A/N: I have a simple equation for you. Marckus = Mark = Undertaker. Didn't know if I was clear enough about it in the story.
We're building to some crazy stuff, kids. Enjoy! Oh, and REVIEW, if you feel like it! I love reviews!
The morning light, and the pleasant smell of pancakes wafting up from the kitchen, woke Matt. He lay in bed for a moment, thinking back to the previous night. A frown crossed his face. He hated fighting with Jeff.
Suddenly, he heard shuffling footsteps out in the hallway, coming towards his room. He got up, and threw a t-shirt over his head. A knock sounded at his door, immediately followed by Jeff entering, tentatively.
"Oh, hey", said Jeff, who was wearing blue and yellow striped pajama pants and a wifebeater, "Thought I'd do breakfast today, to make up for last night's stupidity. I think it was the beer talking…"
Matt reached over and hugged him. "No apology necessary, Jeffro. I know I get overbearing sometimes."
"Wow, simple as that?", said Jeff, looking genuinely surprised.
The brothers began walking towards the breakfast feast that Jeff had prepared.
"So, what are you doing today?", asked the younger Hardy, as he piled several pancakes onto his plate.
Matt spoke as he ate, not caring if his mouth was full. Decorum went out the window when it was just he and his brother. "I have to go into town and run some errands. Then, I might stop by Shannon's place and visit him for a bit. What about you?"
Jeff shrugged. "I'm just gonna hang here, and probably work on some paintings I've been neglecting for far too long. Let me know how Shan is doing. If you guys are going out later, I might join you."
Matt nodded, and smiled. It was going to be a good day.
* * * * * * *
Emperor Matthew sat on his onyx throne. He ran his long fingers lightly over its smooth surface, delicately tracing the runes of power that had been carved into the armrests. Power ran throughout this throne like the very blood in Matthew's veins, spells of protection and empowerment blanketing him completely.
Raising his chin slightly, he looked down at the wretch currently serving as his court assistant. The thin, bald man had nervous, darting eyes, and a twitch. As he tried desperately to avert his bloodshot eyes from Matthew's cold gaze, beads of sweat began to trickle down the sides of his face. Matthew sighed in a long-suffering manner, and rolled his eyes.
"Court Assistant!", he said then, his voice cold. The man jumped, every muscle in his thin body tensing as he realized he was under his emperor's full scrutiny.
"Yes, My Liege?", he said, bowing so that his pointed nose nearly touched the floor.
"I am ready to receive my guests now. Bring them in."
Bowing again, the frail-looking man left to gather the small group huddled in the lushly-appointed foyer. The emperor sat impatiently, waiting for them to return. He was eager to have this meeting over with. Having peasants in his home made him feel disgusting, even if he was only allowing them entrance so he could collect taxes. He scowled, unconsciously pulling his robes protectively around his person.
"My liege."
Matthew jumped up, turning to face the deep, raspy voice that had sounded behind him. There were no doors, other than the one he'd been watching the whole time.
The young emperor smiled darkly as he looked upon his court magician, Marckus.
"Up to your old tricks again?", he asked dryly.
The daunting mage bowed at the waist. He faced his emperor grimly, white eyes revealing nothing.
Matthew stepped forward, any attempt to feign pleasantries now at an end. His eyes were wide, his face a pantomime of eager frustration. The young monarch said quietly, his voice shaking slightly, "What did you discover?"
The huge magician betrayed nothing by his expression.
"Soon, we shall be free of this place", Marckus replied, his voice hushed.
Matthew's eyes widened.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway beyond the door.
"What did you discover?!", Matthew repeated, his tone more urgent when he saw Marckus' unwillingness to be completely forthcoming.
The enigmatic mage smiled, a smile that did not reach his white eyes.
He replied simply, "The key."
Before he could elaborate any further, his great head swung around to face the closed door. He scowled for a moment, then turned to face Emperor Matthew again. Without a word, he bowed at the waist, then stepped backwards several steps. As he touched the wall, all color seemed to simply drain from him and pool into the marble floor. He stood against the walls, blending in almost completely, and when the mage stopped moving, Matthew found that Marckus became invisible. The young emperor blinked his eyes, attempting to break the illusion's hold on him. Marckus shifted in his hiding place suddenly, leaning forward slightly, an odd smile on his bearded face. The strange magician coyly raised a finger to his lips then, in a gesture of silence. He then leaned back, and blended in with the marble walls once more.
Matthew stood there dumbfounded, even as the great, carved doors to his throne room swung open and the village representatives shuffled in reticently with this month's meager offerings.
Clearing his throat shakily, the nervous Court Assistant announced, "Emperor Matthew I, Lord and Liege of these great lands, may I present-"
"Get out."
"B- But, my lord-"
"GET OUT!"
The peasants immediately ran out, not pausing for a moment to look back. The Court Assistant started to bow his way out of the room, but his knees were shaking so badly that he stumbled and fell.
"Forgive me, Lord-", he whispered, nearly in tears as he attempted to pull himself to his feet.
"Guards!", Matthew nearly screamed in frustration. Four heavily-armored soldiers ran in at his command, weapons at the ready. The young ruler sat back, rubbing his forehead in an attempt to stem a rapidly-growing headache.
"Kill him", he hissed, pointing a steady finger at the doomed man. His guards acted with deadly efficiency, dragging the Court Assistant away. Matthew ignored the man's piteous cries, which grew more and more distant as he was taken to the dungeons below the keep.
The Court Assistant would be dead by the setting of the suns.
Once silence had replaced the chaos, Matthew turned his gaze to the spot on the wall where Marckus had disappeared.
"I believe it is safe to come out now", the emperor said dryly.
The mage's gravelly voice sounded from directly behind Matthew's throne. "Yes, my lord."
Turning to face the court magician, the emperor asked, "We will have no more interruptions now. Speak, Marckus. Tell me everything that you found, and what it means for us."
"The gate to the second earth, my lord", he replied slowly, his tone thoughtful, "It is locked tight. Everything that I have done to try and open it has failed." The great wizard scowled, and shook his head. He suddenly looked up, meeting his emperor's eyes directly as he continued. "But recently, I discovered the answer in a half-destroyed spellbook that was rotting in the Archives. It contained information about the gateway, and spells to navigate it. It also gave a list of extremely specific rules."
Matthew's brows furrowed in confusion. "Rules?"
Marckus's white eyes betrayed no emotion, yet Matthew could tell he was excited about something. "Yes, my lord. I read this, and I believe I understand. Using the gateway is all about balance. You see, everyone has a double in each dimension you shall come across. The same faces covering different souls. A thousand different dimensions, a thousand doppelgangers, all completely different from one another and yet, at their core, related. Even you, my lord, have a twin on this other earth that we are so desperately trying to reach."
Matthew's eyebrows shot up as he stared at Marckus unblinkingly. "Oh?"
"This, my lord, is the crux of what we shall need in order to make the gate function. Balance. Your doppelganger must be alive on the other side in order for you to pass through. The same will be true of the men in your army, and anyone else passing through to the other side."
Matthew steepled his fingers, narrowing his eyes as he pondered Marckus' report. "That seems too easy", he murmured thoughtfully, his eyes roaming over the spacious throne room.
Marckus smiled, and bowed his head in deference. "Whoever sealed the gateway did not wish it to be opened again."
"What must be done?" Matthew's eyes burned with eager fury.
"There is an added stipulation. Very specific. Almost. . . prophecy-like in its phrasing. I have studied it exhaustively, and I believe I know what it means, but perhaps I should show it to you before I tell you my theories-"
"Read it to me", Matthew said, his voice low and even-toned. He was most dangerous when in this mood, and Marckus would not test his temper further. Pulling the worn and beaten book from under his tunic, the grim man opened it gingerly and found a short passage written in red on the margin of one of the moth-eaten pages.
"Blood and blood,
Blood aged black,
Broken bonds,
Brothers lack.
Blood is painted on the door,
Death lays beneath the floor."
"Brothers. . .", whispered Matthew, "Jeffrey. . ."
"Yes", replied Marckus excitedly, "This passage seems to imply not only that your brother is somehow important to the opening of the gateway, but also that he will be unable to fulfill this destiny."
"Marckus", Matthew said quietly, "you know very well that my brother was stillborn."
"My lord, I believe your brother's doppelganger will be of great use to us. You see, judging from this passage's placement in the book and its particular phrasing, I believe we will need his blood to open the gateway." He paused. "I have seen him." When Matthew did not react outwardly, he continued. "Using the spells outlined in the book, I was able to briefly transport myself to the earth we so covet." He stopped, closing his eyes and taking a deep, unsteady breath. "It was. . . very beautiful." After a moment, he opened his opaque eyes and once again met his emperor's cold gaze. "I located the double of your deceased younger brother. His name is Jeff Hardy. He is some type of- athlete. He will serve our cause very well."
Matthew nodded, and stood. "Bring me the Black Guard."
Marckus bowed, and started for the door.
"Marckus", he said, causing the tall mage to turn and once more face his emperor, "I do hope, for your sake, that you are not wrong about this."
Nodding in acknowledgement of the not-so-subtle threat, the tall man pivoted and walked silently out of the throne room.
* * * * * * *