I am Min-Ra

Once upon a time, there was a nine-tailed fox and a young fairy princess. Both creatures lived in different homes depicted as separate worlds: one in Korea and one in the centermost portion of the Philippines. While the fox makes sure the laws of the human world remain balanced, the fairy princess only goes out once in a while.    One day, the fox escaped from his home in Korea after humans accused his race of killing a woman. Terrified, the vulpine made his way to the archipelago. One of the locals mistook him for an aswang - a terrifying man-eating beast. Luckily, the fairy princess saved him, taking him to her realm.   The fox met the beautiful princess and oh-so-hospitable family, who wished their forces to be strong in case of wars and disasters. The two unlikely creatures soon fell in love. Such a forbidden love! Almost eternally condemned for the nature of its love!   Luckily, the queen and king desired a healthy and strong heir for generations to come. Now that the princess is pregnant with a child, all have been unsure. Hybrid children are uncommon but condemned for their bizarre qualities. The waiting parents swore to teach and train the child - in both the Philippines and Korea to control its abilities.   Months came and went, and the fae royal gave birth to a little girl with purple and pink hair. Strangely, a white fox tail wrapped around her mother's arm as she wailed for affection and warmth. The fox laughed with pride, gasping as the little hybrid princess longed for the touch of her parents.   "Oh dear, she looks just like you." The princess gasped, nuzzling her daughter's pale cheeks, "What a little fox.".   "Darn right she is!" The fox laughed, chest inflating with pride, "Guess who's kicking her cousin's tailed butts? My little kit will!".   "She does look strong, but she's part fox." The queen muttered.   "Oh, what are you muttering at?" The king looked worried.   "This girl part-fox, which means she has to train in Korea." The queen answered, looking at the baby girl.    "Worry not. I will raise my daughter there." The headstrong new mother snapped, hugging her child tight. She sat up, intending to stand up and argue with whoever objected against her.    "Dear no, you are needed here." The fox pushed his beloved to the mattresses gently. "You are a princess while I'm just an outsider to this place.".   "In Bathala's name, shut up." The princess snapped, "I will go with you no matter what.".    She pointed at her parents. "They have lived for hundred years. It's not like they're dying now." She angrily said.   "It's the role of a mother to give her child's needs." The queen stood up with a sigh, "Promise me that you will nurture this child and visit us here, ok?".    "I will."   (......)   A child born for the world's convenience   Never once knew why   All it knows is the world,   And the life beyond two worlds she calls "home".   (......)   "Mi-Jo, where's she?"   "I don't know, dear." An answer, "She might be exploring the woods again.".   (......)   "Well then, what is your daughter's name?" The queen asked, looking expectantly at the baby bundled in white cloth.   "Ask him," The princess pointed to her beloved, "He gave me this little blessing.". She referred to the baby girl held by her arms. The baby fox sucked on her fingers as expected of a baby.   "Min-Ra, Gu Min-Ra." The fox answered.   (......)   "Milady! You must not walk astray!" An older female fox yelled from behind, mildly annoying her, "Humans will scrape the fur off our tails!". Purple eyes narrowed at such a display of fear. Was this old fox accusing her of being weak?   "So what?" The young fox scoffed, "Humans are nothing but bugs.". She clapped her hands together, making it seem like she crushed a human skull between her chubby hands.   "We can crush them like the parasites they are." The old vixen's eyes widened at the kit's words. For years, human territories have expanded, almost leaving nothing for nature to grow in to mature. That caused the tensions between creatures and humans to rise.   "Little Min, listen to me." The vixen said, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.".   Min-Ra looked at the human village. For years, she never understood why the so-called parasites had lived by the gods' will. Humans come and destroy what they see as beautiful, believing it is much better had they possessed it.    However, according to her mother's stories, humans in the Philippines strictly believed in nature and those who protect it. They believed that their dead loved ones became nature. Those who destroy the environment will suffer the wrath of their ancestors and the creatures. To say they are aware might be an understatement.   Her father blessed a human kingdom for their faith in foxes. He also told her that she would go back to the Philippines had nine centuries passed. She should train for years to control the fox's power even if she felt strong enough to destroy the kingdom  her father vowed to protect.   "But humans only live for a short time, and they will destroy everything." She reasoned with the older Gumiho, "In the eye of creatures like us, those are most insignificant.".   "Oh, Min-Ra," The older fox sighed, kneeling behind her and holding her head, "Someday, you will see how beautiful the life of mortals must be.".   "Short lives can be beautiful?" Min-Ra perked up at the word beautiful. Mortals only could whine about certain little things and not care about their mortality. She heard humans grieve as their loved ones die. However, her family is known to have lived for a thousand years.   She could not die.   "Of course, that's why humans smile at every opportunity." The older fox answered, "Our lives can last long, but we outlive every opportunity.". She looked at the humans living so happily in that little village. How on Earth can they look so happy if they are not even immortal?   "However, humans have less time to live, which means even less time to make the most of it." The vixen added, "Just because their lives seem short doesn't mean it's uncouth.".   At 150 years old, Gu Min-Ra wondered how humans could live such short yet happy lives.