Okay, this is a /prequel/ of "A Royal Living' I'm telling you guys in advanced, that this will most likely be 2 chapters long. 3 at the most. But Enjoy.

-X-

Alexis couldn't believe it. Barely less than a year ago on this same spot did Zane tell her he was going to miss her.

'I'm glad you're back Alexis'

'Maybe you need a bodyguard'

'Lexi, I'm going to miss you when I graduate from here'

He had told her his feelings. His voice sounded so rarely tender and warm. His eyes brought Alexis a comforting feeling. Despite his care, she refused his offer, She was to determined to prove her independence. But now she knew. He cared for me.

But that was four months ago. Those times had long gone. In Zane's place was only a dead shadow. Hell Kaiser. His eyes were filled with cruelty and coldness. He found pleasure in the pain of others. His dueling ways had completely changed. The old Zane had burned away.

Alexis was so submerged in her thoughts she didn't notice someone walking up to her.

"Hey, Alexis." Syrus said, bringing Alexis down back to earth.

"Oh, hello Syrus. What are you doing here?" Alexis looked down at the guy. It was a wonder to know that Syrus was only two years younger than Zane.

"I just needed someone to talk to… I mean there's always Jaden, he's there for anybody but I needed someone.. More." His words were unsure but Alexis understood.

"It's about.. Zane isn't it?"

"Hell Kaiser more like it." Bitterness entered his voice as he spoke Zane's chosen name. Alexis couldn't help but feel a surge of pity. A two months ago, Atticus had challenged Zane to a duel. She wasn't herself then but everyone had filled her in. He lost. One month ago, Syrus challenged him to an underground duel. She wasn't there to witness it but she couldn't believe it. The true Zane would never hurt his own blood. Syrus failed as well. No one was able to bring the old Zane back, and now he's still on this island brutally bringing down everyone in his path.

(Ugh, I know this is going to alter the plotline a lot but I have to change it a bit so my story fits in.)

"I miss him to, Syrus. But we have something in common don't we?"

Syrus looked up, the rage fading from his face. "Hm? What's that?"

"We both hold something. The desire and will to see the old Zane." She gave him a confident smile and Syrus returned it.

Suddenly they heard someone their names.

"Syyyyyyrruuuussss! Leeeexiiii deeeaar! Where are you?" Chazz spotted them at the pier. Alexis tried her best not to tell Chazz to shut up. "There you are!" He called from the cliff. "Alexis! Syrus! It's Jaden!"

Alexis nor Syrus expected this. Alexis called back, "What, What is it?"

"Jaden challenged Hell Kai- I mean Zane to a underground duel!"

"Underground-" Syrus began in horror, he'll never forget his duel with Kaiser.

"-Duel." Alexis finished. The two ran from the pier to land.

Chazz joined them, while running Alexis inquired, "How, how did this happen?"

Chazz really seemed worn out but they couldn't stop. "I-he, well-Jaden, said, he, couldn't, take, it, any, more, so, he, ugh, chal, lenged, him, to, a, uh, duel." Alexis nodded, no one hurt anyone when Jaden was around. She had full confidence that Jaden was the man for the job.

For Chazz's sake, they stopped for a minute before rushing to the main building. They reached it and almost crashed into the sliding doors before they opened for them.

"Jaden!" Syrus called. The duel had already started. Hell Kaiser's field was bare except for two facedowns. Jaden had Flame Wingman.

"Go, Flame Wingman! Attack Zane directly!" Jaden's monster prepared it's attack and fired a stream of fire. Zane, however had a counter. In his harsh and cold voice he revealed his facedown.

"I activate Dark Illusion Mirror! I discard one monster from my hand so I can redirect your attack to your life points." Zane slipped a card through his grave slot. Jaden braced and passed the surge of fire, but not the electric shocks. He screamed out in pain. Alexis couldn't take it anymore. "Stop! Stop this duel!" She screamed. Zane ignored her.

Jaden- 1900

Zane- 4000

Zane drew with a dark smirk on his face. "I activate polymerization to fuse my Cyber Dark Keel, Cyber Dark Horn, and Cyber Dark Claw so I can form this: My Cyber Dark Dragon!" A menacing, black, grotesque-looking monster appeared on Zane's field. Despite its appearance it only had 1000 attack points. "Why is it so weak?" Alexis asked, she had no idea but Syrus did.

"Alexis, it has an evil effect." He replied. Jaden seemed to know this because he tensed immediately.

On cue, Zane declared, "I activate its effect, I take the card I just sent to my graveyard," He retrieved the card he just discarded. It was the silver Cyber Dragon. "I can offer this weak monster to my Cyber Dark Dragon and its attack is powered by the same amount of this Cyber Dragon." The Cyber Dragon appeared on the field but was soon grasped my Cyber Dark Dragon. Cyber Dark Dragon's attack rose to 3100. (How many times can you say Cyber Dragon fast? XD)

"Now I attack your Flame Wingman! Go Dark Strident Blaze!"

Jaden groaned as the black devices shocked him.

Jaden- 900

Zane- 4000

Alexis couldn't believe it. Jaden was getting the crap beat out of him! And there Zane stood with no cold feet, only a smirk and 4000 life points.

"Please! Zane, stop it, just please stop it!" Alexis was getting desperate. Zane looked towards her, for just a split second there was an apologetic look on his face but it disappeared instantly. "Quiet, girl. Your fool of a friend got himself in this and now he has to get himself out." He looked back at the staggering Jaden. Alexis made a move to run up and stop the duel but this time it was Syrus and Chazz that held her back.

"Don't Alexis. This is Ja's battle." Alexis stopped. She had never heard Syrus say something like that.

Jaden was on his feet but he was almost out. "I play miracle fusion to get back my Avian and polymerization. Now I fuse him with the Bubbleman and Sparkman from my hand to create Elemental Hero Tempest!"

One of Jaden's most powerful monsters appeared on the field. "I'm not done yet! I play the field Skyscraper and you know what this means, Zane!" Tall, black buildings appeared. Zane only had a bored expression. Jaden waited a second for Zane's reply but none came. "Fine, I'm going to knock some speech into you! Go Tempest and destroy that Cyber Dark Dragon!"

Zane didn't react to the shocks, it seemed as if he enjoyed the pain.

Jaden- 900

Zane- 3800

"Still nothing? Maybe this'll tell you something, I play diffusion to split my Tempest and I attack you directly!"

Woah what a move Alexis thought it worried her, Zane still hadn't reacted no matter how much life points he lost.

Jaden-900

Zane- 400

Jaden seemed puzzled. "What happened!? This duel should be over!"

Syrus and Chazz seemed equally confused. "Jaden's right he should've won this duel thanks to Skyscraper!" Syrus pointed out. Chazz realized what was wrong. "That's it. Skyscraper, it's gone. Instead there's-"

"Hey Zane! What did you do to the field!?" Jaden yelled. Black mist appeared and so did burnt debris.

"I flipped over my field spell-Abandoned World."

The three of them didn't get it. Jaden said, "I know I don't do my homework but last time I checked, you can't flip over field spells." Zane let out a could laugh that made Alexis flinch. "This one you can and since Skyscraper wasn't on the field I still have 400 life points with me. Bear in mind that Abandoned World has its own effect. Once per turn we have to draw two cards but once we have our turn we must remove one monster from play that it on the field or we lose 1000 life points."

"Okay, that's just screwed up. Fine I remove my Tempest so I won't have any inflicted damage. I draw two cards and end my turn."

Zane grinned. Alexis knew why. Jaden was wide open. He had the advantage. "Jaden, last time we dueled, you have not changed one bit. You remain so naïve and foolish like everyone else." His glance shifted to Syrus.

"I summon a Cyber Dark Token! And I send it to the graveyard to avoid damage." He drew two more cards. "Oh and Cyber Dark token has an effect, when it's sent from the field to the graveyard by a non-monster effect then I can summon another token from my deck." Alexis was frozen.

"Good-bye, Jaden! Now go Cyber Dark Token and attack Jaden directly!"

"JADEN NO!" Syrus screamed. It was too late. The explosion filled the arena. The smoke cleared and Jaden was lying on the floor. The last of the electrical shocks faded away. Zane was already walking towards the unconscious Jaden and picked up his duel deck.

"Your elemental heroes are so great after all? Now are they?" He did something Zane would never done, even if he were drunk. Hell Kaiser had just scattered Jaden's cards over him.

Chazz and Syrus ran to aid Jaden while Alexis stayed rooted to the spot staring angrily at Zane who was looking back, a cruel smirk on his face.

"You are so SICK!" Alexis yelled but no words could describe her anger. Zane picked up the electric collar that just detached itself, ignoring Syrus and Chazz's insults. He threw it at Alexis who caught it, then he walked away outside and out of sight.

Tears dripped from Alexis's clenched eyes wetting the collar.

"Alexis! Jaden's barely breathing we have to get him to the hospital wing!" Alexis panicked, Jaden barely breathing?

Later…

"So how is he?" Alexis asked the nurse. Jaden was put on life support but he was laying peacefully in the white sheets.

"The electric shocks took a toll on him but in a matter of weeks he'll be just fine."

Alexis nodded.

Jaden's not going to witness my duel with Hell Kaiser

-X-

Yay! First Chapter finished. In case you're confused with the timeline I'll tell you this: The school year doesn't end till three months.

Review or I'll be after your blood!