Jaden and Alexis: Kingdom Alliance Part I
This is the first part of our "Love Through Lifetimes" series. This first story, broken into three parts is about Jaden and Alexis in their past lives in the Duel Monsters Kingdom. This begins after Yubel went from being a human boy to a monster girl. 15animefreak15 and Peach Wookiee have taken liberties with certain events and assumed that the prince that became the Supreme King had to get married. It's expected that young people in royalty have to get married and produce heirs. We also assume that Yubel would be very, very jealous. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far and got us on alert. So now…onto the story.
Disclaimer: No…we don't own GX. We just own our OCs and our own plots. We also own our interpretations of things. Further, we've made the prince and princess much the same as they are in their modern incarnations. So Jaden is himself. You have been warned.
Warning: Mentions of the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees… That's an old song, but you get the idea. Thank you!
Authors' notes: Jaden is the prince of the Monster Heroes Kingdom and Alexis is the princess of the Cyber Kingdom.
It was a bright time in the Duel Monsters Kingdoms for everyone. Peace reigned over the light and dark regions of that world as the Light of Destruction had been held at bay by the dark side of justice. The humans and monsters again lived in peace and all was well. Well, not quite. The crown prince, Jaden, was very sad. His best friend, Yubel, had had to sacrifice his humanity to protect Jaden from harm until the prince could safely control his powers. Jaden had no interest in things the other boys his age had interest in. He only cared to duel.
So it was devastating when he lost his friend. "Why did you do it, Yubel?" he asked...her, for he, Yubel, had become a female monster to protect him, Jaden.
Yubel smiled softly at him. "Because, Jaden, I wanted to love and protect you forever. I will never let anyone hurt you."
"You didn't have to take the Dragon's Heart," he said, hugging her. 'Her...that's going to take some getting used to,' he thought. "We'll be friends forever, then."
She returned the hug, smile widening. "I would do anything for you, Jaden...we'll always be friends, no matter what..."
"Yeah...I just wish...things had been different..." He didn't like losing friends. He never would. And he had lost the boy that Yubel was. But he would cherish... 'her, remember that!'
"I'm still here for you, Jaden. Even if I'm not the same as I was before in body, I am the same in heart and mind," she replied.
"I know...we can still duel, can't we?" he asked, releasing from the hug.
"Of course we can still duel. As much as you want," she answered.
"Okay, then." He smiled again, happy. But that smile would not last long... "Father, I have to WHAT?!" he yelped at his father, King Hisoka, later in the day.
"You heard me, Jaden. You are to be wed to Princess Alexis of the Cyber Kingdom. You are getting older and it is time you found a future queen to rule by your side," the older man repeated, smiling. He was tall and muscular and had dark hair, a beard and dark eyes.
"But...I do not even know her...And...I just want to duel!" Jaden exclaimed.
"And you may still duel, Jaden. But there are other things you are obligated to do. You are the future ruler of this world and will be responsible for all who reside within it."
"And I have to get married...why?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"So that you have someone by your side to rule with you. And, so that you may produce an heir. No one lives forever, Jaden, my son," Hisoka answered gently.
"Produce an heir?" Jaden really wasn't sure what his father meant now. "Uh...I really don't know what you're talking about..."
Hisoka sighed. "Jaden, perhaps it is time I explain something to you..." He explained, as simply and gently as he could, what Jaden and Alexis would need to do to have a child.
"I have to do WHAT?" So this was what the other boys talked about. Girls were a thing that Jaden hadn't entirely understood yet. And now he had to... Well, it was scary to a boy who thought only about fun and dueling. "I...won't know what to do..."
"Well, Jaden, you may understand it better when you're older. For now, there's no need to worry about it too much. The marriage is a ways off," Hisoka explained, again with some gentleness. His son was very innocent, even now, and it pained Hisoka to have to bring the boy knowledge that would change that innocence, especially after his best friend had been taken from him.
"How long, Father? You married when you were...6 months older than me..." Jaden feared it wouldn't be that soon, but he had a feeling it just might be.
"Well, son, that is how long you have to prepare yourself for it."
Jaden's jaw dropped and his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, while his skin went white. "Oh, man!"
"Now, Jaden, there is no need to panic..."
"Father...I...will do as you say, but...I'm still not sure about this...This is going to be tougher than dueling, isn't it?"
"My son, that depends on how well you take to this situation."
"I will meet her before the wedding, won't I?" the boy asked.
"Of course you will. In fact, she is coming tomorrow. She will remain here for a week so that the two of you may be acquainted with one another," Hisoka explained.
"Tomorrow?!" Jaden yelped, turned white and passed out.
After Prince Jaden woke up, he spent the rest of the day pacing nervously, slept fitfully and awoke to his mother shaking him gently the next morning. "Jaden, wake up...she will be here soon..."
"Ooh...Mother...I don't want to," the boy groaned, trying to bury himself in the blankets of his bed.
"Now, Jaden, you don't want her to think that you have bad manners. A good first impression is always important," Hisoka stated.
"Good morning, Father," Jaden answered, getting up out of bed.
"You must bathe, son," Queen Jayda said, her brown eyes firm and kind at the same time.
"You must look your best for Princess Alexis," Hisoka added.
"I know...this is so sudden...I hope we can at least be friends," the boy stated, sounding nervous.
The king smiled. "I'm certain you will be, Jaden. You have a wonderful personality that anyone would love."
Jaden sighed and headed for the royal bath. Yubel appeared beside him. "I'm getting married," he said by way of greeting.
Yubel gasped in shock. "You're what?!"
"Not for six months...I have to because I have to...uh..." The boy turned crimson, remembering what his father had told him yesterday.
"Because you have to what?" she asked, eyebrows raising.
Jaden was fire-red... "Produce heirs..."
Yubel blinked, and then her jaw dropped. "You're kidding!!"
"No, and I didn't know until yesterday that people did...that," Jaden groaned.
Yubel had known, but had never told Jaden because she'd thought when she was a he that Jaden had known as well. "I...thought you knew, Jaden," she murmured, surprised at his innocence.
"Uh...no...And you knew and you didn't tell me?" he asked, stunned.
She sweat-dropped. "Well, you...never seemed all that interested in girls."
"Well, I just was interested in dueling," he said. "The stuff other guys were interested in I didn't get, you know?"
She nodded. "Yes, I understand. You just had different interests; that's all."
"So now... I have to be interested... And I'm meeting this girl today!"
Yubel frowned; she didn't like this at all. It was supposed to be just her and Jaden forever, and now there was going to be some girl in her way. "Well...when are you meeting her?"
"In a few hours. I have to bathe and dress in fresh clothes. And I have to make a good impression," he groaned.
"Is that what your parents told you?" she asked.
"Pretty much," Jaden sighed. "I mean...she may be very nice, but like I told Father, I really just care about dueling."
"But he told you that you need to be married so that you can become king and produce an heir, right?"
"Yeah," he answered. Jaden still wasn't thrilled about this at all.
"Well, it's obvious that your father isn't going to let you just duel your whole life. I guess...there's nothing to do but make the best of it." Yubel may have been jealous of the unknown princess, but she was still Jaden's best friend. And she wanted to make him feel better about it.
"Yeah...I'm glad you're still here...We've always been good friends. And don't take this the wrong way, but you look nice as a girl Duel Monster," he said cheerfully. Jaden really liked how she looked, but perhaps not in the way Yubel now wanted him to look at her.
Yubel blushed, though it couldn't be seen because of her new skin tone. "I...do? Really?"
"Yeah...I'll bet you're the toughest one in the game right now!" Jaden grinned enthusiastically.
Yubel smirked. "I bet I am! You're best friends with the strongest monster in the world, Jaden!"
"Yeah! Now...urgh...bath time..." Jaden didn't mind being clean, but he didn't exactly like the whole bathing process.
"Just...pretend you're going swimming, Jaden," Yubel offered.
"Okay," he said as they arrived at the bathroom. The servants bathed him and then dressed him in his best attire and then he looked at himself in the mirrors. "Do I look all right?" he asked Yubel.
Yubel wanted to say that he looked very handsome, but felt that might make him uncomfortable. "You look...great, Jaden! Just like a prince."
"Good, because I am one," he sighed, laughing a little. "I just hope I actually impress her...That's my duty...Part of it..."
"I'm sure you will, Jaden. If she doesn't like the way you look, then she's sure to love your personality," she replied, smiling.
"I hope so...I've heard the girls in the kingdom say I'm...nuts?" he asked.
She sweat-dropped. "Well...some find your obsession with dueling and hyper-active nature to be...strange, Jaden."
"It's not my fault the birthday cake was so sweet!" For Jaden's 12th birthday, the castle baker had made him a wonderful confection and the young prince had reigned chaos upon the land.
"Well, I know that, and so do some people. But most...find that incident rather hard to forget..."
Jaden sweat-dropped. "I heard a lady in another land did something similar..."
Yubel blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah...but she did it for better reasons than a sugar high..."
"What did she do it for?"
"She was protesting her husband's heavy taxation of the people."
"Oh, I see..." Yubel may have said more, but then they heard the sound of a coach coming down the drawbridge into the castle.
"Jaden! My son, it's time," Queen Jayda called, coming into the chambers. "Hello, Yubel," she greeted with a kind smile.
"Hello, Queen Jayda. The princess has arrived?" the winged monster girl asked.
"Yes, she is over the drawbridge. Jaden, you must meet her. And she is reputed to be very kind and also quite the duelist."
"She duels?" Jaden asked in surprise.
"Yes, she does," Queen Jayda smiled, straightening his cape.
Yubel frowned on the inside, but on the outside she smiled. "You see, Jaden? You two already have something in common."
"That's good...maybe this won't be so bad..."
"Of course it won't," Jayda said seriously. "You're a good looking boy and the crown prince of this land...what girl wouldn't want you?"
"Anyone who saw what happened on my 12th birthday, Mother..."
"Well, what if she didn't see what happened?" Yubel offered.
"It doesn't matter," Jayda answered. "Now come along, both of you."
"Yes, Mother," Jaden sighed. Yubel offered her best friend an encouraging smile as they headed down to the throne room.
A short time later, the two older male monarchs shook hands in the throne room. King John of the Cyber Kingdom clasped hands with King Hisoka of the Monster Heroes Kingdom and Queen Jayda hugged Queen Jean Louise. "It's been a long time since we've last seen each other, Hisoka. You and Jayda look well," John said with a smile. He was a jolly man with blonde hair and light brown eyes like his daughter's and a kind easy way.
Hisoka returned the smile. "Yes, as do you and Jean, John. It is good to see you two again."
"Jayda, this is a good day," Queen Jean said with a smile on her plump features. She had dark hair and dark eyes, which she had passed onto her eldest child, Prince Atticus.
"Where is Prince Atticus?" Queen Jayda asked.
"At home with the minstrels," Jean sighed. "He doesn't wish to be torn away from his music..."
John sighed. "Sometimes I wonder about that boy...if only he were more like his sister."
"We just have our Jaden," Jayda sighed, smiling. "Your Atticus will find his way..."
"Alexis...come forward, please," Jean said gently but firmly.
Princess Alexis was revered in her kingdom already for her beauty, as well as for her kindness. Waves of gold silk fell past her shoulders, and her eyes were the color of melted caramel. It seemed the only problem she had was a slight temper, which her brother knew all too well. She stepped forward to stand by her mother's side.
Jaden moved forward as well. And something came over him. 'She's...pretty,' he thought, swallowing. 'What do I say?!'
Alexis blinked when she saw Jaden. There was something about him, she thought as she looked at the warm brown eyes, the nervous but eager face and the fluffy brown hair with the red shock at the top. 'He's...cute. Not handsome, but close. I wonder what he'll say,' she thought. It was customary for the man to speak first in greeting.
"Uh..." That came out about two octaves higher than Jaden's normal voice. He quickly cleared his throat. "Princess Alexis...I am Prince Jaden...It... is a pleasure to meet you..."
Alexis managed to suppress the laughter that rose in her throat at the awkward greeting, and put on a small smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Prince Jaden."
"Perhaps...you would like...a tour of the grounds?" he asked, knowing what was expected of him.
Her smile grew a little. "Of course. I will be living here in a few months. I should know my way around."
Jaden nodded. "Okay, then..." Yubel had conveniently disappeared, but Jaden knew she was around. Yubel was, in fact, around, and planned on watching from the sidelines in case Jaden needed her help. She wasn't happy about that fact that he was seemingly attracted to her, though.
The two royal teenagers walked out to the gardens. "He is nervous," Jayda commented.
"He isn't used to dealing with girls," Hisoka added.
"He isn't?" Queen Jean asked.
"No, unlike other boys his age, he seems to prefer dueling. He's...rather obsessed with it, actually," Hisoka explained with a sigh.
"Then perhaps they are a good match, right, my king?" Jean smiled at her husband knowingly.
John nodded, returning the smile. "Yes. You see, Alexis isn't all that interested in boys, either. She seems to prefer focusing on dueling rather than men."
"Then perhaps...this will be good for them," Jayda smiled. "They will find commonality..."
"And they may be more comfortable around each other," Hisoka added with a smile.
Out in the garden, Jaden wasn't sure what to say and was looking and feeling awkward. "We...have lovely flowers here," he said to Alexis.
"Yes, I can see that," Alexis replied as she went to a cluster of red roses and smelled one.
"Be careful. They have sharp thorns," he said lamely.
"I know. Mother has a rose garden and—ouch!" She pulled away from the rose, wincing at the small cut on her finger.
Jaden winced. "Here, let me see..." It wasn't a horrible cut, but it needed tending. He pulled out his handkerchief and then gently kissed the wound.
Alexis wasn't one for romantics or flattering, and didn't blush easily. But the sudden move by Jaden and the fact that he only did it to help moved her. She blushed, watching him in amazement. 'He's so...so...innocent. Not like other boys,' she thought in awe.
Jaden looked up, noticing the blush. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Alexis blinked, placing her free hand on her cheek and feeling how warm it was. Embarrassed, she quickly forced the blush down and nodded. "Y-Yes, I'm all right. I just...missed that thorn, that's all..."
"Do you need to sit down?" he asked.
She sighed. "That might be a good idea..."
He led her gently to a bench in the garden next to a fountain. "Is this all right?" he asked.
The princess smiled. "Yes, this is...nice. Why don't you sit with me?" she asked, patting the spot beside her on the bench.
This girl, Alexis, seemed really nice, Jaden reflected. "Okay..." He sat down next to her and for a moment, silence reigned. 'What do we talk about?' he thought.
'Now I feel different around him...why did he have to go and do what he did?' she wondered. Alexis wasn't used to feeling nervous, and she didn't like the feeling at all.
"Um...so...do you like...stuff?" he asked. 'That came out so wrong!' his mind screamed at him.
She blinked. "Uh...'stuff'?"
"Uh...oh, man...I'm sorry...I'm honestly not certain what to talk about," he admitted.
Alexis couldn't help it; a few laughs escaped her mouth. She gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. "Oh, I'm sorry, that was rude..."
Jaden laughed back. "It's... it's all right... I'm sort of awkward."
Alexis smiled. "You're certainly different from most boys."
"That's what everyone says... A friend of mine says that a great deal..."
"Well, I don't think it's a bad thing..."
Jaden met her eyes. "R-really? The other girls in the kingdom seem to think otherwise."
Alexis nodded. "Really. You're not like the other boys I've met at all. They always tried to flatter me and get me to like them. But they never really seemed to actually care about what I wanted or needed."
"You're a person just like everyone else," he said. "You deserve to be treated as such."
She smiled. "You're so sweet, Jaden."
Jaden flushed a bit. "You are too...You would probably think what I'm into is stupid..."
"Maybe not. What are you into?" she asked.
"Dueling," he answered, feeling unsure.
She smiled. "I love dueling."
Jaden's eyes widened. "Seriously? You—you're into dueling?"
Alexis nodded. "Yeah. I've always loved to duel, ever since I was little."
"That's amazing. Not many girls like the game that I know of," he said, "but I'm glad you like it."
"As am I. Now we can duel each other," she replied happily. Her brother Atticus was usually too busy to duel with her, she didn't know any girls who liked to duel, and boys would rather flirt with her than duel her.
"Yeah...We can duel and have fun..."
"Well, at least until we have to become the rulers of your kingdom. Then, we'll likely be too busy to duel much..."
Jaden blushed, remembering what his father had told him. "Uh...perhaps..."
Alexis looked at him. "Perhaps...?"
Jaden was as red as his cape. "Uh...you understand...is this appropriate for us to talk about?" he asked.
She was obviously confused. "Is what appropriate for us to talk about?"
"Uh...oh...the duty that we have to each other and our future," he stammered.
She blinked, trying to figure out what he meant. "Our duty...to our people?"
"Not just them...but...the family line?" he tried.
"Family line...?" And then, it hit her like a ton of bricks, and she went as red as Jaden's cape.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"N-No, it's all right. After all, we will have to do that eventually," she replied.
"Yes...but...I only found out about it yesterday." He wasn't intending to be funny, just honest.
"Well, if it's any consolation...so did I," she admitted.
Jaden suddenly felt a lot better. "That's a relief. Now I don't feel like the village idiot."
Alexis laughed a little at that. "Just because you didn't know something, that doesn't mean you're an idiot, Jaden."
"Prince Chazz thinks I'm a fool," the boy said, thinking of the cocky young prince of the Ojama Kingdom.
She placed a hand on his, smiling at him. "I've met Prince Chazz, and he's not nearly as nice or sweet as you are, Jaden. He's actually rather mean..."
Jaden was quiet for a moment. "He isn't so bad. He had evil brothers and then they were eaten by dragons. His parents are nice."
"Well, I just hope that he won't become like them, and will change his ways for the better," Alexis replied.
"I don't think he will be like his brothers were...I heard that Princess Mindy of the Fairy Kingdom is dating him."
"Oh, I'm friends with her, though I haven't talked to her in a while. Do you have friends in other kingdoms?"
"More like acquaintances," he admitted.
She blinked. "Then...you have friends here in your kingdom?"
"Just one..."
"Really?"
Jaden nodded. "Yes...and...this is difficult to explain..." He thought hard about how to explain Yubel. It might not be easy.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," she said.
"I think I should...he...she is my best friend..."
"Well, then, just do your best."
Jaden took a deep breath and explained as best he could about the boy who became a female duel monster to protect him forever. "He...she is different now, but she's still my friend...Would you like to meet her?"
Alexis had to admit that the story was strange, very strange. But this Yubel person must be good since she went through so much to protect her best friend. "Yes, I would."
"Okay...Yubel?" he called.
Yubel sighed; they were getting along well. But even if they hadn't been, they would still be wed. There was nothing she could do. So, she appeared beside Jaden. "Yes, Jaden?"
"This is Alexis, Princess of the Cyber Kingdom. Alexis, this is Yubel, my best friend," Jaden smiled.
Alexis was a bit taken aback by Yubel's appearance, but then regained herself and smiled a little. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yubel," she greeted kindly.
Yubel returned the small smile. "It's nice to meet you too, Alexis."
"I hope you two are good friends. I want you both to get along," Jaden said eagerly.
Yubel didn't really want to be friends with her competition, especially since no matter what she was going to lose. But if it would make Jaden happy, then she would do it. "I'm sure we will be, Jaden," she replied.
"Great!" Jaden grinned. And so the three strode through the garden together.
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By the end of the week, Jaden and Alexis were fast friends and something more. Alexis's parents were waiting in the coach, and it was time to say good-bye. They wouldn't see each other again until a week before the wedding ceremony.
"We have...less than six months before we see each other again, Alexis," he began. "I hope...I can survive the wait..."
She smiled. "As do I. But perhaps the time will pass quickly."
The two were more than friends now, and Jaden was going to miss the funny and tough princess. They had dueled, and though she had proven a worthy foe, he had beaten her. But now...he met her eyes. "Alexis...may I give you something?" he asked.
She blinked in surprise. "Of course, Jaden."
Jaden moved and put his arms around her. And then on impulse, he pressed his lips to hers. Alexis's eyes went wide for a moment in shock, but then they closed in pure bliss. Her arms went around him on their own as she practically melted into his embrace. He kissed her gently, and yet passionately, and then finally let go. "I love you," he said softly, "my princess."
She blinked a few times to regain her senses, and then smiled. "And I love you...my prince..."
"In less than six months, then, on my birthday...I won't forget our anniversary!" he said cheerfully.
She laughed. "Neither shall I. And I won't forget your birthday, either."
"Yours is in...March, correct?" he asked.
She smiled happily. "Yes, it is. You remembered!"
"March...18th, right?" he grinned eagerly, amazed that he actually remembered.
She nodded. "Yes, yes, that's it! You did it, Jaden!"
"Great...I wish we didn't have to get married on my birthday. It will be so cold here," he said.
"Well, we'll just have to bundle up after the wedding and stay nice and warm," she replied.
"Yeah...after the wedding," he answered, blushing. Now, that aspect didn't seem quite so frightening.
She blushed as well, remembering what they had to do. "Maybe...it will be easier than it sounds..."
"Yeah...maybe," he answered.
"Alexis...say good-bye," Queen Jean smiled at her daughter.
"All right, Mother. Good-bye, Jaden. I'll miss you," Alexis said.
"I'll miss you too...Lexi," Jaden said, flushing.
Alexis blinked at the nickname; the only person who had ever called her that was her brother. "I like it," she whispered, kissing his cheek.
"Six months, then," he murmured.
"Six months," she repeated, then followed her mother into the coach.
Jaden waved until the carriage was out of sight. "Father...she's wonderful!" he smiled up at King Hisoka.
"You see, Jaden? I told you that everything would still be all right," the older man replied, smiling.
"I'm looking forward to six months from now," the boy said, grinning.
"That's good to hear, son. If you're lucky, it will pass by quickly and the time will come before you know it."
"I hope so..." Later, Jaden sat on the battlements of the tallest tower, overlooking the valley of his kingdom. "Yubel?" he asked.
She appeared beside him a few seconds later. "Yes, Jaden?"
"Do you like Alexis?" he asked.
She blinked at the question. "What do you mean? Do I like her as a friend?"
"Yeah," he answered.
"Then yes, of course I like her. She's very friendly, and she likes to duel. What's there not to like about her?"
"I just want to be sure...You're my friend...but...she will be my lover and the mother of my children," he said in awe mixed with some excitement.
She bit down on her tongue, still jealous that Alexis would have that privilege instead of her. "Yes...in just a few months you two will be bonded by marriage."
"Yeah...I'm not afraid of what's to come anymore...I'm...kind of looking forward to it," he admitted. "Is that normal?"
She looked at him in surprise; he had changed in the past week. "Actually...it is, Jaden."
"Good. I was worried I'd be even weirder," he said with a nervous laugh. "So...you're okay with this? We're still friends..."
She smiled, though within her was an undercurrent of jealousy. "Yes, Jaden, I'm okay with this. We'll always be friends..."
"Good...She's amazing, Yubel...I can't get her out of my head..."
'I should be the one he can't get out of his head,' she thought. Thanks to the Dragon's Heart, her once-friendly feelings had changed to the type of love that could drive people to insanity when the person you love doesn't reciprocate. "Well, Jaden, I'm glad that you love her so much. It will make your marriage much more enjoyable."
"A week ago...I was so scared...and now...I can't wait for this...Yubel, I'm so happy!"
'But he's happy...that's all that really matters. I want him...to be happy,' she thought, sighing inwardly with the inner conflict. "I'm glad that you are, Jaden."
"I'll have to make something for her...I want everything to be perfect for her!" Jaden exclaimed.
Yubel blinked. "Make something? Like what?"
Jaden frowned, and then smiled. "Something that fits her beauty...and her grace...and her skills."
Yubel scratched her head. "Well, good luck finding something that fits all of that..."
"I will," he grinned. "If I have to move the very heavens and earth to do it!"
She sighed, but smiled. 'That's my Jaden,' she thought, knowing just how enthusiastic he got when he was determined to do something.
"OH! And I've got to get a Christmas present for her!" Jaden's thoughts were full of her.
"Now, Jaden, calm down. You have six months to do both those things, remember?"
"I know, but it'll go fast...and then...we'll be busy with other concerns..."
"I hope you'll still have time for dueling."
"I'll make the time, Yubel..."
The six months passed quickly. Jaden was very busy with his project. He still dueled, but it was obvious his thoughts were on his beloved Alexis. By December, he was done with his gifts. "She'll love these...I know she will," he smiled.
Yubel had noticed Jaden seemingly growing more and more distant from her as he became closer and closer to Alexis. Even if she wasn't there, his love for her seemed to grow during the absence, and with it, Yubel's jealousy. She wasn't looking forward to the wedding ceremony, or having Alexis living with Jaden. She now appeared by his side. "You've finished them?"
"Yes, I have, Yubel...Her Christmas gift..." He held up a jewelry box made from the scale of a Diamond Dragon. "And this...is for our wedding day." He held up a necklace made from the shining scale of a Blue Eyes White Dragon. "I got all of this from the Dragon Kingdom."
"Jaden...they're beautiful. I'm sure that she'll love them...especially since you made them for her," Yubel replied, feeling a twinge of anger that the presents weren't for her.
Jaden smiled. "I made something for you, too, Yubel..."
Yubel blinked in shock; she hadn't known about this. "You...you did?"
Jaden nodded, and held out a bracelet made from the scale of a Red Eyes Black Dragon. "Merry Christmas, Yubel...my best friend...I can never thank you enough...You gave up your humanity and being a guy..."
Yubel took the bracelet, which slipped onto her wrist easily. For a moment, her jealousy and anger faded. "Jaden, I...thank you. I couldn't have asked for a better gift from my best friend."
"If you were still a guy, I'd have made you something else," he said, blushing a bit.
She smiled. "It's all right. I'm...rather used to my new body by now."
"I know...I still wish it hadn't had to be that way, you know?"
"Yes, there are times I miss being a boy."
Jaden looked at her curiously. "What's the worst part about not being a guy anymore?"
Yubel thought for a few moments. "Oh, I know. Having to worry about my looks."
"Yeah...Girls have it rough...You have to worry about hair...and clothes..."
"Well...I only really ever wear this. And it's hard to do anything with my hair," Yubel admitted, sweat-dropping.
Jaden looked at her skintight outfit and her bi-colored hair. "You look nice," he said appraisingly.
Yubel blushed, though again it couldn't be seen because of her skin tone. "Thanks..."
"Well, you do...Maybe there's a guy Duel Monster that will make you happy someday..."
She was brought back to her senses. 'Right...a Duel Monster... Jaden's still marrying Alexis, and we're still just friends. But...I've only ever had feelings for him,' she thought. The jealousy within her surged.
"There will be a guy Duel Monster that will think you're great! Just like I feel about Alexis," the boy smiled.
"Yes, of course. There are plenty out there, anyway," she replied, not entirely believing it.
"Yeah, there are...Just a few weeks," he sighed blissfully.
"And then you'll be married..."
"Yeah...And...wow," Jaden murmured, thinking of the child he would give his bride as well. He got the dreamy expression on his face that he'd gotten recently. Yubel, seeing that his thoughts would be locked on Alexis for a while, sighed and disappeared.
Quite a long chapter, wasn't it? And in the tradition of some arranged marriages, the couple fell for each other rather quickly. Much to Yubel's horror, Jaden fell for the lovely princess and now, Yubel is angry. The moment that will define her next few centuries has turned her into a jealous creature. And Jaden is oblivious. So what will happen in Part II of our little tale? You'll just have to stay tuned! So please, until next time, read and review! We love to hear from you! Thank you!