My first fanfic so please don't be too harsh on me. Enjoy!

I'll never forget that day, that awful day when I left this world, the last day I saw my family. It was on January 15th. It was a cold winter night, and I loved it. I loved winter; I loved the frost painted windows, I loved glistening snowflakes, I loved the snow and the icy winds, I loved it all. But it's only natural that I would love it. After all, my name is Winter. I remember that Papa used to tell me that the winter and I were connected. I never understood his words, until January 15th, 20XX.

"Mama, Papa! Come quick!" Winter cried as she looked out the window. "It's snowing! It's really snowing! It's so beautiful! Come see!"

"Alright, were coming." Mama said as she joined her daughter.

"It is snowing!" Papa said as he pulled over a chair and set down.

"Can I go play? Please?" Winter pleaded with her parents.

Papa chuckled and looked over to his wife. Mama sighed and said "It's alright with me. As long as you stay near the house and bundle up. It's cold out there."

Winter's eyes flashed with excitement "Thank you, Mama!" Winter cried as she dashed to her room to put on her coat.

"Winter is so reckless sometimes," Mama said as she grabbed a chair and sat down next to Papa. "She's going to get herself hurt one day…"

Papa chuckled again "You worry too much, my dear." He said to her while gazing out the window. "She's only a child. She'll grow and become more responsible. But in the meantime, let her play in the snow. It's a part of her."

Mama turned to look at Papa. The she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

Just then, Winter burst out of her room with her coat on. She gave Mama and Papa a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the front door.

"Bye, Mama! Bye, Papa!" She yelled as she stepped outside.

"Be careful!" Mama yelled back as she closed the door

"I will!" Winter replied as she thundered off the porch.

She slowly stepped into the lush white snow, it was beautiful. She took a deep breath of the crisp winter air, it was amazing. She laughed as she ran through the sliver storm, letting winter absorb her. She played in the snow until nightfall.

Winter sat down on the stump in her backyard. She just sat there looking at how the moonlight reflected off the snow. It was the prettiest thing Winter had ever seen. She didn't ever want the snow to go away. She wanted it to stay forever. But she knew that wasn't possible. She knew that in a few months the sun would come back a melt the beautiful snow down to nothing.

This thought made her sad. She wished that the snow would stay forever, but she knew better. Just then, Winter decided that while there was still snow on the ground, she was going to take walk through the woods. She remembered what Mama said, she told her to stay near the house. Winter thought this through; she wasn't going to be gone for long. She had never seen the woods in winter before. She was sure that Mama and Papa would understand. Winter sat up, and slowly walked towards the dark woods. But Winter wasn't scared. Those woods were her friends. She knew that they would never hurt her. That said; Winter walked into the woods. Winter's feet crunched over the dead leaves. She liked this sound, so she stopped and jumped up and down over the leaves, making loud crunch noises.

Then, Winter heard a door open and she stopped.

"Winter! Winter come in! It's getting dark!" Mama yelled from the porch.

Winter got scared; if Mama saw her walk out of the woods she'll know that she disobeyed her.

"Winter!" Mama yelled again. Winter couldn't take it. She knew she had to turn herself in. She hoped that Mama and Papa would understand.

She stepped out of the woods and walked up to the porch. "Where were you?" Mama asked.

Winter hesitated for a moment, and then she said "In the woods…"

Her mother's jade green eyes flashed when she heard this. She and Winter stepped in the house.

"Winter," Mama began "Didn't I tell you to stay near the house?"

Winter hated it when Mama used that tone of voice. She looked up at her; her moms strawberry blonde hair was tied up in a loose ponytail. This had always made Winter a little jealous, due to the fact that she was born an albino and was cursed with pale, almost chalk white features. Hence her name, Winter. "Well, yes but -"

"But nothing." Mama interrupted. "It's dangerous in those woods at night. Especially in the winter, because hunters set up traps and you could easily end up in one."

Winter laughed when Mama said this. She had a very adorable, musical laughter, but with the slightest ting of menacing sometimes.

"Mama," She began in a soft voice after she calmed down "I've walked in those woods my whole life. I'd know if there was a hunter trap up ahead. Besides, those woods wouldn't hurt me. Those woods are my friends." Winter said.

Mama shook her head; disturbing the hanging locks of her hair and making them shake as well "No, Winter. You wouldn't be able to tell if a trap was up ahead. Because hunters hide them, so they won't be noticed so easily."

Winter rolled her silver eyes. She was quite sure that she would be able to spot a hunter trap, even if it WAS hidden. "Mama, I would be able to see a hunter trap, no matter what."

"Well, I don't care." Mama said as she hung up Winter's coat. "Your not going in those woods until the snow lets up."

Winter couldn't believe her ears. "Until the snow lets up?! Mama, I've never seen the woods in the winter before! I couldn't possibly wait until the snow lets up!"

"Too bad." Her mother said sternly. "Now go wash up. Dinner's almost ready."

"It's not fair!' Winter cried as she ran to her room. She slammed the door behind her, changed into her nightgown and got into bed. She wasn't feeling very hungry anyway.

Winter slept for a few hours, and then woke up at midnight. Everybody was asleep. Mama, Papa, and her brother Elliot. Each person was asleep, everybody but her and the snowflakes. Winter sat up and looked out the window. The snowflakes fell slowly from the sky to the ground. Winter longed to be a part of it again. Then the dark woods caught her eye. She stared at them, and they seemed to stare back. Begging her to come back out, finally she couldn't take it anymore. She had to join it. She changed out of her nightgown and slipped on some clothes.

She quietly opened her door and tip-toed down the hall. She buttoned up her coat and opened the door. She took one last look into the empty room; she could hear her dad snoring. She closed the door behind her and walked across the porch. She gently walked down the stairs. They were very slippery, if she slipped only once she would wake the entire household. Relieved, she placed her feet firmly on the ground.

She walked in the direction of the woods, walking slowly to admire the falling snow. Finally, she came to the entrance of the forest. She was excited; she was finally going to see what the winter woods looked like. She took a deep breath, and stepped into the woods. She came to the place where she was jumping up and down on the leaves. She wanted to do it again, but she didn't want to wake anybody up. So she progressed farther into the woods.

They were so beautiful; the way the shimmering icicles draped off of the tree branches, Winter loved it. She walked for a long time, stopping occasionally to look at the trees. The young albino finally grew cold, so she decided to start walking back home before she got sleepy. Winter walked back the path she came. But then stopped, she noticed something strange, the snow had stopped falling. The icicles stopped dripping. Everything, even the air, was still. As if on the alert for something, this frightened Winter, she started to run, faster and faster until she tripped. Her ankle felt like it was sprained, she got up to look at it when she realized there was a tight gray wire around it. Winter couldn't believe it; she was stuck in a hunters trap.

She pulled on it as hard as she could, but it only got tighter. Winter was stuck, and she was very cold. She started to panic; she tried calling for help a couple of times, but no one could hear her. She cursed herself for walking so far in the woods. She began to cry, she wished she had just stayed put. Like Mama told her. Winter was very sleepy due to the cold air, her ankle hurt because the wire was so tight; Winter lay down on the snow and closed her eyes. Maybe if she went to sleep the pain would go away. She slept for the second time that night. Only this time, she wouldn't wake up.

Winter slowly opened her eyes; she was in the same spot were she had fallen asleep. She got up and looked at her ankle, she couldn't believe it; somebody had cut the wire. Her ankle was free. She took a deep breath as tears of relief formed in her eyes. But something wasn't right, she felt different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She didn't feel sick, she just felt different. But she didn't care.

She raced back to her house as fast as she could. Not looking back, not stopping to admire the trees. Finally she came to her front walk. Panting, she thundered up the steps. Not caring if she woke the whole neighborhood, she was just happy to be home.

She swung open the door and cried "Mama! Papa!" But there was no reply.

Her house was very dark and cold and quiet. She raced down the hall and opened the door to her parent's bedroom. But they weren't there.

Confused, she walked over to Elliot's bedroom. He wasn't there either. Frightened, she ran back to the living room and picked up the phone. The line was dead. There was no power in her house, there was no Mama or Papa or Elliot in her house. There was only Winter. Winter called for her family one last time, but they didn't answer. Winter collapsed to the ground and began to cry.

"Mama, Papa, where have you gone…? What happened to you….?" Winter sobbed.

"If you must know, I will tell you."

Winter stopped crying and sat up to see who said that, but no one was there. There was no one else in the house but Winter. Or, at least that's what she thought.

"Who… Who said that?" Winter asked. "What happened to Mama and Papa?"

"There gone, Winter." The voice said.

"But, but where have they gone?"

"They've vanished. They can no longer exist in this world. And neither can you."

Winters eyes widened in terror. "W-what do you mean? And who are you anyway and how do you know this?" The girl cried.

"I am the King of the Netherworld. And you are now a part of me."

Winter didn't say anything; she was too shocked to open her mouth.

Then the voice spoke up again "Winter, let me explain. Thousands of years ago, the darkness did battle with the light. This light was called the Crimson Dragon. And its Signers did battle with my Dark Signers. And now, history is going to repeat itself. And Signers and Dark Signers will battle once more."

Winter regained her will to speak and said "But, what does any of that have to do with me?"

"Winter, you died tonight." The voice replied.

Winter stood there; staring into a black void, when finally she said "… You're lying. How could I be dead?! I'm standing right here!"

"I understand why you wouldn't believe me, so just look in a mirror."

The child was confused, look in a mirror? What would that have to do with anything? But Winter didn't question it; she walked to her room and looked in the mirror on her dresser. She felt limp; she felt she wanted to scream for help at the top of her lungs. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make a sound.

Here pretty silver eyes were pitch-black; she had strange markings on both of her cheeks. But what scared her most was her right arm. It had a strange symbol on it; the symbol looked like a deer standing on its hind legs. And above its head, was a crown. Winter began crying again.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" She said at last.

"That Winter, is the symbol of the Dark Signer Princess." The voice said.

Winter didn't reply. She didn't have anything to say.

She only sat there, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Winter, there is one more thing I must give you." The voice spoke.

Winter lifted her head to face the mirror again. "What is it….?" She asked.

"Your Earthbound Immortals. As the Dark Signer Princess, you must have your own significant Earthbound Immortal…."

Then, a swirling black mist encased Winter; when the dark fog lifted, Winter turned to see her dresser again. There were three Duel Monsters cards on it. Winter didn't know much of Duel Monsters, Papa had been teaching her. She was only a beginner. All three cards were face down; Winter sensed an eerie aura from them.

"Lift the cards Winter. Lift them and fulfill your destiny."

Winter carefully lifted the first card. It looked like a Tiger. It was named: Earthbound Immortal - Asia Vera. (A/N: Pronounced A-she-uh VEE-ra.)

Winter then lifted up the second card. It looked like a Peacock. Its name was: Earthbound Immortal - Peacono Sia. (A/N: Pronounced Pe-UH-co-no SEE-uh.)

Winter then lifted the last card, it looked like a Cobra. It was named: Earthbound Immortal - Ophias Una. (A/N: Pronounced Oh-FEE-us OO-na.)

"Those three creatures are each a symbol of royalty. They can only be summoned by the true Dark Signer Princess."

Winter couldn't take it any more. "NO! STOP IT!" She cried "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY! I'M NOT THE DARK SIGNER PRINCESS! I AM WINTER DAWN! ... That's my name… Winter Dawn… That's who I am…"

"I'm sorry Winter. But you are no longer the girl you once were, and you are just going to have to deal with it." The voice said.

"But why? Why did you pick me?" Winter asked.

"I didn't Winter, the gods did."

Winter didn't say anything. A black vortex appeared before her;

"Come Winter, there is nothing left for you here."

Winter stepped in the vortex, but stayed long enough to grab a picture of her family. The dark vortex closed, and Winters new life as a Dark Signer began.

Winter opened her eyes and sat up straight. She wiped the sweat from her brow and took a deep breath. It had been exactly 12 years since she left her home on earth to begin her training as a Dark Signer. She looked around her room; she was back in her castle. Winter found it strange that she would dream about her arrival to the Netherworld on the day of her crowning as the Dark Signer Princess. She walked over to the window and stared out. The Netherworld was dark as ever. She loved it. She was now full of darkness. And today, she'll avenge the Nether King from being struck down by the Signers of the Crimson Dragon. Today was the day that she'll have her moment on earth. Today was the day that the Reign of The Dark Signer Princess shall begin.

Well? How was it? Sorry if it sucks eggs, it's my first fanfic and I'm trying as hard as I can. Please read and review! :)