Ch 1 (or kind of) of Rise and Fall
That Wu story I posted a bit of earlier? Here it is:
“What? Pop, c’mon,” Sun Ce complained, as he and his father walked down the grand Wu palace hall towards the entrance gates. “I can’t believe you set me up with one of the Qiao sisters! What if she doesn’t like me?”
Sun Jian laughed heartily. “Give yourself some credit, son! If you take after your father at all, I’m sure Da Qiao will be enamored with you by sundown.”
“Yeah, considering we’re engaged,” Sun Ce made a face. “Ah well. Da Qiao, huh? The eldest?”
“Yes, I met both of the sisters earlier when I made a visit to my good friend Qiao Xuan, their father,” Sun Jian said. “Quan is still a bit young for marriage, so I thought it’d be best to arrange for the younger sister to marry Zhou Yu.”
Sun Ce laughed. “I’m sure he won’t have a problem with that… I’m sure someone else we know will, though…”
Sun Jian frowned. “Ce, you know I discussed it with Yu, but he wasn’t interested and I wasn’t going to force anyone into anything. Shang Xiang will have to deal with it, I’m afraid.”
“Okay,” said Sun Ce, “have fun breaking the news to her…”
“Well, I don’t look forward to it,” Sun Jian admitted.
“Just make sure she’s away from any sharp objects, y’know how she is-where the hell is he, anyway?” Sun Ce wondered, scratching his head.
“I have no idea,” Sun Jian said, “but judging by the presence of that carriage, I would say the Two Qiaos have arrived.” He turned to face his son, surveying him up and down. He frowned, licked his thumb, and tried to fix one of Sun Ce’s eyebrows.
Sun Ce squawked, batting his father’s hand away-“POP! EW! What the hell!?”
Sun Jian frowned. “I’m just ensuring you look the part of the heir to my throne, boy! I don’t have to explain myself, I am your father.”
“That doesn’t mean I want your saliva in my eyebrows!” Sun Ce folded his muscular arms across his chest. “So when do I get to meet her?”
“Sun Jian!” said the middle-aged man atop the white horse. He dismounted, turning to Sun Jian and bowing. “Your land and your palace is truly beautiful. I could not ask for a better place for my daughters to live.”
“Oh, enough with the formalities, Qiao Xuan,” chuckled Sun Jian. “My son, this is Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan, this is my eldest son, Sun Ce.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Sun Ce,” Qiao Xuan said, bowing to Sun Ce as well. “I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather have marry one of my daughters.”
“Well, glad to be of service,” Sun Ce said. “Can I meet her?”
“Shouldn’t you wait for Zhou Yu?” Sun Jian asked reproachfully.
Sun Ce groaned. “Why do I have to wait for him? He’s dragging his butt in the library as always.”
“Excuse me, Sun Ce,” Zhou Yu complained from behind him, poking him in the back of the head as a greeting. “That is a rather rude way of referring to your best friend, is it not?”
“Sorry buddy,” Sun Ce chuckled. “Look, Pop, I found Zhou Yu! Aren’t I a responsible son?”
Sun Jian exchanged an amused glance with an unamused Zhou Yu. “Zhou Yu, it is my honor to introduce you to my good friend Qiao Xuan.”
“The honor is mine,” said Zhou Yu, bowing his head, his dark hair making a curtain around his handsome face.
Qiao Xuan bowed in return. “The honor of my daughter marrying the most intelligent man in the land is my own, Master Zhou Yu,” he said.
“Can we meet them already?” Sun Ce asked, excited, “where are they?”
“DADDY!” whined a voice inside the carriage, “I wanna meet the lords!”
“Xiao Qiao!” reprimanded another voice. “All in due time! Be patient!”
“Sis, you’re such a drag,” complained the first voice.
“I am not!”
“Are too!”
Qiao Xuan chuckled. “My daughters. Come on out, my darlings.”
“WHEE!” cried the first voice, and the doors to the carriage popped open. A girl looking about seventeen jumped out, wearing a white blouse and orange shorts. She turned towards Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, beaming. “Hiya! I’m Xiao Qiao!”
For once in his life, Sun Ce was speechless. She had to be the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen-and he’d seen quite a few girls in his time. Her face was beautiful, but she had such a carefree, easygoing way about her… her large eyes were gray, and her light brown hair was twisted to the side of her head in a long ponytail.
Qiao Xuan sighed. “Oh, my dear Xiao, you really should’ve let your sister come first…”
Xiao Qiao groaned. “I hate being the younger sister!” She pouted at her father and smiled at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. “Whoa. They’re hot.”
Zhou Yu chuckled and Xiao Qiao grinned at him.
Younger sister… Sun Ce felt as though a big rock hit him over the head. He was engaged to the older sister, wasn’t he?
…the bossy one?
The older sister came out of the carriage, looking much more shy than her younger sister, although possessing an equally beautiful face. Her eyes were brown, not gray, and her long dark hair was twisted into two identical ponytails. She smiled shyly at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. “My name is Da Qiao,” she said, blushing. “It’s very nice to make your acquaintances, my Lords…”
Sun Jian and Qiao Xuan exchanged knowing smiles at the looks on Sun Ce and Zhou Yu’s faces. Yes, looked like love was going to be in the Wu air for quite some time.
“Come on inside,” Sun Jian said heartily, “Qiao Xuan, my Lady Qiaos, I’m sure it’s been a long journey. Rest, relax, and you are more than welcome to stay with us until you decide to depart, Qiao Xuan.”
“Thank you, Sun Jian,” said Qiao Xuan, “girls, come on~”
“Thank you,” Da Qiao said, bowing her head.
“Yeah, thanks!” said Xiao Qiao, skipping up to Sun Jian and beaming, “woooow, what a huge palace! Did you build it?”
“Our ancestors built it,” Sun Jian said, chuckling, “I merely inherited it, and use it as a base of operations in my conquest of China.”
“That’s so coooool,” said Xiao Qiao, wide-eyed, “so you go and beat up all those bad guys, huh? Can you put Cao Cao on that list? He’s a creep!”
“Cao Cao is the main man on the list as of right now,” Sun Ce said, grinning, “come to think of it, he’s probably dukin’ it out with Yuan Shao at Guan Du as we speak-oi, Pop, what’re the odds of those two egomaniacs wipin’ each other out?”
“Not likely,” answered Zhou Yu, before Sun Jian could respond, “it is more likely that Cao Cao will persevere and defeat Yuan Shao’s army. Numbers do not stand a chance against a well-executed strategy, and Cao Cao’s ambition is not one to fall easily, I’m afraid.”
“Whoooa,” said Xiao Qiao, “so you’re the smart dude, huh? Cool! I’m marrying the smart guy, Daddy!”
“I’m sure even Lord Zhou Yu’s genius is no comparison to your own, my dear,” said Qiao Xuan, smiling at his younger daughter.
Da Qiao hid her giggle in the back of her hand. Zhou Yu took that to mean Qiao Xuan was not referring to any intellectual prowess on Xiao Qiao’s part, and hoped he didn’t gulp too visibly.
“I thought the expression was ‘the bigger they are, the stronger they stand,’ but I guess I could be wrong,” mused Sun Ce.
“I-I think the expression is ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’, my Lord,” said Da Qiao, “which, in the case of Yuan Shao-would fit?”
“Sure, if he gets his ass kicked by Cao Cao,” Sun Ce chuckled.
“CE!” Sun Jian interrupted, “watch your language!”
Sun Ce pouted.
Xiao Qiao giggled. “That’s okay, Lord Sun Jian, Sis and I know all those words~ one of the guys who used to help on Daddy’s farm used to swear like a pirate, I learned all my bad words from him!”
“Oh, Xiao,” Da Qiao scolded, “not in front of the Lords!”
“It’s fine, Lady Da, I think it’s funny,” said Sun Ce, trying not to guffaw too much, and failing miserably. Da Qiao brightened, at least-yay for marrying the personable one? They were clearly both handsome men, that was no problem, but-well, Sun Ce’s cheerfulness would probably do her some good in the long run too! She brightened.
Sun Ce noticed her smiling at him and, a bit self consciously, grinned and twisted his ponytail around his finger. Yow. Was he nervous?
“If you’ll follow me I can lead you to our great hall where a feast has been prepared in celebration of your arrival, my friend,” Sun Jian said to Qiao Xuan.
“Come on, my dears,” said Qiao Xuan, smiling broadly.
“Last one there is the snail Qiao!” said Xiao Qiao cheerfully, shoving her sister playfully, “c’mon, Sis, race ya there!” And she took off.
“Xiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooo,” whined Da Qiao, sighing, and slipped off her shoes before taking off after her sister.
“Don’t slip!” called Qiao Xuan, looking concerned, before sighing.
Sun Jian laughed-“beauties of the ages or not, they’re still young,” he laughed, “I’m sure they’ll find themselves quite at home here, Master Xuan.”
“I’m going to miss them terribly, so that is a comfort to hear,” Qiao Xuan said, and nodded at Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, “although I do think they’ll find themselves very happy here, too. Come now, Sun Jian, let’s get some of that food you promised me, unless I suppose you’ve gotten senile in your old age and forgotten?”
“Ha, ha,” laughed Sun Ce. Zhou Yu even managed a chuckle. Sun Jian sputtered at Qiao Xuan and scowled at the younger men.
“For an old man you’ll find I’m quite spry,” Sun Jian said to Qiao Xuan, making a face. Qiao Xuan shrugged innocently. Sun Jian, always the mature adult, stuck his tongue out at him. Then he pushed Qiao Xuan and took off.
“HEY!” shouted Qiao Xuan-“cheap shot, Sun Jian!”
“Last one there’s the old man!” called Sun Jian, already halfway there.
Qiao Xuan grumbled, hiked up the hem of his robes, and ran off after him, leaving the two younger men outside.
“Yow,” said Sun Ce, “I guess that’s what we’re gonna look like as old people!” He brightened-“’cept I’m gonna age better than Pop~”
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see us running around the kingdom forever, yes,” chuckled Zhou Yu, sounding a bit strained.
“So, whaddaya think o’ the Qiaos?” asked Sun Ce.
“Xiao Qiao seems… perky,” said Zhou Yu, finally, shifting his weight to his left side, a bit uncomfortably.
“Perky’s bad?” Sun Ce asked. “Da Qiao’s kind of… uhh… the opposite of perky, I guess?”
“A woman with poise?” Zhou Yu asked mildly. “Well, perhaps we just got a wrong first impression…”
“They didn’t seem to like us either,” Sun Ce complained, “well, they don’t stand a chance against the charms of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, huh? Time to go swoop ‘em off their feet, I suppose~”
“Sounds like a plan, considering they are to be our brides,” Zhou Yu agreed, “come on, Ce, let’s go…”
Tadah! And there's lots more where that came from :P As I said, this is barely all of chapter 1, since I'm not done with any specific section of the story yet. Annoying, yes, but that means the end result will be even better! Go me!