Xia sat snugly astride Wanfeng's saddle with him behind her. She'd never ridden on a horse before.  But Wanfeng's arms about her as he held the reins set her at ease.  Expecting anything from cities made of gold, dragons flying through the sky, or people floating about on clouds, truth be told she was disappointed.  All there was for Xia to see as the company moved away from the river was ordinary looking open countryside or forest.

"Forgive me, Xia," Wanfeng murmured in her ear. "It is not my intention to make you wait but I must see this mission through before I can take you to the Woodlands. Once I deliver the tribe leaders to the royal councillors at the peace treaty signing, I will escort you personally." 

He had dispatched his swiftest rider to journey ahead and inform the awaiting delegation of their current status. He had also sent a message to his parents informing them of the attack but that all was well in hand.  He did not make mention of Xia just yet.  The King and Queen of the Nine-Tails deserved to learn the incredible news first.

Wanfeng spurred his horse to a faster gait. The rest of the company followed suit.

Xia kissed Wanfeng's cheek. She preferred to remain quiet so as not to draw more attention to herself --if that were even possible.  She pulled the cloak she'd been given tighter about her shoulders.  Wanfeng's soldiers who flanked them were disciplined and courteous, asking no questions about the woman whom the Prince had brought forth from the water.  But the group Wanfeng's company were escorting... She could easily hear their barrage of questions between themselves over the clopping of the horses.

"Where did the woman come from?"

"Was she a victim of the Shamans?"

"Did the prince really pull her out of the river?"

"What tribe or clan is her clothing from?"

"Can't you sense anything right? She's a nine-tail!"

"But why was a nine-tail under the waters of a river?"

A loud, sustained growl from Wanfeng put an end to any further deliberations from behind.

There were no further incidents of black magic nor any indication of the presence of Dark Shamans as they journeyed the final leg.  According to Guan Ren, the attack had abruptly ceased a few moments before Wanfeng emerged from the river with 'the Lady fox'.     

Had it been the energy of the rift and its obvious displacement of time that had cancelled out the evil powers, Wanfeng wondered?  Or had it been something --or someone-- else? The incident would be investigated thoroughly by the Heavens but with a newly fledged accord with the Spirit Tribe leaders, the days of the Dark Shamans' terror were over. They would no longer be able to hide in Spirit land and the Sky Dragons would finally be able to hunt them  down with impunity.

The convoy arrived safely at the location of the peace treaty signing, a rather unassuming wooden lodge in a forest clearing where a delegation of the Heavens greeted them and ushered the Spirit Tribe leaders inside. Wanfeng helped Xia dismount after him, then handed the reins of his horse over to Guan Ren.

"Hold on to me tightly, Xia.  The Woodlands are a distance from here.  I will fly us there."

Xia shifted to her fox but this time to hop on Wanfeng's dragon head where she wrapped her tails about his horns as the latter took to the sky.

_____

Queen Ying Yue sat beneath a majestic maple, its red foliage ablaze in the autumn sun. Both she and the King of Nine-Tails were taking advantage of the beautiful quiet afternoon to relax in the fresh air by the pond; her with a lapful of mending and him with a fishing rod and line.  

"That boy. So careful with his books yet so careless with his clothes."  The Queen tsk-ed at the missing rows of beadwork and frayed tears in one of her son's formal tunics.  The Queen loved to embroider and sew and refused to leave these tasks to servants.  Taking a string of tiny pearl beads from her case to thread, she expertly glided her needle through the pinched folds of fabric between her fingers.

A particularly resplendent leaf twirled down from above to land onto her lap.  "I think I'll embroider a maple tree on the back of the new robe I'm making for Qiang.  What do you think, Jianhong?"

"Mm," the King murmured as he drew a puff on his pipe then wiggled his fishing rod a little. The bobbing line created circles of ripples in the surface of the water but no bites came. The fish were resting this quiet afternoon too it would seem. 

Ying Yue's needle slipped. The beads fell off the thread to scatter about her lap.

She frowned.  What was wrong with her today?  Ever since this morning she'd been distracted and clumsy.  It was as if her thoughts were being pulled away from whatever she was trying to concentrate on.

The smoke from Jianhong's pipe wisped sharply to one side in the sudden gust of wind that swept by.  The King looked up to see a long, sinewy shadow soar high overhead. One of the sky dragons... And now at the entrance of the Burrow, someone powerful was purposely projecting their magic through the forest so they would be sensed. Jianhong's brow rose. Why was a sky dragon there?

"Were you expecting a visi--  Ying Yue, what is it?  What's wrong?!"

The Queen had bolted to her feet. Beads tumbled all over the grass as her mending had fallen to the ground.  Without a word, she changed to her tawny fox and dashed into the trees towards their home.  Dropping his rod and pipe, the King's larger silver fox raced after his mate.

Bursting out from the trees at the entrance to the Burrow,  Ying Yue shifted back to her human form.  Before her stood the Crown Prince Wanfeng and....

Ying Yue stared at the young woman wrapped in a cloak who stared back at her.  

"Your Majesty," the Prince bowed to Ying Yue. But the Queen of the Nine-Tails only had eyes for the woman beside him.

In the explosive flurry of leaves that followed, the King arrived, shifting to his human form but instinctively keeping his tails out should there be some threat.

"Prince Wanfeng?!  What's happening?  Why are--" The King's words abruptly stilled as he too became transfixed by the young woman standing there.

"Your Majesties, forgive my intrusion. But I have come to..."

Wanfeng's voice trailed off as the Queen slowly approached, tears beginning to trail down her face as she kept her gaze anchored on Xia from whom tears also silently fell. 

King Jianhong advanced now.  His expression was one of bewilderment as he searched Xia's face.  Xia raised the cloak off her wrist. Her bracelet caught the sunlight and Jianhong gasped, recognizing what he had made so very long ago.  

"How...?" the King choked back a sob.

"Xia."  Queen Ying Yue's voice was barely above a whisper as she came to stand directly before her daughter.

Xia nodded, too overcome to speak, breaking down when her mother took her into her arms. Her father's arms and tails engulfed them both as the family's tears of heartbreak and anguish melted to joy.

Wanfeng stepped back to gaze at the clouds of home.

Was it raining perchance?  Wanfeng wiped at the sudden wetness on his cheeks.

___

Lord Han Zhongli helped himself to a second slice of pee-tzah, marvelling at the texture of the creamy strings that stretched from its edges..

All about him, other wedding guests were sampling with smiles and nods of pleasure the exotic food item insisted upon by the Crown Prince to please the new Crown Princess.

"Ah, Lord Zao," Zhongli waved over the heavyset minister of agriculture who was drinking yet another cup filled with that most aromatic new elixir cofi.  This was the -- fourth?-- cup Zhongli had seen the man drink.  "Lord Zao, need I ask how you find the cofi?"

With rapid hand gestures, a grinning Zao exclaimed, "This elixir is simply marvelous!  I've had 3 cups so far!  I am definitely getting the recipe!  I need to have this back home!"

Rumour was the palace kitchens, under the guidance of the Princess Xia, had been busy the last few months experimenting with different brews made from roasted beans to produce this elixir whose origin was veiled in mystery.

Princess Xia.  What an incredible story whose origin was veiled in mystery as well.  The long thought dead Nine-Tailed Princess who turned out to be very much alive, returning home in the company of the Crown Prince almost a year ago.  And in that time, the woman now considered a great beauty of the realm had visited many lands and seas in the company of her family or of the Crown Prince Wanfeng.  As to her whereabouts during the time she was gone?  Even  Han Zhongli, who had a penchant for uncovering news first didn't know for sure. It was kept private to the families.  Rumour at the time those claiming to be in the know was that the Cataclysm had swept the princess away to a land called Disney in another world.

Whatever the truth, it was evident that the ties of Fate had drawn back together two soul flames.  For every Sky Dragon who'd laid eyes on the Crown Prince Wanfeng and the Princess Xia side by side had witnessed the energy that shimmered between them  There was no denying their bond.

_____

Guan Ren rushed into Wanfeng's chamber as Jian Toumen was helping the groom don the last of his royal wedding robes before the ceremony.

"Your Highness, there is an issue with the Princess Xia and the Royal Secretary."

Wanfeng turned to face his military officer.  "An issue?"

"Yes, your Highness.  The Princess demands your presence, um, before she decides to go through with this barefoot or" --Guan Ren cleared his throat uncomfortably-- "if he 'pisses her off enough' maybe even in her birthday suit.  Forgive me, your Highness, I don't understand what that last part means." Yet Guan Ren's face was red.

The corner of Wanfeng's mouth twitched upwards.  He too suspected what it meant.

When the Crown Prince arrived at his mother's private guest chambers, it was to find Xia standing in the middle of the room with hands planted on hips, staring down the rather diminutive figure of the Royal Secretary -a man known for his fastidious obsession with the minutiae of protocol. The "novelties" introduced into some of the traditional wedding customs had had the Secretary in a tizzy, such as holding a banquet just prior to the ceremony though more so the choice of certain menu items.

Wanfeng noted how his and Xia's mother were sitting at the table nearby ignoring the goings on as they drank tea together. Since his Empress mother could have easily dealt with whatever the issue could be, Wanfeng knew she hadn't because there was something she wanted him to be aware of.

"My mother embroidered the slippers for me.  Are you saying she was wrong to do it?!"  Xia declared hotly.

The Royal Secretary swallowed hard as he glanced at the newly arrived Wanfeng who had yet to say a word.  

"Queen Ying Yue's sewing artistry is well known, Princess Xia," the Royal Secretary said nervously, "but the figures depicted are highly irregular.  The tree perhaps, but a cat?  A wolf?  These are not auspic--"

Wanfeng's gaze narrowed. A tree, a cat, and a wolf... 

The entire retinue of servants present as well as the Secretary gasped and looked every which way but at Xia when, with an exasperated huff, she grasped the bottom of the dressing robe she wore and yanked it above her ankles.

The wedding slippers Xia wore were of traditional red and green cloth, daintily embroidered with all manner of flowers... amongst which grew a slender tree with leaves of gold atop one  and a grey wolf accompanied by a black cat with yellow eyes atop the other.

"I want to walk with my friends who can't be here today." Xia's eyes pleaded with Wanfeng.

Wanfeng gave her a gentle smile and a reassuring nod.

"Royal Secretary."

"Yes, Crown Prince." The man bowed low.

"The styling of wedding slipper is not one of inviolable writ, Royal Secretary. And are you implying the Queen of the Nine-Tails cannot bestow upon her daughter a wedding gift of her own making?"

"Forgive me, your Highnesses!"  The man dropped to kowtow before Xia and her mother.

"I am marrying the Princess, not her slippers.  Is that understood?  You may go."

"Yes, Crown Prince." The Secretary withdrew, taking the retinue of servants with him. 

"Is there anything else, Xia, lest you decide to wear your birthday suit?  That is a term I haven't heard before.  What does it mean?"  Wanfeng crossed his arms over his chest, his loose flowing locks sliding over his back.  Xia's face turned bright red when she looked over quickly at their mothers.

Queen Ying Yue started to laugh.  The Empress shook her head with a smile as she rose from the table finally.  "We best get you changed now, Xia.  Wanfeng, thanks for your help.  If you'll excuse us?"

Xia rushed up to wrap her arms around Wanfeng's neck before he could formally withdraw.  "If you're a good dragon later," she whispered. "I'll let you see my birthday suit."

Wanfeng growled softly in her ear for her alone to hear.  Then assuming an air of decorum he bowed to their mothers before he left the chamber.

Xia turned to the mothers.  "Sorry about that. But I had a feeling that Royal Secretary was going to continue making things difficult especially once he saw my dress unless..."

"Not at all, Xia.  It was a great strategy!"  The Empress laughed. "And now Wanfeng will be all too amazed and pleased when he sees your dress."

Xia gave the Empress a shy smile.  "Do you think he will like the cloak, mom-- I mean, mother-- and I made for him?" Xia had been learning how to embroider from her mother over the last few months.

The Empress came over to give Xia a hug.  "He will love it, Xia, since you made it."

"Right now, let's get your hair done. The ceremony is in an hour." Xia's mother beamed.

_____

If there was one detail of the wedding ceremony that guests and family would forever vividly recall, it was the attire of both bride and groom.

The Crown Princess Xia's dress made by her mother was of red silk, richly embroidered with  trees and flowers of the Woodlands.  Along the dress' hem were stitched such unique and amazing figures symbolic of the bride's maiden life. Matching those on the bride's slippers were once more a grey wolf as well as a slender tree with golden leaves and a black cat with yellow eyes. The hem also bore the image of an unusually shaped silver amulet along with a tiny stack of books next to a cup of tea.  But most prominent of all was the figure of a black dragon in full flight, soaring above a river.

The Crown Prince wore royal robes of red silk as well. About which billowed a cloak whose back was magnificently detailed with a white nine-tailed fox embroidered in iridescent white opal beads.  A gift from the Princess Xia, the Crown Prince wore it with great pleasure, and with great love.

_____

The breeze from the window that blew across the matrimonial bed was refreshingly cool against their flushed skin. 

"I wish Mr. Antoine, Lucy, and Maurice could have truly been here today," Xia said softly.

"We will build an altar for them in our home," Wanfeng affirmed.

He watched the candle flames flicker.  "I hope today wasn't too difficult for you with all the many rites and rituals."

Xia pressed a kiss to Wanfeng's chest.  "The wedding was beyond beautiful, Wanfeng.  My mother made sure I was well-versed in all that was expected of me.  I am twice blessed in that regard. It isn't anything I could ever have experienced in my previous life."

"Xia, do you ever miss anything from... your previous life?"

She twirled a lock of his hair around her fingers before answering. 

"I can say what I don't miss.  I don't miss collecting coupons for discounts. I don't miss frying electronics or making toasters do jumping jacks.  I don't miss shopping for groceries or going to the laundromat.  I don't miss having migraines, or thinking I was crazy sometimes when I thought I could understand animals. Hmm, but I do miss..."

Wanfeng turned to his side to face her.  If she missed something, he would do his best to get it for her --like the pizza and coffee that so scandalized the Secretary when Wanfeng had them added to the banquet menu. 

"What Xia?  What do you miss?  Tell me."

Xia gave him a lopsided grin.  "I miss breakfast cereal."

Wanfeng chuckled.

"Oh, I know!  I miss asphalt to ride my bicycle on." Xia's father had constructed a bicycle for her to use back in the Woodlands so she could 'stay in shape'.  "Do you know how tough it is to ride on forest grass between trees?  Qiang says he thinks he knows a way to create better tires. He's going to help my father make a pair of new bicycles for you and I.  That way we can cycle together whenever we go visit.  Qiang takes after my father a lot in that he likes to make things. But now that I'll be living here with you, I don't have to worry about it, will I.  The tiled pathways will work just fine!"

Wanfeng's groan was only half in jest as he envisioned Xia barreling down the pathways of Heaven on her bicycle.

Xia gave him a look.

"I'm kidding, Wanfeng.  I'll keep the bike riding for when I visit my family."

He pulled her close to kiss her lips.  She giggled when he tickled her ear with his nose.

"What about you, Wanfeng?  You were there such a short time but is there anything you miss from the world I was in?"

The revving engine of the motorcycle beneath him immediately came to mind.  "Though I can fly faster as a dragon, I miss the motorcycle. There was a sense of freedom riding the wind in my human form."

"And I confess I liked the jeans and t-shirts you made me wear.  There was a certain comfort afforded by them that I can never get from the royal attire I must wear here."

Xia laughed as her hand caressed Wanfeng's hard abs.  "You looked sexy as all hell wearing those, Wanfeng, let me tell you. You quickly had me wanting to beat off women ogling you."

It was Wanfeng's turn to laugh.  But then he sobered, wrapping his arms about her tight.

"Being with you every day and night there, I realized I'd been missing you every moment of my life since you were taken away. Never again."

Xia smiled.  "And I've come to realize that no matter where I may be, Wanfeng, it is in your arms that I always feel at home." His lashes swept down and Xia blinked at the raw emotion in his gaze.

They both fell silent. That's enough of that now, Xia thought.

Her hand ventured lower and Wanfeng's breath hitched.

"There is something else I miss," he said breathlessly as he rolled over onto her.

"What's that?" She nipped his chin, earning her a growl which made her shiver.

"The apartment shower.  So tight, so confined, so intimately wet."

His mouth crushed down upon hers as the candles snuffed out. 

And the shadow of a cat neither had noticed against the window vanished with a mrrt.

THE END