"Down by the bay, down by the bay, where the watermelon grows..." The soft melody of the song echoed in Lily's mind as she stood at the edge of the beach, her small figure casting a long shadow in the fading light of day. Her heart was heavy, and worry clouded her thoughts. What will Daddy do when he finds out I sneaked out again? she wondered, biting her lip. It wasn't the first time she had wandered away from the palace—after all, she was only three—but she couldn't help the feeling that something exciting was waiting for her just beyond the palace gates.
A glint caught her eye as the ocean breeze stirred the sand. A seashell? she thought to herself, intrigued. I've never seen one like it before. I have to get it. Her tiny fingers stretched out to pick it up, but just as her hand was about to close around the smooth shell, a voice suddenly snapped through the air.
"WHO are you, and WHY are you taking my seashell?" A boy's voice rang out, filled with surprise and anger.
Lily froze. She looked up, startled by the sudden confrontation. "WHO ARE YOU?" she demanded, her big eyes wide with curiosity.
The boy, a little older than her, stood a few paces away. His face was scrunched in a mix of confusion and irritation. "It's my seashell," he said firmly, reaching out and snatching it back from her grasp. "GIVE IT BACK!"
Lily's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him, but instead of staying upset, the boy softened. "Wait, don't cry," he said, his voice gentler now. "I'll give you another seashell. My name's Ao Bing. What's yours?"
Lily wiped her tears away, blinking up at him. "My name's Lily," she said shyly, accepting the seashell he offered. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Ao Bing replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.
As Lily took the seashell in her hand, she noticed something strange. Two small, delicate horns peeked out from Ao Bing's hair. "What's that?" she asked, pointing curiously.
Ao Bing hesitated for a moment, his expression flickering between caution and uncertainty. But before he could respond, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore seemed to carry a secret between them, a quiet bond forming between the two unlikely friends, neither of them knowing just how much their meeting would mean in the future.
Lily felt a flutter of excitement in her chest as she looked at Ao Bing, her new friend. His horns peeked out from his messy hair, and there was something about him that made her feel like she was talking to someone she had known forever, even though they had only just met. She hadn't noticed how the air had shifted, how the tension in the air had started to build until it was too late.
A loud shout broke the moment.
"Princess Lily!" a guard's voice called, harsh and commanding. "What are you doing here? The Emperor is looking for you!" The guard's face was full of panic as he dashed across the sand, his hand reaching for his sword. Behind him, more soldiers appeared, their eyes darting nervously to Ao Bing.
Lily's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't thought of what might happen if someone found her out here. Her thoughts raced, and she quickly glanced at Ao Bing. The boy's eyes widened in fear, and before Lily could even open her mouth to calm him, one of the guards saw the horns on his head and shouted in alarm.
"That's a monster!" another guard yelled. "It's a dragon! Get back, Princess!"
The guards started to draw their weapons, the metal clinking in the stillness of the beach. Ao Bing stepped back, his eyes wide with panic. He looked around as if searching for a way out, but there was no escape. He had no choice but to stand there, frozen.
Lily's breath caught in her throat. "No! Stop!" she cried, but her voice was drowned out by the chaos.
One of the guards, panicked and afraid, raised his bow and aimed an arrow straight at Ao Bing. The arrow pointed directly at his chest.
Lily's heart hammered against her ribs. She ran forward, her small feet barely making a sound as she leapt in front of Ao Bing, blocking the arrow with her tiny body.
"STOP!" Lily screamed, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please, he's not dangerous! Don't hurt him!"
The guards hesitated, unsure of what to do. But the sight of the arrow, poised to strike, didn't ease the tension. Ao Bing stood behind her, his face pale with fear, but Lily refused to move. Her father would never forgive her if something happened to Ao Bing because of her.
It was then that the Emperor appeared, his robe sweeping the ground behind him like a storm cloud. His gaze fell on Lily first, and then slowly, he turned to the guards, his face a mask of fury.
"Lower your weapons," the Emperor commanded, his voice like thunder. The guards obeyed immediately, stepping back and lowering their weapons in deference to their king. But the anger in the Emperor's eyes didn't soften.
"Lily," the Emperor said coldly, his voice sharp. "What are you doing here?"
Lily's heart dropped. She had never seen her father look so stern. Her lip quivered as she stood up, still blocking Ao Bing from view. She couldn't let him get hurt. Not after everything they had shared.
"I'm sorry, Father," she whispered, but her voice was drowned out by the roar of the waves crashing on the shore. She looked up at her father, her small hands clasped together. "He's not a monster. He's just a boy. He didn't do anything wrong. Please, don't hurt him."
The Emperor's eyes softened for just a moment as he looked at her, but his expression quickly hardened. "He's a dragon, Lily. You know what dragons are capable of. You shouldn't be talking to him."
Lily's throat tightened with the weight of her father's words. But she couldn't back down. Not now.
"Please, Father," she begged, stepping closer to Ao Bing. She reached out to touch his hand gently. "Let me help him. He's hurt. Please, let me heal him."
For a moment, the Emperor was silent, his gaze flickering between Lily and Ao Bing. His face was unreadable. The guards stood behind him, waiting for his command, but no one dared to speak.
Finally, the Emperor sighed. His gaze softened as he looked at Lily, and the anger in his voice seemed to melt away. "Fine," he said, his voice tired. "You may heal him. But remember this, Lily—there are consequences for disobeying me. You will never sneak out of the palace again. Is that clear?"
Lily nodded quickly, relief flooding through her. "Yes, Father. I promise. I won't sneak out again. Just please, let me help him."
The Emperor nodded, and with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the guards. They stepped back, still wary but obeying his orders. Lily turned to Ao Bing, who was still trembling, his face pale and scared.
"Let me help you," Lily whispered softly, her hands glowing with a warm, golden light. She reached out and gently placed her hands on Ao Bing's arm, her heart full of compassion. She had no idea how or why, but there was a magic inside her, something deep and hidden, that allowed her to heal.
Ao Bing flinched at first, but then the pain seemed to ease. The light from Lily's hands seemed to wash over him, and his tense body slowly relaxed. He looked up at her with wide eyes, his voice barely a whisper.
"Thank you," he said, his voice shaking.
Lily smiled, a sense of peace flowing through her. "You're welcome."
But deep down, she knew that this was just the beginning. There was so much more to learn, so many secrets hidden in the shadows of their world. And as she stood beside Ao Bing, feeling the weight of her father's gaze on her, she realized that things would never be the same again.
She had made a promise, but promises were only as strong as the bond that held them together. And now, with Ao Bing at her side, she would have to keep her word—and face the consequences.