Griever : She always feels so conflicted with first chapters. It's what hooks a reader to the story after all. It has to be almost perfect in her opinion.
Valkyria : *frowns* It does. It's those first few words in a story that hooks the reader, that's what I think anyway.
Griever : Bah, it's fine and I'm sure the readers will tell you so *looks to readers* won't you?
Valkyria : Just do the disclaimer already! *blushes*
Griever : Alright. We claim no rights to the anime/manga of Yu-gi-oh nor the characters, also some of the last names and words are from Grey Company.
Beta'd by : Moondalian. Thanks so much!
"Yes, I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight, and sees the dawn before the rest of the world." - Oscar Wilde
Chapter One : Saving Graces.
"The war between the kingdoms of Elysian and Atlantis was one of despair, dominance and greed. It was because of this greed that these two once prosperous kingdoms were brought to the brink of destruction. It was through the people's pleas and the soldier's defiance that this dreadful war was stopped and peace was regained. Weapons were laid to rest, treaties were re-written, and prosperity was regained. I am the last surviving Seer of this restored land. My comrades have perished from battle and pain. As I lie on my deathbed, my body worn from age, let me give the people of Elysian one last decree. War will touch these lands again. Not today, nor tomorrow, but centuries later. This war will be fought for the control over a fellow Seer, whose name I will not mention for I will grant all the peace I can until it is that time. He will be protected and loved by the Valiant Emperor, who will sacrifice soul and body to protect the Seer from all harm."
- Last words and visions of Seer Leon von Schroeder.
It was happening again.
Yuugi clutched his head tightly and bit his lips to keep himself from screaming from the white-hot pain he was experiencing. He fell to his knees, knocking over the potions he had just created this morning and causing them to shatter on the wooden floor of his bedroom.
The vision flashed through his mind like a picture book.
A pale-haired, golden-eyed boy pouring something strange into a golden goblet.
A tan-skinned, crimson-eyed man with wild hair similar to his own sitting on a golden and onyx throne, his posture was relaxed but regal.
The servant handing the crimson-eyed man the drink with the strange concoction mixed in, golden eyes gleaming with barely-suppressed triumph.
"Your wine, Your Majesty."
Yuugi sucked in a pained gasp as the images faded away. He slowly removed his slender hands from his hair and placed them on the floor.
It was at times like these that Yuugi Motou hated his Seer abilities. The pain wasn't new, but there were times when the visions hit him hard.
Closing his eyes, Yuugi ran through the images that he'd just received. He didn't know who the pale-haired boy was, but he knew who the crimson-eyed man was; anybody would know who that was.
What was that boy pouring into the Emperor's drink…?
Yuugi was thrown out of his thoughts when he heard the door to his bedroom creak open and his grandfather's head peaked in.
"Yuugi, are you- what happened? You look like death warmed over, child! Did you have another vision?"
Sugoroku rushed over, all the while avoiding the shards of broken glass, and helped him up from the floor and onto the bed.
"Grandfather." Yuugi whispered, grasping the older man's robes desperately. "You have to warn him now."
"Warn? Warn who, my boy?"
"E-Emperor Atemu. He's in danger, Grandpa. There was this boy with pale hair and golden eyes. He put something into the Emperor's drink…I-I don't know what it was-"
Sugoroku grasped his hands tightly and pulled them away. "Stay here. I'll go and deliver the message to a guard." with that his grandfather rushed out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
After what felt like an eternity, he heard his grandfather's shouts from his open window. Yuugi stood up on shaky legs and made his way towards the window and peeked out to see the elderly man arguing with some nearby guards.
"Please, you must listen to me! Emperor Atemu is in danger!"
"How do I know this to be true? Where did you get this information from? It could be misleading and for all we know you could be plotting against the Emperor yourself!"
Yuugi saw his grandfather's face scrunch up in frustration and Yuugi knew that the elderly man would have to tell them his secret or else the guards would not believe him.
They had hidden the fact that he was a Seer since he was eight years old. It wasn't that hard of a secret to keep since Seers were barely seen these days. Despite this, Sugoroku had been firm about keeping quiet about it. The last known Seer had died over three hundred years ago only leaving behind a journal that described the war between the Kingdoms of Elysian and Atlantis and one last prophecy. Only the royal family and the Council of Val'ista were allowed to see this prophecy.
"Your grandson is a Seer? Why didn't you say so in the first place! Honda! Hurry to the palace and alert the elite guards and tell them to be on the lookout for a servant with pale hair and golden eyes!"
"Sir!"
Watching the guard rush away, Yuugi finally allowed himself to close his eyes in relief and exhaustion. He had done his job. The Emperor was going to be saved and the would-be assassin would be arrested and most likely executed.
Yuugi would later on admit to only himself that being a Seer was sometimes one of the worst and best abilities that the Gods could bless you with.
Emperor Atemu Faenor took his duties as ruler of the Kingdom of Elysian very serious. He had always been taught that the people's happiness always came before his own. Since he'd been given the throne at the age of sixteen, he'd done his best to restore the Kingdom to its former glory; the glory of before the previous Council of Val'ista had taken over.
Atemu had established alliances with the Kingdoms of Atlantis and Sylvantia and had gained the loyalty of his soldiers and the newly formed Council of Val'ista. All of these things were something not even his father had been able to accomplish.
Though proud of himself for accomplishing these things, Atemu would admit, albeit only to himself, that he was lonely and longed to have someone to share his success with, to hold at night, and to rule this vast kingdom alongside him with.
At the age of twenty-three, he had yet to find a bride or groom and had an ominous feeling that time was running out for him and his Kingdom.
"….the Headmaster of Mage Academy would like you to attend this year's graduation, Your Majesty. He says that this year's batch of mages is the best he has seen in years."
Atemu allowed a deep chuckle to escape his throat. "I am not surprised to hear those words from Headmaster Hawkins, especially since his granddaughter is graduating from the academy this year."
The large double doors to the throne room creaked open and a servant stepped in and bowed deeply before walking towards him.
"Yes?" Atemu asked quietly, eyeing the servant with wariness creeping into his bones. He had never seen this servant before and Atemu made a habit of learning every single of the staff's faces.
The servant kept his head lowered but not low enough that Atemu couldn't see his face or his eyes, which were an enchanting amber color.
Such a rare eye color, especially for a fellow Elysian…
The servant kept his head lowered. "My name is Alistair, Your Majesty, and I will be serving you today. I have brought wine for you and High Lord Kaiba."
"I did request something to drink to be brought to us before I came here." Seto spoke up quietly, but Atemu did not miss the suspicion in his cousin's voice.
"Your Majesty?" Alistair questioned curiously. "Does this not satisfy you? What is it that you desire?"
"The wine is fine. Thank you Alistair." Atemu reached over, grabbed both goblets off the silver tray, and handed one to Seto.
"You are dismissed." Seto ordered firmly, taking the offered wine.
Alistair bowed deeply. "Your Majesty. High Lord Kaiba. I take my leave of you."
Atemu tapped his ringed fingers against the goblet and watched as Alistair quietly left the throne room. Only when the double door slammed shut did he turn to Seto, who had yet to take a drink from the wine.
"Is something wrong?" Atemu asked, "You are not usually rude to the servants."
"I am not rude with the servants I am familiar with. That Alistair is someone I have not yet seen before."
Atemu had put the rim of the goblet to his mouth when the door of the throne room burst open and a haggard-looking guard came rushing in with two others behind him dragging Alistair, who was scratching and screaming to be released
"What is the meaning of this?" Seto roared, striding forward. "What are you doing to that servant?"
A brunet guard bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I am Corporal Hiroto Honda of the Eastern Sector Patrol. I was given information that this servant is an assassin."
Both of Atemu's eyebrows shot up at the accusation. "And where, pray tell, did you come across this information, Corporal Hiroto?"
Honda swallowed. "…from a man who claimed his grandson is a Seer."
"And you believed the ramblings of an old man?" Seto drawled sarcastically. "There has not been a Seer for over three hundred years, Corporal."
"I-I am aware of this, High Lord Seto, but we could not take the risk."
"Understandable." Atemu cut in. "Tell me, Corporal Hiroto, what was the method of assassination?"
"The elderly man said that something was put into the very goblet you are holding, Your Majesty."
For the first time since he was a small child, Atemu felt a trickle of dread flow through him as he stared down at the goblet of wine he was holding in his hands.
"Seto." Atemu forced down the tremor in his voice, handing his cousin the goblet. "A detection spell, if you would."
He felt Seto's steady fingers take the goblet from him. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Atemu felt the air around him shift and grow heavy as Seto whispered the words of the spell, his mind too far gone to understand the words.
"It is done, Your Majesty."
Taking the goblet back, Atemu peered into it to see that the wine had turned into a dark green. A snarl escaped his throat before he threw the goblet harshly against the wall, causing the poisoned wine to spill out and erode the floor.
Atemu looked back to see the guards struggling to restrain Alistair. He rose from the throne and descended the steps.
"Bind him." he ordered firmly. "If you're having trouble with that frail-looking servant then all of you need to go back to training!"
The air shifted again and turned hot as the two guards quickly muttered a binding spell. Alistair quickly froze in place. Atemu held back the urge to strangle the servant-turned-assassin as those golden eyes held no trace of fear for the fate he was about to meet.
"Who sent you?" Atemu demanded. "What country wishes to suffer my Kingdom's wrath?"
Those golden eyes gleamed with triumph as if he'd succeeded in assassinating Atemu. "I'm not telling you anything, Your Majesty…"
Before Atemu could ask again, Seto bent beside Alistair and gripped the assassins chin in his hand for a moment before releasing it.
"He is under a spell." Seto said, staring down at Alistair. "Look at his eyes, Your Majesty. The way they are glazed over and his pupils are slightly dilated easily gives it away."
Without a word, Atemu bent down and placed his hand on Alistair's forehead. He closed his eyes and brought the energy in the air and inside him out, ignoring the grunts of surprise coming from the guards at the suddenly heavy air around them.
"Release him. Unshackle the bonds on this child's mind. Free his mind from the control of this spell."
When Atemu opened his eyes, he gave a sharp gasp as Alistair's once pale hair turned into a luminous turquoise and his once amber eyes turned into a stunning shade of blue. Atemu slowly rose and turned to Seto, who had gone alarmingly pale.
"N-Noah…"
"Y-Your Majesty?" Honda's uncertain voice came flooding back. "What shall we do with him?"
Keeping a careful eye on Seto, Atemu spoke, "Corporal, I want you to find Colonel Bakura Firimar. He should be in the training quarters with a new squad. Tell him to come to the throne room immediately."
Honda rose and bowed towards Atemu and cast Noah an uncertain look before dashing off.
"As for the rest of you, take this boy to the interrogation room for now. Place a strong barrier around it; I will be there shortly."
"Majesty!"
He turned towards Seto, who was staring blankly towards the door that his long-lost cousin had just gone through. If the situation had been any different, Atemu would have teased Seto about how dazed and lost he looked.
"Will you be alright?" It wasn't the best thing to say, but for the first time Atemu didn't have any words to offer his cousin.
"…I don't understand." Seto said so softly that Atemu had to strain to hear him. "Where has Noah been for the past three years? I thought he was dead. W-what happened? Why did he try to assassinate you?"
Atemu's lips thinned. "I do not know, Seto. But we will find out soon enough. I need you to focus, Seto-"
"You called?" a rough voice asked from behind. Atemu turned to see Bakura dressed in a simple black shirt and khaki's with his hair tied into a low ponytail.
"Yes. I assume Corporal Hiroto has explained the situation to you?"
Bakura scowled. "That some brat tried to poison you? Yeah, he also explained that a Seer is loose in the city. Is it true? About the Seer?"
Atemu crossed his arms over his chest. "That is why I called you here, Bakura. I need you to head to the Eastern Sector of the city, find this Seer, and bring him back to me."
"You are worried about the prophecy?" Seto spoke up quietly. "I understand that, Atemu, but what will bringing him to the palace accomplish?"
"Protection." Bakura said simply. "I have not read this so called prophecy that is passed through your bloodline, Atemu, but I assume that is why you want the boy here?"
"Indeed. I want him found as quickly as possible, Bakura."
"Pushing it much, Your Majesty."
"Now is not the time for games. I want him found and secured within the palace."
"No worries, Your Majesty. It shall be done with my usual finesse."
A gentle caress through his hair caused Yuugi to slowly open his eyes and let a small moan escape his parched lips.
How long had he been asleep this time?
"Look! Gramps, he's awake!"
Jounouchi? It had to be. No one was that loud in the morning.
"Keep your voice down, Katsuya!" Sugoroku scolded harshly. "The vision was much harsher this time and most likely caused my boy a lot more pain."
"Sorry, Gramps. I'll try to keep it down. Do you need anything?"
"Bring some water and fruit. It's the only thing he can keep down after having a vision."
"Right."
Even as Jou's footsteps faded away, Yuugi kept his eyes closed. He didn't want to face his grandfather or the world right now. He knew that his grandfather would want to talk about his latest vision; the older man always did.
"Open your eyes, child. I've raised you since you were a babe so I know when you're actually asleep and when you're faking it."
Taking a deep, silent breath, Yuugi opened his eyes and turned to stare into his grandfather's similar amethyst eyes, relieved when he found the familiar love and patience that was always there.
"Are you feeling better? That was quite an ordeal you know. It scared me to death when I came back to find you unconscious. And hanging out the window no less!"
A small, weak laugh escaped Yuugi's throat and he gave his grandfather a cheeky grin. "I'm sorry, grandpa. I didn't mean to give you even more gray hairs."
"Oh, you must be feeling better if you're already giving me your usual cheeky comments."
Their laughter died down and a comfortable silence drifted over them. Yuugi turned his gaze back out of the open window and sighed at the cool breeze that was coming through. It was a little chilly, telling him that fall was almost here.
"Is.." Yuugi licked his lips before starting again. "Is Emperor Faenor well? Is he still alive?"
"All is well." Sugoroku whispered, patting Yuugi on the shoulder before pulling away. "Rumors of the assassination attempt are all over the city. The guard has enforced a curfew for the upcoming days until everyone calms down."
"All over the city..? Grandpa, how long have I been out?"
"Just over a day. Word spreads quickly despite how large this city is, my boy."
"Do they know about-"
"Grandpa!" Jounouchi called, his usually confident voice filled with a tinge of fear. "You better get down here!"
"What has that boy done now?" Sugoroku muttered unhappily before rising from his chair. "You get some more rest, Yuugi. I'll go see what's wrong."
"Oh, I'll go with you." Yuugi said as he rose from the bed, only to have Sugoroku push him back down again. "Grandpa! I'm fine, really! I'm used to this by now!"
"Regardless of if you're used to it or not, you still need your rest. Stay still, I'll be right back."
Pouting, Yuugi placed the covers up to his chin and watched as his grandfather slipped out of his room and down the stairs.
He hoped everything was alright.
"Katsuya? What is the matter? What's got you in…" Sugoroku stopped when he spotted a white-haired male sitting at the kitchen table with his feet propped up. Jou was leaning against the counter, his usually mischievous eyes wide with fear.
"Who are you and why have you invaded my home?"
"I am Colonel Bakura Firimar: Second-in-Command to the Imperial Elysian Forces. You are former Council member Sugoroku Motou, are you not?"
"That is correct, though I left that part of my life behind. I'll ask you again, why are you here?"
Bakura chuckled. "We are going to play it that way, are we? You know damn well why I am here. Hiding something like this from the Emperor should be considered treason."
"I am well within my rights."
"Not anymore. Sugoroku Motou, by the orders of Emperor Atemu Faenor, you are to hand over your grandson Yuugi Motou."
"And if I don't?" Sugoroku challenged.
Bakura gave the older man a dark smirk and pulled his blade from its sheath. "Then it is considered treason and I will execute you right now and take the Seer by force."
A/N : Well? How did you like it? I'm glad that I was able to get this out early! The updates for Emperor's Prophecy will not be as set as the updates for Caged. So please, be patient okay? Thanks for reading!