Yay for new fanfiction!

I started this one a while ago, and just got around to finishing it up lately. It's a bit dark, and kinda violent, though. You can't say that I didn't warn you.

None of these characters belong to me.

"You cannot change your fate!"

These words rang through the Prince's head as he sat on the floor, propped up against a crumbling pillar. He closed his eyes, hoping for a moment of peace, maybe even to get some sleep.

Sleep...when was the last time he had slept soundly, without nightmares. It sounded like a fantasy now, to lay down without the image of him killing his father haunting him. Even to sleep without the danger of being killed while he slumbered sounded heavenly to the Prince right now.

But he couldn't. Not while he was still on this goddamned island. Not while he was being chased by something who's only intention was to kill him. Not while he was struggling against what was supposed to be.

He had hoped that once the Empress of Time had been killed, that his problems would all be gone. But he had simply done then one thing he had tried to stop from happening. Maybe I am wrong, he thought sourly. Maybe a man's fate cannot be changed.

Then the Prince heard something banging on the door in front of him, shaking the whole room, and showering a rain of debris down on him. He knew what it was. Getting up slowly, he walked towards the quivering door.

"Fine! Come and kill me then!" He shouted, pulling the broken stump of his sword from its place on his back. He threw it at the door viciously, smiling wryly as it bounced off it with a loud clang. The clang echoed hollowly in the dark room, mixing strangely with the crashes from the door.

Then the banging on the door came to an end. Frowning, the Prince slowly walked closer and closer towards the heavy wooden door, seemingly untouched by the ages that had passed since it was put there. Still he heard nothing, nothing but his own steps, steps that seemed too loud in the eerie silence. The man, intrigued by this sudden silence, put his ear to the door.

Then it exploded, sending him flying across the room, and crashing into a wall. Slowly getting to his feet, the Prince winced at the sharp pain he now felt on his back and head. Touching his ear that had been against the door, he felt wetness, and his hand came away covered in his dark blood.

The Dahaka stood in the gaping hole where the door had been, its dark eyes scanning the room. The Prince strode out towards it, accepting his fate. Death would bring him peace; taking him from this empty shell of a life he lived. The black demon stared at him, not seeming surprised that the man had finally accepted his fate. It simply stood there, waiting for its prey to approach. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the Prince was in front of the Dahaka, bathed in the weird anti-light that seemed to emanate from it, sapping all the colours from its surroundings. It reached one huge hand out towards him hungrily, it's eyes flaring excitedly. The Prince met that gaze squarely, feeling as though he was staring death itself in the face. The Dahaka grabbed onto his neck, lifting him as though he was nothing but a rag doll. The Prince prepared himself for the death that the beast's horrible mouth would bring.

Then it threw him backwards, sending him slamming into the wall a second time. The Prince looked up groggily, trying to understand what this being was doing. It watched him struggle to get to his feet, almost looking amused. He frowned, unsure of what was going on. Then the Dahaka sprung towards him, and sent him spinning off to the side with a vicious backhanded swipe. The Prince tried to get his bearings, but the beast was near him again, grabbing him around the waist, and digging its sharp claws in the gaps not covered by his armor. He cried out in pain as the claws entered his skin, and then he was slammed against the wall.

It was torturing him.

The Prince screamed futilely. It seemed the Dahaka wouldn't grant him a quick death, but a long agonizing one. The demon released him, letting him fall weakly to the floor. Blood flowed freely from the deep gouges on his sides, and his ear, or what was left of it, throbbed horribly. Sharp pains whenever he drew a shuddering breath made him realize that some of his ribs were broken.

Not that it mattered. He would be dead soon enough...or so he hoped. The Dahaka seemed to be getting some perverse joy out of watching his pain. It grabbed the Prince again, and flung him against a barred wooden door. This throw cracked some more ribs, and gave him a long cut along his forehead. It picked him up again, and threw him against the door again, and again, and again. On the fifth throw, the door broke, sending the battered Prince flying outside, onto the top of a sheer cliff. But the Dahaka would not relent. It kicked him into a large rock that sat near the edge of the cliff. This impact broke his wrist, and left several long scratches on his face and arms.

The black beast stood above him, looking at the crumpled body of the Prince. He open unfocused eyes groggily, and moaned in pain. The Dahaka seemed to smirk at him, and picked him up yet again. It held the man up to eye level, inspecting its cruel work. The man tried to struggle against the iron grip he was held in, but with no avail. The demon smacked his face, making his head snap off to the side. It seemed to chuckle wickedly.

Then the Prince gathered what strength he had left, and spat into the things face.

It roared, wiping the combined blood and spit off of its face with one massive hand, and threw the man near the edge of the cliff. It raised one black foot, meaning to crush him and end his life right then. But it stopped.

The Prince opened his eyes, staring up at the Dahaka. It was looking up at the stormy sky. Then he felt a drop of water on his skin. This was followed by more drops of water, and a roll of thunder. It was raining.

The Dahaka screamed as the water hit him. Every raindrop burnt it like fire, sending spasms of agonizing pain across its body. It tried to grab the Prince, and to stuff him into his gaping maw, but the pain was too great. It screamed again, and tried to cover its face with its hands, but to no avail. It glanced back at the doorway that lead into the rain-free fortress, then back to the Prince, lying helplessly at its feet. Then it kicked the man savagely, sending him over the cliff, and into the turbulent waters below. Then it ran towards the doorway, tearing off what was left of the door as it passed through, and throwing it into the water as well.

The Prince tried to stay above water, but the pain was too great. He wanted to give up, to sink under the surface of the ocean; into comforting darkness. Then the remains of the door splashed into the water next to him. He felt hope rise in his chest. Swimming awkwardly through the cold water, he got to the largest part of the door, and grabbed it. He pulled as much of himself onto it as he could, as it was too small to support all of him, and held on as best he could. Fumbling at his waist, he pulled a length of rope from his belt. The Prince then began to wrap it around himself and the wood he lay on, and tied it off as tightly as he could.

As the stormy waves washed over him, he struggled to stay conscious. If the Dahaka hadn't killed him, then maybe there was still a chance for him. Maybe he could live. As he drifted into blackness, he heard the voice of the old man, of Shadee, and of Kaileena ringing in his head...

'You cannot change your fate...'

I kinda have an idea for a plot, so I'll muddle around, and see what comes out.

REVIEW!

...please?