Remembering

"I remember a long time ago when i used to sit among the immortals as a maid in heaven. The soft cloud like surface beneath my feet, the soft smell of rich milk and honey drifting in the air. Even now i can still remember it vividly. I remember walking along the rows of jade pillars, home of the Jade Emperor in his infinite mercy. 1

The peach orchard was amazing. It had tall and prosperous trees with bountiful peaches. Though the peaches were not ordinary. Should you eat a single peach, A long life you’ll lead and The Way you’ll understand. Your limbs will grow strong, your body light. Should you eat one of the ripest ones, you can fly, and eternal youth and immortality you’ll enjoy! 2

I myself had taken one of the peaches, it's small round shape fitting perfectly into my palm. It was before the peach banquet, hosted by the Queen Mother of heaven. The other maids, accompanied by myself were all picking the peaches in preparation for it. it was such a joyous and peaceful time! Taking the peach, i shared it with my boyfriend. He smiled and i felt filled with contentment. 3

But that was the last time i saw him smile. He had left after that, leaving me in the orchard to go and guard his post. Moments later, a horrible monkey crashed into the orchard, ascending into the trees' tallest branches and eating all of the ripe peaches. I ran away with the other maids, calling for our mistress to help us. Running further we came to the front gate. 4

Shocked, i looked on as the Monkey charged at the guards. Afraid, and crouched down and covered my eyes, only to hear the shattering of a dish, and a cry of the Queen Mother. Looking up i saw Wujing, and a shattered Crystal Chalice of the jade Emperor. The emperor was furious, and banished him from heaven! Wujing! My dear friend was gone! I grabbed some of the pieces, trying to fit them back together. I felt a thump against my shoulder, and saw that the Monkey had accidentally hit me with the Northern temple bow-staff he carried. 5

I lost my balance, and soon found myselft falling toward the blurry green surface of the earth below. I closed my eyes and cried, wishing to be saved, wishing that i would be safe, and praying for my good friend. There was a rush of air, and then all was silent. All was black.6

------7

Waking up, i found my head feeling very heavy. I gathered myself and stood up, finding that i was in the midst of a dark and lush forest. I put my hand on my head for it was hurting, and found two small horns on the top of my head! I noticed that my surroundings were quite different from before. How long i must have been asleep, 200 years at least!8

Time passed, and soon finding i had been reincarnated as a Silka Deer, i sought out other deer-spirits to live with. Later coming upon a large group, they took me in. It worked perfectly for many years, but one day the sky was burned red with the blood of my kin and the flames spread through the forest by the Jade Emperor, who was trying to take it over. I ran away, i always seemed to be running. i fled far away and found a river, sitting by the edge and staring into the water. Once i had thought that the Jade emperor had been a being on infinite mercy, but he was nothing of the sort.9

------10

Years and years passed, about 350 if I'm counting right. I was in town one day, buying supplies for my family, my horns covered by my scarf so that the people would not recognize a spirit. I felt the presence of others spirits and hid. Later discovering that it was the monk Tripitaka, traveling with his three deciples on his way to India to fetch Buddhist scriptures. I was amazed, and wanted to talk with him, i even thought i recognized one of his deciples. But soon my eyes fell upon the Monkey King, the "Great sage equal of heaven". It was the same monkey who had attacked the Heavenly Peach Banquet in heaven. He still wielded the northern temple-style bow-staff that had given me this fate in the first place, and i hid back among a pile of baskets, waiting for them to pass. 11

As they left, i thought of their quest, and decided i wanted to join them. Paying for my supplies and leaving, i returned to the forest, dropping off the supplies to my small family and telling them of my goal to help the monk Tripitaka. I followed the group for about a week, until i finally came close and talked to the monk himself. he was kind, and generous, and allowed me to join the group. And that's where I am now." Silka finished, laying back against a tree root and sighing.12

"I actually remember that day...back in heaven. The peach banquet, the banishment."13

"You do?" Silka asked,14

"Well you definitely revived my memory...but yes, it's a day that i will remember for a long time."15