Meeting Again

3,900 years ago - 720 BCE-HEAVENLY REALM

Thousands of years have passed since Nuwa created humanity. Ao Shun (the Black Dragon God- Heilong) stood at the gates of Heaven peering down into the mortal realm. He sighed, watching the humans celebrate the Dragon's birthday on the thirteenth day of the sixth moon. Their dragon had no name.

He had been in Heaven for over three thousand years, and only had a few companions for company. He wasn't sure if this was just boredom or curiosity, but he wanted to visit the human realm and play.

Ao Shun grumbled, turning away from the view of Earth. He looked around him, frowning. The Heavenly Realm was a beautiful place, but it never changed. Ao Shun raised his hands, waving them through the air. The white and gold architecture of his home changed into shades of blues and greens.

He groaned dissatisfied. He continued waving his hands. The colors changed repeatedly: yellow and blue, black and gold, green and silver; finally settling on a red and white design.

Huxian (the Fox Immortal) and Langshen (the Wolf God) materialized at the edge of Ao Shun's home under the now, red and white gate. They noticed the changes and laughed. Huxian shook his head.

"Looks like Ao Shun is bored again. It's a good thing we're here." Langshen agreed. He lifted his hands with jars of wine. "Good thing I brought wine."

Walking down the path, towards Ao Shun's home, the surroundings altered appearance multiple times.

The trees disappeared, replaced with a small hill of flowers. The brilliant blooms scattered like paint on a fresh canvas.

A small pond froze, the ice spreading outwards. Golden fish heads popped up through the ice as it froze and unfroze repeatedly. The poor fish suffering along with the bored personality of Ao Shun. Their heads were frozen and released, over and over, when they peeked up at the surface.

A fountain, in the shape of a dragon, shifted positions. It looked like the stone statue was alive as it rotated around the pillar it clung to. It finally situated into an upside-down position, its tail high in the air.

Huxian stopped, turning in a circle, looking around them.

"I think it's worse this time. He has never changed so much of his landscape. And in a very peculiar manner."

Flowers and grass sprout around them, the path vanishing. Trees extend, grow and flower in front of their eyes. Langshen jumped backwards as a tree grew between his legs quickly. He covered his privates with the wine jars and yells,

"Ao Shun, I was standing there."

The two friends run, full speed, towards Ao Shun. They screech to a halt when a tree materializes in front of them. The way towards the dragon, had become an obstacle course. They run, dodging trees and sudden pools of water. Langshen jumped over a widening stream, flowing towards a cliff that had appeared out of mid-air.

"Ao Shun, stop!"

Huxian ran into the trunk of a cherry blossom tree. It wasn't there a second ago. Langshen handed Huxian the wine and rushed towards his friend. He tackled him, falling to a patch of newly formed grass and flowers. They spun together, down a small hill, coming to a stop against the base of a tree. Huxian ran towards them, plopping onto the grass next to the tangled dragon and wolf. The close friends laughed.

Langshen released Ao Shun and sat up. He grabbed a bottle of wine from Huxian, shoving it towards the dragon.

"Drink and tell us what the issue is. I don't think the realm can take any more changes to its environment."

Ao Shun sighed heavily. His two friends exchanged a concerned look.

"I'm bored. I want to visit the human realm but am unsure it's a good idea."

He took a long swig of the wine, some dribbling down his chin. Huxian clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"I think, as long as you don't interact too much, you should be ok, for a short visit. I have time, I can go with you."

Ao Shun's face lit up, his posture changing from defeated to hopeful. He held the wine bottle out.

"Let's leave tomorrow then."

The friends continue drinking and joking around with each other.

HUMAN REALM-

A 17-year-old girl stood holding flower bundles in the market. Her beautiful, cheery demeanor drew customers towards her stall naturally.

"Flowers. Beautiful fresh flowers."

A few customers are sucked towards her chiming voice. They bought small bundles of fresh flowers and walked away, smiles on their faces as they inhaled the fragrances.

"Flowers. I have lots of beautiful flowers for sale."

She smiled. Customers shove coins towards her for the flowers. A maid walked up with her young miss. The flower girl acknowledged her with a small bow.

"Zi Mei, you look beautiful today."

Zi Mei smiled, looking through the flowers.

"Jin An, do you have the bundle I asked for? I was so hoping to put them in my mother's bedroom."

 The flower girl nodded, "Of course, I went and picked them just this morning."

Wen Jin An shifted around to the back of her stall cart and grabbed something under the carriage. She pulled a beautiful bundle of flowers out, holding them like a baby. The bright colors complemented each other.

Zi Mei's eyes light up. "Oh, they are perfect. Jin An, you know exactly what I like."

They exchanged flowers for coins and Zi Mei walked away, cradling the flowers. A few ladies nearby, witnessed the exchange and surrounded the stall, all asking for bundles. Jin An began making smaller assortments for them.

Jin An started closing her stall, as the sun slid down in the distance and other shop owners packed up for the day. She sold out of all her flowers but for a small bunch sat on the edge of her cart. Most of the wandering people had gone home for the night, not many continued to roam the street.

Jin An counted the money she made for the day. She giggled, her hands full of small coins and a few pieces of silver.

"You did well, Jin An."

She slid the money in a small pouch, hanging it from her belt.

Picking up the last bunch of flowers, she spun in a circle. She spoke to them as if they were alive.

"Shall we eat well tonight? I'm craving some chicken."

She laughed, wiggling the flowers as if they nodded in reply. Setting them back down, she finished packing up and grabbed the cart firmly.

"Let's go home."