Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Chapter 10

New Life

The dull ache at the back of my skull registers before anything else does – it hurts like hell, like I hit it pretty hard when I fell; I vaguely remember seeing the lights go out and realise that I must have fainted. The second thing that my mind picks up on is that I am back in my private chambers, not alone. Jim and Axel are sat at either side of my bed, their expressions angry and worried at the same time; from across the room, Chazz is leaning against the wall and is glaring at me.

They move as one when I sit up, jumping into what appears to be a routine of asking me where I am injured and if I require a medic; I do not, it's just a bump on the head, and I don't want to ask them for painkillers. Now when I have more important questions.

"What happened?"

"Hasselberry managed to get rid of them" Axel answers. "Their army retreated back and we've got the servants cleaning up downstairs. The casualties were minimal."

"Yeah, but what really happened? Who were they?"

"Like we said, the rebel army."

"Rebel army?" My mind still can't quite process this information even though I remember them explaining this to me before I fainted. "What do they want?"

"Your rule to come to an end" Jim patiently tells me. "They're an army of Dark World fiends and monsters ruled by an evil spirit that calls itself Darkness. They began organising a while back and they've only gotten stronger."

"How did they know I was ... back?" I question, uncertain of whether or not this is the right thing to ask. "Who told them?"

"Nobody from here" Axel assures me. "They have their own ways of finding out. Their psychic probably saw it in the future."

"Their psychic?"

"A man named Sartorius. He used to be on our side, but he went over to the Fiends a long time ago."

I nod, not understanding but knowing that there's nothing new in that; I understand nothing about this world. More importantly, I remember absolutely nothing but a pair of green eyes above me, and somehow I don't think this will help. They don't need me as I am now, they need their King.

And even though they call me their king, I don't think I can be him, even if I was him once upon a time; now, I am not who they think I am, who they want me to be.

But that doesn't mean that I can't try!

After all, I understand one thing: these people are in danger and they are depending on me. Even if I don't know what I'm doing, I'm sure that I can help them out somehow – I never turn my back on anyone – with the help of the people around me. Aren't Jim and Axel my advisors? They'll be able to give me the right advice, surely.

With the first spark of incentive to help, I turn to them with a serious expression and ask, "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, for starters, Your Highness, we need you to get up and come to a meeting with the Lords and the Head of Security."

Nodding, I drag myself out of bed and then proceed to march towards the door – only to be stopped by an arm thrown out in front of me. I look questioningly at Chazz, automatically hesitating and wondering why he's stopping me.

"Hold it, Your Highness" he sneers, his tone radiating anything but respect, "You have to redress for the meeting."

A quick glance at my advisors confirms that much and I allow Chazz to pick out new clothing for me – more black, like they think it's my colour or something even though it's really not – as the other two leave the room.

/

Stepping into the meeting – in a different room to the last one - feels different this time; more professional, less intimidating. Maybe it's because I already know everyone in this room – there's me, the advisors, the Lords and the security guy. I sit at the head of the oval, mahogany-like table, with Hasselberry at the other end and the two sides filled by Jim and Axel, Zane and Aster.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask. Taking in the worried stares I get, I continue with, "I still don't remember anything. I want to help you guys, but I don't know anything about fighting the Fiends or whatever you call them. You're gonna have to give me a hand."

Hasselberry's head drops onto the table; Zane pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and slowly shakes his head; Aster rolls his eyes and looks irritated. Jim and Axel, who already knew that much, do not react at all. When the other three have recovered from this disappointing revelation, I ask them what to do.

"Well, first we have to agree on something" Zane begins, effectively setting the meeting in motion. "If we're going to launch any form of attack on the Fiends' army, we have to convince them into thinking that the King is leading the army."

"We can't let them know that he hasn't recovered his memories" Aster adds, his expression grave. "They'll have more incentive to attack us first if they know he's still in limbo."

"Ain't nobody getting through this fortress, soldier" Hasselberry boasts.

"That doesn't mean that they won't try" Axel argues. "And if they do, people are going to die. You saw what happened today; we lost three of the servants and a dozen warriors. We can't keep suffering losses like that!"

"Never mind all that" Aster interrupts. He turns to me. "Is there any way we can help you to remember? Anything we haven't tried yet? Because if the Fiends know you're not remembering anything, they'll likely try to make sure you stay that way."

I think for a moment and then shake my head. But on second thoughts...

"Was I close to anyone while I was here? Did I have, like, a best friend or anything?" I ask, desperately hoping that they'll say yes. After all, even if I don't remember anything, I'd very much like to have a friend right about now; surely anyone who was once a great friend to me can help me out now, maybe I can even befriend them again. "Anyone in the castle?"

"Just one" Jim shrugs. "You and Jesse were always pretty close. Joined at the hip."

"That cannot happen again" Zane interrupts, looking suddenly annoyed. "You two had an unsuitable relationship; it was halted by you yourself about a week before your disappearance."

"What sort of relationship?" I persist, suspicious and anxious.

"The wrong sort" he answers, and that is the only answer that any of them offer me, so I have no choice but to take it.

However, it's good enough for me. And the good thing about this lot thinking I'm the king is this: they have to do what I tell them.

"I want to spend some time with him. Maybe it'll jog my memories" I announce, trying to make my voice thunder with authority, and succeeding only in having it sound like a pitiful plea; I am that nervous about making demands. "It's our best shot."

Nobody looks too happen about the idea, but nobody disagrees with me.

"Do whatever you have to do to make sure nobody else gets hurt" I say before leaving the room, knowing that this is all I can do for the people I am supposedly meant to rule over until my memories return.

I walk out the door and find Chazz, waiting for me outside the door as he was instructed by the others; it's a routine thing, obviously, since he didn't complain about it even though he obviously didn't agree with not coming into the meeting – for all I know he was listening through the door, I have no idea if he's allowed to do that.

"Take me to see Jesse" I tell him, and he frowns – just like the others, but why? – but tells me to follow him.

I am nervous as I do so – Jesse made me uncomfortable when I met him, after all. But if he was a good friend to me when I was the king here, then he is my best shot at regaining my memories. Even if I am scared and worried and completely unsure of what's going on here in this strange world, I still want my memories back; it's all I've wanted since I first woke up not knowing who I was, and I will not back down now, when I am so close.

Jesse has to be able to help me; those green eyes of his are the only snippet that I can dredge up from the depths of my lost memories. If he can't help me to remember, then there's no hope.

Please R&R