Chapter Text
It was cold. And dark. And really scary.
Xiaotian huddled in on himself, looking around warily. "Dad?" He called. "Bába?"
Only his voice echoed back, before slowly fading to nothing.
Xiaotian whimpered. "Hello? Is anyone there? I'm lost."
Again, no answer.
Tears pricked his eyes as Xiaotian shuffled forward. He wished he knew where Mr. Monkey was. Or maybe a blanket. Or shoes. But really, all he wanted was his parents.
"Dad! Bába!" He tried yelling louder. Surely his Bába could hear him now? Where were they? Where was he? "Please, I'm scared!"
"You're all alone here."
Xiaotian yelped, whirling around. But he was still alone.
He hugged his arms. "Who's there?"
"Would you like to see?" the voice asked, low and feminine.
"…See what?"
"Where your parents are. What's happened to them."
"Yes! Can you help me?"
Laughter, then—
It came in flashes, both knowledge and visuals. The world covered in shards of bone, his friends and family hurt; his Bába corrupted, his Dad possessed, Nezha struck down, Mei, older and taller, covered in flames and breaking down.
The fear was overwhelming. There was so much happening, so much pressure on Xiaotian. He had to fix it all, he had to save them!
Then there was her. Dark hair—no, white hair. Both? Who was she?
The Lady Bone Demon.
The name filled him with dread. She tricked and taunted him. She turned his dad against him and stole his best friend. He had to defeat her.
But she was too strong. One by one, his friends fell. Mr. Pigsy, Mr. Tang, someone he'd never met—Sandy, his mind told him—Red Son, Mei, lost to the flames and used for power. His Bába was gone, defeated by his own mate. His Dad was crying, but his face didn't move. He stood by her, obedient and quiet.
She looked over the carnage with a calm smile. Then her gaze turned to Xiaotian.
It felt like his feet were frozen to the floor. Everything was falling apart. Everyone was gone, he was all alone. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe.
She raised an arm and pointed to him.
His dad raced forward, fist raised—
Xiaotian shot awake screaming, scooting back until his head bumped against the wall. He huddled tight into the corner and sobbed, the images still so clear and real.
Footsteps raced against the floor, then his door burst open. Xiaotian flinched, and for one terrifying moment, he saw his dad with blue eyes and a blank expression. Then he blinked and reality settled. His and Dad and Bába stood together, both looking worried as they came into the room.
"Starlight, what happened?"
"Are you okay, bud?"
Xiaotian's face fractured and he wailed, reaching out for them desperately.
He was scooped up quickly, pressed tightly between his parents. Careful hands rubbed his back, and gentle claws ran through his hair. Over his cries he could make out hushed tones and whispered assurances.
"Shh, it's okay. We got you."
"It was just a nightmare. Everything's alright, baby."
He huddled close and breathed them in, letting the scent of fruit and foliage chase off the horrifying things he saw in his dream.
That was all it was. A bad dream.
Just a bad dream.