Hello everyone, here is the next chapter. This chapter will be dedicated so a certain author, so read further to find out.
Warning! This chapter will contain graphic and shocking content. Viewer discretion advised. You have been warned.
Hiro Mashima is the one and only owner of Fairy Tail. I don't own a thing.
Key Words
"Talking"
"Thinking"
"YELLING!"
"Magic"
"Demon Speaking"
"Demon Thinking"
Chapter 2: He did what he wanted, right?
Markus walked on the road, having killed Giro two days ago.
Since then, things have been calm for him, but he knows that things would be that peaceful, sooner or later.
In the sky, dark clouds were gathering, as another rainstorm seemed to come, as Markus looked up, sensing that the rain were to come.
As Markus walked on the road, a carriage came, carried by two horsed and with an old, bearded man with green eyes, holding the reins.
"Hello there, young man. Need a lift? There's a pretty nasty weather coming up." The old man said, as a young girl, with brown hair in a ponytail, yellow eyes and freckles. She wore a white dress with a brown, short, hooded cape, white stockings and black shoes.
"Are you sure, sir? I don't want to be a bother to you." Markus said. "Don't worry, and with weather like this coming, it would be rude to just leave you there. You might catch a cold." The old man said.
Markus was silent as he looked at the sky, the rain coming down more and more by the minute, as he then sighed.
"Well, I don't see why not." Markus said, as the old man and the young girl smiled.
"That's good to hear. My name is Carl, and this girl here is Rita, my granddaughter. What's yours?" Carl introduced and asked for Markus´s name.
"Markus." Markus said, as he then got into the carriage.
An hour had gone by, as in the carriage, Markus dried himself with a towel, as he was given a cup of coffee, given to him by Rita.
"Thank you." Markus said, as he drank his coffee, and Rita smiled as a response.
"Say, not to be rude or anything, but where are you going?" Markus asked, turning to Carl who held the reins.
"Well, Rita and I are headed to the Capital, Crocus. We hope to open a flower shop there." Carl said. "A flower shop, huh?" Markus said. "Yes! Grandpa and I hope to sell them well there. After all, Grandpa is a master at gardening." Rita said, and Markus had a small smile on his face.
"Well, I have been working on flowering and gardening for forty years, and still haven't lost my touch!" Carl said. "Of course, I have learned little Rita here some things here and here, so if you ever want to buy some flowers, feel free to buy hers." Carl said.
"But mister shouldn't have to go all the way to Crocus just to buy some flowers, Grandpa." Rita said. "Why, they are your flowers, I am sure they will be worth it." Carl said, as Markus remained silent while Rita pouted.
"But shall we make a camp here. I am sure this will be a good spot." Carl said. "That sounds great!" Rita said, while Markus was still silent.
Time went past, as night-time was now cloaked in the sky, dark with the stars and the moon.
It had stopped raining, and the carriage was currently at camping.
Markus, Carl and Rita were around a campfire. Rita had fallen asleep, as Markus were at the campfire.
"That hit the spot. Wasn't that a good meal that Rita cooked up?" Carl said, turning to the Rita, who was tucked in a blanket on the ground.
"It was pretty good." Markus said. "Don't need to be shy about." Carl said. "Rita wants to make sure to take care of me, due to me being old." Carl said, holding up his arm and showing a bicep. "I am old, but there are things I can do on my own." Carl said.
"Then again, I am not that healthy to be completely on my own. Then Rita would feel like a bother, and I don't want her to feel that. She is my granddaughter after all, and I wouldn't be able to face my daughter in the afterlife because of it." Carl said, looking down the ground.
"You don't have to talk about if you don't want to." Markus said. "You have a right to know, and with her asleep, there is no need to worry." Carl said.
"Her parents, like my parents and my grandparents, as well the parents before them, works in the farming business, making crops for the people to make their bread and living." Carl explained.
"Sadly, during a bandit raid, Rita's parents were killed, being my daughter and son-in-law, but luckily Rita managed to survive by hiding in a barrel. Luckily it blocked her view, from seeing them killed." Carl said. "Can't imagine what state she would have been if she saw that." Carl said.
"Since them, I swore to protect, raise and take care of her, even to my final moments." Carl said, seeing the large sword that rested at Markus´ side.
"Say, young man. That's a big sword you got there. Are you a feller? If so, you would make a great fortune the wood cutting business, seeing how you carry it so easily and casually." Carl said.
"Unless they wanted to buy burnt wood, I am not so sure." Markus thought.
"You seem pretty interested in sword. Were you a swordsman or something?" Markus asked.
"Oh no, I never been on a battlefield, except those where I was forced to flee in." Carl said.
"But I had a son, who was a soldier in the Royal Army." Carl explained, looking into the flames.
"I tried to convince him not to go in that business. But sadly, he didn't listen to me. He said he was tired on living in a farm, where everything you did was to take care of a farm." Carl explained.
"But things can be exciting in a barn too, as you make the wheat needed to make the bread that you feast, or the milk you need keep your calcium in check." Carl said.
"A time after he entered the scene of war, he had died. Whatever it was on the first battle or survived long enough to be part of a Great War, I don't know." Carl said.
"I felt both sadness, but also joy. I was sad I lost my child of course, but at the same time, he did something. It's the duty of a parent to raise one's children after all. When I heard he fell, the messenger told me that he had a smile on his face, showing no fear or hesitation, as he sacrificed himself for his comrades, save an important role figure like a general or an aristocrat, or plain stupid, I felt proud somehow." Carl said.
"He wanted to live and die different. And he did. Whatever glory he hoped for, or for fun, I don't know, but for now, what I can hope, is someone can learn from him, that whatever you do, being in a field of war or wheat, that you can do a change." Carl said.
"He did what he wanted, right? I bet he was happy." Markus said. "Yeah, believe so too." Carl said, as he got into the carriage. "But for now, I shall get some sleep. You gonna sleep too?" Carl asked.
"Not yet, but soon. Make sure to rest." Markus said, as Carl smiled and got in the carriage.
Markus turned to the campfire, then to his sword.
"A sword, is it a piece of steel, used for killing and dismemberment. Is used just for that, or something more?" Markus thought. Soon enough, he went to fall asleep as well.
…
(Berserk Ost Fear here)
Markus, found himself running through a corridor, with the brick walls tall enough to reach the sky, having either stars or a moon, and the floor being covered with a red liquid, blood.
Markus was completely naked, without clothing, equipment or even his sword, as he was running from his dear life. From something he didn't want to face.
As he run, the scene changes, as walls disappeared, and as then something rose from the blood… skeletons.
The Skeletons around the horrified Markus, as in the hollow eyes, all stared at Markus.
"Why didn't you save us...?"
"We were helpless..."
"We begged, but you never came..."
The voices echoed through the scene, as Markus save the Skeleton going closer towards him, as then a giant skeletal hand came from the black sky and pinned him down.
Markus was pressed by the palm of the giant's hand, struggling in vain to break free.
"I thought you could save us, but didn't... why did you let us die? Why?" The voice of the giant skeleton said, with the only difference having a long, grey, lifeless beard and eyebrows.
"I, more than any other, believed in you..." The Skeleton Giant said, its voice echoing through Markus´s head.
"But you failed us all... you should have died along with the rest of us..." The Skeleton Giant said, as it cried blood came out of its empty eye sockets, mouth and even nose socket, crying down onto Markus, covering him in blood.
Markus coughed up blood, as she saw the Skeletons around him began to cry blood as well.
"You should have died..."
"You should have died...
"You should have died..."
The sentenced echoed around him, as Markus desperately tried to free himself.
"I'M SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I DIDNT WANT YOU TO DIE!" Markus screamed and pleaded.
Markus had his eyes widened in shock, as the Skeleton Giant and the Skeletons around him disappeared. The entire scene was now pitch black, with even the blood beneath disappearing.
And then, in the middle of the darkness, another figure appeared. It took the appearance of a female, made of fire, as the flames dances around her, spread like wings, ready to engulf the area.
The female´s hair of flames dances in the air, rising like the torch, with her eyes, nose and mouth glowing white, uttering a single word.
"Markus..." The female said in a voice Markus could never forget, as then a black hand came and grabbed her breast.
Markus' eyes widened, as the owner of the hand, a figure of darkness, having a bird-like face, with red eyes and a wing-like cape, smirking as he began to grope her, making her moan. He then began to move his hands to her lower areas, making her moan louder, as a white tear came from her eye.
The shock from within Markus turned into that of a rage, a rage that could make any flame, any storm, any beast, cry in shame, as he charged towards the scene.
The scene seemed to stand still, as no matter how fast he ran, he wouldn't come any closer, and as rage had him not even notice that.
Several hands of blackness burst from the ground, grabbing him and pinned him to the ground.
Markus tried in vain to struggle, but as if his strength was drained, he grew weaker and weaker, as one hand grabbed his head, as moving into the scene that triggered him.
The bird-headed man of darkness made forceful kiss on her lips, a string of saliva between her mouth, as he continued to grope and sexually assault the woman.
"Tell me why...?" The woman of flames said, as Markus cried, his tears staining his cheeks as he could do nothing at all.
Just like back then...
Markus screamed as it echoed across the area, of rage, horror and sorrow.
(End Berserk ost here)
Markus snapped his eyes opened, as a tentacle creature with one eye appeared before his eye, as he grabbed a knife used for the dinner earlier and impaled it right in the eye!
"Take this!" Markus said, as the tentacle creature hissed in pain, before it then died and fell on the ground, in a puddle of its own green blood.
"What's going on?!" Carl said, as he and Rita came out of the carriage, and was horrified of what they saw on the ground.
"What...? What is that thing...?!" Carl said as Rita clasped her hands before her face.
The tentacle demon was small enough to be the size of an puppy, had blue skin with black dots, a single red eye and eight tentacles in total, bleeding green blood.
"Incubus. A Rank Six Demon, born from the blood of a battlefield, drenched in hatred, rage and malice from the soldiers cursed spirits." Markus said, and then looked around the scene.
"Wait, don't tell you camped here in a battlefield?!" Markus said. "How were we supposed to know that?!" Carl said. "Grandpa, look!" Rita said, pointing to the area.
Around the carriage, something rose from the ground.
"Stand back. We got company." Markus said, as figures rose from the ground and surrounded them.
They were skeletons, having long gone lost their skin, eyes, and insides, empty as they stood with pieces of rusty armor, carrying weapons like swords, axes, shields and spears, horned helmets, with their eye sockets glowing red, and even if most of them didn't have hair, some of them had hair and even beards.
"Dammit, Undead Skeletons. It must mean that there must be Ghouls close by." Markus said, turning to Carl and Rita.
"Don't leave the carriage. I will handle them. Make sure to not let any Spirits possessing you!" Markus said.
"But what will you do Mr. Markus?" Rita said, and Markus grinned as response, still facing the Skeletons.
"To do what I'm doing best in." Markus said, as the Skeletons charged at him, as he had his swords in hand, and then went to charge at them.
An Undead Skeleton slashed with its scythe, which Markus blocked with his sword, the rusty scythe shattering in impact.
Markus then swung his swords, taking down the Scythe Skeleton, along with a group of Skeletons with it, shattering the bones to pieces; something came out of the bones and skulls.
It was spirits, being dark purple in color and having red glowing eyes, horrified expressions and clawed hands, as the Spirits flied in the air, circling around as if they were blind with madness, their shrieks filling the air.
"Ghouls, they possess anybody they come in contact with, either alive or dead." Markus thought. The Ghouls flied around in the air, muttering random words.
"Give us your body..."
"Yes, your body..."
"Give it to us... it belongs to us..."
"Ghouls, Undead Spirits of those who lived violent and brutal lives, even after their death. Even if they are Rank Five, they are invulnerable to psychical damage, even Magic Weapons." Markus thought, holding out his sword before them.
"In that case, I need to heat up things a little." Markus said with a grin, as his sword was set on blue flames!
"The Ghouls came flying towards him, as Markus swung his sword and set the Ghouls ablaze, causing them to scream in pain as they were burned by the blue flames.
Another group of possessed Skeletons came running towards him, buy Markus swung his sword, striking as the impact of his large sword set the Skeletons in a burning ablaze, with the burning bones falling to the ground.
The Ghouls came of the bodies, screaming in pain as they disintegrated in the air from the blue flames.
"But even those without psychical bodies cannot withstand the flames of Hell!" Markus thought, as another Skeleton came at him, this one having a full set of armour with horned helmet, having a mask that covered the upper half of his face, completed with a spear in one hand, and a shield in the other.
Markus easily impaled the Armor Skeleton with his sword, going straight through it the chest plate, setting on blue flames, as it fell down the ground and the Ghoul came out of its body of bones, shrieking in pain as it dissolved by the flames.
Ghouls came towards Markus, trying to possess him, but he was faster he proceeded to swing his burning sword, as set the spirits ablaze.
"My God, look at him swinging that sword!" Carl said, as he and Rita looked in awe.
"Carrying that thing is one thing, but to actually being able to fighting with it, is on a whole different level." Carl said, astonished of what he was seeing right now.
A group of ten skeletons came rushing at Markus, their weapons raised in the air, as Markus smashed them to pieces.
"Incredible... never in my life have I seen someone fight like that..." Carl said in awe.
More and more skeletons came at Markus, as a Skeleton tried to stab him from behind, as Markus has his fist coated in blue flames, punching it right in the maws.
"Damn, there is no end to them." Markus said, as another horde of Undead Skeleton came running towards him.
"Then, how about this?" Markus said, as took a deep breath and then unleashed a beam of blue fire.
"Fire Devil´s Rage!" Markus said, as the blast struck the large group of Skeletons. It soon became a burning pile of skeletons, creating a bonfire of blue flames, scaring off the Undead Skeletons.
"I never saw someone use Magic like that, Rita." Carl said, as he got no response from his granddaughter, who had her eyes shadowed.
"Rita...?" Carl said, before his eyes snapped open in shock, as he then was stabbed in the chest, by none other than Rita!
"Rita...? What are you...?" Carl said in shock, as Rita´s eyes glowed red as she had a wicked grin on her face.
Markus looked at the blue bonfire before him.
"That should hold them off for a while." Markus said as he then turned to the carriage. "It's alright now, the Undead Skeletons should be gone soon, then we can focus on..." Markus said, but then someone came out of the carriage, making him silent in shock.
Blood came dripping on the ground, from the severed head of Carl, who was hold by Rita, covered in blood.
Markus was in silence, as Rita was outside the carriage, as she held the severed head of her grandfather Carl in one hand, while a knife in her other hand. Her dress was covered in blood, her eyes were red and a had a wicked grin on her face. She then spoke, but in a rusty and twisted tone.
"What a good and easy host this girl is... children are always so easy to control." The possessed Rita said, as she jumped off the carriage and dropped the head of Carl.
Markus was still silent, his eyes shadowed more Undead Skeletons came around him.
"They also make the best meat shields. Because a warrior like you must have a code of honor. Not attacking children, even when possessed!" The possessed Rita said, as more Undead Skeletons came to circle around him.
But before they could engulf him, Markus swung his sword, as every Undead Skeleton were smashed to pieces by his sword.
However, the possessed Rita took the chance to jump towards him, with a knife in her hands, ready to stab Markus!
"I got you now, Boy!" The possessed Rita said. Before she could stab him, Markus grabbed her by the throat, and pinned her down to the ground.
More Undead Skeletons came at him, but he swung his sword, taking them all out in one swing.
"What... what are you...?" The possessed Rita said, before then black marks appeared on Markus hand, spreading on the face of Rita in possession, before she screamed in pain.
"Fire Devil´s Exorcism Touch!" Markus said, as Rita screamed louder than before, as the Ghoul possessed her came out, screaming in pain. Markus wasted no time impaling it, disintegrating the Ghoul into nothingness.
"Damn you, human..." The Ghoul said while disintegrating.
Silence was around the area, as even the Undead Skeletons stopped moving. Markus got up, his eyes shadowed, as Rita, now free from her possession, was unconscious.
Markus turned to the skeletons, his stare onto them, as if they somehow emitted even more emptiness in their bones.
For a minute, it almost felt like hours, as many things were in Markus right now, with the strongest, being rage.
His aura emitted a strong radiance, triggering something in the Undead Skeletons, back when they were alive. Fear. Fear of being killed, even if they were already dead, as this man had managed to trigger that.
One of the Undead Skeletons took a step back, which Markus immediately took notice.
"If you think you can escape..." Markus said, raising his sword and pointed it at them.
"...you should have thought of that before entering this fight." Markus said, as he then rushed towards the Army of Undead Skeleton, roaring like all that ever was in Markus was rage.
One by one, the Skeletons were taking down by his blade, covered in blue flames, burning the Skeletons, and setting the Ghouls on fire, disintegrating them to nothing.
It felt time went still, as every emotion have disappeared, except for rage.
The frustration of what he had was now needed to be taken out, and whoever was close in the area, are lucky not to be the enemy of Markus.
As the forest was covered with burning skeletons and screaming spirits, caused by the rage of the Red Swordsman.
The sun soon rose from the ground, giving light to the forest, as its animals rose from their slumber, being the birds, mammals and even insects.
In one area, stood Markus, surrounded by pieces burnt bones, skulls, armors and weapons, as the Ghouls were disintegrated by the Sunlight, forcing them to retreat underground.
Markus landed on his knees, as he saw the unconscious Rita, and then the severed head of Carl, his words echoing in his mind.
"Of course, I have learned little Rita here some things here and here, so if you ever want to buy some flowers, feel free to buy hers."
Markus dropped his knees down on the ground, dropping the head gently down the ground. The feeling of failure had filled him, as it was heavier than anything right now.
Just like back then.
"How predictable. You failed to save yet again." A voice said, as a figure, wearing a bird-like armor, red glowing eyes appeared before him.
Markus ignored him.
"You think that things have changed, but nothing has changed at all. You thought you could protect anyone, now that you moved on your journey?"
"Shut up..." Markus said, in a low, cold tone.
"You are pathetic. No matter what you do, you will only delay the inevitable. It will soon happen again, even worse than before..."
"Shut up...!" Markus said, louder than before, as his fist began to shake.
"You haven't changed at all... everyone will just die again..." And with that, Markes took out his big sword, raising it in the air, and then brought it down, cutting it The Man in the Bird Armor vertically in half, the body halves falling to the ground.
"SHUT UP!" Markus screamed, as the body parts landed on the ground, disintegrating touching the ground.
"You think I care if I changed or not?!" Markus screamed, as birds were flying the sky from the tree.
"Changed or not, I am me, and still me! I am living my life, and not anyone else! I already know what to do, and to prove it, I shall move forward." Markus said, walking towards the unconscious Rita.
Later...
Rita, in a bed, slowly opened her eyes, as she then got up and looked around, seeing she was in a large room filled with beds.
She then saw Markus sitting next to her.
"Mr. Markus...?" Rita said, slowly regaining consciousness. "I see you are finally awake." Markus said in a low tone.
"Where are we? What is this place? Where´s Grandpa?" Rita said confused. Markus took a deep a breath, knowing what he had to do right now.
"We are currently in Sunflower Town. In its orphanage, Dancing Sun." Markus explained.
"But... why I am in an orphanage?" Rita asked confusedly. "Where is grandpa?" Rita asked, and Markus took a deep breath. "I'm sorry... when were attacked, by the Undead Skeletons. The knocked you out and took you hostage..." Markus said, grabbing her shoulders.
"And I couldn't... protect Carl, your grandpa... I'm sorry. He was killed by the Undead Skeletons..." Markus lied in regret, as Rita´s eyes widened as a response.
Markus hugged her. "I'm sorry that this has happened." Markus said in regret, as Rita began to cry. "No... It can't be..." Rita said, tears beginning to come from her eyes, as the last family member she had were now gone, as she began to cry her out, her scream echoing the hall.
An hour later, Rita was taken care by the nurses, with one of the nurses, wearing a blue dress, black heels, a white apron, a white hat, as her eyes were blue and her hair light brown, in a bun.
"What's her condition?" Markus asked. "She is still in shock, so she will be in quite a state before she can be able to act like normal." The nurse explained.
"I see." Markus said. "We shall make sure to handle the rest. Thank you for bringing her here. We will make sure she is adapted to a caring and wonderful family in no time." The nurse said, as Markus turned around, leaving to go to his next destination, before leaving Sunflower Town.
"That's good to hear. I shall make my leave." Markus said, not turning around and continued to walk. "Tell her I am hoping for her best. I´ll leave the rest to you." Markus said.
Later on, Markus stood before a tombstone, of Carl.
Markus had Sunflower Town bury Carl in their cemetery, after he had taken Rita to their orphanage.
"It's must be frustrating to change your plan completely, huh?" Markus thought.
"Don't worry, I have taken Rita to an orphanage. She must be taken things hard. Don't worry; I am hoping that she will be adopted soon. As well make some friends on the orphanage." Markus thought.
"I really didn't want things to end like this." Markus thought, gripping his fist tightly.
"Carl, don't worry. For I hope... no, I know that Rita will be fine. Trust me." Markus thought, as he went to leave the cemetery.
Markus walked down the streets of the town, on his way to leave the town. A voice was heard loudly, someone very familiar.
"WAIT, MR. MARKUS!" Rita shouted, as she panted, having running from the orphanage to seek after Markus.
One of the caretakers of the orphanage came running to Rita.
"Rita! You can't just run off like that! What if you got lost!" The Caretaker said, as she then noticed Markus.
Markus stood still, but didn't turn to her, as Rita spoke again.
"It wasn't your fault. It's not your fault that Grandpa died. There was no way you could have known that he was gonna die." Rita said.
"I feel no ill for you. You did what you could, and I know you aren't the kind of man." Rita said.
"So, let's hope we can meet again!" Rita said, and with that, Markus began to walk again, without turning around, not saying anything.
As on his face, still turned away, was a frown of shame.
"Let's hope not to meet again. Because if you have known the truth, it would only make things worse." Markus thought, as he continued to walk, knowing he couldn't be groaning forever, but had a to move on, whatever obstacle came before him.
As we wish to be in a world of Magic, to escape our cruel reality that would be as worse, if not worse, than reality.
And that's it for this chapter! I told you this was gonna contain some shocking material. Like the previous one, this was based on a chapter of Berserk, but with many differences of course for obvious reasons.
But yeah, as you saw in this chapter, I made a tribute to the series once again, with Markus even saying the line you all know about.
As of Markus´ nightmare, I was inspired by a certain Berserk meme involving Skeletons, even though that was meant to be dark and serious.
In case for the Woman of Flames, and the Corpses, you will learn further in the future. For the guy wearing the Bird Armor, it won't appear often, barely at all, which will be representing a figure of Markus´ past.
As for Markus exorcising the girl, its like the black marks Gray used on Lucy in canon when she tried to fix the END book, or when Gray defended himself against Mard Geer´s ultimate spell, Memento Mori.
Speaking of Fairy Tail, you are probably wondering since the first chapter of when they are gonna appear. Don't worry, they will appear, but not until much, much later, and will play a large role in this story.
So yeah, this chapter may be shorter than the previous ones. I will hope to make the next chapter longer, which I look forward to.
Until then, see you all later.
