Lost Past, New Future
Chapter 1
From a young age I never felt like I belonged. My mother would just tell me that I was more sensitive to my surroundings than other people, and that I should just forget about it and get on with my life.
But I knew deep down inside that she was wrong. Every time she would talk to me it felt like she was holding something back from me, hiding some god-awful truth. I didn't realise how right I was until my eighteenth birthday.
"Relena honey, don't forget to be home before six!" My mother shouted to me as I opened the front door to leave.
"I won't mom. See you later!" I shouted back, checking my bag to make sure my purple gi for martial arts class was in there.
Zipping up my coat against the bitter cold wind that blew my short silver hair behind me I started off for the leisure centre that I attended four times a week for my martial arts class.
Today's the day! I thought excitedly, quickening my pace as I remembered my last session with sensei Lei Sung, as he read out the list of pupils that would be advancing to the final stage, if they past the trials that took place today.
Fifteen minutes later I was in the locker room, alone, changing into my gi when that feeling of being watched came over me. Looking about me I frowned at myself as I tied my brown belt around my waist, still feeling as though someone was watching me.
It's my nerves! I realised, leaving the locker room behind me as I headed down towards the large hall where the trials were being held.
"Hey Lena, ya made it!"
Smiling at Sid, another sensei from a different group, I quickly signed myself in. Just as I was about to go on in Sid put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. Looking back at his smiling face I raised an eyebrow.
"By the way, happy b'day! I wish you good luck and hope that you do well enough to pass." Sid whispered low enough so I could only hear, as a group of youngsters came out of the men's locker room behind ho.
"Thanks!" I smiled back, before going inside.
After half an hour introduction from my sensei as he showed us who the three judges were and what formations they were marking us on, we were ready to begin. Looking about me at the others I could tell that there were nine in total, including me, who were being put through the trials.
This shouldn't take too long. I thought, catching the eye of my sensei and nodding a greeting, before turning my attention back to the floor in front of me.
After an hour of watching the other pupils trying to prove themselves worthy enough to pass I realised it was my turn. Jumping to my feet from my knees I walked to the middle of the floor and bowed to my sensei and then the judges, before getting into my starting stance.
For the past few months I had been practising my moves and formations until I could not stand any more. Now in graceful but swift movements I showed the judges what I was made of, and knew my sensei was smiling slightly at his long time pupil who had surpassed every other pupil in his class, and was the youngest too.
This is my time to shine! I smiled inwardly to myself, as someone else stepped onto the floor for the hand-to-hand combat stage.
At the end of the day I was smiling proudly as the head judge awarded me with my final belt and certificate. I was still smiling when my sensei came up to me.
"You did well, Relena-san," Sensei Lei congratulated as he walked up to me.
"Thank you Sensei." I replied, bowing my head. "I heard you are leaving, is that true?"
"Yes, going back to my homeland. Here, a little gift for you, before I go." Sensei Lei said, as he took out a small black velvet pouch form the folds of his gi.
Smiling as I took it from him I slowly opened it, and felt a tear roll down my cheek at the small silver medallion suspended from a silver chain. Looking at the small ice blue jewel surrounded by weird writing I looked back at my Sensei for an answer.
"That was your father's, Relena-san. He told me to give it to you on your eighteenth birthday. I'm sorry he could not be here to give it to you in person." Sensei Lei informed me. "It is getting late, better you go home now before it rains."
Nodding my head I bowed again to him before watching him leave. Putting the necklace on I quickly headed back to the locker room as a clap of thunder rolled across the heavens outside, shaking the building slightly with its intensity.
"Mom, I'm home!" I shouted, closing the door quickly behind me as the storm outside worsened. Hearing no reply I headed into the kitchen for something to eat when I saw the note taped to the fridge door. After reading it and finding out that she had gone to the shops for something I quickly raided the fridge for something to eat, when I saw that it was nearly five o'clock.
Grabbing a carton of juice and a packet of corn dogs I quickly hurried to my room to watch my favourite carton, Dragon Ball Z.
What a b'day! I thought excitedly, realizing that it was nearing the end of the Freeza saga. An hour later of watching my favorite show I had just turned off and was heading for a shower when I realized mom hadn't returned yet from her trip to the shops.
Probably couldn't find what she was looking for so went somewhere else. I thought, stepping under the hot spray of the shower. Clean, dry and dressed in sweatpants and a vest I was heading downstairs to stick my dirty gi in the wash when the lights suddenly flickered in and off, before finally giving up altogether.
Damn it! I cursed, after hitting my bare foot on a chair leg. Rubbing it as I searched for a flashlight I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Spinning around on the heel of my foot I turned the flashlight on and played its beam through the darkened kitchen. Cursing myself for being afraid of nothing I suddenly realized that the storm had stopped, leaving an eerie silence behind.
That's odd, how come I can't hear any night animals or the sounds of the cars outside. I thought, heading over to look out the rear window at our back yard.
Seeing the large gate swing open at the back of our property I quickly looked at my dog Sharax's hut, and saw that he was nowhere in sight. Sighing heavily as I realized that the dumb mutt had gotten out I quickly slipped my shoes and coat back on before going outside into the silent night.
This is really creepy! I thought, as that feeling again swept through me.
Being glad that my senses were far more acute than anyone else's, I quickly picked up Sharax's barking, and saw that he was running up the hill behind our house. Looking ahead of him at the very top I saw something gleam as the silence was broken by a flash of lightning, before being deafened by the clap of thunder after it.
Christ! I cringed, rubbing my ears as I took off after my dog, who had now reached the thing on top of the hill.
Cursing at the dog loudly as I neared him I suddenly stopped when I saw the object in front of him. Ignoring Sharax's barks as he ran around my legs I reached for the orange ball with a shaky hand.
No way, this has got to be someone's idea of a joke! I wondered, seeing the double star at the center as I looked at it closely.
Gasping in fright when the ball suddenly started GLOWING, I quickly picked it up off the ground after dropping it, and knew then that it was a real Dragon Ball when i felt a sudden warmness spread through my body.
Feeling my body becoming light I didn't notice the glowing red eyes in the sky above me a everything around me went silent again, and my eyes slowly closed as I felt my consciousness slip away from me.
