The Traitor

Zhōng groaned in pain, as nurses wheeled him into a room. Lord Tyron followed closely behind after hearing about what happened. "Hang in there, Zhōng." He tried to comfort Zhōng but he couldn't hear him. The pain was so intense that he lost all other senses.

After twenty minutes of check up, the doctor came out to talk to Lord Tyron. "The poison is something that is sold in the blackmarket my lord." he said.

"Do you have the antidote for it?" asked Lord Tyron.

"It's something from the blackmarket as well and is very expensive." said the doctor showing him the records and the prices.

Lord Tyron looked at the numbers and couldn't believe how expensive they were. The price would bankrupt his blacksmith shop and set Zhōng back in the market. "Is there another one that is not so expensive?" hoped Lord Tyron.

"I'm sorry this poison is so rare that there is no other one," apologized the doctor. Just then, they notice Empress Wēi and Princess Zhen coming towards them. "Your majesty," he said as he and Lord Tyron bowed.

"Is he in there?" asked Empress Wēi.

"He is," confirmed the doctor.

"Is he dying?" she asked another question.

"Yes, your majesty." replied the doctor.

"Good," said Empress Wēi. She turned to see the former prince tossed and turned in pain as the poison took more into the effect. He suddenly screamed from it as it got more violent. "Is there a way to put him away peacefully?" she asked as she noticed a couple lords of the empire that fought for him watched in vain.

"Your majesty, he saved your daughter. You're going to kill him after he did something like that?" asked Lord Tyron.

"Putting him down peacefully is the best mercy for him." replied Empress Wēi.

"Your majesty," began to argue Lord Tyron, he looked at his friend Lord Varius who watched them exchange, he nodded at him to tell. "There's been awakening in the shadows, if you kill him now, no one will be able to stop them and Zhōng will be praised as a martyr."

Empress Wēi turned to look at Lord Tyron. "He's dying today, what's the difference if I do this rather than cure him?" she stated.

"Because he will truely die by your hands rather than someone else and won't it show that you turn a blind eye to someone people will rally to." replied Lord Tyron.

Empress Wēi looked at the boy again, his condition was getting worse. She wanted to summon the person who did this and graduate him, but if what Lord Tyron said was true, then a war could start immediately and she wasn't prepared. "Doctor," she began with a sigh, "give him the antidote."

Zhōng squinted as light reentered into his eyes. He groaned as his senses came back to him at once, his arms and legs were heavy and something tasted terrible in his mouth. "Easy, easy now, you need to rest." said Lord Tyron as Zhōng tried to sit up.

"Where is he?" croak Zhōng.

"We don't know." replied Lord Tyron, he was so worried about his nephew that he didn't even begin looking for Tony.

"Then I can't rest," stated Zhōng as he tried to get back up.

"Not in this condition," said Lord Tyron, pushing him back down.

Zhōng grabbed his arm and held it tight. Lord Tyron felt the firm grip and looked into his nephew's dull dark eyes to see a blue fire begin to grow. "I have to finish what he and I started, my lord, he dies today." he stated.

Lord Tyron stepped out of the room and closed the door. He took a big sigh as arguing with nephew in his state, he thought it would be impossible. "How is he?" asked Lord Varius.

"Tired but his spirit has come back to him." replied Lord Tyron.

"Are we allowed to see him?" asked Lord Zhihao.

"I told him to sleep to regain his strength." replied Lord Tyron.

"Is he up?" asked Empress Wēi walking up to them with guards.

Lord Tyron hesitated before answering, "Yes, your majesty."

"Very well," she replied, with a nod to her guards, they broke down the door and rushed into the room. However, no one was in there and the window was open.

"There's no trace of him, your majesty." said a guard sticking his head out of the window to check.

Empress Wēi sighed, he's gotten away from her again. "Now I know how you feel." she said to her daughter as they entered the room with Lord Tyron.

"He's going after the person who shot him the poison. I'll have all of my men that owe me a favor or two to go after him." said Lord Tyron as he left the room.

"Lord Tyron," called Princess Zhen following him out.

"Yes, your majesty?" he asked, pausing to hear her.

"I would like you to contact someone." she stated.

"Your majesty, he's perhaps too deep into the case to be reached." stated Lord Tyron.

"But I have a request for him, something he knows he can't ignore." replied Princess Zhen.

Princess Zhen waited in the snow covered gardens. This was the place the Dual Bladed Ninja came to train while he waited for her. Across where she sat was the arena where he fought the captain and saved her life. "Having me save your life multiple times, doesn't mean you owe me a favor, it was my duty." said Dual Bladed Ninja, startling the princess from behind. She turned around and saw him standing there arms crossed and not in a good mood. Then again, when has he ever been in a good mood?

"I didn't know you'd come," said Princess Zhen.

"Well considering Lord Tyron caught me just when I'm about to catch a hot lead, this better be good, princess." barked Dual Bladed Ninja.

"I want to come and help you." stated Princess Zhen.

Dual Bladed Ninja took a big sigh. "I should have said no." he muttered audibly for her to hear.

"You're going after the person who poisoned the former prince, obviously he would go after his killer as well." said Princess Zhen.

"And you want to come to arrest him," assumed Dual Bladed Ninja.

"My mother said he'll die today." said Princess Zhen.

"Someone might die, but I don't think it will be him." stated Dual Bladed Ninja. "Come on, let's go before this lead gets cold as well, princess."

Zhōng led them through the streets, they were busy and more guards were on patrol for him. His cowl was up the whole time, with his dark blue eyes peering from the shadows of the cowl. Princess Zhen followed closely behind, her cowl was up since leaving the palace. Wherever the Dual Bladed Ninja was taking her, she wanted to stay close by. "Where are we going?" she asked as the streets became gloomy the further away they were from the palace and the markets.

Zhōng stopped in front of another bar, there was loud music and laughter coming from inside. "Princess, where we are is not something you find royalty at." he commented. They entered and Princess Zhen now knew why. They were all drunk clinging to anyone close to them. The music and groans were so loud that you had to shout to be heard. They were even offered a drink and a table when they arrived. "We have reservations," declined Zhōng. They then continued to the second level. They were more places to drink but also a private room with two guards standing at the doorway.

"You are not allowed in." said one of the guards blocking their path.

"I need to speak with your boss." claimed Dual Bladed Ninja.

"Listen pal, you can go find a table by yourself, or we'll do it for you." said the other. Dual Bladed Ninja turned his head a little so he can see the princess out of the corner of his eye. He was not impressed.

Darrius had girls clinging to each side of him as he drank. Suddenly, one of his guards that stood in front of the doorway, slammed onto the table in front of him. A dagger slither suddenly out of its sheath and was at the guard's throat. "Do you want to talk or do I have to kill him too after I make him talk." said Dual Bladed Ninja pinning the guard down while holding his knife to him.

Darrius nodded for the girls to leave him then he motioned for Zhōng to let go. "I assume you want to talk somewhere more private then." he said as he got up and walked towards his office with Zhōng and Princess Zhen after him. "Clearly you and Tony don't understand retirement." he stated when they were inside.

"I assume he came by," concluded Zhōng.

"He has,"

"Where is he?" asked Dual Bladed Ninja.

Darrius then looked at Princess Zhen and asked, "How did he drag you into this, your majesty?"

"He didn't, I asked him, I'm going after the former prince. We know he is going after the Poisoner." answered Princess Zhen.

Darrius looked up to the Dual Bladed Ninja. The cold looked back at him, told him not to tell. "Well if you are looking for Tony, I don't know where he is. He didn't tell me when he stopped by, I assume he knew you'll be coming by as well." he said.

"I didn't want to either but all my other leads went cold." replied Dual Bladed Ninja.

"Well I wish I could be more helpful, but since taking over, he was able to take my branch to a whole new level." apologize Darius.

"What do you mean?" asked Zhōng.

"He has a couple warehouses a few blocks down. I say the raise to be one of the higher ups must have helped the purchase thanks to Lord Tyron. What he holds in there I don't know." said Darrius.

"Well it's a start, thank you mentor." said Dual Bladed Ninja with a bow.

"Before you head, can I talk to the princess alone." asked Darrius. Dual Bladed Ninja nodded, he turned and looked at the princess before heading out into loudness. "Your majesty, before you head out there, this could be the last time to turn back." he advised her.

"Why? What's going to happen?" she asked.

"The Dual Bladed Ninja and the Poisoner have a history with each other and know almost everything about the other. I don't know what is going to happen, but the truth about him might come out. It's a truth I nor he thinks you're ready for." advised Darrius.

"Is there seriously that much bad blood that they blackmail each other to keep the secret?" she asked.

"Yes and no, let's say either answer, the Poisoner knows how to push his buttons by giving away a little major secret that could send him over." said Darrius.

Princess Zhen pondered on what was said to her as they continued to walk where Darrius told them to. "What did he tell you?" asked Dual Bladed Ninja, breaking the silence.

"He told me to leave before it gets ugly." replied Princess Zhen.

"And yet you're still coming with me, why?" asked Dual Bladed Ninja.

"Zhōng told me to come back earlier, I figured he wanted to tell me something." said Princess Zhen.

"Why do you think that?" asked Dual Bladed Ninja.

Princess Zhen sighed she didn't like that he was giving her the cold shoulder and only responded to her after she answered his question by asking a question. "What big secret do you and the Poisoner have that could be catastrophic for me?" she asked.

Zhōng stopped but he didn't face her nor said anything. He turned into an alleyway and Princess Zhen followed him. As they were in the alley a couple thugs suddenly blocked their path and the way they came in. "You look too rich to be from the slums." said a thug.

"Just passing through," replied Zhōng.

"Well for that you're gonna have to pay." said another rubbing his fingers together.

"If you can't with that, perhaps her?" said a third and all grumbled in agreement.

"Can you fight blade to blade combat?" whispered Dual Bladed Ninja.

"Yeah, why?" asked Princess Zhen.

"If you want it, come and get it." shouted Zhōng, unsheathing both his swords. The thugs charge at them. Zhōng took care of the ones coming at them while Princess Zhen handled the ones from behind. She was not as good as Zhōng but the thugs were falling easily. Suddenly in sinc, Zhōng rolled over her as she ducked as they switched sides. They continued to do this strategy beating any thugs who came close. Not a single thug landed a bow. When they had enough of being beaten, they began to run away as Zhōng grabbed one. "There's your payment." he growled before releasing him. After the thugs left, they wiped their blades clean before heading back out of the alley. "I expect him to tell and I'm ready for that but I don't think you are, princess." he said when they left.

"He said it could send you over." noted Princess Zhen.

"No, it will send me over." growled Dual Bladed Ninja as they continued to walk.

They arrive at one of the warehouses that Tony owns and enter, immediately once inside Zhōng stopped. "What's wrong?" asked Princess Zhen, confused.

"Clearly you were expecting us." stated Dual Bladed Ninja loud enough for the place to echo. Inside were rows of cargo but were set up in such a way that to explore, they'll have to walk down a hallway of boxes.

A clap echoed on the other side, as Tony appeared. "I expected you to come after me, I didn't expect the princess." he stated, noticing her behind him.

"She wasn't part of my plan either, I guess we both have lucked out." said Dual Bladed Ninja.

"My luck hasn't, yours has." proclaimed Tony.

"You want to try it in a fight?" asked Zhōng, getting his Longus ready.

"In the condition you are now even after putting down a couple of beatings to those thugs, you'll overpowered me," said Tony.

"And that's why you set the traps." concluded Dual Bladed Ninja.

"Yes and we both know who you are," said Tony. He watched as his friend's eyes glow brighter.

"You're under arrest for betraying the empire." stated Princess Zhen, interrupting the rage contest.

"Oh princess, perhaps you shouldn't just arrest me but you should arrest him as well." began Tony. Princess Zhen looked at Dual Bladed Ninja confused, his body was more intense the next word could send him over. "Would you like to tell the princess about your treacherous thoughts about the empress all those years ago or do you want me to spell it out who you are?"

Without warning a rocket launcher from his Longus appeared and Zhōng fired it. It cut through all the wires activating the traps and missed to the left of Tony. Tony sprinted up the stairs to the next level. After deactivating, Zhōng sprinted after him with Princess Zhen trying to catch up. The second level had flamethrowers, they spin, sending fire everywhere. Zhōng charged into it and had a little scrimish with Tony as he appeared out of nowhere from the flames. "Truman!" called Princess Zhen when she saw the fire.

Zhōng wasted no time activating his Longus to knock the supply of fuel. The throwers ceased to spit out a flame as Zhōng continued after Tony. Seeing the flames gone Princess Zhen ran after the two boys. They went up to the third floor with a battle raging up there. Princess Zhen noticed the fight when she arrived. She dashed behind a pillar to get a better angle. Suddenly she activated a trip wire, a grenade from the ceiling dropped, in slow motion she saw it fall. "Watch out!" screamed Zhōng as he dove her back from the blast. Luckily they were all right with Zhōng hovering over the princess, something was going on with the Dual Bladed Ninja's left shoulder.

"Princess!" called out Tony. "If you push his shirt out of the way, you'll see the marks left from the poison I shot him earlier with." he said as he fired on the pillar where they took cover. He noticed Zhōng wasn't shooting back after he dove and assumed he was still on top of the princess.

Princess Zhen's curiosity got the best of her. The Dual Bladed Ninja shirt was loose and easy to move out of the way. There she saw veins sticking out of his chest heading to the spot he was shot. She then looked up and saw him for the first time, his hair dark blond, trimmed and neat and in the same style as the former prince. Zhōng got off her and scampered to the pillar, activated a weapon from his Longus again and returned fire. "Truman?" she asked in disbelief.

Zhōng stopped firing and looked back at her, there was no way of getting out of it now, his look was filled with frustration. He grabbed his grapple from his belt and swung it around Princess Zhen's waist as she got up after he got off of her. "Forgive me, your majesty," said Zhōng. Suddenly he fired at the floor around her feet. The tiles under her gave away having her fall. She clung on tightly to the wire from the grapple as Zhōng braced her down. He was being shot at from Tony and slid as he tried to find grip. With all his strength, he removed the grapple from his hip and magnetized it to tiles that were still stuck to the support bars. Princess Zhen's bumpy ride ended when he did that and she was let down gracefully to the bottom floor.

Zhōng removed his cloak and adjusted his shirt, checking his weapons before suddenly popping out from the pillar and firing at Tony, sending him stumbling back. "I know you have the rage in you but I didn't expect you to show mercy to her," said Tony. Zhōng said nothing back as he squared off for another round. "You had this dream of taking back the empire, remember the plan you made? You have an army and leverage over the empress, she'll do anything to get her daughter back and that's where it will be the end for her. Zhōng, all I did, I did it for you to make it into a reality." said Tony.

"All you did?" asked Zhōng. "Was me meeting Alice part of the plan? Was hiding men from my wrath part of your plan? Was shooting me and trying to kill me part of your plan?" Each question he asked was louder and more emotional than the last.

"You said you'll have the empire's best interest, having you die would have thousands of people rally to you." explained Tony.

"Having me die would bring this empire to another war that it is not ready for." replied Zhōng. "So now I know it's you that's been pulling the strings, where are they?"

"Oh I only pulled the ones below, there's one that is pulling mine. I don't know where they are, but he does. I just get the orders and follow them." said Tony.

"Tell me, who?"

"I would die then tell you, fallen prince."

"So be it." said Zhōng. He activated the Ninja Sword for only the forth time in his life, and charged at Tony. The mech was overpowering, no single type mech can beat it. Only another from the original eight could. Zhōng released every attack onto Tony without a second thought. He remembers when they met, and fun times they had since. He remembers Alice and how his caring side returned to him for a while. He remembers meeting the princess and how he molded a character he wanted to be from it. All the memories, good and bad, rushed into his mind as he continued his assault. Tony's hands went up, he looked scared and at his mercy. An old memory popped into his head, a boy he knew so well looking at him for mercy when was a prince. "Mercy," ringed into Zhōng's head from the boy. Suddenly a knife from Tony's mech downward slash, hitting just the top right side of Zhōng's head as he tried to evade. Zhōng had enough and threw rockets into his punches. He pushed Tony into the wall and still continued his assault as the wall began to give. When it did, a loud explosion was heard and the warehouse shook as Princess Zhen held on till it stopped something just happened.

Tony was in a panic, his shields were depleted and Zhōng had him on the edge of the warehouse as the cold air flew in. With one arm, Zhōng held Tony and the other charged up with rockets for the final punch. "I'm giving you a two week head start, run as fast as you can out of the empire. Cause if you don't, I won't show you mercy again." threatened Zhōng as tears and blood from him hit the ground. It was the third time he had to let a friend go. Tony got the idea and flew off quickly as soon as Zhōng let go.

Princess Zhen raced back up faster than before as Zhōng deactivated his mech and retrieved his cloak. When she made it up to the third floor again, there standing by the open wall, stood a boy with a cloak and cowl up. "Truman," she muttered but Zhōng heard it.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself, your majesty." began Zhōng. "I am Former Prince Zhōng, but you know me as Truman the Dual Bladed Ninja."

"What?"

"I was with you this whole time even when you thought you caught me. I was lucky that I had someone who had my back."

"You mean, you were with me since the assassination attempt?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Yes," replied Zhōng.

"You were with me in the cave?" she asked.

"That was a little complicated." explained Zhōng.

"You took another name from someone?" assumed Princess Zhen.

"I never knew a Truman, I took that name to hide mine. I took it so I didn't have people bothering me for a simpler name." reasoned Zhōng.

"I trusted you and you would hide something like this from me?" asked Princess Zhen in disbelief.

"I was going to tell you today truely, I was going to tell you and hand you the ninja sword as proof then disappear before word gets out or a war could break out. Now I realize I'm too late to leave."

"And now you won't." she concluded.

"I have things to do," he said. The entire time his back was against her, he turned around and started walking towards the stairs.

"You're not going anywhere." said Princess Zhen after grabbing his arm. She looked up to see the right side of his face covered in blood as his eyes glowed with enormous glare. She tremple with terror, he destroy his foe and looked like he can do it again. She let go as she couldn't hold it anymore.

"Goodbye, princess." said Zhōng, spooking her. He went down, leaving the princess to fall on her knees as she began to weep for the death of her friend. Her cries were the only sound that echoed throughout the warehouse.