BE DIFFERENT
The days flowed peacefully in ancient China.
Every inhabitant of these boundless lands lived their lives peacefully, worrying more about tomorrow than about a long-term future.
Powerful lords, merchants and peasants, all worked hard in their work, for this reason China was rich and powerful!
In a large and influential city, things would soon change. The future cannot be predicted: every decision made changes it irretrievably!
The inhabitants of this city, mostly peasants and traders, were not aware that their actions and thoughts would affect what would happen within a few years.
Unaware, they continued to live their lives quietly. Yet among such simple people a terrible plague was rampant: prejudice!
You could have been a local, but if you were born different then your life would be hell, since superstition was still powerful on people's minds!
The rulers of Gong Men were loved and respected. Thanks to them the city was rich and prosperous. They had invented fireworks bringing joy to many people. When news of the birth of an heir came, everyone quivered with curiosity to see the new Prince, sure that he would be as good and just as his parents.
But when the long-awaited moment came, only disappointment and fear were to welcome the new life. The Prince was born with a particular condition: he was albino!
This put the young heir's life in danger from the outset as his weak immune system could not protect him sufficiently even from a slight cough.
At first it was thought that the chick would die early, but he proved stubborn and full of desire to live. After each fever he recovered and became stronger and stronger.
Growing up, he realized his diversity and this had led him to close in on himself. Words sometimes hurt more than beatings!
Yet the young Prince managed to make friends with unlikely friends, also victims of prejudice: wolves!
The canids' job was to keep the royal family safe and protect the city but being numerous and predatory in a city full of cattle and sheep, they found themselves relying only on the herd, since they were always shunned by the citizens.
Zhan was the son of the two dominant alphas and met Prince Shen when he was seven years old while the chick was only five. They met during some tragic events: a rich nobleman was assassinated a few days after the attempted murder of the young Prince.
Shen was almost dead when intruders managed to break into his rooms at night. The two alpha wolves were guarded by the young heir round the clock, and for this reason, they had to take their son with them. It was then that the unthinkable bond began to form!
From the very beginning, the two struck up a friendship that strengthened with time between mischief and important tasks.
Once adults the wolf became the alpha of the herd and the Prince's personal bodyguard. Shen was a great warrior, specializing with the caliph in particular, but being young and inexperienced he accepted the protection of his friend who had enough brute force to face any danger with his head held high.
Everything seemed to be going the right way, but Shen had found himself another great challenge on his way: finding a girlfriend!
As Prince, he would have to marry some rich lady to increase his wealth and unite two kingdoms to benefit both.
The main problem was that the young man had already tried to woo some peacocks that had attracted him, but since his plumage devoid of bright colors the females looked at him with disgust.
This was another blow to the Prince, who now finds himself in a difficult situation as, being the heir to the throne of Gong Men, it was his job to find a worthy queen to stand by his side for the duration of his reign and from which he could secure a disc Endence. Not even the people were on his side as they called his condition a "bad omen."
Being white the color of death, in Chinese culture, everyone was firmly convinced that Prince Shen would bring only ruin and death!
It was a hot summer morning, the white peacock was dressing up after taking a refreshing shower once the morning workout was over.
That particular day he would have lunch with his parents. It was rarely the case, but as soon as they could, the sovereigns tried to spend time with their beloved son. Perhaps because they had neglected him during his early years because of his low life expectancy, or just to prepare him for his future task as heir to the city!
But the Prince didn't care why the joy at such news didn't make him think of those questions. It was still early and as he walked through the gardens Shen was flanked by Zhan "My lord, the goods you ordered have arrived. I had them brought to the lab so they can use it as soon as they get their work back!" He said the wolf put his paws behind his back to appear more casual.
"Are you looking for a companion?" He sneered at the peacock when he saw the friend who was strapping his back every time a wolf passed by him.
"Like you sir!" Zhan responded by provoking the Prince.
"I'd have more luck wooing a turtle, while you're very coveted given the position you have!" Shen replied with a shredded. "Talking about serious things..." continued the peacock "... trying to preserve our offspring is a serious matter!" complained about the wolf.
"... The bandits in the north gave more trouble after you and your men got rid of them?" Shen asked, ignoring his friend's comment.
"They haven't shown up again, but I don't think they're defeated! Only the bars of a prison will be able to stop them for good!" Zhan said with obvious anxiety in his voice. "It almost seems like you're afraid of them!" Shen mocked him.
The wolf nervously moved his tail "It's only because I found out who's in charge!" Admitted. "Then make me part of that discovery!" The Prince insisted. "Lord Enlai forbade me to talk about it!" He confessed to the hesitant wolf.
"But my father's orders with me are not worth it... spit the toad!" He said, indeed he ordered the peacock.
"They answer To Gang!" The Wolf Boss answered all in one breath. Shen stopped suddenly, stiffening to the terrible memory that that name provoked.
Years ago, after numerous investigations, it was discovered that it was that damn tiger who ordered his murder, failing only by a breath.
The scar now on the Prince's chest burned to the memory of that terrible night when he was just five years old. That bandit had escaped justice for a long time, and Shen shivered with a desire to even the score!
"I understand!" He said only before he discharged the wolf and headed to the dining room. "Good morning, son, welcome. Sit down with us!" Lord Enlai said, pointing to his son a seat next to him. "Good morning father, mother!" Shen answered by bending his head respectfully in front of his parents before obeying and sitting down at the table.
"We've heard that you're conducting new experiments with fireworks!" Lady Yi began the speech. "Yes, I invented a device that I called a rocket launcher! It is a metal pipe whose job is to protect people from the sparks caused by fires, so accidents will decrease considerably!
Unfortunately the metal still can't handle the heat produced by some of the fireworks we have, but I'm working on it!" He proudly said Shen only to lower the ridge admitting that he had not achieved good results. The idea was there, but it had to work it!
"That's great news! Congratulations son, I couldn't expect less from you! As soon as these traders give me a little respite I can't wait to be able to join you in the lab, to see with my own eyes the magnificent work you are doing!" Lord Enlai said before he started eating the meal he served. Shen smiled.
There were very rare moments when his men openly expressed appreciation for his work for good for their city and only during such expressions of affection could he feel truly loved since many times they reproached him for every little misbehavior, giving voice to their disappointment very often.
A servant entered the hall "My lord, the bandits! On the outskirts of town! They attacked the traders who have just arrived!" He panicked the antelope. "How many are there?" Lord Enlai asked, standing up. "A dozen ladies!" The servant answered by remaining on his knees.
"Send the guards to quell this conflict!" He resolutely ordered the king before sitting down and resuming to eat. "Father, are you sure you don't want me to go?" Shen asked, who quivered for a fight.
"No, ten bandits can be safely managed by our guard. Since the problem is not serious and soon I will be besieged again by matters concerning the city, I prefer to spend the remaining time in the company of my son!" The parent said, looking at him fondly. Shen bowed his head in gratitude.
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At the gates of the city Zhan struck with a hammer a bandit who had the ill-fated idea of challenging him.
A howl caught his eye and ran to the wolf that had cast it. "What is it now?" He asked, impatient with all the confusion, "There are other bandits in the market near the harbour!" Said the soldier questioned "And also near the east walls of the city!" He added another just arrived in a hurry.
Zhan growled and after landing him, he violently grabbed one of the bandits by the neck "Tell me what you have in mind and I'll see not to hurt you too much!" He said menacingly.
The boar laughed "Did you say goodbye to your beloved Prince?" He asked.
The Wolf Boss trembled, but did not give him too much to see.
The fear made him rise up his hair and increase the narrow "What do you mean by this? Do you really think a handful of bandits will get to my lord? You barely entered the city!" He said confidently.
"But we are only the diversion!" He admitted to the boar before laughing hard. "If you really were, you wouldn't tell me!" He insisted on the wolf.
"I told you because I'm sure you can't do anything for your precious peacock now!" Said the bandit laughing maniacally. In a fit of fury Zhan made him faint by hitting him in the forehead with the hammer.
"To the palace quick!" He yelled at a small group of experienced wolves. It was all Gang's work, there was no doubt!
He was the only one who halves the royal family so much that he went so far! Years ago, Lord Enlai had imprisoned his sister, and then handed her over to the imperial guard, thus decreeing his end!
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They had just finished eating and Shen was quietly talking to his parents about the afternoon meeting he was supposed to be attending.
Noises made the peacocks turn to the dining room door and cries made them stand up alarmed. Lord Enlai stood in front of his wife and son, and when the door opened, he slated the sword "Gang! Only you could dare so much!" The king thundered against the tiger.
"When the desire for vengeance exceeds caution, one can achieve great goals!" Gang said, nervously shaking the thing "Now I will have my revenge! And I'm going to inflict the same pain you caused me! Depriving you..." I unhinged a dagger pointed at the young Prince "...of the one you love!" He said grinning.
"No!" he cried. She whispered to Lady Yi, carrying her wings in front of her beak and looking frightened at her husband who reciprocated his fears.
Lord Shen undressed his Guan Dao and provoked the enemy "Get under it then! Me..." he was interrupted by his father who stood before him. "No one threatens my family and goes unpunished!" He cried out full of rage at the sovereign.
But often when one lets himself be guided by the rush of emotions he loses all kind of caution!
Lord Enlai attacked with the intention of ending the life of the bandit who had tried years before depriving him of his most precious treasure, but Gang was quick to react.
He dodged the blade and inflicted a deep wound in the sovereign's wing. The peacock screamed in pain and fell to his knees on the ground losing his weapon in the fall.
"Is that all you can do?" He sang it before turning his attention to the Prince. This time it was he who made the first move, but a few inches from the Prince was blinded by the latter's tail that opened suddenly a few centimeters from his face. This distraction allowed Shen to throw a well-placed kick in to his face, causing him to capitulate to the ground like a sack of potatoes!
The white peacock stood by his mother's side with the intention of protecting her, but he could not help mocking his rival "You should have killed me when I was little! Now you will always find yourself where those like you must be: among the earth, imbued with your own humiliation!" Shen said, looking at his opponent with great satisfaction. Gang snorted soundly.
Only then did the enlightenment seem to catch him: if he wanted to take revenge for good, sticking in bulk was not the best idea!
No, he would have found an even crueler way to inflict his painful punishment on the feathers of those pompous birds!
How he was still a mystery, but he had become China's most famous bandit only because of his genius, which made him unpredictable! And this time, too, it would have amazed the whole world! So much so that no one would ever dare to get in his way again!
After this reflection all he did was shout a "Retreat!" Before returning to where he had come from, that is, a cave hidden among the shores of the sea not far from Gong Men, under the surprised gaze of the royal family.
As he made his way out of town he saw the wolves return at breakneck speed to the Tower of the Holy Flame and even though his men had done a good job keeping them engaged for so long, he would still beat them up and be accused of negligence, since he had a desperately need to vent!
"Do you say that the coward has surrendered since I have now become a more skilled warrior than he has?" He asked Shen to his parents.
"No son! It's unpredictable, trying to guess his next move is a mistake! We must be ready for anything!" Lord Enlai said before hissing in pain while the doctor treated him for the wound.
"He's running away! If the wolves and I chased him, we could put an end to this threat!" said Shen was extremely eager to play them again to the scoundrel for what he had done to his beloved parent.
"No! It could be a trap!" Lady Yi said anxiously. "I agree! Going to the enemy's lair is not a wise idea! You did a great job, saving my life, but we'll wait for him to make the next move so we can stop him once and for all!" Lord Enlai said as he adjusted his sleeve so that the doctor could work without too much effort.
"Did you say the same thing even when he tried to kill me years ago?" asked Shen in an accusatory tone, only to regret it when his father gave him a frosty look of reproach for such a disrespect!
"Yes, but I didn't think he would return to the attack after so many years! I was convinced he had given up and I was wrong! Now that we know his strategy, we can anticipate him and beat him!" The king said.
"He could change it again!" Shen insisted.
"But this time we know he's going to attack again and we'll keep us ready!" He said Lady Yi tried to appease her son before the conversation escalated into quarrel.
Both peacocks were stubborn and could go on for hours, supporting their own theories!
"Now excuse us son, but I have to go and change my robe!" Lord Enlai said before leaving followed by his wife.
Shen didn't even have time to snort that the dining-room door was opened with such force that he jolted.
Zhan panted heavily and looked genuinely exhausted as he gazed frantically around, looking for who knows what! "If you're worried about him, calm down! I sent him back to the dumpster from which he kicked his ass!" Shen said he fully enjoyed the basic expression that the wolf assumed at such news.
Zhan recovered in a few seconds "M-my...sorry sir! I thought he was in..." ".. danger?" He ended the question for the peacock. The wolf nodded, "My father's fear ended up infecting us too! I'm perfectly capable of defending myself, apparently! Today's victory is proof of that!" Shen said proudly.
The Wolf Boss dismissed the guards to his entourage and went with the Prince to his rooms. They continued to converse about what had happened and to their surprise, the peacock realized that the followers of that bandit had increased!
The evening came and there was still a tense air in the Palace for the events of that morning. But for Shen they had gone into the background!
Once the meeting was over he had the unpleasant idea of listening to a conversation between two advisers, ending up hearing only insults directed at him!
Maybe he was fighting a lost battle at the start! Perhaps no one would ever accept him for what he was! Maybe... they were telling the truth!
Shen ran to the gym to drive away those damn thoughts. He had to let off steam with a mannequin instead of those who had too long tongues and brazenness to make comments like that in his house!
They were just counselors! Once he inherited his father's throne, he could have ruined them! Yet it was frustrating that the words of such insignificant people upset him to such an extent that he doubted himself!
Shen didn't know, but soon things would change! Life would put him in even worse challenges, but perhaps necessary to make him understand who he really was!
I decided to write down this crazy idea that suddenly came into my mind!
It's the first story I write, so I hope that eventually something decent will come out!
I will accept every comment, criticism and advice to improve! Enjoy the reading!
I wanted to deeply thank Francylover for giving me a lot of support and advice for this story!
X-98