Monochrome Paradox

It all started in darkness— no, not darkness. Something always exists in darkness; maybe something frightening waiting to harm one, or a room that had been waiting for one to come home and turn on the lights. Once the light has washed away the darkness— erupting from the seemingly endless void— one finds something. No. This was nothing, it was a void where everything begins, where everything began, and eventually, where everything would end only to repeat the cycle and start again. Everything finds itself up here at the end of their path, and as we rejoin the void, we are once again a part of the universal knowledge, wisdom, and truth. Pure truth. Only in this place, devoid of individuality, devoid of self, and devoid of the something that only mortality can obtain was one granted limitless knowledge and truth. One could see everything as they are apart of everything and of nothing. It is not eternal, at some point, a piece of the void is ripped away, falling, falling deeper and deeper, loosing the knowledge, loosing the wisdom, and having the absolute truth shattered into tiny fragments. The slate is wiped clean, except for the trace of wisdom, knowledge, and truth that is ripped away from the void along with that tiny piece. As light shines from below, enveloping the new something, giving it physical form, and as we are brought into the world of light we cry out, lamenting the loss of endless knowledge and the completion of what we once were before we forge a new "self" in this life. 

"It's a boy!" 

"Aw, he's so cute!" 

"Congratulations, General Ming! On the birth of your son."

"A-Luo… something is wrong…"

The room was filled with noise when he was first born, filled with excitement, laughter, and cheer, however, the most important thing they should have heard was not. Ming Qing held shaking hands out to see her son— an infant that did not let out one sound as he was pulled from her womb. A few maids turned to each other, nervously.

"No way… a stillborn?"

"Poor Mistress…"

"Silence, you lowly things!" a strict voice yelled out. The two maids cowered, bowing low on the floor, begging for forgiveness. A 4-year-old boy peered at the infant laying calmly in his mother's arms. This boy had long hair tied high up in a ponytail, a crown of silver fastening it in place, he poked at the infant only to be smacked upon the head by his elder brother. 6-years-old and so strict it almost defied reason, he shot his little brother a withering look.

"Ow! Elder Brother! What was that for?!" 

"Can you not read the room?" Ming Cheng growled, and opened his mouth to further berate his brother, only to find that the infant was tightly clutching the finger that reached out to poke him. Toothless and with big, red eyes, the baby smiled at his brothers in this life. General Gong let out a baying laugh, loud and unrestrained until his wife hit him. Gong June, Gong Lu, and Gong Jo all looked at him with mixed feelings.

"You're being so loud!" Gong Mei berated him. Gong Cho scratched the back of his head and grinned without shame.

"I'm sorry, love, but it isn't often that Ming Cheng is halted before one of his famous lectures really begins." Gong Cho chuckled, "This little bean will be a formidable ally for all of us in the future." Ming Cheng blushed a little, coughing into his hand.

"Finally! Help me out in the future, little bunny!" Ming Quan beamed at his new baby brother. Ming Cheng glared at him, 

"I think we should get started on your swordsmanship training today, eh, A-Quan?" 

"That sounds great! Count me in!" Gong June grinned, stepping forward. Ming Quan paled, and covered his head.

"Please, have mercy on me, Jie!" A short, young lady dressed in scholar's attire smiled lightly, Fa Lin's facial expression could only be described as sinister.

"It is said that an adept understanding of the blade is imperative to have adept understanding of the brush. By honing one's physical body, one can also develop their spiritual and mental states. Surely, you would not be against helping me gain such insight, Ming Quan?" Ming Quan sniffled,

"But-but-! I wanna stay with my little brother!" he whined. Chuckling at the children's antics, Ming Luo turned to a man with long, silver hair and eyes like dawn washing over the frozen tundra. Cang Yuan was an immortal, and the master to his sole student, Wei Ning, who stood silently by his side, watching the babe smile with keen interest. Ming Luo bowed deeply to the immortal, 

"Many thanks to Dazhong for his help. My son would not have survived without your help." He turned to his wife, who was relieved by her child's movement. The baby still had not made a sound, but smiled, gently at his brothers. Cang Yuan looked on silently for a moment, 

"That child has a unique Dao, as if something is connected to it. This might explain why he has yet to make a sound." He shook his head, realizing he had muttered this aloud, "Never mind. It is nothing." He looked down at his student, Wei Ning was still watching the infant intently.

"If you would like to hold him, I think Madam Ming would be willing." He smiled lightly. He was so sure this child would refuse— even with his friends he was quite distant. Yet, none of them seemed to mind, in fact, from the moment they met, it was as though they expected it. 

"Mn." Wei Ning silently approached Ming Qing and nervously stammered, "May I hold him?"

"What?! No! I'm the big brother! I wanna be first!" Ming Quan yelled. Ming Cheng gave him another whap! over the head. Ming Qing smiled warmly, welcoming this strange interest blooming in Wei Ning. She motioned him over and taught him how to properly hold a baby, while his master stood in shock.

"Very good! A natural!" Ming Qing praised. Wei Ning smiled softly, startling the whole room. 

"Did I seriously just see you smile?" A young man stood in the doorway, mouth agape. The whole room bowed respectfully, as an older man joined him. 

"Greetings to the Son of Heaven, respects to the Emperor, respects to the Crown Prince. Long live the Emperor!" they chanted. Wen Po smiled gently and waved them off.

"Not today. I came today as a friend, not the emperor." The room relaxed. Fa Zhan approached him and bowed lightly, 

"Your majesty, I hope you have finished the paperwork before coming to the festivities?" he asked, seriously.

"Ah, A-Zhan! Must you be so stuffy even on such a day? Your friend has just gained a new son!" 

"I only speak with the best interest of the empire in mind." 

"Quinn-er expressed interest in congratulating his friend on gaining a new younger sibling." 

Wen Quinn still stared, slack jawed at Wei Ning. Wei Ning cradled the infant close to his breast and felt the need to shield him from view. The infant reached up and softly took his hair in his hand, pulling softly— without hurting him— and snuggled closer to him, closing his eyes and finding sleep. Wei Ning looked a little unsure of what to do next, fidgeting a little before becoming comfortable in this lull. 

"Another 10,000 years of cultivation could not have prepared me to see you smile." his teacher said. Feeling a little threatened by the clear interest in his new sibling, Ming Quan stepped in between the master and student pair.

"You can't have my little brother." he said. Wen Quinn chuckled and shook his head before turning to Ming Cheng. Ming Cheng bowed, 

"Greetings, your highness, the crown prince." he stated, properly. 

"At ease. Congrats on a new sibling."

"Many thanks to his highness."

"You're not gonna congratulate me?!" Ming Quan griped. 

"A-Quan!" Ming Luo warned his son. He deflated under his father's gaze and pouted. Wen Quinn chuckled and tussled his hair.

"Congrats on the new sibling, Ming Quan." he relented, making the boy brighten. 

"So then, please tell me we haven't missed the naming ceremony." Wen Po asked. General Ming laughed, merrily.

"No, your majesty. You have not. It will be held in a few days."

"Great! It will give me plenty of time to catch up with—"

"Your majesty." Fa Zhan adjusted his glasses, "I hope you mean that you can catch up on your work during this time." He watched his sovereign wilt under his pointed stare. The four of them had known each other a long time, and it was only in front of this group that the emperor could feel at ease. This was not the first time the three houses had watched their ruler pout, nor would it be the final. Gong Cho laughed again, before being smacked by his wife, reminding him of the sleeping newborn in the room, who stirred slightly before, tunneling further into the Daoist robes of Wei Ning. 

"I can have a guest residence set up for his majesty, you can catch up on work here." Fa Zhan fixed his gaze on Ming Luo who hastily added, "Of course one for each of you, seeing how you all came to greet my son on his first day in this world." 

"Excuse me." the head maid waited to be invited into the room, "There is a young lady here to see Eldest Young Master." 

"Oh?" Ming Luo looked at his son. The rascal had never shown interest in the fairer sex before, "Let her in." Ming Cheng sighed, knowing full well what his father was misunderstanding. A young woman smiled as she came into the room. She bore hair similar to a fiery sunset and bright green eyes. The adults all froze.

"Jiejie!" Ming Quan was the first to break the awkward silence. He ran into her arms.

"Ah, now who do we have here? Is it our A-Quan! My! How you've grown! A whole smidge!" she tussled his hair. The head maid shot her a disapproving look. 

"Took you long enough!" Gong June came and wrapped her arms around the newcomer, "You're late!" 

"Indeed! Quite so." Fa Lin came over, "Did you bring what I've asked of you?" 

"Khan Qing!" Ming Cheng called, startling her. The group all looked up at him, as he crossed his arms, "Welcome back." Wen Quinn grinned and Wei Ning nodded to her. Khan Qing nodded and felt herself tear up.

"Mn! I'm back!" she said. Fa Ling held out her hand and said with a straight face,

"Gimme." 

"Fufufu~! Did you think I'd come without bearing gifts?" She pulled a document out of her bosom— startling all the adults in the room— and held it between two fingers, "All my family's scandal's within the last year, as promised! It'll take a little longer to breach the third hold, but I'm awesome. Give me a while." Fa Lin took the documents and grinned, pushing up her glasses. The entire room shuddered, the girl had become too much like her father recently.

"Aaah… who is your daughter going to bring the axe down on?" Gong Cho shuddered, looking at Fa Zhan. He grinned, showcasing the original frightening look. 

"…a tiger mixed with a rapid coyote… armed with a mace…" Ming Quan shuddered.