Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.

A/N: I know that the knights have many ways to spell their names. The ones that are written are the ones that I chose to use. Also this story contains some of my OCs and will act as a Prequel to my main Maplestory story, which I will post up when I finish this one. Please read and review. It would be greatly appreciated.

Prologue

Ever wonder how Eckhart became a Cygnus Knight? This is the story of how the Chief Knight of Darkness became to be. His origins revealed, his dark secrets lay out in the open. His very thoughts brought to light.

It was another beautiful day in Ereve and Empress Cygnus was looking for her knights. She had searched their usual places and still hadn't found any of them. Cygnus returned to where Neinheart sat working and sighed. Neinheart looked up at his queen.

"Cygnus, what is bothering you?" Neinheart asked with concern. Cygnus sat down on the grass and looked at the sky.

"Where are my knights? I've been looking for them all morning. Neinheart, do you know where I can find them?" Cygnus said with a hint of sadness. Neinheart stopped working and sat down next to her.

"Irena told me that she was repairing her equipment, and she won't be back until later today. Oz has been with Grendel for a few days now. Hawkeye had been hanging out with the Pirates of Nautilus. Mihile went training with Xekio. As for Eckhart, I'm not sure where he is. He should still be on the island, though. Cygnus do you miss them?" Neinheart asked gently.

"A little, it's not every day they leave the island." Cygnus answered weakly. Shinsoo nudged Cygnus and she petted him. Neinheart smiled and stood up.

"My, this is a surprise." Neinheart said out loud suddenly. Cygnus looked up at him in confusion. Neinheart pointed toward the horizon. Cygnus stood up and cried out in joy as she ran toward where Neinheart pointed. There in the distance were her four knights. Mihile and Hawkeye were talking animatingly to each other, and Oz and Irena were laughing happily. The four of them looked up and saw Cygnus running toward them. They smiled and hugged her as she came up to them. Neinheart and Shinsoo stood watching the friends interact. Neinheart noticed that Eckhart was missing from the group, but didn't voice anything. The friends came over.

"Why are you all back suddenly? I was sure some of you wouldn't be back until tomorrow." Cygnus said quietly. Mihile smiled and took her hands into his.

"We've missed you. Plus, the four of us felt that we should return." Mihile replied while noticing that the room only contained Cygnus, Neinheart, and Shinsoo. "Cygnus were you here with only Shinsoo and Neinheart? Where's Eckhart?" Cygnus nodded sadly. Irena gasped in shock.

"Oh Cygnus, you must have felt lonely. Sorry. I would have stayed if I had known that Eckhart wouldn't be here." Irena said gently. Oz and Hawkeye merely looked at each other and shrugged. Neinheart suddenly remembered the date.

"Cygnus isn't today the anniversary that Eckhart joined the Order of Knights as the first Night Walker?" Neinheart said softly. Cygnus immediately jumped up and cried out in worry. Her knights looked at her shocked.

"Neinheart, we need to find him." Cygnus replied concerned. Neinheart suddenly remembered what happened when Eckhart first joined. Neinheart tried to figure out where Eckhart would be. Shinsoo looked at the general area where Eckhart would be resting in the serene location. Shinsoo knew that Eckhart was injured quite badly from his mission against the Black Wings. Eckhart had gotten medical care from the White Wings and his student, before returning to Ereve. Shinsoo had watched his master run around in worry.

"Cygnus, calm down. Eckhart is down by the lake." Shinsoo spoke soothingly. Cygnus sighed and sat down next to Shinsoo. "It reminds me of a story." Cygnus looked at Shinsoo.

"A story?" Cygnus asked with curiosity. Neinheart sat down in the grass with the rest of the knights.

"It was a long time ago, back when Empress Krystal was still alive. And you, Cygnus, were merely a small child…"