Prakriti P.O.V

Next morning, we got a message from our enemy's side to decide the rules of the war. I knew something will happen in the name of rules, but we were ready for it. Before we went for the meeting, I stopped Brother Krishna, I need to talk to him before the meeting.

"What happened Prakrite?" he asked with smile on his face, I gave a small smile in return.

"I want to know why didn't you agree in the favor of Shikandi being our general?" I asked him, this question has been irking me since we ended the meeting in the Virat's kingdom. He sighed and put his hand on my head "I knew you has that question in your mind my sister, and I assure you that you will get the answer soon" he said in riddle. I pursed my lips but nodded if he is saying that I am getting my answers soon then I should wait for it.

All of us gathered in the tent away from both side camps in the neutral ground. I looked at Duroyodhan and remembered the message he has sent us yesterday, I gritted my teeth in anger and looked away.

All of our best warrior were present in the meeting, our family, Brother Krishna, our children, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikandi, King Virat, King Drupad and from their side, Grandfather Bhishm, AngKing Karn, Kauravas, Gandhar King Shakuni and Acharyas. Gandhar King stood up from his place and walked in the middle "Greetings everyone!" he said joining his hands and greeting people around.

"In the whole Aryavart, rules for war has already predefined" he started saying and looked around, his eyes fell on me and he gave a small smirk, I raised my eyebrow and waited for his speech "Before the war, we are gathered here to recollect those rules".

"With all due respect, I want to recite those rules in front of the meeting so that there is no doubt between us" he said with joined hands. I looked at Brother Krishna and knew that Gandhar King is about to play one of his scheme. He looked at me and slowly nodded his head "Certainly" he responded to Gandhar King.

Gandhar King smiled and nodded his head "The rule must include fighting begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset" he said.

"We accept this rule" Elder Brother said and everyone nodded along.

"Lets discuss the other rules then" Gandhar King said.

"No more than one warrior may attack a single warrior".

"Each warrior shall fight with warrior of his category, which means mace fighter will fight with mace fighter and sword fighters with swords one"

I smirked at the rule, he is forgetting that our warrior are trained in almost every weaponry. I nodded my head accepting the rule.

"One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and will then be subject to the protections of a prisoner of war"

"No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior".

"No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war".

"Whoever breaks the rule will get death sentence from their General" he said and looked at Pitamah Bhism and then Dhrishtadyumna.

"Since all the rules are according to law of war, there is no need of argument" Brother Krishna said calmly, Gandhar King chuckled and nodded his head.

"Before the end of this meeting, there is one question I want to ask to all of you" he said in curious tone, "This war place is righteous place, are we following every act righteously?"  he asked.

"Indeed, we are" Elder Brother said without taking any pause.

He smiled and his eyes fell on me "In other words, women should not take part in this war because according to our tradition, they are our mother, friend, sister, wife, daughter, daughter in law, we can not raise our weapon against them because they are revered" he said and smiled cunningly. I chuckled and stared at him, is he forgetting the day of game of dice when they pushed Draupadi around, wasn't she their daughter in law, wasn't she revered that time.

Now I understand why Brother Krishna agreed to made Dhrishtadyumna our General because I can clearly see that women are not going to take part in the war.

Elder Brother looked at me with a small smile on his face. He caught on Gandhar's King scheme. "Pandu son's Yudhishthir, you are the great follower of righteous, it is up to you to decide if women should take part in this war" Gandhar King asked as he walked in front of Elder Brother.

"What type of question is this?" Shikandi stand up in anger. "When I am allowing everyone to strike me during war then how does righteousness comes into picture?" she asked. Gandhar King started chuckling "Righteousness and tradition don't function according to will of a single person, Lady" he said joining his hands. Shikandi stared at him in frustration, her hand balling into fist.

"Can I ask you a question, Gandhar King?" I spoke standing up from my seat. He looked at me, his expression changed into sour but still he gave me fake smile.

"You have every right to speak, General Secretary Prakriti" he said smiling in my direction.

I joined my hands together in politeness. "As you said that women shouldn't take part in the war because they are revered, right?" I questioned him and looked around as well. He slowly nodded his head "Then why wasn't she revered in the game of dice, why was she disrespected there, shouldn't all of you who participated in that game die out of shame because you just mentioned it was unjust" I said mocking him, he stumbled on his feet and I saw Shikandi taking her seat back, a satisfied smile on her face.

I saw most of the warrior lowered their head in shame remembering the reason why this war happening in the first place.

"Lady, the circumstances are different now" he said wiping the sweat from his head. "Indeed the situation are unlikely different but that's not my point" I said, I am not done yet.

"But listen carefully now, if you break any of the rules which we have discussed, righteousness or not, you will face the wrath of nature and no one will able to stop it" I growled loudly, he has done enough damage to our family, now its time I should stop this sneaky man. He shuddered in fear and quickly looked at Elder Brother. "What is your decision, Pandu son?"

Elder Brother stand up from his place, his face void of any emotion "Women will not be able to take part in this war" he announced. Gandhar King smiled at this and looked at me from the corner of his eyes. Shikandi looked visibly disconcerted by this. Our family facial expression changed to disheartened. Only Brother Krishna has small smile on his face.

"But as Prakriti said, if any of rule of righteousness will break in the war, I won't be able to stop the destruction of nature because it is above my reach" he said afterward and looked at me. I nodded my head and smiled, I know kauravas, to win this war, they will go at any length to use their wicked ways. I joined my hands together and looked at Gandhar King "Do you agree?"

Grand Father stood up and looked at me with a smile "We accept it" he announced.

I smirked at Gandhar King, he will not be able to escape this time.

***

It was early in the morning, I was walking along side with Brother Krishna, everyone were starting to wake up to prepare for the war. "What is the matter, Brother?" I asked him, he looked deep in thought.

"Something big is about to happen which will change the direction of war" he said looking straight. I turned my head and looked in the same direction, I could see Ang king walking towards the shore of river for his morning worship. He joined his hands together and completed the ritual. Just then an old Brahman came to the shore and stand beside him, I furrowed my eyebrow in confusion because I could see right through the Brahma.

"What is Indra Dev doing here?" I asked curiously.

"Helping his son the way he can" Brother Krishna responded without turning his head. Realization dawn on my face, Ang king is blessed with divine armor and earrings since birth. He will be able to withstand any slaughter on him with the help of divinity that has been given to him by his father. I turned my head towards Brother Krishna "But this is not right, Divine being are not authorized to take part in the war" I frowned, I can understand why Indra Dev wanted to do this but I can not let this happen in front of my eyes. I moved towards the beach to stop the exchange. "You know Parth can loose if Ang King will have his armor during the war" Brother Krishna stated making me halt.

"We will find another way to defeat AngKing, this is not the right way" I responded back not being able to bear the thought that we have to take AngKing divinity in order to win.

"You just said yourself that divine being can not take part in the war, armor and earring are part of AngKing which is divine and it will not be righteous if he use them to fight the war, Indra Dev is doing the right thing Prakrite" he further added and started walking towards me. I sighed and looked at the beach again where Ang King was screaming in pain while cutting the armor from his body. Brother Krishna put his hand on my shoulder "Is this the way we will win war?" I asked him without diverting my eyes away from the scene as AngKing gave his armor and earrings to Indra Dev. Brother Krishna took long breath "This is the only way" he responded, he has a faraway look on his face.

"This is not righteous" I whispered, how many people have to suffer in order to establish dharm.

"I know and we will both atone for what occurred today and what will happen in the future" he added.

Indra Dev gave his powerful weapon in return for AngKing to use only once and then he vanished away to heaven. AngKing took short breaths and slowly started walking away from the shore, blood dripped from his wound and dropped on the ground. Blood bath has been started even before the war started itself. I left Brother Krishna there and quickly walked towards AngKing when I saw him stumbled on his feet as he whimpered in pain. Tears of pain were running from his eyes, he tried to steady himself but couldn't and started falling on the ground. With a quick flick of my hand, I created a bed of flowers for him as he fall on the ground. I run in his direction and pulled his head in my lap. He was unconscious. "Elder Brother" I said softly trying to wake him up. He was not responding. Tears of guilt fall from my eyes as I looked at his condition. I could have stopped this whole ordeal but I did not and now Ang King is suffering the consequences. I am aware about the vow I made during the game of dice but this shouldn't have happened like this.

I put my hand on AngKing and called my nature power, I couldn't stop the event that took place but I can at-least free him from his pain. My hands started shining with my power while it healed AngKing. All the blood disappeared and his wound closed up. I sighed in relief as his breathing came back to normal.

"Why did you help me?" he asked in hoarse voice. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. I averted my eyes away wiping my tears.

"Because war has not started yet and I don't want my Arya to defeat you when you are at your weakest" I responded to him. He smiled and joined his hands together "Princess Prakriti, I am grateful that you healed me" he said, his voice still raspy, I gently put his head on the cushion I made from flowers. "This is the last time you are seeing me as your family Elder Brother because next time when we meet, it will be in the war" I said and stand up from the ground.

He smiled once again "I am blessed to have a sister like you" he said as I turned around to walk away. "I hope in next life when we meet, the circumstances would be different" I said walking back to my tent.

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Author note:

War is just around the corner, Lets see how Prakriti intervention will change the course of it.

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