Last Warrior
CHARACTERS INVOVLED:
** We realize that there are many characters in the story and hence, to make it less complicating, we've used the artist's last names to become the character's last names in the story in cantonese pinyin so hopefully this will not cause too much confusion. Thanks! =D **
ALEC SO: So Lok Fung -- Last Warrior of the Sun Dynasty, a simple Wanderer
VICKI CHIU: Chiu Tin Yee/ Suet Ying -- Princess of the New Meiji Dynasty, future ruler of the Meiji people
NICKY NG: Ng Fei -- Warrior of the Meiji Dynasty, Protector of the Princess
KRISTY YEUNG: Yeung Yu San -- Assassin of the Bak Lung (White Dragon) rebellion
LOUIS KOO: Koo Man Cheuk -- Leader of the Bak Lung Clan
JIMMY LAM: Lam Wai Kin -- Playful sidekick of Lok Fung and loyal adversary
THERESA LEE: Lee Mei Lan -- Loyal servant to Lady Siu Sin
VIVIAN LEUNG: Leung Siu Sin -- Lover of Louis (Man Cheuk), a prostitute in a brothel
ANDY LAU: Lau Chi Sing -- surrogate father to Vicki (Princess Tin Yee) and wise Prophet
SYPNOSIS:
Upon the fall of the once thriving Sun Dynasty, the last Warrior So Lok Fung (Alec) is given the guardianship of the sole Princess to the throne, Suet Ying as vow to his father before his death. But after a cruel twist of fate, Lok Fung finds himself as a lone Wanderer in this new land upon a new age after his Dynasty is destroyed by the Meiji clan. Having lost the Princess, his goal in life now is to find her again so that he can fulfill his vow to his father. But nothing is as it appears to be in this New Age. All that Lok Fung had thought was lost may not be lost and soon, everything that his life was based upon may just end up to be nothing but a lie. Through an adventure of a lifetime, the promise of friendship and loyalty, a bittersweet timeless love affair with an unforgettable woman, and finally, a final raging climax against Death itself, Lok Fung will find himself the pawn within this game of Destiny that could lead to his survival or his ultimate destruction...
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Ah! Freedom is a noble thing!Poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson (Victorian Era 1826-1887)
** (This story is based entirely upon fictional characters and non existent events based on the two writer's imaginations)**
The mist swirled and eddied, obscuring the stars and the shrouding the wan light of the moon on the night as the demons of the past came back to torment the mind of So Lok Fung.
Even now, twenty years after the fall of the Sun Dynasty, he could not escape from the shame and horror of the war that had torn his country apart. Although it was so long ago, he could not forget the pain and suffering that his fellow men had endured and the most of all, he could not forget the guilt that ripped his sanity to shreds upon that night when he and his father, the High Prophet of the Sun Dynasty, had managed to slip through the warrior's clutches to save the sole hope of their monarchy. Within his arms, dressed in peasant clothing as a disguise and scurrying quickly alongside his father in their haste to escape the burning Palace, a raging fire that their enemies, the Meiji clan had initiated, his nimble hands clutched onto the fragile body of the infant Princess Suet Ying, the sole heir to the Meiji throne. She was barely six months old when her kingdom fell and along with that tragedy, the fire of the Palace had stolen away her family, the King and the Queen and every living relative. Lok Fung was a mere fifteen moons then but he was wiser than most young men his age. Through his eyes, he saw the death and the gore of the blood of his people, the rape of innocent women and the slaughtering of the children. It was only through a sheer miracle that he and his father managed to escape the burning Palace to bring the Princess to safety. It was that fateful night when his life changed forever and he could never forget the events that shaped his life today.
He remembered every moment of that night as though it were only yesterday. Every detail was carved in his mind, in his heart and his soul. Every drop of blood that his people had suffered was still imprinted in his eyes and his nightmares. Those screams of terror, the cries of children, the smell of the burning flesh of the innocent, the devastation of war. How could he dare to forget? How could he forget?
ANCIENT CHINA, 1497
The End of the Sun Era
Breathing heavily, So Lok Fung gasped in the night air with his exhausted lungs, his breathing haggard from running for miles on end. Even in the darkness and the enclosure of the woods, the cries of agony and the smell of death haunted his memory. He could see the flames burning and consuming the once mythical ivory Palace that was the holy place of the Sun Dynasty's royal Majesties. They were the rich and furious flames of hell, burning and destroying, its flames shimmering upon the crimson blood of the innocent.
But now…all was gone…gone. Like the leaves of autumn that slowly led to the death of winter, the Sun era was at an end. The only two sole survivors were himself, his father and the infant Princess Suet Ying of the Sun Dynasty. Yes, the Princess - the King before his death had granted his father the Guardianship of the baby and forced them to make an oath to protect her with their life. She was the final bloodline to the Kingdom, the sole heir of their once thriving dynasty.
But the price of the thousands upon thousands of men and women that had all been sacrificed in the name of a new age was too costly a price to pay. Though he was only fifteen, Lok Fung knew of the meaning of justice and this night of massacre was not justice. He heard the defeated footsteps of his father behind him and he whirled around, fury lighting his eyes.
"Ah Pa," He cried out in rage. "Why must we run? We could have stayed to kill those bastards and save the lives of our people!" His eyes shone with cold fury and his shoulders shook with the sheer agony at the thought of the fall of his kingdom.
His youthful face shrouded with misery as he thought of the lives wasted away by their enemies. He and his father had been cowards to run away from a fight when he knew that he could have easily defeated their army if only he had stayed. Lok Fung had trained well as a martial arts warrior. He was the youngest member of the Meiji army and he skills of swordplay were considered admirable and respected by many of his superiors. His fingers ached to kill the enemies that had slaughtered his people. If only he could feel the warmth of their blood on his hands and sense the fear that he knew they harboured within their hearts. Hypocrites. Cowards. He and his father had betrayed their monarch and their people by escaping from the massacre. Even if he were to have lost his life in the battle, Lok Fung would have had the reassurance of having died a warrior until the end.
Suddenly, the shrill cry of a baby broke into the still night and Lok Fung instantly held the child of only a mere six months close to his chest to comfort her. His princess Suet Ying lay in his arms, her eyes closed tight, her cries mournful and heart-wrenching, as though she too, knew of the great tragedy that had befallen her people. Her cries rang through the silent air, slicing through the fog and flowing into Lok Fung's senses. He held her close and crooned soft words of reassurance to make her stop crying but she would not.
His father, his eyes gentle and full of unspoken misery, reached over to take the baby into his arms and as he lowered her into his arms, she began to calm down and her wails died away. Prophets always had that effect, as Lok Fung knew that his father possessed many great and fantastical magic that no ordinary mortal could possess. With a weathered hand, his father stroked the baby Princess' silken cheeks until she nodded off to a deep slumber and only then did he turn to face his only son squarely in the face. Shadowed with grief, his eyes beseeched his son to understand the reason why they had to escape from the battle, even though their Meiji loyalty in their blood bound them to stay to fight for their people.
"His Majesty gave me the Guardianship of his only child before the flames of Hell consumed his soul, Lok Fung," His father whispered brokenly, his eyes clouding with tears at the memory that he would never forget. "I realize now how highly he thought of me after he gave the child whose worth is beyond all of the treasures in the world into my care. Now, my boy, I pass this responsibility onto you to care for Suet Ying."
Lok Fung gaped at his father, not comprehending his father's words. "I -" He began, caught speechless by the honour and the abrupt change of fate.
"She is our future, as the Princess born to the Meiji era," His father continued, his eyes lit by the silver moonlight in ethereal shadows. The planes of his face looked weary and stricken, but his eyes held the hope and the sacrifice of an entire nation. "You are too young to understand why we must abandon our people in their time of need. I hurt just as much as you do to see our people die before our eyes. But for the sake of Suet Ying, we must protect her with our life in honour of his Majesty's dying wish. There will be many obstacles for you to battle and overcome in the years after, Lok Fung and because I have the Sight within me, I can predict your future and the future of our Princess. This was mean to be, my child. Kingdoms were meant to fall and new ones established. But our loyalty must always remain with the Sun Dynasty; never stray away from our bloodroots. Lok Fung, I give the life of our Princess to you now to protect and I give my power as Prophet to you, my only son. Upon your thirty-fifth birthday, your full potential as Prophet will be completed. Use your powers wisely and protect the lives of those that you love."
"You are giving me the Guardianship of Suet Ying?" Lok Fung breathed in wonder. His head shook uncertainly. "Ah Pa, I could not accept such an honour. She is much too precious to be in my care." His eyes blazed with sorrow and flattery as he thought of his father's generous offer to give him his Prophetic powers. No, he could never take that offer. Powers of a Prophet were meant to be his father's own and not his. He was but a mere warrior, nothing more. He could not even save the doom that had befallen his own people. How could he care for the precious life of royalty and become the great Prophet that his father was? "I cannot let you give me the guardianship of Suet Ying and I can't accept your proposal to give me your powers. I am unworthy of it all."
"I trust you to protect her," His father interjected with solemn certainty, his eyes steadily boring into his son's innocent eyes. "I want you to have my powers because there is no mortal alive that deserves the powers of a Prophet than you. You are my son and this power is your right. Trust me and believe in me."
Lok Fung could only stare at his father as the elderly Prophet handed the infant bundled in sheepskin into his arms. Then Lok Fung watched dumbfounded as his father laid a cool hand upon his smooth forehead. For an instant, Lok Fung jerked back as he felt a jolt of radiant energy flow into his brain. He gasped, his breath knocked out of him. The rushing sounds of the river nearby grew louder and louder until it overwhelmed him and he nearly doubled over from the pain. But suddenly, just as quickly as it came, the pain subsided until he felt nothing but peace within his heart. His father's White Magic had erased the hurt and the vengeance in his proud soul and in return, Lok Fung's soul was one of serenity and calm waters.
His father stepped away from his son for a moment to give him a scrutinizing look, taking in Lok Fung's gentle brown eyes, his youthful handsomeness and the strong willpower beneath that boyish exterior. There was so much that his son did not know about the future and he did not know about the many twists of fate that awaited him. Lok Fung was still only a child of fifteen but now, haven been blessed with his prophetic powers, his soul would grow wiser soon and wisdom would help to protect him from harm and to guide him toward the light. But there was so little time as it was…so very little hope…
"Ah Pa, thank you," Lok Fung spoke the words with all of the sincerity in his heart. He knew of a Prophet's powers and though he possessed some of his own qualities having been born the son of his father, he was not nearly as powerful as his father was at predicting the future and his soul was not as pure. His soul was tainted but his father had cleansed it for him using his powers, a sacrifice that Lok Fung would never forget.
His father opened his mouth to answer but then, he froze. His ears strained to listen to the warnings that the wind told him. "Don't move." He commanded lowly to his son, his eyes searching the darkness for danger. "Something is amiss."
Shivers sliced up Lok Fung's spine. He too sensed the change in the air and the stillness of the forest was relentlessly unnerving. Could the Meiji clan have found them?
He began to speak but found that he could not form the words. They were choked off by a low humming in his ears that made his head spin. He gasped at the chill that spread through his body, making his hands shake uncontrollably. The sheltering pines of the forest blurred before his eyes, dissolving into an image of a huge, shimmering loch. The water was black and still, except where the moonlight reached across in a wide, gleaming path, and the trees were scattered along its shore were tipped with silver leaves. Beneath the placid surface of the moonlit water, shadows moved darkly, threateningly; then the water stirred, scattering the silver light into glittering fragments that shone for a moment, then faded into the darkness. It was then that Lok Fung realized that he was having his first Prophetic image. His father's powerful power as a Prophet were now passed onto him. The Sight was with him and no matter how hard he tried, he could not free himself from the image of the apparition of the future. In a split second, brilliant white light blinded him and within the light, he saw the pool of blood and his father decapitated head. He had foreseen his father's impending doom.
"AH PA!" Lok Fung screamed. "AH PA!"
The humming ceased, and the trees gradually stopped spinning. Lok Fung grasped for breath, clasping his chilled hands against the softness of the bundle of the infant child that lay in his hands. When his vision cleared, the first image that he saw was the arrow that flew out from the night and struck his father in the chest. He opened his mouth to cry out in horror, but no sound came out; fear lodged in his throat, choking off his voice as he stood helpless, his heart pounding erratically. He watched, frozen in time, as his father choked out blood, vomiting the crimson substance that now stained his clothes. But within his eyes, a profound acceptance for death lingered within those dark pools of sorrow. It was then that Lok Fung realized that his father had also seen his own doom and that was the reason why he had transferred his Prophetic powers onto his son. The sorrow of watching the life seep out from his father's wounds tore Lok Fung's heart. As his father's body began to fall, he rushed over to catch his father within his arms. But before he could force his limbs to move, a dozen horses came at him from the heart of the river.
Lok Fung's anguished eyes whirled to his father's body lying face down on the cold ground to the ambush of army guards that were secretly approaching him. Ah Pa…His heart ached for the death of his father. Ah Pa, I'm so sorry…Then his mind instantly whirled to the tiny bundle that lay in his arms. The Princess Suet Ying. His father's words of wisdom to him rang loud and clear in his mind. He must protect the Princess at any cost; he was her Guardian now. The guards had found him now and they were here! There was no chance for escape…
Suddenly, the thundering hooves through the water made him turn, his eyes blurring with unshed tears for his father. No, this was not the time for mourning. He had to fight the enemies of his people now. The river was soon crowded with steaming animals and the military guards of the Meiji clan. Upon hearing the noise, the baby awoke and freed her voice in a long, high wail of warning that echoed upward through the trees. Lok Fung did not need the Sight to tell him that danger was near. The faces of the warriors who glowered at him showed him that. These savages wanted his blood and the blood of his Princess, the two sole survivors from the massacre. Lok Fung shuddered at the bleakness that moved through his blood, encircling him, crawling behind his neck in a chill that sent his body trembling. But he was not fearful for himself – he was only fearful that he would not be able to uphold the vow that he made to his father to protect the Princess at all cost. He was an expert swordsman but carrying an infant child in his arms was no way to fight. He was against an army of men who wanted him dead. Perhaps now, even the sacrifice of his life was not enough to guard Suet Ying from harm.
"Bastards!" Lok Fung spat out as he glared at the army of men with all of the hatred in his heart. Vengeance would eat away at his soul, but at the moment, he did not care. These were the enemies who had murdered his people, burned his kingdom and killed his father. If they wanted him, then so be it. But they would never be able to put their tainted hands upon his Princess. He'd willingly die saving her.
Lok Fung's eyes scanned the forest for a way out, though the coldness in his chest was sickeningly hopeless. Chilled and desperate, he tried to run but a warrior with a sword drenched in blood blocked his path while the other riders moved forward threateningly. Lok Fung's unsheathed sword swung out at the warrior, striking him forcefully across the face as the warrior sank to his knees. Holding the infant in one arm, his sword in the other, Lok Fung rammed the sword straight into the warrior's heart and damned the man to hell. The crimson blood of the dead Meiji warrior squirted in his face and into his mouth, where his tongue tasted the copper bitterness of blood. There was a cry of outrage by the riders and Lok Fung knew that they would avenge the death of their fellow swordsman upon him. The warriors were everywhere, surrounding him in a circle of gleaming swords. Struggling to breathe around the constriction in his throat, he turned at last to confront his enemies. One clear thought penetrated through the fog of fear in which he moved; Lot Fung knew in his gut that he could not escape them. There were hundreds of them and only one of him. They had countless swords, he only had one blade. Even if he were to transform into a bird, he would not have been able to fly out of their trap.
"No, leave the boy to me!"
The challenging voice rang through the air and for a moment, Lok Fung wondered who had spoken. The crowd of the warriors parted to reveal a lone warrior seated upon a white steed, his armour silver and gold and shining like leaden metal in the moonlight. Unlike the other warriors, he wore no helmet so that his face was freely exposed for all to see. He was a handsome man, perhaps in his early manhood, with distinct aristocratic features of a Lord. His cheeks are taunt and slashed with a scar in the shape of an X upon one side of his face, but that did nothing to hinder his manly handsomeness. An air of arrogance and rigid class surrounded him and within those glazed brown eyes, Lok Fung saw the cunning treachery in his gaze. This man was no ordinary warrior, but rather one of the best warriors there ever was. The sheer power from his voice and the strength of his appearance was a warning to Lot Fung of the brutality of his swordsmanship. Surely this man's hands were stained with the blood of countless innocents and for that, Lok Fung vowed to defeat him.
"What is your name, boy?" The man demanded him, roughly and sharply.
Lok Fung's eyes narrowed in hatred at the other warrior and his fingers clutched onto the infant body of the Princess protectively. "So Lok Fung, warrior to the Sun Dynasty!" He cried out without fear, his chest heaving in anger. His eyes swung over to the man in disdain, challenging the man to kill him, like he had done with the others. One more death to add upon the blood of the innocent and the sinful assassination. Perhaps, that night was his death date after all.
"So Lok Fung," The warrior's eyes gleamed brilliantly in the light. "Satan awaits you in Hell."
Alec So: So Lok Fung
Nicky Ng: Ng Fei
The coldness of Lok Fung's chest seeped slowly to his shaking limbs. The warrior's words sent chills down his spine, not because it was a threat to his life, but rather because the threat to eliminate him would leave the infant Suet Ying defenceless. No, he could not die, not now. There was too much revenge and justice that he must do before he died and most importantly, he must fulfil his father's promise to protect their Princess. Death must wait for his soul. With the baby tight in his grasp, Lok Fung's hands wavered above his sword and finally, he unsheathed it with care. He eyed the warrior with caution and wary mistrust and jutted out his chin in defiance to the Warrior's challenge.
"You want to kill me?" He cried out, his eyes levelling with the other man in stubborn challenge. He felt the sting of the other man's eyes upon him, boring deep into his heart, as though the other Warrior was weighing his strengths and weaknesses within his mind. The blade of Lok Fung's sword glimmered in the moonlit night, stained with blood. His eyes were hooded in the veil of darkness, he plotted for a way of escape.
"Not only to kill you but also to rid this world of the child you worship as Princess," The warrior's mouth twisted in a sly smile as his gaze fell on the bundle that Lok Fung held like priceless treasure in his hands. "The Sun Dynasty ends tonight with its Princess. Shall I deliver the first blow or shall you?"
Lok Fung's jaw clenched in seething fury as he hurled himself at the older man. Their blades clashed together as metal shrieked. But Lok Fung's strength was not in the battle; his strength was focused upon preventing injury from befalling the baby. The Warrior knew of his weakness and in split second, he got close enough to Lok Fung to grab onto the child. Grunting in silent fury, Lok Fung struck the Warrior in the face with all of his might, slamming his fists into the other man's jaw. In retaliation, the Warrior flung a dart at his left arm and pain blinded Lok Fung as the needle of the dark sunk deep into his skin. Panting from exertion, he could only think of one way out and that was to run. To save the Princess, he would do anything. Summoning all of his strength, Lok Fung took a flying leap that led his way toward the darkness of the forest ahead. His move was unexpected and the Warrior swore under his breath.
"After him!" The Warrior commanded.
Without a backward glance, Lok Fung bolted through the darkness of the forest, the baby's cries echoing behind him. He dodged tree stumps and bushes, blindly tearing his way across the forest in desperation. He heard the hooves of the horses of the men behind him and knew that he could not outrun their beasts. But, suddenly, his ears caught a noise. It was the rippling of water and sea, meaning that there was an ocean nearby. Panting, his mind racing wildly at the possibility of getting caught, Lok Fung ran until he finally stopped to catch his breath, his hand placed against his heart to calm his frantic breathing. Below him, a steep sand cliff stretched against the backdrop of a deep blue loch and surrounding pine trees. Mist and fog clung to the air and Lok Fung knew that the men might not follow him if he made it to the waters. This was a chance that he must take.
He allowed his foot to edge cautiously down the cliff, his leather boot sinking into the sand. He struggled momentarily to climb down the cliff and then finally, he arrived at the water’s edge. He had covered no more than a few inches when his head began to spin and his body began to sway. He gasped and struggled for composure. He was too weak, Lok Fung realized, and the pain in his shoulder from the wound was too intense. Even if he could get away without being killed, he might die from loss of blood. The ache in the wound began to spread throughout his left arm and sweat glistened in the moonlight through the darkness. The stickiness of the blood was thick and it clung to the front of his shirt, leaking out all of his life fluids. Nestled on his right arm, the baby continued to howl screams of agonized fury. There was no comforting her, as she sensed the foreboding in the air just as plainly as he did.
"You can't escape. There is no way out."
"Who's there?" Lok Fung cried, jumping in shock. He whirled to face his enemy, his eyes scanning the forest and waters, but only darkness greeted her. "Who is it?"
Then, through a veil of shadows, the lean figure of a man emerged from the rustle of leaves from the trees before her eyes. His eyes gleamed in the moonlight and Lok Fung saw his mouth curving into a satisfied smirk. It was the Warrior again - the Warrior who had injured him and had followed him here to the waters. Only he could have found him when the others could not.
"No escape now," The Warrior spoke up, his voice seemingly mocking Lok Fung. "Give me the child and I'll spare you a painful death."
"Rot in Hell," Lok Fung spat out. The pain in his shoulder was wrenching now, blinding him. He gritted his teeth from the pain, not wanting this Meiji Warrior to see his weakness. But the Warrior's eyes crinkled in cold laughter as he saw just how much effort it took for the boy to remain cool and composed even though blood was seeping from the wound that his poisoned dart had sunk into the flesh.
"It is painful, isn't it?" The Warrior smiled a smile that never met his calculating eyes as he circled the boy who held the baby in his arms. They both looked so helpless, for they were within his trap. Ah, the satisfaction of ridding the world of every member of the Sun Dynasty was a thrilling sensation. He loved death and loved blood. The instincts of an assassin was something that was innate to him as air is to a mortal body. He laughed coldly when he saw the left arm of the boy quivering and his lips turning bluish in the pale moonlight. Suffering. Torture. He loved every minute of watching the rascal wrench in pain.
"The poison from my personal darts are deadly, you know. Only I have the antidote to cure your pain. If left untreated, the poison will spread throughout your body and you will live upon this world in your own Private Hell. I won't kill you, but I'll just let the poison seep into your blood and let the agony of it consume your soul. My poison will do my dirty work for me." The Warrior's mocking laughter rang through the forest.
Lok Fung vomited blood from his mouth and spat it at the Warrior whose laughter was that of a cold-blooded animal. One swift movement of the sword could end his life, but here, the bastard wanted him to suffer eternally in a living Hell. No, he could not die. He must live, for Suet Ying's sake.
Although agonized pain coursed through his body, Lok Fung`s eyes darted quickly around the forest in desperate search of a way of escape for himself. But there was nowhere to go--there was only he and this Warrior facing each other in an open space. The sheltering pine tree blurred before him and his eyes swung toward the expansion of shimmering water in wild desperation. The water was black and still, except where the moonlight reached across in a wide, gleaming path, and the trees scattered along its shore were tipped with silver leaves. Beneath the placid surface of the moonstruck water, shadows moved darkly and threateningly. Then, the water stirred by a slight breeze, scattering the silver light into glittering fragment that shone for a moment and faded into the blackness. The heavy grey sky was misting over, and thunder rumbled a distant, oddly mournful cry of an approaching storm. It was now or never. It he was going to die, and then so be it. He had no choice. Suet Ying had no choice. The Sun Dynasty was over.
Before the Warrior had a chance to react, Lok Fung lunged forward into the water in an attempt to escape. He shivered as the water slapped at his legs beneath his breaches and he was prepared to dive into the water when he felt a hand yank from behind the collar of his shirt. Within a heartbeat, his sword was drawn and the blade sliced the Warrior's chest. Crying out in fury, the Warrior lunged himself at him and Lok Fung dodged the attack. But suddenly, the ache from his arm made him scream out in pain, sending him toppling to his knees. Lok Fung vomited more blood and panting, he raised his head just in time to see the Warrior bend over and scoop the baby into his arms. Lok Fung struggled with him, his right arm clutching onto the sheepskin bundle in desperation but his strength was gone. His fingers slipped and the blanket was yanked away from his grasp easily. His eyes widened in furious horror as the Warrior smiled down at him, his eyes dark with intent, his smile chillingly devoid of feeling.
"No…" Lok Fung whispered, the blood slipping out of his mouth and coursing down his jaw painfully. But he was hardly aware of the pain. It was the nightmare of watching a Meiji enemy embracing the one futile hope of his people that killed him. He moved forward but the movement was too fast and he was hurled upon the damp shore, coughing out more blood as he choked on his own vomit. "My Princess…Suet Ying…please don't take her…spare her…"
The baby's shrieks blew away with the wind as the Warrior's eyes glinted in the moonlight. A hand stroked the child's fair cheek, relishing in the skin was smooth as down. The Warrior's cunning gaze took in the beauty of this girl child and he would have almost been touched by the innocence of a baby if only he had a heart. He whirled upon the useless boy who lay half dead upon the shore and his boot rammed into the chest of the boy who dared to defy him. So Lok Fung choked on his own blood as the boot came down upon him. The sound of bone breaking was a delight to the Warrior to hear and he yanked the boy up on his feet until his face was up against his own. Delirious with pain, the boy could barely hold his head upright as the Warrior laughed in his face.
"You lose, boy." He breathed in satisfaction. "The battle is over. Your Princess is mine. She'll grow up to be my lover and my slave, and to provide entertainment to my every wish. Imagine that. A princess of the Sun Dynasty as a slut. A fate worse than death. And you, boy, will not be able to do anything about it. You will just live a life of sorrow and regret, living in agony over the depreciation of your health and die a miserable death once the poison takes over your body. Who will rot in Hell now?"
"I won't forget you…" The strangled whisper slipped out of Lok Fung's mouth as he rolled over onto his wounded side to glare at the Warrior with all of the hatred that he felt within his soul. This vow was an oath that he will bear within his heart always. "I'll come back to find you…to find my Princess again…I'll come back…"
The mocking laughter echoed through his senses again, taunting and eerily cold. "Come back and find me," The Warrior urged him carelessly, his eyebrows rising in nonchalant abandon. "I'll look forward to seeing you again, So Lok Fung, if you manage to survive the poison. When you come looking for me, be cautious of the name Ng Fei. I'll be waiting for you, as your Princess will be…"
On the verge of unconsciousness, Lok Fung watched numbly as the Warrior named Ng Fei disappeared into the mist of the darkness, the cries of the infant Princess drifting in the wind. For a long time, he lay unmoving upon the shore as the waves crashed down upon him, slamming against his battered body. The water, cool and vigorous, infused him with hope to mend his wounded soul. The agonizing pain in his arms was overwhelming him by now, but the ocean currents swirled about him, beckoning him to a sense of hope that he never knew he could ever feel again. But what was hope when he had lost everything and everyone dear to him? Even the precious infant that he had vowed to protect with his life was lost. All was lost and nothing can be regained again. Before Lok Fung succumbed into the embrace of the savage darkness, a single plea fell from his parched, bloodstained lips.
"Ah Pa…forgive me…"
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So Lok Fung blinked back the sudden moisture of tears that stung his eyes as the wind came to brush the wetness away. The mist in his memory gave way to the clearness of reality. The pain and suffering that he had to endure, as a boy of fifteen was still within him, no matter how much he tried to forget. The murder of his people, the slaughtering of his father, the brutal kidnapping of his Princess and finally, the cursed poison that now flowed through his veins could never be forgotten. Even after twenty years, Lok Fung found that the pain was just as blinding as it had been on that night when the Sun Dynasty fell and the night when a child warrior lost his innocence. This pain was permanent - nothing would erase the haunting memories of his tortured past.
The sun was setting in streaming banners of orange and gold that glimmered in the horizon like stardust as Lok Fung rode upon his stallion throughout the countryside that he had not returned to in over twenty years. He had hidden himself in the mountains far from this land where his people no longer dwelled, not wishing to join the New Meiji Era that had thrived until now. He had diligently practiced his swordsmanship, perfecting every turn and every whip of his sword with the fury that burned in his heart.
He never forgot the oath that he had made to the Warrior who had cursed him with a poisoned body and stolen away the most precious thing to him than life itself, the Princess Suet Ying. This was Lok Fung's purpose in life. He did not seek out Ng Fei for revenge until he felt as though he was ready to challenge the Warrior whose fighting skills excelled against his own. Throughout these years of hibernation in isolation, Lok Fung 's inner strength and his swordsmanship had flourished. Now the time was fitting for him to reclaim the Princess who he had lost so long ago and bring about justice to the sins that the Meiji clan had done to his people.
The sun warmed Lok Fung's skin, the air carried the meadow scents of summer, and for a moment, his eyes took on a faraway look and a half smile almost curved about his lips. A distant memory of a little boy chasing a butterfly as his father tailed alongside him was something that he had thought he'd forgotten. The joys of innocent childhood was something that he would never experience again. It was strange how no matter how hard he tried to distance himself with the ghosts of the past, they still kept pace with him.
But now the time has come. Twenty years had passed since that fateful night that he had lost everything. So Lok Fung was back to find his Princess and to show the Meiji Dynasty that they had an enemy within their midst. His promise to his father would never be broken, it had only postponed.
The time was now for revenge.
Character involved in this chapter:
Alec So: SO LOK FUNG
Vicki Chiu: CHIU TIN YEE, Princess of Meiji clan
Nicky Ng: NG FEI, Meiji Warrior, Guardian of Princess Tin Yee
Andy Lau: LAU CHI SING, Meiji Prophet
Jimmy Lin: Lam Wai Kin, a worker in the village
Louis Koo: Koo Man Cheuk, leader of the Bak Lung (White Dragon) clan in rebellion against the Meiji Monarchy
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Silently, as if enchanted, she watched breathlessly as the tiny crack split even further. Her big round eyes sparkled mysteriously, glimmering with a strange mixture of excitement and sorrow as the transformation began. Like some kind of magic, one of life’s greatest mysteries unravelled before her…slowly, the tiny creature emerged, reborn from the ashes of it’s previous life…to be revealed as the true being that had been hidden within all this time, behind the mask.
The tiny creature unfurled it’s wings…she watched it, her expressionless face revealing nothing of the strange yearning within her, this yearning that she knew the name of, but would never be able to satisfy. For she…she did not know any magic to transform herself into the true being within her…nor did she know how to grow those wings that would take her where her heart yearned to be…anywhere but here.
With a sad, sorrow glimmer in her round, mysterious eyes, she watched as the butterfly fluttered it’s wings in the light breeze, and flew – around and around her. She caught her breath as the beautiful creature fluttered right before her, her eyes following its journey as it circled her, once, twice, thrice before heading away into the blue skies, to seek it’s own destiny. Silently, with all the suppressed emotions within her, she watched it as it flew away, bidding it a farewell. Deep inside, a place that no one had ever seen, a place where she could not bare to acknowledge, even to herself sometimes, she yearned to be that butterfly…to shed this cocoon spun from position and society, family and duty, and just fly…to let out the true being within her, to spread out those metaphoric wings and fly into the skies, to seek a destiny of her own choosing…a life that was hers alone…
If only…perhaps the saddest words in the human language. Many people wouldn’t think so, nor would they ever suspect the depth of the sadness within her. No one would ever know…that sorrow could even touch her life. She had everything, didn’t she? Power, position, wealth…the Imperial throne.
But none of these were of her choosing, and in return for them, she had had to sacrifice so much…things that many common people had, but did not treasure. Freedom…to run and scream and laugh, to go where they chose, to love…she caught her breath. Yes, that was something she would never ever know…something so very common, yet so tantalisingly out of her grasp, because of who she was, who she had to be.
I cannot laugh, cannot feel, cannot love…I must be cool, harsh, cunning, unmoving…to survive, I must be thus, she thought to herself determinedly. This is my Fate and that is how it must be. Yet, it did not stop her heart from yearning to fly, her soul yearning to follow that butterfly in it’s search for a life of it’s own, to be the person she was, yet was forbidden to be…
“Princess Tin Yee! Lord Lau is looking for you! Princess…” the servant slowed to a stop as she saw the princess turn around, her round eyes filled with a strange, almost sorrowful expression.
Bewildered, the servant blinked in surprise, what? She
shot
the princess another look, but the strangeness was gone, as if it was never
there. The girl who watched butterflies nodded gracefully, her face
expressionless and cool once more, though inwardly, she sighed. Back to this
world now, to a place where she was someone she didn’t even know, a person
without joy, without freedom, only power and a duty she could not deny.
The Princess Tin Yee, Ruler of the Meiji Dynasty swept past the servant, her feet moving lightly, soundlessly down the paved road, never knowing she was about to take the first step towards a destiny she would never have even dreamt about…
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The tall, dark figure stood on the balcony of the palace, staring down at the gates that were swinging shut. He had long since ceased to have feelings about anyone or anything, other than a deep satisfaction in seeing suffering and pain…a love of the rusty smell of blood, and an innate joy in the dark shadow of death that he served. He relished in seeing the darker nature of men revealed as he forced them to choose between their lives and the lives of their so called ‘loved’ ones…the lives that they casually dismissed once their cowardly selves are revealed…the lives they take with their own hands just so they could survive.
He had taken immense satisfaction in seeing the men of
the Sun Dynasty grovel and beg for mercy, seeing them run their
swords through their own family, their own wives just so that he would spare
their miserable, lowly lives.
Even more so, he had enjoyed the shocked and horrified looks on their faces as he killed them anyway…the horror in their eyes as they realised they had murdered their families for nothing…nothing…his blood sang as his sword stained with the dark red blood of the Sun people. Because he was a killer, born and bred to deal out death, to feel the shiver of excitement as he tasted blood on his lips…because he was Ng Fei, the Warrior of the Meiji Clan, the Protector of the Princess…
“Will she be alright?” The words sound almost strange coming from his mouth.
Without any expression, Ng Fei turned to look at the man who sat calmly on the gilded chair next to the imperial throne. It … it almost sounded like concern, and that was most peculiar coming from the cold, hard Warrior who had no heart.
The man noticed, and his lips curved into a flinty smile. “Concerned, Ng Fei?”
Ng Fei shot him a flat gaze, at the man who shared the
responsibility of watching over their princess with
him, a man who he both hated, and feared. Lau Chi Sing. The Prophet of their
Dynasty … a man whose piercing golden eyes
seemed almost to be able to read people’s minds, to see the dark secrets
within their souls. The powers he possessed had
helped Ng Fei take over this land for the Meiji clan, true, but the very same
powers now enabled him to control their lives…his, and the princess’s. Yes,
the Princess Tin Yee was the heir to the Meiji throne, yet…she too, was but a
pawn in this game they played, Warrior against Prophet, Warrior with Prophet.
Both only wanted the Meiji Dynasty to become the mightiest kingdom in the world,
wanted the absolute power and wealth, wanted the death of those who would dare
oppose them. Like that runt he should have killed twenty years ago…a mistake
he would remedy one day, very soon…
“Concerned? I?” Ng Fei’s lips curved into a sarcastic smile, belittling the Prophet’s words. But Lau Chi Sing only watched him with those steady golden eyes that contrasted with his dark hair streaked with white. There was a hint of cold amusement in them, almost mocking the Warrior’s reply, but he remained silent. “She is, after all, the Princess. Surely…”
“Do not worry, we have trained her well. She will obey our orders.” Lau Chi Sing stood up in one smooth movement, his footsteps silent as he advanced to stand next to Ng Fei at the balcony, watching their Princess, their pawn disappear into the night. “I have prophesised that this was meant to be…the rebels of the Bak Lung clan would somehow be drawn to her, as well as that So Lok Fung who you should have gotten rid of twenty years ago, instead of playing that little game of yours. Once a easy prey, now he is a much more powerful enemy…”
“So Lok Fung?!? Powerful? Ha!” Ng Fei spat out, his eyes burning with fury. That runt, that boy…how dare he still live? So he dares to come against me once more…he dares to take me up on my word, and comes for his little princess … well, I will send him to Hell as I had promised… “Let him come then,” Ng Fei spoke almost nonchalantly, his right hand gripping his sword hilt tightly. A sword that was singing out for blood…for the blood of So Lok Fung, the so-called Last Warrior of the Sun Dynasty. Let him come…
“Don’t dismiss the man he has become, Ng Fei. He has inherited his Father’s prophetic powers, and though he does not control them fully, I have sense his powers grow over the years…” Lau Chi Sing warned gravely.
“Surely you are not afraid of the weakling, are you?” The Warrior could barely believe what the Prophet was suggesting. He never fears anything, let alone a mere boy who should have died that night long ago. Ng Fei’s voice was filled with incredulity as he looked at the man.
But, Lau Chi Sing only smiled icily, his eyes gleaming with an amused look. “No, but he would come in useful to me, this last Prophet of the Sun Dynasty … yes, it would be most advantageous to us if the princess does bring him to us. And she will, Ng Fei,” he drawled almost triumphantly. “It is written in the stars that their paths should cross … nothing can change that. Nothing can escape the web that the Heavens cast out…but we shall work it to our advantage…yes, let him come…”
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“Did you hear the story? The Wanderer has struck again!”
The excited whispers coming from the sudden crowd surrounding a man attracted the attentions of the two serving boys in the inn.
Lam Wai Kin shot a quick glance around the inn curiously. Most of the other tables had been served, and…his fleeting, sideways glance told him that the boss was definitely too involved in his latest battle with the accounts to notice anything but the abacus and the horrifying numbers that refused to add up. Quietly, he set down the heavy iron kettle he was holding, and sided up to the crowd, his eyes gleaming with interest and excitement…the mysterious Wanderer, the hero of the poor and repressed, the Last Warrior of the Sun Dynasty…his idol had struck again, and he was dying to find out more!
“What? What happened this time?” Several excited
whispers demanded urgently of the old man who sat at the table, his eyes wide at
the attention his words had brought him. But then, this mysterious man was the
hero of all the poor people who lived beneath Meiji rule, his name was revered
almost as much as the name of the leader of the Bak Lung
clan, Koo Man Cheuk. It was hardly surprising that so many people were eager for
his gossip.
Wai Kin listened with wide eyes and vast enjoyment as he heard the latest deeds of his idol as he rode down a gang of rogue soldiers that had been terrorising a young couple. The wife had been an exceptional beauty, perfect in almost everyway, and the leader of the troops had wanted to take her for his own concubine. When she had refused him, he had sent his soldiers to kill her entire family, before dragging her in chains to him…
“And? And?” The villagers prompted eagerly.
“The Wanderer had delivered a warning to the leader three times to leave the family alone, the third time drawing blood from the men who had approached the boundaries of the house. But the leader thought he would deceive the Wanderer, he made as if they had left, then came back in the middle of the night … ” The elderly man reported in answer.
Wai Kin couldn’t help but lean closer towards the man in keen interest with the rest of the crowd, including, his eyes noted amusedly, the new boy who had gotten a job at the inn only two days ago.
“The next morning, the villagers found the entire troop of Meiji soldiers dead right outside the house, and the family had disappeared. He had them spirited away so that none could persecute them any further…the leader’s head, however, was hung on the door post as a warning to all Meiji soldiers who would cross the Wanderer.” The man concluded in triumph.
Everyone sighed in satisfaction at the story. Wai Kin grinned, enjoying it immensely, what a great man he was! If only I could meet him, he thought excitedly, I could ask him to teach me some martial arts, and then…
“So what does this Wanderer look like?” The quiet, almost solemn voice startled everyone.
Wai Kin shot the speaker a quick, curious glance. It was the new boy, what was his name again? Oh, Yee something…Yee Mun? He looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. Strange, he was usually a very quiet kid, in the last two days, he had barely spoken two words to the chatterbox Wai Kin. His big round eyes were filled with slight interest as he looked at the old man.
“No one has ever seen him do his deeds, and those who he helps would rather die than betray him. Even his true name is a secret. That is why he is known only as the Wanderer,” the old man revealed, and the others in the crowd nodded.
The boy frowned slightly, and was about to speak, when the boss’s voice suddenly thundered across the room.
“Hey you two scoundrels! Get back to work!”
The boy and Wai Kin jumped, and scrambled back to work, but not before the boy shot Wai Kin an almost rueful look. This kid was interestingly mysterious. So…the boy did have a sense of humour. Thank goodness…life is dull enough around here already, tian ah, Wai Kin shot an almost comical look up at the ceiling as he wiped a table with his cloth. Let something interesting happen before I die of boredom, please!
Ironically enough, his prayers would be answered, perhaps sooner than he would have suspected.
Later that night, when all the guests were asleep, the two overworked waiters were finally given the chance to rest. Yee Mun had ignored Wai Kin’s usual cajoles to come and take a quick wash with him in the wooden outhouse of the inn, saying once again that he preferred instead to go swim in the nearby lake. His feet were unusually swift as he disappeared into the nearby trees, vanishing into the night before Wai Kin could say anything else. With an irritated look at the boy’s secrecy, Wai Kin was almost tempted to follow the kid…but dismissed it. He was dead tired tonight…maybe tomorrow.
Finally safe, the boy gave a slight sigh. This disguise was good, no one would ever look twice at a waiter boy in a tiny inn, but still…he stretched languorously, wincing as his tired muscles twinged in pain. A quick bath, a little swim in these cool waters would be wonderful, but…taking a careful look around him, he made sure that it was totally safe before he gave in to his yearning. Swiftly, silently, Yee Mun shed his clothes to reveal…a most slender, and definite feminine figure. With a quick movement, her hand went up to untie the hair band, to reveal a long sweep of dark, silky hair…with a contented sigh, she slipped into the cool, dark waters, her eyes closing in relaxation.
Yee Mun, or rather, Chiu Tin Yee, stilled, her senses relishing in the gentle caress of the soothing water on her tired skin, cleansing her of the day’s grim and the shell she hid beneath. For now, for this moment in time, she was herself…completely and utterly, neither waiter Yee Mun or princess Tin Yee…just herself. She floated on the still, calm surface of the lake, the moonlight bathing her slight figure in gentle, soothing rays of light, as if blessing her from above…
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Beneath the rays of the full moon, he struggled on bravely through the thick foliage, his eyes burning with an intense fire that had nothing to do with the raging power that surged within his veins now, nor the intense pain that gripped his soul, the feeling of burning flesh that seeped from his senseless left arm, the chilling sensation of the deadly poison that felt like it was leeching into his very bones.
No, he was used to this, this gut wrenching agony, this intense fire that burned from the poison that the Warrior had given him…it wracked his soul every full moon, but it did not kill him. Nay, not yet…he refused to let it win, let the dark, chilling poison take over his senses completely. He fought it with all the will power within him, suppressed it’s spread with all the mystic powers he could control.
But it was a losing battle…he had not yet gained full control of the powers his father had passed onto him so many years ago, nor had he fulfilled his oath to find the princess. He didn’t have much time left…but something drove him on this night, drove him to struggle on through the forest despite the poison attack that was gripping his body right now.
With effort, he struggled to suppress the convulsions of pain and agony that he knew would come soon…he must…go on. For tonight, for the first time in many years, he had felt the Prophetic powers tugging at him once more, driving him forward to something, or someone that was linked to his destiny…he could feel it. Like a web cast out by Fate, it drew him…and he strived to continue on, not knowing how or why, only knowing…it was her…
A sudden field of silver appeared before him as he pushed his way through the bushes, half delirious with pain. In confusion, he stared into the brightness which stabbed his suddenly sensitive eyes…the moonlight on water, a field of silver…and…the form of a maiden, rising out of the silvery depths like a vision in some dream…he opened his mouth to speak, to acknowledge his prohibited presence when a sudden stab of gut wrenching agony pierced him to the bone. He clutched at his trembling left arm fiercely, trying to repress what could not be stopped…it had begun.
The next attack had him on the ground, writhing in agony…he no longer knew who he was, nor who might be that vision within the silvery waters…all he knew was the intense pain that burned his soul as the dark poison once more flowed throughout his body, attacking his mind.
No! He…he could not die…he must fight … must revenge …must…find…her…So Lok Fung, the Last Warrior of the Sun Dynasty, the Wanderer, lost consciousness beside the silvery lake, his face a deathly white as the Warrior’s poison punished him once again for his failure to protect his princess.
Chiu Tin Yee’s keen senses made her instinctively
turn, her eyes scanning the banks as she threw on her boy disguise.
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. There…there was something, nay, someone
there…her swift approach suddenly stopped as she stared down at the
unconscious man. Gently, she turned him around, her stance ready for almost
anything…but he was truly unconscious.
Slowly, she relaxed. Her round eyes shimmered in the moonlight as she stared down at him, at his pale handsome face almost curiously. Briefly, she wondered if he was dead, so white and lifeless his skin looked in the light, but the feel of his pulse beneath her fingers however, reassured her of his continued existence. Her fingers hovered almost curiously over his face, she had never seen any person like this before…he looked so strong, yet at the same time, so very vulnerable…
Her fingers barely caressed his face…suddenly an electric tingle ran through her body, and Chiu Tin Yee caught her breath, her heart beating wildly. She stared down at the stranger with a stunned look in her round eyes, her face draining of blood.
What…what was that about? She…he…she didn’t even know this person, what did she think she was doing? She should walk away right now, yes, the Princess of Meiji Dynasty had better things to do than to bother with a mere vagabond…she shouldn’t even be here, what if he had seen her as her true self? Maybe she should kill him now, while he was still unconscious…that would be what the princess would do, what the Warrior Ng Fei had trained her to be…
The moon shone down uncaringly upon the scene that was happening below it. A boyish maiden staggering through the forest as she half-supported, half-carried an unconscious figure into the night...into a twisted destiny that could not be denied…
**Incidently, Yee Mun is read as, in Cantonese, for “Questioning”, and is therefore appropriate for a boy’s name. Umm, also, no one but Ng Fei and Lau Chi Sing knows the real name of the Wanderer to be So Lok Fung, everyone only knows him as the last warrior of the Sun dynasty. ***
