Birthday Party

Zhōng and Uncle Tyron rode into the main gate of the capital. Everywhere they looked, people crowded the streets cheerful and joyful. The streets were plowed as piles of snow laid to one side as kids made forts to throw snowballs. "Woah, I wish we got here sooner, if I know there would be so many." exclaimed Uncle Tyron.

"Except you did this because you know what day it is." grumbled Zhōng.

"Oh stop grumbling, you've been invited as the former prince and if you don't want to go, you've been invited as the Dual Bladed Ninja." said Uncle Tyron.

"And that's the reason why you tried to keep this a secret, did you not think I could find out?" asked Zhōng.

"Come on, you feel better when you try on some suits, birthday boy." said Uncle Tyron as he led the way through the crowds.

Meanwhile back in School Town, four girls were having a snowball fight as Xing came by to drop off some weapons. "Incoming girls," cried Cortana as she threw massive volleys at the others.

"Hey! Don't forget we are on the same team." complained Pina.

"Casualties always happen in war." defended Cortana.

"And so are surprise attacks." cried Silica throwing snowball after snowball at Cortana. She was able to evade just in time but she didn't see the snipe shot coming.

"And that's why we are the perfect partners in fights." exclaim Kotori with another snowball in hand.

"There's no way not a single snowball hit you," accused Pina.

"Oh they came close, and would have hit me if I wasn't buried in snow waiting for the right opportunity," said Kotori.

"Well you got us there." said Cortana. They shook hands then they saw Xing walking by the courtyard.

"Hey Ning, want a snowball fight?" asked Silica.

"Sorry, I have things to do." replied Xing.

"Oh come on, thirty minutes won't kill you." bribe Pina.

"I don't know," said Xing, she remembered her brother never taking a break until all of it was done. She still had things to do at the shop that couldn't be ignored. Suddenly a snowball hit her, "Hey!" she cried.

"Oops," said Kotori with another snowball ready.

"Okay, now you're going to regret it." said Xing, she put the equipment she carried with her down and ran out into the courtyard to have fun.

After thirty minutes of creaming each other with snowballs, Principal Jiào invited them in for hot chocolate by the fire. "Thank you, principal." said all the girls.

"You're very welcome, I'm glad you all get along very well." said Principal Jiào. "Ning, could you let your uncle know when he gets back, that I need twenty metal weight practice swords?"

"Yes I can do that, I can perhaps get working with them right away when I get back." said Xing. She knew Principal Jiào was her aunt, but both knew they couldn't show it at the school and it would be weird if her aunt showed up at the blacksmith shop.

"Speaking of your uncle, where is he and your cousin?" asked Cortana.

"They had business with someone in the capital, they should be gone for a while." replied Xing.

"So you are alone at the shop?" asked Silica.

"If you want, you can hang out with us more. No one shouldn't be alone." offered Kotori.

"Thank you guys so much, I'll try to come by more." said Xing, but what Kotori said made her think about her brother. On his trips he traveled alone and had no one else to help him.

"What do you think?" asked the tailor as Lord Tyron tried on some suits.

"Oh, yes, this looks amazing, you outdid yourself yet again." exclaimed Lord Tyron. The tailor nodded and did some final measurements when Zhōng came around the corner wearing his normal attire. "Tried on all the suits already? Which one did you like?" he asked.

"I'm not going." stated Zhōng.

"The empress invited you and she promised to not arrest you for today. But if you don't want to go as the former prince, there's suits for you to wear as the Dual Bladed Ninja." suggested Uncle Tyron.

"What's not clear? I'm not going, this is a trap every which way." said Zhōng. "If I go as the former prince, everyone would offer a drink to me that I can't refuse. I'll be drunk and the empress would offer a room for both of us and suddenly the next day we're in prison waiting for execution. Also if I go as the former prince, I'll break my promise I made almost four years ago."

"Well that doesn't answer why you can't go as Mr. Truman." suggested Uncle Tyron.

"If I go as Truman, the empress could arrest me, to avoid being arrested I have to claim I'm Zhōng, then we're back to problem number one." explained Zhōng.

"Zhōng, you have to understand that not every time someone invites you to something, they are out to kill you." reasoned Uncle Tyron.

"They usually invite you to understand you better or would like you to meet others," said the tailor.

"I guess I wasn't clear," said Zhōng, he turned away and walked towards the door.

"Where're you going?" called Uncle Tyron.

"To break the bad news." replied Truman leaving the shop.

"Shall I assume he isn't coming back?" asked the tailor.

"Have it ready just in case." grumbled Lord Tyron.

"Can it be higher?" asked Empress Wēi, as she watched them hang up some streams.

"Yes, your majesty." replied a worker as they raised it higher.

"Is orange and white still his favorite colors?" she pondered. The room was being decorated for tonight and she wanted it to look perfect.

"Excuse us your majesty," a worker said politely as they passed Princess Zhen. She came down to see what exactly was going on.

"I never expect you to pull this mother." she said to her.

"Well I figure since he's this quiet, a break from it could help him mentaly." said Empress Wēi

"And why would you think that? He knows this could be a trap." challenge Princess Zhen. Her mother looked at her with a sarcastic look.

"Which is why I figure he should escort you tonight, if he doesn't show up well that doesn't look good to him or to us." explained Empress Wēi.

Princess Zhen's face turned white, she heard stories from Truman and saw him earlier that year. His cold eyes behind the cowl, his sinister smile and his ability to counter any question with riddles. She could only imagine the devil which laid beneath the cowl and would be the perfect opportunity to kidnap her. "I-I-I didn't know you care about him this much." she stuttered out.

"I don't but I care about our reputation, promising he would escort you and having him not show would destroy ours and his." said Empress Wēi.

"Your majesty, you have someone that requested to speak with you." said the guard, interrupting the conversation.

"Who is he?" asked Empress Wēi.

"He wouldn't tell but would like to speak with you about something urgent." said the guard. "He's in your study room waiting."

Both Empress Wēi and Princess Zhen had an idea on who it could be. "Very well, Zhen, I have a dress prepared for you for tonight. Try it on and don't show it to anyone till tonight." said Empress Wēi, leaving her daughter confused and terrified of what her mother got her into.

"The empress," said the guard after he opened the door to the study room as Empress Wēi entered. He closed the door soon after leaving them in the room. The stranger was wearing a teared and mended cloak with it's cowl up. It was hard to tell what else about him as he read a book from a shelf.

"I assume you've heard about what I proclaim." said Empress Wēi as she came around to her desk.

"It's funny, that desk you sit at was where my father would sit before I." said Zhōng as he put the book back and turned to face her. The light from the window behind her hit his face just right to show a young boy's face with glowing dark blue eyes.

"Well I'm glad you've seen it, this is a beautiful desk." noted Empress Wēi. "But let's get back to the present shall we?"

"You think I will show up?" asked Zhōng.

"Considering you've caused this much trouble to talk I assume you're not." said Empress Wēi.

"You think I'll fall for this trap?"

"I was told you were smart so I have a way to have you come."

"Throwing your respect at me will not have me come. You think I have some for you?"

"Considering you've kept your end of the promise, I purpose a reward for you."

"Celebrating me coming close isn't the wisest thing for me to do." criticized Zhōng.

"I'm offering a day break if you come, being chased by guards must be exhausting."

"You are right, but you know if I show up before my promise, I will destroy it." said Zhōng as he walked behind her. "Either way, you put me in a losing position if I come, I don't play if I know I can't win."

"So you really did come all this way to say you're not coming?" asked Empress Wēi.

"Tell the princess I'm sorry." replied Zhōng. Empress Wēi turned around quickly to see an open window with the cold breeze flooding in. But she was the only one in the room.

Zhōng walked the streets as snow continued to fall. Everyone was happy and cheerful, all he wanted was what the people wanted. He was at a loss on who he was, one had to die and the other he had to carry with him with perhaps regret. The clock was ticking, he felt it, the end of one was near. He continued to walk until he reached a bar tavern. "Surprise!" cried the men inside as he opened the door.

"Congratulations and happy birthday." said Tony as he handed Zhōng a drink. "Tonight men! We celebrate the retirement of Lord Tyron, the beginning of our new leader and his birthday!" he screamed with bellows of men in agreement.

"You guys are the best." complement Zhōng, for the first time in a while he smiled with joyment and all his troubles seem to disappear.

The palace became busy later that night. Lords and ladies entered, even important members of the military and war heroes were invited. "Former Lord Tyron," said the announcer.

"Finally, someone gets it right, too bad it isn't someone more important." thought Lord Tyron.

"Lord Tyron," a voice called out.

"Right on cue," thought Lord Tyron. He turned around to see Empress Wēi who called for him. "Your majesty," said Lord Tyron as he bowed.

"I heard that you are retiring and your apprentice is taking over." she said.

"He is," confirmed Lord Tyron, "Quite a surprise for us, it wasn't easy for him."

"To run you need to be nominated." stated Empress Wēi.

"He was but not by me, a close friend nominated him. He gave a pretty good speech as to why him." said Lord Tyron.

"Well it's good to have friends in the right places." said Empress Wēi. "Where is the Dual Bladed Ninja right now?"

"I don't know, we arrived together, he perhaps went to an after party before the main event." assure Lord Tyron, but he knew full well that his nephew wasn't coming.

"Chug! Chug! Chug!" chanted the crowd in the bar as Zhōng and another had a drinking contest. It was Zhōng's turn and he was almost done. When he finished, everyone cheered. "Chug! Chug! Chug!" They began chanting again as his opponent began to drink, but couldn't even get half of it done when he collapsed. Everyone roared with victory.

"Clearly I'm truly a thief, if I can hold my liquor that long." stated Zhōng. All of them cheered with approval.

"Okay, you may be able to hold it, but can you focus while under it?" asked Tony, handing out another round.

Zhōng smiled, he liked where this was going to go. "Bring it on," he challenged.

The party continued on as lords and ladies talked and gossip. "Shall I have my men go out and look for him?" asked Captain Howin. He knew this was a trap, but he knew the plan and was willing to protect him even if it meant he would be named a traitor as well.

"No, it'll look like we're forcing him. I don't want that message yet." sighed Empress Wēi. Captain Howin bowed in acknowledgement and left her. She turned around to see her daughter looking out towards the party. No one has seen her yet, and she was getting terrified about the idea. She wore an orange dress with red and white detail and trimming. Her hair was up with her red strands and another hanging off to the sides of her face with a tiara on her head. "You look beautiful." she said to her.

"I don't know if it is still his color." noted Princess Zhen, if anything it would be the Old Empire colors of black and red.

"Well there is a slight problem," mentioned Empress Wēi.

"Why? What is it?" asked Princess Zhen.

"He hasn't shown up yet," said Empress Wēi. It was no shock to her, she thought he smelled the trap before it could sprang.

"What about the Dual Bladed Ninja?"

"He's perhaps out somewhere else," said Empress Wēi. "I hate doing this to you, but could you grabbed a cloak and go out and look for him?"

"You mean by myself? Alone?" asked Princess Zhen.

"I'll allow you to carry your weapon but if I send someone else with you or send them, he might not come out. I need you to find him." pleaded Empress Wēi.

Princess Zhen knew better than to deny her mother, the fact the former prince would, made her tremble. "As you wish, mother." she said with a bow, then she left to grab a cloak.

"Lord Tyron," a familiar voice called him out, he turned around to see a very good friend of his.

"Would you at least do me a favor and call me by my actual title?" asked Lord Tyron.

"Well, 'former' doesn't roll off the tongue and mister, doesn't sound right with your former title," said Lord Varius as he and two others approached Lord Tyron.

"Well I'm glad to see you again, as well as you two, Lord Reed and Lord Zhihao." said Lord Tyron.

"Likewise," said Lord Reed.

"We haven't seen you since your revocation," said Lord Zhihao.

"Well I'm glad we finally see each other again." exclaimed Lord Tyron.

"Although we would like to talk to you about something that should perhaps stay in the dark." said Lord Varius, sparking Lord Tyron's interest.

Princess Zhen strolled through the dark town. Not a soul was outside as everyone appeared to be inside. There were a couple bars open on the cold night, all of them were chatty but not as chatty as this one. Suddenly, two boys burst through the door and into the night rolling around as men from inside cheered them on. The two boys got up empty bottles laid perpendicular to the boys as each of them waited for the other to make a move. One did and the other dove for the same one beating him to it. He got up quickly and backhand the bottle shattering on the other boy's back head. The men inside cheered for the victor, as he raised the broken and a bottle full of alcohol that someone threw at him in the air. "Who's next to take me on? The only undefeated in this game." gloated the boy. The men cheered for another fight until they realized there was someone else watching them then they got silent. The boy who won saw the mens' faces turn pale, he turned to see the princess watching in horror. He sent a glare to the men to move back inside, he then picked up the boy who he defeated and dragged him inside. "You might want to move ahead of schedule." the victor boy said before pushing him inside and shutting the door.

"Excuse me," said Princess Zhen politely. The boy drank something and fixed his hair before turning around to see her.

"Apologies, your majesty, that you had witnessed our little game," said Zhōng. With his cowl off, she saw his dark blond trim and neat hair for the first time. His eyes had devil's intent but he looked way younger and kinder then what she was expecting him to look like.

"You're supposed to escort me tonight as my mother's orders." demanded Princess Zhen.

"Does your mother think she can control me? I remember coming in earlier, telling her I wasn't coming." replied Zhōng.

"So you're going to party and drink out with them?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Half the people there want me dead and the other half would perhaps don't care what happens to me." replied Zhōng.

"Surely you think there are those who will protect you from harm." suggested Princess Zhen.

"The captain, yes, anyone who stands with him that could face your mother's wrath, no. My uncle would perhaps prevent it but I won't let him. And then there are those who will have bloodshed to protect me and no one wants that at a party." reasoned Zhōng.

"If I reason with my mother to have you guarantee to be protected tomorrow as well and no one dares to lay a finger to ignite chaos. Would you come with me then?" asked Princess Zhen.

Zhōng looked down the street as he took a big sigh. "Two blocks down was the first time we saw each other since the war." he pointed out. "Do you remember what I wrote?"

"You'll remain quiet until the fifth year anniversary of the fall of the capital." said Princess Zhen remembering that day.

"If I go now, I would break my promise I made that day. Even if it shows where my loyalty lies, I can't go back on my promise for one day." explained Zhōng.

"Then why party with them?" asked Princess Zhen.

"These guys I have been with since I joined, they knew who I was before I made the announcement. I don't trust them but they're good men to have by your side if the price is right." said Zhōng.

"How can you trust them that closely when you don't trust me?" asked Princess Zhen.

"There's too much blood and pain between us to get back together like we once were. It's time we focus on our future and who we want to be." said Zhōng.

"And who do you want to be?" asked Princess Zhen.

"A friend perhaps, where I want to be, you'll have to come back here tomorrow morning." said Zhōng turning around to open the door.

"Why tomorrow?" pleaded Princess Zhen.

"Cause tomorrow I know I can trust you," said Zhōng. He opened the door and went back inside as the men cheered for him to come in. Leaving Princess Zhen outside alone and curious.

"How many does he still need?" asked Lord Tyron, they were outside discussing something.

"Two more of the original," said Lord Varius.

"That'll bring the total to fifteen." stated Lord Reed.

"Fifteen? I thought there were ten?" asked Lord Tyron, surprised by the numbers.

"Five more joined us for how the empress handled the former prince," said Lord Zhihao.

"They believe your nephew should be king, so they joined her hoping she would guide him to be a better person instead of taking the throne." explained Lord Varius.

"This could already tip the scale." analyzed Lord Tyron.

"Were missing the other two strongest fiefdoms, with them, yes we could dominate to take the throne back." said Lord Reed.

"That's why I came to talk to you, as one of the two deciding, I want to know what our prince has in mind. Does he want war or peace?" said Lord Varius.

Lord Tyron looked out, he didn't even know what his nephew was planning to do. Long ago he said one thing, but now he showed the opposite. When he asked him, he always found a way out. "I don't know, if anything, he'll put the empire's state first. If he thinks it can handle another war, then he'll be behind you. But if he thinks it isn't he will try to stop it before it erupts." he finally said.

"So what you're saying is to wait," said Lord Zhihao.

"Yes, I believe so." confirmed Lord Tyron.

An applaud inside interrupted their conversation as they heard it. "Sounds like someone important." stated Lord Reed.

"But it's not him," said Lord Tyron. When he gets back home, he's going to have a long talk with his nephew.

"Princess Zhen," said the announcer. The guests applauded as she entered, still wearing her orange dress.

She put on a smile as walked by them, walking up to her mother. "My daughter," exclaimed Empress Wēi. She looked at her daughter and knew the answer, she couldn't find him. "Attention everyone! Thank you for coming for this. Tonight we celebrate a person who has the same problem as his ancestors. My predecessor and his before all had something to fear, fear of assassins, fear of rock monsters, fear of empires surrounding our borders. They were cowards thinking their only action is to have action. I will not be like them, I will face them and hope to have peace with them and if they refuse, then a punishment will be enforced. I offered a day of peace today for the former prince and he paid it back by not being here. If you want to see a coward rule this empire, then go follow him. But I warn you, a dog with all bark and no bite shouldn't be considered like one. So a toast, to a cowardly former prince." she announced.

The others followed her lead but there was a great division between the guests. "Maybe it was for the best that he didn't show up." thought Lord Tyron as he drank.

The next morning, the capital was grumpy. Everywhere you look, people look grouchy and exhausted. The town looked gloom and dull as Princess Zhen carefully walked through the streets to the bar she visited last night. When she arrived she noticed the sign said closed but this was the place Zhōng told her to meet him. She entered the bar, the smell of alcohol was strong and the place was a dump as tables and chairs were scattered everywhere.

"Bar is closed for today, come back tomorrow." said the bartender with his back towards her, it was the same boy that lost to Zhōng.

"I was told to meet someone here." she replied.

Tony turned around to see the princess standing there. "My apologies, come have a seat. I'll get you a drink." he recommended as he got to work on making some tea.

"Is he still here?" she asked, noticing they were the only ones in the place.

"Yes, he's upstairs. The party last night put him a little dizzy even with a nullifier. I offered him a place to sleep and he accepted it." explained Tony.

"You seem to be good friends with him, are you good friends with the Dual Bladed Ninja as well?" asked Princess Zhen.

Tony took a sighed before giving her the cup of fresh tea. "Everything Zhōng says to you is to test you. I remember something similar I did with him when we first met."

"Test me for what?" asked Princess Zhen before began taking a sip.

Tony smiled as she was about to drink. "To see if he could trust you the truth," he replied.

Suddenly a knife flew into the air shattering the cup of tea that Princess Zhen held. They looked where it came to see Zhōng panting in front of a doorway that led upstairs. "Clearly I should have learned." he stated. Tony reached under the bar for a single hand held rounded crossbow and began firing. Zhōng dived towards the bar as the darts flew past him. While still firing Tony walked backwards towards a doorway behind the bar. When he was out of rounds, he reached for another one that was back there. Taking advantage of the transition, Zhōng hurdled the bar and dove to one side of the doorway just as more darts flew. Tony stopped firing when he was outside through the back door. "Call your guards, princess." ordered Zhōng as he chased after him.

Zhōng went outside and sprinted after Tony, he was rounding a corner in the alley when something penetrated his left shoulder. He looked down to see a dart planted there, his arm started to feel numb as he looked up to his friend pointing the crossbow at him. He collapsed from the poison. "So long, former prince." said Tony as he turned around and walked away leaving Zhōng to enter darkness.