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Disclaimer: Fun isn't something one considers when balancing the fanfic universe. But this *types*…does put a smile on my face.
Chapter 9
The Peace Talker Incident
XxXxXxXxX
Marco glared at Moon, the room was barely full.
Pony Head and her father were there, the princess moodily texting.
River Butterfly with one other Johansen watched him, their battle axe on the table.
Tom, King Lucitor and Queen Lucitor staring daggers into him.
Moon and Star Buttefly sat in the middle, Moon in battle armor and Star in her very own as well.
This was the meeting.
Minus the silent but death glaring Magic High Commission members who stood guard and witness.
Rhombulus looked ready to pop a crystal vessel in his head.
Omni kept his body to a minimum cosmic cloud, his gaze solely on Marco.
Hekapoo looked the most upset with the arrangement.
Marco sighed loudly, "Queen Moon…I know you contacted them, the other royals, but this is an embarrassing display for the unity of Mewni."
He got many loud coughs from the table, Tom and his side a lot louder, Marco ignored them before taking up his sword, they all tensed.
The MHS members leapt forward, Marco threw them a disgusted look, his sword shimmering,
"Oh, for—if I wanted to…you know what just keep your laurels firmly planted on those chairs, I'll be back with the other royals."
The MHC and Moon were agitated by the words, "Marco you can't just barge your way into their kingdoms and demand they attend! There's something called common decency and decorum! And besides Marco you gave them a choice to attend."
Marco shrugged, "I really don't care. If this meeting changes the geopolitical landscape of Mewni they will be even angrier at not being present and at all of you for making the decisions without them. Now, if you excuse me."
Some of them stood up to lash out but Marco slashed a portal and leapt through and it snapped shut before Hekapoo could follow.
Moon looked troubled at the words and the royals sat down and began to grumble.
"I don't believe this…here is the Dark Knight, standing right in front of us and we're letting him do what he wants!" "You are more than welcome to attack him King Lucitor, however I nor we will not be responsible for what befalls you. Also we will bill you for all the damages." Moon said irritated.
King Dave Lucitor kept a stiff face at the warning, he sat down while his wife, Wrathmelior Lucitor then stroked Tom's hair.
Tom let it be and glanced at Star, she looked worried. How he wanted to go and comfort her, maybe rub it in Marco's face when he got bak. Tom was bitter over Marco's actions to him and Star, firstly he went on and on about revenge he would have upon the Dark Knight then the prince rationalized that Marco was just a fuckin' git about the politics of Mewni. To which made him want to pound his face in even more.
In the two years Tom decided to take an active role in his princely duties: foremost was hand picking knights to serve him as his elite guard, one of which came from a long line of Hell Knights. He trained alongside them, learning how to fight and their duties in his kingdom, when he told them of the appearance of another Dark Knight made by Eclipsa and wielded the Traitor's Sword they were beyond angry.
Every kingdom in Mewni at least the more ancient ones had at least one tale about a legendary weapon that saved their respective kingdom however was lost and never found again. Hearing Marco's devious exploits with the sword, many began to speculate the mythical weapon of yore was in fact the Traitor's Sword he carried. Other than the Butterfly Wand a regalia to its namesake, the Traitor's Sword proved to be it's equal.
Many secretly opted to have the blade taken from Marco's corpse should he ever 'mysteriously' fell. However, hearing his triumph over many individuals first and foremost the Magic High Commission, many found it unnerving he was already a powerful warrior to contend with.
The Magic High Commission also went through a rough patch due to Marco's actions. Upon hearing the Dark Knight's triumph over them, many begun to resist their authority, even going so much as to defy them in the face. They were the police of the multi-dimensions, their positions was solidified since conception. However, every time they were beat, it was quickly and covertly muffled, like the incident with Ludo-Toffee.
But with Marco Diaz, the newly minted Dark Knight, there was no chance of that: too many witnesses especially with the Scribe's logs and heirs of different kingdoms. It was inevitable. Ridicule happened very rarely to these divinities from the populace they policed, with each other, it was frequent, Rhombulus taking a majority of it from Glossyark. So it came as quite a shock when mewmans, monster and other dimensional folks spur their authority and often they found themselves in the short end of the stick.
Rhombulus zapped his haters into crystal, some even willing to prove that they weren't afraid.
Omni quietly left the jeers, he could easily flick them and watch them land painfully, but he was above that. Most of the time.
Hekapoo took no one's sass at all even on her best days however she experienced the most of the ridicule since she had to personally test and forge the Dimensional Scissors for clients. Her great 'customer service skills' diminished over the years.
She was already plenty fed up with multi-dimensional folks sauntering up to her on a daily basis, thinking she was just an easy piece of thicc. It was quadruple after Marco defeated her. Now she had to contend with much more vulgar advances from client and everyone alike leading her to have a shorter fuse than normal.
More than once did she pinned the blame on Marco to Moon, Rhombulus and Omni. The fact he was able to Ward Earth from her for the past 2 years made her violently angry at the mere mention of Marco. To this day no one on Mewni sans Buttercup and Oblivion knew how Marco accomplished an unheard feat.
So when the trio saw him in his usual hoodie and sword in the meeting room after their fateful battles two years ago, they did the only reasonable thing: maliciously beat the stuffing out of him.
And they nearly accomplished it too.
The entire MHC were mere inches away from smashing a bored Marco into the floor but thankfully Moon got them to stand down. It took a lot from Moon to get them to settle down before the other royals arrived and they viciously spew insults until then.
Marco ignored them.
And now he was leaping across Mewni and snatching royals as they began to fall around the meeting table via a golden portal appearing from above.
"Are we really going to let Marco do this…" Hekapoo hiss, Omni and Rhombulus looked at her darkly.
"…hey, I want to smash his face in too…but Queen Moon said only after the meeting."
"He doesn't deserve to speak or barter or even beg for his worthless life…Queen Moon must know this is a folly."
The MHC didn't like the fact that Moon caved and accepted the meeting in the first place, but after relaying what Marco dug up and the endless debate if it was fictional, they relented, but just barely.
Omni was the most against it, stating that Marco somehow afflicted him because his cosmic crystals were not working properly. They just showed some very disturbing images, sometimes it was just pitch black as if the Marco he was viewing no longer existed.
Still, Marco asked them to just let him get the meeting going and when it was done, then they could decided what to do. So they humored him, they'll listen to his outrageous notions whatever they are and then they'll punish him accordingly for wasting their time.
The room slowly filled when each royal fell from above unto a seat, they looked around in surprise, fear, betrayal and anger seeing everyone else there, looking at them with amused faces.
King and Queen Pigeon stared at them.
King and Queen Kelpbottom dripped with anger.
King and Queen Spiderbite was itching for answers.
King and Queen Jaggy Mountains sat craggily.
When the final royal showed up did Marco reappears and bowed to the audience. The kidnapped royals immediately roared in anger, some tried to leave but the MHC put a stop to that, stating if they were stuck in there, so will they and the royals got in a screaming match with them. One positively murderous glare from Hekapoo made them grumble and took their seats again, the killing intent wave causing some of them to pale.
Hekapoo threw a dirty look at the Dark Knight, who didn't make eye contact with her. Fucking little shithead made me do something for him! I swear if he runs I'm going to
It was lost in a mad murmur of twisted things the femme fatale would do.
Marco waited for them to get situated before announcing himself in great flourish,
"Thank you all for attending this momentous meeting distinguished ancient, noble and royal houses of Mewni. I am Marco Ublado Diaz, Dark Knight of Mewni, you have graciously bless me with your attendance in this gratifying meeting to discuss the sorry state of Mewni to which all of you are responsible for."
Everyone looked indignant at the accusation despite the benevolent charismatic air Marco managed to utter to the smoldering group. His polite amused face dropped, adopting his mercenary business face, the royals felt the change and fidgeted.
"And none of you are leaving until we get some goddamn civility, trust and communication between all of you."
"Dark Knight Marco, you—!" King Lucitor started.
"YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN YOU ARE TOLD." Marco coldly spat, the royal froze at the words. Tom rose from his seat and Marco looked at him, his eyes bright, "You wanna go again Tom? Last time I did it with my bare hands and you still lost."
Tom turned livid at the words, every royal looked frighten at the building altercation, the meeting had just begun and it was already a complete clusterfuck. Queen Moon got ready to call out to Marco but the Dark Knight deflated his anger and wave a hand, "Sit down, Thomas, we can hear your input later."
Tom looked at him with crimson eyes, "I do not answer to you nor do I heed your words, Marco! You think you're some big shot because you can raise your voice and wave a magical sword? Hah! I'm not afraid of you, Dark Knight. And neither should anyone else be! We practically outnumber him, what is he gonna do?!"
"He can run." Hekapoo mutter, Marco's eyes shift to her and she glared at him.
Marco folded his arms, he frowned at Tom despite the other royals muttering to each other at the words, "This meeting is a farce! A waste of time! Marco, you're a criminal on Mewni, why is he even allowed to hold a meeting like this? Who agreed to it? Why is he allowed to do what he pleases?"
Eyes fell on the Butterfly Monarch, Moon merely stared at Marco who slowly clapped his hands getting the attention refocused on him, "Wow, Tom, you can actually put things together. On the surface that is. However, they can not dispute that Mewni is crumbling like a soggy slice of cornbread, that's why even if they hate me, think I'm a criminal or a it's waste of time…they will hear this Dark Knight out begrudgingly. That and I'll just put their sorry ass back in this meeting again, so why waste time and energy? Better to hear the farce and be done with it, once."
The royals were silent and Tom looked at them in surprised, he looked at Star and she bit her lower lip, the prince threw Marco a deep loathing look. Queen Moon coughed into her fist, "Marco, why don't you excuse—"
"No. Tom did ask a valid question. And though he is still inexperienced in royal court, how do you expect him to grow? If he is treated like a child."
Marco ignored the collective Lucitors' glare at him, he looked at the group for a moment seeing small but visible signs of alike thinking to Tom. Marco could help but sigh, "Alright, seeing as all of you have something to say, you might as well say it. ONE AT A TIME. And since we're all here out of our very busy schedule, keep it brief. Once all of you are done whining. You will listen to MY whining. Who wants to share their grief fir—?"
"MARCO!" Pony Head Princess yelled, everyone including her father winced at the volume as she shot for Marco, horn first. She grinned savagely at him before she wobbled in the air as Marco caught her by the horn before it skewered him,
"…"
"…this scenario played differently in my head."
"Good to see you too Lilacia."
"Oh you did not just use that, Earth Turd!"
Marco rolled his eyes before he let her go, "What's your grievance, Pony Head?"
She looked at him before circling him,
"You here to cause trouble?"
"No."
"You hear to kill anyone, in this meeting or Mewni?"
"No."
"You gotten a lot better looking since I saw you, got a girlfriend now?"
"No."
"What a waste, Earth Turd!"
"Hmph, your bestie gave me a great deterrent."
Pony Head gave him a quizzical look before looking at Star who looked down at her lap, King Pony Head spoke up, "Boy. You attacked my daughter the day Eclipsa Escaped, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Marco shrugged as Pony Head flew back, "Not that my words will be taken with authenticity, but she attacked me and I threw her into a wall where she stayed by her horn."
King Pony Head drifted towards him, the entire bulk masking Marco, "You put hands on my daughter, Dark Knight."
Marco stared at him, "If you think I struck first…tell that to the Scribe Logs, they recorded everything that happened. Even if that massive typewriter didn't make such a racket."
The king looked at Moon and she pulled out a sheet of paper and read it,
[Pony Head]"Oh no you don't Earth turd, no one and I mean NO ONE makes my bestie cry! Ya hear me!? And beating her boyfriend, whatever."
[Pony Head]"Ohhh boy I waited to do this for a looong time!"
[Marco]"SAME HERE."
[Pony Head]"Ohhh…that's just rude, Earth turd."
The king came over and read it too before verifying the authenticity of the logs before sighing, "I, King Pony Head, end my grievances with the Dark Knight as he was the one provoked by my daughter to defend himself on this matter. I will hear his 'whining' without objection."
"Just like that Daddy?!"
"Zip it, Cupcake."
Pony Head grumbled but didn't do anymore than that
Marco looked at the next one: King and Queen Pigeon who flew around him before landing on a stand. They cooed a few times before one of them pulled out a picture of their son, Prince Rich Pigeon from underneath their wing.
Marco took the picture and looked at them, "This was already answered for and you were the ones who observed it from your own son. I know I took you against your will, but this is urgent. Will you hear this Dark Knight out?"
They stared at him for a minute. Unblinking.
They cooed.
Flapping their wings.
They crapped on the floor in an intricate pattern.
YES.
Marco bowed to them and they flew back to their chairs.
King and Queen Jaggy Mountains stood up and looked at Marco, "We attended that Trial and bore witness your birth, Dark Knight and later took to battle that endangered our lives. What says you?"
"I indeed took to battle however that is the sudden appearance of Mina Loveberry that endangered not only your life but everyone else's. You were evacuated so you didn't see the battles that followed. However, answer me this: you bore witness to my sullied knighthood, why didn't you stop a Dark Knight from being let loose upon Mewni? Any of you could have stopped Eclipsa, why didn't you?"
"…"
"…"
"Did you need a scapegoat for when things went sideways? Looking for a convenient target? Because I was surely made into one."
"…"
"Are you in league with Eclipsa?"
"No. And I will prove that when I have my turn to speak."
"…"
"We, the Jaggy Mountains royals, will benevolently hear out the Dark Knight. However, after you're done speaking, we will speak up once again. That goes for everyone else. Are we in accord?"
"Yes. It would be folly otherwise." Marco bowed and they sat back down.
King and Queen Kelpbottom stood up next, "We too were there for the Trial. We heard of your exploits, Dark Knight. We don't hold any particular grudges against you personally. However, what do you intend to do with Mewni? What is the nature of your intentions? You are here for something."
"You might find it hard to believe but I only intend to balance the scales, that you, all of you, are responsible for. I have said that Mewni's current sorry state is the result of all of you, myself included. However, if you wish to hear what I have to say, then you will hear it after everyone's grievances."
The Kelpbottoms examined him for a moment before nodding, "We, the Kelpbottom royalty will hear out this Dark Knight for the rest of the meeting. If only begrudgingly."
Marco bowed before looking to the next one: the Spiderbite royals.
They stood up and looked at him critically, sizing him up and down before their eyes resting on his sword, "Dark Knight Marco Diaz…I have some questions for you and it is mandatory for you to answer truthfully."
Marco nodded, "I will answer truthfully, Queen Spiderbite."
"Good, good…now answer me this: is this some clever ruse at a grab for power."
"No your majesty."
"Liar."
Marco frowned, she looked at him scornfully, "You were made a Dark Knight by Queen Eclipsa Butterfly. Was a squire of Star Butterfly. Came to the aid of the Butterfly Kingdom and it seems only contacted the Butterfly Kingdom whereas the other kingdoms you did not. I would think someone like yourself can see where I am getting at: is this a power play for the Butterfly Kingdom? Are you still currently employed by the Butterfly monarch in some way?"
Marco shook his head, despite the look of outrage from Moon, Star and River at the Spiderbite ruler, "I am not employed by the Butterfly Kingdom nor am I employed by any other kingdom. I am here on my own free will to right the wrongs you have all wrought upon Mewni."
"How noble of you." King Spiderbite sneered.
"So…you think I am deceitful?" "You are a Dark Knight. Everyone here should be wary of that." The jab was against every noble.
Marco sighed and pulled out the Traitor's Sword, "You all know what this is right? The fabled Traitor's Sword …the Sword of Pendragon…the Sword made to End the Immortals' Suffering, I can command it to electrify those who lie in my presence."
"You can also command it to lie to us." Queen Spiderbite spat, the others murmured in agreement.
Marco sighed and placed the sword upright, the balancing it on the razor tip, "I, Marco Ublado Diaz, ask you to bolt those who dares to lie. Myself included."
Marco looked at them all, "Princess Pony Head what do I make best?" "Uhhh, you know what you make, Earth Turd." "Humor me." "Ugh, whatevs, it's Nachos…I think."
"No it's salsaAAAAAHHHHH!" Marco yelled as a bolt of lightning came from the sword and struck Marco sending him flying to the wall. Everyone present couldn't help but snicker.
Marco stood up and dusted himself, his face not sharing the mirth. Everyone shut up at the sight.
"As you can see, it wouldn't hesitate to retaliate."
"That proves nothing." Queen Spiderbite retort.
Marco looked at her and stated plainly, "I have worked for you."
Everyone looked at her, Queen Moon's eyes widen as the queen looked confused at the words, knowing what was going to happen next, "No you haven't, why would I ever hire you—ACKKK!?"
Marco merely stood there as a fork lance the Queen and she fell on her arse, he shook his head, "Is this proof enough for all of you or do you want to try being electrified by this legendary blade personally?"
Her husband helped the queen up; she flipped her hair from her livid face, "HOW DARE YOU! ATTACKING A QUEEN! I'LL HAVE YOU DRAWN AND QUARTERED!"
Marco narrowed his eyes, "Enforce that threat if you dare."
Everyone sans Moon, the MHS and Lucitors were perturbed by the words of the either of them. However, Moon spoke up, "I believe we all can agree that the blade will suffice that neither party will lie. Are we agreed on this matter?"
The Spiderbite royals glared at Moon, "Oh, mighty convenient that you make that call."
"Would you rather I make it." Marco challenged, "The reason it shocked you is because I DID work for you."
They gave him a quizzical look, Marco reached inside his hoodie and pulled out a familiar skull mask. Everyone tensed at the sight of it minus the Lucitors'.
Marco looked at them all, holding the mask aloft for all to see, "I am StudMuffin, Mercenary Extraordinaire, I have worked for countless of clients and undertaken just as many contracts. From you, you, you, and you, and even you." Marco made a careless pointing gesture to everyone in the room in exaggeration.
Everyone went pale white at the information, Marco looked at them all while putting the mask away, "And if you still dispute my claim…I will say exactly what you made me do for you. All of you have employed this Dark Knight. All of you: are guilty by association now."
"You…you fucking traitorous arsehole! No one will ever hire you ever again if you—!"
"But I don't care." Marco said quietly.
The royals sat there stunned.
"I don't give a flying fuck about my reputation or my standing in the mercenary circle. If that is what it take to make all of you see reason, make you stop this petty infighting and do your damn job for the people and for Mewni…so be it." Marco snarled, Queen Moon and Star stared at him.
The two rulers stared at him before they sat down, eyes wide, "Speak Dark Knight…and be done with it…"
Marco looked at the rest, waiting.
River stood up suddenly, he took off his crown and ran a hand across his balding head, Marco looked at him, "Marco, m'boy…I know we did you wrong two years ago…and prior to that as well. I want to tell you, not as King River Butterfly or River Johansen or as any royal capacity of Mewni, that I apologize to what I did and said to you that day."
Marco looked at him, everyone feeling a sudden tense aura from the Dark Knight, "Straighten that tongue River. Mean what you say, I'll spare you from groveling."
Eyes fell on the Traitor's Sword, bits of lightning began to circle it.
"Marco, my father already apologiz—!" Star cried, Moon was ready to join in, but River held out a hand stopping them, his eyes on Marco,
"No, Star…he's right, I'm still shying away from what he is due, I owe him that much as a man…Marco, I apologize for giving you false hope that you could easily have been a Knight of the Butterfly Kingdom from my words alone when I could not make it so. As well as giving you that thoughtless gift, my mucky meat blanket that adorned your shoulders after you left Mewni. I…have no excuse why I did that Marco, if I could I take it back it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'm sorry, Marco."
River stood waiting for the inevitable.
"I can see where Star takes after for procrastination, sit River, you don't even speak for your kingdom any longer. What says you?"
River sank back to his seat, Moon and Star stared horrified at the him, the Johansen member stood up, face full of fury, "If yer thinking I will stand for this outrage, then yer—!"
The royal nearly fell over when Marco suddenly appeared before him, the wind dancing around his ankles, "And I will not waste my time. I'll throw you back to your kingdom and grab another royal until I find the one WHO will listen."
The Johansen stared before Marco turned his back to him walking back to the forefront. The Magic High Commission suddenly nervous, not one of them could keep up with that blistering speed.
"Well Johansen Clan member, what says you."
"…we'll hear you out, Dark Knight…but know this: we will repay this affront you have shown."
Marco darkly smiled at the words, "Good, I look forward to it. Next."
Tom stood up along with his parents, they looked around the room, seeing the faces of terrified or beaten faces, they looked at Marco, "So…this is your true colors, Marco? Either we bend a knee from intimidation or something worse? You are just like the Dark Knight of old, nothing has changed."
"This is how you conduct yourself, Dark Knight, I do not feel any remorse for what happened to you and this meeting has been nothing short of a folly! You spread fear and mistrust to everyone, look at them! They can't believe what they allowed a madman to do this to them!" Dave yelled, no one made any eye contact with him, "You cowed these honorable royals into submission! Your predecessors would be proud of you! Vile, unfeeling, blood-thirsty beast that you are! How many has been felled by your hand? How many stained that once righteous blade, Dark Knight? Is everything you touch corrupted, do you damn those who fall in your wake? What says you, Dark Knight? Can't talk? Baffled? Because it's true! You've bathed in the blood of your victims! Killed innocents in frenzy! Poison noble warriors! Butcher their defenseless families! You are naught anything but a damned monster not fit to stand before any of us! You are not even worthy of our spite!"
"And to top it all off, Marco, you're just a filthy and lowly human with a sword not fit for your grubby little hands. I bet you thought you could be an equal to any of us, just because you rubbed shoulders with Star, Pony Head and myself. I admit you got me fooled Marco, you really did. Some friend you turned out to be, Marco, thinking I put Star in good and capable hands, but that day I saw what you are: a liar, a betrayer and a fool."
Tom walked towards Marco, Dave frowned seeing the connection between the two, "Everything you have done so far pales in comparison to what you had done to my kingdom personally: you attacked my heir, my son, endangering our noble bloodline. The other kingdoms may quake at your words, but we will not. We will not fear your retaliation. And after this pitiful meeting is over, you will pay for your treacherous crimes!"
Tom stood before Marco, the both of them nearly each other's height, despite the vitriol Dave and Tom threw against Marco he didn't even look fazed.
You have to admire the commitment the two pissant have for you, Marco. You can actually see their rage boners! Gawd, these two are really riding that 'I hate Dark Knights' dick! Long dick style I might add. Aah…shut them the fuck up already, Marco.
Marco mentally sighed at the words of Monster Arm, while the parasite was a vile thing, it did have many insightful views over the years that were pivotal for Marco to achieve what he wanted. And the many crass things it said. Admittedly, he stole some of MA's material, something the parasite never forgiven him for.
Marco clapped his hands at Tom and Dave, even Queen Lucitor looked at him, she had been silently for the majority of the meeting. She knew the history of the Dark Knights however she also knew that he was knighted against his will. However she was still angry over Marco's actions over her son, her quarrels with Marco just fell below her husband and son.
The Dark Knight continued to clap in a slow and mocking pace, getting everyone nervous sans a few, "So the long and short of your teary eyed story is: I'm human, I'm a Dark Knight, I hurt your troublemaker of a son and I should jump of a cliff and die."
"You can do the last part right now." Tom spat.
Marco shook his head, "I will admit that I did beat Tom up barehanded, I am a Dark Knight courtesy of Eclipsa and used the Traitor's Sword to spill blood. But everything else is what other Dark Knights have done before me. What they did does not and should not be pinned upon me."
Tom and Dave got ready to retort, but Marco's visage fell upon them,
"But who am I kidding right? You all fucked up and need a convenient target to pin the blame for your inadequate governance upon your kingdom and of Mewni. Yes, blame the Dark Knight, it's the easiest target because you damned them in the past why should the present be any different? I don't see Eclipsa get even one-tenth of the flak I received, because you all are afraid of Eclipsa and her factions and also insinuating that the Butterfly Kingdom is also responsible!
"Let me ask you all this: how kingdoms fell since I came to be? How riots, disappearance and murders are pinned on me when I was stuck behind my Ward? You are quick to point fingers to myself, to Eclipsa, at each other but never in your wildest dreams that you believe you are in fault! You all live in some delirious utopia daydream that everyone else is causing the problem but never you…it could never be you."
Marco looked at his hand for a moment before he put it over his heart, he winced, "And if I'm just like my predecessors…blood-thirsty, pitiless, cold-hearted and blooded, who will spare no one from my blade, crusting the soil in the blood of the innocent and using underhand methods for my devious gains…" Marco groaned as he pulled his hand back, as if he was pulling something out and held a closed fist to royals.
"How could I ever bear to have a Shimmer of Seraph residing within my heart?"
Tom and Wrathmelior looked as if they were physically struck as a small drop of iridescent golden light hovered from Marco's open palm. The other royals and the MHS members felt the pulsating light washing over them, it felt uplifting, their more negative emotions and thoughts lessen and more positive ones more predominant.
For a the first time many of the royals felt as if the past two year's problem weighed on them less, their line of thinking much more clearer. Even Star felt better the more she bathed in the Shimmer.
Tom groaned being so close to it, Marco took noticed and held it before him and he backstep, Dave yelled at Marco, the light's effect rebuffed by Dave's anger.
"What the fuck that is Dark Knight, put it away!"
"Why. Because your son and wife can't stand Seraph's Shimmer, fine then. How about Haven of Hallow?"
Marco put his other hand over his heart and pulled out what looked like a black pearl but it didn't shine when the light touch it, oh no it remained just as dark.
Tom began to quake at the sight of the dark droplet, as did his mother, Dave looked at it with some foreboding, Marco frowned seeing Tom so afflicted by it, "This, Tom, is Hallow's Haven, something you could manage to withstand…but you can't. You cower before Seraph and shunned by Hallow…what are you even Tom."
Marco looked around, his hands holding both droplets, "This is what you would normally call 'Light' and 'Darkness', but it's not. I met the two individuals that embody them. These are just pieces of Creation. 'Light' has the ability to create and so can 'Darkness' it just takes upon different forms. Neither one is bad, neither one is good. It is the wielder who decides what it is capable of."
Marco held up Hallow, "Hallow can uplift your spirits but not as well as Seraph, Hallow instead allows you to understand your negative emotions and aspects that encompass it, allows you to rationale and perceive them. From there Hallow becomes Seraph and Seraph becomes Hallow."
Marco held the two and the droplets changed, one becoming the other. He winced when he heard a familiar but angry voice from above, the royals flinched as the voice roared, the one that followed softer but more chastise.
[HOW DARE YOU MARCO!]
[Marco…]
Marco put the droplets back into his heart and the room fell to be gloomy again, the royals looked at Marco curiously, "Where did you find those…things."
"Sorry, can't say or they'll gank me." Marco shrugged, his mood a lot more relaxed.
"That doesn't prove or make anything you did any better!" Dave roared. Marco rolled his eyes, a frown on his face again. Tom pulled himself up, angry at being reduced to a wobbling mess.
"You still are in the wrong, Marco!"
"Oh, am I? I bet you're referring to when I fought you in the Tower. Fine, let's see what the Scribe's Logs have to say about that."
Moon glanced at the Lucitors before giving Marco a reproachful look and she pulled out a sheet of paper and read it, despite Dave's death glare,
[Tom]"Dude, you're making things worse for yourself, why don't you just—"
[Marco]"Clearly, you're blind Tom, I was knighted against my will and attacked. I'm not sure how things are done here in Mewni, but I know I'm not resisting arrest if I am provoked and defending myself against unwarranted attacks!"
[Tom]"Really making my girlfriend look bad for making you her royal squire."
[Marco]"You're making a big mistake Tom."
[Tom]"No. You are."
[Star]"TOM! MARCO STOP!"
[Tom]"Yeah, your karate gimmicks won't work on me."
[Star]"Tom! Stop this Marco! Just stop already!"
[Eclipsa]"MARCO!"
[Star]"Tom don'—!"
[Tom]"RAAAAAA!"
[Tom]"I'm going to run you into the ground!"
[Marco]"Damnit Tom stop this! What the fuck do you think I'm doing this for?!"
[Tom]"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter! You hurt Star, I'm going to hurt you!"
[Marco]"Urgh, fine then! No hard feeling Tom…I'm gonna put you down!"
Moon closed her eyes and held out the sheet of paper to Dave, he frowned at the sight of it, pushing the hand away in disgust,
"That is obviously a forgery."
Dave yelped when the sword zapped him.
King Pony Head floated up, his eyes fiery, "You dare call me a liar!? You very well know that Scribe Logs can not be forged! All our kingdoms agreed and signed by treaty that it can be used for authenticity for court, governance and otherwise, Lucitor!"
Wrathmelior looked at the two before reaching over and taking the paper and read it, she examined it extensively before sighing and looked down for a moment before nodding, a bit ashamed for Tom's actions, "True…Dark Knight…not at fault."
Dave tried to protest but Wrathmelior glared at him and he merely closed his eyes and sat back down, Tom threw a dirty look at Marco before taking his seat. Marco looked at Wrathmelior for a moment, seeing where Tom got his demon heritage.
"Lucitor…will hear…Dark Knight."
Dave and Tom were not happy at the decision.
Marco looked at the last royal to speak: Queen Moon Butterfly and Princess Star Butterfly. The queen pursed her lips for a moment before eyeing the Traitor's Sword, knowing it would shock her for falsehood but so would Marco. She stood up and looked at Marco seriously, "Marco Diaz, you were once Star's royal squire before turned Dark Knight, I want to know why you refused to answer truthfully then…where you have been, what powers you just shown us and where your allegiances lie presently."
Moon glanced to Star, "My daughter would like to ask something as well, if you will permit it."
Marco nodded without pause and gave Star a glance before looking at all of the royals for a moment, the MHS members inched closer: this was it, finally some truth to what happened that faithful day.
"To answer Queen Moon, that day Mina Loveberry accused me she only managed to say myself, the other half is Princess Star Butterfly."
Star shakily sighed.
The rest didn't look too surprised; they all thought the Butterfly monarchy had a hand in it anyways.
"I refused to answer because every kingdom was involved in it as well."
Cue spit take from all the present royals.
Followed by outrage.
Marco talked loudly over the commotion, as if it was the most normal thing to do,
"If I did answer then I would have implicated everyone then. And not just the royals here, I mean every royal and noble house, high and below. It doesn't matter much anyways, it's water under the bridge."
"HOW?!" demanded King Kelpbottom.
"NO IT ISN'T!"
Similar yells followed.
"A party was devised for Mewman royals and Monster to intermingle, to stop the discrimination from continuing to the next generation if Mewmans and Monsters could see they weren't that all different from each other."
"WHO? WHO MADE SUCH A PLAN!?"
"ANSWER US, DARK KNIGHT!"
Marco sighed and shook his head, "It was spearheaded by Star Butterfly, myself and Pony Head Princess. We went to kingdoms to obtain signatures."
"WHAT THE FRESH FUCK!?"
"CUPCAKE?!" "Daddy it is not like that—fuck you, Marco, you snitch! I hope you have ass whoopin' insurance!"
"Queen Butterfly, explain yourself!"
Marco took the sword and brought it down, a resounding thunder boom made everyone's teeth jitter, "Oh, don't go pointing fingers, your heirs took part willingly! Even if Star did mastermind it, your offspring took part, you are guilty by association anyways…none of you are blameless."
"Then why has it taken this long for this to surface?!"
Marco folded his arms, "Easy, because all of you decided to plug your ears, build walls, fortify your defenses, raise an army and refuse to cooperate with each other. Had you first response was not to do that, you might have known years earlier."
Moon sighed, "I've tried to speak with you all, but you turned a cold shoulder to me. It took a Dark Knight to get you all to convene for once."
The royals sat there, steaming from their handmade disaster.
"As for my two year sojourn: I went off exploring the multitudes of dimensions, eventually making myself a rather distinguished mercenary in many circles and dimensions. Without a doubt my name will not fade into obscurity for many years."
The royals didn't react much to the information, the sword made no indications of striking him. What he did on his time didn't interest them that much except for a select few.
"During my travels I came across the metaphysical elements of nature itself, there I befriended them however only Ignis, Slyph, Undine and Gnome decided to stay alongside myself. The droplets I have shown you were merely residual pieces of Seraph and Hallow."
"And you're not going to disclose where you met them?"
"Nope. Just as you heard earlier, if I tried the two droplets that lives in my heart will kill me on the spot."
"Does it have to be inside of you?"
"Yes, that's what I agreed to otherwise they would revoke the powers they lent me."
Marco stood there waiting, they glanced at the sword and it had yet to zap the Dark Knight, Moon looked at him, "And your allegiance Marco?"
"None. I am allied to no kingdom, noble house, faction, group or individual. I am master only to myself. I am just here to ensure you all have a chance to right your wrongs before you get everyone in the dimension killed. And also no, I am not allied to Eclipsa Butterfly nor her daughter, I had enough of them to last a lifetime."
Moon gave him a bemused look, he shrugged before looking at Star, "And what questions do you have for me, Princess Star?"
Tom's eyes fell on his girlfriend immediately, she fidgeted in her seat, she had hoped she would speak to him in private but there was no chance now. No matter the nature of the question, she couldn't help but feel insecure at the many prying eyes on her.
"Marco…do you hate me?"
"No."
Star blinked.
Marco stood there.
Really Marco? You're not a tiny bit angry with her? Especially dumping your ass for that baby back bitch?
"…"
Fine I guess I have no choice but to bust out my Walkman, you heard me, Marco, the Walkman is out again:
I just heard you found the one, you been looking for
I wish I would have known that wasn't me
Cause even after all this timeI wonder
Why I can't move on
Just the way you did so easily~
"…"
Not breaking eh, fine then:
You just want attention,
You don't want my heart.
Maybe you just hate the thought
Of me with someone new (someone new)
Yeah, you just want attention, (oh)
I knew from the start
You're just making sure
I'm never getting' over you (over you) oh
"…"
Whatever, I'm going to find more songs to play in the most inappropriate time.
Marco ignored the blasted parasite and paid attention to what was happening presently.
"But you—"
"I know. But that time I was more disappointed than angry. You had plenty of time to speak to your parents on your own terms and time and you still refused to be honest with them and procrastinated, yet again. How could I not be disappointed?"
The royals suddenly felt as if they were in some soap opera.
Tom glared at Marco.
"…"
"Anymore questions?"
Star crestfallen at Marco's terse attitude, she looked at the sword for a moment, "Marco, that sword…where did you get it from? And please don't say 'Sir Buttercup', the Scribes already debunked that."
"That's fair. I received that sword from my mentor. Just as you had your mother teaching you the ways of your kingdom, I had a mentor teaching me the way of ancient mewman warrior lifestyle."
The royals were intrigued by the story, "Ancient mewman warrior lifestyle?"
"Basically before the kingdoms were erected, namely the Butterfly Kingdom, the typical way of life of most warrior mewmans. They taught me a broad field of studies eventually I was gifted the Traitor's Sword."
Many scoffed at the notion, he had to have found it somewhere. No one in their right mind would just hand over such a magnificent and powerful weapon.
"…who are they?"
"…"
Marco was silent from the inquiry; he looked to the ceiling for a moment, replaying an earlier conversation:
"Marco, be careful, you could heal or further the divide the kingdoms of Mewni with this meeting of yours. Take care not to make things worse for yourself." Buttercup patted him on the shoulder, he nodded, his shoulders heavy with what's to come.
"Any good advice you want to give me before I muck things up even more for you two?"
"Use your best judgment, don't let your emotions run too wild, don't show favoritism to any kingdom or ruler no matter who it is and if you have to use the Traitor's Sword to prove you are not being deceitful, that's always a huge plus."
Marco looked at him for a moment, "I could put you in danger. The both of you."
Buttercup sighed as did Oblivion, "Sooner or later, we will perish, it is inevitable. No one can endure forever, one day I'll be gone and so will Oblivion. And hopefully, not too soon, you will too Marco. Just…try not to speed up the process."
Marco chuckled, the two patted his shoulders, "We put the fate of Mewni on your capable hands, Marco. We'll stand alongside you, no matter where the pieces fall."
Marco nodded to himself, coming to a decision.
"Buttercup and Oblivion are my teachers. While you went along with Queen Moon, I went to them to train under their wing, Buttercup was the practical while Oblivion was more theory."
"But who are they?"
Marco frowned, he looked at the sword, arcs were building up, "Buttercup better known as Marrow Eater is a Lizard and Oblivion is a former knight of Mewni, both alive during the advent of the Butterfly Kingdom was being propped up."
The royals were disturbed by the words especially Moon and Star, hearing Marco trained by a Lizard, the same species as Toffee who caused so much misery and shown capable of corrupting magic.
"Marco, you were trained by a Lizard!"
"Marco what were you thinking!"
"I knew it! Marco can't be trusted at all!" Dave yelled.
Marco frowned at the accusation.
"Boy, I know you're smart but don't you think they could be deceiving you!?"
"And this Oblivion character—" "He's a ghost. He is anchored to his resting place."
"Oh great, so the Dark Knight not only is made by Eclipsa but trained by a Lizard Monster and by a ghost of unknown origin, fantastic, so fucking-tastic!"
Marco glared at the royals mouthing off, "So what I was trained by Buttercup or Oblivion Pendragon, they—?"
"Wait…did you just say Pendragon?" Moon asked.
"What?"
"That can't be…"
He looked around, the royals looked even more disturbed and surprised by the second, "What? That's his name, Oblivion Pendragon, only child of Oblivion and Smile Pendragon."
"Marco…that's absurd…the Pendragon lineage hasn't been around for, well, since the conception of…oh. Oh." Moon's face paled, her eyes drifted to the sword, it shimmered.
The Sword of Pendragon.
"…no, it can't be."
"What? What's wrong?"
"Marco, did this Oblivion give you that sword?"
"Yes, he did."
Moon slumped on her chair, everyone looked deathly pale, Marco looked at them, "What the heck is the matter with all of you?"
"Marco…the Pendragons is the most ancient noble house…of any ancient house, they can trace their lineage further back than anyone can…to think one of them lived here."
"What, so does that mean some of you are his relatives?"
Moon got back her bearings and shook her head, "No. Maybe not directly, because if we were we wouldn't bear our current names at all."
"So what's the Pendragons standing in Mewni?" Marco's head racing for more edge in this meeting, Moon bit her lip for a second,
"It is said that in any place they settled they were considered the highest nobility of the land, not just from name but in combat prowess. I was told by Gloss that each Pendragon branch had to re-earn their status every time they moved to a new dimension meaning they started from the bottom and worked their way up until they became the dominant nobility. Every royal family knows of them."
"Thank you for the history lesson Queen Moon, I'm sure everyone didn't hear those fairytales a thousand times as a child." Drawled Dave, but in every royals mind's raced with a frightening thought: did Marco Diaz have Pendragon blood flowing in his veins? It would explain why the sword would obey the Dark Knight.
This however never made it to Marco as he looked over to Star, "Anymore grievances you want settled?"
"…why did you Ward Earth?"
Marco's eyes unintentionally met Hekapoo's and she glared back at him, "I didn't want to be hunted down constantly back home and get my family and friends involved, I hoped that the Ward would deter you from entering and calm down from the situation. However, the opposite happened instead and you all just went after each other's throats. I originally made it in the event something catastrophic happened, never intended for Warding."
"Did your teachers help make it?"
"Yes, they did."
Marco waited for Queen Moon and Star to ask him more questions but they looked more or less subdued with what they heard. His eyes darted to the MHS members; they hadn't spoken up since the meeting got moving.
"…the Butterfly family will hear out, Marco Diaz."
Marco bowed to them before looking at the Magic High Commission members, "Alright, let's just do the entire set, c'mon let's hear some of your grievances. I know made some with the three of you."
The royals were surprised at the words and glanced at the three of them, they steamed at Marco putting them on the spotlight on his terms.
"You got a lot of nerve doin' this boy!" Rhombulus yelled, he stomped forward and Marco casually took his sword.
"No puny gloves to protect you from me!"
"Pfft, sure, Nipples."
The snakes hissed at Marco and he rolled his eyes, "Alright, why are you so angry with me."
Marco heard a massive bellow from Rhombulus, "Because of you every effin' punk in the multi-dimension thinks we're just a bunch of push overs! We can't even do our job because of you!"
Marco looked shock at the news,
"Oh shit…you have jobs, I thought you mess around just like Gloss all day. Well, minus H-Poo."
"NOW YOU LISTEN HERE, ASSHOLE—H-Poo?"
"FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
"MARCO!" Queen Moon spoke up warningly.
Marco sighed and looked at Rhombulus and held out a hand, "Listen, I had no idea that would happen when I beat you up and left you passed out on the ground. I'm sorry."
Rhombulus ignored it and walked back.
Omnitraxius Prime drifted towards him, the giant skull glared at Marco, "You've used that sword irresponsibly, hurt my colleagues and…well I'm not sure but I know you're the culprit, have done something wrong to the flow of the universe."
Marco cocked his head, "I've used this sword to defend myself and do things beyond reckoning, but to use irresponsibly, no I haven't. This sword was entrusted to me and I will use it as I see fit. And while yes, I have turned this blade to your colleagues not once did I use it on them directly, to block crystal blasts and to be a step ahead of portals, I used it to immobilize you, I could have been lethal but I refrained because I knew I would hurt you."
"OHO! So you could hurt us, divinities, Dark Knight? Addled in the mind you are." Omni scoffed, Marco narrowed his eyes and pointed the sword at him, "Test my patience and we will all see if divinities will weep blood."
There was an unnatural silence at the words, Marco put the sword back down, letting it stand on the blade tip.
"…"
"And lastly, what could I have ever done to jeopardize the flow of the universe? I'm just one human being, you on the other hand would have more sway…unless you think otherwise." Marco said the last part softly, rolling the words in his head.
Omni hid his dismay and disgust and moved back to his post.
Hekapoo walked up to him, Marco roused him from his musing and looked at the blacksmith walking forward, he looked nervous. Star felt a twang of jealously.
"Heka—!"
Marco nearly fell over as said divinity slapped him with what felt like a cinderblock. He didn't get his bearings in time as he was pressed against the wall, a his Dimensional Scissors on his neck, fiery orange met chocolate brown.
"You are not getting away this time, boy, you are going to get what's coming to you." Hekapoo hissed.
Marco couldn't help but smile.
That was a mistake as the scissors pressed harder.
"So…you're done threatening me…what's your grievance?"
"You dare erect that blasted Ward so you can cower and hide behind it! And to think you didn't stay behind it all this time, running around playing mercenary!"
Marco sighed before he muscled Hekapoo off, she grunted before she moved back, aware that there were more muscle in him than last time they fought.
"Yes, I made that Ward but why do you care? It was made to withstand everything."
"Then how did you leave and is it still up?"
Marco looked at his watch on his wrist, "…yeah, it should be."
The royals mutter to themselves but he ignored them, "I can cut portals with the Traitor's Sword, it disregards the Ward because I make it so, it acts like an 'exception' to what it can block. And to avoid getting interrupted again, that sword can become anything I wish it to be: set itself on fire, shoot shockwaves and blade arcs, make lightning, frost the blade, anything really, but most importantly it kills Immortals indefinitely. If you think something is unbreakable, I can my the sword break it, nothing is beyond it. The sword is can be literally a metaphysical 'exception'."
"As for the latter, I really had no choice when my new teachers turned me down. I sorta just drifted from place to place before I mentor under a mercenary and became one under my own right. For the most part it has been very good to me, that line of business, I've made a killing more than a few times."
"Blood money, that's nothing to be proud of." Moon said quietly, Marco shrugged, "At the very least, I can't be swayed by fortune, I have more wealth than I can do with. I could theoretically retire at the tender age of 18 if I choose to move my treasures to Earth."
"Does that satisfy your questions, Hekapoo?"
"…have you killed, boy?"
"Yes…I have. I'm not proud of it but in that line of work I can't afford not to sometimes. I have spilled blood, sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for awful reasons, but all the same I wish I didn't have to."
Moon could hear the regret in Marco's voice, he wasn't faking it and sounded like it haunted him. She was sympathetic, she had done the same and much younger to boot, but it seemed Marco did it longer and in less morally righteous light.
Hekapoo looked at Marco for a moment, seeing the burdens of death hanging on his frame and his name definitely came up more than a few times when she was out on patrol or business. He was kidding when he said he became a mercenary, still she didn't let it show on her face and she merely walked back to her post,
"Go on, Marco, tell us your grievances…I'm sure it's going to be a riot."
Marco ignored the last comment before standing before the Traitor's Sword, he sighed before looking at all of them.
"Before this meeting I did a lot of soul searching these past two years, trying to make sense what had happened and the consequences that spawned from that. Albeit, not everything was made by my hand nor Eclipsa, but I know that hasn't stop any of you from flinging the blame elsewhere but yourselves."
The royals didn't respond to that.
"I could do the same as you: blame someone else for this problem. Mina Loveberry, Eclipsa, fuck I could point to any of you and it would make sense if I twisted it enough since you put that damned bounty on my head. But for all you have done to me be it slander, assault or otherwise…I could very well unleash my righteous fury upon you all and claim justice, but it won't change the situation, Mewni will continue to suffer. Mewman and Monster kind are suffering because of this infighting between kingdoms, you are all so blind and frighten by what lies beyond your walls that mischief and terror has spread so thickly they might as well prance in broad daylight. They will come sweeping from the horizon and swallow up your kingdoms because you allow them to flourish unimpeded. Then you'll have an actual problem on your hands that dwarfs a disgruntled Dark Knight and a sugar fiend Eclipsa, you'll have a flood of criminals, brigands, marauders and the vilest creatures sweep across your kingdoms and Mewni."
"…"
"…"
"You may not believe me, heck, you might outright think I am trying to frighten you, but you all know that something is afoot in Mewni and it isn't me or Eclipsa causing it. Right now you're getting the preliminary taste: disappearances, raids and bands of hoodlums. Wait until it is a war band hungry for pillage, slaughter, rape and razing, so large you are powerless to stop them. You are not united, you fight only for yourselves and interests and you are prime targets for them because they be pockets but mark my words when they unite you will fold."
No one made any rebuttal to Marco's claim, they knew it was true some already suffering it's effects and their assaults. Still, Marco's bleak picture was making their gears turn, they would double their fortifications, they would still ignore him, to an extent.
"My grievances are really proposals. First, I want all of you to stop barring each other, fuck even before I came around you were already doing this, the Butterfly Kingdom was attacked and none of you came to their aid, and I don't want to hear your reasons, I'm just pointing it out because I took part in that battle!" Marco snapped, some royals deflated, "I want you to talk to each other more, communicate, how will you know if trouble is coming? You're going to spy on one another? Wait to see the smoke rising from the ruins of a kingdom? Foolish. I want the kingdoms of Mewni to re-establish communications and trade, you barricade yourselves for reasons that never came true, it's time you open your eyes and see what is really going on. Also, I doubt you like to eat the same staples over and over again, I'd be fed up with Mewni Corn in a week, goddamn give me a steak."
Moon nodded at the words, she had been trying to do that for years, Marco managed to get some of the royals to seriously consider it, at least their faces revealed that much.
"Next, your fears of retaliation of Eclipsa and myself. As you already know, I stayed away from Mewni until recently spending majority of my time elsewhere. Eclipsa has made no moves against any kingdoms; in fact she has done very little in the grand scheme of things."
"So that stands to reason you know where she is hiding?" asked Moon, the royals perked up at the news, Marco sighed, "Yes, I do, but Eclipsa is not part of the problem at the moment: it's your fear of her and of me. Yes, I know you're afraid of a Dark Knight; our 'devious' history is tantamount to that, but most of the problems you're experiencing is your own fears working against you."
"Can you blame us? Eclipsa was hunted by every kingdom and then there's you and your sword."
"Yeah, but I haven't done anything to you. Eclipsa, has been under my watchful eye."
"Says you." Tom growled, Marco rounded to him, "Yes, says me, I at least knows where she is and kept her contained."
"Okay, enough. Marco, you don't want to harm Mewni or wrought your wrath upon it, I will believe you in that regard but you can't expect us to not believe Eclipsa won't retaliate from all the mistreatment nor her daughter. How can we know that the two of them and those under their banner won't try to make matters worse?" Moon asked.
Marco took his sword and slashed open a portal and stuck a hand through it, "Then let's have her answer that herself."
The royals stood up in surprise and defiance,
"What?!"
"NO!"
"ARE YOU MAD!"
"I knew it! This was a trap!"
"MARCO!"
*cooing*
Marco ignored them and pulled out Eclipsa in her usual get up, Star and Moon tensed at the sight of her. She smiled sinisterly at all of them before the Traitor's Sword was placed on her neck, "No sudden moves, I'm binding you to the sword."
"Fine, Marco, if that's what you want."
The portal closed and Eclipsa had her hand on the sword, she smiled at all of them, "Hello ancient houses of Mewni, delightful to see you all again."
"ECLIPSA!"
"YOU!"
Marco stood between them and the queen,
"What are you doing?"
"Kill her!"
"Move boy!"
"What a warm welcome."
"Shut it, Eclipsa."
"She's going to mind read you!"
"Or mind jack it!"
"So long as her hand is on that sword, she can not use her power nor use telepathy. SETTLE DOWN!"
The royals seethed at the order, refusing to listen but when Marco grabbed the sword and nearly yanked it from Eclipsa they sat down, fearing the Queen would immediately retaliate without the sword stopping her. Marco glared at all of them, Eclipsa smiled widely at them, "Ah, quick to their fears, but at least you're not afraid of me, Marco."
"Try anything funny and I'll gut you like a fish."
"Funny? No, I'll do something serious." Eclipsa snickered.
The royals looked at Eclipsa as did the MHS, Marco frowned seeing them so tensed, "And lastly, I want the kingdoms to allow Eclipsa to govern her new kingdom."
The royals shot to the roof at the words, hollering and roaring at Marco and Eclipsa.
"Never!"
"This is an affront!"
"Madness!"
"Working for her!"
"Insanity, Marco!"
"To let her would to spit on the face of her—"
"ENOUGH!"
Marco looked at them, "Eclipsa is still a Queen, her throne, kingdom and birthright pulled from underneath her. If she can't have the Butterfly Kingdom, then let her have her own, she's far from all of you and out of prying eyes and if you treaty with her she can't just come up and harm any of you."
"And a piece of parchment would stop that madwoman?!" River yelled, Eclipsa smirked at him.
"Yes it would, especially if Marco intends to enforce it himself, I will behave."
The royals were stunned at the words, Eclipsa had always been a proud woman even if she didn't show it.
"Marco has already proven he can defeat me, Meteora and my ilk. Our last bout cost me dearly."
"Then why didn't you just kill her, Marco?" Moon snapped at him, their own last fight was fresh on her mind.
Marco frowned, "Because I'm not going to just kill at a whim. Another reason why you all are afraid of her is because you can't remember, Eclipsa has used potent Dark Magic and Arts to obscure her history. Whatever it is, I intend to uncover it and from there I will judge if her crimes equals the maximum capacity of the punishment and if it does I will happily lop her head off from her shoulders."
The royals fumed at Marco's decision and they sat there, their mind reeling and not totally trusting Marco and his ability to contain Eclipsa.
However, the sword had yet to shock him and Eclipsa had both hands firmly on the sword hilt.
"I find it hard to believe you defeat Eclipsa."
"Yes, she's not ordinary Mewman and Butterfly at that."
Eclipsa gestured to Marco and he tugged her collar down, around her neck was a golden line of runes, "This is a bind Marco put on me too for another safety precaution, if I violate the treaty he proposed this bind will incapacitate me. However, if you attack me, I can use it to summon Marco and he will come to my aid."
"…"
"…you've made yourself a force on Mewni, Marco."
He was silent at the words.
"Pray tell…how did you subdue the great Eclipsa Queen of Darkness?"
Marco felt all eyes on him and he retold them what had transpired between him, Eclipsa and Meteora.
XxXxXxXxX
Oh, gosh, I didn't make it before the Season 3 premiere, damnit! Gah, frustrating.
Well, this is just first half of the Peace Talker Incident and things are on very shaky ground, honestly there was just gonna be a whole lot of screaming and whatnot, but I tried to keep it civil. Might come back and fix a thing or two in this chapter, but we'll see where this leads to won't we?
Marco isn't a Pendragon.
Just want to drive that home. Yeah, I know Pendragon does exist on Earth, but Marco isn't even distantly related to them. He doesn't have a drop of the lineage in his blood, but the royals surely think he is part of family line especially since he wields their signature weapon.
Songs in order of appearance:
We Don't Talk Anymore - Charlie Puth (Ft. Selena Gomez)
Attention - Charlie Puth
Yeah, Monster Arm is still twisting that knife into Marco, he feeds on his negativity, the more Marco has it the more resilient and longer would it take for Marco to get rid of it. Also, the songs helps me reveal facets of Marco's complex relationship to Star over the years. There's parts of him that holds him in fault 100%, the one that wants to move on, the one that believes Star did him the dirty, the one that's just hurt, the one that wants Star back and so on. I want to explore this side of Marco because he's always portrayed in the series as a capable character but with the finesse of a doormat, literally killing a good character with this lame-o shit.
It's going to take a lot for Marco to forgive Star entirely.
Let me hear what you think of this chapter, avid readers. Especially you, kouhai.
The story continues in the next chapter: A Weapon to Surpass Meteora Butterfly
tu ne me reconnaiss pas?
I AM NRG
END OF TRANSMISSION