Disclaimer: I will warn all of you strict Three Kingdoms or DW fans, my timeline and historical accuracy will be so off. I have only been introduced to DW recently and I have played DW 6 so the character's appearance will be from that version. I am aware of what Zhou Yu and Sun Ce look like in the other games and their weapons. But I chose 6 because that is what I am familiar with. Characters may be OC. I am doing my best here. The main focus of this story is not the accuracy but the development of a life-long friendship (no slash). The rating may go up. We'll see.
Chapter 1: Chance meeting
"Lord Sun Jian, your guest has arrived," the servant announced to the Tiger of Jiang Dong and the head of the Wu. Sun Jian, a likable man with a scruffy beard and fiery spiked white hair, smiled and motioned towards the servant.
"By all means let him in."
The servant bowed and ran to retrieve the guest.
At Sun Jian's side was Huang Gai, a burly man with a white Mohawk cut. The large man glanced at his Lord in surprise. He was never told of any guest, but with most of the Wu forces far away preparing to fight against Dong Zhuo, unexpected occurrences were to be…well…expected.
The guest entered and Huang Gai cocked his head at the figure.
The man bowed before kneeling in front of Wu's Tiger King.
Sun Jian regarded the guest with curious but smiling eyes.
"You have certainly grown since I last saw you. But it seems you have changed since your time in the desert."
The guest said nothing but uttered Sun Jian's name.
"I have a favor to ask and I apologize for calling you here…" Sun Jian paused still staring at the man in front of him. I was hard to believe that the last time he saw this man he was but a small boy. A bright, brilliant, prodigy that the land had never seen before.
"Dong Zhuo has assaulted the land of Wu and I aim to put a stop to it, of course. Only that a dear friend of mine has two lovely daughters that were captured by that pig-headed fool. My son is on the front lines and the primary objective is to rescue these girls. If Dong Zhuo's head is brought before me in the process, so be it. We must combat his forces and drive them back."
Huang Gai scratched his sort beard, listening to his lord's narrative. The rub was approaching shortly.
"Unfortunately, my son, Sun Ce…" Sun Jian looked back at the burly warrior with a smirk. "…has yet to receive proper training and education in the matters of war. And he can be…impulsive. I want you to make sure he doesn't do anything drastic."
The man's eyes lifted up revealing the burnt golden color of those dead eyes.
Later Huang Gai would remember feeling disdain at seeing that all aspects of youth had escaped from this man's gaze. It was a shame that young men, in times of crisis, could turn into old geezers in a matter of seconds.
"I will do as you command Lord Sun Jian," was the man's succinct answer. His voice was cold and fluid. Sun Jian's guest stood straight and bowed before leaving the castle gates.
Sun Jian lounged in his small throne resting his cheek on the palm of his hand giving a quick glance at Huang Gai. Huang Gai's eyebrows shot up as he shrugged.
***
"Come on! Let's keep pushing!" a young man with short brown hair and a goatee yelled at his small band of troops surrounding him. He dispatched of the last of the small band of enemy troops and leapt up on his horse, as did his retainers.
"Sir, may I suggest we fall back for a moment to regroup…"
"No way! We have two damsels in distress to rescue!"
"But Lord Sun Ce-"
But the young Wu heir already started his horse and charged towards the northern garrison.
It wasn't Sun Ce's most brilliant plan. If you could call it a plan. It was disorganized mangled blob of impulse that led him…and his unfortunate troops, and as they rode through the trees they were able to see glimpses of the garrison.
Sun Ce leapt off his horse and stood before large amounts of enemy troops prepared to slaughter him. His attendants frantically ran to their Lord's aid. A soldier ran up to Sun Ce, brandishing his sword. Sun Ce knocked the man in his stomach, causing him to double over and he finished with a blow to the man's head. Two more soldiers charged at him and he blocked their attacks with his spear, pushing against them.
For a brief moment, the two soldiers let up as they noticed something behind their opponent. In that moment Sun Ce pushed them away with all his might not noticing the two figures standing behind him.
He turned around finding a young man in red, gold, and white, his red bo staff pressed firmly onto an enemy soldier's foot causing the meek man to freeze. The young man's hardened gaze bored into Sun Ce's.
In one swift motion, the pale young man brought his fist back, smashing it into the soldier's face. The soldier collapsed onto the ground.
Sun Ce didn't know what to think. Was this guy an enemy? The pale man with the incredibly handsome face and long dark brown hair had the eyes of a tiger. The cold eyes of a tiger.
"Your father was right. You have no regard to your back," the man said, his voice smooth and as cold as his gold eyes.
"Excuse me?" Who the hell does he think he is?
"Don't mind me. I was sent by Lord Sun Jian to watch your back," the man gazed around them finding one of Sun Ce's men dead. "I can see why."
Sun Ce set his jaw and scowled at this guy, "Yeah, according to my dad I may be a little wet behind the ears."
The young heir jerked his head in a nod, "What do they call ya?"
"I am Zhou Yu. I was called away to aid you."
Sun Ce's frown deepened, "Doesn't he trust me? He thinks I can't handle things on my own so he sends you as my babysitter. Typical him."
Zhou Yu didn't answer.
"Fine you can come along. Just don't get in my way."
They entered the garrison after fending off more enemy soldiers and immediately ran to the building inside. They stared up at the building.
"Scouts have reported that the Qiao sisters are in there."
Sun Ce glanced at the man beside him, "Well good. That cuts my jobs short."
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed, "You weren't aware of this?"
"Nope. I planned on checking all of the garrisons."
"That's reckless-"
Sun Ce readied his spear, "Whatever, let's go get them."
Shaking his head in disdain, Zhou Yu had no choice but to follow this guy on this reckless path.
Upon entering Sun Ce was immediately caught up with enemy soldiers. He pierced one with his spear, lifted the soldier still skewered onto it and flung him across the room hitting two soldiers charging after him.
Zhou Yu, on the other hand, was surrounded by six soldiers, but it unnerved the enemy that he showed no sign of fear or frustration, or any emotion at all. In a flurry, faster than wind, his bo staff met with all six soldier's faces, breaking noses, jaws, and skulls.
Sun Ce turned around after he stabbed another soldier in the gut, finding his ally surrounded by the dispatched bodies of six soldiers. When did that happen?
"Let us go."
Sun Ce could only nod before sprinting forward.
Two of Dong Zhuo's guards stood at the ready hearing the commotion downstairs keeping guard over a young woman.
"What the hell is going on down there?" one of the guards muttered.
The young woman with dark hair, sat still on the floor, trying not to let her relief show. Someone was about to save her and her sister…hopefully.
There was a shout as a young man with a spear charged at one of the guards. The guard brought his own spear up, the force of the other man's blow snapped it in half, plunging the spear into his chest.
Noticing that the assailant was distracted, the other guard brought his sword down on him. The blade was inches away from the intruder's side, but for some reason, the sword wouldn't go any further. A red staff was blocking the way. Another man pushed the guard further away from his target. He whirled his staff and thrust it against the guard sending him crashing into the wall, breaking his back. Sun Ce and the woman cringed when they heard to guard's bones cracking.
"You think that was a little much?" Sun Ce asked Zhou Yu, but the other man didn't answer. They turned their attention to the woman.
Sun Ce helped her up, "Are you one of the Qiao sisters?"
The woman nodded hastily and spoke in a frantic, "Yes, please help my sister. She's in another room."
"I'll go get her," Zhou Yu said hastily before running off down the hall.
Sun Ce readied his spear in case another guard came around, "You don't need to worry. Just stay close."
The Qiao sister nodded, "Thank you. Are-are you from Lord Sun Jian's army?"
Sun Ce's back was still facing her as he kept vigilance down the hall, "Yeah, I am his son, Sun Ce. Which sister are you?"
"Da Qiao, the elder one. My younger sister and I were separated, but she is here somewhere. I hope she's alright."
Sun Ce faced Da Qiao, finding her rigid with fear, "Hey, now, I'm sure she's just fine. I just hope Zhou Yu finds her quickly before we're overrun."
"Zhou Yu? Who's he?"
Sun Ce smirked and shook his head turning back around, "I have no fucking idea."
***
"Now let's go through this one more time…"
Zhou Yu had an unfortunate guard pinned to the wall by the neck with his staff. He pressed harder on the soldier's neck.
"Where is the other girl?" Zhou Yu asked in a very dangerous tone.
"The next two doors on the left. But I don't know if she's still there. I'm not in charge of them, I swear."
Zhou Yu smirked and nodded, "Thank You."
He pressed his staff up, blocking the soldier's oxygen to the brain and in a matter of seconds the soldier went limp.
The door to the where the second sister lay was locked. Zhou Yu stepped back and kicked the door in.
The guard that was snoozing in and was startled awake and met an unfortunate fate. Zhou Yu brought his staff across the man's head, smashing his helmet in the process and the shrapnel would forever be imbeded in the man's skull.
Zhou Yu regained his composure. The room was obviously used for storage at some point as it was small and contained no windows. The only light coming was from a torch by the guard's chair.
Yet sure enough, in the middle of the room lay a young woman. She was younger and smaller than the sister he previously met. Zhou Yu immediately checked to see if she was breathing before lifting her in his arms and carrying her back to Sun Ce.
***
Sun Ce heard a commotion from down the hall and he readied his spear, fearing it was more soldiers. Fortunately, it was Zhou Yu carrying a girl in his arms.
"Xiao!" Da Qiao pushed past Sun Ce to her sister.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Zhou Yu answered, "She was knocked out when I found her."
"Well, now we have the girls lets get out of here."
Lucky for them they didn't run into too much trouble, and once they got on their horses with the girls they made a beeline towards the nearest ally garrison.
As they were riding, Sun Ce became curious. The enemies in this region were sparse. Surely, Dong Zhuo couldn't be dispatched that easily.
Up ahead they spotted Zhou Tai and his men by a garrison, he waved at Sun Ce.
"Boy, am I ever glad to see you Lord Zhou Tai!" Sun Ce leapt off his horse and helped Da Xiao off.
Zhou Tai's eyes narrowed, "Sun Ce…I hope those are the Qiao sisters, otherwise you'll have to explain to your father why you were picking up random women instead pushing back Dong Zhuo's forces."
Sun Ce chuckled, "Don't worry. The lovely Qiao sisters are here and safe…I think."
Zhou Tai opened his mouth, about to question Sun Ce about the last unsure portion of his sentence, but a tall, pale, gracefully handsome young man approached him with a beautiful girl in his arms.
"She's unconscious, could you please direct me to the medical tent, my lord."
Zhou Tai, mouth a little slack, pointed in the direction of the tent. The man bowed low, lower than needed and with the girl still in his arms. "Thank you my lord."
As Zhou Yu headed towards the medical tent, Sun Ce was left there, facing Zhou Tai's scowling face.
"What?!" Sun Ce's voice was shrill, "She was found like that."
Zhou Tai shook his head, ready to scold his Lord, "Lord Sun Ce-"
"Please," Sun Ce held up his hand, "spare me the lecture."
Zhou Tai turned his attention towards the other Qiao sister, "My apologies my lady, you must be thirsty. Would you care for some water?"
"I am fine sir. I am just hoping my sister is safe."
"She's in the Wu's hands now. No one's gonna touch ya," said Sun Ce, his voice portraying his cockiness and arrogance. Immediately he quieted when he spotted Zhou Yu.
"Ah, yeah, this guy helped," Sun Ce sounded unenthusiastic when he motioned towards Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu bowed again, "I am Zhou Yu."
The curiosity in Zhou Tai's eyes disappeared, "Ah, yes, Lord Sun Jian told us of your arrival."
"Wait. What-?" Sun Ce was confused. He never heard such a thing. "I wasn't aware of this! Did everyone know about this?"
The knowing look Zhou Tai and a few of his higher officers gave him, showed the answer.
Sun Ce rolled his eyes and gave an impatient sigh, kicking a small pebble on the ground, "Dammit!"
"It would seem that Dong Zhuo has left this area. It'll be a while for him to regroup with better troops. So we have succeeded," Zhou Tai reported to Zhou Yu not noticing Sun Ce mounting his horse.
Zhou Yu noticed though, "What are you doing?"
"I'm not going to let Dong Zhuo get away that easily," Sun Ce kicked the stirrups and galloped away, Zhou Tai and Zhou Yu's protest dissipating in the kicked up wind.
***
As Sun Ce neared Dong Zhuo's retreating forces, he realized he had no back up and he was facing the soldiers alone. He thought himself a proficient warrior but not strong enough to take on several enemy forces. If he got to Dong Zhuo before he was overrun…
To be on the safe side he stopped by a base captain to take some soldiers with him. They reluctantly agreed, confused.
He crossed into enemy lines finding several soldiers and a few of Dong Zhuo's officers guarding the retreat.
"Alright men, if we break this line then that tyrant will be vulnerable!"
Sun Ce charged his horse forward running over a few enemy soldiers and slashing at those coming after him. Unfortunately an officer, one of Lu Bu's train by the size and skill of the officer, pierced the horse in the leg, causing it to topple over. Sun Ce jumped off and made a swipe at the officer. He blocked it with his spear. They fought against each other's weight, but Sun Ce pushed the officer back in time to slash at two foot soldiers that were charging after him. Turning back to the officer, he thrust his spear at him, but the officer drove the spear off course with a swipe of his own weapon. Sun Ce briefly lost his grip on his spear, but returned to composure a little too late. The officer elbowed him in the chest. The officer's strength dazed Sun Ce for a small moment and the officer swiped his spear across Sun Ce's ankles, tripping the Wu heir into the air and he fell cleanly with a thud.
Sun Ce tried to get up. The only thing that was stopping him was a horrid throbbing in one of his ankles, from the force of the officer's attack. His ankle as bad as it was, forced him to roll away as the officer brought his spear down on Sun Ce.
The Wu upstart reached for his spear. The officer, seeing what the soldier was going after, kicked the spear away from his reach.
"Dong Zhuo would just love your head," the officer breathed, bringing his spear back.
A flurry of red impeded the officer from his target. A red staff pounded across the officer's face and his head spun to the side, teeth and blood spouting from his mouth.
Wu's newest addition wasted very little time in allowing the officer to recover. Zhou Yu wedged his staff in between both of the officer's arms creating tension with leverage. Pushing down, the snap of the officer's arms being broken was heard followed by his short cry of pain. Zhou Yu finished him with a blow from the end of his staff to the chest, knocking the air out of him.
Sun Ce started up at his savior, trying to catch his breath, his heart beating way too fast for comfort. Zhou Yu turned around to look down at the young commander with a disdainful look. He said nothing and Sun Ce heaved a sigh of relief falling back onto the ground to settle his heart rate.
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A/N: Hope it's all right. The next chapters will be a little better. My humor is subtle and dialog based as will be relevant in the upcoming chapters. The humor in this will hardly be slapsticky with a few exceptions. If you're not into dialog based humor then don't read this for a laugh. Please Review.