5 years later...
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
"Father father! I'm here!"
A child, about 5 years of age and 2 feet, darted across the streets in satin and silk robes and a wreath of flowers on its head, dodging soldiers loitering about.
"Ai! Where have you been? That's dangerous! Come here!" Sun Ce scolded as he took the child in his arms. "You shouldn't be wandering about! I was so worried about you! What would I tell your mother if you got lost?"
"I'm sorry daddy..." the little Sun Ai pouted as she held a couple of yellow wild flowers in her hands.
"Hmm..." Ce closed his eyes as if contemplating. "Are you sure you won't do it again?"
"I promise."
"Good!" Ce smiled as he kissed the little girl's forehead and held her tight. "How's my little sweet pea? Father's perfect little girl? You're so cute, yes you are--"
"Father you're crushing me..." the little girl voiced out as she tried to get out of the older man's embrace. She held out the wildflowers that she picked. "Lookie!"
"Wow! Are those for me? Thank you Ai!" he took the flowers and looked at her. "You have a crown of them!"
"Yeah, a kind woman carrying a basket made them for me!"
"Wow! My princess is looking pretty today isn't she?"
The little girl nodded and smiled. She tilted her head as she saw someone approach them. "Uncle Zhou Yu!"
"I see the little princess is here. How are you Sun Ai? Are we being a good little girl?"
Ai nodded. "I didn't even complain when daddy was crushing me!"
The strategist attempted to suppress his laugh as Sun Ce tried his best to look hurt.
The child smiled at Ce. "I'm just kidding!"
At this, the sovereign laughed. "You do take after your father you know!". He then set her down and told her to play but warned her not to go too far. As soon as Ai was out of earshot, Zhou Yu turned serious.
"Ce...you do know that bringing a child to a city inspection is not exactly responsible-"
"I can't help it! She stuck close to me! She even begged her mom to let her go with me just this once! And Da said that it may be a good opportunity for us to bond. But she gave me so much warnings that my head started to ache! Made me want to attend one of your strategy meetings again...at least I can sleep in those!"
Ignoring the remark about his strategy meetings, Zhou Yu continued: "I cannot see the need for the both of you to bond further...you are very close to your daughter as she is to you"
Ce sighed. "Tell that to Da! She told me that I'm always away and they both miss me"
'Why didn't Da Qiao come?"
"I left her in charge of the castle along with Xiao Qiao remember? Everyone is stationed in different towns"
"And Ai could not be left in her mother's care?"
"Er, she stuck close to me, remember?"
"Ce, I just want to remind you that you cannot take a child along for a 'ride' every time"
"I know that Yu! But I just can't leave her all the time either...a child must grow up in the strong, loving arms of her father! Especially a daughter! I won't have anyone bully her around! Who knows what may happen inside or outside the castle? Da and I won't be able to look at her all the time! She might get kidnapped, or violated or killed!"
"Sun Ce, I think you're being paranoid--"
"Nonsense! I just act on the best interest of my daughter!"
"So bringing her to a campaign is in her best interest?"
"Da and I are there! There's no one else to take care of her!"
"Why don't you get a sitter then?"
"No way! I'm not going to entrust my little daughter to a complete stranger!"
"You can always raise a child along with her. That way, it's not a stranger and Ai would be comfortable...they do it in the Empire of Japan"
"But it would take too long! And Ai needs protection right now--" he then looked around and stopped. "Yu...where did Ai go?"
Yu looked around. "...I don't see her anywhere Ce"
At that, Ce screamed at the top of his lungs.
While Zhou Yu and Sun Ce were busy conversing, the Little Conqueror's daughter wandered off, the sounds of the town beckoning to her. The flowers still in her head, she walked around the town, a spring in each of her step and hummed while doing so. She looked around, reveling in the things that were alien to her, curiously observing them and familiarizing herself. As she covered half of the town, she suddenly felt very tired as her little legs could not walk any further. She saw shade just below a large cloth and bundles of hay underneath it. She climbed aboard and snuggled deep inside and slept. Unfortunately, the contraption that she climbed on was a cart, full of hay, milk and food and the owner urged his horses to walk, intending to deliver the stock to a farm in the next town.
When she woke up, she saw that she was moving, and a strange man was driving the cart. Curious of her surroundings, she merely watched and never uttered a sound as the cart traveled along the road. Somehow, she knew that if she were found out, the game would be over. So she ate some of the food and drank some of the milk whenever she was thirsty or hungry. And when she had to go to the little girls room, she would wait patiently until the cart stopped and did her rituals as fast as she could and climb on the cart undetected. It took them three days to reach the destination, so by the third day, when they reached the town, she climbed down as fast as she could and wandered off. Expecting the same town from before, her little feet carried her to where the castle should be...and there was no castle to be seen. Seeing that she was lost, she became scared. She missed her father and mother very much, and she was very hungry and lonely. She sat down and wept.
At that particular moment, the officer stationed in that city was just finishing his patrol and was about to get back to Wu to report to Lord Sun Ce. Covered in white and red, with his hair down and a head band around his forehead, his twin sabers glinted in the sun.
He stopped as he saw the little girl crying. She was no more than 5. He took note of her elegant white and red robes. He also noticed that no one was coming towards her. Seeing this, he walked over to her.
Her clothes...must be the child of a noble
He bent down on one knee.
"Excuse me...is something the matter?"
The child looked up with a tear strained face, and the man was taken aback. He had seen those eyes somewhere before...
He definitely knew that she was a daughter of a noble family. She possesses a face that he knew would be beautiful when she grew up...and basing from the features, some traits could never be possessed by a commoner...except in special cases. And even if the flowers in her hair wilted, she was still a very pretty child.
"Please help me...I'm lost..."
"Alright...I'll help you find your parents then. Could you tell me their names?" he cooed as gently as he could.
"Mother...and Father..."
He sighed. Of course she didn't know...she was just a child. She thinks there is only one 'mother and father' in the world. He held out his hand and gently smiled. "I'll help you if you want...you want to come with me?"
Ai's eyes widened as the beautiful stranger held out his hands to her. She looked at the brown eyes and felt instantly at ease. Even if her father told her never to talk to strangers, she couldn't help but feel that she had known him some time ago. And when she took his hand, she felt peace...and something else. Something that she could not place. Oh well.
The stranger mounted his steed and wrapped a cloak around her shoulders. He stopped by at every nobles' door and asked Ai if she lived there. When there was no noble left in town, he asked her to tell him how she got there.
Ai related the story of her travel and the stranger suddenly smiled.
"This may be a hunch...but I think I know who your parents are."
They left the town before night fell and the stranger urged his horse to run.
Being very tired, Ai rested her head and snuggled on the stranger's chest. She let the breeze touch her cheeks as she felt the warm beating of the stranger's heart. She felt safe and secure.
As soon as the young general dismounted his horse with his little charge in his arms, Sun Ce ran towards them in record breaking speed.
"AI!" He shouted as he held out his arms, not caring if the whole world saw what an overprotective father he really was.
"FATHER!" Ai happily shouted as she jumped on her father's arms.
"Oh Ai! I was so very worried!"
Zhou Yu smiled at the reunion. "Princess, did you know that your father mobilized ALL of Wu's troops just to look for you? It's a wonder why they did not find you..." he then turned to the handsome stranger.
"Good work Lu Xun"
"Not at all my lord" Lu Xun answered. "I stumbled upon her purely by luck. I would never have known that she was the Lord Sun Ce's daughter if it weren't for her regal robes..."
"This is the first time you saw her right?"
"Yes my lord. As your lord very much well knows, I am always in the field and I barely stay in the castle...And little Sun Ai was always in her room or in a tent so I have never set eyes on her"
"Then you are one lucky man Lu Xun"
"Lu Xun, I can't thank you enough!" Sun Ce gratefully said as he held Ai tight. "I haven't had a wink of sleep for six days straight! I was going to ask either Wei or Shu! I was sure one of them took you away from me!"
"Father, you're crushing me..."
"I'm never letting you go! Never ever! You hear me?"
"Ce, calm down...you might scar her for life"
"I don't care! Now I know what father felt when Shang Xiang was born!"
You're acting a lot like him too...like father, like son. Zhou Yu sighed.
"Really, considering waging war against Wei and Shu at the same time. You didn't even think that it would be suicide for us..."
"I will gladly go to war against the whole of China just for the sake of my baby!"
"Father...please don't be sad... I'm sorry I made you worry..."
After she related what happened Ce held her tight once again.
"My daughter wants to see the world! Don't go wandering around without father okay?"
"But father, what if you're not there...?"
"Then mother!"
"What if she's not there?"
"Auntie?"
"All my aunties are not there..."
"Uncle?"
Ai shook her head. Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu who was smiling triumphantly.
"Do you want to reconsider my earlier proposal?"
After 3 years...
"All right men! Today we shall defeat Huang Zu! We will finally get revenge for my father and our former ruler, Sun Jian!"
The soldiers cheered as many of their spirits rose in anticipation for the upcoming battle. Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce.
"Ce...this will be the decisive battle"
"I know"
Zhou Yu nodded. "I know you do but..." he pointed at the child clinging onto Ce's arm. "...you know you can't take the princess with you in battle, right?"
Ai pouted. "But Aunt Shang Xiang has taught me how to fight! I won't get in the way, I promise"
Zhou Yu sighed. "Princess, you do know that sparring and battles are different right?"
Ai looked at him and pouted. "But, it's better than sparring! If I go into battle, I'll get better…At least, that's what Uncle Gan Ning tells me."
Zhou Yu sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose as Sun Ce looked at her in disbelief. "I'll have a word with that Gan Ning! What has he been teaching my baby? Xu Lan!"
A girl no more than eleven years old, with fair skin, blue black hair and brown eyes stepped from behind him and bowed. "Yes my lord?"
"Take Ai out to play. But don't go running around outside the camp okay? It's dangerous"
"Yes my liege."
"No!" Ai clung to Sun Ce. "Daddy I want to fight."
"Ai, daddy has to fight alone"
"But who's going to protect you?" she sadly whispered and made the sovereign smiled tenderly.
"Don't worry Princess" Zhou Yu smiled, touched with the child's concern for her father. "I will be here to protect your father."
Ai looked at him and reluctantly nodded. "Okay Uncle Zhou Yu…"
Ai took Xu Lan's hand and walked with her hand in hand. Ce looked at Ai tenderly and Zhou Yu let his smile show. "Such a heart in such a young age."
"I know" Ce nodded. "That's why we have to make sure the enemy never gets to the main camp."
Ai stretched her arms as she held the staff in her hands clumsily. She bit her lip as the new formed bruises on her hands stung, yet she concentrated on the target that was right in front of her. Xu Lan watched her charge concentrate on the dummy stuffed with hay.
"Princess Sun Ai?" Xu Lan tilted her head in inquiry yet Ai spoke, her eyes never leaving the dummy.
"Don't call me that, Lan."
"But you are my lady."
"And you are my friend. We've been together for three years. And you're just three years older than I" Ai ran forward, twisting her wooden staff and started to attack the dummy.
Xu Lan could not help but smile. She was about to speak when shouts were heard in the main camp.
"The enemy! They're heading towards the main camp!"
"How many are there?" the Defense Captain called to the scout.
"T-three ships! We're outnumbered!"
Instantly, Xu Lan tensed and turned to Ai. "Princess, we have to get out of here."
"But the soldiers—"
"Can take care of themselves." Xu Lin finished as she made a grab for Ai's hand. "No!" Ai shook her head. "The soldiers are panicking! There are no officers here, they're scattered all over the place! I may be young but I have heard some of Uncle Yu's strategy meetings. If the main camp falls, Wu would lose the battle!"
"If that's the case then the battle is already lost." Lan insisted, pulling the stubborn Ai's hand. "Princess, there's no time for this!"
"No. Daddy cannot lose this one!" Using all her strength, she pulled away from the older girl and looked at her resolutely. "You might not understand but this battle means a lot to him…If he loses, it will break his heart. I can't have that!"
"My orders are to keep you safe. I will not gamble your life for the sake of your whims."
"But your first priority is to help him achieve victory!"
"Princess, you are Lord Sun Ce's heart. What good is victory if his heart is lost?"
Ai looked at him, her reddish brown eyes meeting her brown ones. "Please Lan. This battle is not just for Wu but for my grandfather who was lost. If he loses this one…daddy will be crushed. And besides," she smiled at Lan sheepishly. "You're here to make sure I make it…right? I'll live because you're by my side."
Lan looked at those puppy eyes and sighed. Ai pushed further "Daddy has to win…whether I'm alive of not, his spirit will surely suffer if he loses."
The older girl looked at the princess. "Alright, but we are not fighting the enemy head on."
Ai smiled and ran towards the soldiers, Lan following close behind. She stood on a barrel so that everyone can see her. The Defense Captain screamed at her frantically. "Get out of here my lady!"
The princess took a deep breath and shouted. "I won't go! Don't panic!"
Some of the soldiers settled yet most of them were wearing disbelieving looks on their faces.
"As the princess of Wu" she continued, "it's my duty to stay in the main camp and give morale to you all. I won't runaway like some cowardly noble; I will not disgrace my father!" she looked at them with determination in her eyes. "And you shouldn't as well. You were placed by Uncle Zhou Yu here to protect the main camp right? It's important, right? You have the most important job of all…without you to protect, the battle is lost! So please, please fight. Fight for Wu, fight for your honor, fight for your beliefs! I may be young and naïve, but my family always taught me never to doubt what I think is right and wrong. And right now, I know that it's wrong to act so scattered. I'm weak, that's why…that's why I need your help to protect the main camp!"
Lan couldn't help but grin at her princess' simple speech. The soldiers seemed invigorated, like she injected some of her spirit and determination within them. An eight year old girl served as an inspiration for grown men. She looked at Ai and at that instant, knew that she would outshine even the brightest star.
"My lord, the enemy has reached the main camp."
"What?" Sun Ce instantly whirled his horse around, almost knocking the scout over. Zhou Yu looked at the scout wildly. "How did they reach it without going through our units?"
"My lord, they used the ships and sailed straight for the camp!"
"Gan Ning and Ling Tong weren't able to reach the ships in time?" Zhou Yu demanded and the scout answered. "Lord Gan Ning was injured gravely and seeing that, Lord Ling Tong suddenly went out of control and blindly attacked the enemy out of pure rage."
"The fool! Lady Shang Xiang and Lord Sun Quan?"
"They're trying to help Lord Gan Ning withdraw from the field while providing support for Lord Ling Tong."
"Zhou Tai?"
"Taking over the area Lady Sun Shang Xiang and Lord Sun Quan left."
This was bad. Zhou Yu grimly thought. Lu Xun and Lu Meng were left in the castle while Huang Gai and Taishi Ci went on a reconnaissance mission. "Alright, have your unit cover us, we have no choice but defend the main camp!" he turned and started to charge through the enemies, swinging his sword, cutting down those who were trying to remove him from his horse. Although it was slim, he hoped the main camp hasn't fallen yet.
"Fall back! Back to main camp! Ai is in trouble--" Ce was instantly surrounded by soldiers, outflanking him in every direction.
He gritted his teeth. Damn! Just you wait Ai… he started to grasp for his musou, ready to release his pent up rage. "I'm coming."
"Princess, stay inside." Lan pushed her inside a tent while some of the soldiers stayed behind to protect her.
"But the men—they need to see me so they'll know everything's alright!"
"You'll frighten them more if you make yourself an easy target for the enemy!"
"But—"
"No buts!"
Screams were suddenly heard nearby and Lan turned in time to see Cai Mao and his unit race through the main camp.
Lan gritted her teeth and went inside the tent. "Okay princess, time to go." She grabbed Ai's hand and ripped the back of the tent open. "The enemies are here. It's over."
"But they're still fighting Lan—"
"You don't get it, do you?" Lan spat. "If they enemy gets you, it's over. All over. They'll hold you for ransom in exchange for the kingdom of Wu. In the end, you're just the princess, nothing but a liability!"
Lan saw the hurt in Ai's eyes yet she kept quiet. Hurting the princess had the desired effect. She'll be docile for a while; giving them time to escape without resistance from her. Apologies later; right now, Ai's safety is in her hands.
She dashed frantically through the grounds, pulling the princess along and desperately tried to stay away from sight. She knew how to fight, yet like the princess, she was still in training. She wouldn't last five heartbeats in the battle field. Behind them, hooves thundered and closed in upon them. Their escape was cut short by none other than Cai Mao, who grinned at them triumphantly.
Lan instinctively covered Ai from his gaze, and the officer sneered at the futile effort. "This is my lucky day. The princess of Wu falls into my waiting arms."
Ai looked at him boldly. Lan was right about one thing: if they get hold of her, they'll hold her ransom for the kingdom. But she was partly wrong…
I would never be a liability. I won't allow it!
Some part of her was burning to give her all for the kingdom and all she held dear. She will not pull them down. She'll never allow herself to be the reason for them to abandon their dreams. Ai held her head up high, challenging him and trying to let her anger at Lan stop her knees from shaking.
"Fall with you catching me? No thanks. I'd rather drop dead than be held prisoner by you." She looked at him coolly, trying to imitate her Uncle Yu whenever he deals with an annoying soldier. "Your luck ran out the moment you attacked my main camp."
Cai Mao glared at her and made a move towards her, riding on his steed. Lan instantly put herself between the two and received a blow to the face, sending her flying on the ground.
"Lan!" Ai glanced at her maid/bodyguard, yet Cai Mao held and lifted her by the collar.
"Naughty princesses need to be punished and taught respect." He whispered in her face, her feet inches away from the ground.
Ai gasped at the raw pain. "You're…far from respectable!"
Her head suddenly snapped sideways as Cai Mao hit her. Tears stung her eyes yet she refused to cry. No weaknesses! Don't show it!
Chaos suddenly descended on the main camp and Cai Mao turned in time to find himself flying in midair, taking the princess with him to the ground. An enraged Sun Ce stood over him.
"DO NOT LAY A FINGER ON AI!"
"Daddy" Ai gasped as she tried to stand and get as far away from Cai Mao as possible
Lan suddenly came out of nowhere and pulled the princess to her feet while Sun Ce started to hit Cai Mao relentlessly.
Zhou Yu followed with his own unit and in a matter of moments, the main camp was cleared of enemy soldiers.
Ai sat in the carriage dejectedly, with twenty soldiers acting as her escort as she made her way home in the dead of night. Lan sat opposite of her, arms folded.
"You did great back there princess."
Seeing as her charge was still silent, Xu Lan shrugged and continued. "Lord Zhou Yu even paid you compliments. He said that if it weren't for your efforts, the main camp would've been lost. Raising the soldiers' morale helped a great deal. It stalled for more time"
"But…in the end, it didn't help much" Ai whispered. "I still wasn't strong enough to protect the camp. If it weren't for my father…"
"My lady." Lan firmly interrupted. "You are still a child. Against a seasoned fighter, there was nothing you could've done. Your father was wise in sending you home post haste"
Ai looked at Lan. "That's not true. I may be small but I know there is something I can do."
"You have to get stronger first" she eyed the princess. "I'm sorry my lady, but it's true. You'll always be weaker just because you're a woman. If you're not strong enough to protect yourself, do you honestly think you can protect someone else?" Lan fisted her fists. She closed her eyes at the unwanted memories. She felt a hand settle on hers comfortingly and she instantly knew that it was her kindhearted princess. She opened her eyes and saw Ai's innocent and gentle ones. Eyes that never saw the horrors of the world…untainted. Ones that never saw darkness nor experienced pain. She prayed to the gods that the world wouldn't eat Ai alive.
"I know it hurts Lan." She smiled at the girl, "but there are strong women out there. Ones that aim to protect."
"Yeah" Lan smiled bitterly. "Protect by getting married to a powerful man. Throw your heart away and surrender to power. That's what we are anyway, that's what we're good at. In the end, we're just puppets whose strings need to be tied to the right puppeteer."
"That's not true" Ai shook her head. "My Aunt Shang Xiang swore that no man will own her for power nor alliance. She will marry for it will be her will to marry and she's one of the most powerful women in the country. See? Not all women need to get married just to gain power."
Before Lan could point out how naïve she was, an arrow suddenly pierced Ai's side of the window, the blade stuck in the wood, missing her face by inches. Before Ai could react, Xu Lan pulled her down to the floor and placed her body protectively over the princess.
Great. "An ambush!" Lan hissed.
Ai swallowed audibly. "How? Father made sure that my departure be kept be? Spies?"
Shouts were heard outside while Lan momentarily racked her brain for a way to survive. Ai whispered calmly "Lan, we're sitting ducks here. The attackers know that we're inside the carriage. We need to get out before they pounce on us."
The princess was right. Lan kicked the other door open and jumped outside; she looked around and saw that they were in the middle of a forest and hills. She helped Ai down and crouched low, signaling the soldiers to follow them. A rain of arrows showered on them; some of the soldiers were wounded and most were killed. Lan dashed in the safety of the trees made sure Ai didn't look back to see the carnage.
"Run princess, run! Don't look back!" she whispered to Ai breathlessly, valiantly trying to protect her from the cruel reality of the world. Eight soldiers who survived the attack ran behind them, stumbling through shrubs, overgrown roots and vines. She heard hooves in the dark and knew that they were being chased. Four enemies on horseback appeared out of the shadows. The soldiers turned and intercepted them. Lan hid Ai behind a tree and waited until the sounds of battle died. No point going into the forest alone. For two girls, children at that, it would be suicide. After a swift skirmish, only four of the soldiers remained and one horse remained standing. One of them pulled the steed towards the girls. He was a few years older, very young and full of life. "Escape, please."
The sound of distant hooves suddenly echoed into the night, threatening their safety once again. Ai shook her head, "I'm not going to leave you and the guys!"
"Princess—"
"And besides" Ai argued. "if I take the horse, I'll be open once I leave the forest and they'll catch me in no time."
She had a point, Lan thought grimly. She looked at Ai and felt her heart sink. She failed…they were going to get the princess….Wait.
"Princess, shed your robe."
"Lan…?"
"Just give me your robe."
Understanding dawned in Ai's eyes and she violently shook her head. "No Lan, you can't! It's too dangerous!"
"It's the only way."
"I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me!"
Lan closed her eyes and swallowed her panic as she heard the hooves and shouts come closer. "Princess…"
"Look" Ai tried to dictate as calmly as she could, valiantly trying to keep her tears from falling. "We may have a shot at surviving this. You hide with the soldiers. I draw them out of here and hide on the way; I won't outrun them but I'll try to outwit them. I'll hide somewhere until they pass"
"No. You can't handle it." Lan countered. "Your body can't handle a long, stressful, rough ride but I can. You'll collapse before you can even hide from them. I'll be the bait"
Ai started to protest yet Ai silenced her. "I promise…I'll return to you alive."
The princess looked at her and wordlessly took off her red and gold satin robe, leaving wearing a plain, white cheongsam. Lan slipped the satin robe on and climbed on the horse. Ai held the horse's reigns, worried. "I'll hate you if you don't come back."
Lan tried to plaster the smile on her face but couldn't. "Good luck, princess." She forced the horse into a gallop and raced deeper into the plains, making as much noise as possible. The soldiers pulled Ai and forced her to crawl inside the roots of a tree, submerged in the earth and hidden from view. The only way out was through the way she came: squeezed through the roots. She belatedly realized that the roots were too small for the soldiers to squeeze into and there was only room for one person.
"No, wait!" she grabbed the young soldier's hand. He just smiled at her. "What are you guys doing? Hide!"
"No" came the simple response which almost floored Ai. "If ever they do not fall for Lady Xu Lan's bait, we'll distract them from you and lead them to a wild goose chase. Once the coast is clear, return to Wu."
"D-Don't die for my sake."
"It's our duty, Princess Sun Ai."
She swallowed, her eyes glistening. "Don't call me that…."
He smiled at her warmly, his eyes bright. "Lady Ai…you were a true inspiration back then. You have to live to carry on our dreams."
She shook her head. "I don't want to be the cause of your deaths! Please have mercy and hide now! That's an order!" she screeched.
"The first priority is your safety princess." He solemnly answered. "We are ready to die for you; lay down our lives in order to protect you. You have to live"
She voice croaked, a frightened child. "W-Why…?"
"Princess" he soothed, "you are one of Wu's treasures. You will grow up and continue the fight the Falling Star and the Little Conqueror has started. Our dream for our kingdom will live in you"
"B-Because I am a princess….?" She trembled.
Before he could answer, one the men shouted. The soldier stood up and drew his sword, blocking the between hole from view. Through the roots, Ai saw the soldiers that comprised her personal guard slaughtered and hacked to pieces by a group that outnumbered them. Shouts and screams of agony echoed through the forest. Ai heard someone scream and realized that it was her. She quickly covered her mouth and swallowed her cries, yet she couldn't turn her eyes away from the massacre. They all fought bravely. No one ran. The soldier stayed in place. He was the last one. He swung his sword and wounded a few, yet one of them disarmed him and slit his throat. He fell on the ground, his face in the hole, blocking the entrance to Ai from view. The princess desperately covered her mouth to muffle her cries and screams, her eyes wide with shock and horror. The soldier was dead, yet he was still looking at her. His blank, lifeless eyes were staring at her while his blood dripped in the hole, flooding the ground and staining the white cheongsam that she was wearing. Hot tears scalded her cheeks, but that was nothing compared to the terror that she felt.
She almost screamed when the dead soldier moved, yet she realized that the enemy was kicking the body, to check if he was gone.
"We got them all" one of the men announced, his voice gruff.
"The princess isn't here. Cavalry's right, she's the one who bolted on that horse and left her men behind."
Ai wanted to scream. I didn't leave them! I'm here, I'm here…I watched them die…I'm here. Yet she kept her hand on her mouth. She looked at the ground and kept her body from trembling as she saw crimson on the ground.
"Let's head back. We're finished here." She heard the men mount their horses and galloped away. She waited for sometime, refusing to cry out or make a sound, terrified that the men might see her. She looked at the face of the man in front of her, eyes still staring. She started sobbing silently. Lan….please live
Xu Lan felt her head ache as she regained consciousness. She blinked her eyes a couple of times and saw a bloody whip, a club, and some other instruments she didn't want to name. She felt her arms sting as she tried to stretch. Confused, she looked at them and saw that they were bound to the wall. Memories suddenly came rushing back. They had caught her; but instead of killing her, they brought her to their camp and tried to torture information out of her. Where was the princess?
She spat in their faces and received a good beating. Hour after hour, she'd pass out from the pain yet they'd woke her with a freezing bucket of water. Submitting an 11 year old to torture…how desperate are they?
Lan hung her head and prayed. Please…let them kill me.
Screams suddenly erupted outside the tent, and Lan had to fight the urge to close her eyes. What's happening…?
The guard outside her tent gave a battle cry then abruptly went silent. A tall figure entered, his presence filling the room. She looked at him and had to blink her eyes not once but five times.
"Lord…Zhou Tai."
Ai had been silent and deathly pale, her eyes blank from shock. Da held her daughter tight, fighting the urge to cry while Ce watched her, his face strained and full of sorrow.
They had found Ai three days after they rescued Xu Lan from Huang Zu's main camp. From the scout's reports, a civilian saw the princess' horse fall from the pursuers' arrows. It was at a distance and she was wearing the royal robes worn by the Sun Family so he hurriedly reported it to the Wu army. Thinking that Ai had been caught, Ce and Yu wasted no time in their efforts to recover her. Sun Ce showed an incredible amount of rage and tore through the enemy camp like a demon possessed. Zhou Yu used the opportunity to launch a sneak attack using the cover of the night to ambush the camp. Since they became lax due to the princess' capture and never expected another attack so soon, it was easy. The rest of the Wu officers screamed for blood. Yet they found a tortured Xu Lan and no trace of Ai. Xu Lan was in a coma for three days and by then, hope was dying. They couldn't find a trace of the princess. Luckily, a farmer used the forest as a shortcut one time and found the bloody scene. Although blood was splattered everywhere, there were four mounds of earth, each of them a pyramid of stones on top of them. There, on the ground, arranging the stones on top of the fourth mound was a girl with long black hair with a reddish sheen, her hands bloody and wore a white cheongsam splattered with blood. She turned to him, her eyes blank and almost white around the edges, her face splattered with blood. Thinking it was a vengeful spirit, he ran as far away as possible and told the local villagers. The news of the girl in the bloody cheongsam reached Wu's gates and at that time, they were desperate for anything, even rumors. Sun Ce himself went to confirm the rumor, on the verge of a breakdown and wanted to do something. Lu Xun and Zhou Yu came along, to keep him in check just in case.
They rode to the forest, and saw the mounds. As if possessing a sixth sense, Ce's blood roared to life and ordered all his men to spread out and search. They found her at dusk. She was wandering the forest, flowers in her hand, the blood on her cheongsam dried, the blood on her skin coagulated. She didn't seem to notice and continued to walk, oblivious to everyone.
The physician informed them that she has not eaten in days and was still in shock. As soon as she recognized them again, she asked how Lan was. When she saw Xu Lan in coma and almost beaten to death, she fell to her knees and finally broke down.
"I…I watched them die…I didn't even cry out to save them…if I let myself be captured, they wouldn't have…But I couldn't…I couldnr't…it was my fault…my fault…I was…so weak….A coward…I never meant to run away…but I did" She cried uncontrollably and in the midst of her ranting, accidentally told them of her experience in the forest. Da Qiao held her daughter tight while Xiao Qiao just cried. Sun Ce almost destroyed a balcony; luckily Yu and Quan held him back.
"Staring at the dead for three days…THREE DAYS! WHY HADN'T I BEEN THERE SOONER?" he screamed.
Gan Ning quietly cursed and Ling Tong bowed his head in shame. Huang Gai had hit Ce to bring some sense into him while Taishi Ci apologized repeatedly. Only Lu Xun and Zhou Tai were quiet.
Shang Xiang made her decision then. Walking down the hallway to meet her future husband, Shang Xiang stopped as she heard her niece call out to her.
"Aunt Shang Xiang…" Ai had called, using the wall as support. Shang Xiang rushed to her and help her up. "You're still weak…you should stay in bed."
"Is it true?" Ai weakly demanded.
Shang Xiang looked at Ai and smiled. "Yes…Yes it is."
Ai shook her head violently. "N-No…what about your dream to marry for love?"
"I'm afraid…that can't happen."
"Why? Are you giving up on your dreams? Your heart?"
Shang Xiang shook her head. "No…it's just that, my heart has taken upon a new dream. And that is to protect all those who are important. For the sake of honor. Victory."
"You don't have to…"
"Our forces are weak Ai. We need to ally. To secure a permanent alliance with Shu, this has to happen."
"But why Shu…?"
Shang Xiang smiled bitterly. "Wei has taken away something irreplaceable. I will never forgive them unless that man is dead."
"Man…?"
Her aunt turned to her and smiled encouragingly. "This is my duty, Ai."
Sun Ai closed her eyes in pain. "It's…because of me, isn't it? You're doing this…to protect me…" tears streamed down her face. "So that what happened to me…will never happen to anyone else."
"We love you Ai."
Tears were sliding down her cheeks; she was wiping them with knuckles to stop them. "Please…Don't give up your dreams for me….please…."
Shang Xiang wiped them for her and kissed her forehead. "I have to go…I can't keep Liu Bei waiting." She stood up and gave Ai a teary smile. "Reach out for your dreams Ai, no matter how deep the night. Be a shooting star, dispelling the darkness." She turned her back to Ai and walked resolutely down the hall, the pain of the decision she made slowly crushing her heart.
Princess Sun Ai's tears were flowing, sobs racking her fragile body. "I'm sorry…Aunt Shang Xiang…I'm sorry…"
The soldier's smiling face…Xu Lan's wounds and coma….Aunt Shang Xiang giving up on her dreams
It's my fault
Sun Ai looked from her reverie, into the eyes of her father. "Daddy…?
Ce cleared his throat. "Yeah Ai?"
"Why does everyone have to give up something for me?"
Sun Ce's eyes widened at the question. She continued "Their dreams, their freedom, their life…Why? Why does it have to be me…? Is it because I'm a princess? If yes…If yes I don't want to be a princess anymore. There is nothing worse than watch a person being stripped away of everything he had because of you"
Her voice was hollow, filled with utter despair and it hurt Ce more than anything. He said nothing for a while, yet stood up and picked a necklace from the dresser beside Ai's bed. It was her lucky amulet. She had been wearing it when she was attacked. He placed amulet around her neck and stared at the rabbit that was engraved on the wood, oblivious to his surroundings. "There was this woman…she asked the very same things. She thought she was weak, cowardly, stupid and dirty. She kept asking the heavens 'why me?'. But she found the answer within her. In truth, she was so strong; she kicked the butts of whoever messed with her. She was so wise; friends and enemies alike respected her. She was so virtuous…the people fell in love with her." He smiled at his daughter and ruffled her hair. "She never saw these things inside her but other people did. And when she did see them, no one could stop her. She was just 15 but she charged through battlefields, leading soldiers and generals, giving them strength and inspiration. She gave them courage and took courage from them. From the people she loved. She was never selfish. Even if the people she cared for became cruel to her, she still loved them dearly. And she is now known as the Legendary Falling Star."
"You and Soi…are have a lot in common Ai." He looked at her sincerely. "Even if life dealt her the toughest blow, she came out strong. She came out alive. You did too. You're just eight but heck…you're pretty tough."
Ai smiled sadly. "But not tough enough"
"See? You are so alike" he laughed. "She was so hard on herself as well. And you give heart to people…make them want to live badly. Inspiration or whatever, you and Soi are about the only under aged girls I know who could rally seasoned fighters. You have enough heart to go around"
She looked down at her hands. "How did…Lady Xiu Soi find the answer within her?"
"I think…it was because of a motto she lived by.
Ai looked up and Ce smiled at the memory. "'We close our eyes when we dream because the most beautiful things cannot be seen by eyes alone. We close them because they often deceive us. When in doubt, block all senses except the one that matters most.'"
"It's beautiful…" Ai whispered and looked back at her hands. Ce nodded. She closed her eyes and searched for what her heart what she truly wanted.
Ai knew the story; how the Lady Xiu Soi saved her father from certain death. Her exploits, deeds…She wanted that. She wanted to be like Lady Xiu Soi. She wanted to be strong enough to protect those who were important to her. The blood on her hands will never be erased but…
"I'll be strong" she whispered, "so strong that no one will have to get hurt because of me."
Author's notes: that my friends, is Sun Ai's childhood. Next chapter, she'll be a teenager and around oh, I don't know, 15? . Story proper will be starting next chapter. Thanks so much for the reviews! Please keep them coming. A little gory, ain't it? Just tell me when I'm crossing the line. Oh yeah, I am so running out of ideas and you're free to IM me on Yahoo! Messenger. My exclusive ID STRICTLY for story discussions is dream (underscore in the middle) alchemist. You're welcome to add me as long as you understand that it is STRICTLY fic related. I really want to speak to you guys (smiles at the reviewers and readers). I really need inspiration BAD