A Twist in Time
Chapter Three: Preparations
Xue Shan remained inside his study, quill in hand and poring over books. His kingdom had finally stopped kidnapping those from the other kingdoms, and he found this sudden act strangely tense. There was nothing more for him to do actionwise, and he missed the feeling of worthiness.
The study door suddenly burst open. Xue Shan heard a faint hissing, and looked almost bored as a spear nearly missed his cheek. His hand reached up and caught the handle of the Red Dragon spear.
"Those who lack power should not oppose others. If you wish to be a Strategist, you must know your place," he stated calmly, turning around to face his pupil.
The girl flicked the words away, smiling. "Yes sir. Please forgive my actions. Your reflexes are still as sharp." She had brown, shoulder length hair and grass green eyes. A beauty mark was on her left cheek. Adjusting her blue headband, she caught her spear and put it aside. "I have news for you, master."
Xue Shan patted the cushion next to him. "Sit down, Xiao Chan. No difficulties, I hope."
"No, none at all." Xiao Chan's smile faded a little. "But I have news. It seems as if Dong Zhuo is back once again. I am sure the other kingdoms will ignore us for the time being and attack him. This could be our chance."
There was silence, and Xiao Chan spoke up again, "I would also like to inform you that the Allied forces have already taken Si Shui Gate."
Xue Shan looked back towards the parchment, a grin finding its way to his face. A plan was already forming in his mind. "Am I correct in thinking that Dong Zhuo has retreated to Hu Lao Gate?"
Xiao Chan nodded.
Xue Shan looked up at her. "Xiao Chan, I need you to come with me. However, note that if this plan fails, we will both lose our lives."
Xiao Chan barely hesitated before following Xue Shan. "I will always side with you, no matter the cost."
Heading through the corridors, they arrived at Jian Xin's meeting room. Knocking softly, they walked inside. Five other people were already inside.
Jian Xin sat at the top of the table, accompanied by his wife, Mai Ling. She was fair, with black, shoulder length hair, a purple headband and violet eyes. She was dressed up in a violet dress with dragons sequined into it. Currently, she looked delicate and frail, however everyone knew that she could be rather fierce with her sword, Crisis, in hand.
Xue Hua was situated near the end of the table, and she motioned to her brother and his pupil to join her.
Shan Lan sat across from her, eyes averted and looking at the ground. She was wearing a red and white Qi Pao, with gold lining. Her dark indigo hair was up in a braid and her eyes blazed blue from under her bangs.
An Jian was standing in the corner of the room, shadows once again covering his face.
Jian Xin nodded to Xue Shan and Xiao Chan as they took their places. The room was strangely empty since most of the chairs were not occupied by their usual generals.
"Lord Jian Xin, I have a new plan," Xue Shan began, interrupting the silence. Xue Hua looked at him. "Xiao Chan has informed me that her sister and Dong Zhuo are once again here, and pose a great threat to the other three kingdoms. I would also like to add the fact that their attack on Si Shui Gate has failed. Dong Zhuo has retreated to Hu Lao Gate."
Jian Xin nodded. Mai Ling gracefully rested her chin on her hands. "Quite true. Please continue."
"We are quite sure that the three kingdoms, led by Yuan Shao will ignore us for the time being and fight together to finally get rid of this annoying force. And thus our plan may be put perfectly into action.
"We must go to Dong Zhuo and make him trust the fact that we are on his side. Though powerful, I really do not think that he has the power to overthrow all three kingdoms as well as Yuan Shao's personal force, and once ready, we may attack him from inside his ring of officers. However, if he does have this power, it is good for us either way."
"The only problem is, Dong Zhuo will not trust us this easily." An Jian's cold voice came from his corner. Stepping into the light, he revealed his face. White hair surrounded his face and twisted into a ponytail. Two, strange white eye pierced out of his face, though over the left one swirled a strange, symbolic tattoo. He was not wearing his usual armor, and he looked incomplete without his large, rune covered sword, Dragon Breaker.
Shan Lan smiled. She did not like any of the officers here, and yet talked to them, though strangely detached. "We have Xiao Chan."
Xue Hua peered at the other girl from underneath her bangs, a perturbed look on her face. "We cannot let her go alone! Someone else should go with her also, just to make sure -"
"Xue Hua, don't worry," Xiao Chan looked at her friend soothingly.
Jian Xin stared hard at his officers. "What Xue Hua says has a point, though. We can't afford to lose her, since I doubt no one else in our court can get through to Dong Zhuo."
Xue Shan cleared his throat. "If you don't mind, Lord, I'd like to travel with her."
Jian Xin looked surprised, and then smiled. "Very well, Xue Shan. Go through with your plan, and mind, don't get caught."
Xue Hua looked terrified. "But - brother -"
"I am aware of the circumstances if I fail, and I must ask you not to cry if the worst happens." Xue Shan looked at his sister, smiling softly. "I will try everything possible to meet my sister again."
Jian Xin sighed. "Very well. Xiao Chan, are you willing to go against you sister?"
"Very much so. I am tired of her ways." Xiao Chan's reply was firm.
Mai Ling laughed. "Very well. You will depart tomorrow."
**********
"Lord Dong Zhuo! Xiao Chan has returned!" The messenger bowed low, looking up at the large man before him.
Dong Zhuo torn his gaze from Diao Chan, who was looking harassed. Lu Bu turned angrily away.
"Do bring her in," Diao Chan said softly, trying to force herself away from her Lord.
"She has a man with her. Should we let him inside also?"
"You heard her! Let the girl and her man in!" Dong Zhuo stated roughly.
The messenger hurried off, sending a frightened glance behind him. Reaching the Lady's sister, he bowed low and asked them to follow.
"Remember, act according to plan," Xue Shan whispered softly in her ear.
"Xiao Chan!" Diao Chan exclaimed, embracing her sister. "You're back! And who is this?"
"That is Xue Shan. We have heard rumors about war against you, and wish to help. Please, allow us to fight with you." Xiao Chan graveled before her brother-in-law, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Diao Chan sat besides her, also staring at her Lord.
Dong Zhuo sighed. If Diao Chan approved of it... "Very well. But the boy. Xue Shan. I'm not sure of him."
"He carries the same feeling that I have. At least give him a chance."
Dong Zhuo stared long and hard at the Xue twin before him, who looked modestly at the ground. The big man groaned. "He will stay. For now. We will soon see his skill."
The two from Chen looked at each other, secretly smiling. However, when everyone was gone from the room, another figure walked out of the shadows.
It was Lu Bu. He was looking at the now distant newcomers and his eyes were narrowed in dislike.
**********
A/N: Finally! Third chapter up! As we said, we might still use the ones that we already had used. So... yeah, that's basically it. Anyhoo, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat
Chapter Three: Preparations
Xue Shan remained inside his study, quill in hand and poring over books. His kingdom had finally stopped kidnapping those from the other kingdoms, and he found this sudden act strangely tense. There was nothing more for him to do actionwise, and he missed the feeling of worthiness.
The study door suddenly burst open. Xue Shan heard a faint hissing, and looked almost bored as a spear nearly missed his cheek. His hand reached up and caught the handle of the Red Dragon spear.
"Those who lack power should not oppose others. If you wish to be a Strategist, you must know your place," he stated calmly, turning around to face his pupil.
The girl flicked the words away, smiling. "Yes sir. Please forgive my actions. Your reflexes are still as sharp." She had brown, shoulder length hair and grass green eyes. A beauty mark was on her left cheek. Adjusting her blue headband, she caught her spear and put it aside. "I have news for you, master."
Xue Shan patted the cushion next to him. "Sit down, Xiao Chan. No difficulties, I hope."
"No, none at all." Xiao Chan's smile faded a little. "But I have news. It seems as if Dong Zhuo is back once again. I am sure the other kingdoms will ignore us for the time being and attack him. This could be our chance."
There was silence, and Xiao Chan spoke up again, "I would also like to inform you that the Allied forces have already taken Si Shui Gate."
Xue Shan looked back towards the parchment, a grin finding its way to his face. A plan was already forming in his mind. "Am I correct in thinking that Dong Zhuo has retreated to Hu Lao Gate?"
Xiao Chan nodded.
Xue Shan looked up at her. "Xiao Chan, I need you to come with me. However, note that if this plan fails, we will both lose our lives."
Xiao Chan barely hesitated before following Xue Shan. "I will always side with you, no matter the cost."
Heading through the corridors, they arrived at Jian Xin's meeting room. Knocking softly, they walked inside. Five other people were already inside.
Jian Xin sat at the top of the table, accompanied by his wife, Mai Ling. She was fair, with black, shoulder length hair, a purple headband and violet eyes. She was dressed up in a violet dress with dragons sequined into it. Currently, she looked delicate and frail, however everyone knew that she could be rather fierce with her sword, Crisis, in hand.
Xue Hua was situated near the end of the table, and she motioned to her brother and his pupil to join her.
Shan Lan sat across from her, eyes averted and looking at the ground. She was wearing a red and white Qi Pao, with gold lining. Her dark indigo hair was up in a braid and her eyes blazed blue from under her bangs.
An Jian was standing in the corner of the room, shadows once again covering his face.
Jian Xin nodded to Xue Shan and Xiao Chan as they took their places. The room was strangely empty since most of the chairs were not occupied by their usual generals.
"Lord Jian Xin, I have a new plan," Xue Shan began, interrupting the silence. Xue Hua looked at him. "Xiao Chan has informed me that her sister and Dong Zhuo are once again here, and pose a great threat to the other three kingdoms. I would also like to add the fact that their attack on Si Shui Gate has failed. Dong Zhuo has retreated to Hu Lao Gate."
Jian Xin nodded. Mai Ling gracefully rested her chin on her hands. "Quite true. Please continue."
"We are quite sure that the three kingdoms, led by Yuan Shao will ignore us for the time being and fight together to finally get rid of this annoying force. And thus our plan may be put perfectly into action.
"We must go to Dong Zhuo and make him trust the fact that we are on his side. Though powerful, I really do not think that he has the power to overthrow all three kingdoms as well as Yuan Shao's personal force, and once ready, we may attack him from inside his ring of officers. However, if he does have this power, it is good for us either way."
"The only problem is, Dong Zhuo will not trust us this easily." An Jian's cold voice came from his corner. Stepping into the light, he revealed his face. White hair surrounded his face and twisted into a ponytail. Two, strange white eye pierced out of his face, though over the left one swirled a strange, symbolic tattoo. He was not wearing his usual armor, and he looked incomplete without his large, rune covered sword, Dragon Breaker.
Shan Lan smiled. She did not like any of the officers here, and yet talked to them, though strangely detached. "We have Xiao Chan."
Xue Hua peered at the other girl from underneath her bangs, a perturbed look on her face. "We cannot let her go alone! Someone else should go with her also, just to make sure -"
"Xue Hua, don't worry," Xiao Chan looked at her friend soothingly.
Jian Xin stared hard at his officers. "What Xue Hua says has a point, though. We can't afford to lose her, since I doubt no one else in our court can get through to Dong Zhuo."
Xue Shan cleared his throat. "If you don't mind, Lord, I'd like to travel with her."
Jian Xin looked surprised, and then smiled. "Very well, Xue Shan. Go through with your plan, and mind, don't get caught."
Xue Hua looked terrified. "But - brother -"
"I am aware of the circumstances if I fail, and I must ask you not to cry if the worst happens." Xue Shan looked at his sister, smiling softly. "I will try everything possible to meet my sister again."
Jian Xin sighed. "Very well. Xiao Chan, are you willing to go against you sister?"
"Very much so. I am tired of her ways." Xiao Chan's reply was firm.
Mai Ling laughed. "Very well. You will depart tomorrow."
**********
"Lord Dong Zhuo! Xiao Chan has returned!" The messenger bowed low, looking up at the large man before him.
Dong Zhuo torn his gaze from Diao Chan, who was looking harassed. Lu Bu turned angrily away.
"Do bring her in," Diao Chan said softly, trying to force herself away from her Lord.
"She has a man with her. Should we let him inside also?"
"You heard her! Let the girl and her man in!" Dong Zhuo stated roughly.
The messenger hurried off, sending a frightened glance behind him. Reaching the Lady's sister, he bowed low and asked them to follow.
"Remember, act according to plan," Xue Shan whispered softly in her ear.
"Xiao Chan!" Diao Chan exclaimed, embracing her sister. "You're back! And who is this?"
"That is Xue Shan. We have heard rumors about war against you, and wish to help. Please, allow us to fight with you." Xiao Chan graveled before her brother-in-law, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Diao Chan sat besides her, also staring at her Lord.
Dong Zhuo sighed. If Diao Chan approved of it... "Very well. But the boy. Xue Shan. I'm not sure of him."
"He carries the same feeling that I have. At least give him a chance."
Dong Zhuo stared long and hard at the Xue twin before him, who looked modestly at the ground. The big man groaned. "He will stay. For now. We will soon see his skill."
The two from Chen looked at each other, secretly smiling. However, when everyone was gone from the room, another figure walked out of the shadows.
It was Lu Bu. He was looking at the now distant newcomers and his eyes were narrowed in dislike.
**********
A/N: Finally! Third chapter up! As we said, we might still use the ones that we already had used. So... yeah, that's basically it. Anyhoo, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat