Daughter of the Moon Goddess Drabbles

Ping'er

Family can be cruel to each other. And petty. I learned that the hard way. I never wanted Yuchen's love, at least as anything more as a best friend. And oh, what friends we were. My sister and I were lucky enough never to be much in Suihe's court despite our mother's position. We were free to do as we wished, unafraid of the eyes of everyone. 

No one cared when Yuchen sunk to his knees before me one day, my sister and mother watching on, professing his love for me. Romantic love.

My mouth fell open so wide it could have swallowed the whole ocean. Horror filled my eyes where his was full of adoration. What had I done to make him think I recipicated, to say this? I blames myself at the time, I blamed myself for so much. 

I let him down gently, but a pearl still formed of his tears. For him, this was a true tragedy, the rebuffing of his love. But that was nothing to compare to mine. Ping'ye turned on me. 

"How could you? You know I loved him?"

I knew she did. I had always known. It was so obvious, to all. My mother saw it, even the Queen. But apparently Yuchen had not. Or maybe he hadn't cared, though I hated to think that of my old friend.

"I hate you."

My mother chastised her. "You think your sister controls his heart? That she asked for a love she didn't want? And is this even something worth arguing about?"

It was to Ping'yi, our halls filled with our cries long into the night--hers of betrayal, mine of confusion and defense. And she denounced me, so may times, claiming I was not her sister any longer, as if Yuchen's love for me stole her own. 

And I was mad at her. I didn't ask for this, just as mother said. But I also couldn't believe her stance on this. Many pined for her, so why was Yuchen so important? Why was it more important than the love between us?

And when my sister's mood and attitude did not change in the coming days, I decided to leave. For my own state of mind, but also with a bit of spite, to let my sister see how much she would miss me when I was gone.

I wondered the realms for a while, finding work and enjoying it, though no grand adventures for me. Homesickness, yes, but at the same time, a part of me was still wounded by my sister. Did our bond not mean so much to her as it did to me? Should I return to it when she feels I am less important than other things? And then, as I traveled through the sky upon my cloud, I caught the crying the wind carried. Following it to its source, I found myself on the moon.

I knew of Chang'e of course, everyone in the immortal realm did. As my feet touched the rocky surface though, I learned some new things.

Like the fact she was a mother. I stared in pity at the figure, her back to me, as she tried to calm her sobbing child. She didn't notice me, her attention zeroed in on the red-faced baby. It was like the moon trying to calm down a small sun. 

"Need help?"

The poor woman jumped, the movement causing the babe to laugh.

"Who--who are you?" She tried to hide her daughter in her robe, even as her little hands peeked out, waving to me.

I laughed. "Ping'er."

She did not relax, but seemed calmed by the fact I was not a celestial. As I would learn, she feared them more than she feared demons. She did not trust me any better, at first. Until I swore upon the oceans, my mother, and my sister, that I would never reveal the existence of Xingyin. 

That wasn't hard. I knew of the cruelty of the Celestials, and would never throw any at their feet, much less this baby who would grow to be my daughter. The myths never tell you she had two moms. Chang'e and I were never like that--gods no--but that doesn't change who I was in Xingyin's life. 

Chang'e was my best friend, and she confided everything to me in time. She, like my sister, suffered from a broken heart. But that did not stop her from showing love to her daughter and me. She never regretted Xingyin's life in exchange for her marriage. She never saw his love above hers. 

I had been on the moon so long attending them, I had forgotten all about my sister and mine's fight. I had forgotten so much I had neglected to write. I wanted to visit, but Chang'e was scared i would draw attention to the moon, and with Xingyin's growing power, we had no time for that right now.

So I wrote:

Dearest sister,

I hope you are happy. I am well. I have found a most-trusted friend with the moon goddess (yes, really, her!). I am so sorry I have not been home. I want you to know it has nothing to do with you. I miss you greatly, but life here is so--simple. I think I was always made for a more solitary life, where there is less to confuse between people. I miss the sea so much though. This place is a desert like the cloud kingdom, even with its beautiful gardens. Our love will always flow together in the sea.

Love, your sister,

Ping'er

Ping'er just deserved so much okay? Freaking gave up her whole life (literally) for Chang'e. She deserves this and more.