A/N: I was having difficulty with only writing Metroid: Return to Remnant so I decided to try something else to help with the writer's block. It really is annoying having so many ideas.
Disclaimer: I do not own Knack 1 and 2 or Worm/Ward. Most of my knowledge of Worm is from other fanfics and research. Spoilers for Knack 1 and 2, and Worm. Very much AU, this is my first time trying a Worm fic and only my second fic over all. Will probably not portray the same dark feel that Worm does. Maybe some TINO as this is my first time doing this kind of fic.
Prologue
Earth FSMW-2-KW - Prime
Long, long ago, in a time forgotten by all in the present day. A time where human life thrived, despite the number of times that it was all at stake. Where incredible feats of technology that would seem impossible, were very much possible.
The humans of Earth at this time used a powerful resource to power the advancements they made. Pieces of an even more ancient civilisation of advanced tech, that were simply known as; Relics.
These Relics, along with a number of different crystals such as Sunstones, were used by the inhabitants of this time to power everything, from lights, to cars, and great war machines. Many wars have been fought over these resources, such as the Crystal War between the original primitive humans and the highly advanced High Goblins.
Since then, there have been a number of close calls for humanity and the world, but each time there was a Hero that would arrive. Though not a human physically, he was one at heart and he loved the people of earth, as it was they who created him.
The name of the Hero was simply… Knack, a self aware, fully sentient golem made entirely of Relics. Created by Doctor Vargas and his assistant Lucas from a strange spherical Relic found by the Doctor and his wife, Charlotte, Knack is able to manipulate the arcane energies within the Relics, called Relic Energy, to form his body and do many amazing things.
He has faced many dangers, almost always alongside his brother in all but blood, Lucas. Fighting against ancient technologies, madmen, and monsters. Even leaving home to learn about who and what exactly Knack is.
But all things must end, though it does not need to be tragic. The end for one adventure is just the beginning of another. Though this new beginning may prove to have more at risk than it may first seem.
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Deep underground surrounded by massive ancient constructs of great power, an old man walks toward a humanoid figure of average height, made entirely of fist sized Relics. The chamber they are in thrums with energy, glowing yellow Sunstone crystals scattered about. In the chest of the being made of Relics, the Core Relic of the Hero named Knack pulses in time with the power of the chamber.
"So the time has come, has it, old friend," said the old man. A statement rather than a question.
Knack turned to face the old man, giving him a sad smile "Indeed it has Lucas. Or should I say, Doctor?" Knack said, the sad smile shifting to a teasing one.
The old man, now named Lucas laughs, "You are never going to let me live that down are you? I may have inherited Doctor Vargas' lab and mansion and earned myself a doctorate in Relic Sciences and Engineering, but I could never be like him. You, yourself are an example"
Knack chuckled as well, "Perhaps, but you were still his assistant. It is only right that you have some credit."
The pair fell into silence, reflecting on their past. They had been through so much together, to the point where they saw each other as brothers. Unfortunately though, one was effectively immortal, and the other… not so much. They knew the time would come where Knack was no longer needed in the world and he would need to return to the slumbering state that the late Doctor had found him in.
They were where Knack was originally found, a Relic Temple in a deep underground tunnel network that could only be found by chance, as any scanning equipment, old or new, could not properly find it. It was near the coast, a bay specifically, but nothing special.
"It was a good run," noted Lucas, "We really showed everyone who doubted us wrong, and stopped countless disasters."
"And we did it together," Knack replied, holding a blocky hand out. "As brothers."
Smiling, Lucas took the hand and they pulled each other into a hug, "As brothers."
They held each other for a time, neither one wanting to be the first to let go. After a minute the sound of a cough had them letting go and looking up. Standing nearby was Lucas' own wife, Ava. The former leader of the Norcliff monks had come into the lives of Knack and Lucas when long dead robots from the Crystal Wars started to rise from their graves, launching the duo, now trio, into another adventure to save humanity.
Knack's eyes widened when he saw the one who he considered a sister, his smile widening. "Ava! You also came!" He said, as he quickly moved to give her a hug, one that she happily returned.
"Of course I did, Knack. There is no way I am not going to say goodbye to you." Ava said, breaking the hug shortly after.
Ava and Lucas had built a family together, with Knack as the cool uncle for the kids, after the two brothers returned after learning more about Knack. Unfortunately for Knack, they had not found any others like him, at least none alive, but that was a story for another time. However, he had been content with the role as an uncle, Ryder had done pretty well himself after all.
The trio spent some time reminiscing on the past, reliving their many adventures, but all too soon it was time to depart. Knack stood by the raised altar where had been first found all those years ago and faced his family, for that is who they were to him.
"We are going to miss you, big guy…" Lucas said sadly.
Knack smiled sadly, saying, "And so will I, if or when I wake once."
"Are you sure that you need to do this?" Asked Ava, hoping that there was a chance that he did not need to go.
"Unfortunately I do," Knack said shaking his head, "The time for me to be the Hero has long passed. Perhaps I shall return some day far in the future to save the world once again, but until then, it is time for your people to raise their own heroes."
With that, they gave each other one last hug before Knack turned to the altar and Lucas and Ava returned to the door to the chamber to watch. Stepping forward, Knack raised his arms, the thrumming of energy reaching a fever pitch. At its climax, all of the Relics that made up Knack's body, save for his Core, exploded out into the chamber. The velocity at which they traveled almost immediately changed as they began to orbit around Knack's Core. At the same time, the door to the chamber closed, separating Knack from his family. He could just barely make out the faint 'Goodbye' they sent him before it closed all the way.
At this point, Knack was barely conscious in his Core as he floated to rest, hovering slightly above the altar. Knack's last thought was that of an image of his family.
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On the surface, time passed endlessly. Soon Knack became a legend when Lucas and Ava passed on. Everyone who was originally part of the adventures of Knack were only remembered in stories and museums.
Sadly though, this time for humanity would not last. There is always some form of reset for earth. The extinction of the dinosaurs for example. This time humanity was the one to fall, It was as if the earth itself turned against them.
Asteroids rained down, volcanoes rose, few places were safe. It was a miracle that any humans survived, the remaining goblins definitely did not. Unfortunately, everything of the society that came before was gone, the Relics were lost and soon forgotten, and the knowledge that humankind had gained was erased. The world began anew, and the rest is literally history.
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Earth FSMW-2-KW - Prime
Locally known as Earth Bet
Far below Brockton Bay
January, 2011
Waking up for Knack was a strange thing. He was alone, isolated in his own mind. He could not move in the sense of lifting an arm, at least not yet. But he didn't want to yet. Focusing on the power that learned about from when he and Lucas went looking for his kind he casted his thoughts out across the world. An ability that he could only do in this state. What he saw horrified him.
The world he once knew was gone, replaced by one that was not only devoid of all the wonder that his world had, but was now slowly dying at the hands of great monsters. This was wrong, there should not be… Things like these. There were people with unnatural powers and warlords laying waste to everything.
"What happened?! Where did all of this come from?!" Knack thought in a panic. He searched further, even going as far as searching monsters that were slowly killing humanity. It was with them that he found the answer. He was able to trace a link back to the source, keeping himself hidden all the while.
It was big. Bigger than anything he had faced before. Not only that, but even though he could see what it was, he could not find where it was, as if it was actively blocking any detection, meaning that he only found it because he traced the link, but also it was not on earth.
It terrified him. Even with the knowledge of his people he was not sure that he could fight that thing. Fortunately for him, it was not in his nature to just give up when lives were at stake. Drawing back into his Core, in this time reached out to the Relics in the room and pulled them towards himself to form a body. At least he tried.
Despite his mind being strong enough to cast his thoughts out into the world and see a beast that should not have been able to be seen, his life force was weak. How long had he spent sleeping? As it turned out, almost 300,000 years, and all that time of disuse had finally taken a toll on him.
He would soon fade as the arcane energies that made up his soul ran out without the increase of energy that he got from activity and there was nothing he could do. Even with him awake now, it only put more strain on his soul after the constant drain over the millennia.
And so, he casted his mind out once more, insearch for another solution. He found one, trapped in a metal box full of refuse, directly above him, on the surface.
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Chapter end