Whew! I had to conquer extreme writer's block to make it through this chapter. Mark my words, Lin and Oogway are tough characters to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and all the sweat and tears that went into it.
Chapter Three: Power and Gain
I have been struck dumb by Oogway's words. I do not know what I am feeling at this moment, or how I should react. I want to believe his claim that my brother lives, but how can I? There's been so much grief, so much sadness, so many weak hopes and imaginings. Even before I was born, the tragedy of my brother's death weighed down on everything. I have always felt the heavy pain of guilt inside of me. I was guilty of being the child that lived, the one who survived to taste life and feel Baba's love. Now—according to this tortoise messenger—everything I had felt, and everything that I thought I knew, was wrong. All wrong.
"I have shocked you with this news," Oogway tells me, and I nod to indicate that he has. "I apologize for being so blunt, but I feel that I must be straightforward. I don't think that I need to sweeten my words when I speak to you."
"Sometimes a bit of sugar is needed to make the tea easier to swallow," I answer, and I see the amusement in his face.
"That is very clever." He smiles. His smile is a genuine one. I know it is because it resembles Baba's. "Did you come up with that?"
"Yes."
"A blossoming philosopher, and perhaps a poet as well..." A small gush of cherry blossom petals flies through the gazebo, right past my eyes and those of Oogway's. I reach out to grab one and it turns into light pink mist in my paw. I realize now that my thoughts create mist, just like that mysterious blue fog earlier. Like my own thoughts, the mist can take on various forms. It could be a flower petal, or a blade; a gentle spirit or a demon. I will have to be careful with this knowledge in the future.
"I would very much like to meet my brother," I say at last. "I have long awaited a chance to help fix my broken family."
"We do not have much time, then," he tells me. "Your mother awakes you quite early, doesn't she?"
"Yes," I reply. "I have my morning chores, and then I have my lessons."
"Then we have no time to lose. Kneel, child." I do so, and he places the tip of his staff against my forehead. He presses lightly, careful not to wound the tender flesh underneath my fur.
He begins to recite, "Kong Lin of Nianzu Village, I name you as a Dream Weaver in the name of the Council of Spirits and all those who dwell in paradise beyond the mortal world. Your soul and your body are no longer joined as one. They are two warriors fighting separately. Your soul will roam freely, but act justly. Your body will be its shield and its shelter. This I grant you, for I trust in your courage, your kindness, and your intellect."
At the end of his speech I briefly glance upwards and see a bright light coming from the end of the staff. Soothing warmth melts through me and touches every inch of my small body. Like an early spring stream it rushes gently but with that determination to break free of winter's tight hold. I feel lighter, yet I feel stronger than I have ever felt before. I feel like I can move mountains with my bare paws. I feel like I can jump hundreds of feet in the air. This is beyond glorious.
"It is done," he announces after a little while longer. "Now rise."
I lift myself up with far less effort than I needed to kneel. I know that I have become stronger now. I feel it throbbing in my veins, like a great rush of adrenaline. I am eager to know what I can do with this new power. I want to know how it will help me reach my brother and bring real peace to my village at last. I look directly at Oogway and await instruction.
"I see that you are more than ready to begin," Oogway tells me. "Now that you are a Dream Weaver, you will be able to step out of your own body when you sleep. Right now you have only just acquired your powers, so there are limits to how far you may go. Do not despair. The more you practice, the greater the distance you will be able to take your soul away from your earthly body."
"How long will it take me to reach my brother, wherever he is?" I ask.
"That depends on you, Lin," Oogway answers me. "He is quite far away right now, resting in a forest not far from Gongmen City. If all goes well in the next few days, he will be on his way to his home, which is even farther away from here. You must practice hard. Only then will you be able to reach your brother and enter his dreams. Now, let us have our first lesson. Give me your hand."
He stretches out his wrinkled hand and I take it without delay. His scales feel weathered and fragile, but his grip is strong. With my hand in his he leads me out of the gazebo, and the water parts to make a clear path for us to walk through. We turn and watch as the water engulfs Baba's gazebo and pulls it down like a beast devouring its prey. I can hear the wind chimes playing their sweet music even after the gazebo has disappeared underneath the water's surface.
Oogway pulls me along the path until we reach what I presume is the doorway out of my own mind. It is a small and modest door, painted the same shade of pale yellow as Mama's apron. I have never seen it before, yet I have a vague feeling that it was always there. The door's handle is the spectacle's most impressive feature. It is silver and shaped like a dragon's tail, with every scale carved to perfection. I am only allowed a few moments to admire it, for Oogway's reaches out and grasps his free hand around it.
He opens the door, and blinding white light pours into my consciousness. I have to squint to peer through it. I can see my own bedroom. I can see the wooden floor and walls, the stacks of books and my folded clothes. Oogway pulls me forward, and I prepare myself to leave my own body. I admit that I am a little afraid. The idea of leaving my body behind—and floating around like a ghost—discomforts me. What if I cannot get back in? Will I die?
"Jump now," Oogway commands me, and together we leap through the door and out of my sleeping body.
When we are outside he releases me hand and gently lands on his feet. I trip and tumble across the floor, noticing immediately that I can see through all my limbs. When I reach the wall my legs stick right through it, as if the wall were made of air. But I am the one who is made of air.
Oogway laughs at my unfortunate landing and helps me to my feet. "Behold," he says, pointing over to my bed. "It is you, Lin."
It is me, fast asleep on my futon, breathing lightly and rhythmically. I slowly walk towards myself. I am unsteady as a walking, detached soul (gone is that confidence I felt back in my own dream world). I stare at my own body, my still figure. It is like looking in a mirror, except that the image on the other side doesn't copy my movements. I cannot even meet my own eyes, since my physical self has blocked out the rest of the world with closed eyelids. It is so unordinary that I can barely believe it is real. I reach out to tap my own head, but my paw passes through it like a light breeze. My body doesn't even stir. It continues to sleep...dreamlessly.
Oogway places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It is quite something else, isn't it?"
"What happens if my body wakes up before I can get back inside my mind?" I ask. "Do I get trapped out here? Do we become two separate people?"
He takes his hand away. "Your body cannot wake up without you. It will lie there and continue to sleep until you are reunited with it. Now, it seems that you are strong enough to travel around your own room. That is a good start. Let's see how far you can go. Walk through that wall there."
"I can't do that," I protest. "That's where my Mama and Baba sleep. They will see me."
"No one can see you, child. The only part of you that is visible to mortal eyes is the sleeping figure right there. Souls are invisible. That's why many people have so much difficulty finding theirs. Now walk."
I do as he says, with some discomfort. The air around me feels very heavy all of a sudden. It's like walking through snow, with slush and ice all the way up to my knees. It seems that I am not as strong and powerful outside my head as I am on the inside.
"Concentrate, and try to keep your balance," Oogway urges me. "It will get easier, I promise."
With effort I walk right through the wall, with Oogway following closely behind me. It appears as though he is getting ready to catch me, if I happen to fall backwards. I have a sinking feeling that it just might happen.
Mama and Baba are fast asleep under a pile of blankets. A thought occurs to me. "Oogway," I begin, "You said before that I could enter dreams, now that I am a Dream Weaver. Could I enter Mama or Baba's dreams right now?"
"I'm afraid not, child. I said before that you can only enter the dreams of someone with an open mind. Your brother has achieved inner peace, and with it comes such a mind. I'm sad to say that your mother and father are both still struggling with many inner demons. Besides, you are not yet strong enough to try. That will be a lesson for another day. Now let's see if you can make it to the other side of this room."
It is as difficult as it was before, and this time there is an unwelcome surprise. As soon as I step past Mama's side of the bed, I hit an invisible wall and fall backwards. Of course Oogway is right there to catch me, and he helps me back to my feet. I press my paws against this unseen barrier. I push with all my might, and it doesn't budge. I turn to Oogway for an explanation.
"At the moment, this is as far as your soul can travel away from your body. It is as I said before. You must practice. The more you practice, the further away the wall will move. Someday it may just disappear altogether, leaving you free to travel where you please."
"But what do I do now?"
"Now? Now we go back, Lin, and reunite you with your body before your parents wake up. It is almost dawn and our minutes are numbered. Come."
We go back the way we came, back into my own bedroom. Back to my own body. Oogway gives me a congratulatory nod. "You have done well tonight. You will improve with time and effort, and I am sure your brother will be impressed when you meet him at last. Now we must get you back inside..."
"Will you visit me tomorrow night, for another lesson?" I ask him. "I feel that I still have much to learn."
"Not tomorrow night, but the night after. I am needed elsewhere tomorrow night, but I will not forget about you, Lin. Climb onto the bed and stand on the end, facing away from your body. Outstretch your arms."
A bit of struggle, some deep breaths, and I make it on to the bed. When my arms are raised, he says, "Close your eyes and feel your body's energy drawing you back to it. When you're ready, fall backwards, and sink back into your own mind."
Something was pulling me back, and I was ready. With one last thankful look at my new teacher, I fall back. My soul and my little body are together once again. It's only a matter of time until I can put these new powers to good use.
I have to go massage my aching typing fingers. Please review.