"Welcome, to the Fiddler's Challenge! Will anybody beat the Fiddler? Or will he stay champion for another year," Yelled the host. He pointed over to Louis and Maria. They bowed to the audience, who were cheering. They didn't mind her father being champion. They enjoyed it. They felt sorry for the contestant, but happy for Louis.

The first contestant was a young woman about twice the age of Maria. Her hair fell down to her waist, the fiery hair contrasting with her green dress. She was almost like a Christmas spirit. She must have been in the season because Christmas was only 2 weeks away. She propped the violin to her shoulder and played. She couldn't beat Maria's father, though.

After 3 brutal defeats, the last contestant came on the stage loudly, his black riding boots clicking against the wood. "Prepare to be defeated, Fiddler. You shall not need to know my name, although I'll beat you brutally." Louis laughed and placed the fiddle on his shoulder, but the man raised his hand.

"Let's say we make this interesting?" He said with a smirk on his face. "If I lose, I'll leave town forever, leaving empty handed." My father rubbed his chin, taking in his words

"And if you win, although that doesn't seem likely?"

He looked at Maria and pointed his bow. "Her. If I win, she leaves town with me. Do we have a deal?"

Father would never do that to me, right? He loves me too much, Maria thought to herself. Her jaw dropped when she saw her father shaking hands with the stranger. Please don't lose, father.

The man played a slow and soft ballad. Then he broke out into something much more powerful. A strange feeling came to everyone as he played. Louis fell to the floor on his knees, defeated.

"You tricked me, you dirty little cheat. What did you play!" Louis was furious, but when he looked up, he found his daughter was gone, along with the stranger. The crowd gasped and murmured. Louis turned to the crowd. "Help me look, please? I have to find her!"

Maria awoke in a cottage. She had no idea where she was, so she couldn't call for help. "How dare you trick my father like that!" She said into the dark room. She didn't even know if there was anyone there. She felt a figure walking behind her. She spun around as the light from a just opened window showed the cheaters face. "I have no idea who you are, but-"

"Please, child. You're mine now, so call me the Master. This is your home now. Come here." He used his hand to signal her closer. She followed, looking out of the window.

It was beautiful. A garden was filled with almost every type of flower and more. There were animals hopping along the ground and outside. "Go ahead, it's yours now. You just can't leave the garden." He looked at her with his sky gray eyes. "Your life here will be the best life ever. Do you want to know why I wanted you to come back?" She followed him as he sat down in an armchair. He picked up a glass of tea. "You remind me of," he took a sip, "of my son. He disobeyed me, so I sent him away. But you won't disobey me. Will you?" She didn't say anything. I just lost my father, and he was treating me like nothing happened. Maria nodded, sparing some time.

She walked out into the garden. This was all hers; he was staying in a tower. She looked around, seeing the dark tower. He said it took 4 days to come there and back. She never understood why he lived so far. She lied down on the soft grass, letting it tickle her face. He left after their talk. She picked up a flower, placing it in her brown hair. She heard a rustling in the bushes. She stood up quickly, ready to take action.

It turned out to be just a bunny, and a cute one at that. It looked at her with his hazel eyes. She pets its cream fur. "Where's your family, little guy?" She said in a soft voice. The bunny's eyes just got sadder. What a poor bunny. "Well, that's alright. You can stay here with me." He started thumping his foot. "What should I name you?" After saying that, it started tricking and she heard lighting. "Lightning it is," She smiled as she walked inside, with the rabbit in her arms