I do not own any of the DW characters; they belong to Koei or whoever. I do own the OC and some minor characters that might pop up.

"Cancer?!" I screamed. Tears flowed down my face, "Are they sure?" He nodded and slid the paper in front of me. I snatched it up and read it; stage four, untreatable, less than a year stuck out to me. I erupted in tears again. He moved from his chair to hold me. He apologized to me, I was not sure why. He knelt down beside me and patted my back. I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. Now I was going to lose him too. I shifted and he moved away. We sat there staring at each other for several minutes in silence.

"What do you want to do," I tried to steady my voice but it still cracked while I spoke.

He sighed and stood, he gave me a smile "Spend what time I have left enjoying life."

I nodded, "Then we will."

Over the next few months, we did everything we could think of to do. Watch the sunset, try new foods that we had never known before, making every memory we could before his end came. Together we went through everything in the house and sold what we could, and donated most of what we could not. His belongings and those of the ones we lost before. As his health worsened, he found himself bedridden more and more. Eventually we had to hire a hospice nurse.

Sometimes I would slip away, going to the ranch to ride or going to over to Huan's shop. The old man became a confidant for me. I spoke openly to him, about the dreams that came to me every night, about my father's illness, and even about my own feelings. He would always listen attentively and offer me words of encouragement or comfort. One night after my father went to a hospice center, I told him of the plan I had formed. I would spend what little time I had left with my father. However, once he was gone I would have nothing left here for me. He agreed to help Bay and I return to the battle of Chi Bi. If Nu Wa judged me unfit to try to save Zhao Yun again, then I would join my family in death. He began to prepare for the ritual as I prepared to bury my father beside his wife and son.

The day finally came for me to face my father's passing. I had spent the night sitting by his bed. We knew time was close so I did not want to leave him. It was not quite dawn when he reached for me. I took his hand and he gave me a weak smile.

"It's time baby," he said. "You need to make me a promise, you will go to him." My surprise covered my face and he gave a wheezing laugh, "You talk in your sleep. Zhao Yun, you said his name was. Go to him, as you said you would. We will watch over you. I love you."

I repeated his final words and thanked him as I watched him struggle for his final breath. My sobs brought the nurses to the room. They let me stay for only a short time before they sent me away. I returned to our empty town house. I had spent the time that I was not by my father's side, getting rid of everything. I even gave Rascal to Huan. All that was left was a sleeping bag I slept on, some clothing for me, and some trinkets I used to remember my family. I spent the next few days curled up on my makeshift bed crying.

The funeral was small, not many to mourn the loss of such a great man. Huan and his son had joined me in my mourning beside his grave. I stood beside the three stones that were all that was left of my family for hours. They were gone. That was it. Now I made my choice. It was time for me to return to Zhao Yun. I reached down and brushed my fingers over each of the three names, saying my final goodbye. I then stood and made my way back to the house. I packed up what little I had kept and collected the papers I had gotten together, giving everything I had left here to Huan and his son. My money, the horse trailer, and the car, it was theirs, payment for helping me. I got into the car and tucked the paperwork into the glove box for them.

I arrived in front of the shop as the sun began its journey into the west. Huan and his son joined me in the car after placing several things in the hatch. We drove out to the ranch where I took Bay from his boarding and loaded him into his trailer. We drove out to a wooded area in the middle of nowhere and Huan went about setting up for the ritual. I started to feel nervous about the process but forced my resolve to steady. I had to do this. It was dark when Huan told me he was ready. I guided Bay to where Huan indicated we stood; I then mounted. Out of the corner of my right eye, I saw something white being offered to me. I reached out to take the object from Huan's son.

As he released his grip on the object, he spoke, "When the battle field appears before you, take a bite of that. It will reveal the world beyond. You will need to use it to your advantage." I gave him a nod and thanked him.

Huan began the ceremony. Incents burned as he chanted in a language I did not understand. Soon the world around me became hazy and seemed to dissipate in the air. The quiet chanting of Huan was replaced by the cries of war. The light of the fire was taken by waning sunlight. Soon the forest was gone and I was back in the middle of a warzone. Quickly I moved the object that had been given to me and bit in to it. It tasted horrible but I noticed its effects instantly. The world around me seemed to move in slow motion.

"What are you doing here?" A sharp voice came from my left. I turned to the source and recognized her immediately. She looked so different from before. Gone were her flowing robes, replaced by battle attire colored white and green with accents of gold and black. On her head, she wore a large crown-like headdress in her white hair, and held a sword and shield.

I tugged Bay's reins only to realize that he was moving as slow as those around us. I dismounted and walked over to the figure. My eyes where hard on her as I began recalling my well-rehearsed words I had thought about for the last months.

"I am here to save Zhao Yun; to correct my mistake." She seemed surprised at my words as I came to a stop in front of her.

"I should banish you to the realm of nothing for your actions," she hissed.

"Do what you want, after I save him"

Her elegant brows raised and a smirk found its way to her face. She held out her sword to me, the pink blade and grip adorned with great golden wings and glowing turquoise stones. She shifted the weapon where the hilt was offered to me. I took it and she stepped back, "You had better hurry little one."

I ran for Zhao Yun as fast as my legs would carry me. As I moved, the effect of the thing I had bitten began to wear off. The world was beginning to return to its normal pace. It was completely back to normal just as I slid the pink blade between Zhao Yun and his attacker. I forced his blade upward and twisted around my own to push him back. He stumbled back several steps before he regain his balance and looked up to me. I stood in front of Zhao Yun, ready to fight back if he advanced. His eyes shot to the blade in my hand, then down to the man behind me. His face contorted into a scowl.

"Koa!" Zhao Yun cried out his voice was hoarse and I could tell he was having trouble breathing.

I turned my head without taking my eyes off the other man to speak to him, "I know you are hurt but you have to get up. I am going to need your assistance." His armor creaked in protest of his movements but he managed to get to his feet and retrieve his spear as I stared down the attacker. I felt Zhao Yun take his stance beside me and I let a grin come to my face. This is what I had dreamed about, he and I standing on level ground. Sided by side we charged. After a short furious fight, the man chose to flee from us.

We turned and went to help the others. Soon every one of the enemies was either downed of fleeing at the heels of their superiors. A great cry came from our allies; we had beaten them. Soon we were joined by Sun Quan and Liu Bei on horses. Sun Quan ordered some of his men to follow the retreating army but Zhuge Liang called for him to halt. He already had planned for a group to follow them. He looked to Zhao Yun as he leaned on his spear to support himself. The strategist let out an unhappy sigh and moved to pursue the enemy himself. Zhao Yun moved to follow but my hand on his arm stopped him.

His head whipped around to me as Liu Bei spoke the same words I had intended to use. "You are in no shape to continue. Go back and see to your wounds." Zhao Yun stared at his lord, the look on his face screamed he was not happy with the order, but he was not about to disobeyed.

I helped him back to the camp while Sun Shang Xiang led Bay for me. I tried to convince Zhao Yun to mount the horse but his stubbornness held. Once we reached the medical tent I let him go to be tended to, I turned to see bright green eyes with a cheeky smile under them.

"That was amazing. One moment you are next to me on your horse and the next, you are fighting of Cao Pi with a blade that seemingly materialized out of thin air."

I laughed at her words and shrugged, "Well you know me. Everything I need seems to just show up."

The other woman and I had a good laugh for a moment. She then gave me a quick bow and wandered off to see how the others had faired. I remained by the tent. The sound of bells caught my attention again. Soon the source was casting his shadow over me. I craned my head up to look at him. He had a smirk on his face as he knelt down.

"So you came out unscathed I see. At least that fool is good enough to keep you from injury on the field of battle."

I shot him a look that told him that I was not amused with his comment. He seemed to shrink back slightly. I sighed and thought back to the last thing he had said to me. I finally had an answer for him.

"Hey Ning," I started, his actions put me to mind of a puppy hearing their name called, ears perked up and all, "About what you said the other night. Thank you, but no thank you. I rather like the idea of staying with Shu." He spit out a few very colorful curses as he stood to kick the dirt. In a flash is anger way gone as he stood with his back to me. He tilted his head so that I could see the side of his face.

"Just so you know if you change your mind I will still welcome you. I can't say about any others though." His bells sounded as he walked away.

Once he was out of hearing range, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking up I found a pair of brown eyes staring at me. He had a very relaxed look on his face. I stood and turned to face him. I looked him over. He wore a simple white tunic with a few tiny tears in the front covering his chest and seemed, more or less, just fine. I raised my brow; he seemed worse off on the way here. He read me with expertise. From around his back he produced his mangled chest plate. My jaw dropped at the sight of the ripped and twisted metal in his hand. He laughed at my surprise.

"That was very similar to my reaction when I heard your words a minute ago. Thank you." I felt my face heat with the blush that came to it. He gave me a charming smile and extended a hand to me, I took it. He and I moved to an area where no one else was. He and I sat by the edge of the water and we looked out to the smoldering wreckage that was once the fearsome fleet of Cao Cao. A calm silence floated around us as we simply let ourselves relax for the moment.

I grew so comfortable in the quiet that I almost fell over when Zhao Yun spoke, "How would you feel if I did seek to marry you?"

I unconsciously recoiled from him and he started to take the action as my answer. I stopped him from standing and walking away by placing my hand on his. When our eyes met, I gave him a small smile, "I think I need to explain myself to you first. However, let us worry about that later. For right now let's just enjoy the moment of peace we have here." He gave me an understanding nod and settled back into place.

Darkness soon enclosed the camp. By firelight, Zhao Yun and I made our way back to the collection of tents. The Shu men that had gone after Cao Cao had returned empty-handed. Everyone was joyful, celebrating the victory. Loud voice told tales of each experience during the fighting; many exaggerated tales could be heard if one stopped long enough. Even some of the generals joined in the tale weaving. Yet with all the excited talk, there was an air of sadness over some of Sun Quan's men. Some of their losses seemed to take a heavy toll on the lord and the higher ranked warriors.

I parted from Zhao Yun to find a bed. My body was sore and my mind was exhausted from the day. Xing Cai showed me to where some of the women were going to sleep. Thanking her, I took the mat she had directed me to and dropped onto it. My head landed on the small pillow and I was asleep.

PS- Please R&R the reviews would help me greatly in writing, I would like to know what you think of the story so far.

Thanks

-Alwayshappytohelp