A/N: Ok, so this is the other half of the prologue…I'm guessing some of you may wanna know what happens to the first four already but that'll be next chapter…or is it? MWAHAHAHA! j/k

Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors. Koei does…Duh!

Theirs Not to Make Reply

Prologue: Many Meetings Pt. 2

Tears streamed from his eyes as more dirt fell on the body, finally obscuring the whole form. He stuck the shovel into the pile of dirt and once more heaved soil onto the tomb. A few more repetitions and he was finally done the unhappy business. He knelt down and left a single flower on top of the grave. Well, that was it…He was all alone now…Thirteen and already an orphan. It wasn't his fault his parents married late.

He knew he couldn't stay here. No chance he could run the farm all by himself…not that he wanted to. But where could he go? No relatives, and his friends families' were all too poor to support him as well as their own children. He had nothing to cling to then, except his ideas…

"Hey, WAKE UP, kid!"

Yong Hu jumped up from beneath the straw mat he'd been sleeping under beside the parked ox cart. He sighed. Yet another dream about those dreadful days two years ago. Why won't it stop? He glared at the man who woke him up, a peasant like him and yet he carried a spear instead of a hoe or a fishing pole. Wait…a spear!

Yong Hu stumbled back, yelling in a semi-forced accent he'd tried to pick up to make him sound like he'd always been in the city, "Hey, what the fuck? If you want a ride, just ask, dude!"

The spearman glared at him. "Our leader and his brothers want a ride. Make sure you give him the respect they deserve."

"Them…" groaned Hu sarcastically, correcting the spearman's grammar.

"Them deserve?"

"Give them…"

"Oh….Argh, whatever, kid. Just saddle up your ox, and lay down the table in the middle as well. The teacher would love to use it for discussion," the angry spear wielder grunted, wearily.

"You know, that's extra," smiled Yong Hu as he climbed into the back and started laying out the table in the middle of the ox cart. Discussion…heh, another polite term for a drinking party, most likely, which was mostly what the table was used for when the ox cart was on the move, aside from a game of Mah-jongg or on rare occasions, Go…for the pieces often got shook up on the rougher bumps in the country roads…However, around the city it was just fine. But the spearman just shrugged.

"The master knows everything. So shut up and get ready," was the reply as the man went off to fetch this master or teacher or leader or whatever he was.

Whatever he was became much easier to guess a few minutes later. He was…well…some high and holy leader guy, was what he was…dressed in long yellow robes. Then again, he could just be a lunatic pretending to be an important official. But why would Hu care? If he paid for his ride, money was money and he'd take it.

The group approached. Hu bowed. He didn't want to but there was something about the man that made him feel like bowing. What was it? His wise looks? His noble walk? His dazzling yellow robes? Whatever…

He shrugged as all of them boarded and went onto his place at the head but the leading man put a hand on his shoulder. The man said, "Child, is this really your true calling in life?"

For one brief instant, the features…they were…they were his dad…But it couldn't be. Who was he to question what destiny had brought him? His dad was dead and now, fifteen, this was his job…An ox cart driver…Right?

He shrugged again, "I take what I get and I try to turn it into something…It's life."

"Ah, yes, life. To turn what you get into something. But true life…to turn what you get into something worthwhile…" and with that the man boarded his cart. Hu tilted his head to one side. The man might be onto something. He went to the front seat and hopped on, whipping the reins of the ox as he grasped them. But the lumbering brute didn't move. It just stood there.

Hu jumped off. "Now what in 'tarnation is your problem, eh? You maddafucking, son of a bitch…" he grumbled, slapping the ox's back. He continued spouting out furious insults too unholy to mention as his attempt to get the cart mobile where foiled…at least, too unholy for the seemingly holy passenger's ears.

"Boy, please. If you want to change something, then what you need is action, not words," he called calmly to the struggling kid, who was now pulling on the harness, and had incredibly actually moved the ox two steps but no more.

"I am taking action, dammit!"

"Not that way…"

"Then, if you're so smart, why don't you try pulling it?"

The old man thought for a second then answered slowly, "I'm an old man, son. This is not for my weary bones. But, this is similar to your life, don't you say. A situation you want to change, and can't, but not for lack of trying. You just go about it the wrong way."

Hu was still furious, "That's a whole load of BULL…and so's this situation!" but he realized moments later from his face that the man was actually serious. He slowly continued, "So, what do you do to change YOUR situation in life, eh, smartyrobes?"

The eyes of the man started to burn into him as he started his words, "You try everything. Go all out, child. Be radical…even fanatical. If you want something in life, reach out and grab it by the horns." Hu was surprised by the fieriness of the senior and he was confused by the words. They sorta made sense, but something felt missing. Then again, maybe he was taking this stuff too deep. Hmm…He grinned.

Hu grabbed the horns of the stubborn bovine to the surprise of both the creature and everyone in the cart. The ox panicked and stampeded forward, Hu being catapulted by the force of movement behind the beast, and yet he just rode the momentum and landed, upright, in the driver's seat. The cart was moving, all right, and he was still grinning wildly.

The old man was the first to recover his composure and was confounded by Hu's smile and the fact that he had also now grabbed a strange stringed instrument and was playing an odd tune.

Hu explained, his heavy southern rural accent now showing clearly, "Heh…Ha'n't done dat fer o'er two 'ears now. E'er since I lost me dad, I's a been tryin' ta ferget da countryside, y'know…And oh, this…It's called a qin-pipa, until I think of a betta' name. Man, it's fun ta play."

The man just stared at him, surprised at why the kid was so cheerful after almost being gored, "Ehem…well…you do realize I meant life, right?"

The kid replied, "Yah. I like yer advice. But ya missed one thin' Ya should neva' ferget yer roots, liked I tried ta do for two 'ears. Now I know. Ya got anymore of that life counsellin' stuff?"

Now, it was the old man's turn to grin, "Only a whole way of living it…"

Hu's eyebrow rose, then he replied, "Tell me 'bout this 'ere way…"

"Of Peace…"

Dust rose of the ground as a foot hit it, followed by another, and another, in rapid succession. Someone was running. Well, two someones.

Actually, two someones were running in the first group, the group pursuing them…Well, it had a lot of someones, and it was intent on their heads.

Why had everything just have to go wrong? The first someone's legs hurt from the intense running she'd been doing just to keep up even the minimal chance they had left to pull it off. Good thing her dearly departed father had always loved to take her hunting back in the day. She was used to the long runs and this was her ground. Despite being just fourteen, she knew the land better than anyone else alive who was now on that trail. The problem was, it was pretty much the only advantage she and her companion had.

Firstly, for a hunter…er, -ess, feeling like the prey in a chase was not very encouraging. Also, they were smaller than their pursuers, but they carried more weight, for the other group carried only weapons, while they had their few possessions with them as well as some weapons to protect them. Also, there was that obvious numerical advantage the chasing group had. This was one race they couldn't win by brute strength. They had to play it smart.

Brute…what a versatile adjective. That's what their stepfather was, too. He was bad enough that way, which was why the two had no idea why their mom had loved him obsessively. But then, he joined this cult, coming home with a yellow scarf or whatever it was around his neck and things just got creepy. Then, one day, their mom was wearing the scarf as well, and that was when they planned to bolt from the house. Nobody was supposed to notice…but it seems the rest of their step-dad's buddies had been watching them closely.

And so they were stuck in this current predicament, outnumbered and exhausted, and most importantly, the girl was worrying about her greatest burden…No, she wasn't a burden…she was…an inspiration. The way she kept going, despite being more exhausted than the fourteen year old, took nothing but pure guts. Her beloved younger sister was twelve, and was too young to hunt when their real dad died. She never learned the ways of the wild and yet she went on, bent but unbowed, not daunted by all the odds against the two of them. If anything else, no matter what happened, the fourteen year old was determined her sibling would not fall into the brute's clutches, even if it meant the sacrifice of herself.

But that might not be needed. The elder suddenly grabbed the younger by the shoulder and pulled her off through the shrub, the branches and spiny leaves slashing and stinging their arms. They emerged off on a smaller path and stopped, panting.

"This should slow them down, eh, Ming Ue?" exclaimed the younger cheerily after looking around to another of her older sister's detours.

"Whatever, Sing…We gotta keep going," the elder replied seriously. She was running out of backwoods paths to run off to but they still had to keep going, so she hauled her sister, who had decided to take a seat beneath one of the trees. The twelve year old furiously shook her head.

"Sis…I've got nothing left. I was hoping this was the last detour. I'm out," Sing replied, her tone changing rapidly to dejection. Ming Ue frowned. And to think the only reason she was still going was because of her sister. Then again, maybe that's what Sing was thinking too. She turned around, planning to pace, when suddenly all hell broke loose…erm…all heaven…well, the army of the General of Heaven…um, a part of it…yes, a small part…but still overwhelming to the two girls.

Ming Ue got her spear ready and the sharp point tore into the intestines of the first turban through the brush...no, the wearer of the turban…scarf…whatever it was…Anyways, Sing got her bow out and struggled with pulling the string back, releasing desperately as one rebel got close…and missing…right into the head of the one behind that rebel. Meanwhile, the closing rebel was knocked down flat by Ming Ue's swirling spear. She then spun around, leaning on the shaft for support and nailed another fanatic in the jaw. As she stopped to regain her balance, she yelled, "Sing, get outta here!"

Her sister made to get up but faltered, unsure if she should help or obey. Then, two strong arms wrapped around Ming Ue and she struggled, ramming the guy's eye with the butt end of her spear. The guy spun around, dazed but still holding her tight and for a moment, she saw the brilliant fire of magic blaze towards her, intent on her incineration, from the staff of one sorceror. Her eyes widened in fear, helpless as a deer in the sights of a hunter's bow.

But as the flames flickered close to her skin, moments from consuming her in an inferno, she fell to the ground. She rolled over, only to wish she hadn't; her sister had tackled her and now occupied the space where she had been…Moments later, she and her former assailant was gone.

Ming Ue staggered up, stunned. She grabbed her spear and the only thing left by her sister, a metal bracelet engraved with a unicorn. She clutched it and then put it on. She had nothing left to live for…and she had everything to die for…and so did the Turbans.

She charged towards the men, fire blazing in her eyes, but they fled. The girl stopped, confused. Had her rage been that terrifying?

Then, the hoof beats finally registered in her ears. She turned around to see horsemen. Lots of them…

Unbeknownst to her, they had travelled into the forest at the same time that the vanguard of the mighty Qiang nomadic army was riding to the aid of the Han at the request of the Governor of Xi Liang.

The horsemen halted in front of her and a mighty voiced asked curiously, "Is that you…Yun Lu?"

She shook her head, "Sorry, I am not this Yun Lu."

The man lowered his head, as dejectedly as her sister had earlier…Agh! She had to stop thinking about her, or she'd go crazy. "But you look so much like her, she's only about a year younger though. But at least you are safe. We'd best get along. Nice meeting you, Lady…er…I believe I have not had the pleasure of knowing your name."

"I do not deserve that title, kind sir, and knowing my name is not a pleasure for my family is but a disgrace. But if you do wish to know it, then I am Gao Ming Ue. And you sir?"

The man shot her a curious glance, as if he'd heard the name before, then he replied with a mighty flourish and a wave of his spear, "I am the Sword of Justice, Ma Chao, son of Ma Teng, the General who Conquers the West!"

She tilted her head to the side and replied with her own odd look. Ma Teng…That name…wait, that was the guy her mom had flirted with before this turban dude. In fact, she had flirted with him while dad was alive. They had a daughter, who stayed with Ma Teng…and could like her! This daughter…could she be? This Yun Lu…was she? Everything was confused in her mind.

The nineteen-year-old teen tapped her shoulder, pulling her out of the daze. He said, "Usually people would react oddly when I say it like that but you were the first one to be stunned. It's always more along the lines of, 'Bu-bu-but you carry a spear?'"

She forced a giggle, "Um…I was just thinking. Well, I have nowhere to go, not even home. Maybe I can just ride with you, and help find your Yun Lu, and then I'll just figure out where I can go next. I have sharp eyes from hunting. Should help."

The man nodded, "Well, you can ride behind me. Let's saddle up then."

Ming Ue followed and got on with her spear and belongings to hand. If Yun Lu really was her half-sister…then she had a second chance, and by the heavens, as those Turbans so loved to swear, she'd make sure not to screw this one up as well…

"Dammit! Dig, you bastards, dig!" called a sergeant to the ranks of men preparing the base.

One of the younger kids suddenly piped up, "Hey! Orphan, I may be; peasant, I may be; but I am not illegitimate!"

"Why don't you just shut up and dig, kid?"

The thirteen year old's face burned with anger, "My name is not 'kid'. Call me Chen Shing!"

"Well, if you dig, we might actually get a Chen Shing. Great victory, my ass," and the sergeant strutted off.

Man, and to think he'd agreed to leave the mines north of Chang An to become a servant in the army. He did it just to get away from the digging, and here he was…digging…But at least it wasn't underground here.

Then again, he'd never been worked this hard in the mines. Trench after trench, palisade after palisade, mound after mound. What was up with all these defensive positions anyways? They were supposed to attack and clear out those turbans from the highlands of Xi Liang. This was anything but attacking.

Though it made sense as somehow, the Turbans had taken it upon themselves to be the offensive, launching more and more desperate attacks. The reason behind such tactics was lost on the young kid. Why not sit back and wait for the enemy to expend their energy trying? But why was he complaining? That meant the war would be over faster.

However, when the Yellow Turbans were desperate, they were really desperate. No philosopher was needed to discern the signs of desperation, what with the phantom soldiers, sudden tornadoes, falling meteors, even a brainwashed battalion and those extremely annoying large boulders that came rolling down on the camp. In fact, one would have crushed the command tent had it managed to get over the last mound that had been built to stop it…but that was Shing's mound and no way was that boulder going anywhere on his watch.

Not like he got appreciation for it though. Just a gruff 'Good job' from that strutting sergeant. Well, it was the only time he'd ever said that to him so he'd take what he got. Shing now started digging again, extending the new trench around the camp. Well, at least they stuck him to something he was good at. In fact, it was the only thing he was good at it. No…that wasn't true. There was one more thing he was good at. Something he'd always been experimenting with in the mines and had done good at many a rush job.

Explosives.

And yet the army insisted there was no practical use for it. No practical use! Imbeciles. If they let him handle 'em, they'd have ten trenches here in a day, not two. Just because he was thirteen didn't mean he was dumb, and yet they all laughed at him, especially that stupid pig of a commander whose life had been saved by Shing's defensive mound. If he could just die. Yet without him, the whole province would fall to the rabid fanatics.

Chen Shing decided to spare a look around before swinging another blow with his pick and so he looked up, to see the trail this new trench was supposed to cut across, only for dust to fly into his eyes from the clouds left behind by the steps of a thundering horse. Shing decided to spare the cursing and listen to what the horseman was shouting.

"The Qiang are here! They're finally here! We outnumber the rebels now! The Qiang are here!"

And then the horsemen disappeared in to the camp. Outnumber the rebels? That means, the offensive…and no more digging! The gods bless those nomads. They kept to their agreement. They were gonna run the rebs out of the hills now. He grinned, "These Qiang…Man, I like 'em already…"

More horsemen emerged down the trail, unmistakably a force of cavalry. A large one.

The Qiang.

He squinted through the dust but could not see what they looked like. He got out of the trench and just waited for them, unconsciously joining into the loud cheer that started from the scattered ranks of the Han force. He smiled as he saw the fat commander appear and begrudgingly join in the cheer. But the lousy pig still had the gall to call these noble reinforcements, "Barbarians…Grr…I'd rather be fighting those fools than helping them slaughter people who could serve me. General who Conquers the West…hah, these Qiang don't look conquered at all. If that idiot Ma Teng thinks we can trust these people, then he doesn't deserve that title."

However, most everybody else didn't hear his comments as they cheered while the head of the column passed by. The man at the head, a flamboyant teen, declared, "I am Ma Chao, son of Ma Teng, with the vanguard of the reinforcements we have gained from the alliance my father has recently forged with the Qiang."

Shing didn't really care though, even if he'd announced he was actually the Great Teacher himself coming to surrender. He only had eyes for another pair of riders, female ones, about his age.

Both noticed him and giggled as they rode on, chatting merrily, leaving the blue-eyed kid glued to watching their faces. Man, he was REALLY liking the Qiang, alright…

"Y-yes…L-lord Yuan Shao. I…My master…er…said, you needed another sorceror. W-well, the Han's…uh…run him out of experienced…um…s-sorcerors…so…yah…I'm the most experienced he's got," stuttered a young girl as she stood face to face with the noble native of Ru Nan.

"He dares insult me by sending a pathetic eleven year old! Begone, little lass, before I pour my anger out on you," bellowed the man as he stood up furiously, scaring the timid young lady. Despite her exterior features of fiery red hair in pigtails and piercing blue eyes, she wasn't exactly an outgoing or hot-headed person.

"S-sir…at least please read his letter to you that I delivered. H-he figured I'd bet-too shy t-to g-give you the m-message m-myself. I-in fact, I don't k-know what it s-says, but h-he insisted t-that I insist y-you read it. So…p-please…" she continued and then faltered, rather downcast.

Then, the nobleman started laughing, shattering whatever little confidence the girl had left, but he did open up the scroll and read it quickly. And her confidence started to pick up again as he smiled, "Hmm…it seems I've been too hard on you. 'Has great potential and already abilities to match most of my other pupils. Just not the confidence. Above par performance as long as confidence level is maintained. Will develop but do not pressure too much.' So this is what your master thinks of you?"

She slowly nodded, unsure what to say. He continued, "Well, young one, you do understand that in my vocabulary, 'too much pressure' does not exist? No? Well, too bad. But you know what? You're hired, little girl."

She was dumbfounded. What had her master placed in the letter that had changed the noble's mind? Well, whatever it was, it was good! She squealed in delight, thumping her staff on the floor, unabashedly shouting, "YES!" Suddenly, flame shot out from the staff skyward, burning a gaping hole through the command tent's roof.

She blushed, embarrassed, "Err…s-sorry." But the nobleman brow just rose.

Suddenly, he grinned, "Your master was right. I've never seen a fire spell that strong except maybe from the Turbans, intentional or otherwise. Well, says here, 'Personal guarantee that my young cousin, Xue Lin will perform at par and beyond if given decent support.' So you're a young relative of that mage. Then, something like his magic must run in your veins. That's enough for me. As for support, I believe your roommate, a good warrior and a mercenary I have personally sent messengers to for assistance will be good enough. You will be his special assistant. General Zhang He, would you show our esteemed little friend here to her quarters."

The man he signalled to nodded and motioned to her and she followed. As she closed in, she was sort of thrown aback by the general's…er…graceful qualities? He was handsome, but his choice of clothes…um…left a lot to be desired…

The man smiled, "This way, little girl. Your magic earlier, such magnificent flames. Beautiful!"

"Erm…thanks?"

"Yes, but your composure isn't exactly the most graceful. I can teach you…"

"Uh…I'd rather learn by myself."

The twenty two year old sighed, "As you wish. However, there is also nothing beautiful in tardiness."

"But I got here when I…I mean, my master said I would."

Zhang He shrugged, "I meant your roommate. What is taking him so long? Lazy steppe-wandering mercenaries. He was scheduled to show up a few days ago. Well, we'll have to wait. Wonder what happened to him. Some ungraceful delay…And yet I await his arrival for he is said to be beautiful!"

Xue Lin's face was twisted oddly at the sight of him talking. She tried to continue the conversation and finish it properly, "So, this warrior is a lady?"

The man laughed…well, actually, more like giggled, "No, of course not. That kind of beauty has no place on the battlefield, except for mages like you. He's a man of cour-"

Suddenly, a slight purr cut him off and his eyes glowered. He asked, "Do you have a cat?"

She knew from his look to not even dare admit it directly. "N-no. W-why would you ask t-that?"

"I could've sworn I heard one. Baah! Pets are without grace. Such vile creatures. It is good that our beautiful master has banned them from camp. So…"

"…I'll go to bed now. W-would you m-mind?" she finished for him and he just gave her a smirk and a slight nod.

So, her beloved cat was banned in camp. Where would she send Sunbeam to now? And who was this tardy warrior? Oh well…She plopped onto her bed. Well, at least she got into the army and so she whispered into the air, "Thanks, big couz'."

And in a moment, she could've have sworn she heard, "Your welcome, lil' cousin," whispered in the voice of her white bearded master…

A/N: So that's that…main story starts next chapter…And oh yeah, this is, after all the DW fanfiction section so the personalities are the DW ones, even though I know some of you would kill to see Zhang He portrayed in a manner that is historically accurate…Forgive me if they go out of character sometimes, I have a tendency to do that…And oh yeah, please R and R. And don't be afraid to criticize...I can take a few flames...Never had one onmy old profile, oddly enough...