Title: Parents
Category: Cartoons » Hero: 108
Author: Cahaya Sidur
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Genre: Family
Published: 06-25-16
Words: 1,026
Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.
It was one of those days that First and Second Squad found themselves in the lower levels of East Citadels, closely followed by Parrot King, Woo the Wise, and Commander Apetrully, but missing Lin Chung, who had been sent on another mission with Lady Green.
In the lower levels, portraits of many of the former Emperors hung on the walls, left there to collect dust.
"That's the former Emperor, before Highroller took over." Commander Apetrully pointed at a portrait of a serious-looking man, who had two daughters perched on his knees, a son who was standing next to him. His wife was standing on the other side.
"What happened to them?" Mystique Sonia asked.
Mr. NoHands replied. "We don't know. We think they may have made it to Memorial, but we have no such confirmation, since Memorial is outside of Hidden Kingdom, inside of Manchuria. Doing so publicly could cause civil war with Manchuria."
Mighty Ray frowned. "Then why can't we get them secretly?"
Commander Apetrully sighed. "The border guards won't allow us in. Ever since Highroller took over, no one from Hidden Kingdom has ever been invited into Manchuria."
"Hey, look at this!" Kowloon called from where he was looking at a portrait.
All of them rushed there, eyes wide as they scanned the portrait. Only a young man and woman were in there, the man standing behind the woman, who was sitting. The man had dark hair and ever darker eyes. He was wearing the traditional robes, which had been obviously tailored to suit him.
The woman was beautiful, her skin pale, hair a surprising snow white. Her features were sharp, yet held a sort of softness about them. One of her hands was resting on the man's hand, which was on her shoulder.
"Who's that?"
"Is that…Lin Chung?" Mystique Sonia squinted at the portrait.
"No." Commander Apetrully breathed. "How did I never make the connection? Of course!"
Mr. NoHands, Woo the Wise and Alpha Girl Latifah were having a similar reaction.
"Who?" Kowloon prompted.
Woo the Wise answered. "That's Lin Xian. He was the advisor of the former Emperor. That's his wife, Sofia. She was from a small village, but became Head of the Empress' staff and ladies-in-waiting."
"Look at this one." Hurricane pointed at another one.
They turned to it, eyes widening once more. Once more, Lin Xian and Sofia stood there, but in Sofia's arms was a small boy. The boy had grey hair, his his eyes were dark, seemingly staring straight into the looker's soul.
"No way." Archer muttered.
Commander Apetrully filled in the blanks. "Lin Xian was one of the highest positions available in the Emperor's court. It was widely known that Sofia and Lin Xian had a child, but the child was never revealed to the public for fear of assassination, ever since-"
"The near-assassination of the Emperor's youngest daughter." Mystique Sonia finished. It had been a widely-known event.
Commander Apetrully nodded. "The child was known to be younger than the Prince, but older than both sisters. In fact, it was rumoured that one would be engaged with him, though it was never confirmed who."
"Then what do you mean 'make the connection'?" Kowloon interrupted.
Mr. NoHands sighed. "Sofia had a skill of understanding animals. Anything they said, she would understand. Lin Xian was different. He was a hunter. He was one of the finest sharpshooters in the land. In fact, when the Commander started Big Green, he had thought about inviting Sofia and Lin Xian, but they had vanished after the Emperor disappeared."
"Did they leave through the border as well?"
Woo shrugged. "It was unknown, though possible. Sofia's family originated from Manchuria."
"And you guys never suspected that Lin Chung might've been their child?" Kowloon asked incredulously.
Alpha Girl Latifah let out a sheepish grin. "We've met them before, twice. They were quite nice, Lin Xian more serious. We never met the child. The one time they brought their child out, we never saw them. Only some Animal Kings and Queens got to see him."
"And," Commander Apetrully's brow furrowed. "I am almost certain that Panther King and Queen were two of the Animal Rulers. It was the only time that they were seen at a celebration."
"That makes sense." Woo the Wise noted. "Lin Chung fights like one. He never retained either Sofia's or Lin Xian's fighting style, though he certainly inherited the sharpshooting."
"So what now?" Kowloon asked. Footsteps echoed dully through the corridor.
"We get out of here!" Mystique Sonia shoved them around the corner as bears approached.
Meanwhile, both Lady Green and Lin Chung were making their way to the border, dressed warmly in thick fur coats, carrying their weapons and small bags with necessities.
Sofia was already waiting for them at the border.
She smiled at both of them, signalling for the guard to let them through. When they came through, she hugged Lin Chung, placing a small hand on his cheek while examining him carefully. When satisfied, she turned to Lady Green, who hugged her tightly.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Lady Green asked, worried.
Sofia smiled. "If they have gone to East Citadel as planned, they should already know about both of you."
"But abandoning them after we managed to convince Commander Apetrully to let us go out together?" Lady Green's brow furrowed. "That is not becoming of me."
"On the contrary, milady." Sofia countered. "The fact that you're worried about this matter proves that you will make an excellent ruler one day."
Lady Green smiled faintly.
Sofia smiled. "Now, enough of these dreary matters. We have to be quick to meet up with the rest." She turned to Lin Chung. "Your father's waiting for you," she turned back to Lady Green. "And so is yours."
Lady Green hesitantly looked up, unlike her usual demeanour of confident calmness.
Lin Chung placed a hand on her shoulder, looking at her worriedly.
She smiled, trying to look confident, and squeezed the hand on her shoulder. Lin Chung smiled at this - as did Sofia.
"Come on, your Highness, we have to reach the city before dusk."