Chapter 193 - Wait... What?

Mother? I stare at the beautiful woman for several moments before saying "I really think you have the wrong person..." Lady Mei chuckles and says "My silly child, let me tell you a story. A story of how you came to be and how I became a mother."

"Several years ago, I had a vision of an evil so great, that it would ruin our entire world and no one would be able to put a stop to it. No matter what I tried, nothing would change the outcome. One late night, I was walking a garden in the Lower Realms and happened to see a shooting star." 

"It was beautiful and bright, in the otherwise dark sky. I heard many people from the Lower Realms saying that if you see a shooting star, make a wish and it'll come true." She gives me a shy smile and says "Well, I felt that it was kinda silly but I really wanted to believe it so I made a wish. A wish to save our world."  

"I turned to leave the garden but suddenly, I stopped and turned back. A bright star was falling straight at me! At first, I panicked but I quickly stepped forward and caught the little star. I caught you. You were so tiny and yet you were shining so brightly."

"Your energy was so pure and kind, I felt like snuggling up next to you but as I held you, I felt your energy slowly fading. I knew then that you were dying and was filled with a sense of loss. Suddenly, I had an idea. If we were all going to die soon, I wanted to be able to at least have a child of my own."

"I quickly went back to my Realm and created this place. I brought you to this very pond and gently lowered you into the water. I gave you some of my blood and energy, making you into a being. Bringing you into this world as my own daughter." 

"I watched you grow every day with eagerness but one night I ended up dosing off. I had a vision that night and what I saw, changed everything. It was you, you were the one who was going to save this entire world and it all started with a wish on a shooting star." 

"You weren't just my miracle, you were everyone's. I held you as a baby and fell in love with you all over but after a few blissful years, I had another vision. The others found out about you and what I did to make you so they were going to kill you."

Her dark eyes flash with anger as she says "I couldn't just stand back and let them kill my child! I quickly met with them and tried to explain to them that you would save us all in the future but they wouldn't listen. I quickly left and used every ounce of my power to send you back to the stars. I wanted to hide you for a time but I never expected you to fall into another world..."  

"I tried everything to get you back but I couldn't do it... I wasn't strong enough and I was punished. I was sealed in a divine tree for creating you." She says with a look of helplessness. I lift both of my hands and say "Wait wait wait... let's just say that everything you've said so far is true, why were you punished for creating me?"

She gives me a sad smile as she says "You were a star, you were never meant to be a being let alone one made from a star and deity. Your power can be limitless and in a way, dangerous. That's why it's forbidden... why it's not allowed. I thought we would all die very soon and I became greedy. I fell in love with you the moment I touched you, Xing."

My head spins as I try to understand everything but it's a little much. I look to the beautiful woman in front of me and she just continues to watch me with kind, loving eyes. "Xing?" I ask with confusion. She slightly smiles as she says "Star... it means star. You were and always will be, my little star."

Something deep down throbs at the way she calls me but I quickly look down to my feet as I try to decide if she's telling the truth or not. "You've forgotten everything, little star. If you trust me, enter the water." She says in a soft calm voice.

I look back up to her then back to the silver water. Was this really true? Was I really made from a star and this woman? I look back to her and step into the water asking "This is where... I grew?" She gives me a wide smile and quickly nods her head saying "Kind of like a baby would grow in their mother's stomach, I made this especially for you."

The water is neither warm nor cold, it seems to match my body temperature perfectly. It's not very deep so when I stop in the middle, the water only comes up to my knees. Lady Mei nods and says "Now you just need to lay back in the water and close your eyes." 

I clench my fists inside my sleeves as I try to decide whether I can trust this woman or not but I really don't feel like she's out to hurt me. Sighing, I slowly lower myself into the silver glowing water and lay back. Lady Mei hovers near the edge and says "That's it. Just lay back, close your eyes and relax. I will keep watch and make sure nothing happens."

I must be insane... trusting this woman and buying into what she's saying but I just can't help but feel like she's telling the truth. Maybe it's my own desire to have a mother or at least know about where I come from. 

I lay my head back and close my eyes as I stretch my arms out. When I can no longer feel the bottom of the pond on my butt, I try my best to relax. At first, nothing happens but then something weird happens.

Everything was dark... extremely dark and cold. I found myself drifting along as if I was searching for something but I don't know what. When I see a pair of bright red orbs of lights, I quickly run after it. No, I wasn't running... I was flying.

Those red glowing orbs were disappearing! I quickly chase after them but I'm suddenly burning! What is this feeling!? I feel so alive!! But I'm falling... but it's no longer dark! So many lights! I'm no longer alone! Faster and faster I fall, burning brighter and brighter.

Suddenly, I come to a stop. When I look up, I see a strange and yet beautiful creature looking down at me. I'm really no longer alone! My happiness soars even as my light dims. She's speaking but I have no idea what she's saying. I'm tired... 

When I open my eyes again, the same woman is there! She's looking at me with a large smile... she seems nice. I fall back to sleep as a pattern soon takes place. After a while, the woman carries me out of the water. 

Year after year I grow. I learn to speak her language and soon call her Mother. She's the kindest and best Mother and I love her! She feeds me, plays with me, tells me stories and I tell her about my life before her. Drifting in the vastness of the night sky. 

I point up and tell her the names of all the stars and even teach her the language of the stars. Suddenly, everything changes as she appears before me in a panic one day. "Be good my little star. Go back to the stars and wait for Mother to call you back, okay?"

I'm confused but I still nod my head as she suddenly releases a powerful burst of energy. I'm suddenly back in the vast darkness and start to panic. I don't want to go back to nothing! I don't want to get lost up here again! In my panic, I begin falling again.

Only this time, I land in another world. Lost and confused, I began crying as I searched for my Mommy in this new and strange world. I cry and call for her but she's nowhere to be seen. An older woman comes over and kneels in front of me asking "You poor child, are you okay? Your clothes are burnt. Where're your parents?" 

I cry harder as I say "I can't find Mommy!" The woman wraps me in her jacket and carries me to the hospital. After they run a few tests, they call the police and the orphanage. Year after year, I remember less and less and before I know it, I'm just Nova the orphan. 

I open my eyes and quickly sit up clutching my chest as tears run down my face. Lady Mei reaches out to touch me but quickly stops herself. How could I forget something like that? More memories continue pouring in, adding to my pain.

She taught me how to walk, how to talk. She would hold me close and rock me to sleep. Whenever I would trip and fall, she'd scoop me up and blow away the pain. She would always watch me with love-filled eyes as she holds my tiny warm hand. It was true... she was my mom.