Of Silver Stallions and Auburn Tresses

Disclaimer: I happen to own Huang Mei Hua and her family (excluding Huang Zhong). But unless you've never seen them in Dynasty Warriors before... I don't own them.

A/N: So hey guys, I am so excited about this story! The idea just came to me in a dream and I thought "this would be a great FanFiction story." So here it is... all out for you guys to faun over and hopefully enjoy. Remember, reviews are always welcome, as is constructive criticism. However, posts asking me to change my writing style or storyline can suck on it... If you don't like it, just leave...

But.. to leave you guys on a good note; hope you enjoy this story and remember to review my lovelies...

Love,

TwilightVampire-Princess xx


Prologue: A Firm Agreement

The storm howling outside rocked the windows violently. Since when did it thunderstorm in late May? Huang Liang, who had always been superstitious believed that the harsh weather meant that evil was coming their way.

"Evil, father? Do be sensible. It is simply just the change from Spring to Summer. None of this "evil" business," his oldest son, Huang Xi, who was incredibly wise and destined to be a scholar, informed him.

"Yeah well... it smells like evil to me," Liang muttered, his eyes narrowed as he gazed out of the window at the darkness outside.

"Daddy, why are you sad?" His youngest child, a daughter of just four wondered, her pretty little face frowning in worry.

Liang forced his expression into a smile for her, reaching down to scoop her into his arms for a cuddle. "No sweetheart, I'm not sad. Daddy's perfectly fine."

"What's that sound?" Xi suddenly asked, shooting his father a look of concern. "It sounds like a carriage is pulling up outside."

Liang's face adopted the frown again, as he strained his ears to hear. Sure enough, from outside came the faint sound of hooves on the concrete and voices, although he couldn't catch what they were saying, nor did he recognise whom they belonged to.

"Perhaps we have some visitors," Jian, his youngest son spoke up, looking excited at the prospect of having new people to meet and show his "artistic" drawings to.

"In this weather, Jian?" Xi spoke in a scornful tone, one he often reserved for those he thought were dumber than him. Which, in his eyes, was almost everyone. "I highly doubt it."

Before anyone could think of another theory for the odd sounds in the night air, someone tapped hard on the front door, and they all jumped in shock.

"Take Mei and stay in here. I'll go and check who it is," Liang gave Xi a firm command, almost throwing his little sister into his arms. Xi held Mei close and nodded, his lips mashed together in an array of emotions.

Jian, Xi and Mei in his arms all stood at the doorway, their heads peering out as they watched their father reach for something before opening the door.

"L-Lord Cao?" Liang asked in a shocked tone, staring into the face of the man he had once served.

"You look well, Liang. I see life has been good to you," Cao Cao greeted him, an odd smile appearing on his face.

"Well... you could say that," Liang muttered, remembering why he had left Cao Cao's force in the first place. He had met a girl. A girl who had been the daughter of the opposing side. Once Cao Cao had seen how lovelorn he was without her, he had allowed Liang to take his leave of him, after making him promise that he would repay Cao's kindness once the time was right. And it seemed like that time might have just come.

"Well... will you not invite me in, old friend?" Cao Cao wondered, his hair flat against his face from the torrential rain outside.

"Of course, my lord," Liang offered, trying to hide the uncertainty that he was sure was obvious in his tone. "Would you like some tea, perhaps? To warm you up?"

Cao Cao smiled, so wide that his teeth were on show. Liang couldn't help noticing how menacing it looked. "Mmm. Some tea would be very kind, thank you."

Liang shut the front door and began to walk towards the main room, where all the children still stood, watching their visitor with identical wide eyes.

"Oh. What lovely children you have," Cao Cao nodded at each of Liang's offspring in turn, his gaze remaining on Mei for a little longer than necessary. "I take it they are with the woman you left me for?" He said this statement in an off-handish way, as if he was still unsure of why he had left, but no longer held a grudge against him for doing so.

"Yes. My wife, Lady Huang." It was obvious that he was madly in love with this woman, just by the way he said her name.

"Interesting..." Cao Cao's face held an expression that Liang didn't understand, nor was he sure he wanted to. "And what are their names?"

"Xi, Jian and Mei Hua," Liang pointed to each of his children as he said their names, a proud smile apparent on his face; as it always was when he talked about his children. They were his pride and joy.

"Ah... very nice. Especially the little girl. She will grow up to be a beauty one day."

"Yes..." Liang nodded, turning his face away from the King of Wei so that he couldn't see his frowning expression.

There was a long silence, broken only by Mei Hua yawning widely, all her baby teeth on show.

"Jian, can you take Mei to get ready for bed?"

"Yes father," Jian replied, picking Mei up into his arms and leaving the room quickly, relieved that he had an excuse to go.

"And I'll make the tea," Xi nodded, rushing into the kitchen before his father had a chance to protest.

Now that it was just Liang and Cao in the room, Cao Cao seemed to get whatever he had come for off his chest.

"Now Liang, do you remember that time, years ago, when you asked me if you could take your leave of me?"

Liang nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going to end up. But something told him it wasn't going to be somewhere nice.

"Well, when I let you go, do you remember what I said to you?"

"You told me that one day, I would have to repay your kindness," Liang knew immediately that this was what he was referring to. After all, Cao Cao wasn't the type of man to travel miles in a rainstorm just to say hello. He wanted something. Something that he thought Liang could give him. Liang felt shivers run down his spine.

"Good memory, Liang," Cao congratulated him, his green eyes wide with feigned surprise. "Well... I've thought of a way you could repay me."

******

"Why is he leaving so soon, father?" Xi wondered, as he and Liang watched Cao Cao rush back out into the rain and into the grand-looking carriage that had obviously been waiting for him all this time.

"He... he just wanted to see how I'd been, that's all," Liang lied badly, his eyes never leaving the cart as the driver whipped the horses into a fast trot down the lane and out of sight.

"Oh..." Xi frowned, the untouched tea that he had made for the Wei commander forgotten in his hands.

Liang struggled to smile as he finally closed the door, bolting it fully before he turned around to face his eldest son. "Hmm, it's getting late. You have school in the morning remember?"

Xi nodded, setting the teacup on the table by the door. "Good night father," he murmured, as he made his way down the hallway towards his bedchamber.

Liang didn't answer, his mind completely elsewhere. He couldn't believe what Cao Cao had requested from him for ample "payback". Liang had just figured that perhaps the King of Wei would want some gold or far-fetched item in return for his kindness all those years ago. But he had requested something much more important that any gem.

"I believe that taking your daughter's hand in marriage when she is of age would be fair, don't you?" he had said.

Liang had tried to reason with him, but unsurprisingly, Cao Cao wasn't ready to listen. If there was one trait that he remembered from his time serving Cao, it would be that he was incredibly stubborn and strong-willed. Once he had set his mind on something, there would be no stopping him until he got it.

"And..." Cao Cao had continued, after Liang's persuasive tactics had failed. "I can always take something else AS WELL AS your little girl if you refuse. Like your lovely wife's life for example?"

He had managed to hit him exactly where it hurt. And so, Liang had found himself agreeing to something he knew he would regret for the rest of his life. But perhaps things would have changed in fourteen years time, when Cao expected to marry Mei Hua.

Liang laughed without a trace of humor. As if that would happen. Cao Cao would wait forever to get what he desired...

Liang turned to look out the window. In place of the rainstorm that had been hitting hard just five minutes ago, a clear sky had taken its place, the clouds parting to reveal a half moon and a red sky full of twinkling stars. It seemed, for now at least, that the evil had passed.


Well, this is just the prologue, to give you a bit of an understanding of the story before it actually begins. But... I hope you enjoyed it so far and I look forward to the reviews! (Hint, Hint)

Love,

TV-P

xx