A Twist in Time

Chapter 1

                                                                             Mamoru awakens

He paced the length of the hall out side what had been his fathers study. His movements were filled with panic and there was a bubble of anxiety building like poison in the pit of his stomach. The hall walls were covered in pictures; majestic portraits of his predecessors, frozen for a moment in time, captured and framed. The regal half smiles fixed on their painted faces would normally have given him comfort, as if they were gently guiding him, but today it felt different. He felt pressured as if they were silently judging him. He was probably imagining it but he was certain their eyes were narrowed accusingly, the water painted orbs following his movements with displeasure.

He stopped his frantic pacing at the sound of hurried, panicked, footsteps. He forced himself to stand tall and to banish the anxiousness from his eyes as a haggard looking woman burst forward. Her brown hair was singed, askew, and her emerald green eyes were filled with fear.

"Kora," he stated, his voice laced with concern, as she stopped in front of him. She opened her mouth to speak but the words died on her lips as she seemed to lose her nerve. She bit her bottom lip nervously and shifted in discomfort. He frowned at the brown-haired servant girl whose peculiar behaviour clearly indicated that she was wary of his reaction. His heart sank with the realization of what that meant.

"Kunzite isn't coming. He's fallen to her just like the others," he choked out in dismay and she lowered her eyes sadly with a curt nod, wringing her hands nervously. Kora was a servant that he'd sent to fetch the last of his generals. Kunzite had been his mentor, one of his closest friends and his wisest general. How was it possible that he too had fallen to Beryl? He'd spoken to him only hours ago, but just like the others, he'd fallen and began fighting for a cause that he had never expressed an interest in before. Why was this happening?

This war was far from over, despite the growing darkness, he still had an army of well trained soldiers ready to protect Earth's interest at a moment's notice but without his chosen generals by his side he knew that the victory would feel hollow.

He sighed in defeat and ran a frustrated hand through his black hair. It was then that he noticed Kora's state of dress; the plain dress was dirty, torn and there were blue-tinged bruises spattered along the length of her shaking arms. He firmly grasped her arm and frowned as he gently inspected the damage.

"It's bad out there," he whispered guiltily. He should have known better than to send a mere maiden outside of the castle walls. He just hadn't expected the news to be so dire; Kunzite should have escorted her back.

Her downcast eyes were trained on the floor at his feet. He could see her visibly gulp as she nodded. As the Prince of Earth, he was gifted with specific abilities that allowed him to access the powers of the golden Kingdom. As an empath, he could feel the remnants of terror swirling around her. He released her arm and sighed with compassion.

"Go rest, Kora. I'm truly sorry," he stated, his tone soft and apologetic. Her eyes widened and her gaze met his in alarm.

"Oh! Your highness, please, I wanted to go! Please don't apologize!" She stammered fearfully and he shook his head interrupting her sputtered pleas. He choked on her terror and sincerely hoped that it was not in fear of retribution from him. "Go," he said and waved his hand dismissively.

She nodded and, with a flurry of brown hair, swiveled around and hurried back the way she'd come. He stared after her and his fists clenched in furious desperation. He'd become too dependent on his generals and now they were gone. He felt his resolve waver with the realization that he would have to do this on his own.