Dynasty Warriors Dream: A Land Under Shu

Chapter 10: Tribulations- Truth

Chengdu East Wing...

Ma Dai and Wei Yan ferociously exchanged blows. Yan cut at Dai's feet. Dai quickly stomped down on Comet Strike and went for the decapitation. Yan ducked from danger to reveal Huang Zhong ready to fire three arrows. Dai quickly dropped back as Zhong fired. Xing Cai jumped in front of Dai and used her shield to deflect the arrows. She then charged shield first at Yan knocking him aside. Zhong switched to his sword as he collided with Xing's shield. Dai circled from behind Xing and struck at Zhong injuring his right arm making Zhong fall to his knee and drop his sword. Xing went in to skewer Zhong, but Yan stepped in to deflect her attack and quickly followed with a shoulder tackle knocking Dai aside. Yan stood in front of Zhong daring them to come close. Xing stood her ground as she stood close enough to see the whites of Yan's eyes.

"Thank you for the aid." Zhong said as he clenched his arm.

Yan returned by giving him a quick nod before he turned back to his opponents. Dai recovered his ground as he and Xing gave each other a quick look.

Dai quickly dashed at Yan while Xing distanced hereself from Yan and went in to skewer Yan. Zhong quickly popped up to counter Dai as Yan caught his weapon between Xing's Ambition (bit of a pun there). The Shu generals stepped off and regrouped.

"They're not called tigers for nothing.", Dai commented.

"Indeed. But that won't be enough to make me back down.", Xing said as she went back in the battle. Dai followed suit.

Chengdu West Wing...

"There here! The enemy's-", a soldier started to shout before being cut down by Fei Yi.

"Alright men, let's find that snake Huang Hao and put an end to this rebellion.", Fei said as he ordered the men to flooded the wing. With his infiltration, Huang was now caught in a pincer with no chance of escape.

Fei led the men to the deeper part of the West Wing. His unit encountered a gate guarded by a few men who fled at the sight of Fei's unit. The gate opened revealing Huang himself with no soldiers at his side.

Huang laughed devilishly. "Welcome Fei Yi.", he said with a devilish smile to match.

"Men assist our allies outside and help them get inside." Fei commanded. The soldiers quickly exited. Fei drew his blade. "This one's mine."

Outside Chengdu West Wing...

Zhuge Liang's unit faced incredible resistance at the gate. The enemy created a purple wall that simply kept the green away.

"It would seem the enemy predicted you movements finely." Zhuge Jun commented as he cut down three.

"It would seem so.", Zhuge Liang responded as he took another three down. "We'll need to scatter the enemy from the gate if we are to gain the upper hand."

Zhuge's request was fulfilled as Jiang Wei arrived bearing the gift of juggernauts.

"We'll see just how long the enemy will hold." Jiang Wei said.

The juggernauts spat streams of fire burning scores of purple with each shot. The scene instantly panicked the soldiers.

"Open the gates! Open the gate!", soldiers pleaded as they pounded the gates. Their prayers were answered as the gate flew open allowing them to enter, but this allowed Shu Soldiers to enter as well.

"Charge!", Jiang Wan shouted. The men followed the orders in the West Wing, and moments after that, the wing was just another battleground.

The area was just a scene of terrors as corpses fell about and covered the floor. The West Wing was quickly under Shu control, or so it seemed. Suddenly, it seems the enemy multiplied before their eyes. It was a trap!

"Argh! The enemy numbered more than expected.", Yang Yi said.

"It seems the only way to end this bloodshed would be to take down their leader.", Jiang said.

"I'll find Haung Hao.", Zhuge said sternly. He ran and vanished in the battle.

Zhuge slashed his way through what seemed like thousands (that's if you're playing DW 6) to find Huang. He witnessed green versus purple fights everywhere. Zhuge soon found himself lost in the battle unable to determine direction. After what seemed like hours lost, he found his way into the deepest part of the West Wing.

"Huang Hao! Show yourself!" Zhuge demanded. The answer was Fei walking from one of the rooms across from Zhuge.

"Prime...Minister..." he said weakly as he fell. Huang appeared behind him fanning himself with his blood stained iron fan.

"Fei Yi!" Zhuge exclaimed.

"Fear not, I didn't kill him. Not yet at least.", he said as he continued to fan himself and walk over Fei's body. "Zhuge Liang, why do you continue to fight for this dead dragon?"

Zhuge Liang said nothing.

"Your ruler is a fool that leads fool. Except for you. Zhuge Liang, you have the potential to take Shu and make it yours, but yet you don't."

"I have not the time to play your games Huang Hao."

"I suppose your right." Huang said as he threw his fan Zhuge.

Zhuge reflected the attack back at Huang who caught the fan effortlessly. Zhuge dashed at Huang. Huang clashed with Zhuge.

"You can have, but you won't take, why?" Huang asked.

Zhuge didn't answer as he broke the deadlock knocking Huang back. Zhuge followed up with a beam attack. Huang quickly side stepped the attack and rushed onto Zhuge. Zhuge and Huang entered another deadlock (Basara style) cut at each other ripping at each other. Both landed light hits on one another, but then Huang cut a Zhuge as he took a step back. The blade of the fan was directed a Zhuge neck. Zhuge quickly bent away from the attack, but while it didn't hit him, it severed his charm from him. Zhuge was dumbfounded as he watched the charm land in front of him. Instantly, Zhuge fell to the ground knee first coughing viciously.

"Oh.", Huang said as he approached the charm. "It seems I've found your weakness."

Huang began to laugh devilishly as he stood above the weakened Zhuge. Zhuge's eyes shifted between the charm and Huang.

"I suppose you need this now don't you?" Huang said. He kicked the charm within Zhuge's grasped.

Zhuge felt his desperation take over as he reached out to get the charm. Right as he was about to make contact with it, Huang stomped down on the charm crushing not only the charm, but also Zhuge. Huang laughed even louder at the crush. Zhuge felt his strength slip away.

"Now for the coup de grace." Huang said as he kicked Zhuge to his side.

He then proceeded to pick Zhuge up enough so that he sat on his knees.

"Well, I guess heaven can only favor a fool for so long.", he said condescendingly as he gently put his iron fan to Zhuge's neck. "But before I kill you, I'm going to tell a little secret."

Huang leaned into a destroyed Zhuge's ear.

"Tell Sima Yi thanks for me.", he whispered

Zhuge came back to life for a moment in shock.

"That's right. Sima Yi sent a letter detailing almost every aspect of this plan. I must say it was a beautifully crafted plan. My reward was not only joining Wei, but complete control of what was Shu, but I guess since Sima Yi is dead, I'll simply take Shu for myself and give Wei your head as a tool of negotiation."

Zhuge was in complete shock of the plan. To think, Sima Yi's influence went beyond his death like this. He felt powerless. He awaited his death. Huang kicked Zhuge onto his back.

"Farewell. Now you can really be the sleeping dragon!", Huang said as he swung the fan to perform the execution.

Zhuge closed his eyes. He then heard the sound of a clash. He quickly opened his eyes to see the fan stopped by a scythe right above his head. Yue Ying had come to his aid!

Ying pushed Huang back causing him to stumble. Huang regained his composure.

"How adorable. Now you two can die together.", he taunted.

Ying charged at Huang delivering swift cuts at Huang. Huang weaved through the assault closing the distance between him and Ying. Zhuge watched as the two combatants crossed their weapons. He felt powerless watching his wife fight where he should. He saw how worn she was from all the combat. He had to stand up. For her sake.

Huang easily dodged and blocked Ying's attack. Fatigue soon took its toll on Ying as the speed of her attacks dropped. Huang took the first chance that appeared and struck Oblivion out of her hands. He followed up with a kick that threw her onto her back. Before she could stand, Huang stepped down onto her chest keep her from getting up.

"That was a cute display of skills, but now it's time to end it.", Huang said. He turned to Zhuge Liang and looked straight into his eyes. "How is it to watch helplessly as your wife dies right before your eyes?" He started to laugh.

Zhuge had enough. No longer would illness or anything hold him back. The Sleeping Dragon had awakened! Zhuge picked himself off the ground and charged at Huang.

Huang attempted to slay Ying, but was stopped short when Zhuge's fan caught Huang's. Huang quickly shuffled back as Zhuge pursued. Ying picked herself up and retrieved Oblivion and followed Zhuge. It was now a two-on-one fight. Zhuge clashed with Huang in the front. Ying circled to his side and sliced at his side. Huang quickly broke from Zhuge to duck and tried to sweep kick Ying. Ying jumped to dodge the attack and cut down at him. Zhuge sliced down at Huang as well. Huang was pinned by both their attacks. He pushed off the ground to break their pin attacks. Huang quickly distanced himself from the duo.

No sooner, the Shu forces broke in and interrupted the fight.

"Liang!", Zhuge Jun said as went to his brother's side.

"Fei Yi!", Jiang Wan exclaimed as went to aid his comrade.

"Huang Hao, it's time to pay!", Jiang Wei said as he charged at Huang.

Huang quickly deflected Wei's attack and attempted to flee. He was then cut off by Jun's jet of water.

"Oh no you don't!", Jun said.

Ying quickly closed in on Huang pinning him in his position. Jiang quickly closed in from Huang's back. Huang broke from Ying and rolled from Jiang's attack only to roll into Zhuge. Zhuge delivered Huang a cut onto his weapon arm as he went by. Huang dropped his fan. Jun, Ying, and Jiang closed in on him. Huang picked up his fan with his left and narrowly deflected each of their attacks.

"I've had enough of this!", Huang declared. He once again took flight. "Burn down the castle! Burn down the castle!" He called out as he finally was able to get away.

Outside the castle, Huang's men held torches and flung them onto Chengdu. On the inside, the men did the same setting each part of the castle ablaze.

"Fire! Fire!", a Shu soldier cried out inciting panic.

"Ahh! They've set fire with us in here!", a purple commander yelled as he ran to escape.

"After him!", Zhuge said as he ran to the door Huang used. He was cut off by a column falling in his way preventing him from pursuing. Zhuge cursed to himself.

"Prime Minister, we must evacuate the castle!", Wei yelled.

Zhuge regrettably heeded Wei's words and cut off the pursuit.

Chengdu East Wing moments before the fire attack…

Yan held his ground as Dai and Xing attacked from both his sides. Skillfully using both blades of Comet Strike, Yan held the two warriors at bay. Zhong closed in on Xing's right and wounded her arm. Xing weakened her attack and nearly dropped her fork. Dai was then left to take the full strength of Yan as Yan swung with all his might. Dai tried to hold his ground, but was sent flying back dropping his pike in the process. Xing quickly stabbed Yan's leg and swung her shield to hit Zhong and pushed him back.

Before any more could be done, fire filled the halls of the wing. A thin layer of smoke filled the area. The roof began to crumble above the warriors.

"Wei Yan, we must go!", Zhong urged.

Yan growled as he reluctantly retreated from the fight.

A big section of the roof fell and below it was Dai. Dai braced for impact. Xing quickly jumped to cover him. She turned and put her shield above the two as the section fell on top of them. Most of the section broke on her shield. Xing leaned up to see the two take flight in the distance.

"They got away.", Xing said.

"Yes, but could you get off me?", Dai said.

Outside the castle, Huang found a horse and looked back to see Chengdu ablaze.

"Hmph, so ends the rebellion.", he said plainly. He ordered his horse to go. "It seems I'll have no choice, but to join Wei now."

As he rode, an arrow cut through the air and found its mark in Huang's back. Huang grunted in pain.

"No! It wasn't….to end….this way….", he said as he died. His horse continued on.

Further back, Zhong put his bow down after successfully hitting his target. Yan stood by him with his head down in shame. Zhong put his hand on Yan's shoulder as the two walked off towards Wei.

Later…

With the rebellion over, the Shu generals looked at Chengdu. The fire didn't cause much damage onto the castle.

"Well it seems the rebellion is over.", Jun commented. "Good thing we quickly dealt with the fire quickly or things could've ended worse than this."

Zhuge simply nodded in agreement. Dai and Xing joined the others both bowed.

"Prime Minister, I regret to inform you that Wei Yan and Huang Zhong have escaped.", Dai reported.

"What? Huang Zhong joined the rebellion as well?", Jiang asked in shock.

"No doubt because of Huang Hao's deceit.", Ying said.

"It's because of me.", Zhuge stated

All turned to Zhuge with puzzled looks.

"Had I placed the same trust as Lord Liu Bei did, this could've been averted.", he lamented.

Yang Yi sighed. "Maybe…maybe if I wasn't so…", Yang said quietly.

"Perhaps we can still earn his trust back.", Wei said.

"Perhaps, but it will be a while.", Fei said weakly. "But first, we must rebuild Shu."

And so it was. With Huang Hao's absence, Zhuge Liang sooner took in the power the former eunuch held. The power he wielded greatly exceeded Liu Shan's. With his new power, Zhuge Liang allocated Shu's resources to rebuilding Shu. Simultaneously, he used the power to expel any corruption he found within the court and put whom he deemed capable in key positions both civil and military. Meanwhile, at Xu Chang…

Outside Xu Chang's gates, a squadron of Wei Troops stood guard.

"There's someone coming!", a soldier alerted. The others raised their weapons. A horse came and stopped as the soldiers raised their weapons causing the body to fall off; the body of Huang Hao.

Throne Room…

"I am Huang Zhong."

"I…Wei Yan."

Zhong and Yan both bowed to Cao Pi. They bowed surrounded by the remaining Wei Army. They were both swearing declaring their loyalty from Shu to Wei with Cao Pi and Wei as witnesses. Cao Pi rested his head on his hand with an amused look on his face.

Whew! That was a long one. Sorry it took so long, but there you have it. R&R and whatnot.

8/28/11