Nextgen Kids: The New Era

The Horrorverse, Part 1: The Nightmare Begins

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 3rd story of the Newborn Saga. This will be Nolan York-centered (because we just can't start a saga without our favorite vigilante). This story draws heavy inspiration from the game Batman: Arkham Knight, and you'll catch the similarities if you know that game.

Chapter 1: The Nightmare Begins

Sleeeeeepiiiiing... Beauuuuty fair...

Goooold of suuuunshine iiiin your hair...

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away... A beautiful prince walks to the top of his tower.

Lips that shame the red, red rose...

Dreaming of true love in slumber repose...

Before his eyes, a manifestation of darkness appears from the flashing lightning. The prince's mismatched eyes fall upon the Key in the villain's hand.

One day, he will come

Riding over the dawn...

The dark figure lifts the prince above him and throws him over the tower. Down, down he fell, until he met with the earth.

When you awaken to love's first kiss

'Til then, Sleeping Beauty, sleep on...

The prince's mourning subjects gathered around him, bowing their heads to their beloved ruler. They all chose to join him in slumber, until the day he would awaken.

One day, you'll awaken to love's first kiss...

'Til then... Sleeping Beauty... sleep on...

A man in a gas mask looks over the prince's body.

York Household, 10p.m.

A lone orange leaf on a lone tree snapped off its branch, swaying in the air as it joined its hundreds of brethren on the ground. Every yard was covered with dead leaves, almost every tree was bare. An eerie wind blew on this cloudy night. The only lights came from houses and the brimming faces of candlelit jack-o'-lanterns. Kids wouldn't be outside on a night as dark as this. At least... not until tomorrow.

A car pulled up in the driveway of a house whose mailbox read York. The driver of this car pulled off a gas mask and came out on his wheelchair. His trenchcoat and hat camouflaged himself in the dark. The man rolled up to his front door, typed '2853' in the security lock, and entered.

After hanging up his coat and hat, he looked to see his son playing a videogame on the couch. Beside him was a shadowy creature with orange hair in two ponytails. "Hey, Dad! Mom left you dinner in the refrigerator."

"Shouldn't you be in bed, Dillon? It's a school night."

"We're having a Halloween party tomorrow, we ain't gonna learn anything. Besides, I wanna be up real late tomorrow night. This is just practice."

A ponytailed girl with candy in her hair zipped out of the game console. "I'm going as a WITCH this year!" Vanellope von Schweetz cheered. She was a Program girl their family adopted three years ago. "What do you think of my hat, Dad?" she asked, showing off her rainbow-colored candy witch hat. "I made it myself!"

"Ha ha, it's cute, Vanel!"

"And hey, isn't tomorrow the 3-year anniversary since you adopted me?"

"That was November 3, silly. Speaking of which, you want me to go trick-or-treating with you again, Dillon?"