8. Sir William and the Smoking Man
It was as though Mulder had never left the secluded little hut in the forest. He fell back into the rhythm of the woodland quickly. The only difference was that the hut was a bit more crowded. Sir Mulder added a little room off of the hut for the maid and made a crib for baby Will. The small family lived quite happily together.
As the baby grew, Mulder took care to raise him as a knight. Starting with the basics, William was quickly transformed from a little tyke playing with a wooden sword into a dashing adolescent with quick wit and reflexes. His skill with horses, swords, and spears were so refined, he seemed almost inhuman.
"You better be careful," Lady Scully teased, "or he'll become greater than his own father."
"We wouldn't want that now, would we?" Mulder always answered jovially, giving her a peck on the cheek.

The years whizzed by. Mulder did not know what to expect. He only knew that it would change their lives yet again.
It was on William's thirteenth birthday when Deep Throat showed himself for the last time. He had appeared at the front door right as Lady Reyes opened it to go out to do the dishes.
After numerous apologies and the gathering of the tin dishware from the floor, Deep Throat was able to speak to Sir Mulder.
"It is time," he began. "The time has come for William to topple the Dark Lord from his throne and take his place as rightful king."
"What? You never mentioned anything about Will being king. He's so young! Thirteen as of today!"
"When the Smoking Man is conquered, someone will have to rule his land and that someone will be your son, though certainly with you and Lady Scully as his advisors."
"And exactly how does this work? We've been living here for thirteen years and know nothing about what has been happening to the outside world."
"It doesn't matter. You will make your journey to the Smoking Man's castle by horseback. On your way you will gather men who support you, and believe me, there will be hundreds of thousands. It will be your job to lead those men and defeat the Smoking Man's army of black knights. Only then will you be able to have access to the Dark Lord himself where in the end, William will bring him his end."
"I must come along too," declared Lady Scully, jumping into the conversation. "I will not let them go alone."
"You will follow later," said Deep Throat. "Your medical knowledge has always been years before your time and it will be exceedingly imperative that your medicines and salves will be available after the battle."
"Oh yes," he turned back to Mulder.
From within the depths of his cloak he withdrew the sword Mulder acquired on his quest and handed it to him.
"Are you ready?"

Half an hour later William, newly knighted by Deep Throat, and Mulder departed from Lady Scully and Lady Reyes. While they rode towards Montangue, the nearest town, Mulder told his son their tale, beginning with Deep Throat's prophesy and the deaths of Mulder's parents and ending with what was to come for them in the future.
They arrived in Montangue a day early, thanks to Deep Throat, and quickly recruited a sizable army, which included Sir Leopold and Lady Kate's father, Sir McKay, and brother, Sir Charles.
Everywhere they went their numbers increased rapidly. Stopping in Baltimore, they found an army of 1,013 knights and men ready to join them, assembled by Sirs Frohike, Langly, and Byers. Many more joined when they saw Sir Mulder leading. After a short reunion with the three, Mulder continued onward to the north towards the center of the Smoking Man's dominion.
Right after Mulder and his followers left Baltimore the black knights began to attack. But even with the onslaught, The army trudged on, never ceasing in numbers, only increasing in manpower. By the time they reached the Smoking Man's castle, their numbers climbed well above 1,850,000.
But even with their numbers, the black knights were well prepared and ready for battle. Being on the Dark Lord's castle grounds, unknown and uncharted territory to Mulder's men gave the black knights a big advantage.

Deep Throat watched the scene from the highest tower of the Smoking Man's gargantuan fortress. As he observed the mad slaughtering below him, he could feel his power and energy draining. His end was long past overdue, but ever since the Dark Lord took over Quequeg, he had done everything in his power to hold on until Sir Mulder and Sir William could reach the Smoking Man and destroy him. He had to be sure that this was the end of the Smoking Man. He wouldn't be able to stand himself otherwise.
Sensing that Mulder and William were getting closer, Deep Throat turned around catching the Smoking Man off guard.
"You know it's no good to try and sneak around while I'm here."
The Smoking Man held up his chin.
"I know what you've been up to."
"It's a little to late for that," Deep Throat chuckled.
"You know, I've never understood you,' the Smoking Man said, ignoring the wizard's comment. "You had the chance to become great and powerful like me, but instead you chose to slink around and meddle in affairs that are not of your business."
"To be handed powers from such vile creatures as those?" scoffed Deep Throat. "You don't care about anyone else as long as you're taken care of. You have all the powers you want now and you're satisfied with that. You know that by the time those aliens figure out their mess, you won't be around anymore. But don't you want humanity to stand a chance against these invaders? How could you be satisfied knowing that one day, human kind will wake up and be under the direct control of beings that don't belong here?'
"It is not my problem or of my concern," answered the Smoking Man.
The faint sound of clashing of metal and shouting began penetrating the quiet.
"No, well, you have a different problem at hand now," said Deep Throat.
"Why don't you just destroy me yourself? Why drag that Mulder into this?"
"He was destined to do it."
"Either that or you don't have the courage to destroy your best friend."
Deep Throat looked sadly at the Smoking Man.
"Former," he said dejectedly.
Then the door to their chamber burst open and a stream of black knights backed their way in trying to prevent Mulder and his men from getting any closer to their lord. Deep Throat and the Smoking Man backed up as the fighting enclosed around them.
The Smoking Man, an alarmed look on his face, caught one last glimpse of Deep Throat before he disappeared from the room. Then took out his sword and began fighting off the intruders.

Mulder, worn and bloody from the nonstop battling, saw the Smoking Man stick his sword into one of his comrades. Rage filled him instantly as the memory of his family came flooding back to him. Forgetting the knight he was fighting with, Mulder lunged strait for the Smoking Man. But Mulder's sword had barely clashed with the Smoking Man's before three of the black knights jumped on him.
While Mulder was desperately fighting off the three knights, William made his way into the chamber. Though he had never battled with anyone before, William had fended off scores of the black knights, clearing the way for his father's supporters to take over the castle. Fighting his way through the room, William spotted a man who could only be the Smoking Man. He slipped his way over to him, ready to take him on.
The Dark Lord saw the boy heading towards him. Knowing that their joust was inevitable, he shortened the distance between them, determination running through his veins.
When their swords met, a space instantly cleared around them. The Smoking Man, surprised by the strength and technique the boy had, doubled his attack, hoping to catch him off guard, but William sidestepped his blows easily.
Their fight wore on and one. Neither were making any gains. Mulder, who had finally slain the black knights attacking him, realized that none of William's advances were affecting the Smoking Man in any way. He glanced down and saw the sword he was holding in his hand.
"William!" he shouted.
William took half a second to glance towards his father.
That was going to have to do for Mulder. "Catch!" he cried and flung the sword towards his son's location, hoping that it wouldn't slice him in half.
William glanced up and saw the strangely glowing sword flying towards him. The Smoking Man took this moment to lunge in and stab William.
As the sword went through him, William caught his father's sword in his hand. Instantly, the pain he felt was gone. William looked down at the Smoking Man who was gaping at his sword. The sword, which had just been in William's side, was melting. William, using his father's sword, knocked the deformed one away from his opponent.. Then without a moment of hesitation, he brought his sword down on the Smoking Man.
As the Dark Lord died, the glow died the sword died away. All the battling came to a stop. Those in the chamber with William bowed down to him. The reign of darkness and terror was over and a new era was beginning.