Disclaimer; I don't own Dynasty Warriors or any of it's characters. I am not making any money from this fan fic and it is my own work.

Hello there after an extremely long time I have gotten around to rewriting this fic. The old one needed a few adjustments and I have managed to lengthen the chapters a fair bit. There is new material so if you read the old version you may still find it an interesting read. Note; the main character is an OC in this however I have tried to make it so it isn't a Mary Sue.

Reviews are welcome could or bad but for bad ones don't just say it is crap, if there is any critism say it in a way so I can improve in the future.

Chapter 1: Wu Household

Night had fallen over the land of China, yet from a small village a light was shining. Yet this light had a certain menace to it, a fire that had spread throughout the village. Smoke rose in ominous, black clouds choking the stars from view. The villagers and animals alike were running mad, desperately trying to escape the flames; they were also trying to evade the enemy that had come upon them in the centre of the panic.

Soldiers in regal blue armour tore at the people's skins with swords and spears. Folk were also shot from afar as they reached the villages borders by archers. It was a perfect trap.

In the midst of the confusion a woman held her two children close, waiting for the soldiers to pass her by. Soon she saw the last of the pursuers pass; she watched them run further away letting out a sigh of relief. She knew however that she had no time to lose…they would come back.

Grabbing her two children's hands she forced them into a run. She looked left and right as she ran then her heart dropped as she saw a soldier turn towards her as she entered the stable with her children. She shut the door and released her children's hands, then hurried off to one of the pen's pulling out a white mare. Her children watched as she led it towards them.

"They went in there. Come on."

The woman looked at the door then her children.

"You'll have to ride bare back." She reached for the younger of the two, a girl with light brown hair and sapphire eyes, lifting her onto the horse with ease. "Xun you must take your sister to the household of Sun Jian. Take the working roads. Don't stop until you reach the main city, the soldiers won't follow you there." She went to pick up the second child, a boy who was often mistaken for a girl due to his feminine features, he had brown hair slightly darker than his sister's and brown eyes full of confusion.

As he was mounted behind his sister he looked at his mother with dawning understanding. He took hold of the rope that had been used to lead the horse out. His sister reached over his arms to her mother.

"Mummy, are you coming?"

Her mother just smiled and kissed the small hand. "You must be strong Laya. There is no more place in the world for weakness at this time."

Laya looked at her in puzzlement but a sudden roar of commotion diverted her attention. She heard some small thumping sounds on the roof, followed by the smell of burning.

She cast a quick glance at her mother who looked not at her. "Go NOW!"

The horse reared slightly as the woman hit it's behind. Laya felt her brother lean onto her to stop from being thrown off. Then the horse leaped forward throwing the doors open and scattering the soldiers waiting outside. Lu Xun felt someone try to grab his ankle but he kicked it off spurring the horse forward.

Lu Laya looked back and saw the stable roof aflame and the gap they had made was immediately filled by the troops again. The door was still open and she saw her mother screaming whether at them or the soldiers she knew not. The door was forced shut and barricaded preventing any escape.

Laya started to cry. As she looked up at her brother she saw he too was crying. Yet he urged the horse forward into an even greater speed. As he turned around a building he saw a group of archers standing ready. He swerved away from them as they pulled their strings back. Arrows whistled through the air flying past the children's ears. Xun swerved to and fro desperately trying to dodge them and succeeding.

He turned the horse down a small path hidden by trees. They rode on at an incredible speed until the sounds and smoke from the village faded from sight. Xun brought the horse to a canter, then down to a trot. He rubbed his eyes removing the salty tears.

"We should be okay now." He whispered more to himself than his sister who was shivering slightly both from the cold and her urge to stop herself from bursting into tears again.

Xun pulled off a cloak he was wearing and wrapped round his sister's tiny frame receiving a look of gratitude. Shortly they heard a nearby stream and dismounted to get water. As Laya drank deeply from the river she heard a noise. It sounded oddly like horses. Xun stood up and looked down the road, his eyes widen in terror.

"No…Laya come on, hurry." He grabbed Laya's arm pulling her up to where the horse was grazing. He pushed her up on to it and then took a running leap to get up on it himself. No sooner than he grabbed the ropes a group of men dressed in blue armour and upon horses came up after them. Xun kicked the horse into gear and they sped away.

There was a shout behind them yet neither could hear ought but the wind rushing past their ears. Laya glimpsed past her brother's form and saw a couple were catching up.

"Go faster, they're catching."

Xun leaned forward in response urging the horse onwards but to no avail. As they left woodland behind and came into a field horsemen appeared on either side of them. One reached over to grab the reins; Xun knocked his hand away and pulled back. As they shot past Xun turned the horse off the road and began riding cross country. Yet disaster struck.

There was a sickening crack as the horse tumbled head over heels flinging its young riders forwards. The horse lay on its side eyes rolling in madness. Laya and Xun hit the ground yelling in pain. Xun looked up to see their doom running towards them. He felt something at his side and noticed Laya. She huddled up to him and hid her face. Xun kissed the top of her head and just let his own head fall. He had failed and now they would both pay the price.

As the hooves came closer there was a shout followed by the sound of something whistling through the air. Grunts and horse's cries ensued before the sound of hooves took over again but they seemed to be receding.

"Did you see what they were chasing?" A man's voice queried.

"No, but I think it's over here."

Several footsteps pounded finally stopping right next to the terrified children; the men looked around at each other.

"Why they're only children."

Xun looked up, face streaked with tears and dirt. His brown eyes blazed with protectiveness as he pulled his sister as close as he possibly could. Words escaped him as one of the men bent down and gently touched his hand.

"It's okay. We're not going to hurt you."

Xun relaxed his grip before letting go completely as he fell into a dead faint. Laya yelped as she felt his hands slide away and on looking at her brother's pale face began to scream believing her brother to be dead. Petrified eyes spun on the men as they reached out for them both she batted their hands away and tried to pull Xun across the floor from them. An arm grabbed her and stopped her in her efforts. She was separated from her brother and lifted on to a shoulder. She beat her tiny fists on the broad back, crying and screaming all the while.

They group moved away from the scene after someone put the horse out of its misery. Laya's throat became hoarse and her body began to tire. She still struggled against the man carrying her but fruitlessly. She turned her head and saw someone carrying the still body of her brother and she began to reach for her only source of comfort in the past few hours. She failed to notice the grand building that they were approaching nor the gates and high walls they passed; it was only when the men stopped that she attempted to turn tears still lit in her eyes.

There were people walking towards them dressed in red armour and holding spears at their sides. On seeing these weapons Laya began to scream again assuming that these were more of the men who had destroyed her village. One of the approaching guards immediately stopped and stared at the small girl, the other who seemed more seasoned in age if not experience approached.

"What is going on here?"

The man holding Laya shifted her slightly. "Forgive her Tan, she's a little stressed. Her and the boy" he gestured towards Xun's sleeping form with his head, "were pursued. We believe by some of Cao Cao's soldiers."

The guard's eyebrows furrowed and his face darkened. "Cao Cao's? What are they doing this far south?"

"I'm not sure. Please could you inform our Lord? He may wish to see these two himself."

The guard nodded and hurried up the stairs barging past his comrade who finally began to move.

Laya all the while had not stopped screaming and crying she pounded her fists until they began to redden. She hadn't heard a word of the conversation and when a set of hands grabbed her she screamed louder if possible until she came face to face with soft green eyes.

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Sun Jian sat on his bed finally able to enjoy its comfort. Due to the many papers he had to work himself through he had not been able to take the early night like he had planned. It had only been a short while since he had taken part in the battle against the insurgents known as the Yellow Turbans. Their leader, Zhang Jiao, had played many tricks on the soldier's minds and hearts and it was almost a losing battle, however due to some quick thinking from his fellow officers they had gained the upper hand and won.

However, there were now rumours of a new plot underway concerning a disgusting man whom Sun Jian had the displeasure to meet. Dong Zhou was apparently making a move into power and had already begun manipulating the young emperor. Jian wondered when he would be called to stop the rising tyrant.

As he laid his head down on the pillow a loud knock sounded at the door. Grumbling he sat back up.

"Enter!"

One of the palace guards entered, Jun Tan, he looked slightly amused at his lord's sour face.

"My lord, there is a pressing matter you must attend to."

"Jun Tan! I am sure this matter could wait until morning!"

"It concerns Cao Cao and his troops."

Jian felt his blood freeze momentarily; Cao Cao was the only man who he had ever had a slight fear of. The man let off an aura of being cold and ruthless though he hid it well with his almost aristocratic ways. He was an extremely able commander though Jian felt that Cao Cao wasn't happy with being the commander of a grand army. No he was sure that all that dark man wanted was more power.

Reluctantly still Jian pulled himself up out of bed and fastened a robe to himself before following Tan out. When he arrived at the door he was shocked to see his wife (the second wife) Lady Wu stood there. Even more so seeing a small child of about five in her arms being cooed to sleep. He then noticed the eight off duty soldiers one of which carrying another child, a boy, unconscious in his arms.

He turned to Tan who simply looked at the soldiers waiting for one to speak. Jian turned back to them. "What has happened?"

The soldiers fidgeted before one stepped forward. By the light he looked fairly young, though the hardened warriors looking down on him knew that he wouldn't remain that way for long in the army.

"My Lord," he bowed his head in respect as he spoke, "we found these children in one of the fields near the edge of town. They were riding a horse. We approached them to question them as to why they were riding in such haste when four garbed in blue appeared chasing them. The children's horse was felled by a hole, breaking it's leg. We approached and managed to scare off the pursuers."

The soldier stepped back into the ranks and received a quick pat on the back from one of his comrades. Jian looked first at them then the children. 'Why would Cao Cao's troops do such a thing? Had Cao Cao ordered it himself or is there more to this evil tale?'

He brushed aside these thoughts and turned to Tan.

"Lead an expedition out in the morning. See if you can find any trace of these brutes. For now," He glanced at the girl's now sleeping form. "we need somewhere for these two to stay."

"They can stay with us." Lady Wu whispered, still looking at Laya's now calm face.

Jian groaned. "Do you not think we have enough children to deal with here, Ce and Shang Xiang are trouble enough as it is."

The Lady shot her husband a venomous look which the Tiger of Jiang Dong quailed from. "They will be of no bother."

The so called leader of the Wu army gave a last glare at his wife which caved immediately. "Fine." He muttered something and Tan only got the name of Sun Jian's daughter.

Lady Wu was already walking up the steps with one child in her arms. The boy was immediately taken by one of her handmaids. She turned to her husband with a smile which wasn't quite so happy as it looked.

"At least Shang Xiang will be able to stand up for herself when she does marry. I don't call that stubbornness do you?"

Tan choked back some laughter as his lord went red. Sun Jian shook his head and dismissed everyone before following his wife.

"Why do I bother?"