The Chosen Ones

By LadyJewel(bluewarrior_99@yahoo.com)

Prologue

"It is the closing of the year 2000, my friends. The new millennium is close at hand. We have convened on this day, the twenty-first of the third month of Autumn, to discuss the troublesome Group: 100.

"You know as well as I that they have been getting out of hand and out of our control. One joining the Magician Alliance, one falling in love with one not his soulmate, and, lastly, one finding out too much information about private affairs. Most of the Chosen refuse to even fight against the Loyals.

"We must find the next Bearer of the blue cap. If we fail to have her found, it could mean the destruction of the peace we strive so hard to hold."

The speaker, and older man, stood regally tall before a small council of seventeen. The tip of his long, white beard brushed the black, crystal floor. His eyes, visible under fairly bushy brows were the color of the greenest emeralds. The eyes glinted with wisdom brought on by his thousand years. He wore a plain, brown robe tied at his waist by a golden cord. Barely visible beneath this were black, leather slippers and the fold of silken, black pants.

"We have wasted too much time on this Group," the man stated, crossing his arms over his chest. "The next Bearer must be found before this hour is up."

The man directly across from the speaker tapped his light pen against the black, crystal table. "The Council agrees that she must be found," the man stated, "but it will take more than one hour to find her. We are not all-powerful nor all-knowing, Master Greene."

The man, the Head-of-Council, leaned back in the plush, red velvet chair. Numerous data pads were strewn across the table's surface. Picking up one data pad, he scanned through its contents. He tugged on his neatly groomed mustache.

The Head-of-Council wore the uniform white, dress shirt with an elaborate red and yellow crest sewn into the right shoulder. Neatly tailored black pants graced surprisingly well-toned legs. His hair was a dark black lightly streaked with white strands. He hardly looked his fifty-seven years.

He gently set the data pad back on the table before leaning forward in his seat. He crossed his fingers, seemingly contemplating something.

The other sixteen Council members, seeing their Head so thoughtful, decided to at least act like they were doing something productive. They shuffled through their own data pads, nodding at each other. Dressed in the same colors as the Head-of-Council, they looked quite official, even if they did nothing but debate the weather every day Council convened.

To the Head-of-Council's right, a young man sat, leaning back in his plush chair. He was the newest addition to the Council, and also the youngest. He glanced at those around him and sneered. He started looking at his nails, obviously bored with such tedium. Smiling, barely noticeable, he discreetly touched the screen embedded into the blackness of the crystal table. The call went though without notice as the others assembled were too busy not doing anything productive. He smiled, again, and turned his attention back to his nails.

A knock on the large wooden doors disrupted the Head-of-Council from his thoughts and the others from their acting. Some looked toward the doors and then back to their data pads. One, smiling, obviously done with acting busy, touched the screen before him and started drawing with a finger. The Council member next to him let out a small laugh at the picture. The others of the Council heard it and turned to look at the two. Sound carried extremely well in this large room.

Master Greene glared soundly at the wooden doors, daring the knock to come again. It was the early hours of the morning, not even the Defense Team would disrupt Council at that time. The knock came again.

Near growling, Master Greene stalked to the doors. His robe billowed menacingly. He opened one of the immense doors slightly. To his amazement, his fifteenth Apprentice stood in the hallway before him. She stood calmly and regally, waiting for him to allow entrance into the Council Chamber.

His Apprentice's long, reddish hair was pulled back into a quick plait that was obviously only meant for sleeping in. Her gray eyes looked at her near livid Master with curiosity. She wore the traditional female Apprentice uniform of black shirt with a long, emerald green robe over it. It was tied around her waist by a black cord to show her station in training. She too wore black, silken pants and matching leather slippers.

"Karen, you know better than to disrupt Council at this time of day," Master Greene hissed, not surprised that the girl did not budge nor flinch at the malice in his voice. "What could possibly be so important that you had to get me from a meeting? Hmm?" He gave her a rather rough shove to push her farther down the empty corridor. With it being so early in the morning, none of the lights were glowing, and the hallway was nearly black as pitch. "Leave us be, Apprentice! Now!"

The girl, hardly phased by his behavior, bowed and simply stated, "Master Greene, I know who is to be the next Bearer of the blue cap. I wish only to share my information with the Council."

Master Greene glared harshly at the girl. She wasn't the type to joke, but it could have easily been one. He stalked across the corridor and roughly grasped her arm. "But how can you possibly know who the next Bearer is! You are not one of the old Protectors, and, as my Apprentice, you cannot be one of the next Group's!"

She glared at him, twisting her arm out of his surprisingly strong grip. "Master, I will become one of the new Group's Protectors. She came to me this night. She looks nearly the same as me! There are slight differences, but I could almost pass as a mirror image of her."

"But the Bearer… It is not possible, Karen," Master Greene ground out, stalking toward the partially open door.

"Master." Karen's voice was soft.

He spun to look at her. "What!"

She held up one hand, dangling from it was a simple, white crystal on a chain. It was nearly clear and in the shape of a perfect teardrop. "She gave me this, Master."

Master Greene's eyes widened. He rushed over to the girl and took the small thing from her possession. Allowing it to dangle from his fingers, he swallowed in near fright.

"Come. You will speak to the Council."

Karen followed silently behind her Master into the large, black crystal chamber. The Council looked surprised to see Greene's Apprentice following behind him. She was directed to stand before the Head-of-Council.

"Apprentice?" The Head-of-Council queried. He quickly looked at the almost ashen face of Master Greene. "What is it?"

Master Greene thrust the piece of jewelry into the Head-of-Council's face. "This, Lord Harter!"

The Council gasped at the sight of that simple jewel.

"She's come!" One of the women gasped, standing. "Destroy the bauble!"

"Hush, Natalia!" Lord Harter barked, glaring at the woman. He turned back to Karen. "Who will wear it, Karen?"

"Julia will," Karen answered simply, taking the chain from Master Greene. "She'll be coming tonight. Lia will bring her."

"Lia? Where does Julia live, Karen," Lord Harter asked, standing. "Tell me."

Karen smiled slightly, something that was all too rare on her. "Forlin Dimension. Terra."

Again the Council gasped.

"The protected Terra," another of the Council asked. "We aren't allowed to interfere there. Forlin will have our heads."

"She will be coming," Karen stated, walking toward the doors. She paused before them. "Two more will be with her. I'll get the infirmary ready for tonight." She quickly exited, silently closing the door behind her.

Taking a deep breath, Lord Harter turned toward those assembled. "Lords and Ladies of the Dimensional Council, all we have left to do is wait."

One of the Council smiled slightly to himself and sent out a message in the confusion that followed next.

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I had inspiration today on September 18, 2004. My dear friend from North Carolina came and visited. She simply stated that she would like very much to read what I had of this. Sadly, Word didn't load up until after she left. This chapter… er… Prologue is dedicated to her. Thank you much, Tab.

Another thing. I own all the characters in this story, except for Shawna Rose, Tab's creation. Everyone else belongs to me. Please, do not take them without asking. Although, I am sure that they'd love to visit you.

~LadyJewel