Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Dynasty Warriors 5 or the game itself in that matter.
Full Summary: After deciding to leave Wei for Shu, Jiang Wei struggles to find his place among the ranks of Liu Bei's army. But can the young strategist ever find the place to fit in, as well aslearn to see Shu as his new home? And how can he bring himself to go up against the home he loved so dearly?
In the meantime, Wei's quest for chaos grows as well as their anger for the loss of Jiang Wei. They build up their militaryforce and prepare for battle, their target. . .the Shu Empire.
Author Note: I usually associate myself to Jiang Wei--shy, quiet, kind--but I would never be able to match his superior intellect. He's one of my favorites. I never believed those simple cut scenes in the game where Jiang simply defects without any thoughts. This is what I believe to be the realistic point of his struggle. In this story, I've allowed a few characters who should've died early on to remain alive. Also, I know for a fact that Sima Yi and Jiang Wei did not meet each other in their time, let alone become master or apprentice, but it makes for a more interesting plot.
SHU
Kill them.
The moonlight poured through the windows as the curtains at each sides gently blew in the warm night breeze. All was silent throughout the castle halls, the only people awake standing guard at their night posts. All but one.
Jiang Wei sat upright in his bed, his clothes drenched with perspiration and his entire body shaking uncontrollably. Another nightmare.
He wiped his forehead with the back of his trembling hand while staring widely at the floor. His chest heaved up and down as his short and rapid breaths were the only sounds in his chamber. He barely saw the vivid images of his surroundings but just a dark abyss that stood before his vision. This happened every night–ever since he had laid in his bed, in this room, in Shu.
"Who's there!" His chestnut eyes darted quickly to the corner of his room where only the shadows remained.
Just calm down. It was only a nightmare. . .only a . .
The shadows swirled around his room as the cloud in the sky began threatening to block the moonlight completely. A chill ran up his spine as he watched their disfigured shapes growing, coming closer to him. His eyes scanned over his chamber.
The walls were adorned with tapestries that held the crest of Shu on them. In the corner stood an old but well-built oak desk where his books and scrolls laid messily upon. The candles he had on his stand beside his bed flickered dangerously, nearly about to go out.
Too upset to go back asleep, he threw the sheets off him and stood up, clutching his arms immediately at the dramatic temperature drop. He took a step forward and a stack of books toppled into another, Jiang Wei swore underneath his breath as he saw his entire floor covered in old documents and books. After abandoning Wei, he had wanted to understand and learn about the new kingdom he had been adopted into to.
Zhuge Liang practically gave him the entire library.
He managed to step over the scattered papers and books without making more of a mess and came to his desk. He took a match out and lit the candle on the table, the flame flaring its light upon he walls. Grateful the darkness disappeared he sat wearily on his chair and stared at the unfinished letters he had attempted to write. His ink brush remained in the ink, the bristles stiff and hardened along with the cemented ink.
He picked it up and toyed with it in his hands, the words unable to come. The letters were meant to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, an expression of gratitude and gratefulness. If he had not accepted him, not have stretched out his hand to welcome him into Shu then. . .
Jiang Wei you traitor!
His heart froze as the ink brush slipped from his sweaty fingers and fell to the ground. The nightmare began to come to the surface, refusing to remain in the back of his mind. The memories of that horrible day screamed at Jiang Wei to relive it again and again.
No! No go away!
Jiang Wei felt his heart nearly bulge from his chest as the voices echoed throughout his ears, screaming and crying out at him. He trembled as he bent down to pick up his fallen pen but only managed to push it further from him. Jiang Wei moved from the chair to his knees as he crawled to reach it with his fingertips. He clutched the brush in his hand. . .
Jiang Wei grabbed the brush away from Sima Yi's unsuspecting hand before he began writing, a playful laugh coming from the thirteen-year old boy, "Got it!"
Sima Yi rolled his eyes, the control over his patience clearly slipping as they darkened considerably,"Not again." He muttered.The boy's agility along with his intellect seemed to come with shocking speed and precision, no doubt fueled by the same limitless energy. However, the boy had yet to hone his skills at a disciplined level, succumbing to using them for petty foolishness and boyish pranks.
A task, they were still working on.
Jiang Wei smiled while moving away from Sima Yi as he stiffly got up from his desk, his voice tight,"Jiang Wei I do nothave time for this, milord requires me to finish my strategies by tomorrow." He said at the same time struggling to grab for the pen that Wei kept pulling away, "Give me my pen and get back to your studies!"
Jiang Wei frowned, his innocent features never once displaying fear at the altered tone. "Honestly Master Yi where's your sense of humor?"
Sima Yi's hand grabbed for the pen, prying it from Wei's grip,"I'm a strategist,we don't do fun. And like me, you should take a more serious focus to your work."
"How lame can you get?" A voice replied behind Sima Yi. Sima Yi spun around to see the archer Xiahou Yuan walking past the desk to the bookcase at the end of the room.
Sima Yi flushed, enraged at the fact that he had been questioned in front of his student. Another fine example of the soldier's decorum. "Excuse me?"
"The kid's got a point Yi, I mean when have I ever seen any strategist just relax once in awhile?"
"For your information I play Go once a week."
Jiang Wei stifled a laugh as Xiahou Yuan groaned, "Oh please, my grandfather plays that game and he's nearly about to go on his deathbed."
"I do not need your comments on my choices of leisure!"
Xiahou Yuan hand ran along the spines of the books on the shelf until he found the volume he was looking for. He pulled it from the shelf and blew the dust from its beaten cover, seeming to thoroughly enjoy himself, "If you ask me, little Jiang Wei's the only strategist with a life other than his books and studies."
"Which is precisely why he is my student and not a personal strategist to our lord. And why you follow orders instead of make them yourself."
"You know he's got a point." Jiang Wei chuckled.
"Hold your tongue!" Sima Yi snapped, "I didn't allow for you to speak!"
Xiahou Yuan shrugged, eyes closed, "The truth hurts."
Jiang Wei allowed the laugh to escape his lips as Yuan too joined in with a roaring laugh. Sima Yi turned red and spun around to face Xiahou Yuan, "I advise you cease in your mockery. NowI'm beginning to see where my pupil has been adopting his impudent ways. At first I assumed it to be a simple phase, but now I'm beggining to think otherwise."
"Oh then don't mind me, I wouldn't want to interfere in your studies Wei."He bowed, voice speakingwith false remorse.
"Anytime, it's the only exciting thing that will ever happen." Jiang Wei stated dully.
"Silence!" Sima Yi's rage peaking at the simple word, "Get your head out of the clouds and back to your studies!"
Jiang Wei bowed reluctantly, "Yes Master Yi."
"Take a easy on the boy–we don't want him to become a stiff like you." Yuan let out a laugh as he turned to walk out of the door.
Suddenly a bottle of ink came darting through the air and hit Xiahou Yuan on the back of the head as black ink sprayed all over his body. The general let out a cry and spun around, revealing his black stained face, soaked with ink. "What the hell—!"
Sima Yi smiled and turned to Jiang Wei who stared agape at his Master for demonstrating such an act. Sima Yi let out a light chuckle, clearly satisfied,"And that is how to aim Jiang Wei, be sure to take notes on that." Without anymore words said he sat back down in his chair and proceeded with writing.
"Why you–!"
"Careful, unless you wish for a mouthful of ink the second time around." Sima Yi warned, eyes never leaving his work.
Jian Wei laughed as he watched an infuriated Xiahou Yuan disappear out the door, a new respect brewing inside himself for Sima Yi. "Master, what title do you wish for my notes to go under?" A smile on his face.
Sima Yi turned to him, a similar smile on his own, "Title it 'how to get rid of an idiot'."
Jiang Wei let out a light chuckle as he rose and set the brush back on his desk, the memory able to warm the inside of his soul. A slight sadness took place of his fear as the yearn to see Master Yi tearing him to pieces. Not only Sima Yi but his other friends he had made while serving under Cao Cao.
Whenever chaos rises on the horizon, Wei is not too far behind.
Jiang Wei picked up the letter he had began writing for Zhuge Liang and stared at it for the longest time, the words of his new master racing through his head.
Cao Cao fights only for power, he cares only for conquest, nothing more.
"That's not true. . that's not true. ." Jiang Wei whispered to himself, his hands pressed on his temples that began to ache. Cao Cao always placed his people and officers before him, he never once left any of them behind. Never.
We bring chaos to bring peace.
Yes. Chaos is the only way to restore the peace. The greater the chaos the more stable and wonderful the Calm afterwards shall bring to the people of China. Cao Cao knew this, Sima Yi knew this, he knew this.
Liu Bei fights for a greater cause. .he does not see it necessary for any bloodshed.
"Cao Cao only wishes for peace." He breathed, failing to convince himself.
He marches on a path for only power. .nothing more.
"Shut up!" Jiang Wei yelled aloud as the anger boiled in his blood veins. Though he repeated to himself constantly that he will begin to accept change his heart refused. Ever since hearing Zhuge Liang's preaching the doubt rose inside him and kept growing.
All he heard the officers speak of Cao Cao were horrible names and taunts. Many times he wished for the courage to scream at them and tell them that what they fought for were lies—Shu was a kingdom destined to collapse, not Wei. Shu was cruel, heartless and followed under a false leadership. If they only knew, only knew about Wei's true intentions to bring peace then maybe they would understand.
Then why did he leave you Jiang Wei?
"He didn't leave me!" He screamed out. The nightmare finally broke his last attempt of resistance and burst forth from the barriers of his mind. The darkness engulfed him and he felt himself remembering, getting pulled back into his haunting past. A place he never wanted to return to.
Author Note: Fixed a few errors and made them more in character. Read and review.