Star's Strife

Chapter 6: The shattered half

The OTHER love of Marco Diaz, Jackie-Lynn Thomas finally awoke from her unconscious-induced slumber, she groaned in pain as she felt her neck was heavily bruised, making the simple act of breathing a struggling act, she felt pained as her body was chained through tightened chains, choking her wrists and ankles as if they nailed on to her.

"W-Where am I?" She asked herself, the dimness of light did not elp for the Girl to know where she was now, she began to cry as the pain within and without of herself began to exaggerate as she cried streams of tears, she feared for her death as the chasm she was trapped in began to almost breathe in life, the metal chasm bellowing out several flute-like songs as the wind passed through the holes, despite the many holes, there was no light coming in, almost as if the shining light in the darkness was just a metaphor and not a literal fact.

"Don't not cry...Maiden..." Jackie-Lynn Thomas heard, she hopelessly looked up to see a metal hand coming out of the shaded shadows, caressing her cheek like a mother would do to her own child.

"Your Death...Will supplement the happiness of many others..." The Knight said with a howl of laughter, coming out of his shadows to reveal his weapon-inspired armor and his Giant size, towering over the mundane human girl like an ant to an Hercules beetle, Jackie began to cry like a little baby, her cool demeanor melting into a shaking mess like an ice cube in a deep fryer.

"Please don't kill me! PLEASE!" She begged, the Knight only laughed once more, quickly ripping out a knife from his blade-ridden tasset, he hummed a melodious tone through his axe-headed helm, the humming being similar to the flute-spouts of the metal spire.

"The needs of the strongest is more important than the needs of the weak." The Knight of Weaponry recited as he giggled delightfully to himself, clearly wanting to enjoy every single waking moment with Marco's girlfriend.

"You are weak and your status is low...My Strength is great, so I will make you Reap what you Sow." The Knight began to recite, as if he was some crazed sage who could speak in metaphors and edicts.

"I am a Knight of Victory, a Knight of Success, and it seems to achieve this meaning, I must end your life...I'm sorry for causing harm to such a maiden, but its not my fault..." The Knight said as he laughed once again, taking great enjoyment with his musing in Jackie's desperation.

"I'm sorry for saying this...But I'm going to GREATLY enjoy this." The Knight as he caressed her cheek once again before he showed the reflection of herself in the blade of his many knifes.

"Please don't cry, just this once, my hunger grows and must be sated, I'm sorry..." The Callous Knight repeated, almost as if he was mocking the innocent girl with fake regret as his constant and repeating apologies, it was like sour notes, sure it was the crescendo, but it was a verse that caused more pain than tranquil.

Jackie Screamed once again, at the top of her lungs, no one heard her, and nobody came as the Knight of Weaponry started to use his knife on her, the last thing that Jackie could visibly see was the white soulless eyes of the Knight.

"Star! Star! Please open up!" Marco begged loudly as he banged on the door in a fit of shock and anxiety, Star almost instinctively opened her door, having a great look of worry on her face.

"What's wrong Marco?" Was all Star said as Marco barged into Star's room, his emotions taking over him, The Knight of Strife silently disappeared before Marco could even get a good look on him in a puff of red and black smoke.

"Jackie's gone! She got kidnapped! and I don't know what to do!" Marco wailed as he began to cry, Star felt a slight hint of joy from the fact that Jackie-Lynn was kidnapped, but the thought quickly went away when he simply watched the now devastated Marco crying his heart out, she felt immense guilt from the sight of his depression.

"Marco...We're going to rescue her, just like Glossaryck...Who kidnapped her? Was it Ludo or someone we know?" Star asked, trying to stay cool and calm despite the sight of her love crying out from the loss of his temporary girlfriend.

"I have no idea! He was just a metal knight who kidnapped out of the bloom! We were just walking out of the movie theater until a rainstorm came up and then some giant metal monster took her!" Marco wallowed as he desperately tried to control himself but to no avail, clearly damaged from such a traumatic event, Star, with a slow and careful but caring motion, she embraced her lover, Marco was at first stunned from such a action of the Princess, but nevertheless accepted it with a full heart.

Marco hugged his friend back as his tears stained her mint green dress, Star didn't mind at all from the stains.

"Don't worry Marco, we're going to rescue her, I promise." She said, pulling away so she can allow Marco to see her smile, it was enough to give her lover a sense of genuine hope, genuine enough hope to smile back at her and even trust her words without a grain of salt.

"...You're right Star...Thank you..." Marco said, Star could feel a heavy sense of warmth inside her, she desperately wanted to kiss him and smother him with her festering love, but decided against him, not until Marco was truly hers and hers only.

"I don't know where we can find her...But maybe with some magic..." Star twirled her wand a little bit before she continued speaking.

"We can rescue her in no time..." Marco smiled upon hearing Star's, Marco forced the hug this time, causing Star to blush more hotter than Strife's blazing fire.

"Thank you...Star...Thank you..." He repeated, crying tears of joy this time, Star could only smile in return, not speaking a single word to her lover.

Before the two could break off of the hug, a twisted portal opened up within Star's bed room, it screamed in pain as it opened up, its black and ashy-red trails twirling like a whirlpool as it opened the portal to the other world, showcasing a world, the world of Strife's dimension, his home of knights that served the Queens of the Wand bearers.

'...Strife...Did you made this kidnapping?' Star mentally questioned herself, knowing that the portal led to Strife's home world.

"...See? What did I tell you, with a little magic, we can find her." Star said, trying to raise Marco's spirits up with a small smile on her face, it failed as he looked more dour than ever, without another word, the boy step forth into the portal before Star could even move a muscle, she looked upon Marco as he entered into the portal with a face of pure defined determination, more willing than ever to rescue his girlfriend from the evil but unknown assailant.

'I...Didn't orchestrated this kidnapping Star Butterfly...I would never do that...' Strife answered coolly, almost as if he was in Star's head, the first initial thought was deep confusion, if Star was a betting, she would've believed that this was Strife's doing, a dirty trick so that Marco could see Jackie's faults and realize how good he is if he just paired up with his one true love.

"But it doesn't make any sense! Jackie is kidnapped, then while Marco came to me, this portal that leads to your home dimension suddenly opens up! I thought you were pulling some strings Strife." Star began to argue with the Knight of Strife, Strife was quick to Retort to his queen, desiring to rest his case with some more reciting.

"We knights would never do such harsh things for the sake of our Queen's happiness...Our honor is great and our strength is the same."

"A Knight, no matter what flag we follow, no matter what standard bear, no matter who we bow down to, we will never harm a woman." Strife appeared with a gale of black and red smoke, his weapons unsheathed and ready to battle, Star's eyes widened quickly as she sprinted into the portal.

"We need to go help Marco then, we don't know what we're dealing with then!" Star said as she jumped into the portal in a hasty manner, Strife tilted his helmed head slightly before walking into the portal, noticing how the portal lead to his realm, it confused the Knight, not really knowing what was happening exactly.

Two Days ago, the same day when Strife formed...

Ludo looked upon the new minion with a curious curved eyebrow, the Knight kneel down to his King, his growl was audible as it waited for the permission to speak.

"Why are you in my presence you tin can!?" Ludo said, his patience finally bringing to an end to the growling but wordless Knight, The Knight finally stoop up, his suit of weapon-ridden armor scraping and grinding against each other like whetstones to dull blades.

"I have served many bearers of the Royal Magic Wand, from Queen to Princess to Queen..." The Knight finally began to spoke, but suddenly, a small giggle escaped through his words, instantly gathering Ludo's attention.

"Wait wait...What do you mean? I have the other half of the magic wand! It wasn't passed down to me!" Ludo said in objection.

"But it seems like, I will serve a King now, and I will serve him until the pain inside of you is gone!" The little creature of evil eye's began to gleam with the thoughts of potential destruction due to having this Knight being loyal to him.

"In that case Minion...What is your name?" Ludo beckoned, when the Knight of weaponry finally stopped laughing, he spoke in a quiet and chilling tone.

"I go by many names...But for now, I am called..."

"Victory."