A/N And yet again I am posting a new story whenn I should be working on my other stories (technically I almost done the next chapter of Don't Ask). This story should beeasier to updat sinnce I have up to chapter ten planned and up to chapter four written. I really like the idea of this story. I know ita an AU ut I hoope that enough ofpeole like it. I know one operson will enjoy it (she had been pestering for me to post it already). Sp here is the first chapter I know it is short but I can assure you that the other chapters at least double in size.

Prologue

A young girl, no older than five, stared up at her father. The two of them looked very much alike. They had the same tan skin, from being outside all day, they had the same chestnut hair, the daughter was even developing calluses on her hands like her father. The only noticeable difference between the two was that the father had brown eyes, while his daughter's were the colour of the ocean.

"Now go to sleep Abby, you had a long day," her father ordered, tucking the blanket in around her.

"Tell me a story Pa," the girl begged.

"You need rest," he said.

"Please?"

One look into those big, round, eyes and he was hooked. He sighed. "Which one do you want to hear?"

"Tell me about the phoenix Dranzer. Why do we have a painting of him on the wall?"

"Because, he was once the royal family's great protector. Phoenixes live for a very, very, long time. It is even said that when one dies another is born from its ashes. Dranzer lived for hundreds of years protecting the Hiwatari family. No one dared to raise a hand against the royal family, until someone very close to them came up with a despicable idea.

"It was five years ago, back when you were a just a baby and King Susumu ruled the land…."

A man paced around an elaborately decorated room. He room was filled with silk tapestries hanging from every wall, almost everything had a tinge of gold on it. Where was that woman? She was over an hour late. His hand ran through his purple hair, making part of I sand up.

Before he could start pulling it out, the door creaked open and a cloaked figure slid into the room. The man stopped pacing and stalked over to the person, his green eyes blazing with rage. He slammed the door shut.

"You're late," he sneered.

"I am never late, nor do I ever arrive early. I arrive at the perfect time," the cloaked figure croaked.

"I told you o be here just after sunset, the moon has risen! You should do well to show me the respect I deserve," he snapped. "Are you even listening to me hag? Do you know who I am?"

The cloaked woman had her back to her host and was gazing up at one of the many tapestries on the wall. It was one of the royal family trees, dating as far back as King Alexander I. Following the lines connecting the family she began to mumble to herself.

"Curious how there is still so much space for more branches."

The man stomped his foot. "Hag! Did you not hear me?"

"I heard you Balkov," the woman stated, turning to face the man. "The question is, are you really willing to go through with this plan of yours? It will be quite difficult."

"Yes, I am ready to fulfill my destiny," he answered.

"Very well." From the inside of her cloak the woman pulled out a small vial full of a red serum. "Two drops in his food and he will temporarily be under your control."

Balkov snatched the vial from the woman's hand. "Excellent."

"Remember my Lord, this will be only a temporary fix," she warned.

"Yes, yes, I understand, you may leave now hag."

"As you wish."

He didn't even notice the hag bow or exit the room. Everything was coming together nicely. Soon the kingdom would be his and he would no long have to listen to that oaf Susumu. If only the King was more like his father and actually listened to his advice, maybe then he would not have to resort to such tactics. It could not be helped though, a Hiwatari no longer belonged on the thrown. The Kingdom needed an iron grip to rule the land, not the silly compassionate side that Susumu was showing.

"Spencer," he called.

A young squire with blond hair entered the room. "Yes Lord Boris?"

He tossed the vial to Spencer. "Place two drops of that in Dranzer's food," he ordered.

"As you wish Lord," the boy bowed and left.

Everything was going according to plan. All he had to do now was wait until sunrise when Dranzer would be fed. For the rest of the night Boris spent it studying some books that would help him in the near future.

As the sun began to rise, Boris made his way down to the courtyard where Dranzer ate his meals. The phoenix was enormous, larger than any horse he had ever seen. His feathers were a mixture of orange and red, making the allusion that he was on fire. Like his master he had red eyes. When the beast had finished eating Boris stepped forward.

"Do you know who I am?" he demanded.

The bird bowed its head. "Master."

Boris smirked. Everything was coming together.

"I was one of King Susumu's guards on that awful day. Since Dranzer was one of the King's protectors we didn't suspect of any misdeeds but he proved us wrong, Dranzer murdered the King that day. Before we could regroup he flew off with the King's son in his claws. He was never heard from again, and young Prince Kai was assumed to be dead. Not long after the King's death, Boris married the widowed Queen and became the ruler of our land. Your mother and I left the city on the day of the wedding.

"Some say that Dranzer will come back and bring with him a deserving king, who will show the people the compassion that our former one possessed. Some of us pray for that day to come soon. Those of us who do pray hang a painting of Dranzer in their homes, to remind us that better days are yet to come," he father recited. Looking down at his daughter he saw that she was already fast asleep. He smiled down at his child and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Happiness would come back to the land one day, hopefully it would be soon.

A/N Well there is the Prologue. I hope you enjoyed it. It would be really nice if you left a review. Maybe if you do I will update sooner. I retract that statement I always hated those writer's who put a review count on their stories until they upated. Although reviews is a great motivater for me.