Under the Little Dragon

Disclaimer: Hey! Soz for the wait! I'm gonna put chapter 3 up now so hope you enjoy. And before you ask, I don't own Dynasty Warriors. Yes, I own Qian Xing, no I don't own DW. And also, the poem is by Ron Carnell and it's called Winter Roads (although I have adjusted a few words). So I don't own that either!!! (I'm going to use someone Dynasty Warriors 4 speeches in this chapter but don't worry Koei, they're all yours!)

I cannot speak for all who stem,
'Long roads less traveled as their way,
Nor question choices made by them,
In days long past or nights long dim,
By words they spoke but did not say.

I jumped in the air and let my opponent run under me. I landed and slashed him in the back with my spear. He groaned and fell to the floor, sword flying out of his hand.

"I win" I smiled at the "audience". Liu Bei clapped and I bowed, feeling great. He had asked me to show him my skills and I had; in tenfold.

"Well done, Qian Xing!" Liu Bei told me with a smile. "You did well. I can see why you're Lady Sun's favorite bodyguard!" I shrugged, not keen to boast too much. That sort of thing wasn't really accepted here in Shu. I knew that they were planning a battle soon against Dong Zhuo. I was excited at the prospect of doing the thing I loved most, fighting. But one thing was worrying me slightly. I decided to voice it to my new Lord.

"My lord, in the upcoming battle will I continue working for Lady Shang Xiang?" I asked.

"Of course" the reply came straight away. "As you know, we have a battle planned at Si Shui Gate. You will be fighting with Lady Sun then".

I nodded, happy that I'd still get to fight for Shang Xiang. It seemed as if Shu wasn't too bad after all. We had been here for five days already and apart from a few lewd jokes from some "funny" individuals, I was having a good time. Liu Bei treated us well and we always received what we required. So far, I had made friends with Guan Yu, but was staying away from Zhang Fei after he had called me "sexy" on our first day. That sort of thing usually freaked me out. It especially scared me when it's said by someone old enough to be my father! Since our first day, I had gotten back to normal and wore comfortable bodyguard clothes and no make up. I felt much happier like that.

Suddenly, the door opened and Shang Xiang burst in, still panting from running such a distance to get here. When she saw Bei, she bowed quickly. He bowed back.

"Morning Lady Sun" he smiled at her. Shang Xiang pressed a tight smile onto her face.

"Good morning, Lord Liu Bei. How did was your evening?" I could see that she didn't really care but she didn't want to appear too rude after only being here for a few days.

"My evening was quite pleasant, thank you". "And your own?"

"Fine. Thanks" Liu Bei nodded and made his way to the large barn door.

"I'll leave you girls to it then, shall I?"

I grinned. "Thank you, Lord Liu Bei. See you soon"

Shang Xiang rolled her eyes at the now closing door. I laughed at her expression. It wasn't really that funny, to be honest, but I hadn't laughed properly for a while.

"So, how are things going with lover boy?" I asked her, grinning cheekily. Shang gave a little scream and pretended to strangle herself.

"Not so good, then?" I laughed.

"Fucking awful, actually" Shang put me straight, pushing her short, brown hair behind her ears. "It is always so bloody formal with him!" she cleared her throat before continuing in a deeper voice that I assumed was meant to be Liu Bei's. "Good morning, Lady Sun. How are you Lady Sun? Would you like anything, Lady Sun?"

"He's just being polite. You'll grow into each other" I smiled, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly. Shang looked at me with sad eyes.

"You're too young to understand, Xing". I immediately took my hand away and sulked. Why did everyone always think that I was too young to have proper feelings? Shang noticed my angry glares and laughed softly.

"Don't worry Xing" she told me. "You'll wish one day that you could have stayed naive forever"

"What? Just like you are with your father?" I asked her spitefully. I could see Shang bristling slightly as my words hit her.

"Look, Shang. I'm sorry about that" I sighed. Shang took a while to answer.

"It's okay" she said finally. "I have to remember that you are as unhappy about these godforsaken arrangements as I am!"

I walked over to the corner of the barn where she had left her chakrams after she had entered. I picked them up and tossed them to her. She caught them both neatly with one hand.

"So. Are you ready to challenge me to yet another rematch?" I asked her audaciously. "Or as you as weak as your brother Qu.."

"You're on!" Shang interrupted me, getting into her fighting stance.


I sighed as I took my ear away from the barn. It seemed like Shang Xiang really wasn't happy with the marriage arrangements at all. Everyone always commented that I was too polite. And now, it seemed that even my fiancée thought that. I could tell that she wasn't exactly screaming with happiness over getting married to me but didn't she want to help her father? As I walked along the courtyard and back to the castle, I was stopped by my sworn brother, Zhang Fei.

"Hey bro. How's it going?" he asked me, toppling over a little. Great. He was drunk again.

"Oh, I'm okay" I lied to him. What would be the point in telling all my sorrows to a mad, drunk man like Fei anyway? He peered at me before breaking the silence with a loud belch that reeked of Musou Wine.

"Ye...yeah right" he managed to stutter out. "I know that look on your face from anywhere. You're upset 'bout a girl, aren't you!"I sighed, defeated.

"Yes, you're right" I told him.

"It's that Sun girl, isn't it?" he asked me, scratching under his armpits absent-mindedly. I swear, the man was a monkey in a previous life...

"Yeah. Sun Shang Xiang. It seems like the Wu princess isn't too happy with the marriage arrangements..." Fei started laughing. "What's so amusing?" I asked him.

"Well Xuande, give the girl a break! She has just left the arms of her precious, overprotective daddy to come marry a man she doesn't even know. Against her will..." I nodded. He was right and I knew that. But I did at least want Shang to be slightly happy about the arrangement.

"I know. It has to grow on her. But I did so want her to be happy!" I groaned. This wasn't turning out to be how I'd wanted it. I had always dreamed that my newest wife would come to me with open arms.

"Listen, Xuande just give her some time" Fei advised. "Let her get used to the ways of Shu. Maybe, after we rip Hua Xiong's insides from his pitiful little body, you can try and seduce the prissy princess" I nodded, knowing that what he spoke was true. It would be wrong of me to rush Shang Xiang only a few days after she had arrived. I should give her some time to show off on the battlefield before welcoming her into my clutches. Intimately.

"Fine, you're right. I'll show her my skills on the battlefield first" I cracked a smile. Maybe Fei did have his uses after all.


"So, Fei and I will go East, clearing the path of any enemy generals. Yu will go North, towards the gates and most importantly, Hua Xiong. They say that the barbarian is a filthy fighter but I am sure that he is enough for you to deal with". Guan Yu nodded at his brother's comments. He was just itching to show that Hua Xiong the true meaning of a "dirty fighter".

"Lady Sun and her unit will travel west" Bei continued, lifting his gaze off the map to give us both a little smile. "Your father's supplies are running low, Lady Sun, and I would like you to attack the enemy supply base and get him some fresh ones". Shang Xiang hesitated before nodding. She was sensible enough to know that there would be no point in arguing with the boss.

"Zhao Yun and his unit will go South and find a road for us to go through if anything else fails" Zhao Yun nodded, fisting his hand into the other in a sign of obligation. I sneaked a peek at Shang Xiang. Was it me or did she just sigh lustily when Zhao Yun did that?

"So do you all understand your plans for the upcoming battle?" Liu Bei asked. Everyone either nodded or muttered "yes". Liu Bei smiled, satsified with his small army. "Don't worry everyone. Tomorrow, we will make Hua Xiong pay!"


I sighed thoughtfully as I trotted Lunar, my mare, in the direction I was supposed to travel in. Xing was near me, attacking any enemies that dared stand in our way. She ran alongside me when she heard my sigh.

"What's wrong Shang?" she panted, stabbing a Guard Captain in the chest with her spear and making him squeal in pain.

"I... I just don't feel the need to help my father find food" I told her truthfully. "And I know you'll think I'm a bitch for that, but I still can't forgive him for bringing us here". Xing didn't say anything for a while, and it looked like she was contemplating what I had just told her.

"I know that you loathe your father at the moment" she finally spoke, jumping in the air and landing on a privates head. I winced as I heard the loud crack of his neck breaking. "But he is not the only one who needs food. Just think about the rest of Wu. They are all depending on our help". I nodded, taking in what she was saying. She was right. I would go and get the supplies but I would do it for the team, not just for father. I pushed Lunar into a canter and began to break away from Xing.

"Where are you going so fast?" I heard her call after me.

"To rescue our former team. It's the least I can do!"

"But what about me?"

"I'll meet you there. Don't worry, I'll clear the path of enemies so that you can get through safely!" I kicked Lunar into a gallop and rode towards the supply depot. Don't worry Wu. I'm coming!


I made my way through hoards of enemies. They appeared to be thinning out though as I wielded my Blue Moon Dragon at them. They called this a challenge? Then, all of a sudden, an enemy general rode up to me. He slashed his cheap-looking spear through the cold air, making my unit jump back abruptly.

"Do you wish to fight me, Li Jue?" he asked me.

"If you want your life to end here, then come forth!" I shouted back. I took the defensive position and let him attack first. He sliced his "spear" at me but I easily blocked it. He hadn't been expecting that and fell back, dazed. Taking the opportunity, I walked past, slicing his head off with my weapon easily as I moved on.


Lunar and I rode past what seemed to be an endless wall of large boulders. When was I going to find the supply depot? I looked behind me as we moved but Xing hadn't caught up with us yet. Well, it would be hard to on foot. Finally, we reached a gate. A supply captain stood at the closed entrance, holding a small sword and looking inexperienced. This would be fun. I slowed Lunar to a trot and made my way closer to the timid-looking man.

"Let me through these gates. I have a need for your supplies" I told him, throwing one Lunar Chakram in the air and catching it neatly. Man I was good!

"N.. no" he stuttered, trying to get into an offensive stance. "You will only get through these gates over my dead body!" I smiled inwardly. It was sort of sweet how heroic he was trying to be.

"Over your dead body? Gladly! I'll be through these gates in ten seconds then!" and with that said, I charged. Don't worry Wu, your supplies are coming!


I ran along the road, looking around me as I went. I could see large boulder walls along both sides. Damn! I couldn't see anything through them. I knew that Shang Xiang had gone this way so I carried on. Finally, the open supply gate was in my sights. If it was open, then Shang Xiang had obviously succeeded in her task. I went through the gate. Shang Xiang was around 100 metres away from me, sitting quietly on Lunar.

"Shang Xiang!" I panted. She looked around and waved when she caught sight of me.

"I've captured the supplies" she grinned proudly at me. I smiled back, trying not to look as tired as I felt.

"Well done. Have you heard anything from Wu yet?"

Her face darkened. "No. My goddamn father hasn't even sent someone to thank me!"

"Don't worry he will" I reassured her. Shang Xiang shrugged but decided to say nothing.

"Oh, and by the way Shang Xiang" I mock-frowned at her. She looked at me, a confused expression on her face.

"Yes, Xing?"

"These hills are frikkin' killing me. For the next battle, I need a horse!"


I slashed my Blue Dragon around blindly, not caring who I hit as long as it was an enemy. The fog was in my face, and I could barely see anything. I narrowed my eyes in an attempt to see further.

"Master Guan Yu!" one of my private's called. "We are at Si Shui Gate! But it is firmly closed. You'll need to find a way to get Hua Xiong out!" I smiled as I made my way up the drawbridge. My private was correct, the gates were tightly shut. The cowardly Hua Xiong was obviously much happier inside. I thought of ways that I could lure him out. Suddenly, an idea came into my head. Taunting!

"Hey, Hua Xiong!" I shouted. There was silence. "Stop taking it up the ass from Niu Fu and come and fight me like a man!" I waited a bit. Soon enough, the gates creaked open and a very angry Hua Xiong stormed out. He looked me up and down.

"Y... you bearded bastard! My name's Hua Xiong, you wanna take me on?"

"Well as long as you mean that in a fighting sense. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm attracted to women, not men" He gave me a venomous stare. If looks could kill, I would already be dead and buried.

"Grr! You will pay!" he screamed.


I looked up as one of my messengers ran up to me.

"Lord Sun Jian" he said. "We have received replies. They are currently on their way". My eyes widened in shock. I'd truly thought that we would be stuck here. Who was this person who had saved mine and my unit's life?

"Where is the great man? I should like to thank him" I smiled. The messenger laughed a little.

"But, my lord, your rescuer is not a man. In fact, it is your daughter, Lady Sun Shang Xiang!"

"!"


"We had better get going. Lord Liu Bei will be wondering where we are". Xing sighed a little.

"Do we have to go now? I'm tired!" she whined. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Fine. Come later. But I'm leaving now" I kicked Lunar away as we galloped out of the supply gates. I wasn't really going to go to Liu Bei. He had Zhang Fei so I figured he would be fine fighting the enemy. But there was one person I'd like to help. I altered Lunar's course so that we were travelling south.


"L... LORD LI... LIU BEI, L...LU BU IS HERE!" one of my soldiers screamed. I sighed heavily. Lu Bu? This was all we needed. Word had it that the pikeman was a crazy fighter. I'd also heard that he had killed his first adopted father for a horse, so he obviously had no morals.

"Where is he headed?" I asked the soldier.

"S...south. He is heading south!" I groaned. Oh gods. Zhao Yun was south, wasn't he? Even though The Little Dragon was a great warrior, I seriously doubted his skills against the "Mighty Lu Bu".

"Send reinforcements to aid Master Zhao Yun at once!" I told the soldier. He nodded and clumsily ran away, still shaking with fear. Zhang Fei, who had heard most of the conversation, rode up to me.

"Lu Bu, eh?" he asked with a sneer. I nodded gravely. Fei slapped me on the back in an attempt to cheer me up. It didn't work.

"No need to worry, Bei! He won't be able to get through us two!"

"It's not "us two" I'm worried about" I told him irritably. "It's Zhao Yun!"


I decided that I had been lazy enough, and so I began my journey to Liu Bei like Shang had told me she was heading. I felt guilty about leaving her to fend for herself. It was my duty to protect her and I had let her down. Sighing, I put the thought to the back of my mind. Shang Xiang was incredibly strong. As long as there were no sudden surprises, she would be fine.

"Gosh, I really need a horse!" I said aloud. My legs were aching from all this running. Suddenly, a small group of enemy soldiers came up to me. My eyes lit up when I saw that the Major was sitting on a little pack horse. In four attacks, I had killed all of them. Not letting the opportunity pass me by, I hopped into the saddle of the Major's mount. I knew that these horses were not of high quality and that they were slow but I didn't care. I kicked the horse into a gallop and rode off in the direction of Lord Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. Don't worry Shang Xiang, I'm coming!


I had ridden for what seemed like ages and had almost reached Zhao Yun. Only about a quarter of a mile to go. I pushed Lunar to go faster. She snorted a little in annoyance but did as she was asked. I could hardly see anything as the fog was really thick down here. It was also much colder. I felt goosebumps appearing on my bare arms as we rode through the wind. After a while, I heard Zhao Yun's battle cry. Thank god I was almost there! I couldn't see him but I knew that I was getting closer. Suddenly, Lunar screamed and reared. I clung onto the reins, just managing to keep myself in the saddle.

"What's wrong, girl?" I asked, rubbing her ears in a soothing manner. What had spooked her? Before I could think about it any further, something hard knocked me right out of the saddle. I flew through the air and banged my head on a boulder. Ouch! I tried to sit up but shooting pains were stopping me from moving. Tears ran down my face at the agony. My head hurt tremendously and I was starting to feel extremely dizzy. I struggled to open my eyes but I couldn't. Everything had gone black.