Empress (A Tickle Commission)

Sparks of Ruin

Shifting flowers stroked against Meiling's calves where she knelt. A breeze pushed across her cheeks and through her hair. The air flittered with the delights of budding blooms and oncoming rain. She shivered slightly to the coolness teasing her arms and legs. Still, she knelt with the stillness of the statues sitting before her at the edge of her mother's garden. Meiling breathed deeply, pausing longingly between inhaling and exhaling.

The darkness behind closed eyes morphed into images of her family together. She remembered playing in that same field with her mother and brother. Meiling allowed the carefree years of her childhood wash over her in silence. She remembered her brother teaching her kung fu and pushing her to better herself. She remembered her mother's smile and unwillingness to bend to any power brought against the laws of nature. She remembered times long since forgotten of quiet meals, farmwork, crying in the dark of night, and yet always being protected by those around her.

Meiling smiled. A single tear fell down one cheek. She opened her eyes to the sounds of flowers rustling behind her, turning to face a much less confrontational presence than the previous visitor.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't want to interrupt your prayer," Cao Lee said. Meiling's smile widened. She wiped her cheek and shook her head.

"No, it-it's okay," Meiling said. "I was just visiting mother. I tend to get anxious around times of storms. I just want her to be okay."

"I understand," Lee said. A clean white robe around Lee's body fluttered with the wind. It was an article from Meiling's own wardrobe. It had been presented tight around the chest, but she had loosened it out with Meiling's permission. Her small face brightened at the sight of the kneeling young woman. Meiling turned back to face the shrine. She bowed her head once more before standing. "Oh, please, take your time."

"I've taken up enough of her time," Meiling said. She breathed in a deep scent of approaching rain. "We had better secure the garden."

"I've already brought in the clothes and laid tarps across most of the patches," Lee said. "But we may need to visit the market for more supplies." Meiling sighed. She reached up to run her fingers through her hair, stroking down the back of her neck.

"You're probably right," Meiling said. Lee smiled warmly back at her. She came closer through the flowers, stepping lightly.

"You should be more mindful of what you have," Lee said, "preparing for the storm, and all." Meiling chuckled.

"Right," she said. "Sorry, I just get so down when the weather's like this." Lee turned to the dark clouds hovering over the mountainous regions beyond the village. She nodded and stroked her hair.

"Me too," Lee said. "But it's okay."

"Because you're here, right?" Meiling asked. Lee gave back a sad smile. Her eyes shimmered slightly as her mind took her back to the palace. She knew the bird would need to pull itself from the wildness and return to the cage at some point, but often shook those thoughts away to return to the moment.

"Right," Lee said. Meiling grinned. She came up to Lee and wrapped both of her sturdy, muscular arms around her thighs, lifting her in the air from beneath Lee's seat. "Aahhhh!" Lee shrieked as Meiling spun the girl around, staring up at her as Lee clung onto Meiling's shoulders.

"Come on, we can't both be feeling down," Meiling said, giggling as she spun around. Loose petals fluttered around them both, guided by the gentle hand of a light breeze. A smile broke out across Lee's face as well.

"Aahhhehehe! Hey! Put me down!" Lee said. She laughed at Meiling's playful impulse. Being so lovingly touched and played with at will was still such an oddity, a taboo in her royal life. Lee's heart raced. She laughed like a child, holding on as such to Meiling's loving, impish embrace. After Meiling spun around a few times, she began to collapse to the ground. She managed to guide Lee down safely, however, falling to her knees and laying Lee around on her back across the flowers. More petals leaped into the air at impact, shrouding the girls still holding one another. Meiling giggled as she laid on top of Lee. She hovered over her body, their hips pressing together. Lee grinned and Meiling tucked her chestnut hair behind one ear.