Hey! So… I'm bored, and dressed as Maximum Ride, wings, hair, everything. I just love Halloween. Anyways, here's a new fic! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer, though I do own the costume, I don't own Max Ride…

Prologue…

"Since you wouldn't spare a potato sack, forever shall your daughter carry wings on her back, but if she loves he who is handsome, brave and true, then her curse shall be removed." The old 'widow' said.

The King and Queen could only watch in horror as blue fire curled around their helpless only daughter. The baby sneezed, and the fire dissipated, but the wings on the newborn's back twitched.

The Queen stared in uttermost shock at her once beautiful daughter, who was now disfigured by a brown and white pair of wings. Oh, why didn't she give that old hag lady a sack of potatoes?

The old woman, who is now obviously a witch, cackled maniacally and dissipated in a thick cloud of sulfurous smoke. The baby girl's chocolate brown eyes blinked in innocence as she gingerly touched her soft downy feathers.

She is the only heir to the throne! The King thought in woe. She couldn't rule if she was a freak, a misfit. What if the rest of the kingdom found out? The monarchy would be overthrown and total anarchy would take over the land.

The Queen wept at their misfortune. Then, she had a brilliant idea. When their daughter was ten, she could be left in a deserted castle and guarded by a dragon. Then, Princes and knights from far and near would rescue her and she would be ridded of the dreadful curse.

The little winged princess cooed from her golden encrusted crib.

"Maidservant!" The Queen called. A thin girl traipsed into the room.

"Yes, my Queen?" the maid asked as she curtsied.

"Take princess Max into her chambers. Make sure that no one sees or hears of her, or you shall be beheaded!" the Queen said sternly. The maid bobbed her head and fled the room, with princess Maximum Ride in her frail arms, wings and all.

"Oh, It's alright sweetie. You're not a monster. You're beautiful, and nothing that anyone says will change that." said a woman who was beautiful, but was wearing tattered clothes. The woman was a poor apothecary, and lived in a small brick cottage with her only son, who she was cradling in her arms. The boy looked at his mother, with tears in his mesmerizing dark eyes. His black hair was shaggy and unkempt. There were bruises forming on his thin arms.

He was only three, but has been called horrible insults, and had stones hurled at him multiple times before. He wasn't ugly, no matter what anyone else says.

The boy encased himself with his little black wings. They were the reason that he was beat up today. Some kids were harassing him, and then they saw his wings. They pelted him with stones all the way home.

Now they had to move again. Nobody would but herbs and medicines from someone who has a 'monster' for a son.

"Fang, sweetheart. It'll be alright. You're wings are beautiful and never be ashamed of them. Those kids just don't understand, that's all." The woman said. Fang blinked his round, obsidian eyes.

"Here. I have a special treat for you." The woman said as she handed Fang a small roll. Fang's eyes widened as he observed his feast. Fang suddenly broke the roll in unequal halves, and held out the larger half in his small hands.

"No, Fang. It's for you." the woman said. Fang shook his head, and his black hair swished back and fourth.

The woman reluctantly took the bread. Fang was so stubborn. He would have stood there all night until she took the bread. He was just like his father that way. She sighed. Fang would have more to eat if his father was still alive.

No one knows how Fang got his wings, his father or mother certainly didn't have them, but she always believed that they were a gift. Despite the cumbersome task of moving around all the time, she still loved Fang and his wings.

Fang scrambled outside before his mother could give the piece of bread back. Fang nibbled on his piece of bread, and snuck out to the woods. He was as silent as a shadow.

Fang watched baby birds learn to fly as he finished off his supper. He then realized that it was almost dark, and his mother worried if he stayed out later than that. Fang scampered down the well worn trail to his home in the outskirts of the village.

His eyes widened in horror as his house was burning in hungry red flames. Fang's eyes were wide with fear, and he dashed into his smoldering home. He listened, but all he heard was the roaring of the flames. Then, he heard a faint cry. Fang bolted to the sound of the cry to find his mother trapped under a pile of rubble.

Fang struggled to pull his mother out, but it was futile. It would take too long to dig her out. Fang held his mother's hand.

"Fang, Go!" his mother croaked. Fang shook his head vigorously. Her face was smudged with ash and her voice was hoarse from the thick smoke. The straw roof was threatening to fall in.

"It's no use! Get out of here! Go! Run into the woods and don't look back!" she whispered. Her eyes closed, and she never moved again.

"Mom?" Fang asked as he gently tugged on her limp arm. "Mommy? Please, don't go! Wake up!" tears carved paths through the ashes on Fang's cheeks.

Then, the whole flaming straw ceiling collapsed on a moment later, Fang burst through the rubble. He took off into the air like a bird would.

"There's the freak! The monster! Get it!" shouted a soldier clad in armor. Three other soldiers both bore torches and swords. Them. They had burned his house and killed his mother. Fang snarled viscously as he dived down and attacked the soldiers from the air.

Fang managed to kick one soldier in the face, but another slashed wildly with his sword at Fang, and sliced him across the stomach. A burning pain seared his stomach aea and red blood oozed from the wound. Tears fell from Fangs eyes once again as he fled into the dark woods.

"The little monster is retreating! Wimpy coward. Come and fight like a man!" a soldier shouted at Fang.

Well, I'm not a man. I'm a monster. You've made that very clear. Fang thought as he flew into the comforting arms of the forest. Heartbroken, injured, and orphaned, Fang had no place to go.

Yeah, A little sad, but gets far better! Please give this story a chance to progress! This is going to be a tad like Shrek, but was less predictable! REVIEW!