Author's Notes: Would you all like to hear something funny? I'll give you a regular joke first and then my life of being a failure story.
Joke: What do you call a penguin in the Sahara Desert?
Answer: Lost. XD Waka waka!
Anyways, I was reading through some articles to improve my writing, right? I'm seeing these other users gettin' views in the millions, promotions, all that good jazz. I want in on that, right? So, I post a couple of works over there as an experiment and I wait, ya feel me? Why did the article pop off with "Do you think you have what it takes to write a webnovel? Chances are you don't because most people picking up webnovels are doing just that. They're not looking for a published, professional work." I'm all like, "Ooohhh, no wonder I suck! Thanks, author!" Bro, you don't tell people that! XD What is wrong with you? Anyways, I thought about that and almost believed that author until I remembered who I was. I'm a writer not a web novelist. GTFOH, bro.
Besides that whack information stealing five minutes of my life, I was thinking of opening a forum as a writing workshop space. I think that's something we lack on FFN and other platforms because we're just not in the headspace of wanting to read/review something akin to a novel on already existing works like we do at school for a grade or score. I did agree with the author above somewhat. We just want the quick, snappy stuff. However, there are authors on here who want to be real writers someday, and I know they can do it. They just need that proper push. Now, I'm no guru at writing, so I can't be a writing guide; however, I do use rubric sheets and templates to sometimes analyze other authors' works. Maybe you can use it. If anyone is interested, I can open up a forum on here. If not, it's really not that big of a deal. It's just something that I was thinking about.
I don't think I'll add any footnotes for this chapter yet, so I'll see you next time. Stay awesome! XD
Bakushin Toritate part 2
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Seventeen years ago...
"Ah, Lord Pheasant," a firm, feminine voice called.
The Green Pheasant was watching Meioshi play in the fields to observe butterflies while Teruya, her father, opened a book to show the young girl the many pictures of different butterflies on the pages so she could properly identify them. It looked like the particular butterfly she found wasn't in the book, so she went to work drawing it and marking the colors on the wing pattern to paint them in later. She had showed the Green Pheasant her painting of him... and impressed him quite well. She was an excellent painter for her age! With time, she'd be phenomenal. That was largely why he was here as a secondary babysitter. The little girl had won his heart in a way with her cheerfulness and invitations to play or discover something new in her eyes. Teruya seemed to be correcting the little girl on the insect's body colors, so she questioned him and marked her incorrect color choices. Butterflies were quite busy so she had to be quick! Umehana, the matron of the rebuilt hell traveler's estate, had walked up to him. Her beauty was a spectacle to behold, but the Green Pheasant understood quite well why Arimasa had chosen her to be his wife beyond her physical appearance. She was foundational and always on the bridge of bravery and fearlessness when it came to her strength as a woman. The slight graying of her hair did nothing to hide or blemish her appearance or character.
"Lady Umehana," the Green Pheasant replied, nodding in acknowledgement.
Umehana bowed low to him and said as she rose, "I have some concern with Teruya's vision."
"Forgive me for saying so, but I can only relay your concerns at best. I am not in charge of the hell traveler's spousal duties. That duty belongs to Kyūjo-sha. You know this," the Green Pheasant replied, raising a brow out of some concern and some interest. "Every role within your family is specific."
"That is what concerns me," Umehana admitted with a sigh. The Green Pheasant gave her his full attention, not seeing the matron in such a mental state often. It had to be something serious for her to let her emotions come to forefront like that.
"What is wrong?" the Green Pheasant asked.
"My little peach girl received a small star from Kyūjo-sha," Umehana started, nodding towards Meioshi with a smile. "From it came a quill pen with brown and cream feathers. Beautiful feathers. I believe your wish for a family is being granted, my friend."
This made the family guardian gasp and raise his head high with shock. He's...? That little girl convinced...? How? He didn't understand.
"But... I'm afraid there will be a cost," Umehana said, looking at the Green Pheasant with worry in her features. "My granddaughter is sweet, and I'm happy that the gods are gifting you with a wife of your own. The star that Kyūjo-sha gifted her doesn't seem to be for her. I believe there is something she is supposed to do with it. We just don't know what yet. I didn't think the hell travelers had the power to aid their guardians. In all of the stories revolving around them, it's been the guardians and the messengers who aid or lead us to different things. The specifics as you've called them. My little peach girl seems to be your guardian this time. How long have you wanted to start a family of your own, my friend?"
"... For as long as I've been assigned to aid you. I used to hate your family," the Green Pheasant admitted, surprising Umehana and making her eyes widen. "You did not kill the monster that destroyed my world. His redemptive path is no substitute for the loss of my home and family. Neither is servitude. I had no reason to aid you or trust you, and, for these few centuries, I have been neutral at best. I give you what you need, but that is all I offer. I was told that my best work and my most fulfilling life would come from you all. That the tragedy that had befallen me would be no more if I trusted you. My hopes were for vengeance, so I agreed to serve you with that in mind. I cared not for the time it would take for a holy warrior of your stature to be mighty enough to kill Shanwang. I am patient, so I remained in waiting. But... the gods... assigned me to you for a reason. I claim no full understanding of what is happening or why your family in particular are the ones I need to come out of grieving, but... I do trust that little girl who is currently drawing butterflies and fussing with her father about the right colors to paint them with. She is intelligent, not just smart or observant. She doesn't like to see others suffering. Something within her demands my respect. I have found that I don't like my nest or my imprisonment in the worlds between. I prefer to remain a bit close to her. She sometimes sneaks off into the gardens to speak to me, and... for some reason, I've developed an impatience when one of you forbids her from playing in the night. You doing that... takes that small reprieve from my nesting grounds... away from me. I don't particularly like those who speak too much, but... I like hearing her babble on about nothing. It is... calming. I regrettably must kill bugs she doesn't like now."
Umehana scoffed before that quick release of breath turned into giggling. She simply smiled at the Green Pheasant before taking a seat next to him to watch Meioshi and Teruya chase after another butterfly. The matron then said, "You have helped us for so long and so much. I did not realize that you were lonely. Perhaps that is what the gods were waiting for. For one of us to see that our helpers, guardians, servants, or simply our neighbors are in need. I wonder if I should tell you that Shanwang has taken a liking to my little peach girl, too. Would you be upset?"
"... I don't think you realize how significant such a thing is," the Green Pheasant said, locking eyes with Umehana. "Shanwang was the king oni for a reason. The oni devour humans, and he even devoured your children to ensure another hell traveler would not be born for the first half of your generations. If he is showing no animosity towards you anymore, a great change is coming."
"I believe so, too," Umehana said with a small nod to acknowledge the seriousness of the matter. "That is why I am coming to you about this vision. I think it involves you. That star is a solid item. It has weight, can be carried or worn on a necklace, and it dims like it is resting. It is a living thing, but... the part that concerns me most about this star is that it can breathe and responds to speech. Arimasa spoke to it as a joke, but it replied to my husband like it had a conscious. This... star doesn't emote, but it speaks with its brightness or temperature. By it being a star, it is obviously drawn to the moon, but it seems to want to play the most with crescent moons. My peach girl was drawing a home for it the other day and wants to build it soon. Oddly enough, the star sort of hopped. When Teruya went to follow it, he received his vision. We were worried because he just fainted out of nowhere. His screams were violent and angry. He kept muttering something about the balance shifting. Then, he spoke in his native tongue. Brother Viswamitra grew very concerned. The pilgrimage that the spouses typically do has been halted by our brother. They will be making their journey to Viswamitra's homelands in Jambu Dwipa. When Teruya spoke in his native tongue, something caught Viswamitra's immediate attention."
The Green Pheasant watched from afar at the battle raging on below. A part of him felt extremely guilty for what happened to the hell travelers. At the time, he wasn't present during the war between hell traveler and deities. He was searching for Meioshi after she had been wrongfully cast into the depths of hell with no way out. Watching that little girl now engaged in battle, trying to regain control of her powers to some degree, he understood what Umehana was talking about those years ago. Something was being shifted drastically. The balance of power was being shaken from the foundations to the ceiling. Was his simple request for a family and a home the reason for Meioshi's suffering? Why was her being in constant battle her punishment for making an innocent request?
Turning his attention from Meioshi to Sojuro and Sesshomaru in heated combat, the Green Pheasant looked at Meioshi again and watched her writhing in pain. The powers she was trying to control was starting to consume her. She wouldn't survive. Hearing her small voice in his memories, the Green Pheasant snapped his head to Sojuro and Sesshomaru and summoned his bow and arrows. He fired three of them and saw something that made his eyes widen. Meioshi was engulfed in a light that was being orbited by the Yin and Yang symbol. The light was in conflict like Meioshi's powers! Sojuro let out a painful roar, but he was surrounded by a bright white cloud illuminated with light with a blackened light at his core battling the white light. What really shocked the Green Pheasant the most was Sesshomaru. Maboroshi no kohime's armor cracked and broke into three pieces. Two of the purified pieces went to Kinzo and Kishi, but the other piece went elsewhere. Sesshomaru was freed the goddess's hold, but he was surrounded by a blackened light... with a small white light at his core! In response, Sesshomaru struck at Sojuro with full force to make him crash into the lake before catching Meioshi's scent. The small white light within Sesshomaru... hopped in the doctor's direction.
Without warning, Sesshomaru dashed over to the doctor and was suddenly engulfed by flames.
"The... evil talking dog... was part of the balance?" the Green Pheasant questioned.
Author's Footnotes: Wait! I lied! Kyūjo-sha means "rescuer". I'll explain the tale of this divine messenger next chapter. It's so cute! XD I had to do it. I hope I didn't make it too obvious on what the star is. Last thing, Jambu Dwipa was India's original name in ancient times before it was changed to the English name "India".