A/N: Happy Halloween, everyone! We finally have the first chapter of the story, "Ghost Riders: Rage & Vengeance" And this time, there will be more than one rider. Wanna guess who the other will be? In any case, the main cast is the same, except with a couple differences: Benedict Cumberbatch would portray Mephisto this time, resembling Khan from modern Star Trek movies, but with a black coat and a skull cane, while Steve Blum portrays Blackheart. And this time, well, you'll see for yourself later. :)
Ghost Riders: Rage and Vengeance
Prologue: Legend of the Ghost Rider
First, it showed the full moon in the sky before it then eventually went over to a caretaker named Carter Slade on his horse, holding a sort of scroll.
"It's said that the West was built on legends. Tall tales that help us make sense of things too great or too terrifying to believe. This is the legend of the Ghost Rider. Story goes that every generation has one. Some damned soul, cursed to ride the earth collecting on the devil's deals. Many years ago, a Ghost Rider was sent to the village of San Venganza. Many years ago, a Ghost Rider was sent to the village of San Venganza to fetch a contract worth 1000 evil souls. But that contract was so powerful he knew he could never let the devil get his hands on it. So he did what no Rider has ever done before: He outran the devil himself.", Carter began as the two traveled across the murky, foggy eaters before entering a sort of graveyard with the contract on the door before Carter picked it up as the horse whinnied before a big drop of blood landed with Carter riding off on his horse with it before meeting up with the devil, who stretched out his hand for it only for Carter to flame up, no pun intended, with his skeleton showing before riding off with it before it then zoomed over to the full moon in the sky.
Play Godsmack Music: "I Stand Alone"
"The thing about legends is, sometimes, they're true.", the narrator spoke as it then went to a full moon in the sky, which then got surrounded by flames, which in turn revealed a sort of barren road with metal flames on the left and right sides of the road before it turned left and then right as it showed one credit first: "Columbia Pictures and Hyde Park Entertainment Present" before it went away after a moment with another appearing and saying "In Association with Crystal Sky Pictures" before it, too went away to reveal a jump off one hill and toward the other, changing both the background and the flames to a blue color with the flames forming another credit up front, which read, "In Association with Relativity Media & Image Nation" before it went away as it then did a loop before jumping off another hill with another credit appearing and reading, "A Marvel Studios Production in midair before landing, changing both the flames and the background back to the previous color before stopping as a flaming chain appeared and grabbed a rock in the path, making it glow brightly in orange flame before it was pulled away by a chain coated in flames to show it was an 'O' with the other letters 'G', 'H', 'S', and 'T' revealed in orange-yellow flames while the other letters, 'R', 'I', 'D', 'E', 'R', and 'S' appeared, coated in teal blue flames just a bit below "Ghost" while next to it, spelling "Ghost Riders" before then revealing in 3 words below "Riders", "Rage & Vengeance" before those words start to cause orange and blue fires to spread out, burning off the apparent paper into ashes before then showing a sort of carnival.
Now I've told you this once before
You can't control me
If you try to take me down you're gonna break
I feel your every nothing that you're doing for me
I'm picking you out of me
You run away
I stand alone
Inside
I stand alone
Inside
End Godsmack Music: "I Stand Alone"
Chapter 1: Contracts Bound by Blood/Blackheart's Arrival
"Ladies and gentlemen..., the amazing, blazing stunt cycle spectacular!", the announcer shouted as it then showed a man on a bicycle driving up first before he and another man drove up each ramp and went through the ring of fire before the other turned to see a girl.
"How about a big round of applause for Barton and Johnny Blaze? Let's hear it for them, folks!", the announcer shouted as the man turned to see the other nearby before he decided to do a wheelie for her only to pass on a pebble, making the motorcycle shake before he decided to go back down on two wheels safely the rest of the way.
"You're a hotshot, ain't you, boy? Young, think you know everything there is to know. Think you're gonna live forever. Is that about right?", Barton asked.
"Aw, come on, Dad. It was a patch of dirt.", Johnny spoke.
"That's not the point.", Barton argued before coughing and tossing out his cigar.
"Point is, we've been doing this act less than a week. You're already screwin' around.", Barton stated.
"I was just doin' it for a crowd.", Johnny assured.
"We both know why you done it. You think she's gonna stand by you when you're in a wheelchair? Huh? Huh, hotshot?", Barton asked as he stopped for a moment before he kept going as Johnny followed after his old man.
"Son, everything you do in life, every choice you make, has a consequence. When you do things without thinking, you ain't making the choice, the choice is making you. You understand that?", Barton asked.
"Yeah, sure.", Johnny responded before his father turned to him.
"What?", Barton puzzled.
"I said, 'Yes, sir.'", Johnny fibbed before Barton coughed and got out another cigar to light it, prompting Johnny to pick up the cigar box and then throw it into the trash before Johnny spoke to his father again.
"Hey, Dad, you think maybe I could take Grace for a ride sometime?", Johnny asked.
"Think you're man enough for Grace?", Barton asked.
"Heck, yeah.", Johnny responded.
"Well, I don't.", Barton retorted before a voice spoke up from nearby.
"Hey, Johnny.", a voice called out with Johnny turning to see the source: the girl he saw earlier.
"Hey, Roxie.", Johnny greeted before Barton noticed what was going on and spoke to him.
"Go on.", Barton spoke before later, Johnny finished carving out the words on a tree, "J + R FOREVER" before joining Roxanne and then sitting down with her, noticing something was wrong.
"Hey. What's wrong, Roxie?", Johnny asked.
"I'm leaving.", Roxanne responded.
"What?", Johnny puzzled in slight shock.
"My dad's sending me to live with my mom.", Roxanne explained.
"When?", Johnny asked.
"Soon.", Roxanne responded.
"What about us?", Johnny asked.
"He says you're not good enough for me. That you're just a phase. So, what are we gonna do, Johnny?", Roxanne asked.
"We'll leave. We'll jump on the bike and just keep going.", Johnny stated.
"But what about your dad? What about the show?", Roxanne asked.
"He doesn't need me. He doesn't need anybody. Tomorrow, noon. We'll meet here.", Johnny spoke to Roxanne before he and Roxanne kissed.
Sometime later, Johnny took the cigar pack away while Barton was sleeping and put it in the trash can before he noticed something in the trash when he got home, opened it up and saw the worst news possible: the cancer has spread. Then, Johnny crumpled that paper up and put it back into the trash can just as Barton woke up with a coughing fit for a moment.
"What time is it?", Barton asked.
"It's late.", Johnny responded before Barton sighed and then noticed that his cigar pack was missing as Johnny put some stuff in the toolbox, closed it up, and picked it up, about to leave.
"Where you goin'?", Barton asked.
"Nowhere, Dad. I'm goin' nowhere.", Johnny responded before leaving.
Later, as Johnny was working on fixing the bike, a sort of man in a suit with a cane arrived, causing the lights to short out the moment he so much as gets within one foot near them before stopping near a tent with the devil's mouth as the entrance.
"Far out.", the man spoke before continuing the rest of the way until finally, he arrived at a tent where Johnny is.
"Johnny Blaze.", the man spoke.
"Yeah.", Johnny spoke.
"Caught your show today. Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed watching you ride.", the man spoke to Johnny.
"Oh, thanks.", Johnny responded.
"Perhaps you'd ride for me one day.", the man requested.
"You run a show?", Johnny asked.
"Greatest show on earth.", the man responded.
"Thanks, but no thanks.", Johnny refused politely.
"What's wrong, Johnny? Worried about your father?", the man asked.
"What do you know about that?", Johnny puzzled.
"Even a blind man could see he's sick. Thing about cancer is the time it takes... the toll on the loved ones. Lives that are altered. Plans that have to be changed. Johnny..., what if I could help your dad?", the man offered as lightning struck outside, revealing his silhouette as a devil.
"Yeah? How?", Johnny puzzled.
"How is not important. What if I could make him better..., give him back his health? Would you be willing to make a deal?", the man asked before thunder sounded as Johnny then turned to him, intrigued by his offer.
"Name your price.", Johnny responded.
"Oh. I'll take... your soul.", the man responded.
"Okay.", Johnny spoke as he turned around in disbelief.
"By sunrise tomorrow, your father will be healthy as a horse. And you will have your whole life ahead of you. It's your choice, Johnny. All you have to do is sign.", the man offered as he then got out a sort of contract and untied a rope around it before handing it to Johnny, who then opened it only to get a papercut with a small drop of his blood landing on where the signature would've been.
"Oh, that... that'll do just fine.", the man assured before his irises turned into a glowing ring of flames.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was having a disagreement with her father back home.
"I consider myself a reasonable man. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed.", Roxanne's father spoke.
"But, Dad, I-", Roxanne began.
"Is it true he decided to take you away?", Roxanne's father asked.
"Daddy, I-", Roxanne began.
"This Johnny character is not good enough for you. Roxanne, you know that!", her father scolded.
"You don't even know him.", Roxanne retorted as she started off out of the room.
"Know him? I don't have to know him! They're all the same.", Roxanne's father spoke as Roxanne started to leave before he noticed.
"Where do you think you're going, young lady?", Roxanne's father spoke.
"Wherever he'll take me.", Roxanne responded.
"I forbid you to go out with that hoodlum.", Roxanne's father scolded sternly.
"But Daddy, I love him!", Roxanne shouted before gasping at what she said, shocking her father.
"No...! Have you lost your senses completely? Go to your room! Now!", Roxanne's father shouted before Roxanne went to her room as ordered sadly as her father sighed.
"You know, we were young once.", Roxanne's mother spoke as she walked in, having overheard what went down.
"I know, hon... That's what worries me.", Mr. Simpson responded with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was quite upset that she has to move away from Johnny. Soon, though, after a moment of sulking, she looked out the window and knew what she had to do: sneak out. And that is exactly what she did as later, she went back to the spot where Johnny made a promise to her near the tree as a thunderstorm was rolling in. That was when the man who made a deal with Johnny Blaze recently appeared behind her.
"Now, let me guess. You're here... because you have a thing for this Johnny Blaze. Not that I blame you. He is quite a catch, isn't he?", the man asked.
"Who are you?" , Roxanne asked.
"My name is not important. We'll get to the introductions later. The point is, Roxie... the solution to your problem is simple. What if I were to convince your parents to let you spend more time with Johnny?", the man offered.
"Can you do that?", Roxanne asked, filled with desperation.
"My dear, sweet child. That's what I do. It's what I live for: to help unfortunate souls like yourself... poor souls with no one else to turn to. That sound familiar?", the man asked.
"But..., if I take the deal..., I may never see my parents again.", Roxanne spoke.
"Oh, that's right. But you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Of course, there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. After all, you can't get something for nothing, now can you?", the man spoke.
"But I don't have any-", Roxanne began.
"I'm not asking much. Just a token, really. A trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is... YOUR SOUL.", the man spoke in a dark voice before lightning struck and thunder rumbled.
"My soul?", Roxanne asked.
"You got it, sweetcakes. And all you have to do... is sign.", the man offered as he got out a similar contract, only this one had her name in it, reading "Roxanne Simpson" at one point before Roxanne proceeded to do so only to get a paper cut as well, causing a drop of blood to spill onto the signature line like before.
"Again...? Well, why not? Consider the deal struck.", the man grinned as the flames in his irises returned before lightning struck.
The next morning, Johnny quickly woke up and found himself in bed.
"Dang.", Johnny spoke as he then woke up, especially to see his father up and about just in time.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty.", Barton greeted.
"Dad? You look...", Johnny began.
"Great, right? Least that's what the doc said when he looked at my x-rays this morning.", Barton responded.
"What are you talking about?", Johnny puzzled.
"I've been sick, son. When I finally get up the nerve to tell you about it..., I'm not anymore. I can't explain it. But I feel healthy as a horse. Now, come on, hotshot. I got a show to do.", Barton spoke as he put on his hat and sunglasses before leaving.
Much to Johnny's surprise, the deal actually worked.
"Now, get my bike ready. Don't wanna keep those people waiting.", Barton spoke as he went out.
As for Roxanne, she woke up with a gasp. After a moment, she went down the stairs and found her parents already near the bottom of the staircase.
"Mom? Dad? What are you doing up so early?", Roxanne asked.
"Listen, honey. About last night... I guess I was a bit too hasty in forcing you to move away. I had no idea that you loved him so much until last night. Guess I just sorta...panicked. The point is, I love you, sweetheart. Later today, we will go and talk to Johnny and his father, alright?", Mr. Simpson spoke to Roxanne.
"Really...?", Roxanne asked in surprise before she, puzzled about what's going on as she is, hugged her parents lovingly.
"Oh, thank you, Mom, Dad.", Roxanne spoke a bit.
"Oh. We got a hugger.", Mr. Simpson spoke.
"No matter what, you will always be our baby girl and we just want you to be happy. We love you, honey.", Mrs. Simpson responded.
"I love you guys, too.", Roxanne spoke with a grin.
Later, Johnny was getting some clothes in the tent when his father came in.
"Biggest crowd of the week. Hey, you know what I was thinking about? A new stunt. Put us over the top. Be a jump: me on one side, you on the other. Instead of the cars or the ring of fire, a helicopter. Yeah. That'd be pretty cool, don't you think?", Barton asked as Johnny was finishing up some packing.
"Hey, you got two minutes to get in your suit son, or you're...", Barton began before he noticed how dismal his son was starting to look.
"Roxanne's dad is sending her away. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late.", Johnny responded.
That didn't quite sit well with Barton.
"Well, that's great, boy. That's great. Two kids on the run with nothing. If your goal is to end up together, that's just a great way to make sure it doesn't happen!", Barton shouted.
"Well, I'd rather take my chances with her than to waste my whole life jumping bikes at some stupid carnival! Dad, I want something better than that!", Johnny retorted.
After a moment, Barton spoke to his son.
"Her old man will have the cops on you before you get to county line.", Barton spoke.
"I guess I'd better get going, then.", Johnny spoke.
However, Barton only gave a slight grin at this before he got out some keys from a nail.
"Hey, hotshot.", Barton spoke before he then handed his son said keys with a toss, much to his surprise.
"You take Grace. At least you'll have a good head start.", Barton grinned before he left for the show as Johnny looked on in surprise.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was heading out, having gotten ready for the day, toward the spot where Johnny would be waiting for her when she saw what's going on in the street: their parents were driving in the street when the man from last night returned nearby and then caused a truck to suddenly move from one lane to another, shocking both drivers to a point that a collision course happened with Mr and Mrs Simpson taking the full brunt of it as Roxanne noticed, became deathly afraid, and ran off after them, but not before calling 9-1-1. Moments later, Roxanne arrived in time to see her parents battered and scarred as they looked up to see their daughter rushing to them.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look at me! Look at me! Hang on! Please...!", Roxanne pleaded sadly.
Unfortunately, her pleas fell on deaf ears as the two only gave their last breaths, prompting soft sobs from Roxanne before she heard evil laughter from someone nearby and turned to see that it was the man from last night before that same man vanished just as announcer shouted in the carnival.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Barton Blaze!", the announcer shouted as he got ready while outside Johnny was taking Grace out of the carnival as per his father's request.
Unfortunately, the man from last night returned near the entrance and then watched as Barton then had an accident where he fell into the flames with everyone screaming in horror as an explosion occurred just as Johnny stopped and turned to see an apparent commotion started with everyone rushing in to see what happened out of worry. When Johnny got inside, he was horrified to see Barton on the ramp as a fire extinguisher was used on his motorcycle.
"Ladies and gentlemen, head for the exits. Please stay calm.", the announcer spoke as Johnny rushed over to his father, riddled in worry and sadness.
"Dad? Dad, it's all right, I'm here. I'm here, it's gonna be okay. Dad?", Johnny spoke as Barton only looked up to see his son looking at him in worry for him before then falling limp a moment later.
"Dad? Dad?", Johnny only spoke as this happened before he started softly sobbing for his father, who has now died on a ramp before overhearing an evil laughter from nearby and looked up to see the man he made a deal with last night before said man disappeared.
Furious, Johnny took off on his motorcycle just as Roxanne rode behind Johnny. And then, all of a sudden, a demonic figure briefly appeared before the man from last night appeared, taking Johnny aback before he and Roxanne fell off the bike and crashed before the windmill stopped blowing in one direction and then started in another before the man lowered his cane onto the ground.
"You two're no good to me dead.", Mephisto spoke before Johnny and Roxanne stood up with the former pointing at him.
"You... You killed him.", Johnny glared.
"And you killed my mom and dad, too!", Roxanne added.
"I cured Barton's cancer. And I convinced your mother and father to change their minds about Johnny. That was the deal. But I couldn't let them come between us.", the man responded.
"YOU MONSTER!", Roxanne shouted as she ran toward him.
"Roxanne, wait!", Johnny shouted before Roxanne then yelled out as she tried to punch him only to have her fist caught in the man's hand, shocking her.
"Well, well. I guess you have some spirit. But let's see if that spirit is compatible with the flames, shall we?", the man spoke as his irises glowed like a fire again before a blue light started going inside Roxanne, making her writhe in pain and scream as her eyes glowed bright blue with lightning striking down on her.
"Roxie!", Johnny shouted in worry before, after a few moments, the man finished the transfer just as the lightning finished its strike with Roxanne collapsing onto the ground, panting.
"What did you do to her?!", Johnny shouted.
"The same thing I'm going to do to you.", the man spoke before then placing an orange light inside Johnny, who shared the same agonizing pain, only it was in groans with his eyes glowing bright orange and giving off smoke as Roxanne stood up as best she could and watched what happened to him in worry.
"One day, when I need you both, I will come. Until then, I'll be, uh... I'll be watching. Forget about friends, forget about family, forget about love. You and your girlfriend're mine, Johnny Blaze.", the man spoke before he disappeared, the sky now very cloudy and stormy as lightning and thunder were heard before Roxanne roared in a fit of rage, causing lightning to strike down in multiple bolts against the ground.
Sometime later, Johnny and Roxanne were now driving past their spot, but not before stopping for a moment and then driving off without ever looking back since.
"You can't live in fear. You can't live in fear.", Johnny spoke to himself as time passed.
Play Eminem Music: "Kings Never Die" (ft. Gwen Stefani)
21 years later, Johnny was now doing his own stunt show as he raised his hands mid way with sparks shooting out from near the trucks that Johnny was about to ride over with Roxanne, and one of the audience members, watching and cheering him on.
"Go for it, Johnny!", Roxanne cheered.
"Yeah! Johnny, yeah!", an audience member shouted.
Then, Johnny revved up and sped off into the ramp, jumping off it above several trucks below him. But the moment he closed his eyes in midair, he thought back about a man he and Roxanne met a long time ago, apparently known as the Demon Lord Mephisto, who had cheated the two of them, before promptly breaking the eyeshield on his mask, falling off his bike, and sliding down the rest of the way, stopping by the back, much to everyone's worry, especially Johnny's crew, who rushed over to him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please stay off the field to allow paramedics through.", the announcer urged as Mack and Team Blaze went over to Johnny to check on him as he even removed the helmet to be able to check his pulse.
"Oh, no. Oh, no. JB! JB, talk to me, man!", Mack shouted in slight panic while trying to wake Johnny up but to no avail for a moment before Johnny opened his eyes.
"Heck, is the bike okay?", Johnny asked.
"Yeah. Yeah. Bike's fine. Oh, gosh. Whew!", Mack spoke in relief as he got out his glasses.
"Thank you.", Johnny spoke as the glasses were now placed on him.
"Let's go home.", Mack spoke before he helped Johnny up, earning cheers from the crowd while only earning a relieved grin from Roxanne.
"Let's hear it for him, folks. The amazing Johnny Blaze!", the announcer shouted before the FOX News Sportscaster appeared next to Johnny.
"Johnny, you gave us all a big scare! What happened out there tonight?", the sportscaster asked.
"Hey, JB don't do interviews, all right? I'm sorry. Excuse me.", Mack spoke as he ushered Johnny out.
Later, as the team drove into Texas, Johnny and Roxanne were reading books while Mack playing on the PS2, trying to make a good landing.
"Yeah, come on, come on.", Mack spoke before wincing as the character was headed downward.
"Get the front end down! Oh, darn it!", Mack exclaimed.
"Blaze is down.", the game announcer spoke.
"Have you tried not crashing?", Johnny asked.
"Have you? Why don't you have a beer and relax like everybody else, huh? Maybe your wife could join us, too.", Mack suggested.
"You know alcohol gives me nightmares.", Johnny responded.
"Yeah. And I don't drink.", Roxanne responded.
"Oh, yeah. To each his own.", Mack responded before he flipped the channels and then turned the volume up,
"Oh, wait, could you go back?", Johnny asked.
"Yeah, there's a howler monkey special on Discovery Channel tonight.", Roxanne added.
"Guys, hey.", Mack spoke before the rest of the team gathering to watch what appeared to be a BMX competition.
"We've seen big moves and crashes. But ask these riders who it is they look up to..., and the answer's a man who's not even competing here, Johnny Blaze.", the reporter spoke.
"Yeah, that's because he's right here!", Mack laughed before the narrator continued as Team Blaze agreed.
"We all know he's living up to the name of the greatest stunt rider of all time, but what we don't know is how much longer can Blaze cheat death. His critics call it pay-per-view suicide as Blaze proceeds up the ramp with each jump with seemingly no regard for his own life. They call him Mr. Invincible, and he'll have to be at his next jump when Johnny Blaze will attempt to clear the length of a football field from field goal to field goal.", the man on the TV spoke.
"Put the monkey show on, Mack.", Johnny spoke before Mack shushed him.
"Mack, the monkey show?", Roxanne asked before Mack shushed her as well and eventually turned the TV off.
"What?", Johnny puzzled.
"You should be taking a dirt nap after that ragdoll today.", Mack spoke.
"I got lucky.", Johnny responded.
"No, I got a hunting dog named Lucky. He's got one eye and no nuts. Luck don't cover it, JB. Man, you got an angel looking after you.", Mack responded.
"Yeah, maybe.", Johnny responded.
"Mack, you in?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm in. Scoot over, ladies. What's the ante?", Mack asked.
"Five card draw.", one of the teammates spoke as Johnny and Roxanne looked out the window to see heavy rain pouring outside.
"Maybe it's something else.", Johnny responded before lightning struck, briefly showing Johnny and Roxanne's silhouettes as skeletons as the truck drove on in the sand.
Meanwhile, amidst the desert, there were some flaming drops amidst the rain as well as clouds in the shape of heads moaning before a voice spoke.
"At last, my time has come.", a voice spoke before the voice's source morphed into his human form and then roared with a hiss as lightning stuck and heavy rain.
A/N: Uh-oh. Looks like some trouble is brewing up already. Who knows what this could mean if Blackheart is involved? Guess we'll just have to wait an see for now. :)