Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors is a video game created by Omega Force and Koei.

Authors' note: This short story is written by two authors: Ayumi and Kohaku.


The Beginning

It was nearly the end of the civil war. Cao Cao had decided to plan an alliance with the other two strong kingdoms they have been fighting against for years. For many days, he and his men were discussing the topic of a truce. Cao Cao opposed to the idea first because he wanted the control the whole land with absolute power and control to create law in one country and order. And it was just today, he made up his mind the moment he saw a beautiful young lady with her two very young daughters.

Cao Cao was riding on his black-furred horse, going through a half torn city covered in sandy smokes and ruins. It was an endless sight of beggars on the streets as they made way for Cao Cao. His eyes ignored the people around him, who were all weak and begging weakly for money as he rode by. This scene pained him, but he was strong emotionally. He wanted to end this chaos as soon as possible. To end everything with Shu and Wu.

"Please…" a gentle, weak voice cried out.

The Lord of Wei glanced to the right and he stopped his horse. In front of a small, worn out house, a young lady was kneeling on the stoned ground with her head lowered. Her black hair was long and her bangs covered most of her face. By her two sides, one little girl was hugging the young lady and the other little girl sitting on the ground on her ankles. And in front of these females was a dead body with a white blanket over it.

The mother of the girls bowed without looking up. "Please…" she tried to keep her voice loud enough. "I need money to bury my husband… in return, we'll be your slaves for eternity…" It did not matter who it was, she needed help. She repeated this over and over, getting weaker each time.

Just with this image in front of him, Cao Cao made his decision to actually consider the alliance. His eyes stared at the two little girls. The three-year-old girl had short dark gray hair and the two-year-old had short black hair. They both stared up at Cao Cao with innocent but tired eyes, whom had been there for a minute now.

Enough of the sacrifices, the people cannot live through another battle of the war. Cao Cao moved off of his horse and landed on his feet. The young lady slightly lifted her head when she saw someone's feet walking up to her. She looked up and her bangs fell pass her cheeks. Gazing into Cao Cao's eyes, she noticed he reached out his hand to her. Now, what would happen if she took it? Would he make her his wife? Marry her daughters into other families? Or would they simply become slaves to his family?

But there was goodness in Cao Cao's gaze and she continued to stare right back.

The three-year-old girl, who was sitting on her ankles, got up and reached for the strange man's hand. She had grabbed a hold two of his fingers and held it weakly into her palms. She simply stared blankly and said nothing other than the gaze of hope. Cao Cao looked at the dark gray haired girl and had a soft scoff as if he could read her thoughts. He picked her up into his arms gently as the mother gasped a little.

He let out a small smile, never minding the smell of dirt from the child, now directed his view at the mother. He then stated, "Come with me." He looked at the young lady seriously. "I will bury your husband… and the three of you may live with me."

The mother smiled and her eyes becoming teary. Cao Cao waited for her to response and she nodded, grabbing her sleepy two-year-old daughter into her own arms. Picking the child up and standing up as strongly as she could, she bowed. "Thank you, my Lord," she breathed with hope.

In the same city, Xiahou Yuan was pacing back and forth by the entrance of the city walls. He looked into the streets of the city and smiled happily as soon as he saw Cao Cao. Taking a few steps forward, he paused when he realized Cao Cao was with a few people. "…Huh?" he scratched the back of his head.

In Cao Cao's arms, he was carrying the three-year-old girl sleeping soundly and he walked slowly. His hand held the reins to lead the horse, which the young lady was riding on with her two-year-old girl in her arms. Cao Cao still wore a serious face when he approached Xiahou Yuan. "I have thought it over," he started to say.

Xiahou Yuan blinked a couple of times, looking confused. "Ah… Lord Cao Cao?" he looked at him and the females back and forth.

And that was the beginning of a path to peace.


Kohaku's Note: The future chapters get longer as the short story continues.