Apotheosis

Orochi gathered his officers within the war room. A large map of the land was spread across the table, with approximately five dozen wooden tokens representing the positions of various armies.

"It seems that the time draws near... The once scattered Resistance Army is rallying together," Orochi explained, moving the units of the Cao Wei and Oda armies from Mt. Ding Jun toward the direction of Koshi Castle. "The Wei have joined with the Oda, and will be here within two weeks time. We shall turn our attention to more immediate threats... We have just recieved word that Yuan Shao has moved toward Sekigahara. Da Ji, Lu Bu, we shall move to Sekigahara to intercept him.

"Meanwhile, Tokugawa marches to Osaka with the warriors of Sun, in hopes of liberating their father, Sun Jian. Zhuge Liang, Dong Zhuo, you are to intercept them and defend the castle at all costs.

"Maeda Keiji, Date Masamune, I want the two of you to remain here... There are still too many enemies unaccounted for- they may be hoping that we will leave Koshi undefended. Bolster defenses, and await my return."

"Consider it done, my lord," Masamune eagerly acknowledged.

"I will have my troops ready to depart by sun rise," Zhuge Liang added. "Dong Zhuo, I trust you will be ready to march as well?"

"Tokugawa Ieyasu... A man of his stature should have plenty worth taking," Dong Zhuo thought aloud, just slightly louder than a whisper. "Of course, of course. You certainly don't expect me to be the weak link of our army, do you?"

"Relay these orders to your troops at once, and make the necessary preparations to depart," Orochi ordered. As his trusted officers scattered to perform their tasks, he stopped Da Ji, "It is not like you to dwell on a loss. We shall have our revenge on the Cao Wei... Even should they manage to make it as far as Koshi castle, they will not fire upon it as long as we hold Zhen Ji captive."

Not wanting to raise questions on the matter, Da Ji changed the subject, "Of course... Lord Orochi, why not send Zhuge Liang to Sekigahara? Would he not be more familiar with their strategies?"

"Indeed he would... But he knows as well as we do that Liu Bei there... If he were to defect, Dong Zhuo would quickly fall to the combined forces of the Shu Han and the Tokugawa," Orochi explained. "On top of that, we are not merely going to subdue the army of Yuan Shao... I received word from one of Copperhead's messengers just a few hours ago: Liu Bei escaped yesterday."

"So we go not to prevent Liu Bei's escape, but to undo it..." Da Ji realized. "We will have to move quickly if we intend to halt their army before they can withdraw."

"Indeed... Which is why, unlike Zhuge Liang, we shall not wait for morning," Orochi continued, "it is nearing the full moon, and during the next few days, we should have little difficulty traveling with its light... Yet it should also be dark enough to give us the advantage of stealth. We shall have to forgo the artillery, but according to the messenger, the Shu Han lack such weapons as well."

"I understand, my lord," Da Ji bowed. "I will bring you victory in this battle."

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"And you are certain that father is here?" asked Sun Quan, the second prince of Sun Wu. His frustration was apparent, anger seething from him as he looked to his elder brother.

"Don't worry, Shang Xiang scouted ahead herself," Sun Ce replied in a manner that scarcely suggested that he understood the gravity of the situation. "She and Hanzo both got a good look, and confirmed that he's here."

"Yes, yes... I know... But still..."

"What? You think she wouldn't recognize our own father?"

"We have seen first hand the tricks that Da Ji and Orochi are both capable of... They have disguised themselves as mortals before, they can imitate me to the the point that I'd sooner believe I'm looking at my reflection in the water than seeing another person before me, what's to say that they aren't doing the same with father?"

A single arrow landed before Sun Ce's feet, prompting him to close the conversation abruptly, "There's the signal, it's now or never. Let's see if gramps is really all he's cracked up to be..."

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"It's burning?!" Dong Zhuo asked, mouth agape. "Quickly, find the assailants, and bring them to their knees!"

"Belay that order," Zhuge Liang ordered the Orochi troops, "the castle fire is our doing. Our goal is to prevent the unification of the Sun family at any cost- The castle is a small price to pay in order to secure victory here- for such a victory would shatter the morale of the Sun Wu, if Sun Jian's are even willing to abandon him to the flames. If they stay, they burn with him. If they flee, they will be so crushed that they will hardly be able to run, let alone fight."

"But what about all the goods inside the castle?!" Dong Zhuo complained. "There were exotic rugs all the way from Rome! Not to mention beautiful paintings of some very fine wenches!"

"All of which are replaceable, unlike this opportunity," Zhuge Liang replied. "Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, carry out the plan as discussed. Dong Zhuo, I need you to hold the western and northern gates."

The sworn brothers swiftly complied, while a noncompliant Dong Zhuo had other priorities as he rode into the flames, "Bah! Li Ru, Hua Xiong, let's grab what I can before it burns away!"

"Shall I chase after them, milord?" asked Ma Zun, distraught at Dong Zhuo's actions.

"There is no need, he is not essential to our plans," Zhuge Liang explained. "Although things would go more smoothly had he cooperated, his insubordination is not at all unexpected."

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"The great Sun Jian... It has been some time since we last met," Guan Yu stated as he entered a dungeon which was as of yet unscathed by the flames.

"So it has... I remember you from Si Shui... You and your sworn brothers kept Lu Bu busy, allowing the rest of us to sneak around and strike from behind," Sun Jian recalled. "Why would such an honorable man fight for one such as Orochi?"

"For the same reason that your children did up until very recently," Guan Yu explained. "They served him so that he would not execute you, and likewise, I serve him so that he does not execute my lord."

"And so, you have come to carry out the execution yourself..." Sun Jian realized.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"They actually did it... They actually set fire to their own castle," Sun Quan marveled.

"We can worry about that later, we have to reach father before the fire gets to him!" Sun Ce reminded the Quan of the situation's urgency as he kicked down a half-burning wood door.

Quan shook his head, "You're right, let's go... The dungeon should be in that building, up ahead."

As they approached the building in question, they saw it being guarded by the mighty Zhang Fei, his grand pike, the Viper Blade in hand. "Sorry kiddos, but ain't no one getting past me!"

"Quan, you go ahead, I'll keep him busy," Sun Ce suggested.

The two sons of Sun Jian rushed toward Zhang Fei on opposite sides. As they approached, Sun Quan made a passing sweep with his sword, a jagged blade known as the Master Wolf. The Viper quickly met the Wolf in the air. Zhang Fei quickly shunted Quan away, and then used his left fist to punch Sun Ce in the stomach as the prince of Wu tried to run past him.

"Oldest trick in the book... Say one thing then do the opposite, huh?" Zhang Fei laughed, "What, you think that just because I'm strong that I must be stupid?! I said no one passes, and I mean no one!"

"You can't keep us both out!" Sun Ce said as he rose from the ground, and rushed toward Zhang Fei once more.

Bringing both his tonfa down at once, forcing Zhang Fei to use both hands to hold the Viper Blade while blocking. This time, Sun Quan tried to run past, but at the last moment Zhang Fei shifted his pike, forcing all the weight of the tonfas to one side, and allowing him to balance on one foot so that he could kick Quan, taking both princes by surprise.

"Come on, is that the best you've got?!" Zhang Fei taunted as he pushed Ce away with ease.

"This guy is unreal..." Sun Ce said as he backed away in order to cover Quan as he rose. "Even with the two of us, we can't even find an opening... Can the Tiger Generals truly be... Even greater than they say?"

"No... We are the sons of the Tiger of Jiang Dong," Quan rallied his faltering brother, "Before us, even the mighty Xi Fang Bai Hu is but a kitten... We will not be deterred! If the only way to pass is by cutting the legendary Zhang Fei in two, then that's precisely what we'll do!"

The two princes rushed once more, this time bringing their weapons down simultaneously upon Zhang Fei. Even so, Zhang Fei's strength held fast as he held both of the brothers' weapons back.

"Now!" Quan shouted.

Before Zhang Fei could shove the princes away again, he saw a small one-handed scythe being held to his throat.

"To move is to invite death," came an emotionless voice from behind.

Zhang Fei dropped his pike as Ce and Quan ceased their attack.

"Thank you, Hanzo," Quan gasped. "Sun Ce, go get father immediately. I'll head back with Hanzo; Zhang Fei is too dangerous for anyone to escort alone."

Not sure if I should thank him or punch him in the gut for that... Zhang Fei thought to himself as he held still.

Not hesitating for a moment, Sun Ce rushed into the dungeon, calling out to his father all the while. However, when he had reached the cell, he saw Sun Jian lying on his back, impaled by a spear. Too shocked to even cry out in despair Sun Ce silently approached the corpse, and removed the spear, trying to hold back tears all the while. But when he picked up the body, he expression went from one of horror to one of pure shock: Though the armor was most definitely Sun Jian's, the man wearing it was a complete stranger to Sun Ce.

If they killed an impostor, that means he might have got out on his own... Sun Ce realized. Please, father, wherever you are, just be safe...

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Standing in the shadows near the southern gate, Sun Shang Xiang waited with her bow ready. Guan Yu ran with the now unconscious Sun Jian over his shoulder, intending to rendezvous with Zhuge Liang, he saw Shang Xiang's arrow land right in front of him.

"Lady Sun Shang Xiang!" Guan Yu turned to her. How did she know that I would be here?!

"Let my father go," she ordered, another arrow readied, aiming directly at Guan Yu this time. "Please... Don't make me do this..."

"I cannot fight my sworn brother's wife..." Guan Yu said. "But you must trust me, no harm will befall your father, this I promise milady!"

"I can't trust you... I can't trust anything you say so long as you serve that snake!" Sun Shang Xiang shouted. "I've already lost my husband, I'm not about to lose my father too!"

"No, milady- that is the very reason for which I have feigned subservience to Orochi," Guan Yu was becoming tired of retelling the story, "Brother Liu Bei is being held hostage, and lord Zhuge Liang is being forced to serve Orochi, under threat of Liu Bei's death. In order for them both to live, Orochi must think your father dead. Please, milady, let me pass..."

After a few seconds of silence, Shang Xiang lowered her bow, "Go..."

"Do not grieve, milady," Guan Yu said before leaving, "I promise, you will soon be reunited with both your father and your husband. And I shall ensure they are both safe until that time comes."

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Upon returning to the camp outside the southern gate, Guan Yu laid Sun Jian in a tent, and then went to report the situation.

"All is going according to plan," Guan Yu explained to Zhuge Liang, "But, I am worried..."

"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Zhuge Liang acknowledged, "Things are going too smoothly..."

"Lady Sun Shang Xiang intercepted me," Guan Yu explained. "She intercepted me at the gate... She was lying in ambush."

Zhuge Liang's eyes opened wide as he realized that every single move of his had not only been known to the Sun Wu, but anticipated.

Not even Sima Yi can plan things so perfectly... No, there will be time to think upon who my foe is later. For now, I must focus on getting Zhang Fei and Dong Zhuo out so we can retreat, Zhuge Liang thought to himself. "Guan Yu, I need to relay orders to Zhang Fei; retreat at once, and bring Dong Zhuo with you... By force, if necessary. We must leave before the enemy has time to ready their plans."

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Back at the Wu camp, Sun Shang Xiang approached the commander's tent.

"Lady Sun, are you alright?" asked one of the guards standing by the tent.

Without a word, she entered the tent, where Ieyasu Tokugawa and an elderly man were discussing the ongoing battle.

Without warning, Shang Xiang tackled the elderly commander while crying, "You lied to us from the start, didn't you?!"

The guards moved to act, but the elderly man gave them a signal not to, "So Zhuge Liang now has Jian, does he? Tell me, Shang Xiang, if you had known, would you have been able to stand by as the castle burned to the ground? Without seeing Guan Yu for yourself, and looking to see if he was still the honorable man that once protected you?"

Still crying, Shang Xiang continued to ask questions, anger and sadness still mixed within her voice, "And what of Ce and Quan?! Did you at least tell them, or are they going to feel the same pain when they realize that our alleged objective here was nothing more than a diversion?!"

"They will know soon enough," the man replied, "If we were to have rescued Sun Jian, we would have only invited Orochi's wrath upon the Shu Han prematurely. The various coalition armies are conglomerating, and until we can fight as one, we must allow Zhuge Liang to remain in the serpent king's graces."

"And Zhang Fei? What are we to do with him?" Shang Xiang asked, trying to get her mind off of her troubles.

"The messengers are already on their way to Zhuge Liang; so long as Jian is unharmed, so too shall Zhang Fei remain."

Without another word, Shang Xiang rose and left the tent. As she walked away, Ce stopped her.

"What was that all about sis?" he asked. "Sounded like you and gramps were arguing."

"I failed," she lied, unable to bring herself to explain what was truly going on, "Even with with our most honorable ancestor leading us, I was unable to follow through..."

"Don't worry... I'm sure dad got out okay," Ce reassured her.

"You're right..." Shang Xiang forced a smile, "No one can overcome the Tiger of Jiang Dong..."

Meanwhile, back at Sun Quan's tent, Hanzo suddenly appeared.

"What did you learn?" Quan asked.

"You were right," Hanzo replied. "The entire battle was to his designs. Shu now holds your father prisoner."

"So this is how the legendary Sun Tzu fights," Sun Quan pondered, "he treats his enemies and his own family as though they were one in the same."

"Should I continue to watch him?" Hanzo asked.

"No, go get some rest," Quan replied. "We'll need it for tomorrow.

---------------------------

Author's Note: No sex this chapter or in the next one, but I do have the next member of Diao Chan's harem planned. She'll be made clear in the next chapter, but for now, I'll just state that she's going to be the first Samurai Warriors character to join them, and leave it at that.

For those who write a review after reading this chapter, I'd especially like to know what you think of my inclusion of Sun Tzu, as he's never appeared in any of the Musou games. I thought he fit the setting well since Sun Jian is known to be a descendant of him, but still, I'd like to hear what the lot of you think.