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    Yin didn’t know what to expect. She’d been told if she looks into the orb she’d have her mind transported to a place known as The Lake of Mirrors. Chief KaiLong was a kind man.. But that being said, had he known of the Mirror Lake story Yin knows from her home.. he likely would have not given her this.

    But with him having left her alone in the room she had little else to do but look in or try to sleep.. And she knew after hours and hours of trying to sleep last night in vain.. it wasn’t going to be an option. So Yin took the orb in her hands, being as delicate as possible even with her sleeves covering her claws. She didn’t want to break or damage it. KaiLong certainly had been keeping it well kept all this time..

    So she looked..

    And she felt herself drift.. until she saw the reflection of her own face on the lake. Her eyes gazed around at the water as her feet touched the surface of the lake. She needed to speak to the other self, that KaiLong had mentioned she’d be able to, here. She needed to ask questions and get answers from herself.. She stared down at the water by her feet until she heard the sound of water rising behind her. And turning around greeted her with her own face.

    Yin took a step back from the other her as she stared.. Was.. this what she looked like currently? Her eyes were still red from the tears she’d shed not even two hours ago. Darkened from the first ever full night she’d not been able to sleep in her bed.

    “What am I to do?..” Yin’s words tumbled out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop herself.

    “What do you want to do?” The copy replied.

    “I.. I don’t know..” Yin felt uneasy looking at her own face.. Maybe it was because she was still being reminded of the story.. or maybe it was the dream she’d had once..

    “You want to remain with Kardia.”

    “Yes.”

    “Why?”

    “Because I love him.. He’s inspired me.. I found my love of adventure.. my curiousity because of him.. I do not want to let him go. I don’t want to lose him, no matter what anyone else says.. No matter what happens..! I want to live with Kardia. I want to marry him one day and follow wherever he goes..”

    “And your family?” The copy tilted it’s head, smiling at her.

    “I love my family.. I do not want to leave them either. I do not want to lose my family or my home.”

    “Why?”

    “..W-What..?” Yin frowned in confusion at the copy “Because they are my family.. I love them. They have raised and loved me. I love my parents, my sister, Jian..! Everything I have experienced with them, everything we have done in our home. Those memories are precious to me. My family means everything to me…”

    “So you are stuck between choosing?”

    “Yes. .I don’t know what to do.. Please.. Tell me what I can do..” Sadness clawed at her voice, her eyes threatening to flood with tears. She didn’t know what she should do. She didn’t know what she could do.

    “If the betrothal is accepted.. Then you will not have many options..”

    Yin frowned. This was.. likely what she would have to deal with if things continue as it is.. After all Prince Li was right. Why would her family ever turn this sort of opportunity down..?

    “Accept the betrothal.”

    “W-What?..”

    “If you accept it willingly you will be able to remain home. You will lose Kardia, he may even take it as you giving up on your relationship. You’d never be able to return to Mahou, not just because of Prince Li’s family, but because you would not be able to look at any of your friends again. It would be a constant reminder of the love for Kardia and the pain of having to let him go. The one thing you wanted to keep beyond all else would be let go once more because you listened to your family.”

    “I.. I couldn’t do that..! I don’t want to lose Kardia..!”

    “Then deny it. Deny it and know that your family will likely have to enforce the engagement on Prince Li’s behalf. And you are either forced to listen to them and break off your relationship as well.. or be dishonored and disowned by your family… if not outright banished from the realm. All the while your family will have to deal with the fact that their own daughter disobeyed them. That a princess such as yourself would refuse to serve her role as both a princess of Seasons Pass and a Season Dragon. You will be a disgrace to your family and a black spot upon their name.”

    “I…I do not want to cause a problem for my family… I do not want to be disowned.. I don’t want to lose them..” Yin felt her legs shaking and wasn’t that surprised when she felt herself on her knees on the water’s surface.

    “What if you abandon your home and family then? There will be no problems for your family if you become the focus as to why this arrangement did not work out. You would be the only one who takes the blame. You can never return home. Nor see your family. Ever. You could never set foot in your realm again. But you can be with Kardia. You can live in Mahou with all your friends.”

    “I..”

               “That isn’t what you want either, is it? You’ll be going against everything you’ve ever known. The entire system you’ve lived by all your life will be to waste. Everything you’ve given up to live peacefully in your family’s palace.. will have been for nothing.”

    Yin remained silent, staring down at the teary eyed reflection she could see of herself in the water below her. Tears every so often dripping down her cheek and disrupting the image. She was just so.. frustrated. Why couldn’t there be a solution.. Why couldn’t it be easy. Why couldn’t it be where she didn’t have to lose anything..?? How was it fair that this choice had to be made..!

    “W..Would I even be able to take that option.. to leave my home and never come back?”

    “No.” The copy answered coldly.

    “…”

    “As you are now, You know you can’t do that. You love your family and home too much. Even if it means you’d be risking Kardia and your relationship. No matter how much you want to. You could never cut all ties with your world, your home, your family, without it being a regret that haunts you…”

    “What.. What can I do then?..” Yin looked up at the reflection of herself. “I can’t take any of these options..!”

    “You can. But you choose not to.” The copy looked back with sadness and.. pity in her eyes. Much like the expression Prince Li had on before.. It made her stomach twist.

    “I can’t..!” Yin held her head in her hands, shaking her head “I won’t..! I don’t want to give up something..! I can’t choose between my home or my love..! Please there has to be something else I can do..!”

  Looking up at the copy she saw that look of pity staring back at her with her own face. She wanted say something.. anything but instead her copy spoke with a pitiful laugh.

    "It's pathetic isn't it?.."

    Yin remained silent.

    “For a Princess taught to be a Queen, you’re unable to even make one difficult choice..”

   Yin lowered her head again back to the water. It was rather pathetic.. She had gone her whole life with her family dictating what to do and she would follow. Every decision she ever made has been because of what her family told..

   “If you don’t choose you will lose both options.”

    “I know..”

    “So decide.”

   “I can’t…” Her voice continued to get softer as she felt her heart ache. She couldn’t choose.. Not yet. Maybe when she was able to do more. Able to finally make her own choices she could.. But she’s not there yet. She knows she’s not. There’s no way for her to stand up against her parents if they agree to the betrothal… And she refuses to let go of Kardia.. She just.. can’t. “Please there has to be something else I can do..!”

    “..Find a way to stop the betrothal. So you do not have to make the choice. So there is no choice to make. If you stop the betrothal from being created then you will have nothing to decide. Speak with your family. Tell them of what you want. Tell them of your dilemma. They have already stopped Prince Li so far. Why would they refuse him until now if not for your sake?”

    The last part had caught Yin’s attention, because it was true… This entire time, the past two months that Prince Li has been here, he has not been allowed to be betrothed to her. He hasn’t even been granted permission to be a suitor..”

     “Speak with Kardia. Perhaps it is time for him to be far more involved. He may not enjoy it but he is a part of this as well. It may result in a fight between him and Prince Li.. But perhaps a duel between them is exactly what needs to happen.”

               Yin silently looked up at the reflection of herself. Tears still falling.

    “You have no other advice to give yourself.” The copy spoke “You knew this all already.. I did not need to tell you.. Figure out what you need. Find a way to stop this..”

    The copy of Yin smiled before once more melding into the water of the lake. And not long after did Yin wake up back where she had been.. KaiLong’s house in a room they’d given her.. She focused back once more on the orb in her hands.. It.. Didn’t help give any new solutions like he had stated.. It told her what she already knew.. But it did remind her.. Her family has so far been the only reason she was not betrothed to Prince Li yet.. Perhaps if she spoke to them… They could prevent it from happening.. Or if it does happen they could reject it.. Her father’s word was law in their world. Should he wish to cancel that betrothal, especially after it was just made there would be no problem!..

    Yin felt a rush of excitement followed almost immediately by a rush of exhaustion.. She placed the orb gently on the table once more and lied down on the couch she was sitting on. She.. needed rest, the sun was already high in the sky.. and she could feel herself finally falling asleep. She’d be able to rest and then speak with KaiLong.. And then return home.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

    Yin didn’t know what to expect. She’d been told if she looks into the orb she’d have her mind transported to a place known as The Lake of Mirrors. Chief KaiLong was a kind man.. But that being said, had he known of the Mirror Lake story Yin knows from her home.. he likely would have not given her this.

    But with him having left her alone in the room she had little else to do but look in or try to sleep.. And she knew after hours and hours of trying to sleep last night in vain.. it wasn’t going to be an option. So Yin took the orb in her hands, being as delicate as possible even with her sleeves covering her claws. She didn’t want to break or damage it. KaiLong certainly had been keeping it well kept all this time..

    So she looked..

    And she felt herself drift.. until she saw the reflection of her own face on the lake. Her eyes gazed around at the water as her feet touched the surface of the lake. She needed to speak to the other self, that KaiLong had mentioned she’d be able to, here. She needed to ask questions and get answers from herself.. She stared down at the water by her feet until she heard the sound of water rising behind her. And turning around greeted her with her own face.

    Yin took a step back from the other her as she stared.. Was.. this what she looked like currently? Her eyes were still red from the tears she’d shed not even two hours ago. Darkened from the first ever full night she’d not been able to sleep in her bed.

    “What am I to do?..” Yin’s words tumbled out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop herself.

    “What do you want to do?” The copy replied.

    “I.. I don’t know..” Yin felt uneasy looking at her own face.. Maybe it was because she was still being reminded of the story.. or maybe it was the dream she’d had once..

    “You want to remain with Kardia.”

    “Yes.”

    “Why?”

    “Because I love him.. He’s inspired me.. I found my love of adventure.. my curiousity because of him.. I do not want to let him go. I don’t want to lose him, no matter what anyone else says.. No matter what happens..! I want to live with Kardia. I want to marry him one day and follow wherever he goes..”

    “And your family?” The copy tilted it’s head, smiling at her.

    “I love my family.. I do not want to leave them either. I do not want to lose my family or my home.”

    “Why?”

    “..W-What..?” Yin frowned in confusion at the copy “Because they are my family.. I love them. They have raised and loved me. I love my parents, my sister, Jian..! Everything I have experienced with them, everything we have done in our home. Those memories are precious to me. My family means everything to me…”

    “So you are stuck between choosing?”

    “Yes. .I don’t know what to do.. Please.. Tell me what I can do..” Sadness clawed at her voice, her eyes threatening to flood with tears. She didn’t know what she should do. She didn’t know what she could do.

    “If the betrothal is accepted.. Then you will not have many options..”

    Yin frowned. This was.. likely what she would have to deal with if things continue as it is.. After all Prince Li was right. Why would her family ever turn this sort of opportunity down..?

    “Accept the betrothal.”

    “W-What?..”

    “If you accept it willingly you will be able to remain home. You will lose Kardia, he may even take it as you giving up on your relationship. You’d never be able to return to Mahou, not just because of Prince Li’s family, but because you would not be able to look at any of your friends again. It would be a constant reminder of the love for Kardia and the pain of having to let him go. The one thing you wanted to keep beyond all else would be let go once more because you listened to your family.”

    “I.. I couldn’t do that..! I don’t want to lose Kardia..!”

    “Then deny it. Deny it and know that your family will likely have to enforce the engagement on Prince Li’s behalf. And you are either forced to listen to them and break off your relationship as well.. or be dishonored and disowned by your family… if not outright banished from the realm. All the while your family will have to deal with the fact that their own daughter disobeyed them. That a princess such as yourself would refuse to serve her role as both a princess of Seasons Pass and a Season Dragon. You will be a disgrace to your family and a black spot upon their name.”

    “I…I do not want to cause a problem for my family… I do not want to be disowned.. I don’t want to lose them..” Yin felt her legs shaking and wasn’t that surprised when she felt herself on her knees on the water’s surface.

    “What if you abandon your home and family then? There will be no problems for your family if you become the focus as to why this arrangement did not work out. You would be the only one who takes the blame. You can never return home. Nor see your family. Ever. You could never set foot in your realm again. But you can be with Kardia. You can live in Mahou with all your friends.”

    “I..”

               “That isn’t what you want either, is it? You’ll be going against everything you’ve ever known. The entire system you’ve lived by all your life will be to waste. Everything you’ve given up to live peacefully in your family’s palace.. will have been for nothing.”

    Yin remained silent, staring down at the teary eyed reflection she could see of herself in the water below her. Tears every so often dripping down her cheek and disrupting the image. She was just so.. frustrated. Why couldn’t there be a solution.. Why couldn’t it be easy. Why couldn’t it be where she didn’t have to lose anything..?? How was it fair that this choice had to be made..!

    “W..Would I even be able to take that option.. to leave my home and never come back?”

    “No.” The copy answered coldly.

    “…”

    “As you are now, You know you can’t do that. You love your family and home too much. Even if it means you’d be risking Kardia and your relationship. No matter how much you want to. You could never cut all ties with your world, your home, your family, without it being a regret that haunts you…”

    “What.. What can I do then?..” Yin looked up at the reflection of herself. “I can’t take any of these options..!”

    “You can. But you choose not to.” The copy looked back with sadness and.. pity in her eyes. Much like the expression Prince Li had on before.. It made her stomach twist.

    “I can’t..!” Yin held her head in her hands, shaking her head “I won’t..! I don’t want to give up something..! I can’t choose between my home or my love..! Please there has to be something else I can do..!”

  Looking up at the copy she saw that look of pity staring back at her with her own face. She wanted say something.. anything but instead her copy spoke with a pitiful laugh.

    "It's pathetic isn't it?.."

    Yin remained silent.

    “For a Princess taught to be a Queen, you’re unable to even make one difficult choice..”

   Yin lowered her head again back to the water. It was rather pathetic.. She had gone her whole life with her family dictating what to do and she would follow. Every decision she ever made has been because of what her family told..

   “If you don’t choose you will lose both options.”

    “I know..”

    “So decide.”

   “I can’t…” Her voice continued to get softer as she felt her heart ache. She couldn’t choose.. Not yet. Maybe when she was able to do more. Able to finally make her own choices she could.. But she’s not there yet. She knows she’s not. There’s no way for her to stand up against her parents if they agree to the betrothal… And she refuses to let go of Kardia.. She just.. can’t. “Please there has to be something else I can do..!”

    “..Find a way to stop the betrothal. So you do not have to make the choice. So there is no choice to make. If you stop the betrothal from being created then you will have nothing to decide. Speak with your family. Tell them of what you want. Tell them of your dilemma. They have already stopped Prince Li so far. Why would they refuse him until now if not for your sake?”

    The last part had caught Yin’s attention, because it was true… This entire time, the past two months that Prince Li has been here, he has not been allowed to be betrothed to her. He hasn’t even been granted permission to be a suitor..”

     “Speak with Kardia. Perhaps it is time for him to be far more involved. He may not enjoy it but he is a part of this as well. It may result in a fight between him and Prince Li.. But perhaps a duel between them is exactly what needs to happen.”

               Yin silently looked up at the reflection of herself. Tears still falling.

    “You have no other advice to give yourself.” The copy spoke “You knew this all already.. I did not need to tell you.. Figure out what you need. Find a way to stop this..”

    The copy of Yin smiled before once more melding into the water of the lake. And not long after did Yin wake up back where she had been.. KaiLong’s house in a room they’d given her.. She focused back once more on the orb in her hands.. It.. Didn’t help give any new solutions like he had stated.. It told her what she already knew.. But it did remind her.. Her family has so far been the only reason she was not betrothed to Prince Li yet.. Perhaps if she spoke to them… They could prevent it from happening.. Or if it does happen they could reject it.. Her father’s word was law in their world. Should he wish to cancel that betrothal, especially after it was just made there would be no problem!..

    Yin felt a rush of excitement followed almost immediately by a rush of exhaustion.. She placed the orb gently on the table once more and lied down on the couch she was sitting on. She.. needed rest, the sun was already high in the sky.. and she could feel herself finally falling asleep. She’d be able to rest and then speak with KaiLong.. And then return home.