"Come out Lord Nightshade, I know you're there!"

Jake called out into the empty darkness. For a few moments, nothing happened, then a rumbling sound echoed across the valley.

Nightshade tsked."Such bravado, but will even you call your father by business name?"

Jake tensed.  Barely anyone knew that Richard Nightshade(aka Lord Nightshade) was his father.

A gasp fluttered through his army. Jake clenched his jaw. They couldn't afford to get distracted.

"We come here to discuss battle. Not to discuss pleasentries." Jake said. His friend, (*cough* crush *cough*)Lucy, pressed her shoulder against his.

Any other time, it would have been a kind gesture, but just then she was wearing armour and it kind of hurt.

His other best friend, (who he did not have a crush on) Harold, stood on his other side, holding his sword out in front of him.

Lord Nightshade sneered in a way he must have thought was like a smile. Honestly, though, Jake couldn't see any similarities.

"Of course, of course." he said, spreading his arms wide. "Come meet my army."

A horde of creatures slunk out from behind him. They were so horrid, they seemed to come straight from Jake's nightmares.

As soon as Jake saw them, he knew they were doomed. He was going to die.

~TIME LAPSE

Screams of agony and shouts of defiance dimmed behind Jake as he went sword to sword against his father.

Sweat gleamed on Jake's face.

He was panting and bloody, but Nightshade hadn't broken a sweat.

Jake slashed at his father and ducked behind a boulder while Nightshade was distracted.

He glanced around.

The rage of the battle finally surfaced to him. A few feet away, so close yet so far, lay Lucy. Her blond hair was askew, a beautiful halo around her face. Her blue eyes were closed, forever.

Jake's own brown eyes filled with tears and he choked back a sob as he realized Lucy was dead.

Jake spotted Harold fighting a giant five-armed ogre nearby.

Harold's black eyes gleamed and his red hair stuck to his face.

Jake ran a hand through his blond hair and debated whether or not to run after Harold.

Before he could make a decision, Nightshade appeared in front of him.

Nightshade's blond hair was ruffled and his blue eyes gleamed in anger.

"There you are." Nightshade smirked.

Jake was too surprised to retort and before he knew it, his sword was out of his hand.

Nightshade lifted his sword and Jake knew this was the end.

I'm sorry, was his last thought before before Nightshade struck.

THE END