Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh GX…but I wish I did!!
Summary: The cast is placed in an alternate world and setting and they are pretty much different characters. There are three main groups-the castle people, the demons, and the rebels. They all want control of the amazing power that Prince Judai holds within, but doesn't know about. However, no one realizes that the servant Johan also has an equally strong power.
Chapter One
An Offer
Dewdrops glistened like opaque gems on the leaves of the rosebush. The crystalline treasures adorned each budded flower, and gathered about the thorns. A single butterfly glided through the garden, its marvelous wings catching the gentle breeze. As the sun peeked through the trees, painting the sky brilliant shades of color, a boy sighed contentedly. He watched the sunrise from the marble bench beside the rosebush, his turquoise eyes reflecting the wondrous light. Suddenly, the peace was disrupted as a boy leapt over the stone wall surrounding the garden and raced towards the bench. His brown eyes were twinkling with mischief and excitement as he approached the boy beside the roses. But then he realized he was going too fast and couldn't stop! He crashed into his friend and they both tumbled to the damp ground.
"Ugh," the turquoise-eyed boy groaned and sat up, "Why the rush, Judai-sama?"
The other boy picked up his fallen crown and plopped it back on his head with a sigh, "Stupid old Chronos is trying to teach me about politics again."
His friend smiled and straightened Judai's crown, "So you ran away?" he knew how much the prince hated his lessons, especially the ones taught by Chronos.
The brunette nodded, "You should have seen him! That geezer couldn't catch me in a thousand years! I led him around the castle for a bit, but then I got bored," he shrugged, "So I ditched him and came here!"
As they both laughed, the garden gate was flung open so violently that it slammed into the stone wall. "Prince Judai!" an annoying voice called, "I know you're in there! You better come out!" Both boys glanced at each other and skittered behind the rose bush as Chronos stepped into the garden.
The scholar's hair, usually pulled back in a dangling ponytail, was now coming undone, and sooty marks covered his uniform. Judai caught his friend's questioning look and whispered, "What? I just led him through the furnace room!" Then they fell silent, for Chronos was stalking towards their hiding spot, his eyes blazing with fury and frustration. He glared at the rosebush and reached out to push aside the leaves to look on the other side. But as he touched the plant, a thorn pierced one of his fingertips, causing him to shriek in much the same matter as a young girl. He quickly stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked on it vigorously, backing away from the roses. Judai and his friend tried desperately to stifle their laughter as the man turned his back on them and headed back towards the grand castle. As soon as he was gone from sight, they stood up and left the cover of the flowers behind.
"That was so funny!" Judai snickered, his chocolate brown eyes bright and joyous. He thoroughly enjoyed teasing his teachers, and it was REALLY fun when he had someone to do it with. When his friend didn't agree right away with him, the prince whipped around to face him and saw his other scholar between them. "Aw, shoot!" he groaned, staring into Napoleon's beady eyes.
"I've got you now!" the short man sneered, grabbing hold of Judai's wrist, "You're coming back to the castle this instant! If my memory serves me correctly, as it always does, you have a lesson on bartering in precisely seven minutes. We must hurry to the great hall!" then he noticed the other boy, "And you, shouldn't you be taking care of these plants instead of loitering!?" The turquoise-eyed boy dropped his gaze to the ground humbly.
The prince felt himself being dragged away and locked eyes with his friend, "I'll play later, okay, Johan?"
The boy bowed slightly, "As you wish, Judai-sama." Then the brunette and his teacher were gone, and Johan was alone with the flowers.
He slowly walked over to the tool shed and unlocked it with the bronze key that always hung from his belt. The scent of fresh mulch wafted from the open door, and he picked up one of the bags. Time to mulch the entire palace gardens, he sighed and got to work.
The sun shone overhead, its rays drying the grass and evaporating the dew as Johan worked. He was used to such jobs, and toiled away without complaint, efficiently completing flower bed after flower bed. Around noon, a few clouds drifted over the sun, casting some refreshing shade upon the boy. They were joined by others, and soon the whole sky was a mass of dark clouds. Johan was leaning on his rake, taking a quick rest, when a hand tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped, startled that anyone was out here in the gardens on mulch day…and then saw it was Jim. "Sorry I scared you, Johan," the castle servant was holding a wooden tray in one hand and a pitcher in the other, "But I thought you might be hungry."
"Oh," the gardener blinked slowly, "Thank you Jim-san." Jim carefully placed the tray down in the grass, and the pitcher beside it. The two servants sat down and began eating the meager meal before them. "So, Johan," his friend said, "I heard that Judai-sama went on another escapade today."
Johan smiled, "Yes, he didn't want to go to his lessons."
"I can't blame him," Jim took a sip of his drink; "I'm glad I don't have to sit through lectures by Chronos and Napoleon!" he gathered up the empty dishes and shot Johan a sympathetic glance, "Wish I could stay, but there's a banquet tonight. They need me to serve."
"Won't Judai-sama enjoy that," Johan joked, causing Jim to grin.
"Look, I'll try to sneak something from it for you, okay? In return for you checking on Karen," Jim called over his shoulder as he walked off.
Speaking of Judai, the prince stood in his room, pouting at the fact that there was a celebration that evening. He didn't usually mind such things, but this was a fancy banquet, and he'd have to wear one of his royal outfits. "I hate this, Sho," he complained to his closest friend, "Why do I have to be prince?"
Sho, who was sorting through Judai's clothes, looked up, "I don't know, aniki." The small boy only called the prince aniki when no officials or scholars were around, for if he was caught calling the prince anything other than a formal title; he'd be in serious trouble.
Judai groaned, "I mean, haven't you ever wanted to be something other than who you are, to see what's outside the palace?!" his eyes were filled with passion as he spoke, "I've always wished I could explore the entire world! Imagine what's out there!"
Sho pondered this thought, and then said softly, "But what about the rebels?"
"Rebels?" Judai turned to look at his friend, "What rebels, Sho?" Sho's gray eyes grew frightened, "I-I shouldn't have said that, aniki. It's not my place to tell you such things."
Judai straightened up and gave Sho his most serious look, "Tell me, Sho. Now." But Sho was staring, pale-faced at something behind Judai. The prince looked over his shoulder and saw a huge, burly man standing in the doorway, watching them.
"So, Prince Judai," the man's voice was deep and commanding, "You want to get away from all this?" he gestured at the castle walls, "I think I could help you with that."
Judai's eyes widened in interest, and he cocked his head, "How?" then he glanced at his friend, "Could Sho come, too?"
"Yes, yes of course," the muscled man seemed rushed, "I'll find a way to get you out of here, but you have to keep it our little secret."
"Sure!" Judai answered instantly.
"Good," the man slipped away, and Judai grinned, he would finally escape!
Afternote: So? What did y'all think? Do you want an update or not? I wrote most of this story before I had an account, so I'll probably update pretty fast for the first few chappies if you want more! Please R and R!
