This gets really confusing, and I'm sorry for it. Years, timelines…it's just not my thing.


From then on, Shawn spoiled his boy. This meant doing what was best –not for himself- but for his sub. He hated letting Johnny go, but he had taught the boy enough to hold his own.

He won Tough Enough III by himself and won himself a WWE contract, but with Shawn's permission. As he started to grow out his luscious locks and become his own man, Shawn decided to step in and give him a boost.

Johnny was given his first real taste of the WWE by kayfabing as Eric Bischoff's apprentice. This was done only by the word of Shawn, so it only lasted four months. But he made his point. He showed off his skill, his potential, and people started paying attention. Unfortunately, he was sent back to OVW after a stipulation match.

He wasn't alone. A small kid named Evan, Chris's precious new pet, joined him at a young age. They trained together, Johnny picking up some high flyer moves from the younger man. They were about four years apart, and Evan didn't stay long, but they grew a bond.

Evan went to places like TNA, RoH, and the Independent Circuit. The WWF was a far reach for him, but Chris was happy that his youngling was getting the experience of all forms of wrestling. He himself had done so, unlike Shawn. Shawn was born into and always ran with the WWF (except for that stint in WCW.) He wanted the same for Johnny, so Bourne couldn't be his constant companion.

Shawn had spies to watch over his boy, so he didn't worry much.

But there were big changes for the Court. Later in '98, Bret started to seriously train Mark to take over for him. The Undertaker was definitely Head Master material, and Bret even allowed him to give a pet to a young man wishing to join them in a few years – Randy Orton. Things were rough, but it seemed for a while that everything was going to be fine.

Until Kevin approached Mark one night after RAW, a frown marring his features.

"I'm done" Kevin stated, clasping his friend's shoulder "Don't take this too personal, but I can't see this group surviving much longer as it is."

"What should I do?" Mark inquired, upset that all his friend's were abandoning him "You're the beta, you do something."

"Bret doesn't want me around anymore, and I've got opportunities else where" Kevin tried to keep his tone soft "You see what happens when the Head Master falters? Too many masters without a leash around them destroy this company."

"Tell me what I'm supposed to do, Kev."

"You're supposed to rise up, take control" Kevin clenched his fist, smirking outright "You're The Undertaker. You can form your own court, with your own rules. You've seen what can happen, you've seen Bret's mistakes. Don't let yourself make the same ones."

"What if I can't-"

"Yes. You. Can." Kevin growled, firm with the younger man "You've got this, you hear me? You can do this by yourself. If you were going to take control of this thing, what would your first step be?"

Mark thought hard about it, "Finding a beta I can trust."

"Good man" Kevin clapped his shoulder, stepping back "Bret will be gone in days, and it'll just be you. I have a feeling you've already decided. Talk to him soon. Don't let this whole court wither and die."

Mark nodded, watching his friend walk out of a WWF arena for the last time.

Yes, he did have an idea.

xXx

Undertaker got Shawn alone one night in the younger man's hotel room. Johnny was at his master's feet, silk pajamas buttoned up his chest and covering his legs. He was looking between the masters, dark hair sweeping along his neck. Both older men were serious, grave expressions on their faces.

Shawn spoke up long after the story was told, "You're sure about this?"

"Bret's ready to leave before the week is out" Mark replied, leaning back in his chair "I give Steve another year. Dedicated or no. Scott's done, for good. Kevin's gone to do his own thing for a while. I believe he wants to try and revive WCW."

"Self-sacrificing bastard" Shawn scrubbed a hand over his mouth "Where's that leave us? You, me? Chris? Adam? What about that protégée of yours, Orton? And his pretty present? What will we do?"

"Bret's become unreliable" a dark gleam came to the Undertaker's eyes "Me? I'm a bit more sturdy."

"You?" Shawn breathed. Even as he said it, he had already agreed. Mark had been groomed for the job. He had a dominant personality, he could give orders, he used his reason, and he had Vince in his good graces.

"Me" Mark replied, a smirk curling his lips.

Shawn gazed down at his sub, petting his hair lovingly, "Things will change for the better, I hope?"

The older man nodded, "If you'll agree to be my second."

Shawn looked up sharply, surprised at the statement, "Me?"

"Yes, you."

Shawn sputtered out several reasons why this was a horrible idea, but Undertaker wouldn't hear of it.

"I can't reform the court if you aren't there beside me" he was serious, he needed people who he could trust with him during this.

Reluctantly, Shawn agreed to give it his best.

"You know what this means?' Mark was speaking to Nitro now, looking to the young man "When you're ready, you'll get a bigger push. You'll be the head sub, above all the others. I'll need you to be a good role model for the others."

Johnny dared speak up, "But Jay is older than me."

"That doesn't matter" Mark stood, walking over and taking the boy's chin in between his thumb and forefinger "You'll have to grow up fast here, boy."

Shawn loosely wrapped an arm around his sub's neck, laying his hand tenderly upon his pec and drawing him back against the chair. It was a protective gesture, one to keep his boy from scrutiny.

"he's a smart boy, Mark" Shawn assured his new leader, letting Johnny rest his head on his knee "He'll do what I tell him."

"I'm a hands-on leader, Shawn."

"I know, Mark. As long as you don't let us down, we'll follow you. I assure that."

xXx

The truth came out days later. Vince had done everything he could to get Bret fired, hating him ever since that Montreal Screwjob. Vince felt that Hart's Court had too much sway, seeing as it was made up of some of his strongest stables. When Bret was fired, the masters of his court were pissed and started to rebel. The fans rebelled, he lost money, and he lost control of his superstars.

Diesel (Nash) left. Austin turned against Vince completely, doing everything he could to destroy the man's reputation and going against all that he stood for just to piss him off. Edge did what he wanted, and with his sub they dominated the Tag-Team Championship without much resistance.

The masters started to do whatever they wanted.

In late in '99, there was a fall out. Bret was fired from the company, even WCW didn't want him anymore. He had changed into a bitter man, having lost his brother to the business. The Hart Court suffered for this. Scott left on bad terms and went to WCW. Austin refused to be a part of this. His wife, his sub, had gotten dominant on him and he was trying to reassert his place. Austin spiraled out of control with his hatred of Vince, and left permanently in '02.

Bret left at the start of 2000, his passing-of-the-torch to Undertaker was just spiteful. It involved lots of screaming, and they both ended up with black eyes.

"Fine! Have it! Control a bunch of bastards who will never give a damn about what you do for them! Don't ever expect a thanks!"

And unlike Bret, Mark didn't expect anything from his court.

Soon after Bret left, Mark recruited Shawn as his second. John Cena, a man he quickly came to trust and care for, became his third. The Hardy Boyz joined soon after.

Undertaker set his court up with trustworthy men with beautiful, faithful subs.

And he was the better for it.