(The love of a father.)

Chapter eight:

After Travis released him, he turned to Nuwa. He teleported behind her and took her hand into his and spun her in a dance for a minute before bringing her close and giving her a great hug. "Nuwa, you will be amazing, and I'm so happy you are here. It's fine to help the others bring about their potential, as I know you'll continue to do for many others far into the future, but do not neglect your worth." Nuwa, who was shook up for a brief moment, smiled serenely, closed her blue eyes, and pecked her father on the cheek as he let her go. She then watched as he smiled back at her and moved to Bailhu.

Bailhu tensed as instead of outright embracing her, he grew in size until her relative size to him was the same as that of a house cat. He scooped her up into his arms and scratched under her chin and between her ears. What surprised her is that, involuntarily, a low metallic rumbling echoed from her throat. "Bailhu, sew as much as you want. Be the winds of change and evolution. But remember, chaos cannot exist without something to inflict it on. Be mischievous, conniving, and cruel. Have fun, but try to respect what your siblings do, as only by giving respect, can one except it to return. How you show that respect, is up to you." Bailhu licked Travis's hand after he put her down. Pretty sure she'll show her appreciation to the others creations by destroying them, but that's just her nature. Travis thought to himself.

Travis then leapt into the air, much to the dismay of Qinglong, as it seemed he was intending to crash onto him. But as he approached, he shrank down until he was just tall enough to ride with limbs akimbo on Qinglong's head. Travis leaned forward into Qinglong's soft ethreal jade colored mane, shut his eyes and spoke while rubbing Qinglong's head. "Proud, organized, and just Qinglong. You will become the beacon of civilization and a universe. Civilization will rise and fall, but remember, through change, brings progress. Try to be accepting of that." Qinglong nodded solemnly as Travis stepped down.

Walking towards Zhuque, Travis increases in size once again and held two fingers to the side in front of his face, and looked to her. In her flaming burst she flapped her wings and landed on his fingers, curling her talons around them to get steady footing. She preened her wing for a second and then looked up into Travis brown eyes. He smiled at her and using his other hand started petting her flaming feathers from the top of her head to the base of her tail. "Zhuque, use your flames to breath life into the universe. Then, when you feel the need, use them again to destroy and cleanse to bring about rebirth. Try to get along with your sister, you two will not fulfill either of your purposes without each other."

"Yes, father. Replied Zhuque as Travis set her down.

Walking a little further away, Travis reduced his size to match his next target. Siwang was again leaning against nothing and looking off to the side. Her body language showed indifference. But if you saw under the hood and into the orbs of red flames within her sockets you could see the glimmer of expectation. When Travis sidled up to her in one motion he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, used the other one to take off her hood, and then kissed her bony forehead.

At this, she stood stock still, her jaw open, and the flames flickered wildly. When she recollected herself she pushed him away and brought her hood back up. She crouched down and put her gloved hands over her face.

With a laugh, Travis sat beside her. Soon, his smile turned melancholic. "Siwang, I won't lie to you. You will have it somewhat the hardest of them all. Nothing living wants to die, and there is nothing mortals fear more. However, never let that stop you from doing what you must. All mortal life must come to an end, returned to the cycle of creation. Find comfort in knowing that I love you exactly as you are, my daughter. "

Travis patted her head through her hood and ruffled it a bit. Siwang grabbed the sides of it to keep it secure and then turned her head away with a "Hmph! That was barely audible. But Travis could feel her happiness, so she wasn't fooling anyone.

Travis's size then tripled as he walked towards his youngest, yet most powerful daughter. Hera started to bow at the waist towards her father, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her and lifted her back up to stand. Travis extended his arm, and Hera grinned as she extended her own. Both clasped each other's forearms. "Hera, as my representative you will be unable to intervene until the most dire of consequences could happen without your help. Creation must be designed, destruction must be inflicted, life must proliferate, death must befall all, time mustn't stand still, progress must march even onward, civilization must rise and decline and each universe must eventually be destroyed to be remade anew. Peace must be sought and war must be wrought. Only through balance can evolution occur unimpeded and each universe be brought to harmony.

Turning to them all he showed a full tooth smile. "I must go learn all of what I'm capable of. But though I won't be physically near, I can hear you and feel you with me. See you next time. And he disappeared in a flash of golden light.