#JiangCheng #CanonDivergence(?) #XiCheng(?) #IC #OCC

There’s a little boy that plays alone in Lotus Pier. He’s the little heir that everyone avoids in fear that something bad can happened to the little one. The little shidis and shixiongs train and work from six to five,

and there’s so little time or people who will spend time with the little heir. At least his Jie makes pork ribs and lotus root soup, sings lullabies when he can’t sleep and plays with him.

Many fear and respect Sect leader Jiang but the one you shouldn’t offend is Yu furen.

Everyone knows how her temperament is, and it’s not secret that the many fights she have with his husband is because he still think and love another woman.

‘Tap’ ‘tap’ ‘tap’

Those are the sounds of his footsteps as he runs through the floating corridors of Lotus Pier, he knows that he should not be alone but there is no one available who wants to play with him.

Yunmeng's breeze caresses his hair and those plump and flushed cheeks,

he runs and laughs while taking care not to throw away the pieces of chopped fruit and sweet lotus seeds that one of the cooks gave him in a bowl.

There is a hidden place beyond Lotus Pier, he knows that if his mother find out about his little journey she would get angry and yell at him for foolish around, that’s why he only visits his secret place once a week after his lessons and training.

Large lotus pods and lily leaves cover that hiding spot, it is an entrance to what seems like a small forest that guides you to a stream where nobody would take importance but if you follow that path you will find flowers never seen before.

Little Jiang does not know about those weird rocks that years ago were great statues representing huge beasts.

His small steps alert those who live there and little excited flashes of light come out.

"Ah-Cheng! Ah-Cheng is here! ”

The little heir laughs happily when he sees that his friends have come to greet him, there are spirits of flowers and old trees that kindly wave at him. There are also little kappas that come out of their hiding places in the river or hidden behind the crystalline waterfall.

"ChengCheng! ChengCheng is here! ”

The ancient trees of that little paradise create huge shade and a pleasant breeze. The little heir sits under one of those trees, a Gingko, excited to tell his friends about what he has done that day.

The spirits listen carefully and those who are older also have exceptional stories to tell.

Many of the elderly spirits are happy to have such a good young boy that listens carefully.

“One at a time! One at a time!" He repeats amid laughter while sharing a piece of fruit with all his friends.

They play, dance and sing and there are also some very adventurous ones who sneak into Lotus Pier to play with their little friend; everyone knows that they must hide

their presence especially from the parents of their little friend.

Unfortunately, happiness cannot last long.

"Little Ah-Cheng, why so sad?"

Everyone had gathered in the river playing and swimming with the kappas and mermaids, not even the most precious stones had managed

to raise the spirits of the little one. Big salty pearls fell from those beautiful amethyst gems and slid down the flushed cheeks.

"My... my... dogs...”

A little fairy managed to understand what Jiang Cheng was trying to explain amid hiccups and sobs, apparently his father

had given the order to take away the three small pups that he had given him and all because he brought a stranger who seemed to fear them.

"Uh! Hmp! Why did he do that?! ” Asked a wind spirit, furious and creating a tiny tornado on its axis.

The other spirits and creatures comment among themselves. One of the elderly spirits strokes his beard with a thoughtful gesture, although his brow is undoubtedly furrowed and annoyed.

There is no coherent answer to see and how to ease the annoyance in all of them, but they still try to make little Jiang smile by means of tickling and small sweet fruits.

But there is one ofall of them, tired of his whining, makes himself noticed.

"Tsk! Don't cry brat” his voice sounded deep and manly despite his lizard size, as Jiang Cheng called him in the first few weeks.

That guest moved cautiously, coming to look like a small snake moving on the grass, but he was only trying to be careful because one of his legs had been injured and was still hurting. It had small horns and long mustaches, also tiny teeth-sharp fangs.

"You do not understand! I... they were my friends”

Ling Xiao snorted and shook his head, despite his small size he had a deep voice like of an adult man.

"If you keep crying your head and eyes will hurt later"

The little boy ignored him and continued to sob,

the other spirits and creatures sighed reluctantly.

"Tsk!" He cocked his head slightly from side to side, then leaped onto his right arm, slowly climbing up to settle on the human child’s shoulder.

Unexpectedly Ling Xiao had grown fond of him, he never expect a little human

to have compassion on him and heal his wounds in addition to feeding him. At first he came to doubt him when he took him to a huge place, he thought that brat knew his identity and would hand him over to be sold and imprisoned under the clutches of some greedy human.

Ling Xiao sighed annoyed and jumped back onto the grass, he was tired of hearing him cry.

"Ling-Gege, what are you going to do?"

"Stand back!" It was his only answer and everyone was paralyzed to see what was going to happen, attracting the attention of little Jiang who

stopped crying when he saw that the lizard began to grow little by little.

As the figure of Ling Xiao grew, it was suspended in the air until it was a prudent size, approximately nine meters long. To bad he was still recovering because that wasn’t his real size, anyways.

"Ling... Ling-gege?"

Ling Xiao snorted, "Surprised?" He heard him speak but his muzzle did not move.

"Why are you so big?"

"Because I'm not a lizard, silly human. I am a dragon ”

A couple more tears welled up in little Jiang's eyes, leaving his eyes wide open

and his mouth forming an 'O' the boy blinked repeatedly and then wiped his eyes, thinking that maybe he was seeing poorly.

He had heard his teachers talk about dragons, they were powerful creatures as well as being worshiped along with other sacred beasts but this was far from

his understanding!

"Come on, let's go for a fly." He shook his head, implying that he should climb onto his back.

"But... but..."

Ling Xiao made a sound of clicking his tongue and took him by the collar of the uniform to lift it up and place it on his back.

"Big Brother Ling, are you sure on doing this?" Asked a flower fairy, she looks very worried that the child woul fall.

"Tsk! What he needs is a distraction!”

"But what if he fall?" Another asked.

"Well, I pick it up," was his reply before he began to rise to the heavens. Jiang Cheng let out a cry and clung to the dragon as he gradually left the floor and reached a point where he managed to see the lotus pier ports.

Several fairies and spirits also rose in case they

had to serve as a net to avoid any fall.

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! A-JIEEEEEEEE SAVE MEEEEEEEEEEEE! ”

Jiang Cheng's screams and sobs grew louder, what boy wouldn't be scared if he suddenly found himself at a height like that?

"Oh please, it's not that bad!"

"Ling-gege, Ah-Cheng is still a Child"

"He will be traumatized!!"

“More than what his parents have already done?

I doubt it,” he snorted. It took many attempts, scolding and even threats for Jiang Cheng to open his eyes.

The great dragon answered the boy's questions, telling him of his origin and with small omissions of how he ended up hurt, but that thanks to his help he was now better.

"You are a very different little human, very grumpy and angry" Jiang Cheng pouted and hugged the dragon's body, hiding his face and his once again sad expression.

"Listen well little rascal, you are a human with a good heart. You healed and fed me, you also gave me a roof, you are a human with a pure heart and I can see in you that you will be someone great and..

I am indebted to you.”

"..." the little boy remained silent, while the fairies and spirits laughed softly and murmured among themselves when they saw that the dragon was dying of embarrassment.

"Ask for anything and I will grant it"

"Anything?" Asked in a low voice, Ling Xiao made an affirmative sound much like a soft purr.

Little Jiang remained silent, his head on his side and on the back of the huge beast. He bit his lower lip and his gaze was fixed on the people

who continued their life below them, they looked like ants.

"What I want... will you really fulfill it? ”

"You! Best, I already said yes!" He replied exasperated, what was that brat going to ask wish anyways? He doubted that at that age the little rascal was interested

in riches and fame, or anything else frivolous. Although... if take into account the lack of care he received at home it would not be surprising if...

The great dragon emitted a loud annoying purr and some fairies saw the huge creature's grimace.

"Well? Are you going to something or are you going to spend all your time ripping off my scales?”

Jiang Cheng puffed out his cheeks, "I want you to stay by my side."

"Eh?"

Jiang Cheng got up and sat perfectly, his hands hugging the head of the great dragon

that day by day regained its strength and original size.

"Ling-Gege will be my friend therefore you must stay with me forever!"

‘Of all the things he could have wished for, just that?’ He thought.

The body of the great beast moved majestically over the skies, creating rippling silhouettes and furrowing the fluffy clouds.

‘What an interesting little human’

“Very well human, I will grant your wish"

That day the great dragon was able to perceive the latent joy of that human child, a heart still pure and with the simple desire to be loved.

With solemn voice he promised over the heavens not to leave his side, keeping the spirits as

their witnesses of his promise to that human child whom he would see grow and take care of.

((Inf. In his dragon form I imagine Ling Xiao with dark red scales (?) Or maybe a dark blue with white on the belly (?) Idk yet orz!))