A Twist in Time
Chapter One: Suspicions
Cao Cao stood on the balcony, overlooking the kingdom of Wei. The number of traders was intensifying at a deadly rate. Most of the country citizens and farmers had also moved in to the city on their knees, begging for a second chance. It seemed as if the Yellow Turban defeat had unhinged them all.
But something else was bothering him. It seemed to be bothering the other two kingdoms as well, for war had not been called out for many months.
Many people were disappearing, including trustworthy sub-officers and numerous spies. And it wasn't as if the kidnappers had a general location - people vanished at every corner and at an increasing rate. Perhaps it was a pathetic revenge of the Yellow Turban Rebellion? Somehow he didn't think so.
A dark feeling had been nagging at him from the back of his mind. He had tried to ignore it when the disappearances had begun, but now... his conscience was stronger then ever. He should have started action earlier, but now it seemed too late.
General Xiahou Dun, accompanied by General Zhang He interrupted his thoughts, walking through the open doors hurriedly. Cao Cao frowned at their looks of identical concern and puzzlement. Surely not another vanishing?
"Lord Cao Cao! We have found a body near the outskirts of the city. It seems to be Yu Jin, who had been one of those that had disappeared two weeks ago," Xiahou Dun reported, looking sternly at his lord from one eye.
Cao Cao looked aghast. His fears had been confirmed. Soon he would surely find other victim's bodies. "Has Xu Huang been informed?"
Zhang He nodded, staring up at the sky. "All flowers must wilt, and Xu Huang's officer has been granted this fate."
"Where is he right now?" Cao Cao headed towards the door.
"He is at the death site with Lady Zhen Ji. Sima Yi is already formulating a plan." Xiahou Dun grabbed his scimitar, the Kirin Fang. "Let us accompany you, my Lord."
Cao Cao nodded, accepting the offer. "Yes, that will be fine." Zhang He picked himself up gracefully and led the way, his shoulder piece gleaming.
**********
Cao Cao looked down at the mutilated face. Zhen Ji stared out of her brown eyes at his surprised expression. "The attackers have not yet been found." Her feminine voice held a tinge of concern, suddenly losing its grace. The hand holding her flute was trembling, shaking, as if she was clutching it hard.
Xu Huang torn his gaze away from his own sub-officer and stood facing Cao Cao, wielding his axe. "We should go, my Lord. The attacker may be near."
Cao Cao waved his hand carelessly. "Do not worry, dear officer. No one is crazy enough to attack at this moment. They will be outnumbered greatly."
"Perhaps this was an action from one of the other kingdoms." Zhang He looked thoughtful.
"No," Cao Cao whispered. "I doubt it. I believe it is something else entirely. We should call a truce. I am certain that they are suffering as well. Send a messenger as soon as possible to Lords Liu Bei and Sun Jian. May their presence at a meeting settle this."
Xiahou Dun nodded and walked back towards the city. Cao Cao looked after him. "It's getting dark. We should go too."
A white cloth was spread over Yu Jin, and the others headed back towards the city lights, weary and mournful.
**********
Sima Yi sighed over his table of parchment, fanning himself with his black feather fan. He was at loss of words, but perhaps in the meeting tomorrow he could share his opinion with the other strategists.
The man's ink brush stopped over a certain diagram. He hesitated for a moment, and then gasped. How could he have not noticed before?
His dark colored eyes neared the parchment and dropping his fan, he started sketching. The days of the disappearances, which he had thought had no obvious pattern before, suddenly made sense. It was a complicated pattern, but it had finally shown its ugly face. The attacker's group had a very clever strategist.
Sima Yi leaned back, once again fanning himself gently with his fan. His purple robes were slightly crinkled from his excitement moments before.
Normal terrorist groups didn't usually have organized plans. Good strategists were for the groups that planned to last extremely long. His eyes widened as he realized and shoving his feet in his shoes, he strode to Cao Cao's room. The Lord should still be awake.
Knocking softly, he entered. Cao Cao looked up from his seat. "Oh! Sima Yi, what a surprise."
"My Lord, I am sure of this. It seems as if a new kingdom has risen."
**********
A/N: Hang with us here! Sorry... now we have to go through all the chapters again but... they'll be up soon! Also with the new chapter! R&R! And once again, sorry!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat
Chapter One: Suspicions
Cao Cao stood on the balcony, overlooking the kingdom of Wei. The number of traders was intensifying at a deadly rate. Most of the country citizens and farmers had also moved in to the city on their knees, begging for a second chance. It seemed as if the Yellow Turban defeat had unhinged them all.
But something else was bothering him. It seemed to be bothering the other two kingdoms as well, for war had not been called out for many months.
Many people were disappearing, including trustworthy sub-officers and numerous spies. And it wasn't as if the kidnappers had a general location - people vanished at every corner and at an increasing rate. Perhaps it was a pathetic revenge of the Yellow Turban Rebellion? Somehow he didn't think so.
A dark feeling had been nagging at him from the back of his mind. He had tried to ignore it when the disappearances had begun, but now... his conscience was stronger then ever. He should have started action earlier, but now it seemed too late.
General Xiahou Dun, accompanied by General Zhang He interrupted his thoughts, walking through the open doors hurriedly. Cao Cao frowned at their looks of identical concern and puzzlement. Surely not another vanishing?
"Lord Cao Cao! We have found a body near the outskirts of the city. It seems to be Yu Jin, who had been one of those that had disappeared two weeks ago," Xiahou Dun reported, looking sternly at his lord from one eye.
Cao Cao looked aghast. His fears had been confirmed. Soon he would surely find other victim's bodies. "Has Xu Huang been informed?"
Zhang He nodded, staring up at the sky. "All flowers must wilt, and Xu Huang's officer has been granted this fate."
"Where is he right now?" Cao Cao headed towards the door.
"He is at the death site with Lady Zhen Ji. Sima Yi is already formulating a plan." Xiahou Dun grabbed his scimitar, the Kirin Fang. "Let us accompany you, my Lord."
Cao Cao nodded, accepting the offer. "Yes, that will be fine." Zhang He picked himself up gracefully and led the way, his shoulder piece gleaming.
**********
Cao Cao looked down at the mutilated face. Zhen Ji stared out of her brown eyes at his surprised expression. "The attackers have not yet been found." Her feminine voice held a tinge of concern, suddenly losing its grace. The hand holding her flute was trembling, shaking, as if she was clutching it hard.
Xu Huang torn his gaze away from his own sub-officer and stood facing Cao Cao, wielding his axe. "We should go, my Lord. The attacker may be near."
Cao Cao waved his hand carelessly. "Do not worry, dear officer. No one is crazy enough to attack at this moment. They will be outnumbered greatly."
"Perhaps this was an action from one of the other kingdoms." Zhang He looked thoughtful.
"No," Cao Cao whispered. "I doubt it. I believe it is something else entirely. We should call a truce. I am certain that they are suffering as well. Send a messenger as soon as possible to Lords Liu Bei and Sun Jian. May their presence at a meeting settle this."
Xiahou Dun nodded and walked back towards the city. Cao Cao looked after him. "It's getting dark. We should go too."
A white cloth was spread over Yu Jin, and the others headed back towards the city lights, weary and mournful.
**********
Sima Yi sighed over his table of parchment, fanning himself with his black feather fan. He was at loss of words, but perhaps in the meeting tomorrow he could share his opinion with the other strategists.
The man's ink brush stopped over a certain diagram. He hesitated for a moment, and then gasped. How could he have not noticed before?
His dark colored eyes neared the parchment and dropping his fan, he started sketching. The days of the disappearances, which he had thought had no obvious pattern before, suddenly made sense. It was a complicated pattern, but it had finally shown its ugly face. The attacker's group had a very clever strategist.
Sima Yi leaned back, once again fanning himself gently with his fan. His purple robes were slightly crinkled from his excitement moments before.
Normal terrorist groups didn't usually have organized plans. Good strategists were for the groups that planned to last extremely long. His eyes widened as he realized and shoving his feet in his shoes, he strode to Cao Cao's room. The Lord should still be awake.
Knocking softly, he entered. Cao Cao looked up from his seat. "Oh! Sima Yi, what a surprise."
"My Lord, I am sure of this. It seems as if a new kingdom has risen."
**********
A/N: Hang with us here! Sorry... now we have to go through all the chapters again but... they'll be up soon! Also with the new chapter! R&R! And once again, sorry!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat