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Disclaimer: and so it ends.
Chapter 21
The Warband
XxXxXxXxX
"He was my only son! My only heir!"
"Then go make another one!"
Screaming.
He laughed gleefully, drenched in blood, he walked a top a sea of bodies, each step oozed with blood. He spun and threw his flaming sword again, impaling another. He walked over and kicked over the body, a frighten boy stared at him wide eye. He pulled the flaming sword out, sizzling away the blood.
"We did nothing wrong! Nothing at all!"
"You broke the law of the land."
"Please mercy! It'll never happen again!"
"And it wont."
Frozen steel rend through flesh, bones and sinew.
He looked down with pitiless eyes.
Marco sat up clutching himself, tears streaming.
He angrily wiped them, breathing heavily, I didn't, it was—!
Marco sat in his cot for a moment, taking in what he was about to blame…himself. Warco and Ocram no matter how twisted they were…they were him and in extension…
He looked around his tent, Kelly had gone home days ago and Vixen was busy contending with the Warband while he rest.
It wasn't right.
The Warband was in an uproar and he couldn't show his face to make things better. He could hear them yelling at Vixen and the Dread Squad and their points were valid. After being saved they had their lives back, something they thought they wouldn't have since imprisonment and since then Marco was their crutch.
Being gone for a week without notice sent them spiraling back to that terrible time in their life.
He could hardly blame them.
Marco laid back on his cot, the darken tent providing no comfort as his turbulent thoughts and memories flared up, he winced seeing an image of a broken man grasping someone in his arms.
And he felt nothing.
Then the image changed.
He was being compensated for some bloody deed.
A regal woman offered herself. She begged it to be her. He declined. Instead he took her innocent daughter.
Marco gritted his teeth at the memory bleed and blocking it extensively, it had been a few days and still he was haunted by the nightmares…how many faceless begging innocents he put to the blade? Marco shudder to think why Warco and Ocram would suddenly just come back…and the time difference between him and them. Nothing about it made sense, what was going on?
"Marco?" his name thud against the tent frabric, he called out,
"Vixen…"
Marco didn't make eye contact as she entered, she smiled holding a tray of food, "Good, you're awake, you must be hungry."
Marco didn't say anything.
Vixen put the tray down by his desk and took the chair and sat next to him.
"Feeling better?"
"…I'm well enough, I need to talk to the Warband."
"That can wait, you need to rest."
"I've rested enough."
Vixen's smile didn't drop at the cold tone, Marco regretted it.
"…what is really going on, Marco."
"Vixen…I've told you about the Impossible Tasks…so…many…times…but all you do is smile and nod your head. Not caring nor understanding the gravity of it. The Blood Moon Goddess she—"
"Marco. If you're gonna stress over it: just don't do it. Whatever it is, what would it do to you?" Vixen said softly, "What could it possibly take away from you?"
Marco looked at her.
His eyes welling up.
"It can take everything from me." Marco hunker down, feeling so very small, so vulnerable…so wretched that he would stoop to spilling blood, "It has. It took away my first love…pulled me away from my friends and family…from my home and put me in Mewni…made me a servant to my bond partner whose dating a prince…and now I'm murdering my way up a list so I could be free…and if I can't stomach these Tasks, if I don't make Star my beloved, that curse would make me sabotage myself so I go crawling back to her…grovel for forgiveness…say I was wrong no matter how untrue it is…I live in torment! My life isn't even my own anymore!"
"Oh, Marco…" Vixen sympathetically stroked his back,
"You have such a vivid imagination. There's no such thing as a Blood Moon Goddess."
Marco cried, his hands all over his face.
"I've told you this so many times! Why!? Why wont you believe me…why wont anyone believe me…?"
Vixen soothingly stroked his back, fed him and left the tent.
Tears dripped as she left.
She wiped them not understanding why.
"Stud is resting up, he'll be fine."
"He was yelling at you again."
"It's fine, he's just in shock I mean he was stuck in that cave for a week. No food, water, anything really. I'm surprised he stave off for so long."
The Dread Squad looked at Stud's tent, if anyone got closer sobbing could be heard inside.
Vixen sighed and pulled out a piece of parchment, she swiped it as she left, "He keeps looking at this and crossing things out, take a look; this is what you guys wanted to look at right?"
The squad crane their necks and read the uncrossed items, they frowned and others openly cussed.
"Damn, half the shit here are downright impossible! You think he managed to do it?"
"Maybe he crossed it out thinking its too hard."
"Dunno. Look guys, I'm putting this back, I'm going to change Stud's clothes he's been in that hoodie for far too long."
Adder took the parchment, Vixen frowned and reached for it, "I want to keep looking at this, if Stud is so interested we might end up going to help him." "You mean tag along without his permission."
Adder held out his hands, "Whoa, touchy. C'mon, he's so secretive, I don't get these Impossible Tasks or this Goddess he keeps rambling about but if we help finish this list maybe he'll tell us. And maybe he'll just stop doing all together."
Vixen shook her head slowly,
"I wish you're right…and if you're not, you're just gonna piss him off. Put that back when you're done."
The Dread Squad watched Vixen leave before Dreadlocke took a pen and paper and began to scribble down the items.
"Alright, guys, gals, half the shit here would normally send us over river and dale. You still want to do these chores for StudMuffin, right?"
The Dread Squad looked at the list, seeing some things that would never dream nor attempt to do. It would take a fuckin' miracle to accomplish any of them.
"Yes." They said in unison. They held out their hand, a V shape brand on their palms.
"We used to solely live to kill our tormentors in that city…now our Vengeance Pact—our lives belongs to StudMuffin."
Dreadlocke took the scribbles of paper and handed to the Dread Squad and they quickly disperse.
Marco stood up from his cot, he looked at his watch and tried to measure how much time had passed…a couple hours most likely. He felt out of place…as if he had no idea what he was doing anymore, it started out fine…find his teachers, learn from them and figure out how to fix his Mewni problem and the Unbinding…
Marco scowled.
But instead he took one of the most bloodiest trade possible: a mercenary.
And everything that came afterwards…he did what was right…what he believe was right…but now things were muddled…complicated.
I wonder if StudMuffin is laughing at me…bet thinks this is payback for being gone for years…I could really do with some coarse advice, StudMuffin…
Marco sighed and took a look around the tent, pausing as something was amiss.
He walked over his desk and saw some of his documents pushed around.
His list was gone.
Startled, he looked around, on the floor and the drawers but found nothing, Marco touched the desk trying to visualize what could have happened, could he have thrown it away or…?
He could hear the Warband yelling.
Louder than usual.
He dressed himself and took his sword with him.
He looked at the twisted sword, Warco's and Ocram's butcher sword, he tentatively touched it and felt a wave of unease wash over him.
He left it behind.
Marco looked around and saw the Warband going through their usual routine and patrol, some cooking, others fixing their weapons or doing chores, other doing projects like repairs. He frowned seeing Vixen look around worriedly, she saw him and ran straight for him.
The Warband noticed and followed too.
"StudMuffin, I can't find the Dread Squad! I was supposed to send them off for some wet work! I've ran around the camp 5 times already looking for them!" Vixen snarled, "They better not be goofing off!"
Marco wasn't amused by the notion either, they were a handful but they always listened when it mattered the most. The Warband began to mutter too,
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Brooke all day…"
"Yeah, Arabelle isn't here…"
"Peyton is missing too."
"Those three are out on a job, they'll be back." Vixen assured them.
Marco felt a pit in his stomach hearing all the members missing, this wasn't some prank or them playing hooky. This was too coordinate. For the Dread Squad.
Marco glanced down on his sword and looked at Vixen, "Put the Warband is on high alert, prepare yourself for anything."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, but if they took my list then I have a hunch they are following it." Marco said bitterly, "Damnit, why did they take it?"
"…Marco, they have that list because I took it." Vixen said quietly, Marco looked at her startled, "Why in the world would you take it?"
Vixen gave him a helpless face, "I dunno…it just seemed so important to you…but it always made you sad and secretive…"
Marco grimace at the answer…anyone would want to know…he just hoped their curiosity wouldn't get them hurt.
"I'm not angry Vixen, its just…that list only brings misery."
He tore a portal and leapt through.
.
Marco pulled his hoodie down and tried to remember which Tasks he had in mind to complete, he rifled through the list and saw a couple familiar ones for the dimension he had the Warband in and begun to visit the places.
Through trial and error he was able to cut through the list to a handful of places to search, he gritted his teeth at the time he wasted. Shearing open portals, he leapt through and quickly looked around for any signs of the Dread Squad:
He saw no one at a closed stone vault.
He landed at an opening of a cave, bony remains everywhere but nothing fresh.
He fell into an empty marketplace. Recently ransacked by the looks of it and left without much investigation.
He appeared near an ancient lighthouse, he called out to the Dread Squad members but no one answered. He left, not noticing disembody pale limbs wash ashore.
He searched a jungle, seeing many large predators stalking him, so intent in keeping them at bay he failed to see discarded ammunition shells and droplets of blood on the jungle floor.
Frustrated with the lack of success, Marco summarized they probably went back to the camp seeing as the Tasks would have been too difficult to do or maybe to find even. He slashed himself another portal and hoped he wasn't going to find an empty scene.
…or something worse.
He pushed those thoughts back.
Marco held back a cough as the air was filled with ash, he put on some goggles and a mask to keep the ash and soot from obstructing him as he ended up on the slope of the volcano, feeling the blistering heat, he fanned the Traitor's Sword, dispersing the heat but it came back all the same.
FROST EDGE!
The sword glitter with ice and he held it aloft, buffering the heat as he looked for the entryway, he remembered this Impossible Task: Steal a Heart of a Volcano. It didn't take him long when he spotted a rope twisting in the air, he scaled the slope quickly and saw the triplets holding ice crystals as they crowd around something inside a cave, he could spy an altar of some sort.
Marco was relieved before he roared to the three of them,
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
Redda, Raedd, Readd all hopped in surprise and looked at StudMuffin, "Oh, fuck that scared me!" "Damnit I nearly had a heart attack!" "I need a new change of pants…"
Marco glared at them before pointing out,
"Get the hell out of there!"
"After we get this here jewel~" Raedd grinned, the merc tightening his hand around the pulsating jewel.
"NO!" Marco yelled and readied to throw his sword but he was too late, the moment the jewel left its resting place, it sent out a visible heatwave knocking the ice crystals out of their hands and out the cave as well as sending the triplets reeling back. Marco slammed his sword into the slope and held on as the scalding air increased tenfold at the loss of the jewel.
Marco pulled himself up to see the entryway suddenly blocked off with a red hot gate, the triplets hobbling towards him. He slammed the icy sword into the gate turning it red hot to blacken metal and tore it down cutting himself an opening, but despite that the gate began to flare back up turning hot red. While the sword was unaffected the same could not be said of Marco, his flesh singe at the heat and Marco sweat profusely, his blood near boiling.
The triplets had it worst, inside the cave they were being cooked alive, Raedd screamed as the heat began to melt his skin, his hair falling out as he hobbled towards the gate, Marco threw away any reservations for himself and tore the sword free and slashed himself a portal inside the cave.
The sword did nothing.
Marco could only stare dumbfounded at the lack of function before he heard a scream of absolute agony. He looked back inside just as Raedd handed the jewel to Readd fire pouring out of his eyes and mouth, Marco watched as Raedd slump forward and crumbled into ash.
Readd turned to Redda and agonizingly walked forward, his eyes had melted out, he held out his hand as he suddenly caught on fire, his skin charring
but still he walked forward…
"Stud…"
He managed to croak as his tongue melted as fire spewed out of it, Redda eye's bled and took the jewel from his brother and painfully turned his back to him. He fell into a heap of burning ash.
Marco frost the sword even further to the point it even coated his arms and tore into the gate, it hissed but he didn't care and lunged forward to reach Redda, tears sizzling down his face.
"LET ME REACH YOU!"
Redda stepped towards him even as his skin dried and cracked…
Even when he felt like his head was fit to bursting…
Saliva dried up…tears shed nothing…he held on to the jewel.
"DROP THAT THING! SMASH IT!"
Redda gasped and it felt as if sandpaper on fire scour his insides at the intake of breath, his eyes bubbling, he shut it for a moment and blood seeped out of his eyelids, Redda groaned knowing he just lost his vision.
Still he walked forward, tilting as each step burned his soles until there was nothing left…he held out his hands, the jewel cupped in it desperately…hoping…before he died…before he was ash…StudMuffin would…
Marco watched horrified as a blinded Redda walked forward, his body ignited in flames, burning him to a crisp, but he continued forward, he opened his mouth maybe to call for help but instead an inferno spilled out.
His feet crumbled leaving them behind as he at last with trembling fragile hands offered up the jewel to Marco. He ignored it and grabbed Redda's wrist but it crumbled to ash, his hand slipped and cupped the jewel as Redda fell to his torso…
Marco saw for a brief second Redda's content…triumphant smile before his body crumbled to a heap just beyond his reach.
Marco stared at it before he slipped back falling on his ass.
The moment the jewel left the gate threshold the entire scorching hellish heat vanish.
A cool comforting atmosphere replaced it.
[Steal a Heart of a Volcano: Accomplished]
Marco dropped the jewel and screamed into the heavens.
.
Marco sliced through the stone vault. The massive slabs came crashing down.
Dreda, Dreadbot and Deadr were pinned to the walls by various traps.
Marco went back to the cave, exploring it until he reached the monster's lair.
Dread Beast, Eradd and Lord Dread were being feasted upon the monster; not noticing him. Marco slew it without remorse.
[Slay the Malice Beast: Accomplished]
Marco walked through the stalls of the marketplace.
Dread Guy was behind a faraway stall clutching a briefcase. He was stabbed with 20 knives. Dismembered bits of Iron Dread and Dreadscar were in a kitchen.
Marco walked along the shore. Following a thick piece of rope.
He came across Dread & Bones, Dread or Dead and Dared's eaten remains.
Mr. Dreadful and Weapon Dread's remains floated in the waters before something scooped it from below.
Marco threw his sword into the sea and brought a mighty bolt of lightning into the waters, killing the massive sea monster trapped by the mercs and everything else in it, turning it into a bloody red.
[Slay the Ship Sinker Leviathan: Accomplished]
Marco burnt down the entire jungle, his eyes flickered red in the fire when he found that the beasts feeding upon Aeddr, Dread X and Mildread.
Drunkenly walking out of the burning jungle, he fell to his knees…
Guilt.
Marco felt it crush him.
He did this to them.
They died on a fool's errand.
His own.
Marco felt a sob escape him.
Then a growl reached him.
For a moment he wished the beast maul him, to let him be punished for his crimes.
The next moment there was a dead beast…and him shamefully alive.
"I'm…nothing but a failure…"
"…no…Stud…"
Marco froze and looked up to see a pale Ardde limping towards him, he was missing an arm and his right eye swollen shut, he was covered in slash marks, he smiled the best he could before collapsing.
Marco quickly ran over and held him, "…knew you…would…find us…" "Damnit, Ardde…why?" "…sorry but we…"
Marco shook his head and cut open a portal, "Tell me back in camp, don't say a word."
Ardde tiredly nodded.
And Marco carried him through.
"MARCO WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Vixen screamed the moment he appeared.
Adder, Dreadlocke and Dreadster flanked her, covered in blood, bruises and hastily applied bandages.
Marco supported Ardde the best he could as the entire camp was fitted for battle, she pointed around the encampment and he balked seeing it lined with mercs, raiders, goons, mooks, bruisers and assorted interlopers.
Marco's heart shot to his throat seeing the King of Kutthroats and the Baron of Bandits standing side by side in front of camp. Lady Dread, Dr. Dae and Dread Master kneeling before them all equally beaten up as they struggled to breath as a noose was tied to each of them as the King and Baron painfully tugged each.
"THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! BRING OUT STUDMUFFIN!"
"DO YOU NOT CARE FOR THEIR SHIT LIVES!"
Marco looked at Vixen, "I've tried to stall as long as I can, but that only made them beat the three of them…this is the third time in an hour. You have to stop them."
Marco shook himself from his disbelief, he glanced at Adder, Dreadlocke and Dreadster for a moment before Vixen fitted him with his gear and his mask. He walked out to the two, they loudly insulted him, even kicking Lady Dread with one of their spiked boots.
"AH! THE COWARDLY STUDMUFFIN HAS ARRIVED! WHAT YOU COULDN'T FIGHT US LIKE A HONEST MERC!? SENT YOUR LITTLE ASSASSINS!?"
Marco narrowed his eyes as the two glared at him, they were the superior forces in this dimension akin to a government body. Every paid dues to them, one way or another, everyone worked for them.
He didn't like them at all, true they were much older than him at least in their 70s, 80s but that matter little when they were built like a damn giant and he knew their physique wasn't for show.
They could fight. Even in full armor styled like snarling beasts.
"I never sent my Warband to attack you. This is a misunderstanding. So it would be wise to release my mercs before things get bloody, gentlemen. Final warning." Marco said forcibly calm, despite the urge to bring down his sword at their treatment.
The two glared down at him, they stood a good foot and a half taller than him.
"Oh, is that right? You didn't sent this bitch into my castle!?"
"Or this quack doctor into my private villa!?"
Marco cast a glance at them before he grunted through gritted teeth,
"No."
The two laughed boisterously.
"LIAR!"
The two acted the moment they yelled, faster than the Dark Knight; Dread Master's neck snapped as the Baron yanked him back by the rope, King's serrated knife slashed across Dr. Dae and Lady Dread's throats, they gasped as blood spewed out.
Marco's vision turned violently red; he was mid-swing unleashing a blazing arc to save his mercs.
The King's massive frame buffed through it before Baron surged forward and kicked him back into the camp, toppling through tents.
"ATTACK!"
Marco blurry blinked as Vixen helped him up, she took a pistol and began to fire, keeping him upright.
Then he began to blackout and awaken in intervals.
Mikk fighting. He was always so diligent…
Bibi being dragged away. Always smiling…
Josef threw himself to block his vision, torn to bit by bullets. Always so brave…
Cyrilo overwhelmed. Loud but kind…
Epsilon pulled apart by Baron. Boy had an appetite…
Davide pulling bruisers off Orly Bir only too be shot. Always helpful…
Dreadlocke, Dreadster and Adder holding their own. Troublemakers…
Vixen fighting King…tossed into a tent…he pulled out his knife.
Marco watched these transgression as if in slow motion no matter how much he wanted to get to his feet, to have sword in hand, how desperate he urged and forced himself to save his friends…he laid on his back, powerless. Aodh and Agata fired frantically, cussing and crying as their friends died miserably around them.
A steady thrum resounded in his skull as more and more of the battle encroach closer to him.
And more of his Warband fell to the onslaught.
Marco blinked blurry as his guards were knocked off their feet and the whoops and cries of marauders drew closer, not like this...not on my back...if I die today I want to be on my two goddamn feet!
...agreed.
Marco. Get on your feet.
Stand and fight Dark Knight!
FIGHT. OR DIE.
Marco felt his sluggish helplessness drain from his body as Warco, Ocram and the last one roared at him to act. His feebleness replaced with pumping adrenaline. A burning rage. A desire to savagely mete out vengeance!
He grunted and snarled as he pushed spittle frothed on his lips, ignoring the protest of his body, the injuries he already suffered, he got to his feet if it was going to kill him. Aodh and Agata looked at him surprised as he called his sword to him, it grew out teeth and chatter angrily, hungrily at the chaos around it.
"THERE! STUDMUFFIN!"
"KILL HIM!"
"TAKE HIS FUCKIN' HEAD!"
Marco rolled his neck before the sword caught on fire.
Eyes glowing red.
"DIE."
In unnerving accuracy Marco unleashed a scores of blazing arcs, shredding through the camp, killing the interlopers with little issue. Some ran aflame. Others bisected. Others outright dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Marco let out an animalistic battle cry and looked around the camp, after the sudden arcs tearing through the place any marauder would be addled to remain. He caught sight of Aodh and Agata staring at him as if he was something to be feared.
They backed away from him.
"YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!"
Marco spun and brought his sword in guard just in time to block King and Baron's assault, the two elderly warriors were blooded but they had fury in their eyes, Marco had the same and it burned darker than theirs combined.
He deflected the masterful thrusts and spiked haymakers, flipping and twisting hairbreadth away from being killed. Marco laughed hysterically as his eyes shifted to a maddening blue, he became dead silent and expertly locked King and Baron with a simple guard, the two tried to muscle him down but he was clever, twisting ever so slightly with his sword and stance he made the two warrior's into a stalemate whilst looking as if he was holding them down.
The sight made the two push even harder and harder, tiring them as Marco slid slightly back as the two dug deep into the ground, hollering and cussing all the while. Sweat poured down their smelly body and thick armor, Marco merely looked indifferent, even bored at their exertion.
They caught on.
Marco spun away before the two could smash his head in, but putting them in a deadlock gave the Dark Knight plenty of time to formulate a plan. He sent a whirlwind to King while charging at Baron, nimble and lethal Marco began to hack into the armor, his eyes shifted red and he snarled and the sword grew chattering teeth. Baron took notice and immediately tried to rush Marco, but it was too late. Marco broke his tirade of blows and hacked into Baron's log of an arm finally, it bit hard and he roared, Marco twisted the blade to dislodge it and cracked the marrow. Baron threw a burly fist but Marco spun underneath it and cut down his legs above the knee, he leapt away as King came with his massive knife leaving Baron snarling at the lost of three limbs.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU SACKLESS SHIT!"
Marco ducked and spun away, King didn't let up and charged at him, his Warband staying as far away as possible at the sudden trampling of the two. Marco sent fire darts from his sword but the mammoth of a man tore through it, Marco charged up his sword, ready to rend the warrior with one last blazing arc, it turned red to blue to a blistering black and brought his sword down.
Blood.
It shot out from his mouth and nose.
The sword came down but nothing happened, Marco couldn't even see King as his vision dimmed, …wait…what just…?
A clammy coldness seeped into him, he felt tired…tired beyond belief…he shuddered as his heart thumped weakly.
Fuck…I used…too much…
"DIE STUDMUFFIN!"
Marco stumbled back, his sword still in his limp hands.
This is how I'm going to die…I haven't…
He couldn't see King anymore but the sound of his thundering stomps reached him, he could feel his maniacal glee as he drew closer…Marco waited for the inevitable knife but even so; he raised his sword the best he could.
"MARCO THRUST FORWARD!"
"WHY YOU!"
Vixen's voice rang clear in his muddled head and did so as she commanded, he cocked his arm back and thrust forward, collapsing forward before he grunted as something massive collided with him.
In a last ditch effort to save Marco, Vixen managed to tackle King and send him tumbling forward a feat made easier since he was already charging. Marco buckled at the sudden explosive weight of his adversary, the blade punching completely through King's back, he roared as Marco held him true.
Vixen grinned tiredly at her gambit but not before King's massive hand grabbed her, she pulled out a dagger and stabbed his wrist. The other Warband members shaking out of their stupor came to her aid, Marco completely hidden by King's massive frame could not see his second in command's predicament.
Despite the mercs trying to break her free, King held strong and slammed Vixen upon the Traitor's Sword protruding out of him. Vixen snarled as King savagely twisted her on the blade as if a rag doll, the Warband cried out in anguish before they pulled Marco back allowing King to fall back down while Vixen fell from his grasp.
Marco was shook out of his delirium, seeing King on the ground gasping at the bloody gap in his chest, Vixen covered in blood, her blood.
"You…killed your…own bitch…hahahah—"
Marco's hand subconsciously grabbed the nearest merc's pistol and blew apart his face until the pistol was empty.
[Kill the King of Kutthroats: Accomplished]
The Baron was surrounded by the surviving Warband and followed suit in spewing insults at Marco even as he grew paler by the second.
Marco did the same to him, grabbing another pistol, emptying it and dropping it as he stumbled and crawled over to Vixen.
[Kill the Baron of Bandits: Accomplished]
He shook his head slowly as Vixen labored to breathe, she tried to smile, "Hey…there Stud…heh I mean Marco…that sword of yours is pretty damn sharp…" she joked, wheezing at the end.
"Why? Why did it come to this?"
Vixen shakily chuckled, blood dribbled out of her nose, "…I don't…regret it though…Marco, listen I have to tell you something important."
"No…you have to stop talking, we need to—" "Marco...no…" Vixen grunted as Marco tried to lift her and looked around frantically for the Medical tent…that was on fire.
"Marco…" a bloody hand turn his face to Vixen, "…it's okay…don't regret this…" "But I do! I got you killed! I got so many of you…I did this to you!"
Vixen shook her head, Marco looked at her, guilt eroding every rational thought.
"Marco, I don't have much time, so please listen: I want you to unshackle yourself from these absurd Impossible Tasks—no, don't you dare stop because of me…" Vixen groaned, Marco kept a hand pressed over the wound, she grew paler but her eyes were bright with conviction.
"I can see it in your eyes and how much it rips your soul doing it, so please for your sake…live for yourself…live a happy life…I don't want to see you punish yourself over someone else…anymore…I don't hate you, even now…I don't…so promise me…promise me that you'll be happy after it is all over…"
"How can you ask that? After all this…?"
Marco felt bitter tears drip down his face, he shook his head.
Vixen weakly grabbed hold of his chin and made him nod.
Vixen looked at the Warband that gathered around, "Please…watch over him…"
The Warband looked apprehensive over her last request, there were far fewer members than before.
Then they all froze when Marco when he began to laugh.
It wasn't the kind of laugh of a person suddenly snapping from grief and mourning of a loved one.
It was a laugh that was filled with uplifting delight as if happy over the turn of events.
The Warband were sickened at Marco's echoing laughter.
Vixen merely blinked slowly at Marco, his hand over his mouth as he laughed and laughed, his smile unnerving as his eyes shifted around frighten as if it was out of his control. It felt as if all his guilt and sadness was overwritten by something foreign and funneled to him; he felt uplifted as if someone had made him happier than he had before.
Marco's mind raced as he recalled memories that were not his own, feeling out the outburst of emotion, he mentally wailed when he found it was from Star.
Over something heartfelt Tom did for her.
"…Marco?" Vixen whispered, a bloody hand caressing his cheek before it fell back limp.
Marco felt the surge of emotions pass and he panted, he looked at Vixen, her concern eyes staring back at him.
"Vixen…? No…no…"
He silently closed them, feeling all the more horrible that her final moments were confusion, shock…and concern.
"What the fuck."
"What an asshole…"
"…"
Marco looked up to see his Warband glaring at him, some of them throwing dirty looks at him as they walked away, most likely looking for survivors. Putting out fires. Killing stragglers.
"What the hell was that, StudMuffin." Growled Agata.
"I…don't know." Marco said, trying to sort himself.
"BULLSHIT!" came from the surrounding Warband.
"Vixen was your second in command how could you just laugh in her face whilst she died!"
Marco felt his anger and self-loathing bubble up, not only from the accusations but also from the sudden surge of impromptu emotions besmirching Vixen's death. He took a deep breath and waited for it to ebb away, he didn't want to take out his anger on his Warband, they a right to know and after suffering such an ordeal too.
"If I told you, any of you…you wouldn't believe me…even if you wanted to." Marco remarked bitterly.
"Do it anyways!"
Others affirm the decision.
"It's a curse connection made by a Goddess between me and another. I…had a very unfortunate feedback from her. Look, would I ever do that, honestly? Of my volition?"
The Warband was not convinced.
"Excuses!"
"What Goddess?"
"What curse?"
"Answer us, StudMuffin!"
Their anger, frustration, pleading and desperation clear on their voices. Marco braced himself, spilling out the contents of the curse. And Marco talked himself hoarse, swearing up and down every bit of it true, trying and reaching for something that the Warband could at least take his word for.
Still the Warband was not convinced.
They looked at him as if he was babbling mad.
The curse did its job well.
"Damnit, Stud why make up such a fanciful thing!?"
"Just say you're in debt!" "Say someone is blackmailing you!" "Just lie, Stud!"
"JUST LIE!"
Many of them cried, tears streaming down their eyes.
Marco looked the whole lot of them before he shook his head, "I'm telling you all the truth…I know its not sufficient…and not believable but…I wont lie to you all, not when it could mean your life."
"Like it cost the Dread Squad!" someone spat.
Marco turned to see a heavily beaten Ardde limping towards him, a knife in his only hand, "If your 'Impossible Task'…if your 'curse' will just make you fodder us off…then you're better off dead."
Dreadlocke, Adder and Dreadster started forward, putting them between him and Marco,
"Move!"
"You knew what would happen when we left—"
"Look Ardde, I lost my friends too but—"
"We swore—"
"I. DON'T. CARE NOW! GODDAMNIT, I WATCHED MONSTERS EAT MY FRIENDS! AND AFTER WHAT HAPPENED?! HOW COULD YOU PROTECT HIM!?" he tried to break through but the three held and pushed him back, nearly setting him on the blood soaked ground.
The three glared at Ardde but didn't budge, he threw Marco a wither glare before chucking the knife to the ground.
"You better kill me the next time I show up, StudMuffin because I intend to kill you…don't let me live because I will try again and again…I won't stop…I will never stop. Hide behind someone's skirt and I kill them to get to you."
Ardde angrily turned his back to him and limped away.
Others looked between Marco and Ardde.
Sadly, most of them shared the sentiment and walked away from the ruined camp.
Others would leave later after gathering their things and bidding StudMuffin farewell.
"Just like that?"
"After what Stud has done for us?"
Those who were still there yelled and pleaded with who were leaving.
"He can't even say why we're going to die, Adder…how could we stay?"
"…"
Marco pushed his way through and told the Warband,
"…I understand, I can't force any of you to believe my situation, nor will I force any of you to remain by my side under unclear pretense…I bid all of you good luck and good fortune out there."
"…" "…thanks for all you've done for us."
The remaining watched them leave.
The ones that stayed looked at StudMuffin.
Marco didn't say a word more as he slowly gathered the fallen Warband mercs and dug them their graves; Dreadlocke, Adder and Dreadster stayed close at hand as his guards. Brooke, Arabelle and Peyton showed up later and were in tears at the news, Marco filled them in and asked them if they wanted to leave, telling them about his curse, he was met with sorrowful doubting eyes.
"…Stud."
"I need time to think…"
"…I'll stay here, the Warband is my family…I have no one else…"
Marco sadly nodded his head and continued to work.
Carrying fallen mercs, some stripped of their belongings and clothes during the assault. Most were covered in their grievous wounds and loss of limbs.
"…they don't deserve to be buried like this."
He took one of his red hoodie and dressed Vixen in it, taking her dagger and clasping it in her hands. The rest did the same, either taking from Marco's stash or their own and dressing their fallen before taking them to their plots.
King and Baron's fallen were piled and lit aflame.
There were 700…
Now they were barely 200 left…
Marco began to bury them, saying a small prayed before he knew it Vixen was last. Some offered to bury her in his stead, but Marco merely said it should be him…he wished it was the only thing that gave him the excuse…his guilt ate away at him, knowing that someway somehow that the Blood Moon Ball curse activated and it cost Vixen her life. He couldn't prove it, but it…felt too coincidental that someone that loved him would die.
But truthfully, it was so he could say some things in private to her…
Marco looked at her pale face, beautiful even in death; brave and loyal till the end...
"I'm…so sorry Vixen…I never meant to get you tangled in this, in all of this…and your promise, its like a slap to your memory, forgive me for laughing like a nutcase before you passed...If I ever finish these Impossible Tasks, I don't think I'll ever be happy knowing I did this to you and the Warband…but after so many of you forsaking your lives for my miserable one...I have all the more reason to see this through to the end. Not just for myself, or my bond partner, but for you and the rest of the Warband.
Good bye, Vixen...I did really loved you too. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you then, but I will say it now: I love you."
Marco climbed out of the grave and slowly buried Vixen, silently crying.
He laid his hand on the soil for a moment before returning to the Warband.
.
"Tell me why you did it."
Adder, Dreadster and Dreadlocke stood before him,
"It was my idea."
"I was the one who gave the order."
"..."
Marco wanted to smack the three of them with everything he got.
The three of them were on the ground a second later.
Marco blinked seeing his bruised fist.
"...fuck that hurt."
"Damnit, why?"
"Owie."
Adder rubbed his cheek before he stood up as did Dreadlocke, helping Dreadster too. The two looked at Marco and then the rest of the Warband and spilled their reasons,
"StudMuffin, you gave us our lives back. I know—but had any of us had we known how could we go on living a happy life knowing you lived in torment! The day you came with Vixen the entire Dread Squad were all ready to die! Kill our captors even if it meant we all die in the process! The things they did to us, the horrors you couldn't imagine! You spared not only us but the rest of the Warband from a fate lined with torment and misery, what we did was to repay you for what you had done."
"You brought Baron and King to our doorstep. The Warband is broken." Marco snarled.
Dreadlocke pulled out a folded piece of parchment and held it before Marco, "They were planning to kill all of us after they gathered more mercs, had we given them the chance none of us, save for you and Vixen obviously, would have walked away unscathed. An entire fucking dimension baring down on us, there is no way we all get away."
"I could have made a portal." Marco shot back angrily.
"AND THEY WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED US! NEVER GIVEN RESPITE! THEY PLANNED PUT BOUNTIES ON ALL OF US! THIS WAS THE ONLY OUTCOME WHERE WE WON BY PREEMPTIVE STRIKE! AND WE WOULDN'T RUN FOR LONG, WE WOULD HAVE STAND AND FIGHT!"
Dreadlocke breathed heavily, Marco wasn't convinced at all,
"Besides, what's our lives to yours."
Marco glared at them, "But it is your life! I didn't ask you—any of you to go off and do what was on that list! I would have done them!"
"When?! When would you be done? When would be free? Your whole life would have passed you by!"
"That is my decision to make!" Marco snapped.
"And it was the Dread Squad's to give their short lives for your own! Damnit, only Dreadlocke, Lady Dread and I wont succumb to disease! Everyone else were terminally ill! They injected maladies and diseases in the prisoners for sport! For fun! Whatever time we had left was better spent on saving and helping you."
Marco felt his fury rise, "Your precious life is your own. Don't trade it for my miserable one."
"Don't...don't belittle their sacrifices, Stud..." Dreadlocke said quietly facing him, "I am a hairbreadth away from doing an 'Ardde' too, but I want to understand why you were so hellbent on these silly notions. I owe you my life, as does everyone here, your explanation makes literally no sense, but still: I will stay until I do understand."
The smaller Warband agreed at words.
They were splinters away from breaking apart completely.
Marco held back a sigh, thinking over what needed to be done.
"StudMuffin…what now?"
Similar lines followed.
Marco looked around, seeing the remaining Warband, they stayed from either loyalty to having no place else.
"I'm taking you all to a safer dimension, there you can think about staying with the Warband or not more thoroughly. If you want to leave, I'll drop you to the dimension and location of your choosing."
Marco slashed open a portal and gestured to it, they nervously walked through and they looked around seeing the Wastelands. There were sparse vegetation, rusty and muddy color palette made it look like something akin to a post nuclear fallout scenario.
The group immediately began to setup base camp while Marco wandered off in an odd direction, Dreadlocke called out to him and he responded with he was going for a walk.
And he walked and walked into the Wasteland.
He looked at his watch, seeing he was at it for an hour...
before coming up to a peculiar sight.
"What are you doing…?"
"Isn't it obvious? Hah…thought I was sooo clever…I had a partner, a loyal girl in my arm and a booming business…fuck, I thought I had it all."
Marco watched as a man sit on the rock, his clothes tattered and his face bloody and bruised all over. He shook his head dispassionately,
"Then boom; it was all gone…my partner up and took the rug underneath my feet…my girl left me cause she heard too many bad rumors, especially from that damn snake…and a big shot throwing his weight around thought I was making too much on his turf…thought I looked too happy, happier than him…so he poisoned everything I loved…"
The man sighed looking up at the sky,
"Couldn't kill me…and I'm not fond of being kicked around…but those fuckers messed up the doorway and now I'm stuck in this shithole…"
He spat on the ground.
Marco looked on.
"…what did you do before all this."
"I ran a bar, but…that place was my pride and joy. I made that place with nothing but my raw will power, I wanted a bar to call my own and I did whatever I could; I cut wood, I smashed rocks, learned from cheap assholes, you name it, just so I can be a good bar owner. I made even my own brew, my specialties, my signature; heh the only good thing about this fucked situation is the fact I took the damn recipes with me, no one is getting it. Got it locked in the old noggin'."
The man glanced at Marco before turning back,
"You're a merc…"
"I am."
"…you got job to do…going to finish the job…" he inquired, Marco shook his head.
"I'm not here for you or your recipes…I lost just as much as you…thought this place would help clear my head."
The guy grunted.
"Sorry, this spot is occupied."
Marco looked at him, despite all he had gone through, his face showed resolution, he wasn't done with his life; it was just a setback and a minor one at that for him.
"Do you want revenge."
"Course I do, who wouldn't. Someone did this to me, I want to repay them. I'm at rock bottom but…fuck, I know this won't stop me. Even if it takes another 12 years, I'll get my bar…I will."
Marco could hear the determination, the absolute will to achieve.
"What do you need to get back on your feet."
"Fuck a couple sluts and a couple of hard drinks. Enough to pass out. THEN I'll get to it."
Marco smiled before walking off again, "…good luck—" "Rhunter." He grunted.
The merc chuckled before continuing on.
Marco walked until he came to numerous valleys and canyons marking the Wasteland landscape.
He sighed at the sight and readied to turn back, he stuffed his hand into his pocket and felt something, curious he pulled out a heavily dented pocket watch, he frowned, somehow the blasted thing was never far from him.
He turned the pocket watch between his fingers, watching the dull sunset roll off its metallic surface. After receiving it he began to really walked down the path StudMuffin had walked, leading him to where he was now…he didn't know whether or not it was for good or naught, fate or some other cliché, but he couldn't help but voice out his thoughts after all that had happened…
"…I wish I could go back in time…slap myself silly for doing all this stupid shite…I could have done things a lot better…"
/…now that's a thought~/
Marco froze, he looked down at his pocket watch.
/Oho~! You can hear me? Delightful!/
Marco readied to throw the pocket watch before it cried out,
/Is that any way to treat your belongings?/
"I throw the Sword of Pendragon all over the place, I can throw you."
/Ah, that thing is still around? Amusing./
"Who are you? What are you?"
/…do you know the Concept of Time?/
"Yeah, I know I that."
/Hilarious. I AM CONCEPT OF TIME./
Marco wasn't at all impressed, he even looked around to make sure he was alone and not speaking to himself like a nutcase.
"I don't believe you."
The pocket watch snapped open and the broken hands begin to spin.
Backwards.
Marco felt his guts get queasy as the land before him began to change rapidly, in the blink of an eye he was standing in a very different land. The Wasteland was greener than he remembered.
He looked round before a portal burst open in front of him and he fell back as something collided with him. He pushed them off before seeing a scared humanoid run for the hills, his fist full of red hair, he ran as if the devil was on his ass.
"GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!"
Marco froze as someone else leapt out of the portal again, tumbling into him, he was quickly shoved off and footsteps followed, Marco glanced up as the assailant ran past him.
Sensually pudgy, alabaster skin, yellow orange tipped horns and shoulder length red hair, Marco knew that description anywhere, Hekapoo hastily glanced back and carelessly yelled an apology,
"Get the fuck off the ground, you dolt!"
/Satisfied~?/
"…oh yeah."
And Marco found himself back in the rusty Wastelands.
Marco looked at the memories, remembering them just as clearly.
After coming to the Wastelands, things turned out for the better for him and the Warband.
He—
A cry tore him from the memory walls, he looked back to the wispy tunnel and raced towards the exit, someone was at the end of it.
Hestia dabbed her sibling's hot forehead…
Another one…
She looked at the nearby cots, all of her siblings had suddenly gotten ill, unable to wake up at all.
I'm alone now…damnit why?
Hestia brushed a strand from her face as she walked over to the screens of the Time Temple, every screen made her more and more upset and frustrated. Her father…her mother…they upset the timeline and in doing so led it to ruin…
Hestia turned away, unable to stand the sight and walked out of the temple, Father Time and Uncle Omni meeting her at the threshold, she warily greeted them, she needed to go back to the mock house…Mother—Hekapoo was coming back within an hour…
"Huh? Hestia what are you doing in here?"
"…just checking up on my siblings…" Hestia replied sadly.
Father Time and Omni looked at each other.
Everything stopped for Hestia at their next utterance.
"Siblings? Hestia, you're an only child."
Hestia looked at them horrified; the two seemingly glitch before her eyes.
XxXxXxXxX
Whew.
That's it.
No more Flashback Chapters.
And Marco's Character Development (edgelord arc) is also over too.
This should tie up all loose ends about Marco's sordid past, except how he got better but that's a tale for another time.
Now we can go back to the relevant [present] plot of this fanfic.
I can literally hear so many sighs of relief.
Next Chapter:
Poor Hestia
OR
The Redemption Arc [One Chapter long features the Prime/Prima Arc, Kelly's Parents Arc and Post Eclipsa Arc]
You decide.
tu ne me reconnaiss pas?
I AM NRG
END OF TRANSMISSION