The Commanders Death

The long day had come to an end and it was time for the sun to set into the horizon. The sky was painted with bright vibrant colors. Red, pink, orange, yellow that swelled perfectly together almost as if they were meant to be. Down below the candy colored sky was the buzzing Ming empire, celebrating yet another successful win. The festival was filled with people who wore their traditional tang suits to show respect to the ones who fought for them. Everything was decorated beautifully. Streamers hanging from stand to stand, lanterns brightening up the half darkened sky, dragon boats fooled and jumped around entertaining the little children. Dancers performed elegantly through the streets while the singers sang heartwarming songs. Store owners closed up their shops to come down and sell festival essentials, such as candy, food on sticks, toys infested with elements, games, souvenirs from other nations and many more. Even some soldiers that had been in the previous battle had shown up just to celebrate the victory with their families and loved ones. They celebrated for hours on end and not a single person in the crowd seemed to have planned on stopping. As the sun had faded away, nighttime had fallen on them. The lights that had been strung up on the palace were only now starting to glow. Everyone looked in awe at the lights, mesmerized by how they radiated throughout the palace.

This was a night meant for everyone to enjoy yet there was still one person who just couldn't find it in themselves to celebrate. That person was Xiaojun. He was seated at his desk in his private quotes, busying himself with paperwork, or so he originally planned to. He had been dozing off a lot, not getting much work done since he had to train and give a speech to the new recruits all day yesterday. It was quite the burden.

Xiaojun stirred in his sleep, accidentally knocking over one of his element globes. He woke up startled. Rubbing his eyes, he looked around for what had woken him from his well needed slumber. He searched his room for the disturbances, soon spotting the orange globe shattered all over the ground. Xiaojun let out a sigh and bent down to clean the pieces of his precious substance tool, running a hand through his well styled midnight hair.

Usually people don't own substance tools either because they're too expensive or they're used for young teens that are still practicing control of their elemental substance. Thought for Xiaojun, it was something very necessary since he was born with a weak soul. Sad to say Xiaojun's parents moved around from nation to nation when he was still an infant, running from the army, atlas not giving his soul the time to collect enough substance of a single element. Even with this disadvantage, Xiaojun was still able to make the best out of the little elemental substance stored in his soul. He worked hard, researching different ways to use what he had. Eventually he created a few spells that increased his physical ability which earned him a proud role in the army.

Starting at his feet, he bent down and started to carefully pick up each piece with a disappointing look in his dark blue eyes. Xiaojun Isn't someone who shows emotion easily. Some might say "you're more likely to cross paths with a fire breathing dragon than to see the great Xiaojun show emotion", But atlas what can he do? Someone very important gave him this, it's how anyone else would react.

While concentrating on cleaning, there was a sudden knock at his door, making Xiaojun drop all the shad pieces on the floor, again.

"Oi, Xiaojun, Are you in there?" Xiaojun let out a deep sigh knowing exactly who was behind his door. Curing, he got up and made his way to see what his unexpected guest wanted.

"What do you want, Keijiro"? He asked as he opened the door, annoyed. He observed his friend, looking at his straight brunette hair that fell at his back.

"Geeez, what's wrong with you? Didn't get enough sleep or something?" Keijiro pushed past Xiaojun, inviting himself inside. Stepping in, he noticed a familiar orange color all over the black carpet.

"Huh? Isn't this the element globe I got you for your birthday?" Keijiro ducked down and picked up one of the shards, examining it. He turned around, still kneeling and looked at Xiaojun. A slit sting of guilt stabbing his stomach, Xiaojun turned his gaze away from him, scared to hear the yells of disapproval that he was all so used to.

"It was an accident." he whispered shyly. "Sorry." Keijiro continued to pick up the mess, surprised at what he had heard.

"What's this? Is the great Xiaojun apologizing to little ol' me?" Keijiro teased. Though Xiaojun didn't answer, instead he stayed there ready to get lectured. Keijiro sighed. He got up and walked to Xiaojun, carefully trying not to scare the boy away. Xiaojun tensed as he heard Keijiros footsteps getting closer and closer. Confused when he felt a hand pat his head, Xiaojun looked up, finding Keijiro standing in front of him with a goofy smile. Xiaojun's body loosened, making Keijiro relieved he didn't mess up.

"Don't worry about it kiddo, I'll buy you a new one." Embarrassed, Xiaojun pushed Keijiro's hand away, secretly happy his friend was not mad with him. Keijiro didn't think anything of this as it was a regular response he got from his best friend. Even though those two weren't too far in age, Keijiro being four years older then Xiaojun, Keijiro had always been like an older brother to him. Back in their training days lots of kids would steer clear of Xiaojun because he was always at the top of his class, excelling at everything. In Keijiro's case, since he was from Akihero, the nation of lightning, many didn't bother to get to know him, not wanting anything to do with the outsider. Keijiro however, didn't let that bother him as he would proudly wear his traditional Akihero clothing showing everyone that he wasn't ashamed of who he was. The two boys got along quite well considering they were both ignored by everyone. Of course they didn't really pay much attention to each other until one day Xiaojun was getting brutally beaten by his classmates. Keijiro, who was passing by, had seized the bullies' attack on the poor boy. When Keijiro asked Xiaojun why he had let the boys abuse him he bluntly answered that if he let them hit him then they would eventually get bored of him and leave him alone, just like everyone else did. After hearing this, Keijiro got the sudden urge to befriend this abnormal boy, seeing his old miserable self in him. That's when their friendship first blossomed. I guess you could say that it was a common thing for Keijiro to see a fire breathing dragon.

" Seriously though, why'd you decide on coming over this late?" Xiaojun went back to his desk to pile up his papers that he barely touched.

"Are you nuts Xiaojun?" Keijiro asked? "Everyone is at the festival celebrating your big win and you're up here doing paperwork?!"

"Well you already know I'm not very fond of celebrations, or crowds, or parties, or people either." Xiaojun said with a blank expression. He was never much of a fan of gatherings as you could guess. Always hidden away when a big event occurred but Keijiro always found him in his little game of hide and seek. Forcing the introverted individual to leave his comfort zone.

"Come on, don't be like that, come out and have some fun for once. Don't you think you should enjoy life before it's too late. I mean we are warriors. We could die at any minute without a warning" Keijiro grabbed his arm and started to shake it aggressively, getting Xiaojuns attention.

"No." Xiaojun sternly stated.

"Please!"

"No."

"Please!"

"NO!" he said for the final time. Keijiro had had enough. He wasn't going to let his best friend waste his life away doing paperwork! He grabbed Xiaojun with no warning and pulled him out the door.

"Keeijiiirooo!" Xiaojun whined. Ugh!! I should just be used to it at this point. He thought, rolling his eyes. They walked down the long palace hall, their steps echoing off the cherry red walls. The structure was held up by circular red pillars that were lined up from the beginning to the end on each side of the hall. The wooden floor was shiny-clean, spotless; you could even see your reflection. Pictures of the last emperors were hung up from the first emperor to the latest. The palace was huge, it stood at about 50 feet tall. It's orange red walls could be seen from miles and miles away. There were five buildings in total. The main building placed at the front in the middle was for the emperor and his family. It was covered with a eave roof with three slopes. It was the biggest out of all. The other buildings were behind the main one in a four square position. The one on the far right, building 4, was for important gatherings such as galas, meetings, weddings, and so on. Right in front of it was building 1, which is for the lord's. The one on the far left, building 3, is for the high officers in the imperial army and the last one is building 2 which is the servant quarters. Each structure had red pillars supporting them all around and a simple eave roof. The palace was surrounded by a stone wall with a white fence on top. The only way to get in was to go up the many flights of stairs and past the large red iron gate that was numerous feet high. Further behind the stone wall was the courtyard where many soldiers were drinking and making a ruckus. Xiaojun and Keijiro had just made it outside, making their way to join the others in their fun.

"Hey everyone!!" one of the drunkards shouted. "It's General Keijiro and commander Xiaojun." Everyone stopped what they were doing in an instant. Disbelieved by the outburst. They had to see for themselves. To their surprise there he was. The great Xiaojun has come out of his room on a night of celebration and partying. They had all expected to see Keijiro there as he would attend gatherings occasionally, but not Xiaojun. They barely ever see him outside of his duties. It was quite the shock.

One of them had stood up to speak. "Woow. I can't believe my eyes. Is it Really Xiaojun?"

Xioajun just stood there, not knowing what to do in this awkward situation. Fortunately Keijiro came to his rescue.

"Aw come on guys. You're going to scare the poor kid away." Hearing this, Xiaojun glared at Keijiro, not too happy about being referred to as a kid. He was 22 after all. Keijiro simply gave Xiaojun an innocent smile and yanked him to a table of familiar faces and many bottles of beer.

"General, commander, what a pleasant surprise." said one of the men seated there named Zhu Han. He and all the other men got up to show their respect to Keijiro and Xiaojun. Keijiro Just waved them off and took a seat beside Zhu Han.

"No need for that. Tonight we came here to celebrate and that is what we shall do." Keijiro lifted up his glass and shouted. "CHEERS." Everyone around grabbed their glasses of beer and lifted them up into the sky, bashing against one another.

"CHEERS.'' They drank countless bottles of alcohol till the point where they couldn't even remember their own names. The drunken fools reminisced about their battles, exaggerating about the many wars they fought. The misty air was filtered with laughter and old memories. Everyone seems to be having a good time. Even Xiaojun had a few drinks, enjoying himself a little, but atlas all good things have to come to an end sometime. It was late and Everyone was starting to pack up for the night. Cleaning had not been easy, especially because everyone couldn't walk straight. That included Keijiro too. Xiaojun, being the only one that could think properly, Had to haul his friend's tall and built body back to his room all the way across the palace. Finally after Xiaojun was able to deliver Keijiro to his room safe and sound he made his way to his own place hoping for some peace and quiet

Now in his room, Xiaojun was preparing his bed for sleep. He was thinking about the events that transpired today, a smile slowly tugging at his face. He yawned, stretching his arms high above his head, taking this as a sign to get some proper sleep. As Xiaojun was about to turn in for the night, there was a knock on his door. Stopping what he was doing he got up to attend to who needed him this late at night. At the door stood a tall figure with a white container clutch in his hand. A man that Xiaojun recognized as his assistant, Lay.

"Hey commander! Sorry to disturb you at this hour but Keijiro told me the other day to get these for you." Lay held out the container for him to take. Xiaojun looked at it funny. Hesitating, he grabbed the white bottle.

"What exactly is it?" he asked, suspicious of what the bottle held. Lay took out a paper from his pocket, handing it to Xiaojun.

"It's medicine for your nightmares." He explained, "It's supposed to help you sleep better at night."

Damn it! There goes keijiro telling everyone about my business. Judging by Xioajun's unpleasant face, Lay could tell he wasn't quite comfortable with the situation. "Don't worry commander, my lips are sealed." Xiaojun just stared at him. Was he really that easy to read? He thought. Lay cleared his voice looking away from the commander's intense stare.

"Anyways, that paper is basically the ingredients used in the pills. Also make sure to only use one each night. These pills were made with electricity substances so it could do severe damage if you take too much. Well that's all I came here for so I best get going. Goodnight commander." Lay saluted, then left without another word, disappearing into the halls. Xiaojun went back into his room and sat at his bed. He looked over the paper Lay gave him earlier. Finishing with the reading, Xiaojun opened the bottle containing the pills. He wonders for a second, seeping into his own world. Would these pills really cure him of his inability to sleep properly? Would they really stop him from having these horrid nightmares that keep him up. Xiaojun sighed. He wouldn't know until he tries. He concluded. zoning back into reality, Xiaojun popped a pill into his mouth. He sat there waiting for something to happen as if his eyes would start to glow red. After a minute of complete silence, Xiaojun got up, feeling a little foolish. As he walked towards his closet He felt a big wave of exhaustion come over him. He stumbled and leaned onto his desk grabbing his pounding head. Wow I didn't think the pills would work this strongly. Xiaojun, who was now in excruciating pain, felt a sudden stab at his heart. He gasped for air, clumsily trying to reach the door to yell for help. Unfortunately he didn't make it, kneeling to the ground before he could get some assistance.

At this point in time Xiaojun was beginning to panic, his body losing strength as it fell to the ground, blood pouring out of his mouth, ears and eyes, no one around to help him. He was about to die.

Eventually Xiaojuns body had gone limp and his eyes became blurry with old memories. His life was flashing before his eyes. Memories about his dead parents, his old days in the academy with keijiro, his many achievements, and other good things that happened throughout his life. Sadly these memories faded and soon came the ones he ran away from in his nightmares. He saw several dead bodies: hundreds and hundreds all that he had killed. Commander Reggie soon popped up smiling and holding a woman he showered with love. The happy frame quickly fell just like the others did and up came a grave that read Reggie North. The grave was surrounded by many that cried tears of sadness, including the woman he saw earlier. He also saw other funerals of soldiers he killed, so many that even he started to contradict himself. Finally the worst of the worst came. All the people living in Roseanne running as the emperor's soldiers came into their house slaying anyone they saw. Wait a minute, I never gave the command to kill innocent people. Xiaojun was greatly confused. These were not his memories. He thought. What was happening.

Xiaojun sees all the havoc and pain the people of Roseanne are struggling with and starts feeling an unfamiliar sensation deep down in the pits of his stomach.

He's feeling regret.

As he takes his last breath and shuts his eyes he can't help but want to fix his terrible mistake. Can I really die like this? Letting these people suffer for my selfishness and arrogance? He thought. Becoming overstimulated with pain his body shuts down and his heart comes to a complete stop. Finally his regretful life comes to an end.

The great Xiaojun has died.