Chapter 7
Si Shui Gate
"Why do they get to go and we have to stay here?" Shang huffed.
"Now Shang, a lot of us have been left out. This is a really important meeting, only the commanders and their immediate subordinates need to be there." Zhao Yun explained. He too was growing tired of waiting. They were taking so long to decide on an allied commander, he wondered what could be taking so much time.
"Shang what do you know of this Lu Bu guy?" Cal asked and stuck her tongue out at Yun who gave her an annoyed look.
"Lu Bu, THE Lu Bu? Oh Cal please don't go fight him, please! I haven't had a girlfriend in so long; I don't want to loose you."
"See?" Yun smirked.
"Just asking." Cal mumbled.
"Oh my father wanted me to ask you to look out for supplies. We're running low since we didn't make it all the way back home. So shout if you see something, huh?" Shang plopped down next to Yun, purposely a little too close.
"Sure. That sounds like a job for you Cal." Yun winked.
"You're the one who skipped out on the last battle, Lord Zhao. It sounds like a convenient excuse to miss out on this one too." She shot back.
Yun chuckled; he enjoyed the playful banter with the new girl. "I forgot. You are the headhunter aren't you?"
"Actually, I'm not overly sure how well this blade will decapitate." She unsheathed the rapier and looked at it, admiring the fine craftsmanship again. As she ran her eyes up and down the blade she saw something familiar ahead near the tent. It took a moment for her to refocus on the figure, and then she caught his angry eyes. Xiahou Dun had been watching them, and it was obvious the hurt of her betrayal had not worn off any.
"Who's that?" Shang asked.
"Xiahou Dun." Cal replied sadly.
"Oh. Maybe you should go talk to him. Yes?" She prodded.
Sheathing the weapon he had given her she turned away from his heated gaze. "No, I've already caused him enough trouble."
"I can, if you want." Shang offered. It bothered her to see her new friend upset.
"No, but thank you. I'm going to go see if Ares wants some water." With that she was gone.
"What was that about?" Yun asked curiously.
Shang poked at the ground with a stick. "He was her benefactor when she was over in Wei. They were friends and when she left, well it didn't sit too well with him."
"I can imagine." He shifted his attention back to Shang who was finding ways to rub up against him. She was beginning to remind him of a cat he used to have. "Maybe you should go help her find some new clothes, maybe something green?"
Shang's head pooped up. "Hey yeah! That is a good idea. Oh Zhao Yun you're so smart." She batted her eyelashes at him and took off running.
"Oh Zhao Yun you're so smart." Zhang Fei mimicked. "And so pretty, you look more girlish then I do! Oh marry me please!"
Yun threw a stick at him. "Go fetch."
-------"It is decided then?" Yun jumped up as Lui Bei and Guan Yu approached.
"Yes, Yuan Shao will be commander." Bei answered the questioning glances from Yun and Fei.
"That's the fertility helmet guy right?" Cal walked up to the boys, fidgeting with her sword belt. She noted the silence and looked up to see stunned stares. "What now?"
"That's just a very form fitting outfit." Guan Yu smiled appreciatively.
"You don't like it?" She asked. She had thought the tight green pants were a bit much, especially with her big roman birthing hips, but Shang assured her they looked great. She looked down at herself and noticed her cleavage. "Wow, this vest makes my boobs look huge!"
"I'll say." Sun Ce had materialized out of nowhere. "I saw those from all the way over there!"
"See Ce! I told you I made her look really good! You should introduce her to Lu Meng; he's still single isn't he?" Shang bounced up and down with excitement.
"Uhh…" Cal didn't like the turn that the conversation was taking. "I'm going to go get my horse. We're ready to leave right?"
"Oh good! Riding! That's a really good idea!" Sun Ce clapped.
Shang hit her brother on the back of his head. "You're already married remember? I didn't bring you over here to gawk."
"Yes you did!" Ce retaliated by picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder. "Well see you guys on the battlefield, try to keep up huh? Let's go sis, we need to help pops. We're the front lines today!"
"Bye! I'll see you after the battle! Take care everyone, you too Yun!" Shang waved as her brother carried her away.
"You too Yun. Oh my precious little doll face." Fei squeaked.
"I think Fei just volunteered to fight Lu Bu alone. Did anyone else just hear that?" Yun huffed.
"Should I change?" Cal asked bashfully, she wasn't used to men staring at her at all.
"No." Fei, Yun and Yu all said in unison.
"Lord Lui Bei?" she asked hesitantly.
"Uhh, no it's fine." He turned beet red when he realized he had just answered her question to her breasts.
"Hey, everyone thinks you're a whore anyway. You might as well look the part." Fei smiled.
Cal grinned, "Well if you want to bang Zhen Ji but don't have a chance or don't want to be spanked…I guess that leaves me."
"Wow, no one can trip you up can they?" Yun asked with a laugh. "Maybe we should send her up against Lu Bu, she can converse him into retreat."
"If I were you Zhao Yun, I'd watch yourself. You're dealing with the one person that can fill Sun Shang's head with very naughty little seduction ideas. You are treading on very thin ice my friend." Cal adjusted her vest. "I guess it's too late to change now. Are we going to fight or what?"
----------"Where are the supplies? I don't understand. Yuan Shu assured me he would find us supplies." Sun Jian watched Si Shui Gate nervously. The fighting was going on everywhere but here. They were camped here too long already, the water was gone and the men were beginning to get worried.
"I'll ride back to headquarters, I'll be quick!" Shang jumped at the chance to do something.
"Yes, that would be good." Jian nodded without taking his eyes off the gate.
"Don't get lost looking for Zhao Yun." Ce teased her.
After Shang left, Jian turned to his son and asked, "What was that about?"
"Oh she's just got a crush on a Shu officer that's all. I'm just happy she's not chasing after Zhou Yu at the moment." Ce answered.
Zhou Yu sighed gratefully, "As am I."
"We may need to look into finding her a husband." Jian sighed; he didn't want to let his baby girl go but….
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"Lord Lui Bei!" Guan Yu galloped up to the Shu leader. "The north gates are closed, we cannot advance any further here."
"Let us finish off these remaining men then move to reinforce Sun Jian."
"Are we moving?" Cal slid up on Ares and the excited colt reared and struck an enemy in the skull.
"We will have to swing back around towards the main gates." Lui Bei told her.
"I'll head that way then, to tell Sun Jian of our impending arrival. I hope he's got his supplies or it may be very empty when you get there." She spun around and took off at full gallop back towards the east.
The two bodyguards looked up at Lui Bei, exasperated. "Sir, she keeps running away!"
"Attach yourselves to my elite guards for the moment then. I'll discuss it with her later." Lui Bei looked to Guan Yu with a roll of his eyes. "I'm never going to train her to be a good officer."
"You're the patient one." Yu laughed and rode back into the massacre.
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"Cal!" Shang screamed as she saw the little grey colt approaching.
"Shang? What are you doing up here?" Cal brought Ares to a bouncing halt.
"Yuan Shu says he has no supplies to send us but that there is a supply depot out near Lui Bei's position. I'm heading that way to see if I can find it."
"Great. I'm heading for your position now to let your father know Lui Bei will be reinforcing him soon. I'll let him know you're on a supply quest." Cal saluted and rode off.
Shang smiled I've never been saluted before!
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"Lord Yuan Shao! Si Shui's gates have opened! Hua Xiong has struck out and has engaged Sun Jian's troops. Sir, without supplies the men are fading fast. Hua Xiong is heading this way." An aid from the Wu camp reported.
"Dammit! Can no one defeat Hua Xiong?" he hollered.
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"Ares I do believe we have been issued a challenge." Cal was up on his neck pressing him for a faster speed, which the colt was happy to deliver. As she swung around the corner she noticed the turning tide of the battle. Wu was not faring well, the men were famished and dehydrated, however the enemy was well rested and well fed. She swung Ares toward the most imposing figure she could see and prayed that it was Hua Xiong."You cannot defeat Hua Xiong!" He yelled full of adrenaline at the wavering Wu troops.
"Like hell I can't." Cal plowed through his men and leapt off Ares as she reached the enemy general.
"Is this what Yuan Shao sends to beat me? A little slave girl?" Hua Xiong dismounted slowly. "Very well then."
Cal whipped her rapier out and charged him, "I am no slave, you pig."
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"Lord Guan Yu!" Shang galloped up to him. "Have you seen a supply depot around here? Or maybe, some sort of entrance to this fortress on the other side of the ridge?"
"No my lady. I am sorry."
"Has Yuan Shu not delivered supplies to your father yet?" Lui Bei rode over.
"No, he swears he has none now! I must find a way into the depot!" She slashed at an enemy private with her chakram in frustration. "I cannot let my father down!"
"We have not seen anything, Lady Sun I am sorry." Lui Bei apologized but the girls eyes were drawn to a small barricade between the rocks.
"I will open the gates to the fortress, be ready." She saluted and jumped off her horse. She hit the ground running and leapt onto some crates. With one more jump she was over the wall.
"Well I'll be…" Guan Yu smiled.
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"Sir! Hua Xiong has been slain!" a private reported
Li Jue watched the gates nervously. "By whom?" Certainly men would be streaming through at any second.
"A woman…a Shu officer." The man bowed and headed back to the gates.
"You are about to be bested by a woman?" Zhang Liao laughed. "Won't General Lu Bu be pleased?"
"If you're so confident, you go lead the charge. If she beat Hua Xiong…." Li Jue shifted uncomfortably in the saddle.
"Fine, but don't expect to keep your head once Lu Bu finds out." Liao galloped off to battle.
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Shang ran through the small pass and suddenly burst into open space. She gasped as a small detachment of guards and two enemy generals turned to meet her. Quickly she raced over to the gate and slashed the defense captain's throat open. The gates began to open. She raised her chakram to block the simultaneous blows from the angered generals. Arrows were raining down around her and she saw the gates wide open, but no men entered through them. Suddenly with all of her energy she burst into a screaming striking attack. Both men were knocked off their horses and several guards were tossed out of the way. When she stopped she saw her crowd clearing effort was worth it. Shang focused on the man with the shiniest armor and attacked.
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"Zhang Liao is attacking! Sun Jian is about to retreat!" A man came flying down the pass screaming as he ran.
Lui Bei galloped around the corner, flying by his commanding officer he turned to shout to Guan Yu. "Take Zhang Liao I'll help Lady Sun with the supplies!"
"Yes sir!" Guan Yu galloped straight into the heaviest of fighting.
As Hex Mark flew into the supply depot Lui Bei saw an officer about ready to run out the gate. Easily he killed him with one strike.
"Hey! That one was mine!" Shang ran up and waved her chakram angrily at him.
"Sorry my lady."
"Where were you ten minutes ago?" she huffed.
"Riding around the long way." He apologized and looked around. "My dear girl you found it didn't you? Quick let's get these supplies to your father before it's too late!"
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"Zhou Yu!" Cal shouted at the easily recognizable man. "Greeting from Lui Bei! He will be here to reinforce you as soon as he can." She turned to ride back towards the gate. "Oh and Shang is looking for supplies, Yuan Shu had none to give. Please relay that to your lord.""Thank you." He tried to remember her name, why was it so difficult. "uh Cow?"
Cal turned away and snapped "Dammit I knew these pants made my hips look big." She galloped off and charged through the gate.
"Cal! That's what it was! Ooops."
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"This battle is lost." Zhang Liao cursed Li Jue's ineptitude as he saw the supply wagons begin to move toward Sun Jian's position. He spun around and went back through the gate and off to Lu Bu, who was watching from the hills above.
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Cal saw Li Jue on his horse well before the man ever noticed her. She attacked him and he began to run around in circles. "Damn you, you coward!" She cursed as he wove through tents and fences trying to escape.
"Retreat! Retreat!" he screamed.
"You think that will save you?" She chased after him as he ran through the gate to his rear and up the hill. Guards were jumping in her way and she had to clear them before she could advance. She saw the tail of Li Jue's horse disappear around the corner and she kicked Ares into a gallop. "I have you now!"
As she tore around the corner a very hard object knocked her clean off the back of her horse and she landed on her back with a thud. Gasping for air in the dust she had created by falling, she opened her eyes slowly. Her head was tilted sideways and she saw a pair of black hooves that ran into fire red legs. As she worked her way up, the gold armor looked very unfamiliar and the blur of snorting horse was equally puzzling. Slowly the horse turned his head and stamped his foot angrily and she briefly saw an equally angry man in ornate armor before he used the blunt end of his halberd to knock her unconscious.
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"Lui Bei! I owe you my thanks! Without those supplies we would have surely had to retreat." Sun Jian offered his hand "Thank you ally."
"I cannot accept your gratitude; I did not capture the supply depot. I was too late. Your daughter had already eliminated everyone by the time I got there. I just helped with transport."
"Well." Sun Jian thought about it. "Still, thank you."
"My lord, Zhang Liao is nowhere to be found. I assume he retreated with the rest of the troops." Guan Yu rode up and updated Lui Bei.
"Everything's secure, pops." Sun Ce reported.
"We have secured the supply depot, sir." Zhao Yun reported.
"Excellent. I suppose we should report to Yuan Shao shouldn't we?" Sun Jian asked Lui Bei.
"Probably should." He agreed.
"Lord Zhao Yun! Have you seen Cal?" Shang rode up obviously troubled.
"Ah, and here is my little hero!" Sun Jian's face lit up when she arrived.
"Oh…" She blushed "I just…"
"Wiped out the entire fortress herself." Lui Bei smiled. "And then reprimanded me for being late and killing one of her enemies."
"You make me proud daughter."
"Thank you, my lords." She giggled a little from the attention.
"Speaking of accomplishments, your friend killed Hua Xiong." Zhou Yu watched her face light up.
"Cal, you saw her! Where?" She asked.
"I haven't seen her since, sorry. But my compliments when you do find her…and apologize for me. I accidentally called her a cow." Zhou shrugged.
"How does that happen accidentally, exactly?" Zhao Yun questioned.
"Oh not now, I can't find her!" Shang was distraught.
"Don't worry; she tends to keep moving to where the fighting is." Guan Yu reassured her. "Relax. She'll be fine. Right now you're the lady of the hour."