Fire Herself; Panchali Draupadi

Chapter Fourteen: The War

Shikhandini (Present Day)

As Shikhandini stood at the front line of the army, the rest of the soldiers took their place in the wheel war formation, one of the hardest to break. Shikhandini was confident she would win, perhaps a little too confident. The only thing that was now bugging her, was the fact that her father, the very father that had been scared out of his wits for this war, was now confident that he would win. 

Shikhandini shuddered as she had a flashback to today's morning. 

Shikhandini had decided to go reassure her father that the war would go in their favour. As she stepped up to the stage where her father had just finished giving a motivational speech to his soldiers, she say that he held not an ounce of fright. She asked him, "are we prepared"? 

He laughed and replied, "there is no way those disciples of Drona will beat me today." 

Shikhandini was confused but pleased none the less. A strong and confident king meant wonders for the motivation of the army. As she stood there, finally chariots from the opposing kingdom pulled up. She counted quickly, and saw 100. But where were the other 5? 

She guessed that the kauravas, 100 brothers had come but the sons of Pandu were no where to be seen. She smirked. This would be an easy win for them. As the war bells sounded the army's took off. 

It was like she was playing a game. Her sword went left and right, blood spluttering every where. But not hers. It was the opposing armies. She finally got to the middle of the army where 2 out of the 100 brothers stood. Their names were Duryodhan and Dushashan. 

She obviously had a shawl covering her hair so she was not recognizable as a women. She realized that the two brother definitely had some strength. So she decided to use the easiest play in the book. She would let them think they were stronger and then fight back. 

She stood motionless as Dushashan came and slashed her arm, not wincing a bit. He finally elbowed her and due to the impact of the fall, her shawl came off and her black locks flew everywhere. 

Duryodhan laughed, "Has Panchal became so weak  that the king appointed a women as the commander in chief. Dushashan laughed along. 

That did it. Screw the plan thought Shikhandini. She would show them who they were playing with. As she threw her sword aside, she rose her hands and started punching, kicking, shoving Dushashan even as he fell unconscious. Duryodhan now looked scared, he tried to raise his sword but failed miserably as before he could blink Shikhandini kicked it out of his hands and kicked him to the ground. 

She picked up her sword and walked to him. Duryodhan tried pleading, "Please, you you woman don't do this". She snickered. She was just about to slash his head off, declaring a win for Panchal when an arrow sliced through the air pinning her sword to the ground. 

Duryodhan now snickered, "That is the arrow of Arjun! Third son of Pandu the best archer known to date. Prepare yourself, woman  now you will be shown your spot." 

As Duryodhan rose and scrambled away, Shikhandini picked up her sword and looked left and right preparing herself. That is when she saw five men coming towards. They edited light from their forms, it felt as if the guardian gods themselves had incarnated on Earth. She felt none the less disturbed  by their presence as if she shouldn't be attacking them because they were close ones. But she quickly shook her head and got ready to attack. 

The one in the middle, whom she recognized as Arjun came down with his sword and walked up to her. He bowed his head in respect, "You are quite the inspiration for a women fighting as a commander in chief. I do not wish to fight you but am compelled to. Please move away and we won't have to fight. 

She laughed, "I heard you are the best archer this world as seen. But didn't think that you would be such a coward to expect me to move away." She raised her sword preparing to strike. But before she could think anything, Arjun had taken his sword out and whacked hers out of the way. He said, "I will not kill you, for I hear your birth is important to destiny. But I must follow the orders of my teacher so forgive me for this." 

The last thing Shikhandini remembered was getting a hard blow to the side of her face, and the last thing she saw was black. 

a/n

I am so sorry for the long awaited update. I just sort of lost inspiration to write but I'll try my best now. :)