Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, never did and never will. Though I love it so much that I maybe I should… ah, forget it, you get the point. It all belongs to that brilliant genius, Kazuki Takahashi.
Author's Note: Well, all you fanfiction readers out there, it's time for Angel's Nocturne (that be me) to bring out her second story! This is the first pre-written fanfic I made (Revival of the Heart was second) and I only hope that you can enjoy it just as much!
#2 Author's Note: Everything will be in italics, since this a prologue and revolves more around being the back story than anything.
The Prince of Orichalcos
By: Angel's Nocturne
Prologue: Fairy of the Well
Once upon a time, nestled between the greenest forest and the tallest mountains, a small kingdom laid quiet and content in a lush valley. It was a flourishing little kingdom that had many alliances with other neighboring kingdoms, and was known for their rich supply of natural resources; however, the king and queen of the land felt not the joy of their happy subjects but the sadness and longing in their hearts.
They wanted a child, a babe to call their own. Everyday they wished and prayed, but as each unsuccessful day passed they began to give up hope. That is, until they met the ancient fairy of the well….
One day, while the king was taking his usual walk around the villages of his kingdom-disguised as a peddler so as not to draw attention- he overheard a group of merchants in the village marketplace ranting about a magical well as if it were a sacred jewel, saying that throwing a gold coin into the well made a divine fairy appear before the coin-thrower.
"I saw her with my own eyes!" exclaimed one man. "A beautiful fairy she is indeed. She can grant any wish you ask. I asked for a bountiful harvest for my family's farm, and look!" He moved aside to show the men his wagon; it overflowed with fresh squashes, beans, peas, carrots, and onions. The other merchants gawked at the marvel with envy as the young man spoke again. "As you can see, she works miracles! If you don't believe me, go into the forest and see for yourselves!"
The king, listening to the whole conversation, was amazed at the powers that this "fairy" in the well possessed. He was so impressed that he suddenly had an idea: if the fairy of the well can grant any wish, then it can grant him his wish of finally having a son.
Overjoyed with this thought, he hurried back to the castle to tell his queen the incredible news.
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The next day, disguised as lowly peasants, the king and queen traveled into the forest in search of the ancient well the merchants spoke so highly of the day before. The queen, just like her husband, became excited and hopeful at the idea her king gave to her. She was too desperate to wait a single moment, and the king was thrilled to know that she had agreed.
After an hour or two of searching, a tired but still determined king and queen found what appeared to be the ancient well. It stood in the center of a clearing, waiting and watching. The old cobblestone walls had many cracks along it its surface, and the bucket that sat next to it was worn and became the home of some weeds and ivy- a telltale signs of its age. Carefully, as though a single wrong move could destroy the well ands their chances, the royal couple walked up to the well's rim. The king pulled out a gold coin from his pocket, and allowed his wife to drop the coin into the dark abyss that was the well.
After many long seconds, the two heard the coin splashed into the water below. Before either of them could even blink a golden glow was emitted from the well's bottom, startling the king and queen and throwing them back. When they returned to their feet, they were amazed to find a woman sitting on the rim of the well, looking directly at them. Or at least she looked like a woman, as she seemed to emanate a strong magical aura that she couldn't possibly human. The "creature" that stared back had sharp, green eyes that glowed like emeralds against her pale, smooth skin. Her hair surrounded her head like a waterfall of the night, and her garments were that of golden silk that sparkled far brighter than the purest metal.
"King and Queen of the kingdom not far", spoke the fairy, her voice rich and flowing. "You travel here to ask of me a wish. What is it that your heart desires?"
"Please" pleaded the queen. "Please, could you grant our wish and give us a son?"
The fairy smiled with delight. "A son, eh? Well, that can be arranged." The king and Queen embraced each other at the joy of their fortune. "But first" interrupted the fairy, "you must promise me that I will be invited to your son's blessing ceremony as an honored guest, and that I am allowed to bless him first."
Too desperate in their wanting of a child, the king and queen accepted her demands without hesitation. Nine months later, their first son was born, and the kingdom cheered for their future ruler. The child was named Yami, and as the blessing ceremony came closer and closer, the fairy of the well was unfortunately forgotten.
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When the day of the blessing ceremony and Yami's first birthday arrived, the kingdom was at its most beautiful. The streets were clean, the homes spotless, and the great throne room was filled with all the villagers, knights, merchants, and lords of the kingdom, all for Prince Yami's honor. The royal chefs cooked the finest, most fabulous foods that mortals could eat, the royal performers danced and entertained with their most divine show outside the palace, and the royal artist worked his hardest to create a portrait of the royal family. His picture was the grandest in all the land, so beautiful that all who stared into it could almost fell as if they were there in the party at that very moment.
Thought the dancers were great, the food extraordinary, and the artist incredible, no one could find anything more magical than the young Prince himself. Little Yami sat in a cradle made of silk and pure cotton, cherry wood and oak. He was clothed in silk from head to toe, and all around him stuffed animals made by the finest toy makers gave him protection. His skin was a sweet peach color, while his hair was spiked around his head in black with a reddish-purple outline; golden bangs wildly spread out around his forehead, failing to hide his large amethyst eyes. All the guests praised the beautiful child, and none could find a baby more enchanting than he.
Some time after the parties had started, the King announced that it was almost time for the blessing ceremony. In an instant the room grew silent, and everyone listened intently. With the most perfect timing, the giant doors that marked the entrance to the castle swung open effortlessly as though by magic. Entering the castle, twelve women clad in all kinds of colors glided across the room towards the family, their sharp magical eyes focused on the cradle. All eyes followed the group of fairies in awe, waiting for them to finally land in front of the king's throne. In what felt like a minute to eternity, all twelve fairies floated down before the royal family, and nodded their heads to the king in respect. He bowed his in return.
The eldest fairy, dressed in a night blue cloak and ebony dress spoke to the king, but her wise eyes watched Yami. "So this is the young Prince" said the fairy, her voice a whisper in the wind. "He is a beautiful child… almost fey-like." The ancient eyes of the fairy traveled towards the king's eyes, and they held a somewhat nervous look to them. She returned her gaze to the prince. "I give thee the first blessing: Bravery!"
At her words, a soft golden glow appeared upon Yami's small forehead; the Millennium Symbol glowed upon his skin, the essence of a blessing on a child. Yami giggled with delight.
The second eldest fairy appeared before the infant prince; she was dressed in a bright yellow gown adorned with sapphires, and her hair was a warm chestnut brown, where as her older sister's hair was ebony like the night. "I bless thee with wit and cleverness!" Once again a soft glow appeared, and the Millennium Symbol shone brighter on Yami's forehead.
Each fairy went in turn, going from the eldest to the youngest, giving little Yami a blessing. "I bless thee with talent!" said one, and, "I bless thee with a kind heart!" spoke another. Friendship, kindness, talent, bravery, wit intelligence, good judgment, happiness, strength, and majesty were given to him, and by the eleventh blessing the Millennium symbol shimmered like a small star within little Yami's cradle.
Finally, it was time for the twelfth fairy's blessing; after her blessing was complete, Yami's ceremony would be finished, and his birthday celebration would begin. The last fairy stood in the back, awaiting her turn to arrive. She was clad in a silver cloak with black trim, and a dress of white- white that was brighter than both snow and a dove's wing- with diamonds lining the edge of her skirt. She had long blonder hair that cascaded over her shoulders like gold water, and on her freckled face sat a pair of gold-rimmed glasses of a cerulean tint. The little fairy was about to walk forward, towards the prince's cradle, when a dark energy suddenly entered the palace.
All turned about to see this entity, whose cold darkness enveloped the room in seconds. The creature wore a black cloak and dress, with ebony lace that enhanced her pale white skin. Framing her face, her glossy black hair slithered around her body, and to the king and queen's horror, she had the most piercing green eyes anyone had ever seen. It was the fairy from the well, and she did not appear in the least bit pleasant.
She walked elegantly forward, closer and closer towards the baby. Everyone, even the fairies, moved aside, afraid of the wrath of the witch-fairy. Soon she stood over the cradle, her icy white hands clenching her long black tightly. She coldly glanced at the king and queen; they shuddered at the hatred in her eyes.
"Look what happens when you forget your promises", seethed the witch, her voice no longer soft and smooth like honey, but cold and vengeful. "You pitiful rulers, always forgetting to thank your heroes, those in the backdrop helping out. You wouldn't even have a son if I hadn't granted your wish!"
The eldest fairy's eyes grew wide with terror and despair. "You… that child is fey! It is not your own- you wished for it!" breathed the fairy harshly. "He is of fey blood! You have cursed us all!"(A/N: fey is like fairy or magic).
"That is so" whispered the witch. Her gaze turned once more to little Yami. "Child of mine, I bless thee now! Child of the Shadows let the dark become one with your soul!" At that instant, she pointed the jeweled staff at young Yami, the emerald at its top emitting a malicious green glow. The Millennium symbol vanished from prince Yami's forehead and was then replaced by a circular green seal: the Seal of Orichalcos. Yami cried out in pain as the seal completed itself, and his eyes turned red with evil. "On thee's sixteenth birthday, the evil shall be released, destroying this pathetic kingdom. Then thee shall serve alongside me as a servant of darkness, obeying me without fail in the destruction of all life!"
She cackled loudly and darkly, as above them the ceiling became a swirling vortex of black clouds and lightening, while fierce gales whipped about them. The witch chortled even louder at their fear.
"Be it known, townsfolk of this kingdom, that your future ruler, Prince Yami, is a slave to the darkness. Let your fate now be written, for fifteen years from now you will all be turned to stone!" The witch suddenly vanished into the vortex above, taking with her the winds and storm; her laugh, however, failed to vanish as it echoed through the quiet, dismal banquet hall. The Seal slowly disappeared, sinking into Yami's skin, and his eyes changed back to their magnificence amethyst selves. He stared about in wonderment, and then fell into a peaceful slumber.
"How could you" hissed the eldest fairy. All the fairy folk glared at the king and queen, disgusted by their actions, except for the youngest fairy who watched the sleeping prince. "You have brought ruin upon the world. That was Luna of the Dark Sun, the witch of all hell, the fairy of the shadowed night! That child is made from her, a part of her. It is he, who we must fear now!"
The crowd of villagers roared in agreement at the fairy's statement. Some men grabbed torches off the walls, while others grasped the swords in their sheaths. "Death to the prince!" cried a lone farmer, and soon the whole herd of them charged towards the royal family, ready to strike.
"Wait!" a voice shouted from somewhere in the castle; it was so commanding yet pleading that the angry mob stopped to listen to the voice of reason, only to see the youngest fairy blocking them from reaching the little prince.
"Sister, why are you protecting the cursed prince?" asked the eldest fairy, her once keen blue eyes muddled with fury. "It will kill us all for sure, if we are not to stop the evil now! Do us a favor and kill it! KILL IT NOW!"
"No sister" spoke the young fairy, her voice calm and sure. "Have you not noticed that I have not made a blessing upon this child? Perhaps my magic can save us!"
"No Rebecca!" shouted another of her sisters. "Did you not see the curse that Luna laid upon the prince? The Seal of Orichalcos cannot be broken by mere fairy enchantment! We are doomed!"
"Can't we try, sister?" shouted Rebecca in a vicious reply. "I wish to try something else! I know I cannot break the seal's power, but there are other ways to skin a calf, if you now what I mean. Besides, I still have yet to bless him."
Before her sisters could react, Rebecca turned towards the cradle. Yami, awakened by the ranting of the fairies, met eyes with Rebecca; she smiled, for he was indeed a beautiful child, and to her it would be a shame to let such beauty leave this earth before first leaving its mark. In the softest voice she could muster, she closed her big blue eyes, and began to chant.
Though it was in her softest, quietest voice, the incantation filled the hall, bouncing about and swirling around. With it, the young fairy's chest began to glow with a golden light, as well as Yami's forehead. Between the two a gold object began to form, taking shape into what appeared to be an upside-down pyramid- the Millennium Puzzle. Rebecca chanted louder and louder, her voice a melody that grew in strength. As her voice became more powerful the puzzle started to appear more real; the golden puzzle's liquid form transformed into that of a solid object. She sang louder and faster, faster and louder, until the sound of the chant was that of a wavering note, and the Millennium Puzzle floated through the air as thought tied to a jumpy puppeteer. At long last, Rebecca finally froze in the air, right above Yami's head, and once again the infant prince giggled with delight and awe.
Out of nowhere Rebecca produced a box from under her cloak; it was gold just like the puzzle, and it had markings all over its surface. Oddly, she held the box underneath the floating puzzle as if it could drop onto Yami at any second.
"Little Prince of this kingdom, I bless thee now", Rebecca said aloud. "I bless thee with this pendant, the Millennium Puzzle, for it will protect thee from the Fairy of the Shadowed Night, Luna of the Dark Sun." She removed the lid from the box. "When so the day comes that she will bring forth the darkness in thee, thou will become her servant but will instead fall into a long sleep that will last and last, until the chosen one comes to the castle and solves the Millennium Puzzle, and when you face the Dark Witch again, may thee… triumph."
With that the Millennium Puzzle shattered into many pieces, and fell into the golden box that Rebecca held. Immediately Rebecca sealed the box with its lid, and with a sigh of relief she fainted beside the cradle, having used so much of her energy to conjure up the Millennium Puzzle.
"Sister!" shouted the fairies as they rushed to their younger sibling's side, hustling about to lift her up. The eldest one, whose focus was entirely on Rebecca, turned back once again to the king and queen, who only looked back with disbelief. She frowned unkindly.
"May he be worthy of this" she whispered, and so flew off with the other twelve fairies of the woods, carrying their little sister with them.
In their leaving, the fairies gave the couple the magic box which housed the blessing of the twelfth fairy. In most regret, the worried king and queen watched their child sleep within his cradle in hopes that the whole incident could be forgiven, and forgotten.
They never knew how wrong they were, until the very end.
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Author's Note: Aah and the prologue does end, finally! I'm typing this from a pre-written notebook version, so it takes me a while to get it on paper, since it's easier for me to write spontaneously instead of from other material.
So R x R me soon, please? I promise that this story will be long (just like Revival of the Heart has been so far) and I will try to juggle this and other stories in the future, so don't get mad if I don't update right away! I will try, I promise!
So, um, see ya'll soon!