Author's Note:Hey guys! So this is my first fanfic attempt, and obviously the first one I've ever posted. Have a read through the prologue and let me know what you think! If you like it, I'll continue writing. Concept loosely-inspired by the Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. I'd definitely recommend reading it.

Rated M for later content planned. Pairings: Fuji/Ryoma, Kikumaru/Oishi, Inui/Kaidoh, one sided Tezuka/Ryoma

Copyrights to Prince of Tennis goes to Konomi Takeshi.

Enjoy!

Prologue

"Isn't he beautiful, dear?"

"Indeed, he is. I couldn't be more proud than I am in this instant."

"Shh, I think he's waking."

Sleep-heavy eyelids rose slowly to reveal pools of molten gold underneath. The baby blinked at the two figures before him. There was a man, and a woman… He closed his eyes and snuggled deeper into the arms of the woman who held him; His mother. He sought her warmth, her protection, her love, and in her embrace, he knew he had it all. He opened his mouth wide and yawned before falling asleep once again.

The man stood by his wife and smiled. King Nanjirou Echizen couldn't have been happier to have such a beautiful queen, Queen Rinko, and his firstborn son, Prince Ryoga. And now, there was a new addition to his family, the sleeping bundle of blankets before him.

The door to the chamber opened, and Nanjirou turned as Sumire Ryuuzaki, the royal prophet and advisor, entered the room, excusing her interruption. "Pardon my interruption, my king, I've come to see the little one," she announced.

Nanjirou smiled. Who better, to bless the birth of a new prince, than the best prophet in his kingdom? "Call me Nanjirou, granny Sumire, please," he smiled. "We've been in each other's company long enough to be this familiar at least."

"My granddaughter may have been born just a few months ago, but I'm no granny to you, Nanjirou!" Sumire exclaimed, laughing her booming laugh. Rinko's lilting laughter joined in.

"He's over here, Sumire," Rinko called. Sumire gave a quick bow of respect to her queen, before straightening up and walking closer to inspect the newborn.

The baby's eyes opened as Sumire placed her hand upon his head. Nanjirou and Rinko gasped in alarm as Sumire started, and seemingly froze, eyes staring at something unseen. "What is it, Sumire?" Rinko asked worriedly.

Nanjirou, who had seen Sumire's work before, hushed Rinko gently. He knew what was happening, and was in the midst of turning to explain to her, when the prophet's mouth opened, and in a wizened voice not quite her own, began to sing a haunting melody.

"Oh dearest boy of molten gold,

Hear this now, your story told.

Your birth announces your father's end

As angry eyes seek their revenge.

The dead return, your life to claim,

Your power, your spirit, and your name.

Seek out the nine from whom you shall draw

That which is needed to end the war.

Heed my words well, boy of gold,

For you, the bells shall toll."

A shudder went through the room as Sumire fell out of her trance and crumpled to the floor. Nanjirou stepped forward slowly, aghast at what he and his wife had heard. Helping his best advisor off of the floor, he spoke in a hoarse whisper. "What… What does this mean?"

Sumire suddenly seemed years older, when she turned her tired eyes to Nanjirou. "The next guardian has appeared to us, my King. Eventually, you will hand over your title, your kingdom, and your power to this boy."

The door burst open a second time, as a boy ran into the room. Prince Ryoga, excited to have finally heard the news, wished to see his younger brother. He waved his arms excitedly, his long limbs a gift that came with his lanky nine-year-old build. "Mommy, can I see him, can I see him?" Ryoga froze when he saw Sumire and his father, looking grim. "What's wrong? Is he okay? Is he hurt?"

Nanjirou chuckled, seeing the worry that Ryoga had for his younger brother already. "No, Ryoga, nothing is wrong. In fact, it's the complete opposite. Your little brother's destiny has just been foreseen."

Ryoga's eyes widened as Nanjirou took his hand and led him gently to Rinko's side. As Nanjirou spoke next, the baby's cat-like eyes opened again, to finally meet the eyes of his entire family.

"Ryoma will be my heir. In time, he will be crowned King, and will be named The Guardian."

That night, a feast was held in the castle, celebrating the new Prince and heir's birth, and the arrival of the new Guardian. Although the feast only extended as far as the castle's banquet hall, celebrations were held all throughout the kingdom of Seishun as the people celebrated both the birth of the new prince, and of Christmas' Eve.

Nanjirou and Rinko sat at the head of the table, laughing and talking to their guest, who cooed over baby Ryoma. Ryoga sat a few chairs away, and watched the scene through bitter eyes. He was his father's firstborn. The throne should have been promised to him. He scoffed at the gifts and compliments that were showered upon his younger brother, and watched as Nanjirou gave his own gift to his youngest son. From inside the sleeve of his robe, the King produced a tiny ball of fur.

"To my youngest son, I grant him a companion born on the same date. May they live long and happily together!" the King proclaimed, as he placed the tan and brown furball beside Ryoma in his cradle. The ball of fur unfurled itself and opened its pure blue eyes to gaze upon the young prince. It was a Himalayan kitten, with brown markings on its face, paws, and tail. A small golden bell tinkled on the ribbon around its neck. The cat meowed at its new owner, and bat at the sleeping prince's chest. Ryoma opened his eyes slowly, giving the guests in the courtroom their first glance of his golden eyes. The young prince gazed at the cat for a long time, as the cat stared back. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath to see how the two would accept each other.

A happy squeal broke the silence, as Ryoma smiled and reached out towards the kitten. The tension in the hall dissipated, as the guests broke out laughing and smiling. The king laughed himself, a booming hearty laugh, as he wrapped an arm around his queen, and addressed his son.

"Ryoma, this is Karupin," he said. "She is to be your companion and friend throughout your life. Make sure you treat her well, and may she grant you the same honour and respect you give to her."

Ryoma, being a baby, understood nothing of what his father had said to him, but reached out to Karupin and gave his new kitten a hug. Karupin mewed happily, and snuggled in beside Ryoma, both newborns settling down to sleep once again. The party continued merrily.

Ryoga, who sat bitterly in the back of the hall, was the first to hear it. A slow, deep rumbling, accompanied by a creeping chill was approaching the castle. He stood, his eyes wide, and started towards his family, needing to warn them, needing their protection and reassurance, when an explosion knocked him to the ground.

The walls of the castle came crashing down, and a dark fog drifted into the castle. Everyone in the castle began screaming, panicking as they ran for their lives. Dark figures could be seen scattered through the mist; limbs bent haphazardly, their gait awkward as they approached. Their bones creaked and snapped with every movement, but the creatures did not hesitate in their approach. The knights in the castle ran forth to protect the royal family.

"My lord, my lady, you need to leave the castle!" one knight shouted, urging the King and Queen to run. Queen Rinko quickly snatched up Ryoma and Karupin, before being led away by the knight. Sumire met her at the entrance of the hall, her granddaughter, Sakuno, bundled in her arms.

"Rinko, we must flee quickly! Ryoma must escape!" Sumire cried out, for she knew the survival of the newborn must be secured.

"Wait, where is Nanjirou?" Rinko screamed, as the knights and Sumire ushered her out.

Nanjirou was struggling against the urges of his knights. "Ryoga! My eldest son, where are you?" he shouted. The fog shrouded the hall in darkness, and he could hear lives being taken cruelly all around him. Again and again, he called for his son, trying to push away the knights who tried to get him to safety.

And then he saw him. His crumpled form on the ground, in the thick of the fog, Ryoga had fallen. Tears clouded Nanjirou's vision as he called his son again, refusing to believe what his eyes showed him. "Ryoga… Ryoga!"

But Ryoga did not stir.

"My king, you must go!" The knights cried, as they pushed him to join Rinko.

"Nanjirou!" Rinko called, terrified. Nanjirou turned, and saw the fear in his wife's eyes. He needed to protect her. He needed to get his family out of danger.

With one last look, Nanjirou turned his back to his castle, and fled with Rinko, Sumire, Ryoma, Sakuno, and Karupin. 'Ryoga, my son…'

Ryoga slowly regained consciousness. His head throbbed as he struggled to sit upright, and he looked around him, trying to recall what had happened. All around him, corpses lay, mangled and mutilated beyond recognition. He began to tremble.

"Father…?" He called, quietly at first, but then louder with increasing desperation. They couldn't have left him behind… Could they? "Father? Mother! Where are you?"

A tendril of the dark fog crept up to Ryoga, and slowly, lazily, wound its way around him.

"Ryoga…"

"Who's there?" Ryoga stumbled backwards. "What do you want?"

"Your parents left you, didn't they? They forgot about you, although you were their firstborn son."

Ryoga's knees buckled under him, and he fell to the ground once again. "No… No, it can't be true! My parents would never do that!"

"Oh, but they did. All because of your new baby brother. You heard how it was, they promised everything to him. The throne, the title, the power… Everything that should've been yours. They didn't need you anymore. They didn't love you anymore. That's why they left you behind. That's why they left you to die."

Ryoga grabbed his head in his hands. It couldn't be true. His parents… They didn't need him? They didn't love him? They weren't like that, his parents were different. Those weren't the people he knew… His baby brother's arrival must have changed them. It must have been him, it must have been Ryoma.

"Yes, hate your brother. Hate Ryoma… Come with me, Ryoga. I will teach you, I will train you, in the ways of the Dark Arts. Join me, and we shall take our revenge against those who have turned against you… What do you say?"

Betrayed and desolate eyes closed, and angry determination opened to replace them. Ryoga nodded, and spoke only once. "Yes."

The darkness grew, and took him away.