Prologue

Chapter 1

The Prince

There was a soft warm breeze drifting through the large open window situated on the other side of the room. The room was large and well furnished with only the best and most expensive furniture. On the wall on the Opposite side of the room there was a large open fireplace which the night before was giving warmth to the large comfy room, now how ever the fire was but coals glowing a friendly orange, the walls of the room were large and made of stone but they were not tough when touched but smooth and warm. The colour of the stone walls lied within the onlooker for the colour's changed to what the onlooker's choice of colours would be if it was theirs.

At this moment there was a large clatter outside the room door. Causing the young prince to wake with a start. He sat up instantly, listening intently for any sound but no other noise came.

Silently he slipped of his bed and crossed the room towards his closet, his feet sinking into the soft rugs comforting his feet.

Slowly he searched his cupboard till he found what he was looking for, it was his dressing gown. Once he had the dressing gown on he crossed the room once more but this time towards the door.

The golden handle was cold as he pressed down on it, and opened to the slightest touch; the door swung open and there before him laid a large empty corridor. This surprised the prince for now he had no idea where the noise had come from.

For a while he just stood there his eye's searching the corridor for any sign of life or at least something that could have caused the sudden sound.

Finally he was about to give up his search when his eyes met a piece of paper, Folded neatly next to one of the pillars facing him. The prince walked over to the piece of paper quickly. He slowly picked it up and noticed that it had his name written on the front. Dear Ryou it read. Ryou slowly unfolded it.

Slowly his sharp eyes scanned the piece of paper reading the message twice without hesitation.

The message read

Dear Ryou meet me out in the centre garden after breakfast I've just got back from the mountain village we have so much to catch up on. See you there.

Bakura

Tyran couldn't believe it his friend had returned from the Shakyo village in the mountains. Bakura had left weeks ago but it seemed like years. For Bakura and Ryou were inseparable you could never find one without the other. Both boys were the same age but Bakura was 2 years older than Ryou. Both boys had long white hair and tanned skin. But Bakura had green eyes where Ryou had brown.

Ryou ran down the corridor heart pumping. He was going to miss breakfast and go meet his friend earlier than Bakura had originally planned but as fate would have it along the way towards the garden he ran straight into his father the King. His father the King was a tall man and very proud he wore a long blue and green robe that covered his entire body, around his waist there was a strong sturdy belt made from mythril and out lined with gold hanging from the belt was a well made sword that was passed down from generation to generation.

Ryou stood up looking up at his father with a grin on his face. "Guess what" he cried in a extremely energetic voice "what" his father replied deciding to go along with it. "Bakura back from the village" he cried out much louder than he meant to which in turn caused him to turn slightly red, but His father just looked down at him with a smile on his face "that's great but you wouldn't be missing breakfast to go meet him earlier would you now" said his father with a smirk on his face.

Ryou blushed at these words wondering how his father new that his friend and himself were on their way to meet each other. Meanwhile his father just stood their silently with a smirk plastered on his face because by the look on his sons face he new what he said was true.

Ryou was first to speak after the long pause "how did you know that I was going to meet Bakura" asked Ryou keeping constant eye contact with his father. "The guards told me" he told him simply, "but their were no guards outside my room" the little prince blurted out before he could stop himself. The king just stood there for a seck with yet another smirk on his face before he replied "none that you could see" In saying this his father placed one of his large strong hands behind Ryous back and guided him to the dinning hall.

The dinning hall was on the other side of the palace from the gardens this annoyed Ryou.

The walk seemed to go on forever and neither Ryou nor his father talked besides the usual little nod to the guards and servants till the dinning hall doors were in sight. His father seemed to take this as the time to start a conversation "are you ready for tomorrow" Ryou didn't answerer right away for he was extremely nervous about the next day to come. It was his 6th birthday every other year Ryou got extremely excited about his birthday but this year was different this was one of the most important days that his life journey would hold for tomorrow their will be a grand ceremony where the sacred medallion of hope is to be past down to Ryou. The medallion has sacred powers and gives hope to those who are in despair. But the medallions greatest power is to allow the person who wears it to control the mightiest weapon the staff of torapezz. The weapon is ancient but still looks as if it has never been used it is a long and black staff with gold patterns running along it but no one knows its true power, for no one has ever been able to control the amazing powers that lay dormant within its core. For it is said the one in which the medallion shines for will control the staff but all is not well with this for it is also written that it will shine when it's hidden powers are needed most.

This scared Ryou because he couldn't bear the staff glowing for him the thought terrified him. For he was very young and the thought of him being the only hope for his people almost made him feel sick. This must have shown for his father left him to his thoughts.

Ryou just kept walking absentmindedly till he heard his name being called by one of the palace servants to take his seat at the royal table situated on the other side of the room. Ryou passed a few other tables with nobles seated at them discussing the problems that they were having protecting their borders from some of the bands of thieves coming from the forgotten lands. Ryou new that this was becoming a major problem because their was allot of talk about it going around the palace, he also new it was a major problem because no one before now had dared come from the forgotten lands and attack Ellroy's borders.

By now Ryou had reached the table and taken his seat next to his mother Queen Marilan. Marilan was tall with black hair. She wore a pink robe with a matching belt around her waist; she was very wise and was known to give good advice to those who asked. She was not born to this land but of Arsden a large island off the coast of Ellroy. It was one of Ellroy's largest neighbours and greatest ally both the people from Ellroy and Arsden had fought side by side in many wars.

Once Ryou was comfortable he gave his usual greeting to his mother, his mother smiled at him before saying "Bakuras back I saw them return last night, I bet he's already been in contact with you", Ryou just smiled back and thought for a moment before answering how do my parents know every thing am I that predictable, "yah I'm meeting him in the gardens after breakfast" Ryou told his mother happily remembering all the things he had to tell Bakura.

Breakfast seemed to go on forever, as time went on Ryou face drew closer and closer to the table. For the only thing keeping him awake was the complaining of the nobles to his father about the attacks on their borders.

At this moment their was a large commotion outside the dinning hall doors. Ryou sat up instantly; this was just the thing he needed to keep himself awake.

Ryou once again found himself listening intently, yet this time he was trying to unscramble the muffled words that could be heard from out side the dining hall doors.

If the man or women was found to be dangerous he would never make it inside the dinning hall. Ryou new this because of other people who had tried to assault a noble, for he new the guards will stop him and drag him down to the dungeons for one of his father's advisors to deal with.

Ryou tried to keep his mind clear of all thoughts but the muffled sound, but it was almost no good. For so many strange things had been going on of late. Without a moment later than Ryou had got his mind clear on the sound the large elegant doors were thrown open, their beyond the door lay 6 guards surrounding by what appeared to be a peasant.

The guards had looks of hora and anxiety mingled on their faces. The peasant stumbled in. his cloth's were tattered with holes and were stained beyond repair, he had tanned leathery skin from the dry hot sun, his hair was like Ryou but much, much messier.

Any fool could see that he was terra stricken, but the man just stood there staring directly at Ryou his eyes not once travelling towards his father or mother. A few minutes past before Ryous father found his words, "welcome" his father said slowly, but then he waited for a minute as if he was waiting for some kind of a response which he clearly was not going to receive before he finished with "I've been waiting for you".

Ryou couldn't believe what he had just heard come out of his fathers mouth, the words rippled through his mind making it hurt with questions. But the voice did not stop on tyran it spread itself around the room like wildfire invading every mind making each one explode with questions. Why was there King in league with this man.

Hi everyone this is my first story so be nice, please review and tell me what you think. Or I wont update cause theirs no point if no one reads it. My favourite character is ryou