The Last Astrokight - One

The booted feet, encased in the finest leather of Tyrus stepped onto the soil of Arus for the first time in many years. The last time he had been a child, a child who had believed in the fairy stories his fair playmate had often told him. I wonder if she changed in her appearance... Crown Prince Lotor mused as he stared at the castle's ancient castle. Overgrown trees, lush in their defiance, hid most of the castle.

"As it should be." The handsome alien prince smirked. "As for the Princess, I'm sure she's as ugly as a hind end of roebeast. This will be easy."

He was right. The Arusian Province had been actually been secured a decade ago, when his lord father slew King Alfor, but that wasn't enough for Zarkon. He had sworn to the Dark God, Halltheth, that he would slay the entire royal family.

For a time, this seemed the case, for naught had been seen of the royal heir, Princess Allura, or of her Royal Court, though many of them were taken as slaves to Doom.

Peasant, noble, it hadn't mattered were taken to his Lord father's planetary holdings on Doom proper. One day, it would all be his, the only royal heir to the Empire.

If his father ever died.

The handsome prince frowned. But for Witch Hagar, his father would be dust by now. Surely there HAD to be a way around that obstacle, for if it was one thing he wanted, it was-

The Royal Throne of the Doom Empire.

Until then, he could relax here, dispatch to beyond those who would still be defiant.

Turning back to his ship, he watched as the hatch opened. A slave led his horse out of the ship's cargo hold. The solid black horse was huge, and no one was able to ride him but the Prince. The horse's name was Lucifer, and rightly so, for he had killed three of his handlers.

"Your steed, my lord prince..." The servant, a balding Tracian - bowed his head in deference. No slave of Doom ever looked their master's face to face unless ordered to.

Lotor gave a curt nod, both to ths slave and to armed guard behind him. Although Arus was essentially beaten down, some of it's rebellious spirit still remained. It wouldn't surprise him if some slave got the foolish notion to escape to a relative paradise.

Lotor knew if he could, he would. Perhaps he would build a new manse here in the ruins of Arus' castle.

But first, he had to see if any of royal house remained. It wasn't that Lotor or Zarkon cared really, but any royal realation, no matter how minor, would do as a vivid reminder of what happened to resist the power of Doom.

As Lotor approached the castle, he stopped short.

"HALLOOO!!! ANY IN THE CASTLE? MEET YOUR MASTER IF YOU DARE!!"

Silence. He could still hear the twitering birds in the trees.

How disappointing! He had passed on a day of hunting for this useless errand for his father.

"I'll try once more." The Doom prince furrowed his brow. "Either they're all dead, or they're hiding like the weaklings they are."

"IS THERE NO ONE WORTHY TO CHALLENGE THE PRINCE OF HELL?"

Lucifier perked his ears back, as if he had sensed something.

"Easy there..." Lotor calmed his steed.

A creaking, as if a drawbridge were being lowered, alerted both horse and rider.

"I see you have surrendered to the Empire at last, pitiful Aruns..." he laughed as he led Lucifer towards the open drawbridge.

"THUMP!!" The gate was completely down.

"Prepare to greet your CONQUEROR!" Lotor smirked.

And then he heard -

'clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop...'

"What?" Lotor's eyes narrowed.

A knight, attired in old armor rode upon a pure white steed that seeemed too big for it's rider. Lotor could see the old symbol of the legendary Astroknights. While Lotor's black armor gittered in the sunshine. The knight that faced him wore armor that was pitted with the evidence of battles of old. Had they sent an old man? How pathetic!

"Venture no further, Evil One." The small knight pointed his sword at Lotor.

By the tone of Astroknight's voice, Lotor surmised that the knight had to be boy. An apprentice or a squire perhaps?

Well, at least he could have a bit of game before he dispatched the welp.

"Who are you, boy?" Lotor raised an eyebrow, clearly amused."Is this what they send me,a pathetic squire? I'm insulted."

"Iam the last Astroknight of Arus." the young man said. "Sanctioned by the Princess herself."

"Still alive,eh?" Lotor smirked.

"Aye, Devil." The young knight said tersely.

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Lotor chuckled. "Enough talk. This won't take long, I assure you." Lotor's grin was quite feral.

Lotor could see the young knight standing still upon his horse, his face hidden by his armor.

"HAH!" The young knight suddenly spurred on his horse and charged toward Lotor and Lucifer.

"Brave or stupid, you're dead, boy!! Lucifer!"

The black horse needed no prompting. With a cry, Lucifer charged ahead, his massive hoofs creating sparks as they hit the remnants of the ancient cobblestones that between the tall grass.

And then the battle was on.

Chapter Two
AU/Darkfiction Menu
Beyond Denubian Home