AN: Story's Shadow and I are back once again, but this is not just any chapter... this is the 40th Chapter for this story! The team and I are so honored at all the overwhelming positive feedback and support this crossover has received since being released on August 21st, 2021. We want to thank everyone so much for their love and support. God Bless you all.
Side Note: We will be returning to the tournament next chapter, got a good one planned for that chapter.
-Jerusalem, Later That Day-
Angela walked through the halls of the great castle, accompanied by one knight to protect her, sighing in boredom.
"So he's still practicing? And you have no idea when he'll be done?"
The knight nodded before answering, their voice altered by the tech in the helmet.
"A knight must practice as long as they can. We cannot waste our time during training, we must always push ourselves so that we are not so easily deceived or overwhelmed by demons."
Angela groaned.
"But I thought he was gonna show me how to use a sword?!"
The knight sighed.
"Sir Tyler cannot train you. Only a master of our order can take and train an apprentice."
"I didn't mean train, I meant just show me how he fights."
The knight didn't respond at first, taken aback by her response.
"I see...hmm...I'm not certain if he can or not under those circumstances."
Angela sighed, shaking her head. She turned, seeing a knight standing outside a door.
"Is that where he's training?"
The knight turned from her to the door.
"No, that's-"
Angela was already jogging to the door.
"-no, wait!"
The knight hurried after her. But the sound of scraping came from a little distance away from the door and Angela followed it. She turned a corner, seeing a small and elegant garden rested before her. A man stood in it, carrying a pot with flowers in it. Angela approached him.
"Hey, Sir or whatever you like to be called, can you tell me where Tyler is?"
The man turned and the knight following Angela bowed.
"My lord, I'm sorry, she was looking for Sir Tyler and she didn't realize-"
Thomas put a hand up, quieting the knight.
"It's alright, she's just curious."
Angela rubbed the back of her neck, face burning.
"Yeah, sorry."
"It's quite alright. He's training with many of the others, one of the masters decided that they'd practice more defensive techniques tonight as it became darker. Better to practice in the conditions we'll likely be fighting in."
"Oh, ok."
Thomas turned to her, smiling.
"Would you like to join me?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, apologies. Back home and now here I use some of my free time to garden."
"You like to do this?"
"I've always enjoyed it. My ex-wife pointed out how terrible I was at it before."
The man laughed.
"She taught me how to do it correctly. I miss her."
"Then why did you-?"
"She had her reasons, I don't blame her for the divorce."
He knelt down, gently taking the flower from the pot and planted it in the soil next to more flowers like it. Thomas turned to the knight with Angela.
"Thank you, you may return to your post. I can carry your duty here."
"Are you certain, my lord?"
"Of course. Thank you, we shall be fine."
The knight bowed then walked off. Thomas turned to Angela.
"You're surprised."
"Kinda, yeah. You're a-"
"-a knight, yes. Why does a knight garden, you think? It helps me find peace in troubling times."
"I guess everyone has something like that."
"Indeed. I find myself tending to something so natural and beautiful is good for the body and soul."
"What do you mean?"
Thomas motioned for her to kneel beside her. Angela hesitantly did so, rubbing the back of her neck, before he continued speaking.
"The Earth brings forth so much wonder and life, her beauty and strength is something that many philosophers and warriors have found inspiration in."
"I didn't think knights were into that. That was more like Shaolin monks and samurai?"
Thomas laughed.
"Fair point. Through time I imagine, some of our order learned and our perspectives grew."
"What do you mean?"
Thomas turned to his garden. He pulled over a bag, filled with seeds and took a handful. He planted a few as he spoke.
"Take these. Planting a seed of vengeance in too many ways will cause them to grow rapidly and take over a bed of plants, possibly killing all others who grow there."
He put the remaining seeds back in the bag. Then he pulled another forward, filled with different seeds. He planted some of these as he spoke again.
"Yet seeds of forgiveness grow slowly no matter how many you plant. These require delicate handling and in time they will grow and when they blossom: they're truly beautiful to behold."
The smile on his face was warm and he held out the hand with the new seeds. Angela picked one up, holding it up to eye level.
"...But you're not battling...uh...'people'...you're facing demons...do you forgive demons for what they do."
Thomas was quiet for a time, looking to the seeds in his hand. He sighed.
"Many of the knights not only fear them, but hate them. Our order was born out of the necessity to protect humanity from the forces of Hell. And for all of us...the possibility of forgiving demons...I don't know if it's ever been discussed. It has always been our task to slay them. And as you have pinpointed, one doesn't slay what or who one forgives...to the best of my knowledge at least."
Angela looked to the garden.
"Do you think you could forgive them?...Because I'm not sure I ever could."
Thomas gave her a small smile.
"That's something I don't know at this moment. The very idea of it would send nearly all my knights into a fury. For now, I advise you to not speak of this to anyone so as to keep the peace and ourselves focused for what's coming. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is preparing his forces and allies for the invasion to come."
"What if we win...what was...you all mentioned a tournament?"
"Yes, this tyrant's warriors vs the warriors of Raiden and those of our world. But he has warned me and I concur, tyrants don't tend to keep their word often...or at all. And when the demons come, along with his army, we must all stay focused."
Angela nodded and he nodded back.
"Regardless of our struggle with Hell...and what you feel...consider what you've heard and what you've seen. As your desire for following a certain path cannot always be walked by those even with a new perspective and approach to it."
"You're saying I shouldn't-"
"-I'm saying for you to reflect and understand what you want, everything you want. As for what's coming, I fear you wouldn't be ready in time."
"What do you mean?"
"For certain demons, torment of any kind for anyone is enough to sate their madness and cruelty...for a time...For others...they seek destruction for people or places that mean a great deal."
"You think they'll target this city?"
"I don't know what kind of evil these 'Netherrealm' demons are...but from what Raiden mentioned...and those that lead them...are utterly vile in their madness."
Angela gulped.
"Fear, you are not bad to feel that. Just understand what you feel now. Like this garden, many wonderful things can grow and blossom. You simply must be careful how you tend to it."
Angela sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.
"...Right..."
Thomas gathered the bags of seeds and the tools he'd been using to tend to his garden and put them away where he kept them. He motioned with his hand.
"I think we should see to our friends."
"Don't you want to work in your garden some more?"
"I often do it, like I said, to find peace. Still, my duty is to prepare for evil and that is best with consulting and helping my knights. For now, like with my garden, let us tend to them."
Angela gave him a small smile, nodding. Thomas smiled back and walked off, Angela beside him.
To Be Continued...
AN: As I said earlier, we will be returning to the tournament next chapter, we've got a good fight on the lineup card for that chapter. Can't wait to see you all there.