Rena stood at the top of the staircase leading down into the ballroom in the castle. She held a bouquet of roses in her right hand and had her left hand looped through the arm of her father who was wearing his formal garb. Glancing down, she noticed that she wore a white gown with a veil covering her face.
They began making their way down the stairs and along the aisle that had been formed. People from all over the world had come to see the glorious joining of these two people who were so much in love. As they watched in awe, the beautiful princess and her father reached the end of the aisle where her soon to be husband stood. She noticed how handsome he looked and couldn't help the thought of how lucky she was to be here.
Her father kissed her gently on the cheek, whispering to her about how proud he was. He then handed her over to Alex and took his seat beside her mother who had tears in her eyes.
The priest began the ceremony when all of a sudden thunder rumbled loudly causing the very foundation to shake. Lightning burst along the ceiling of the room causing people to panic and scream. A haunting laugh began to fill the room as it became as dark as night.
Everything vanished except Rena and Alex. Rena could feel herself being pulled back, away from her love. She tried to yell out, but nothing came. The only sound was the vicious laughter that filled the void.
Alex looked up at Rena, still being pulled farther away from him, and just watched. She reached for him but he just continued to look at her, not moving. She then saw an evil gleam in his eyes as he began to float up into the darkness. Behind him, a woman appeared, large and emanating evil.
Rena couldn't believe what she was seeing. Alex bowed at the woman's feet and then turned to Rena. His eyes were entirely black now and he held out his hand to her. A dark beam of light shot from his hand, straight at Rena's heart.
It was three days after the initial attack. Rena's dream had always been a happy one about her marriage to Alex but ever since the attack it had changed. Alex had always turned evil and attacked her at the end of the dream but she always woke up right before the attack hit her. She hadn't told anyone about the dream and everyone thought her quiet state to be normal after such a traumatic event.
Rena was allowed to leave the medical bay the day after the attack but she had stayed saying that she wanted to stay by Alex's side. No one argued with her and the two were visited often.
On the fourth day after the attack, Alex was announced healthy enough to leave his bed and get out of the room. His quick recovery was nothing but miraculous some would say, while others that had witnessed the event would say that it was his close proximity of the Golden Crystal and the Moon Crystal that quickened his healing.
It was soon found out that the two crystals now resided within the body of the princess and she refused to leave Alex's side for to long. She blamed herself for almost getting him killed, although the others and Alex himself said it wasn't her fault.
Rena and Alex were now walking slowly through the hallways because Ami had given him strict orders to get his blood flowing by just taking daily walks. Rena had, naturally, accompanied him and he was enjoying her presence.
Alex noticed that Rena seemed to be deep in thought and decided to find out what was bothering her so much. "Rena," he said, gaining her attention, "are you all right? You look like you have something on your mind."
"It's nothing," she said, not wanting him to worry. She had just decided that she wouldn't let that dream come true and she would do anything in her new found power to stop Alex from being taken away from her.
"Hey Alex," Puck called jogging towards them with Proteus lagging behind. "How are you doing? You look a lot better today."
"I'm feeling fine. My shoulders just a little sore."
"That's good to hear," Proteus said, with Puck heartily agreeing. "We're on our way out to the sparring grounds if you two want to come watch."
"I'd love to," Alex said, watching Rena as she shook her head yes.
They all made their way out to the sparring grounds and took seats on the fence surrounding the area. First up to fight were Eros and Prometheus. At first glance it looked like a severe mismatch but as soon as they began it was soon apparent that the two excelled at swords. Eros was more strength while Prometheus used his speed to his advantage.
Eros soon overpowered the slight Prometheus and knocked him to the ground, positioning the tip of his sword at the throat of the other. "I win," he said, moving his sword and extending his hand to help the boy up to his feet.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Next time you won't get so lucky," Prometheus teased the older boy.
Just as Metis and Charon were about to take up their positions, a wave of strong energy passed by knocking them all to the ground. Alex, unfortunately, had put out his hand to stop his fall and had subsequently fallen on his wounded shoulder. He moaned in pain as he looked over to see how Rena had faired.
Rena had fallen on her back and immediately, ignoring the aches, she had jumped to her feet, looking around to try and see the danger. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a tall man standing in midair above the arena they now inhabited.
He appeared to be covered in fur of hues of gold and orange. He wore a pair of orange shorts that bled lighter the higher you went and a yellow tank top that bled darker the lower you went. His hair was orange and seemed to frame his face like the mane of a lion. In fact, his overall appearance seemed to be that of a lion, fangs included.
He seemed to be looking around for something as his eyes scanned over every face in the arena. He looked over Rena and his eyes soon came to a stop on the now standing Alex. By this time, all of the guys had stood and were watching this strange man with interest and suspicion. Alex, the pain in his arm increased by his movement, was leaning on the fence, trying to keep his weight up.
Rena spoke up first, "who are you? What do you want here?"
"Why princess," he spoke lazily, his voice deep, "it is a pleasure to meet you." He then bowed formally and began floating downward until he stood, balanced precariously at the top of a post.
Rena glared at him as his eyes, once again, slid over to Alex who was now looking up at the strange man.
"My name is Leone and I come here for one purpose. My mistress has asked me to collect something for her."
"Who is your mistress and what does she want?" Metis said, holding his sword up and moving to stand between Rena and the odd man. Puck and Charon also had swords drawn, ready to strike should the man pose any threat.
"I believe you've met her before but perhaps you have forgotten. My mistress is called Wise Lady and she always gets what she wants." Leone said, raising his arm high and pointing it towards the sky.
A dark beam shot down from the sky and enveloped Alex in its depths. Rena screamed out causing Metis and Charon to strike out at Leone, who merely dodged their efforts and sent a beam of fire in their direction. She tried to get through the field but she couldn't call the crystals to aid her and Alex merely hollered at her to get away. He didn't want her to get hurt but she refused to leave him as she remembered her silent promise to never let him go.
Alex was being lifted into the sky towards a dark portal. Rena tried to call upon the crystals but she couldn't get them to come. She didn't think she was strong enough but she knew that she had to try. With one last look their eyes met and an understanding came that they would see each other again just as he disappeared into the void. The black light disappeared causing Rena to fall to the ground, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Deimos and Eros ran over to Rena while the others helped Metis and Charon who had been partially caught in the fire. Leone looked down at the scene and said, "My mistress wishes me to tell you that she will get the crystals, in time." With that, he disappeared in a whirl of fire.
The entire group was, once again, in the medical wing of the palace. Metis and Charon were getting their burns tended to while the others told of what had happened.
Diamond was consoling the crying Emerald while Helios tried to comfort his crying daughter the best that he could. Serenity and Rini also had tears in their eyes while the scouts looked over their sons to make sure nothing else had happened.
Trista, the only person not there, suddenly rushed into the medical bay, panic on her usually stoic face. "We have a problem," she said simply, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "There has been a disturbance in the flow of time. The past is being affected drastically."
"That's what he meant," Rena spoke up, her voice hoarse from her crying, "he said that 'she will get the crystal, in time'. They traveled to the past to get the crystals."
"This isn't good," Raye said, "we couldn't even get near her in this time. How are our past selves supposed to cope?"
"Yes," Lita spoke up, "Rena was the only one able to stop her. Our younger selves barely stand a chance."
"Let me go," Rena said in a small voice, pushing away from her father's grasp. "I can save them and reclaim the crystals."
"It's too dangerous," Serenity said.
Endymion stepped up to his wife and put his hand on her shoulder, "but it's the only choice we have. She is stronger than any of us and we did send Rini back when she was much younger."
"But that was because Crystal Tokyo had been destroyed," Rini said, looking to her husband for help.
"She's old enough to make her own decisions and if Trista agrees, we have no choice but to let her," Helios reasoned.
"It seems to be the only choice and she can't change the time line anymore that it already has been," Trista said.
Rena looked around at her family and friends, "I promise I'll be all right. I'll come back and I'll bring the crystals and Alex with me."
"Here," Rini said, reaching into her pocket and bringing out a key. "This is the time key that Luna P. gave me a long time ago. It will help you get back to us."
"Thank you mother," Rena said, embracing her mother in a hug followed closely by her father.
"I'm proud of you," he whispered in her ear.
She then hugged her grandparents who told her to come back to them soon. As she turned to regard the rest of the group, she looked over to Alex's parents and said, "I promise I'll bring him back."
Emerald embraced her, tears still streaming down her cheek. Diamond just nodded his head at her and returned to comforting his wife.
The next day, Rena had been briefed about everything she might encounter in the past including the arcade and school that she will be pretending to attend. She had been told not to bring too much attention to herself and was now waiting at the gates of time with Trista and the bandaged up Charon. She had already said a tearful goodbye to the others, the guys especially said that they would miss her and wished her luck and a safe return.
As she made her way into the time warp, she didn't look back once. Her hands shook slightly and she almost dropped her bag that she carried that was filled with necessities, namely money, clothing, and other various things. Amongst them was the necklace and bracelet set that she had received from Alex for her birthday.
'I will find you' she thought 'and I will save the future'.
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