The Birthday Announcement

Six days passed since his announcement and everyone in the capital was excited. "He's alive? How did he survive? Do you think he changed? How will we recognize him?" said the people as they mangled in the streets of the capital.

However, the news didn't stop at the people, it went all the way to the empress. She was looking for him and the news didn't please her. "Have we triple the men?" asked Empress Wēi as she marched into her courtroom.

"Yes your majesty, I have men searching everywhere for him and so many that if he tries to escape from one, another will cut him off." said Captain Howin following close behind. "However I did have our guards from the black market in on it too."

"Then I'll make sure they pay with plenty and more if they find him." said Empress Wēi.

"Very well your majesty," said the captain as he left his empress's side to conduct his duties.

Princess Zhen came down the stairs just as the conversation ended. She was shy and timid, scared at even her own shadow. She went to school in a town south of the capital where she barely had any friends and when she was home, she would be in her room or the gardens to read in silence while she stay away from the guards. No one knows what she went through during the last two years of the Eight-Year War, however, it must have scared her. The people that knew she was their captive were executed immediately after the capital had fallen. Seeing her out was unusual.

"Zhen," said her mother as she hugged her daughter. "Listen, I would love to talk to you, but I have things to do. We'll talk at dinner I promise." She let go of the hug and went away without hearing what her daughter had to say.

"I guess I must decide what to do." thought Princess Zhen.

"Free food! Oh, prince! Come! Fill your belly with my delightful food." cheered a spokesman at a tavern advertising for Zhōng to come.

"He may think he has good food, but it's not even a question of who makes the best." said Zhōng as they walked by.

"Not to mention his food is alright, I had better." commented Tony. Since the tournament, he and Zhōng have been planning how and where for Zhōng to make his announcement.

"Don't forget, boys. I can easily make something if you two are hungry." said Xing as the three of them continued.

"Well we better make our way back with Tony's stomach." noted Zhōng as he heard for the third time Tony's stomach going off.

"Might as well hurry up our search then. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair for me." said Tony as his stomach went off again.

Zhōng and Xing shook their heads. "If you went through the things we did, you probably would only make it a month." they thought.

A couple of hundreds of meters away, a girl coming towards them was trying to make her way through the crowded crowd. They were pushing and shoving and one hit her on the left shoulder, she turned around to see who it was but saw no one. She continued to make her way through when a hand grabbed that same shoulder making her head turn to see. It was a man with black hair, but showing a little gray due to his age, he grew a medium-sized beard and wore clothes of a wealthy commoner. "You drop this," he said, handing her a bag of coins. Her hand fell to her side and notice her money was gone.

"Thank you," she said shyly as she took the money.

"You should always stay alert and conscious when walking through the city, especially this time, your majesty." said Lord Tyron.

Princess Zhen paused for a moment, she looked up and recognized who it was. "My lord," she was barely able to get out.

"Please, your majesty, I am no lord for my brother provoked that right. I am just a mere commoner." said Lord Tyron.

"But everyone calls you 'Lord' Tyron," said Princess Zhen, not trying to be rude. For when he comes to speak with her mother, she always addresses him 'Lord Tyron'.

"So they do, your majesty." said Lord Tyron, assuring her it's alright. "If I may, after over a year of not revealing yourself to anyone, even people in the palace, you come out here. May I ask why?" he asked as they continued to walk together.

Princess Zhen thought of his question for a while then spoke, "I want to see him again. I want to see what he turned into and arrest him if I must." said Princess Zhen.

"Ah, you want to arrest my nephew and you believe he will come out if he sees you." said Lord Tyron, hitting every part of her plan she thought. "But have you considered that he already knows he's trapped? By announcing to the whole empire he's alive and requesting an audience, he knows there will be those trying to capture him. And thus you coming out is giving him another reason to stay quiet." pointed out Lord Tyron.

Princess Zhen pondered on what Lord Tyron pointed out, it made sense but there was one thing left to answer. "Then how come you are here?" she asked, hoping to trap him.

"Like everyone else who's here, I want to know what he has to say," said Lord Tyron. Suddenly without warning, he grabbed Princess Zhen and pulled her back just as a mech smashed into a force field right where she just stood. There was a battle going on in the middle of the streets as the two mechs square for the next assault.

The match continued with one throwing a series of attacks at his opponent. Since the fall of the Old Empire, boys were not allowed to train in the use of mech fighting unless they were deep in training, promised to join the front lines, or got clearance to a school. These two however were deep in training and were given permission to finish. "Looks like they are going at it in public finally." said Zhōng as they watched the same fight. They saw what started it and stayed to watch it since.

"You've watched them before?" asked Tony as he saw his friend smiling.

"From the moment they picked up their swords," stated Zhōng. "The one in the Wyvern, is Xiōngshǒu, an understudy of my brother. The one in the Longus is Hòuhuǐ, my understudy."

"Wait, that's Hòuhuǐ?" asked Xing as she looked closer at the fighter in the Longus.

"It's him, I've been watching them all the time." said Zhōng as the two came crashing down on each other again.

"Wow! They're good, makes me wonder what you are missing." said Tony as he looked at Zhōng who in return revealed his Longus. "There's no need for that."

Hòuhuǐ charge for another strike, the Longus uses the ability of deception they make their initial attack the blow or use it as a decoy for the actual one. With this ability, it doesn't have speed to charge or throw heavy blows constantly. Its bulkier design allows it to stop its initial strike motion and change completely in the other direction. Xiōngshǒu saw the attack coming he knew the initial was a fake and the real one was coming the other way. The Wyvern unlike the Longus, which is an attack type, is a defensive type that allows the opponent to strike and deflects it if time correctly. This allows the opponent to drain off his energy making it a sleep-out. As such, that's what Xiōngshǒu did, evaded his attack one more time letting Hòuhuǐ stumble as he was hoping for his hit to connect. He turn around but was too late to defend as Xiōngshǒu threw one of his attacks at him sending him flying into the barrier.

"Mercy, I give." gasp Hòuhuǐ as he laid by on the ground by the barrier, but Xiōngshǒu wasn't listening as he heard only the crowd cheering with approval.

"People, this one dares to challenge me and so must be punished." stated Xiōngshǒu as the people quiet down to hear him speak. "Since it is the former prince's birthday, perhaps we go by the old rules. Does he deserve to live?" he asked.

The crowd cheered no, booing and chanting, "Kill him!" Princess Zhen watched in horror at the turn of events. There was a reason why the old rules were banned. According to the old, if the opponent is defeated or can't take it anymore and cries out 'Mercy', then it would be the victor's decision to decide what to do with him. However the death penalty can only be called by the crowd, if they believe he should die, then the deed will be passed.

"They can't do this," complained Princess Zhen.

"Your majesty, counting you, me and perhaps twenty guards, we are not enough to stop this mob. The best we can do is watch with disapproval." said Lord Tyron.

"Then shouldn't someone stop him?" asked Princess Zhen as Xiōngshǒu walked over to stand over top of his opponent.

"This is the end of you." said Xiōngshǒu as he brought his sword up and swung it down for the killing blow. The sword struck but it didn't strike its intended target rather it struck a black shield. Confused, Xiōngshǒu stepped back when the shield dropped to a fourteen-year-old boy's side and disappeared as the black sword was sheathed behind his back. "Who do you think you ar-?" asked Xiōngshǒu before the stranger activated his sword on his hip and fired a missile strike at him and sending him crashing into the barrier on the other side. "You disapprove." said Xiōngshǒu as he got up.

"Of your actions? Yes," said the Dual Bladed Ninja.

"You know the old rules say it's one of the possibilities a victor can hope or choose." said Xiōngshǒu as he was ticked the stranger intervened.

"Then you are familiar if one jumps in to object, the match isn't over and the punishment you choose is permanent for the next round. Meaning you could die." said the Dual Bladed Ninja.

Seeing that as the option, Xiōngshǒu took a step back, uncomfortably. He knew this was a rule and he had the option to forfeit. But he had seen this one somewhere else, the boy may look like he can wield one, but doesn't look like much of a challenge. "Very well, I accept." said Xiōngshǒu with a smile.

"High noon, back here." said the Dual Bladed Ninja as he deactivated his weapon and walked away. Hòuhuǐ deactivated his mech and sat there in awe as the crowd booed that he delay someone dying. The Dual Bladed Ninja grabbed his arm and pulled him up and said in a growling voice, "Come with me."

"The Dual Bladed Ninja." proclaimed Lord Tyron.

"What?" asked Princess Zhen.

"That's his name, he is the only one to carry two swords hence why he is named that. Some say he is a myth, others who saw him before say he's a ghost." explained Lord Tyron.

Princess Zhen watched as he continued to walk away with Hòuhuǐ. "But what's his real name?" she asked.

"Perhaps we'll find out." said Lord Tyron as he started to walk after them with Princess Zhen following him.

Hòuhuǐ finished another cup and was gasping for air. "Drink," commanded the Dual Bladed Ninja, pouring him another cup. Hòuhuǐ took and drank and gasp for air again. "Drink," he commanded again and the process was repeated.

Princess Zhen and Lord Tyron found a table to sit down and eavesdrop on the Dual Bladed Ninja's conversation. "Hello sir, what can I get you?" asked Tony who discussed himself as a waiter.

"Tea, green tea, no alcohol however leave one bottle of such so I can pour in mine." said Lord Tyron. Tony bowed his head in acknowledgment and turned to fetch it. "You wouldn't want your mother to be more pissed at you if she found out you had some. Nor do I want to hear her chew me out for letting you have some." he said to Princess Zhen. It made sense but she was trying to listen to the conversation.

"I can't do it anymore, sir." said Hòuhuǐ as he set his full cup down.

"Yes, you are, this has no alcohol therefore you should handle this tenfold. Now drink," commanded the Dual Bladed Ninja as he took a drink. Knowing he'll be ticked off more, Hòuhuǐ took his cup again and drank all of it. "You have way too many regrets about yourself don't you."

"I do, I have way too many. First, I don't know the whereabouts of my prince. The next is pleading with the empress to let me continue my training. And the final one, I brought shame to my prince's name." said Hòuhuǐ as he took another drink without being commanded.

"So you want to drown all that by drinking?" asked the Dual Bladed Ninja.

"You told me to..." began Hòuhuǐ.

"Not the last one, you did that on your own." stopped the Dual Bladed Ninja.

Hòuhuǐ slammed the second one he drank without command down on the bar. "You didn't rescue me to watch me sulk, why? So I will witness my and his legacy be destroyed?"

"No," stated the Dual Bladed Ninja. Hòuhuǐ was going to protest before the hand of the Dual Bladed Ninja stop him as he fell silent. "I did so you can watch a killer taste his own medicine." he said as Hòuhuǐ calmed down to listen to what he had to say. "You have many regrets, and so do I. Everywhere I walk, my past haunts me. Everywhere I turn a shadow of my old self smiles at me. Everywhere I fight, I leave my fingerprints on those who live. I wish I could change my past, no longer see myself as who I was and be afraid to be called a monster or a loser."

"Then you shouldn't participate in this fight, and let me die." said Hòuhuǐ as he took another drink.

"Perhaps I should have," agreed the Dual Bladed Ninja as he took a drink as well. "Or perhaps this is a perfect opportunity to start again. The choice is ours, whether you like to control your fate or not, that's your first choice." he said.

Hòuhuǐ ponder what was said to him. "This boy speaks as if he were a man," he thought. He looked familiar but with the cowl over his head, the only facial features he could see were his mouth and his dark blue eyes.

"Now I suppose we should be heading back by now." said the Dual Bladed Ninja as he got up. His movement triggered for Lord Tyron and Princess Zhen to do the same. "Gentlemen! We have a special person here in the bar with us. Former Lord Tyron, the uncle of the former prince, and since he is that, I vote that he pays for everyone's orders in the next fifteen minutes." said the Dual Bladed Ninja to the people inside.

The men cheered with approval and Lord Tyron sat back down. "I suppose there is no way out of this one, is there?" said Lord Tyron.

"Don't be late," the Dual Bladed Ninja whispered to him. "Drinks on Lord Tyron!" exclaimed Dual Bladed Ninja on his way out.

A herd of men came flying at Lord Tyron and Princess Zhen's table, giving Lord Tyron their orders. "We might be here for a while." said Lord Tyron as he organized the orders.

"Here's your tea and a bottle of alcohol, sir." said Tony as he arrived with their drinks.

"I suppose I can wait." said Princess Zhen, pouring herself some tea and drinking it.

Xiōngshǒu was waiting for the Dual Bladed Ninja when he arrive. "I thought you would chicken out." he sneered.

"I run, I fight, I don't hide, especially those who show no respect to a formidable opponent." said the Dual Bladed Ninja.

The crowd stood away in silence waiting for the shield to go up to begin the fight. When Lord Tyron and Princess Zhen arrived the aura of suspense was strong. A boy who sees only fire and destruction was going against a boy who was cold and mysterious. "What's your edge? How do you plan on fighting?" thought Lord Tyron, he never saw him in action but myths tend to reach anyone's ears if they listen.

"Bong!" the bells rang indicating high noon. The shield went up and Xiōngshǒu and the Dual Bladed Ninja got into ready position. As the last bell rang, the fight began. The Dual Bladed Ninja wasted no time and used everything he knew a Longus could do. Xiōngshǒu was surprised by his first move but caught on pretty quickly. Those who watched the first match saw the same trend occur in this fight as Xiōngshǒu parried and deflected any of the Dual Bladed Ninja's attacks. The momentum was slowly turning against the Dual Bladed Ninja and now in favor of Xiōngshǒu.

"He's going to lose." said Princess Zhen.

"Then why is he smiling?" asked Lord Tyron. Princess Zhen looked at him, even with the cowl on, she could see the corner of his lips pointing up.

The Dual Bladed Ninja send another down cut but Xiōngshǒu was able to deflect it. He grabbed the Longus and spun it around a couple of times before throwing the Dual Bladed Ninja into the barrier. A grunt was heard from him after the impact. "You know, I try to remember where I heard that name and it dawned on me, you were in the Christmas tournament and lost in the final." said Xiōngshǒu.

"You were there?" asked the Dual Bladed Ninja after he spat out some blood and got up.

"I was the one who lost to the champion and had to settle with third. But considering how we are fighting, I say I deserve to be the one in the final, not you." said Xiōngshǒu. "You know the moves, but you don't know how to use them, you are a disappointment. You're finished, you can't beat me." he said before he noticed what everyone else was catching on, the Dual Bladed Ninja was smiling.

"Finish you say?" said the Dual Bladed Ninja, his right arm twisted counterclockwise and pulled. Something clicked inside the mech he was wearing as it started to hum. Xiōngshǒu stepped back not sure what it was. "I've been hiding this for a while." he said as his blue eyes became dark blue fire and its heat could be felt even under the cowl. "You think I was finished in that match? You're wrong you see I could have easily defeated him with this mode. Let's say my Longus isn't an ordinary Longus." he twisted his arm clockwise and pushed it back in. Suddenly he disappeared and reappeared in front of him. Seeing an upward attack, he braces it only to find a sideward kick found its mark on his stomach, sending him flying again into the barrier.

"What the-?" Xiōngshǒu began saying as missiles came at him colliding with each other as the Dual Bladed Ninja begin his series of attacks. "He's so fast all of a sudden, how?" He thought as he tried to block, parry, or deflect the incoming assaults, but he couldn't. His moves were too fast by the time he prepared to block one, the real one came the other way and hit him. The crowd gasped at what they saw and started cheering for the Dual Bladed Ninja. "I can't lose, no way." thought Xiōngshǒu. The Dual Bladed Ninja leap backed, Xiōngshǒu looked at him why only to see a devil's face looking back at him. He fired all of his rockets at him, and one by one they hit him.

He disappeared from the smoke of the assault, Xiōngshǒu looked around to see where his opponent went. "Surprise?" said a creepy voice behind. Before he could turn around something ripped from his mech making it paralyzed. He landed on his back to see a Longus holding up wires from his suit. The crowd cheered as they knew it was over. The Dual Bladed Ninja threw the wires in his mech's hands away and drew a sword, they all knew what was going to happen. "Well, have you decided yet?" asked the Dual Bladed Ninja looking at Hòuhuǐ with furry in his eyes.

Hòuhuǐ looked at his friend, he could see millions of emotions flowing through him. He saw fear and defeat, pain and scared. Even he was scared at his volunteer tribute who was waiting for his answer. He looked like he was going to plead for mercy but knew he wouldn't if he said yes. "Let him live." he finally said.

Xiōngshǒu gasped for relief as he deactivated along with the Dual Bladed Ninja. Before he could go, the Dual Bladed Ninja grabbed him and yanked him towards him. "Consider this mercy of mine." he sneered with fire in his eyes. He let go and Xiōngshǒu bolted away, leaving Hòuhuǐ chasing after him. "Those two will be interesting watching growing up." he said to himself.

"Bravo, Dual Bladed Ninja, bravo." said Lord Tyron as he came towards him. "The myths only give a minimum of your potential."

"That's because I only give my minimum." replied the Dual Bladed Ninja. "It is an honor to show not one higher-up, but two." Everyone stopped to look at who he was talking about. "It's an honor to meet you, Princess Zhen," he said with an honorable bow.

The crowd gasped as they looked at the girl who was with Lord Tyron. As the Dual Bladed Ninja arose, the girl removed her cowl revealing her recognizable silver blond hair. Her red eyes sparkled in the sun and no doubt she was royalty. "I'm impressed you've noticed." noted Princess Zhen. She looked at the boy, who was in front of her and he looked back. "However you are not the only one to be noticed by someone familiar, Former Prince Zhōng. Guards!" she shouted ten to twenty guards came out of nowhere and surrounded the boy, all spearheads pointing right towards him.

The boy looked out of the corner of his eyes to his right and left to see the guards' faces looking at him. "Ha, ha, ha," he burst out laughing, making the guards and the princess confused. "You think I'm the former prince?" he asked. The guards looked at the princess to see herself still stern and sure. "If I'm the former prince, then explain that?" he pointed at a pole where a note hung. "Now that wasn't there when we fought," he pointed out.

A commoner ripped the note off the post, he looked at the princess who looked at him and nodded her head in approval to read. "A well-deserved fight that made this day wonderful. I am honored that so many came out to hear me speak, but this will be the last for a while. I will be silent, I will walk among you and you won't even know it, for I only make a peep on the day of the tenth year anniversary of the fall of the capital, then and only then, I will cry out." the letter read.

"Is that him?" asked a commoner pointing at the roof above where a person in a cloak and cowl over his head stood. He turned around and ran away.

"After him," Princess Zhen commanded as guards began to chase. "And bring him..." she began before realizing that the Dual Bladed Ninja was gone. "Where did he...?" she trailed off as she looked around. She didn't notice that Lord Tyron had watched him escape and took to an alley with a girl.

"Your majesty," shouted Captain Howin as he rode in with his horse with five more men. "I'm to escort you back to the palace on your mother's orders." he said, the princess knew she couldn't disobey her mother and got on a horse and rode back. The captain looked at Lord Tyron and said, "Let's say we never cross paths in gratitude for keeping her safe."

"Sounds like a good deal to me." replied Lord Tyron as Captain Howin rode off after the group.

"I couldn't believe uncle watched you." exclaimed Xing as they got back to their ally.

"Yup,"

"Also Princess Zhen watched you as well."

"Yup,"

"Still will Tony be okay?

"He'll be fine." assured Zhōng. "If he does what I told him to do, he should be able to slip by. However, if he gets captured, Darrius knows some guards that know Tony is his pupil and so they will let him go."

"Wow, you guys thought of everything." astonished Xing.

"Everything and including this." said Zhōng. Xing stopped messing around to see that her brother had packed all her belongings. "Because I knew you would follow us." behind Zhōng, an old man was standing at the entrance in disbelief.

"Is that really you two." said Lord Tyron as tears began to roll down his eyes.

"Uncle?" asked Xing as she came up behind her brother while her brother turned around to face him.

"It's them, it's no one else." thought Lord Tyron. "Xing, my only niece," he exclaimed.

"Uncle," cried Xing and dashed past her brother and gave her uncle a long hug as they wept.

"It's okay Xing, I'm here to take you home." said Lord Tyron confirming Zhōng's theory. He turned around and began to walk away before Lord Tyron stated, "Both of you."

"Home?" asked Zhōng as he turned back around to face his uncle again.

"That's right Dual Bladed Ninja, I need you while also making sure my nephew is safe." said Lord Tyron. For the first time in months, Zhōng smiled at someone else other than his sister Xing. They were going home.