Hey everyone. How's the tension on the DQ IX cliff hanger? Don't worry; I publish a new chapter weekly, so expect a chapter or two this weekend! (Maybe earlier.)

For now, carry on with this!

Chapter 1

17 years later…

Shifter stuck a foot up onto the fancy desk that stood in the tiny room that he referred to as his "other" throne room.

These people loved him for seventeen years, man. One more year, and he'd be old enough to be their king! Shifter didn't know what happened to his father, but he was told his mother had passed long before his birth.

He himself remembered nothing about them, except he was constantly reminded of their appearances via the many statues and portraits hanging around Emit Castle. And by his servants, who constantly assured him they were good people, who would be proud of Shifter.

He doubted it though. There was almost nothing to do but sit back and play around with time, as he waited impatiently for another attack by the Horde.

Whenever the Horde finally did attack, the soldiers ushered him into a safe-zone, where he had to remain until after the ambush. Boring.

Shifter sighed, and once again began fiddling with time, watching as the smoke and soot that flew in the air outside his window slowed to a halt, and began to go backwards.

Just then, Watch, a green hedgehog, who, ironically, always wore a watch that amplified his Time Shifting ability, entered the room.

Hedgehogs were apparently very rare, and only Watch, his best friend, and the Time Shifter Army's captain, a woman named Kanin, who acted like a mother to Shifter, remained.

Apparently his real mother and father had been hedgehogs too, and the pictures proved it.

And, of course, Shifter himself was a red hedgehog, whom had the "mark" of the royal Emit Bloodline, a scar that symbolized a clock, buried in the fur on his forehead.

"Hey, Shift. Anything new going about?" Watch queried, calling Shifter by the nickname he always did. "Not really. Just fiddling with some smoke." Shifter looked at Watch's Time Shift Watch. "Could I try that on, and see what it feels like?"

Watch immediately shook his head, and seemed to start sweating. "N-no, that's okay, I'd rather you not… It's…special, you see." He then pulled his arm away from Shifter and headed out of the room, but then, as if remembering something, turned back to his friend for a moment. "Oh, yeah, Captain Kanin said she had something to say to you. She's waiting in the throne room. Better not keep her that way."

Kanin, a somewhat older pink hedgehog then the once you might remember from 17 years ago, stomped the floor impatiently with her left foot, looking down at an imaginary wrist watch on her wrist.

Where is that sorry excuse for a prince? She thought to herself.

Ah, there he is.

The red hedgehog ran into the room, gasping for air. He must've come running when he heard that the Captain of the royal army was waiting for him in the throne room.

"Huff…huff…Sorry…Kanin…" Shifter gasped to get the words out.

Kanin sighed and turned away in disgust, before returning her gaze to the prince. "I have something very important to tell you about. Something I've been waiting to tell you until now."

Shifter perked up when he heard this. "What is it? Did I inherit something really awesome from my dad?"

"No. And when I tell you what it really is, I'd appreciate that you stayed calm."

The captain seemed to struggle to look up at the prince suddenly.

I…don't know…if I can tell him.

She suddenly inhaled a deep breath, and released the fume of air from her lungs.

"Shifter…you…may not be-"

Before Kanin could finish her statement, a large crash, coming from the courtyard, sent guards all over astray.

"Raise the alarm!" "Intruders!" "The Horde!"

The prince began to hop up and down on the spot where he stood. Now he could really prove he was worthy of his ranking! He could finally beat some Horde butt!

Of course, the captain clearly disapproved. She shook her head at the giddy orphan and unsheathed her blade.

"All troops! Regroup and prepare to defend the castle!"

The Time Shifters yelled out their war cries, and pulled out their own weapons, following their leader into battle.

Shifter sighed.

For once, I'd like to be actually thought of as something important.

Wait…if he were to dress in some Time Shifter gear, no one would recognize his rule breaking! But where would he find some of their possessions?

The Armoury!

Watch immediately ran down from the royal bedroom and into the throne room shortly after hearing the alarm being raised.

He himself was no warrior, but he had to do something. He had to protect his friend.

I just need to dress myself…

What…? The armoury door was open?

At last the hedgehog prince was equipped from head-to-toe in the (heavy) standard soldier's equipment.

"Ugh…this is so darned hard to wear! How do the guards walk around in this?" Shifter murmured to himself, as he awkwardly took baby steps to the exit.

Suddenly, he noticed a shadow in the doorframe, and before he could prepare himself, a green flash swung up from the armoury entrance, holding some sort of weapon that Shifter couldn't recognize until this shady foe had stopped.

"Stop, thief!" The familiar voice boomed.

"Shifter? I nearly clobbered you!"

The prince, who had ducked down when he first noticed the assault, now stood up, trying to make out who the person was through his helmet's visor.

"Watch!" Now lifting the weapon, which Shifter now realized was a battle hammer, the green hedgehog sighed with relief that he had never completed his attack. "What the heck are you doing in the armoury, Shift?"

Shifter sighed, hopelessness in his voice. "I was hoping I could finally be useful. I tried to steal some gear so I could go help the warriors fight."

Instead of scolding him, Watch embraced his friend. "It's cool, Shift. I was hoping to loot the place myself. We both want to help out."

The armoured prince looked up at his slightly taller pal, admiring him.

"But, you've helped me realize that, even with all the gear in this armoury, we're no match for the Horde." Shifter blinked, confused. "I know what Kanin was trying to tell you. I hope you understand why we've kept this a secret from you for so long."

The red hedgehog prepared for the secret, paying his direct attention on Watch.

"Shifter…although you have the mark of the royal bloodline…"

Another crash. But this one was closer.

A lot closer.

"Freeze where you are, Shifters. This castle is now property of Professor Jiveil Frantik and his Horde. Surrender now and you will be moved to a local prison camp."

Uh oh!

Watch turned around, only to find a Horde Master, hovering gently over one of the stone slabs that held together the floor of the castle.

He quickly returned his sight to Shifter. "Shift, you have to get out of here. Run away! You can't stay here!" Watch ushered the hedgehog to leave.

Shifter could not believe he was being told to run away again. And by his best friend, too.

Well, he wasn't leaving this time. He was going to save the day!

Quickly, the Prince of Emit hopped out of the suit of armour, grabbing the nearest sword from the closest weapon rack, and attempting to slice the Horde Master.

"Error. Subject is attempting to rebel. New objective: Destroy."

The Master flicked Shifter away as if he were a bug, and started to charge it's Time Cannon.

"Shifter!"

Well, that's the end of chapter one! I hope you join me next time for Chapter 2, to find out what happens to Shifter and Watch…

As well as the entire EMIT Population…