ROTK - War of the Gods
Chapter 8
"Please, do not go back to him," Lu Bu pleaded with Diao Chan, holding her hand tightly in his. "I won't be able to stand it."
Diao Chan was holding back tears and trying to free her hand. She couldn't bring herself to look at the Angel, the Angel she had fallen in love with. "Please, allow me to go," she said helplessly. "I must be with Dong Zhuo to end the war."
"No, it mustn't be that way. Let us run away together. We can go now... we can leave this planet and never look back."
Diao Chan finally retrieved her hand from Lu Bu's grip. She placed a single knuckle gently against her lips. She was wounded. "For my father, I must go to him." She turned for the Angel of Death and walked slowly back into the Temple. Dong Zhuo was waiting for her.
Lu Bu shut his eyes tightly and tried to calm his mind. He couldn't think, he couldn't sleep, he couldn't do anything but see Dong Zhuo with his love, Diao Chan. "NO!" He cried out, sending a small shockwave reverberating off the garden walls, small cracks developing around the edges.
Lu Bu then punched straight through the wall he was standing closest too. "If Sun Jian wants Dong Zhuo's head, I will give it to him!" He reached down and picked his crescent halberd out of the rubble pile he had just created. Then, he stormed straight into the Temple, heading for Dong Zhuo's chamber.
------------------------------------------------
"Now walk toward me," Dong Zhuo instructed her. Diao Chan did as she was told, though she hated every moment of it. Her father needed her though and who was she to resist his call? She loved her father far more than she loved Lu Bu... Or was that so true anymore?
"Okay, stop there.... Oh yeah." Diao Chan stood perfectly still and closed her eyes tightly, blocking out Dong Zhuo and blocking out the chamber and blocking out everything but the thought of her one true love, Lu Bu.
Suddenly, the doors to the room burst open. The Goddess spun and covered herself as she did to see who the intruder was. It was Lu Bu and he was holding his weapon! "Get out of the way Chan!" The Angel shouted at her.
She ran to the wall and pulled a cloak that was there around herself. Lu Bu walked swiftly up to the side of the bed and lifted his halberd high into the air. "DIE!" He brought it down as hand as he could, cutting the bed clean in half. Dong Zhuo wasn't there though!
Dong Zhuo appeared out of thin air behind him, his battle armor on and his sword in his hand. "You underestimate me angel! Don't you realize that I was given authority on Earth! I AM YOUR GOD NOW!!" He swung his jagged weapon at Lu Bu, cutting a gash across his chest. Lu Bu recoiled in pain. He had no idea Dong Zhuo was this powerful.
Dong Zhuo teleported behind him and stabbed out with his sword. This time though, Lu Bu was ready. He spun around, bringing his balance point of his weapon up against his chest and spinning the handle completely around and knocking Dong Zhuo in the face.
The fat God crashed into the far wall that Diao Chan was against. She froze, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, he grabbed her and pulled her in front of him like a shield. She was his hostage. "So, you've come to rescue Diao Chan from me? Now I truly understand what she said to me the day she arrived. Cao Cao is playing us all for fools, don't you see that?"
Lu Bu couldn't see anything besides his raging hatred for Dong Zhuo. Suddenly though, he sensed something. It was Diao Chan's power... She was reaching out with her mind and channeling it to him.
In only a fraction of a second, Lu Bu had his halberd up and threw it has hard as he could at Dong Zhuo. It flew through the air faster than a laser and split his head open like a cantaloup. He fell instantly to the floor and vanished, armor and all.
"Welcome to the underworld," Lu Bu whispered.
Diao Chan ran into her lovers arms and kissed her savior. They embraced for several moments and then released each other only hesitantly. Never again would they leave each others side, of that much they were certain. "What do we do now?" Chan asked. Tears were streaming from her eyes, but her radiant beauty was unaffected. Lu Bu didn't know if she was crying from sadness, or joy, or fear, but probably she was crying for all of those reasons.
"Let us leave this place. Think not of your family or of obligations. We only have an eternity together, and still that is not enough. We've already gone an eternity in this universe alone, now it is our time."
Chan knew that he was right. She hugged his again, tighter this time, knowing that everything would be fine now. Then, they went together to Red Hare and rode him high into the night sky and disappeared into the cosmos.
------------------------------------------------------------
News of Dong Zhuo's death spread quickly. It wasn't long before word reached the camp in Ru Nan where Sun Jian, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei were. A meeting was called by Sun Jian (of course) and there he said to the assembled Gods: "Clearly, my bravery in battle has proven to you all that I am the one true ruler. Liu Bei and Cao Cao are shadows of Cao Liu Sun. I am leaving this planet to try and find the gate to the spiritual realm and to use my powers to create more hospitable worlds in this solar system, so that I may take my followers away from here. I do not wish to start a war with either of you, for I know your power to be great."
"Three rulers of Heaven and Earth," Cao Cao said, deep in thought. "Though they came from the same God, they may not exist together. Only one may prevail, but which? And how is it decided. The Gods that are gathered here in this tent... Will we be at war with each other one day? It seems possible, because this is a puzzle without a solution. Sun Jian, do you truly propose to find your own planet?"
"It can be done," Sun Jian said back to him. "Do not forget who I am. I created heaven and earth and all of the people that will ever be."
"Well, I suppose we all could claim that," Liu Bei said. Sun Jian was tired of bickering and philosophizing. He stormed from the tent with the God's that supported him, once again leaving Cao Cao and Liu Bei. The only God on Liu Bei's side was Zhao Yun, though he was a good ally to have. The other two were human, Cao Cao knew, who had sworn brotherhood to Liu Bei. The thought of becoming an oath brother with a human was quite repulsive to Cao Cao, but he made sure not to ever say so.
"Liu Bei, come with me," Cao Cao said standing up. "We have much to discuss."
"I'm not so sure about that," Guan Yu said, standing up as well. The two men squared off silently for a few moments before Liu Bei stood up.
"I will go with Cao Cao," he said. "We had our prior differences, but things have changed now. There is nothing to worry about Guan Yu."
Liu Bei and Cao Cao went for a walk outside of the camp. It was a beautiful spring night and all of the stars were visible upon the cloudless sky. "Look at that," Cao Cao said, pointing up at the sky. "It seems so much bigger from down here in the physical realm."
"Hard to believe we created that," Liu Bei said.
Cao Cao wasn't too happy with sharing credit for the task, though he answered anyway, "Indeed." The continued walking in silence when Cao Cao finally stopped them and said, "Let us be quite honest now Liu Bei." Really, he meant : You be honest now Liu Bei while I lie through my teeth. "Sun Jian is off to find a new planet where his followers may live, and I guess it's up to one of us to do that same thing. In that way, all three of us will have our own 'earth' to rule."
"Yes, but who will get the real earth? This is our pride and joy, I know that much."
"Liu Bei, I want you to have it," Cao Cao said suddenly. Liu Bei was shocked that Cao Cao would say such a thing.
"I don't know what to say..." Liu Bei responded.
"Agree to help me drive Lu Bu from the planet that he has fled to."
"What do you mean?" Liu Bei was once again suspecting a ruse.
"Lu Bu has fled to the red planet beyond this one, out past the asteroid belt. That planet is the one which I want. If you help me destroy the Angel of Death, I will consent to you remaining here on Earth to rule."
It seemed reasonable to Liu Bei and he agreed. Then, he went to tell his followers what Cao Cao and he had agreed upon. Cao Cao smiled at his departing shadow, quite certain that Liu Bei would never be coming back to this planet alive. "The fool has no idea," he muttered triumphantly to himself.
To be continued...
Chapter 8
"Please, do not go back to him," Lu Bu pleaded with Diao Chan, holding her hand tightly in his. "I won't be able to stand it."
Diao Chan was holding back tears and trying to free her hand. She couldn't bring herself to look at the Angel, the Angel she had fallen in love with. "Please, allow me to go," she said helplessly. "I must be with Dong Zhuo to end the war."
"No, it mustn't be that way. Let us run away together. We can go now... we can leave this planet and never look back."
Diao Chan finally retrieved her hand from Lu Bu's grip. She placed a single knuckle gently against her lips. She was wounded. "For my father, I must go to him." She turned for the Angel of Death and walked slowly back into the Temple. Dong Zhuo was waiting for her.
Lu Bu shut his eyes tightly and tried to calm his mind. He couldn't think, he couldn't sleep, he couldn't do anything but see Dong Zhuo with his love, Diao Chan. "NO!" He cried out, sending a small shockwave reverberating off the garden walls, small cracks developing around the edges.
Lu Bu then punched straight through the wall he was standing closest too. "If Sun Jian wants Dong Zhuo's head, I will give it to him!" He reached down and picked his crescent halberd out of the rubble pile he had just created. Then, he stormed straight into the Temple, heading for Dong Zhuo's chamber.
------------------------------------------------
"Now walk toward me," Dong Zhuo instructed her. Diao Chan did as she was told, though she hated every moment of it. Her father needed her though and who was she to resist his call? She loved her father far more than she loved Lu Bu... Or was that so true anymore?
"Okay, stop there.... Oh yeah." Diao Chan stood perfectly still and closed her eyes tightly, blocking out Dong Zhuo and blocking out the chamber and blocking out everything but the thought of her one true love, Lu Bu.
Suddenly, the doors to the room burst open. The Goddess spun and covered herself as she did to see who the intruder was. It was Lu Bu and he was holding his weapon! "Get out of the way Chan!" The Angel shouted at her.
She ran to the wall and pulled a cloak that was there around herself. Lu Bu walked swiftly up to the side of the bed and lifted his halberd high into the air. "DIE!" He brought it down as hand as he could, cutting the bed clean in half. Dong Zhuo wasn't there though!
Dong Zhuo appeared out of thin air behind him, his battle armor on and his sword in his hand. "You underestimate me angel! Don't you realize that I was given authority on Earth! I AM YOUR GOD NOW!!" He swung his jagged weapon at Lu Bu, cutting a gash across his chest. Lu Bu recoiled in pain. He had no idea Dong Zhuo was this powerful.
Dong Zhuo teleported behind him and stabbed out with his sword. This time though, Lu Bu was ready. He spun around, bringing his balance point of his weapon up against his chest and spinning the handle completely around and knocking Dong Zhuo in the face.
The fat God crashed into the far wall that Diao Chan was against. She froze, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, he grabbed her and pulled her in front of him like a shield. She was his hostage. "So, you've come to rescue Diao Chan from me? Now I truly understand what she said to me the day she arrived. Cao Cao is playing us all for fools, don't you see that?"
Lu Bu couldn't see anything besides his raging hatred for Dong Zhuo. Suddenly though, he sensed something. It was Diao Chan's power... She was reaching out with her mind and channeling it to him.
In only a fraction of a second, Lu Bu had his halberd up and threw it has hard as he could at Dong Zhuo. It flew through the air faster than a laser and split his head open like a cantaloup. He fell instantly to the floor and vanished, armor and all.
"Welcome to the underworld," Lu Bu whispered.
Diao Chan ran into her lovers arms and kissed her savior. They embraced for several moments and then released each other only hesitantly. Never again would they leave each others side, of that much they were certain. "What do we do now?" Chan asked. Tears were streaming from her eyes, but her radiant beauty was unaffected. Lu Bu didn't know if she was crying from sadness, or joy, or fear, but probably she was crying for all of those reasons.
"Let us leave this place. Think not of your family or of obligations. We only have an eternity together, and still that is not enough. We've already gone an eternity in this universe alone, now it is our time."
Chan knew that he was right. She hugged his again, tighter this time, knowing that everything would be fine now. Then, they went together to Red Hare and rode him high into the night sky and disappeared into the cosmos.
------------------------------------------------------------
News of Dong Zhuo's death spread quickly. It wasn't long before word reached the camp in Ru Nan where Sun Jian, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei were. A meeting was called by Sun Jian (of course) and there he said to the assembled Gods: "Clearly, my bravery in battle has proven to you all that I am the one true ruler. Liu Bei and Cao Cao are shadows of Cao Liu Sun. I am leaving this planet to try and find the gate to the spiritual realm and to use my powers to create more hospitable worlds in this solar system, so that I may take my followers away from here. I do not wish to start a war with either of you, for I know your power to be great."
"Three rulers of Heaven and Earth," Cao Cao said, deep in thought. "Though they came from the same God, they may not exist together. Only one may prevail, but which? And how is it decided. The Gods that are gathered here in this tent... Will we be at war with each other one day? It seems possible, because this is a puzzle without a solution. Sun Jian, do you truly propose to find your own planet?"
"It can be done," Sun Jian said back to him. "Do not forget who I am. I created heaven and earth and all of the people that will ever be."
"Well, I suppose we all could claim that," Liu Bei said. Sun Jian was tired of bickering and philosophizing. He stormed from the tent with the God's that supported him, once again leaving Cao Cao and Liu Bei. The only God on Liu Bei's side was Zhao Yun, though he was a good ally to have. The other two were human, Cao Cao knew, who had sworn brotherhood to Liu Bei. The thought of becoming an oath brother with a human was quite repulsive to Cao Cao, but he made sure not to ever say so.
"Liu Bei, come with me," Cao Cao said standing up. "We have much to discuss."
"I'm not so sure about that," Guan Yu said, standing up as well. The two men squared off silently for a few moments before Liu Bei stood up.
"I will go with Cao Cao," he said. "We had our prior differences, but things have changed now. There is nothing to worry about Guan Yu."
Liu Bei and Cao Cao went for a walk outside of the camp. It was a beautiful spring night and all of the stars were visible upon the cloudless sky. "Look at that," Cao Cao said, pointing up at the sky. "It seems so much bigger from down here in the physical realm."
"Hard to believe we created that," Liu Bei said.
Cao Cao wasn't too happy with sharing credit for the task, though he answered anyway, "Indeed." The continued walking in silence when Cao Cao finally stopped them and said, "Let us be quite honest now Liu Bei." Really, he meant : You be honest now Liu Bei while I lie through my teeth. "Sun Jian is off to find a new planet where his followers may live, and I guess it's up to one of us to do that same thing. In that way, all three of us will have our own 'earth' to rule."
"Yes, but who will get the real earth? This is our pride and joy, I know that much."
"Liu Bei, I want you to have it," Cao Cao said suddenly. Liu Bei was shocked that Cao Cao would say such a thing.
"I don't know what to say..." Liu Bei responded.
"Agree to help me drive Lu Bu from the planet that he has fled to."
"What do you mean?" Liu Bei was once again suspecting a ruse.
"Lu Bu has fled to the red planet beyond this one, out past the asteroid belt. That planet is the one which I want. If you help me destroy the Angel of Death, I will consent to you remaining here on Earth to rule."
It seemed reasonable to Liu Bei and he agreed. Then, he went to tell his followers what Cao Cao and he had agreed upon. Cao Cao smiled at his departing shadow, quite certain that Liu Bei would never be coming back to this planet alive. "The fool has no idea," he muttered triumphantly to himself.
To be continued...
