Sex! Revelations! Possible Violence! All this and more on the next episode of Rose!
Actuall I'm lying. Its just the first two. But there is sex, and thats always a good.
Alex was torn. Joa and Sandra had vanished down the road. Lucy had vanished into the tree's. Which way should he go? Alex, for a moment, wished he could just think of Lucy as some Eastner. Not as important as an Imperial. That would have made it easier. But time had changed his views. He couldn't think of Lucy as just an Eastner, just as he could no longer think of Sandra as just a Southlander. So he stood for quite some time on the still road, the amiable oxen his only companion. Then he squared his shoulders. Joa was a warrior. She could take care of her self. He went into the forest.
Lucy was backed up against a tree, her knee's pulled to her chest. She had torn her hat off, dropping it as she ran. Alex found it, half trampled on the ground. He walked into the clearing that Lucy faced, holding the hat somewhat sheepishly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. He stopped as Lucy did not move. Gaining courage Alex continued ├óÔé¼┼ôYou dropped your hat├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, offering the hat to Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo away├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her face covered by her knee's. Alex sighed, wondering at times what was wrong with the world. He was nineteen as of yesterday. Lucy looked about twenty, but he knew Joa was nineteen as well and Sandra was thirty. It seemed odd that he, being as young as he was, would be more used to swinging a sword then...talking to people.
Alex set the hat down next to Lucy and sat down on her right side, carefully not touching. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat for?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her voice muffled by her knee's. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex paused, trying to marshal his thoughts ├óÔé¼┼ôThat I mislead you. If I gave you the idea that I was...attracted to you...I├óÔé¼┬Ø he stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôThats not to say that we're not friends. I think you're a good friend, and I'm glad to have you by my side. I'm honored that you would...give me the secret that you did...├óÔé¼┬Ø he paused ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I├óÔé¼┬Ø he was stopped by Lucy, who slowly lifted her head up. She hadn't been crying. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy reputation├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ômy honor is ruined. I gave myself to you and you rejected me. There's nothing else├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôLucy...it was a mistake├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at her. Lucy didn't look at him, rather staring fixedly ahead. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf a woman gives herself to a man, he either accepts her...or she is ruined├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought...you were an Imperial...but you...you could protect me├óÔé¼┬Ø she was starting to cry now ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I had a husband then this would all be a moot point├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't marry you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut that doesn't mean you're reputation is ruined. I'm not going to tell anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sniffed ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy honor is...gone. I'm useless now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is just...dumb├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, not wanting to use anything more verbose in front of a woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts the truth├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut its...dumb!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can fight better then any woman I know...other then Joa, and even thats debatable. You're smart, nice...you're far from useless├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lucy smiled wetly, her eyes red from the crying ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Alex stared at her. Lucy really hadn't thought of that. She really had thought she was a useless, honor less woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, really├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôReally├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy picked her hat up, sliding it over her horns. Then she slowly stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôNo one else knows, correct?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, standing as well. He paused. Lucy's face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey saw, didn't they├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey did├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy closed her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen thats that├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôMy reputation is ruined├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey aren't going to tell anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do we know that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe just do├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe just have to trust them├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex was about to turn and walk out of the clearing when Lucy's hand grabbed his shirt sleeves. Alex turned back to Lucy, who was looking at her feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore we go...could you do me a favor?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKiss me├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't have to do anything else...just...please. This once├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gulped. Then he placed his hand on Lucy's cheek and pressed his lips against hers. They stood there for a moment. Then Lucy stepped away. She sniffled. Then started to giggle. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, feeling his cheeks redden. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, walking past him. Alex followed even as Lucy kept laughing.
Joa was leaning against the side of the cart. Alex and Lucy walked out of the forest. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa jerked her thumb over her shoulder. Lucy got the hint and walked away. Joa then strode up to Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa I-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're with me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa snapped, pushing past him. Alex followed her into the forest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Sandra?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in the cart├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, walking into the same clearing that Lucy and Alex had talked in. Joa turned around and looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa I'm-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started. Joa slapped him. It was a surprisingly feminine gesture. Alex stood there. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was for kissing Lucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Alex wondered for a moment which kiss she was speaking of. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was an accident├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAn accident?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôthat would make everything easier. But the easy way is not the correct way. The correct way is 'Joa I'm sorry I screwed up and kissed a Eastner'├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that is not the truth├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted. Joa stood there, looking like she had been whacked in the face. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI actually believe you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, feeling his anger ebb slightly. They both stood there, not sure what to say next. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should get underway again├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, nodding. They both stood there. ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter you├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou first├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. They stood there. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe move on three├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is ridiculous├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo├óÔé¼┬Ø she paused. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa finished.
Alex took a step forward and collided with Joa. Their lips locked together, Joa's hand running up Alex's back. Alex's fingers moved to her shoulders, stripping off the over coat that she wore. It fell to the ground, leaving her arms exposed in her half shirt that she wore under the coat. Joa's hands found the strap on his belt and Alex felt his belt slip out of his pants. Joa held it in one hand and dropped it. Alex broke the kiss, coming up for air. ├óÔé¼┼ôShall I go on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa murmured. Alex didn't need to respond, instead kissing her again. Joa grabbed the straps on her half shirt and slipped them off her shoulders. The half shirt fell to her waist, the waistband keeping it there. Alex's hands slipped under her waist line and slipped her pants off her thighs.
Joa's lips moved off Alex's mouth and to his ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa I love you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa responded, not with words. But with actions. She tugged Alex's pants down about his leg and took hold of him. Alex groaned. Joa nipped at his ear. His hand slipped under her breast band and slowly pulled it down. Alex grabbed Joa and spun her about, placing her back against the tree. Alex's hands felt Joa's buttocks, then her thighs. Then he hiked her up against the tree. Joa's fingernails dug into his back, felt through the cloth of his shirt. Joa threw her head back, mouth open to yelp in ecstasy. Alex placed his hand over her mouth, muffling it the sound.
He withdrew the hand, teethmarks visible. Joa rested against the tree, breathing heavily. She looked at the night sky above her. ├óÔé¼┼ôGods├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôIts been so long├óÔé¼┬Ø. She closed her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôSo so long├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked up at her, looking at Joa's face. She rolled her head to the side, still not looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex croaked, his throat dry. He slid out and let her legs drop. Joa slowly rolled her head around, cricking her neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know this is sudden but will you marry me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked, gaping.
├óÔé¼┼ôMarriage...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex bit his lower lip, trying to not show pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no not now├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said quickly ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is not the best time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI know its just...I don't want to be like this forever├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôRunning over the entire gods damned world. I want a...I want a life!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. He turned away. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to give up...my place├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're place?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know what its like for a woman in the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not giving up what I've earned├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôI would never ask that of you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would never ask that...never├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa smiled. Alex kissed her on the forehead, hugging her close.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is taking so damn long?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think they are having...a bit of a row├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa was spitting sparks earlier this evening├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat its been about an hour├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're point?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy point being├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat...what if they've been hurt├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy who?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBandits├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Then there was a knock on the door. Then Joa walked into the cabin. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's at the head?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex will be driving us till we hit the next village. There we can get a new driver and head to Babylon├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa looked...odd. Lucy sniffed. Something was in the air. She looked at Sandra. Sandra smelled it too. Joa looked at the two of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats wrong?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing at all├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. Something in what they said made Joa's face pinken. She looked at her feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôWas it bad?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. Joa jumped ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat bad?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe...talk├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Joa's face pinkened even more ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, sure that the others knew. Lucy looked at Sandra. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...good├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow good?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are you prying!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôPrying?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't mean too├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen shut the hell up├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa snapped.
The cart trundled into a village at dawn. The villagers, who had been up before the dawn harvesting the weed that they ate. They looked out of the ponds they grew their food in at the carriage. It was strange as it had the Royal Dragon emblazoned on the side. The cart stopped in the middle of town and the villagers gathered about it, talking animatedly to one another. Then a woman wearing a strange hat stepped out. She said something in the Royal Tongue. The villagers started to talk even more animatedly until the Priest was dragged up.
Yatsumi, the town priest, dusted off her robes and walked to the center of the village. The strange woman, with her strange hat, was still asking for someone who spoke the Royal Tongue. Yatsumi walked to the cart and said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can speak the Royal Tongue├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman jumped down. She was a strange woman. She looked like an Nipponies, but her face was a bit too angular. Her clothes were Imperial, but she wore them like an Nippon man. That was enough to get a woman branded as a whore in this village. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need a driver├óÔé¼┬Ø. She also had forgotten her introduction sentence. That was enough to get a man branded as a brigand. Or at least someone hopelessly ignorant.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am Yatsumi-Priest├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi said, bowing to the woman ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I please have the pleasure of welcoming you to the River Vally Village├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, bowing ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Lucy Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. Yatsumi's forehead furrowed, not exactly condemning Lucy for having an Imperial name. She also had Xue as a last name. Not exactly an uncommon last name. But still Yatsumi looked at the hat with suspicion. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome to my temple├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi said, gesturing to the temple of the village. The woman, Lucy, nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI will tell my friends to wait├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. She walked to the back of the cart and said something in a guttural foreign tongue.
Lucy sat in the temple. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou may remove your hat├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi said. Lucy gulped, looking over her shoulder. Yatsumi felt a growing suspicion. The villagers crowded outside the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd rather not├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemove your hat├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi repeated, her voice not rising in volume. But it was still more commanding. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemove your hat, damn woman!├óÔé¼┬Ø village shouted from the crowd. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemove it!├óÔé¼┬Ø The villagers started to chant. Lucy looked at them, able to understand the gist of what they were saying despite their dialect.
Lucy's jaw trembled. She was close to tears. For a moment Yatsumi wanted to shush the villagers, shoo them away and let the stranger keep her hat on. But then Lucy reached up and gently tugged her heat down. Yatsumi's eyes boggled. The villagers were suddenly silent. Two foreigners, both of whom who had gotten out of their cart, said something in their own language. Yatsumi brushed her sleeves down, the traditional gesture of removing weapons from oneself. Then she dropped to her knee's and placed her forehead on the ground, pressing it there. She heard the villagers repeat the gesture. Soon the entire village was bowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôStand up├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said softly. No one got up. ├óÔé¼┼ôStand up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted. Joa and Alex looked at each other. Lucy looked around at the bowing figures. ├óÔé¼┼ôStand up...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her voice trembling ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're princess commands you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Rose
Moderator: Moderators
Yeah, so its a bit short, want to fight about it?!
├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we should help├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at the Eastner. They all looked very silly. They each wore simple clothes, but they each had a very silly straw hat. They looked like they were wearing cones on their heads. But they were all bowing to Lucy with great motions of reverence. Lucy said something in the Royal Tongue. The peasants arose, but three of them ran off. The rest of them stood, gawking at Lucy. The peasants ran back out, their wives in toe. Their women wore no hats. Joa gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't...they don't have horns!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, pointing at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I promised to not tell anyone else...but its come out├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's so special about Lucy...other then the horns?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe horns are the point of it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only Eastlanders who have horns...are...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAre the one's with Royal Blood├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at him, then at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...she's├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's the gods damned princes!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is the Shogun's sword├óÔé¼┬Ø he patted the hilt of the sword ├óÔé¼┼ôShe stole it when she fled home├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me the whole story when we get the chance├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy was starting to speak to her villagers, her speech haltering. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is she saying?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI...I as you're princess...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. These words felt wrong. They felt like something that shouldn't have come out of her mouth. ├óÔé¼┼ôcommand you to tell no one. To tell absolutely no one outside of this village who I am. I want you to...to work for you're prosperity and to... feed you're families. They are the foundation for our Empire. See to it that they remain strong...and true to the traditions of our people├óÔé¼┬Ø. She felt stronger now, as if something had filled her. The priest, Yatsumi, translated for her, just as faltering as Lucy did, as if she didn't quite believe what she was saying.
The villagers digested this information. Then one of them bowed, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôHail Empress Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. It was not exactly the right wording, as she was not an Empress yet, just a Princess. But the rest of the villagers did the same, bowing. Lucy felt the blood rush to her head, looking at the men and women bowing to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said in Imperial. She corrected herself ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I have a driver?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked in the Royal Tongue. Yatsumi nodded, and called out a name. The villager stood up and walked to Lucy. He bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAkira will drive you where ever you need to be├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Priest Yatsumi├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, bowing. Yatsumi actually blushed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe thanks is for you├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôA princess in our small village. I fear everyone would believe that we were simply a village of liers├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy's face fell ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't├óÔé¼┬Ø she started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo not worry, Princess├óÔé¼┬Ø the Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're secret is safe with us├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The cart trundled down the road. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a Princess├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded, looking embarrassed. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is nothing special about you, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWell nothing other then the normal things├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause we have a man who turned out to be a woman and a princess in hiding. Whats next...I'm the bastard son of the Emperor?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa and Sandra laughed, but Lucy flinched ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't say things like that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey might come true├óÔé¼┬Ø. Akira, their driver, shouted something. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said in Imperial. Then she switched to her language.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh no├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôAn army is marching down the road...towards us!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up and looked out the window. An army was right. He counted, easily, five hundred troops. Each wore complex platemail, completely weird and alien compared to the rounded kind he was used to. Their helmets were decorated with bizarre masks, mimicking scowling faces and leering eyes. The entire effect was very very frightening. They each had a banner sticking out of their backs, a long standard with a long dragon emblazoned on the side that made them easily identifiable as belonging to the Royal Army.
The general of this army sat on a warhorse and road in the front. He shouted to the driver in the Royal Tongue. The driver, being a sensible if uneducated present, ran from the cart, shouting wildly in fear. Then the General shouted, in faltering and accented Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôPrincess Lucy Xue! Exit your vehicle and report to you're farther!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stood up, her eyes closed. She walked out of the cabin. After a moment Alex followed her, holding his...the Shogun's sword ready. Lucy was walking to the army, witch was standing twenty feet from the cart. Alex ran to her side, sword at the ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex what are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy hissed. Alex stepped in front of her ├óÔé¼┼ôI will not allow├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôthe Princess Lucy Xue to be taken against her will!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex heard footsteps. Joa joined him ├óÔé¼┼ôNeither will I├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, anger clear on her face. The General blinked. Then he looked at his troops. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are more of us then you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, still in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she is only the third Princess in line of succession. She is not as valuable to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't matter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Joa backed him up, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWe would be remiss in our duties to the world as Dragoon's to not protect a woman's virtue and free will├óÔé¼┬Ø. The General dismounted slowly, his platemail clattering as he did so. He walked to them. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou hold the Shogun's sword├óÔé¼┬Ø He said to Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you really wish to defend this woman?├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, facing Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her voice even. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd do you also wish to defend this woman?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, facing Alex.
Alex looked at Joa. Then at Lucy. He wished he was as brave as Joa, as his stomach was turning loops in his body. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I do├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, trying to beat a waver out of his voice. The General nodded. Then he looked at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have picked two fine young men daughter, even if they are foreign devils├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in the Royal Tongue. Lucy lanced ├óÔé¼┼ôFarther?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, also speaking in the Royal Tongue. The Shogun smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI can still leave my castle...for my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stepped forward, between Alex and Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know not everyone who wasn't born on Nippon is not a devil├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly. Her father's eyes twinkled ├óÔé¼┼ôThat has yet to be proved conclusively├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his mouth twitching in a very slight smile. If he were any other man, he would have been laughing.
├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre we going to have to fight our way out of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, switching back to Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI am honored that you two fine young men have brought back...my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're the Shogun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun bowed ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Alexander Xue, current head of the shogunate and I would be remiss in my duties as both a father and a Shogun to not give you an escort back to our capital├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôT...Thanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, bowing. The Shogun shouted orders to his army. One of the Eastner Knights ran forward and took control of the cart. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou may ride with us, father├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said in the Royal Tongue. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...would be honored├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said as the cart trundled along ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a question├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAsk and I will do my best to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is it that you and Lucy have such...different names...from the peasants. I mean Xue is very Eastlander, but Alexander and Lucy...those sound almost Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Shogun sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôA hundred years ago, when this peace between our two Empire's was created, the Xue family and the Goldstine family married together with the joining of Lucy Goldstine and Akifumi Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAt that time the shogunate were known as Emperors. But the Shogun, or Generals, took over and the Xue family was brought down├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the son of Lucy and Akifumi, named by his mother as Alexander, brought our family back into power as the Shoguns once more. The Emperors are figureheads, now a days├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun sighed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was a bloody time├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shaking his head slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, making sure to press her voice to a lower more masculine range ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going to happen to Lucy now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will bring her to the Royal Court├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd then I will make her my adviser├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...you're..what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, completely nonplussed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need someone to keep the lesser Generals in check. They keep trying to divert funds from our production to military├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo you're not the one funneling funds from our farms to the military?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course not├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could I do something that heartless to our citizens?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could you believe that I would do that!├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, his eyes wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry for mistrusting you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Shogun sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI need someone to help me cow those overconfident warmongers back into proper respect for the Shogun's position├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I was also thinking a fine young man would make an excellent choice for marriage├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her eyes narrowing. The Shogun looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôHe has proved his courage, his bravery and his loyalty to you ten fold├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Winfred Mayflower├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said, looking at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWould make an excellent husband for my daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we should help├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at the Eastner. They all looked very silly. They each wore simple clothes, but they each had a very silly straw hat. They looked like they were wearing cones on their heads. But they were all bowing to Lucy with great motions of reverence. Lucy said something in the Royal Tongue. The peasants arose, but three of them ran off. The rest of them stood, gawking at Lucy. The peasants ran back out, their wives in toe. Their women wore no hats. Joa gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't...they don't have horns!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, pointing at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I promised to not tell anyone else...but its come out├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's so special about Lucy...other then the horns?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe horns are the point of it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only Eastlanders who have horns...are...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAre the one's with Royal Blood├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at him, then at Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...she's├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's the gods damned princes!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is the Shogun's sword├óÔé¼┬Ø he patted the hilt of the sword ├óÔé¼┼ôShe stole it when she fled home├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me the whole story when we get the chance├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy was starting to speak to her villagers, her speech haltering. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is she saying?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI...I as you're princess...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. These words felt wrong. They felt like something that shouldn't have come out of her mouth. ├óÔé¼┼ôcommand you to tell no one. To tell absolutely no one outside of this village who I am. I want you to...to work for you're prosperity and to... feed you're families. They are the foundation for our Empire. See to it that they remain strong...and true to the traditions of our people├óÔé¼┬Ø. She felt stronger now, as if something had filled her. The priest, Yatsumi, translated for her, just as faltering as Lucy did, as if she didn't quite believe what she was saying.
The villagers digested this information. Then one of them bowed, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôHail Empress Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. It was not exactly the right wording, as she was not an Empress yet, just a Princess. But the rest of the villagers did the same, bowing. Lucy felt the blood rush to her head, looking at the men and women bowing to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said in Imperial. She corrected herself ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I have a driver?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked in the Royal Tongue. Yatsumi nodded, and called out a name. The villager stood up and walked to Lucy. He bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAkira will drive you where ever you need to be├óÔé¼┬Ø Yatsumi said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you, Priest Yatsumi├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, bowing. Yatsumi actually blushed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe thanks is for you├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôA princess in our small village. I fear everyone would believe that we were simply a village of liers├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy's face fell ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't├óÔé¼┬Ø she started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo not worry, Princess├óÔé¼┬Ø the Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're secret is safe with us├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The cart trundled down the road. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a Princess├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded, looking embarrassed. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is nothing special about you, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWell nothing other then the normal things├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause we have a man who turned out to be a woman and a princess in hiding. Whats next...I'm the bastard son of the Emperor?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa and Sandra laughed, but Lucy flinched ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't say things like that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey might come true├óÔé¼┬Ø. Akira, their driver, shouted something. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said in Imperial. Then she switched to her language.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh no├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôAn army is marching down the road...towards us!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up and looked out the window. An army was right. He counted, easily, five hundred troops. Each wore complex platemail, completely weird and alien compared to the rounded kind he was used to. Their helmets were decorated with bizarre masks, mimicking scowling faces and leering eyes. The entire effect was very very frightening. They each had a banner sticking out of their backs, a long standard with a long dragon emblazoned on the side that made them easily identifiable as belonging to the Royal Army.
The general of this army sat on a warhorse and road in the front. He shouted to the driver in the Royal Tongue. The driver, being a sensible if uneducated present, ran from the cart, shouting wildly in fear. Then the General shouted, in faltering and accented Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôPrincess Lucy Xue! Exit your vehicle and report to you're farther!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stood up, her eyes closed. She walked out of the cabin. After a moment Alex followed her, holding his...the Shogun's sword ready. Lucy was walking to the army, witch was standing twenty feet from the cart. Alex ran to her side, sword at the ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex what are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy hissed. Alex stepped in front of her ├óÔé¼┼ôI will not allow├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôthe Princess Lucy Xue to be taken against her will!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex heard footsteps. Joa joined him ├óÔé¼┼ôNeither will I├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, anger clear on her face. The General blinked. Then he looked at his troops. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are more of us then you├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, still in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she is only the third Princess in line of succession. She is not as valuable to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't matter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Joa backed him up, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWe would be remiss in our duties to the world as Dragoon's to not protect a woman's virtue and free will├óÔé¼┬Ø. The General dismounted slowly, his platemail clattering as he did so. He walked to them. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou hold the Shogun's sword├óÔé¼┬Ø He said to Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you really wish to defend this woman?├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, facing Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her voice even. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd do you also wish to defend this woman?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, facing Alex.
Alex looked at Joa. Then at Lucy. He wished he was as brave as Joa, as his stomach was turning loops in his body. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I do├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, trying to beat a waver out of his voice. The General nodded. Then he looked at Lucy ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have picked two fine young men daughter, even if they are foreign devils├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in the Royal Tongue. Lucy lanced ├óÔé¼┼ôFarther?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, also speaking in the Royal Tongue. The Shogun smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI can still leave my castle...for my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stepped forward, between Alex and Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know not everyone who wasn't born on Nippon is not a devil├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly. Her father's eyes twinkled ├óÔé¼┼ôThat has yet to be proved conclusively├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his mouth twitching in a very slight smile. If he were any other man, he would have been laughing.
├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre we going to have to fight our way out of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, switching back to Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI am honored that you two fine young men have brought back...my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're the Shogun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun bowed ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Alexander Xue, current head of the shogunate and I would be remiss in my duties as both a father and a Shogun to not give you an escort back to our capital├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôT...Thanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, bowing. The Shogun shouted orders to his army. One of the Eastner Knights ran forward and took control of the cart. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou may ride with us, father├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said in the Royal Tongue. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...would be honored├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said as the cart trundled along ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a question├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAsk and I will do my best to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is it that you and Lucy have such...different names...from the peasants. I mean Xue is very Eastlander, but Alexander and Lucy...those sound almost Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Shogun sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôA hundred years ago, when this peace between our two Empire's was created, the Xue family and the Goldstine family married together with the joining of Lucy Goldstine and Akifumi Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAt that time the shogunate were known as Emperors. But the Shogun, or Generals, took over and the Xue family was brought down├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut the son of Lucy and Akifumi, named by his mother as Alexander, brought our family back into power as the Shoguns once more. The Emperors are figureheads, now a days├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun sighed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was a bloody time├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, shaking his head slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, making sure to press her voice to a lower more masculine range ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going to happen to Lucy now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will bring her to the Royal Court├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd then I will make her my adviser├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...you're..what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, completely nonplussed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need someone to keep the lesser Generals in check. They keep trying to divert funds from our production to military├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo you're not the one funneling funds from our farms to the military?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course not├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could I do something that heartless to our citizens?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could you believe that I would do that!├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, his eyes wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry for mistrusting you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Shogun sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI need someone to help me cow those overconfident warmongers back into proper respect for the Shogun's position├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I was also thinking a fine young man would make an excellent choice for marriage├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her eyes narrowing. The Shogun looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôHe has proved his courage, his bravery and his loyalty to you ten fold├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Winfred Mayflower├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said, looking at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWould make an excellent husband for my daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø.
