Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Red Rose Angel ❯ Henry Tudor, the exiled Prince ( Chapter 2 )

--On with Chapter 2 of Red Rose Angel. Hmmm…not a very big hit, I know. But it gets better, trust me. Also, in future Chapters, the cards that Diana uses are from my own deck of cards. (Yes I collect Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG…I just do!) Anyways, on to the next Chapter…

Chapter Two - Henry Tudor, the exiled Prince

The journey from Stonehenge to Brest was long and boring to Diana. But she passed the time by making ideal chit-chat with some of the cabin boys and learning spells from Simon's pooka. Diamond Dust showed her different easy-to-use spells that Diana could cast in desperate situations. A spell to turn you invisible, a spell to cast your reflection anywhere you chose, a spell to give you the ability to fly for a brief time, and a spell to freeze your opponents.

"These spells aren't permanent. To make them permanent requires magic of the highest order of mages. I cannot tell you how long they last, but certainly not as long as a whole day or as short as a few seconds. A couple of hours or a few minutes at the most, I believe." Diamond Dust said.

Diana nodded. Simon came into the room and put a folded outfit on Diana's bed. "What's this?" she asked.

"New clothes for you, Diana. We shall dock in Brest by tomorrow and the Lady Margaret would simply die if she saw your…uh….well, your-"

"My futuristic clothing?" Diana volunteered. Diamond Dust frowned at her master, but Simon took no notice. Diana thanked Simon for the outfit and the Druid left to let her try them on. Amazingly the outfit fitted Diana perfectly. It was a pair of dark green trousers with a sleeveless brown shirt and a blue cape. On the back of the cape was a red rose.

"That rose is the symbol of the House of Lancaster." Diamond Dust said when she saw Diana trying to make it out.

Diana took the bow from her hair and let her crimson red locks fall to her shoulders. She tied her hair back in a ponytail with a dark blue ribbon that the pooka offered her.

As Simon had said, they docked at Brest by noon the next day. Brest was a small community with lots of French speaking people. They were friendly enough, but Diana couldn't understand a word they said. The only foreign language she knew was Spanish. Simon, Diamond Dust and Diana took a carriage up to a large castle of dark red with shining windows and tall towers. It was a fine place to live for any royalty.

"It's beautiful." said Diana as she and Simon stepped out of the carriage.

"There is the queen." the pooka on Diana's shoulder pointed to a tall, beautiful woman with golden hair and sharp, indigo eyes. Her long hair caressed the shape of her back perfectly and her flowing blue gown fluttered like ocean waves.

"Lady Margaret." Simon bowed to the woman.

"Simon, you've brought the Rose Duelist?" the woman's voice was firm, but angelic.

"Yes, my lady." Simon straightened and put a hand on Diana's arm. "This is Diana Sapphire, the Rose Duelist."

"Welcome, Rose Duelist. I have faith in you." Lady Margaret said. She looked at Simon and said, "My son will be a bit late. He's feeling a bit under the weather right now. But, rest assured, he will meet with you."

"Yes my lady." Simon nodded his head.

Lady Margaret sighed. "Now I am off to Canterbury to strengthen our forces. Farewell, Lady Sapphire." The woman ran a silky hand through Diana's hair and smiled. "What pretty red hair you have, my dear." And she left.

Diana followed Simon towards the castle, but she suddenly spied someone leaving through what appeared to be a servant's entrance. The figure had a hooded cloak on, but even then, Diana could see the sword around his waist. It was definitely a man, or boy about her age. Diamond Dust had moved to Simon's shoulder, so Diana decided to follow this hooded figure. It might be a Rose Crusader!

The figure led her to the barn and up into the hayloft. Diana stopped at the ladder of the hayloft and decided to use her invisibility spell. She whispered the chant and felt a tingle go over her body. When she looked at her hand, it was transparent, just as Diamond Dust said would happen.

Diana climbed up the ladder quietly and into the hayloft. Just in case her spell wore off, Diana hid behind a few hay bales. The figure removed his cloak to reveal a very handsome young man. He was a head taller than Diana, maybe about 5 feet 7 inches, and that didn't include his spiky black, red, and golden hair. His bangs were gold-colored and lightning shaped and a few golden bangs were streaked into his spiky black and red locks. He wore a sleeveless, dark blue shirt and tight pants of the same color. On the shoulder of his shirt was the same rose that was on Diana's cape. She'd been mistaken; he was a Lancastrian!

The young man put a leather glove on one hand and Diana was shocked when a beautiful black, red and gray hawk hopped onto the young man's gloved hand. He turned so that Diana could see his face. She was breathless at how handsome he was. His amethyst eyes were full of kindness and wisdom and just a hint of sadness. His face was full of longing. (I combined Yugi's eye color with Yami's body and hair.)

He looked trapped and exposed. Diana felt sorry for him. Perhaps he was a castle servant. But he certainly wasn't dressed in a servant uniform. Diana was sure that servants didn't dress that fancy back in the 1400s.

The young man smiled at the hawk and stroked her feathers. There was a bandage around one of the hawk's wings and the bird allowed the young man to remove it. "You are almost ready to fly, Cecilia." said the young man. His voice was deep and kind.

The invisibility spell wore off and Diana didn't realize it until the hawk had caught sight of her and flapped her wings in agitation. The young man caught a glimpse of Diana's red hair as she ducked behind the hay bales.

He put the hawk down on a hay bale nearest to him and unsheathed the sword at his belt. "Who are you? Show yourself!"

Diana took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the hay bales. She waved slightly and said, "Uh, hello."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was…I-I followed you. I thought you were a Rose Crusader."

The young man snorted in disgust. "Never. But how do I know you are not one?"

Diana was shocked. She turned around to show him the red rose on her cape. "Would a Rose Crusader where the Lancastrian symbol?" She turned back around and said, "My name is Diane Sapphire and Simon brought me here from the future to help stop the Yorkists."

"Oh." the young man sheathed his sword and cleared his throat. "My mistake. I was worried about Cecilia. I do not want anyone to find her. She's my only friend."

Diana felt sad for him. He was lonely and friendless…just like she had been all her life. "I promise not to tell anyone." Diana took a step towards the hawk, which perched on the young man's gloved hand again. "May I pet her?"

"Yes, but just the tail feathers. Cecilia isn't used to strangers. I found her wounded by a hunter near the castle. I brought her here and nursed her back to health."

"She's beautiful." Diana said, stroking the hawk's tail feathers. "What's your name?"

"Hmmm? Oh, I am Yugi."

"Nice to meet you, Yugi. Do you know where the Prince is?"

Yugi flushed a little. "Well, I-"

"I'm supposed to meet him. I wonder what he's like. And what could he be doing in France?"

"The Prince is in exile." Yugi said quietly. "He's been exiled here because of this damned war. Oh, sorry."

"It's okay. I've heard worse language traded between my parents." Diana turned and sighed, trying not to cry at the memory of all those times being shut in her room as a child. She would always sit against her door, listening to the shouting and swearing of her parents.

Yugi put Cecilia down again and walked over to touch her shoulder. "Are you all right, miss?"

"Call me, Diana, please." Diana turned and blushed bright red when she realized how close they were standing. He smelt of scented oils, fresh firewood, and of course hawk.

"I thank you for keeping Cecilia a secret, Diana." Yugi whispered.

She turned an even brighter red when she heard him speak her name. Just the way her name flowed with his deep satin voice made Diana go weak in the knees. She prayed her knees wouldn't buckle, like always, and she'd end up falling on top of him, like always. That always happened when she meant a handsome guy. But her knees did buckle and she did fall forward. But Yugi caught her easily and kept her balance. Diana had to grab hold of his arms, which to her embarrassment, were well-muscled.

"Are you all right? Are you ill?" Yugi asked.

Diana pulled away from him once she'd gotten her balance. "Y-yes. I'm sorry, I…this always happens then I talk to a guy." She laughed painfully. "I feel so silly now."

She expected Yugi to start teasing her about it, but instead, he laughed. "It's quite all right, Diana. I don't believe I've ever held a girl as pretty as you before."

She looked at him for a long moment, but then he seemed surprised by what he'd said and flushed brightly. "Excuse me. I…I must be going."

"Wait, Yugi. Can you show me to where the Prince will meet me?" Diana said, catching his arm. Yugi stared at her and finally nodded solemnly. He grabbed his cloak and swung it over his shoulder. They entered through the same door that Yugi had exited from. It was a servant's door after all, because the place they had entered was the kitchen. Smells of delicious food and the sight of boiling water and kettles hit Diana's senses all at once.

"Stay close." Yugi told her. A hunched over old woman came and took Yugi's cloak from him. She bowed her head and said something that made Diana nearly faint. "Good day, my lord Prince."

"Dammit." Yugi said under his breath and turned to see that Diana had completely gone pale. "Pl-please follow me."

Diana had no choice, but to obey. He led the way through the kitchen and through several corridors before entering a room with a huge red rug in the middle of the room. There was a long table sitting in front of a giant fireplace. On the table were lots of papers and maps of different regions and areas. Simon was pacing the floor in front of the table and Diamond Dust was the first to spot them.

She spoke quietly to Simon who stopped pacing and immediately bowed. "My lord, I was worried that you would not show. And then I-I lost sight of the Rose Duelist and-"

"It's all right. You serve us well, Simon. My mother was wise in summoning you from Scotland." Yugi said as he walked around to sit at the table. It was time to be serious and Diana promised not to mention Cecilia.

"You honor me, sire." Simon bowed and gestured to Diana. "Diana, may I present Prince Yugi, the Last Prince of Lancaster, a true Welshman and the hope of all Celts."

Diana blushed as she made a slight curtsy. It was hard to curtsy in trousers. "Forgive me, sire. But I was told that the Prince was called Henry Tudor."

Simon made shushing sounds and a gesture that said "shut up." But Yugi only laughed it off. "Yes. Actually Henry Tudor is my real name. But I've found that name tiresome, so you can call me Yugi. I'm sure Simon explained our situation. But it's only right that I request your services myself. I need you to return to England and put an end to the threat of the Rose Crusaders. Their White Rose cards form a barrier that prevents my armies from setting foot on British soil. Although we Celts have the Red Rose cards, we are but inheritors, unable to wield their full power. In the hopes of reversing our fortunes, we gambled on a Druid legend that spoke of a Rose Duelist."

"Not just a Druid Legend, my lord." Diamond Dust said, jumping onto Diana's shoulder. "The sprites and those of the Third and Fourth Races have whispered of the Rose Duelist for centuries now."

"Third and Fourth Race?" Diana looked at Diamond Dust.

"I am of the Third Race. This includes fairies, sprites, spirits, and other creatures of myth. The Fourth Race is that of monsters who do their duelist's bidding." the pooka explained.

Yugi cleared his throat. "And the legend is true. Diana is the Rose Duelist that will help lead us to victory."

Diana's face fell. This whole thing had seemed so exciting when she first got here. She'd hoped it would've been a dream and she would wake up any second now. But then…she met Yugi. For some reason he made everything seem more realistic. But why?

The Prince was speaking again, "I would like to note that our resources have been pressed to the limit requiring us to invade England by August." He sighed gravely. "My troops will land in Milford Haven, Wales and march on to face the enemy at Bosworth Field. Having all the Rose Crusaders out of commission would be ideal. But as that might prove difficult, any reduction of their forces would be appreciated."

"So even if I don't defeat all the Rose Crusaders by the time you land in Milford Haven, if I at least defeat a few of them, then that will still be enough?" Diana asked.

Yugi nodded. "Yes."

Why not, she thought. I can increase my dueling experience and help win a war at the same time. Diana smiled. "I'll do my best, Henry." She suddenly blushed and pulled at her bangs. "I mean, Yugi."

Yugi smiled and chuckled. "Very well then. Let us part company and reunite in Bosworth. Simon will provide you with details as to where and when we'll meet once more."

Diana's face asked him without words, Must we part?

He stood and took her aside, briefly. "Thank you for keeping quiet. I apologize for not telling you who I really was."

"It was for the best at the time. I probably would've fainted." Diana joked, quietly.

Yugi smiled and took her hand. Diana felt her heart jump into her throat as he brought his lips to her hand and kissed it. His lips were velvety soft and moist. "Farewell, Diana. I know you will triumph."

--Ah my second Chapter…I realize it's not NC-17 material yet, but I'm getting to it. So I need some reviews, please. Good or bad, I don't care…I'd just like to know what people think of it. Until Chapter 3, adios amigos…