Author's Note: I will prove my worthwhile ness, and this story will be the first step in. Enjoy people. When I'm done with this, I'm going do a fanfic on Eragon!

Chapter 11

The essence of Time

Darkness surrounded the prince and nothing seemed alive, everything blank and dark, even the prince himself thought he was dead. He floated aimlessly in the black void, his mind in a trance like state. And suddenly, he felt a different consciousness tugging at his own with a calming and powerful aura.

Awake prince. The voice resounded through the prince's head as if a candle was being lit. The voice had a familiar ring to it, but the prince could not place who it was exactly. Escaping from his trance like state, his eyes met a glimmering figure, whose facial features could not be seen due to the light that was emanating from it. The prince squinted as his eyes met the creature in front of him.

What are you? The prince thought vaguely, harnessing all his energy in order to understand what had occurred. And where am I? The figure was silent for a moment and soon, he held out its hand, in a way of hoping to each out for something.

I will tell you in a moment's time.

The prince stared at its posture, confused.

A swirl of white light suddenly burst into view and the prince marveled at the spectacle that was before him. The light twisted and turn, the glowing tendrils slowly coming to a stop in the palm of the glimmering figure. From the prince's point of view, the figure looked almost like that of a woman, if not for its shape. The light that spiraled from her palm soon disappeared into wisps of smoke and the prince's eyes widened in amazement.

In the palm of the glimmering woman's hand, stood the Dagger of Time, its blade gleaming cheerfully amidst the darkness among them. The prince turned his gaze upon the face of the woman, although there were no facial features on them and inspected her, hoping to find an answer to this occurrence.

What is this? The prince thought, sending his mind waves to hers. He was partially confused and partially amazed and even he did not seem to understand what he felt. All he needed now was answers. I have been brought to some unforeseen place and what am I to be here?

Your presence here, replied the woman, may either bring down the empire that you once sought to built, or it may return you to your rightful throne in Babylon. The prince senses soon sharpened and he brought his entire attention upon each of the words uttered by the shimmering figure in front of him.

How is my presence affected by the fate of my empire, Babylon? asked the prince I have lost it to the damned Vizier once again and now, Farah is in danger because of my ridiculous actions. His fist trembled as he uttered the words out soundlessly through his mind, feeling the guilt seep into him knowing that it was he that had created such trouble. The voice on the other end responded, voice soft and calming.

There is still hope my prince, for you are not alone. She held the dagger in his direction, her white and perfect skin viewed clearly by the prince. He had never seen such a wondrous moment. Hold this dagger in your hand with pride and use it help in your quest to change fate and time. Only this weapon is able to slay the newly strengthened Vizier and only one such as yourself can only wield this weapon. What say you prince? Do you take the burden to shoulder the fate of the entire nation of Babylon in your grasp?

The voice ended with a dramatic finality, leaving the prince silent, head bowed and unmoving for he let the words sink deep into him, helping him clear his worried mind. The vizier, he thought. The vizier has taken everything valuable from me. My wife, my kingdom and my honor, all gone to that wretched beast. This…cannot go unpunished.

Bringing up his gaze, he looked straight at the gleaming dagger, eyes hardened with determination of a king. He felt something burning inside him, a feeling that was waiting to be erupted out, a sudden force of incredible power. Extending his muscular arms, he reach out for her mind, telling her, By my blood, I swear that with this dagger, I will return the Kingdom of Babylon into its rightful fate!

And with the end of those dignified words, the Dagger of Time floated out of the figure's hand and slowly placed itself upon the prince's left hand. He heard a faint whisper in his ear and recognized it instantly. It was the dagger speaking to him.

Glad to see you once again prince, the dagger chuckled in amusement. The prince gazed at it, his expression calm. He was happy that it was once again by his side. He then turned his gaze upon the shimmering figure and felt his heart race once more.

Standing amidst the darkness was not the person the prince had encountered earlier, but it was a maiden with long and silky black hair which fell to her shoulders. She was fitted into a white robe with gold patterns sewn together with her fabric. An amulet lay dangling across her neck and she marvelous emerald eyes. The prince knew those eyes very well indeed.

Those eyes belonged to Kaileena.

The prince opened his eyes as he awoke. He heaved as dust filled air rushed into his lungs and escape once he exhaled. He heard voices, many voices and soon he realized that he had returned to coliseum and sure enough, he heard Zarul's voice thundering across the chatter filed room. The chatter soon died away and the coliseum area was silent again. The prince decided to lay motionless, face down, in order not to attract any attention. He could he Jamal nearby, protesting furiously on something until the guards knocked him out.

Zarul, stepped towards the edge of his balcony and cleared his throat and spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Bandits of Zarul, what a sight we have seen tonight! Slaying the beast Fravmort, was no easy task. But these two…gladiators, surprised us all by surviving and thus slaying the wretched beast as well. So I ask you now, shall we have another show?"

The crowd roared in unison, agreeing that they should have another battle to behold before them. The shouts soon came too an uncontrollable level, to which Zarul had to ask one of his archers to fire a few arrows into the air. The crowd gasped and ducked, missing the arrow heads by mere centimeters. The coliseum soon turned silent again and Zarul continued on.

"Now then, judging from your behavior right just now, I must conclude that these two gladiators here will soon be preparing for another glorious battle. That if to say, they are not killed in cold blood." He laughed maliciously and his voice echoed across the silence.

The prince shuddered at the sound of it. To him, Zarul sounded no more like a human, but something even monstrous than death it self.

"The entertainment is over, get back to your daily work routines before I find and skin you alive," he said, voice full of menace and anger. He then turned and stepped into the darkness of another tunnel, accompanied by 2 of his guards. The prince soon heard the footsteps of thousand stepping out into the abyss that he himself did not know what was. The coliseum was alive with the sound of shuffling feet but the sound soon slowed and then, it was only the prince, Jamal, and the 5 guards that kept watch on them that was left.

The prince felt that there was no dagger in his hands, and worried seeped into him. How am I to fight without a weapon? He heard the 5 guards talking to themselves in a tongue which he was not accustomed to and he knew that they were coming.

He then he a soft whisper at the deepest depths of hi mind, calling him to accept its invitation. Curios, he accepted it and was relieved to hear the dagger's voice calling him.

"Seems that you have placed yourself in a big mess young prince," said the dagger, its voice filled with the essence of sarcasm. The prince frowned.

"This is not the time to ponder upon unreliable thoughts," said the prince, heart pounding faster by the second. He could hear one of the guard's footsteps coming closer towards him. "Hurry, tell me where you are!"

He was cut off with the mental connection when suddenly as one of the guards lifted him up by his shoulders. Reacting on instinct, the prince caught the man on his right arm, twisted to face the man, and sent him flying into the air with his kick. He was shocked to see that he inflicted more damage that he had intended to, for the men he had sent flying lay dead on the dust covered floor. His fellow companions noticed what had happened and unsheathed their swords, circling the prince like a pack of jackals just waiting to strike.

The prince eyed each one of his foes, finding their movement terribly slower than usual. He saw one of the guards lunged at him from his left. He saw the movement instantly turned his body sideways, avoiding the outstretched blade of his attacker. He caught the guard's hand with such speed that astounded him, speed that he had never imagined having and threw the guard to one of the other guard who was lunging from his back. The guards crashed into each other in a struggled of bodies and they skittered across the ground.

Now there were only 2 left. The two remaining guards eyed him cautiously and the prince saw a flicker of emotion spread across their faces. It was fear and the prince was happy that he had caused such emotion to well up into them. And then, something gleaming under the waist of the guard to his left caught his eye. It was the Dagger of Time, dangling from the guard's belt. The prince eyes widened at the sight and he cast an angered face towards the guard keeping it.

The guard, uncertain of what to do, jumped at the prince, swinging his blade madly, as if to hurt himself as well. The prince saw his movements clearly and with the swiftness of his legs, he jumped over the guard, kicked the guard's head down as he soared into the air and landed in front of the now motionless guard who had his face stuck into the dirt.

The prince knelt down and yanked the dagger out from waist belt of the unconscious fellow and turned to face his last opponent. He found him a few feet away, his hand gripping a blade he held the now awake Jamal as hostage.

The look of utter fear was etched on his sweating face while the hand that he held his blade with shook tremendously. The prince took a step towards the guard, making sure that the guard does not try to pull off anything crazy upon Jamal. He took another cautious step towards them, and that was when the guard shouted.

"Don't come any closer bastard!" he yelled, fear in his voice. The prince stopped in his tracks thinking of a way to help Jamal.

"You must do something prince!" roared Jamal irritably. "I've had enough of being held captive!"

Perhaps I may be of service to you? Said the dagger. The prince did not avert his eyes from the guard and Jamal but merely spoke to the dagger through his mind.

How? He asked, desperate.

Like so my prince. The dagger muttered a few words too quietly for the words to be heard by the prince and everything suddenly slowed. He could see how the movement of the guard and Jamal perfectly, how slow the blade being held by the guard was reaching towards Jamal's neck. He could not believe it. He could control time, once again.

Go now my prince! roared the dagger and soon, the prince felt himself sprinting towards the two. He sliced the guard's hand of before it reached anywhere close to Jamal and sliced the guard's neck in one swift and graceful motion. And then, everything returned to normal.

The guard lay dead, having been sliced in the neck and having his arm cut off without him even knowing it. Jamal stared at the prince, astonished.

"How..did you..manage to…" he gaped at the guard, pointing at the body while looking at the prince. The prince merely shook his head.

"Now is not the time, hurry, we must escape!" said the prince, tucking the dagger back into his own waist belt. And he, Jamal, and the dagger ran out of the metal doors of their entrance, silenty, leaving 3 unconscious guards and 2 dead ones.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Whew! This is possibly my longest chapter ever! I just hope that it comes to your standards of entertainment. Well the, I have to study for an exam now and I wish you all the best! Read and Review please!