Like Father, Like Daughter
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Vs the Forces of Evil or any of its elements.
Special Thanks to my beta Ideagenerator
Chapter 08: Marco Diaz vs The Multiverse
After the fight, they returned to the room to rest. Marco's room was dark and quiet, he felt tired and tried to take a nap. Though he found it a little hard to rest with all the injuries he took so he got some help.
"You're an idiot," Hekapoo told him.
They both sat on the floor.
Hekapoo sat behind Marco who was now just in a pair of shorts.
Hekapoo's hands were coated in her blue flames slowly roaming over his body. "I'm not a healer, you should really go to the sisters to get healed up. All this does is help your muscles, from bruising and help with some of the smaller wounds."
"I don't have any broken bones or anything. This isn't serious."
"That's not the point, why do you have to be so pig-headed? You can just get healed."
"I don't want to be healed, I want to test how far I can go on my own. If I get healed it would be like cheating myself, I just want to see how far I can go with this body. I'll turn in the towel before I let myself get too hurt, I promise but I just want to see how far I can go. This is just like having a really good heating pad."
Hekapoo sighed letting her flames die out, "Fine," she relented and then spun Marco to look her straight in the eye. She took a moment as she re-lit her hands and focused on the front half of his body, "Promise me that you won't let yourself get seriously hurt, " her eyes dug deeply into his, "I don't want to see that, I don't want to see our daughter's expression seeing her dad beaten to pulp."
Marco smiled, "You don't have to worry, H-poo."
"Don't call me that!"
"I'm not going to do anything too dangerous."
"Pfft, like it's much of a choice," Hekapoo let out, "one of the fighters is a Vampire Lady, a vampire from the Lands of Shadow and Lights, you couldn't beat one without my help."
"Yeah…"Marco scratched his cheek, "I remember that wedding."
Hekapoo flinched as she remembered it too. "Right, the Sacred Moon Wedding that those vampires planned."
"I remembered the dance we had too."
Hekapoo's flame flickered in the dark, "Right, yeah, I'm still not sure the music wasn't magical and made everyone dance in time with it."
"I remember holding you as we danced, you were light on your feet."
"You're one to talk, " Hekapoo smirked, "you enjoyed that dance."
"Why wouldn't I have enjoyed it? You looked beautiful and I never really had a lot of chances to dance with a beautiful woman."
"Well, I have to admit it was a fun night. I don't remember the last time I had a chance to dance like that." Hekapoo paused, "I've done as much as I could. You need to rest and get something to eat."
She studied his chest, noting the bruises vanishing, he'd gotten soft when he became a teenager again but it was changing. He'd build up some muscle and his chest had gotten more tone.
The flames from her hands began dying down.
The pair found themselves looking at each other, looking at into each other's eyes and they suddenly realized how close their faces were.
Marco's face felt warm, he knew it wasn't from the Hekapoo's head. He stared wide-eyed, he couldn't help but think he beautiful she looked lit by her single flame.
Maybe it was all the excitement of the day, maybe it was them recalling that night and dance, or maybe it was their close proximity but they found themselves leaning close to one another.
How long since the last time they kissed?
They leaned on their lips about to touch, neither really thinking of their actions. Both just missing an experience that they felt they hadn't had in lifetimes.
"Hey, mom! Done treating dad?" Seraph yelled slamming the door open.
Her parents both quickly jumped to their feet.
"Ah, what's going on?" Star noted Marco solely in his shorts.
Marco tried to cover himself, "I'm going to take a shower, a nice long cool shower." Marco quickly made his way to the bathroom.
Hekapoo fanned herself, "Feels warm, anyone else feels warm? I'm going to open a window."
0000
The tournament was over for the day, the next day would start early and the contestants would fight each other one by one until a winner was declared. But for the night there would be a festival to celebrate the start.
Hekapoo excused herself to take care off something and the others headed out.
The contestants that made it pass round one were treated to a feast.
A literal feast, they and their guests could eat and drink as much as they wanted. Some of the best chefs from all the universe were brought to the tournament to cook for everyone. They could just about make anything anyone wanted.
The wait staff was busy dragging out in all the food, taking orders and everything.
Every contestant that made it this far was given a table for them and their guests.
The tables came with large books for menus, just to show what the chefs could make with what they had.
Marco and Seraph were eager to find something from Hekapoo's dimension.
Marco was quick to pick his meal, "It's been so long since I gotten to eat finbalscurr and prenpar meat. Chives and chicken are just a poor substitute."
"I know," Seraph quickly picked her meal, "pork sandwiches are good but not as good as drap wrap, you know?"
Star had no idea what they were talking about, she'd never heard of those meats and she'd traveled a fair bit with her parents.
Sensei's reaction was a bit different, "So the meat's good? I'll have what they're having."
Star shrugged as she got the chefs to make a meal from Mewni. Since it seemed busy Marco took the lead and ordered something for Hekapoo figuring it would be ready when she got there.
0000
Wukong was walking to his room to take a rest, several guests had made complaints directly to him.
He quickly opened the door to his room and closed it behind him.
"Lord, we need to talk."
Wukong found Hekapoo waiting for him.
"Lady Hekapoo how did you get into my quarters?"
"I can pretty much get anywhere, I have a question for you: Why did you let a vampire from the Lands of Shadow and Light join the fight?"
Wukong flinched at the words, many people had come to complain about that.
He tried to brace himself, "Ah, well, you know the rules, we don't discriminate any contestant by species or from where they're from. This tournament is meant to unite people not divide them."
Hekapoo relented the point, "Okay then, what are you doing to make sure everyone is safe?"
"The rules are that no contestant is allowed to harm anyone outside the fights, doing so gets them kicked out."
"You know what I meant."
"She assured us that she will not feed on anyone while she's in this dimension. My people have checked and vampires of her sort can go nearly centuries without feeding on anyone. During the fight, she touched some of the contestants but they were unharmed, just a little drained of their stamina and in the need of rest. She has broken no rules and I will not prohibit her for nothing."
Hekapoo gazed at him, her eyes intense and unblinking, the young lord flinched at took a step back, "And you believe her?" Hekapoo's voice was cool and collected, Wukong had expected her to yell.
His lantern glowed briefly as if reacting to his emotions, the light a small comfort for him. He gripped it tighter, reminding himself what it meant. He was the Lord, he needed to be strong.
His hand's trembled more than he wished they did, he gulped and moved forwards, "Yes. My father always made this a welcoming event. I'm not going to send her away for nothing."
At least he was staying true to what he believed was right. That is what his father taught him to be, he never mentions how hard it could be or how scary it could be but he would try.
"Good," Hekapoo told him. "Stand for something, I'm sure your dad would have been proud."
"You are not upset with me?" Wukong looked up confused, he'd heard about Hekapoo's fury and half expected her to do something rash.
Hekapoo gave him a pat on the head, "Nope, I'd be more upset if you folded. You're in charge now, you have to know when to stand up. If you're not gonna stand up for what you think is right then what are you going to stand up for."
Wukong stared confused at her, was that just some test in character. He was sure if he lived forever he wouldn't be able to understand her.
"Now excuse me, I have dinner and my daughter is waiting. Let's get to work." Hekapoo dusted herself off.
"Okay." Wukong took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
He followed her into a deeper chamber in the castle. It was the heart of the castle, the kingdom and the dimension itself. There was a strange warmth in this place, an energy to itself.
He remembered how many times his father led him here, how many stories he told him, about their history and about the glory his family had achieved. Compared to all that he felt so small. What he wouldn't give to be able to so much speak to his father, to ask for advice or just hug him once more.
As much as he wanted to give up, he remembered his father's words, that as rulers of the land lived for their peoples. They had to take care of them. It was their duty and their most sacred one at that.
Wukong looked around at the massive chamber, the bricks that covered the walls each decorated with the history of the family and the kingdom. His family found this place once they learned the power that the staff now had. They swore to protect this place for should this place fall or be twisted the whole dimension would suffer.
"Hold out your staff," Hekapoo instructed, his hands reached out to the center of the chamber.
Hekapoo began the ritual telling him what to do to connect to this location.
Wukong did as he was instructed, he followed her instructions and felt a twinge of something beyond his ability to understand. For a brief instant, he felt the lives of everyone in the dimension and it threatens to overwhelm him.
"Don't let it!" Hekapoo told him, "Don't let it overtake you, let it wash over you. This has no will or desire, use your staff to move through to the core."
He braced himself as the staff began to glow, his mind reaching out to something right before him and miles away.
He took a breath feeling something, almost like an erratic heartbeat.
"Steady it, steady yourself, feel the pathways made and all the wounds. Command it to repair and heal."
The staff glowed brightly as Wukong let her commands lead him.
Slowly he felt his heart move in time with the force that lay there.
0000
At the table, they just talked waiting for the food to arrive.
The one thing about the fighters was that if they didn't hold a grudge they could be really fun with each other. They all fought in a contest and held no qualms against each other. Now many were talking to each other, drinking, and sharing stories.
Marco noticed that some figures were not present, Noire and Kaagh being prime examples.
Marco noticed that masked man drinking and eating with some of the other fighters.
"Dad, you were so cool today!" Seraph smiled proudly at her dad.
"Yeah," Sensei told him, "you started off a bit rough but you got into the groove near the end with the sand guy, that potato dude, and the vampire girl."
Even sensei seemed tense at the mention of the vampire, she was super strong and took a lot of notice and there were certainly a lot of people trying to figure out how to beat her.
"So, yeah, any idea how to win against her?" Star brought up the question.
"Not really," Marco admitted. "I'll just have to figure it out as we get into it."
"It won't be that easy though." That triceratops stood behind Marco. "The name is Maximus, your name is Marco, correct?"
"Yeah," Marco was a bit nervous about the large reptile.
"Do you mind if I sit down?"
"Sure," Marco didn't seem the harm if he was being polite about it.
Maximus pulled up a chair and sat down across them.
"Something that caught my attention was the sword you had. I've never actually seen something like that. Any other sword would have shattered at that force."
"Well, it's a pretty unique weapon made just for me," Marco said proudly, he pulled out his scissors changing them into his sword. That got a few stares from people, Marco assumed it was because he suddenly had a sword out so he quickly changed them back. "Sorry,"
"Are those dimensional scissors?" The wolfman walked over to him.
Marco stared at the familiar, "Hey it's you."
He smirked, "The name is Roman." He gave Marco a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Good to see you made it past the first round."
"Thanks," Marco smiled, "and yeah, they are dimensional scissors."
Some of the nearby contestants made their way over and turned their attention to him.
"Where did you get them?" Maximus asked him.
"Well, I earned them from Hekapoo."
Many of them looked at him with disbelief and other actually chuckled at that.
Marco looked on confused by their reaction.
Maximus was the first to reply to this, "No, really where did you get that. It can't be real dimensional scissors."
"They are real dimensional scissors I got them from Hekapoo." Marco held them out, "That's why they withstood the hit, Hekapoo makes them from super strong metals."
Roman smirked, "They're nice, but what are they really? A really good knockoff?"
"We mean you no offense." Maximus explained, "It's just that no one earns them from Hekapoo anymore. There hasn't been someone to pass one of her tests in a millennium. Most of the ones you see now of days are knocks sold by Quest Buy, usually made from the broken bit of scissors she has made, or something passed down through the ages from those had earned them, some are gifts to people in power or have done great deeds."
Roman tried to explain it better. "The founder of the Sect of the Bleeding Hearts was given a pair as to continue their good work with greater ease and a wider reach. Many royals have been given scissors as a gift to help better reach other diplomats to broker deals and make peace easier. They even got extra pairs for their servants to carry out tasks for them that take them to other dimensions."
Seraph smirked as she held out her hand a flame flickering in it. Marco held his scissors over the flame and his name lit up.
Many people there paused as they reevaluated the situation.
"I am proud to say that I am the first Human to pass one of Hekapoo's trials." Marco held out the scissors.
Maximus almost smiled in awe and chuckled unsure of what to say, "You completed her trial?"
"Which trial?" Roman asked his tone getting serious.
"What she has more than one?" Star questioned Marco.
"Yeah," Marco explained to her. "Hekapoo has a lot of quests to prove your worth. Sometimes to get a pair you have to pay a high price, complete an epic journey, complete some sort of amazing task, sometimes she even leaves them as prizes for dungeons but yeah most are inherited. She uses different trials for different people. A warrior that has proven his worth over years of battle and good deeds would likely give an easier trial. Me…even Hekapoo admitted to giving me her hardest trial since she thought I was a thief who was lying to her."
"You don't mean…" One of the warriors barely whispered.
"She had me chase her across her dimension, dealing with hundreds of clones before I reached the real her."
"That could take lifetimes."
"He looks so young."
"That's impossible,"
"He has to be lying."
"I did hear of a champion was brought by Hekapoo I do think his name was Marco."
Everyone began to talk amongst themselves.
Maximus spoke, "Those who've defeated her trials often go down as legends. They're considering the most powerful and persistent warriors of the multiverse."
Marco didn't know what to say about that.
Seraph chuckled to herself hearing everyone talk about her dad like that. Even then people were having trouble believing a human could do such a feat. Many refused to believe it was even possible.
"Hey, yeah, excuse me," Someone poked one of the warriors. "Trying to get through. Move or be moved."
They moved over and then almost stumbled over their feet seeing who it was.
The warriors moved away realizing it was Hekapoo. Even Maximus got off from his chair which Hekapoo quickly took.
"I took the liberty of ordering for you," Marco told her casually. "I got you a manferb steak, I asked them to put some of those bacon bits you like."
Hekapoo's eye lit up, "Yum."
Many warriors took this as their cue to leave.
Maximus said simply, "I'll leave you to your meal. I do hope to face you in competition."
Marco waved him goodbye.
Roman simply said, "Enjoy your meal, you will be an interesting challenge."
"So what have you guys been up to?" Hekapoo asked.
"Oh, dad has been intimidating the competition." Seraph smiled gleefully.
"That's a good," Hekapoo matched her smirk. "You are the champion of Hekapoo." She turned to Marco, "Make sure people know that, make sure they respect that fact and make sure they think twice before messing with you. You passed my trials Marco and that means something."
"So I'm getting," Marco told her.
Star and Sensei both looked at Marco understanding what significance his passing the trail held. Sensei felt pride in the young man he helps train, he knew that his training only helps so much but was glad to do anything to help him.
Star thought about it for a moment, it was good to see people see her bestie as amazing as she saw him. Marco often didn't think he was amazing but maybe now he'd start to see it too.
Some of the wait staff brought over their food and they started to eat.
0000
A tall beautiful woman, Lu Shanu, was walking back to the barracks, she was one of the contestants. She was from a clan of demons that loved battle and fought with esteem and honor. She wore silvery armor over simple robes. Her skin was a bright red and she had bull-like horns. She didn't need to eat much, her species only ate once a month.
She'd decided to shop at one of the stalls to get something for her weapons. After the events of the day she decided to try and sharpen it a bit, she'd need everything she had should she face that vampire. Lu Shanu even thought about going to get healed with the sisters but decided against it. Her species healed quickly with a night's rest he should be fine by morning. She was rather confident that she could go far in this tournament.
She walked the empty streets, it was getting late and the shops and stalls closed up knowing that all the guest would be down by the river where the festival would be held.
As she walked a man in brown robes passed her, a sense of danger overwhelmed her and she pulled out a pair of iron fans just barely blocking the dagger. In the instant after he passed her the robed figured pulled it out and attacked, only experience and fast reflexes saved her.
Any inexperienced person would not have reacted in time, a second hesitation would have let her get hit.
"What are you doing?" Lu Shanu growled. "Contestants are prohibited from fighting one another outside the tournament." She studied the man, "You're not a contestant."
Lu Shanu could tell the person before her was a skilled fighter but there was something off. The way they held themselves seemed off, there was no real fight behind it. They weren't fighting for himself or any interest but just going through the motions.
The stranger fought as naturally as it was to breathe but the intention behind their moments wasn't natural. They attacked her so he didn't intend to give them another shot. She'd take them down, spare their life, and turn them in and let the authorities deal with him. She charged at them quickly slashing away with the fans razor edge.
As she pulled back Lu Shanu snarled, "You are quick."
With such little time, there wasn't enough time to move away but they moved just enough between slashes to avoid getting hit.
Whoever they were, they clearly didn't want their identity discovered. They kept their hood on and make sure they were covered. They wore a hood hiding their features but a faint green glow shone from within.
Lu Shanu readied her fans to strike again, the attacker waved their arms in a circle and energy swirled around them as they did.
It took her by surprise and a ball of energy formed and struck her. Lu Shanu was launched backward and into a wall. Before she could get up she found her attacker above her plunging his dagger into her.
Desperate Lu Shanu tried to pull it out his attacker held it in. The wind picked up around them and it felt like the air was holding her down.
"Don't fight it, it soon will be over."
A bolt of green lightning coursed from the dagger into the fan user.
Lu Shanu gasped as the blackness overtook him.
The attacker pulled out the dagger and walked away leaving her there. They did what they came to do. They knew full well that others were doing the same thing all around the village and the step of the plan would come to pass.
0000
Star woke up early in her room, she got up with a sour stomach.
"No one should have all you can eat before bed."
Marco insisted she try a drap wrap, it was tasty but she had too much and it was really spicy. As she walked down the halls she heard Sensei snore from his room. Star was surprised he was still alive, she was sure one dish he picked out was poisonous. They actually thought he might have died at one point but he just ate himself into a food coma.
She peeked into one of the rooms, Hekapoo and Seraph shared the room. Seraph slept soundly cuddling next to her mother, Hekapoo seemed delighted holding her daughter. She made sure to close the door so not to wake them too soon. They got to spend so little time together and Star didn't have the heart to do anything that might ruin any moment they got.
She heard something from the last room and opened the door to find Marco doing shirtless push-ups.
"90, 91, 92-"
"Ah, Marco is that a good idea? You spent all day yesterday fighting and now you're going to that again."
Marco paused, "Don't worry Star I'm not doing a full work out, just something easy to warm up."
Star stepped over him and got into his bed looking up at the ceiling.
"Marco?" Star began, "We're still besties, right?"
"Yeah, of course." Marco stopped his push-ups.
"We can talk about anything, right?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"
Marco got up grabbing a towel to wipe his sweat. "Go ahead,"
Star tried not to look at his chest which had gotten very toned.
"Uh, I was wondering something… what's going on with you and Hekapoo? Are you an item or something?" Star looked away her cheeks blushing a little as she spoke. "I mean, have you two done anything since you got back from her dimension or something?"
Marco reached over and put on a shirt.
"Did my parents ask you to ask me? Because I told them-"
"No, no, no! I'm just … curious."
"Oh," Marco sighed, "No, we're not anything and we haven't done anything since…. since, well, the night before you showed up… It was the night before when we made Seraph."
Star blinked at him, "So if I had shown up just a little earlier like even seconds… your daughter might not have been born?"
Star stared at the implications of the statement, the thought itself gave her a series conflicted feelings.
She would rather have Seraph alive but she couldn't help and think that things would really be easier and maybe better if Star found the portal just a few seconds earlier. She hated having that thought.
"So, you are Hekapoo aren't anything?"
"We're parents," Marco gave her an odd expression.
"I mean-"
"No, I know what you mean. We're not a couple, everything we had was casual." Marco told her, over the last few weeks of explaining it over and over again he'd come to the same conclusion. "Well, we're still friends and I guess I'm her champion… whatever that means."
"It's a fancy title, like a knight or a representative of the land." Star explained, "Calling you out as her champion means that she thinks a lot about you. Enough to have you basically represent her and her dimension."
"Oh… that was a lot more than I thought it meant."
Star looked at Marco and sometimes she felt like he was moving away from her and soon would beyond her reach forever.
"I guess I should get breakfast, today is gonna be busy." Marco paused, "You want to come with me to get breakfast for everyone?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, it feels like we haven't gotten to spend a lot of time together lately, this might not be much but we can talk for a bit."
Star smiled, "Okay, let's get some food."
0000
Wukong was not having a good morning, several fighters were found all over the village hurt. They were all rushed to the healers.
Luckily for him, none of them had described their attackers as anyone who even resembled any of the contestants. The only guess they had was that the attackers were hired by gamblers to better their odds at winning.
They were talking with all those attacked that morning.
Lord Wukong was talking to all those hurt himself, Lu Shanu told him about the attacker.
Lu Shanu seemed to be the only fighter to get a good look at her attacker. Most of the other fighters were attacked and taken by surprise and taken down quickly or didn't get a good look. Most only describing them as wearing hooded cloaks.
That wasn't much to go on, plenty of people wore cloaks especially travelers from other dimensions.
"My deepest apologies for what has happened." Wukong bowed to Lu Shanu, "I have my guards double their patrols around the city. The healers say you are fully recovered and are still fully eligible for the tournament. I fully invite you to continue on."
"I will do that," Nodded Lu Shanu, "I think I just need a moment to rest."
"I will leave you to your rest," Wukong told her, bowing once more before leaving.
As he left the recovery room Lu Shanu noticed a man in a hooded cloak waiting for him, the man in the cloak his advisor Buta. The cloak looked awfully similar to the one that her attacker had.
Lu Shanu had her suspicions, there had been rumors of descent in the Lord's court, talk about people seeing him weak and worthy of his title. Could there be people that wanted to make him seem incompetent?
His father had been a strong man, one of confidence, one whose voice demanded respect and silence and a warrior in his own way. His son was much different, Wukong was a polite, a bit timid, always apologizing for his mistake and trying to appease everyone around him.
This was a big event if something really went wrong it could lead to his ruin. Lu Shanu had no evidence that his advisor had anything to do with this but Lu Shanu felt something about the advisor. Something him felt similar, something like he sensed from the attacker.
0000
Star and Marco walked down to the village and picked up some food from the vendors before returning back to their barracks.
Star had enjoyed it, it was just them talking and making jokes, and almost getting eaten by a fruit. It was like how things were before.
Star marveled at how good Marco was good at haggling with the vendors, just judging by how much food they had gotten paying so little. "Wow, didn't know you were so good at finding a bargain."
"Oh, it's nothing." Marco waved her off. "I've learned how to stretch your money. Sometimes I didn't have a lot of money for a long time and foraging can be hard in some places. Most people for events like this raise their price so you can talk them down to lowering the price if you know how to talk to them."
Star thought for a moment, "You had to work while you were on that trial?"
"Yeah, mostly doing jobs for people. Going on quests for people, fighting for them, going on some adventures for them most of the time it was pretty fun."
"You had fun on those adventures?"
"Yeah, they were hard sometimes but it was great. I had to explore mountains searching, run through the monster-infested jungle looking for a treasure or fight some sort of monster for days in a dry desert."
"Okay, that does sound cool must have been nice to camp out with people?"
"I guess, but most of the time I was by myself."
"Sounds a bit lonely."
"Not really, it was fun to explore and being by myself so much. I got to really find out what I could do and my limits, and just got to find out who I was."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I actually miss that sometimes. Sometimes I kinda just want to go out into the multiverse on my own and explore. Sometimes I just miss going on adventures every day."
Star stared at her friend, she had the sickly feeling that one day he would leave on one of those adventures and maybe not want to come back.
"We probably have enough food, we should head back." It was all that Star could think to say.
0000
The tournament had started, the contestants were all divided and sorted at random.
The first two matched together were Noire and a woman known as Dia.
Hekapoo, Seraph, and Star sat in the box seats.
Star was curious and asked Hekapoo, "Do you think she can be beaten? The vampire lady, I mean."
"Yeah, she does seem pretty strong." Seraph was nervous thinking about her father fighting her father.
"Maybe," Hekapoo admitted, "these rounds aren't about beating your opponent. If Marco can last for five minutes against her until the round ends then the judges will decide the winner. If they think he fought better than her then he could win like that. But straight up beat her…. I guess its possible but it will be hard." Hekapoo scratched her head, "It's hard to gauge Marco's potential. He's not the strongest or fastest but he's crafty. He thinks on his feet, and he's good at finding a way to get what he wants and when pushed into the corner he can pull out a win sometimes. The harder the challenge the more Marco rises to meet it."
0000
The vampire Noire stood on the platform, her black gown flowing a little because of the light breeze. Standing before her was a young woman wearing an orange leotard and her brown hair done in pigtails.
The announcer floated at the side of the platform, he was a short fellow wearing brown tunic and wearing a pair of large goggles that made his green eyes look huge. He held a small bullhorn and his voice rang out through the whole stadium.
"It's a pleasure to be here with you all today." His voice was bubbly, "I'm your announcer Chaucer and let's get the fight underway."
"As we enter the second round of tournament we begin the one on one matches. The forty finalist will fight each other throughout the day until the number was smaller. Then we will get into the third round, let's get to that when we get to it. For now, the contestants will fight, this first matchup features two lovely ladies."
Chaucer waved over to Noire, "First off, the Vampire Lady from the Lands of Light and Shadow the Vampire Knight Noire."
There were some claps from the audience some polite, some genuine, some scared of how she might react otherwise. Noire herself didn't seem to take in anything they did to heart, she looked stoically at her opened.
"On the other side, we have the hero from Matrona, Dia Fey. But enough of that now, Ladies, Gentlemen, and others let the match begin."
The Referees floated over the platform and gave the signal to begin.
Dia cracked her knuckles, "Aren't you going to pull out your sword?"
Noire simply replied, "I doubt I'll need to draw it."
Dia smirked, "I guess I'll just have to make you draw it."
"You are free to try but you might regret your attempt."
Dia shrugged, "I guess I'll just stop holding back."
Dia started to glow and soon her form changed and grew, after a moment she stood above Noire as a giant forty meters tall.
0000
"Oh, she's a giant," Hekapoo said out loud. "I guess for the melee fight it wouldn't have been smart, too hard just to stay in the ring and not to step on anyone."
"How did she do that? I thought you can't use magic in the fights?" Seraph questioned.
"It's a natural ability some giants have," Hekapoo told her. "When giants have kids with… smaller species sometimes their kids get a shifter ability. It lets them transform from their size to their giant size."
"Okay, so a giant versus a powerful vampire." Star glanced at the battlefield before them. "This is gonna be good."
The whole stadium shook and so did the surrounding area, it was as if several Earthquakes had struck one right after another. In the box seats, the girls had to hold onto their seat not to shake off.
Dia started the fight quickly by striking the ground with a series of punches, each punch landing straight on the vampire. The platform started to crack with the first blow, soon a large crater had formed.
Then all of a sudden the punches stopped.
The giant's arm trembled and soon the audience saw why. A lot of dust had gotten picked up by the attacks but as it cleared they saw the vampire rise from the crater holding back the punch with one hand. Her other hand fell to the side limply, her dress was a mess and blood escaped from her mouth as her jaw shoved itself back in place.
"I suppose I should have expected that from a giant." Noire almost smiled.
Dia grit her teeth and pressed forwards, the ground beneath Noire's feet cracked. Noire huffed and grunted before pushing forwards and quickly pulled back and punched.
Dia stumbled backward before punching again only for her punch to meet the vampire's punch.
As they collided the force was enough the push all the air around them away at such force that the announcer was tossed back.
They moved back and Noire raced forwards and kicked forcing the giant's head back. Forcing forwards she punched upwards.
To everyone's surprise, the giant was flung high into the air. Noire bent her knees and jumped into the air to follow her, ready to deliver another blow. Noire could not land a hit as the giant shifted into her smaller form just dodging the attack. Dia reacted quickly and shifted back into her larger form and grabbed the vampire. As they started to fall, Dia hurled Noire straight into the ground and a moment later stomped onto her.
The battle looked done but then Dia screamed, a blade of crystal jetted through her foot. She raised her foot only for a blur to escape and strike her other foot and with a terrible crack, she fell forwards.
It was a like blur of black that moved to her side and leaped at her neck. The audience all gasped the giant collapsed to the ground and changed back to her smaller size.
Landing at her side was Noire, she leaped up, her sword drawn and aimed at the giant's neck. With a flash of light, the giant vanished before the attack landed.
"That's the match!" Chaucer let out trying to raise himself from the ground where he landed. "Victory to Lady Noire, I don't think anyone us expected to see … whatever just happened. So yay!"
Noire simply placed her sword back into her scabbard and held her broken arm as she left the platform.
"Okay, we're gonna take ten minutes to get the next contestants out and … fix the platform." Chaucer announced as he looked at the damage.
0000
Marco and Sensei waited in the private room given to them to prepare for the fights. They watched the fight on a screen.
"Uh…" Sensei began, "Marco are you sure you want to continue? I mean that seemed-"
"Awesome!"
"Yeah, but like crazy too."
"Yeah, I didn't expect the giant but…"
"But what?"
"One thing I learned from my time at Hekapoo's dimension was to pay attention and learn. Learn as much as I can about those I might fight and use it when fighting them."
"You have a plan?"
"Not as much," Marco admitted. "I have an idea, a plan doesn't tend to survive meeting an enemy and you have to figure it out as it happens."
Marco wasn't stupid, and he was careful. Everything in his time in Hekapoo dimension taught him to think on his feet. Now it looked like he'd have to test out those skills.
Sensei looked proudly at Marco but with a worried look, "Marco? You made a mistake. You shouldn't have trained with me. You should have found someone more at your new level."
Marco looked at him, "Sensei, you're wrong. I mean, I have been thinking of finding a new teacher for a while but thinking about it, it wasn't right. I think it was best for me to start over and go back to the man who taught me the basics."
Sensei smiled hearing that from his student.
0000
Marco and Sensei stood on the sidelines, for the second round the contestants could have people waiting for them right out of the platform. Mostly coaches, aids, and support and the alike, Sensei would be there to help in any way he could and if needed throw in the towel for Marco.
Sensei didn't want to do it, not when Marco was trying so hard to push himself but he didn't want to see him get hurt either.
Marco stretched a little to limber up, after the next battle he'd be up.
At the moment they watched the current battle and the contestants that waited for it to start.
A skeletal man in a red and black robe with yellow horn on the hood, he was the user of lightning in the previous battle. Against him waited for Kaagh. The skeletal man danced around ready to dodge and Kaagh didn't bother to waste the energy.
The guy in the red robe was talking smack as the battle was about to start. "You and everyone else will fall to my awesome lightning!" He let sparks shoot from his hand.
No one was really listening to him.
"Hey, Marco,"
Marco stopped his stretching to find Hekapoo standing there holding a bucket of popcorn.
"Hekapoo? What are you doing here?"
"Snack run, I just decided to show up and wish you luck in person."
"Oh, thanks."
"Just stay on your toes… and remember your promise."
Sensei glanced at Marco, Marco just scratched his head, "Yeah, I intend to keep it."
"You'd better or you'd have me to answer to."
"Begin!" Chaucer yelled out.
"Come on! You think you can take my lightning?" The robed fighter hopped around with his fist up.
Kaagh looked at him bored, "If you think that will be enough to beat me then take your shot."
"Pffft! Fine, I'll just do that! Get ready to be a fried potato." Green lightning started to crackle off his gloved hands.
Kaagh rushed him and he fired all the bolts he could muster at him.
The energy hit Kaagh right in the chest but it didn't stop him, instead, he rushed through it taking the blow and rushing his opponent. Kaagh caught him by surprise and landing a punching right in his chin knocking a tooth out, Kaagh grabbed him and hurled him out of the platform.
Hekapoo and Marco both took a step back and Marco yanked Sensei back too just in time to avoid the combatant slamming into them.
He slammed right into the wall behind them.
Marco asked him, "Ah, you okay?"
He blinked before looking at Hekapoo, "Uh, Hey~"
"What?" Hekapoo asked.
"Hey good looking, you came here for me?"
"Uh? I have no idea who you are." Hekapoo cringed.
"Don't be silly I'd recognize those horns anywhere. You wanna go out?"
"No, no, never, just no."
The guy then got teleported away.
"That might have been fastest fight ever at any Battle Nexus Tournament," Chaucer announced as they teleported him away. "It looks like it even took some of our judges by surprise. Kaagh of Sontar is the winner!"
"Sir! Sir! Sir!" A small fellow with a head that seemed to consist of a red eyeball on a small frail looking body came rushing looking for the loser.
"They teleported him to the infirmary." Hekapoo pointed in the general direction.
The eye guy paused and looked at her for a moment as if to try and place where'd he'd seen her. "Uh, thanks." He walked away.
Hekapoo shrugged, "I have never seen them before. I guess I'll leave you to it. The girls are probably waiting for the popcorn. Good luck."
Marco watched her leave.
Kaagh walked off the platform and paused by Marco, "We didn't get to finish our battle. I expect to meet you in the future matches."
Marco watched him walk away, one way or another Marco was sure they'd have a fight.
A few short moment Marco and Sensei waited by the platform, Marco was up next to fight.
Sensei questioned his student, "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Maybe a bit nervous," Marco admitted quietly, "I mean, this is a big tournament with a lot of good fighters. A lot of people with powers and tricks and I'm just me. I don't care if I win or not I just don't want screw up in front of everyone. Especially with everyone thinking I'm supposed to be able to hold my own."
Sensei looked at his student, he'd grown up so much and if he was going to encourage him then he'd return the favor.
Sensei patted Marco's arm, "Marco, you are amazing. You earned those scissors even if it took you 16 years, those guys last night were all amazed that you did that! You fight monsters! You go on crazy adventures! You're a great father! You know how many people who find out they have a daughter like that would panic but you do everything you can to give her a home. Marco, you don't have any powers like them but I doubt any of them have a heart as strong as yours. You don't give up. I am proud to be your sensei." Then he bowed to Marco. "Marco, you are more than ready to be here, just have some confidence in yourself. I know you'll do great."
"But-"
Sensei wasn't going to hear it, he turned to Marco and pointed at the Box Seats. Marco looked to see Hekapoo arriving, Star and Seraph spotting him and waving at him.
"Marco, I know you are going to do your best. When you get up there you're going to do your best because she's gonna be watching you. You won't be anything less than your best for her."
Marco felt his heart beat stronger and he took a deep breath and started his walk to the platform and to his first fight.
Author's Notes: Hey I'm back! Why do soon? Well, I avoid spending time with my family. They be crazy so I mostly stayed by myself eating cold pizza.
What was point? Here's an update. Next Chapter we will get to see Marco have some one on one fights. Anyway, tell me what you guys think. Also, thank you for all the kind reviews last chapter. It really encouraged me to write this chapter out and overall just get me through a rather boring night. Thanks.