Chapter 2

"Kneel to the king!" Part III

~Three months after Matthew's 'Death'~

It was midnight. The undefeated of the east (Asia), Barren, Cain, and various other students were waiting anxiously in the main hall. Asia was sipping tea, Barren was biting his nails, and Cain was... sleeping.

"What is taking him so long!" Barren yelled, waking Cain from his slumber.

"He has been gone for three months, last time it took him six." Cain pointed out.

"Yeah but that doesn't mean he can't go faster than last time. Before he was three, now, he's six. I'm pretty sure he can do it in half the time."

Asia sighed at his grandson's outbreak. True, he could go in half the time, but there's also a chance he can't.

You might all be wondering: 'Who are they waiting for?'

Asia heard knocking on the door, so did the others. A very special knock to be exact. Everyone rushed to the door, besides Asia who walked. Barren was right in front of the doorknob. He slowly put his hand on it and began to turn. When it opened, they saw him. Matthew.

Now you might wonder: 'But didn't he commit suicide?'

Only one thing. Matthew's GI was ripped to shreds and his body was covered in burn marks, cuts and scars. He panted heavily, broke into a quick smile and said: "Hey guys..." Before drifting into the sea of unconsciousness in front of everyone.

"Wow," Cain said, "I'm surprised he made it through Hell and back and only lost conscious when he made it here."

"I knew he could do it." Barren said cockily.

Asia picked his disciple and went inside. He was out cold. Going to hell and back takes a lot out of a six year old king in training. He put him on a couch and everyone gathered around. Barren on the other hand, went to get something. He returned with an old sock, he put it next to the 'king's' nose and then:

"DEAR LORD!" Matthew exclaimed. He covered his nose and attempted to divert the foul odor by blowing it away. "Where did you get that thing? A junk yard?"

"Nope, Cain's closet." Barren replied, tossing the sock aside. All eyes went wide as they saw the sock crawl away. Barren looked at Cain with a look of horror on his face. "What kind of sick creature are you?"

Cain shrugged. Matthew was slowly getting up from his position. He looked at his mentor in the eye and said: "If I ever have to do that again, kill me."

"What use would it do?" He said. "You would just come back anyway."

"Touché."

"So," Cain started. "did you have fun?"

Matthew glared at him. Going to Hell and back in three months wasn't exactly 'fun'. He got up and walked to his room, ignoring the questions his fellow classmates asked him. Some examples are: 'What does Satan look like', 'If your good why did you go to Hell' and even 'My mom died. 'Did you see her'. Honestly, if they want to find out for themselves, they should just go to Hell and come back. To bad only Matthew can. He locked his door. He didn't want anyone to annoy him. He just got back from Hell and people treat him as if nothing happened. He never wanted to be the king of hearts. He looked through his shelf and found a scroll. It was old and rugged. He unrolled it and it said, in large print, 'The king of hearts'. He sat on his bed reading his favorite part. The throne of wisdom. It wasn't really a throne or a kingdom at that matter. But it was the knowledge of Clockwork and the other attributes. All the information of the world in his head. He grew tired. He placed his scroll away and went to go change. Afterwards, he lay on his bed, anxious to get his 'royal slumber'.

~Three years later~

Matthew sighed. He was in his room in the same position that he was three years ago, but he was different. He wore the same clothes as Barren as a sign of friendship but no chain and his tank top was red (1). It was morning. Various of the students had already went for breakfast. He sighed again and looked at his right hand. It was there. A red heart with two sword upon it. It had large yellow K on the top and a banner which read 'Long live the king'. It also featured the top half of a king seen on a playing card. It was the mark of the king of hearts. But something bothered him. The previous kings all received the mark when they were twenty. He was nine. It made no sense. He read it in the scroll. It clearl-

"Matthew, please come to my office." Asia's voiced was heard through the intercom. Matthew sighed and obeyed. There, he saw that his master was looking at him in a very strange manner, but Matthew shrugged this off. Before he could say anything, Asia took out four 'trinkets'. A flute, a black box, a rattle, and a little drum. "Choose one." As commanded, he chose one of them, the flute to be exact. Asia smiled. "It's done."

Matthew was confused. "What's done?" The next set of words hit him hard.

"Your training. You are no longer a student here. Gather you things and leave as soon as possible."

Matthew was flabbergasted at what he just heard. He spent his entire life training with this man, and now he sends him away? He tried to protest. "Master I-"

"Matthew, I told you to leave. Now go."

What choice did he have. He looked at his master with tears in his eyes. He ran from him, past some of the other students, and leaped onto his bed. He cried a fountain into his pillow. He went to hell and back three times, got scars and cuts in places unimaginable and he even stayed a week in Cain's closet! He couldn't believe it. How could he do this to him? He had friends at the school. Barren, Cain and many other students. It wasn't fair. He heard knocking on the door.

Barren was on the other side, calling for his friend. Barren had heard his crying and decided to check on him. However, when the door opened, he shocked to see Matthew holding a bag of cloth containing his personal objects.

"M-Mathew?" He came closer to him, but Matthew ran past him. "Matthew wait!" He chased after him. He was already outside, only a few meters away from the school. Matthew stopped, allowing his ex-classmate catch up with him. "Matthew! What the Hell are you doing?"

Matthew didn't responded. Tears were in his eyes. Matthew looked at him and said: "Barren, can I ask you something?"

Barren was dead silent.

"When I'm out there in the world, protecting people as there 'king'. What am I going to be fighting for?"

Barren already understood what he meant, but he didn't answer. Tears formulated in his eyes. He turned and ran. Matthew tried to call out to him, but he didn't listen. He just kept running. Now it was Matthew's turn to cry. He turned and simply walked away. Tears traveling down his cheeks.

He whispered something under his breath. "Goodbye Barren..."

However, he was unaware of the figure watching him from above.

It spoke. "As the Grim Reaper would say: 'It is time'"

1: In the school of the undefeated of the east when two people are great friends, they wear the same clothes.

Remember that thing I said about the OCs not appearing until the next chapter? Well things have gotten a bit difficult so they won't appear until a bit later...

But if you havent' noticed, I've modified the invitation! You may now send in descendants of all the smashers and, from now on there is no deadline! Until all the forty smasher's descendants show up, you can send as many as you like!

SILVERMANE OUT!

P.S: SSBU CHAP 2 Will come soon, just bear with me.