Schneider's Diary
as told by Tomm Hulett/Kupan@aol.com

	Tidings, diary.  I have awoken from yet another nightmare, dreading the destiny that is all but smothering me.  This charcoal pencil shakes in my hand as I scrawl out what may be my final words.  There is a violent storm outside, and when lightning flashes I can glimpse the dread stronghold Castlevania from the window.  The fortress looms over this small village from its perch on a mountain which is not far enough away.  It is sights such as this which make me wish that the walls of this inn were thicker.  Castlevania's nearness is not all that makes my spirit uneasy.  The past several nights I have heard a great many wolves howling to the moon.  Sometimes all that I can do to calm my mind is to think of my ancestors, the ones who have taken up arms against evil just as I am called to do....
	For hundreds of years, my family has battled with the Prince of Darkness: Count Dracula.  His human name is Vlad Tepes, but any humanity in him left when the taint entered his soul.  Every hundred years, the scale of balance tips to the side of Evil, and the demon is reborn.  Powerful evils such as Death flock to Dracula's side, and the dark army marches over the countryside destroying any life in its path.  One such period of time, however, the Count found the ability to love.  He married a woman, Lisa is what the history tomes call her, and bore a son.  Alucard was a half-vampire, as the woman was allowed to keep her humanity.  When she was wrongly executed on charges of witchcraft, Dracula's black heart burned with vengeance and he vowed to destroy mankind.  
	During his rage, a young woman rose to oppose him.  Sonia Belmont had been born with mysterious powers--powers of Light.  She had known Alucard well, and it is said that they were lovers.  Both youths journeyed into Castlevania one night on seperate quests.  History tells that they met in the spire, Alucard insisting Sonia leave the horrible place, and the young woman stating that her powers of Light bound her to the battle.  To ensure his beloved would be safe in the struggle to come, Alucard engaged her in battle.  It was a battle the half-vampire would not walk away from, and he began his hybernation.  Sonia continued on her journey, partly out of duty, and partly out of justice for Dracula's son.  The youthful woman emerged victorious, Dracula vowing to3:23 AM 5/30/2005 return.  
	When she returned to her village, Sonia and the rest of the Belmonts were banished; the townspeople too afraid of the girl's mystical powers to live in harmony.  Before leaving, however, Sonia gave the weapons she had found in Castlevania to the Poltergeist King so that they would never fall into the wrong hands.  Fleeing the land of Romania, the Belmont family scattered to the world.  Sonia gave birth to a male child.  It is not told in the tales who the father was, but certain legends say that Belmont formed a union with Alucard.  The female trained her son in the art of vampire hunting, and he learned well.  Young Trevor was a very eager student, and mastered all the weapons quickly.  
	In 1497, the Dark Prince was again reborn.  Searching desperately, a villager from Warakiya located Trevor Belmont at long last.  On the way to Dracula's stronghold, the Poltergeist King came to Belmont in a dream and entrusted him with the knowledge of the weapons Sonia had found years earlier.  Near the beginning of the long battle, in a clock tower, Trevor met with a pirate warrior named Grant DaNasty.  Discovering they had similar goals, the pair continued their quest.  Upon destroying a Cyclops, the two freed a female Vampire Hunter called Sypha.  She too joined the party, and they fought onward.  Perhaps the greatest ally in the fight was the reawakened Alucard, who also joined the party--silent as to his relationship with Trevor's mother.  
	After many long ordeals, the brave warriors came face to face with Count Dracula.  Defeating the monster was a great victory, as he fell into another century-long sleep.  Unfortunately, a curse had been placed on Trevor's soul.  It was a curse that would run through the Belmont bloodline for many years.  Oblivious to Dracula's curse, Trevor married Sypha and they lived out their lives in happiness, Belmonts no longer forced to live in exile.  
	A century later, in 1597, Simon Belmont became aware of the curse which had hung over his family lineage since Trevor's victory over Dracula.  The Vampire Hunter entered Castlevania in hopes that he could drive a stake into the Count's heart before the vampire awakened.  These hopes were dashed as soon as the young man entered the spire of the castle.  A fierce battle took place, ending in Simon's victory.  A year later, however, Simon again felt the effects of the curse.  Delving into an ancient library, he became aware that he would need to reassemble Dracula's body and burn it in order for the pox to be lifted.  Completely fearless, Simon destroyed the curse for all time and lived out his own life in peace.  
	One hundred years after Simon, Dracula again awakened.  A young Belmont named Solieyu had just earned the status of Vampire Hunter.  The Prince of Darkness kidnapped Solieyu and turned him against the forces of Good.  Christopher Belmont, Solieyu's father, saved his child and destroyed the evil vampire.  Christopher had battled a vampire several years previous, but it hadn't been Dracula.  It was simply deemed the moniker of Tepes by a few yokels and minstrels.  
	Seventy-six years later, the greatest Belmont was born.  Richter was the strongest vampire hunter since Sonia, and the power shone like a beacon during his training.  Unfortunately, time had covered the Belmont legacy and tales of Dracula and ancient battles were only laughed at during family gatherings.  Even still, Richter denounced any truth to the tales and saw no use in training to hunt vampires.  The young man would much rather spend his time with Annette Renard--the most beautiful girl in the village.  Reluctantly, though, young Belmont trained day after day...assuring himself he would never have to use his talent.  Only when Annette and several other young women from the village were kidnapped would Richter face his destiny.  
	Dracula had been resurrected five years early by Shaft, a Priest who dwelled in darkness.  Along his quest Richter saved the young girls of the village, Annette's sister Maria among them.  The two battled fiercely through Castlevania, rescuing Richter's love and destroying the vampire in one climactic final battle.  Belmont married Annette and they lived happily until Richter disappeared mysteriously four years later.  After a year of absence, Maria decided to search for her brother-in-law.  Disturbed by the shifting of balance towards Evil, Alucard awoke.  Mysteriously, he could sense no power rising to counterbalance in favor of Light.  The son of Dracula hurried to Castlevania to stop his father himself.
	Meeting along the way, Maria and Alucard were unsure of one another at first.  The woman could sense the half-vampire's power, and also his good intentions.  Alucard saw the will and strength of character in Maria that he had seen in Sonia so many centuries before.  It was eventually discovered that the Dark Priest Shaft had kidnapped Richter and turned him into a vampire.  This way, the ultimate warrior for Good would be on the side of Evil.  Dracula would be able to rise unhindered and descend upon the unsuspecting world.  Alucard and Maria were able to save Richter before he completed the metamorphosis, and the half-vampire continued on into a seperate dimension where he destroyed both Shaft and Dracula--his own father.
	Supernaturalists speculate that Alucard's victory not only stopped Dracula's vendetta against humanity, but also allowed his mortal soul to rest.  This is comfort not for me, as it would mean from that point onward, Dracula was a pure demonic force; no human ties binding him as they once did.  While returning to the abby for eternal sleep, Alucard was stopped by Maria, who had fallen in love with him.  It is fancied that the two married and lived out their own lives together, but the truth is again lost in time.
	As I complete this journal writing, the sun peeks over the mountains.  The light which it casts is tainted, however, as it seems that an evil fog has descended over the land.  This is only further proof that I must continue on in the steps of my ancestors.  Perhaps this night was better spent in writing and contemplation than it would have been in sleep, as I already feel strengthened by the thoughts of my bloodline.  I have been empowered by rememberance of my rich heritage and brave family.  Casting fear to the wind, I close this diary and open myself to the power of Light.  May darkness see no mercy.
-Schneider Belmont