Legends of Darkstalkers and Nightriders

~ Prologue ~

A little girl's laughter echoes through the trees as she plays with her brother. The air was warm, but a slight breeze blows through the trees making the leaves whisper softly. Little blue flowers dot the clearing, a few getting trampled by the two kids as they play.

"I'm going to get you, Ladybug," the 10 year old says, chasing his sister around the clearing.

The toddler laughs again, scampering out of her brother's reach and hiding behind her father's legs, closing her eyes tightly.

She squeals as her brother comes up behind her and grabs her, lifting her up.

"Alright you two," their father says. "It's time to go home."

"But, Papa," the boy says, turning to look at him, his sister still held tightly in his arms.

"Mama will be expecting us for dinner soon," his father says. "Come on."

"Burt-day," the little girl says.

"That's right, Ladybug," the boy laughs. "It's your birthday."

"Pwesent?"

"At home, sweetheart," their father says, taking the girl from her brother's arms.

Later, after dinner and the presents are opened, the family sits around the fireplace, a fire crackling in its hearth, sending its heat out into the room. The girl's new toys are scattered across the floor and now she sits on her father's lap, clutching a stuffed dragon toy close as she sleeps.

Her brother sits on the floor, leaning back against his mother's chair, his nose buried in a book.

A knock suddenly sounds at the door before it flies open, hitting the wall behind it, startling the toddler awake and making her cry.

A man enters and he moves to stand in front of the fire, his shadow stretching ominously across the room, clearly the one in charge. A man who cares about nothing and no one. A man willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

"What do you want?" their mother asks, eyes full of fear as she stands, her hands on her son's shoulders. She was afraid, but her stance shows her willingness and determination to protect those she loves.

"My money," the man says, smiling. The smile never reaches his eyes.

"We don't have it yet, we need more time," the father says, getting to his feet, still holding the girl in his arms and close to his chest protectively.

"Well time's up. I want my money now..."

At a simple gesture, one of his men takes the girl from her father's arms, handing her to his chief.

"...or she dies."

"No!" the mother cries, putting a hand to her mouth, the other still on her son's shoulder, gripping it tightly.

"Stop," their father says. "We don't have the money. Please, there has to be something else we can do."

The man smile. "Very well. How about this? Your son comes with me. He will work for me and live with me until your debt is repaid."

"No. Absolutely not. I won't allow it."

"Alright then," the man says, drawing a knife and placing it against the girl's throat, making her cry louder. The knife breaks the skin, drawing blood.

"No! Stop! I'll go with you!" the boy says, stepping forward. "Just don't hurt her." His eyes show fear, but with the fear, the courage to protect his family.

"Wise choice," the man says. "Take him."

His men grab the boy, taking him outside. The man smiles and sheaths his knife, handing the girl back to her father.

The father tries to calm his daughter's cries as his wife closes her eyes, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Both of them helpless to keep their son from being taken.

~ 13 Years Later ~

"I swear it was her!" a man says, sitting around a fire with his friends. "She blew my clothes clean off!"

"Come on," one of his friends says. "This is the thousandth time we've heard this. There is no way the Nightrider blew your clothes off or drove your ship onto the rocks with a tornado."

"I know what I saw," the first man says.

Another man scoffs. "The Nightrider is nothing compared to the Darkstalker. Force fields, energy beams, storms, lightning, fires. The Darkstalker is 10 times as dangerous."

"So how did you survive," the first man says, rolling his eyes.

"By doing the smart thing: hiding."

Written by: Ultimate_Dreamer7