Keeping Your Promise#10

The Weakness Of Mortals

A/N: Hope you all had a fantastic holidays and welcome to the new year. Took longer to get around to than I originally planned due to Fable Seekers and an extra long chapter for Legacy but here you go :) Hope you all enjoy it as the story begins it's final arc.
Disclaimer: Song used is 'Unchained Melody' By The Righteous Brothers. I do not own the song. (Give it a listen though, amazing song!)

. - Thank you for your review :) I love it too :3

- Thank you for your fantastic review :) I glad you had such a blast from start to present and I hope you enjoy the next instalment. I write all my own poems and if not I'd credit it (E.g. The song in this chapter) I have to say my favourite ones are actually in Legacy but I did enjoy Heckapoo's poem to Dox in the muddy field. Also it's fine haha Grammar isn't exactly my strong point.

/

The door opened slowly as a gentle hand pushed against the handle. The usually drab décor of the dance studio had been changed to a more bright and vibrant setting. Streamers and balloons were scattered around the room as she made her way in. She loved how he had cast the room a scarlet red with lights everywhere. Looking up it was like looking at a rose tinted starry sky with the fairy lights he'd hung across the ceiling. She made her way through the balloons that littered the ground until she arrived on the dance floor. Music suddenly began to play causing her to spin to meet his gaze.

"Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much"

Marco stood back and turned the speaker volume higher. He straightened his tie and turned to the floor behind him.

"Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me,"

There she was standing there waiting for him. He walked forward and took her hands in his. They started to sway to the rhythm as he slid his arms around her waist and she left hers wrapped gently around his neck. Marco stared into her eyes and heard the chorus kick in again as they span slowly across the dance floor.

"Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home, wait for me"

She rested her head on his shoulder as he led them across the floor. The lights dimmed apart from the one that followed them as they danced. He was wearing his favourite brand of after shave again, she could tell. She let herself get lost in the music and in him as he twirled her gently by her hand before pulling her back into him.

Marco felt her light figure press against her and found himself running his fingers through her hair. She blushed as he made eye contact but couldn't resist parting her curly hair from her face and looking directly into her eyes.

"Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me."

As the final verse of the song began to near its end their slow dance came to a stop as they stared at each other. Marco lifted her chin up with his finger and let himself move closer. She closed her eyes as his lips pressed against hers. It was as if life itself was being breathed into her as her cheek marks began to shine and she kissed him back. Her hands wrapped tighter around his neck as he held her by her waist. Her red silk dress only seemed to make the task easier as she wrapped on leg around him. The two slid to the floor and carried on kissing passionately. Marco started to remove his blazer and untie his shirt when he stopped to speak to her.

"Star.. I Love You.." He smiled as she opened her lips to return the feeling when his own voice came from within her.

"STOP MESSING WITH MY MEMORIES!" Yelled the voice as the walls around them seemed to fall down as if it was but a film set. The star lit sky never existed and the music was never played. Darkco looked back down to see he was alone again.

"Really had to ruin it at the good part Diaz." Groaned the inner voice.

"I don't care. Don't you dare mess with my memories! Especially not my memories with Kelly and definitely not any from the year we spent together in that house!" Marco growled inwardly.

Ever since he had first re-established the link with Kelly he'd been worried that Darkco would be able to talk to someone beside himself. Kelly hadn't been able to hear him or their conversations as far as both Diaz's were aware but since his failed attempt to speak to her Darkco had found a new hobby to pass his time. Going into Marco's memories and swapping them out with his own illusions. Deluded is what Marco had called him the first time he had done it. It had been of the Love Sentence concert and instead of kissing Jackie he had turned round, grabbed Star and kissed her. He ignored the protests and tears Jackie shed as he let himself do what he had always wanted to do. Only then had Darkco discovered that doing so would eventually be made aware to Marco as he could feel his memories being tampered with.

"What does it matter? You have your fiancée, you have the girl you love by your side but I have nothing. You could at least let a fellow Marco have a bit of happiness in his eternal damnation."

"We are not fellows Darkco, how many times do I have to tell you that! We are not the same and never will be?"

"Of course Mr Perfect. How could I forget that you didn't murder a bunch of innocent people in that death cell to survive. That you didn't taint your blood with that of a monster to make yourself stronger and better. That in the end the people you love aren't suffering in your stead. Admit it Marco. No matter how deluded I may be I can see through this illusion you hide behind. We are the same Marco. We share a fate and a destiny. I may have lost my life but I am here to stay. Unless you find a way to be rid of me or Fate changes her fickle mind." Darkco explained. Over the time they had been together he hadn't pacified his wish for Marco to see that he became the way he did because the world around him and that Marco would fall just as he did. He'd stopped being so hostile and had rather started enjoying interacting with Marco as it meant escape from the loneliness that faced him within his prison.

Marco on the other hand had grown to despise Darkco with a growing passion. The doppelgänger had access to all his memories and all of his thoughts and didn't mind voicing his twisted opinion on any situation. He'd also, to his own dismay, developed a curiosity to understand him. How someone the same as him could be so different. It was this interaction that brought them to their current situation.

Marco sat waiting patiently inside a hospital waiting area, ignoring Darkco for the last few hours until he had fallen silent. He'd managed to persuade the staff to run all sorts of tests on Janna through his connections he'd made when he'd pitched his 'Magic Medicine' to the various professionals and university professors. They hadn't asked too many questions after taking a look at the boy they had only seen a few weeks previous. He'd aged in his eyes. One particular professor had served in war and knew the look. The look of a man who had killed for duty. He had been the first to grant permission for the tests. The scar that had decorated his eye had nearly healed completely thanks to Toffee's blood but it was still a rather defining wound to a normal human of Earth.

"Why Unchained Melody anyway?" Marco broke the silence to ask Darkco a question.

"Pardon? Are you talking to me now?"

"Yes. Okay, I want to know why you chose the song Unchained Melody?" Marco had been thinking about the question and knew that Darkco knew it too. He was just curious why he chose such a love song.

"I remember watching the film Ghost with Mum and Dad. I thought the very idea that love could defy even death was beautiful.."

"I remember.. I thought they would laugh at me for crying but when I turned round.."

"Dad was crying so much that Mum had to hold him. He knew what we now knew. Love is beautiful and love is powerful... I guess maybe I chose it because it's the only song I know that can carry how I feel. My Star is gone. Dead and moved on... I don't even know if the place she moved on to collapsed with my dimension or if it exists out there somewhere but if I can... I will find her and I will..."

"You will what?"

"I'll say goodbye with a smile.."

"That's it? You don't want forgiveness? A second chance? Or even to be with her?"

"How could I ever expect her to forgive me when even you won't? How can anyone forgive me when i cant forgive myself? When I died.. For real. I stood, as you once did, at the balcony and I heard a whisper. "Was it worth it?" I can't say it was real or not but I replied. If i ever got to see her again I'd say goodbye... Like I should have before.."

"You never really told us what happened to Star.. All the others you told their deaths... But Star you were always vague about.."

"...Meteora.. She left her till last. She had already used up all of her energy, her strength and magic.. But she told her to stand. Star did and Meteora pushed some magic back into her... Only enough to re-active the butterfly form.. So plucked her wings from her.. And then stole all of her magic. She lay bleeding on the ground and looked over to me.

"Marco.. I Love You.. Goodbye.." All I had to say was goodbye.. To tell her I loved her... That I'd save her but as Meteora pushed down on her skull killing her all I could do was cry out and scream. If I got the chance I'd just say goodbye.."

The two returned to silence within his mind. Neither knowing what to say next.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You saved yours."

"It doesn't mean your loss isn't worth anything.."

"You don't have time to waste caring about me. Heads up, the nurse is coming back." Marco shot up and realised he was right as the nurse who had gone off to see if Janna was alright returned to get him.

Marco followed her into a room where a team of specialists waited to give him the results he so desperately wanted. He closed the door behind him and prepared for the worst.

/

"Let me tell you a story.."

"A story as old as time and yet happening as we speak.."

"One day there was a little girl, She like most little girls had a mother and a father. The little girl loved her parents and thought they were like the gods. When she felt sad they would make her smile. When she felt scared they would make the fear go away.. And when she felt lonely they would always appear to save her."

"The family of three once left their home. The girl looked back at the cave they ran from and wondered why her home was being bathed in fire. Her parent's usual smiles were turned upside down and their tears flew behind them. She was scared but they were too.. She was sad but they were too... But she wasn't lonely.. Because they were there too.. At least, they were in the beginning."

/

Marco carried Janna gently in his arms as they headed back through a portal. He placed her gently on her bed and nodded for the others to come in. Jade and Heckapoo were both the first through the door but both fell even further when they realised she still hadn't woken up.

"Why?" Heckapoo began to ask but Jade put his hand to her shoulder. She knew why.

"What can we do next?" Jade asked turning to Marco hopeful that he would have a solution.

"We wake her up.. We let her live the rest of the life she has while we work until there isn't a moment left. There is no technique on Earth or Mewni... Or any dimension we can go to that can fix her. No one has ever seen a case like hers before. Her mind was full of so many memories.. So many beautiful and amazing memories that it overfilled. It broke and now she's left in a time where she felt the safest. Her mind is shielding her. She isn't safe at the age she is but it's all her mind can do from losing all that it has left." Marco explained as he fell back into a chair. The results had proven to be both full of information and nothing. Human science only served to explain what was wrong with her but have no way to help her. Mewman magic had the potential to fix her but.. Time wasn't their friend. Star and Tom had been pouring over every royal archive their kingdoms had to offer. The other royals had done the same but none served to reveal the answer.

Glossaryck had searched back to the creation of magic and found nothing. Any way that would save her meant losing all of her memories... Janna would either be a shell of herself or never be the same again. Marco concluded that there could only be one option. The creation of new magic.

"If only he was here.." Everyone looked up. No one was sure who said it but they all felt the same. If Dox was there he'd find a way. He'd know what to do when no one else knew how. Jade had tried to contact him but the phone no longer rang. He guessed that interfering had cost him talking privileges and hoped to hear from him soon.

"We need to get going.." Tom spoke up to Star. Marco nodded to him and Star. They left reluctantly and started heading down to the main hall.

"So what's the matter?" Star asked as she wrapped her hand around his. Ever since waking up in the medical wing Tom had been quiet. Marco and him had talked it out but Marco wouldn't say what they had talked about.

"I need to tell you something about the Lycanthrope's.."

"What? I thought everything went well with Sun and Luna?"

"It did... But it was us not knowing their culture that was the problem.. Star they swore an oath to me and you. One that promised to protect and serve us as their masters for as long as they live."

"WHAT!" Star stopped him and made him look at her.

"I didn't ask for it and nothing I would have said would have changed their minds."

"So what's the urgent problem?" Star could tell he was only telling her this because it was important now.

"I almost died... You almost died.. I went back as soon as I could when I woke up and the castle was empty. They left... To hunt down the cultists."

"Tom! How comes you haven't said anything! We need to stop them! If we don't it could end up causing war."

"I KNOW STAR! I know... I've been trying but not being found is one of their talents. Trust me we can't find them with a conventional method."

"So where are we going..?"

"To make a promise to the moon." Star wasn't sure where to even start with his comment when he cut open a portal and led them through.

Star looked up and found herself spell bound. Closer than she had ever seen it was the moon. Standing tall in front of a blanket of the brightest stars. She could make out each bump and grove across the moons surface and then turned to find Tom. She couldn't see him but noticed a path and followed it. She walked across the path and realised that aside from the path and the lanterns that lit the way there was nothing beside it. She looked over the edge and realised that there was even more stars below them. She was walking across a path that stood still among the stars.

She walked until she found him standing between an arch. Behind him the moon shone brightly, almost welcoming her. She stood by his side as he looked at her.

"Tom.. Where are we?" She took his hand and noticed that his palms were sweating and that he was shaking.

"When I went to find Marco... When he was taken by Dox I didn't stop at the edge of the land... We searched the seas, the sky and then when we still couldn't find him we searched further... Some Demon's don't need air to breath... Some are even okay in a vacuum. I sent my people into the stars to find him yet he was right beside us all along. Some time when they were searching they found something, something incredible. Small and almost invisible to the naked eye but they found this. An arch in space. A place to view the moon and all that it is." Tom raised his three eyes and gestured to the area around them.

"You mean to tell me we are standing in space?"

"Yes.."

"How are we breathing?"

"I don't know. Star this place defies all logic and reason. It stands still while the world moves around it. I have looked through every ancient text and scroll we have but by all logic this place shouldn't exist. It's a mystery."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because I feel like if we made our promise here... Bathed in the light of the moon and stars. Maybe they will hear our promise and stop what they are doing."

"I don't understand.." Star couldn't work out how making a promise would stop the Lycanthropes from hunting down Luci and the others.

"You don't need to understand that... But please listen to what I'm about to say next.. Please." Tom clicked his fingers and from two small flames beside him he pulled two chairs. Both sat down and Tom took Star's hands in his.

"Star Butterfly, From the very first day I saw you I knew you would be someone amazing. Someone who would change the very world around her. I think from the very first moment when you stepped into my life I have loved you. I use to be nothing but rage and hatred, someone who didn't care for anyone but themselves. You left me because I was a selfish waste of space and I understand that." Tom paused and noticed Star look a little guilty so carried on.

"But you were right. You leaving me and moving on was the right action to take. It took me a while to realise that. It took you leaving the very world we live in and falling in love with Marco for me to realise that if I didn't change I wouldn't ever deserve you. Let alone be able to be with you.

At first I didn't handle that well either but I guess i fell in love with him too. Not the same way of course but he is my best friend. He is the person who I rely on to protect you when I can not. He found the person he loves more than both of us together and I couldn't be happier for him. I told him, the day he got taken by the cult that I wanted to move forward with you. All that time ago... I had this planned... But I guess part of me was still scared.." Tom gulped down and moved his hand into his pocket. He pulled from it a small box and passed it to Star. She stared at it almost afraid to open it before looking up at how nervous her boyfriend was in front of her. Star opened up the box and found a single ring. Unlike everything else Tom loved which was usually over the top and grandiose the ring was simple and almost delicate. Star pulled it from the case and looked at it. The actual ring itself was made of gold, it was a slim band that she knew would be a perfect fit on her finger. The main feature on the ring was a small blue diamond that seemed to have red cracks all around it.

"The diamond is one grown in the underworld. The flames cause the diamond to crack and bleed but it will never break. The 'blood' causes it to become even stronger than it was before. We are a couple who has faced hardship and we have our fair share of cracks... But it's that.. That binds us even stronger together." Tom leant forward and took the ring from her. The box slid from her grip and rolled across the path before falling off into the reaches of space.

"Star, Will you marry me?" Star was speechless and she nodded with tears starting to stream from her eyes. He slid the ring onto her slender finger until it was in place. Star kept staring at it unable to speak when Tom leant forward and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Thank you so much for loving me Star.." Tom whispered into her ear before holding her tightly in his arms.

/

"The little girl wiped her parents blood from her eyes as she tried to see what had happened before her. She crawled out from under their corpses and began to run from the ever growing flames. Their forms dissolved into the burning light as she was now alone."

"The girl sat alone in the ashes of her land. The people she called her own were dead and the ones who had purged them had moved on. Their thirst for violence not sated they moved on to the next village.. The next land and more."

"The girl felt the cold reach her bones as she hid in the remains of the cave. With no food she had lost all of her weight being reduced to mere flesh and bone. With no possessions she was left in rags and with no one else she had lost all will to live. It was then the little girl heard the voice of god."

/

"But Tom.. What promise were you talking about?" Some time had passed since Tom had gotten his answer and the two had sat silently watching a shooting star pass their view.

"I want to make a promise to you and I want you to return it. I then want us to promise the moon we will be true to our word."

"What is the promise Tom?"

"I, Tom Lucitor, promise, by this love I feel, that I will do what I can to protect the peace we have made and all the smiles we have shared. I will act in such a way that everybody wins. I won't seek vengeance. I won't seek revenge. I will only seek to make tomorrow a brighter day. I promise to build a future of peace, of happiness and of hope. I want the future to be bright, like the moment I first saw you." Tom said with pride and sincerity. His voice was calm and unwavering. Star listened carefully and smiled as she realised he'd added in the promises they made to each other back in the Rose garden maze.

"I, Star Butterfly, by this love I feel promise that I will stand by your side and protect the peace we have made together and the smiles we are yet to share. I will see the end where we are together and the world is bright. Hope, Peace, Love, Happiness and Joy are the ideals I will stand by. I will and do promise to love and hold you and treasure you more than you could ever have believed. I promise to protect you and the very world we live in... Together." The two let the tips of their fingers touch before linking and turning to the moon. They closed their eyes and around them the butterflies and flames of the Bell Ball began to circle them. Their breathing synced together as they opened their eyes and faced the moon before them.

"We, In love and hope, do promise to uphold the vows we have spoken and the wishes we have made. We will act for love, for virtue and for freedom. Peace and happiness will be all we deliver and in the end we will die together in a brighter world. Our hearts are one and we will follow this word. Any who follow behind us do so because they follow the same belief." They finished speaking in unison and watched as the flaming butterflies flew away from them and headed to the moon. Silence started to fall on them when a sudden noise took their attention. Tom started to smile wide as Star looked at him confused.

"They heard us.." Before Star could ask what he meant she heard the howling that he had recognised. It was several voices singing out to the moon in unison. They had heard their vow and were responding in kind. He took her hand and pulled out his scissors when she grabbed them from his hand.

"Star?"

"They'll take a little bit of time to get home... How about we just.. Stay here for a little longer?" Star asked timidly. He had rarely seen her like this but knew it was when she needed him most. They sat back down and he thought of what to say.

"Star, what's wrong?"

"Nothing... I just want this moment to be for us. You've done what you needed to... You protected what we vowed to for now... So can I please... Just sit here with you and think of the ending yet to come.." Her voice cracked as she started to cry.

"Star.." He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. He moved in slowly, dropping to his knees and pushed his lips against hers.

"We can stay here forever if it's what you wish.."

"Don't tempt me.." They both laughed lightly before holding each other again. They were alone in the stars and it was just right.

/

Higgs punched the bag in front of her letting out all of her frustrations. Her knuckles were red and raw from the hits but she was numb to the pain. She punched again and again until she fell to the floor dripping with sweat. She stood back up and went to punch again only to fall through a portal and land on the floor at the feet of the forger of scissors.

"So this is where you've been hiding?" Heckapoo asked as she leant down to the tired Higgs and ran a finger across her knuckles. She felt Higgs wince from her touch but didn't let go. She got down and laid on the floor beside her looking at the ceiling.

"Hurting yourself won't change anything.." Heckapoo started to say when Higgs threw her towel at her.

"I'm training... I'm not strong enough. I need to get stronger.."

"Higgs... No one expects you to protect everyone.."

"No one has ever expected anything of me.. It's what I expect of myself that matters. I couldn't defend this Kingdom in its time of need. I had to rely on Marco and the Princess to save the day. I couldn't protect or save Marco by myself... He's my squire and my responsibility and I failed him... And I couldn't even protect the people of this kingdom. I trained everyday of my life to defend this kingdom and I have failed at every turn. I need to get stronger... I need to be stronger... If.. If i was stronger then I wouldn't have to lose anyone." Heckapoo turned to look at her. Tears filled her bright green eyes as she grabbed at her short orange hair. She was hurting and they hadn't realised.

"I know how you feel.. It's my job.. My whole reason for existing... To protect magic and this kingdom. I lost to Toffee, to Meteora and I lost the man I love because I was clueless and weak. Now my best friend is in a coma, my other friends are hurting and the girl I consider close enough to be my little sister is hiding away and hurting herself trying to protect us." Higgs looked back at Heckapoo and noticed tears swelling in her eyes too.

"Crystal.. I know you are hurting.. I know you feel weak and not good enough but if it wasn't for you we wouldn't have survived Darkco, we wouldn't have rescued Marco and we wouldn't have accomplished anything we set out to achieve. I started 'Each Their Own Paradox' to let the children who would have died forgotten be given the chance to have a future. I thought with ideals alone I could change the world like no one did for him but I couldn't. Do you want to know what gives those children strength? Do you want to know who they look up to? Is it the Earth Hero or the Magic Princess? No... It's the Knight of the Crescent Moon. The female hero of Mewni. A Knight from rags who was the first of the outer circle to reach that peak, the first student of the magic school and the best pupil there. You are a hero to the people, a goal they can reach. Don't push yourself out of their reach, one of us needs to keep the rest grounded." Higgs turned away from her to hide the smile on her face.

"You know I hate being called that.."

"What? Your name? It's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.."

"Careful.. With lines like that you might end up breaking some hearts."

"There's the Crystal Higgs I know. Now how's about you let me get a look at those hands and we get ourselves off the floor?"

Heckapoo sat up and offered her hand to Higgs. The girl was hesitant to return the action but couldn't refuse in the situation. Heckapoo cut open a small portal and pulled out some ointment and bandages.

"The old fashioned way?" Higgs said with a smile. Heckapoo didn't look up to reply but instead started to tend to her wounds. She used the ointment to wash away the dirt and dust from the wound before wrapping the bandage around her hand. She tied it off nicely then tucked it inside itself so it wouldn't come undone.

"Sometimes it's better to let things happen naturally."

"Strange for someone from the Magical High Commission to have that view point? What's on your mind?" Heckapoo paused in thought as Higgs' words ran through her mind.

"I guess... I'm not sure of anything anymore. A few years ago, before Dox and before Marco, I understood my role and this world. Magic was limitless and the world was a good place. The future of Mewni was uncertain only due the childishness of the Princess. I was focused on my work and occasionally would attend meetings at the High Commission but that was all... Now.. We have to redefine the limits of magic... It's not limitless but the limit can be broken. Incurable wounds and death can be reversed. Gods exist and toy with our lives and dimensions I've never even believed in now dictate my life. It all got so confusing and so convoluted that I'm struggling to keep up with life itself." Heckapoo threw the items back through the portal before standing up and walking to a window nearby. She looked out into the garden it showed and felt akin to the view. A wilted tree being bathed in the setting sun. It had all it needed to get by but it is still at it's end. She felt a hand hesitantly reach for her shoulder. Heckapoo turned to see Higgs looking at the ground, her face conflicted.

"Crystal?"

"Make it simple.." Higgs whispered to her.

"What do you mean?"

"Make it simple Heckapoo. You are so bothered by all the changes and what was that you are blinding yourself to what is and what's to come."

"Then how do I fix that?"

"Forget what you cannot fix... I never met Dox. Not once so it may be easy for me to say this but at the moment he isn't what matters. Janna is. Focus on her and what's about to happen." Heckapoo frowned when she mentioned Dox but felt a nagging feeling in her heart that Higgs was right.

"And what's about to happen?"

"What ever we let happen. There's someone out there who has caused all of this. Whether it's this so called God or his green haired apostle that is doing his bidding. We can stop her. We can end this war before it even begins. We can save Janna and live the lives we are suppose to lead." Higgs lifted her head and looked out into the garden. The sun had fallen and taken the light with it.

"So we are just meant to forget those we left behind and move on?"

"If you want to win... Yes.."

"Winning isn't everything?"

"Losing isn't either."

"Higgs... I don't know what exactly I'm suppose to do..."

"Come with me... I want to show you something.." Higgs grabbed Heckapoo's hand and led her from the training room. The sandbag carried on swinging as the door closed behind them.

/

"The God asked the little girl why she cried. The little girl replied 'Because I've lost everyone.' The God then asked why she had lost everyone but the little girl didn't understand the question.

"Why did you allow the world to take everyone?"

"I didn't know how to stop it..."

"I will teach you child." The God took the little girl from the ashes of the cave and she disappeared from existence itself for 200 years.

The girl, now older and in her teens, reappeared in the world. She walked among the peaceful people until she found the people she was looking for. It was a family of three. A mum, dad and their daughter. They were the descendants of those who had killed her own family and she was here for revenge. The girl had awoken a special power from the God and used this power as she killed the mother and father. The little girl cried as her parents were slain before her eyes but the girl just laughed.

She had gotten her revenge but that wasn't enough. She pinned the blame on another of the descendants who then started to fight the system. A single act that led to a war between people. The girl disappeared again as her God welcomed her home.

/

Jade rubbed his sore eyes as fatigue continued to plague him. He ran his hand across his face in a desperate attempt to keep himself wide awake. He had black bags under his eyes and his throat was dry. His stomach growled at him for attention but he continued to ignore his own body and it's demands. He took Janna's pale hand into his own and squeezed tightly. Hoping that somehow the warmth from his own hand would reach her. His blue hair had grown outward and now started to cover his eyes as he let them cast further shadows on his face. His heart mark on his cheek appeared to be cracked but it was a scratch he had obtained in the fight against the cultists. Marco had offered to heal it but he decided it should remain that way for as long as Janna remained broken.

Jade stood up and made his way to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and was aware of why he left it. A reminder that he hadn't been able to protect her at all. She had died under his watch and was now in this state. He had robbed his friend of his mortality but hadn't been able to honour his request to protect them all. Jade punched the mirror in frustration and twitched as he realised a shard of the glass had gone in his hand. He looked at it with mild curiosity as the blood ran down his arm. He picked up a bigger shard of glass and twirled it in his fingers. If he could be wounded by something this fragile how could he protect them all. He concentrated his magic in his palm and made it envelope his hand before thrusting the shard into it. The shard shattered into pieces the moment it came into contact with his magic and he healed his hand before cleaning up the glass. He sat back beside Janna and pulled out his mobile. He scrolled down to Dox again and tried to call but once again got a tone for an incorrect number.

"It's horrible when you can't reach him... Isn't it?" Jade looked up to see the aquamarine haired girl looking over him. Kelly wandered into the room and looked into the bathroom at the mirror.

"..I slipped.."

"Really? Is that why your hand is bleeding?" Jade shot a glance at his hand and noticed that she was right. His magic may have destroyed the shard but it had still cut him. He went to heal it when Kelly grabbed his hand. She squeezed it tight and his blood dripped down into a jar she held.

"What are you-"

"Doing?.. Well collecting your blood." She said as matter of fact as she could.

"Why are you taking my blood?" Jade asked as she let go. He healed his hand and looked up to see her swirling his blood around the glass.

"I wanted it for an enchantment. I don't know if Marco ever told you but the blood of really powerful magic users can be very useful in enchantments. I actually once used my own blood to make him a ring that would change into a knife. I think it got taken from him when he was captured but it was a present I made with Dox's help." Kelly remembered the time at the lake with his family and smiled.

"So what enchantment do you want my blood for?"

"A protective rune is often more powerful when there's a powerful feeling behind it. I want to make something to protect Janna and the blood of the powerful mage who loves her seems like a useful competent if you ask me." Kelly chuckled.

"You could have asked."

"True, I was planning to but you saved me the effort when you shoved that glass into you hand."

"You saw?"

"No but I know what self harm looks like. I'm not sure what you were trying to prove but hurting yourself won't help anyone."

"I just wanted to see how weak I really am.."

"That's all?"

"Yes.."

"Then come with me. I think I have just the thing for you." Before Jade had a chance to refuse a black portal opened up beneath them both with a wave of her hand. Jade fell to the ground, groaning in pain. The black sand that he landed on was warm to the touch and he raised his head to see a yellow lake beside them.

"Where are we?"

"Lake Lava Beach. It's in the underworld. It's quite a good place for working out some issues and for sparring on."

"Sparring? You want to fight?"

"Why not?"

"That won't achieve anything?"

"You wanted to see how weak you really are? SOOOOOOOO Stand up before I make you!" Kelly smiled as Jade gave her a complex look. His interactions with the girl hadn't always been the most fruitful and honestly had begun to see her more as Marco's partner than an individual. Jade went to stand up when a sharp kick to the ribs send him flying across the beach and crashing into the lake. He shot out of the water gasping for air and clutching his side which creaked from the pain.

"What was that fo-" Before he could finish he was forced to duck under the water as a streak of flames flew past his head. He concentrated his magic and burst from the water. He had taken his angelic form and looked down upon Kelly as she dug the last of a set of swords into the sand. The clear sands were now littered with swords, spears and other weapons which had come from her hair.

Jade raised his hand to fire a beam of magic at her when a chain wrapped around his wrist and with her overpowering strength she span him in the air before slamming him into the ground. He went to get up when she flew past him cutting at his ankle. The blade she had used clearly had an ice enchantment as his feet was frozen to the ground. Before he could do anything a large hammer swung towards him sending him flying across the sand and bouncing across it's surface. He raised a shield around him to get a chance to breath while healing his wounds. He couldn't see her and started to scan the beach when he fell through the ground and into the air. He acted on instinct to catch a spear that was thrown at him before it exploded in his hands sending him back to the ground. He groaned in pain as he put his hand down to push himself up only to have a sword placed through it.

"So... Realised how weak you are yet?" Jade looked up to see Kelly frowning at him. She sat down next to him and then hit him lightly on the head.

"You aren't anything special. None of us are. We are all weak and we will all fail... But that's okay... The greatest person I ever met was the biggest loser and the most weak person there ever could be... And he was incredible. Being weak isn't the problem, being content with it is." Kelly pulled the sword from his hand and passed him the jar. He sat up and held his hand over it draining his blood into it.

"I couldn't protect her... I couldn't protect anyone."

"And you think any of us have? We are all just struggling to get by. I almost ruined my relationship with Marco because I didn't feel good enough and it's Marco I'm dealing with. Can you imagine what Janna would say if she saw you acting like this?" Jade started to laugh which caused Kelly to raise her eye brow at him.

"She'd probably hit me and say I'm an idiot. That she leads her own life and it's nothing to do with me. Instead of crying about what I couldn't do I should brag about what I could."

"She is a very special lady."

"You got that right... I just need her to be okay. I know it seems stupid given everything you lot have been through before I came along but I'm not sure I can fight and try to save a world without her. I'm not meant to be a hero... I'm a sidekick." Jade healed his hand again and passed her the full jar. He thought back to the role he assumed when he came here. He was meant to support the main cast in their endeavours and help them along to finish the story. He still saw it like some novel or television programme that wouldn't affect him but then he fell in love. He lost the life he knew and the one he had lost it for was now out of his reach.

"You are being an awful sidekick.."

"What?" Jade asked bemused.

"I watched some earth shows with Marco when we went to visit his family and we watched a few with Dox and from what I saw the sidekick is the vibrant and cheerful support for the hero. You are there to be a moral compass and that little bit extra that keeps them going. To fail and learn your lesson by the time the story is done. If you really want to be her sidekick then you need to realise that you failing is okay. If you never fall how can you learn to stand back up." Jade took her words to heart and stared off into the lake in thought. He chuckled as he realised she was right.

"I'm colourful at least.."

"That you are!" Kelly laughed at his silver lining.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"How are you still so full of hope?"

"I'm not. I'm scared every day that everything I've worked so hard to achieve will fail. I'm scared that the people I love will disappear and I'll lose Marco and that kills me inside. I think the reason I come across that I'm full of hope is because of Marco and everyone else. Marco gives me the strength to fight on. He was willing to throw everything away to protect me and be with me so I think i should fight for that. If I gave in and let him down then I don't deserve to be with him. I need to be strong, I need to carry on because if i don't how can I have the things I want."

"So there is no special secret... We are weak.. And we just have to learn to live with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. We find strength in others that we couldn't in ourselves. I just kicked your ass but it doesn't mean you are weak. It just means we are stronger together."

"That doesn't really make sense."

"It doesn't need to Jade... Now how's about we get you a hot meal and a change of clothes. To be frank you look like crap and are starting to smell as well." Kelly waved her hand and the two dropped into the Parahouse. Jade sniffed at his top and drew back quickly when he smelt himself. He looked up as she threw a towel and some clothes at him. He looked down at the red tie and the jacket and ran his hands across them slowly. He made a promise and it was about time he sorted himself out and kept it. Kelly held her hand to her heart and thought out loud.

"I did it. I think he'll be okay now. You really seem to care about him?"

"Yeah, we bonded a lot when we were trapped before. He reminds me of Dox but more so of myself before Dox. Insecure and naïve. He's strong and will be amazing some day but in reality he's like a child to all of this. He didn't spend time with others growing up and I'm not even sure how old he is... I mean if time isn't a concept where he came from he could be decades if not centuries old but have the experience of a toddler with people. He doesn't even seem to understand his feelings all that well. He's afraid... And I can't just leave him alone." Marco's voice resounded in her head.

"I love that side of you. I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he rests. I think we still have some of the sleeping medicine Dox used to spike us with to raise our tolerance. I doubt he's got any resistance with it so I'll let you know when he wakes up. Good Luck."

"Thanks Kelly.. If this works I will definitely owe you one.."

"And the others too. Higgs and Tom both agreed to keep everyone away from the room. I'm not sure what they're planning on doing but it should just be you there now."

"That's true... Anyway I'm gonna need to concentrate now... I love you.."

"I Love you too.. I believe in you Marco.. I always have and always will... You can do this." Kelly heard nothing more in her head so headed to the kitchen to start cooking. She heard the shower upstairs and smiled. She clicked the button to block out the outside world on the remote and began to decide what to cook.

/

"The God had helped her with her problem and she was happy. She wanted to repay the God but was unsure how when she noticed one of the 'others' had taken on an Apostle. The blue haired child seemed to enjoy serving his master and it made her happy. That would be her answer."

"Serving the God was no easy feat. He demanded much from her and the powers gifted to her. She would do what she had done for herself and be the spark that began the war. Her master enjoyed the violence and the death and it made her happy to see him smile. She started to relish the sight of blood and the sounds of clashing metal. It became almost like a lullaby to her."

"She had attacked the blue haired Apostle and left a mark beneath his eye. The other had grown angry and had tried to end her but her master had protected her. He was happy with her. The other covered the wound with a small blue heart and erased the incident from his mind. She was to stay by her God and only leave to do his bidding."

"Much time passed, countless time. She had enjoyed her latest conquest. She would sometimes turn into a monster to attack a person or turn into a person to attack a monster. Form meant little to her now she had forgotten what she once was. She decided to take on the form of the little girl whose parents she had killed. She had waited for the little girl to grow up and have a child of her own and then repeated the process. For generations she had killed the parents of the child in front of them. It had been her personal hobby to some degree. The only remnant of her original form were the green hair and green eyes she was born with."

"Her God was angry. Someone else had intervened with his plans. Another of the 'others' had decided that his path was wrong and had foolishly tried to alter the course of time. She grew angry alongside him and in her wraith she found a crack, a small tear in the fabric of reality and what she saw was beautiful. Her plans.. His plans were going right there, it was the original timeline where the others 'corrections' never took place. She realised something and consulted her God. They could use this to their own advantage."

/

Marco stood over Janna with a knife in hand. He was hesitating to do what was necessary and started to breath deeply hoping to calm himself down. He cut his fingers and drew some runes down her arms and across her face. He healed his fingers and set down the knife.

"This is a mistake."

"Shut up. We're through talking Darkco. Unless you have something useful to say how's about you be quiet." Marco muttered aggressively. He was struggling to do what needed to be done as it was and didn't want to be told it was a mistake.

"You are about to take the life she has fought for from her."

"To save her life I need to restore her to a point before all of this."

"And then what? Hide her from the others and hope they don't notice the Janna sized hole in your story?"

"Why are you even talking? You tried... You did kill Janna in your own timeline. You don't care about her or any of this." Marco scowled. He regretted talking to him in the hospital now. The more they spoke the less like the monster who killed his mentor Darkco seemed and more like a misguided version of himself. Marco finally understood Fate's words to him. 'He is every part the champion you are', 'Such a shame to see him like this..' 'He is no longer a threat to you.' Marco had questioned her words at the time but the more they spoke the more he understood. Darkco was him, Marco hated to admit it but it was true, he had lived his life the same as him until the day it all went wrong and without Meteora's curse and the magic blood driving him insane he was just another Marco, except one who was willing to get his hands dirty.

"She was better off dead... Everyone she had loved and had supported her were either dead or no longer the person she needed. I'm not going to pretend to be a saint or pretend that I didn't do wrong Marco but face facts here. I'm the evil one and I think this is wrong, shouldn't that be a tell tale sign to you that something is wrong. My Janna wanted me and her to forget everything and move on with our lives but yours doesn't. I didn't let mine do what she wanted but I think you should."

"I don't understand you. Why are you trying to help me!"

"I told you. The more I help the less time I have to watch you waste your life. The less time I have to waste watching you ruin every good thing you have. You are a pathetic and miserable excuse of a person but you are the person I am stuck with. I hate you and everything you are because you are me. I hate myself. I hate that I was so weak and that I couldn't protect the people important to me. Marco, I've told you time and time again... We are the same. You just need to know that no matter what happens you will end up the same way I did if you don't choose your actions wisely."

"FUCK OFF! I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTIME WE ARE NOT THE SAME! HOW DELUDED ARE YOU!"

"Murderer? Check. Cursed Blood? Check. About to take away someone else's future because you think you know better? Check. Marco face it. You are about to do what I would have done and that doesn't help anyone."

"I am NOT like you I am Marco Ubaldo Diaz of Earth. I am a good person and I will never be like you." Marco was panting heavily. He had started to find breathing harder. Beads of sweat dripped from his brown hair and his olive skin had grown red as he clutched onto his heart.

"Can you hear yourself? Can you really hear yourself? You know the saying Marco. You either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. You are changing and you know it. Us being together like this should have cemented how much you hate me in your mind and heart but I can feel it you know. You don't want to find peace in the end you want revenge. You want to kill the people who caused this. You want to give into the darkness and hunt them down. You want blood."

"How could you possibly know that!" Marco's vision had started to blur as he struggled to stand. He wasn't sure what was happening to him and didn't care. He was so angry from his talk with Darkco that he didn't care. He wasn't like him. He wasn't. He was doing the right thing and he would prove to him that he was right.

"Because the more you fall to darkness the more I'm exposed to the light. Fate told you. Didn't she. We are bound by balance and by a scale. You haven't realised that I'm not becoming more good but you are falling to evil. If you fall Marco what will your friends do? What will I do? I will not be able to watch you turn out like me like you couldn't watch me be me. It's an impossibility. One must be dark and one must be light. One must be good and one must be bad. One seeks revenge and one seeks justice... You are not the one who should be seeking revenge. That's me."

"Are you actually complaining because you're turning into a better person! You should be thanking me! Why should I care what you think?" Marco's voice was growing dry. He had to do the ritual now or it would be too late.

"If you don't want to admit it... It's fine.. I understand how hard it is to see how broken you've become. Marco... I'm sorry but this is going to hurt." Marco dropped the knife and fell to his knees screaming as his mind began to break. It was like his mind was splitting open and he felt every second of it. Blood started to ooze from his eyes and nose as he banged his head against the ground. He ran and smashed his head into the wall. Blood poured from his head as his left iris began to flicker between red and blue. Marco went to grab for the knife with his left hand when his right stopped him. He looked down confused when his right fist flew at his face and knocked him out.

Darkco stood up and looked around. He muttered a small incantation and all the blood that now was sprayed around the room was sucked back into his body and his wounds healed. He may not have studied healing magic as much as Marco but he knew how to stay whole. He kicked the knife under the bed and walked to be by Janna's side. He stroked her hair and moved the few strands that had gotten out of place back to where they should be.

"How amusing we find ourselves together like this Janna. Only less than a year ago did I celebrate the thought of having killed you and yet here I am as the one to save you. Don't resent Marco for his methods, he just didn't understand the implications of what he would have done. I find myself growing to resent myself more with each moment he falls to darkness. You all haven't noticed yet but the cult's corruption of his mind is more successful than first believed. Maybe it is my fault for forcing him to get back up by trying to kill and being willing but I never thought he'd honestly fall like this. This is only the beginning.. He needs you to keep him from going down a bad path. You were always there for me when we were younger. You'd tease me and get me to make a fool of myself in front of anyone who tried to be my friend who would have led me astray. You stopped me hanging with the wrong crowds and always made me aware of what was right and wrong. I need you to do it for him like you never have before Janna... Huh.. I've talked for too long... I can't keep him out for too long... It is his body after all." Darkco got a cloth and wiped the blood runes off of her and made sure any traces were gone before holding his palm over her forehead.

"It's a good thing I've gotten a lot of practice at manipulating memories lately. Seems like every does indeed happen for a reason. Let's get started." Light began to pour out from Darkco's palm and invade Janna's mind as her eyes flew open.

/

"The God and the Green Haired girl sat back and watched as the hero died and the world fell to darkness. They celebrated and cheered when something unpredictable happened. Something beyond all the god's plans happened. The mortals broke time itself to correct the changes they had made. The other's champion, her apostle was created from their deeds. He came, he died and he succeeded. She witnessed new wrath in her God as he lashed out. He was angrier than he had ever have been. It was not a God that had thwarted his plans and ruined his fun but measly mortals. She would fix this. She would make it right again."

"To bend the will of the arrogant had been easy for her. It was almost too easy to point the finger of hatred at this point. War was a game and she was the best player on the board. Two cults, one agenda, War."

"The Apostle of Fate intervened again. He is ruining my plan. He is ruining everything. My God is unaware of my actions. He lost interest in the story but no one knows that. I will correct the world and return the smile to him. In a bath of blood and a rain of fire I will restore the darkness, restore the end as the world falls to war. I will find him and end him."

"The Apostle escaped. He used the strange house against me but he is bleeding. He seeks refuge with the other of love. It was easy to fake his note. To take his form and leave a note to his fool of a God. I may not be able to find Love but Fate can. I will follow Fate, I will end her Apostle and I will have my end. The trap is set and the bait is ready. The story will end with death."

"I have found him. Fate went straight to Love but the Apostle hadn't made it yet. He is alone and vulnerable. I will take him for now. I will use him before the end. What will the mortal pests do for their fallen Apostle... I wonder?... I have a plan. I will make them sacrifice themselves and destroy all that they love. Fate means nothing and Love is worthless... All that matters is conflict. All that matters is War. I am the Apostle. I am the Harbinger. I am War."

/

A/N: Up late to get this posted X'D Kind of rushed so if you spot any bad mistakes please let me know. If you enjoyed please leave a review and let me know.