.
Disclaimer: wet socks.
Chapter 15
Only a Dark Knight in Name
XxXxXxXxX
Marco yawned, looking groggily around his room before slumping back on his bed, the Peace Talk meeting replaying in his head from days ago.
The royals.
The arguments.
The bullshit.
He sighed and pulled himself up, not content with lazing on his bed on a holiday break.
There wasn't much he could do anyways on Earth, school was a breeze so long as he was there to take the classes, his commitments to his friends and family was manageable. Things had become…easy on Earth.
There I go again…I should be happy things are so straight forward here…I should be content…
Sounds like you're itching for another adventure, no shame in indulging in your primal instincts, just find a big booty ho— Yeah, shut the fuck up.
Marco could hear the Monster Arm laugh uncontrollably as he got himself ready, he didn't have anything to do for school, he'd finish everything even before he left the school. Janna made it very apparent he should lend her his homework, he brushed her aside but she immediately leapt and piggyback on him. This level of intimacy was normal for Marco now, Janna had begun making more and more reasons to leap and latch on him, he didn't really care, even if the girls did eye Janna enviously.
Jackie made it a point to not be around when that happened.
He sighed as he washed his face and gathered his things and went downstairs and greeted his parents.
Angie and Rafael greeted their son,
"Not off gallivanting across the dimensions today?"
"Mhmmm, I don't have to always leave, Mom."
"That's good, I could use another hand in my shed."
The three talked and had breakfast, going about the morning like any family did, once they had their fill father and son walked to the backyard, Angie sat on a lounge chair and watch the two bond over some project her husband had in mind.
Before helping out with painting the bizarre family project.
.
Marco found himself walking down the boulevard after spending some time with his parents, it was strange to do it sometimes, especially when he felt like he was 33 years old at times. He tried to keep it out of his mind, but it would be dredged up by the disease called Monster Arm to taunt him.
He felt out of place.
Out of his mind.
In a way he was like Eclipsa, she lived in a time and history that was hostile to her.
Him, he lived past his adolescence into adulthood then put back into adolescence.
Without the mind wipe.
It made him feel cringy and aloof over juvenile matters but he had to keep reminding himself he was still a teenager. Young and dumb, in a sense.
"C'mon babe, let me show you around."
Marco took notice ahead of him, a muscly dude leaning against the graffiti wall over a sporty blond, she had her back turned to him but he knew she crossed her arms and disapproved at the advances. He narrowed his eyes and got closer, the guy gave him a careless glance before doing a double-take, he knew him…
Sensing the guy's dread, the blond glance back and she immediately perked up, Marco felt his heart thump painfully: Jackie Lynn Thomas.
"Hey, Marco!" she waved cheerfully.
Marco waved back and walked towards her, his stride strong and confident, the guy inched back, his attitude changing a great deal from cock-sure to dread.
"Hmph, Marco 'Big-Dick' Diaz…I thought you'd be at that silly dojo…" he muttered, Marco frowned at the nickname.
"Hey man…do I know you?" Marco's words slightly edged, the guy scoffed as if insulted.
"We fought in that tournament, you…" he growled before he cut himself off and stalked away, "Fuckin' Diaz getting all the bitches…"
Marco frowned, unsure if he really did meet the guy, but he pushed it out of his mind and he glanced back to Jackie who was wearing everything running spandex, her red headband drenched in sweat as flicked her wet bangs from her face.
"Bitches. Pfft, you're the only bitch I see…" Jackie muttered to herself, she smiled at him, "Thanks Marco, that dude has been stalking my running routes for weeks, hopefully this will teach him." Jackie said; she ran the back of her hand under her chin before flicking off the sweat,
"Gross. Anyways thanks for showing up when you did, dude."
"Yeah…yeah no problem." Marco said distractedly, Jackie gave him an impish smirk,
"You done gawking, Diaz~?"
The fuck he is! Keep your eyes on the prize—hey look back!
"Yeah, sorry, didn't mean to." Marco shook his head, his face reddens at his action, Jackie grinned before jutting a thumb over her shoulder, "C'mon, let me treat you to something." "Ah, no, that's not necessary Jackie."
"C'mon dude, you got that guy off my tail for a few weeks, that's—" "What any friend would do."
Jackie paused at the words. And looked at him seriously in the eye, "You're too modest sometimes, Marco."
"I was better off like that…" Marco said quietly before the two walked silently to a recently built cafe. The patrons immediately glued their gaze on the sweating and scantily clad Jackie, Marco scoffed and threw his hoodie over Jackie who took it warmly.
"Thanks Marco, didn't want to be gawked at while I have a protein shake." she said a little louder than she intended.
"Yeah, don't mention it. You know you can take it to go." As the two walked through the cafe.
Jackie and Marco sat across each other in the booth, she dabbed a napkin across her wet face, pausing over her cute freckles.
"Nah, besides when was the last time we got to talk like this? Especially when you're not so stiff with me."
Oh, gurl, who don't know how stiff this guy is right now. He is absolutely rigid!
"Well…okay you got me, Jackie, I've been avoiding you and giving you space, I'm you're ex after all."
"Doesn't mean you can't be my friend." Jackie shot back, Marco slumped his shoulders, feeling reprimanded. She frowned at his subdued energy.
"..."
"Hey, what's bugging you?"
Marco snapped his mouth close when the waitress came, Jackie gave her very complex and comprehensive protein shake order to which the waitress took without a hitch.
Marco ordered for a glass of water.
"He'll have a Tall french vanilla sweet cream cold brew with two shots of expresso with two pumps of mocha, a splash of maple pecan sauce, a scoop of happiness, a handful of 'cheer up dude', a shot of Patrón, a side of squad/friend goals, salt the rim with vanilla powder stir it so all the pity won't make it soggy and topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. And a diet water, he wants to watch his figure."
The waitress nodded at the order and skipped behind the bar.
Marco just stared at Jackie; surprised how cool and collected she was with him. She grinned before wiping herself with his hoodie, giving him a wink.
…okay, explain to me slowly why did you dump her again?
…she dumped me.
Ah. I just love that story. Tell it to me again, Marco.
"…Jackie, I…am not drinking what you ordered me."
"Dude, trust me, you'll like it. Trust me."
Marco weakly nodded as she patted herself down until she was near sweat free, the spandex though stuck to her like second skin.
"Gawking again~" Jackie chided, but it was starting to get her a tad more bothered. She discreetly hoped nothing perked up overly.
"Sorry." Marco quickly mumbled.
"Mhmmm, so where have you been? You look like—" "Shit, I know."
"…I was gonna say down in the dumps. Wow, Marco you're really moody." Jackie's lighthearted attitude changing, Marco groaned and banged his head on the table.
"…"
"Want to talk about it?"
"…Jackie, what if I told you I'm 33 years old."
"You act mature Marco, but you're not 33 years old."
"I meant I'm 33 years old mentally."
"…really trying to sound mature."
"…you know when I jump across dimensions time passes differently? Well, one dimension I stayed in I spent 16 years there…in the span of 8 minutes."
"…"
Jackie looked at Marco as he pulled himself up, he didn't meet her eyes, "I feel…out of place sometimes…out of time more like it…it's just hard to adjust and readjust to a life I was so ready…to let go."
"…is that one of the reasons you want to say made us break up? It wasn't always about Star?"
"…hah, no, I coped well enough just sometimes it pours out unexpectedly…like I would be irritable over trivial things when in reality it isn't. I'm sorry, Jackie if I was a bad boyfriend."
"…thanks Marco for opening up about this…would have liked to known 3 years ago but I understand. And don't apologize, you were an amazing boyfriend, you were just…tied up, that's all."
Marco fiddled with his hands as Jackie simply looked at him before glancing out the window, she paused seeing Janna walking down the sidewalk before she spotted her. She waved before she saw Marco and a strange look came across her face.
Jackie watched as her friend cross the street and entered the cafe, she made a beeline for their booth, a too friendly grin on her face, "Jackie, Marco, out on a date?"
"Ah, no, we just bumped into each other." Marco answered before Jackie could, somehow he could feel Jackie's apprehension for some reason. Janna made scooting gesture's to him and he made space for her to sit, once sat down her hand slid over his leg then into his inner thigh, he looked down in surprise before she pulled her hand back.
"So Jackie how's your run?" gesturing to her get up, the blonde shrugged, "It was cut short."
Janna's eyes slightly quiver to Marco's direction at the answer.
"…Janna why did you—"
"Marco, guess what happened this morning."
The two looked at each other before looking back to Janna.
"Star called me. Plus a 1000+ texts and spam mail from off dimension telecommunication services killed my phone and ran up my bill."
"Oh, that. Yeah, the Ward came crashing down some time ago, expect some energetic people coming back…and backlog text messages to reach you."
Jackie frowned, "Ward? What is that?"
"When I came back from Mewni I set up a Ward for 2 years meaning no one could enter or leave—I am an exception cause I made it and now since it's gone everything will be spilling over including dimensional communications."
"Star's coming back?" Jackie asked, Janna didn't look too thrilled at the news.
"Dunno, if she did…but I doubt it." Marco sighed before the drinks came, he slid the water to Janna while he looked at his drink, looking almost…normal.
He looked at Jackie before taking a sip, he took another, then another before he smacked his lips, "Wow…that's actually pretty good."
"Told you." Jackie grinned, Janna smiled too, her eyes on her friend.
Marco sipped his drink, Jackie and Janna making small talk with each other.
He looked out the window, seeing the people of Echo Creek bustle along with their lives…their normal lives…
Marco felt his mind muddle at the thought…
[After getting his Parent's Permission to Dimensional Travel Again, 2 Years Ago]
Marco took the Traitor's Sword, looking over the glistening metal for a moment before glancing back to his home, he was in the backyard, the cactus garden over to the side.
He inhaled deeply before aiming the blade to an empty space, he roared and rend the blade across the space and he felt the Ward split before the might of the relic sword. He looked at the rift before pulled on the gear all over his body, strapped to him was a backpack filled with things he would need and 3 days worth of food.
He wasn't going to be gone long but he didn't know how much time would pass in the dimensions he was going to visit.
He looked at the rift again before he harden his heart to leaving Earth again and into the fray, he leapt through the rift and closed it behind him.
Taking out the map and instructions of his mentor, Buttercup, he made more series of cuts until he was in the domain of the first Knight that the Lizard insisted he learned from: the Blight Knight. He gagged at the noxious gasses erupting from the ground, he looked around tearfully as the lonesome trees stood weakly after so many infections and the land brittle and riddled with cracks and poor nourishment.
He pulled out a gas mask and strapped it on, he breathed mercifully before moving across the land, averting his gaze on unfortunate remains of humanoids and animals, vegetation suffered, twisted gnarly and blemished with all sorts of blight. He looked towards the distance, the gases giving the place an ugly green tint to a faraway castle and made his way there, glancing at a gauge for his mask filter before he had to change it again.
The closer he got to the castle, the more putrid and festering was the land, even the mask was having a hard time filtering the noxious gases. He waved the Traitor's Sword around and saw it shimmer and the gases were smothered away, Marco cocked his arm back and swung, like a whirlwind the gases were temporarily gone and Marco quickly ran for it before the clean space was once again engulfed. He did it again and again, creating pockets of fresh air before he the castle loomed before him, he glanced at the sentries, each in tarnished armor and weapons to match.
"Hello, er, greetings, I am Marco Diaz, Dark Knight of Mewni. I have come here to seek audience with the Lord of this…er, fine castle."
"…" "…"
"…okay, so I'll just let myself in."
One of the sentries moved and Marco raised his sword into guard, however the sentry merely leaned to the side and fell, the helm rolling off to reveal a festering corpse. Marco glanced at the other one and kicked it and it too came tumbling over and it was a corpse filled with worms.
Marco looked at it disgusted before he walked through the castle, it looked as if it was ransacked and the inhabitants left in a great hurry, the place reek of death, foul fungus, noxious gas and battle. The bodies of former knights littered the place, Marco looked at the trails for a moment before he rolled away as a massive mass fell from the ceiling and spat corroding acid at him.
He let out a savage arc, splitting it in two.
The mass immediately spat more acid at him and he rushed forward and drove the blade through both and pulled it free.
It writhed as if trying to close the wound but it eventually stopped moving, Marco looked at the Traitor's Sword and wiggled it free of its guts and moved on.
Again he was befelled by foul beasts, twisted somehow by the noxious environment and thrived, some were fungus, others masses of quivering mucus, some feral wolves that didn't die from the rotten flesh and things he wasn't so sure of. He hacked them away and tried not to use anything to spark and flame an explosion he wasn't in the mood to be blown half to bits.
He continued to explore the castle until he happen upon the Throne Room, he was riddled with sweat and no doubt stank from the nasty gas, he looked at his hoodie and even it started to turn a sickly green as was his skin, no doubt he was being poisoned. He hammered on the massive doors before he sighed and slashed it open and walked through, he blinked seeing the room devoid of anything that was afflicted elsewhere in the castle.
He looked around the richly decorated room before he saw someone sitting on the throne, he walked forward, tearing off the mask and taking in the fresh clean air. The figure lazily yawned and stood up, sizing up the person before snaking out a rather elegant sword from the hip.
"Ah, a visitor. To what do I have the pleasure of this meeting?" a male voice rang out, perfectly calm, clear and laid back if not for the drawn sword Marco would have bought it.
Marco stopped and looked at the figure more closely don in dented and tarnished armor, it was as if the armor was fished out of a swamp and half-heartedly dried before being put on.
"I am Marco Diaz, I have come here to seek audience with the Blight Knight of this realm."
The figure chuckled before bowing.
"Well met, Marco Diaz, I am Sir Thane Gilded da Vane. I am the Blight Knight you seek."
Marco could feel a strange aura around the knight, he tried to peer into the helm but he could not make out the eyes that scrutinize him.
"I was told by my teacher to seek you out, I wish to be taught by you as I have done with my teachers."
"And who are they?"
"Hailing from the Mewni dimension, Marrow-Eater "Buttercup" a Lizard Historian and Oblivion Pendragon a Dark Knight."
The knight tilted its head at the last teacher before slowly walking around Marco, he felt the eyes drawn to the Traitor's Sword.
"Hmmm…to think that sword would surface once again…" Thane whispered, he stopped in front of Marco, his eyes still obscured by his helm, "If they were your teachers, then you must be a Dark Knight correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"Wrong. You are not Dark Knight, not yet." Thane corrected him, Marco frowned.
"Dark Knights are knights of great skill, great authority and fearsome reputation. When you first arrived, I had no idea who you were, a looter perhaps. Had you been a true Dark Knight I would have known who you were the moment you set foot into my castle. Even less when you kicked those two sentries."
Marco felt his blood slightly boil.
Thane took notice.
"Peace Marco, I'm simply pointing out fact. No need to get angry." Thane drawled, "I may not know you now, however you may have done some noteworthy feats before coming here, so if you're someone of consequence then I shall teach you my fearsome craft."
Marco inhaled and exhaled, calming himself, he didn't have much under his belt but he could change the Blight Knight's mind with his feats.
He began to list them off.
Fought alongside Princess Star Butterfly.
He was a Royal Squire of Princess Star Butterfly.
Knighted by Oblivion Pendragon.
Made Dark Knight by Queen Eclipsa Butterfly.
Master of the Traitor's Sword.
Completed Hekapoo's Dimensional Scissor Trial.
Fought an army of wolf bears.
Mastermind a 'revolution' in a princess reform school.
A red belt in karate.
Fights Mewni Monsters barehanded daily.
Defeated Rhombulus.
Trapped Omnitraxus Prime.
Defeated Hekapoo.
Defeated Tom Lucitor.
Fights spell monstrosities daily.
Survived Monster Arm.
Survived a fight with Mina Loveberry.
Student to Buttercup and Oblivion Pendragon.
Punched a hole through Toffee.
Led a resistance cell during the Mewni War.
Won a game of Flags with the Johansen and Butterfly Family.
Marco prattle on about other 'lesser' accomplishments however after the first few, Thane merely walked back to his throne and sat on it, his chin resting on his metal fist.
"Enough." Thane called out a minute later, Marco paused and waited for Thane who sighed heavily and sat up straight.
"Marco, I do find your feats…amusing at best, the only ones that I have taken note of is that you wield the…Traitor's Sword? Call it something better, by the way. Were on your way to be a full-fledged Knight, took part in some wars and a student of a Pendragon. Everything else is rubbish."
Marco looked at the knight in quiet shock, Thane shrugged, "I'm sorry, but you did not fit my criteria to be my student. Although, you're still young you might want to get yourself into more adventures then you may come back again and give me a rousing tale of your exploits."
Marco stood there dumbfounded.
"You wont teach me…because I haven't proven myself? Has not all I have gone through been enough to show how serious I am to be apprentice to you?"
"You're not the first to come to me and ask to be my humble student. We higher knights must make very critical selection of our students…lest they run amok and it fall upon their teachers to rein them in…"
Marco could feel the steel in his voice.
As if his answer was final. For now.
"So that's it. You won't teach me."
The Blight Knight sighed and waved him off.
"My answer is final. Seek another teacher if you wish. But do come back and tell me of your exploits, if you think it grand enough."
Marco looked at the Blight Knight for a long moment, feeling the aura around him change. He drew his sword and slashed open a portal and walked through.
After dodging Alfonzo and Ferguson, Marco looked at his map and glanced back to the home planet of the Blood Knight.
It was like a massive battle scar on the planet and every denizen was there fighting each other Fight Club style. The clamoring of battle, duels and brawls were deafening the moment he landed on the red barren planet, he had to fight off three angry humanoids before he could survey the place properly.
Those who weren't fighting were busy nursing their injuries so they could get back into the thick of it again.
Marco was appalled to see even children were getting riled up enough to partake in the gory bloodbath along with the adults. He throttled a woman who kicked a wee child just so she could leap on a juggernaut's back with a shank.
At first Marco thought it was madness...watching everyone descend into almost an organized ritualistic bloodbath, but when he saw even reluctant participants he knew something else was going on. So he pushed, shoved, threw and outrun would be rioters and fighters until he saw what looked like a lavish tent amongst the poorly made ones.
He dusted himself and watched where he stepped; sometimes pools of blood or even a person were crunched in the traffic. He desperately tried to get some order in the crowd but that just simply resulted with him being turned into a punching bag before he actually fought back.
At the end of it he had a split fat lip, his nose bleeding and a black eye along with dust and whatnot thrown all over him. He was tempted to bring forth the Traitor's Sword but until he knew what was going on, he would cut down…'innocent' bystanders. Every time he tried to stop the fighting or pull a losing-battler out of harm's way he would irrevocably be pulled into a brawl and he would walk away with more injuries than he started with.
It was…hard to look away.
But whatever was going on even he was starting to feel riled up, ready to jump in a crowd and beat them senseless. Revel in the blood…the adrenaline…the fury he would unleash…HIS VENGEFUL WRATH.
Marco shook his head at the thought, ducking as a man tried to punch him in the gob before he delivered an uppercut and sent him flying, whoever was watching cheered before they too were attacked.
He plowed through the crowd until he was at the entrance of the tent, the guards there were battle scarred and already had blood on them. They eyed him hungrily, Marco already fed up with the fighting to get to the tent roared at them,
"I DEMAND AUDIENCE WITH THE BLOOD KNIGHT!"
The guards roared in unison and pulled the tent flap back, Marco grunted as something very large and very painful collided with him.
Marco grunted as he rolled to his feet, a large bruiser grinned at him savagely before attempting to tackle he again, he met his charge only to leapfrog over the brute and pulled out the sword.
The bruiser rammed through a crowd before appearing once again before Marco, he pointed the sword at him and he grinned.
Then it fell.
"That's…why that's the bloody sword ain't it?" he brushed his long and wild blood matted hair aside.
"So you know what it is!?" Marco yelled, spittle apparent. The bruiser smirked, "Aye, and to think I could meet my demise at the end of a legendary sword such is that! Ahhh, alright come on in, let's talk…boy to Blood Knight."
Marco blinked as the bruiser laughed and casually walked into the tent, he glanced around seeing the immediate fighters pausing long enough to look at him before getting back to their brawl.
Marco frowned and entered the tent, it wasn't furnished if anything it just looked like the Blood Knight just suddenly showed up, threw whatever he didn't like, ate his fill, drank the beer liquor and spirits and then shit on the corner and wiped his ass with the canvas.
He looked at the Blood Knight currently punching a man before tossing him out via a torn hole in the side of the massive tent.
"Ah! Boy! Good for you to make it!"
"Am I…late for something?"
"No! NO! You're here in the perfect time! The Blood Bath Festival just started! Oh the glorious fights and the blood that will be spilled! Just imagine the entire world at war with itself!"
Marco stared at the bruiser, suddenly realizing the Blood Knight meant every word he spoke.
"The entire world…will be just like this? Why? How?!"
The bruiser shrugged, "That's how it is~ sooo…you wanna throw down with yours truly? C'mon, you're strong, let's punch each other black and blue!"
Marco glared at him, "I came here at the behest of my teachers Buttercup and Oblivion Pendragon to learn from the Blood Knight, I hope you're not the only one I can take tutelage from."
The man stroked his chin, his red eyes peering down on him, "Well…there are other Blood Knights but not at my caliber, they are small fries, you wont get what you're looking for from them. I, on the other hand, can teach you as my student."
Marco sighed, "Alright, thank you."
"Mhmmm, no problem, but you're not the only one, okay?" "Wait what?"
The bruiser grinned, "Everyone on this planet is my student! That means you're gonna have to share my knowledge! Kidding! I only take one student and I only take the best~ if you want my tutelage boy, then you're gonna have to beat everyone on this planet to a meaty bloody pulp! One student, one Blood Knight!"
"You've gotta to be kidding me."
"It's the fairest most purest way there is: culling through combat! Beat or kill your fellow students and be my star pupil…uhhh?"
"Marco Diaz. Dark Knight." He said through gritted teeth.
The bruiser laughed at the words, "Dark Knight!? That's rich! Well, I am Callan the Blood Knight, your teacher!"
Marco looked at the knight, it didn't bother him that dozens were dying outside or that he wanted him to kill and be violent and be the only one standing in the end. Is this the price I must pay…?
"No. I can't. I can't afford your tuition. I won't just slaughter my way through these people…they must be in some trance? A spell? No one in their right minds would just start killing each other over, over this?!"
Callan laughed boisterously, "Ahahaha! Oh Dark Knight, you took the words right out of my mouth~ YOU SPINELESS COWARD. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT LEST YOU WET MY BLADES."
Marco flinched when Callan easily pulled a massive broadsword from a weapons rack and pointed it at him with a single hand.
"BEGONE COWARD."
It's THOT, you pleb.
Marco looked at him, standing his ground for a second before he ripped a portal open and walked through, ignoring the Blood Knight's triumphant grunting akin to a gorrilla.
Marco felt sick.
His mentors sent him to be taught by three knights and two of the three proved to be fruitless.
The third, the Death Knight…did not make him feel any better of the current track record.
He looked at the Death Knight's residence...a Necropolis. Graveyards everywhere, empty houses, skeletons and the corpses lying in the open, the Traitor's Sword was on display as Marco walked slightly faster than usual in the empty streets.
He was sure there was some daylight left when he entered however the moment he did the sky decided to darken into a mixture of blue, indigo, purple and black. Not one star winked above him.
The unnatural evening made him on edge as he walked bristly through the Necropolis, set his sights on the large castle somewhat in the center. He paused seeing a shadow dart in an alleyway but he didn't stick around to find out what it was, trick of the eye or not, he felt even his steps echo frighteningly long and a clash would do him no favors.
He broke out into a jog, his eyes darting left and right, he swore, he swore he heard someone say something.
Marco looked over his shoulder.
He nearly jumped when he thought he saw a shadow standing right behind him.
"…!" he turned back and brought the sword into guard as a shadow past him over head, he looked back and saw it was something small but definitely alive.
"This place is going to give me a damn heart attack…" Marco muttered.
He thought saw something move.
He ignored it the best he could.
The Dark Knight got closer and closer to the castle, he started to see strange contraptions something akin to a golem…but made out of bones. Marco looked around the square, the fountain and homes were awfully damaged years prior, he examined the foot traffic and saw prints that looked alien.
He frowned as more of the contraptions were actually strewn all over the bridge leading to the castle, the river dried up with it cracked and more skeletons there as well. Marco walked through the threshold and looked at the ominous castle, it had a worn paved road leading to it and he merely followed it, this time in no rush.
It was a lot more open but it was still littered with signs of battle, Marco frowned seeing what the three knights had in common: they chose really shitty places to live in.
He continued to way the path, pausing at places where knights and warriors made their last stands before he found himself in the castle's entrance, again sentries were there but this time Marco ignored them and went in. The place was hollowly empty, both in persons and furniture, it was if the place was hurriedly cleaned up with several window broken. What creep him out was the floating candles that didn't even flicker when he blew into one.
Marco walked through the hallways, the rooms before he found himself walking up a flight of stairs, he sorely hoped to reach the throne room and greet the Death Knight and not get turned down.
"He isn't…"
Marco froze at the words and looked around, his eyes trying to pinpoint the whisper, but all around him was just blank spaces of wall. He frowned and continued on his path, feeling suddenly very not alone in the castle…
"…turn back…"
Marco gulped and pushed forward, he entered the room and felt his guts curl.
It was a throne room all right.
Stripped of everything that would lavish it only leaving more floating candles and piles of bones.
Even the throne had bones piled on it, bleach white with a sword
Marco leapt back as the pile moved and stood up the sword moving too, the Dark Knight felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash through the place as he mistook the bones as just that.
"Welcome to my domain."
Male. Haughty. Direct.
Marco was ready to turn back but as the bones shift and snapped he realized that it was a suit of armor made entire out of skeletal fragments, he could spy metal work interlace with it. Marco rested his sword, razor tip to the floor and announced himself,
"I AM DARK KNIGHT, MARCO DIAZ—"
"Understood. Stop yelling."
"Ah—right. Sorry."
The knight looked at him before taking off his helm and dropped it to the floor, his face pale but artistically sculpted, his hair bleached white, gray-blue eyes lingered over him.
"Hmmm, that sword…The Sword of Pendragon…ah, you must be student to one, the last time I saw that sword it was carried by that noble bloodline."
"I am: he was Oblivion Pendragon. I am student to the Lizard Historian Buttercup as well. I was sent here to be your student."
The knight raise a brow.
"Sent here?" the knight furrowed his brow, "Marco, was it? How very presumptuous of you. And your teachers."
"Alright, I had enough!" Marco growled, "I've gone to the Blight Knight and the Blood Knight to seek tutelage and I have received the same reaction to whom I am student to! Not two of the three explained their reasoning! I mean my reputation was lackluster? I was unwilling to kill other students?! What are you guys even?!"
The knight looked at him.
Indifferent.
"Your frustration is noted. And discarded. It seems your teachers told you to seek us out, however I believe they misunderstand who we are: we are the Knightly Order. We DO NOT take our pupils carelessly or without great considerations. With the way you are reacting to a little discomfort and inconvenience: I say it's right that you were turned down. I already disapprove of you."
Marco got ready to snarl but was thrown off his feet and slammed into the wall. The Traitor's Sword appearing in his hand a moment later, the knight frowned.
"Marc—oh? You wish to do battle with me? Fine."
Marco fell to his feet and he readied himself, the knight had his helm remade by the bones around him and it fit itself on him.
"PREPARE YOURSELF, DARK KNIGHT MARCO DIAZ, YOU FACE DUNCAN FEL SIN."
Marco threw the sword and teleported across the room, he grabbed it in midair and threw an arc, the Death Knight raised a hand and a hundred skeletons erupted from the floor and formed a shield to block it.
Marco leapt back as the skeletons then broke free and charged at him, he cut them down without hesitation and began clear them out to see Duncan watching him silently.
He growled and threw the sword at him, Duncan dodged it but Marco warped a second later and kicked him in the side.
Or would have if the Death Knight didn't catch his foot and threw him into the ceiling.
Marco willed himself and warped himself back to his sword in the ground, he panted feeling the drainage before Duncan kicked him in the ribs sending him skidding across the floor.
"Is that all you have, Dark Knight?"
Marco stood up feeling the welt in the ribs before he channeled the Traitor's Sword,
FIREBRAND!
The sword lit up with fire and Marco dashed forward, nearly blurring but Duncan merely waved a hand and the floor jut diagonally and he misstep in the last second and he crashed to the floor.
"Is this your first time fighting someone who wont take it easy on you because you're their student? Or fighting some hedge creature? Or fighting the unwary or untrained? Is this your first proper fight with a knight, boy?"
Marco grunted as he got to his feet and pulled up the sword, "Who cares!?"
He sent a blazing arc and Duncan waved a hand, a dark green smoky arc smothered the attack.
"Wasteful. You know…I'm surprised the sword took you as its master, untrained, undisciplined and not ambitious. You have the Sword of Pendragon, I was expecting nothing short of a hero of yore, but you're just a boy."
ICEBRAND!
"Oh? You're using more? In my domain?"
Marco flung the sword arc and Duncan crushed it with his fist as easily he would with paper. He blinked and wobbled, he panted as Duncan walked closer,
"Fighting a Knight in their domain is never a good idea, we draw our power from our residency and even from our foes. I've been sapping your strength for a while now, I may not be able to read your mind at my leisure but your stench and vitality has told me much. You're a fearsome warrior…with time."
Marco coughed as he began to hear whispering again.
Louder.
More distinct.
And sad. *they sound like Navi*
"Those are my Shades. I tried to warn you to turn back but it seems you Ward your mind so it was hard to get you to leave, honestly only when you were in the castle did it manage to manifest in the physical plane. You're lucky you're not dead yet, that sword takes a massive toll on you and foolishly fighting me made it worse."
"..." Marco could feel his anger ebbing away, his guts cold at the words, but he refused to grovel even as the Death Knight towered above his prone form.
"...alright get up, I think you're ready to make your case about being my student. You have the strength to withstand being in my Necropolis, you're not without hope." Duncan snapped his fingers.
Marco felt the coldness leave him and he blinked, he looked up to see Duncan walking back to his throne and sitting on it. Marco gingerly stood up and recovered his sword, rubbing the bruise in his ribs,
"...what perquisite do I need to be your student?"
"Convince me. Tell me exactly WHY you should be my student." he said flatly.
Marco frowned at the words, he thought it would be something ridiculous like the last 2 but it was very straight forward, he thought of the best reasons before he answered, resisting the urge to jump when he saw someone peek behind from the throne.
"Death Knight Duncan Fel Sin...I beseech you to teach me your knightly craft. I have trained long and hard under the tutelage of Oblivion Pendragon and Buttercup, learning their ways of life and have proven that I am a capable knight in their eyes. I have...imbalanced a dimension and the coming battles and wars will spill blood of the innocent as much as the deserving, they do not need to suffer for the mistakes of another. I want to prevent unnecessary deaths as much as I can help it. I'll learn from you and uphold your belief, standards and creed-"
"Enough. Marco, those are good reasons to be trained under my care, however that falls abyssal short of what I asked. CONVINCE ME."
Marco felt dried mouth, he looked at the Death Knight unsure what he wanted...
"Is...is not the fact that I'm going to save a dimension from countless battles and wars not enough? That I am owning up to my mistakes, taking responsibility?"
"Admirable, boy. But why should I care? I fail to see how one insignificant dimension automatically makes you worthy to be my student. No—shut up. I have myriad hopeful students come to me before because they had the same problem: something they did they want remedied. My powers will not solve ALL your problems no matter how awesome it may be. And your scope of ambition is poor."
Marco stared at him at a loss.
Duncan sighed.
"Being my student means more than having the powers to just fix a prior mistake. As a Death Knight you WILL dispense Death upon those deserving AND those who are not, it is not a duty I easily give to anyone, and not just in your dimension or two...but upon all dimensions. You are an extension of my will and with that sword of yours you could do it with a snap of your fingers, you will become an Angel of Death...but I can already sense that troubles you greatly.
My powers comes with a price just like any other. That sword of yours devours your vitality and if you're not careful it will consume you entirely.
You have the warning. Now will you still drink the poison."
"..."
Marco stood there mutely.
Duncan shook his head and spoke clearly.
"You're not yet ready for these Knightly powers, Marco. However, you are not without hope nor potential. To this end you may call yourself a 'Dark Knight'…but we do not allow you to have the same authority like ourselves nor you to be among our ranks."
"…how does that even work?"
"Take a seat, young Marco." Behind him a skeletal chair was made, Marco looked at it before looking at the Death Knight. There was so much turmoil and anxiety within him, as if not learning from the Knightly Order would break him down. As if his entire being was banking on their tutelage, he frowned seeing the still standing boy.
"…Marco, when you are feeling more comfortable taking criticism: return. Until then, do not do anything foolish. And don't hold resentment because we refused your application to be taught. It may be destined you forged your own path, be a knight of your own making."
Marco looked at him stonily before he cut a portal open and walked through.
Duncan sighed, waving a hand as the entire castle shifted and repaired itself a skeleton bringing him a goblet of wine, he took a deep draught and wiped his lips with the back of his gauntlet, smearing his pale lips red.
"Alright. Let the next one in."
[FLASHBACK OVER]
[Somewhere in Mewni]
Queen Spiderbite looked at the destruction before her and looked to where her creation had fled.
After using the Iron Bull Arachnid's body to open the hidden blood pit chambers beneath the castle, she used the blood she swiped from Tom's duel with Marco to create a masterpiece...it took some time and some failed attempts but she was with the results...
Shape of Marco...
But all Mewman...
She bit her lip.
…only for it to be taken away.
She watched angrily, seeing the shadow blending into the dark horizon,
"We dreamt of creating Mewni's strongest Mewman…and we succeeded…"
XxXxXxXxX
And now...the Flashback Chapters...
Also sprinkling some current events. I need to push the timetable a lot sooner than I predicted because things-happen.
Like the title of the new chapters, it will largely show Marco's journey to become an unadulterated badass.
And the horrors that shaped him into an Edge Lord.
And all the burning questions avid readers keep asking:
How did Marco rediscover Prima/Prime?
Who is the Mercenary StudMuffin?
How did Marco win the Elemental's and Concept's help?
Which Elemental did Marco meet first?
Who are the Immortals?
What is the Lies of Glossaryrck?
What else is hidden in Prima/Prime?
What did Marco do for 2 years?
How did Marco establish Sinful Sips even though he's a minor?
Where is Waldo!?
Who did Marco encounter?
Why didn't Hekapoo recognize Marco while he was a Merc?
Why did Marco babysit Eclipsa + Meteora?
How did he get his Warband?
Which Impossible Tasks did he completed?
Did Marco really turn into a purple fire breathing Werewolf?
Who are Monster Arm's bitches?!
Stay tune and find out!
Smash that review button!
tu ne me reconnaiss pas?
I AM NRG
END OF TRANSMISSION