Prologue

He sat on this throne, in a room as black and as cold as his heart. He was tall, brutishly powerful, and ruthless as anyone could be, and maybe even more so. Across his back was a massive broadsword, normally requiring two hands. Yet he was such a powerful and skilled warrior, he could wield it in one. Every inch of the sword was crusted with the blood of its victims.

He never washed the sword. Why would he? Every drop of crusted blood was a badge of honor, a souvenir from everyone he had killed. His throne faced out the window of his citadel, where he could overlook the land that he had conquered. The people down there were afraid of him, and he had not a qualm about it.

He did not need the petty love of some peasants, as them loving him would soften him. No, the best way was for them to fear him. Make sure they were too afraid of the punishment for rebelling against him to even dream about it. Suddenly, the door behind him opened. He swiveled his throne around to see who it was.

In walked a woman who was tall and lean, and as beautiful as they came. Her slender figure lacked any and all excess fat, lean muscles showed she took great care of herself, but could also handle herself in a fight. Her ivory locks ran down to her shoulders, her blue skin as cold as her heart. Her teeth were white and perfect, something most actors would kill for. Her eyes were a piercing green, two liquid pools that showed only loyalty to the most wicked man in the galaxy.

She approached him, in her arms a small, pudgy boy. He wore a pink shirt with a yellow star on the chest, with blue pants and red sandals. The boy was asleep in the woman's arms, but it was not a sleep of comfort. His face was wet, with a fearful expression under the tears. The big man waited until the woman was within arm's reach of him, then he ran his fingers through the boy's ebony hair. The boy shuddered and whimpered in his sleep, yet he did not awaken.

"The process is proceeding well," said the woman, her voice both beautiful and frightening at the same time, "soon he will remember nothing of his home, or those Gems."

"Excellent," said the figure on the throne, "you serve your master well." The woman beamed,

"It is my greatest pleasure and honor to serve you," she said. From behind her, a man in a fierce looking suit of red armor ran in.

"Sir," he said, "I've just received urgent news."

"Speak!" Demanded the big man,

"He...he has escaped, sir." The big man rubbed his temple,

"I should have known my best prison could not hold him," he said, annoyed, "after all, I trained him personally." He looked back up at the messenger in crimson armor, "How many of your men did he kill?"

"None, sir," said the messenger in red, "he only left the guards he encountered with minor injuries." At this point, the big man on the throne laughed loudly.

"Then he is weak!" he roared in laughter, "If this is the man after me, we have nothing to worry about." Soon, his laughter subsided, and his serious expression returned. "Continue the process, Oracle," he said to the cyan skinned woman, "and bring him to me when you finish." Oracle bowed, careful not to drop the boy,

"At once!" She said, then turned on her heel and left without a word. When the two were alone, he focused his attention on the man in red,

"Now then, Captain," he said, "I know what that goody two shoes is trying to do. I want you to see to it he does not succeed." Captain bashed his fist against his armor, a sign of respect for the king that all the men he led would do for him,

"I will make him regret everything he's done!"

"Good," said the man, dryly, "Now get to it!" The man did the gesture again, before leaving, the doors shutting behind him. When the ruler was alone again, he swiveled his throne back around and looked back out the window.

"I know you're out there somewhere," he said, "and that nuisance that I once trusted with my life is looking for you. Bah, let him look, then." He paused, before smirking wickedly, "he will bring you both right to me!" The king roared in evil laughter, not knowing that a set of three powerful but beautiful entities were now entering his world.