Chapter 14

Chapter FOUR

TIME TRAVEL???

part one

*~*~*

"Where are we??" Arnav asked standing up.

"in YOUR PAST!!" Lionel said walking forward.

"WHAT THE!! I don't know what it goes and where but going through my past again for dark-side to stop its happening! But this'll take world to an end just as it did the last time!

Lionel saw Arnav and walked: "I hope so *pauses* for your sake!!" *winks*

Arnav angered: "FOR MY SAKE?? You send that every person that I love away!! I know it was you... you even tried to destroy sultan like you tried to destroy the world!!"

Lionel stopped and turned to Arnav: "and you saved me from all of that Arneus!! I have came back to do same for you!! To SAVE you!!" Lionel said as he showed a ring to Arnav in his hand. Seeing the ring Arnav's breath stopped.

"LEGION??"

Lionel nodded and smiled.

"Means you are from FUTURE??" Arnav asked in shock. Lionel nodded again with bright smile!

Arnav calmed down and asked: "how you got the legion ring?? It is with the justice league. What did you do to them??"

Lionel sighed at the thinking power of Arnav and also his protective nature: "I joined them. *smiles* In the 31^st century... I am not Lionel but known as Lionel 5... as I can travel through time, and all my creations have been useful to the justice league and its members *pauses and add looking at Arnav* including you and Aslan for fighting against dark-side. I brought legion in two parts to fight ferolism"

Arnav pulled Lionel's collar and said: "they helped me to DESTROY you"

Lionel pulled himself out and smiled: "nope...they helped you to CURE me!*sighs* the problem is Arneus...you and I are very different even though we both are royalties of Salvatore's. I was your ancestors. A royal son alias a prince like you are of ASLAN. We both intended to save the civilization to bring peace to brew the world but neither of us was IMMUNE to corruption! *looks at Arnav* To DARKNESS!!"

Arnav asked: "but what that means?? Those All who say that I have darkness within me but I have never experienced it!! And neither have I understood what it is?? It's harmful or useful?? I don't know! And I don't intend to get known! *looking at Lionel* you destroyed cities...*sighs* I know I made wrong decisions but at least I am trying to save them. I try To save people!"

Lionel shooked his head: "then let me show you Arneus what kind of roles we are into since my corruption started from the man of vitals"

He walked past Arnav and as soon as he went aside Arnav saw his mom's funeral in front of him..where a young Arnav was offering flowers to her coffin.

"it seems small memory but has huge impact on your past life" Lionel said as Arnav watched himself in front of him. His di crying on sultan's shoulder. They both were in their 20's while Arnav was merely 14 years old. Akash was 10 years old and was clung to Arnav who supported his little brother. Aman was standing afar with Aslan by his side. He was weeping and sobbing.

Arnav saw this all from far..

"my mom's funeral!" Arnav said. He turned to Lionel and said: "if you are trying to save me somehow.. then why are you showing me this?"

Lionel ran his hand through his hairs: " Becoz this was the defining moment for you! Perhaps redefining moment!! This was day when you started to blame yourself and made yourself away from all...including your father!

Arnav walked to him: "why wouldn't I?? It was my doom and dad's lack of vision that my mom died."

Lionel just said raising his brows: "really was it??" and walked away making Arnav go in deep thinking!

Again the WHOOSH of legion came and Lionel practically held Arnav tightly. They were near the cliff where Arnav's mom died.

"dad!" Arnav said as he saw his father beating Zoron. He never knew this was what happened before his mom died. Arnav saw his mom standing in a corner..weak..fragile and tied with ropes. There was another lady too..when Arnav saw her he was shocked..it was his step mom Sara!

As he saw his parents Arnav heard his father saying to Zoron: "I won't let you destroy my family Zoron!"

Zoron laughed and wiped his blood: "what you think Aslan?? You can save your family?? Your son will be my power who'll hate you all his life. He'll never listen to you"

Aslan was furious..he was soo angry that he jumped on Zoron as a man but Zoron found a big black lion on him..it was Aslan's original form..a black lion with brown mane!

Aslan roared a ear deafening scream: "you think you can separate us?? We won't ever get separated even if we die!! Becoz we love each other.."

Aslan scratched Zoron and left him in blood and ran to his wife zhubiana: "zhubiana..wait!! keep your eyes open I'll save you"

Arnav saw himself running to his parents. He was small and he was crying. But as ran to his mom he slipped and was about to fall in cliff when his mom pushed him and went scrambling down the cliff. Aslan held her hand and tried to pull her.

"Arneus stay away..I'll get your mom up." Aslan ordered little Arnav. Arnav shouted: "mom!!!"

"Arneus..my son..take care of your father..never disobey him.." zhubiana said continuing: "Arneus promise me son.. you'll never leave your dad's side no matter what it comes"

"I.. I promise maa..but don't leave me mom..i'll die if you left me." Arnav sobbed. Sara held him comforting the little kid.

"Zhubiana hold on..I'll pull you up..don't leave your spirit my love" Aslan said and tried to pull his wife but it was futile.

"Aslan.. you know I love you from bottom of my heart.."

"I know ..I know it!! Stay damn it.. we will get help. Orius is on his way zhubiana..plz don't leave my hand" Aslan shouted and Arnav ran to see if Orius has came or not!

"my time has came Aslan.. but promise me.. you never let Arneus, Ricardo and Cerelia the lack of mother's love. Ric won't remember me but make sure he'll get mother's love." Zhubiana said.

"jiji.. hold on.. you'll be saved" Sara said.

"Sara..aslan..promise me you'll get married tomorrow on the day of eve and let my children feel the love of their parents." Zhubiana said as her hands slipped more from Aslan's hold.

"no..no zhubiana.. I love you" Aslan said.

"he is right jiji.. Orius will come please don't lose hope" Sara said.

"I said PROMISE ME DAMN IT!" zhubiana shouted and there was a flash which made Aslan's vision blur. Little Arnav Had came there he shouted at top of his voice as he saw his mom falling in cliff: " MAAA!!!" zhubiana fell down with a smile on her face.. Aslan was in state of shock.. he lost his wife..his life..!

Lionel kept hand on Arnav's shoulder who was crying: "he was protecting me and fulfilling my mom's last wish. Jesus what have I done??" Arnav said as tears made their own way through his face..

"Aslan chose his fate himself. He knew it'll hurt you when you'll know at that age what your mom wished for and you will grow hate to her. Aslan loves zhubiana even now..so much that Sara was never a wife for him. She's just your caretaker. He still lives alone Arneus...you have distanced him from you...nobody made a choice for you Arneus...nobody blamed you even. We all chose our own fate!"

Arnav sighed as Lionel said this and with another WHOOSH and he took Arnav to his own castle in the Isis in his father's study... Aslan was sitting in his rocking chair and had his eyes closed.

Arnav saw his dad..he looked weak and tired... Arnav asked to Lionel: "this isn't a memory"

Lionel smiled: "no its not! Its present but you and me are still in legion's time. Your father or anyone can see us but only when I'll wish."

"Means we are invisible to them now?" Arnav asked and Lionel nodded. They saw as...

A maid came in knocking the door and bowed: "long lives your majesty. Sorry to disturb... but the queen wants to meet you"

"do I have any message??" Aslan asked not even opening his eyes.

"yes sire...from the Macedonian fortress you got few messages..

But Aslan stopped her and stood up and moved near the window.

Arnav raised his brow and asked: "what exactly are trying to show?? The darkness around or in me?? I can't see it even now! Are you trying to make me feel guilty again?"

"NO...just watch along... I want to make you alert. But more than I want to show you this.." Lionel pointed to Aslan who was standing near the window looking at the sky and lost in deep thoughts.

"what happened to Aslan? He is never like this?" Arnav was puzzled. But Lionel didn't answer as Aslan said to his maid..

"I asked you my messages..." Aslan asked running his hands through the window frame.

"ohh.. I am sorry sire. But prince Arneus have not left any message for you" she bowed and went as Aslan said her to leave him at alone for a while and ask the queen to wait for some time.

"he still needs me??" Arnav gasped in shock.

"he is alone. Although you are with him he needs his son which he had when your mom was alive." Lionel said.

"he is not always so Aslan I knew..?" Arnav sighed and asked feeling pained. "I never knew he needed me"

"hmm... but he does need you. He needs your support as he is yours." Lionel said slowly.

"but I don't know how my darkness is ruining him?"

"you don't really? Lionel asked. Arnav saw him and Lionel said: "your dwelling with your past..punishing yourself and everyone around you for past mistakes or threats or you may say FEAR!

Arnav closed his eyes and said: "but I expect privilege even if I don't tend to do mistakes and expect perfection from myself but rest of world does... they mock if we're wrong"

"Then help Aslan to be who he was... who he can be. Your best friend, a true guider and your support...moreover your FATHER! He needs you as much as you need him. He also lost his wife...who was his love...like Khushi is yours... but along with all that you need to be with him. Today...tomorrow and in future. Stop punishing him from your silence and arrogance...let it go." Lionel said and walked away from there.