2024 Prep - Plot: Outline Revision #1

1.) Stasis - Xiang visits the temple of Long Shui after a day at the rice paddies. He lights some incense, bows his head, and presses his hands together in prayer. A small frog peeps from the interior pond. Xiang turns to the frog and greets her with a bow. The frog telepathically addresses him and asks him questions about his day and his family. A small watery creature approaches the pond as Xiang answers the frog’s questions. Xiang smiles and pats the creature on the head, addressing her as He.

2.) Trigger - Drums and trumpets sound through the village. Xiang goes out to investigate the commotion. He sees an elaborately patterned palanquin flanked by four soldiers. An official and a sage step out where the village leader greets them. The official announces that he and the sage are looking for a fatherless boy of 15 years. Xiang approaches the crowd, but tries not to bring attention to herself. However, the seer senses his presence and points him out. The official and the seer announce Xiang to be the son of the ruler of the land.
Xiang, He, and the frog go to the capitol where they meet the ruler, his wives, and his daughters. The twins begin growing close to their half-sisters. Suddenly, the sisters are struck with a terrible illness.

3.) The Quest - The sage discovers the illness was a curse from the dragons. Xiang and He decide to go on a quest to find the ingredients needed to craft the remedy. As Xiang and He go on the quest, several dragons and their allies do what they can to impede their progress. Some provide physical obstacles (i.e. Long Gang) while others mislead them (i.e. Long Ju). Thankfully, a monk offers them his assistance.

4.) Surprise - Xiang and He discover the frog is their mother Long Shui, a prominent member of the dragon family. Shortly afterward they discover the monk was their maternal uncle Long Jaihao. Jaihao disguised himself as a human to gain the sibling’s trust. However, he grew to care for them and their quest. The final ingredient for the cure was located at the royal palace, but the dragons knew this and were waiting to perform a ritual that could result in the twins’ deaths.

5.) Critical Choice - Xiang and He discussed what would happen if they went home. Their half-sisters would live, but they would die. This would leave Long Shui very unhappy. Xiang reasoned that Shui would at least be happy they sacrificed their lives for those of their innocent sisters.

6.) Climax - Xiang and He returned to the palace despite knowing the other dragons awaited them. The dragons sat in the palace hall with his family present. Xiang and He handed the ingredients to the court physician. They faced the dragons and told them they would give up their lives if it meant their sisters would survive. Long Da nodded and recited the spell. Life essence left Xiang and He’s bodies and siphoned into Long Shui.
Long Shui regained her consciousness and realized what happened to her children. She mourned for them and admonished the other dragons for killing them. She argued that her children and the ruler’s daughters shouldn’t suffer for what she did. The other dragons (specifically Long Gang, Long Ju, and Long Jiahao) reflected on Xiang’s kindness and He’s and conceded. They used their combined powers to revive Xiang and He as humans.

7.) Reversal - Xiang and He awaken in their new forms. Long Shui and Jaihao greeted them while the other dragons watched on. Xiang and He thanked them all for their act of kindness. Xiang and He’s half-sister, now cured, run out to greet their older siblings. Xiang and He are overjoyed that they have recovered.

8.) Resolution - Xiang and He are formally introduced as members of the royal family to the masses. The public had witnessed their kindness and valor during their quest, and they cheered as the crowns were placed on their heads. The final scene shows Xiang and He visiting the palace temple to leave offerings to their divine family.