Jeremy came into the garden and cleared his throat to let her know he was there, she turned to see his smiling face but looked away in shame. Jeremy looked at her with concern and sat down next to her, he tried to think of what to say to make her feel better but then smiled as he thought if something.

"We have beautiful blossoms we have this year" Jeremy started. He then gestured to one that hasn't exactly bloomed yet and said catching Sam's attention, "But look this one's late"

"I'll bet that when it blooms, it'll be the most beautiful of all" Jeremy said as he grabbed the comb and pinned the side of her hair back.

Sam smiled and looked at Jeremy who then smiled back knowing he made her feel better.

"Don't worry so much about what happened today" Jeremy said.

His smile then dropped as they both heard the sound of drums coming from the town centre, it only played when it meant it had something to do with the emperor.

"Dad what is it?" Sam asked. Jeremy answered, "Something's happening with the emperor, we must go to the town centre"

Mr Lancer and two police ghosts came into the town, Jeremy opened the front gates of their home and walked to the centre of the town, Sam was about to follow when Pamela stopped her.

"Sam stay inside" Pamela said.

Grandma Manson cleared her throat and gestured for Sam to go to the fence to watch. Sam climbed up the fence and watched from behind the wall as Mr Lancer sat on his horse.

"Citizens of the town of Amity, I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City. The Huns have invaded China!" Mr Lancer announced.

All the people and ghosts gasped in fright and Lunch Lady hid her daughter behind her. Mr Lancer then announced, "By order of Emperor Frostbite one man or ghost from every family must serve in the Imperial Army"

He then pulled out a scroll and began reading the names, "The Zhao family"

A man from that family came forward and grabbed the scroll off the police ghost. Mr Lancer then read, "The Observant family"

An old Observant ghost was about to step forward when a younger looking one stopped him and grabbed his scroll while saying, "I will serve the Emperor in my father's place"

"The Manson family" Mr Lancer then read out.

"NO!" Sam shouted in a whisper and watched as Jeremy handed his cane to Pamela and walked forward limping towards them to collect his scroll.

Pamela looked down sadly as he stopped and bowed his head and then said, "I am ready to serve the Emperor"

The police ghost pulled out his scroll and handed was about to give it to him when he was stopped by Sam who exclaimed, "Dad you can't go!"

"Samantha!" Jeremy exclaimed as she stood in front of him. Sam then pleaded, "Please sir! My father has already fought for…"

She was cut off as Mr Lancer stepped in front of them and said with anger, "SILENCE! You will do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence"

"Samantha you dishonour me" Jeremy said not looking at her.

Sam was about to say something when Grandma Manson stopped her and pulled her away, Sam dropped her head and remained silent.

"Report tomorrow at the Ghost Zone camp" Mr Lancer ordered as he handed Jeremy his scroll.

"Yes sir" Jeremy said and then left back to his home limping the entire way, not even accepting his walking stick back off Pamela.

Later that night before dinner Sam watched from the doorway as Jeremy opened a closet to reveal his old army uniform. He then pulled out a sword from its sheath and began practicing some moves he learned from the last war he fought but stopped when his leg acted up and he yelped in pain. Sam cringed as she watched him use the pillar to stand up and breath heavily. She backed up and began to feel really scared knowing that when he leaves, he will not return alive from the war.

Dinner was being eaten in silence as Sam poured them all cups of tea, finally after minutes of silence she couldn't take it anymore and she slammed her cup onto the table.

"You shouldn't have to go! There are plenty of young men and ghost to fight for China" Sam said as she stood up in anger.

"It is an honour to protect my country and my family" Jeremy said trying to remain calm.

"So you'll die for honour?" Sam asked. Jeremy then stood up and said with anger, "I will die doing what's right!"

Sam was about to protest when Jeremy shouted, "I know my place! It's time you learned you yours!"

Sam's anger was replaced by sadness and she ran outside finally allowing the tears she had been holding in to fall freely. An hour later Sam sat by the dragon statue allowing the rain to pour on top of her, she got out of her foetal position and watched through the window of her parents' bedroom Jeremy saying his final goodnight to Pamela and then turning off the light for bed.

Sam then made a final decision, she couldn't allow her father to die and so she will go to war instead! She went to the temple and lit a stick and placed it on the small dragon, she then said her prayers to the ancestors and left the temple unaware that Cujo was watching her invisibly. She quietly went inside her parents' bedroom and took the scroll from their desk and placed her comb, she silently said goodbye to her family and then went into the other room, she pulled out a pair of scissors and her long black hair until it was shoulder length and then tied it up in a tight bun, she then went to the closet and pulled out her father's uniform and armour and put it all on making her look like a boy instead of a man.

She then grabbed her father's sword and attached the sheath to her uniform, she then went to the stable frightening Knight a bit but calmed him down letting him know it was her. She then placed all she would need on his saddle and walked him out in the rain, with one last look at her home knowing she might not see it again she jumped on Knight and then rode away.