A/N: AHHH!!! No one wants Ningy to die eh? Well don't worry I have solved all your/our problems. I shall make alternate endings. One the one I'm writing here, the original plan . . . where it has a sad ending. ((Use thou brain, it shall be very sad)). The other one is to the demands of the reviewers. A non- um . . . I won't spoil it. So pick now, or read both. The other ending will be available to access in my bio-page. Thank you all blows kiss and a hug to everyone! Hugs everyone Oh yeah, if you've brushed up on your RotTK history you will know that Ning does die of dysentery in actual history. Also, his death as it was in RotTK, I will try to make as accurate as possible. Oh yeah there is going to be lots of POV switching. Sorry. Innocent smile

Chapter 12

Phoenix Swords and Ex-Pirates

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The Last Battle of the Kingdoms

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& (Diao Wan's POV) &

I awoke to the morning light coming threw the open door to my small balcony. I opened my eyes dreamily and looked out into the morning sky. It was a cloudy day, yet still beautiful. It was still early and the sun shown purple and orange against the white blanket of clouds. A cool summer breeze floated threw and blew the curtains inward. I sighed.

"Wish I was with you . . ." I said to myself.

"Oh, but you are, my darling," said a voice from behind me on the other side of my double bed.

I panicked a bit. That wasn't Gan Ning's voice, but it did sound familiar. I whipped around to see Jiang Wei and Zhao Yun's beaming faces only two inches from mine. They were leaning over the edge of the bed and just inches from laughing their heads off.

"I am going to kill you two very near in the future," I said with a glare.

"Sorry, we were just passing by and couldn't resist the opportunity," Jiang Wei laughed and smiled.

I smiled at their game and pushed them out of the way so I could get out of bed. Stretching, I came round the other side and looked out the balcony. The sun broke threw the clouds and shined into my bedroom. I sighed again and leaned against the railing.

"Oh, c'mon Lady Diao! Cheer up! The knight shall return for his queen," Zhao Yun called, a small hint of laughter in his words.

"Shut it up you two, at least some of us actually have lovers to brag about!" I teased while turning to smirk at them.

They stopped laughing immediately. Their stern faces glared at my victorious sneer. They jumped up from my bed, as they had been sitting there, put their hands to their spears and turned to each other.

"Let's get her!" they yelled and came rushing at me.

I laughed and jumped out of the way. I ran between them and grabbed my sword off the ground. I ran out of my chambers and into the hall, both of them right on my tail, and laughing the entire time. They chased me into Lu Chao's chambers across the hall. We burst in, jumping, dodging, and "attacking" each other.

"Your going to have to do better than that." I challenged and blocked them with my sword as both their spears came at me.

They came at me again and the force pushed me into the door to another on of Lu Chao's rooms. I crashed to the floor as the door flew open. Jiang Wei fell as well right next to me as Zhao Yun tumbled on top of us. We started laughing hysterically, hardly able to breathe.

"That's what you get for sleeping late Diao!" Zhao Yun laughed looking for some excuse for knocking us all to the floor.

"Late? She was up at dawn like a good girl!" Jiang Wei replied at my defense and punched Zhao Yun teasingly on the shoulder.

"Oh please! It's more like what you two idiots are . . . are going . . . to get for . . . uh . . . Good Morning Lu Chao?" I started but was broke off by a very upset Lu Chao.

He loomed over us, tapping his foot angrily, and still in his bedclothes.

"Oh very sorry, did we interrupt something direly important?" I asked with a smile.

"HA. HA. HA. VERY FUNNY!" he yelled sarcastically, "Nothing important, just my sleep that I was desperately needing. But I am wondering . . . what in the name of SHU are you doing up at 6:00 AM, attacking each other, and in my room of all places? It's not that hard of a question now is it?"

"For Yun it is!" piped up Jiang Wei.

"JIANG WEI!" Zhao Yun yelled and got up to punch his friend.

Jiang Wei ran like a jackrabbit in the summer on a hot desert during mid-day. Zhao Yun ran as well, leaving me with the angry Lu Chao.

"Don't hurt me," I asked with an innocent smile up at Lu Chao.

"No, but my wife might," he said with a smile.

"Phew! Wait . . . that's a bad thing isn't it? Durn," I realized.

"Yes, that would be a bad thing Lady Diao."

"Aye, Sun Zhu would be a bad encounter when she is in a bad mood. How is the lady?"

"Hehe, you can ask her yourself madam."

Sun Zhu came from behind him, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She was dressed, but still asleep.

"Lu Chao, who burst in? Oh hello Lady Diao. Ready for the battle tomorrow?" she asked sleepily.

"Ah, just a little wake up call from our dear friends Jiang Wei, Zhao Yun, and Lady Diao," Lu Chao said to his wife.

"Wait! Battle tomorrow? With who?" I asked urgently.

They stared at me like I was the dumbest thing on earth. I slapped my forehead. Of course I knew whom it was against. Wu was our only enemy left. But I had not known of the battle, so I waited for their reply.

"You didn't know? There is to be a battle between Wu and Shu. The last battle of the kingdoms," Lu Chao answered.

The last battle of the kingdoms. The sentence throbbed in my brain. Gan Ning would be there. Gan Ning might die. I might die. This was not good. I might have to kill the man I love most. The only man I've ever loved. The last battle of the kingdoms. Well, it just might be the last battle ever as well. I got up from the ground and walked slowly out of the room in a daze. Tomorrow. Tomorrow might be the last time I'll ever see Gan Ning again. Never see him again? I don't know if I could bear it. Loosing yet another dear loved one? The world is a cruel place. Very cruel indeed

"Lady Diao? Is everything alright?" Sun Zhu called.

"Yes, I'll be ok . . . I think," I responded.

"Oh yes, you did miss the meeting last night didn't you? You're to be stationed with Prince Shamoke and myself opposite Gan Ning and Zhou Tai's troops. It shouldn't be hard. I hear that Gan Ning won't even be present at the battle now. He is deathly ill with dysentary . . ." said Lu Chao as his words faded off.

Lu Chao's words faded off out of thought. I collapsed. I couldn't think. Then everything went black.

((Gan Ning's POV, left off from chapter 11))

Dysentary? I was too die then. No! I have to see Diao Wan before I die! I must, I must! I've never felt this way before towards a woman. Not even as a child. Not even on my ship when I was captain. I let my men capture women if they pleased, but I never did that sort of thing myself. I was in a state of shock and dire need for some good news. I turned my head to see Sun Quan enter my bedroom. He was mumbling about something and rubbing the spot on his head where his hat was missing.

"What has you trouble Lord Sun?" asked Zhou Yu.

"There is to be a battle tomorrow between ourselves and Shu. I need a good general to attack a weak side on the left flank of the Shu headquarters. With Gan Ning out of commission I might not be able to use the advantage," Sun Quan replied to him.

"Weak spot? What is this spot you speak of Lord?" Zhou Yu asked while handing me a wet cloth for my forehead.

"There is supposedly a weak defense of the left lower quadrant of the Shu headquarters. Only three minor generals are commanding it. Noting we couldn't handle usually, but I wouldn't trust my minor officers to do the offensive work in that area. All our major generals are in defending off against Shu's major officers on the right and center. It's nothing but an advantage I would like to use, but I guess I'll have to hold off," Sun Quan continued, "My deepest sympathies, my friend Ning."

"Who said I was too ill to fight? I might die, but I'd rather die on the battle field than on a bed sulking for life!" I snapped angrily.

"Gan Ning! I order you to rest! Do you always have to be so brash?" Zhou Yu snapped back.

"Give me a break. Gotta get your hands dirty sometime," I responded.

They sighed and looked at each other in disapproval.

"If you don't let me go, I'll just go anyway. You'll know I'll do it too," I said casually.

"Sigh, yes I know you will. What is the use. Ok, you get the job. I'll get Zhou Tai to help you," Sun Quan said reluctantly.

"YES!" I yelled with enthusiasm.

Zhou Yu scowled disapprovingly, but he went along with it and eventually left my room. Sun Quan stayed and talked for awhile.

"Are you sure your up to this, Ning?" he asked me.

"I'm always up for a fight if that's what you mean," I answered after swallowing a drink of water.

"Well, I knew that my friend. I mean, are you ok fighting Shu? Against the one you love? Also, while your deathly ill. I think this might send you to the ultimate edge of your capability, Ning. And I really don't want to lose my most trusted general."

"Don't worry, Quan. I've got things under control. By tomorrow . . . well who knows! I could be as healthy as a horse. But going back to your first question, I don't really know my friend. You warned me of this, and told me to end my feelings for her. But, that is impossible. I just hope that I don't have to fight against her, or that she won't be there at all."

"I do too, Ning, for your sake. Now get some rest. You'll need it."

With that he left the now dark room, taking a candle as he left to light the way. I light one that was next to my bed and sat in silence for awhile. Will this really be my death? A disease instead of on the battle field? The great Gan Ning of the Bells. Pirate of the Silken Sails. I sighed. This was not going to be easy. And Diao Wan . . . I do hope she stays out of this battle. I looked towards the crescent moon outside a distant window. Good night, my love . . . Diao Wan.

((Next Day, with Diao Wan, Wan's POV))

I was outside with Shamoke and Lu Chao, sitting and waiting orders. Our small platoon of troops stood at attention next to us. Lu Chao was pacing back and talking aloud. I couldn't tell if he was talking to himself, or us I really wasn't listening. Shamoke was fixing the fletching on an arrow. Our bodyguards stood near us. I had Mei and Li Li with escorting me. They stood next to two captains from Lu Chao's outfit, flirting and tossing their hair. I leaned back on my hands and observed the area. We were at the battlefield positioned several yards away from head quarters. All the generals were there, but were not on our side of our territory. Wu still remained hidden. Their side of the battlefield was mostly bushes, except a wide clearing in the center were you could see the red flag of Wu dancing in the wind.

"That way, if they take our side as a weak point, we can take out as many troops as possible. Grr. . . are you two even listening to me?" Lu Chao asked Shamoke and I.

"No," we both replied.

"Fine, I'll just go and talk to myself," he snapped.

"Ok," we both said again.

Lu Chao glared at us with a scowl. His dark eyes burned in flames. He hated being ignored. He was getting ready to snap us to our senses when Zhuge Liang walked up. Wonder what the old bat wants now. He better not send us back to headquarters to baby-sit him and Liu Bei and put some other general in our spot.

"Are you three ready? Wu has shown signs of advancing near the clearing's edge. Be ready and don't let them catch you off guard. If you run into trouble, don't yell. Whistle. Oh yes, and Shamoke. I know it's hard for you, but don't try anything stupid. We can't afford to have to clean up your mistakes," he said rather coolly.

"Yes, sir," Shamoke answered back threw gritted teeth.

Zhuge Liang nodded and turned back to headquarters. I stood up and turned to my platoon. Mei and Li Li came and stood beside me, picking up their pikes from the ground. Shamoke and Lu Chao also turned to their troops.

"It is time. Do not retreat unless you are told. I will not tolerate cowardice in my outfit. Are we clear?" I snapped.

"Yes, ma'am," my troops called back.

"The same goes for you all. Get out your weapons! Tired already? Well, it hasn't even begin to begun," Shamoke yelled.

We lined up our troops according to Zhuge Liang's plan. Shamoke and Lu Chao across from Gan Ning on the left, and myself was left to take Zhou Tai on in battle on the right. We stood at ready. Waiting for command to move, or for Wu to come at us. After several minutes, I walked over to Lu Chao.

"Lu Chao, what do you think? Wu is waiting, should we go ahead and attack? At this rate we'll be here for weeks!" I asked him.

"Well Lady Diao, I don't really know. Zhuge Liang said to wait for Wu's first move, but I think we should go ahead and attack," he answered calmly.

"So is that a command to go ahead, or are you just stating an opinion," I questioned.

"Just an opinion, Lady Diao. I'm not going to get myself in trouble. Plus Wu could attack any moment," he told me.

"Yes, any moment. Or now," came a brash familiar voice.

My heart leapt with joy, and I turned to see Gan Ning standing with Zhou Tai just several feet away. They were standing in some low bushes and had been well camouflaged.

"Gan Ning," I said to myself.

Before he could turn to see me, their troops as well as our own ran at each other. They clashed together and the whole area roared with a deafening cry. The battle had begun. I was pushed aside by the rushing troops, and lost sight of Gan Ning and Lu Chao. Lu Chao had run forward at the sight of Gan Ning and Zhou Tai, so he was probably engaged in battle. Dust clouded everywhere and blocked my sight. Mei came up beside me.

"Milady, this way. I saw Zhou Tai run towards headquarters," she told me urgently and pointed behind her.

"Alright . . ." I answered reluctantly and ran in the direction she pointed.

The dust cleared from the rush and I saw Zhou Tai's helmet, a head above everyone else.

((Gan Ning's POV))

I heard Diao Wan's voice for a moment before the platoon of Shu troops rushed forward at me. Dang! This just isn't the best time in the world to of taken a small amount of troops. The troops rushing at us weren't exactly in huge number, but we were even smaller. They attacked us with vicious nature. Knocking everyone in their path down . . . for good. Several young captains came at me. I sliced at them several times. Each swing hit and all three went down.

"You don't know what your getting yourselves into do you? Come at me! Like I'm imitated!" I taunted sarcastically.

"You shall pay!" yelled a voice.

Standing across from me was Lu Chao and Prince Shamoke. I was extremely outnumbered.

"Sir, I think we should retreat and get help. They are not as weak as we thought in this area," advised one of my bodyguards.

"Aye, RETREAT TO HEADQUARTERS MEN!" I commanded.

I waited for my men to pass before following them. Shamoke and Lu Chao were looking me in the eye. I turned and ran after my troops. As I ran I was immediately knocked to the ground by some hit to the head. Pain. Unbearable pain. My head was bleeding. My body was in total and complete pain. I screamed out in pain. This wasn't pain . . . it was suffering. I had to get up again. I slowly got to my feet and ran again. I will not die. I will not die.

"AH!" I yelled in pain.

I kept running. I will not stop. I finally collapsed under a large tree. My breathing slowed. The wound on my head was nothing. It was my body that was giving away. That horrible disease. Just like Sun Quan had warned, I had pushed myself to my breaking point. I used my limited amount of strength to look back the direction I had run. A person in red was coming towards me. Who the heck? As the person came closer I realized it was Diao Wan.

"Gan Ning! What happened? An arrow . . ." she mummered to herself.

Her eyes welled up in tears, and ran down her cheek. I reached up to wipe it off, but she caught my hand and held it.

"Rest. You'll be ok," she comforted.

"Wan . . ." I tried to speak.

"Shh . . . save your strength. Gan Ning, its not just the arrow is it? You're ill."

"Yes. Zhou Yu said its dysentary. No cure. Diao Wan, listen. I'm going to die. Not from this arrow in the back of the head," he said before stopping to catch his breath, "I've pushed myself too hard. I love you. I love you, Wan."

She sat beside me and picked up my head tenderly and set me in her lap. She leaned down and kissed my lips and held me there. She pulled away and looked me square in the eye.

"I love you too Xingba," she whispered.

((A/N: Xingba is Gan Ning's style name.))

I smiled up at her. She kissed me again. Then everything went black.

((Diao Wan's POV))

He slowly became limp. I didn't have to check. I knew what had happened. Gan Ning had died. Tears now freely fell from my eyes, and dripped on his lifeless face. I held him closer and sobbed. You can't be gone. You just can't be gone. You're all I have left.

"Noo . . ." I cried into his unmoving chest.

I heard footsteps behind myself, but I did not turn. I wanted to die too. There wasn't anything left for me. My family was gone. Tamahori and the whole crew were gone. I had lived for revenge then for love. My love was gone. I might as well die. I reached for Gan Ning's sword and put the blade to my throat.

"Diao! Don't do this!" I heard the person behind me yell.

I looked to see Lu Chao. His eyes were wide in fear.

"Don't do this, suicide isn't the answer!" he said and ripped the sword out of my grasp.

"Lu Chao, give me the sword. I have nothing to live for, this is my answer," I snapped.

"NO! Diao Wan, you shall not kill yourself!"

"Seven hells! Give me the sword. I will die."

In my anger I drew my own. I held it to my throat and slit it. Death is very cold. Bitterly cold.

THE END