AN: For all those who like Wu, and don't like Cao Cao this is a story for you. I keep most everything prior to my story cannon (up to the battle of Chi Bi) except Gan Ning was with Wei before changing to Wu instead of being with Shu first. If you like Gan Ning and Zhou Yu...this story is definatly for you. There is plenty of action, and drama...and even a touch or so of romance. This is the first in a series of Wu related stories, so I hope you like it!

Spoilers: Dynasty Warrior 4, takes place during and after the battle of Chi Bi.

Disclaimer: These characters and such are not mine. If they were there would be more cut scenes. and no I'm not making profit off this story, so don't be mad k?

Warnings: Violence (though nothing graphic)

Major characters: Zhou Yu, Zhou Tai, Sun Ce, Gan Ning, Sun Jian, Sun Shang Xiang, the Qiao sisters, Xiahou Dun, Xu Huang, Dian Wei and Cao Cao


Prelude:

Sun Ce stood back, looking out over the battlefield. A soft breeze carried the smell of smoke and blood, the scent of battle. Cao Cao's forces were all but defeated. The pride of a battle won filled the young warrior of Wu.

A firm hand grasped his shoulder. He did not have to turn around to know that it was none other than his father, Sun Jian. For a moment the two warriors stood in silence watching the remaining Wu troops assemble around them.

"You fought a good fight, my son," Sun Jian said suddenly. The son turned to him and smiled.

"We had a good strategy," Sun Ce replied, brimming with pride for his friend and surrogate brother, Zhou Yu the Wu strategist. Sun Jian nodded.

"Zhou Yu shall be commemorated for this amazing success," Sun Jian answered. Sun Ce was about to respond to his father, when something caught his eyes. He turned his gaze toward the man running frantically up to them. Seeing that the man bore the symbol of Wu, the other soldiers let him pass unchecked.

The man ran up to the Wu leader and fell to his knees before him. He unsheathed his sword and held it up to Sun Jian.

"Forgive me my lord, I have failed you," the man's tone was sorrowful and defeated.

"What do you mean 'failed'?" Sun Ce interjected. He recognized the man as one of Zhou Yu's personal guard, a realization that filled the brave warrior with fear.

"My master Zhou Yu took ill when the original plan failed. Despite his protests to stay and help, we insisted on heading back to the base camp. The warrior Zhou Tai accompanied us."

"His illness is no fault of yours. It seems to me that you achieved your task of protecting you master perfectly," Sun Jian replied as the man halted to take a breath. The man shook his bowed head.

"On the way back we were ambushed. We fought hard, especially my master and Zhou Tai, but there were too many of them. The other guards were slain. Zhou Yu and Zhou Tai were captured. I could do nothing but return with this news." As the man concluded he lifted his sword up to Sun Jian, but the leader of Wu walked past him. Sun Ce held the soldier in his hard gaze.

"Do you know if they lived?" he growled, anger and pain leaking into his voice.

"I do not," came the man's weak reply. Sun Ce grabbed the out stretched sword. The defeated guard waited un-cringing for the fatal blow. Sun Ce lifted the sword into the air and letting out all his anger into one yell, slammed the sword into the ground. The soldier looked up in surprise

"Not today," was the only answer Sun Ce offered to the man's questioning gaze. Without another word he turned and followed after his father.


After Thoughts: I hope you liked this chapter!! I have the whole story finished so I'm gona try and post one chapter a week. please review!! you don't have to but I would really appreciate it. thanks for reading!

-zooky