Foreword:
The following story will branch between two points of view and will occasionally present hopeless situations to the usual protagonists.
It is also slightly AU (Alternate Universe) though mostly Yona's point of view will follow the anime sequence of events.
The story will contain occasional bouts of foul language and may take a morbid direction at times.
There will not be as many comedic moments as Yona of the Dawn normally has, this is because it is extremely difficult for me to write comedy and I usually focus on serious stories anyway.
Aside from that, I have nothing more to add, enjoy the story.
Chapter 1 : Escape/Disembark
"Survival is paramount."
POV - Yona, Princess of Kouka Kingdom l Location: Crimson Dragon Castle
Fear, confusion and anger filled Yona's heart as her father wasn't responding, her childhood friend Su'Won had killed him seemingly in cold blood. She couldn't do much but shake and tremble as she asked "Why?".
Su'Won's face remained as pale and cold as it was when she entered the room. He spoke, saying "Because he killed my father."
Things blurred for Yona after that, she could hear what he was saying, about Su'Won's father and that his death wasn't an accident. Yona didn't believe him, shouting that it was a lie then asked if everything Su'Won had done was a lie.
Su'Won didn't reply as his co-conspirators entered the room, one of them with long black hair in a ponytail who was seemingly Su'Won's advisor suggested that he kill Yona to prevent the truth from coming out.
Yona looked back at Su'Won, softly saying "No, you wouldn't... You wouldn't!" and she could only feel an urge to run, an urge she acted on.
Moments later in the moonlit Crimson Dragon Palace's courtyard several guards working with Su'Won intercepted Yona and restrained her, one held a sword to her fearful face as he said "This is for the good of Kouka Kingdom." and rose the blade, readying to strike.
As if a flash of lightning, the man along with other nearby guards were stuck dead by a spear, wielded by Son Hak, General of the Wind Clan and Yona's childhood friend along with Su'Won.
Su'Won walked out with his advisor before to witness the execution only to see Hak intervene. Hak stared directly at his once-childhood friend and said "Su'Won, what exactly are you doing. I knew something was off with the guards not being at their posts but this is something I never expected, from you no less."
Su'Won calmly replied "I'm usurping the throne, that's what. I killed King II and as you just saw, I was about to have Yona killed to silence the truth."
Hak couldn't believe his ears, he immediately attacked the other guards around Yona, ending them each with a single strike from his Hsu Quandao spear, again as if striking with lightning speed. He then shouted for Yona to run though she was too shocked by the events to even breath properly, shallow breaths were what came from her mouth instead of words or actions. Hak charged at Su'Won who quickly drew a short short and deflected one of the blows Hak sent at him, the two dueled at a rapid pace barely traceable by the human eye, neither making a hit until Hak managed to execute an upper slash with the spear, injuring Su'Won's right shoulder just as one of the guards shouted "Stop now!".
Hak turned his head clockwise, one of the guards at Su'Won's side snuck past him during his duel and now held Yona hostage, a short sword below her jaw.
He relaxed and lowered his spear, silently cursing his situation when an arrow missed though distracted the guard holding Yona hostage, as if he were lightning Hak quickly slammed his spear through the head of the guard, freeing Yona and he then grabbed her and ran carrying the princess, hopefully to safety.
POV Shift - Ray Zenji, Grand General of the Zenji Imperium. l Location: Kylandor City, Feyvernis Continent, 2,106 miles north of Kouka Kingdom across the western ocean.
Short Black Hair, dark brown eyes, a light latin skin tone and a laid back expression was the face of this seemingly 17 year old man.
On a large round table was a map of the world, indeed the entire planet with six distinguishable continents were made out. The territory of the Zenji Imperium was painted a stark green with it's border outlined in red. Feyvernis was their home continent and had been Imperial territory for over 100 years. Following the successful launch of an orbital vessel named "Heaven's Eye" which was designed by Ray himself had given them a view of the planet 30 years ago. Ray appeared 17 but he did not age beyond that, neither externally nor internally.
He pointed to a modest peninsula in one of the territories that was mostly unexplored (They had a map of the globe though lacked insight, from space all they could do is draw a map of the planet's continents, they lacked high resolution imaging systems was the thought going on in Ray's head.)
Indeed Ray was not of this world or time, circumstances he chooses to remember only when necessary trapped him not only 600 years in the past but also 41 lightyears away from home. Thankfully he could teach and instruct the people here and more or less the Zenji Imperium, socially at least, was a better place than any country on Earth.
Their Emperor Khalas, the last surviving Dark Lord, a humanoid with incredible knowledge and psionic power had tasked Ray with leading an expedition to claim a new continent and gave him the liberty of choosing which to seize. Currently the Empire spanned two continents, both were only fully subjugated when the Empire's most dangerous weapon was deployed.
That aside Ray had been arguing with his advisors and fellow generals over which continent to seize. Perhaps Lamsara? The large mountain ranges coupled with a modest desert suggested it was rich in minerals, rare materials and oil.
Lamsara was explored though by peaceful expeditions and it's society had access to breach loading firearms and suitably strong nations on the coastlines though they still used wooden sail vessels and steam power had eluded them.
A decision was made and the continent was decided, they would attack Erchan, it's only known nations, Khai and Kouka were in the middle ages and their societies were feudal compared to the Imperium's Military-Industrial Complex.
Ray spoke, saying "Erchan, we land at Erchan. The nations we do know of there are feudal and medieval at best and they are not expecting a naval invasion. We'll make preparations to attack the capital of the Khai Empire directly and simultaneously we will hit Kouka's port town Awa. It will be a long journey yes but we'll be sure to take sufficient provisions. No chances however, we'll deploy heavy ironclads and submersibles along with Battleline Airships. Rumors encountered by our last agent in that area suggested the possibility of dragons so make sure we bring three Spears with us. We'll mobilize a force of 100,000 Janissaires and a tactical force of 300 Shinobi no Mono to deal with any experienced warriors. Feudal States tend to have exemplary individuals talented with melee weapons or throwing daggers. We will only use the Spears if absolutely necessary. I will personally lead the initial attacks, afterwards we will solidify our beachheads and along with the Shinobi we will conduct reconnaissance of the Khai Empire and Kouka Kingdom. General Hassid will take charge of the invasion of Khai, most of their empire is rock and sand and Hassid is from the Great Desert, he knows how to manage logistics in inhospitable territories. General Shu from the Cynthurius Continent will assist with the invasion of Kouka, the terrain there is not unlike his homeland's. I will be conducting field reconnaissance of my own as well so General Aleksander from Plasai will be my second in command, when I am not in direct communication or behind enemy lines you will take orders from him. Like the Cynthurius the locals are oriental so expect a fierce fighting determination and people that do not fear death. Dismissed!"
The men around the table nodded, gave salutes and departed the room.
Ray took a stroll in the capital, the west and east were mountains, inside those mountains the city continued, sturdy support structures capable of withstanding earthquakes existed and life was not harsh, the Capital was teaming with life and had a blooming economy. The Zenji Imperium's primary currency, Denarii was the most valuable and existed in two forms. Gold Coins pressed with the coat of arms as tails and Khalas' likeness as heads, the coins varied in size and worth from 100 Denarii, 200 and 500. Before the printing press there were individual worth of Denarii but those are now valued by paper currency in the forms of 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s and 100s. Not unlike his homeland's dollar though unlike the dollar, there were no cent increments. Values less than one denarii were usually currencies from occupied provinces. The Imperium maintained both a multi-cultural society and a flexible stock market that ensured economic stability. The standard was a double standard, both Gold and Silver held up the weight of the economy.
Reaching his residence he sat on a chair next to a window, looking outward onto the sea and held his hand up to the sun, it turned from it's latin shade to a shadow, darker than ink as it deformed into a whip or tentacle like object before reshaping back into a human hand with the normal tone. Ray sighed and wondered if he could still be considered human after what this empire's successor did to him.
POV Shift - Son Hak l Location: Wind Clan's Capital Fuuga.
Yona was asleep in a room provided by the Wind Clan. To keep a low profile Hak had told her to go by the name Lina, her cover was a Lady-in-waiting who was no longer at the palace.
Hak sighed as he looked outward, since coming here the Fire Clan had dammed up the river and was possibly harassing merchants to cut off the water supply in order to pressure the Wind Clan into accepting Su'Won's appointment as king.
Time passed and Mun'Dok, the previous general of the wind clan, returned and was briefed on the state of affairs.
"That's the gist of it, they won't stop harassing us until you accept the appointment of Su'Won." said Hak.
Mun'Dok sighed and said "You needn't worry, we'll stand by you and the princess, I won't recognize Su'Won." Hak replied "No, if it becomes apparent that the wind clan will rebel even in the least the Fire Clan might treat it as treason and strike us down. As much as it stings, we simply lack the numbers to stand against them, yet alone the rest of Kouka. This is my last order as General of the Wind Clan, I return the name Son and place of general to you. Recognize Su'Won's ascension to king, do what it takes to keep the Wind Clan safe."
Mun'Dok didn't reply at first, the two then discussed from where Hak would go next. Hak wanted to leave Yona in the wind clan as 'Lina' so she could live a normal and peaceful life but he quickly realized that the fire clan and more-so Su'Won would eventually find her if she remains in one place too long. Mun'Dok suggested they head to the cliffs to seek out the Oracle.
After a night's rest and a morning's breakfast Hak and Yona prepared to set out, Yona was no longer emotionally distressed so as to be unable to move or eat on her own. She was now determined to survive, partly to deny Su'Won a complete victory and mostly simply because she did not want to die.
On the path to the mountains they came across a traveler, he took notice of Yona but not because of her hair, Hak tensed up along with Yona as the traveler spoke, saying "Excuse me, I don't mean to trouble you but I think I'm lost. Could you give me directions to Fuuga?" Hak simply pointed towards the town's direction and the traveler nodded and thanked him. Once he was out of sight he sighed in relief that he didn't recognize himself or Yona.
The Traveler once out of sight from those two made a light whistle which seemed to summon a pigeon to him. He had prepared a note since encountering Yona and placed it on the ankle and said "To Awa" and nudged it in the direction of the port town which caused the pigeon to fly in that direction.
The man thought to himself "So the rumors are true, dragons are in this continent, hiding as humans. That girl, it may not be apparent yet to normal people but they should not underestimate us Shinobi. Our skills in the arts allow us to see through such guises though it seemed to me that the girl isn't a dragon directly but rather the blood thinned enough to make her mostly human at this point. She probably doesn't know it herself. Not that I care, most of us won't rest until all dragons are either dead or fleeing back to the heavens from where they came."
To be continued...
Afterword: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi will be involved but not early on.
'till next time - Kylandor