Circo de la Luna
I have never owned the Super Smash Brothers or Fire Emblem... I just owned the Circus.
Happy Single Awareness Day (S.A.D.)! Instead of giving you a crappy Valentines' Day special, I'm giving you a crappy backstory special! It's the one you've all been waiting for: Clown Marth! The bipolar kid!
It sucks like hell... I'm sorry. My writing inspiration has died on me- its only you guys that keep me alive. There's so much symbolism in here I want to vomit... wait, no. I'm just sick... that's why I'm vomiting.
Okay! Enough of the depressing speeches! Don't worry about not knowing the other characters! I've never played Fire Emblem! I don't know them either! Hopefully those who do play will enjoy all the little Valentines' Day choccies everywhere ^^... you know... like Easter eggs but it's Valentines... never mind.
They say that some people are born to do evil. Their pupils are black as coal and no light can pass their abyss. These evil ones do not cry when they emerge from the womb. These children are destined to do terrible things. The children are said to have a heart, but no soul inside.
"Wait! He's alive. He's alive! He's breathing! You did it Liza!"
It wasn't superstition but a warning. The appropriate thing to do is take the soulless child and strangle it as soon as possible. Take it before it learns to do harm. To kill purebred humans with this trait was a common practice and no one ever questioned it.
"It's a boy. Mommy! It's a boy! It's a brother!"
"Please... Cornelius. Let me see him." The tall muscular man carefully picked up the child, swaddled in a thick, white blanket, and handed the infant to his pale mother. The woman was panting hard. She was weak and sickly- over the past two months she had grown weaker and weaker until she was on the brink of death. Her poor heart was thumping furiously but still too slowly despite the strenuous activity being over. However, despite her depleting health, she had a smile on her face as she cuddled her baby boy.
"Marth... Marth Lowell. That's his name. That's his name..." Liza violently coughed over and over again, causing young Elice to rush over to her and tilt her backwards so she was properly supported. "You'll do great things Marth."The blue-haired woman needed medical attention but Cornelius couldn't allow that. Every hospital was run by furries- and even though he worked in the military for them; he trusted no one. That's why Liza had to have a home-birth.
No one could help her anyway. Giving birth to Marth had sapped the last of her strength. Her thin hands trembled and shook as she held her newborn son. Cornelius picked Marth and cradled him himself.
"Mommy. Rest now okay. It's okay. We'll take care of Marth."
"Elice... my beautiful daughter Elice. Darling... please look after Marth for me... okay? Look after your father and brother?" Cornelius stifled a sound and the young Elice stared confused at her mother.
"What do you mean? Are you going somewhere?"
"I'm going away for a while baby," she coughed. "I... I..." She started gasping for breath causing Cornelius to put Marth down and rush to hold his wife.
"Save your strength. You're going to be okay." He lied. He lied to himself and to his family. It hurt less and gave him hope. Why did she have to be so frail suddenly? Why did she get sick only before the pregnancy?
"Mother? Mother?"
"Look after him Cornelius. Elice... take... take care of yourself. Take... take care of your baby brother." She slowly outstretched her hands to touch both of their cheeks, but before she could reach out any further, her hands lost their strength and fell.
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"LIZA! NO! NO!"
Marth didn't even make a sound as his sister and father noisily screeched and mourned the death of a beloved one. He didn't cry. He didn't scream. He barely even blinked.
Marth was two hours old when he made his first kill.
Marth's first kill was his mother.
Pagebreaker
"Sip! More please Elle! More please!"
"Me too Elice!"
"You'll both get enough to drink. Don't fight though. It isn't proper. It isn't lady-like." As the other two giggled, the eldest poured the imaginary tea into the outstretched cups of the finely dressed two in front of her.
"Thank you darrrrrrling. Is divine!"
"Is divine!" The group erupted into laughter and they all continued to munch on their cookies.
In the bright peach-coloured living room, there sat three happy children having a friendly tea party. Elice had practiced her makeup skills and dressed them all up. All three of the young, unsupervised children had blue hair and wore ruffled, gaudy play-dresses. The heels they wore were seven sizes too big for them and all in all, they looked like adorable ladies.
"Now, now my friends. We're not just here to laugh. We're here on serious business. As you all know its time for all of us to show our artistic talent. So let's show each other now what we drew this week." The other two knew Elice was trying to be serious, but they had to laugh at the proud, nasally voice she was using. Being gifted in other areas besides the brains were treasured in a woman. Even the young trio knew that. They made a game from it.
"I drew us!" Disfigured stick figures were pulled from the small bag of the 'guest of honour'. They were all blue and they looked like they had potatoes for heads. A regular drawing for a five year old.
"Wow! Sheeda-chan is good!" Sheeda smiled at her companion on her right, clapping so eagerly that the two plaits that tied the blue locks bobbed up and down. Sheeda was a great friend of the siblings. Her father worked in the military with the duo and because they lived so close together, Sheeda often came to stay and play. Elice smiled and pulled out her own drawing: a much better depiction of a colourful house and a bright happy sun.
"I drew a house." The other two clapped excitedly as the girl grinned. She turned to the in the silver dress and beckoned him. "Don't be shy. Show us what you drew." There was a giggle and then the chair was pushed back. Lifting up the hem of the skirt, the third member of the table briefly left Sheeda and Elice.
"I like the dress Elice. That the best." Elice had to agree. Even though Sheeda and herself were both adorable in their respective auburn and gold dresses, it was their friend who was dressed the best. From the way the blue hair was plaited with ribbon to frame the face, to how the silver dress cascaded over the lithe frame. It was the best.
It took a while for the person to come back.
But when he came back, it was with a beautiful A4 sized portrait.
To whom who would have saw it, it looked like bluenette how a thirteen-year old drew. There were flaws but definite shapes and the figure was easily recognisable. It was a portrait of Liza. Taken directly from a picture from the mantlepiece downstairs, what had been made was simplified version of Lady Lowell in full colour.
"Marth... oh my gosh. This is beautiful."
"Amazing!" Sheeda jumped up and hugged Marth. "Marusu so good! Good!" Marth fought a blush.
"I declare Marth the winner of our art collection. All in favour say 'I'!"
"I!" Sheeda exclaimed as Elice joined in on the hug. The two five year olds and the nine year old held each other so tightly that they tripped over their own dresses and fell on the ground laughing.
"BEEP! BEEP!'
"DADDY'S HOME! DADDY CAN SEE WHAT I DREW FOR HIM!" Marth exclaimed. Marth had always admired his strong father. Even if he wasn't home often, Marth loved him unconditionally. Wriggling out of the dog pile, the young boy jumped up and gathered his skirts in his arms. Kicking off the outrageous heels and tightly clutching his picture, Marth ran down the stairs. He nearly tripped but kept his balance and scrambled into the hall to see his battle-worn, exhausted father trudged in. It was rare when the man actually rested in one of his three mansions- even rarer when he was in the same building as his children..
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Marth ran up and looked eagerly at him, holding his picture above his head and up high so his father could see it. But while Marth's eyes were sparkling with excitement, his father's were dull. He took one look at him and walked past.
"That's fine Elice but not now." He briefly ruffled Marth's hair but, for the most part, ignored his presence. "Daddy's going to bed. I'll see you later." He walked up three flights of stairs, and past where Elice and Sheeda were following Marth, before turning into his room and locking the door. Elice indicated to their neighbor to stay where she was. As Sheeda slipped back into the playroom, Elice slowly walked down the stairs. By the time she had reached the bottom of the stairs, Marth was metaphorically looking bluer then his real hair.
"... Dad's just tired Marthy." The girl said as she walked up to him. "It's not that he didn't want to see it. What you drew was wonderful..."
"Daddy didn't even look at it."
"Marth..."
"It's not fair!" The five-year old was having a temper tantrum. "Dad is awake at 3am doing his stupid business for eight hours but he can't bother to spend five minutes with us! Dad never pays attention to the stuff I like... girls like to do!" Marth scowled as he scrunched up his drawing and threw it at the ground. He ripped out the plaits in his hair but failed to take out the tightly laced dress. "It's always about the war! War! War!"
"Marth! Behave yourself. Sheeda can probably hear you from down here." Elice scolded firmly. However, she approached Marth and gave him a tight hug, causing the boy to calm down a little. The older of the two forced him to sit on the staircase.
"Daddy like to fight so I don't want any more girly stuff. I want to be a man!"
"Marth... you're overreacting."
"Elice! He's mistaken me for you eight times now! He doesn't care what I do as long as I do what I want! He's only interested in his job." Marth began to mumble but Elice heard every word. The compassionate woman held her brother close and leaned his head on her lap so he could stroke his wavy, soft, blue-hair.
"And do you want him to be proud of you?" For a nine year old girl, Elice was already very mature. She had been the lady of the house ever since she had brought back Marth back from the hospital and been responsible for her friends longer then she could remember. Marth nodded and buried his face into her skirt. "Marthy..."
"I want to change! I want to make daddy proud! I wanna be worth something! I'm not an artist! I want to learn to fight! I'm going to tell dad right now. Daddy said he'd give me martial arts lessons..."
"Marth. You don't have to change just to please him." Marth suddenly fell into silence. Elice leaned over and grabbed the scrunched up paper. She opened it and gave a small smile, showing the portrait back to Marth. "You just have to be yourself and then..."
"Do you think mommy would be proud of me?" Elice remained quiet. "Daddy isn't proud of me. Don't lie Elice. But... do you think mommy would be proud of me Elice? Can you tell me what mommy was like Elice?"
"I...I..." It was painful for the young girl to remember her mother. Her role model and inspiration. She would remember everything pure and beautiful about Liza Lowell... before she died her tragic death. "I... I can't Marth. You know that. I'm... sorry." Marth seemed to accept that. He pushed himself up and looked at his sister.
"Elle... are... are you proud of me?"
"Always Marthy. I'm proud of you everyday. I love you forever and I will love you for always. As long as I live, I promise to protect you."
Pagebreaker
It was some point in time where being good at fighting wasn't good enough. The seven year old knew that when his father took him to work. Entering a state-of-the-art, high-tech military base would excite any small child, but Marth had no such reactions. Even if he was smiling, he lacked the hyperactivity that came with most boys his age.
Marth requested to come along though, and it was a notion that his father embraced quickly. They both knew that Marth was a gifted child in both intellect and fighting, and for that reason was why he was allowed to be brought to the underground portion of the base.
He was good.
The base was completely private. His father didn't even work here, but because of his masterful techniques, the main workers had called him in and allowed the high-ranked solider to walk through their halls.
The 'Persuasive Anthropomorphic Interrogation Nascent' was literally underground. A long forgotten network of underground chambers that had been renovated into headquarters for the military. Like most anthropomorphic bases, the level closest to the surface started as a long hallway leading away from the hidden entrance, and at the end of the hall, the passage opened up onto a walkway that encircled the large main chamber, which is actually a part of the second level. There were several flights of stairs that lead down to various rooms, but Cornelius guided Marth down one of the hallways off to the side. Marth didn't mind the metallic, cold vibe the corridor gave off and the terrible foreboding it gave off...
In fact, he liked it.
"Are you sure you want to see this Marth?" The man paused, trying to find an appropriate way to articulate. "You're still young." The bluenette nodded.
"Yes father... I am ready." They weren't in any wars so he couldn't see his father on his throne of the battle field; but he did want to see part of his work life. Marth loved to battle. Despite Elice's protests, Marth began to learn martial arts when he was five and, somehow, was already a fully trained black belt whose skills rivaled any adult.
This impressed his father very much and when Marth had showed him his accomplishments, he had told him he was proud. Though Marth had genuinely come to love the thrill of the battle, he was still bursting with pride and he excitedly announced to his father that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. Cornelius laughed and promised that, 'before Marth would usurp him', he'd try make sure he knew what his work entitled.
Cornelius began disarming a heavily secured door. It took a few minutes to open, but when it did, a petrified scream bellowed out.
The door was soundproofed so that no one would be disturbed by the noises that came from the interrogation chambers.
Marth walked past the doors, head turning occasionally when a screech or drilling sound was heard. The silver chambers shimmered under the blue, neon lights and Marth could hear the own echo of his footsteps. It was cold and creepy but oddly alluring.
"This one Marth." After thirty-odd pairs of doors, the two turned left. The door was generic like the others- no handle and sealed tight. When Cornelius swiped his security card and punched in a code, the door slid open to reveal a grey room with a few chairs and only one man. It wasn't very interesting, until Marth looked at the giant glass plane, where a bunch of machines and drawers could be seen underneath.
"Ah! Cornelius! There you are. About time you got here." A bearded man smiled and shook hands with the older Lowell. Cornelius smirked.
"Marth, this is Jiol. He's a friend of mine. I think you were too young to remember when he came over." Marth bowed as he was trained to.
"Pleased to meet you Mister Jiol."
"Well you've grown up, haven't you? Come with dad today? Think you can stomach our work?" Marth nodded and Jiol laughed. "Atta boy. I wish I had a son with as much backbone as him." Cornelius coughed.
"So what's the situation? How are far have you gotten?" Jiol's face lost it's smile and burrowed deeper and he led the two towards the one-way mirror. The two looked through the window see a man strapped to a chair, being whipped across the face. The interrogator looked distressed while the victim's face was fixated in a deadly calm.
"So far we only know his code name is Anri. He works for the terrorists but we're not sure which group. He's a stubborn one... he won't talk. We don't have much on him." Cornelius frowned. He leaned down to the microphone and held the button.
"Hey! Hammer Bro... take five okay?" The interrogator growled and clipped the whip back onto his belt next to his hammer. The green-shelled creature punched Anri in the face before walking to the door and opening it.
"Any luck?" Cornelius asked.
"Negative. He's a stubborn prick." Marth barely noticed the swear word. The Hammer Bro washed his hands as he spoke over his shoulder. "I didn't expect him to be so hard to crack..."
"It's fine. Go have your lunch. Jiol and I are going to the vault and checking whatever records we have there... come on Marth." The Hammer Bro. grinned and went to go take what looked like a long break. Jiol scowled.
"Cornelius. It's bad enough you're letting a kid here- but you know no outsiders are allowed in there. No exceptions. Not even family." Marth raised an eyebrow. His curiosity was spiked about this... vault, but he quickly pushed it to the back of his mind. It seemed like an important plot point for later.
"Do you want to come Marth?" Despite his feelings, the bluenette shook his head when his father looked at him.
"Go dad. I'll just have a drink of water. I'll be okay by myself for a few minutes. I can even keep an eye on the prisoner for you." Cornelius thought. The security was checked yesterday, so there was no chance of Anri escaping, and Marth was a responsible boy...
"... Okay Marth. Just don't touch anything." With a hesitant look, Jiol sighed and wordlessly agreed. The two adults left the room- leaving Marth by himself.
It took the bluenette no time at all to start searching all of the drawers. Although he had never been here before, his powers of observation were flawless. He knew where to get all that he needed. His small fingers allowed him to get the items he needed without disturbing anything. He pocketed the small items and grabbed a clipboard, hoisted on the wall. After reading the information, the seven year old began typing codes onto the computer and then grabbed a chair. He pushed it to the door of the prisoner's torture chamber and opened the passcode hatch.
Marth knew the pass-number that identified his father. It was his mother's birthday. He quickly typed it in and the door slid open. Marth hopped off his chair and the door shut behind him, leaving the lithe child with a dangerous rebel of the Anthropomorphic army.
"... I endure thirteen days of endless torture, and the next they send me is a child?" Marth looked up innocently at the man with his big, doe-like eyes and tilted his head. "If this is another plan of that bastard Cornelius, he's a dead man. What's a kid going to do to me? Cry for his mommy? I'm so scared."
"Nothing. I'm doing nothing," Marth said simply. "I was just wondering why you're locked here. The Hammer Bro. left to get some files with that other guy to find out about you." The man laughed. Marth's face turned to confusion. "I want to know what you did that was so bad. I don't see you as a bad person Mister."
"Heh... and they left a child here with me? What? Do they think I'll blab my secrets out just because there's an innocent kid here?" The man sunk deeper into his metal chair and looked around the equally metal room. "Who are you?"
"Marth! I snuck in here! I'm not asking you to reveal anything personal... I just want to know why you're here. Please tell me." Marth paused and sat on the floor. "No one is around at the moment. I told you that, but you don't have to believe me." Anri was good at a few things- one of which was reading a person's body language. The boy seemed to be telling the truth and everything he had said seemed natural and plausible. It really did seem like there would be nothing wrong with talking to him. Marth looked so cute and adorable and... Anri felt compelled to reveal a little information- if it would make Marth happy. It was like he completely trusted Marth because of his cuteness.
"... I killed a dragon. Then I messed up and then some weird dinosaur defeated me. He dumped me here and then 'The End'. Happy?" Marth clapped and jumped up to give a hug to the man. Anri was completely taken back at how cheery the child suddenly looked. "...umm... Am I missing something?"
"You told me! You told me a secret! No one ever tells me secrets! Thank you!"
"Well no one ever tells secrets because we could get killed." Anri smirked. He felt new spirit and a sense of optimism that was infectious from Marth. "My line of work is dangerous." He felt his courage again. "I work for a small group called the Crystal Stars. They don't like me because I killed someone very important and because I know where the Crystal Star's sanctuary for the children are." Marth's eyes lit up.
"Crystal Star sanctuary? Other kids?" The tired man nodded.
"You never see other kids before?" Marth shook his head.
"Only my sister... it's always been just my sister and I. I don't get to see other people very much." Marth turned away and the man struggled not to look at his sombre expression. The poor kid was lonely and miserable. He didn't know why he was here but he looked very afraid and filled with self-loathing. Anri whistled, bringing Marth to face him again.
"... check if those bozos are back. If they aren't, I'll tell you something." Marth peaked back into the next room and then ran to Anri. He nodded and the man smiled. "So... kid. There's a place in Mount. Lavalava where our base is. There are caverns under the volcano and the kids hide out there. If you're ever in trouble or on the run, just go there and put the rubies on the floor into the raven statue's eyes."
"Thank you sir! How can I repay you?" Marth gave a tight hug to Anri. The man smiled.
"Releasing me would be great."
"I don't know how to..." Marth looked dejected. "I'm sorry... can I repay you in another way..."
"Food?"
"Something more appropriate." Whispered Marth. He leaned over to Anri's ear and began to whisper even more softly. "I have a secret."
"Hmm?"
"...I'm the son... of the man you insulted when I walked in."
"What?" Anri suddenly yelled. Marth grabbed the man's head and he threw it backwards to hit the back of the metal chair. From his pockets, Marth flicked out ten scalpels and mutilated the prisoner's flesh by stabbing all of them into his thighs. The man groaned and yelled but his voice died in midst of all the other prisoners. Marth grabbed Anri's head by his hair and began bashing the prisoner's head, in-between each word the boy spoke.
"I noticed your eyes were distant as that Hammer Bro. was hitting you. You were diverting your mind. That's why torture didn't affect you." It was horrible seeing the cute Marth hook large, electrical clamps on Anri's neck. He then followed it up with pushing the scalpels in deeper and hooking more wires up. "But now that I have your full, undivided attention, I can properly kill you."
"Why?" Anri screamed as he writhed in agony.
"Because... You outlived your usefulness. I've recorded this conversation and that has what they need to know. You're a mook. You don't know more then you've already told me." Marth smiled as he opened the door again and pulled a small generator in. He turned it as high as it would go and poised the other end of Anri's neck cords by the generator. "My father will make sure that there will be no children to avenge your death."
"You monster..." croaked the man. "What are you?"
"I'm just a kid. What could I do to you? Cry to my mummy?" With that. Marth connected the cords and flicked the switch: sending 50 milliamperes of current through Anri's body. The prisoner died quickly but painfully.
Marth laughed.
Sure he would be in trouble for touching things and killing off someone... but it was worth it. The thrill! That rush of that first kill! It was marvelous. The dying screams of agony- vividly describing his life and torment. It was beautiful! Marth loved it! He craved more of it!
The boy stopped the audio recording and ejected the disc. He placed it neatly in a case and sat down, waiting for his father and Jiol to get back- wondering what their reactions would be.
Daddy was very proud of his intelligent and resourceful son.
Pagebreaker
"Sir. I told you the last six times. He's just a kid. I can't fight him."
"Told you he wouldn't dad."
"Wolf. As your superior, I order you to fight my son and attempt to win. Try kill him if you can..." Wolf had gone into many battles before. He had been stuck in countless weird situations: tracking down a human with a cocky lizard; dressing in drag with a flamboyant panther... but this took every weird situation and threw it out the window. He was supposed to kill his boss' prized son that he always boasted about.
In front of an audience.
Well, it was three people. The daughter of the captain, the captain himself and a tall woman with pale green skin, bright red hair and crimson eyes. Wolf had never seen the woman before but his commander was comfortable around the hooded cloaked woman. Wolf bowed to the woman and she smiled and gave a royal nod. After looking at the woman in her half-dress, he smiled at the familiar face of Elice Lowell and he turned to who he was to fight.
Wolf stared down at what he had first assumed was a young girl and narrowed his eyes. He was supposed to try and fight, with all of his strength gained over thirty years in the army, a child who had barely reached adolescence? The blue-haired child couldn't have been older then twelve or thirteen.
"Sir... with all due respect... I can't..."
"Marth. Do you want to fight?" The small child laughed cockily and smirked at the older anthromorph, instantly aggravating Wolf. He reminded him of his old buddy Falco... damn he hated that bastard. Thank goodness he joined that police force years ago.
"Of course I do... if the old man is up for it. I didn't know the toughest warrior in the army was such a chicken." Marth sneered. Wolf could feel a vein pop in his head as he kept his temper as low as possible in front of his superior. "I think we even might need to use a simulator... you know... so he doesn't get injured and such."
"Sir... With all due respect, may I tear your son to shreds?" Elice gasped but her father laughed and indicated to the battle arena outside. It was nothing but a large circle drawn in the dirt, but the sight of the place filled Wolf with savage pleasure. The court the Captain had ordered them to go was a dueling court. To prove their superiority, and get a little bloodshed on a slow month, the arena was a place for duelists to use their best moves with no regards for their opponents safety. It was Wolf's home-court advantage, having fought there and reigned victorious for ages.
"Bring it on old man." The smug bluenette walked up to the arena and took off his cloak, revealing his tiny frame, clothed only by a thin shirt and pants. He looked like easy prey. To humor the teen, Wolf took off his armour and walked into the dust circle only wearing his pants. His muscles rippled as he gave a tremendous roar in an effort to intimidate the bluenette.
"I'll make you eat your words kid." Marth looked around and smirked at his father, sitting in between the two women on a bench, to watch the fight. Marth cracked his knuckles and chuckled cheekily.
"By the way... we're allowed to use weapons and... why don't we make this interesting? "
"I don't need them to crush a brat like you... and what do you mean by interesting?"
"If I win, you submit to me and have to do everything I say. If you win, you get my father's position." Wolf's eyes lit up and looked at Captain Cornelius. Yup. He was completely serious. An easy promotion and a chance to school some ignorant brat? His day was just getting better and better.
"Prepare to say goodbye to your job Captain." Cornelius laughed.
"Be careful Marth!" Elice yelled out.
"We'll see... and Marth. Remember your training." Marth nodded. Cornelius raised his arms. "Begin!"
The battle would be fast...
Pagebreaker
"My name is Marth Lowell. According to our deal, you're now my servant." Humiliated, Wolf looked up at the now smiling boy. He had a few scratches and bruises but, compared to the battered vulpine's body, he looked like he had just come out of a day spa. How the hell did he manage to beat him so quickly? Wolf ignored the small, outstretched hand and clambered to his feet, wincing as he did so.
"I'm Major Wolf. Hey... friend..." He felt bile at the back of his throat. "Hey Marth... how old are you?""
"Thirteen." Like he suspected.
"You're good. Too good if you ask me." Marth raised and eyebrow in confusion. Wolf looked down to see Marth's hand still outstretched. He looked helplessly at his boss who nodded before tentatively shaking the young man's hand.
"Well, well, well. That was impressive. You managed to defeat all thirteen of the most challenging foes we could think of. You've past the test." Everyone turned to the mysterious woman, clapping delicately as she walked up to Marth. "Though I say, I expected you to have more trouble with fighting Wolf. Cornelius always did speak in such high regard to him." The grey wolf snarled and turned to the pale woman.
"Who do you think you are?"
"It's none of your concern." The red-head turned to Marth's father. "I'll take him straight away. I shall have him back to you soon."
"I'm so proud of you Mar... Commander Mars. This is a huge honour. For your country and for our family." Marth smiled broadly at Cornelius and gave him a short-lived but warm hug and a salute. The older man parted and Marth turned to Elice. She looked almost as pale as the mistress but Marth ignored it and past it off as sickness.
"I'll miss you the most."
"I'll miss you too Marth... are you sure you want to do this?"
"I want to keep everyone in the world safe and happy. You especially, Elice." Marth hugged her. "...are you proud of me now?" The bluenette shakily smiled at her younger brother and placed a kiss on his forehead. She seemed distant and concerned but her love was still plastered on her features.
"I said I always love you, Marth. I promised..."
Pagebreaker
"I'm Commander Venus, but you can call me Midna."
"Midna! Then you can call me Marth."
"The last Commander Mars we had died. So I have to know once more; are you sure you want to do this?" Midna sighed as the two walked through the halls of the unknown location. It had been a long, tiring but fruitful day.
Marth smiled and bowed his head courtly, "I acknowledge what I am to do and what I'm committed to." Midna smiled and stopped. She turned around and let her smooth hands touch Marth's cheeks. "You have a lovely smile."
The adolescent boy blushed and stared at Midna's gold-red orbs. He was used to murder, battle and the arts... but interaction of this sort was a completely foreign. "T-thank you. Umm... I like your eyes." The woman let go of him and continued leading the way. Confused to what had happened, it took Marth a few minutes before he ran off after Midna.
"There was supposed to be a ceremony that officially let you be one of us, but I suppose there's no time." She looked down and smirked. "I suppose, then, I will have to give the full explanation to you myself."
"There's more? I thought we were just the epic version of policemen." Midna laughed.
"Of course there's more. You know about our democratic government?" Marth nodded. "Well... currently in charge, is this country, Prime Minister McCloud. He deals with laws, economy and other such divisions as the army. However, he can't deal with everything which is why there are sub-groups to help out such as the state governments or divisions of education, magic and a lot more. What most people don't know that while Fox is voted in or out, we actually have most of the control of the continent." Marth's eyes widened but Midna laughed. "No... I know what you're thinking. This isn't a huge conspiracy. Our role as commanders are to go around and help the different areas of our world. It's not just fighting off the rebels but giving advice on how to run things when the leaders don't know what to do; devising new and effective ways to help the world and generally trying to make sure everyone is happy."
"So... we're the equivalent of Guardian Angels?"
"Yes Marth. Like Guardian Angels. That's the short version of what we do. I'll give you a history lesson about our origins later." Midna laughed as stopped again. It seemed like a dead end but, upon further inspection, Marth realised it was a heavily disguised, titanium door. Midna took off a small necklace and swiped her Fused Shadow Key on a hidden. Marth watched as she typed in her password, wondering what was behind the door. When the red-head had finished all the security measures, she opened up and bright light flooded the tunnel.
"Ow!"
"Well then Marth... welcome to the Planetary Commanders' secret base." Marth's eyes widened. He couldn't believe his eyes.
For people as powerful as the Planetary Commanders, Marth would have suspected a highly mechanical base filled with lasers and other cool technology. The violent teen was astounded, yet not disappointed, of the colossal, tropic design of the base.
It looked like paradise. It was a replica of a rainforest, complete with its own living trees and waterfall. Besides the occasional fortified door, the place looked beautiful and eco-friendly. Marth had been on many vacations before, but despite all the natural beauty, he had never seen trees and flowers so well-cared for.
"This is our base. We call it Gaia. Like I said, we're rarely all here at the same time because we're busy but we come here for group meetings. In a moment show you the profiles of each of us so you can get familiar with our little family." Marth nodded, awestruck and speechless. Midna giggled again. "We all have different jobs in preserving the peace and beauty of our world; Neptune is even a senator. Everyone has a role... from Mercury to Neptune..."
"What happened to Pluto?"
"Plu-what?"
"Never mind. What's my special role Midna?" The woman smiled at the teen.
"You're responsible of defense. Mars is the Roman god of war and so your name reflects your skills and your job. You go around and save our people from losing battles. Be a hero." Marth's eyes lit up at the notion.
"And your job Midna?"
"Venus is love and prosperity goddess. I advocate mostly in magic- making sure it's used properly and making sure no one accidentally summons any evil demons. It's a hard job... but I love it. I hope you'll come to enjoy your job as well."
The two slipped into a comfortable silence and strolled through the large compound. There weren't any sentient furries but there were a few birds and insects flying around. The warm sun (or what Marth thought was the sun) beamed down leaving the base in a comfortable, warm temperature. It was truly a tropical paradise.
"Even though we do have all this miraculous technology, we purposely themed our base this way to remind us that the environment, the people and our world is what we strive to protect." Midna said as they walked together. "If you follow me, I'll show you the monitor and the technological sides of our base and teach you how to use it."
Following a lovely stone path, the two went through the amazing landscape to one of the doors. Midna opened it again and showed Marth to a tech-lab. It wasn't as stiff and mechanical as one would have assumed, but it was certainly more advanced then Marth would have believed.
"I'm told you're a genius Marth. I've read your files: proficient in the sciences, math, medicine and... of course battle. Are you as good with technology as you are with fighting?" Marth shook his head.
"Not really. I'm afraid I never really caught on with cybernetics."
"Oh well, we can't be good at everything." The two laughed. "However, even if you did, I don't think you'll know how to use this techno-beauty yet. We haven't released this outside of these walls." Midna's hands graced over the keyboard of the large screen. "You'll learn and soon you will be one of us." Midna began pulling profiles up of the Commanders. Marth stared. His brow furrowed.
"Is that icon supposed to be flashing?" Midna looked up and did see that, indeed, a small blue button was flashing. She smirked.
"You're certainly an observant one. It's actually convenient that he's calling. You'll be working with this organisation a lot in your future and the sooner you get to know them, the better." She raised her hood. "You know the drill... don't let anyone else see your face."Marth slid on the blank, plastic mask on as the screen shifted to show a small, round figure seated in a chair. The figure held an air of high importance and yet he showed humility to the Twili woman. "Ah! There you are. I was wondering when you would call."
"I apologise for my tardiness Commander Venus. I will not make this a consistent thing." It was amazing how Midna shifted from casual to work-mode. It reminded Marth of his sister- how she could be his big sister one moment and then Lady Lowell the next. For the first time, Marth felt a pang of longing to be with Elice again- however, he quickly pushed the emotion away so he could become Commander Mars.
"This is MidKnight, Commander Mars." Venus said, presenting the puffball.
"Charmed to meet the new leader. I look forward to battling alongside you."
"Likewise Sir MidKnight."
"MidKnight is one of our highly skilled Star Warriors. He trains the rest of the Warriors. Their organisation helps the Commanders often." Marth nodded in understanding. "Star Warriors and Planetary Commanders share a deep connection and it is vital that you learn how to work with them. Whether battling, assassins or doing business deals, they are the people to turn to if we need an extra hand. He's my personal favourite; after all he is the best."
"You must be very eloquent in your work." The puffball on the screen gave a chuckle.
"Commander Venus gives me such high praise. My work is nothing. We strive to deliver just a mere token of appreciation for what the Planets have done for our land. Now I must return my duties. I've done what you asked of me."
"Good. Thank you MidKnight." The screen went dark and Midna removed her hood. Simple disguises. If they lost it, it would have been easy to replace. The Planetary Commanders had to be hidden. They were secret angels with shotguns.
"We have a lot of power Commander Mars. In addition to your connections, you must... oh. I almost forgot. Silly me. You didn't get gift from all of us." The bluenette watched as dark shadows crept around Commander Venus. In front of her the shadows formed a shape of a familiar weapon before flashing brightly and revealing a shining blade. It floated in front of the teenager and, slowly, he removed it from its perfect, leather sheath and grabbed its golden handle. "I heard your weapon of choice was a blade. So we had this made from you."
The armoured youth stared at the sword, admiring the beautiful, detailed craftsmanship as he did so. The word 'Falchion' was engraved on the blade indicating its name and the hilt was sturdy yet still beautiful.
"Thank you Commander Venus. I shall treasure it." He swung it in front of him to test its stats and was surprised to feel how natural wielding it was. He sliced out a complicated battle maneuver, noticing how the blade wasn't just a weapon but almost like an extension of his own arm. It was magnificent.
"The highest quality from Lycia. It was fashioned by a skilled weapons-master and we give it to you. It can slice through metal with no problems and... well... you can imagine what it does to flesh. Keep it safe."
"I will." Commander Mars grinned as he sliced the air once more. He put the sword back in its sheath and placed the weapon on his back.
"Have fun... but use it responsibly. After all we must remember: a commander is entitled to do whatever he wants provided he follows the rules; a commander must serve the people; a commander must be secretive; a commander must not show weakness; a commander must keep order and a commander must never let anyone in."
"Yes ma'am. I understand."
"And if opposed, a commander may kill if he sees fit. It is his right."
"I should hope so Commander Venus." Commander Mars smiled, his hands itching to try the blade out. "I should hope so."
Pagebreaker
At fourteen years of age, Marth was a complete monster. Power corrupts the longer it is held; and, to the untrained mind, it was deadly. Three hundred and sixty five days was a long period of time: certainly enough to completely twist a person into a one-man army. Having power... having all this power and being able to control it was nightmarish. Having a way to channel the acquired skills and bloodlust on one goal was just ghastly.
Pure carnage.
The war-hero stared at the small base ahead of them. They had strong defenses but recently the ally forces had blown the roof off the castle-like base. Commander Mars' troops would have bombed the place by then but because of stolen technological turrets, air support couldn't get in. Their objective was to storm the fort. Easier said then done. There were too many people shooting down his army before they could fire and the rough terrain made it impossible for tanks to push in. It was almost like a stalemate.
Commander Mars had a plan.
"Commander? Your orders?"
"Burn them. Burn them all." Commander Mars stated. The lieutenant looked at him alarmed, his fur seemingly on end. "Did you hear me?"
"Commander Mars. There are children in there and innocent people... and our own men are down there..." The roof was wide open. The short time planes were up there, they had a perfect view of where scared civilians were hiding behind the rebels for protection. There were hundreds of people who just wanted to go home and escape the war-zone nightmare.
As if he cared.
It was a winning strategy that exploited weakness. The bluenette snarled and kicked the stupid man onto the floor and snatched up a canister of emergency fuel. He placed it in a metal shell and loaded it into a cracker launcher.
"I don't care! Those who defy the Commanders will pay dearly. Everyone they love will burn down with them." With that, from his cliffside perch, Commander Mars sent the fuel flying on the main barricade of the rebels. At first it seemed like it would fall on their own troops- but the shot was so perfectly calculated that it spread only around the center- where the rebels had their women and children. The humans against him, and even the bluenette's own army, watched in horror as the heartless bastard snatched a real bazooka off some minion and set it off. The projectile rammed into the base wall to little effect, but the sparks and firepower set off the sky. It lit up the fuel and sent fiery rain down- young screams up into the night sky.
Commander Mars laughed as people bellowed out in agony. This wasn't according to plan- the plan was to take out the rebels.
Mars knew that and while he was ordered to take as many prisoners as he could- the massacre allowed his troops to push forward.
Killing men from behind was a simple task as most of the people defending had left their posts to try help their families.
They won the battle.
That's how Commander Mars won many battles- with underhanded tricks or hideous brutality. He could hack across bodies with the Falchion the old-fashioned way (and he was very good at it), but he could also be plain sadistic. Once he found a baby, cut open its stomach and fill it with explosives: and detonated it when the dead child is taken to the medical wing. Another time he gauged out all the prisoners' eyes and sent them to the enemy until they surrendered. There were so many instances of his cruelty that it was impossible to know where to begin.
It was rumored that he lacked compassion and kindness.
It was agreed everywhere that he wasn't human.
Commander Mars was a monster.
And he enjoyed every second of it.
Pagebreaker
"Elice. I'm fifteen. I run my own battalion. I'm a Commander. I'm perfectly capable of combing my own hair." Elice laughed. The brush went through Marth's long locks, giving his blue-hair a delicate shine.
"I thought they had at least a shower... you were a mess when you came home Marth. It seems to me that they didn't teach you any useful skills." Marth winced as Elice brushed out a particularly irritating knot before she gave him a hug.
"I did so learn!" Marth protested.
"Sure you did Marth..." Elice sighed.
"What's wrong?" The blue-haired woman stood up and Marth followed suit, turning around to see her. Like the woman, it was amazing how Marth grew muscles on his lithe frame, it was amazing how beautiful Elice had become. She did look like the the lady of the house. Her long blue hair cascaded down her back, her skin shone and made her face look elongated and beautiful and her body had matured. She was the splitting image of their mother. "Elice?"
"Marth... things have been changing lately. Surely you must have noticed it..."
"It's my job to put bad guys in jail!" Marth protested, knowing clearly what she meant. Recently... more and more humans had been put in jail. That wouldn't have been a problem if not for the construction of the 'Human Containment Ward' - a special institution to try and rehabilitate humans. Lately, more and more 'traitors' had been found and forced into the ward. Suspicion had grown and the world was getting nervous. "There's nothing wrong."
"... were you told to say that by the others? ...Or do you actually, genuinely believe that?" Elice stared directly at Marth. He stared back, unblinkingly before sighing.
"Elice... there's nothing wrong. I promise to protect you. I love you sis..." The woman gave a weary sigh and hugged her little brother. She gave a light kiss on his forehead. "I'm serious. I promised you. I know you hate me doing my job but I want to protect you. You've done everything for me Elice: you taught me how to ties my shoes; how to colour..."
"You're a much better artist then me Marth..." Elice stated, absentmindedly wishing that Marth had chosen a more placid lifestyle as an artist. He was still good at it.
"You helped me when I was afraid Elice. I was weak but now I'm strong. I've done everything for you Elice." Marth smiled at her.
"... I love you Marth."
Pagebreaker
The day that everything fell down was the nineteenth of April. It was a sunny day, completely shadowing the nightmare that was to come.
"Marth! Marth! You did not just steal my hairbrush! You're acting like you're ten! Give it back!" The man laughed as he jumped out of the bedroom window and onto a nearby tree. He turned and laughed at the two women- one sighing and the other who was contemplating whether to laugh or be angry. "Give it back!"
"You have to come get me first Sheeda."
"When I decided to come over, I didn't expect to have to put up with a child." Marth laughed as he playfully hopped back on the balcony and gave her his hairbrush.
He kissed Sheeda on the cheek and then suddenly picked her up bridal-style.
"Marth!" She shrieked. Elice watched in amusement as Marth hoisted himself on the railing and balanced on the thin metal bar. "You're going to fall!" As if to provoke her, Marth jerked a little so that Sheeda felt like she would fall down all three stories. She clinged to Marth's neck more tightly and Marth sprung over to the tree branch. She didn't stop clinging until Marth put her down. "You jerk!"
"Sorry Sheeda. Messing with you is fun." The three laughed. Elice lazily walked to the balcony's edge and leaned on it, watching Marth dart around his friend immaturely. This was the Marth she preferred to see. This was the Marth that she hoped he would be. "Lighten up. This is the first time we've all been together in ages."
"I know. ... it may be our last." Marth looked down at Sheeda, her hands clenched in her laps. "Minerva and Nyna were taken a few weeks ago and I don't know why." Marth opened his mouth to protest but Elice glared at him. The man just sat down and put his arm around his friend.
"Look... I..." Marth started to reassure before a loud screech of tires were heard. Then a crash that shook the branches. "What the heck?"
"It came from the front of the house!" Elice exclaimed. Marth was about to tell his friends to stay but before he opened his mouth, Elice had run back in the house and Sheeda slid down the tree and began racing off. Marth jumped and followed her through the back door and through the vast hallways of the mansion. By the time they had reached the front door, Elice was making her way down the last flight of stairs. Marth opened the door.
"Dad!" Staggering out of the flaming wreck was Cornelius. He groaned as he tried to make his way up the steps. Marth caught him before he hit the pavement. "Are you okay? Dad? What happened?"
"Get inside... I think I lost them..."
"Elice. Medical kit. Sheeda, hold the door open for me." The two women did as asked as Marth helped his father inside and rested him on the living room couch. Elice was prepared and came back as soon as she came, bandages and a first-aid kit at hand. She began nursing his wounds as Marth and Sheeda crowded around him. "Who did this to you Marth?"
"...they're all evil. I can't believe I was so blind." Cornelius angrily punched the couch arm.
"They? What are they talking about?"
"Anthropomorphs." Marth froze. "They're killing humans. They have been from the start. They're enslaving people. Those human containment wards are making zombies out of everyone!" Elice taped the last of the bandages together as Marth held Cornelius' arm.
"What? Dad. You're delusional..."
"YOU! You're one of the worst culprits!" The girls screamed as Marth was hit in the face. "Those Planetary Commanders... You know what they were doing! Why didn't you tell any of us? Why didn't you say what they did? You want power so much, you're ready to betray humanity? Huh boy?"
"Dad!" Elice screamed, holding his fist back. Marth jumped up, ready to fight him back which lead to Sheeda holding him. "Tell us what happened." Cornelius glared at Marth as he sat down and Elice next to him.
"I was accused for betrayal to the Anthropomorphs and was to be locked up for helping humans. I asked who had the authority to arrest a loyal captain and then these... freaks, "he looked at Marth, "almost kill me. I escaped and crashed another car out in the water so they'd think I drown but..." Marth tried to wrestle Sheeda off him without hurting her.
"Are you crazy? You come straight here after feigning death? YOU CRASHED A CAR! They'll be here in a..."
"Attention Cornelius Lowell. You have been accused with treason against the state. Please exit the building quietly and we won't have to use force." Elice looked outside and gawked.
"They have almost a whole army out there. I'd have to say at least eight hundred men." Marth glared at his father.
"What did you do?"
"What am I going to do?" Cornelius asked rhetorically, ignoring his son. "I'm going to fight. They're going to kill all of us." He stood up and stared directly at Marth. "You don't have to forgive me for earlier, but I want you to take the girls out of here and into the forest." The estate was surrounded on three sides by the Lost Woods: an enchanted forest that seemed to never end and was filled with twisting hallows and winding paths. Marth, Sheeda and Elice knew the confusing maze like the back of their hands. "It will be safe there. Go to the Kokari Village and speak to Mrs. Kokari. She'll help you. Do not come back here... ever. Do you understand?" Marth looked at his two friends and nodded.
"Yes sir." Marth said nothing else. Cornelius accepted that.
"There are the emergency packs under the sink in the back. Go! Go!" Without further ado, the three raced through the house and back through the door. Elice grabbed the packs on the way and they began sprinting across the lawn into the woods.
"BOOM!" They all recognised the sound of his father's sonic cannon. Someone yelled and then there was nothing but constant cannon shots. When Elice and Sheeda had successfully been hidden by the trees, Marth turned around.
"Marth! Where are you going?"
"I have to save him! He can't hold himself against everyone! Don't follow me!" Marth yelled as he picked up into a sprint. The house had its roof blown up and fire was ripping through it. The bluenette didn't have much time.
He turned the corner to see his father. He was behind and open living room wall, ducking for cover.
His father was being throughly thrashed. "DAD!" Marth yelled as he ran low, towards him. Shots came towards him but his armour and cape the Planetary Commanders gave him were bulletproof and the shells uselessly bounced away.
"DAD!"
"Marth! Get away from here!" The man yelled. Marth ducked and rolled behind the couch, which was a frame of its former self a few minutes ago. The man was about to protest but then the attacks stopped. Cornelius looked up to see Jiol, walking towards him with a white flag.
It had been barely five minutes and they were surrendering? Marth was suspicious.
Cornelius, seeing his old friend, stood up as well. Although he was suspicious, he was relieved when he saw the greying man. When he saw that no furry was shooting at him, he smiled and walked towards his human friend...
Only to be shot in the face.
"DAD!" Jiol smirked and put his gun in his holster. Two furries ran to grab the fallen body and the people looked ready to go home- surprised how easy that was.
Marth stared at Jiol from his place. How dare he? That man just betrayed his father's trust!
He deserved to die.
Just for coming, they all were going to die.
Marth slipped on his bullet proof Commander's mask and charged into battle. He grabbed his father's sonic canon and swapped the settings to a thinner, more concentrated wave. He fired it at the back of the armada, instantly killing the men in the back and setting the entrance on fire.
There was no escape from them.
Commander Mars knew that anyone would rather chance fighting one man or escaping through the flames then getting lost in Lost Woods. They would come to him. He would slaughter them. Slaughter them like the dogs they were.
Jiol and the other furries turned around to see the foreboding, red commander. They paled. Most didn't realise that he was at home. His skill had fear and surprise as his allies. He aimed the sonic cannon again on its regular setting, his shots more precise then his father, and wiping out another hundred men.
"Get him! Kill him! He's a traitor too!" Commander Mars snarled as he jumped down the porch steps and whipped out his sword. The Falchion sparkled as Commander Mars slashed a creature clear in half and bashed the head of one with the hilt. A blob-like solider came near him- confident that the sword would not harm- and Commander Mars' weaker left hand whipped out his emergency laser gun, instantly destroying the Ditto and sending the Pokemon's guts raining on everyone else.
Wicked delight ran through the man as he ran through the crowd, slicing and shooting with full intent. Sensations of pleasure ruptured through his body as horrified screams and agonic cries tickled his ears. Blood of a variety of colours splattered on Commander Mars, making the man more and more excited. Human? Pokemon? Poyonesian? Hylian? Who cared? It the need to kill! He wanted to kill! It was exciting!
The taste! The sight! The smell! The sounds! The feel! It was glorious! Simply glorious! He needed more! He still needed revenge! He needed to kill!
Jiol was the only human Commander Mars could see so far, but he was sure there were more masked ones running about. Commander Mars could deal with the others later. Jiol was running back, like a coward, past people who wanted Mars' head.
They all tried to attack him at once- pulling at his cape, stabbing and shooting but Commander Mars' powerful counters drove them all back. His infamous 'Dolphin Slash' got him through men quickly and his armour prevented harm.
He kicked up a decapitated head and used his gun to blast it, sending gore through the air. Commander Mars sliced his way up and stepped on a large solider's head. The Wiggler tried to toss the bluenette off but was too late- Commander Mars jumped off. He shot the Wiggler in midair before landing perfectly in front of Jiol. The man's eyes widened and he started to back away, but the revenge-driven man stared coldly before driving his sword through the man's heart.
He had no time to rejoice in his quick victory because more people were coming. If he could, the man would play with the carcass. He settled with a crooked smile and he leapt again, missing a cracker launcher shot. He ducked and weaved his way through the crowd, his lethal blade taking down several opponents with one slice or stab. He was a one-man army against a real army. The worst part was that he was winning. They only had a fraction of the skill and the power that Commander Mars possessed. It was a massacre.
He was infinite! He was invincible! No one could stand in his way!
"Marth! Stop it!" It was his right to kill! How dare they try to kill his father? How dare they invade his home? He didn't have to stop. "Marth!" Commander Mars ignored the screams of protest from his friend.
Sheeda had run out by herself, her old sword in her hand and poised to help. When she had noticed that Mr. Lowell was dead and Marth was just fighting pointlessly, she knew she had to stop him. When Elice and Sheeda waited in the forest, they heard screams and explosions- they couldn't wait for Marth or run off on their own. Both were worried that he'd get hurt, so Sheeda told Elice to stay- as Marth did to them- and she went to go help. She was a better fighter then Elice and she could probably hold her own long enough to get Marth and run. She had her love's safety in her mind.
Commander Mars barely noticed that the bluenette didn't belong on the battlefield. Sheeda was confused as the teenager turned to her. In his bloodlust and thirst for screams, he swung his blade around and sliced Sheeda. His desire to kill overpowered his conscience. Sheeda screamed and tried to defend. She managed to block three of his blows before she few back, blood rushing up and out of of her chest. The commander parried and dodged a few bullets and lasers before rushing over and stepping on the necks of Sheeda; instantly killing her for good.
He barely looked at Sheeda's carcass. He was smiling too broadly. He twirled Falchion and charged forward, continuously reducing the army to ribbons. They were realising that fighting a Commander in any circumstance was fruitless. The smart ones made an effort to try escape through the flames while others charged on as ordered.
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes seemed like hours. In the head of Commander Mars, there was no time. There was just the desire to kill everyone. Everyone around him. He needed them all to die!
His methods weren't as gory as in war- where he had time to make strategies- so the deaths were quick. Bodies hit the floor like rain hit a window plain. The large squad sent must have lost almost half of its members by then.
It was just ripping and tearing. Shots and explosions. Commander Mars could do so much. He was the God of War. He loved it! He didn't care for the blood on his hands, it was the rush of bringing lives to an end. It was an addiction! He needed it! He'd kill anyone for his fix.
It was that mentality that would shock Clown Marth in the future. Make him vomit when he remembered that this disgusting monster was him. It was that reason why he blamed himself so badly for the incident that made his life perform a 180 turn.
"Marth... Marth! What's going on? Where's Sheeda?" Elice had a gun in her hand and while she wasn't dressed for war, she didn't look completely out of place. The woman looked at her brother has he stomped on someone's neck, with horror when she saw and realised, in the same fashion as Sheeda was killed. "Marth! STOP IT NOW! STOP THIS MADNESS! NOW!" Commander Mars stabbed another man and flung him away. The blue-haired woman ran up to him and held his shoulder. She pulled him into a tight hug as she would always do to make Marth calm down, as if no different from him having a temper tantrum. "MARTH!"
Commander Mars pulled her off and sliced off her head.
Elice managed one dying scream as she fell to the ground. Her head rolled and Commander Mars glanced at the teary face of the disappointed woman at his feet.
He broke.
"Elice... Elice?" He blinked. Realisation of what he had done, sunk in. No one dared to come near him. "No... Elice... Elice... NO! NO! NO! I'm sorry! Elice! Elice!" Marth ripped off his mask and grabbed Elice's head. The tiara she always wore fell off her decapitated head and slipped into his hand. He sobbed. Marth fell to his knees and weakly tried to attach her head onto his body- as if it would make everything okay. "Elice! No! Elice! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" His arms were wrapped protectively around the lifeless, limp upper body. The poor boy's head was bowed over and he rocked back and forth a bit as he tightly hugged her in his arms. His own body was trembling as he did this.
It was then he realised he killed Sheeda too.
His body refused to move- paralyzed in a state of shock. His mind shut down.
What had he done? He looked up and around him at all the damage he had intentionally caused. He couldn't do anything by cry and hold Elice as tight as he could.
"We have him now men! Knock him out! Do not kill him! I repeat! Do not kill him!" Marth didn't move as Wolf's voice barked out orders. He didn't move.
"Elice... I'll never hurt anyone again. I promise. You didn't like it... I'm so sorry. I'll never kill! Never again! I'll undo everything! Don't leave me now... Come back to me Elice! Elice! ELICE!" Marth sobbed as he lay his head on her chest.
"Take him down!"
Marth felt himself be stunned on the back of his unarmoured neck. He felt a club to the back of his head.
Then it all turned black.
Pagebreaker
"Where... where am I?" Marth's eyes watered as shining white flooded his vision. He closed his eyes and retreated to the dark. "Hello? Hello?"
"He's awake. About time. I thought we killed him." Marth was about to call out again when he was suddenly kneed in the gut. He coughed, winded as a shrill laughter filled the room. "Awww... Is the little traitorous vermin hurt?" Marth yelled as a gloved hand yanked him up by his hair so he was standing up. His legs shook weakly but they somehow supported his body. Marth ached and groaned. He could feel he was wearing nothing but his underwear and he assumed that he was wearing Elice's favourite headband.
Elice...
Marth nearly vomited and the thought of the woman he loved more then himself. It actually happened. He had just killed his own sister. Marth tried to bring his hands up to his face to weep but large cuffs were violently clasped tightly around his wrists and ankles. It completely prevented him from moving and the chains on his ankles forced him to remain standing.
No... the chains weren't clasped on. Marth was snapping out of his wooziness and began making some blind observations. It almost felt as if the circulation to his hands and feet were cut off. Dear Ashunera... the chains were drilled into his ankles and wrists. That's why there was so much pain. Drilled through his flesh and into his bones were large, angry metal cords pumping something into his body.
Where was he? What was happening?
"He looks like a woman"
"Keep the hairband on. It's his sister's. Maybe he can pretend to be her. Right Princess Martha? Are you awake your highness?" Marth looked up to see who was speaking but he couldn't see a thing. There was nothing over his eyes, but he was blinded by what he presumed was a high intensity spotlight trained onto him.
It was painful and degrading. The room burst out into horrifying laughter.
"Enough." A cold, chilling voice reached Marth's ears. It was one he had never heard before yet it was familiar-as if he had heard the voice from every nightmare as a child. It set his body as stiff as concrete. "Commander 'Mars' Marth Lowell. Second child of Captain Cornelius and Lady Liza; and the last living human bearing the Lowell name."
Were they trying to make him feel even more hurt then he already was? He already understood he murdered two of the closest people he'd ever knew. He already felt the mind-scrambling confusion.
What were they trying to do?
"How do you plead? To the slaughter of eight hundred and thirty-four military personal and two innocent bystanders? Do you deny that you did this act?"
"No... I am guilty." Marth choked out, finding his voice dry and hoarse. He was so dry that he couldn't even summon tears. He was on trial. He could tell now even if he was blinded by the light. He was alone and the other Planetary Commanders (plus this other creature) were standing around him. Mocking and laughing. They were getting ready to punish him.
"For your rebellion against the antromorphic military and the Planetary Commanders; I sentence you to have the Celestial Touch performed on you. You don't deserve the relief of dying." The 'chink' of metal indicated the stranger was walking away. "I shall trust the Planetary Commanders will make sure it is done... properly."
Marth had only heard about the 'Celestial Touch' in scary barrack stories and he, like most, believed it was a myth. Apparently it was a legendary punishment- reserved for only the worst criminals- and involved all the Planetary Commanders attacking him. It was only a myth right? If no one survived from the touch, then why were there rumours? Marth tried to reassure himself but all it did was make him worry even more.
For a moment there was nothing but silence.
Marth couldn't see anything. He couldn't hear anything but his own breath and his heartbeat. His breathing seemed louder and more heavy. It was slow and the rhythm seemed to be a warning. It was like a death march. A white death march. Marth could almost see the light through his eyelids- Like some grotesque creature's hand trying to get him. He wanted to get away from the light. Its cruel beating was making him more scared. It made him more aware of where he was. How vulnerable he was feeling. They knew it, too, and took pleasure in locking him in. The chains held the rogue teenager down where they could get him.
The first one to get him was Commander Jupiter. He could tell by the large, coarse gloves that grabbed his neck and forced him to look up.
"You think you're so strong! Huh human? Huh?" Marth yelled as he was hit in the gut by a mallet. He groaned and tried to stop coughing. He could hear the largest Planetary Commander walk around him. "Do you think you're better then us?" A sickening crunch and Marth stumbled forward, the chains grinding against his skin and his left leg now broken. The bluenette wanted to scream but his mind hand no time to register the attack as he was assaulted again and again.
"You're a sick disgusting piece of slime. You know that? Do you know that?" The large figured yelled as he curled up a punch and rammed it into Marth's stomach. One punch turned to two and then to eight.
It was just countless pain. His ribs cracked, his arms broke and he flopped over like a rag-doll. The hammer beat into him so hard in the face that his teeth cracked. He bended backwards in the most unnatural way before Commander Jupiter picked him up and slammed him again with the hammer. Marth was like a punching dummy.
Nothing stayed broken. For reasons Marth didn't understand, after the large commander set him out flat, his body would fix itself. Yes, painfully but he could feel his bones would become... unbroken. Marth couldn't tell if that was a good thing because he kept breaking the bones all over again. The other commanders didn't help make the experience any less enjoyable- every crack made them cheer. Every time he hit the floor, they catcalled.
He groaned. He felt sicker then ever. Why couldn't they just kill him?
"I'm done. I've vented. Who wants the next go?" A sound of rushing wind and suddenly, Marth could feel someone else was there next to Commander Jupiter. The big male laughed and walked back to his position, leaving Commander Mercury. His crooked grin reached his cheeks as he grabbed Marth's face. His gloved fingers dug into Marth's chest and he pulled the beaten boy towards him.
"You think you're so clever. You think a few murders will make you a hero? We're the heroes. You're a monster. We're going to show you what we do to monsters... human." Marth didn't say anything as the fastest Commander spat into his face. The words he had said started sinking into his mind "Still... it hardly seems fair to take all my anger out on you. Which is why I promise up-front not to murder you... No, I'll just beat you within an inch of your life!" The others roared with laughter as Marth cringed for what was inevitably coming. He tensed his abs and got ready to be hit again.
He was defending the wrong area.
Razor-sharp spines drilled into his back. It was like a buzz-saw- just scraping his back to rip out all the flesh in a deep cut yet not too deep to hit anything important. There weren't enough adjectives in the world to describe his screams or his pain. It was something incomprehensible to someone who never experienced torture. He could feel his own blood splatter over his legs and drip from his back, down his body onto the floor. He could taste Commander Mercury's sweat as he burrowed into Marth.
Commander Mercury was the fastest one of them all, it was natural that he had the fastest torture. Marth was relieved that the drilling had stopped. His open skin and his flesh ached all over. He was so tempted to open his eyes but the fear of spoiling his eyes kept them fast shut. All thoughts besides ones associated to fear, pain and regret had left his mind.
"What? Tired so soon Mercury?"
"No way. I just have a lot of work to deliver around. I'll end it here with this." Marth roared. Now his face was being burnt by naked flames. How sadistic were these creatures?" Have fun!You'll have much more fun then I did with this loser. Catch ya'll on the flipside." Like leaves, Marth's face began to fold and crumble. His eyes slipped open before the heat forced him to be blinded again. This was cold-blooded torture...
But he deserved it.
"See you later Mercury. I'll tell you how the rest goes." Marth raised his head. Midna? She was here as well... that was expected. Marth couldn't help but feel neglected and hurt that she wasn't doing anything to help him... but she was one of them. She was just friendly to him once-upon-a-time because he was one of them. It seemed so far away.
"He's so crude. He is." Marth looked forward, focusing on what he couldn't see in front of him. The voice that wasn't familiar with English. It was definitely Commander Saturn. His face suddenly smothered by a wet cloth, extinguishing the flames and his burned skin throbbed angrily. The injury wasn't too serious... so to speak.
"You... bad person. Very bad. Punishment. Yes, punishment. Not burn. Burn make you not see. Seeing not is very bad." Marth's hands were grabbed. The chains were taunt as the ring commander pulled them closer towards him. He laughed.
"Pretty! I like those! So clean! I want those." Marth yelled as he felt his thumb's fingernail grabbed and yanked out of his hand left hand. He barely could hear the whistles and cheers of the commanders over the jolt pain. Commander Saturn smirked as he touched the nail, stroking it repeatedly. He was going as slow as he could to drag out the torture. Marth wanted it to end. Them to end his life right then!
As one by one, his nails were yanked off, Marth realised something.
He still had three more torture sequences to go. There were eight commanders in total; he couldn't assault himself, Commander Earth and Commander Mercury had left and Commander Jupiter was done. Four... if you took into account that Commander Saturn hadn't finished torturing him. The 'Celestial Touch' wasn't a painful killing move, it was a painful torture method. He'd be kept alive by magic (or something like that) but each Planetary Commander was going to have a turn at mutilating him.
With that sickening realisation, Marth promptly vomited bile- produced by his parched, depraved stomach. The Commanders howled with laughter as Marth tried to cough out the disgusting taste and thought.
Marth screamed and writhed in agony as his last fingernail was yanked out by the tight grip of Commander Saturn. Blood covered his fingers and toes completely. His soft flesh ached even under the chill of the air-conditioner.
"This makes ten. This is ten." Marth couldn't see but he could feel the commander's scaly nose on his face and his hand holding something in front of him. Marth definitely could guess what was happening. Commander Saturn was holding his own fingernails to Marth's face. Marth found that being blinded by the light was scarier then seeing his own misfortune. He was used to blood shed and gory scenes, but imagining what was happening, rather then seeing it for himself, made it all the more horrific.
"Open your eyes worm. I want you to see! You won't see? I'll make you see..." Suddenly the Commander's nose got off him.
Then he bit him.
Marth yelled and tensed as the teeth ground into his flesh, drawing blood. A hot, slithering tongue touched his body, coating him in saliva. He was colder then ever now. He cried uncomfortably and Commander Saturn laughed. Perhaps more would have been done, but Marth saved by a rolling echo- sounding like an operating table turning into an operating theatre.
"I do good things to your body. I make it hurt. Yes I will." Marth hollered as loud as he could. He was begging for forgiveness but his mouth refused to make words. Commander Saturn had taken burning hot nails and stabbed them into the joints of the teen. He cried out as they drove deeper and deeper, wrinkling and twisting his skin- layering it in a hideous fashion.
The last method of torture took a long time, but the damage was very fresh for Marth. Hammering hot metal in all three hundred and sixty joints of the human body would have killed any regular man; but- with grim dissatisfaction- Marth found he was very much alive.
"Done. No painful more injury can give. He hurts bad." Commander Saturn laughed. "Now work on bad man mind. Yes... do that! Rawr! Rawr!"
His large boots sounded away, replaced with much lighter ones. Marth didn't know these ones as well... so he knew this was Commander Uranus.
Commander Uranus didn't speak like the others. In fact, Marth couldn't hear him coming until he was practically on top of him. He could see the black silhouette from his eyelids. There was a soft beep and a cold metal needle tip touched his forehead. Then a bucket was raised to his face and held there.
Marth suddenly lost the ability to breath. He kicked and tried to resist as water filled his throat and nostrils. His face's new burnt marks began to ache and inflame by the sudden cold. His lungs begged for air and his face felt like it was attacked by ice arrows. Marth could feel his brain freeze up and his body writhe. He was going to drown by a cold water bucket. A shallow water bucket. Everything was dampened considerably, his senses leaving him. He screamed which only shortened his time underneath.
His mind began shutting down. He clinged desperately to his thoughts to try help him survive. Anything good or positive; but the only things wonderful Marth experienced in his life was with Elice and Sheeda... and he had killed them less then a day ago. All of his memories felt warped and fake.
Marth's head was pulled out of the water. He grasped the sweet, precious oxygen and inhaled. He coughed and spluttered, causing them to keep laughing. He just wanted them to stop! Just stop! For the first time in his life, Marth felt humiliated. He felt a lot of things that stretched the crevice of his self-made dark heart: remorse, guilt, longing, sadness instead of desperation, hatred instead of revenge...
That just made it more painful.
Were they dulling his senses or were they hyping them up?
He couldn't even think properly anymore. It felt like he had lost all touch with his body and was trapped in the vast caverns of his mind. He hated it. He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. His head was too dark! He didn't want it!
Marth's head was dunked back in the water again. Now he knew what he was expecting, he could only cry as he was subjected by the onslaught of emotion. His eyes opened fully for the first time. The stinging in his eyes... they were drowning him in salt water. They were dehydrating him even more.
His emotions began swirling around in his head again, some new and some so vivid that Marth's head hurt trying to comprehend them. He wanted them to stop! They had to stop! Please stop it now!
The world around him was a blur. When his head was pulled out of the water, the sudden brightness almost blinded him permanently.
"Please... stop it..." Marth croaked out, not recognising his own voice. It wasn't hostile at all. It was faded and submissive. The laughter roared all around Marth as he tried to cover his ears, resulting only with blood running from his wrists via the chains.
It seemed like hours- Marth was repeatedly subjected to the water-dunking. Just when all was silent and his hopes grew that it had ended, it started again. The victim drowning in his own sorrow and sin. It seemed appropriate for a murderer like him.
His screaming stopped altogether; his tears dried out but his pain was plain on his face. It was enough to keep going and going.
Marth felt as if his whole body was falling limp as Commander Uranus' needle beeped one more time. He removed the device from his forehead and Marth heard the light-footed creature scoot away.
Two more tortures to go but Marth had a feeling that it would not get any easier.
"Hello Marth Lowell..." The psychic. There were only two creatures he knew, with mental abilities as sophisticated as the ones penetrating his stupefied mind, and it wasn't Midna. Commander Neptune chuckled as he read everyone of Marth's thoughts. He penetrated the caverns of Marth's mind, looking for his point of weakness. The bluenette did his best to resist but his body stopped his full defense from going up. "Your resistance is cute... you know you won't ever escape me."
"Just... kill me..." Marth moaned again, coughing up nothing.
"Kill you? Why would we do that? You're valuable Marth. Too valuable to kill. I've never seen such raw, murderous talent." Marth shook his head defiantly. He made a promise to Elice's body... he'd never hurt anyone again. "We can't have you backstabbing us again. Since you won't team with us willingly... we're going to have to try a different way." Marth shuddered. "All I'm going to do is... Break. Your. Spirit. Granted, that's not going to make torturing you any less fun. Personally, like you, I enjoy the moment when someone loses all hope. It's more amusing then death." Commander Neptune laughed. "I really do love to watch that moment."
If it was possible, Marth just filled himself with even more self loathing.
"I'm sure by now you're wondering why you haven't died by now. I mean... aren't you the least bit curious that none of your injuries last longer then a few minutes?" Commander Neptune's sinister voice filled his head even louder. Marth closed his eyes and tried to resist the mental attack to no avail. His mental defenses were slipping. "Commander Uranus constructed your chains so your body receives energy at regular intervals. You couldn't have passed out or fallen asleep on us, even if you wanted to."
"Go away..." Neptune ignored him.
"Your mind can take this... because I am here. I am taking care of you. To properly feel the Celestial Touch, you must be as... ehheh... healthy as possible." His large hands touched Marth's face, bulbous fingers gently stroking him. It was a lot smoother then Saturn's touch but no less chilling to feel.
"Leave me alone... I don't want to see any of you..." Marth panted.
"I know... you want to see Sheeda and Elice... don't you?" Marth froze. "I'll grant your wish."
There was a click of fingers.
And Marth's mind broke.
"MARTH! MARTH!" Immediately, his blue-eyes flew open. Sheeda? "You bastard! You monster! Why did you kill me? I was trying to help you! What did I do to deserve this?"
In front of Marth was Sheeda. She was dressed in a plain white dress, Marth's own blade skewered into her chest letting scarlet seep through the cloth. Marth tried to reach out to her, but he couldn't move.
"I didn't mean to! Sheeda!"
"I hate you Marth! I hate you! You were never around! You never cared about our friendship! You monster!"
"Sheeda... let me explain..."
"There's nothing to explain! You're evil!"
"Sheeda..."
"GO TO HELL DEMON!" There was a burst of bright light; temporarily blinding Marth. He felt torn... was that how Sheeda really felt about him?
"Marth... Marth... why Marth?" The bluenette opened his eyes. Sheeda had disappeared but now Elice standing in front of him. She looked beautiful and perfect as in life... but here, her favourite laced dress was soaked in her own blood. She was crying and Marth's heart broke. "Why did you kill me too? Was I not a good sibling for you?"
"Elice?" Marth blinked before trying to reach out for her. "Elice! No! I'm the bad guy! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"So you admit it..." she wasn't yelling like Sheeda was. Somehow that made it all worse- made him feel more rueful. "Why Marth? Did you hate me that much? Did I get in the way of your job too much?"
"No! Never! Elice! I'm sorry!" Marth struggled.
"Did you hate mommy that much to take her away from us?"
"No! I didn't! I'm sorry!"
"Did you enjoy killing me?"
"No! No! No! I'm sorry! I'll never kill again! I'm not going to hurt anyone! Elice! Sheeda! I'm so sorry."
"I'm not proud anymore Marth... I'm sorry. You're beyond redemption." She turned away and the light shone again. Why was she leaving? No! It was too soon! He had to see her! "Goodbye Marth... we won't see each other in the next life."
"ELICE! ELICE!" There was no dimming of the light but somehow, Marth knew he was back in that torturous, bright chamber. He was sobbing dry, uncontrollable tears now. It was so real... that was real...
"Elice... I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." The illusion had faded and Marth was all alone.
He felt lost, out of place. The realisation that nobody wanted him anymore sunk in. The sickening thought that nobody loved him wrecked his heart. It was as if his soul was suffocating outside the water.
Marth was dirty and hurt. He did nothing. He was alone. He was finished.
He may as well have been dead.
And he accepted it.
"Well, well, well..." Marth didn't even notice Commander Neptune had disappeared. He raised his head slightly when he heard Midna. What was she going to do? Nothing Midna... nothing Commander Venus could do could make him feel more hurt now.
"There's nothing I can do..." Marth didn't realise he was whispering aloud. "The Celestial Touch is lifting Marth... it's only me now." Her tender hands ran across the bumpy, twisted skin. She touched his hands and took out the chains from his wrists. They flopped down uselessly by his sides and Marth made no effort to try and escape. Venus smiled under her veil and freed Marth's feet. Exhausted, Marth's legs gave in and he buckled onto the floor: prompting more heinous laughter from the others.
He didn't care anymore.
He wanted to die.
"Marth... my touch will be something to remember this occasion by. You can open your eyes now." Against his will, his eyes fluttered open to see around Commander Venus and himself was what looked like a cage of mirrors. He could hear the other Planetary Commanders outside- so he knew he was still trapped.
Shadows grabbed Marth and yanked him in an assortment of directions- forcing Marth back on his aching feet. The golden eyes sparkled with devious excitement as her acidic touch made Marth's skin burn. He winced as Commander Venus tilted his head, making him look directly at her. She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.
It felt like sludge. Her kiss was poison. Marth couldn't scream despite how much he wanted to. All at once, the pain from the past five tortures rippled through his body. He had to scream- he had to express this anguish someway but he couldn't. He needed it to stop.
Commander Venus let his lips go. Marth trembled uselessly as she smiled. She ran her fingers through his dull, stained hair and began whispering into his ear.
"I curse you with these scars. They will never heal as a reminder of all your crimes. Every mark, bruise and every burn will remind you of what you've done." Marth remained silent. Commander Venus let him stare blankly at his own hideously tainted reflection.
He was ugly. From inside out he was ugly.
"...There's something missing." Commander Venus murmured. Marth found himself forced onto his knees. "I know... your smile. You have such a lovely smile. You should wear it forever." A large dagger appeared in Commander Venus' hand and she placed it in Marth's mouth. "Please smile for me darling."
She ripped out the flesh. One side and then the other. It was a quick and painful process that Marth could see reflected onto him by the mirror prison.
Forever Marth would have the perfect, open-mouthed smile.
The scars would never heal.
Marth had been successfully subdued.
Pagebreaker
"In you go slime. Enjoy hell." Marth landed face first into the cold, dark cell in the most fortified faction of the Human Containment Ward. His face smashed against the cushioned, white floor and despite the soft looking exterior, Marth felt cold and very real pain. The door swung behind him with a loud 'clang'.
Despite his straight jacket, Marth got onto his feet pretty easily and rammed against the door. "Let me out! Let me out!" The bluenette hated small spaces. The Planetary Commanders knew he was claustrophobic and now they have condemned him to living out the rest of his days in a confined space.
"Oh yeah. Happy sixteenth birthday worm." The guards laughed as they walked away.
The scarred boy continued trying to bash his head against the door. He was trapped. Tears were running down his face as he scrambled to get out of the area.
"Someone! Help! Help!" The teenager screamed, running back and forth in his tomb. "Elice! Sheeda! Help me!" Marth screamed, tears running down his cheeks as he sobbed. Marth leaned against the walls of his white prison, drawing his knees up to his chest.
The inner darkness had long since closed the outside world, leaving a void of nothingness in all directions. He was slowly giving up escape attempts. Beating the wall simply gave him a headache and no one could here his screams here.
'This must be how prisoners are broken for interrogation' In the past few hours his thoughts had taken a decidedly morbid turn. He was thinking so desperately about his sister. How he killed her. He was thinking about every life he killed. They all had families and friends like the bluenette did- but not once did Marth think about that. He was so interested in killing... but he never realised that he had killed people with hopes and dreams. Did they always feel the same way he did?
"It was always like that. I am a sociopath." Marth stared straight in front of him. There was a small, one-way mirror that served as an observation point for guards. It barely could fit a pair of eyes pressed against it, but as Marth had fallen to the back of his cell, he could hear his own voice call to him. "You poor, pathetic thing. Look at yourself! Your misery is a sight for sore eyes. The world would rejoice if they could see that the murderer of their husbands and fathers was finally imprisoned."
"Who are you?" There was no response. "Who are you?"
"I'm not surprised that you don't recognise my voice... you never use me." Marth's eyes went blurry. "I'm you. I'm Commander Mars... I'm your conscience." Marth knew he was slightly insane- his mind was making his reflection move. The reflection crawled closer towards Marth and grinned, revealing a set of pointed teeth. Insanity at it's most dangerous. "I must say, it's fun, listening to your hopeless thoughts.
"...What are you?"
"I'm your guilt... a manifestation of every soul that you've ripped from this earth. You stupid boy... you feel their misery through me. Metaphorically of course but... heh. That makes it just more fun." Marth stared at his hideously scarred reflection. His skin was becoming eerily pale, and near translucent- making his slasher Glasgow smile seem even more frightening. He felt sick just looking at his own face. Marth quickly looked away and shivered. "Your fear fills me with glee. Your screams are music to my ears. I can tell you're suffering." Marth whimpered. "...but I don't think you'll ever know the severity of your actions."
"What?"
"You have no soul. You broke it. You can't repent if you tried. You're just that heartless and selfish."
"Go away..."
"Awww... but you just met me. I must say, I've been terribly neglected. You've never noticed me before Marth. I'm actually quite insulted."
"Go away..."
"And leave you alone? Huh? With Sheeda right? Oh wait... that's right. She's dead. You killed her. Oh well... there's your sister... oh wait! She's dead too! The woman who you strived so desperately to protect... you killed!"
"It was an acci-"
"Accident? You smiled when your blade hit her. For that second, you know you were happy as you sliced her." The bluenette lowered his head. "You still have your sword now. It's in your tiara where you hid it." Marth stared in confusion. He was still wearing his headband. His stomach dropped. "Of course... you were barely conscious when you stowed your sword. You were obviously planning on breaking free. Filthy traitor."
"Of course I want to be free!"
"Ignorant too! You're stupid Marth! You killed them all! Don't you get it? You. Are. Alone. There's no reason for a criminal to be free!" Marth cowered as the voice suddenly got louder in his head. He stumbled and tried to smash the door down again. "Dirty! You miserable lowlife! You know you don't deserve to live. You don't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of society. Murderous monster."
"Leave me alone!"
"Now why would you want me to leave? Let's get this straight Marth Lowell... I'm your conscious. I'm telling you what's right and wrong from now on. I'm going to help you. I speak the truth: I will never leave you. Ever."
"I hate you!"
"I am you. Then again... you need to hate yourself." Marth began banging his head harder and harder on the wall. His head began to hurt as he scrambled more frantically to escape. "You only hate me because I'm right. Where are your leaders to give you orders? Where are your powers? Where is that genius with all that wasted potential and ambition? It wasn't my actions that got you in here. It was yours. Your guilt. Your sin. Everything you get here is only a portion of what you've done. You know that everything you did was always your choice. Why waste the hate on me when there is only one being to truly loathe?"
Marth was sobbing desperately. His vision became blurry before he slumped in to unconsciousness once again.
Pagebreaker
He intended to commit suicide as soon as possible.
But she saved his life.
She gave him a new one.
She renewed his broken spirit.
She helped him escape the prison.
She silenced his mind.
She made him happy.
Samus Aran... the woman who swore to protect him. He didn't deserve her smiles or the joy she gave him but he treasured it. Samus.
He couldn't escape his past; but Samus gave him a reason to look towards the future.
They were to start over...
But Commander Mars always held him back.
Pagebreaker
Straightening his tie, the sixteen year old smiled. It was his night off, and while Samus was still working, he intended on spending it relaxing in his dingy room. He had some inspiration to paint again.
A lot had changed since they escaped the Human Containment Ward four months ago. Samus had learned how to properly use a pencil and read her first book by herself while Marth had started learning a secret makeup technique from the Chozo (to hide his scars so he wouldn't scare customers). As he worked as a bar tender at night, most of his days were free and Marth had taken up some of his childhood hobbies. Preparing tea parties, reading, calligraphy and, his favourite, painting again. Indulging in himself was more fun then Marth had imagined; and it kept his thoughts distracted.
He seemed to be settling into a loose routine and enjoyed this simplistic lifestyle. No responsibilities and less ties then before. Sure he was sick to his stomach everyday (porn and loose morals did that to a young mind), but it was much better then being back in that tiny room with no window.
Marth sometimes blocked the containment ward out of his mind for his own comfort. It worked most of the time and for a few hours, Marth could experience a taste of freedom. Then his guilt would come back to haunt him and ask 'did he deserve to escape?' 'Did he deserve a second chance?"
He liked Mondays; all he had to do was throw out the trash and he could go back to relax. Marth walked out to the bins- which were located in a small, dim alleyway. The night was chilly and the only source of light was a flickering, grotty lamp. It took him a while to find the quiet, isolated bins. Marth dumped the bag in and turned around, ready to go back.
"... Excuse me. Would you happen to know where Samantha Aran is?" Marth froze. He quickly turned around to see a tall man- a few years older then himself- come out of the shadows as if from thin air. The older bluenette's tone seemed innocent and friendly enough but Marth was instantly cautious. Not because the strange man just happened to be hiding behind a desolate bin, but because of the name he used.
How did he know Samus? They weren't supposed to use their real names in public. Marth was 'Scars' and Samus was 'The Orange Lily.' It had been like that for the last few months and no one should have known their real names for the sake of their own protection against the furries.
Did he work for the furries?
Marth was aware of the political climate change: no more was he ignorant. He could see right in front of him the human persecutions and discrimination. He was with the rest of humanity now... hating furries. Well... not with the rest of humanity. He still avoided them as much as possible to prevent...
Marth stared at the cane-wielding man again. The tall, muscular man wore a black top-hat with a green ribbon and his outfit consisted of a black trench-coat with a green trim; no shirt; cream pants and black boots.
He looked human enough... but he could have been a bad guy. Some humans did work for furries- he knew that better then anyone. However, he was acting like a perfect gentleman and had... an essence of independence. For a split second, Marth considered telling him the truth, before his logical thinking kicked back in.
"Umm... sorry. I know no-no one of that name." Marth muttered quickly. Marth had a natural ability to lie- but for some reason he was trembling. He was really nervous. Why was he? Was it that man, staring at him with cold, dark obsidian eyes?"
"Are you sure?" the stranger asked, still in a curt voice.
"Yes. I don't know anyone by that name."
"... You're lying. Why are you lying?" The man asked, sounding darkly disappointed. Marth wasn't technically lying. He really wasn't supposed to know who Samus was. He really shouldn't have felt scared or guilty. He did. That didn't stop him from trembling as the figure stepped towards him, backing him into a corner. "I asked you once and I'm going to ask you one more time... where is Samantha?"
"I don't know!" Marth whimpered as he backed away. "I'm just a simple bartender! Leave me alone!"
"... I didn't want it to come to this... Commander Mars. I was just going to get information and go... but let's see if I can't coax this out of you." Marth froze. Not even Samus knew he was Commander Mars. No one was supposed to remember who he was- he was purposely censored from every record, that Marth had researched, in order to keep the Planetary Commander activities a secret. How did this man know his true identity?
It didn't matter. Marth yelped as the man pushed him back into the wall and smirked. Lust danced in the stranger's obsidian eyes and his grip tightened the young man's gloved wrists. Marth yelled out for help but he knew it was fruitless. Everyone would be in the nightclub- the music would kill his protests. He was well and truly trapped.
"Let me go!"
"It'll be more pleasurable for you if you relax." The bluenette pointed out, his irritation was evident and Marth could see the situation he was placed in. "This is your last chance... tell me where Samantha is... I need to see her."
"Stop it! Go away!"
"Just... relax," The muscular man whispered before he kissed Marth deeply. He stepped forward, pushing Marth's wrists back into the wall and slotting his leg between Marth's. Marth knew he was going to be raped and... he was going to try and fight back.
Marth closed his eyes and tried to resist the temptation of kissing the stranger back. He kicked. He struggled and groaned. He even attempted to bite the man's tongue.
However, the man was more powerful and he easily ripped off the grey shirt and Marth's tie. Marth's scars were revealed for the whole world to see.
The bluenette brushed his coarse, hard fingers against Marth's tender nipples making the young male wince. Marth felt growing pressure between his legs and that coaxed a wince from him. He had never had a sexual experience before, and the fact that he was getting raped didn't make the situation less erotic for his body.
The stranger must have been expecting this though, because Marth suddenly gasped in pleasure as his erection was freed from his jeans. The dark-coated fingers slipped into his briefs and played with the head of Marth's cock softly, collecting the pre-cum that had started to pool in the opening. He lifted his fingers up to his mouth and slowly licked his fingers, a seductive gleam in his eyes.
"You're interesting sir. Very interesting indeed."
"Who are you?"
"My name doesn't matter. However, you may address me as 'The Ringmaster' Mr. Lowell." Marth shivered as his eyes caught 'The Ringmaster's'. Dominating and controlling. A gaze that he saw in the mirror all too often. "You're a very handsome man..."
"Don't be nice to me..."
"Hmm?"
"If you're going to rape me then just get it over and done with! Don't be polite with me!"
"Why? Is it because you don't want it or do you think that you don't deserve it?" Marth froze. The Ringmaster laughed. "I was right..." He stroked Marth's member again, staring directly at the teenager.
Marth just shook his head in disagreement. If he opened his mouth, he was afraid that he would moan. So instead, he just bit into his lip and held back any noise that threatened to come out of his mouth.
He suddenly felt 'The Ringmaster's' hand cup his face and Marth opened his eyes slowly. The man was smirking at him and Marth felt his heart skip a beat. He bent down and captured Marth's lips in a kiss. Marth groaned and opened his mouth slightly to let the tongue inside. Their tongues intertwined with each other, mapping out each other's mouth.
Marth could have easily killed him. Killed him and ran off.
But he would not try hurt anyone again.
The bluenette separated himself from Marth before resting his forehead against the boys. Their eyes stared at each other before an unfamiliar gleam entered the stranger's eyes.
"I think it's time I take this up a notch," The bluenette said in a rough voice.
Marth's breath picked up slightly as he saw 'The Ringmaster's' hand curled into his hair and roughly pulled his head back. He whimpered slightly at the pain and whined as he felt 'The Ringmaster' nibbling at his neck. He tried to push him off gently to no avail.
The man narrowed his obsidian eyes slightly when he realized that Marth was trying to get loose. Not wanting his subject to be free, he bit into the side of Marth's neck hard. The bartender shouted and resisted the urge to kick the man off him.
"You're pathetic." Marth whimpered. The insult wasn't new. He heard that everyday. Marth suddenly found himself sitting on the hard ground- his legs being lifted up above his head. He watched with wide eyes as the bluenette's gaze traveled down his body in generous curiosity. Marth shivered at the attention and closed his eyes- eager to get this over and done with.
"No one has time to enjoy your suffering because they're suffering themselves." The Ringmaster whispered.
Marth jumped slightly in confusion. He looked up at the muscular man and realised how serious he was. The stranger started pumping Marth's erection slowly; causing the boy to moan softly and shut his eyes. The man kept a close watch on Marth, reveling in the facial expressions that Marth was making. He noticed that another shiver go through Marth before the arousal became harder in his hand.
Moving a hand up, The Ringmaster idly fingered one of Marth's nipples, never slowing down his pumping. Marth's breath hitched before he squirmed under the strong fingers.
"Listen to me... no one enjoys suffering. Even if you say you do, at the end of the day, you feel guilt. People are dying Marth... and you can't bring yourself to help them."
"No...I-I...don't...," Marth trailed off, moaning in-between his broken words.
The man continued his administrations. His hand grew tighter on Marth's cock, his thumb swiping over the head every so often. Marth's hips started to buck involuntarily, trying to get his assaulter to move his hand faster.
"You have all this potential Marth. I've looked you up. You think that you're broken but you're not."
Marth gasped as he felt fingers teasing his cock. They slowly moved down, drawing random patterns on the base of his erection and his balls. One of the bluenette's fingers grazed his entrance, circling the puckered skin.
"But... But..."
"No one is beyond redemption. Not even you..."
"What are you saying?" whimpered Marth.
The Ringmaster just smirked as he continued to abuse Marth's prostate. He rubbed the sensitive spot roughly and pumped his fingers in Marth's entrance. Marth slumped into the ground in defeat and moaned. He felt eyes watching him closely and he opened his eyes. Looking up though, he noticed that the bluenette was looking down at his entrance.
"You can help humanity Marth."
Marth screamed when The Ringmaster's erection slammed inside of him. His eyes were wide and he couldn't keep his strangled moans from escaping. The Bluenette's thrusts were fast and hard, pushing him further into the rough pavement.
"If you really want to atone for your sins, then join me. Tell me where Samantha is and you can join me too. You can make up for everything you done- you can amend everything wrong. I can help you with that."
"I-I..." Marth's head was light and clear. He did want redemption but was what this man was saying true? Could he trust someone who raped him without notice?
On one hand, he could be just lying and making Marth more likely to be submissive. On the other-hand, he knew that he was Commander Mars but he wasn't chastising Marth for it. It was almost like he wanted to help.
Instinctively, Marth wrapped his arms around the Ringmaster's neck and pulled him closer. All of a sudden, the bluenette's thrusts became deeper. Marth felt the pleasure inside of him reach a new level and he could barely warn The Ringmaster about his upcoming climax. However, he didn't seem to need a warning, because his thrusts suddenly slowed.
Then, Marth felt his body being moved up and over.
What if he was lying? What about Samus? He couldn't put her in danger as well. This man was some sort of seductive demon. If they both went, the man might do the same to Samus as he did to him. Could he live with the fact that he put another of his loved ones at risk?
Then, on the slim chance that this man was genuine, would he tell Samus about his past? Would Samus shun him and leave him if she found out about the atrocities he had committed against humanity?
The bluenette's hand sneaked towards Marth's arousal, snapping Marth out of his pained thoughts, and wrapped his fingers around the warm appendage. Marth whimpered before he opened his mouth.
"I- I can't join you or tell you w-where Samantha is!" he groaned.
His back arched back while his hips ground against The Ringmaster's erection. The man grunted deep in his throat before he released inside of Marth's hole. Almost furious, the man continued to thrust into Marth until he rode out the pleasure for the both of them.
"Are you sure? You want a chance to redeem yourself... If you've hurt people in the past- maybe it's time for you to save them."
"I-I can't!" Marth cried. Real tears were flowing down his face.
A few seconds later, The bluenette released Marth from his tight grip and removed his enlarged penis from Marth. The shattered Commander felt boneless and he leaned onto the Ringmaster's chest for support.
The man just sat there for a while before he gently wrapped Marth in his own clothes, like a blanket, and stood up. He dusted his hat and nodded at the trembling victim.
"I'm sorry then that you feel that way. I guess I'll have to try find Samantha on my own... I know she's close." Marth whimpered and looked away. "We'll meet again Marth. Be assured. I do hope you'll reconsider my proposition." And with that, the ringmaster picked up his hat and cane and walked away; leaving Marth to pick himself up and put himself back together.
For a brief second, he felt like calling the Ringmaster back.
He hoped they wouldn't meet again.
Marth never did tell Samus about the man looking for her. He never did say what he wanted to say to ger- about who he really was.
He never forgot about that experience. Every time he pushed it back to his mind- the prospect of redemption would pop back into his head. He ignored it mostly- it was impossible for Commander Mars to be saved.
Marth didn't meet Ringmaster Ike until a few months later- sooner then he had hoped for- in the Chozo Stripper Bar where he worked. It was that same day where he opened the door and let the acrobat Samus Aran and the broken Marth into his world.
They say that some people are born to do evil. Their eyes are black as coal and no light can pass their abyss. These evil ones do not cry when they emerge from the womb. These children are destined to do terrible things. The children are said to have a heart, but no soul inside. Commander Mars could never be redeemed. His sins could never be forgiven. He could never have eternal peace.
But maybe Clown Marth could.
A/N: If you can't figure out MidKnight's identity, I swear I will kick you. Also, I've noticed I'm exploiting the fact that Circo de la Luna is now an M-Rated story... really well XD
Fun Facts: This chapter is the longest: Double of the Circus performance scene.
Marth is scared of small spaces ONLY if he can't see the outside. (It reflects his state of mind) So small rooms with windows or elevators with clear roofs are fine.
The potential of ALL the Planetary Commanders are at the same or HIGHER level then Marth. ...Interpret that how you wish.
Questions for all of you: Why did Ringmaster Ike rape Marth in order to get his attention?
What was your favourite part?
Whose backstory do you want to see next?
Happy Valentines' Day! Leave me a review to say my efforts on this chapter weren't in vain!
REVIEW!