Episode 1: the beginning.

The Night was dark and cold

The only sounds Noh could hear were the voices of her mother and father, though she had not yet been born

A horse galloped through the forest, it's hooves pounding against the earth.

"we're not going to make it on time!" papa shouted over the wind.

Mama clutched her stomach, her face pale with pain. "the baby... She's coming.."

The horse raced onward, but soon papa pulled on the reins. The exhausted animal came to a stop beside a dense forest.

"there isn't enough time," papa said grimly.

Carefully he helped mama down from the horse. She could barely stand.

Papa looked around desperately before leading her deeper into the forest. Branches scratched at his clothes as he searched for somewhere safe.

Then he saw it.

A crystal-clear pond rested beneath the moonlight.

Swimming within its waters were two beautiful koi fish-one black as midnight, the other white as snow. Together they circled each other like the symbol of yin and yang

Papa's eyes widened.

"the pond.." he whispered.

The water shimmered with an otherworldly glow.

With no other choice, papa gently helped mama into the pond. The water surrounded her, easing her pain.

The yin and yang koi swam closer, their scales sparkling beneath the moon.

Then. As the moonlight reflected across the water, mama gave one final cry.

The baby's cry echoed through the forest

For a moment, everything became still.

The koi fish leaped from the water at the same time, sending silver droplets into the air.

Papa carefully lifted the newborn from the pond.

A baby girl.

Her tiny strands of hair were as white as snow.

Mama smiled weakly as tears filled her eyes.

"she's beautiful..."

Papa looked at the child resting in his arms.

"Noh," he said softly.

The moon shone brightly above them as the koi continued to circle the pond.

As Noh slowly opened her eyes, mama and papa froze.

Her eyes, the lightest blue they've ever seen, shining like tiny moons.

"her eyes... We don't have that eye color" mama said, as her gaze seeped over the hair color that none of them have either.

"is it the koi?" papa thought aloud.

The koi fish didn't stop swirling in the pond. Just continued with the soft circles in the ice cold water.

Papa helped mama out of the water, keeping and arm firmly around her, while the other holds Noh.

The horse, stood perfectly still were paoa had left it. Like it knew they would arrive with something special, something important.

Papa lifted mama onto the horse, then handed Noh to her.

Once again, the horse is moving, walking on the wet mud beneath it while pappa leads.

"what would the village think?" mama asked softly, trying to picture the reactions of the people when they see this unusual looking newborn.

"i..." papa didn't know. And he has a feeling that mama doesn't want to find out aswell.

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