CHAPTER 1
Stanley was having a wonderful sleep filled with dreams of world conquest and being the ultimate master of all that walks, crawls, or flies when a certain device had the audacity to let out a loud BEEEP BEEEP, waking him from his evil kingly slumber.

A cavernous rumbling noise came from somewhere deep in his chest as he rose menacingly from the red satin covers. He narrowed his eyes at the still BEEEP BEEEPing clock.

"Wake me up will you?" he growled, gripping it tightly with a clawed hand. "This is the last time you will do such a thing to moi, Stanley Hihat Trinidad XIV." Using a small portion of malevolent power, the boy thrust the alarm clock at the wall. It exploded on contact to lay in a heaping pile of previous victims.

Satisfied, Stan layed back down and pulled the covers up over his head. Not more than three minutes later there was a quick rap on the door before it opened.

"Young master, you're going to be very late if you don't hurry up." James, his butler slash appointed guardian pointed out.

"James, what are you….WAIT!!!!! THAT'S TODAY!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, springing out of bed and dashing to his closet. Today he would finally be given his very own slave, a loyal companion to carry out his evil bidding and do whatever he said on his way to become the very best Evil King to ever live. A day he'd been waiting for his whole life.

Stan chose to throw aside his typical black suit in favor of a more casual look of a t-shirt-hoodie combo. Once he was ruler than he could fancy up, but as it was, movement and comfort was far more important than looking good for his soon to be underlings.

He didn't even bother to fix his spiky blond hair before dashing past James, down the stairs, and out the front door towards his destiny.

Unfortunately, he still ended up a little late. All the other new evil kings had their slaves and were bragging to friends and family before they set off for adventure. The last of them was just coming out of the EK headquarters with his when Stan reached the door. He strode in regally as if nothing went wrong, which was true in Stan's mind.

"Hello, can I help you?" the large nosed slave keeper asked with a raised bushy brow.

"What do you mean can you help me? Isn't it obvious that I'm here for my slave?"

"Oh, you must be Mr. Trinidad…Well, you didn't exactly arrive on time, so I'm afraid you don't have much of a selection…"

"Spare me your lectures old man, I just want a slave so I can take my place as great evil king."

"You certainly have the mouth of one. Come with me."

He led Stan to a back room lined with empty cages. At the very end was a red headed boy who was sleeping soundly on a bed of straw. He was a scrawny little thing. No muscle, no mass, no intimidation factor. He didn't look smart either. As a matter of fact, it was the most puny, pathetic, idiotic thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

"Are there any other choices?" Stan asked hopefully.

"Nope."

"So when you said not really a selection, you meant no selection at all."

"Pretty much."

Stan looked down disappointedly upon the human. There was no way he was waiting another year, so he would just have to do.

The little red head began to stir a little, sensing the presence of people over him.

"He slept through the entire commotion of the other kings," said the familiar voice of the slave keeper.

"Whatever, I'll take him." This voice was unfamiliar to the boy. He opened one large green eye and was immediately met by fierce gold. It sent a shock down his spine. This guy was scary.

The slave keeper unlocked the door, slipped in, and clipped a leash onto the boys blue collar before he even registered the situation.

"Here you go Mr. Trinidad. All yours. Now get out, I have to make some calls about new slave shipments. This years group was particularly large."

Disappointment fading with the pride and excitement of becoming an official Evil King, Stan left with his head held high, dragging his reluctant slave behind him.

But it couldn't last long. Not with Brandon and his new slave around.

"Heh Hey! If it isn't little Stanny sleeps real late. I see you have a slave to suit your personality." He teased. "As you can see, I have an excellent slave of my own. Her name's Julia. She's pretty smart and strong."

"Just shut up Brandy. You inferior souls couldn't detect it, but this boy has power far beyond that of the normal human slave."

"Of course Stan, well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a world to conquer. Smell ya later."

"That Brandon really ticks me off," Stan seethed through clenched teeth as soon as he was out of earshot. Then he turned angrily upon his slave, "For your sake what I just told him better be true."

The boy just looked up at him terrified. He'd never fought a battle in his life. He was just running around being a normal boy one day, and the next he woke up in a small cage.

"Young Master!" Both master and servant looked up to see a demon in a blue suit come charging towards them.

"James?"

"Young Master, you forgot your pack." He announced proudly, handing the bag to Stan with a tear in his eye.

"Uggh, James! What is in here, it weighs a ton!" Stan grunted with the effort of holding it up.

"I added a couple little goodies just in case, but maybe your slave is a good cook. I also put in some extra money and various other things you might need."

"Right…"

"Wow, your slave looks strong."  

Strong eh? Maybe he wasn't worthless after all…but it was James who said it, you can never be sure with James. Stan thought to himself.

Strong? The boy felt a little bit of joy at this comment.

"What's his name?"

"Name?...Oh. Hey boy, What is your name?"

"A-Ari,"

"Well, Ari. I expect a lot out of my servant considering I will be the best one day. That means you will have to be the best. All you have to do is fight valiantly and obediently for me, do what I ask when I ask it without question or complaint. Understood?"

Ari nodded timidly.

"Now, my first order for you is carry this," He said throwing his bag at Ari who crumpled under the weight.

"Come on slave, is that the best you can do?"

Ari struggled a little bit before finally succeeding in tossing it over his back. It seemed less heavy when worn properly.

"Good, now come we must begin your training."

"Good bye young master. I know you'll make me proud. If you ever need me, you know where to find me."

"Yeah, whatever James. See ya."

And thus was the strange beginning of an even stranger quest. Will Ari make Stan proud, or fail miserably? What would you say if I told you both would happen in the next chapter?

To Be Continued…