Little was said, only actions were being taken now. Gan Ning darted across the path to find where the arrows had come from. There was no sign of the attackers yet he watched one of his unit's soldiers get struck down by an arrow. As Liu Bei returned to main caravan he seemed annoyed by what was happening.

"I thought this was the safe route!"

"Well..its safer then the other. It was either risk of Cao Cao or bad roads and bandits." Ming Yue offered.

Even with that the Shu lord didn't look pleased. Nervously he looked about the area for a sign of what had just happened but there was nothing for the time being. Sun Shang Xiang growled a little refusing help up, what sort of ambush was this? First they volley, strike down a guard then what? Nothing? The Wu princess stood up fully tripping a little over the gown she was in digging through the rubbage for her chakrams out. With a sigh Ming Yue took a few steps away rather baffled by the type of 'ambush' this seemed to be.

Suddenly another wave of arrows caught them off guard. Sun Shang Xiang let out a cry of pain as an arrow painfully went through her right shoulder. Having been digging she had paid little heed, and it was her biggest mistake yet. Her lady guard's face paled hearing her scream as did every other general's.

"Hey they're right the princess certainly is a pretty one.." Spouted a scruffy looking man who lept from one of the bushes dressed in tattered golden robes. "Appears her lady guard isn't that bad either.."

"Bandits..." Shang Xiang muttered to Ming Yue who had been quick to dash at her side. Normally she'd be right there with her rapier but Lady Sun was injured.

"Don't think you're getting your hands on them buddy...You gotta get through the great Gan Ning first."

"...It'd be best if you leave."

Both General Gan Ning and General Zhou Tai stepped forward with their blades draw prepared to deal with the one bandit himself. However it wasn't a surprise that more came from the bushes to surround the elite unit that was protecting Sun Shang Xiang. With a sigh Gan Ning shook his head seemingly disappointed in the group that had attacked them, before finally he held out his blade to get into stance to attack. The warrior weidling the eastern blade turned himself to face the other direction before looking to Liu Bei. 'Run or fight..' was what Ming swore he said but swords by that time had clashed so she may of been mistaken.

Yue looked for a route that she could safely taken Shang Xiang through, the arrow had been riopped out by the princess herself, but she was in no fighting condition. Liu Bei sat grandly on top of his horse attacking the bandits near him as though he was some untouchable god. Something about him screamed a 'coward' in her mind, without his brothers he seemed unwilling to fight down on the ground, how did this man ever fight against Lu Bu with his brothers? Gan Ning suddenly darted through a line of bandits with his sword drawn out with a grin on his face as his musou cleared a path.

"There you ladies go, get her to safety.." He ordered before turning with a smirk towards the bandits, "Now the pirate Gan Ning will put you back in your place."

Arrogently the pirate dashed out of Ming Yue's line of sight, and they kept forward. Wincing Shang Xiang glanced over her shoulder towards the fight, while Ming Yue prayed the bandits hadn't noticed their escape.

"There you are!"

Ming Yue had quickly ripped out her rapier ready to attack, until she saw it was the Shu lord.

"What are you doing?" He asked Ming Yue angrily.

"Getting your wife out of here...why aren't you helping Gan Ning and Zhou Tai!" Yue snapped in return.

The two held a rather displeased look with another before Liu Bei held out his hand to Shang Xiang. "Come on we need to get out before the cheif bandit shows up dear."

"...No..." Shang Xiang replied warily, "We have to make sure Zhou Tai and Gan Ning are okay.."

"They'll be fine..." He responded with a soft smile.

"How touching..."

Great this was just great, Liu Bei had stalled enough time for the chief to make his presence known in the battle. Bandit leaders had held the battle going and now the chief was here to make sure the job got done, damnit it all. Ming Yue glared at the Shu lord before eyeing the bandit chief that had made his presence by interupting the conversion and blocking a path to Shang Xiang's safety.

Silently the Shu lord sat upon his white mount gazing at the bandit, as Ming Yue held her position infront of Shang Xiang. Taking a step foward Ming Yue held out her rapier, "You shall not touch the princess, you have to get through me first.."

A laugh escaped the large man's throat as Ming Yue stood her ground, and it didn't help Yue was trying to figure out why. She and Liu Bei could surely handle this, then her eyes shifted to Liu Bei who was backing his horse up. The guard's eyes widened a little in surprise at the lords strange behavior, was he always like this. As the bandit chief moved in the sword was suddenly robbed from Ming Yue's hand.

Shang Xiang angrily dashed forward with the foreign weapon in her hand, she wasn't going to stay back behind. Her bodygaurd was too worried about protecting her at the moment, and her so called new husband seemed scared. Using the rapier she taken from Ming the princess rapidly thrusted the thin blade in the chief's direction. To block the man raised a standard spear letting the blade hit the wood instead of his body. Though poorly armored the cheif wasn't half bad with that weapon. Viciously Lady Sun continued to attack until a small break that allowed the chief to knock her backwards, hitting the same shoulder the arrow had earlier.

With a scream of pain she fell backwards grasping her shoulder, she could feel blood seeping through the clothing and into her own hand.

"SHANG XIANG!"

Ming Yue darted towards the Wu princess, but was cut off by the bandit chief who seemed rather determind to kill her and take Shang Xiang. It was then she realized she was completely unarmed, absolutely...Perfect! Martial arts was how Shang Xiang and herself were taught, weapons were secondary to her. As the chief swung the spear, Ming Yue jumped landing briefly on the thin wood before using it for leverage and kicking the in the face. Victorious she lept away from the bandit smirking, until she suddenly fell forward to her hands and knees.

A small group of the bandits had come up to help, one having succeeded in striking Yue across the back. Letting out a little cough she went to stand but again she was struck down. Liu Bei finally seeing the attention was off Shang Xiang dismounted his horse aiding his queen. Lifting her he remounted his steed turning to Ming Yue with a shake of his head, "We cannot waste the life given to us.." Quickly he turned the horse to knock those about his wife's former guard away but didn't stop. He continued down the path away towards Shu territory.

Meanwhile Zhou Tai had finished the last of the bandit leaders and turned to look at Gan Ning who was having a field day taking some gold off the bandits bodies.

"...Man these guys are wimps..First they fight like wussies and they have barely any gold. Sheesh makes me wanna return to the old days and show them all up.." He grinned then slowly dropped it, "..What...why are you giving me that look."

"The girls and Liu Bei.."

"Oh right..." Quickly he looked about the area, "Um...I don't see them."

Zhou Tai sighed restraining himself from knocking the man upside the head, "Exactly."

"Oh..."

As if it suddenly dawned on him that it perhaps wasn't a good thing they weren't in sight of the two generals. Taking a good run foward he suddenly caught sight of Ming Yue staggering holding off the last of the bandits. The two hesitated to get involved, Quan and Yu had told them only to help her if she direly needed it. However Zhou Tai felt it was best if he violate those orders just a little.

"Catch!" He shouted taking his katana from its sheath. Quickly he tossed it in Ming Yue's direction.

Ming Yue managed to dive roll away from one of the bandit's large hand axes before she caught sight of her superiors. Yet they didn't move to help her, why? Was this Quan's idea of them keeping an eye on them? As Zhou Tai threw his blade she made another dodging roll catching it quick enough to lash out at the remaining few that had her cornered. A sickening pit grew in her stomach at the sight of the clean cuts she had made with the blade, but they had tried to kill her. Slowly she got up only to see the undeafeted bandit chief coming to finish the job.

Luckily for her General Gan Ning had gotten bored of watching and had finished the man off. Unfortunately she still had to inform the two of the bad news.


Cait: Okay I swear I'm not normally this bad on transition chapters. This is one of those craptastic has to happen for the plot but gotta think how to write it. XX Forgive me for the wait school recently ended and brain was fried from finals and the ACT. But all is over and all shall be well again. Those who have been commenting thank you soooo much.