In the darkness light slowly flooded my mind, so bright I felt myself covering my eyes, as everything came into focus. Blinking vigorously as my eyes adjusted to this light, revealing I was standing on the streets of Cathopia.

Looking around I made out the shape of two Feles, one had Larana’s bracelet, I knew that he was my dad. Another key give away was Zekon placed upon his back. He looked no different, younger, the scar across his eye fresher.

They were both hiding behind a corner near the heart of the city. I peeked around the corner with them, spotting an Album Tigris performing an elegant dance.

She moved with prevision, elegancy, every move she made sparks of lightning harmlessly shot off in different direction like fireworks, she was mesmerising.

I instantly recognised her as she smiled, it was Queen Daz, she looked so much like Tigra.

“Not this again Alton,” said dad, obviously they had not been here long.

“I’ve only been here three times this week Yamato,” moaned Alton who gazed at her with such fondness and wonder, he was completely in love with her.

“Three,” sighed dad. “Why don’t you just ask her out?”

“I can’t do that.” Alton shook his head vigorously.

“Why not?” asked dad. I had to guess but this seemed to have been going on for a while; the future King Alton mesmerised by a street performer, too afraid to tell her how he felt. It made me wonder, maybe I was too scared to tell Tigra, afraid she’d never love me back.

“The same reason you haven’t asked Amora,” he grinned triumphantly. Dad looked away, he had him. “I’d hurry up before someone else takes your place as future…” he never finished.

“I told you to forget what I told you about that,” snapped dad.

“Sorry.” Alton rose his arms in defence, was he scared of getting hit or something. “I mean that someone else might ask her out before you.”

“When did the subject fall on me? We were on the subject of you and Daz.” Dad attempted to move the subject back.

“I would like to, but…” Alton attempted to come up with an excuse. “She’s a street performer, I’m a prince.”

Dad laughed. “We are in the same boat my friend,” he patted Alton on the shoulder. “Perhaps we should get Daz and Amora together and ask together.”

“I doubt we’d have the guts,” sighed Alton. “I mean we both turn into a mess when we get too close.”

“True,” nodded dad. “We’ll think of something.”

“Look!” They both heard voices, quickly turning back to the performance. “The crowned Prince Alton has come to see the performance.”

Dad did a face palm. “This happens every time” Before they could move they had become surrounded by female Feles. Dad did his best to have them keep their distance, using Larana’s wind as a brace.

Larana giggled on my shoulder. “These were always fun, getting Alton away from the fan girls.”

“Not for dad, by the looks of it.” I shivered as one of the so called fan girls went through me. “That was weird.”

“It’s alright nothing will happen to us here,” soothed Larana.

The fan girls started shouting for him. “Isn’t he so handsome!”

“Prince Alton!”

“Over here Prince Alton!”

“I love you Prince Alton!”

They were all screaming for his attention, Alton shrank back, shivering nervously, nothing like the King Alton I knew. He walked into a room, and everyone stopped what they were doing.

“Yamato, get me out of here,” he whispered.

“Yes, your highness.” Dad had quickly gone from acting like a friend to royal Guardian.

Dad swiped his arms from left to right, pushing a pathway through the fan girls. Alton was the first one through, dad followed after keeping them all at a five meters length away, he was awesome.

“Damn you Yamato,” cursed Alton suddenly as he came face to face with Daz. Dad smirked triumphantly.

“Your highness,” she bowed.

“Hi…” he stammered in response going all bashful, he was a complete wimp compared to him being King Alton.

“Did you enjoy my performance?” she asked smiling fondly at him, the feelings were obviously mutual.

“Yes,” he began nodding vigorously. “Very much.” He continued nodding. “Beautiful as always.”

Dad quickly grabbed the top of his head. “Stop nodding before your head comes off.”

“Sorry,” cried Alton.

Daz giggled. “I think you should get the prince out of here now Yamato.”

“Understood.” Dad nodded once, grabbing hold of Alton’s arm, and moving away.

“When did you start taking orders from her,” yelped Alton.

“When you decided that one day she’ll be your queen,” replied dad. They safely returned to the castle. “Lost them,” panted dad. “Next time you want to watch Daz perform find a disguise or something.”

“How would that work, they’d smell my scent,” commented Alton. “But if you accompany me, then you can use Larana to disguise it.” Dad had obviously used the same technique as I had learnt to hide scents.

“I am not coming with you three, four or even five times a week to watched Daz dance,” responded dad.

“Please,” he begged.

“I may be your Guardian, but you know I still have an important role within my clan,” said dad.

“You mean gain more respect from the chief to get closer to his daughter,” grinned Alton. “Plus, being my Guardian is a full time job.” Was that what dad meant? Was being a Guardian more like babysitting? Dad looked away from him. “Yamato. I thank you for keeping your promise, but there will come a time when I am king and no longer in need of a Guardian.”

“I know that.” It seemed dad did not know what to say.

“Yamato, just promise me one thing, even after you are no longer my Guardian,” smiled Alton.

“What?” Dad looked at him.

“That you will never hesitate to help me when I need it, you know against the darkness or even keeping an eye out for any future offspring I have with Daz.” Alton was certainly getting ahead of himself.

“I don’t need to promise.” Dad shook his head. “You are my best friend. I will always help you and your future offspring; you don’t even need to ask.” They both smiled at each other.

“You’re right, I don’t know what I was thinking.” Alton hooked his arm around dad’s shoulders. “Shall we go raid the kitchens?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Dad put his arm around Alton shoulders, and they headed off, raiding the kitchens, dad and Alton were just as big a troublemakers as Tigra and I. I followed, curious to see where this would all lead.