Alright, here is the second part. I have most of the basics planned out, so it'll only be fleshing it from here on out. This part has a bunch of LuBuxDiaoChan that I really don't like. I've read over this a bunch (Not having a betta), and I still don't like the way I wrote them. Oh well.

The monster watched Yuan ride off in a fit of terror with a satisfied grin on his horrid face. In his moment of greatness, he did not see the castle wall shift and morph. From the wall grew a woman, with long brown hair and blue grey eyes. Her dress was purple, and her gloved hands pushed her out of the wall. From her hips down, she was the wall, and up she was human. "Lord Dong Zhuo, is this trouble worth two flowers? They shall surely grow back, as your garden never dies."

"Yes, my garden never dies, so long as you live. So long as you live, Diao Chan, my paradise shall flourish, which may I remind you is the only reason I do not take your life like you so rightly deserve." The beast turned around to stare at the beautiful lady. "You should be grateful that I let him have a night to spend in my paradise. To still complain surely shows your true, greedy, colors Diao Chan."

At his dangerous glare, the woman lowered her head and clasped her hands. "You are right my lord, please forgive me." He snorted, but stalked away from her. She watched her go from beneath her lashes, hating the way she trembled. Such a disgusting, villainous man. If only she had not failed herself, her father, and her love, she thought. Her delicate hands now clenched, she slipped back into the castle that was as much her as she was it before any tears dare swell in her eyes. As she disappeared, a gloom fell over the whole castle grounds.

Yuan raced on the mare, hoping he had chosen the right way home. His head spun, and the scenery eventually started to blur together. To his greatest relief, when he fell off of the mare, he was at the edge of the town. Farmers stopped to look at the noble fallen in the snow, and some men rushed over to help him. He was quickly taken back to his home, one of the wives sending their child off to the doctor.

He was bundled up and put in bed with his wife sitting next to him with a solemn expression. After the doctor came and left, saying that he had a fever and a mild cold, leaving the family with instructions, Yuan thought over the past events with his two daughters at his side. How was he to give up his two most precious daughters to that hideous beast? His two, fragile gems that were so perfect. Turning, he looked each of them over. Da sat, hands clasped in her lap and her head down, a small frown on her face as she stared at the decoration on her purple dress. Xiao held her sisters arm, almost looking ready to cry in a mix of relief and worry.

The longer he stared at them the farther in denial he fell. A castle not found, yet so close to his town? Such a monstrous being demanding his daughters yet kind enough to allow him stay? No, he had a fever and had dreamt it all. His horse had survived, and he rode it back, falling asleep on it and dreaming of it. The roses he had saved from the passage to the town. He had no need to send his two girls off on a wild goose chase into a forest for a castle that did not exist.

Immediately feeling better, Yuan gave both of his girls a big smile. His wife told him he needed to rest and started to herd the girls out. Yes, it would all be okay. He'd get better, and then he could start fixing the damages done during the travel. No beast was coming for his daughters.

Da walked out behind Xiao, who grabbed her arm again once their mother disappeared down a hall. "Da, Father seemed really bad in there."

"The doctor said it was just a small cold Xiao. It is sure to be unpleasant for him, but with some good rest and care, Father shall be fine. Just wait and see." Da patted Xiao's hand and gave her a smile. Xiao stared at Da for a moment, a frown still on her face, until she nodded her head and looked forward. Da still had her hand on Xiao's, and wanted to be reassuring and comforting, but couldn't help looking back at her Fathers door.

Dong Zhuo had been known, long ago of course, for many things. A good temper was not one of those things. Had never been apart of his personality, and hundreds of years stuck in his castle had done nothing to change that. The man stomped through the halls, teeth grinding. His elaborately decorated robes swayed over the floor, his boots echoing in the hall.

He quickly, or as quickly as he could, made his way down the stairs and into the garden. Ignoring the ache in his side, he traveled down a trail to the center of his garden. A statue stood in the center. It was of a tall man, dressed in the finest of armor back in his time. Two long feathers, said to come from a phoenix, fell from the helmet and down the mans back. Hair smoothed under the helmet, and hardened eyes in the customary glare of Dong Zhuo's adopted son. He stood next to a strong looking horse, tall and beautiful in all its power. The quickest horse to ever race over the mortal lands.

Dong Zhuo stared at the statue for a long moment, taking in how the statue looked. He did not visit this part of his paradise often, feeling no love for his adopted son anymore. Not that he had held love for the man before the attempt at his life, but their had been something there. Sneering, Zhuo roared for Diao Chan.

One tree, off to the side, shifted and she grew from the wood. With the same expression she had watched Qiao Yuan with when he had fallen asleep, she looked to the statue before hardening her expression and turning to Dong Zhuo. "My lord?"

"Awaken Lu Bu, wench. I have an errand for him." Chan's face fell, her head returning to the statue. As she had been bonded to the castle, and thus bonded to Zhuo, Lu Bu had been turned into a statue. Forced to turn to stone at Zhuo's cruel desire, Chan could awaken him as he became apart of the castle grounds. Apart of her. "What are you waiting for wench? Awaken my traitorous son!"

Flinching, feeling a sharp pain in her spine, Chan took a labored breath and concentrated. Magic, quickly becoming lost in time, had once been a big part of history. Those with magic in their blood were quickly given off as apprentices. Chan had been special, adopted by a loving man who had given her the best he could. But, after so long of not using it, Chan always wondered if it would just disappear and leave her bare to Zhuo's wrath. Leaving the morbid thoughts, she concentrated on Lu Bu, and gasped for air when the statue started to break.

As the chips of stone fell away, Lu Bu and the Red Hare jerked with movement. His black eyes became even darker as the events caught up to the warrior. Having no sense of time when turned statue, Lu Bu could only guess how long he had been a decoration to the gardens. Removing his hand from Red Hare's side, he stepped towards Dong Zhuo.

The lord, even though he knew he had the upper hand, took a step back. "Lu Bu! I have a task for you."

"Go rot, you worthless scum," Bu said. Lifting his halberd over his shoulder, he looked from Zhuo to Chan. She quickly looked away. Not from being shy, or from being humble, but from being ashamed.

"Do not disobey me you fool! Or have you forgotten your lesson while being a statue?" Zhuo roared, face turning red. He did not do well with being insulted, nor that Lu Bu still dared to look at Diao Chan. Gripping his hands, Chan gave a silent scream and clutched her chest. Forcing her mouth shut, she started to curl with eyes clenched shut.

"Kill me and she dies. Disobey me, and she wishes she was dead!" Zhuo yelled triumphantly.

Bu tightened his grip on his halberd until his knuckles were white. "What do you want?"

"I want you to go to the nearest town and fetch me the Two Qiaos. They were promised to me, and have not arrived. I was lenient to wait until sun down. Kill any and all who get in your way. I only want the girls. They will make fine additions to my paradise." Zhuo's expression turned from hatred to a lusty expression that only added to his disgusting features.

Bu stared at the shorter man with a mix of hatred and fury. But, with Chans labored breaths as a reminder, he gave Zhuo a stiff nod.

"Good. Diao Chan can tell you where the village is. A mare should still be there." With that, Zhuo turned and walked away. Dinner was to be served soon, and he was never one to miss a meal. Bu watched him leave, waiting until he was entirely out of sight to kneel before Chan.

"Lord Lu Bu," she said between breaths.

"One of these days, I'm going to bash his skull in." It really wasn't the nicest, or a real apology, but Chan smiled up at him.

"The poor Qiaos are located in a town east of here my lord," Chan said, reaching for his hand. The two stayed there for a long moment. Bu stared down into Chan's eyes, wishing for more. Squeezing her hand one last time, Bu stood and turned to Red Hare. Chan let her hand fall to her side, and sadly watched him mount the horse. He gave her one last solemn look before turning around and riding through the garden to the gate. Chan rubbed her eyes, even though she dared not cry since she had become the castle, and sunk back into the tree.

Da sat on a bench in the garden, a book in her lap. She had planned on coming out into the crisp air to help her calm and relax. Or, if nothing else, take her mind off of the day. Her father had been acting strange since the morning, asking constantly where she and Xiao were. Of course, both girls would walk and sit with him until he would fall asleep again. Whatever had happened during the blizzard had surely spooked him.

With another sigh, she glanced back down at the book. In the time she had been on the bench she hadn't read three pages. So, now, she was cold and was still worried immensely about her father. Giving the page a long glare, she shut it and sighed again. At the sound of dainty steps, she turned her head to see Xiao walking towards her. The young Qiao took large, quick steps, and wasn't quite holding her dress right causing her to stumble. Quick to react, Xiao righted herself and blushed.

"If you would slow down Xiao, you wouldn't fall as much."

"But, then you don't get there as fast," Xiao mumbled as she sat next to Da. "If you don't get there as fast, you spend more time walking." Da shook her head, laughing lightly at her sister. Xiao 'hmph'ed and glanced down at the book in her lap. Finding the title, and blanching when it didn't entertain her and she looked to their home in front of them.

"What is wrong Xiao?"

"Father is acting really paranoid. And when Father is worried, I get really worried. And my mind keeps thinking of the nasty things that could have happened to Father during the blizzard to make him paranoid and that makes me sad that Father could have gone through some of those things. And he won't tell anybody what is wrong."

Da didn't know what to say. The same thoughts ran through her mind, and anything she had thought of to calm herself had sounded empty. Having nothing to say, she opted for giving her sister a hug. The book fell to the ground as Xiao turned and wrapped her arms around her and hid her face in her shoulder.

"I wish Yu was here. He'd make everything better. He's make everything feel safe and fun again," Xiao mumbled.

"I know Xiao. They'll come back, as soon as Lord Sun Jian has stable footing in Jiang Dong, they will come back," Da said into Xiao's shoulder, tightening her hug.

"I know." Xiao sniffed. Things just did not feel right. Never having the patience to think things through with her head, like Da did, she always relied on her gut instinct to get her through things. It was as good as Da's mind, as it didn't fail her anymore than Da's mind had failed Da. When her father had returned, everything had suddenly felt off. Like something was happening that affected her and her safety. But, being so happy when he had first appeared, she hadn't paid it any mind. How she wished for Yu. He always made her feel safe. And Ce should have been back too, to keep Da safe. Instead, now the two had to rely only on each other.

Da pulled back slightly at Xiao's grumble. The younger sister looked up at her with her wide eyes. She wished there was more she could do for her little sister. Frowning, she pushed some of Xiao's brown hair back behind an ear. "Everything will be fine Xiao. We promised Lord Ce and Lord Yu that we would be here upon their return. We do not break promises right?"

"Of course. We need to be here to tell them they needed to be here now, instead of when they come. Because they were needed now," Xiao said and sniffed. Da smiled at the immature whine, and released Xiao. The two would be able to pull through their father's behavior and the sinking feeling in their guts.

As Xiao started to talk about her music lessons that morning, a scream rang in the air. Both girls jumped, quickly standing. More screams started to fill the air, and the groans shortly followed. A dozen maids ran across the gardens, all of them talking about a demon. They grabbed the two girls by their elbows and pulled them back into their home. Xiao grabbed Da's hand as the maids pulled them along. They were put in a room with a secret exit should things get too dangerous. Their mother already sat in the room, looking out of the only window.

Lady Qiao was lovely, with long almost black hair and hazel eyes that seemed to change with every dress. She had an elegant face, pointed at the chin and a long neck. At the enter of the sisters she turned her head to look them over before looking back out the window. Da and Xiao curtsied to her before making their way to the window. Leaning on the seal to look down, both gasped.

The largest man they had ever seen stood at the gates of their home. Wearing black armor, he swung his halberd over his head, slicing and flinging their few soldiers yards away. His beautiful red stead plowed through what soldiers could dodge the deadly swings. One general charged, and the man roared against the challenge. As they met, the general fell with a mighty swing. "Still, nobody can provide me with a decent challenge?" the mighty warrior roared, looking down at the fallen general. With no second glances, he forced their iron gate open and made his way through the court yard. None of the ladies in the small room could stop their hands from shaking.

Thank you to XiaoQiao289, JeeJayMay, and Lady Zhou Ying for their reviews.