Chapter 1

Adrian Gecko scowled as he glared out over the moonlit forest. For almost fourteen years he had been in exile and the isolation was wearing on his patience. Growling darkly he clenched his fists, sparks of dark magick dancing over the tight, pale skin. As the sun rose he smiled, a cruel and sadistic smile, for the screams from his experiments in shape magicks now echoed throughout the forest. He knew now that the spells were ready, for he would have his revenge on the Hasselberry royal family, revenge and their kingdom.

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"But Tyranno…"

"No."

"But…"

"I said NO! Why the Sam Hill can't you get it. He's still out there."

Prince Tyranno turned and glared at his future fiancé, the 17 year olds mercury grey eyes glinting dangerously. Jim sighed, he really had to bring this up on today of all days. Three years ago today, one of Tyranno's closest friends had gone missing, and since then, the younger prince was set on finding him. Jim just didn't get it, Tsume was a shape shifter, so if he was ok he would have come back by now. Only Tyranno didn't see it that way, stubbornly believing that his friend was still alive. He shook his head as Tyranno returned to where their horses were tied.

"Look, if you don't wanna help find him then fine, I'll find him on my own."

Tyranno wheeled his horse away and cantered off, leaving Jim staring at the disappearing figure. He looked at the guards that had come with them, motioning for them to follow Tyranno. He then mounted his own horse, set on returning to the castle. Smiling to himself, Jim cast his mind back to when he and Tyranno first met properly.

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(10 years earlier)

"But Mama, what if he's meaner than an angry dingo?"

7 year old Jim, Prince of the South, turned his smoky blue eyes upwards to his mother. Queen Shirley laughed lightly at the nervous look on her son's face; he just looked too cute for his own good.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure you and Prince Tyranno will get along just fine. You'll see, just be yourself."

They had arrive at the castle gates just as the queen finished reassuring her son. Dismounting, Jim looked around at the cool stone walls and battlements. Still staring at his surroundings, he didn't notice that he had wandered away from his mother and into the castle gardens. His ears caught the sound of laughter and what sounded like a dog barking. Curious, he followed the sound, coming across one of the garden lawns situated in amongst several fruit trees. Jim climbed up and hid in one of the bigger trees so as to see who was laughing. His jaw dropped as he saw another boy, about the same age as himself. Ebony hair held back away from a tanned face by a series of braids, mercury grey eyes sparkling as the tall boy laughed; Jim had never seen someone like him. He looked closer, wanting to see what was causing the other boy to laugh so much, and barely restrained a yell. Bouncing back and forth, play bowing and barking happily was a wolf pup! As Jim stared in shock, the pup ran over to the boy, shoving him and encouraging him to play. Worried that the pup might bite, Jim quickly scrambled down from the tree and ran over.

"Oi! Careful mate, he might bite!"

Both boy and wolf looked up at his shout, a frown passing over the boy's face.

"Whoa there soldier, Tsume won't bite me, we were just playing."

Jim skidded to a halt and stared at the boy in surprise. The pup came forward and nudged Jim's hand. With a startled yell, the young prince shoved the animal backwards and into a bush. What happened next was definitely unexpected.

"Ow! Hey, what did I do to you? I was only saying hello!"

Pulling himself free of the bush was another boy, leaves and twigs sticking out of his wild, bright red hair. Jim's mouth opened and shut in surprise; where had this boy come from?! What was he talking about saying hello, there had just been the nameless boy, Jim and … the …wolf … pup…. Jim continued to stare as a pair of russet brown wolf ears perked up out of the new boy's hair, then it clicked.

"You're a shape-shifter aren't you?!"

The boy threw him a scornful look, well scornful for a seven year old, and folded his arms. His mismatched eyes flashed with irritation.

"Well duh! Of course I'm a shape-shifter, you know any other way of becoming an animal?!"

The boy smirked rudely.

"By the way, you look like a fish right now, you know that right? Trying to be a shape-shifter too?"

Jim's mouth shut with a snap. He glared at the other boy, seemingly oblivious to their audience.

"Hey there! You need to learn some manners mate, don't you know who I am?"

All this earned the young prince was a shrug.

"No, should I have?"

The other boy's tone suggested he didn't really care. Jim growled and drew himself up to his full height.

"I'm Prince Jim of the Southern Kingdom! You're supposed to speak nicely to me or not speak at all!"

The third boy, who up 'til now had been silently watching the confrontation, gasped. He clenched his fists, frowning.

"Hey now, you need to be nice to my friend there Jimbo."

Jim looked at the boy, glowering.

"And just who are you?"

The nameless boy drew himself up to his full height.

"I'm Prince Tyranno. Daddy said something about another prince coming to meet me. I've got to admit, I'm not impressed!"

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(Present)

Jim smiled slightly; he had been an arrogant little brat then. It had taken a few more visits before he and Tyranno got along, and even more before Tsume would talk to him civilly. Now, ten years on, he and Tyranno were engaged.

Tyranno directed his horse further into the forest. He couldn't understand why Jim believed that Tsume was gone. The prince gripped his friends wolf designed bandana, a gift from him when they were younger, and dismounted. A snap caused both him and the guards to look around. One of the guards yelled out in alarm when a cloaked figure was spotted. The unknown figure raised his hand, and all hell let loose. The guards instantly put themselves between their attacker and the prince, holding their ground as a creature; not human or animal but some unholy mix of the two charged forward.

Not far from the castle, Jim heard the screams of the guards he had sent after Tyranno.

"Ty…"

Ignoring the calls of the rest of the guards, Jim turned his horse around and galloped off in the direction of the screams. What he found was a veritable massacre, only one man was still breathing and even then, it was clear he wouldn't last long.

"Prince Cook (cough)…couldn't stop it…took the (cough, cough) prince…gone…not what it seems…"

Jim laid the dead man on the ground as the skies opened. He tilted his head back and screamed into the rain.

"TYRANNO!"

Hope you guys like this newer version. I cleaned it up to make the dialogue more understandable and went further into the relationship between Tyranno and Jim. Read and review please!