Alright then, here's the first chapter of the lovely banished warrior. Just to let you know, these people aren't going to stay 12 forever, so please don't stop reading because of the age. :) Reviews are always a pleasure and I do adore them to death!
Here's the link to what the OC will look like, it may or may not show up so if it doesn't please let me know.
.com/image/anime%20girl%20kimono%20black%20hair/Angel_Of_Death_03/Konachancom-78825black_eyesblack_?o=28
I watched the old grey-haired man, now known to me as Fu, as he trained his granddaughter in the ways of Xingese martial arts. I couldn't help but be fascinated by the way that they seemed to move so seamlessly and in sync together as they practiced. Like water flowing through a crystal creek in my opinion. Until a rock was dropped in, making the water ripple with tiny waves of utter misbalance.
"No! Lan Fan, we are the future protectors of the young lord, you can't afford to make small mistakes like that." Scolded Fu to his young twelve year old granddaughter who sat on the dirt ground, due to her miscalculation. His hands were on his hips firmly as he stared down to her small black clothed form.
She seemed slightly ashamed of her tiny trip, but brushed it off within seconds and got back into the proper fighting position. I had been watching these two from the top of a tree since I was about nine. I to am twelve and by watching them train; I had taught myself these amazing moves of pure skill. I'm no master or anything, but I've learned how to get around a bit.
Oh, where are my manners? My name is Isako, and I live within the desert county of Xing. I have long black hair, with slanted grey orbs. The traditional look of a true Xingese. Like Lan Fan, I am also twelve years old, but unlike her, I am of the lower class citizen, not some future protector. I am poor with no family to call my own. The people of the village raised me like I was their own, so I repay them anyway I can. Most of the time it consists of me sneaking into the palace and stealing food and medical supplies for the starving and the weary. And so far, I had been successful. But little to my knowledge tonight was going to be different.
Fu, seeing that it was getting dark, patted Lan Fan on the head with a proud smile and they both walked in together, tired from a hard day of merciless training. I waited on the large branch of the tree for about another thirty minutes before I made my move, convinced that everyone would be getting ready for bed by now. Jumping the wall was easy. All I had to do was get a running start, and then the rest was a matter quick feet and climbing. I had manage to learn that much.
"Well that was the easy part. Now I must sneak past the guards." I whispered to myself. It seemed to help if I did, though I never thought about the part where other people may hear me.
I trudged though small training area and came upon a light archway to the palace. Seeing a shadow approaching, I pressed my back against the rough outside of the wall, hoping that I would be unnoticed by the said passing person. To my great relief, he resumed his walking and I was soon able to enter unnoticed.
My bare feet padded against the elegantly tiled floor when I hear two people talking a little ways from me. Silently, I placed both hands and feet of the narrow wall, and shimmied my way up until I was out of sight and in the wooden rafters of this large palace. I made it to the top just as they turned a corner.
"But father. I don't need protectors. I'm capable of protecting myself. You've seen me train." Stated a young boy. He seemed to be around my age. He had long black hair that was held back into a ponytail by a small while bow, and squinted eyes that were pretty much closed. The other man was unmistakable. The Emperor of Xing. So that boy must be one of his many children, I only wonder which one.
"Because Ling, you are a prince. Many bad things happen to someone of royalty and I won't take any chances." The Emperor said sternly while squeezing the boys shoulder hard, as if he was really trying to get the message to sink in physically. I snarled my nose at the Emperor in disgust. I never did like him, and if he ever met me, I'm sure the feeling would be mutual. To me he was nothing more than a self centered man with power. He had no care for his people, I'm positive that he never will either.
The boy bowed his head somewhat solemnly and replied, "Yes father."
They rounded another corner and I fell back down onto the floor gracefully. Resuming my mission, I walked a few more steps before entering one of the many supply rooms that were dotted around the palace in case of tragic emergencies. Opening the door, I winced when it made a creaking sound. Though I did manage to open it up far enough to squeeze my way inside. Hopefully it didn't attract any unwanted visitors. I would be devastated if it did.
"Ok. That little boy had a large cut across his stomach from where he fell on a blade. I'll need this, and this, and bandages." I said while picking up the appropriate items, stuffing them into my brown sack quickly and quietly.
Once I had them into a sack, I flung it on my back and turned around, ready to leave the palace before I got caught. Unfortunately for me there were two guards blocking my entrance, and they had swords while I had absolutely nothing but my fists. I guess that creaking echoed through the halls farther than I had anticipated.
"Get her." One guard said while pointing to me in a menacing manner.
One of them lunged at me, but I jumped up and kicked off from his head, darting past the other one in a hurry. I made a left turn and headed for the archway that would lead me outside, up the wall, and to freedom, but I felt something twist around my feet. Looking down. I saw a rope and many balls were tangled around them and it knocked me to the ground hard. Trying to pry myself free, I froze solid in place when a large looming shadow cast over me, almost taking up every inch of light that there was around me.
"Tie her hands and feet. Then take her to the Emperor."
One of the gurads reached down and bound my hands while the other ripped the pack from my back roughly, peering inside to see what I had stolen from the supply room. "She had antibiotics and bandages. Someone must be hurt." One of the guards said, a little taken back from what he had found. He gave me a look of sympathy, as if he were asking who was hurt, but I only glared at him with hate.
"I need those! Let me go!" I yelled to them, thrashing around like a child trying to get loose. "That boy needs my help or he will die! Let me go!" The more I fought, the tighter the ropes became and it starting to rub my skin raw, giving me a burning sensation all around my wrists. I hissed from the pain but was soon choked and unable to take a breath.
They hoisted me up by the collar of my shirt and started to literally drag me toward the throne room. "You cannot be allowed to leave without punishment from the Emperor. Pray he is in a good mood little girl." The other guard said, more bitter and unkind that the other that was holding my bag. They drug me for several moments and I began to cough loudly due to the lack of oxygen that was not being pushed into my body. That earned me a slap in the head from the one who was dragging me. As they drug me, I managed to get my feet free from the loose rope, but I was silent about my small victory.
"Be quiet. You're annoying me." The guard said. The other had disappeared to return the supplies, so I was left with Mr. Unhappy. I continued to cough and he only drug me harder, almost to the point that I thought I was going to pass out.
We approached two giant double door and they opened almost automatically. The guards drug me in and threw me to the ground in front of the Emperor.
"My Lord, this girl was caught stealing from a medical supply room." The guard said while putting his hands behind his back, interlocking his fingers in the process.
I on the other hand, now free of the chocking sensation, began to go into a fit of a cough. I took in several breathes before getting the strength to sit on my knees and to look at the Leader of our beloved country.
"So, you have stolen from the palace. You know that is against the law and therefore you shall be punished by default of loss of limb." The Emperor said, not even giving it a second thought. Hmph, some love he has for his precious people.
"But my Lord, she is just a child. She can't be no more that twelve or thirteen." Someone in the room said. I looked over and saw that it was the old man, Fu. He was standing near a large stone pillar and he gave me a look of pure sympathy.
"She knows the law! And the law must never be broken! Cut off her hand and throw her back into the streets where she came from!" The Emperor said loudly, standing to make his point clear. Fu looked to the ground, sad that he was unable to sway the Emperors mind. But what could he do?
Fear overtook my being and I stood, ready to run away since my feet were free from any restraints. I saw a man approaching with a large and very sharp looking sword, it glinted in the light, making to more menacing than it already was before. I couldn't lose my hand, what would I be able to do with just one good hand? I would be able to do nothing. I turned sharply around and sprinted off toward the open doors.
I was in such a hurry; I failed to notice the young man that stood in the entrance. I crashed into him in such a hurry that even he was taken back from the sudden action. The force of the crash sent us toppling to the floor in a heap of tangled limbs and sprayed hair.
My head shot up along with his, fear in my eyes while confusion was lingering in his now open ones. He was about to say something but I was once again being choked to death while being drug over to a small table. The young boy, who I now recognized to be one of the young lords, looked around, very confused.
They cut the rope from my wrists and forced my hand down flat onto the table. I shook as tears dared to take over my eyes and I pleaded with everything I had. "Please no! Please I promise not to do it again!"
The Emperor stood from his large throne upon the marble stairs, Ling now by his side, and announced, "You knew the law girl! This is a fitting punishment for you. Actually you caught me on a rather good day, usually I would have anyone else beheaded, so be thankful for the sympathy that I'm giving you now."
He raised his hand and nodded to the man with the sword. The man took that as a go and he began to slowly raise the sharpened blade into the tense air. Ling, now understanding what was going on tugged on his father's sleeve.
"Father this is wrong! You can't do that to her!" Ling said a hint of anger in his voice. He may not know this girl but what his father was doing was wrong. He was surprised that no one had spoken up earlier about the matter.
"Be quiet Ling and watch. It'll be your duty one day to punish those who are wicked. So watch and learn." his father scolded, jerking his sleeve away from his sons form grasp.
I looked over to the Emperor, he held no remorse for what was about to happen. Then I looked to Fu, he held the emotions that the Emperor wasn't able to possess within the confines of his black soul. Sadness, remorse, and overall pity for me swam within the deep confines of his eyes. Then I looked to Ling. He was angry, confused, and didn't understand why his father would do such a horrible thing to such a young girl.
My eyes caught the glisten that radiated and sparked off the large blade as it finally reached the peak of it tragic height. More streams of salty tears cascaded down my face as I prepared for the searing pain that had yet to come. A chocked sob escaped from my somewhat hoarse throat as the blade started to lower fast. My grey orbs closed tightly as I waited and waited...and waited?
The pain hadn't come and my hand was still intact with the rest of my body. With now widened eyes I saw the back of the young lord. He had rushed over in a matter of seconds and threw his arm down next to mine, stopping the man from cutting of my hand.
"Ling! What is the meaning of this? Remove your arm at once and let the man continue." Shouted the Emperor.
Ling stood and opposed everything that his father was saying to him. "No father! What you are doing is cruel and wrong. And I will not just sit by and watch as this girl suffers."
The Emperor pursed his lips in annoyance. "Then what do you propose we do. She must be punished somehow for her actions; otherwise the people of the village will start to talk about how the Emperor of their fine country has become too soft."
Ling said nothing, as did everyone else that was in the room. He stared at his father, refusing to break eye contact until something more rational was to happen.
"I see that you are determined with this girl's fate Ling. I will allow her to keep her hand, but in return, she is banished from the palace and from Xing."
A gasp could be heard from multiple people in the room from their leader's worlds. A young girl crossing the hot desert by herself? That's almost suicide.
"Do you accept girl?"
My attention was grabbed when the Emperor spoke to me almost in a casual voice. I swiped the stray tears from the corners of my eyes and nodded slowly. "I accept."
Ling, a little happy from the change in his fathers ways, looked over to the girl that he had saved to make sure she was alright. But when he looked, she was nowhere to be found. He caught a glimpse of midnight hair as she exited the throne room without a word to anyone.
Following her quickly he caught her as she began to ascend the wall that was in the training grounds. He shouted up to her in hope that she would at least acknowledge him a small bit. "Hey!"
I backwards and saw that the young lord had followed me to the training grounds of the palace. I do owe him a lot, but to be caught talking with him after what had just happen was a very risky move, that's why I left without a word. I was now banished and if I overstayed my welcome more that I already had, the consequences would be more severe that they were before.
"Yes?" I replied in a small whisper.
"You don't intend to leave now do you?" Ling asked me, almost amazed.
"I do. I'm banished now, so I must leave immediately." I told him, getting ready to take a sprint up the wall and back into the village.
"B-but. I don't even know your name." Ling stuttered out, almost as if he was shy all of a sudden.
I felt a small smile form on my still fear struck face. I walked over to him silently and placed a chaste kiss upon his cheek. "I owe much to you Ling Yao, and for that I am thankful."
He reached up a touched the flaming spot where I had thanked him so tenderly. Without another word I vaulted over the wall and never looked back.