AN: IMPORTANT- Just to clear up the air in advance, I am changing the original story slightly. I am modifying Edge's age so that one; a good deal of time has passed but he's still in his 20's, and two; so that the age difference between him and Rydia is bridged somewhat.

In addition I have ignored the fact that Edge became King of Eblan at the end of the game. I have also taken the Eblan Four from The After Years and incorporated them into the storyline. If this bothers you greatly, I would not suggest reading.

I think I covered everything that I changed… let me know if anything other than that bothers you though

Enjoy!

King of Eblan

Chapter 1

It had been six years since they had defeated Zeromus, and Edge had finally rebuilt his kingdom and was, though reluctantly, accepting his place among his people as King of Eblan. He had put it off for a long time, but the Chamberlain had told him that it could no longer be pushed off. The coronation would be held in a few days time, and Edge still felt that he wasn't ready. With a deep sigh he paced to the window of his office and watched as people moved about, decorating for the coming event. Frowning through his mask as he watched, he never liked being the center of attention, and to make matters worse, the coronation brought up painful memories for Edge. The knowledge that his parents should still be alive, advising him, preparing him still, and that his coronation should be a long ways off, or that it would be if they hadn't met such a tragic fate. His heart still hurt from the loss, and he was sure the pain would ever fully fade. The truth was, Edge felt that he still wasn't ready to sit on the throne, though his Chamberlain was correct that it was his duty.

Edge stood straighter, but continued to look out the window, aware that he would soon have company. The one thing that kept him sane among the chaos of rebuilding his home was perfecting his skills. The physical activity would wear him out in a way that was unachievable through politics. He heard a soft knock on the door before it was opened, and through his peripheral vision he could see that it was his Chamberlain. The shorter man entered, rubbing his temples, he stopped a few feet from Edge, and watched him for a moment. The prince kept his eyes trained on the courtyard.

"We finally have all the invitation responses and can plan seating arrangements and the meals." The Chamberlain informed him. "I took the liberty to invite the companions from your travels, everyone was quite pleased to see you've decided to take your place as king and all have responded favorably."

Edge nodded, though only partially listening. It would be nice to see everyone again; it'd been a long time. The last time he'd seen them had been at Cecil and Rosa's wedding, and since, he'd been too busy with Eblan to even spare much thought to them. Has it really been six years? He thought to himself.

They probably won't even recognize me. I've had to change so much for the sake of my country. He thought wistfully. It would be nice if I could be as carefree as I once was. The Chamberlain continued to speak, as he was deep in his own thoughts, telling him how the preparations were going. The decorations didn't interest Edge though, the thing that seemed to keep him going were his people. He had to take care of them, and rebuild the nation stronger than it had been before, for the sake of future generations. He didn't want a weak nation that would lead to more orphans like him.

"Duke Azril's daughter is about your age and they will both be attending." He absently heard his Chamberlain say.

Edge averted his eyes from the window to meet the Chamberlain's gaze.

"No." he stated as he turned his back to the window, and leaned casually against it. The shorter man sighed.

"My Prince. You are twenty-eight now, it's past time you begin looking for a permanent companion." He stated.

Edge narrowed his eyes, it was true that he often felt a deep emptiness due to his lack of anyone close whom he could open up to and confide in. The man before him was the closest person to him, and they weren't even friends. The Chamberlain sighed again and nodded, though Edge did not give a verbal response.

"My apologies. I only wish for your happiness. You've done so much these last few years and I thought you might have some pride in that fact. The kingdom is thriving, and more beautiful than ever. Because of you, the people can live save, happy lives, yet you look as if you are a prisoner, condemned to death." The Chamberlain said, his voice full of remorse. "My Prince, I know that you have made sacrifices for the sake of your people." He paused considering his next words.

Edge didn't care to hear him finish though, and interrupted. "The peoples happiness is my happiness." He said with a political note to his tone.

The Chamberlain's eyes widened at his words, then his shoulders slumped in defeat and he averted his eyes to the floor, as he whispered so low that Edge could barely hear him; "You have changed so much."

The words caused Edge's temper to flare and he pushed himself from the window, his shoulders, which were much broader than they had been years ago, tensed.

"What do you expect from me!" he all but shouted. "You looked down on me as I used to be! Would you prefer me to behave that way again?"

The Chamberlain flinched at his tone as he said, "No, My Prince."

Edge gritted his teeth as he balled his hands into fists, "What else would you have me do!" he growled. His eyes narrowed as he moved away from the other man and sat at his desk where there were numerous piles of paper and unopened envelopes. "I have pride. You may not think that I am happy that my home has been restored, but I am." He said, calming himself, trying to force his emotions down.

"The pride I have for my country as well as the responsibilities I have require me to be as I am now. Who would respect a King, or any ruler who had nothing better to do than to sleep with his servants and act childish? I may have been promiscuous and rash in the past, but I can't behave like that now." He frowned at the desk, then leaned back in his chair and turned his head to look at the Chamberlain, a somewhat bitterly sorrowful look in his eyes.

"The truth, Kael, is this." He spoke the Chamberlains name, something he rarely did, and the man lifted his eyes from the floor to meet those of Edge. The Prince sighed, "I am in prison." He looked back at the desk, "I am doing my best just to stay as I am now. I feel as if I am no good with politics and formalities. There is so much I was unable to learn from my parents because I thought I had decades left with them." Edge closed his eyes, refusing to finish as he bent his head down into his hand. He couldn't relinquish his pride to say what was the most painful thing of all.

"You are dismissed." He said to the Chamberlain, who bowed and left the room without another word.

When he heard the door shut he slouched further into the chair and bent his head back to look at the ceiling as he pulled his mask down to hang around his neck. He deeply regretted not keeping better in touch with the others. He felt as if he had made himself an outsider. A vision of green flashed through his mind and he closed his eyes at the pain the image brought with it.

Edge covered his eyes with his hand and tried not to think about the one woman he was willing to abandon his kingdom for, feeling even guiltier for the fact that he felt so strongly for her.

She's probably married with children by now. She always hated me anyways. He thought, though the image of her with another man caused him to unconsciously grab the hilt of his katana with his free hand. He took a deep breath and sighed, "Why can't I just forget about her already? Six years is long enough. Let it go." He told himself.

He had told himself this a few times over the years without success. Every woman Edge came across he would subconsciously compare to her, and each was found lacking. She was the only one he had tried to keep somewhat in touch with, but after Cecil and Rosa's wedding, he had run out of lame excuses, and she had never tried to contact him in return. If what his Chamberlain had said was correct though, she would be present at the coronation.

He had no idea what he would say to her though, but his heart sped up at the thought of being in her presence again. Edge smiled bitterly, "I really am a pathetic man after all." Then he suddenly smiled more honestly as he finished, "I guess you were right. You were often right, Rydia." He said it so gently, lovingly as he thought of her.

After a few moments, Edge began to read through some of the documents on his desk, attempting to push thoughts of Rydia aside. He absently pulled his mask back into position with his left hand, holding documents in his right. The mask had become a sort of comfort to him, like a security. At one time it had bothered him, yet now, he couldn't imagine his day without it. He removed it when he slept of course, but whenever he was out and about, it made him feel more comfortable with it on.

Setting his left elbow on the desk to rest his chin in his hand as his right held the papers up at an angle to make it easier to read, he began to skim over the files. One was in regards to a town near a river in need of levees for the rainy season, another requesting lower taxes, the next was requesting for more law enforcers in a town where a few people had recently gone missing, yet another requesting pay raise for provincial lords, another requesting granaries near a town that had infertile land, the pages went on and one. The hours dragged on and on as he went through each paper, setting them in appropriate stacks as he finished. It was the most boring work but he felt he owed his kingdom his attention if it was to be as magnificent as he desired it to be.

Edge yawned and rubbed his dry eyes. He could tell from the light in the room that the sun was setting, he felt sore from sitting for so long anyways. The ninja Prince set the papers down as he stood, and stretched with a slight grunt. With a final yawn, he exited the room, raking his hand through his hair and locking the door. Slowly he made his way to the kitchens, it had been a while since he last ate and it was late enough that he figured there wouldn't be as many people in there preparing for the coronation. To his disappointment, he could hear a good deal of commotion as he neared the kitchen. Edge pushed through the door; there were still five women who seemed to be fussing over the coronation menu. They looked up as he entered and quickly stood to bow to him.

"No need for that. Go back to what you were doing." He said coolly and made his way to the pantry. The girls were obviously uncomfortable with the idea of ignoring him and he stifled a sigh, they were new to the castle, probably brought in just for the event. He grabbed some dried meat, crackers, cheese and rum and left the kitchen.

I'm simply a person like anyone else. He thought sourly as he headed to his room. After closing the door with his heel he set the food down on a table and opened the bottle of rum, pulling his mask down as he did so. He smiled slightly after taking a drink, feeling the heat travel to his stomach. Edge set the bottle down on the table and began to remove his cape; the Fire Scarf, leather armor, and shirt. He set his gear neatly on a rack near the bed and then moved to sit down at the table, pulling out one of the many knives he kept handy and cutting the cheese into small slices.

This was when he felt the most lonely. There was nothing here to distract him from the fact that he was eating alone and so he had begun a ritual of drinking in the evening. Edge never drank so much that he got drunk; he just wanted to feel numb, mindless. He felt like he was going crazy, everyday was the same as the last, and though he had no one to blame but himself, he was always alone as he ate dinner and went to bed. There was no one for him, at least, that was how he felt. The alcohol just made him feel like he had his one rebellious act for the day. He'd always thought it'd be nice to just pack up and leave for a week. To disappear and not tell anyone where he was going, he thought it would be exciting, to not even have a plan, to just start walking and see where his feet took him.

With a heavy heart, that even the rum couldn't cure, he finished his meal and placed the cap back on the bottle. Edge bent over and began unlacing his shoes when there was a soft knock on his door. Pausing for a moment, he frowned thinking it had just been his imagination and continued to remove his shoes. Suddenly there was a commotion outside the door, and his heart leapt to his throat at the angry voice he heard.

"Miss, you can't be here! Your room is prepared on the other side of the castle." A servant begged.

"No." there was a short pause and he could almost hear the woman inhaling. "Edge!" the angry voice called. "Get your ass out here! I don't hear crap from you for SIX YEARS and you don't even have the DECENCY to mail me the invitation yourself!"

Hardly aware his body was moving he stood and opened the door to see angry green eyes narrowed venomously at him. All he could do was stare, he wasn't ready to see her, hadn't even a clue as to what to say, not that his brain was fully functional right now, it was taking a lot of effort to realize that she actually was standing before him. Finally, he managed to tear his eyes away from Rydia long enough to dismiss the servant, then stepped to the side allowing the green-haired beauty to storm in before softly closing the door behind her. After a moment he was able to get his voice to work well enough to ask the question that had been repeating itself over and over in his mind since hearing her voice.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice deeper than he intended.

She turned swiftly on her heel to face him once more, her shoulders stiff, a frown on her face and what he could only assume was the invite his Chamberlain had sent crinkled in her fist.

"I spoke to everyone about you. It wasn't just me you haven't been talking to. After Cecil and Rosa's wedding, I thought it had just been me who you distanced yourself from, but I spoke to Rosa about this coronation and found out, you haven't spoken to ANYONE!" her voice was filled with anger and hurt. "Why did you do that Edge? We all care about you, we all WANT to be around you." She paused, her voice growing soft, "Six years." She shook her head, "For six years I've tried to figure out what I did that pushed you away." Her anger flared again and she frowned at him, her voice once again taking on the sharp tone it had before. "I'm not leaving until you tell me why."

Edge couldn't help but notice how stunning she was, more beautiful than he remembered. To him, she only became more beautiful with age. (AN: Ain't that just a guy for you… not listening.)

"You look great Rydia." He said gently, she blushed for a moment in shock, but quickly regained her composure.

"Don't' change the topic." She stated curtly.

Took keep his emotions from slipping, he turned his back to her and moved to the window, looking out to clear his head and answer her question without completely lying. Her smell caused his heart to beat harder in his chest, and he struggled to regain composure.

Focusing on the rising moon he said, "I've been very busy Rydia. My Kingdom needed me. I had to choose if a handful of people who are close to me are more important than the livelihood of my people, something has to give. It's not like any of you have been replaced. All of you remain to this day to be my only surviving friends. After so long of losing contact, I couldn't find a good excuse to continue communications. You all have your own troubles without me telling you mine out of the blue." He sighed. "It was never my intention for you to believe that I was pushing you away."" He finished, though unable to meet her gaze.

"Who are you?" Rydia asked, her voice borderline sarcastic. Edge closed his eyes, brow furrowing at the twinge her words caused in his chest.

"Don't ask such a ridiculous question. You know who I am." He said, keeping his eyes closed. Rydia considered him for a few minutes in silence, and her next words nearly made him fall over.

"Flirt with me." She requested softly.

Edge's eyes widened and he whipped his head around to stare at her, a "what?" falling from his lips.

Rydia lifted her eyes to meet his, a slight grin on her face. "Well, you're hardly wearing clothes, I'm in your bedroom… the Edge I know would never pass up such an opportunity to say something completely stupid to me."

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AN: Thank you all for reading. I will have another chapter up shortly but man my hands hurt. I actually posted this directly from my notebook, so it was a lot of typing all at one time and I'm not really used to that.

Please let me know what you think!