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janetbrown711 · 1 year ago

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Just a Moment Too Soon

Cold Compress | Infection | “I don’t feel so good”

Ao Lie has planned a very special day to spend with his beloved partner Sun Wukong and surely nothing with go awry. Especially not the burning sensation deep within his chest, that would be nonsense...

(Partly inspired by all of the stableboys art @dr-chalk posts so that's fun :P )

Ao3 Link

Ao Lie meditated peacefully in one of his family’s many, many palaces in peace– although this one was above sea level. There was a reason for that though, as he was expecting a visit from his dearest, dearest partner Sun Wukong. Just thinking about his visit made Ao Lie get a little more excited, ruining his meditation. Not that he minded of course; Wukong meant the world to him.

Slowly, the dragon prince rose to his feet, his knees trembling, but he persisted nonetheless, coming to a full stand all by himself– something that was only getting rarer and rarer these days.

Ao Lie shook his head. His dearest partner was going to visit today, he was not going to get washed up in his sorrows.

Not yet anyways…

Despite the prince’s attempts at composing himself, he still scratched at dry and itchy scales on his hands and arms as he paced the grand entrance– which was ridiculous because this was fine. It was a regular visit; Wukong would arrive and he’d get to talk about his wife and children excitedly and Wukong would talk about his ventures with Sha Wujing or Zhu Bajie or how his grand-monkeys were doing and they’d laugh and have tea and reminisce on old times and it’d be perfect and everything he dreamt of…

It would be perfect.

Another deep breath.

Ao Lie looked down at his hands, seeing how many scales he’d peeled off and sighing. Perhaps if he were in his dragon form this could be seen as him just preparing for a usual shed, but no. There was something much more sinister present and burning deep, deep, deep within his very core.

River denizens were never meant to hold fire.

Just then, there was a strong breeze that shook Ao Lie’s curtains and robes, making him laugh as he saw flashes of orange circle his palace. He raced to the window, seeing the orange flash circle the palace twice more before the creature landed on the railing of his balcony. He didn’t stay for long though, doing a backflip off before running up to the prince and embracing him tight.

“Ao Lie! It’s been too long! How’s the old place holding up? Any new nieces or nephews for me? How’s your uncle holding up? Still mad at me, right? Ah– it’s just so great to see you again,” Wukong hugged him tighter before stepping back with a big grin on his face as Ao Lie laughed.

“It’s good to see you too, Wukong, I’ve missed you,” Ao Lie chuckled, kissing the monkey’s forehead.

“R-right! Yes– it– yes, I’ve… missed you too,” Wukong blushed, which made the dragon laugh as he invited Wukong to a room with pillows and a tea tray set up for the two of them, along with assorted snacks for them to enjoy while they enjoyed the view of the gardens.

“So, how has Flower Fruit Mountain been holding up these last one hundred years?” The prince asked, pouring Wukong some tea he’d set out.

“Ah, the monkeys are doing great– lots of adventuring and trying to emulate their king, of course, but it’s also just a good time all around. The peaches have been especially ripe this century, you should really stop by to try them,” Wukong invited with a coy grin.

“Oh, you know I can’t do that, I’ve a family of rambunctious little dragons to care for,” The prince excused himself carefully.

“Oh. Right, yeah, of course– say, how many of them are there now?” Wukong ate a handful of melon seeds.

“Seven– almost eight,” Ao Lie chuckled, pouring tea for himself now. “There’s Jianwen, Zhengde, Feiyan, Zhi, Lun, Lihua, and Fuling.”

“Geez, I’m a little behind on presents aren’t I?” Wukong scratched the back of his neck.

Ao Lie chuckled. “It’s alright, I haven’t been the best at reaching out these past fifty years or so,” he shrugged as he set down the teapot.

“Hey, at least you’ve been doing better than I have since–... Sanzang,” Wukong scratched his neck.

Ao Lie winced. “You’ve been doing better though, right? After all, you actually came these last three times; you used to refuse my invitations at all until I could get Wujing and Bajie to agree to come over too.”

“Right– I have,” Wukong nodded. “Sorry, I– I still miss him sometimes.”

“We all do,” He offered his hand and the monkey took it, smiling softly, before his eyebrows pressed ever-so-slightly.

“Your… hands– is something wrong?” The monkey king looked up.

“Oh– it’s just been a particularly dry season you know; it’s hard on the skin and scales,” Ao Lie lied, taking his hand back.

“I hope it gets better soon,” Wukong finally took a sip of his tea.

“Thank you, Wukong,” He looked down at his own cup, frowning ever so slightly at his reflection before having a sip.

Relax.

“Sooo… that uncle of yours? He still mad at me or…?” Wukong decided to bring up, making the prince laugh.

“Why do you ask?” The prince chuckled, taking another sip.

“Well– call me crazy, but I was kind of missing some of my old clothes and was wondering if he had anything else similar laying around,” Wukong eyed a candied peach.

“‘Laying around?’” Ao Lie laughed. “Wukong, your clothes were one of a kind– hand sewn upon your arrival because Uncle Guang was so scared!”

“Soooo he still hates me?” Wukong put two and two together.

“I think perhaps he’s come around to the idea of you, but I have a feeling if you’d ever want to ‘pop in for a visit’ you’d need me to be there,” The prince chuckled.

“Bah, who needs that old geezer anyways?” He smirked, his tail twitching playfully.

“You know you could just pay him for the staff and clothes–”

“I don’t have the clothes anymore– why would I pay him for something I don't even own?” Wukong scoffed.

Ao Lie laughed. “You still stole them! And they were one of a kind!.”

“Ah, ‘stole’ is such a strong word, Li-Li,” Wukong shook his head and Ao Lie laughed more, having to set his cup down so he wouldn’t spill it everywhere.

“You’ve changed so much and not a bit, Wukong… it’s nice,” The prince smiled at him softly.

“Yeah, I try,” Wukong smiled too before they both looked out to the garden.

As Ao Lie watched the running water of the small stream, listening to the soft rustle of leaves from trees and other such greenery, and the splashing of koi, he felt something in his chest start to ache– to burn– but the feeling was unfortunately familiar. As carefully and quietly as he could, the prince took deep breaths to help soothe the pains.

“So I’ve told you about my family, what about yours? Oh– and what of the other pilgrims? I do wish I could invite them over more often,” The prince fiddled with the sleeves of his robe.

“Ah, well, the monkeys are doing well– generation… fifteen? Eighteen? I lost track, but either way they’re a great bunch– real adventurous, like I said before,” Wukong sat up a bit with a bit of excitement. “Some of the original adventurers returned too, and all of us swap stories and it’s– it’s just fun. And nice.”

Ao Lie tried to imagine it, and nodded with a smile. “What about Wujing and Bajie? Have you seen them at all?”

“Oh, Wujing visits a lot on his boat. I don’t know how on earth he always manages to traverse the Flaming Mountains but Wujing is Wujing,” Wukong eyed a candied peach again, which Ao Lie gestured for him to take so he popped one in his mouth. “He likes talking about his ventures and whatever heavenly parties he gets invited to that I keep ‘losing’ my invitations to,” the monkey joked about.

“Does heaven still not invite you to things?” Ao Lie asked.

“Ah, they invite me to some things, just not the Peach Festival or wine festivals, which–… yeah, fair,” Wukong laughed and grabbed another candy. “It’s basically like if I have a bad track record with a party, they won’t even pretend to invite me– though Wujing and Guanyin advocate for me on the regular, apparently.”

“That’s nice,” The dragon prince sipped his tea again. “What about Bajie?”

“Psh, that big sap,” Wukong smiled and shook his head. “He writes to me talking about his family sometimes– talks about his new wife a lot too and how she’s the most beautiful pig demon anyone could ever see– apparently he has an infant son, if I remember correctly from his last letter which was–… oh heavens, probably twenty years ago,” Wukong ran his fingers through his fur.

“Not so infant like anymore?” Ao Lie guessed.

“Probably? I’m not up to date on the whole ‘pig demon aging rates’ thing,” Wukong shrugged again. “Anyways, he writes, I sometimes write, it’s nice. We’re busy people though, so it’s… hard seeing each other.”

“He writes to me often about his family too– I had just been wondering if you'd had any luck seeing him in person,” Ao Lie confessed.

“Not since we last talked,” Wukong shrugged. “But hey– there’s always time, you know?”

Ao Lie winced, his chest pain growing, but he took a sip of tea so his guest wouldn’t notice.

Wukong sighed happily, his red eyes glowing softly in the daylight in the way Ao Lie had always admired, even when he was more than a little scared of him. It made him want to reach out, and to braid his fur into a bunch of tiny little braids while the monkey would laugh and wait for him to finish so he could do his hair and it’d be… nice.

But Ao Lie’s hands were weak. Even as he held his teacup, it trembled ever so slightly. He was also sweating like the dogs in the fields, but he was sure Wukong couldn’t tell through all the layers of silk he wore.

Wukong couldn’t notice. He was here to have a good time, a nice chat. He was not here to be reminded of a simple mistake from hundreds of years ago because that’s all that was, a mistake and a sacrifice, nothing more and nothing worse.

Wukong looked back at him and smiled. “You feeling alright?”

“Oh, Wukong, you know I’m always in the best of spirits whenever you visit,” He chuckled, scratching at his scales once again, which his partner noticed.

“I could talk to the weather gods about the dryness if you’d like– get them to get their act together for your sake,” Wukong offered, which just about made his heart melt.

“You’re a peach, Wukong,” The prince leaned and kissed his cheek. “But that isn’t necessary.”

Wukong frowned. “You’re more uncomfortable than you’re willing to tell me.”

Ao Lie blinked. “Is it a crime to not want to focus on such things with company over?” he forced a weak smile, but the burning increased with his anxiety.

“No, but you’re not supposed to be uncomfortable, unless you’re hurt– Are you? Did someone hurt you? Who? What was their name? What did they look like? I’ll find them for you, I swear–” Wukong reached for his staff but the prince quickly grabbed his arm.

“Nobody has hurt me, Wukong, I’m alright,” He mustered up the gentlest smile he could.

Wukong sighed. “I wasn’t going to kill them you know, I know better... if they’re mortal,” He mumbled.

Ao Lie stroked the monkey’s arm with his thumb. “It’s alright, Wukong, really, it is.”

Wukong frowned. “Are you sick? Some kind of–... dragon disease?”

“Moderate shedding is… to be expected around this time of year, especially when I’ve been away from the water for so long,” Ao Lie lied once more.

“Oh, why haven’t you been home?” Wukong asked, seeming to relax, which the prince was thankful for.

“Oh, you know those dusty old bureaucrats. My family don’t really fit in with them– especially the children who take after me,” He waved away.

“Look, I don’t like Ao Guang or Run or Qin or Shun as much as the next guy–”

“You just insulted my father,” The prince pointed out and Wukong’s face turned red.

“Right-! Yeah, no, Ao Run’s great! Love that guy!” Wukong quickly corrected and the prince chuckled. “Well– anyways as much as I dislike your uncles, I wouldn’t say it’s worth your health.”

“Maybe, but I’m not going while you’re here, I enjoy our talks too much to spoil it with all… that,” He struggled keeping up excuses.

“Fair enough, bureaucracy is the worst,” Wukong smiled, grabbing more candied peaches and stretching out to eat them, which Ao Lie copied.

“You know, my cousin Ao Bing and I used to love terrorizing heaven every now and then– until the whole Nezha incident, of course,” He laughed weakly.

“Man, and they didn’t banish you over any terrorizing? That’s unfair,” Wukong shook his head.

“Well I did end up destroying my father’s pearl from the Jade Emperor, which almost got me killed until Guanyin intervened, and Ao Bing got his consequences when he killed Nezha’s friend and Nezha killed him back, so I’d say it’s a little fair,” Ao Lie pointed out, playing with his hair a little.

“Ah, Guanyin… I should really visit her more often,” Wukong laughed a little, rolling onto his side and began playing with the prince’s long white hair too.

“It’d be nice to visit her. Maybe she could tell me where my sister is and why she keeps forgetting to write back,” The prince joked.

“We could plan it! You said you should be free again in… twelve years, right?” Wukong got excited.

“A-ah, um– I don’t think I’ll be free then,” Ao Lie struck down.

“What about fifteen?” The monkey offered. Again, the prince shook his head.

“I’ll think about it, Wukong.”

“Why? I thought you adored your sister,” Wukong was getting suspicious again.

“Wukong, please– let’s just enjoy each other’s company… please?” He was forced to beg, which made the monkey’s face go from anger, to confusion, to a soft smile.

“Of course. I can understand how a family like yours is complicated,” Wukong apologized and calmed himself.

“It’s alright,” Ao Lie sighed and rested on his back, which made the heat rise in a way that was hard to ignore. “I just… I hate this busyness we carry, you know? Oftentimes I envy how well and long you lounge about on that mountain of yours.”

“It’s easier when you don’t have kids or a wife,” Wukong laid on his back too.

Ao Lie glanced at him. “Do you wish you had a wife or children?”

Wukong laughed. “A wife? You kidding me? With what we have, I’ll never need a wife.”

“Ah, I’ll have to tell my missus that,” He teased.

“Oh please, what we have is different, you know that,” Wukong went back to his side.

Ao Lie chuckled. “Maybe~”

“Oh, shut up! You are such a tease!” Wukong grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.

“Hey! This is my palace!” The prince struggled to protect himself from the pillows but also wasn’t trying that hard– laughing way too much.

Wukong hit him three more times, but as he went for a fourth, he moved the pillow last second and kissed Ao Lie on the lips, which the prince quickly returned.

“If I’m a tease, you’re a scoundrel,” The prince cupped the monkey’s cheek with his hand.

“Alright whatever– as long as you admit you’re a tease,” Wukong kissed the prince’s cheek.

Ao Lie laughed as Wukong got off of him and stood before offering a hand to help the prince to his feet, which he accepted.

However, the second the dragon prince was on his own two feet, the burning in his chest went from mild to excruciating, and quickly he fell to his knees– his hand clutching his chest in a flash as he gasped in pain.

“What the– Lie, what’s wrong?!” Wukong’s eyes darted around the room (no doubt searching for an attacker).

“I– I don’t feel so good,” The prince confessed, sweat dripping down his forehead, as the burning feeling continued to grow and grow at rates it never dared to in the past.

“You’re hurting–! What happened–?! Who did this to you??? I’ll bring them to justice, I promise–”

“Wukong, no– I-I can’t– I won’t let you– ngh–” The prince grabbed his partner’s leg and leaned against it best he could.

“Holy– You’re burning up so much I can feel it through my clothes– we need to take you underwater, and fast–”

“NO!” The prince quickly objected as Wukong scooped him up.

“I don’t care if you protest, we’re going to fix this– you’re going to be okay, okay?” Wukong was defiant and didn’t meet his eye, though the prince could see tears threatening to fall.

“N-no, Wukong, th-they’ll imprison you, th-they’ll–” Ao Lie stopped himself, but Wukong picked up what he was implying.

“Li-Li, why would they imprison me? Is it because I’d be the one bringing you? I-if so, I can get Wujing or your wife or someone– I-I can fix this,” Wukong pleaded.

“W-Wukong, this isn’t your fault– please–” The prince gripped Wukong’s shirt with trembling hands.

“Your temperature is only rising, Lie, what the fuck is going on?” Wukong pleaded with him, but the prince looked away as he curled in agony.

With a frustrated huff, Wukong set the prince down on the pillows they’d used for fighting just a happy second ago, then vanished on his cloud before returning with a bag full of chunks of ice he pressed against the prince’s forehead, though it was useless as it began to melt in seconds.

“W-Wukong please, i-it’ll pass, I promise,” he tried forcing a smile again.

“You know what this is, don’t you?!” Wukong looked angry. “Why won’t you tell me what it is? Why won’t you let me fix this?!”

“B-because you don’t need to fix anything, qin qin,” He weakly lifted his arm to tuck Wukong’s fur back.

“Don’t ‘qin qin’ me, this is serious!” Wukong protested.

Ao Lie winced, every muscle in his body beginning to feel like a flaming, aching inferno as he sweated through all of his five layers of silk.

“I-it’s not your fault, Wukong, i-it’s just mine, okay?” He gave a weak smile as droplets of sweat began to roll nonstop down his forehead.

“What are you talking about?!” Wukong shouted. “What could possibly be my–”

The monkey king froze.

“Wukong… Wukong, please–” The prince whispered, desperately trying to grab his arm, but his partner stood and began to pace the room.

“I– It– No– You’re immortal– Th-that– A-and master– A-and– it was centuries ago– i-it can't–” The monkey king’s voice cracked as his tears were finally allowed to fall.

“Wukong, stay with me, please–!”

“How long has this been going on? Since we left the Mystic Mountain??? Have you been hiding this from me for�� for centuries???” Wukong turned around, furious.

“W-Wukong, please– I-I’d never–”

“You won’t even give me the chance to help you– is it because I did this? Is this your– your punishment for me?!” Wukong could barely look at him.

“Wukong, I love you–” The prince reached up again.

“W-well you shouldn’t! This is all so– so fucked up– I-I–” The monkey sobbed, falling to his knees and covering his eyes with his hands.

“Wukong, it’s not your fault! I-I chose to jump in front of master, I-I took on the burden– ngh– willingly,” He managed to grab his hand, and Wukong held it up to his cheek.

“There wouldn’t have been anything to jump in front of if it weren’t for me, it’s my fault you’re suffering– that you’re–”

Wukong’s eyes widened.

“Y…you’re–... you’re dying, Li-Li,” he gave into his sobs once more, pressing the scorching hands even closer to him.

Ao Lie weakly stroked his partner’s cheek with his thumb. “I-I… I think so too… I dreamt of this for… for a long time, but… but never was it so… so sudden… I’m so sorry, qin qin…” he apologized and explained but Wukong wasn’t listening.

“I can’t be alone, Lie– I need you– I love you so, so, so much– I can’t– I can’t lose another person because of my stupid, stupid mistakes,” he shook his head furiously.

“We don’t have a choice, my love,” Ao Lie forced a weak smile, a chill shaking his whole body so Wukong brought him into his arms, making the prince sit half up so it was easier to see and embrace his lover. “I didn’t think it’d be tonight. I-I’ve known the flame’s presence for so long, but the pain– it only grew with time a-and this past decade it’s– it’s been almost unbearable,” Ao Lie laughed through tears that sizzled and turned to steam.

“I can imagine,” Wukong laughed and cried too.

“I didn’t want it to be like this, Qin-qin– I wanted to have a nice day with the person I love. I-I’m so sorry. it isn’t your fault,” Ao Lie grabbed the monkey’s robes tight.

“It should’ve been me– it was my fault– I don’t know why I didn’t even try– I–”

“You could’ve disrupted the spell entirely, and that poor, poor baby would’ve died, don’t be foolish, my love,” The prince pointed out.

“N-no– no, you know what? I’m going to get the others! I-I’m gonna get Nezha and DBK a-and Wujing and Bajie too– w-we can fix this together! You’ll be better in no time!” Wukong smiled at Ao Lie, who just shook his head weakly– the prince finally taking notice of the crimson flames that were starting to leak from his scales.

“Master is gone, Wukong, and I’m going to have to join him,” The prince hated saying it as much as Wukong hated to hear it.

“NO! I-I don’t care what you say– I’m not losing you too,” Wukong stood in protest once again.

“W-Wukong, I’m not mad, really– I forgive you,” The prince smiled, the arm grabbing his robe beginning to shake and tremble violently as a painfully numb feeling spread through his limbs as he noticed the flames growing bigger, and parts of himtransforming to ash.

Wukong fell back to his knees, sobbing as he held Ao Lie closer. “I-I love you, Lie– please don’t go,” He could barely get words out.

“W-Wukong, I need you to promise me– promise me you’ll forgive yourself?” Ao Lie urged, watching his feet start to disappear in terror.

Wukong shook his head. “I can’t… so please– stay so I don’t have to,” He tried wiping away some of Ao Lie’s sweat, but the heat was getting intense even for him.

“T-the fire– i-it won’t die with me– It’ll be passed down– Wukong– Wukong please protect them– my baby– th-they’ll carry the fourth ring– make sure no one knows, o-okay? Protect my kin, don’t let anything bad happen to them, okay?” Ao Lie attempted a second promise.

“Wh-what? A fourth–? There wasn’t supposed to be– oh Lie, I’m so sorry,” Wukong apologized again for the millionth time and held Ao Lie in a way that he could bury his head into his shoulder.

“I-it’s okay, Wukong, i-it’s okay, I forgive you, o-okay? So don’t hate yourself– it’s okay,” His voice cracked weakly.

Wukong sniffled, shaking his head a bit. “I… I can’t–”

“Wukong… I’m dying. I’m sorry, but I-I am,” He smiled weakly again. “I love you so much– but I’m going… promise me you’ll be okay, okay? And that you’ll take care, a-and– and you won’t forget me, okay?” The prince chuckled weakly, trying to lift his arm again, but his fingers were fading too.

“I could never forget you, Li-Li, y-you’re my everything,” it was Wukong’s turn to stroke his cheek, and the prince kissed his hand.

“I’m sorry it had to end like this, my love– but that’s– that’s just how it goes sometimes, isn’t it?” He let out a weak laugh as numbness spread through his legs.

“I-it’s okay– I f-forgive you too,” Wukong struggled repeating his words back to him, but the prince smiled.

“Good,” The dying dragon smiled and Wukong suddenly kissed him, which the prince quickly returned twice as passionately and desperately, feeling the numbness complete take over, despite his desperation to stay in that moment forever.

But he didn’t get a choice, and in a matter of moments Ao Lie, Third Son of the Dragon King of the West Sea, was dead and gone.

#lego monkie kid #lmk #stableboys shipping #ao lie lmk #sun wukong lmk #my fics #major character death #fluff and angst #i'm addicted to emotional whiplash send help #everyone thank doctor chalk for inspiring me #their shit is amazingggggggggggggggg #anyways bone apple tea #whumptober #whumptober 2023

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shu-of-the-wind · 1 year ago

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Character Guide and plot summary of SOTB to this point:

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

The Investigators Lan Fan Huo, also known as Enkhtuya. Formerly a member of the Huo, one of the Yao’s sworn subordinate clans, Lan Fan’s true identity has been banished by the Dowager Empress. She is currently posing as a nomadic woman, Feiyan Ma, from the steppes, and acting as an imperial spy.

Side note, I finally have a facecast for Lan Fan! Dilraba Dilmurat.

His Imperial Majesty, Ling Yao, the Dawn Emperor. Extremely Stressed about declaring it open season on himself (romantically? Violently? Both? Who knows) by opening the Lotus Hall. Also extremely stressed about his job overall. He is half-brother to Mei Chang as well as Lien Hua, Xinzhe, and Dong Mao Feng, but defeated them in the race for the throne by bringing a Philosopher’s Stone to Xing.

Her Highness, Imperial Cousin, Princess Mei Chang. Alphonse’s alkahestry teacher, First Governor of Chang-guo, and the half-sibling of Ling Yao and Dong Mao, Xinzhe, and Lien Hua Feng. Usually accompanied by her bearcat, Xiao Mei. Has feelings for Alphonse Elric.

Alphonse Elric, a Western traveler and old friend of the Dawn Emperor. Despite Ling’s best attempts to keep him out of the ongoing situation, he’s as deep in it as anyone. Has feelings for Mei Chang, but is not voicing them. It’s possible he is unaware of them.

Suyin Ma. Also named Sarangerel. The wife of Shan Yao, and Feiyan Ma’s cousin. Suyin claims Fuu told her about Lan Fan’s past prior to her joining the Huo family, but has not elaborated on how, when, or why.

Shan Yao. Suyin’s husband, Commander of the Imperial Guard, Lan Fan’s supervisor for her current mission, and Ling Yao’s older cousin. He has known both Ling and Lan Fan for over a decade and has many embarrassing stories in his arsenal because of it. Lan Fan is currently staying in Shan and Suyin’s rooms at Pubuchuan.

Niu Lu. An alkahestrist trained by Mei and a former torturer for the Imperial Army, Niu Lu is currently serving as Lan Fan’s maid during her investigation of the Fengs.

The Suspects The Triplets, Dong Mao, Xinzhe, and Lien Hua Feng. The triplet children of the Feng family, and Imperial Cousins in their own right, and as such half-siblings of Ling Yao and Mei Chang. They have come to the capital to tear the Dowager Empress from her position of power by whatever means necessary.

The Dowager Empress, Huian Yao. Ling Yao’s mother. Ambitious, venomous, and ruthless. Appears to have played a role in the massacre of the Nohin people alongside the Retired Emperor, Ling’s father. Currently working with Minister of the Left Shen Liu to get one of her chosen subordinates into the role of Ascending Empress. Fond of poisons.

Residents of the Imperial City Shen Liu. Minister of the Left and primary ally of the Dowager Empress, though they historically have not gotten along very well. Has been pressuring Ling to get married for at least the last eighteen months. He absolutely loathes Feiyan Ma.

Bao Zhang. Minister of the Right and founding member of the Reconciliation committee. He is reclusive and odd, rarely coming out into court even though he is one of the most powerful ministers in the Imperial City. He has a pet crow that delivers messages for him, and an assistant, Yue, who is a mathematical genius.

Xiao Niao Song, First Governor of Song-guo. Head of the Song family, mother to Xiao Huan, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Xie Song. Another founding member of the Reconciliation committee. She respects Feiyan Ma and is seeking her advice on dealing with the nomadic peoples on Song-guo borders.

Xiao Huan Song, Second Daughter of the Song family. The Song Family’s entrant into the competition for the role of Ascending Empress. She is an alkahestrist.

Jian Zhang. Imperial Master of the Horse and Bao Zhang’s cousin. Reclusive and resents politics. A former soldier, he served in the border wars with Thamasq. He is helping Feiyan Ma with Changchang.

The Cao Brothers, Aiguo and Heng. Aiguo Cao is Lien Hua’s fiance. He has appalling manners and a worse personality. Heng, his younger brother, is equally as unpleasant.

Biyi Chang. The Thirteenth Lady of Chang-guo, a distant cousin of Mei’s. She is shy, awkward, and quiet. She was also Suyin’s first friend at court.

Caterina della Barbarigo. An Aerugan noblewoman and the fiancee of Dong Mao Feng, she struggles with Xingese cultures, languages, and customs. Lan Fan has offered to teach her more Xingese.

Gen Chang. Lan Fan’s bodyguard, a former imperial guardsman, and a distant cousin of Mei’s. He may or may not have a slight crush on Lan Fan. He was assigned to guard Feiyan Ma after the Firebrand assassination attempt that nearly killed her.

Citizens of Xinjing Xiaoqing. A former firebrand, Xiaoqing is half-Qarashi and half-Xingese. Al is teaching her the basics of alkahestry in return for her assistance in infiltrating the Fires of God in the capital. She is an older-sister figure to Peizhi.

Peizhi. An assistant groom. Formerly a jockey in the Xuanwu ward. He owes Feiyan Ma his life, and is determined to repay the debt any way he can, up to and including getting into massive trouble with Xiaoqing. He and Changchang have a very special bond that seems to be related to his latent alkahestrical abilities.

Changchang. A trained warhorse who has gone half-feral due to abusive treatment. Lan Fan rescued her along with Peizhi, and is trying to convince her that humans are not universally shitheads. It’s not going particularly well.

The Fires of God Father Shiloh Trener. The shadowy leader of the Fires of God. An Amestrian who learned (or convinced himself) that he is the son of the sun god, Leto after a forty day fever which culminated on the day the Elric brothers exposed Father Cornello as a fraud. In the wake of the outbreak of Liore’s civil war, he led his religious community to the desert, and then to Feng-guo, where they are currently settled.

Huli. “Fox.” A Firebrand and an assassin. Possibly Cretan or Amestrian. Has tried to kill the Fengs at least once (that we know of) and seems intent on fighting Lan Fan. Original name unknown.

Lang. “Wolf.” A Firebrand. A Xingese man working as a spy for the Feng in the Imperial City while simultaneously reporting all their doings to the Fires of God. He is mute, and speaks primarily through sign language. Original name unknown.

Sheng. “Weasel.” A Firebrand, an Aeurgan, and a former slave. Seems to be the leader of the quartet of Firebrands who are after the Fengs, or, at least, the only one that Huli will listen to. Original name unknown.

Mao. “Cat.” A young Firebrand, approximately sixteen. She has pursued alkahestrical treatments which have turned her into something similar to a chimera, but unable to shift back and forth between her human and animal forms, which means she has long, permanently extended claws, fangs, and hair that is more like long fur. Original name unknown.

Shu (formerly Shubiao, but I fucked up, that means computer mouse, please feel free to laugh your ass off at me). “Mouse.” A Nohin man and Firebrand that Lan Fan captured snooping through her quarters. His original name is Kazuki Sakari. He is currently in hiding after escaping imperial custody, and cannot reunite with his firebrand cohort for fear they will simply execute him for his failures.

PLOT SUMMARY: It is September 1918, three years after the ascension of the Dawn Emperor, Ling Yao, and troubles are brewing on the northwestern border of the Empire. The Feng, one of the Fifty Families of the Xing nobility, have been eliminating Yao spies sent into their territory, Feng-guo, for the past several months. Knowing that the Gathering, the bi-annual celebration and political meeting of all the Fifty Families at the capital, is approaching, Ling orders Lan Fan to take on the role of a steppes noblewoman and enter the imperial court to spy against the Feng triplets. The triplets—Sixth Prince Dong Mao, Seventh Prince Xinzhe, and Ninth Princess Lien Hua—are attending court formally for the first time since the Dawn Emperor’s ascension, and there are concerns that they are planning to assassinate Ling in an attempt to gain power and push the Yao out of ascendancy in the Court.

Despite her discomfort—Lan Fan is the Emperor’s Shadow first and foremost, and is extremely discontented with having to leave her position and her charge as Ling’s guard—Lan Fan takes the position. She is posing as Feiyan Ma, the “cousin” of the wife of Shan Yao, the commander of the Imperial guard and one of Ling Yao’s cousins. Shan’s wife, Suyin Ma (also known as Sarangerel) is pregnant, and wants a member of her family to be with her in the capital throughout her pregnancy and the birth of her first child. Mei Chang, in illicit support of Lan Fan’s position, provides Lan Fan with a maid and guard of her own, Niu Lu, a half-Drachman noblewoman who is a talented alkahestrist as well as a professional spy and torturer. Despite a rough start in the capital, Lan Fan manages to befriend at least two of the Feng triplets, along with Mingli Chen, a particular friend of Xinzhe Feng. She accompanies them to horse races in the lower districts of the capital, during which she saves a young jockey and his irascible, traumatized mount, a former war horse named Changchang. Thanks to her actions, Lan Fan meets a young woman, Xiaoqing, who is ana-Qarashi and Xingese. She is attempting to teach herself healing alkahestry to assist people in the Xuanwu districts of the capital, the poorest and most destitute people in the area.

While attending a party at the Chang estate, Lan Fan saves the Feng triplets from an assassination attempt by a masked intruder, who is later identified as Huli, a warrior and spy from a Letoist religious cult known as the Fires of God. The Fires of God believe that Shiloh Trener, an Amestrian who formerly lived in Liore, is actually the son of the Sun God, Leto, come to earth. The group is gathering recruits and converts in preparation for the end of the world. Their base of operations is in Feng-guo, and the Feng triplets, along with their uncle, Mengyao, have been trying to keep the ongoing political damage a secret from the other Fifty Families as well as the Emperor. Xiaoqing, who used to be a firebrand, lost her mother to the cult, and she and her father left Feng-guo and fled to the capital to get away from the chaos.

During this time, Lan Fan has been struggling with her work as a spy. She does not feel that she is capable of pretending to be another person, let alone that she has the right to act as a noblewoman, particularly when she was raised from a very young age to be an imperial bodyguard and shadow. Putting herself in the spotlight in any way makes her deeply uncomfortable. She struggles with interacting with Ling on a more equivalent footing (noblewoman to emperor, as opposed to servant to emperor) and with the emperor’s attention. Ling asks her to go riding with him in the mornings, which is of particular note to the gossip grapevine, as the Dawn Emperor has been extremely reluctant to even discuss the potential of marriage, let alone lavish any special attention on any noblewoman at court.

Ling is struggling as well, in ways that Al (who is in Xing to study Xingese alkahestry) doesn’t particularly understand. When Al attempts to push and states that Ling, as emperor, can do what he wants, Ling lashes out and states that he can’t do what he wants where Lan Fan is concerned, because the last thing he wants to do is make her uncomfortable and force attentions where they may not be wanted. He knows that he has feelings for Lan Fan, and that they’re more than likely returned, but he also knows that Lan Fan’s identity is wrapped in her honor and her service as bodyguard, and that so long as that state of affairs continues, nothing can possibly happen between them. However, due to Lan Fan’s role as spy, and their attempts to get the Feng to remain interested in and trust Feiyan Ma, Ling is caught between his wish to keep Lan Fan alive, safe, and happy, and courting Feiyan Ma to ensure that she remains politically and materially relevant to the people they are investigating.

Meanwhile, the investigation is escalating. The day before the Gathering opens, Lan Fan catches a firebrand spy—a Nohin man—snooping around her rooms. The man, Kazuki Sakari (referred to as Shu by himself and firebrand cohort) was attempting to find information about Feiyan Ma after her interference in the assassination attempt on the Feng triplets. The discovery of a Nohin man rattles Lan Fan, who is also Nohin, and has been hiding her identity for over a decade with the help of her grandfather. During the Gathering ceremony, Lan Fan discovers that Xinzhe and Mingli are lovers, which could get them executed due to anti-sodomy laws in the imperial court. She promises Mingli she will keep their secret. However, during her attempts to research queer love, she is drawn into a meeting with the Minister of the Left, the Dowager Empress Huian Yao, and the Song Family regarding the complex issues surrounding the northwestern borders and raiding by nomadic steppes peoples, such as the Ma. During the debate, Lan Fan brings up the massacre of the Nohin people, backed by the former Emperor, Ling’s father; the Dowager Empress threatens to have her exiled. Ling settles tempers, with difficulty. The following day, the Firebrands attempt to assassinate Lan Fan, which results in her being poisoned.

As Lan Fan recovers in the Emperor's chambers, Al, Mei, and Peizhi, the jockey that Lan Fan rescued, learn that the Firebrands have been smuggling in massive amounts of weapons from Thamasq into Feng-guo, in an attempt to raise an insurrection against the Feng family and take over the province. Shu escapes custody and flees to a Nohin safehouse. As a result of the attempt on Feiyan Ma’s life, the Emperor’s Shadow—Lan Fan—is exiled permanently from Xing after complaints registered by the Dowager Empress. While Lan Fan herself is not going anywhere (the position of Emperor’s Shadow has been filled by a soldier with a similar height, build, and qi signature as Lan Fan), she now has no identity to return to after the job is over. Her life and her existence as Lan Fan Huo, particularly as the Emperor’s Shadow, has been terminated by Huian Yao, and Ling was unable to do anything to stop it. She is angry about this but feels horrible for being angry with Ling, specifically; she has not explicitly forgiven him but understands this was not his fault, and is hiding from her own complicated emotions about the entire situation.

Lan Fan throws herself into the investigation of the Fengs and the Firebrands, as well as her role of Feiyan Ma, meeting regularly with Xiao Niao Song, the head of the Song family, as well as other important members of the imperial court, including the Minister of the Right, Bao Zhang, a reclusive administrator who puts her name forward as a member of a new political group, the Committee for the Resolution of Human Rights Abuses, Conflicts, and Injustices, or colloquially the "Reconciliation Committee." Additionally, Lan Fan meets Dong Mao Feng’s betrothed, an Aerugan woman named Caterina della Barbarigo, and one of the Feng retainers, a mysterious woman named Lotus who seems to have a strong bond with Dong Mao.

Finally, Lien Hua Feng makes the decision to trust Feiyan Ma, and reveals that the goal of the Feng is not to assassinate the Dawn Emperor, but rather his mother, the Dowager Empress, as revenge for Huian Yao poisoning their mother and killing their baby sister in utero twelve years before. The problems with Yao spies being killed in Feng territory was the result of a misunderstanding; the Feng believed the spies were sent by Huian Yao, not the Emperor, and summarily executed them, while the Emperor believed that Feng spies on the border were part of a plot to overthrow him, not investigating the internal goings-on of Feng-guo. Lien Hua also introduces Lan Fan to one of her own spies in the palace, a mute man named Lang, who Lan Fan knows is a double agent for the Firebrands. Lan Fan does not reveal Lang's betrayal to Lien Hua in the moment. Instead, she asks Xiaoqing to infiltrate the Firebrands’ base of operations in the capital, and Xiaoqing, wishing to avenge her mother, agrees.

The Gathering closes, and many families return to their home provinces. However, due to the Emperor’s announcement that he is going to begin his search for a wife, many families summon daughters and cousins to the court in an attempt to take the role of Empress. The Emperor is retreating to Pubuchuan for the winter, a mountain palace with many hot springs to last them through the long snows. Only ten families have been invited. It is here that the battle for the role of Empress will occur—and Ling has already asked that Lan Fan participate, in her role as Feiyan Ma, to keep up the ruse of their courtship. Lan Fan agrees.

#my writing #sotb #for review

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