Pursuit
By Yukira
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, but I created Shen Yi as part of Zhuge Liang's antagonist force. It doesn't really count, though...
Author's Notes: This is the second last chapter!
*~~~~*~~~~*
Zilong, his wedding apparel drenched with pond water, took a long walk back to the Shu's main camp, where everyone would be awaiting him.
Reluctantly walking back to his previous location, he happily discovered that the carriage wasn't there, as well as Shen Yi.
How he hated Shen Yi right now. She was the one that spread the rumor, and it indeed spread quickly. Worst, it seem that he had to marry her.
"I guess," he thought, "It won't be that bad...no, it will!"
By the time he got to the main camp, he wasn't wet anymore, but worse, Zhuge Liang was awaiting him.
"Damn, this has to be a bad thing..."
Zhuge Liang motioned for Zhao Yun to come forward. He obeyed, and Zhuge began to scold him.
"How dare you leave Lady Shen Yi in the carriage and run off!"
"But I saw--" Zilong paused, then knew that either way, the guy wouldn't care. "I'm sorry. I saw...a...a bear and I thought that...it...um...that the...fur would be a proper...gift for Lady Shen Yi."
"No excuses! Go see Lady Shen in that tent right now!"
Muttering to himself, Zhao replied, "Yeah...whatever..."
Closing his eyes, still muttering, Zilong entered the tent not prepared for the blow he was going to receive.
SLAP!
"I could've been kidnapped and killed by bandits! How dare you leave me!"
"Like I care..."
"I'm telling Lord Zhuge--"
Zhao shot her a look of pure hatred. "Zhuge Liang can't help you forever. One day I will finally be rid of you."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh? I would!"
"No...just...stay away!"
"Pssh. As if I want to stay with you anyway."
With that, Zhao left her tent and entered his own.
The slap that Shen Yi delivered to his face was a weak one. No bruise at all.
"Weak little bitch..."
It was late now. Zhao Yun drifted off to sleep.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Meanwhile, Sun Ruan Er was asleep in her own tent as well. With the Wu army camped in this forest, no one would notice them.
Falling asleep hadn't been so easy for her. She had swallowed something in the lake water, and it kept her awake. Eventually, she drifted off to slumber.
Sun Ce's daughter, Sun Qiao, took an interest in battle and was learning how to wield her deceased mother's fans, but he still wouldn't let her go to battle. Sun Qiao was the only person that resembled her mother, and he didn't want to lose her either.
How little Sun Qiao had begged and begged for days to come to war, and her father had declined every time.
And the Jade Dragon, polished and kept in its sheath, lay next to Sun at all times. She had mastered the sword, and in return, it had helped her through peril.
The necklace that she wore consisted of a jade dragon pendant on a platinum chain. Zhao Yun had a necklace like this, except his pendant was a gold dragon. Both pendants could interlock together.
(Flashback)
Sun Ruan, weak and injured, lay on her bed. Zhao Yun had been watching over her for a few hours. Now was the time to overthrow the infamous bandit leader.
Zhao Yun grabbed his spear and was about to leave until a voice called out behind him.
"Wait...no...let me help you!" she cried.
Zhao Yun leaned his spear against the wall and walked over to examine the girl. The rapist had attacked her with a knife and her wounds were healing.
"No," he replied softly, stroking her hair, "Stay here. I will be back."
"You can't! It's too dangerous! There are--"
"Don't worry. I will be back. I promise."
Zilong left the girl's room at the medical center and began on his way to overthrow the bandit leader.
For at least a decade, a group of bandits had taken over the town and ravaged it. The citizens, once possessing pride and honor, hid in their shabby homes and looked down wherever they went, fearing that the bandits would kill them.
A truly demonic ritual that they held. Every year, one family would be executed in front of the town. Their bodies would be staked and stuck in the ground for display.
Zhao Yun kept advancing to the front of the town, where he stood wide-eyed.
Sun Ruan's family was staked on poles. The executions had already taken place. Sun was lucky to have survived.
This enraged Zilong. He charged into the small palace wielding his spear and to his shock, no one was there.
"What is going on?" he thought.
An arrow shot by him and Zilong turned around.
There stood the group of bandits. The cause for the destruction of the town.
Zhao Yun was outnumbered. There were at least twenty men including the bandit leader, all equipped with arrows and sword.
The group of bandits shut and barricaded the only door. The windows were too small for Zilong to escape.
The only thing he did was advance forward and started to attack.
The battle was tough. The men outnumbered Zilong greatly and they were more skilled than he thought they were.
In less than a minute, Zilong was cornered. They were getting closer and closer...
Sun Ruan crashed into a window and fell to the ground carrying a sword.
"What are you doing here!? You're supposed to be recovering!"
Sun stood up and brushed her hair out of her face. "You needed help."
The bandit leader came forth and landed an attack on Sun. "You were supposed to die with the rest of your puny family!"
Blood flowed freely from her wounded back. Zhao Yun jabbed at the bandit leader with his spear but missed.
Another burden rested with Zilong. Sun was dying right here and the only way out was to kill the bandits.
A fire lit in Zilong's eyes. Now he had inspiration to fight.
Holding his spear in a horizontal position, he charged, knocking and killing men. He did not notice the bandit leader striking behind him.
Out of breath, Zilong rose and charged, wildly brandishing his spear, killing the leader in one blow.
Bandits dispatched, Zhao ran over, picked up Sun and headed for the healing center. As she was healed, he stayed with her knowing that she would be the wife of his choice.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sun Ruan woke up after feeling someone tugging on her arm.
It was Lu Xun. His face, usually lit up by boyish charm, was severe and silent.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Sun Jian commands everyone to wake. We are attacking now."
Walking out of her tent, Sun adjusted her eyes to the bright sunlight. Sun Jian as well as the other generals were preparing for battle. Sun changed into a white cheongsam and wore a red cape and hood. She tucked the Jade Dragon on her sash as she usually did.
Sun Jian mounted his horse and everyone followed. Today, Shu was going down.
*~~~~*~~~~*
"Zhuge Liang, I don't see why General Zhao Zilong has to marry Shen Yi."
Liu Bei eyed Zhuge from his seat.
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then further explained. "Shen Yi is an extraordinary woman, Zilong is her counterpart. It is only natural to place them together."
"I'm calling off the wedding! Zhao Yun doesn't even want to marry her! He still loves Sun Ruan--"
"You dare compare Lady Shen Yi to a village girl?"
"Shen Yi is just some piece of trash that washed up here! Her fighting skills are crap!"
"Lord Liu Bei, I'm sure that you will reconsider. The wedding takes place today. That's final."
"I'm still calling it off!"
"I'm afraid you can't do that."
Liu Bei hit the desk with his fists. "And why not?"
"Remember when you signed that document saying that I am in control of half of Shu?"
"But--"
"I still have it. And I will turn Shu against you if you don't comply."
Liu Bei only hung his head in shame.
"You wait here. I will get the couple."
*~~~~*~~~~*
Zhao Yun's dream had been a pleasant one. He was walking with Sun Ruan in a vast meadow filled with flowers.
That was until Zhuge Liang woke him and told him that he would be married to Shen Yi.
How he loathed her right now. Her name was enough to sicken him and her very appearance made him want to curse.
What had really surprised him was the way Liu Bei seemed when Zhuge brought him and Shen Yi into the tent.
Liu Bei hung his head in shame, not noticing they were there.
"It's my fault," thought Liu Bei. "If I hadn't put Shu in control of Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun wouldn't be in this predicament, damn...my bravest general and this is how I repay him..."
Zhao Yun and Shen Yi were escorted to a carriage. They were to be married at a temple in the town of Changshan.
And as the two walked into the temple, Zilong noticed Jiang Wei and Ma Chao frowning sympathetically. Zilong turned to them and nodded, they did so as well.
The elderly man clad in silk robes lit incense and placed it into a vase. This was the first wedding ritual. There were several more to be done, then the final vow.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sun Ruan rode alongside Lu Xun. They were heading for the main camp, passing though Changshan. Sun noticed a group of carriages and horses outside an enclosed temple. She nudged Lu Xun.
"Look, there seems to be..."
"...a wedding."
Sun Jian noticed this but they continued for the main camp.
*~~~~*~~~~*
The end of chapter 8! Left you on a cliffhanger, but this chapter didn't have much significance...
Reviews please!
By Yukira
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, but I created Shen Yi as part of Zhuge Liang's antagonist force. It doesn't really count, though...
Author's Notes: This is the second last chapter!
*~~~~*~~~~*
Zilong, his wedding apparel drenched with pond water, took a long walk back to the Shu's main camp, where everyone would be awaiting him.
Reluctantly walking back to his previous location, he happily discovered that the carriage wasn't there, as well as Shen Yi.
How he hated Shen Yi right now. She was the one that spread the rumor, and it indeed spread quickly. Worst, it seem that he had to marry her.
"I guess," he thought, "It won't be that bad...no, it will!"
By the time he got to the main camp, he wasn't wet anymore, but worse, Zhuge Liang was awaiting him.
"Damn, this has to be a bad thing..."
Zhuge Liang motioned for Zhao Yun to come forward. He obeyed, and Zhuge began to scold him.
"How dare you leave Lady Shen Yi in the carriage and run off!"
"But I saw--" Zilong paused, then knew that either way, the guy wouldn't care. "I'm sorry. I saw...a...a bear and I thought that...it...um...that the...fur would be a proper...gift for Lady Shen Yi."
"No excuses! Go see Lady Shen in that tent right now!"
Muttering to himself, Zhao replied, "Yeah...whatever..."
Closing his eyes, still muttering, Zilong entered the tent not prepared for the blow he was going to receive.
SLAP!
"I could've been kidnapped and killed by bandits! How dare you leave me!"
"Like I care..."
"I'm telling Lord Zhuge--"
Zhao shot her a look of pure hatred. "Zhuge Liang can't help you forever. One day I will finally be rid of you."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh? I would!"
"No...just...stay away!"
"Pssh. As if I want to stay with you anyway."
With that, Zhao left her tent and entered his own.
The slap that Shen Yi delivered to his face was a weak one. No bruise at all.
"Weak little bitch..."
It was late now. Zhao Yun drifted off to sleep.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Meanwhile, Sun Ruan Er was asleep in her own tent as well. With the Wu army camped in this forest, no one would notice them.
Falling asleep hadn't been so easy for her. She had swallowed something in the lake water, and it kept her awake. Eventually, she drifted off to slumber.
Sun Ce's daughter, Sun Qiao, took an interest in battle and was learning how to wield her deceased mother's fans, but he still wouldn't let her go to battle. Sun Qiao was the only person that resembled her mother, and he didn't want to lose her either.
How little Sun Qiao had begged and begged for days to come to war, and her father had declined every time.
And the Jade Dragon, polished and kept in its sheath, lay next to Sun at all times. She had mastered the sword, and in return, it had helped her through peril.
The necklace that she wore consisted of a jade dragon pendant on a platinum chain. Zhao Yun had a necklace like this, except his pendant was a gold dragon. Both pendants could interlock together.
(Flashback)
Sun Ruan, weak and injured, lay on her bed. Zhao Yun had been watching over her for a few hours. Now was the time to overthrow the infamous bandit leader.
Zhao Yun grabbed his spear and was about to leave until a voice called out behind him.
"Wait...no...let me help you!" she cried.
Zhao Yun leaned his spear against the wall and walked over to examine the girl. The rapist had attacked her with a knife and her wounds were healing.
"No," he replied softly, stroking her hair, "Stay here. I will be back."
"You can't! It's too dangerous! There are--"
"Don't worry. I will be back. I promise."
Zilong left the girl's room at the medical center and began on his way to overthrow the bandit leader.
For at least a decade, a group of bandits had taken over the town and ravaged it. The citizens, once possessing pride and honor, hid in their shabby homes and looked down wherever they went, fearing that the bandits would kill them.
A truly demonic ritual that they held. Every year, one family would be executed in front of the town. Their bodies would be staked and stuck in the ground for display.
Zhao Yun kept advancing to the front of the town, where he stood wide-eyed.
Sun Ruan's family was staked on poles. The executions had already taken place. Sun was lucky to have survived.
This enraged Zilong. He charged into the small palace wielding his spear and to his shock, no one was there.
"What is going on?" he thought.
An arrow shot by him and Zilong turned around.
There stood the group of bandits. The cause for the destruction of the town.
Zhao Yun was outnumbered. There were at least twenty men including the bandit leader, all equipped with arrows and sword.
The group of bandits shut and barricaded the only door. The windows were too small for Zilong to escape.
The only thing he did was advance forward and started to attack.
The battle was tough. The men outnumbered Zilong greatly and they were more skilled than he thought they were.
In less than a minute, Zilong was cornered. They were getting closer and closer...
Sun Ruan crashed into a window and fell to the ground carrying a sword.
"What are you doing here!? You're supposed to be recovering!"
Sun stood up and brushed her hair out of her face. "You needed help."
The bandit leader came forth and landed an attack on Sun. "You were supposed to die with the rest of your puny family!"
Blood flowed freely from her wounded back. Zhao Yun jabbed at the bandit leader with his spear but missed.
Another burden rested with Zilong. Sun was dying right here and the only way out was to kill the bandits.
A fire lit in Zilong's eyes. Now he had inspiration to fight.
Holding his spear in a horizontal position, he charged, knocking and killing men. He did not notice the bandit leader striking behind him.
Out of breath, Zilong rose and charged, wildly brandishing his spear, killing the leader in one blow.
Bandits dispatched, Zhao ran over, picked up Sun and headed for the healing center. As she was healed, he stayed with her knowing that she would be the wife of his choice.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sun Ruan woke up after feeling someone tugging on her arm.
It was Lu Xun. His face, usually lit up by boyish charm, was severe and silent.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Sun Jian commands everyone to wake. We are attacking now."
Walking out of her tent, Sun adjusted her eyes to the bright sunlight. Sun Jian as well as the other generals were preparing for battle. Sun changed into a white cheongsam and wore a red cape and hood. She tucked the Jade Dragon on her sash as she usually did.
Sun Jian mounted his horse and everyone followed. Today, Shu was going down.
*~~~~*~~~~*
"Zhuge Liang, I don't see why General Zhao Zilong has to marry Shen Yi."
Liu Bei eyed Zhuge from his seat.
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then further explained. "Shen Yi is an extraordinary woman, Zilong is her counterpart. It is only natural to place them together."
"I'm calling off the wedding! Zhao Yun doesn't even want to marry her! He still loves Sun Ruan--"
"You dare compare Lady Shen Yi to a village girl?"
"Shen Yi is just some piece of trash that washed up here! Her fighting skills are crap!"
"Lord Liu Bei, I'm sure that you will reconsider. The wedding takes place today. That's final."
"I'm still calling it off!"
"I'm afraid you can't do that."
Liu Bei hit the desk with his fists. "And why not?"
"Remember when you signed that document saying that I am in control of half of Shu?"
"But--"
"I still have it. And I will turn Shu against you if you don't comply."
Liu Bei only hung his head in shame.
"You wait here. I will get the couple."
*~~~~*~~~~*
Zhao Yun's dream had been a pleasant one. He was walking with Sun Ruan in a vast meadow filled with flowers.
That was until Zhuge Liang woke him and told him that he would be married to Shen Yi.
How he loathed her right now. Her name was enough to sicken him and her very appearance made him want to curse.
What had really surprised him was the way Liu Bei seemed when Zhuge brought him and Shen Yi into the tent.
Liu Bei hung his head in shame, not noticing they were there.
"It's my fault," thought Liu Bei. "If I hadn't put Shu in control of Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun wouldn't be in this predicament, damn...my bravest general and this is how I repay him..."
Zhao Yun and Shen Yi were escorted to a carriage. They were to be married at a temple in the town of Changshan.
And as the two walked into the temple, Zilong noticed Jiang Wei and Ma Chao frowning sympathetically. Zilong turned to them and nodded, they did so as well.
The elderly man clad in silk robes lit incense and placed it into a vase. This was the first wedding ritual. There were several more to be done, then the final vow.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sun Ruan rode alongside Lu Xun. They were heading for the main camp, passing though Changshan. Sun noticed a group of carriages and horses outside an enclosed temple. She nudged Lu Xun.
"Look, there seems to be..."
"...a wedding."
Sun Jian noticed this but they continued for the main camp.
*~~~~*~~~~*
The end of chapter 8! Left you on a cliffhanger, but this chapter didn't have much significance...
Reviews please!
