Disclaimer: Unless stated otherwise, I own none of the intellectual properties used in this story.
Chapter One: Uninvited Guests.
"Tell me, child. Do you think you're the hero of this story?"
Marco stared at the man before him.
No.
Man wasn't the right word. Not for this… Thing. At first glance, it looked like a tall man. One that was unnaturally tall, with a grin too wide by half. It was thin, emaciated even, and pale as paper, giving off the appearance of skeleton with a layer of skin stretched over him. It wore a molted yellow silk cloak, though one sleeve was now stained with red, and it held something in its hand.
What was it holding?
It was strange, but Marco couldn't focus. He had trouble remembering what was going on and how he got here. A pain on the back of his head, and a warm wet feeling on the back of his neck were some pretty good clues. Higgs on the ground near the door was another.
What was it holding?
She was curled up in a ball, shaking for some reason. He could see tears. Was she crying? Why was she crying? Was it because of that creature?
What was it holding?
He could remember some piecemeal bits of how they got there. Something about a test for the squires, and an old temple. A shattering noise, a scream, and then that thing, just standing there in its yellow cloak.
What was it holding?
Pain wracked Marcos body. His legs were probably broken, and he couldn't feel his right arm while his left felt like it had been through a meat grinder. He tasted copper, and, other than that thing, everything he saw was blurry. He could smell a mixture of blood, and some sickly-sweet smell that he couldn't place. His ears were ringing, but he could hear the creature clearly. Too clearly.
"Sometimes the hero dies in the end. Do you think you're the hero, child?"
Every word echoed inside Marcos skull. Slowly the world faded away around him, and he was alone with the strange being.
What was it holding?
"Every story needs a hero, child."
The creature had odd eyes, like that of a cat, but wrong. The eyes were wrong for some reason. So was its voice, and itis stance, and its clothes, and its hands. Everything about it was just wrong. It was indescribable, but it was just wrong.
What was it holding?
"So, child. Are you the hero? Or is the hero someone else?" It glanced a Higgs for a moment, before shaking its head. "No. She's too weak."
It was at that point that Marco heard something other than the creature. It was a sound that he knew all too well. A sound that, in any other situation, would fill his heart with joy. A sound that invoked memories of countless adventures with the one who meant the most to him. It was a voice calling out for him. One that brought a torrent of questions to Marcos pain addled mind.
"Marco! Where are you?"
What was Star doing here? Why wasn't she in the castle? How did she get here so quickly? How did she know he was in trouble?
"Marco? Shout if you can hear me!"
Why was she here?
He wanted to call out to Star, to tell her to stay away. This thing was too dangerous for her. It was beyond anything they had faced before. He wanted to, but he couldn't. To call out to her would bring her closer to him, and closer to that thing.
The creature smiled its horrific grin.
Why was she here?
"Tell me child, are you the hero, or is she?"
It gestured towards the door where Stars voice was coming from with the thing in it's hand. It was long and slim and came to a point.
A spear?
No. It wasn't rigid enough to be a spear. It was too… organic. What was it? Why did Marco have such a problem identifying it? He knew what it was, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. But whatever it was didn't matter. Star was coming, and if she got here, she was going to face that thing.
Why was she here?
As he heard Star get closer, he looked at the grotesque entity before him. It grinned at him, it's expression one of a sort of sadistic glee, like a child laughing as it pulls the legs off a spider. He stared at the creature and summoned all his strength.
Why was she here?
He stared directly into its eyes, it's horrible, joy filled eyes, and wheezed out two words. Two simple words that would change everything. Two little words that would throw his entire existence into upheaval. Two horrible words.
"I am."
Authors Note: So, here's the first chapter of a new story. I hope it set the tone well. I'm going for a sort of mystery horror, and while I have an idea of what I'm going to do, not much is set in stone, so I would appreciate any feedback, criticism, or advice. I'll do my best to continue this story in the future, and I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for reading!