Ch. 42: Revisiting the Past
[Arthur shuts the door behind him and begins to make his way into the hallway].
Arthur: *sigh*
[The first room he steps into is a ballroom]
[Arthur looks around and gets a feel for the table closest to him].
[Pinching the dust on his finger, he could tell that the castle had been abandoned for more than 800 years.]
Arthur: It's been a long time since I've seen you.
[Arthur sees the chair at the head of the room]
[He then gently takes a seat and breathes in slowly].
Arthur: Way too long.
A few minutes later, Arthur explores the rest of the abandoned structure.
[making his way up the stairs, he stumbles upon an old portrait. Wanting to unfold it, he stops himself and keeps moving.]
[The first thing he does is enter a room, looks around to reminisce for some reason until he sees an old toy and picks it up. An old red car. He firmly grasps it and places it into his pocket.]
[He continues to look around until his pocket beeps].
Arthur: Hmm?
[Arthur reaches into it and pulls out a crystal]
Ronin: Scabbard.
Arthur: Handle.
[Ronin chuckles]
Ronin: I see you managed to keep your communication crystal intact.
Arthur: And whose fault was it that it almost broke?
[Ronin laughs once more].
Ronin: Please, the wounds weren't that bad, it's not even my best.
[Arthur grunts]
Arthur: Just be glad you didn't kill me.
[Arthur continues to walk around.]
Ronin: Did you find the objective?
Arthur: Not yet. I'm still just taking it all in.
[Ronin sighs]
Ronin: I know you haven't been there for a long time, but you know what needs to be done.
Arthur: Don't worry about me. What's happening on your end?
Ronin, Warlord and Serpent are in position. Otur and I are heading your way.
Arthur: How long?
Ronin: How far can I expand my dome? We'll meet you there in ten minutes.
[Suddenly, the sound of metal clanging can be heard from outside the room.]
Arthur: What the?!
Ronin: Everything okay?
[Arthur activates his fragment to see what was going on, and finally notices that he's not alone.]
Arthur: Ronin, I'm going to have to call you back.
Ronin: Wai-
[Arthur cuts off the call and grabs his sword].
[The Golden Guard whistles at the size of the structure].
Hunter: This place seems interesting.
[He stops at the portrait, close to unfolding the picture]
Hunter: What secrets do you hide?
[The moment his staff completely uncovers the picture, a sword is launched and forces Hunter to drop his staff.]
Hunter: Huh?
[When he looks forward, he is kicked in the face.]
Hunter: WOAH!
[Hunter fumbles down the stairs and lands next to his staff].
Hunter: *groans*
Arthur cracks his knuckles.
Arthur: What's an Emperor's Coven Bigshot like you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your office doing paperwork? Or something like that?
[Hunter reaches for Excalibur, only for it to be snatched by the Crimson Dragon as it returns to Arthur's hand]
Hunter: For your information, that's classified to anyone outside of the Coven! Especially for a human like you.
[Arthur raises an eyebrow]
Arthur: No offense, buddy, if you fight me right here, you're probably going to get your ass handed to you, so why don't you spare both of us the time and leave while you still can?
[Arthur walks past the Golden Guard].
Hunter: Don't underestimate my skill as a witch!
[Hunter runs towards Arthur and punches him in the face, making him fall down the stairs].
Arthur: OW! What the heck, man?! I'm letting you go?!
[Hunter laughs]
Hunter: You're just acting too cocky in my opinion. And for kicking me in the face and attacking a Coven official. I'll be bringing you to the Conformitorium myself!
[Arthur chuckles]
Arthur: So you and I are actually doing this? Okay then.
[Arthur summons King Arthur]
Arthur: I'll play.
Both begin to attack each other nonstop.
[The Golden Guard flies into the air and fires multiple bolts of lightning].
[Arthur parries most of them and uses an Ice Glyph to block the last]
[The ice block is destroyed and the Golden Guard is nowhere to be found].
Arthur: Huh? Where'd you go?
[Beside him, the Golden Guard whispers in his ear and says]
Hunter: Boo.
[Arthur swings his blade to the side and the Golden Guard disappears].
[He reappears and whacks him in the face].
Arthur: Crap!
[Hunter's speed is unavoidable after dealing countless blows to the stomach and face of Arthur].
Arthur: Speedster, huh? I can deal with that.
[Arthur activates his Delta Fragment and sees the right moment to strike].
Arthur: Gotcha!
[Arthur attacks his foe with a spinning back hand, flipping him and flinging him into the walls while making his mask fall off].
Hunter: *groans*
[Arthur walks closer to get a look at his real face].
Arthur: Why don't we get a closer look at your
[Arthur grabs him to finally sneak a peek]
Arthur:... face?
[Arthur finally sees that the Golden Guard is actually a child]
Arthur: You're just a kid?
[Arthur puts him down and places his sword back into the scabbard.]
Arthur, the emperor's right hand man, is a scrawny little boy.
Hunter: I am not a little boy! You retract your statement!
[Arthur grabs his face and turns it to get a closer look].
Arthur: That's an awful lot of scars you got there. What are you, 16?
Hunter: Let Me Go!
[Arthur removes his hand and thinks for a little bit.]
Arthur: Dragon! Tie him up!
[The dragon grabs ropes from the curtains and ties the hunter up].
Hunter: What are you doing? Let me go!
[Arthur goes kneeling down to try to reason with him].
Arthur: First of all, I'm not fighting a teenager, and second, I'm keeping you here till backup arrives. So you'll just have to stay put till I can figure out what to do with you.
Arthur grabs his staff.
Arthur: Also, I'll be taking this with me; I don't want a powerless witch using their magic to stop me.
[Hunter is baffled by his knowledge.]
Hunter: How did you?
[Arthur pokes his head]
Arthur: It's called logic. I put two and two together and bam. Now just stay put. I'll be right back.
[Arthur takes up his crystal and summons Ronin]
Ronin: What's going on?
Arthur: We have a little problem. The Emperor's Coven is in on this.
Ronin: What do you mean?
Arthur: I'm with the Emperor's right hand man as we speak. What do you want me to do with him?
[Ronin groans]
Ronin: Just keep him there till we meet. And be sure to capture the objective.
Arthur: I'll do it.
[Arthur shuts off the crystal and walks over to Hunter].
Arthur: Do you have a name?
[Hunter remains silent]
Arthur: No matter, I have good news. You are going to assist me. Until my boss gets here, you'll have to help me till the very end and eventually have your fate decided by her. Sounds good?
Hunter: And what makes you think I'm going to let you do as you please?
[Arthur chuckles]
Arthur: Well, A, I have your staff and you're tied up, so that makes you my prisoner. B, I'm at best your only ticket home. So, are you going to help me or do you want to stay here?
[Hunter groans]
Hunter: Fine, I've got nothing better to do.
Arthur: Great, it's settled!
[Arthur picks up Hunter as they begin to walk to where they need to be.]
Arthur: I'm Arthur, by the way. Do you at least want to tell me your name?
[Hunter still ignores it].
Arthur: What's got your tongue?
Hunter: Where exactly are we going?
[Arthur reaches for a lever on the ballister of the bottom steps and pulls it]
Arthur: Wherever this path leads, After you
[Hunter goes in first and Arthur follows].
[A black mist emerges and keeps a close eye on the duo]
[As the two continue to walk, Hunter looks around and notices all the gems and pictures on the walls.]
Hunter: I've seen pictures and prophecies about the Titan in the Isles, but these seem to be different.
Arthur: That's because these pictures aren't about the Titan.
Hunter: Then what are they?
[Arthur stops to grab a torch]
Arthur: These paintings depict a different prophecy. In this multiverse, there are an infinite number of heroes as there are stars in the sky, and among them, 20 universes, each with one conqueror, are meant to lead us against a great evil that threatens all of life. And as of now, the people I'm supposed to be with are fighting against one of those great evils.
[Hunter looks closely]
Hunter: And why aren't you with them?
Arthur: That's classified. even if I told you why I was here in the first place. You wouldn't even believe me. Let's keep moving. We're getting close.
[Arthur presses on; Hunter follows him until he hears a faint laughter.]
Garuda: *whispers* Hunter.
Hunter: Huh?
[Hunter looks behind him but sees nothing].
Arthur: Are you alright?
Hunter: Did you hear something?
[Arthur looks around].
Arthur: I can't hear anything. Why?
[Hunter returns his gaze]
Hunter: It's nothing. Let's keep moving.
They arrive at their destination a few minutes later.A room full of relics
Arthur: We made it. I'll be right back.
Hunter: Are you sure you want to leave me alone?
Arthur: I mean, if you want to look around, then go ahead. But don't touch anything.
[Arthur faces Hunter with a glare].
Arthur: By any means possible!
[As Arthur walks away, Hunter looks around the room, first noticing a pair of sticks.]
Hunter: How are these relics?
Arthur: Don't judge a book by its cover. The man who wielded those was one of the strongest fighters in the multiverse.
[Hunter raises an eyebrow].
Hunter: But why two sticks? Wouldn't a sword or a magic staff be more appropriate?
[Arthur pauses for a moment]
Arthur: Not every strong warrior needs a powerful weapon to take down an army; the man who used them never believed that killing was the correct path.
[Arthur stands next to Hunter].
Arthur: Sure, he conquered his enemies, but killing was the easiest thing for them to go through. To him, every villain needed to be punished through true acts of justice. Shattering their dreams is the only way that all his enemies could pay for all the suffering they have caused.
[Tears begin to well up in Arthur's eyes]
Arthur: I think it's a stupid reason for action. In the end, his compassion was what killed him.
[Arthur goes back to a memory where he and two more children run away from the castle falling; before teleporting, he sees a shadowy figure killing a woman].
[Arthur wipes his brow]
Hunter: You okay?
Arthur: Sorry, I just get like this when I'm reminded.
Hunter: Reminded of what?
[Arthur ignores the question and continues his search.]
Hunter: (That was weird)
[Hunter continues to wander around and sees multiple relics, until he...]
Garuda: Hunter!
[Hunter freezes as a result of the demonic voice]
Hunter: Who's there?!
[Hunter turns red with fear while attempting to figure out who was speaking to him].
Garuda: (extended) Hunter!
Hunter: What do you want?
[Garuda laughs]
Garuda: I'm close by, Hunter! Will you help me?
[As Hunter follows the voice leading him to a mask, he lays his eyes on the name tag]
Hunter: Mask of the Gods?
[The voices continue to fill his head]
Arthur: Where is it?
[Arthur finds a name tag that is labeled the Shadow Stamp].
Arthur: That's not it.
[Arthur finally lays his eyes upon the item he sought, labeled the Diamond's shield, which was in the shape of a bubble].
Arthur: Bingo!
[Arthur grabs and places it in his pocket].
Arthur: Okay, Golden Guard, let's get... going?
[Hunter reaches for the mask, leaving Arthur in shock and panic]
Arthur: "Golden Guard, Get Away From That!"
[Hunter's finger barely pokes it, a spark bursts between them]
Hunter: Huh?!
[Garuda laughs heartily]
Garuda: Finally, after all these years!
[A pair of hands emerge from the mask and grab Hunter's face].
Hunter: What?!
[The mask forces itself onto Hunter, gluing itself to his face. Hunter begins to panic]
Hunter: GET OFF MY BACK!GET OFF MY BACK!
[Visions flash one by one in Hunter's brain]; his body begins to change; muscles bursting from his scrawny figure; clothes ripping, except for his pants; a tail growing from his back. Gloves become spiked gloves; horns sprout from his temples; feet become talons; and, finally, the power of a beastly roar.
Arthur: Aw, crap!
[A different voice speaks from Hunter's body]
Garuda: Oh, that's better!
[Garuda takes a look at his new body.]
Arthur: You're Garuda!
[Garuda, using Hunter's body, stares at Arthur, curious about his power]
Garuda: You interest me. That aura of yours, it reminds me of a certain man.
Arthur grits his teeth.
Arthur: What did you do to him?
I never did anything. After all, this body is that of my one true partner.
Arthur: What's that supposed to mean?!
[Garuda giggles]
Garuda: You're too young to understand.
[the tensity of Garuda Aura was enough to keep Arthur in place, for him to grab the Shadow Stamp]
Arthur: NO!
Garuda: I should be thanking you for bringing him to me. But unfortunately I don't have the time to do so. I'll be leaving if you don't mind.
Arthur: GET BACK HERE!
[The moment Garuda steps out of the room, he notices a bullet going straight for his face]
Garuda: Hmm?
[The bullet sounds like it lands, but Garuda manages to grab it with Hunter's teeth]
Garuda: (Where did this Bullet come from?)
Ronin: LAVA DOME!
[a Forcefield covers both Garuda and Arthur]
Ronin: Transport!
[Both men are teleported to the center of the ball room]
Garuda: Huh?
[Another Lava Dome is created, Ronin appears behind Garuda ready to strike]
[With the Clang of metal sounding off, Garuda cancels Ronin's attack leaving no shock between both parties]
Garuda: And what do we have here? Is that the Demon Blade Ragnarok? I thought only Celestials can wield them? Why is a mere Mortal holding such a weapon?
Ronin: I'm no mere mortal Garuda, if anything, I'm on par with you!
[Another man attacks from behind, Garuda kicks back and blocks]
Garuda: It looks like someone else wants to join the party.
[Behind him is a gas masked figure wearing a green hood, Denim Jeans and wielding a steampunk like Revolver, Arthur then comes in to stab him, then he is trapped by Garuda's Tail]
Garuda: If you all really think you can outsmart me? Then you're wrong!
[Garuda throws all of them back]
Garuda: If I'm being honest, you need to have 10000 more years worth of training if you want to reach my level of power.
[Garuda laughs until he feels the mask falling off of Hunters face]
Garuda: It seems he's fighting back, guess my spirit isn't as powerful as it used to be. Very well, best if I return to the Isles. Don't want anyone getting in my way, do I?
[Garuda grabs his staff to create a portal into the Isles, he then walks into it]
[Arthur tries to stop him but fails in doing so after the portal disappears]
Arthur: DAMMIT!
[Ronin sighs]
Ronin: It's okay Derek.
Arthur: But he has the Shadow Stamp!
Ronin: But there is nothing you could have done about it. It's best if we focus on the task at hand
[The other man reaches his hand and picks arthur up]
Arthur: Hey Otur. How have you been?
[Otur does not respond with any answer]
Arthur: Still silent as ever I see.
Ronin: Did you grab the item we need?
[Arthur grabs the Diamond Shield]
Arthur: Got it right here.
Ronin: Then all is not lost. Come on you two. We have to retrieve the Diamond. By any means necessary.
Arthur: But do we really have to do this? There are other ways we can convince her.
Ronin: You heard me. Our task is of great importance. If we leave it be, then more people will die.
[Arthur growls]
Arthur: I understand.
Ronin: Good, now let's get going!
[Ronin summons a Lava Dome and Teleports all three of them to another area]
END?
[The Owl House member reach the next floor and find themselves a water filled room]
[Appearing in front of them, however, will be their next challenge!]
Sharkface: Hello~!
[End}