Author's Note: Too many video games resulted in this story being written. Sorry for the OC, but you never see much of anything of Atemu's mother (nothing at all in the anime) and I needed someone in that role. She doesn't play an important part in the story though so she won't be around much longer. A note on the names: All names except for Mette was found while playing around with an online translator so I have no idea if the meaning of the words are accurate. Mette on the other hand is a name of a friend of mine and I always loved that name.

A misty rain fell down upon the blackened land. The night was damp and direly as the guards around Tovenaar Castle stood napping on their feet. They had nothing to fear really as Magia was one of the most powerful nation in the land.

The reason why Magia was so powerful was because it was the last kingdom left in the entire world that knew the ancient secrets of magic and no one would dare to go up against such a powerful force. Black and Red Mages dominated the Magia army, while the White Mages could heal any wounds that they came across. Lastly there were the Summoners, who had the ability to call forth monsters known as Kaa. Even in Magia, Summoners were rare, as one had to be born with powerful magic skill and then train for years to gain the ability to summon Kaa. The last Summoner was born five years ago, and that person was the king's son, Atemu.

Tovenaar Castle itself was located in the middle of the kingdom, next to a large forest and in front of the towering Groot Mountain. To enhance their skills mages of all ages would travel into the forest and onto the mountain and fight the monsters located there. Sometimes the monsters would venture into the grassy area where the castle stood but that was not often. On the rare occasions when it did happen, mages were sent out by the king to deal with the problem.

As the quiet night continued on, the royal guards continued their napping, when suddenly a single arrow flew through the night sky towards the castle, striking a guard through his heart.

"Raise the alarms!" another guard yelled as more arrows flew in their direction.

From a top of the tall towers of the castle, the Black Mages could now make out the massive armed force rushing towards the castle on horseback with blue flags raised high in the air. Remaining calm, the Black Mages began chanting their spells and they unleashed a fire attack at the advancing army. The fast moving invaders however were prepared for the magic attack and quickly dodged out of the way as they continued to run at full speed towards Tovenaar Castle with their spears and swords ready in attack position.

The Black Mages cursed as their magic attacks kept missing the invading army. Black Mages were all but useless in hand to hand combat and the horses were rapidly approaching the castle. Soon the Red Mages with their average fighting and magic skills would be the only thing protecting the castle.

Inside Tovenaar Castle, the king and queen hurried towards the corridors. "Get Atemu and get out of here," King Akunumkanon ordered his wife as he hurried so that he could lead his troops. King Akunumkanon was a large man with graying hair and beard and was one of the few people dressed in armor. Black and White Mages found no use for armor feeling that it slowed down their ability to cast spells and Red Mages only wore minimal armor since they would sometimes have to become involved in close range fighting without magic. Although the king still had a youthful appearance he was almost ten years older than his petite raven-haired queen who was currently dressed in elegant white robes that showed off her status not as a queen but as a Summoner.

"I'm not leaving you!" Queen Mette angrily replied. Like her son, Mette was a Summoner and would be useful in battle. The Queen had no desire to run and hide like a weakling as this was her kingdom too.

"Think of Atemu," Akunumkanon gently told her as he paused for a second to look at her. "He is too young to be involved in this warfare. He needs your protection."

Mette gave a small sigh before quickly kissing her husband's lips. "Come back to me," she whispered to him before taking off in the opposite direction. Within moments she had reached her son's bedchambers.

"Mommy?" the five year old sleepily asked upon being woken up from his peaceful slumber.

"Hush, baby," Mette gently told him as she stroked his spiky tri-colored head. Ever since Atemu was born, Mette knew that he was special. He was powerful. Much more powerful than she had ever been at his age. Only a handful of people were powerful enough to be Summoners in their era and there was a hidden strength in Atemu that no one could explain. Already at the age of five he could summon a small Kaa monster called Kuribo whenever he wanted.

"What's going on Mommy?" Atemu asked in a small voice.

"We're going on a trip for a few days. Just you and me."

"Okay," Atemu replied as he slid out of his warm bed and started putting some things in a bag.

"No baby, we have to leave now," Mette explained with a shake of her head. Picking her son up in her arms, Mette hurried through the long corridors towards one of the many secret passages that lead out of the castle.

"You'll need these!" a voice called out and Mette swirled around to come face to face with a short older man with spiky gray hair. The man handed Mette some peasant cloaks that she quickly placed over herself and Atemu.

"Thank you Father," Mette replied before noticing the child in her father's arms. "Is that Yugi?" she asked referring to her nephew. Yugi was the four-year-old son of her brother, a Black Mage. Yugi was almost identical to Atemu except he has purple instead of ruby eyes and was pale compared to Atemu's dark skin.

"He shouldn't be around this," Shimon explained. "I'm getting him out of here."

"Yes," Mette approved with a nod of her head. She knew that both of Yugi's parents would be off fighting in the battle and if anything happened to them no one would care for young Yugi. Her father although once a powerful Black Mage like his son was far pass his prime, but he could still protect Yugi if the need arose. "Let us hurry."

The two adults and two small children hurried through the small dark passageway that was only lit every few meters by torches on the wall. Finally they emerged in a small cave among the rocks at the base of Groot Mountain. From their position they could see the fighting that was going on around the castle. Both of them shielded the children's faces when they saw the elegant robed bodies of the Black and Red Mages laying on the ground. They also saw despite White Mages running around as they attempted to heal the wounded but they two were falling under the arrow attacks.

"It's Draak," Shimon informed Mette with a frown on his face upon recognizing the banner in the fires that burned around the castle. King Gozaburo of the kingdom of Draak had always been a power hungry individual but never did they imagine that he would make a move on Magia.

"Akunumkanon," Mette whispered as she watched in horror as more of her people fell in battle.

"We need to get out of here," Shimon quietly informed her. "We should split up so it will be easier to hide. Take care my daughter and do not return here until the battle is over and Magia is victorious."

"Yes Father."

"Take care of Atemu too," Shimon added before picking Yugi up into his arms and hurrying off.

"Bye," Atemu sadly whispered as he waved goodbye to his cousin and friend.

"Come on baby," Mette softly commanded as she took Atemu's hand in her own and they started to head over the mountain. Mette's skills would be more than enough to protect them from any monster that would attack them. Atemu hesitated for a minute, wondering where his father was but soon he obediently obeyed his mother.

Little did the two of them know that would be the last time they would ever lay their eyes upon their home.

Eleven Years Later…

"Mother I'm home!" the sixteen year old teen called as he entered the small cottage where he and his mother lived. For all this life Yami had worked the fields of their small farm and hunted in the nearby woods to provide food for the two of them. It was a life however that Yami hated. He longed to move to the small town that they sometimes visited to pick up supplies.

"Thank you Atemu," his mother, Mette, replied with a small cough, which Yami immediately frowned at. During the winter season a few months ago his mother had fallen ill with that cough and she had yet to show any signs of improvement.

"Mother are you okay?" Yami asked with concern. "Should I travel to the village and seek some medicine?"

"No, I'm all right," Mette replied giving her son a weak smile. "Towns, villages and cities are dangerous places," she reminded him. Yami's mother had told him that all his life yet Yami could never figure out why. The village always seemed safe to him but anytime they went there Mette would always insist on calling him by his nickname 'Yami'. As far as Yami knew, no one but his mother knew that his real name was 'Atemu' instead of 'Yami'.

"Well I was thinking of heading to the village anyway," Yami admitted as he turned his head so that he would not have to look at his mother in the eyes.

"Oh?"

"Recruitment officers will be there today looking for people to join Emperor Gozaburo's army," Yami told her with a small sigh. Although he was small like his mother, Atemu had a nice firm body from working all his life.

"No!" Mette snapped. "You will do no such thing!"

"But-"

"No! You don't know what kind of man the Emperor is! I won't allow my son to ever become involved with a man like him!"

"So I'm supposed to waste away here my entire life like you?" Yami shot back. Rarely he became angry with his mother but he was sick and tired of his life on the small farm. Freedom called him and if joining the Emperor's army meant he got that freedom then so be it.

"We're here because of that awful man!" Mette angrily snapped back before calming down. She always hated it whenever she yelled at her son. "You don't remember but back when he was still a king, Gozaburo invaded our home," she quietly told him. "Your father died in that battle."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Yami asked his voice a whisper.

"Because I wanted to forget about it," Mette admitted before another round of coughs over took her.

"Mother please lay down," Yami begged as he rushed over and tried to comfort her.

"I'm fine," Mette replied in an attempt to reassure him. Raising her head she gave her son a sad look. "I'm sorry my son. I know you are not happy here. And this isn't the life you were meant to lead."

"Mother."

"Your father would be ashamed to see us now," Mette continued as she began losing herself in her memories.

"Mother don't speak like that! I know I don't remember Father but in my heart I know that he could never be ashamed of us!"

"You're right Atemu," Mette replied a small smile appearing on her face. "You would have made a great King."

'King?' Yami wondered to himself. He longed to ask his mother what she meant but she had finally decided to take his advice and lay down for a while. Yami knew that she needed her rest or she would only become weaker. Therefore his questions would have to wait until later.

While his mother rested, Yami spent the rest of the day completing his chores and dreaming of life as an adventurer. He wondered what the rest of the world was like. Yami found their current home far too dry and longed to find a place with a more suitable climate. He was also bothered by his mother's latest revelation. What did being king have anything to do with him? He tried thinking back to his childhood, but all he could remember was life with his mother. Vaguely he remembered a large stone place, his old home perhaps?

When he had been eight his mother had showed him a locked chest. Yami could remember seeing her write scrolls and place them into the chest long before she had brought it to his attention. She had told him that if anything happened to her he should look in the chest for answers. Now more than anything he wonder just what his mother wrote on those scrolls and placed into the chest.

As night fell across the land, Yami crawled into his bed and allowed sleep to over come him. That night he dreamed of himself as a small child and of a furry little fluff ball, which he believed to be his friend. Just as the child hugged the fluff ball, a loud shout rang out from outside the cottage snapping Yami wide-awake.

"Come out! We know you're in there!" the commanding voice called.

"What do you want?" Yami heard his mother snap in reply as he hurried to the front door to see what was happening.

"The Emperor has ordered all men of age to be recruited into his army to deal with the rebels to the North," one of the two soldiers told her. "Villagers in the town we last visited told us that there was a young man living here. He'll have to come with us."

"No!" Mette firmly replied. "My son will have nothing to do with that monster!"

"Miss, please step aside," the second soldier replied as they both withdrew their swords.

"Leave her alone!" Yami yelled, rushing forward and stepping in between his mother and the soldiers. "She's ill!"

"Come with us sir."

"No!" Mette cried. "Yami you can't!" Mette tried ducking in front of her son but one of the soldiers roughly shoved her to the ground. Mette cried out in pain as her frail body hit the hard wooden floor.

"Mother!" Yami cried as his anger soared. Yami's ruby eyes, glowed bright red as the small fluff ball from his dream appeared in the air in front of him. Without waiting for a command from its master the little fluff ball attacked the soldiers sinking it's sharp teeth into whatever bare skin was available. In pair the two soldiers ran off and the little fluff ball then disappeared as soon as it had appeared while Yami's eyes returned to normal.

Yami stood there in shock for a few moments before his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fainted dead away.