Chapter Text
This is the story of how I died
-But don't worry, this actually is a fun story and the trust is, it isn't even mine
This is the story of a boy named Xie Lian...And it starts with the sun
Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens. And from this small drop of sun grew a magic golden flower. It had the ability to heal the sick and injured.
(While in the presence of said flower depicted an old man weakly crawling towards the flower with a bright green lantern with various patterns surrounding it.)
Oh, you see that old man over there? You might want to remember him. He's kind of important.
Well centuries passed and a hop, skip and a boat ride away there grew a kingdom. The kingdom was ruled by a beloved king and queen and the queen was about to have a baby but she got sick. Really sick. She was running out of time and that's when people start to look for a miracle. Or in this case, a magic golden flower.
(Once again, the old man hunched over a bush of what seemed to be leaves with his green lantern, lifted the said bush to reveal the gorgeous golden flower. Once lifting it, he swayed, turning his head right and left to observe his surroundings, very careful.)
Ah! I told you he'd be important. You see, instead of sharing the sun's gift, this man, Jun Wu, hoarded its healing power and used it to keep himself young for hundreds of years. And all he had to do was sing a special song
"Flower, gleam, and glow." He sang, voice shaky and so were his hands that were shielding the flower as if from seeping its magic to other people.
"Let your power shine."
"Make the clock reverse."
"Bring back what once was mine." His voice now steadying and becoming more sultry and seductive.
"What once was mine." His hands coming to his face to somewhat splash himself with the flower's contents and powers, now his face wrinkle free and hair black instead of grey.
Alright, you get the gist. He sings to it, he turns young. Creepy, right?
Just as Jun Wu was bathing in his "newfound" youth, shouting can be heard from his right, he quickly grabs the makeshift bush and covers the golden flower, shielding its light from the outside world. Jun Wu, putting his hood back on and grabbing his green lantern, strikes the covering, leaving the golden flower exposed for anyone to see as he scurries to get out of sight once again.
But he noticed too late, the guards from the kingdom, carrying their own lanterns, spot the golden flower brimming with elegance and of the sun's light.
"We found it!" One of the guards shouts. A wave of relief overturning each and every one of them.
The magic of the golden flower healed the queen. A healthy baby boy, a prince was born with beautiful Auburn dirty blonde hair. That's Xie Lian. The most beloved child of the kingdom. To celebrate his birth, the king and queen launched a flying lantern into the sky. And for that one moment, everything was perfect.
And then that moment ended.
Xie Lian now in his crib, sound asleep, the door creaked open. Jun Wu, hood on, seeming like a ghost, starts his mantra of lyrics right above the sleeping child.
"Flower, gleam, and glow." The child's hair lights up with yellow sunlight energy, running down to the tips of his hair.
"Let your power shine." Jun Wu laces his fingers with a strand of hair, eyes lighting up, feeling the energy course through just one strand.
"Make the clock..." Bringing his scissors to the lock of hair, snipping it from the source. But to dismay, the strand turned a dark brown instantly, revealing the true color of Xie Lian's hair under the sunlight. He gasped out loud, feeling his whole body wrinkle with age.
Jun Wu broke into the castle, stole the child, and just like that, gone! The kingdom searched and searched but they could not find the prince. For deep within the forest, in a hidden tower, Jun Wu raised the child as his own.
"Save what has been lost." Xie Lian sang, sitting on a stool as Jun Wu brushed the glowing strands of hair.
"Bring back what once was mine." Jun Wu's hands wrinkling and old now, running back in time.
Jun Wu had found his new flower but this time, he was determined to keep it hidden.
"Why can't I go outside?" Xie Lian asked.
"The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people. You must stay here, where you're safe. Do you understand, flower?" Jun Wu continues to brush Xie Lian's hair, while manipulating a young naive mind. Xie Lian nodded, understanding.
But the walls of that tower could not hide everything. Each year of his birthday, the king and queen released thousands of lanterns into the sky, in hope that one day...
...their lost prince would return