A Twist in Time
Chapter Two: A New Kingdom
"So? The body was found, yes? Did you follow the plan?"
The room was dark with barely any presence. But a voice rang out of the black night, a male's voice, cool and clever. A flash of moonlight crossed the open window and suddenly outlined a single person, sitting calming and staring out into the night. It was a boy - with dark blue, chin-length hair and dim, stormy eyes. The slender figure was robed in dark material, and his hands clutched a blood stained scroll.
"Everything, dear brother. Your scheme went well." Another voice, this time feminine, came from a dark corner, and footsteps could be heard. Into the moonlight another figure walked, slightly shorter and by the looks of it, a girl. Her shoulder length hair swayed as she reached the other, gently massaging his shoulders.
"Very well, Xue Hua." The boy spoke. "Inform Lord Jian Xin. Tell him the first part of the plan went perfectly."
Xue Hua smiled. Her cheerful, slightly childish face was suddenly revealed and she replied as she twirled a strand of shoulder length, dark blue hair, "Xue Shan, don't worry. Our Lord has already been informed."
Xue Shan was quiet, and then stood up. "We will both see him in the morning. For our next orders."
The twins disappeared from the dark room, their shadows slowly fading away out of the light.
**********
The meeting was quiet and strangely forced. It was rare for the leaders of the three kingdoms to have a civil conversation, and the need of it seemed to make everyone uneasy.
Cao Cao sat at the top of the table, accompanied by Xu Zhu, Xu Huang and Xiahou Dun. On his left sat Lord Sun Jian, Sun Ce, Sun Quan and Sun Shang Xiang. Lord Liu Bei sat across from him. Three of the five Tiger Generals were with him - Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. Sima Yi, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang stood quietly in the corner.
Cao Cao put his hand on the table and the room was silent. "You all know perfectly well why you are here. The warring of the three kingdoms must be stopped for the present, since there seems to be something else stirring as well."
Sun Jian looked up. "I know you mean well, Lord, if you don't mind me saying. However, our kingdom have had very little disappearances."
"Ours have lost very little people also," Liu Bei added. "However, the people that have been taken are usually sub-officers that carry valuable information."
Sun Jian nodded his approval. Cao Cao frowned. "To think that the enemy will take more from one kingdom than another, this is outrageous!"
Sun Quan looked up, hands under his chin. "Perhaps this is favoritism."
Others murmured their agreement, however Cao Cao did not seem at ease.
"They might be offended by your actions." Zhao Yun folded his arms, eyes closed.
"Even if the attackers barely touched your kingdom, they must be stopped!" Xiahou Dun stood up, glaring at the Tiger General. Cao Cao waved his hand and Xiahou Dun sat back down, though not entirely pleased.
"Why so?" Sun Shang Xiang asked, looked intently at Cao Cao, her eyebrows raised.
"Because." The room went quiet, and all turned towards a corner of the room. Sima Yi was walked to the table. "We have reason to believe that a new kingdom has risen."
Whispers of surprise followed this. Sima Yi sighed, his dark eyes closed, and began to explain. The others listened intently, interrupting once or twice with questions.
"We have already realized this also," Zhuge Liang said, fanning himself with his fan and seeming slightly eerie in the dark light, "but we haven't looked that seriously into it since only one or two people disappeared. But if this truly is a new kingdom, we must take action."
Guan Yu stroked his beard. "Very well."
Zhou Yu nodded as well, and Sun Ce burst out, "We'll take 'em down!" He struck his tonfas onto the table, which shook slightly.
"Thus is the truce!" Cao Cao roared. "Until we know who is doing this, the three kingdoms shall be one once more! Let us attack with an Allied force!"
**********
The pole broke and shattered as it was struck by a Seven Section Chain. The weapon was pulled back with ease and thrown again.
A dark brown haired man stood on the field. Soon, all targets were shattered and he lowered his arm, pleased. He seemed slightly foreign. Slender, brown eyes were hidden under dark bangs, and he re-adjusted his low ponytail.
Brushing the hair away from his face, a scar was revealed on his left cheek. He was strangely tan - a lot darker than the people here were.
He headed back towards the shade of a maple tree. Sitting down, he took off his dark blue cloak and chest armor.
"Lord Jian Xin!"
The man looked around. Spotting the source of the voice, he smiled. "Xue Hua, Xue Shan. It's been a while. How is everything?"
The blue haired, talkative girl sat down next to him. "Perfectly well, dear Lord." Her big eyes sparkled.
"We came here to ask for the next instructions," Xue Shan said coolly, cocking his head and giving himself a curious glance.
Jian Xin stood up, grabbing his belongings. "I would prefer if you didn't do anything rash for a while. You may sit quietly for a few weeks."
Xue Hua frowned slightly, her pink lips sticking out, "But then we'll have nothing to do."
The young Lord sighed. "Continue the disappearances if you must. Go back and tell the others to remain low. And that Xiao Chan, keep an eye on her. I am sure she is not used to our ways, for she used to belong with her sister. Don't confront her, but make sure she stays."
The twins nodded and headed back down the hill. A faint crunch sounded behind Jian Xin and he tensed slightly before relaxing, realizing who was the source.
"An Jian, where is Shan Lan?"
Another man was in the shadows of the trees but remained mostly hidden. An Jian looked slightly mysterious and dark, his face blackened by shadow. "She left me no information." His voice was deep, slightly cold. A fleck of sun darted through the branches and revealed a strange, tattooed eye.
"Find her for me, and make sure she hasn't started attacking a kingdom. You know what she's like." Jian Xin smiled and shook his head slightly.
There was a sharp hiss and a dagger came flying out of nowhere. An Jian frowned and reached out, catching it in his hand. A trickle of blood flowed down his wrist. There was a laugh, and a girl stepped out from behind a tree.
"Shan Lan, we where just talking about you." Jian Xin looked over at the girl, who, like An Jian, also remained in shadow. Her form was outlined against the black, and Jian Xin could faintly see a long braid.
"I've heard." Her voice was emotional, but didn't match her personality. "It'd be asking me a bit much to hold back. However, I will try."
Jian Xin nodded. "Good. My two closest officers, practice well. War is near."
**********
Lord Sun Jian's carriage grew near. On an overlooking hill where blooming peach trees grew, a girl stood waiting, her form outlined against the setting sky. She had a fair yet dark face, with slim, blue gray eyes. Jet-black, shoulder length hair was tied back by a black cloth headband. Everything about her was black and she stood out easily against the distant hills.
Blue gray eyes followed the carriage like a hunter with her prey. Her hands gripped a metal chain, stretching over five feet long. A silver, six point Shuriken was attached to the end of it.
When the carriage was out of sight, she turned. Dozens of supporters surrounded her, all in black and silent. "We will attack Wu first. You know the plan." Her voice was soft and yet had an icy tinge.
"I will leave Sun Jian for all of you. He is easy game. And when the right time comes..." With lightning speed, she flung a dart into the crowd of people. They ducked and it connected with a falling, pink petal. With a faint clunk, it lodged into a tree trunk.
Smiling slightly, she turned back to the now empty road. She stared at it quietly before walking away. Near the bottom of the hill, she reached for her right wristband and cut off a piece of black cloth. The small, dark material struggled in her hand against the wind. She let it go and it flew, over the kingdom of Wu, like a mark of ruin and despair.
**********
A/N: Second chapter up! And if anyone was wondering, a Shuriken is a Ninja Throwing Star. Another chapter done, people. We can make it! Okay, well, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat
Chapter Two: A New Kingdom
"So? The body was found, yes? Did you follow the plan?"
The room was dark with barely any presence. But a voice rang out of the black night, a male's voice, cool and clever. A flash of moonlight crossed the open window and suddenly outlined a single person, sitting calming and staring out into the night. It was a boy - with dark blue, chin-length hair and dim, stormy eyes. The slender figure was robed in dark material, and his hands clutched a blood stained scroll.
"Everything, dear brother. Your scheme went well." Another voice, this time feminine, came from a dark corner, and footsteps could be heard. Into the moonlight another figure walked, slightly shorter and by the looks of it, a girl. Her shoulder length hair swayed as she reached the other, gently massaging his shoulders.
"Very well, Xue Hua." The boy spoke. "Inform Lord Jian Xin. Tell him the first part of the plan went perfectly."
Xue Hua smiled. Her cheerful, slightly childish face was suddenly revealed and she replied as she twirled a strand of shoulder length, dark blue hair, "Xue Shan, don't worry. Our Lord has already been informed."
Xue Shan was quiet, and then stood up. "We will both see him in the morning. For our next orders."
The twins disappeared from the dark room, their shadows slowly fading away out of the light.
**********
The meeting was quiet and strangely forced. It was rare for the leaders of the three kingdoms to have a civil conversation, and the need of it seemed to make everyone uneasy.
Cao Cao sat at the top of the table, accompanied by Xu Zhu, Xu Huang and Xiahou Dun. On his left sat Lord Sun Jian, Sun Ce, Sun Quan and Sun Shang Xiang. Lord Liu Bei sat across from him. Three of the five Tiger Generals were with him - Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. Sima Yi, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang stood quietly in the corner.
Cao Cao put his hand on the table and the room was silent. "You all know perfectly well why you are here. The warring of the three kingdoms must be stopped for the present, since there seems to be something else stirring as well."
Sun Jian looked up. "I know you mean well, Lord, if you don't mind me saying. However, our kingdom have had very little disappearances."
"Ours have lost very little people also," Liu Bei added. "However, the people that have been taken are usually sub-officers that carry valuable information."
Sun Jian nodded his approval. Cao Cao frowned. "To think that the enemy will take more from one kingdom than another, this is outrageous!"
Sun Quan looked up, hands under his chin. "Perhaps this is favoritism."
Others murmured their agreement, however Cao Cao did not seem at ease.
"They might be offended by your actions." Zhao Yun folded his arms, eyes closed.
"Even if the attackers barely touched your kingdom, they must be stopped!" Xiahou Dun stood up, glaring at the Tiger General. Cao Cao waved his hand and Xiahou Dun sat back down, though not entirely pleased.
"Why so?" Sun Shang Xiang asked, looked intently at Cao Cao, her eyebrows raised.
"Because." The room went quiet, and all turned towards a corner of the room. Sima Yi was walked to the table. "We have reason to believe that a new kingdom has risen."
Whispers of surprise followed this. Sima Yi sighed, his dark eyes closed, and began to explain. The others listened intently, interrupting once or twice with questions.
"We have already realized this also," Zhuge Liang said, fanning himself with his fan and seeming slightly eerie in the dark light, "but we haven't looked that seriously into it since only one or two people disappeared. But if this truly is a new kingdom, we must take action."
Guan Yu stroked his beard. "Very well."
Zhou Yu nodded as well, and Sun Ce burst out, "We'll take 'em down!" He struck his tonfas onto the table, which shook slightly.
"Thus is the truce!" Cao Cao roared. "Until we know who is doing this, the three kingdoms shall be one once more! Let us attack with an Allied force!"
**********
The pole broke and shattered as it was struck by a Seven Section Chain. The weapon was pulled back with ease and thrown again.
A dark brown haired man stood on the field. Soon, all targets were shattered and he lowered his arm, pleased. He seemed slightly foreign. Slender, brown eyes were hidden under dark bangs, and he re-adjusted his low ponytail.
Brushing the hair away from his face, a scar was revealed on his left cheek. He was strangely tan - a lot darker than the people here were.
He headed back towards the shade of a maple tree. Sitting down, he took off his dark blue cloak and chest armor.
"Lord Jian Xin!"
The man looked around. Spotting the source of the voice, he smiled. "Xue Hua, Xue Shan. It's been a while. How is everything?"
The blue haired, talkative girl sat down next to him. "Perfectly well, dear Lord." Her big eyes sparkled.
"We came here to ask for the next instructions," Xue Shan said coolly, cocking his head and giving himself a curious glance.
Jian Xin stood up, grabbing his belongings. "I would prefer if you didn't do anything rash for a while. You may sit quietly for a few weeks."
Xue Hua frowned slightly, her pink lips sticking out, "But then we'll have nothing to do."
The young Lord sighed. "Continue the disappearances if you must. Go back and tell the others to remain low. And that Xiao Chan, keep an eye on her. I am sure she is not used to our ways, for she used to belong with her sister. Don't confront her, but make sure she stays."
The twins nodded and headed back down the hill. A faint crunch sounded behind Jian Xin and he tensed slightly before relaxing, realizing who was the source.
"An Jian, where is Shan Lan?"
Another man was in the shadows of the trees but remained mostly hidden. An Jian looked slightly mysterious and dark, his face blackened by shadow. "She left me no information." His voice was deep, slightly cold. A fleck of sun darted through the branches and revealed a strange, tattooed eye.
"Find her for me, and make sure she hasn't started attacking a kingdom. You know what she's like." Jian Xin smiled and shook his head slightly.
There was a sharp hiss and a dagger came flying out of nowhere. An Jian frowned and reached out, catching it in his hand. A trickle of blood flowed down his wrist. There was a laugh, and a girl stepped out from behind a tree.
"Shan Lan, we where just talking about you." Jian Xin looked over at the girl, who, like An Jian, also remained in shadow. Her form was outlined against the black, and Jian Xin could faintly see a long braid.
"I've heard." Her voice was emotional, but didn't match her personality. "It'd be asking me a bit much to hold back. However, I will try."
Jian Xin nodded. "Good. My two closest officers, practice well. War is near."
**********
Lord Sun Jian's carriage grew near. On an overlooking hill where blooming peach trees grew, a girl stood waiting, her form outlined against the setting sky. She had a fair yet dark face, with slim, blue gray eyes. Jet-black, shoulder length hair was tied back by a black cloth headband. Everything about her was black and she stood out easily against the distant hills.
Blue gray eyes followed the carriage like a hunter with her prey. Her hands gripped a metal chain, stretching over five feet long. A silver, six point Shuriken was attached to the end of it.
When the carriage was out of sight, she turned. Dozens of supporters surrounded her, all in black and silent. "We will attack Wu first. You know the plan." Her voice was soft and yet had an icy tinge.
"I will leave Sun Jian for all of you. He is easy game. And when the right time comes..." With lightning speed, she flung a dart into the crowd of people. They ducked and it connected with a falling, pink petal. With a faint clunk, it lodged into a tree trunk.
Smiling slightly, she turned back to the now empty road. She stared at it quietly before walking away. Near the bottom of the hill, she reached for her right wristband and cut off a piece of black cloth. The small, dark material struggled in her hand against the wind. She let it go and it flew, over the kingdom of Wu, like a mark of ruin and despair.
**********
A/N: Second chapter up! And if anyone was wondering, a Shuriken is a Ninja Throwing Star. Another chapter done, people. We can make it! Okay, well, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat