Author's Note: Inspired by the move: "The Gladiator" (2000), I decided to do a story featuring the cast of Mai Hime. The events of the story are pretty much that of the Gladiator's, yet with a twist, and a definite happy ending here. In this chapter, I've managed to butcher Roman history timeline to the way I wanted it.

Disclaimer: I don''t own Mai Hime, or the Gladiator. I wish I did, but unfortunately for me, I don't.


Chapter One: A Victorious Battle


One-hundred and seventy-four years after the death of Christ.
Gaul, forty-eight miles north of Remi. Dusk.

"How many legions survived this battle, General?" Emperor Katsu Aurelius Fujino spoke in a voice that was just a notch above a whisper, while running a aged hand through his graying hair. "How many good men did those savage bastards take from Rome?"

"The men are still retrieving corpses from the field, Majesty," A deep feminine voice responded sadly. Emerald stared down at the ground, trying to ignore the pang of hurt within her chest. She had lost many good men today, and had lost a few good friends. Friends she had trusted, and friends she had known for the most of her life.

"We suffered a great loss today," The Emperor stated. "It's sort of ironic that we came out the victors. Don't you think so, my friend?"

"The Gods work in mysterious ways, Emperor," Natsuki Antoina Kruga agreed. "Either it was Fate that lead us to Victory, or it was your presence which encouraged the men further."

"So modest..." Katsu murmured with a slight smile curling the tips of his lips. "You will do a fine job in my stead, Natsuki Antoina Kruga."

"I beg your pardon, sire?" The General questioned, as she looked onto the General's face, trying to decipher the cryptic words of her sovereign.

The Emperor merely smiled, and stared down at the top of his hands, "How long have you served Rome, General?"

"Since I was old enough to learn how to wield a sword," Natsuki murmured, thinking on the days of her childhood. "It.. had been a wish of mine to serve Rome; to protect it as my father had done before me."

"I remember your father vividly," said the Emperor, whilst folding his arms over his chest. "He was a good man. A man worth respect, and honor. It's good to see that his daughter upholds the family honor."

"I dare not compare myself to such a great man," The general said softly. "I was only a summer old when he fell in combat. I was always told of his achievements, and how much honor he brought to the family."

"Surely you do recognize how much honor you have brought to them?" The emperor addressed Natsuki with a incredulous look. "You drove off the horde of barbarians which sought to attack that of Rome. You are a hero of the Empire, just like your father was before you."

A faint blush crossed the cheeks of Natuki's face, "Sire, I served as any Roman would."

"That modesty of yours," The Emperor said chuckling. "It will come handy soon. Do you know why, General?"

"No, I'm afraid not, majesty..." The General answered sincerely, as her brow furrowed in confusion.

The Emperor sighed heavily, as he rose to his feet, and started to walk across the large tent. Stopping just short of a wooden desk, the Emperor picked up a papyrus scroll, and then made his way back towards the blue haired general.

"My son is incompetent," The Emperor said in a defeated voice, as he handed the scroll over to the woman before him. "He serves his own selfish needs. Over the years I kept telling myself that he would mature. That he would become a fine Emperor, but of late... I fear that I was mistaken."

"Sire?" Natsuki questioned, looking down at the neatly bound scroll within her hand. Her face reflected confusion, as she looked up into the blood-red eyes of the Emperor.

"Reito is not fit to be my heir, General," The Emperor said finally. "He has proved to me many times, that he is unfit to guide Rome, and her provinces. I will not last another year, General, and lately I've been keeping an eye out on you."

"But why me?" Natsuki murmured, as she thought over the conversation. 'What does he wish for me do? To find him a suitable heir? It would take years for me to do that...'

"Why you, indeed," Katsu smirked. "I find it particularly amusing, my dear General, that you - a woman - managed to gain access into the Legions of Rome. That you've managed to raise to the rank of General at such a young age. How many victorious battles have you brought Rome, my dear?"

"I-I believe ten, sire," Natsuki stuttered. "They were victorious battles, sire, but not the entire Macedonian War."

"Quite astounding, General," The Emperor complimented. "The men who serve beneath you are loyal to Rome. They are the epitome of the Legionnaire."

"Th-thank you, sire," Natsuki said bowing politely.

"You are also a descendant from the Scipio family, am I not correct?" Katsu asked.

"That is so," the General admitted. "M-my family are a direct descent from the Scipio family, and it is an honor to be related to such a historical family."

"Indeed... I'm sure you know of my roots, correct?" The Emperor asked curiously.

"The Julii," Natsuki murmured, after taking a moment to think.

"Correct," The Emperor admitted. "Either way, descendant of Scipio, those are my reasons for choosing you to be my successor. I've chosen you to lead the Empire of Rome."

"Sire!" The blue haired general exclaimed, as worry crossed her face. "I-I c-can't do it, sire."

"You can, and will," Katsu Aurelius Fujino ordered then. "That is my last order to you, General. Make the dream of Rome real."


Outside the Emperor's Tent:

A lone figure stood outside the Imperial tent. His hands were balled up into tight fists, as tears drew a firm path down both of his cheeks. His figure was shaking from both anger, and hurt, as he was no longer paying attention to what was being said inside the tent.

'M-my own father has no faith in me,' Reito Caesar Fujino thought to himself, as he tried to hide the sobs within his chest. All his life he had been told he was to be Emperor, all his life he had been groomed for the role. His dreams which he was to accomplish when was Emperor, were slipping further away, and there was nothing he could do to stop them.

"Brother?" A soft feminine voice spoke behind him. "Are you alright? You seem disturbed."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Reito turned around until the vision of his sister came to view. 'She looks truly beautiful during this time of day,' Reito thought to himself. 'The golden rays of the sun, surely bring out the best shades of her lovely chestnut locks.'

"N-no, dear sister," Reito responded, swallowing down his sobs. "I was j-just thinking of Lady Nao."

A melodious laugh came from his sister's lips, "Ara, why am I not surprised?"

"Now, don't start teasing me this late," Reito's voice cracked slightly, as he lied to his sister.

"And why shouldn't I?" Shizuru Porcia Fujino asked, as she clasped her hands in front of herself. "Ara, disregard that question. I believe it's time to let father know of our arrival, ne, Reito?"

"O-of course," The dark haired man agreed, grateful that his sister wouldn't tease him.

The brunette gave a soft laugh as she called out, "Ara, father! We've missed you, surely you can spare a moment to meet with your children?"


Three Hours Later,
Inside the Emperor's Tent:

"So you know," Katsu Aurelius stated, staring evenly at his son - Reito. "Then you know of my reasons, and that I will not change it."

"How can you do this to me?" Reito demanded. "You will turn me into the mocking bird of the Empire! You are going to ruin my life!"

"Am I?" The Emperor questioned, his gray eyebrow raising as he looked directly at the young boy before him. "I believe it's you who ruined your life, son. I gave you more than one chance to prove yourself worthy of serving Rome."

"And how is it I failed these tests of yours?" Reito shouted, glaring at the older man before him. "How is it that you've lost faith in your own blood! That you would give the throne to someone who didn't deserve it, or know what to do with it."

"You failed, son, due to your own selfishness," Katsu answered. "Your needs come before the Empire's. You would see your people gutted before you would crawl from your bed of whores, and order the Imperial Military to do something!"

Tears began to leak down Reito's face once more, as he listened to his father's words. Deep down he know that the words were true, yet he didn't wish to believe them, nor did he wish to let his father do this to him. 'I will be Emperor,' Reito Aurelius Fujino thought to himself. 'One way or another.'


Near the General's Tent:

"Ara, what a cute little blush!" The Emperor's daughter exclaimed, as her crimson eyes locked onto the flaming red cheeks of the General's face.

"Stop that!" Natsuki growled, as she glowered in annoyance at the brunette beside her. "Gods, you've not changed a damned bit!"

"Did you expect me to?" Shizuru grinned. "And while we are on the subject, General, you haven't changed a bit yourself. Still grumpy as ever."

The General sighed, as she realized that Shizuru Porcia Fujino would not relent on her teasing. She wouldn't stop until Natsuki was either dead, or beet red in the face. 'The woman must live for teasing,' The General thought to herself, annoyed at the fact that Shizuru had managed to single her out alone. 'What does she want from me?'

"Ara. I must've become boring," Shizuru sighed beside her, sniffling as if she were crying. "Natsuki hasn't answered me. She must find me boring, and has decided to ignore me."

"What?" Natsuki asked densely, but then scowled when reality hit. "No! Damn it, stop crying! I know it's fake!"

"N-Natsuki is so rude these days," The chestnut haired girl continued her 'crying'. "She calls my feelings fake. She thinks I am a bore, and has decided to ignore me."

"Ah!" Natsuki cried out in frustration. "I give up! Damn it, you know that I don't find you boring, and how am I ignoring you? I am talking to you after all!"

The sound of whip cracking suddenly caught the General's attention, making her spin around to attempt to figure out who made the noise. When she got a good look around herself, she noticed that everyone was looking at her. Immediately, her cheeks flushed brighter with embarrassment.

"P-please stop crying," Natsuki whispered in a begging tone, while her emerald eyes glanced towards the brunette beside her. "P-please, just stop. I'll do whatever you want me to."

"Truly?" Shizuru recovered immediately.

"Yes!" Natsuki hissed through clench teeth, and quickly regretted her words. 'Damn it! Way to go, idiot.'

"Ara, then we shall begin in my tent, yes?" Shizuru winked towards the General, while grabbing Natsuki by the arm, and dragging her away.


Omake:

Natsuki: So I'm the "Gladiator," right?
Rhythia: Yeah, be happy because it's an awesome experience.
Natsuki: Sure, but I have to remind you something...
Rhythia: Eh?
Natsuki: If you kill me in this story, there'll be tons of ShizNat fans after you...
Rhythia: o.o
Natsuki ...But more importantly, there'll be Shizuru, and Kiyohime following.
Rhythia: O.O
Shizuru: There, there, Rhy. I'm sure you won't kill Natsuki.
Rhythia: O-of course not... She's too damned cute to kill!
Natsuki: Hey! ...Wait, Shizuru, why aren't you getting jealous?
Shizuru: Because Rhy likes me, more than you.
Rhythia: -nods sagely-
Natsuki: HEY!

-End of Omake-

Author's Note: Decided to do an omake on this story. It's my first, but anyways, hope you enjoy the Introduction of the story. Please review, and enjoy!