The Weight of Legacy

Years had passed since that fateful day when Niao's true identity was revealed, and the celestial family was reunited. The golden palace bustled with activity as preparations for Ao Lui's 18th birthday celebration were in full swing. Ne Zha stood in the center of it all, issuing rapid-fire orders to a swarm of servants.

"No, no, the banners need to be higher! And make sure the dragon ice sculptures don't melt before the ceremony begins!" Ne Zha's childlike form belied the authority in his voice.

Servants scurried to and fro, carrying out Ne Zha's orders and trying to keep up with his energetic pace. The Heavenly Emperor's excitement was palpable, his arms gesticulating wildly as he directed the placement of decorations and approved the menu for the grand feast.

Amidst the chaos, Xiaohei approached cautiously, his cat ears twitching nervously as he tried to catch Ne Zha's attention. The emperor, sensing his presence, paused his planning and turned to face the feline spirit, a smile spreading across his face.

"Xiaohei!" Ne Zha greeted warmly, "What brings you here? Is everything alright with Ao Lui?"

Xiaohei nodded quickly, his tail swishing behind him. "Yes, Your Majesty. Ao Lui is fine. I just... I was hoping we could talk. In private."

Ne Zha, noticing the seriousness in Xiaohei's tone, nodded and gestured for the spirit to follow him. The two walked out into the palace gardens, the serene beauty of the celestial flora providing a stark contrast to the bustling energy inside.

As they strolled along the winding paths, Ne Zha turned to Xiaohei, his expression curious. "So? What's on your mind?"

Xiaohei took a deep breath, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his robes. "I've been thinking a lot about what happened back then. When we finally found Ao Lui…"

Ne Zha's face softened, a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia washing over his features. "I don't think I've ever properly thanked you for that, Xiaohei. What you did... it means more to me than I could ever express."

The emperor stopped walking, turning to face Xiaohei fully. "You didn't just bring back my son. You brought back my husband, my Ao Bing. Without you, I might have lost them both forever."

Xiaohei ducked his head, a blush spreading across his cheeks at the emperor's sincere words. "I was just doing what I felt was right, Your Majesty. I couldn't let your family remain torn apart."

Ne Zha chuckled, shaking his head. "Still, I owe you a debt I could never fully repay. If there's anything you ever need, anything at all, just say the word."

At this, Xiaohei's ears perked up, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. "Well, now that you mention it..." He trailed off, his courage suddenly faltering.

Ne Zha raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and curiosity on his face. "Yes?"

Xiaohei swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew his next words could easily result in him being reduced to a small pile of ash by the emperor's divine fire. But he had come this far, and he couldn't back down now.

"There is one thing," Xiaohei said, his voice trembling slightly. "One thing that would make us even, that would repay your debt to me in full."

Ne Zha leaned forward, intrigued. "And what might that be?"

Xiaohei closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then blurted out the words he had been holding back for so long: "I want your blessing to marry Ao Lui!"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Immediately after speaking, Xiaohei dropped into a deep bow, his face flushing a bright red. 

Ne Zha went quiet for a moment, his childlike face unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, he burst into laughter. He reached up - having to stretch due to his current form - and patted Xiaohei's shoulder.

"Oh, Xiaohei," Ne Zha said, his voice tinged with amusement. "You're asking the wrong person.

Xiaohei's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, relief washing over him. He thought Ne Zha meant he should ask Ao Lui directly. But his relief was short-lived as Ne Zha continued:

"The real person you need to get through is Ao Bing. He's become... quite protective of Ao Lui since we got him back."

Xiaohei's ears drooped as he realized the challenge that lay ahead. Facing the Heavenly Emperor was one thing, but the Dragon Empress in full parental mode? That was a different level of intimidating.

Meanwhile, in Ao Lui's room, a tender scene was unfolding. Ao Bing stood behind his son, gently combing through Ao Lui's long purple hair. The repetitive motion was soothing for both of them, a daily ritual that helped make up for lost time.

"Father Bing," Ao Lui began hesitantly, his voice soft. "I... I wanted to talk to you about something."

Ao Bing hummed encouragingly, continuing to work out a small tangle in Ao Lui's hair.

"It's about Xiaohei," Ao Lui continued, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I... we've been thinking about marriage."

Ao Bing's hands stilled for a moment, and Ao Lui held his breath. Then, slowly, Ao Bing resumed combing.

"I see," Ao Bing said, his voice carefully neutral. "And this is what you want?"

Ao Lui nodded, relief evident in his voice. "Yes. Yes, it is."

Ao Bing was quiet for a long moment, considering. He had his worries - Ao Lui was still young, still adjusting to his true identity and place in the celestial realm. But Xiaohei was brave and loyal, and most importantly, had brought their son home.

As he looked at his son's reflection in the mirror, saw the hope and love shining in those magenta eyes, Ao Bing felt his reservations melting away.

"Then you have my blessing," Ao Bing said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of Ao Lui's head.

Ao Lui's face broke into a radiant smile, and he turned to embrace his father tightly. "Thank you," he whispered.

The day of Ao Lui and Xiaohei's wedding dawned bright and clear, the celestial realm shimmering with an extra touch of magic. The entire Heavenly Palace had been transformed into a breathtaking display of red and gold, with touches of purple and white to honor the unique nature of the couple.

Ne Zha and Ao Bing had indeed gone overboard in their preparations. Every detail was meticulously planned and executed to perfection. Celestial flowers bloomed out of season, their petals shimmering with divine light. Ice sculptures carved by Ao Bing himself depicted scenes from Ao Lui and Xiaohei's journey together, the ice never melting despite the warm day.

Ne Zha, in his adult form, personally oversaw the placement of every lantern and banner, insisting that everything be absolutely perfect for his son's special day. Ao Bing, meanwhile, had taken charge of the ceremonial attire, ensuring that both Ao Lui and Xiaohei's wedding robes were of the finest celestial silk, embroidered with intricate designs that told the story of their love.

As the ceremony began, Ao Lui emerged, resplendent in his wedding robes. His purple hair was elaborately styled, adorned with golden hairpins and a delicate crown that marked him as the prince of heaven. His magenta eyes shone with joy and a hint of nervous excitement.

Xiaohei waited for him at the altar, his white fur groomed to perfection, dressed in robes that complemented Ao Lui's perfectly. His green eyes widened in awe as he saw his bride approach, his tail swishing with barely contained happiness.

The ceremony itself was a beautiful blend of celestial and mortal traditions. Ne Zha and Ao Bing stood proudly beside their son, their eyes glistening with tears of joy as they watched him take this next step in his life.

As Ao Lui and Xiaohei bowed to heaven and earth, then to their parents, and finally to each other, the assembled guests - a mix of gods, spirits, and honored mortals - erupted in cheers and applause.

The reception that followed was nothing short of legendary. Divine delicacies from every corner of the celestial realm were served alongside mortal treats that Xiaohei had introduced Ao Lui to during their courtship. Ne Zha himself provided a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the heavens, while Ao Bing created intricate ice sculptures that danced and moved as if alive.

Throughout it all, Ao Lui and Xiaohei remained in their own world, stealing kisses and tender glances, their hands rarely leaving each other's. They danced under the starlit sky, their movements as graceful and in sync as their hearts.

A few weeks after the grand wedding ceremony, a subtle change began to come over Ao Lui. At first, it was barely noticeable - a slight shift in his scent that only Xiaohei, with his keen feline senses, could detect.

"You smell different," Xiaohei commented one morning, nuzzling his husband's neck affectionately.

Ao Lui laughed it off, attributing the change to their new life together. "It's probably just the excitement of being newlyweds," he said, kissing Xiaohei's cheek before hurrying off to his daily duties.

But as days passed, Ao Lui began to feel strange. Waves of fatigue would wash over him at odd times, and certain scents that had never bothered him before suddenly became overwhelming. He tried to hide these changes, not wanting to worry anyone or disrupt the joyous atmosphere that still lingered in the palace.

However, Ao Lui had underestimated his mother's perceptiveness. Ao Bing, ever attentive to his son's well-being, quickly noticed the subtle shifts in Ao Lui's behavior and demeanor.

One afternoon, as Ao Lui was resting in the palace gardens, Ao Bing approached him quietly. "Ao Lui," he said softly, "may I speak with you for a moment?"

Ao Lui looked up, trying to mask his fatigue. "Of course, Father Bing. What is it?"

Ao Bing sat beside his son, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and something else - a knowing look that made Ao Lui's heart skip a beat.

"You haven't been feeling well, have you?" Ao Bing asked gently, reaching out to brush a strand of purple hair from Ao Lui's face.

Ao Lui opened his mouth to deny it, but something in his mother's gaze stopped him. He sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "I... I'm not sure what's wrong with me," he admitted.

Ao Bing nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He placed a hand on Ao Lui's forehead, closing his eyes as if sensing something. After a moment, he opened his eyes.

"My dear son," Ao Bing said, his voice thick with emotion, "I know exactly what's happening. Your grandfather, Ao Guang, once did this for me, and now I do it for you."

Ao Lui's eyes widened, a mix of confusion and dawning realization crossing his features. "Father, what do you mean?"

Ao Bing took Ao Lui's hands in his own, squeezing them gently. "Ao Lui, my precious child... you're with egg."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with significance. Ao Lui's mouth opened in shock, his free hand instinctively moving to rest on his stomach.

"With... with egg?" Ao Lui stammered, his magenta eyes widening in disbelief. "That's impossible. I can't be..."

"You are," Ao Bing said gently, his hand still clasping his son's. "I can sense it, just as my father sensed it in me when I was carrying you."

Ao Lui jerked his hand away, standing up abruptly. His purple hair whipped around him as he began to pace. "No, no, you must be mistaken. I'm not... I mean, I don't even know how to be a dragon! How could I possibly...?"

"Ao Lui-" Ao Bing started, but his son cut him off.

"And Xiaohei! What will Xiaohei think? We've only just gotten married! And I'm supposed to tell him I'm going to lay an egg?" His voice rose with each word, taking on a slightly hysterical edge. "An egg! Father Bing, I don't know the first thing about eggs! Or dragons! Or being a parent!"

Ao Bing rose gracefully, catching his panicking son by the shoulders. "Breathe, my dear one," he instructed softly. "Just breathe."

Ao Lui's chest heaved as he tried to follow his father's instruction, but his eyes were wild with fear. "I can't... I don't... what if I'm like him?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "What if I turn out like that man who raised me?"

Understanding dawned on Ao Bing's face as he realized the true source of his son's panic. He pulled Ao Lui into a tight embrace. "Listen to me," he said firmly. "You are nothing like him. You have so much love in your heart, so much gentleness. You will be an amazing parent."

"But I don't know how," Ao Lui whispered into his father's shoulder, his voice small and frightened. "All I know about parenting is punishment and control and pain. I don't want to... I can't..."

"Oh, my precious child," Ao Bing murmured, stroking Ao Lui's purple hair soothingly. "That wasn't parenting. What that man did to you was abuse, not love. Real parenting is what you're feeling right now - this fear of not being good enough, this desperate desire to do better. These feelings show that you already have the makings of a wonderful parent."

Ao Lui's hands clutched at his father's robes, and Ao Bing could feel his son's tears soaking through the fabric. He held him tighter, remembering his own fears and doubts when he had first learned he was carrying Ao Lui.

"When I was carrying you," Ao Bing began softly, still holding his trembling son, "I was terrified. Not just of the pregnancy itself, but of what you might be - part demon, part dragon, part human, part divine. No one had ever seen such a combination before."

He guided Ao Lui back to the garden bench, sitting down beside him. "I worried constantly. Would you be accepted? Would you be safe? Would you be healthy? Your father Ne Zha tried to reassure me, but nothing could fully ease those fears."

Ao Bing's eyes grew distant with memory. "And then there was the physical transformation. The moment I knew I was with egg, my body instinctively shifted into my dragon form. I couldn't maintain my human appearance even if I tried - the egg was simply too large, too powerful."

He turned to look at Ao Lui, concern evident in his features. "That's what worries me now. You're carrying a dragon egg, but you've never accessed your dragon form. In fact..." Ao Bing paused, choosing his words carefully, "you might not even know you had one, given how that man raised you."

"When I was pregnant with you, I spent a year in my dragon form, curled in that ice cave. It wasn't just preference - it was necessity. A dragon egg needs space to grow, needs the proper environment that only a dragon's body can provide. Trying to carry one in a humanoid form..." He shuddered slightly. "It could be dangerous, both for you and the child."

Ao Bing reached out, brushing away a tear that had slipped down Ao Lui's cheek. "My fears during my pregnancy turned out to be groundless. You were perfect, just as you were meant to be. But this concern, about your dragon form - this is very real, my son. We need to address it, and soon."

"I should have taught you about this part of yourself earlier," he added, regret coloring his voice. "After we got you back, I was so focused on making up for lost time, on loving you and protecting you, that I neglected to teach you about your dragon heritage. I'm sorry for that."

Ao Lui sat quietly, absorbing his father's words, one hand unconsciously resting on his stomach. "Were you... were you alone? During that year in the cave?"

Ao Bing smiled softly. "No. Your father visited every day, without fail. He would sit with me for hours, talking to me, to you. Sometimes he'd bring treats from the mortal realm - though most of them froze solid before he could give them to me." He chuckled at the memory. "And my own father, your grandfather Ao Guang, visited often to check on us and offer guidance."

His expression grew serious again. "Which is why I think we should visit him now. The Dragon King's palace would be the perfect place for you to learn about this part of yourself. And your grandfather... well, he's been hoping to teach you about your dragon heritage since we found you. He would be overjoyed to help."

The next day found them descending into the Eastern Sea, Ao Bing creating a bubble of air around them as they traveled to the underwater palace. 

The underwater Dragon Palace was a marvel of architecture that defied mortal understanding. Its spires and towers seemed to be carved from living coral and mother-of-pearl, shimmering with an inner light that cast ever-changing patterns through the clear waters. Schools of luminescent fish darted between the columns like living jewels, while sea plants swayed in rhythm with invisible currents.

As Ao Bing and Ao Lui approached, they found Ao Guang in his dragon form, coiled majestically around one of the palace's central pillars. His scales were a pristine white that seemed to capture and reflect every hint of light, creating an aurora-like effect around his massive form. Unlike Ao Bing's more serpentine appearance, Ao Guang's dragon form was broader, more muscular, with flat, crown-like horns extending from his head.

Upon seeing them, Ao Guang's form shimmered and contracted, transforming into his humanoid appearance with fluid grace. In this form, he stood tall and regal, his white hair cascading down his back like a waterfall of moonlight. The flat horns remained, though smaller, emerging from his forehead like a natural crown. His face bore the dignified marks of age, yet retained an underlying strength that spoke of his tremendous power.

"My son," he greeted Ao Bing warmly, before turning his attention to Ao Lui. His eyes softened with joy. "And my grandson! Finally, you've come to visit your old grandfather properly!"

Before anyone could say more, two figures emerged from the palace. The first was Ao Jia, his blonde hair seeming to catch nonexistent sunlight even underwater. He bounded forward with characteristic enthusiasm, grinning broadly.

Behind him came Ao Yi, his long teal-blue hair floating elegantly around him as he moved. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw Ao Bing, no doubt thinking of the husband who had "stolen" his precious younger brother away to the celestial realm.

After the initial greetings and explanations about Ao Lui's condition, Ao Guang's expression grew thoughtful. "This is quite remarkable," he mused, stroking his chin. "By all accounts, it should have been nearly impossible. With your mixed heritage - human, spirit, demon, and dragon - the chances of successful conception should have been reduced to almost nothing. Each different bloodline should have cut the odds by a quarter."

Ao Jia, ever the one to break tension, let out a booming laugh. "Well, well! You two must have been going at it like rabbits to overcome those odds!"

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Ao Lui, expecting an embarrassed denial. Instead, the young prince's face flushed a deep red, and he suddenly found the palace floor intensely interesting. His lack of denial spoke volumes.

Ao Bing's jaw dropped slightly, his face coloring to match his son's. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, apparently deciding that some things were better left unaddressed.

Ao Guang cleared his throat, trying to hide his amusement. "Yes, well... regardless of the... frequency of attempts, this is a joyous occasion. My first great-grandchild!" His eyes sparkled with delight.

"Though we do need to address the matter of your dragon form, young one. You'll need to learn quickly - carrying a dragon egg in a humanoid form could be quite dangerous. The fact that you've never transformed into your dragon form, not even once is worrying."

"Ao Yi, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "This wouldn't be an issue if he had been raised here, where he belongs," he said pointedly, shooting another disapproving look in the direction of the celestial realm. "Instead of being whisked away by that demon-"

"Brother," Ao Bing cut him off sharply, "now is not the time."

Ao Guang raised a hand for silence before the situation could escalate. "What matters now is teaching Ao Lui about his heritage. 

Ao Yi, ever quick to voice his opinions, interjected. "It might not even be possible. With his mixed blood-"

"No," Ao Bing cut in firmly, turning to face his brother. "If he can conceive a dragon egg, then his body must have enough dragon essence for transformation. The very fact that he's pregnant proves he has a dragon's core."

Ao Guang nodded slowly, his white hair shifting like seafoam with the motion. "Ao Bing is correct. However," he fixed Ao Lui with a penetrating gaze, "this makes your situation even more precarious. Attempting to carry a dragon egg in a humanoid form could be fatal."

Ao Lui's hands instinctively went to his stomach, his magenta eyes widening with fear. "Fatal?"

"Which is why," Ao Guang continued, his voice taking on the authoritative tone of the Dragon King, "you will remain here in the underwater palace until you've mastered your transformation. I'll assign our most experienced female dragons to guide and watch over you."

"But-" Ao Lui started to protest, thinking of Xiaohei waiting for him in the celestial realm.

"No buts," Ao Guang said firmly. "This is for your safety and the safety of your child."

Ao Lui turned pleading eyes to his father. "Father Bing, please. I need to at least tell Xiaohei where I'm going. He and Father Ne Zha don't even know about the baby yet..."

Ao Bing's expression softened as he looked at his son. Despite everything, Ao Lui was still so young, still carrying the shadows of his past abandonment issues. Of course he would be frightened of disappearing on his husband without explanation.

"You're right," Ao Bing said gently. "But you must stay here. I'll go to the celestial realm myself and inform both Xiaohei and your father about the situation."

Ao Lui bit his lip, clearly wanting to argue but understanding the necessity. "Promise you'll tell them I'm okay? That I'm not... not leaving them?"

Ao Bing's heart ached at the lingering fear in his son's voice. He stepped forward, pulling Ao Lui into a tight embrace. "Of course, my precious one," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Ao Lui's forehead. "I'll make sure they understand everything."

Drawing back slightly, Ao Bing cupped his son's face in his hands. "This is temporary, Ao Lui. Just until you can transform safely. Then you can return home to your husband."

Ao Lui nodded, leaning into his father's touch for a moment before Ao Bing finally pulled away. As Ao Bing turned to leave, Ao Guang was already summoning the female dragons who would guide his grandson, while Ao Yi and Ao Jia began discussing the preparations needed for Ao Lui's extended stay.

The last thing Ao Lui saw before his father disappeared was Ao Bing's reassuring smile, trying to convey all his love and support in that final glance. Then he was alone with his dragon relatives, about to begin a journey into a part of himself he'd never known existed.