Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 18:48:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: Seventh Sage <seventhsage@rocketmail.com>
Subject: The Prince -Forbidden Forest

The Prince

Forbidden Forest

The soldiers of Ming moved faster into the palace, making sure that their
superiors don't see them. They have forgotten to change the water of the
prince's bath tub. They entered the prince's room."Good, heavens the prince
hasn't raised yet" thought the soldiers. They quickly changed the water and
started to move away before the prince arrived. As the soldiers started to
move away, the soldier in the last row saw something moving behind the
curtains. He slowly turned his head to see who it could be, placing his
hand over his sword. A slim figure appeared out of the curtains, His skin
was fairer than any of the Minge and eyes where sharp as the mountain
eagles. It was Prince Xi'an. The prince motioned the soldier to move
forward, so he wouldn't alert the other soldiers.

Prince Xi'an removed his black robe and slid into the tub. It was summer
and the water in the tub gave him great pleasure. Xi'an closed his eyes,
enjoying the moment. After few minutes he felt he was surrounded, Xi'an
slowly opened his eyes to see who it could be. The maids where surrounding
him, this is the moment, he hated being a prince. He never had a time of
his own, one time it would be the maids and other the soldiers. The king
and his ministry as ordered strike surveillance around the prince, the
reasons for this is the village. Ming is a small Village with high
recourses. Every emperor has an eye on the Ming. Men in the village are
very skillful in craft, as they were hard workers. If a prince of Ming is
being kidnapped by any other emperor, could lead to a destruction of the
entire Village.

Xi'an got out of the tub as the maids dried him off. The maids knew that
the prince doesn't like any of these activities, so they fasten their work
and let him wear his black rode. He walked briskly to his room, he removed
his rode and wore a blue robe and tied it around his wrist. Xi'an went to
the dressing table and sat down on the chair. He looked at the mirror; he
looked quite different from the Minge. The Royal family was from the Tang
Dynasty and settled in Ming. And the people of Ming were quite happy with
the Tang Dynasty and let them enter their kingdom. Later, due to the
generosity of the Tang Dynasty, they were given the rule of Ming. The
people of Ming were hard working and they were very skillful in their
swords. Only the heirs of the throne, are been taught with Sword Craft of
Ming. Xi'an has learned the skill, than any Tang ruler or Minge.

The maids appeared from the side doors and started work on Xi'an
hair. Which was straight and long and it was beyond his shoulders. The
maids took the front part of his hair and tied it behind. And rests of his
hair lose. A messenger waited at the door way of the prince room. Xi'an
motioned the messenger to enter the room.

"The message is from General Wang. He asked you for a combat in the
training grounds and he would be waiting for you."

"Uncle Wang never learns his lesson, he never learns his defeat" thought
Xi'an. He rose up and walked his way to the training grounds.

"Greetings, Prince Xian" said the General

"I think the time has come to agree ones defeat, General"

"No one is defeated until his head rest on the ground "replied the General

"So be it" said the prince and started to move in battle formation. The
general moved first by striking with his sword.

Xi'an blocked it with his sword and circled behind general to strike from
behind. But the General was aware of the attack, he turned and blocked the
sword with his own and pushed himself back, keeping pace between the
Prince. Prince came forward and circled his sword with general's and then
with a powerful blow the general's sword flew out of general's hand.

"You always amazed us and your birth as brought us glory to Tang Dynasty"

"I always belong with Ming" Replied Xi'an and moved towards the
library. The Library is where he belongs. Xi'an was quite aware of the
geographical location of Ming and other ten kingdoms surrounding. Xi'an
some times used to record description from the travelers and record them in
papers and submit to library to be preserved. He stopped at the map of Ming
and observed it carefully, the village was protected by a branch of the
yellow river and there is a bridge that let people enter the village. The
Yellow river flows through the border of the village and hides in the
"Forbidden Forest". No one as entered the Forbidden Forest and there no
proper layout of this forest. This has being a quite a mystery.

A messenger entered the library. The Messenger seemed to be from the
Emperor. The messenger took out a scroll and brought it towards the prince
Xi'an. Xi'an took the scroll and started to read it. Lord Chuang, the
martial art Sensei was attending the Emperor's gathering. It's going to be
awful thought Xi'an. The only thing that keeps him running is the martial
art class. "How am I going to spend the day?" Xi'an started to think
looking at the Ming Map.

If the entire palace is working for the Emperor's gathering. He thought he
could seek out and obtain information regarding the Forbidden Forest. First
he had to find an ordinary dress. Xi'an thought "the servants used to wash
their clothes behind the palace and next to horse stall". Xi'an went to the
back of the palace, as is going to the stall. And stole a white robe and
returned to the stall. He quickly changed and hid his own clothes.

 Before anyone could see him, he followed the yellow river and took it has
his guide. He had rough idea of the map on his head. He ran on the river
bank, He felt as a bird. He was free, it felt good be free. Is this what he
is missing in his life?

Tall trees stood in front of him. A warning was written saying "don't
enter".  Xi'an entered the forest.  The wind was blowing against the trees,
where the trees danced in a rhythm. As Xi'an entered further into to
forest, there was a path made from stones to cross the river. Xi'an crossed
the river carefully. It seemed that the path was not made out by
professional bridge builder but it strong and width of the river seemed to
be narrow. Xi'an moved forward curiously as saw the Bamboo trees. He had
see bamboo which are used by the soldiers to create fireworks but never
Bamboo trees as this much. He passed the Bamboo tree with excitement. As he
passing through Bamboo trees carefully he heard a noise of water
drops. Sometime it could be some wild animal. He should be careful. He
slowly moved forward in the direction of the sound. There seem to a small
pond, which might be connected to river because there is flow of water in
it. He could see clearly because he was behind the trees. He could hear the
noise again; he slowly looked in the direction of the noise. There was a
man drinking water from the pond. He seemed not to be from Ming. He seemed
to a soldier or general but he is too young to be General. Could he be a
spy?

Xi'an wanted get near so he could clearly say what region he might belong
too. When he tried to move forward, he stepped on a Bamboo which made a
triggering noise to the stranger. The stranger quickly turned towards Xi'an
and placed his hand over his belt to reach his sword but...

He stopped but kept starring at Xi'an. Xi'an took this opportunity. He
swing towards the stranger and placed his short knife on his neck. The
stranger did not move but he kept staring at Xi'an.

"What are you doing here?" asked Xi'an

"I bet my fellow soldiers that I would spent a fortnight here and returned
unharmed"

"I think you were wrong to say that. What's your name and where are you're
from? "

"I am General Yong-le and I am from Nanjing."

He wasn't lying thought Xi'an. He might have taken a long walk because his
hair seemed to be dirty and not mention his clothes. He had his hair cut
short. But his features seemed to be similar to his own.

Yong slowly placed his hand over Xi'an and brought it down, so his neck
could be free from Xi'an knife. But Yong didn't let go of Xi'an's
hand. Yong came closer to Xi'an and placed his hand on Xi'an's cheek, which
was soft and soft. Yong came even closer to Xi'an and he could hear the
breath of Xi'an. Yong placed his lips on Xi'an's. Yong has never felt
anything like this in his lifetime; he has been with lots of men even women
but not this one. Yong couldn't hold his pleasure. He moved his hand inside
Xi'an robe. Xi'an quickly stepped backwards .He dropped his knife and ran
away.

     "What was I thinking" thought Xi'an while he was running back to the
village. The Sun was almost to set he ran to the palace with his might.

seventhsage
seventhsage@rocketmail.com