Pablo

Ten thousand troops arrived at School Town as the two hundred out five hundred men for the empress and the two thousand men dedicated to the Fallen Prince prepared to leave. "Have any of your men suffered any injuries or death on your trip, my lords?" asked Captain Howin to Lord Zhe and other lords.

"No captain, we came unscathed, though we did have one hundred bandits join us as they claim to fight for us and are part of the Fallen Prince's army." reported Lord Zhe.

"So he is alive," thought Captain Howin. "I'll inform Lord Tyron and Lord Varius about them. Have your men prepared to leave, we head to the capital, immediately." he ordered.

"Very well, captain." responded one of the lords.

Captain Howin analyzed the incoming troops that arrived, he knew fifteen thousand wasn't enough to beat forty thousand. With perhaps another thousand plus the Fallen Prince's army, the odds were still against them. "Captain Howin," called out Princess Zhen as she and her friends approach him.

"Your majesty, I much I'll love to talk, but I must humbly request you to leave me alone." requested Captain Howin as he calculated the likely odds.

"I'm going to have ignored your request, unfortunately." said Princess Zhen.

"I take it, it's about Zhōng?" assumed Captain Howin.

"More specifically, his second friend." added Xing.

"Well, you should remember his name." said Captain Howin to Xing.

"But you were with them most of the time." replied Xing.

"I guess that's the reason why he told you to ask me." sighed Captain Howin, looking out to the troops. "I guess this does set up the same situation and a good reason for me to take a break." he said.

"So who was he? Why did Zhōng decide not to tell us about him?" asked Silica.

"His name is Pablo, and the story would perhaps help you understand the Fallen Prince a little more than you realized." began Captain Howin. "It all started…"

John tossed down a pile of sticks he found sticking out from the snow as Zhōng worked to keep the fire going. "Why can't we travel doing a warmer time of the year?" complained Jack as he shivered.

"Cause we'll be too late and I told you guys to bring extra for your horses and yourself." said Zhōng, putting the sticks John found in the fire. He built a wall out of snow to keep the breeze from putting the fire out and direct the heat to them. "Besides, be grateful you also have a cloak and clothes unlike them." Yáo picked his ears up from where he was laying as he heard his master speak. He neighed in disgust at his master's humor. "Those blankets sure keep you warm, be real pity I took them or forgot to feed you." said Zhōng, his horse shook his head and laid back down.

"Hey Zhōng, why did you decline the princess's offer to come with us?" asked John.

"I was wondering the same thing, sure we're learning well but she might have tricks that could help as well." suggested Jack.

"She could also help us gather men to fight against your brother." included John.

Zhōng put a couple more sticks in the fire as he sighed. His face was visible as the light from the flame danced on his face and his hair. "Before you guys and those who came before you, I met someone after the princess. Someone, which events that followed was perhaps what would curse me to become very careful of who l can trust." he began. "Early in the Eight-Year War,"

Thirteen years ago, the war began and was three months into it as Prince Zhōng and his bodyguard Howin walked the streets of the populated capital city. "Why do people still want war?" asked Prince Zhōng aloud.

"Some people just don't like your father's opinion." explained Howin. He was eighteen years old at the time and came from the Border Fiefdom. Though he wasn't the strongest with the sword, however, the spear was where he was talented.

"I understand that but couldn't they wait till I come of age?" asked Prince Zhōng as they continued walking the streets.

"There are those who believe you'll be like your father, and this is the reason why I brought you out here. To prove them wrong." explained Howin.

"I wish Lady Zhen could come here where it's safe." grumbled Prince Zhōng as he sat on a bench. Howin said nothing, he heard rumors but ignore them knowing if the emperor wanted him to know, he would tell him.

A ball rolled to the prince's feet, he looked up and saw kids who were playing with it looking at him. Prince Zhōng picked up the ball and walked over to give it back to a boy. "Would you like to play with us, your majesty?" the boy asked.

"I don't know how to play." confessed Prince Zhōng.

"We can teach you if you want to play." suggested the boy. Prince Zhōng turned to look at Howin, he nodded his head showing it was okay. He returned the nod to the boy and he smiled. "My name is Pablo." introduced Pablo.

"Nice to meet you, you can call me Zhōng when we're playing." said Prince Zhōng. The children and the prince played their game with the ball. The crowd noticed it, they were glad he was friendly to strangers as Howin smiled from his work.

A couple of months later, on Prince Zhōng's birthday, he was discontent until he saw his friends again. "Guys, welcome!" he greeted.

"Happy birthday, Prince Zhōng!" announced his friends.

"Happy birthday, Zhōng." said Pablo giving his ball to Prince Zhōng as their present.

"Thank you, my friend, my best friend." thanked Prince Zhōng. "Come on, let's go play with it."

"Don't you have guests here to see you?" asked Pablo.

"More like my father's friends, come on it's my birthday, l can do whatever I want." said Prince Zhōng. They all understood and took off running to play.

"Report," ordered Emperor Huo as he watched his son run off with his friends.

"To my best knowledge, none seem deadly to kill your son, your majesty." reported Howin.

"What about the one that gave him the ball?" asked Emperor Huo.

"He's been there for the prince, always getting him involved in their games." replied Howin.

"Very well, then." said Emperor Huo.

"If I may, your majesty, the prince still writes letters to her." added Howin.

"As long as he doesn't then I don't care as of this moment." replied Emperor Howin.

"He wrote letters?" exclaimed Silca as they prepare to depart the next day.

"You should have seen the piles he had, you thought he was sending books." said Xing remembering about them.

"I didn't know he was trying to reach out to me." said Princess Zhen as she blushed from embarrassment.

"Neither did he know you were the enemy in the war." pointed out Captain Howin. "But that has nothing to do with this story." he continued.

A few years had passed since the birthday, Prince Zhōng and Pablo were playing a game. Prince Zhōng ran and leaped from every possible opening just when he think he was clear, he felt someone touch him. "Gotcha!" cried Pablo from behind ending the game.

"I… was… so… close…" gasped Prince Zhōng.

"You wished," teased Pablo. "I wonder where the others are."

"This war seriously forced them to leave here." sighed Prince Zhōng.

"One day, we should get back together."

"How about when I ascend to the throne.".

"Have you ever wondered what will happen if you lose?"

Prince Zhōng pondered on the question before answering, "It's almost been four years, this war is now seriously down to endurance. If I can keep the people's hopes up about me, we won't lose this war."

"Do you think the people have hope for you?" asked Pablo as they looked out into the crowd.

"I'm sure, why?"

"What people show when you're around them isn't what always what they usually show."

"You're suggesting I don't have the people's support?"

"It depends on your father's actions. This war started by him and will end by him winning or losing." said Pablo as they began walking through the crowd.

Howin was minding his business on a break when two guards ran up to him. "Forgive us, sir, but we were wondering if you've seen Prince Zhōng?" asked one of them.

"Did you ask the princess where he is?" asked Howin.

"Yes, sir, she said she doesn't know." responded the other one.

"Then I'll go find him, it's clear that she helped him disappear from you two." sighed Howin as he walked away to go look for the prince.

"Throughout the war, Pablo and I made more friends but we lost them due to the war as well." explained Zhōng. "While they came and went, Pablo stayed. I was really glad that he did."

"So during the entire war, you guys hang out mostly?" asked John.

"Whenever we could," replied Zhōng.

"It was difficult of keeping him in the palace, it didn't help that a certain someone helped him sometimes." said Captain Howin.

"He was having fun, I'm sure our father didn't mind most of the time." defended Xing.

"Can I ask how did you get those two to lose him?" asked Howin.

"I think that's when I got myself stuck up in a tree." said Xing.

"And as they helped you, your brother escaped from them." concluded Cortana.

"That's probably one I didn't put a lot of thought into." claimed Xing, she remembered the times she had when she made the guards' day awful. She would drop stuff on them, trap them, and her favorite was the damsel in distress trick. "I had way too much fun on them." she reflected.

"And too much time," said Captain Howin, seeing her traps happened once or twice.

Prince Zhōng was ten years old when he went to visit the blacksmith shop. "Mr. Ha?" he called out.

"Ah, your majesty," greeted Mr. Ha.

"Is it complete?"

"Yes, your majesty, I have it right here." said Mr. Ha handing Prince Zhōng a blade. The blade was blue and silver. It wasn't terribly heavy like other ones as the hilt of the blade glittered dragon wings.

"Magnificent," awed Prince Zhōng, unsheathing the blade.

"It was difficult to combine the two types you requested, luckily I know how to make them, your majesty." declared Mr. Ha.

"Thank you, Mr. Ha." thanked Prince Zhōng, bowing slightly then went out.

"You got one," said Pablo walking back with Prince Zhōng.

"A Longus, how did you know about him?" asked Prince Zhōng.

"My family knows him well."

"Well enough to have you have a sword?"

"Probably not," said Pablo, the two boys laughed as they continued to walk.

Prince Zhōng reached the palace seeing Howin was waiting for him. "Sister, what did you do?" he thought. "Howin," he greeted.

"Come on, we're late." said Howin.

"Late for what? Another execution of an Assassin?" asked Prince Zhōng.

"No, late for meeting your squire." said Howin, guiding the prince inside.

"Well it's about time you show up." said Emperor Huo as Prince Zhōng and Howin entered. With the emperor was Prince Zhēngfú, Xiōngshǒu, and Hòuhuǐ all waiting for Prince Zhōng to come.

"My apologies, father." replied Prince Zhōng, bowing before joining them.

"What's that?" asked his father, noticing the weapon.

"It's my sword, in case the war comes here, I have a way to defend myself as well." explained Prince Zhōng.

"Ha! The war won't even come here for one. Two, if it does, you'll have thousands of guards defending you. And three, you'll have the Ninja Sword on you. Your pathetic blade is a waste of metal." critiqued Prince Zhēngfú.

"Zhēngfú, though your reasons are correct, I must remind you I have to die or become unworthy for your brother to wield the Ninja Sword." reprimanded Emperor Huo.

"Of course, father." apologized Zhēngfú though he didn't mean it.

"Now begin practicing your mech fighting skills." ordered Emperor Huo. Prince Zhēngfú and Xiōngshǒu activated their Wyverns while Prince Zhōng and Hòuhuǐ activated their Longuses. It was difficult for Prince Zhōng to fight, he barely had experience and his understudy was far better than him. Princess Xing watched them fight in awe, she had an interest in these things instead of her duties which were pastime lady things. The thirst for action always drove her to escape from them to go watch her brothers fight. "Report," ordered Emperor Huo as he joined Howin to watch.

"Nothing, your majesty, no obvious threat to the prince." reported Howin.

"Does he know who we are fighting?"

"I don't believe so, your majesty."

"Good," said Emperor Huo. They stood quietly as they continued to watch for a while longer. "There's a rumor going around there's at least one of them still living here."

"With respect, your majesty, there's no way you'll be able to get rid of all of them.":

"I know that, the problem is…" continued Emperor Huo as he whispered the remaining of the sentence in Howin's ear. The remaining information shocked Howin.

"I couldn't believe what I was told," reflected Captain Howin as he told the story to them.

"I don't understand, why did the emperor try to kill them?" asked Silica.

"I don't think there's an answer." said Xing.

"There is, General Kokai who died at the Seige of the Capital, told me where it started. After he married your mother, they would begin to lock down shipments to the Assassin Empire since the empire your mother is from didn't like them and the emperor helped her people by locking down the only port at the time from delivering or receiving anything to or from them." explained Captain Howin. "However, when your mother died, your father believe the assassins played a part in her death. It was also pride as we have the most land than any of the other empires. However, the Assassin Empire's motto is 'Small but Large'. The fear of joining your mother due to actions from the past, and the fact that besides us, they could kill us within our sleep and leave no weapon behind. He ordered us to find and bring them for trial and so they perished by his words. Pride is what started his downfall, he hoped that if we put fear into the assassins, they would run away back to their empire. However, this caused him the trust of the people he swore to protect."

"I've once thought of him as an alright king, but when he started to kill anyone, I knew I couldn't go silent and watched." said Empress Wēi as she joined them.

"Shortly after this event, I must have been captured." declared Princess Zhen as she looked back on the timeline.

"I was told about this just two months before the prince's birthday, I was on high alert from then on." explained Captain Howin. He looked down as he remember the last two years with the former prince being hard. He felt guilty and wasn't sure if he should continue.

"The last two years were a little more difficult but I manage to find a way. However, Howin would have his spear armed in his hands when he came to find me." explained Zhōng.

"That must be rough for you, being literally sat on in your home." commented Jack.

"It wasn't as bad till two months before the Seige of the Captial." stated Zhōng as he continued the story,

Prince Zhōng ran through the hallways as fast as he could. He was in a middle of a game with his brother when news made him run out. He passed a porch and quickly stopped and looked out to see his best friend dragged into the palace with his family as prisoners. "I'm sorry you have to see this, my son." said Emperor Huo behind him.

"What're their crimes?" asked Prince Zhōng as tears begin to roll down his face.

"For being assassins and perhaps planning to assassinate either me or you." explained Emperor Huo.

"Were you ever going to tell sooner?" asked Prince Zhōng.

"Must have slipped my mind." replied Emperor Huo.

"You can't do this, they've done nothing wrong." debated Prince Zhōng.

"I'm sorry, but I must hold true to my word even if it means they are friends to my son." said Emperor Huo.

"No, you're doing this because they're assassins. If you were doing by your word then we won't be in a war and losing, won't we." said Prince Zhōng as he stormed away.

"Your majesty," addressed Howin after seeing Prince Zhōng storming off.

"How long have you known?" snapped Prince Zhōng.

Howin hesitated to say as he saw the furious eyes of Prince Zhōng, eyes that would later bring fear to any who would cross him. The demons were revealed as the fire in his blue eyes ignite. The once cheerful boy was replaced with a demon. "For two years," he finally said. Prince Zhōng said nothing back as continued to walk angrily at them.

"First her, now him, either he picked the wrong friends or I'm good at making enemies that would soon become his as well." said Emperor Huo.

"I've watched Pablo carefully, even before you told me, your majesty. He might be an assassin civilian, but he never once showed making a move to kill him." reported Howin.

"Even if that's true, the charge for being an immigrant is death." stated Emperor Huo.

"How about you take a page out of your son's book, your majesty, and find another way." suggested Howin. He left Emperor Huo's presence as he went on his way.

Emperor Huo ponder what was said to him by Howin. "If only it was that simple, I would have let my son know sooner. Now it will perhaps be after the fall." he thought.

The throne room was packed with guards and witnesses. Emperor Huo sat on the throne while his family stood on a balcony above as Howin was in between Prince Zhōng and the rest. Pablo's family stood in front chained to a podium as some of the witnesses booed and hissed at them. "This will be quick." said General Kokai to other generals.

"Bet this would be, they're not like the rest of them." said a general.

"General Sagishi, how goes the planning for the defense of the city?" asked another general.

"Going marvelously, I'm finishing up the final touches to the plan. I should present them perhaps soon." said General Sagishi, he was one of the newest generals and the fastest as he climb throughout the entire war.

Emperor Huo stood up and everyone in the room went silent. He drew the Ninja Sword and said, "Let the trial begin!"

Everyone took their places as those who know them were questioned and if they knew their true identities. "The Amsalija Family, these witnesses stories they told, majority of them confirm our suspicions of you, how would you like to respond?" questioned General Kokai.

"It's true, your majesty," begins Pablo's father. "We're assassins from the Assassin Empire. We apologize for lying to you and to your son, the future emperor. Our intention was to gather information about your movements to other lands and to see what laws of trade you enforce. It was only a coincidence that our sons met and became friends, if I could I would have brought my family out of here and to a safer place than to stay and continued my work on spying on you."

Emperor Huo leaned back on the throne as he pondered what was said. "Your majesty, I believe the punishment is simple, death." assured General Kokai.

"If it were me, yes. However," said Emperor Huo as he stood up. "Mr. Amsalija, I decided that because of our sons' close friendship, I passed the punishment to his hands." everyone in the room was shocked including Prince Zhōng as his father looked at him and continued. "If we win this war, you'll have to make decisions that those who might advise you might not agree. You'll have to make decisions on your own, so Prince Zhōng, what shall their sentence be?" Everyone looked at Prince Zhōng as he stare at his friend's face, his face was calm and comforting as if he was prepared to die by his order if needed to be.

"And that's pretty much it." declared Captain Howin.

"What?!" the girls cried out.

"We should get some sleep." declared Zhōng.

"Wait, what happens next?" asked John.

"You can't just end it there." stated Jack.

"I can and I did, now go to bed" ordered Zhōng as he lay down to get some sleep, leaving Jack and John looking at each other confused.

"That's pretty much it about him. An assassin undercover who became friends with the former prince." explained Captain Howin.

"But what happened after the trial?" asked Cortana.

"Captain, what did Zhōng decide to do?" asked Princess Zhen.

Captain Howin looked over at Xing, she was uncomfortable, especially what happened afterward. "You remember it," he said to her.

"Yeah, I'm sure you both aren't proud of it" announced Xing. The girls looked at Captain Howin who bowed his head shamefully.

"Captain, if you don't want to I'm sure the girls won't press it." said Empress Wēi. Captain Howin shook in disagreement his head though he didn't have to, he needed to.

The Amsalija's family was finishing loading their stuff into a cart, guards blocked them from others and escorted them to and from their house. They receive glares from the people as they packed. "Make way for the prince!" cried a guard as a boy in a white cloak with black boots and robes begin to approach them. He stopped in front of the guards as his blue eyes while they show no emotion, they were struggling to hold back tears. Pablo begin to approach him before the guards blocked his path.

"Let him through," ordered Prince Zhōng as the guards step away allowing Pablo to approach him. "I hope you can forgive me."

"I was going to say the same thing, your majesty." said Pablo.

"How many times do I need to remind you? Call me Zhōng." said Prince Zhōng. He revealed a ball from underneath his cloak and gave it to Pablo. "I figure it was the best farewell gift I can offer."

Pablo took the ball, it was the same ball he gave to the prince all those years ago. "Then I shall return it when we meet again." he declared.

"Farewell then, assassin." said Prince Zhōng.

"Farewell, Dual Bladed Ninja." said Pablo, they hugged each other tightly as tears fall from their faces.

Prince Zhōng watched them go on their way through merchants' road with guards escorting them. When they were too small to make out, Howin joined him. "What is it?" growled Prince Zhōng.

"Nothing, your majesty." said Howin.

"Clearly something is on your mind," commented Zhōng as he left to return to the palace. When they returned, Prince Zhōng walked through hallways before stopping and saying, "You think my punishment isn't just?"

"No, your majesty, what you did is alright with me." said Howin.

"Are you saying that because my father told you to say that?" asked Prince Zhōng.

"No, your majesty."

"Do you honestly think I am dumb?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you thought of it, go on say it," said Prince Zhōng. Every word he said, he became angrier.

"Your majesty, I was doing what your father told me to do."

"And what happened to not being someone you who complies to every ordered?"

"There those I must follow whether I like them or not."

"I looked up to you, always questioning and always deciding what is best for me. Now I see someone who cowards in front of an emperor who speaks and gives you orders."

"Now that's going too far." snapped Howin, he was getting angry as well.

"Really, you know everything made sense. Those games I played were training exercises for assassins. If I wanted to, I could run away from you and you won't catch me." declared Prince Zhōng.

"If you think you can survive, then you have much to learn. I grew up as a fighter, my father and brothers were fighters. We plan and we fought our battles and we're supposed to follow orders. We live in mud huts at the lines, barely getting any sleep as if a slightly different noise kept us awake. You don't know what violence looks like and unfortunately, you will." said Howin.

"Afterwards you won't recognize anymore." declared Prince Zhōng, he turned and walked away leaving Howin alone while Princess Xing watched behind a pillar the entire thing.

Zhōng was sitting up and looking deep into the fire as he finished telling the remaining of the story. "Though he still protected me, we never talked and it was awkward when we're together. I didn't lose one friend that day but two, all because I was too proud and couldn't believe he kept it from me." reflected Zhōng as Jack and John now understood why he didn't want to finish.

"Maybe I should have told him, but would Pablo notice something was up? This was the question I battle ever since Emperor Huo told me. After a year of watching him closely, I concluded Pablo wasn't a threat and hope no one would find out." confessed Captain Howin. "I page through documents of them, any connection to assassins I destroyed. Though I didn't show it when Zhōng and Pablo went off, I knew he was safe."

"If I was who I am now, perhaps I wouldn't act the way I did. I didn't understand at the time and still don't know most of it." said Zhōng.

"The last thing I said to Zhōng before the capital was taken, was when I entered his room and said, 'no matter what happens, I will protect as best as I could.' Of course, after we lost, Zhōng disappeared and it took me so long to find him." said Captain Howin.

"And when you did, he was a different person." said Xing.

"He became the complete opposite of a prince, he was a killer," concluded Princess Zhen.

"Pablo and I set up the building blocks for Prince Zhōng to become Truman, the Dual Bladed Ninja, and Zhōng, the Fallen Prince."

"Pablo taught me to run and how to become a hunter from being the hunted. And Howin taught me how to choose my friends, allies and enemies. I became careful who to trust and how much information I should tell." reflected Zhōng.

"For the price of two, you started to become the thing you are now." concluded John.

"Stories about the war will always be the life of Zhōng, but the ending would never be told. It has disappeared like them," said Captain Howin.

"Just when you think you know something, another twist will destroy it." said Zhōng.

"But those who followed him throughout know it isn't over."

"Rather it has just begun and that's why no one knows the ending."

"No matter what happens, the story will never end till we meet again." said Pablo as he mediated.

"The grand mentor has requested your presence." declared an assassin behind him.

"Well better not keep my master waiting." said Pablo as he armed himself with his two hidden blades and left to find him. They would meet again and would never leave each other's sides again.