A/N: As the username suggests, this story is published and written by two separate people. Though it isn't imperative, and we won't eviscerate anyone for not doing so, it would be nice if we could be referred to as such in reviews etc. Also, there are a few disclaimers I need to get out the way (sorry in advance for the rambling):

1) Neither of us own Dynasty Warriors, the franchise, places, names etc., as they all are owned by Koei and/or its subordinates. (Though if I did, Hyrule Warriors would actually include DW characters… am I the only one who wants to see a face-off between Link and Zhao Yun?)

2) The only things we do own are our OCs, Cao Zhen (intellectual property of LoyalToLoki), and Kong Muxue (intellectual property of me, EponymousAnonymous). If you want to use either of these characters in something (unlikely, but an ego-stroking notion nonetheless), please contact the relevant person for permission first.

3) Also, if you're dying for some absolute historical accuracy here, I'm afraid this isn't the story to read. We've tried to stick to the basics, inasmuch as Cao Cao is older than Cao Pi and the like (because otherwise it would just be plain freaky), but we've made things follow history less, and the games more, because, after all, this is a Dynasty Warriors fanfiction, not a biography of the Three Kingdoms period (this is also so we can fit our desired character back-stories in with the plot without the use of time travel). So if you're a bit OCD when it comes to chronology and historical canon, let us know so we can get our riot shields ready.

4) Neither of us are experts in the Chinese culture, ancient or otherwise. If any offense is caused to anybody pertaining to that, it is entirely accidental, and we apologise in advance in case that happens.

Finally, thanks for reading the annoying small-print (even though it's actually larger than the other text… oh, you know what I mean) bit! Don't feel obliged to write reviews or anything, though if you want to, it would be nice.

Stay classy, people!

CAO ZHEN

In the ancient times, during the war of the three kingdoms: Wei, Wu and Shu, a patrol of purple armoured men wandered through the creaking, dark, black woods. They had just returned from a surprise attack from the enemy, Shu. They rode through the forest, blood stricken. a young figure, black silky hair, about mid twenties raised his firm hand to the air, halting the seven soldiers behind him. " Shh, can you not hear that?". His guard shook his head, waving his hair about. This man went off ahead scouting the forest for the mysterious noise, it was a gurgling kind of sound. " My Lord Cao Cao?" the guard asked his lord. Cao Cao crouched down to the ground, right down to the blossoming ground where he picked up an object. A basket. Underneath the thick, wool scarlet-red blanket contained something unusual to the Lord's eyes yet familiar. A Baby. The baby that looked as white as snow looked up to Cao Cao with her big mousey brown eyes and exploded a gurgle to the lord. The lord released a chuckle to the child. Lord Cao Cao looked down at the woven basket to see a note. Black ink on a piece of parchment. He picked it up with his hands, there it said "Dear anyone who finds this, I do not have much time left. They are after me. The warriors of Shu. Please. Whoever you are, take her. She needs a home and a family where she can be raised without war, she needs to be safe. I do not wish for her to be in the hands of Shu. Whoever you are, you have my gratitude and my respect for whoever your forces are. Her name is ...". The last words containing the identity of the abandoned child were not written, for the end of the parchement paper were stained with bright red blood. Cao Cao exhaled a longing sigh. He knew that his potential ally was dead, trying to save her daughter. "You !", the lord points out to one of the soldiers. "M..me?" the wimpy man asks. " Yes you. Please, carry this child". Lord Cao Cao hands over the small, cold child to the man. Cao Cao looks up to the sky. "I swear down an oath". The Lord stood under the blossom tree where the tree started to lose some of the flowers, there he was inspired. " I will raise this child as my own, as my daughter. She shall be named Cao Zhen. And I will raise her in the memory of a fallen ally. She will be raised in beauty and grace". The lord apprehends onto his coal black horse, there they rode off back to Luoyang, where the daughter was raised in Cao Cao's care. 21 years passed on from that day. Cao Zhen had been raised by the Lord with his son Cao Pi. In all that time she had been raised as his daughter, as a beautiful smart young woman, as well as a Warrior and the most lethal woman in Wei. She became Cao Zhen, The Assassin of Wei.

KONG MUXUE

When days were young, and the Han had fallen, a great and wise leader rose to power, and faced off against his rivals in a gruesome battle for supremacy. Once his kingdom was established, and the capital was growing, men from all over the land flocked to serve under his banner, and brought their families with them. With thousands of lives buzzing around the central hive of the noble city of Luoyang, a young face among them was no surprise.

The daughter of a minor captain in the discerning Cao Cao's service, a young girl, her eyes bright and closely trained on proving herself to her lord, grew up amongst the shoots of this flourishing kingdom. But, as much as she strove to stand in the light of acceptance, a dark shadow hung over her, and the guilt forced upon her by her father was discernible to everyone she knew.

Determined to out-compete her troubled past, the girl matured, and slowly became a young lady, her demeanour and nature equal to that of a woman twice her age. Driven to silence by betrayal, and kept in doubt by her family, she found herself under the command of an up-and-coming strategist, and strove to make the most of her second chance.

And so, with her eyes now focussed on the fields of battle ahead, Kong Muxue stood at the crest of the wave, her weapon held high in the name of her lord.