The sky was dark and clouds threatened to rain on those below. A kingdom sat in the distance as it burned slowly. Ash drifted into the sky, the flames grabbed at the clouds with greedy hands. The inhabitants destroyed and the kingdom lost. The darkness of the sky and the army below plunged the world into fear. The screams and cries of the victims reached the woods as they fled. The black knights gave chase as they cut everything and everyone down. Their swords flashing in the fire light, coated with crimson blood.

The people fled but had no leader to guide them, their king lay dead in his own blood on the cold stone floor of his great hall. He never stood a chance against his enemy which attacked with no warning. The black kings rage filled the halls as he tore through them, in search of the remaining royals. His goal was to slaughter this kingdom and leave no survivors. Their crimes against him could not go unpunished.

He left the castle and stood in the courtyard as the heat of the flames hit his back. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as its stained metal glinted wickedly. The black king was covered in the blood of the royal family but his rage wasn't satisfied. He yelled angrily as he faced the sky and thunder drowned him out as the storm finally came. The loud and angry sky matching the kings rage. Screams of the people running were lost in the noise and they were slowly forgotten.

A little boy stood behind him near large boxes. His eyes wide with horror and fear as he stared at the king. He whimpered as he shook and slowly slid to the ground, curled up in the mud. He jumped as thunder growled above him and lightning split the sky in half. He looked to it and whimpered again as the wicked king glanced at him from over his shoulder. His eyes dark pits and devoid of all emotion. The child shook in fear as he watched the king, knowing things wouldn't end well for him.

The flames of the castle quickly consumed everything in its path, enjoying the taste of wood and stone. The hungry flames reached further and grabbed whatever it could. Having it's own battle as the rain began to fall. It started to pour and extinguish the burning monster, making it hiss before it disappeared. Thunder angrily crashed above the battlefield as lightning tore the sky apart. The clouds above drowning out the screaming once more. The people's cries of mercy seemed to fall on the deaf ears of the knights. Going ignored as they were cut down by stained metal.

A woman held her baby close as she ran through the woods towards another kingdom for safety. She panted heavily and limped away, not allowing her wound to be the cause of her failure. The woman was injured but knew she had to save the child. Running along the road when she was able and through the woods when it wasn't safe. She kept her hood up to hide her face and pale skin.

Looking back the woman could see the orange eerie glow of the castle burning, faint screams were briefly heard before the thunder drowned them out. She wanted to make sure her family was alright, but she had something more pressing to achieve first. The woman continued to run as fast as she could despite the injury to her leg, she knew she just had to get away from the black kings reach. Though that didn't seem possible and it terrified her.

The figure held the sleeping child close and shook as her body started to give up on her. The woman pressed herself to go further still, she could no longer see the glow or hear the screams. The figure had traveled for several hours but still didn't feel safe. More time passed and she continued to run through the morning until it was dark once more. Fear gripping her heart and driving her forward. She had only paused to feed the baby and keep it quiet, for a crying child could summon more enemies than just knights. If a predatory animal stalked them, it would be much harder for her to run from it. The night fell once more and she looked to the sky with tired eyes as it poured again.

She heard someone coming and ducked into the woods, her fear growing as she ran. The black knights had surely followed despite her attempts to get away. She tripped and grunted as she hit the cold wet ground, thankfully the child was unharmed. She tried to get up but couldn't seem to and collapsed from exhaustion. She held the baby close as she tried to keep her warm, she just needed to rest. Just for a moment. She closed her eyes for a final time as lightning split the sky.

A healer was riding down the road when he heard the cry of a baby. Surely his mind was playing tricks on him. He stopped his horse and gently pet its neck to calm it. He whispered gently and listened, the cry was weak when he heard it again and he carefully got off his horse. Gripping the reins of his animal, he slowly followed the noise that would stop when the child grew tired. There was finally silence and the man saw a woman laying on the ground in the brush.

He stopped suddenly and looked towards her then walked over slowly. His eyes widened when he saw the child wrapped in a blanket near the woman. The child was exposed to the cold air and wet from rain. He could tell the two had been out here for a while, the child on the verge of death. He knelt down and quickly picked her up then wrapped her up in his dry, warm robes. Holding her near his heart to calm her.

"Shh shh... it's alright I have you." He whispered quietly and glanced to the blanket she had been wrapped in. There was a royal crest of a kingdom on the fabric and a name.

"Aalis Minette...." he read quietly as he held the baby girl. He looked around but didn't see anyone else except the dead woman who was in peasant clothing. The night slowly calmed once more as the rain stopped. The world falling into an eerie silence.

~~~~~•~~~~~

Special thanks to Fanfic_Fanatic13 for helping me out with this idea ages ago. And for being awesome in general. This is based of something we've been working on for a while. Credit goes to this wonderful writer as well.

Another special thanks to BeesAvenger33766, avengerslover24 and Lightning4575 for also helping me with the idea later on down the road.

And finally a special thanks to Bumblemus_Prime for being supportive and encouraging.

You guys are all so awesome and helpful or inspiring to me. Thanks to many others who have also helped me out and just been wonderful.

~♡~