Yes here it is ladies and gentlemen Ch.2. Yes and on we go.

(Shu – Somewhere not over the rainbow sorry I couldn't resist)

After the meeting with Zhuge Liang, Diao Wan was equipped with nothing but her sword, her horse Storm Runner, and two bodyguards by the names of Mei and Li Li. Anyway, Diao Wan was on her way to patrol the bank of some river, which one; she didn't really care. She was absolutely bored, hot, and tired, the sun was treachery hot that day. Standing up in her saddle to scout ahead she noticed a small dust cloud and a glint of red. Wu, and that meant Gan Ning was with them. He would die.

Digging her heels into Storm Runner she yelled,"On your toes lasses, the stench of Wu is near!"

With that Storm Runner bolted into a wild run leaving her bodyguards in a state of panic and confusion.

"What kind of accent was that?" asked Mei.

"How does she expect us to keep up with a horse!?!" whined Li Li

"Does she really going to go into battle just by herself?" groaned Mei, "I guess we better go and make sure she doesn't kill herself"

Running after her the two girls noticed that this was no coincidence that they had stumbled across Wu forces, it was an ambush.

"LADY DIAO! COME BACK!" the two girls yelled.

(Wu – two days earlier – Wu camp)

Recovering from Sun Jian's announcement, the five officers looked at him blankly.

"What are you saying father? That you are going to send us as spies into Shu, which is certain death to us all!" asked Sun Quan

"Do not insult me Sun Quan! I am or am not the Tiger of Jiang Dong!" Sun Jian said haughtily.

"You are."

Feeling satisfied, Sun Jian proceeded and told of his plan. All the officers present would take with them only two bodyguards and by "coincidence" run into Shu troops. Then, they would lure out this new officer of Shu and fight her in a dual. Then they would decide if she was as good as she had been rumored to be.

"There is only one thing left to be decided, who shall dual her? Any volunteers?" asked Sun Jian.

"Let's wait until we meet 'er ta decide that little glitch," Sun Ce said, not really caring.

Everyone agreed to this, which is unusual for no one rarely ever agrees to anything Sun Ce comes up with, but on to other matters. They all left the tent discussing supplies and such…important things like that, but you've probably already guessed where they end up, no?

(Back to first scene)

"LADY DIAO! DON'T GO! IT'S A TRAP!" Li Li and Mei yelled, running after their mistress as fast as they could.

"OH! SHUT IT MEI! DO YOU THINK I'M THAT STUPID!" yelled Diao Wan.

"Yes, yes I do think she's stupid, but that's not the point at all!" said Mei to herself.

Reaching the opposing riders, Diao pulled Storm Runner to a skidding stop, her bodyguards still a good way off. The Wu riders pull to a stop opposite her, among them she spots a glimpse of spiky brown hair tied back in a red bandana. When the dust settles she recognizes him without looking at the face: green vest over fire-like tattoos, green pants and black boots, unmounted, unsheathed pirate sword at his waist, and then his eyes, yellow and cat like. Gan Ning, no question she would always remember his face as he slaughtered her companions long ago, she only a lass of 10. Her captain's dying words were, "Diao Wan, don't seek revenge, so young and so much bloodshed, I should of never let you come aboard." Sorry Captain, I'm going to kill him, and I'm glad I was there, but overall you right about one thing Captain, bringin a woman on board is bad luck. She withdrew her sword from its sheath, its brilliance shown in the unending sunlight. Gold and red, it's handle carved into the shape of a phoenix, flames etched on the blade came to life as her fire orb cast its magic. It was called the Phoenix Sword, which she had stolen from a Japanese cargo ship that had wandered off its path.

"Are you the one that Liu Bei has sought for assistance young lady?" Sun Ce said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Yes, Sun Ce (firstborn of Sun Jian). I am the Lady Diao, Diao Wan, 7th officer of Shu under command of Zhuge Liang, Daughter of Ling Wan . . ." Diao Wan announced and with a look straight at Gan Ning, ". . . once under the command of the late Captain Tamahori of the Black Phoenix."

Gan Ning's ear pirks up at her last statement, eyeing her for a moment, a flashback came to his mind. "Ah, yes," he thought, "the Black Phoenix. I thought I killed and sunk that annoying pest seven years ago." Then he remembered a minor detail he forgot, seven years ago there was a young girl on that ship, about ten. He had not killed her because she was only a child, yet it seems it would have been better if he had disposed of her long ago. He studied her for a moment. Young and sort of pretty, but she wasn't the kind of girl that would ever turn a guy on. Short black hair that shown in the sunlight with a hint of red at the ends, red armor over a red battle garb, a master horsewomen by the looks over her seat and quick with the tongue, sort of a G.I. Jane look. It seemed she remembered him after all those years.

"I 'member you! You're that short whelp I failed to dispose of back in my pirate days! So nice to see you remember me, but who can forget Gan Ning. Right boys?" exclaimed the pirate.

His last remark he directed to his bodyguards standing behind him who smirked in agreement and amusement. She clenched her fists and held on to her reins tighter, as he brought back such horrid memories. As everyone puzzled over Gan Ning's remark and her disgusted stare, her bodyguards ran up panting with exhaustion.

"Yes how could I not forget you, Gan Ning." This surprised everyone as she pulled on a fake and forced smile. "Yes, I am that little whelp, and smile is gone now I plan to stop you from proceeding further. You will live to regret you ever crossed paths with me Gan Ning for I will kill you as you did my comrades and Captain Tamahori. Prepare to die. Mei, go inform Zhuge Liang that his trap has worked, like he predicted the Wu have come to my little welcoming party," Diao Wan said, a smirk on her lips.

As this was said Zhuge Liang and about 100 horsemen appeared. They seemed to have sunk up as quietly as 100 men on horseback can while she had distracted them. Smirks formed on the faces of Zhuge Liang and Diao Wan as surprise overcame the Wu officers. It seems that they had never dreamed of Zhuge Liang out smarting their plan.

"Thank you Diao Wan, but I seem to have already gotten your message," the strategist said coolly.

(To be continued)

Hahahahaha! I bet you didn't expect that now did u? Ah yes my mind is a wonderful thing, crazy and insane, yes but I am rather talented no? Well more to come. Savvy?