SHUN RONG'S POV
"Mama!"
I heard a little boy, younger than me, calling out.
"Mama! Mama!"
I heard it again. This time, I can see the boy. It was me. Only younger.
"Mama, look! Look at what I found!" Little me showed the baby beast that I found in the forest near where we were having lunch outside. Mama looked at it and put on a weird face. Even though she was smiling, I know she wasn't happy that I picked up the baby beast.
'It was my fault.'
"Wow! That's wonderful, but I think its time you put it back where you found it. We are going to leave soon." Mother said while pushing me to where I came from. She stood and went to her servants, instructing them to clear everything up.
'I should have listen. But I didn't. It was my fault.'
"But Mama! I found it in the river drowning. I can't let it drown again. It'll die!" Little me said to Mother. "Can I knot keep it? I want to keep it Mama! I promise I'll take good care of it! I promise!" Little me insisted.
"I know, but your uncle won't allow it. So, please put it back. We are leaving soon." Mother said.
"Hurry and put it back, Shun Rong."
'I didn't listen. I kept on insisting. I kept on telling her that I didn't want to let it go. It was all my fault!'
"ROAR!!"
All heads turn towards the sound of a beast roaring angrily. Mother told me to place the beast by the trees immediately, but again I didn't listen. The roaring got louder and the stomping of feet, swishes of a tail grew nearer. Mother frown and gritted her teeth. She picked me up and sat on her horse. She hurriedly rode back to the palace.
'But she wouldn't make it. It was my fault!"
As we rode, we saw Uncle Huang riding his horse in our direction. Mother stopped in front of Uncle Huang and so did he in front of mother.
"Nian Zhen! What's going on?! Why do I hear an angry beast coming this way towards the palace?!" Uncle Huang said angrily at Mother.
"Brother! Don't blame this on me, idiot! It's not like I can stop what happened!" Mother said to Uncle Huang.
"Its because you started it that you can't help for the obvious outcome to happened! What did you do this time, Nian Zhen."
"I didn't do anything! But, I'll take whatever punishment father would give me."
"ROAR!!"
"HURRY UP AND SPEAK!! Stop beating around the bush, Nian Zhen!"
"Shun Rong picked up the beast's baby from drowning itself in the river near the forbidden forest. I told him to put it back, but he wouldn't listen. Now he has it with him." Mother explained.
"WHAT!" Uncle Huang screamed. He sighs and look at little me. "Shun Rong, give me the baby. I'll be taking it back to its mother." Uncle told him buthe just shook his head, clutching the baby in his arms tightly. "Shun Rong, you-"
"AAH!!"
Screams could already be heard as the beast had shown itself. It looked at little me and saw its baby in my arms. It roared louder and came its way to little me. Uncle managed to create a barrier before it could get any closer and mother held onto me tightly. Uncle tried to take the baby away from me, but I didn't let him. Instead, I held onto it and it onto me.
'I should have let it go. I should have gave it to Uncle Huang Longwei, but I was stubborn. It Was My Fault!'
"SHUN RONG!" I heard both Uncle and Mother screamed my name. I watched from the side as little me looked up to see that he was now inside a ball of water. I watched as little me's eyes glowed pure green. Mother tried stopping whatever that was happening but failed. Uncle was stopping the beast from getting closer that he didn't see Mama trying to kill herself so that she could save me.
"Shun Rong, my dear. Don't worry, mama's here." just with those words, Mother summoned her powers forward and cultivated to take the baby beast away from me. She did it without her beast beside her.
'But she was too late. The baby beast had contracted with me. You died in vain, Mother. And. It. Was. All! My! Fault!'
"NIAN ZHEN!! DON'T! YOU'LL DIE!" Uncle Huang Longwei shouted at Mother.
"Huang Longwei, my brother. Please take care of Shun Rong for me." She said with a smile. Then, she took the baby beast in her arms. A surge of energy burst forward from around Mother and the beast. Little me was now in Uncle Huang Longwei's arms as he protected me from the surge of energy. It became too bright to be able to see. Soon, it stopped and what took its place was the baby beast and a mount of dust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"MOTHER!!"
I woke up, startled from the bad dream that I had. Imperial Mother came into the room with Imperial Father looking at me worriedly.
"Are you alright, Shun Rong? Did you have a bad dream?" Mother asked me. I nodded and hugged him. Mother embraced me in his arms tightly without thinking twice. "It's alright now, Shun Rong. Your father and I are here now. You don't have to be scared anymore." Mother tried calming me. I was calm but I didn't know why my heart was beating fast. I was even breathing as if I had run for miles without stopping.
"Shun Rong." I looked at Father as he called me. "Do you mind telling us what your dream was about?" I frowned at Father.
I looked at both Mother and Father. They were watching me as if my dream was something important that they needed to know. I do want to tell them. I really do, but I don't understand why I can't. Usually I could. So, I don't understand why I can't now.
"Father, Mother. I really, really want to tell you. I really do. Its just that," I pursed my lips.
"Just what, Shun Rong?" Mother asked me.
"Its just that, I don't remember what I was dreaming about."