Chapter 4: Under the Little Dragon

Disclaimer: Guys, I'm getting bored of writing this. I don't own Dynasty Warriors but I do own Qian Xing and any other characters that you've never seen in the game before. I also don't own the poem, Ron Carnell does.

Each road is long, though short it seems,
And credence gives each road a name,
Of fantasies sun-drenched in beams,
To where each road wends just the same.

I opened my eyes, blinking a little in the dim light. I focused properly and blushed at what I saw. "Master Zhao Yun?" Zhao Yun looked up quickly. His eyes widened when he saw that I was awake. He came over, smiling irresistibly.

"Lady Sun. Thank goodness you're okay" he told me, touching my hand gently with his. I felt like an inferno; and it wasn't just because I had a temperature.

"Where am I?" I managed to say, glad that the low lights hid my crimson cheeks.

"We are back in Shu. Don't you remember anything?" I shook my head. The last thing I could remember was hitting my head on a boulder out in the battlefield. Man, that hurt!

"So, did we win the battle?" I asked. Zhao Yun nodded, smiling.

"Yes, Princess, we did. And if it wasn't for you and Master Guan Yu, we would have surely failed". Before I could say anything, the door opened and Liu Bei rushed in. When he saw that I was awake, he ran over.

"Oh, thank the gods you're okay!" he smiled, stroking my hair softly. "We were so worried. We thought you wouldn't make it!" I grinned at his words.

"Wouldn't make it? Lord Liu Bei, you should know that I'm a fighter!" I tried to sit up but pains shooting all over my body forced me to lie back down again.

"I know that now" he told me, puffing up my pillow to make it higher. I smiled gratefully.

"How long have I been here for?" Liu Bei rubbed my cheek affectionately before speaking.

"You've been here for five days. And the doctor has told me that you have been improving a lot". His answer shocked me. Five days of just sleeping? I never thought I'd see the day when I was able to accomplish that astounding feat!

"What happened?" I asked. Zhao Yun answered this time.

"Well, I was fighting troops in the south of the battlefield" he began, moving closer to me and making my heart jump slightly. He carried on, oblivious of my feelings for him. "When I heard all my soldiers screaming that "Lu Bu is here". I had heard a lot about him so I decided to test his strength. But by the time I rode up to him, it was announced that Master Guan Yu had slain Hua Xiong. Lu Bu ran away and that's when I saw you". Liu Bei nodded at the explanation.

"Zhao Yun was such a hero. He carried you all the way to me to get you help. If it wasn't for him, you probably wouldn't have been here now".

Wow! Zhao Yun had saved my life? He was a proper Knight in Shining Armor then!

"Thank you so much Zhao Yun. I am forever in your debt". Zhao Yun reddened a little at my gushing. Gods he looked so cute when he was embarrassed!

"No worries, Lady Sun. I was just there at the right time, that's all"

"Please, call me Shang Xiang. Any rescuer of mine deserves to use my name!" Yun grinned before bowing.

"Thank you. It is an honor, Shang Xiang". I smiled at his politeness. Why couldn't all guys be like this?

"What about Xing? Is she okay?" I asked, only now remembering my bodyguard and good friend. Liu Bei nodded.

"Yes, she is fine. I think she feels a little guilty though because she thinks that her absence was the reason that you got injured".

"May I see her?"

"Of course. I will get someone to go and pick her up now. She'll be so happy to see you!"

I wiped away yet another tear from my face. I hardly ever cried but I couldn't help it. Shang Xiang was in a coma and it was all my fault. If I hadn't been so lazy she wouldn't have been hurt. If Shang Xiang died, I would never forgive myself.

"Please, gods, make Shang get better" I whispered, hands clasped together in a prayer. "I promise that I will look after her forever, if you only keep her alive". I was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Who is it?"

"Madam, I have come to collect you at Lord Liu Bei's wish. He wants you to go to the recovery room as soon as possible". The recovery room? That was where Shang Xiang was. Did that mean...

"I'll be down in a minute" I stammered, blowing my nose loudly on a piece of cloth. I ran out my bedchambers and down the stairs. The Recovery Room was on the ground floor for ease of access. I ran down the corridor and burst into the room. Liu Bei and Zhao Yun were there, bent over Shang Xiang's bed. They both looked up when I came in.

"Ah, Lady Qian" Liu Bei smiled at me. "I'm glad you came".

"What's wrong with Lady Sun? Is she getting worse?" I asked worriedly, gingerly edging closer to the bed that contained my best friend. Liu Bei laughed.

"I think she can tell you that for herself can't you, Lady Sun?" I heard Shang giggle. Oh my gods! She was awake...

"Hey, Xing! How you doing?" Shang Xiang asked me weakly, her pale face smiling. Her voice was music to my ears. I ran over to her and gave her a massive cuddle, being extra careful not to hurt her any further.

"Thank god you're alright" I muttered into her soft hair. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't woken u..." Shang put one finger to my lips in order to stop me speaking.

"Don't think about that now" she told me. "I'm fine, you're fine and the team is fine. That's all that matters". I nodded, knowing that she was right. Liu Bei looked at the cuckoo clock that was in the room. I got up.

"I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but I have a meeting to organise about the upcoming battle at Hu Lao Gate. I'd like to see all the team in the hall in half an hour. Is that okay?" Zhao Yun and I nodded. No sooner had the last battle ended, the next battle was about to begin. Liu Bei quickly kissed Shang Xiang's forehead, before leaving the room. Shang Xiang looked slightly shocked.

"So what will happen to me while you two go to the meeting?" she asked. "Because I doubt that I currently have the ability to come with you".

"You'll stay here and be looked after by the nurses and the doctor" Zhao Yun told her with a sympathetic smile. Shang Xiang made a face and Zhao Yun laughed. "Don't worry Shang Xiang; they're not that bad".

Everyone talked amongst themselves while we waited for Zhang Fei to arrive. He was late again. Surprise, surprise. A few minutes later, he tumbled into the room, almost tripping over a chair as he went. I rolled my eyes. Drunk, again...

"Sorry I'm late everyone" he apologized, grabbing the chair he almost slipped on and sitting on it. I cleared my throat to get everyone's attention. Soon, all eyes were on me.

"Sorry about the delay" I told my team, shooting a look at Fei as I said that. "But we are all here now. Now let us discuss our plans for the upcoming battle".

I found myself tuning out as Liu Bei's voice droned on about the battle we would be taking part in in a month's time. Normally, I would listen to his speeches intently, but today, I couldn't really be bothered. Instead, I thought about Shang Xiang and how thankful I was that she had awoken. I was really scared that she wouldn't make it. Everyone had told me that it wasn't my fault that she got hurt but I still felt guilty. If I had chased after Shang Xiang sooner, she wouldn't be injured at the moment. Thank god Zhao Yun was near her when she fell. If she had been alone then I doubt she would be alive now. I shuddered at the thought and decided to focus on what Liu Bei was saying to get my mind of it.

"... and Wu accepted. She'll be leaving tomorrow". I didn't like what I had picked up so far. Who was leaving tomorrow?

"Sorry, my lord. Would you repeat that please?" I asked. Liu Bei hesitated a bit.

"I said that Lady Sun will be leaving for Wu tomorrow" he said. "I've already arranged it with Sun Jian and he will be sending someone over to collect her in the morning. That way, she will recover quickly and be able to be looked after by family as well".

"S... so is she leaving for good?" I asked worriedly. I didn't know how I'd manage if Shang Xiang left forever. By Liu Bei soon put me straight.

"No. Just until she is in full health. Don't worry, Lady Xing. She'll be back soon" he smiled sympathetically at me. I nodded. But if Shang Xiang was leaving for Wu, what would become of me in battle?

"So, Lord Liu Bei, who will I serve while in battle?" I wondered. Liu Bei took no time to answer this one. It seemed he had already thought about this beforehand.

"You shall serve Lord Zhao Yun until Lady Shang recovers enough to fight again. Is this okay with both of you?" Zhao Yun nodded. I nodded also. I'd grown to like Zhao Yun so I wouldn't mind working with him for a while.

"Good" Liu Bei smiled. "We all have four weeks in which to train for this battle. We will be against Dong Zhuo which means that Lu Bu will surely come to reinforce him. Make sure that you are all ready for that. Okay?" We all nodded. Although no one admitted it, none of us wanted to face the wrath of Lu Bu again. Hopefully he wouldn't do as much damage this time...

I was woken up by a knock on the door. "Come in!" I called softly. The door opened and Zhao Yun walked in, looking gorgeous in a sleeveless top that showed off his arm muscles. I was practically drooling inside.

"Hey, how's the invalid?" he smiled, closing the door softly behind him.

"I'm fine, thank you" I grinned back. "I probably look awful but, ah well, that can't be helped". Zhao Yun looked at me.

"You don't look awful. You look like a true princess should. Simply beautiful". There was an awkward silence as we both blushed at his comment. Then, the door opened and Liu Bei walked in.

"How are you doing, Shang?" he asked me. I made a face since I was currently unable to shrug.

"I'm okay, I suppose. Zhao Yun is just keeping me company". Liu Bei nodded.

"I'm glad to here that. I'll get someone to pack your things". I looked at him, bemused. Pack what things? Everything I needed was in here. Bei saw my face and looked slightly sheepish. Yun looked the same.

"Look, is there something that you guys aren't telling me?" I asked, feeling a little irritated.

"Well... Lady Sun" Liu Bei began. "Because you're currently unable to fight, we have got you a place where you can stay and recover while we're away in battle"

"... It's just until you get better" Zhao Yun finished, shooting me a reassuring smile. Somewhere to stay? I didn't really mind that.

"So, where will I be going then?" I asked them. Liu Bei did a good job of not looking me in the eyes.

"Um... back to Wu" he told me.

"What!"

I sat in the hall, feeling lonely. Normally, me and Shang would gossip in here during our free time. But now, Shang had gone back to Wu and I was all alone. There was no one here that understood me as well as Shang Xiang did. I sighed and looked up at the clock. While I was in a daydream, I hadn't realised that the door had opened until I felt the weight of someone sit down next to me.

"Hey, Lady Xing" Zhao Yun smiled. "Ready for the upcoming battle?" I shrugged.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Zhao Yun asked worriedly, touching my shoulder in a comforting manner.

"It's just th... that I miss Shang Xiang so much at the moment" I told him. "It's times like these when I realise how much she means in my life". The Little Dragon ran his hands through my ponytail. I was surprised to find how much that really relaxed me.

"I know" he sighed. "It must be hard working in unfamiliar surroundings on your own. But don't worry, Shang Xiang will be back before you know it!" I grinned. He was right, I guess.

"Thanks, Master Zhao Yun" I told him. "Oh and by the way, I'm really excited about working in your unit. That's going to be a lot of fun!" Zhao Yun put on a mock-angry face; teeth bared and brow frowning.

"A lot of fun?" he asked in a deep, growly voice. "Working in my unit will be a nightmare! Mwahahaha!" I rolled my eyes at his sudden stupidity. No matter how nice or cute a guy was, it seemed that they couldn't help switching back into a child again wherever they felt like it.

I sat up and looked around me. Home sweet home. I was back in my bedroom in Wu. It almost seemed alien after all the time I had spent in Shu. I blinked as the early morning sunlight drifted through the windows.

"Good morning, sweetheart". I looked up at the now opened door. Standing there, looking uncomfortable, was my father. I glared at him.

"How are you?" he asked me tenderly, choosing to ignore the hate stares I was directing his way.

"I'm incapable of moving and in pain. No thanks to you".

"Shang Xiang, darling, what happened to you was nothing to do with me. You have to believe that!"

"Well if you hadn't sent me to Shu, I would never have been injured and I could be preparing for battle now instead of being all cooped up in this bed!" Father sighed softly and walked over to me. He bent down so that he was level with the bed.

"Shang Xiang, please forgive me when I tell you that I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't want to send you away, of course I didn't, but we need this alliance so badly".

"So why didn't you send Ce or Quan to go and marry one of Shu's women?" Father avoided my eyes, suddenly becoming interesting at a faint spot on the blood red carpet.

"Because, Ce and Quan are boys. They are going to rule one day". I felt furious.

"So I'm just the little puppet who gets sent to various places to perform her father's wishes!" He sighed, knowing that he was defeated. There was no way I would listen to anything he would say now.

"Step back, jump to the side and slice!" Zhao Yun's voice echoed through the large hall. We were training for the battle ahead and I was getting used to fighting under "The Little Dragon".

"Backup and make sure that you are on your guard at all times!" I had to admit that Zhao Yun was a good teacher. He caught me performing the required movements and smiled.
"Well done, Lady Qian, you are working well". I couldn't help grinning at his compliment.

"Thank you, my lord" I told him, crouching down quickly as my opponent's spear swiped over my head. Whoo, that was close...

Shang Xiang had been gone for almost three weeks now, and although I had missed her terribly, she had made a habit of sending me postcards with lovely messages inside. She often told me about how her and her father were still on rocky ground but they were improving slightly. And also how much everyone had asked for me, especially Gan Ning and Ling Tong. I had read them, feeling slightly homesick. Although I had been living within Shu's empire for almost three months now, I still didn't feel it was really home. That title would always belong to Wu.

I'm back after quite a long break and I'm sorry for leaving you guys in the lurch. I'm not sure how good this chapter is but I hope you do enjoy it. The next chapter will be up as soon as possible.