Nothing

Prologue

He fought in the very heart of the battle, just a blur of tanned flesh and toned muscles. The only sound a harsh war cry and the slashing of his sword through the air, cutting down the earthen creatures that were created by the dark queen. Barely even able to be called humanoid, they didn't look anything like humans. Just blurs of vegetation, stabbing at the man's comrades, screaming, blood curdling, disgusting. Bent backs, large mismatch teeth, claws of stone, all covered in human blood. Every single one of the monsters. The man brought down his sword again, slicing clean through one of the strange beast's arms.

The creature screeched in pain, hobbling away quickly before the man could act again. He growled in anger, chasing after the strange creature. Whom was surprisingly fast for someone so deformed. Just as the man caught up with the creature it fell to the ground in a pile of vegetation, not a sign of life left. The man stood there, stunned for a second, he turned his head to survey the battle that was surrounding him. Other creatures were doing the same thing, quickly hobbling away, an arm clutched tightly, a wound with a hand pressed close against, a head bashed in yet still, barely, crawling. Creatures like that were escaping battle, then falling apart as if they hadn't even been there before.

The man backed up, looking around franticly, was this just a trap? Could this forest not be the dark queen's hideout after all? But all doubts were quickly wiped away. In the dark, hidden behind a tree, he saw large glowing eyes, eyes that shone like the moon. The dark queen. She was controlling these creatures, and then letting them go as soon as they sustained a tremendous amount of damage, or, saving those she could from dying in battle at the hands of one of the warriors.

The man quickly raced towards her, and just as quickly she turned and ran away. The man was barely able to follow, but he did as best as he could. He knew that her power was limited, like all magic, and the farther away she got the weaker her creatures would be. He wouldn't even have to attack, as long as he got her far enough away from the battle. But, without warning, she turned to face him.

The man would be lying if he said the woman wasn't beautiful. She was tall, with pale skin and wide eyes. Her hair was long and silky, it shone in the meager light. Her lips were painted with a dark red, which he hoped was just lipstick. Though the rumors said otherwise. "You!" The Queen hissed. "I see what you are doing! I will not let you thwart my plans!" She screeched. The man winced, she wasn't quite so pretty anymore.

"Even if you are evil, I wish not to fight a woman. Please, just stop your creatures and come with my men and I willingly." The man asked softly, he pointed his sword at the woman, it's pointed end covered in the strange creatures' brownish blood. The woman hissed at him, she obviously didn't want to do that. And why would she?

"Pray tell, why should I?" The woman sneered, she pointed her staff at him and waved it around in three, slow, circles. Perhaps it was a spell, the man thought. But, he saw no immediate danger. "Maybe you will set me free if I let all of my dear soldiers drop dead? Mayhaps you will give me gems, or coins? Mayhaps you will give me a gift of some other kind? No? Then why?" She took a step forward. The man held his place. He couldn't show fear to this horrible woman, whom had killed so many.

"If you stop your...soldiers, then I will try and convince my men not to subject you to anything too embarrassing. Understand? Most of the pretty women we capture are subdued, and I let my men have their way with them. Maybe I won't let them if you come with me." The man smiled cockily. His gray eyes sparkled.

"Oh! I'm honored, really, I am. But, do you not remember what I am? How would you subdue a beast such as I?" She whirled her staff around again, four times. Each one a little slower than the last. The man began to feel a little uneasy at that, he wasn't quite sure if what he felt was right...but he was beginning to feel light-headed. Nothing he couldn't fight through though.

"Oh, trust me. I shan't ever forget what you are. But, we have means to subdue your kind now." He replied. His tongue felt a little heavier than before, but still, he couldn't show fear. To show fear was to fail.

"Hmph...interesting...it's a shame though, that I won't be partaking in any subdueing. Good night, brave one." She giggled, it sounded like wind chimes. She raised her staff in the air one last time, and before the man had any chance to act, he fell to his feet, exhaustion taking over his body. "It really is a shame now...isn't it...? That all of those brave men will die...hm? Don't worry, I will leave you alive. I will put you to good use...hopefully you still have that warrior spirit when you awaken, you're going to need it..." And those were the last things the man formally known as Captain Elth Riggs heard before plummeting into a darkness. A darkness from which he would awaken remembering nothing but the dark queen's face, and voice.