The Crimson Champion

Yuri Side Story: The Fallen Prince

(Author's Note: This side story chapter starts on Yuri Solaris's 18th birthday, and it'll be about how he became the emperor we all know and hate! Also, the god Solaris is a character that belongs to my awesome best friend doom!)

I pace around my room in my royal attire as I wait for the coronation to start. "Why must this take so damned long?!" A servant then hesitantly knocks on the door. "P-prince Yuri, they're ready for you."

I grin. "Ha! Finally, it's time." I shove the servant out of my way as I go through the halls towards the throne room. I go over to where my two younger brothers and my younger sister are, and kneel next to them in front of our father.

Father nods at us. "Good, it's time. The day has come for me to pass the crown down to the next ruler." I smirk as I know what is about to happen. Father takes the crown off of his head. "Before I give this crown up, I must say something. Last night, I had a dream. Sent from Lord Solaris himself."

I force myself to not look annoyed. What the hell is he going on about? "Lord Solaris told me that I must break tradition today, for it is for the good of this great empire." I immediately know what's happening as Father turns to the next oldest of us, my brother Reginald.

"Reginald, do you swear to do the absolute best you can for Solaris?" Before my brother can say anything, I angrily glare at Father. "What is this?! Why are you giving him my birthright?!" Father turns to me. "Lord Solaris himself willed it, Yuri. You have to accept that."

I growl and furiously watch as Father places the crown on Reginald's head. "Rise, my son. I believe you will lead Solaris into a new era of peace." As my other brother and my sister congratulate Reginald, I just glare at them all. This was not supposed to happen. THIS WAS MY DESTINY, NOT HIS!

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Over the next few weeks, my anger at being scorned only grows. Seeing all the admiration my brother gets makes me sick! That should have been me!

I furiously slash at a training dummy with a sword, easily slicing it apart. "Your form is fantastic as always, Yuri!" I clench my fists knowing who the voice belongs to. "Reginald, leave me alone! I'm busy!"

Reginald raises his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I just thought you'd prefer to train with a real person instead of just practice dummies." I growl. "Fine." I grab a sword off of a nearby rack and toss it to him, then I get into a fighting position.

He lunges at me and I easily block, then I ragefully stab at him, landing a wound on his side, which makes him look...scared, almost. "Ha...you're pretty good, but please be careful. We don't want to kill each other, do we?"

I say nothing and I leap at him, slashing at his sword arm and leaving a cut. As we fight, I notice Father come in and watch us. If I can defeat my brother, maybe he'll reconsider his decision, and see that I'm the only one fit to defend Solaris!

I grin and I unleash a flurry of attacks at Reginald. "You should make more time for practice, brother. You'll need it." He blocks a decent amount of my attacks, but some get through and leave cuts on his arms and legs.

Reginald looks worried. "Okay, that's enough, Yuri! I get it, you're strong, now please stop before something bad happens." I smirk. "What, are you scared?" I furiously swing my blade at his chest and leave a wound.

Father yells. "YURI, STOP THIS NOW!" I ignore him and press my attack, consumed by my anger. I ragefully bring my sword down on Reginald again. He tries to block, but the force of my blow breaks his blade and makes him fall on his back.

Reginald looks up at me with a pleading look. "Yuri, what are you doing?! Please stop!" I glare at him and I bring my blade down once more, cutting deep into his chest with a fatal blow to his heart. Father yells. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, YOU FOOL?! GUARDS! I NEED YOU NOW!" Reginald's eyes slowly close as he dies of his wound.