Chapter 2: The Rival

Shovel Knight galloped towards Pridemoor Village on his horse, his shovel bouncing in its scabbard. He was going to ask the king for permission to ride out into the kingdom, and defeat the Order of No Quarter.

As he neared the gates of Pridemoor Village, Shovel Knight immediately knew something was amiss. Dismounting the horse, he carefully scanned the horizon for any sign of life - and was appalled at what he saw. Pridemoor Village, usually abuzz with music and loud talking, was completely silent. A few beggars waited on the street corners, waving their cups.

As he was walking through the town square, Shovel Knight heard a familiar voice from a beggar near him.

"Shovel Knight, is that you? Have you really come to save us?" Shovel Knight whipped around to see the speaker. He was a tall, regal-looking figure, with shoulder-length red hair and an impressive mustache. Despite the fact that he had no crown or royal mantle, and was dressed from head to toe in rags, Shovel Knight could see it was...

"King James!" he exclaimed, sweeping off his helmet and performing a deep bow. "What are you doing here on the streets, Sire?"

"Please," said King James sadly, "I'm afraid I'm not the king anymore. You can stop bowing."

"Wait a minute," Shovel Knight said, righting himself. "I heard rumors of an usurper... Has he taken Pridemoor Castle?"

"I'm afraid so," said the deposed king. "Oh, how I hate to see my beloved kingdom in the hands of that impostor King Knight! He's drying up the village funds. My people are hungry and sick. Please, valiant Shovel Knight, you have to save us."

Shovel Knight mounted his horse. "You can count on me, Your Highness," he said, and with a snap of the reins he galloped off toward the castle.

Later...

Shovel Knight had made it about halfway to Pridemoor Castle when he heard a gruff voice. "Halt, intruder! What business have ye with the king?" He stopped his horse and looked in front of him. There was a knight in red-and-black armor in front of him, sitting astride a dark-colored stallion. In lieu of a sword, the knight carried a stylized shovel nearly identical to his own.

"Black Knight," he snarled. "Let me through. I am here on the orders of King James."

"Nonsense," scoffed the Black Knight. "He is not the real king."

"Perhaps this is true," Shovel Knight said, dismounting his horse. "But he is still more deserving of Pridemoor Castle's throne than your King Knight."

"James was weak," said the Black Knight dryly. "King Knight and the Order will make the kingdom strong, and when we have accomplished our goals, the Enchantress will become our true queen!"

"The Enchantress? The Order? You never were one to blindly follow, Black Knight."

"My point still stands. Either turn back, Shovel Knight, or face me." The Black Knight dismounted his own horse and drew his shovel blade. "Steel thy shovel!"

Shovel Knight, though a little rusty, was still an excellent fighter and thus, he and the Black Knight were quite evenly matched. Cerulean clashed against scarlet each time their shovels met, the knights' armored feet in constant motion as they sparred. Whenever Shovel Knight attempted to strike, Black Knight was always ready with a counterstrike, and whenever Black Knight's shovel swiped forth, Shovel Knight's blade was held defensively across his chest.

The two knights fought and fenced for an hour before Shovel Knight finally made a swipe that caught his adversary unawares. The Black Knight lost his balance and hit the ground, looking up to find the blue shovel at his throat.

"Let me through to see the king," growled Shovel Knight threateningly, "and I will let you go."

The Black Knight stared up at him with murder in his eyes. "All right," he said, pushing the blade away from his neck and standing up. "Continue due north to Pridemoor. On guard, Shovel Knight. You haven't seen the last of me." With that, the Black Knight mounted his horse and galloped away, leaving only a trail of dust to prove that he had ever been there.