Chapter 14 A Princess Again
A woman in a gorgeous red dress stepped out. Lin Chung and even the Wolf King were in disbelief that this was the Xin they knew. They only knew it was her because of her magnificent jade eyes. She wore a red and white colored dress with a rose head piece. Her hair was completely straight and some part of it was pulled up and shaped like butterfly wings. Her dress was long and it dragged across the floor as she walked so elegantly. Her face was whitened with powder, her lips were painted a deep rose red and her eyelids were shaded lightly with red which only complimented her beautiful eyes.
"I'm ready." she smiled.
Lin Chung was unresponsive and continued to stare at her with his mouth wide open. She moved her hand towards his face and closed his mouth which made him snap back to reality.
"Magnificent! I-I" he continued to stutter, "I must draw you!"
"That can wait." she almost chuckled, "Let's hurry back to Big Green, and let everyone know about the plan."
"R-Right." Lin Chung nodded.
The guards walked in with a large, red portable carriage for the Princess to sit in. They placed it on the Wolf King's back and buckled it down so that it would not slide off the king. Lin Chung helped her inside the carriage and took a seat behind the carriage. The Wolf King wheeled out of the castle and sped off towards Big Green.
Lin Chung was still in awe of her beauty. He knew she was stunning before, but now, seeing her dressed like a princess, like a woman, he noticed how gorgeous she could really be. Not only that, he thought, but she had a good, selfless heart, using herself as bait and putting herself in danger to save another. With a pure heart, he added, she also had bravery and strength in her possession. Facing the monster that ran her family out of their own home was frightening, but this princess was willing to fight for it back. Those were the signs of a true hero.
"She truly is a hero." he thought, "I think I'm…" he shook his head to snap himself out of it, "I can't. I just can't."
Qiao glanced back at Lin Chung, making a small opening through the curtains. He seemed to be fighting with himself. "Lin Chung, are you alright?"
He immediately glanced up. Her picturesque face suddenly soothing him, "Yes, I am." he smiled, "Don't worry about me. Let's focus on saving your sisters, Xin."
She smiled, and then turned back to the direction Wolf King was speeding towards. She glanced at her left hip directly at the special pouch that Komodo Dragon King gave her and grasped it tightly as she reverted her gaze back at Big Green.
However, the princess felt a large amount of dread, returning to Big Green dressed this way. She anticipated the jealousy of women and the lustful stares of men, something she would never wish on her enemies.
It will only be for this one time, Qiao… After this you will never have to dress to please the eyes of commoners again…
"Yes. Never again." she whispered.
They arrived at Big Green, immediately greeted by the rest of First Squad. Lin Chung helped the princess out of the carriage and down Wolf King.
"Lin Chung! Xin! There you guys are! We were wondering where you-" Mystique Sonia's mouth dropped at the sight of the outstandingly dressed princess. Even Yaksha's was stunned and stared. Simultaneously, Jumpy, and Mr. No Hands' jaw dropped as well. Ray was the last to walk into the room, and the moment he saw Qiao, his eyes popped out of his head as his jaw touched the ground along with the others.
Apetrully heard the news that Qiao and Lin Chung returned, and came inside as well. He too was surprised at Qiao's look, "Majestic, Princess Qiao! You look wonderfully beautiful! Is there something happening today?" Apetrully asked.
"My sisters were taken by High Roller." She walked up to the three, "He's holding them captive and expects me to surrender to him." she continued explaining her whole plan and her reason for dressing up.
No Hands snapped back after hearing the plan, "That's a good plan, but how will you be able to tell us when it'll be the right time to infiltrate High Roller's castle?" Mr. No Hands asked.
"I need something that can I use to contact you once High Roller's guard is down." she explained.
Apetrully glanced at the umbrella on the top of his head, and offered it to her, "I'm not sure if we have something a bit more discreet, but we should see if Woo the Wise has something for you."
"Quickly. If there's one thing I remember about High Roller, it's that he's very impatient." she said with a nervous look.
Mystique Sonia, Mighty Ray, Jumpy, and Yaksha were still in shock of the sudden makeover, and Lin Chung had to snap them out of it by splashing water on them. The four snapped back to reality finally able to talk.
"Xin! You look beautiful!" Jumpy giggled.
"You're gorgeous, Xin! I never saw a real princess before!" Mystique Sonia squealed.
"You're as beautiful as I am handsome!" Mighty Ray grinned.
Yaksha hopped off Mystique Sonia's head and analyzed the way Qiao was dressed so that he could dress Mystique Sonia in that way.
Qiao giggled, "I'll teach you later, Yaksha." she petted him, "Let's go. We have to go see Woo the Wise." she started to walk towards the exit.
"Hey! A lady needs a nice, strong man to escort her." Mighty Ray said with a smile and held out his arm for her.
Qiao smiled, and thought to herself, "Why not." she placed her arm in his and the two walked towards Woo's room.
I find it cute that you are doing this for the little man…
The rest followed; however, Lin Chung felt a sudden sense of jealousy that Mighty Ray was walking with her. Then again, he could have asked her any time. He was the one that was slow.
As they followed her, Lin Chung pulled out his sketch book, and sketched Qiao's back once again, only this time, he drew himself escorting her in Mighty Ray's place.
The seven walked past Second Squad who also was shocked at seeing Qiao's sudden make-over. She waved at them, and then continued to walk towards Woo's quarters.
When they finally arrived, Woo was still studying Qiao's case with Sima Cao, trying to prove to himself that it was just some form of schizophrenia and not possession.
"Woo the Wise!" Apetrully called out, "Are you available?"
Woo perked up, "Oh!" then noticed Qiao's look almost immediately, "OH!" his gown flipped up from the excitement and he pressed it down, "First, I would like to say that Princess Qiao looks stunning! Clothing from the Tang Dynasty never goes out of style." It made the princess giggle, "So, how can I help you?"
"Woo the Wise." Qiao asked, "Do you have an invention that acts like Apetrully's satellite? Only smaller and I can keep hidden?"
"Oh! Of course! I've been trying to make my inventions a lot more convenient by making them smaller." He searched through his file cabinet and pulled out a small bead-looking devise, "Will this do? It works perfectly and all it needs is direct head contact."
"I know the perfect spot." She took it from his hand and placed it on her forehead, like all Tang Dynasty princesses. She bowed to Woo, "Thank you so much."
Woo decided to tell her about his findings about Sima Cao, "Princess Qiao, I believe Sima Cao is not a real person. I believe that he was created out of your bitterness towards the animals."
That did not make sense to her, "But, he was around even since I was a baby. I did not hate animals then."
"Oh, dear." Woo was surprised, "I did not know that. Then it has to be…" he did not want to admit it was really possession, "That means you must see an exorcist."
Qiao thought about it, "But you know, he's not really a bother. We just had one fight, and now, everything is okay with him and me. I don't want to get rid of him."
Aw… I am touched…
Lin Chung was worried, "Are you sure? Are you sure that you want this and not Sima Cao?"
"Yes." she said with a smile, "So far, he's been making a lot of sense, and right now, I'm going to have to rely on him to distract High Roller."
"Well, if Sima becomes a jerk again, it's exorcist time!" Mighty Ray cracked his knuckles.
Qiao glanced at the clock, "We're wasting time talking about Sima. I have to get to High Roller immediately." she wanted to run, but her long dress would not let her, "I need someone to carry me back to my carriage."
Mighty Ray and Lin Chung spoke up, "I'll-"
"Allow me!" Jumpy giggled and piggy backed her.
"Thank you, Jumpy." she thanked and Jumpy started to quickly hop off back to Wolf King.
Mighty Ray scowled, watching Jumpy and Qiao leave, "You win this time, rabbit."
Lin Chung groaned, and then realized, "Why am I acting this way? Get it out, Lin Chung. Pull yourself together."
First Squad bid Apetrully, No Hands, and Woo good-bye, and then raced after Jumpy and Qiao. When they arrived back to the very patient Wolf King, Jumpy hopped on his back and helped Qiao into her carriage.
Mystique Sonia took Yaksha off her head, "Yaksha, I want you to disguise yourself as a ribbon for Xin's hair. If High Roller starts doing anything funny to her, you make sure he doesn't go as far as a touch." Yaksha understood and climbed into the carriage.
"Yaksha?" Qiao was puzzled. The little hat shrunk itself into a tiny yet long ribbon on the back of her hair. Qiao then understood why he came, "Thanks, Yaksha."
The Wolf King rose to his feet, and sped off towards High Roller's castle to deliver her. First Squad suddenly felt a bit a dread. They now began to question whether or not it really was a good plan.
"What happens if he never brings down his guard?" Mystique Sonia asked.
Lin Chung became anxious, "I don't like this." his fists clenched.
Mighty Ray felt that it was going to backfire and began to sweat, "I can't let her do this. I'm going after her!"
Jumpy held him back, "Trust her. She knows what she's doing." But he too was just as worried.
"One hour. I'm giving her one hour to contact us." Mighty Ray responded, "If she doesn't signal us after one hour, I'm going after her."
"Same." Lin Chung nodded, "High Roller is crafty, and I don't think he'll fall for this trap easily."