all about them.

Peng--
Has 3 siblings and hates her father.
Has no loyalty to any kingdom.
Loves books.
Can talk drama for hours but refuses to gossip as she feels too guilty.
Serverly judges Xingyin's romantic taste, don't get her started.
Loves gardening.
Loves birds.
Is a great kisser.

I am proud to say that I took the steps to learn that last fact.

Its a little sad--whenever I visit Lewei, now the celestial emperor, he is all alone on the throne, no mom, no Xingyin.

And here I am with my hot and kind bodyguard who I love and she loves me and she's teaching me to fight and...

Its weird to feel bad for yhe celestial enperor, Lewei, when he had once had everything.

But it was also sad to see my mom turn in on herself when Lewei's mom, her old friend, die.

Sometimes happy begingings don't guarantee happy ends. Friendships and love don't last forever. I will try to protect what I have now, but I won't let what Peng and I share become a gilded cage, one that will trap us in false happineas or sad endings.

I am so tired of being chained. Never again.