A/N: Chapter two has been rewritten! Not too much has changed, since while going through the old prompt I wasn't sure what needed to be tweaked, so I apologize if this is just the same thing! Again, to point out, some of the personality the vampire king shows is loosely based on Viktor from Underworld.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. That goes to the respective owner(s). I only claim my OCs. Also, be aware of the language/violence in this story.
Chapter Two- The Arena:
(Ren's POV)
"Later this week?!" Allen hissed. "That doesn't give us a lot of time to get him out of there. What now?"
"We might need to change the plan a bit. I sent a heads up to Kalin's pack, so hopefully we will have some backup once the time is right."
"If you're sure about this."
"I am. Aly started it, but I'm going to finish it." Aly...I never thought that I would have been the one to complete this. She began this after befriending a werewolf that was the next leader of his pack. I thought it had been because of the same reasons I had started seeing Daiki, but it wasn't. She had gotten fed up about the war and wanted to end it without losing huge numbers of either side. It wouldn't be without a bit bloodshed since she planned on challenging our father and killing him in the duel.
However, that never became a reality. Aly got caught, and for a time I thought her friend Kalin had also met his end. He had been run through and left for dead. As if that wasn't hard enough, I also lost Daiki. The people of his town weren't too thrilled about the idea that he was seeing a vampire, but when it was found out I was the prince? That was the straw that broke the camel's back. We got attacked, and Daiki died trying to protect me. All because they blamed me for what the vampire king did.
Why am I recalling the past at a time like this? I can't afford to get too lost into the memories. I need to focus on ending this war. I may not be able to do it in the way Aly and Kalin wanted, but I can't keep playing the good little prince forever. Not when I'm still treated like the black sheep. Not when I hear everyone drag Aly's name through the mud. Not when I can at least do something to help the werewolf prince.
(Three Days Later, Yusei's POV)
"How's it feel knowing you're gonna die today, mutt?" the guard outside my cell sneered. I didn't reply to the taunt, only glaring from where I was sitting. A few days earlier, news broke out that I would be heading to the arena to be killed for the vampire clan's amusement. The guards have been attempting to get a rise out of me the entire time since, but I kept my cool.
"Aw, what's the matter? Upset that your clan's gonna lose the war once their beloved prince is nothing but a smear on the ground?"
I snorted. "If you think my father's going to be demotivated by my death, you've got another thing coming. No one's going to give up, not to a bunch of cowardly blood-suckers like yourselves," I retorted.
That got him to react. The cell door flew open, the guard storming in. "Why you little whelp! If we say you're gonna lose, you're gonna lose!"
"Pff, yeah sure. Knowing how my pack would respond to my demise, they'd be more motivated and make sure to turn your king into a smear on the ground next. His reign of terror ends before this century is over."
"Why you..." He grabbed me by the front of my shirt. "I oughta teach you some respect!"
"You mean like the lack of respect the clan shows? You trying to compensate?"
"Little fucker!" He raised his fist to hit me only for it to be grabbed. "Who the hell is-"
"That's enough," a new voice growled. I looked to see that it was the guard that had often stood outside when the cloaked figure would swing by. "Lark, let the prisoner go."
"But he-"
"Would you rather be the one to take his place in the arena? I doubt the king would be pleased to find him dead in his cell before the event. Might have to replace him if that's the case."
The guard's face went from anger to fear for a moment before getting back to the scowl. "Tch, fine." He released me, ending with a shove as he stomped out. "It'll be more enjoyable when he's getting torn to pieces, anyway." He didn't stop to stay outside the cell as it seemed he was relieved and kept going.
The other vampire stayed for a bit longer, however. I didn't get a chance to ask why as he stepped closer, pulled up my hand, and placed a wrapped object in my hand. "Here, hide this until the arena." He told me this in a hushed voice.
"What is..." I barely opened the cloth when I heard a hum from the collar. My eyes widened, turning back to him. "Why are you giving me this?"
"Not all of us are bloodthirsty savages. We want this war to end, and without the annihilation of a fellow clan." He headed out as I put the key away. The cell was shut and locked.
(No One's POV)
"Did you give it to him?" the new guard asked.
"Yeah, he's got it. Just stay here until he gets called, then get the hell out of here," Allen told him.
"I know. My family's already moved out of here, so they're safe even if I don't make it out of here."
"This might not end with the king dead, but at least it will be a step closer to the war finally coming to a close. Then there won't be a need for fear of harsh punishments from the rulers."
(Yusei's POV)
It had been maybe an hour since that debacle when the cell door got opened again, "Time for the arena," a guard spoke.
Two large vampires came in, picking me up by the arms. Other imprisoned werewolves were crying out about seeing their prince being dragged to his death. It was hard for me not to start fighting to get released. Even if I do die, this won't be the end the vampires were wanting. The whole clan will rally together and finally bring the vampire king down. No matter what.
Once we hit the ground of the arena, I was thrown none too gently to the dirt. I let out a grunt, namely due to feeling the key digging roughly into my skin through my pants. I got back to my feet, dusting myself off. The arena was packed with thousands of vampires, many cheering for my death to come swiftly and painfully. The vampire king was in his own personal viewing box, some guards standing next to him. Yes, because he so needs the protection.
"Today begins a first step towards the end of the war," the king announced smugly. "The werewolf brought in today is the prince of the whole clan. With his death, they will fall to our mighty and glorious clan!" Cheers came from the spectators. "Now, let us see just how long he can stand the might of a chimera!"
The gate on the other side started creaking open. I didn't see any fire coming from it, but the growls and hisses gave enough away. Out of the shadows flew a beast with a lion's head and body, a ram's head on the right shoulder, and a snake's head on the left. It stared at me hungrily, the lion's head drooling a puddle as it stood there.
Dammit, of course they'd keep their pick a chimera. Hope I can even the odds. I quickly grabbed the key into my pocket as the beast charged. I placed the head of the key to the diamond as the collar snapped off my neck.
(Ren's POV)
There! I thought, getting up from my seat and heading out of the viewing box. Everyone there was more focused on the fact that the werewolf prince transformed than to my leaving. Now that he was free to transform, he could at least hold off the chimera until I got to the ring. The whole place was in uproar, not just the seats.
"What's going on?" "He transformed! He's not supposed to transform! The collar would have kept that from happening!" "Is this the power of the werewolf clan's prince?" "No, there's a key down there! Someone released him!" several voices cried as I made my way through the halls. I pulled out the pepper-box revolver, making sure I got the right ammo. I'll only have one shot at this. I fuck it up, that chimera's gonna rip me a new one.
By now, Kalin's pack should be slipping into the holding cells where the other prisoners are. Allen made sure to give a copy of the master key to me before he and his brother ditched, so the only thing that would be needed would be to have a strong magic user get the collars off. Kalin said he already had one in mind, so that took care of that issue. All I needed to do was fire the signal spell once I got to the werewolf prince. They'd cause enough of a ruckus to allow us to get out and as far out of harm's way as possible.
Getting through the guards wasn't too big of a problem. I quick jab into the pressure points or a hard smack to the back of the head, and they were out cold. Thanks for the extra training there, Al. Now, for the big show. As soon as I stepped through the doors, my eyes bugged out of my skull. The werewolf prince was barely holding his own. He managed to at least remove the goat and snake heads from the chimera, but he also had a huge gash on his side that was bleeding heavily. The beast while bleeding badly too was closing in on him with claws and teeth.
Fuck! No no no, he can't die here! I fumbled for the bottle in my pocket, undoing the lid. I wasn't going to use these, but I have no choice now. Just going to have to deal with the mother of all hangovers after this. I got a pill out, popping it into my mouth and swallowing. I could feel the surge in my veins quickly. I bit into my thumb, running it over the barrel of my pepper-box. Runes glowed red in it as I aimed at the chimera. Only need one shot...
(Yusei's POV)
I grunted as my back hit the dirt, the chimera's paw pushing me down and claws digging into my chest. The lion's head let out a roar of victory, the blood from the stumps on either shoulder splattering the ground and my face. I tried pushing the paw off, but it was no use. It took most of my energy decapitating the other heads and the venom was starting to make my limbs weak. I'm sorry, Father. I tried, I thought as my eyes closed, ready to feel the claws one last time.
A shot rang out, making my ears ring. I opened my eyes to see the lion head's eyes wide, a hole at the temple. Then it collapsed on top of me. I managed to wiggle out from under the corpse, panting. What...? Who did..? There was a loud flap of wings from the other side. I saw a large bat letting off a cloaked figure, only this time their hood was down. That cloak...so then he was...?!
"Ren Mori!" I heard the king roar. "What the hell are you doing?!" The king shouting the name sealed it. The one who had been visiting my cell was the vampire prince, the heir to the throne. There had been one before him, princess Alyssa Mori, but she had disappeared. Why is he of all vampires helping me..?
Ren turned to the king. "I'm doing what's right. This war has gone on long enough, and I'm sick of being tied to such a bloody history! We're feared by every clan, and even the humans we barter with!"
"Of course! The vampire clan should be the most powerful clan in all the lands! We deserve no less!"
"Bullshit! Why should we be considered the best? Because we use the magic in our blood? Because we build weapons no one has seen before? This is not how you get respect from the other clans! This is how you're feared and hated! And the ones that disagree within your own clan? They end up dead! How is a leader supposed to have respect when he kills any who so much as breath wrong in his presence?!"
"So help me, Ren, if you don't step away from that mutt and apologize, you'll be executed right with them!" What?! Would he really kill his own child—his heir? What kind of monster is he?
The prince didn't move from his spot. Instead, he gained a cocky smirk as he stared up to where the king was. "Why don't ya make me, ya old blood-sucker?"
World-building A/N: Like in the previous version, the bats the vampires use are a special breed that was magically brought into existence for the clan's use. They can grow to several times their size for fast travel via the vampire's blood magic. They can also be used to send notes. Spells can be used to make them be invisible for a small amount of time or travel faster, though the latter can tire the bat out much faster. The pill Ren took strengthens a vampire's magic tenfold as well as their physical prowess. This does come with the cost of leaving them dizzy afterward and often without magic for a few days. As long as they've taken their usual blood intake, of course.
Also, changed Yusei's opponent as I have no clue why I mentioned a chimera when I wrote his opponent being vampire guards.