Greetings all, and welcome to my first dive into Castlevania fanfiction. This is for one of my favorite CVs, the grossly underrated Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.

Get ready for old school undead action! In word form.

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Chapter 1

The Dream

The pain…it's become unbearable. Two years have passed since I dueled the evil Count, and ever since I have been plagued with never ending torment. The injuries I suffered back then still flare with agony. My heart; it feels as though the devil himself gnaws upon its very essence. But perhaps I should start at the beginning.

My name is Simon Belmont. Like my ancestors before me, I have taken up the family whip, the Vampire Killer, and the five mystic sub-weapons to fight against the legions of the night. And what is the source of this plight? The embodiment of all malevolence in the world: Count Dracula.

For centuries, Dracula has been a threat to the land of Transylvania. Though he is repeatedly defeated, he always finds a way to return from Death's icy grip. Perhaps this is because the Grim Reaper has sworn allegiance to the lord of the night. No one knows for sure. Two years ago, he returned to Transylvania, summoning forth his fortress of the undead, Castlevania.

With a lifetime of training at my back, I fought my way through Castlevania, battling the Count's servants until I reached the pinnacle of the castle. It was there that I defeated Dracula, and restored peace to Transylvania. But tragically, the peace was short lived.

It started subtly enough; a disappearance here, another one there. Over the coming months, the forest housing Castlevania's ruins was rumored to become haunted. Naturally, I traveled to the nearby town of Ghulash to investigate. It seemed, however, that I traveled in vain. The citizens were content enough. Most of them seemed to believe that the missing persons were simply careless; the surrounding terrain was very unforgiving. Only a select few actually believed that Dracula's influence had returned. Knowing it was my duty to search for the truth, I made the treacherous journey to where Castlevania once stood. But the ruins were empty, and an eerie silence pervaded the structure.

This was two months ago, and I have since returned to my home town of Warakiya. I lived alone, a tragic side effect of Dracula's influence. My mother and father, aged and wise, refused to stand by while the Count's minions run amok. The rest of my remaining family took up arms as well. But it seemed Dracula had become wiser himself. His minions targeted and overwhelmed the Belmont Clan while I was in his castle. When I returned victorious, I was disheartened to learn that I was the last surviving Belmont.

I contemplated these events as I walked the streets under the twilit sky. I had decided to visit the local pub in hopes of distracting myself from my pain. The streets of Warakiya were calm in the dim light, but raucous laughter could be heard from the distant pub.

I entered the establishment and set down to my favorite table. The waitress, a woman by the name of Susanne Johnson, brought me a bottle of whiskey at my request. Seeing her reminded me of my other problem. I was the last Belmont; unless I sired a child, then the clan of vampire hunters would end with me. Yet, I was certain I was not long for this world. I glanced at Susanne, who returned it with a wink. She was but one of many women who would not object to my courtship. But it would be cruel to start a relationship knowing it could not last. It was a crisis of conscience versus necessity, with no clear solution in view.

"Hey Simon!" called one of the regulars, a man whom had never formally introduced himself. "You're really putting it away today, ain't ya?"

"Don't criticize the lad," added an older gentleman. "You and I both know that liquor is the secret to the Belmont's success. Would a sober man walk willingly into the jaws of death?" At this the gathering burst with laughter. Trying to maintain a jovial façade, I waved and gave a weak smile.

"I swear, you look paler every time I see you, hon," said Susanne, who had made her way back over to my table. "You feelin' alright? Gettin' plenty to eat?"

"Yes," I lied. In truth my appetite had waned consistently as the pain endured. "My nights have been restless these past moons, and I suppose they had taken their toll." This much was true. Ever since I had returned from Ghulash, I have has this feeling of malcontent. It started as a small swell, but has gradually grown larger. It felt as a bubble on the verge of bursting. I have spent many sleepless nights because of this.

Susanne smiled compassionately. "Well, you be sure to hit the hay early tonight. And don't drown yourself in this foul substance." She motioned to the whiskey. "It won't help, not one bit."

I thanked her for her concern. Looking towards the other residents, I realized that being in their company would not bring me any relief. Thus, I paid for the whiskey and made my way home.

Changing into my night ware, I climbed into my bed, hoping to account for lost sleep. My first efforts were interrupted as my wounds began their agonizing attack against my soul. For an hour I suffered in silence; I did not scream lest I disturb my neighbors, many of whom only slept soundly knowing that a protector was close by. After the hour's pass, the pain lessened to the dull throb that had become the norm.

It was then that I felt the swell once more. It had grown more massive than ever, and it felt as though a great power was aching to burst forth. I prayed that this feeling would calm, and that the world would right itself.

My prayers were not answered.

In an instant, it was a though malice swept over the land. All of the evil I felt two years ago returned in full force, with one difference. Castlevania, the dark symbol of Dracula's power, did not radiate with malevolence as it once did. I hoped against hope that this meant that I was mistaken; that this feeling meant nothing.

I don't know when, but I drifted into an uneasy sleep. I am not sure what I saw in those dreams; vague shapes oozing with sinister intent were the prominent feature. At least, until she appeared. She was beautiful, so much so that I can not think of any greater words to describe her. When she spoke, it was as if the greatest of composers joined to create a majestic melody, which was afterward magnified to several times in quality.

"Simon…" she called, allowing my name to echo in my mind's ear.

"Who are you?" I heard myself ask. I found it strange, as I had not even considered responding prior to this. It was as if I was witnessing a separate encounter between this maiden and another Simon.

"Simon," she repeated, more distinctly. "For two long years now, you have been plagued with an unending torment of pain. As you may have guessed, this is no normal injury. Your victory over Dracula was not complete. Upon his death, he cast a curse over both you and the land of Transylvania."

"A curse…?" I pondered.

"It has taken two years to fully realize, but the legions of the night have awakened once more. It's only a matter of time before they overwhelm the peaceful citizens. As for you; your curse has almost run its course. Your life is measured in weeks, if not days."

I bowed my head in sorrow. I had suspected this, but to hear it spoken aloud was disturbing indeed. "What can I do to save the land?"

The maiden smiled. "Even with your death imminent, you continue to place priority on your land. But there is a way to solve both problems. You must revive the evil Count and defeat him once more."

"Revive Dracula!" I gasped. "How can you even suggest such a thing?!"

The maiden's expression grew somber. "The only way to lift the curse is to destroy Dracula. The problem is that he won't revive by himself for another ninety-eight years."

"Even if I weren't cursed, I wouldn't live to see that day."

"Yes, but should the Belmont Clan fall…" she left her sentence unfinished, but I knew what she meant.

It was my duty to end the curse on myself and sire children so that the Belmont family would live on. On the outside, it might seem a selfish endeavor, but it was ultimately necessary. "How can I achieve this goal?"

"Dracula is clever," continued the maiden. "He foresaw his destruction and that you might seek to revive him. Such a forced revival would leave him weakened for a time, susceptible to your holy power. The only way for you to revive him is to set fire to his remains at the bottom of Castlevania. Thus, he had his remains spread to five different mansions: Berkeley, Rover, Brahm, Bodley, and Laruba."

"I know of these mansions! They are spread all across Transylvania. Even if I forsake sleep, it will take days to reach them all and return to Castlevania. With the curse in place, I can't possibly maintain the vitality necessary for such an undertaking." I was despondent. Dracula had truly thought of everything.

"I can help you, Simon. Go to any church and pray, pray to God for the strength to continue this noble endeavor. I will bless you with my power, restoring your stamina and keeping the curse at bay. But this is but a temporary solution. Unless you defeat Dracula, then the curse will surely kill you."

I stood for what seemed like forever. The path ahead was fraught with peril. Still, my choice was clear. "I will accept this mission," I said at last. "I will revive my arch nemesis and slay him. I do this willingly, knowing that the good will of Transylvania, nay, the world is at stake."

The maiden smiled widely. "You are brave, but be warned: the curse is spreading rapidly. Traversing the land won't be a simple matter, and some of the mansions may be hidden. But you have one thing on your side: Dracula's arrogance. He is so sure of his victory that he gave you the tools for a fighting chance. Hidden across the land are thirteen clues to solving the riddle of his curse. Find them, for they will prove invaluable. Also, though Dracula's remains seethe with evil, do not be afraid to use their power. They might make the difference between life and death."

I almost laughed aloud. Centuries ago my family was banished from Warakiya because the locals feared the power that could defeat Dracula. I pondered briefly what the villagers would think if they knew I used the Count's remains to empower me. "The thought of tapping into Dracula's power fills me with dread. Yet if it must be done, so be it."

Upon these words, the maiden began to disappear. "Your journey will begin as soon as you wake," came the maiden's fading voice. "Be brave, Simon Belmont. Good luck!"

For a brief moment, all was silence. Then, my consciousness came flooding back to me. I sat up abruptly in the early morning light, knowing what I must do. There was no doubt in my mind that what I saw was no mere dream. After consuming some bread, I dressed and readied myself for my quest.

I went into my back room where I kept my weapons. I knew now that these weapons were also affected by the curse. The Vampire Killer lay dormant as a simple leather whip, devoid of the massive power it had displayed two years prior. The mystic sub-weapons were in a worse condition. The curse had consumed all of their power, and they would be nothing but a hindrance to me. I did not allow myself to stoop in sorrow at the ever increasing difficulties, but resigned myself doubly to my quest.

Armed only with a weakened whip, I set off towards the town of Jova. The legions of the night would give everything they had to stop me, but I had to persevere. The fate of humanity was in my hands once again.

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Well, there's the prologue. What do you guys think? I welcome constructive criticism.