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Disclaimer: a fortnight is two weeks.
Chapter 8
Operation Fortnight N313
XxXxXxXxX
Marco sighed as he threw his gear off his person, he glanced at the clock, relieved he made it back before it was too late. He left home on Friday afternoon went to the Spiderbite Kingdom, was done by Saturday noontime, went to the Butterfly Kingdom took and completed the mission by Sunday afternoon. By the time he returned to Earth night had fallen and he was totally bushed, he took a brief shower, just enough to get the dirt and lingering smell off before folding into his bed and snoozing.
He'd have a midnight snack later.
Angie and Raphael crack open his door, seeing his prone form on his bed before they retreated back to their room, relieved.
"That boy, he's been staying out again."
"His dinner's cold."
The parents sighed and just put up with it for now, Marco was no longer bottling his troubles and told them anything that crossed his mind. Much to their delight and embarrassment when certain topics were brought up.
Like how to say 'no' from a very insistent female. Angie mentally nodded in approval while Raphael was embarrassed, "No means no, Marco, they'll respect it." "Dad, you don't understand, they tried to follow me here."
"Oh? That's a problem, Marco?" Angie asked, he nodded furiously,
"Yes, it is, how are we gonna host a 5 story dragon?"
"Oh. That kind of female."
Since then Marco kept the girls visiting to a minimum, Kelly was a lively guest to have, Marco had to explain explicitly they were just friends.
"Ah, say no more, dear." His mother replied, Raphael was taken back, when the two left Angie told her husband, "That's his code word for 'crush' happens every time he used to mention the Jackie girl."
Still as parents they couldn't stop worrying over their only child, so young and reckless, it amazed them that Marco managed to keep his grades so good. While he did come to some classes late or showed up worse for wear, his teachers had very few complaints for them.
"He just got to be there."
"Sometimes he smells like 'blegh'. Has he bought any exotic cologne?"
"Hickies. The boy has them. I swear, back in my day at least we covered up. Hoeing is not a sport."
"He needs to come back to the football team, he only played one game."
"Marco is a fine young man, great grades, courteous, attentive. Bright future. But he was put up for Garbage Island not sure why."
His parents found the PTA meetings pretty funny these past two years.
Angie cast a look at her son though, one day…one day Marco will leave on some grand adventure of his…and I'm afraid I'll never see my little chico ever again.
Raphael felt her worry and held her hand.
Marco roused himself from his sleep, he brushed the crumbs from his chin and shirt, a brief memory of him sneaking downstairs to eat played and he smirked to himself. He threw his legs over the side of his bed and stretched feeling pops across his back, shoulders and hips before he stood up doing a few squats and touching his toes. Feeling much more awake, Marco ditched his clothes and took his usual school get up: gray undershirt, red hoodie, dark jeans and socks.
It never went out of style for him.
He came downstairs to his parents already eating, they waved to him, "Ah, morning, son!" "Marco, come eat."
Marco sat down, greeting them and eating up the fried eggs, bacon and french toast and washing it down with some milk.
"Out all weekend?" "Mhmmm, yes, I came back before 9 last night so I slept good."
The parents merely nodded as they finished up and Marco ran back upstairs to get his backpack, he mentally ran through the list of things he needed and the assignments he did already, he stuffed them into his bag and set sword on a strap. Normally, bringing his sword would rouse suspicion but he couldn't leave it alone making his house a target so what he did was made the sword invisible after he left his house.
A brief show to anyone watching would know it wasn't in his house and he wouldn't endanger his parents. His parents were rightly against his sword at first but when he told them it would go back to his room at his say-so they dropped it. Thankfully, he put a replica in his room just in case they came a snooping, but he knew they wouldn't touch it especially when it shocked his father already.
He kissed his mother on the way down and waved to his father as he left, Marco walked to school, taking the bus was fine when the weather wasn't so good but that hardly ever happen during the school days. He passed many familiar faces, spying some of the usual trouble-makers before Echo Creek High School came upon his sight.
Ah, one more year…gotta make some good memories while I can.
You could if you just tap every hungry female that came sniffing for some Poundtown, MARCO. I've never seen such a picky male in my life.
Marco mentally rolled his eyes at Monster Arm, the beast had grown quite impatient with him, even though the Roman Numeral 2 had gone to 1 it was taking an awful long time for Marco accumulate the necessary energy store to fry the disease. He suspected the numerous adventures and feats he had to do pushed him further and further from his goal.
Even if he did managed to kill Monster Arm he still had the Blood Moon Dance Curse to contend with and it wasn't going to be resolved any time soon. Marco wasn't keen on the idea of starting a relationship and watch it crash and burn because the curse would activate and nullify any happiness he could glean from it. In retrospect, Star had it better, as long as she refrain from touching Tom she would be fine however it was still doomed to fail as the curse was a sinister thing, often making the dancer the one to ruin the relationship making all the more bitter. Star was well within that path just as Marco did with Jackie years prior.
He pushed those negative thoughts away as he greeted Alfonzo and Ferguson, giving them a fist bump as the trio walked into the school. The years had done a great job on the three of them, still dorky and socially awkward, Marco the least though. Alfonzo had grown much taller, lanky but his muscles were catching up, he ditched his glasses and adopted contacts instead and got a decent haircut. Ferguson grew taller, not the same with Marco or Alfonzo but he definitely looked a lot better as his body compensate from the growth, his hair was better cut and the two making frequent trips to the karate dojo with Marco.
Since he came back to Earth, his friends were very supportive of his decision to stay on Earth for the time being…until they heard he was back at it again. Outraged, the two attempted to stop Marco only to fail miserably as Marco casually avoided them.
"Guys, it's not a big deal."
"It's a very big deal! Marco, what the funky fresh man?"
"Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"…No, I haven't."
Aghast at his callous answer, the two sulked at the thought of Marco leaving again, however Marco assured them if they ever wanted to hangout he'd always be down with it.
They didn't believe him at all.
They went to Sensei hoping to get some advice, to their surprise he told them to just join his dojo instead.
"Why?"
"You just told me that Marco won't listen and when you tried to stop him, he avoided you. Of course he won't listen because he doesn't see you as someone who could stop him."
"Or we're not his friends anymore. He's terrible."
Sensei sighed, "Yes, Marco has been a lousy friend but you have to give the guy a little slack, he was probably thrown out of Mewni and still reeling from the experience."
"Why would you say that?"
"I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend that when Marco showed up back here, he was nearly butt naked walking down the boulevard, covered in blood, bruises and cuts. Said he didn't believe what he saw on the streets, thought he was one of those unfortunate people at first."
"Oh god, is Marco out for revenge?"
"Maybe, but if you want to stop him from going that dark and twisted path…you need some gains. A lot of it. Come here when you got free time from school and I'll make you harden warriors ready to stop Marco from doing evil outside of Earth!"
The three quickly forgot about their goal as they were caught up by all the improvements they accomplished throughout the many months. Marco showing up enough to spar with them and complete more of his training with his friends and teacher.
Marco made it a point to spend time with them, gradually they came around to the idea of Marco dimension hopping again, but he had to bring them sometimes as an agreement.
Marco was a little uncomfortable with talking with Jackie after their relationship debacle and him flaking their Sophomore year. Jackie remained cool with them just being friends, chatting and such, but they never brought up their tangled past or talks of Mewni other than that one time when Marco showed up back on Earth.
Jackie was relieved to see him again, after cooling off and having some time to herself she realized that Marco and Star relationship changed over time, they were friends, best friends and at the cusp of being something more. Jackie jumped straight ahead of Star but she knew eventually she would be overtaken by the live-in best friend, maybe not within the year but in the future. That fateful day, Jackie knew Marco couldn't get Star off his mind and knew it was time: Marco had to be free to make his decision.
She couldn't bear to see Marco not put his 100% into their relationship, when he was so invested elsewhere. Maybe she was insecure or she was just not compatible with the boy, but she could tell he was just not the same when they first dated. He had gotten pig-headed, still a gentleman and dork, but things changed with him.
Something powerful just told her it would not work.
Not when he was this befuddled. Letting him go was hard, he was so good to her…but so was he to Star. She couldn't fault him for that, he might have liked her longer but with Star, he got to know her better. That was the clutch between the two of them, no matter how much Marco desired her, Star had become something else entirely that she couldn't hope to match.
When he came back to school, she could see this aura around him: defeated and worn out. That wicked scar was a warning and even she and Janna knew what might have happened, but they didn't have the guts to ask Marco. So they speculated. While Jackie kept her distance, Janna was full steam ahead, eventually getting some things out of Marco, she didn't like Janna being so forceful but hearing Marco being so recluse with her and everyone got her wondering what on Earth happened?
Eventually, Marco healed, his attitude changing, him readjusting to Earth and everything seemed back to normal.
Then she heard from Janna that he was Dimensional hopping again.
Jackie merely sighed at the thought: Marco didn't change at all. Or rather he did but she didn't like it.
So long Marco had the taste for venturing into the multi dimensions their relationship would never exceed beyond just friends.
Then there was Star, she didn't know how to feel about the dimensional princess. Sure she was quirky and outgoing, very kind and sometimes trouble-maker, it didn't seem right to pin the blame on her. Except she had been harboring feeling for Marco for quite some time. Jackie always felt that Marco did like her, who would send those cute pictures and greet her everyday at school but didn't have the confidence to take it to the next step then Star came along and pushed Marco, whether he wanted to or not. For a time, she thought the two would be so great together, never putting herself in the equation until that sleepover came along.
Forced to speak, Marco put it out there that he liked her and while she was flattered by the gesture but she didn't take it to heart. Until something came up again, Marco forced to talk because of that neck thingy. This time she jumped in and found that their relationship was good, sweet and happy. Marco was her boyfriend and the meaning meant so much more than she knew the aspects that accompanied it.
The dream was good.
Jackie Lynn Thomas wished her high school sweetheart felt the same too.
Marco Diaz, the Safe Kid, the Misunderstood Bad Boy, Nachoman…when she heard he left for Mewni after their break up, she couldn't help but feel betrayed by his decision. A small part of her, hoped he would not find solace there. It was a petty thought, mean-spirited and uncalled for, but she still harbored it in her heart.
And she later regretted when she saw him again all defeated.
One part wanted to comfort him, the other wanted to refrain.
Jackie walked through the familiar hallways, smiling at the Senior banner before she caught sight of Marco with his friends, their eyes briefly met. Marco gave her a warm smile and she grinned, her cheeks tinting up a bit.
Still gets me…every time.
The moment Janna heard Marco was back on Earth and permanently caught her by surprise. It was no secret that she was the bane of Marco's existence, always doing some tomfoolery with him to get on his nerves but to any other person you'd think she was flirting with the boy.
And that she was.
No one would call her out on it, unless they wanted to get raided by her later in the day and with her mystic knowledge of the occult. So she enjoyed a relative happy time harping on the poor boy for most of their lives.
The poor boy was juuust so dense, they would have beautiful mulatto children when they were older, but he was playing hard to get. So she was playing the long game, stealing his identity to forge up some fake marriage papers and whatnot down the line, hey if she couldn't be his wife the first time. She would be the second time. Or third. She got it all: blackmail material, social media passwords, banking information, embarrassing photographs, his internet browser history, that was her clutch, the ace in the hole.
When he ran off to Mewni and intended to stay there, all of that work: gone, useless. Janna felt cheated. All of that hypnosis she put on him. Wasted too. That was a primo control she had over him, she could get him into many incriminating photos and positions. That bent her out of shape and sought to get back in the thick of it.
With Jackie out of the picture and Star out of sight, she thought it was going to be a cakewalk. She was literally the only female left to which he could cry upon her bosom. Foiled again when she heard he was leaving to Mewni.
But now that he was on Earth and permanently she could assume the position she coveted above all else: Marco's girlfriend. It would bring up some bad blood between her and Jackie, but she had begun to date other dudes and it wasn't like she and he were still going at it.
Marco was fresh meat.
And she was the only competition.
When she first saw him, she could see that he was a shadow to his former self, he barely reacted to her, and then she tried to contact Star only to find static. She started to put things together and asked him why she couldn't get a hold of the princess, but he merely shrugged. StarFan13 received the same treatment.
Janna kept an eye on him and he did what he was told if only in a bored pace and face, he seemed extremely put off by everything around him. His friends tried and tried but Marco wouldn't break from all the heckling he received if anything he looked bored with their questions. Seeing no improvement they just let him be and things began to chum along like before.
Like before Star Butterfly showed up.
Frustrated by the lack of care Marco was exhibiting and his constant side stepping, she cornered him that fateful day. She shuddered, knowing this; this Marco existed! No wimpy Safe Kid, no overcompensating Misunderstood Bad Boy! No. This was Marco Diaz at his finest.
She discreetly asked Jackie if Marco ever changed when they were alone. That would raise a red flag normally but Janna had always been crass so Jackie answered he had always been a gentleman, like always.
Janna savored the information: Marco only unleashed the Latino beast within him with her! Not even Jackie had the privilege! The joy she felt knowing it and owning it!
Since then, Janna prod and poke Marco, getting him to fess up more and more, finding out that he had Ward the dimension and his sword was a literal bypass to it, meaning he was the only one who could leave.
Snatching it was a bad idea. Attempting to follow was just as bad.
Marco had grown up and he wasn't taking anyone's bullshit. Hers especially. But even after all these changes, it didn't deter her, oh no, it made her more and more determine to make him hers.
At least Jackie's eyes didn't stray too far in his direction.
For now she was content in watching Marco and making him hers, it would take some doing but she could wait. Marco didn't seem interested in pursuing a relationship either. Janna and Jackie speculated that Marco had a fallout with Star or something of that nature, whatever had happen she was going to use it for her own gain.
Losers weepers.
Janna sighed as times seemingly pass her by, here she was: Senior Year. Just one more boring year and it was off to college or work, whichever she fancied. Greeting classmates, she saw Marco with his usual batch of friends, some of the jocks even fist bumping Marco, he did play once for the football team.
She uncharacteristically toss her hair ditching her beanie for a moment and using her phone to look over herself. She grinned and pass by the boys, Jackie somewhere in the background, Marco and her eyes met and she casually winked at him.
He flicked his eyes elsewhere.
One side of his lips tugging upwards slightly.
Janna threw back her beanie, seeing Jackie give her a quizzical look, success! I still got it!
Moon found Star in Marco's room, she had to admit it was even more busted up than last time she was inspecting it. There were a lot of angry mewmans at Marco, especially those knights that were incapacitated by Mina Loveberry and decided to fling their angry at the culprit and convenient scapegoat: Marco. They didn't have the guts to mud sling Eclipsa and it was so much easier to do it to Marco when he couldn't defend or fight back.
Star merely left her mother as she looked around the room in guilt. Marco was aware of so much things on Mewni, she felt he had to have an ulterior motive but she pushed it out of her head. Marco at the very least she believed was just. He would not stoop to Eclipsa's level in vengeance and hoped that his meeting wouldn't rile anyone up too much.
Moon sighed: whatever it was…she could guarantee the royals would see only wickedness in Marco.
Despite the outcome being more than likely a disaster, she would make the invitations for the other kingdoms to convene. Marco would get his meeting and she would keep her word even if only 1 or 2 decided to show up. That would be enough she hoped.
Moon knew River felt guilty at the sight of Marco but he couldn't muster the courage to apologize and what happened took them by surprise, he insisted the next time Marco showed up that he would make amends. He may not be powerful in terms of his wife but he would find something for the Dark Knight.
She insisted that he just whole-heartedly apologize to the boy.
"Moon pie he isn't going to just take an apology for what we did to him! Why if I was in his boots I'd—" "YOU'D DO WHAT RIVER."
River laughed nervously, "I'd throw a fit, but nothing too serious." Moon rubbed her temples, "Yes, I suspect Marco is itching to throw a 'fit' in the kingdom, but Marco—"
"Now Moon pie there's the problem: we think of what a wholesome Marco would do. We put him on a pedestal where he is only good then one step out of it and we turn on him like bad goat-pig cheese. He's not the same squire boy we had 2 years ago."
"River…that's profound."
"I do have my moments, dear. Wait."
Moon wrote the invitations short and to the point and sent them out, she wanted to get all of them to come under a false pretense. But realized that if Marco showed up suddenly they would be rife with shock and betrayal, something she couldn't afford. Even if it meant that no one would show up or those who did came with the bad intentions aimed at Marco.
It didn't take long for the messenger to return, he was rightly miffed and gave her a piece of his mind, his attire was torn in places and even suffered a black eye. Moon took the letter replies and he marched himself to the Infirmary Wing, she took his actions without any anger, she refrain from telling the messenger lest they refused and ran for it.
She walked herself to the messenger having his face checked, she apologizes and asked if he wanted to take a paid vacation for her withholding information. He glared at her and told her,
"My liege, I live to serve you, your family and the kingdom in my capacity. If you told me I was to be assaulted during my runs, I would have gone in complete plate armor and still did it."
"Thank you."
"I'll take that vacation post haste."
Moon walked over to the other Mewmans that Marco had saved, after being treated they had their families visit them frequently. Higgs and Sir Lavabo were the most afflicted out of the bunch, Moon looked at the group sadly: only 8 made it back alive. The stone coffin Marco brought had the other remains and the families were distraught at the sight and news.
Moon had their plots made hailing them as heroes on their gravestones, their families appreciated the honor however didn't understand.
"They…brought to light certain dangers. If not for them we would be off worse than before." intentionally vague, the families took the answer from the Queen. However, Marco left a detailed report on her desk the following day and she couldn't be more appalled and fearful of the development.
She read the letters from the messengers and it ranged from callous to downright hostile by the Lucitor Kingdom especially. They immediately blamed her for not detaining him for they wished to expel their wrath upon Marco, however she wrote in the invitation prior if they wanted their grievances answered to they had to be at the meeting on the designated date.
Most of them were worried, some of them refusing to attend, the only ones willing was the Johansen, Cloud and Lucitor Kingdom. Not surprising.
Moon leaned back on her seat, thinking that the four would be enough to sate Marco on the destined day.
Star threw herself on her bed. How could she have known? She couldn't be blamed entirely right? If Marco wanted the Impossible Tasks thrown off he should have just came back to Mewni, talked to her, talked to the Goddess. If anything, Marco's suffering these past 2 years was on his shoulders, his fault, he was just making a case for himself.
In a way, she knew she was right, but at the same token, horribly mistaken and selfish. Marco could have but Star made it clear that she didn't want to play nice with him going so far as to physically strike him.
Both stubborn and both suffered for it.
She spent hours thinking it over, replaying the events until she couldn't take it anymore.
Star pulled herself from her bed and walked to her mirror, calling Pony Head, "Hey, gurl—hol' up, B-Fly you look terrible."
"Hey Pony Head…Marco's back…"
Pony Head's face fell at the words, she drifted closer, "Yeah? So…Earth's open right?" "No, it's still has the Ward. I tried but…"
"So what you wanna do B-Fly? Cuz I was thinkin' next time he showed his face, yours truly—" "Pony Head did I do all of this? Cause all of this?"
"Gurl what are you talking about?"
Star looked at her hopelessly, "Remember the Monster Bash? If I just told my parents what went down that night…we could have avoided this! All of this!"
Pony Head shook her head, "Star, you're my bestie and I love you, but when you said Heinous was there that was it. Done deal." "Why?!" "Because she might be an old coot but people would still listen to her over us 'party animals'. With this Meteora jumbo even more. That's what daddy said anyways."
"…what else did he say."
Pony Head sighed, "All this 'politics' is making my head spin gurl, but all I know it's bad news that Marco's back. What else could he bring?" "Tasty nachos?" "Yes, but besides that. So what Star, you catching feelings?"
Star shook her head, "I'm just…confused. What am I suppose to do?" "I dunno know, B-Fly."
The princess hung up and called Tom next, he was less than pleased to hear Marco was back. His horns had grown back and stronger than ever but he kept a vigilant eye for any dangers towards it. He answered and greeted Star happily at first then it soured when Marco's name was brought up, "Yeah I heard he was back, my parents and I are going to attend the meeting."
Star looked at him, the gears in her head turning, "You're going to fight him, aren't you?" "Are you surprised? My parents were furious that someone would dare harm the Lucitor heir and crown prince. They and I don't care if he IS a Dark Knight, he will pay for his crimes."
"He's your friend and mine."
Tom frowned at the words, "He isn't anymore, Starship. Would you call someone your 'friend' after they hurt you like he did to me?"
The thoughts and memories of her whipping Marco around her room before savagely beating him came to mind, I did the same to him…
Her silence got Tom concerned, as if she disagreed with him with his view.
"Star…do you…" Tom started before he shook his head, Star knew where he was getting at, she reassured the Lucitor heir, "No, Tom…I'm with you. Remember that."
He smiled and they talked about something else that didn't pertain to Marco, the upcoming meeting or politics; their mood changing but Star felt uneasiness in her belly the entire time.
Higgs woke up in cold sweat, her hand clawing at the air, she gasped and breathed merciful gulps of air.
Again: nightmares.
It was when they put the bag over her head. Then they beat her. They beat unconscious. The one time being a strong squire worked against you: you could take a hell of a beating.
She wiped the sweat and reached for the glass of water and drank deeply, she put it on the night stand and looked around her room. She and Sir Lavabo were separated since they were in critical condition when Marco brought them, she had a cozy room to herself and no doubt so did the other. It was nice just staying in bed all day.
Then she got fed up with it.
She was so used to working, training and toiling day in and day out that sitting and sleeping got plenty boring. Then again she would gripe about doing her squire duties when she was fit enough to do it. She flop back on bed, feeling the soft mattress, this was a luxury that she didn't have in her room or even in her childhood home.
She fought tooth and nail to get her position, beating the other Pages to be a Squire and someday a Knight. She didn't enjoy being a Squire, it was merely a stepping stone to get her family out of the lower district which began to crowd, refugees taking some bulk. She worked tirelessly to get in good graces with her Knight and hoped she would be a Knight a lot sooner than most.
Yeah, she was just in it for the money and position, and her moral compass wasn't pointing true at all times but a morally good Mewman didn't get you far, unless you were well off. If you didn't have a silver spoon up your arse you were shit out of luck. You had to be cut throat otherwise.
She smirked at the thought of Marco Diaz, the royal squire, a nerdy name for a nerdy human.
His rank automatically outranked every squire at the starting line.
The little asshat technically outrank Knights. Even her own.
But everyone kept their mouths shut. Power like that tend to abusive.
She admit she didn't like Marco very much, but she had to give him credit for beating the crap out of the Magic High Commission, Tom Lucitor and Pony Head Princess. She revoked that credit when he headbutt her before running away.
When he left she was quite happy, enough to actually slack off from her duties for a day. She got double the work the following day but she felt it was worth it.
Higgs looked at the ceiling, she never thought all her life she would be kidnapped and held for 6 long horrible months. She remembered by the first month they remained strong. Unbroken. But at 3 months that amounted to heaping horses shit.
She heard them beg.
For food.
For water.
For sunlight.
For fresh air.
For death.
It was mind numbing what they did to them, once they put a dagger outside of the barred cells. They all reached for it, one of them got it and tried to slit their throat.
Blasted blade was rusted and brittle. Broke against his skin. Higgs shuddered when the mewman broke the shards, collected it and swallowed it, cutting their throat from the inside down to their belly. It took 4 hours of wailing and screaming before they succumb to internal bleeding, vomiting the shards and blood.
Higgs nose wrinkled when the body began to rot, the air so foul and the writhing noise of worms gobbling the feast.
They put another dagger and they all reached for it.
By the time the 5 month came along, she was nearly helpless and utterly hopeless. She was waiting to die. Whether from the stagnant air, the frequent coughing and phlegm build up, the lack of food and wounds that fester to the rat nibbling on her.
She was ready.
Her will to live gone.
She couldn't even cry, her tears dried up from her husk body, her thoughts flashes erratically. Once, she thought it was a horrible dream, but she woke up to a rat about to bite open her eyelids. She caught it and happily bit into it, fleas and mites crawled all over her face but she didn't care, she tasted blood, her own or the rat, she bit harder.
Later that day she puked all that she ate.
She scooped up the better bits and ate it.
When that spider monster came, she knew, she knew she was going to die. It told them if they were still alive they would die in a panic, planning to make a fire and let the smoke do the deed. It laughed and left…then Marco came along, the scuffle roused whoever was left, Higgs barely dragged herself to the bars, his voice different, but she knew it had to be him.
But why though? Why did he come?
Higgs chalked it up to fate, besides Marco seem to be the type of guy who would fall in love with his own heroic deeds, his own legend. She was fuel for it, another teary-eyed damsel to add to his collection retelling how he saved her.
"The next time I see Marco, I'm going to sock him in the face." she said to no one in particular.
"Wow. You ungrateful bitch."
Higgs froze and turn to the side to see Marco standing there with his sword being tucked away, the golden portal behind him.
"Uh—" "Save it."
Higgs scrambled up as Marco turned around to walk back out, "Marco! Marco. Geez, I was thinking aloud. Don't take it so personally."
Marco stopped and looked at her, he leaned towards her, "Well? Punch me Higgs. Don't talk tough if you don't plan to do it."
Higgs threw her punch and it barely turns his cheek.
Marco glared at her as if insulted.
"PUNCH ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT HIGGS."
Higgs went wide-eyed and step back, suddenly afraid at the change of tone and mood of the usually casual squire, "M-Marco, I just—"
He frowned and stalked closer, she shuffled back until she pressed against the wall, Marco was bearing down on her. Higgs didn't meet his eye.
"I take a lot of shit from people over the years Higgs, from friends, family and enemies. I don't expect you to know nor understand frankly I don't care. But I'm sure you know to be even grateful at the very least."
Higgs could feel the scald off his words, "I-I didn't mean it like that…I mean how would I know you—ummm, why are you here?"
Marco narrowed his eyes at the segway, "I came to check up on you and Sir Lavabo, make sure you were being taken care of. I see they are with you. Now I'm going to check up on Lavabo. Good bye Higgs. Have fun with the rest of your life." He replied coldly terse.
Marco turned his back on her and walked for the door, Higgs felt indignant, sore and regretful all at once, "Marco, I'm sorry. And thank you for saving my life."
Marco paused.
"Anything else you want to get off your chest."
"…have you been to your room?"
"I have."
"I…wrote a few of those."
"…and let some pig goats shit in your closet. I was really mad at you for beating me up. I wanted pay back."
Marco looked at her, "You petty bitch. So long Higgs. Hope you get your hair back." She ran a hand over her scalp, thankfully it was growing back feeling the orange fuzz, she watched him leave before she sat back on her bed.
"…what an asshole." Higgs sighed, she smiled to herself, "Thank you, Marco."
"You're welcome, Higgs."
"Ahhh!" Higgs yelped as Marco's head popped out from pillow, a portal allowing it. Without warning Higgs socked him and he yelled and fell back through the portal.
Higgs breathed heavily before she looked through the gateway, Marco on the floor, "Sorry! …but you deserved that, nerd!"
Sir Lavabo woke up as he heard something going on outside his room, he paid it no mind, there was always something going on in the Wing. When the door rattled he roused himself up again before a golden portal opened and a familiar face walked through.
Marco Diaz, royal squire and squire of the Wash.
Reluctant Dark Knight.
He smiled at the older knight, "Sir Lavabo."
"Ah, Marco. Please, no need for formalities, we're both of the same rank…knight to knight."
He smiled as Marco sat next to him, he was taking a lot longer to heal, being older did make things harder for him.
"Well, Marco, come to this old knight for dating tips? Still know how to wash your socks and small cloth yes? The right detergent and softener ratio?"
Marco chuckled, "Yes to all but the first. Ladies are far from my mind." "Ah, Marco, ladies are important. They make a house whole. Who else could use a Mewni corn cob as a dil—" "Okay, stop, you're grossing me out."
Sir Lavabo chuckled, this wasn't his first check up since he was left in the Wing's care, Marco checked up him frequently, "What brings you here Marco? Not just my health I hope."
"Always your health."
"Ah Marco, I'm getting better, not just so fast."
Marco smiled, Lavabo smiled too before he leaned over, "Where have you been all this time Marco? Up to no good?"
"All over the dimensions, and I'm always up to no good."
He chuckled, thinking back to all the times Marco came, feeling it was time to know, "Seeing the state of Mewni…I have to know, Marco: do you hate Mewni for what they did to you?"
There was no edge to the question, but Lavabo always wondered if the young squire held resentment. To the dimension, the kingdom or the people, if he sought blood and from them and the Butterfly Kingdom, he would fight the boy, let fate decide who lived or died. But deep down, he probably wouldn't strike Marco down, he would reason with him, talk to him, understand what ails him
Too much burden placed on the accused. Too much prejudice placed on the accuser.
Someone had to be wrong, someone had to be right, too absolute. He knew Marco for a short while, but Marco never struck him as a vengeful person, at least he hoped not…the stories he heard of Marco's sword, the power it wrought: unbelievable. If he was so inclined, a kingdom could vanish at the swing of his sword…probably. Still, he hoped Marco was beyond his hate. His pain. His suffering.
Lavabo sincerely hoped.
Marco looked off to the side, "Hmph, you too huh? Honestly, I don't know. Mewni did good things for me. And bad things too. Does good over take the bad, does the bad over take the good? If so should I make my judgement based on it? I don't know, Lavabo, but seeing Mewni fester at it's own self-inflicted wounds, I don't think I need to step in and stab it dead. They are content in killing themselves. Slowly. Painfully."
The older knight quietly look at him.
"Those are hard words Marco." "…thinking of ways to make me not act out my anger? Lavabo, I've seen that face many times as a mercenary just so you know."
He sighed sadly, "So you really are thinking of letting Mewni die? You've grown to be a hard man Marco."
He shrugged, "I hope that's not all you think I am. But know this, Sir Lavabo: I won't let it just die without a chance. Catharsis or conscious, whichever prevents me."
"That's a silly way of saying you're a kind man."
Marco laughed, "I'm a foolish boy. Here I am helping a dimension that branded me traitor and put a price on my head, I've spoken to others: fellow mercenaries and rulers if I should just let this place die, you'd be astound at what they said…but if I did follow through with their advice, I know my soul will suffer, a guilt lodged into me that I don't deserve eating and gnawing until my deathbed. I hate this, Lavabo. Why should I care?"
Lavabo looked at his face, there was plenty of anger, loss and suffering but there was something else too.
"Because you know deep in your heart you never wanted to hurt Mewni or anyone on it. You don't want to put thousands to their deaths, nor the innocents that deserve to burn alongside the guilty. You're a hard man Marco, but it doesn't mean you're any less a kind man. Do what you feel is necessary to uplift and absolve your guilt or crimes…if we fall despite your aid, your mercy, your grace…then you did all you could. Don't blame yourself, Marco."
The older knight patted his shoulder as Marco broke down, crying into his hands.
The day Marco Diaz, the royal squire of Star Butterfly, made Dark Knight by Eclipsa Butterfly the Queen of Darkness fought the royals and Magic High Commission had made unintended consequences.
However, despite all the terrible things that happened because of his actions, many saw it as a light upon their dreary lives, both monsters and Mewmans, who both toil at the behest of the kingdom or society they fell under.
Many saw Marco as proof that even divinities could not stand against the might of someone who chose to fight, to make a difference in their lives. Others saw Marco as a means to exploit the rampant fears that he made unintentionally, a certain spider monster hailed Marco, becoming quite a fan even so far as to sneak into the Butterfly Kingdom to bask in his glory. Many more following in his footsteps to pay tribute to Marco Diaz, in their own devious and cult ways. Most mewmans and royalty saw Marco as a trouble rouser, most likely inciting riots and disorder, they wished nothing more than the most unpleasant end for the human especially because of his connection to the Dark Knights and Eclipsa.
And the painful few saw Marco reviving a lost order, Dark Knights were not exactly rare, one popped up at least once a century often as a villain but these few knew Marco would not kill for hate, slaughter or a show of force. He wanted to do good, change the perception of the Dark Knights. They were there in the Trial and they were ashamed for not standing up for him.
They believed in him and when he came back, they would serve gladly under him in atonement and duty. The few made an everlasting vow in secret to aid him when they could.
They called themselves:
Knights of the Hood.
Buttercup wrote into a ledger, tallying up numbers and making notes.
It was a quiet day.
Years ago he remembered whacking certain squire across the grove, he smirked at the memory and wrote a note down before closing the ledger. He stuffed it into a shelf and glanced behind him, a massive collection of books and ancient text he either wrote himself, found, preserved, stole and outright fought for many many years ago.
His collection was his life alongside of Matilda, Honeysuckle, his beloved and wife.
The only one in the Lizards that view him not as a traitor but as a monster of valor and honor. She lamented not being there for Oblivion, she was a skilled apothecary. She could have saved him, but Buttercup told her not to dwell on it, they had yet met each other, there was no way of knowing.
Buttercup glanced upwards and for a moment, feeling the vibrations before walking to the surface, he smiled seeing his prodigal student return in his trademark outfit although he looked more man than boy.
"Ah, if it isn't the diabolical Dark Knight, come back for blood!"
Marco snickered at the words, Oblivion barked with laughter the ghost beating him to greeting their student, "Aye, the lad is that and much more."
Marco smiled at his two teachers, "It's good to see you two again, Buttercup, Oblivion."
"Ah, lad, you gone made for a quiet two years. I needed some action back in the grove."
"Yeah, enough of that Oblivion, this ghost tried to pick a fight with me sending books flying at me. I had to don my silver glove to righteously pimp slap him."
The three roared with laughter, Oblivion managing to temporarily sink into the ground, but after some catching up and more chuckles, Marco straighten up, relaying what he intended to do,
"Well, the Wards will hold up until the Peace Talk after that…well, those were a good 2 years you afforded me, Buttercup, thank you."
The Lizard nodded, "I hoped you used it wisely. Did you find those teachers of yours?"
Marco's smile faltered at the words, Oblivion and Buttercup looked at him with concern, "Yeah, about that…I did find the teachers."
"…" "Well, don't keep us in suspense."
Marco shuffled his feet a bit before sighing,
"I was never taught. The Blood Knight, Blight Knight and Death Knight refused to teach me at all. I was a mercenary for the better part of two years."
"…wow, I didn't think it would go so poorly."
"I'm sorry."
Buttercup sighed so did Oblivion, "No need for apologies lad, you did what you could do, no use beating yourself about it." "I hope you still expanded upon your knowledge and education?"
"I did plenty of that. Learned from the best in the mercenary circle, learned to handle more weapons, skills and techniques, politics and government, hunting plenty of that, all sorts of things. I really got lost in the dimensions."
Buttercup and Oblivion nodded, "How's the Traitor's Sword Dark Knight? Has it served you well?"
"Plenty, if I didn't have it I would have died many times over. And it's been pivotal with all the Impossible Tasks I managed to do." Marco pulled it out to look over it's splendor.
The two looked at him confused, "What's that?" "Oh, it's because of the Blood Moon—er, never mind it's not important."
The two looked at him curiously before nodding, "Mhmmm fair enough. By the way, were you here some time ago?"
Marco nodded, "Yeah, I was dealing with a problem."
"And the scope of it?"
"I tangled with Eclipsa and Meteora. Beat the two of them."
Buttercup gave him a inquisitive look, "Your skills and prowess along with the sword would have served you well Marco, but I have my doubts. Had you been taught by those teachers it would have been a cake walk. How did you triumph over someone with that much raw magical power? And her dark magic to boot?"
"And her daughter, I heard she's quite the monster." Oblivion added.
Marco rubbed the back of his head, "I…I had some help dealing with Eclipsa and Meteora."
"Do tell, Marco."
Marco smiled at the words, he had one heck of a story to tell them.
[POST BATTLE WITH ECLIPSA AND METEORA, BEFORE THE SEQUEL]
Kelly lounged in her queen size bed, reading up books Marco brought from Earth for her, literature from his world was so strange but still fun to read. She liked them enough to ask Marco for more every time he visited and she glanced up. All around her vanity mirror were pictures and souvenirs she acquired over the years with her friends and on her own, pictures of her friends, a necklace or two, stickers, badges and pins. Clothes strewn on the floor in heaps or some laid on chairs, her closet was brim with clothes and shoes and her desk were stacked with more books, magazines and knick knacks she found.
A small cactus in a ceramic flower pot under a lamp. A recent gift from Marco.
She reminisced at his first eventful visit.
[FLASHBACK]
When Kelly got the hastily made text and when Marco didn't respond back, she immediately thought the worst had happened. For a while she was just extremely tense unable to sit still and constantly scrolling through her phone, every day felt strenuous as she waited for him to show up. She didn't try to contact Star or the rest, knowing something was going on and she rather hear it from Marco first.
When he finally arrived at her room after putting up the Ward, she could only think one thing: he looked terrible, the scar on his eye, the broken aura around him. She caught him as he fell to his knees, his sword falling alongside him forgotten.
He cried.
Kelly let him.
It was worse than the time he caught Star kissing Tom, at least they didn't know at the time so the blame felt 50/50 but this time. This time was way worse. She was going to attend the Trial but she got caught up and missed it, if she did attend she might have fought alongside Marco from what she heard from him and later from the newsfeed.
He retold her all that happened: what he did and what tried to keep from happening, but it quickly spiraled out of his control. Marco blamed himself for making these worse and to make matters bleaker, he couldn't go back there to learn from his teachers, Buttercup and Oblivion, on how to make things better. He was alone in his plight.
Kelly was troubled and speechless.
Unsure what to say, she just let him pour it out, thankful her parents were out today. Marco didn't hold back spouting over regretting ever coming back to Mewni, thinking Star would be ecstatic at the sight of him, hoping for more glorious dimensional adventures, so on and so on.
While Kelly's heartfelt sympathy went out for the boy, she was a little annoyed that Marco felt everything was a bad experience but after his heavy rant, he snuggled up to her, she stiffen, as his breath tickled her neck, fingers running through her bushy green hair.
"At least…you were there Kelly…" his words weak but what he implied wasn't.
Kelly didn't know how rebuke him at such a critical time, but she believed honesty would be best, he had to understand now lest he continued to think like that well afterwards, "…Marco. I know what's going on. And what you are doing. Please don't. I know you're going through a lot but… I'm…I'm not your rebound. Please don't make me that."
"…"
Kelly pulled back and saw his face, he looked down, she was right in her assumption. She cupped his face, letting the words spill as if natural, "Marco. I know things look bad now…but it will get better, I promise. I know you're stronger than what has happened. I'll be here—"
He looked at her hurt, horrified at her words and hopelessness in his eyes.
"I'm not! I'm not, Kelly! I'm just Marco Diaz! The Safe Kid! A boy! A human for pete sake! I have no magic! No supernatural lineage! No royal blood in my veins! Nothing! I have nothing!"
Kelly watched him cry again, spilling down his face, "If it wasn't for Star I would have been the same boring kid back on Earth! If it wasn't for Star, I wouldn't have this false sense of confidence in myself! If Star never showed up, I wouldn't be anything else than the Safe Kid until I died!"
Kelly didn't console him, she frowned at his words, tears in her eyes now, "Marco. Star isn't responsible for everything good in your life! When I first met you—look at me, Marco, quit sniveling!"
Marco looked up, his eyes red, "Marco, Star's not responsible for you being a good person, a kind person, that comes from here and here." Pressing a warm hand against his heart and head, she smiled, "You're compassionate, you care, you might not have any of those things they have but what you have made me think of you better than all of them. Look at me, Marco, having what they have, won't bring you joy as you will believe; sometimes being just a normal boy can be it's own joy. So what if you can't do something on your own, you can always ask for help from your friends. And you have that. Marco, you don't have nothing nor are you alone. You strive to be better, you try to excel at every aspect of yourself, you pick yourself up when you fall. Marco, you've done things only you could, do you think Star or Tom could have made Tad leave without force? Or magic? You just talked and Tad readily left, I tried and failed and I was his girlfriend."
"…"
"Don't believe me? C'mon Marco let's sit down and talk about all the things we've done that no amount of magic or special gifts could do."
They sat on her bed and talked and talked, sometimes they laughed, sometimes they cried over things, sometimes they just talked about happier times.
Their bellies eventually growled and Kelly insisted on Goblin Dogs, Marco said pizza. Kelly frowned, saying it would take to long, but Marco took his sword, the Traitor's Sword as he called it, slashed a portal and hopped through and came back with a steaming box, delicious pizza hidden inside.
"That's a cool sword…wait, I thought the Ward blocks anyone from entering?"
"This sword is special, it turns into whatever I need it to so I wanted it to bypass the Wards and it can."
Kelly nodded, taking the answer, "From 'Sir Buttercup' right?"
"Yeah…I need to find my new teachers…I don't think they will be as fun as my old ones, but hey you never know right?"
Kelly smiled, seeing a bit of a happier Marco underneath all his pain, "You're right about that."
From that day forward, Marco made frequent visits to her, to talk and hang out. She told him to land on a particular area of her room, a mat placed there so he could land on it without getting her carpet dirty and give clues she's been having an 'unauthorized boy' in her room. Tad never had that problem, he hid in her hair.
[FLASHBACK END]
Kelly heard the familiar portal and she spun ready to greet her friend.
She held back a scream when Marco felt face first into her room covered in blood and mud, his gear peeling off him and rolling across the towel carpet. The day before he asked her to put towels around the mat, she didn't understand at first but understood now: he was going to need it.
"Marco! What happened to you?" Kelly ran to him as he labored to breath, he grabbed her arm as he struggled to stay awake.
"…water…"
Kelly looked for some.
Marco grabbed her arm again, "No…bath water…bring me to the…"
Kelly nodded quickly and pulled him up, she grimace feeling the filth on her but she got over it and put him in the bathtub and turn on the faucet, she tossed her dirty clothes aside and began to run the water over him, soaking his hair and tattered clothes.
"No, Kelly…just let me…" Marco pushing her away before he slumped against the wall, blood oozing out of his wounds, Kelly just stared at him.
"Undine…please…"
"…?"
Marco closed his eyes as he spoke again, as if begging, "Undine please…I know you're upset…please I know I'm wrong for doing what I did…please heal my wounds…"
Kelly continued to stare, he was probably in shock, he was delirious. But before she could move Marco sighed heavily making her pause, the bath water darken with mud and blood,
"Marco, let me clean you, those cuts are going to be infected." She said softly.
That won't be necessary maiden. Marco, my opinion of you is lowered when I thought it would sink no further, barging into her home like this. For shame.
Kelly flinched as the water began to rise, free of filth and began to wrap around Marco, he sighed as Kelly watched, fascinated as the lacerations and bruises all over him slowly close and heal, patches of dark purple eased back and cuts stitched back together making whole skin, dull thuds came when foreign materials exit the flesh. Marco winced and groaned as audible cracks and pops reached Kelly's ears,
Foolish boy…broken bones, torn muscle fibers, ligaments and tendons, if not for myself and what little Seraph's power left you could have been crippled for the rest of your life.
"Thank you Undine…I'm forever grateful…"
Kelly looked around curiously, unsure who she was hearing but it seemed Marco knew this 'Undine'.
…don't do anything foolish like this again, Marco.
Marco sat in the bathtub, the clean water wrapping him protectively as the filthy ones went down the sink. Marco glanced at Kelly and blushed seeing her in her undies, "Um, Kelly, why are you…?"
"Never mind that Marco, who is this Undine? What happened to you?"
Marco looked down for a moment, the water seemed to be agitated by the question to, enough for it to move and warp, making itself into a beautiful woman caressing Marco from behind, Kelly felt suddenly on edge. She looked nothing like Mewman, monster or any other race she had ever seen before, the woman looked like the epitome of viewing a beautiful waterscape: a tranquil beauty.
However the aura she exude like a raging tsunami or devastating flood.
Marco chuckled nervously, "I kinda picked a fight with Meteora and Eclipsa. Good news is that I won."
Yes, clearly with all this maladies you're the winner. You're lucky Seraph isn't here at the moment to throttle you.
"Yes, and this Kelly is Undine, she's the metaphysical representation of water and all that encompass it. She and her sisters Gnome, Slyph and Ignis currently inhabit my body and when needed I can call upon their powers and control of their respective elements to my need."
Kelly felt her mouth hang open.
Undine ignored her and began to run her hands over Marco, he winced when she began to heal his other minor injuries after the more major ones.
"How—when did you get, er, meet them?" "Very recently actually…I came across their home, apparently one of the first places made by the universe, it's pretty massive, luckily I landed on the capital and met the natures there. Kelly, that place has every element of nature there, some I've never heard of before, it was really enlightening."
And a secret, you can never tell where the First Born lives Marco. I will no sooner slit your throat whether you tell by torture, trickery or admission. Remember that.
Kelly was alarmed by the words. Undine glared at her next, her eyes every shade of blue,
And you will keep this secret too, 'Kelly'. If you talk, I will know and you will regret it.
Marco sighed, "We're not telling anyone, Undine. No need to—" Undine hissed and a water blade pressed against his throat, Marco calmly looked at the elemental, Kelly's hand was reaching for Undine's neck on instinct.
Say what you will, Marco. I do not care for either of your lives. Healing you was at the behest of Ignis, I'd rather you bled to death, but Iggy would never shut up if I haven't.
Despite, the harsh words and the literal blade at his neck, Marco's face soften, he smiled, "You really are kind, Undine."
The words made Undine's features harden but she said nothing else, shut up Marco, I'm working.
It would be another hour before Marco left the bathtub, hobbling for his sword, since then Kelly took care of cleaning the mess and dressing herself. She was mortified Marco saw her in near nude, but the way he looked over her made her blush furiously, he liked what he saw~
Kelly shook those words out of her head.
They agreed not to do anything that would jeopardize their friendship, something they both value highly for nearly two years now. But lately…
"Undine has done all she could do…I better go home." He reached for his sword in the mat but couldn't even lift it up. Kelly sighed and pulled him to her bed.
"You're in no shape to be tearing portals. C'mon, take a nap."
Marco argued at her insistence he rest but ultimately cave under when the soft mattress welcomed him. Kelly locked her door and watched over the boy, deciding to hear his story after his slumber.
She kept an oversize shirt and a pair of baggy jogging pants for him, playing it off when her parents found it as her pajamas. They were suspicious but since they had not seen hide nor hair of Marco, they just assumed it was a fashion thing for youngsters her age.
Marco took those clothes after his dip and slept in them, Kelly couldn't help but watch over the boy, now healed but tender, he looked just like any other person, not some reckless idiot picking a fight with a nigh unstoppable beast.
Kelly's lips tugged upwards seeing even the oversize shirt bugle in places, Marco's ectomorph was starting to look like his father, buff but overly, he was leaner in some places. And the thin fading scars she caught glimpses of whenever he was undress torso-wise, gave an air of ruggedness and adventurous soul.
His face too, his boyish features were fading away and slowly being replaced with a mature one, his jawline and cheekbones were more prominent. Kelly retracted her hand when it came into view, nearly tracing it.
She caught her breath as she sat away from the sleeping Marco, she looked back at him then to her hand, cheeks flushed, what did I almost…?
She contemplated her confused feelings until Marco woke up hours later, a hard thumping on the door. Kelly helped Marco get to his sword and flee before Kelly opened the door to see her mother, frowning,
"H-hey, Mom, did you need something?"
She merely looked at her daughter and pushed her way in, she looked around, Kelly hoped she left nothing to clue her mother in. Said parent gave the room a cursory glance, "What took you so long to open the door?"
"I was doing…stuff." Kelly said lamely, her mother sighed before walking out of the room, "I want to meet him the next time he shows up. No more of this sneaking around."
Kelly was dumbfounded, "W-what are you talking about, Mom?"
Her mother only gave her a knowing smile, "I'll tell daddy to keep the shotgun empty. I want to meet him."
[Day of the Meeting]
Marco looked at the calendar for a moment before nodding to himself.
"It's time to set some things right…"
Marco slashed himself a portal and gave a glance at the closet where his Ward Crystal had begun to flicker: after today the Wards would come crashing down.
And Mewni and everyone else could come through unimpeded into Earth.
Marco tighten his grip on the sword and walked through.
XxXxXxXxX
All events took place during the fortnight period minus Kelly's own. I wanted to highlight what the other characters have been up to since they might not show up for a while down the line.
Whew, I also need to crank that fan fiction lever if I want my work to be out before the rest of the season, I will more or less undo all the great plot I already made, something other. I dunno. I just feel it would downplay the fanfic.
Anyways, lots of things to read, I hope it will answer some questions and otherwise baffle you. You're welcome.
Also, I don't know if I should be alarmed but I heard the series moved from XD to the main channel. If that were the case, would it change to be more kiddy in nature? It's all nit and gritty right now, if it loses that...we'll see from there.
The story will continue in the next chapter: The Peace Talker Incident
tu ne me reconnaiss pas?
I AM NRG
END OF TRANSMISSION