Half Brothers

Prologue: War

"Don't let them get away!"

"Hurry up and bolt the door!"

"Get in! Get in!"

Guards rushed through the castle of the Number Realm to defend it against the invaders of the Monster Kingdom. They had their spears and swords, their teeth and claws, their overlay units at the ready. They were prepared to guard their kingdom at all costs. Their years of peace had ended.

In the bedroom of the two young ones, the royal family remained cooped up in there. The king was pulling loose a set of floorboards open while the queen and two princes watched, the children trembling in fear. They knew what had to be done of their half Number child, but none of them were too happy about that, especially the half Number himself.

With a mighty haul, the king released the floorboards from their nails to reveal a black chamber. He dropped down first before holding his hands up to help his sons and queen down. He led them through a dark corridor with an oil lamp in his hand. It was held above his and right in front of him to light the way. Behind him, his sons were holding the hands of their mother. The younger one, the half Number, was absolutely terrified of what was about to happen to him.

"D-Daddy, I-" the boy began, but he was cut off by his father.

"Don't speak," he hissed. "They will surely hear."

They remained silent for the rest of the way until they arrived at a large, pitch-back chamber. The king doused the fire with his fingers and flicked a switch on the wall. Dim lights washed the room in color, and a pod was revealed. It was immaculate and pure white with not a speck of dust on it. The younger boy clutched his mother's hand tighter.

"I-I don't want to..." he whispered.

The older brother hugged his younger brother reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll meet again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The younger one nodded and allowed his father to take his white cloak and headdress. He picked him up and placed him gently in the capsule.

"I hope you live a good life," the king said before planting a kiss on his forehead and closing the pod.

Sleeping gas immediately filled the pod, putting the child to sleep and erasing his memories of his life at the castle and his family.

The king pressed a button. On command, a tray appeared to store the cape and headdress in. Once that was done, the queen wrote a note that read as such:

"This is our son, Number 100 Red Nova Sorcerer. He is a half Number. Please, take good care of our child until the day we cann bring him back. Thank you.

-The king and queen of the Number Realm."

~.~.~

Something bumped against the door of Sapphire's house. She sighed, thinking it was just another one of those teenagers playing a prank of "ring and run" on her.

She opened the door to find a white capsule just laying there on her doorstep! Surprised, her eyes fell on a note written in neat handwriting. She read it, her eyes bulging out of their sockets at the content of the note.

"Amber! Bura! Get over here!"