Author's note before we begin!
Hello! Thank you all for actually reading this, it's very much appreciated. This is just a little shippy passion project if anything. Black Knight and Prism Knight make me smile so I'm spreading my disease. Please, enjoy the introductory chapter! More to come soon!
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A blasted trap.
That's all it was.
That stupid box was a trap!
Black Knight if anything suspected his brother, Shovel Knight, to fall for such a thing, but himself? He knew he wasn't that dense. At least, he assumed as much. Such a strange object to appear out of nowhere just seemed.. tempting. It could have been dangerous, malicious, who knows what?
As he sat up, the grass of a wide, open, yet claustrophobic feeling field surrounded him. He shoved his hand beneath his helmet to hold his head, trying to remember what exactly had gone down.
He was going to the Tower of Fate, but took some time to rest for the night. When he awoke, a strange box was left near his shovel and helmet. He remembered the box so clearly.. Plated in gold, strange patterns carved into it's gilded appearance. The trinket in itself looked so complex, so ornate. It wasn't something he remembered seeing before. Before he even knew it, that box had transported him inside, sending him careening to this new world below. It almost seemed like a mirror copy of his own, if he had to admit, but everything felt... off. It didn't feel like home that could simply go on forever and into the unknown. In fact, the more he squinted to attempt to see off into the distance, the more he felt as if the world just suddenly.. ended. It wasn't right. It wasn't real, it couldn't be.
If anything, this cursed box was a set back. He needed to protect Shield Knight. If Shovel Knight was still out there, he could accidentally harm her when attacking the Enchantress. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't. Finally lifting himself up, he hissed at the sharp sparks of pain that shot through his body. He took a hard fall, that was for certain. Was there a shelter somewhere?? He could set up his own if it came to it. With this world being so much different from home, Black Knight began to wonder if a true shelter was even possible.
With a frustrated sigh, Black Knight lifted up his shovel, and made his way towards the deeper forests that he saw before him. Surely this was the box's equivalent to the Troupple Grotto. At least it may have some form of water or food that he could possibly get ahold of.
The moment he stepped within the shaded wood, everything felt tighter, squeezed together. The trees themselves felt like the bars of a prison, shooting high into the sky, and blocking out the sun with a few dapples that remained, glittering the forest's floor. It's as if the box reacted to his presence. Taking a cautious step back out, the trees went to a normal size. What kind of cursed world was he trapped in??
He stepped back inside, only to be met with the same feeling. Well, navigating such a place would be difficult, but he wasn't intimidated by a challenge. Not in the slightest. Continuing his trek, he went further and further into the wood. There wasn't a living creature in sight, not to mention any sign of water. Surely there was something out here, right? He'd fight anything at this point if it just meant he would have a food supply for the next short while. If things were this scarce, it was growing clear to Black Knight that survival wasn't going to be easy here. Not by any means.
It felt like an eternity, gathering supplies. Old pieces of wood from fallen trees, rocks, old pieces of metal of unknown origin, anything he could find. Part of him wondered where it all came from. Clearly this forest was traveled, at least a little, which had to mean something. It meant life was here, or at least was previously. That would be hope. If something was alive, it could be a means to escape, or at least finding a way out. Who knows how many others fell victim to the box? Innocent villagers? Other knights? It was impossible to truly know.
With a sigh, Black Knight finally had set up a small fire pit, and a small shelter that he had managed to keep standing with any rocks and logs. Vines from the fallen trees were enough to tie it all together, and at least make something somewhat comfortable until he had found others who could be alive. With a sigh, he lifted off his helmet, and set his shovel aside, going to rest in the shelter he had created. Resting on the soft forest floor, he stared up at the old broken logs that made up the ceiling of his small shelter. Light shined through the small cracks from the gaps between them, dusting his face with at least a little sign of the time.
The pain and energy already exerted from his fall was beginning to catch up to him, and in little to no time at all once his muscles had relaxed, Black Knight dozed off. He may have been hungry, and not to mention thirsty, but he had a place to stay, and warmth. It was better than nothing at all, and that was enough.
"Hey. Heyyyy! Ominous armory dude! You alive in there??"
That voice was obnoxious.
"Hey puzzle dude, I think we lost this one."
"Nonsense. Did you check his pulse?"
"I mean, what if there isn't one and I'm just touching a dead guy??"
"Don't suggest that! I'll feel faint."
"Sissy."
"Just check him!!"
The very moment Black Knight felt a hand touch his wrist, he promptly shot up, and swatted away whoever it was that was touching him.
"I'm not dead you imbeci-!"
A look of surprise painted his face as he trailed off. Well, he knew Chester was just about everywhere, but here?? In this box?? That merchant never did mean well for someone who had coin or treasure, but Black Knight didn't exactly have one to his name.
"What? You surprised to see me?" Chester said with his signature smile.
"Admittedly, very." Black Knight was quick to shove his helmet back onto his head, coming out from his shelter.
"Well boy am I glad to see somebody here. Puzzle Kni-"
"I'm fully capable of introducing myself, Chester." The man cleared his throat, approaching Black Knight, and holding out his hand to shake.
"Salutations!! I'm Puzzle Knight. I must say, you look about just as lost as everyone else who ends up trapped in here after touching that confounded cube." He explained as Black Knight cautiously shook his hand. Puzzle Knight continued to speak anyway.
"This, is the Pocket Dungeon, you see. A perfect snare, even for a prodigy such as myself. Completely unsolvable."
"Apparently he's been trying for years to get outta here. I just got here recently, but we've been using my Bohto Wagon to pick up survivors like yourself." Chester added. Black Knight seemed to be fully taking in the situation. There were other survivors. Chester and this new Puzzle Knight fellow were taking them in. Chester was just in it for the coin, he was sure, but this new knight?? He just couldn't pin down his intentions. If there was a shelter Chester was using and providing to everyone, perhaps he could use that time there to question Puzzle Knight. It would be the perfect opportunity to really analyze the man, and what he may be up to.
"There have been a lot of newcomers lately, haven't there, Chester??" Puzzle Knight questioned as he let go of Black Knight's hand to turn to his friend. He approached Chester, mumbling something under his breath so Black Knight hopefully wasn't able to hear.
"This one looks quite handy with that shovel of his.. With your knack for nicking knick-knacks, perhaps you ought to try and put him to work at digging u-aIIEEE!!" Puzzle Knight was swiftly interrupted by Black Knight's shovel blade being quite quickly aimed at his throat. What Puzzle Knight didn't seem to realize was Black Knight had impeccable hearing.
"I answer to no one. If you want my help, you pry that out of me without trying to trick me with the mere brains of a child. Do you understand?" Black Knight hissed. Puzzle Knight gulped, nodding his head quite frantically.
"Oh no no of course!! Desperate times simply call for desperate measures, as I'm sure you're aware." Puzzle Knight attempted to wave it off, but Black Knight didn't really seem to amused. This wouldn't at all fulfill Black Knight's wishes of pinpointing any particular issues, but he was far from done..
"…Right." Black Knight snorted. He didn't really have the patience for whatever nonsense Puzzle Knight had to spew. He wanted real answers, something that maybe he could use to figure out what was going on.
"I'll go to your shelter. Don't expect me to stay there. I'm going to find a way out, whether it's with, or without you." He said with quite the firm tone.
"Well! Ah.. about that.. I actually used to have just the way out of here!" Puzzle Knight tried to explain. Black Knight stayed silent to listen.
"I originally had the key to this box on my person, however I ah.. broke it when I was sucked into the cube. I haven't seen even a fragment of it since. I've been attempting to find alternative ways out of this dungeon, though nothing seems to work, despite my efforts." Well that was unfortunate. Incredibly so, actually. If that key is the only way out, and those fragments were who knows were, it's more than likely that no one would ever escape this forsaken prison. Black Knight felt just a wave of dread as all of that sunk in. Trapped in the box forever. What a wonderful, absolutely phenomenal fate!
"..And you haven't attempted to look for the key's fragments?"
"Oh absolutely! The monsters here are just a tad too frightful for me to make much progress.. I don't stand a chance against them. I'm more brains than brawn, you see."
"Uh-huh… and none of the survivors you speak of are helping either?"
"Well they ahh… haven't returned? Per se??? M.I.A.??" You've got to be joking.
So really there were no survivors at all, or at least none that were actively staying at the camp. This made things oh so incredibly positive. Black Knight slightly clenched his fists in his silent frustration.
"Fine. I will be of aid to you. Perhaps at least I will return with one of the fragments." He would have already began walking off to do so, if not for Puzzle Knight swiftly grabbing his hand for an incredibly rapid handshake.
"Oh thank the stars!! You simply cannot fathom how thankful I am for this. Well come along already, won't you?? We have a camp to return to! You simply won't get anything done on an empty stomach and no rest, so let us journey together!! To freedom!" He announced with quite a bit of cheer, making a grandiose gesture with both hands to encompass all the trio could see.
…The silence afterwards was incredibly awkward. Chester wasn't even paying attention anymore, just playing with one of his loose sleeves. Puzzle Knight very suddenly jabbed his elbow into the man's side, causing him to jump in surprise. Clearing his throat, Puzzle Knight began again.
"EHEM!!! So let us journey together, to freedom!!!!" He made the gesture once again. Chester just stared in confusion. Puzzle Knight have a frustrated huff, leaning over to whisper.
"That means we are leaving! Lead the way, won't you!?"
"Ohhhhhh yeah okay. C'mon Puzzle Man. C'mon new guy. I'll take ya back to-" Chester made a smooth looking gesture with his hand. "Mi Casa~" He grinned, just stepping ahead of the two, and walking right on with full confidence. Puzzle Knight was quick to follow, though Black Knight hesitated, before doing so as well.
This was going to go absolutely swimmingly.