Inspired by WolverinesDarlin's story of Sagacious Zu. The Tale of Sagacious Zu, following his life from when he became an enemy of the Emperor and betrayed his Order.
Part 1, Prologue:
20 Years Previously…
Zu ran as fast as his legs would take him. He was afraid, an internal debate raging inside him, questioning whether he was right to do this. The smell of the blood of a slaughter still burned into his nostrils. He was no one to speak for moral fairness. Not after what he'd done in the past. Not after what he had just done. What gave him the right to make the call to question His Emperor's judgment, the wisdom of the wisest man alive?
Despite this internal struggle, he kept on running, away from the Palace, away from the guards which, alerted to the movement and shocking murder which had just taken place, were surely converging on the scene of an act surely evil, away from his dead colleagues of the Lotus Assassins. Despite his loyalty to his Emperor, he could just not find solace in the orders to slay his brother's wife and child, could not see how, even if his brother was a traitor, his family should be executed for Sun Li's deeds. He knew it was his duty and a punishment (albeit a brutal one), the law of the land and custom for traitors to be severely punished, and so he had gone ahead with the Emperor's wishes. Zu had watched for guards as his colleagues muffled the screams of the Emperor's brother's wife. He could just allow seeing the woman killed – his loyalty stretched that far – but when the assassin had passed him the blood-stained dagger to end the small infant girl's life, that – that had been too much. Zu had taken the dagger from the man, a moment later bursting into an act of bloody fury, killing the other present members of his order, escaping the palace with the infant still sleeping in his arms.
His heart pounded, shamed at dishonoring the Emperor's orders, fear and shame at betraying the Lotus Assassins. He had no idea where he was going. He had no idea what he was going to do. All he knew presently was that he must get away. Far away. People would be looking for him, especially once they noticed Sun Li's daughter was missing. He was now an outlaw – a fact that stung him right to the core. He would be considered a kidnapper and murderer, and he knew the Emperor would propose a conspiracy against him.
He knew he could avoid trouble if he left the infant to be found - but he also knew the consequences should he choose that course of action. She would still be killed, and everything he had just done up to this point would be for nothing. He had come too far into this to pull out now. He would press forward.
Blocking the internal struggle from his mind, he told himself over and over he was still loyal to the Emperor - He didn't question himself any further. He was no traitor. He was still loyal to the Emperor, and he would hold His Emperor's niece in high esteem. It was fated for this to happen. He was doing the right thing.
He had to believe that.