The Golden Fountain

'It has been a while huh.'

Yang Zheng thought to himself as he passed through the gate, taking his first few steps back into Golden City. He looked around at the all-too-familiar scenery, his face slightly quivering with great emotion before coming to a rest. The place held a lot of sentimental value; one filled with laughter and joy, but at the same time, unfortunately, full of tragedy and despair.

Memories of his life flashed before him; training with his older brother, the destruction of his clan, his first encounter with his lover, and also the time he lost her. It has already been three millennia, yet he still could not let go of his past. Yang Zheng closed his eyes, and forced himself to take a slow, deep breath, recollecting his former bearing. "Just wait for a little bit more, I promise I'll be with you soon." He mumbled.

Because it was most likely going to be his last visit, Yang Zheng decided to spend some time, and stroll through the city as he reminisced about old times. For Yang Zheng, who had lived for eight thousand years, what more was a couple of hours? He came across some old faces; Uncle Li-Yi from his favorite barbecue stand, Sister Lim, and many others whose name he couldn't quite recall.

After walking around for a period of time, Yang Zheng shortly stopped in front of a golden fountain, deeply lost in thought.

The golden fountain, central of Golden City, was considered a monumental landmark. It was told that if one were to throw in a coin made of pure gold, and make a wish with the sincerest of feelings, it would become true. Many from far away would often come here especially just to make a wish.

--

(Sometime in the past)

It was approaching the middle of the night. A beautiful maiden could be seen pulling along a rather handsome young man going somewhere.

"Yang Zheng, hurry up!" the maiden quietly whispered to the young man, impatience could be heard in her voice.

This young man was Yang Zheng. He was four-thousand, five-hundred, and thirty-one years old this year. He still had the same fine features, however, instead of his long black hair, and crystal clear eyes he has today, he had short black hair, and deep brown eyes.

"What's the rush, Ying-Ying?" Yang Zheng laughed, as he playfully looked at the beauty pulling his arm.

"You know I have a curfew." Ying-Ying pouted. She looked back at him, batting her large eyes with a hint of anger.

Ying-Ying was like an angel that had come out of a fairy-tale. Even when she was pouting, it couldn't hide her attractiveness. She had perfect golden brown hair, smoothly curved black eyebrows, a small nose, and extremely charming lapis-blue eyes. Sometimes, Yang Zheng wondered how he had managed to catch the interest of such a rare beauty.

"Alright, alright." He raised his two hands in defeat. Soon, the pair arrived before a golden fountain.

"You brought me here in a rush to do this? When we could have done it any other time?" Yang Zheng gave her an incredulous look. "Plus, you do know that this a scam devised by the Golden Emperor to make money, right? How else can you explain the disappearing coins every other night?"

Ying-Ying rolled her eyes. "Have you been listening to anything I was saying earlier?"

"Honestly, no. You mind repeating yourself one more time?" Yang Zheng scratched his head.

"YOU!! Fine, listen closely okay." She looked as if she could explode at any moment. "Tonight, a shooting-star is suppose- Nevermind, it's already here! Quick! Close your eyes, and make a wish!" Ying-Ying hurriedly tossed a gold coin into the fountain, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes. Following her, Yang Zheng closed his eyes, and they each made a wish.

A bright light moved rapidly through the sky, fading in and out, before it finally extinguished.

"So, what did you wish for?" Ying-Ying asked, her eyes blinking with curiosity.

"To become the strongest person in the whole universe!" Yang Zheng said triumphantly.

"Oh." Ying-Ying replied, seemingly somewhat disappointed. The pair sat next to each other awkwardly for few minutes without another word before Yang Zheng decided he should break the silence.

"Well, you know." He tilted his head, and rested his hand on his chin in a 'thinking' posture. "I don't really believe in this stuff so I figured I might as well go ahead and ask for something impossible."

"Oh." Ying-Ying nodded her head absentmindedly as if she understood.

"Hey listen," Yang Zheng sighed. "If I were to make a real wish, I'd wish your father would agreed to our marriage. Instead of having to meet you like this." He said seriously while looking her in the eyes.

Ying-Ying couldn't help, but look away feeling embarrassed and shy by Yang Zheng's abnormal behavior.

"What about you? What did you wish for?" asked Yang Zheng.

"It's a secret."

"Hey! That's not fair!" Yang Zheng pretended to be angry.

"Don't you know? Wishes won't come true if you tell someone before it happens!" Ying-Ying giggled, running away.

The sweet feminine sound of laughter, and occasional angry shouts from a young man echoed throughout the night.

--

(Present Day)

Yang Zheng deeply sighed, as he looked at the fountain with a touch of sorrow. Even up to this very day, he has no idea what she had wished for, and he never will. If only... if only he knew, he would do whatever he can, everything in his power to accomplish it. Maybe, maybe if he had been less ignorant, he would have known.

Yang Zheng took a gold coin out of his pocket, faced the golden fountain, and closed his eyes.

'Please! If this truly works, let me make another my wish! Please!' He gripped the gold coin tightly in his hands.

'Give me another chance! Allow me see her once again! Let me atone for my mistakes!!' Yang Zheng prayed. He opened his eyes, and was about to release the gold coin, but then he stopped.

"Ahhh. Forget it. What's the use? I'm not even the strongest person in the universe! And I'm not going to give the Golden Emperor my money!!" said Yang Zheng angrily, ready to throw the coin as far away as he can from the golden fountain.

In the corner of his eye, he saw a homeless woman nearby. "I guess I should just give it to someone that needs it. At least, she would like that."

This was something that Ying-Ying would always do. Whenever she saw someone that could use help, regardless of who it was, she would try her utmost to help them. Even though, he had told her many times to not to get involved in other people's business, not once did she listen. She was just too kindhearted.

Yang Zheng headed over to give the coin to the poor woman. When he was about to hand her the gold coin, she suddenly grabbed his arm. "What the hell!" Yang Zheng exerted all might as he tried to break free from her grip, yet he could not.

"Be careful of what you choose to wish for... you may find yourself faced with greater pain, much greater pain. Yet powerless to decide, and powerless to control, futile struggles... as you long for death, even more than now... she no longer loves you, the new you... you find yourself wishing to return, but cannot, choices that make you mourn for death... trying to go home, but realize that you... not anymore... once again, a life filled with remorse... a fate even worst than death... you poor thing..." The woman holding on to his arm lowly hissed. her other arm slowly reached out to him.

"What are you rambling on about, crazy woman! Get the hell away from me! Let go!" Yang Zheng cursed.

All of the sudden, just when her arm was going to reach his head, she vanished before him into thin air. Yang Zheng was stunned; he could not comprehend what has just taken place. "What the hell? Forget it, I'm must be really losing my mind today." He thought to himself, befuddled by what had actually occurred.

After that extremely weird, and unpleasant incident, Yang Zheng felt repulsed at the gold coin in his hand. With a flick of his finger, the gold coin flew into the air. With a 'plop', the coin sounded as it fell into the golden fountain. Uncaring of where it went, Yang Zheng's figure had long disappeared into the distance.