Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors.
A/N: Ok, Shang Xiang returning to Wu, but in a completely different world from her own past life there. As for those who want Nu Wa, I'm sorry there is absolutely NOTHING I can think of writing something for her to be in this fic. Don't get me wrong, Nu Wa deserves to be in this series, but I've played so little of her in DW 3. I'm very sorry to even those who pair her with Pang Tong and Lu Bu. I do have a plan to write Nu Wa and Fu Xi in DW fanfics and it's something else since they're folklore legends, unlike the folklore that retold Zhao Yun's death at the hands of Ruan Er which really did happen even if historians try to denied it by records. Luo Guanzhong never wanted to put that in the novel, but I blame Liu Bei more than Ruan Er for forcing Zhao Yun to marry the luckiest woman in three kingdoms! Now back to my story…
Romance of the DW Pairings 2
Chapter 11: Gan Ning and Sun Shang Xiang
She returns home, but with disappointing looks like she had betrayed all her family because of one province. Barely able to attend dinner with her family, she isolate with them for a long time and think about only those shorten times with Shu. The news just came in that her brother's men executed Guan Yu and took all of Jing Nan.
"My lady, your brother request your presence at the audience," the Ladyguard announced.
It's obvious her brother is going to invite her for a family dinner. Why even bother calling her out again when she no longer wanted to be close with that family? She decided to sneak out of the castle and wander at the port and maybe check out what is happening with the troops after war. Ending the alliance with Liu Bei and executing Guan Yu consider herself an enemy to her once new friends.
"Tell him, I've fallen ill and can not attend this evening," She lied.
"Will do, my lady," the Ladyguard bowed and proceed to carry out the message.
How long will she continue to isolate from her family? There's nothing else she live for than stay in her room everyday, spend less time outside, or visit her brother Sun Ce's grave dressing in all black. Her world is consistently dark. The land is dark, too dark after it divided into three.
Now she dresses herself into peasant attire and sneak out of the castle. Her ladyguards are busy distracting the male guards as she quietly passes by every obstacle inside the stone castle. Yes, Wu's castle is all stoned since it was built years ago after her brother conquered Jiang Dong. But, this is no time for her to think about the history of Wu. She must think about her future.
Outside of Jian Ye Castle…
She made it out of the castle; her ladyguards always help their valuable princess when she needs them the most. They're only loyalty to her and not her brother., maybe next time she'll secretly rise an army against her brother, but her brother has all the power, the people who once served Sun Ce and now look into Sun Quan as the 'better ruler'. Half of Wu minister's joined from Sun Quan's invitational where all the talents from the same province come to volunteer his services after her eldest brother died. He still controls her and now there is little her future with Wu indebt. Will she grow old a dull woman who supposedly exceed in arts of combat, but never took more experience in the battle because it's not proper to her brother? Or will she rebel and fight over the leadership of the kingdom?
"If I betray my brother now; the people of Wu will never forgive me. The land has sided with my brother and I have only my lady guards at my side," Sun Shang Xiang thought.
She found the horse stable near the village and take the horse she'll be riding her way out of Jian Ye. Where will she go once she's out of the city? Stopping at Chai Sang is the first thing in her mind. There may be ship leading her to Jing. But, why does she want to go Jing Zhou?
At Chai Sang, the next day….
She hasn't brought anything to eat when she ran away from her brother. Her stomach felt awkward as it's making groan noise. Food isn't the top of her habit, but she's very hungry after a day traveling to the southwest from Jian Ye. Across the town there is an inn where she can treat herself some food.
But, there's one problem once she goes there…
"Brother will be sending his men to bring me back so I must disguise myself as a peasant," Sun Shang Xiang smirked as she waste no time to find some cloth to wear. She'll have to play the thief behind that royal inheritance.
Meanwhile at the Inn…
After stealing some clothes at the market, she successfully reach the Inn without getting her appearance suspicious. No one knows she's really the Wu princess Sun Shang Xiang, rather a low life tramp entering the world of thievery.
"Hey waiter, do you have a table served for one?" Sun Shang Xiang asked.
The waiter stares at her and then scans around the tables next to the check in desk. He point at the table on the right top corner and Shang Xiang nodded.
"There's a room on the top floor, but it's fill with thugs…" Sun Shang Xiang thought.
Who are those men above her anyway? They're bad news to the town folks so she decides to keep an eye on them. Moments later, the woman served her some dimsum and rice, it's great to have such a peasant type breakfast just alone and not with all of her brother's friends and family surrounding her at home. Only person in her family she did spend the most time with was her niece Sun Lingbi, the eldest daughter of Sun Quan. He has 9 children and still Shang Xiang had no children at all.
"….." Sun Shang Xiang drank the cup of water as she finished eating.
"Heard the latest? There's a shipment near Lu Kou," the thug from the floor above Sun Shang Xiang spoke out.
"When do the shipment will occur?" the other thug asked.
"Tonight after the Wu river patrollers are clear," the first thug replied.
"Tonight eh…" Sun Shang Xiang thought. Tonight she has a big score to settle and this is her moment of fortune.
She paid the food with little gold she has left when she came here. Then secretly followed the thugs outside the Inn carefully not getting spotted by them. They're heading out the riverbanks where their ship docked.
At Jiang Ling…
What a waste, Pan Zhang executed Guan Yu and Guan Ping without an order and everyone still getting shocked reactions from Pan Zhang's emotionless excuse. They're dead, but does Sun Quan really want them dead? Lu Meng is absence from the sent due to a high flu he's suffering from heavy rain weather and Lu Xun is to take his place in cleaning up the mess Pan Zhang made. All they have to do is set it up by getting the blame of Guan Yu's death to Cao Cao. Gan Ning, on the other hand is having a mixed feelings to the incident. Guan Yu, one of the fiercest warriors his time is dead and that's a given, however, how does this make it any heroic. Xingba's anti-social and pirating days were long gone as he decided to reform and make himself more liked to the people of Wu as a real hero. The very heroic thing he did was the main camp ambush at Ru Xu Kou. Does taking Jing and betraying the Liu-Sun alliance make this worth contributing to his legend? It took the whole list of Wu's best officers to participate this urban nightmare.
"Although, we got all of Jing Nan, I should be ashamed of this aspiration. I'm ashamed to be called a Wu hero…no, a hero of Han. What's the price to contributing my lord? His jealousy? I don't even give a damn about his ranting or why Guan Yu is such a big deal to everyone here, not even Ling Tong could understand," Gan Ning said as he drank himself like crazy and alone outside the city. Tonight is his job to patrol the rivers.
Ling Tong show up to talk it over to Gan Ning about the incident. It surely won't make Gan Ning feel better, but it can bring a resolve.
"Hey," Ling Tong crossed his arms staring at the river next to Gan Ning.
"Hey…." Gan Ning responds.
"How are you feeling?" Ling Tong asked.
"Still miserable…" Gan Ning rubbed his forehead.
"This isn't like you. Gan Ning, one of Wu's most valuable generals with a strange military concept and leadership. What happened to you my man?" Ling Tong glared at his rival and Gan Ning didn't look at Gongji face. Is he being sarcastic again? They once hate each other until later things worked out for them and became great partners.
"Does everything we contributed was by a coincidence? What Pan Zhang done, what our lord been after ever since the Battle of Chi Bi, all the failed attempts at conquering Xu Zhou and Shou Chun, does by any means is a coincidence to our contribution?" Gan Ning questioned.
"Hmm?" Ling Tong was wondering why that concerns the former pirate so much. He looks at the river where the beautiful sunset is starting to fade.
"Come on, you know what I'm talking about, this whole big deal with this damn province! Does our lord wanted land so badly when this older brother of his had retain Yang Zhou from the lords who took post when Dong Zhou and Li Jue were in power? Plus, you guys never invaded Liu Biao until after Sun Ce died and took 1/3 of Jiang Xia when I joined the Sun family," Gan Ning argument is straight to the point of his lord's efforts to claiming Jing.
"Ok, so what you're saying is that if it wasn't for you, Wu couldn't have won't Xia Kou and my father wouldn't have died, is that so?" Ling Tong was amused of Xingba's argument.
"That's not the point. Ling Tong, we ..STOLE…the land by betraying the very ally that had done nothing wrong to us! It had little to do with our contribution, but our lord's jealousy. I don't see the point in betraying our allies and switch over to the likes of Cao Cao. I felt that bastard really did sold me out for everything I sworn, bleed, and die for his dignity!" Gan Ning shouted.
"Oh… that's just the way politics are like. You take advantage of your enemy's weakness when the time is right. Look, I know it's wrong and it make you feel bad for bring up your dark past life and you wanted our lord to see in us as real heroes, not backstabbing emos," Ling Tong sighed.
"What does Sun Shang Xiang think of us right now, Ling Tong? Her bastard brother will never allow either of us to marry her when she came back. When she came back, I felt she left Liu Bei because her brother might have possibly made up his mind. But, then I learn it turn out he deceived her when she didn't bring that kid of Liu Bei's to Wu or was that really another coincidence because of this damn place we took?" Gan Ning slowly stood up as dusk begins with the rivers turning dark.
"You're thinking too much about it, Gan Ning. Take some rest and I'll do the patrolling. You really should stop drinking yourself to death. It doesn't concern us anymore, leave it to our lord as he's taking responsibility," Ling Tong said with worried expression.
"That's a laugh, when did our lord shown responsibility for our contributions? He just gives everything away leaving the government affairs to himself and his ministers. We got several losing battles, but still fought our best and he take no responsibility for our failures. Now he's not taking responsibility for Pan Zhang's incriminate acts and sending blame of Guan Yu's death to Cao Cao," Gan Ning glared at his rival as he crossed his arms waiting for a logical explanation of Sun Quan's mediocre military leadership.
"Look Gan Ning, it's Guan Yu's fault for getting his rear exploited by us and those turncoats sealed all the escape routes and reinforcements so we can surround him. It's over with and now Liu Bei might believe it is Cao Cao and not our lord who killed Guan Yu," Ling Tong said.
"Last time I heard about Liu Bei, he's not an idiot," Gan Ning scoffed.
"Whatever, it's over with now let it go," Ling Tong grew annoyed.
"So be it…" Gan Ning walked away not until he threw the alcohol to the river in his frustration on the subject.
"He's losing it and I know it," Ling Tong though as his shook his head.
Meanwhile as the moonlight reflects the dark river…
There's a transporting task between Jiang Ling and Chai Sang and some troops were ordered to move the supplies from Chai Sang to Jiang Ling. They must prepare for the worst as they defend their new territories from resistance from Shanyue rogues and pirates. Gan Ning and Ling Tong are in charge of securing the supply route to Jiang Ling across the Chang Jiang.
Sun Shang Xiang successfully sneak inside the ship where the thugs are sailing their way to the supply route. There are 15 Wu soldiers guarding the supply ship while the thugs gathered twice the number of volunteered scoundrels. Whatever in that shipment must be for the army at Jiang Ling. She'll never let that happen and she will steal her brother's governmental property to build her own army.
"Tonight brother, you'll feel the same pain I felt when I steal your precious wealth on this river," Sun Shang Xiang thought. She gives a threaten look staring at the shipment a few feet away from the pirate ship. What she didn't know is that Gan Ning and Ling Tong are patrolling the river. Also, Sun Shang Xiang's feelings for Gan Ning put her in an emotional break down. She loves Gan Ning and will like to convince him to resign and join her pursuit of power. But, the loyalty of Gan Ning and her brother is questionable.
"Be ready men, we're almost at our loot," The first thug said. All the pirates readied their weapons and the archers prepare to open fire at their incoming targets. Sun Shang Xiang clear her throat knowing the stakes are high. If she blow this, then her life will forever been scattered in the depths of loneliness. She got to do this, just steal the supplies once the pirates transfer the gold, weaponry, and provision in their ship, she'll navigate the pirate ship to the neutral zone and find carriage to take all the supplies to an vacant land somewhere in Jing. It'll be nice to have these pirates as her soldiers, but she'll get some recruits once she has a base of operations.
Gan Ning's patrol boat…
He's not singing anymore. For a long time he sang towards voyage across the Chang Jiang, but now he's in a terrible mood and don't feel like bring the good o' days back in his youth. He's getting old for things and is getting old with the corrupted life of his country.
"The river is quiet at a time like this. Maybe there's no joy sailing the Chang Jiang anymore after so many years. It's plague with the aftermath of the same incident that occur days ago and I still think what we did was not heroic. Perhaps, was all my efforts were just staged for that single moment we took the three cities of Jing? What does Shang Xiang think of me now and I haven't talked with her since she had returned to Wu and now she ran away and her brother ordered a edict to rescue her," Gan Ning thought.
Back in the pirate ship…
"We're about to rendezvous with the supply boat. Leave no one alive as we take the loot," the thug leader commanded. The pirates nodded and the closer they get near Wu's supply ship. Sun Shang Xiang is just as ready to rip them off.
Wu Supply Ship…
The soldiers haven't notice the pirates coming at their flank side. Five men guarding the left side of the ship were stuck by the arrows of the archers and more of them dart their way quickly causing the troops in alert.
"Pirates! We're under attack, don't let them take the supplies till reinforcements come!" the head soldier alerted.
"Now" The Pirates all docked the supply ship and charge after the troops they outnumbered. One Wu soldier quickly light the arrow with fire and shoot it up the sky for a signal.
Once Gan Ning and Ling Tong both witness the fire signal they both said in unison.
"The transport!" Gan Ning and Ling Tong thought.
The pirates successfully transferred the gold, weapons, and provisions to their ship only few men are wounded or dead by the defense of the Wu soldiers. They're in luck when Gan Ning's boat arrives as he jumped high to the supply ship and storm his way towards a few pirates. They're just like in his youth, taking loot and smuggling. They carefully planned out the pirate raid and he envies that, but Gan Ning was known to be the most feared of Bright Sails pirates.
"It's General Gan Ning, don't hold back men, retrieve the supplies!" the soldier shouted.
Wu tried to overpower the pirates and retrieve the supplies, but now the archers are ordered to burn the transport ship and they did by shooting fire arrows. Ling Tong arrives at the fiery scene alittle late to aid the remaining troops.
Sun Shang Xiang waste no time as she sneak up on one of the pirates and threaten him with her chakram on his throat.
"One false move and you'll die a headless loser. Start sailing the ship out of here, now!" Sun Shang Xiang said. Pirate tries to resist, but Shang Xiang coldly drag him to the naviagator and both of them did what they're told.
When the leader of the pirates who is the first thug noticed his ship is leaving with the loot while they're still fighting the Wu troops.
"What the…. who is the idiot commanding my ship?!" the pirate leader angrily snared.
Gan Ning engaged a duel with the pirate leader, but his opponent is still distracted from his ship leaving with some of the loot they stole.
"You're the idiot who does this amateur pirate prank and now you can get schooled by me or take your loss in jail." Gan Ning said. He tapped his sword on his shoulder lightly with a smirk.
The pirate leader snarl, looks like the perfect smuggling failed and he didn't know Sun Shang Xiang is on his ship taking the loot away from scum like the pirate leader and his thug of pirates.
"What are you waiting for Xingba?! Don't waste your time with small fry and stop that ship. Leave the rest to me," Ling Tong said.
The pirate leader is lucky that he don't stand a chance against Gan Ning in a duel, but Ling Tong's speed is going to make things worst for the pirate's punishment. Gan Ning look to find a bow and arrow then tie the rope on the arrow tightly and then shoot it straight into the pirate ship.
Sun Shang Xiang's big score…
Finally, she got everything she'll need to build an army. The gold, weapons, armor, and food are sufficient enough to travel away from the chaos and recruit troops. But, how will she draft women in the army and her lady guards are at Wu, but her brother will confiscate their ranks and they will no longer have their jobs.
"I'm offering you two a choice, join me and I'll give you the greatest fortunate in your lives. I'm going to raise an army to fight against Sun Quan of Wu," Sun Shang Xiang watches the two pirates look at each other and they laughed.
"You…a woman against Sun Quan? Hahahaha, you have no chance woman, but become his concubine or give him a child," the pirate navigator taunted.
"I am his sister, Sun Shang Xiang of Wu…" Sun Shang Xiang said.
"Well, we don't want to get involve with family feuds, we're pirates," the other pirate stated.
"That's right, nothing but pirates who'll never understand a woman's independency," Gan Ning finally boarded the pirate ship to find out the person in command is no other than the woman he admire the most.
"Gan Ning," Sun Shang Xiang gasped.
"Good thing, I found her before Zhou Tai…." Gan Ning thought.
" I take it, you're here to send me back to my brother," Sun Shang Xiang assumed.
"No, I want those supplies to be transferred to my ship. They're funds for our military expedition," Gan Ning demanded.
"Those precious resources are nothing more than my brother's riches! Even if I gave it back to you, who do you think it really belongs to?" Shang Xiang said.
"You have a point, but listen, we really need those supplies because I believe your former love Liu Bei will be attacking us soon because…because…" Gan Ning stopped to think what he's saying about her relationship with Liu Bei. Honestly, he's not jealous and can understand that type of relationship means to her.
"It does not concern me anymore, I could careless if he attacks Wu. I lost everything because of that treacherous kidnapping plan," Sun Shang Xiang lowered her guard and stare at her friend.
"But, here you can redeem yourself! I beg you to turn over the supplies to us and I won't tell your brother where ever you are," Gan Ning reasoned with her. Is there little left of her loyalty to her brother that she'll send the transport back to Gan Ning.
"Gan Ning, why did you become a pirate?" Sun Shang Xiang asked.
"Because all I want into joining a pirate crew is searching for adventure, but all that was the past and it's nothing like why I joined your brother because I'm reformed, I escape from the lies of my past," Gan Ning explained.
"So what if you join me Gan Ning, together we can escape from my brother and build an army against him? You can forget living into my brother's lies. He wanted you to suffer so he can take all the credit for his kingdom. You're just a tool to him, just like me," Sun Shang Xiang walked closer to Xingba and touched his cheat seductively.
Gan Ning turns to the two pirates who snicker. They're the lowest of the pirate food chain so it's best to get them off this ship before he gives the lady his answer.
"You two get off this ship and swim for your lives. You felonies will be captured when the Chai Sang navy gets here from Lu Kou," Gan Ning warned the pirates.
They jump off the ship and swim through the river. They already declined Shang Xiang's offer, but between Shang Xiang and Gan Ning, it's a private matter.
"Well…" Shang Xiang walked the back of the ship and scanned the moonlight.
"Shang Xiang, the pirate life isn't about adventure anymore, it's about terror, apathy, corruption, and all that crap which your brother is starting to turn this army into," Gan Ning glance as he said.
"You're right about one thing, my brother's kingdom is corrupted. Wouldn't the pirate life be better to roam free from being only a tool to one man?" Sun Shang Xiang turned back to Gan Ning and stare at him.
"So does that make me not a real hero? I've done whatever he said and survived in one piece," Gan Ning grunted.
"If you're fighting to save those you care dearly, then that makes you a hero. However, such a term is non-existence. I wanted to marry such a hero, but could never find anyone who truly label in that description. There is always a dark side in us all, Gan Ning," Sun Shang Xiang said.
"No..not anymore, I wash myself away from the darkness, clear, and purified. I fight for the people of Wu and not your brother. Guan Yu's death had nothing to do with what I contribute, but the bastard making us all responsible for it because of this land. Shang Xiang, I fight for you too. I wanted to win you over if I can be like people like Zhao Yun. Do I even fit to compare myself to him as a real hero? It's been getting into my mind for months after Ru Xu Kou," Gan Ning shrugged.
"You're such a hard on, Xingba. Desperately seeking my brother's admiration when you can't see the true in him. Why are all the men in Wu are like that!? This is why my brother will never allow us to get married!" Sun Shang Xiang complained.
At the supply ship…
"Well that takes care of the pirates, I hope Gan Ning recovered the supplies," Ling Tong thought.
Lu Xun's ship shows up to inspect the transport supplies. Only a few of the provisions are still in the ship and only half of them were took in the pirate ship.
"Admiral," Ling Tong bowed.
"We didn't make it in time. Where is the pirate ship heading?" Lu Xun asked.
"Gan Ning was on the pirate ship retrieving the rest of the supplies. The ship is heading south," Ling Tong reported.
"If he was on the ship, why didn't he comeback or perhaps there's someone else besides these pirates who is on board in that ship stealing their loot," Lu Xun look puzzled by the solution.
"Who could it be? I don't think Gan Ning set the whole pirate raid up in order to take all the gold and things for himself," Ling Tong crossed his arms thinking.
"It not Gan Ning, come on. The rest of you remain in the supply ship and give me a full report when I get back," Lu Xun commanded.
Meanwhile back in the pirate ship…
"Shang Xiang…I'm sorry, but I can not join you," Gan Ning denied. That's his final answer to his lover.
"So, that's how it's going to be…." Sun Shang Xiang muttered.
"I admire you, Shang Xiang. A lot, however…if I go back to that old attire, the future generations will never see in me as a real hero. I fought for my reform and can never go back to the days of pirating. Do as you wish with the stolen goods and I'll cover this up," Gan Ning confessed.
"Xingba…" Sun Shang Xiang looked at Gan Ning with a small glance.
They soon docked to the surface where her horse was stable on. There is a carriage where the pirates will put the supplies in when they succeed and she and Gan Ning put all the gold, food, and weaponry in there.
"I will not forget this moment," Sun Shang Xiang said.
"Here, I want you to have this necklace. Keep it as a significant to my love for you," Gan Ning
"It's too important for me to have this. This means a lot to your true origin, Gan Ning," Sun Shang Xiang said.
"Yeah, but when you get into the far south of Jing, you'll need it in order to build your own army and fight against your brother. There are people who oppose your brother's regime and they'll recognize what that necklace is. Good bye, my lady," Gan Ning said.
"….." Sun Shang Xiang watched Gan Ning return to the Pirate ship and sail back to the main transport zone of the river. Slowly his figure fades into the darkness.
She'll never forget this moment.
Next Pairing: Zhou Tai and Sun Shang Xiang (SSX arc concludes with the unexpected guy….)