"Blah…" = talking
"Blah…" = singing
Chapter 2: Reflection
Ash went straight to the stables afterwards. He took off the reigns and saddle from his Rapidash and set them aside the wall. He then looked into a horse's drinking container that is filled with fresh water. His father must have put fresh water in it while he was gone. But that wasn't the only thing he saw. He saw his primped up reflection. He moved some of his black hair from his face as he stared.
"Look at me, I will never pass for a perfect bride…"he sang as he looked over to the porch of his house to find his mother look down in defeat as his father did the same, "Or a perfect daughter." He sang as he left to the garden, holding the cricket's cage in his hands, "Can it be I'm not meant to play this part?" He sang once more as he opened the cage as the cricket landed on a bamboo leaf. He then turned around to head to the hill side.
"Now I see that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart." He then walked across a bridge as the river flowed underneath him, "Who is that boy I see staring straight back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don't know~?" he sang again as he finally reached the small temple where he usually did his daily prayers. He walked into the temple and saw that the shrines mirrored his reflection, he stared once more, "Somehow I cannot hide who I am, though I've tried."He looked away from the reflection as he went down on his knees and bowed in front of the shrines.
"When will my reflection show who I am inside~?" he sang as he started to use his sleeve to wipe off the unnecessary make-up and stared at his reflection once more, "When will my reflection show who I am inside~?" he sang as he left the temple and into the garden to sit down on a bench underneath a cherry blossom tree. He liked it here; this is the only place that he could think.
After what the Matchmaker said to him, there was no way he was going to show himself again; especially to those village folk. 'You will never bring your family honor!" this line repeated in his head.
'What if she is right?' Ash thought to himself, 'Maybe I need to step up to the plate and be a man… not a wanna-be girl and let my life waste away.' Then he heard horses galloping past his home. It sounded like there were about three or four. He ran to his house's front porch where his mother, father, and grandmother stood. They knew something that he didn't. He hated this most of all.
His father opened the doors where they all saw a brown horse along with two white ones. His mother blocked Ash from going any further, "Ash, stay inside." She said as she followed his father, while his grandmother pointed her thumb towards the house.
Ash then used boxes that were already on the side of the wall, to climb up towards the top of the wall where he saw the horses and horsemen along with the village folk listening to the man's words, "Citizens, I bring you a proclamation from Imperial City. The Huns has invaded China." The man on the brown horse said as Ash watched in shock, everyone talking to each other hurriedly, "By order of the Emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial army." This worried Ash; he knew that his father was not in good shape to fight. His last war was horrific. Ash couldn't imagine what could happen to his father this time. He listened intently as the man read the names of the families as a man from each of the families came up to the man to receive a scroll.
"The Fa family." The man went on. Ash couldn't take it. He knew his father had to join in. He had to think quickly. His father gave his mother his cane as he limped over to the man to receive the scroll. Just as he was about to grab the scroll, Ash got in between the man and his father, "Father, you can't go! Please sir, my father has already fought for—"
"Silence! You would do well to teach your son to hold his tongue in a man's presence."
"Ash, you dishonor me." His father said calmly as his grandmother grabbed him by the arm and brings him inside. Ash's world as he knew it shattered to pieces. What had he done to deserve dishonor?
"Report tomorrow at the Wu Shu Camp." The man finished as he handed his father the scroll, "Yes, sir." His father said as he went to the front door of the house. His mother motioned his crane to him, but he completely ignored her as he walked into the house.
They prepared dinner in silence as Ash and his father sat at the table. They didn't look at each other. Ash had to force himself to hold his tears back… 'Ash, you dishonor me' now this as well as what the Matchmaker said to him were repeating in his head. His mother and grandmother set the food down along with a pot of tea as they both sat down. Ash picked up the pot and poured everyone a glass, and poured his own last. He watched as everyone began eating or drinking. The silence was killing Ash, so he did the only thing he was good at, he slammed to cup of tea to the table and stood up, "You shouldn't have to go!"
"Ash—" his mother tried to interrupt, "There are plenty of young men to fight for China."
"It is an honor to protect my country and my family." His father shot back, "So you'll die for honor?" Ash said sternly as his father stood up to stare at Ash in the eye, "I will die for doing what's right."
"But—"
"I know my place! It is time you learned yours." His father lectured as Ash stared in shock. Ash felt his heart ache. His father never acted this way towards him, no matter what he did. So he ran off outside where it started to rain. He went to the stone dragon statue in the garden. He saw silhouettes of his parents talking to each other through the window. 'What should I do?' Ash thought, 'I can't just let my father go to war and die within seconds…' the more he thought, his head hurt more, until he came up with an idea. He is going to take the place of his father.
He hurried to the temple and thanked the ancestors for the great idea, then ran off to his parent's bedroom. He took the scroll from his father's bedside table and replaced it with a necklace his father gave to him when he was younger. Ash smiled at his father, who slept peacefully. He then crept into the living room as he took out his father's sword, admiring it. There in front of him, he saw his reflection. Was this his destiny? Is this the place that he needs to be in?
He sheathed the sword back into its sheath as he then walked to a wardrobe. He opened it to find his father's armor. He put it on and tied the green ribbon around his waist and put the sword sheath on to its rightful place on the armor. He then left the house and to the stables. His Rapidash recognized him in seconds—thankfully—and allowed Ash to prepare the horse for travel. Once ready, he and his Rapidash went out of the stables and stared at the house, having second thoughts. Should he do this? Is this what's right? Ash stopped doubting himself, he already made up his mind. He hopped on the horse and galloped into the night.
