Chapter Text
The first thing Nezha woke up to when he was reincarnated was his fire, voices, and pain. As in a lot of pain. At first it felt like it was from everywhere, but after a while he realized tit was from his wrists, feet and neck. His fires were doing nothing to it, so he let them die down. When he did, the pain mostly stopped abruptly, though it did leave phantom pains. He couldn't exactly move, so he just decided to listen to the voices, which were unfamiliar.
"Bodhisattva Guan Yin, are you sure about this?", a gruff male voice said. Guan Yin was the goddess of mercy, so he could take a guess to where he was, but what heaven wanted with a demon, he couldn't guess.
"For the last time Erlang Shen, yes. Everyone deserves mercy," Guan Yin said.
Erlang Shen snorted "Perhaps, but why must I teach him?" he questioned, inspecting Nezha like a good of some sort.
"The child is powerful, and he will need a strong hand to guide him. Oh look, he's awake. Hello young one, what is your name?"
Normally Nezha would have tried to escape, bitten her, made a rude retort, at the very least thrown a tantrum. But this wasn't normal, and he could tell that survival in this life would probably depend on him behaving himself.
"My name is Nezha, Bodhisattva Guan Yin," he answered awkwardly from his spot on the floor in whatever room he was in.
"You have been brought back to life to serve the celestial realm, and for a second chance in life. Due to your young age, you shall be the protector of youths, and you shall train under the mentorship of Erlang Shen, the god of justice. We grant you protection from any lingering wrath of the Dragon King after your hundred year... hiatus in exchange for your service as a celestial soldier and the protector of children," she said.
Nezha wasn't sure how to respond, it wasn't everyday he was spoken to by a goddess, heck, it wasn't everyday he was spoken to at all, so he simply nodded his head slightly.
"Good. We begin your training in an hour," Erlang Shen said.
"Please, the child was only just brought back. He will rest for today and tomorrow,"
" I don't know since when monsters needed rest."
At that, Guanyin frowned at the god, and Nezha tried to stop the internal crashing of memories at that word.
"Nezha is not a monster, he is your student and you will treat him as such. Stand, Nezha, and I will show you to where you shall stay," Guanyin said, stretching out her hand to him, which he took. As he did so, all the pain left him, and his energy was replenished. With that Erlang Shen scowled and teleported out of the room, while Guanyin only sighed and led him out of the room and into a garden.
"How old were you when your first life ended?" the goddess asked.
"I was twelve," he answered, trying not to think of his mother, father, or worst of all Ao Bing, his best friend, birthday, and death day mate.
"You might be stuck permanently at this age, but that will help you to understand youths further as the god of youth. Tomorrow I will show you around the celestial realm and teach you its policies, but for now, I will show you to your temple, climb on," she said, gesturing to a lotus she had formed which was floating in the air somehow. Great, he thought, now I'm small forever. I
"Your temple is outside of the celestial realm, but your training will be within it," she said as they took off.
"You need a title. Since I used lotus roots to reincarnate you, you will be called Nezha the lotus prince, heavenly soldier, god of youth and protector of children. What do you think of it?" she asked him.
"I think it's a bit on the tongue."
Guanyin laughed at that.
"That is mostly the only point of celestial titles dear,"
"Okay, but what do I do as the protector of children?" he asked.
"When I blessed you with energy and immortality, I also gave you the ability to bless and grant protection spells. However else will do your job is your choice," she said from her position on the giant lotus.
"Why is my temple outside the celestial realm?" Nezha asked, wondering if that was for better or for worse.
"First of all for privacy, some celestials can be quite nosy, and also due to your past life as a demon some celestials may be uncomfortable or outright violent, and vice versa. But don't worry, my temple is also outside the celestial realm, so don't be afraid to visit if you ever need guidance," the goddess said as they reached the temple.
His temple was at the top of a rocky mountain raised abruptly from an icy blue sea. He could tell that meant something, something he didn't want to think about. The temple was pink, gold and green, but mostly pink. He had always like the colour, but his father had never let him wear it because it was "for girls". So that his temple was covered in the colour seemed like a blessing, which, now that he thought of it, was probably what it was.
Guanyin chuckled at his excitement, "As you can see, it is made to suit your uniqueness, just as you will be a unique god. I will help you settle in," she said as they stepped off the lotus and she dispersed it.
As they entered a vast room she took something out of a trunk, "Some clothes that might suit you," she said, holding them out. It was only then that he realized he had been in just a white robe.
"Thank you Guanyin," he said, taking the clothes to another room to wear them.
Guanyin seemed so genuinely nice in a way no one had ever been to him except Ao Bing, his mind supplied very unwelcomely. Without doing anything in particular, Guanyin had won his loyalty. He came out of the room in his new clothes.
Guanyin smiled, "This is perfect" she said, moving towards him with a comb in hand "but your hair is not, sit down and I'll help you," she said, gesturing to a couch that was not there before. Nezha sat down, and she styled his hair from behind the chair.
"I don't think my teacher likes me," he said.
"Erlang Shen is a god who prefers to... stick to traditions, to put it nicely," she said, muttering the last part "But with time I'm sure you will grow on him, and he would never go against my instructions so as to hurt you."
Guanyin had styled the top of his hair into 2 buns with pink ribbons and left the rest of his hair fall onto his shoulders.
"Your weapons are in the inner room. Disperse your spear into petals and they will lead you to my temple. Don't fail to come tomorrow, I have much to show you dear child," she said as she left.
Once the goddess had left and the reality of everything came on him, he finally let himself cry.