A/N: For those unfamiliar with the Dynasty Warriors/Romance of Three Kingdoms characters, I should probably clarify 'style names'. Style Names were more of a familar name for men of the period. They recieved these stylenames as the approached adulthood and then their given names became something more revered. It's a difficult concept to explain, but the best equivelent is a 'nickname'. It's a great deal more complicated than that, but since this is a video game and historically inaccurate anyhow...it will do. Zhao Yun's style name is "Zilong" and Ma Chao's "Mengqi". I'll try to keep a list going as more characters arrive, but I will try to stick with their given names to avoid confusion.


Test of Time

Chapter 4

Time Goes By


Fa Zhou hobbled his way towards the training grounds and paused to take it all in. A military man, he could not help but take a few moments to assess the young Captain's skill. He took his daughters word for it, he trusted her assessment, but now he was given the chance to see Li Shang's ability with his own eyes. Despite the urgency of his mission, he stood still and watched the militia as they practiced.

"Nothing like his father, is he?"

Fa Zhou turned to see the smiling face of an old comrade, General Fang. "I don't recall his father practicing without a shirt."

"Decided to see if he's worthy of your daughter?" The coy General asked, understanding the paternal scrutiny. "He's determined, on the borderline of being obsessed; however it will never make up for his lack of experience."

"I couldn't help but take advantage of the situation. He does command respect. " Zhou admitted and watched as the sweat drenched Captain dismissed his men only to turn around and stare at him in shock. "His accomplishments speak for themselves though."

"Something tells me that he's more terrified of you as an in-law than an esteemed warrior." Fang chuckled and swung himself into the saddle.

Shang marched forward, quickly grabbed his tunic and moved towards the visitors. Was Fa Zhou here to tell him time was up? Now that he was confident in his men, was it too late? "Honorable Fa Zhou, sir, I did not expect to see you…"

"I should be going" Fang saluted then nudged the horse towards the barrack gates. From there it was back to the palace to report the unit's progress to the Emperor.

Shang bowed his head slightly and began to show the way to his quarters which doubled as the barracks headquarters. "I'm sure you would like to sit down…"

"Captain Li" Fa Zhou sighed heavily. He honestly didn't know what to tell the young man. The women had returned home distraught and were sketchy on details. The bottom line was that Mulan had disappeared and there were no answers. Local authorities had only offered the most plausible explanation that she was kidnapped; however it seemed unlikely that Mulan, of all the women in China, could be abducted. There wasn't an explanation, just fact: Mulan was missing and a crippled old man couldn't do a thing about it.

Shang turned back to the old warrior and prepared himself for the worst. A torrent of emotions made his stomach lurch and head spin as he waited for the dreaded words to be spoken. You're just not good enough.

Xxxxxxx

A month passed much more quickly than Mulan wanted to admit. She missed her family and she worried about them, however it was all too easy for her to become comfortable with army life once more. What plagued her thoughts was that she convinced herself she could be a normal girl. A normal girl and a normal wife. Wasn't that what she wanted? Why was it that it felt so right to be here then?

Her eyes looked over the training field where Ma Chao was dueling with Zhao Yun. The two were an odd pair, but they seemed to be the closest of friends. Today the young lord was moody and violent, but Zhao Yun was an expert spearman and fended off the vicious attacks.

"It's the anniversary of the death of his father and brothers."

Mulan jumped, startled by the sudden appearance of Yue Ying. The woman warrior was the wife of the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang and Mulan was more than aware that whatever she said was repeated back to him. It was however comforting to have another woman, like herself, to talk to. "So he's taking it out on his best friend?"

"Men." Yue Ying shrugged and sat down beside her. "You look like you have problems of your own."

Mulan pulled her knee up to her chest and placed her head upon it. Maybe it would be best to confess her problems. She desperately missed Mushu, the guardian had become a true friend and confidant in the short time they had been together. "I feel so at ease here even though I shouldn't."

Yue Ying touched the young woman's shoulder and smiled. "You're not like everyone else, you're extraordinary. That is what my father used to tell me. I couldn't let everyone else's lack of accomplishments hinder my own."

"How do you do it? How do you balance wife and soldier?"

Yue Ying smiled sweetly. "I think it's all thanks to the man I married. He fell in love with me for what I was, not what I should have been. If I were to be a perfect wife, it would be like living with a stranger. We are partners."

Mulan remained quiet. What exactly would her life with Shang be like? If they were partners, then he would have allowed her to help him with his quest to become a general. Truth be told, she had a hard time imagining him ever allowing her to accompany him to battle. She understood now that this was as much a part of her than anything else.

"Ma Chao is quite enthralled with you. Perhaps you should talk to him; he might open up to you. I certainly don't think Zhao Yun can take much more of the pounding he's receiving." Yue Ying stood and smiled a goodbye. Her husband would be thrilled if there was anyone who could calm the dangerous young lord down. He tended to do a lot of damage to people and objects when he was in a foul mood, and Shu was not a very wealthy country.

Mulan sighed and remembered another time when she had tried to comfort a man who had lost his father to the enemy. Shang never talked about it again, instead he seemed content to dedicating his life to becoming his father's replacement. Why was she being so harsh? He wasn't even here to defend himself and she was picking apart his character. The answer scared her more than she wanted to admit; she barely knew the real Li Shang.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Shang did not react to what the old warrior told him. He couldn't, not in front of him or the men. His immediate thoughts were that Mulan ran-away, not wanting to return to her fiancé after she realized he was pathetic in comparison to the great Zhao Yun. He knew that was more of his own insecurities than reality. "How long ago was this?"

"It has been a month." Fa Zhou replied.

Shang nodded and turned to his second in command. "Tai, you are in command while I am gone."

The Lieutenant nodded and watched his captain disappear into his quarters, emerging soon after fully clad in armor and holding his helmet. The lieutenant figured the Captain was running off on an errand to the Imperial Palace; there was no other reason to get that dressed up. "Of course, sir."

As Shang emerged he nodded to Fa Zhou. "We can go to the palace. There I will secure a furlough to go search for her. The Emperor asks about her often and I know General Fang isn't just observing out of curiosity. If we inform him she is in danger, I don't see why he would deny me leave."

"This may jeopardize your promotion. Are you sure you want to do this?" Fa Zhou watched his offended reaction and was happy to see it. Ambition wasn't consuming him yet.

"Without a doubt, sir."