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Chapter 41

The Mewni Crisis:

A Path to Destruction III

XxXxXxXxX

Janna couldn't believe Jackie had the nerve to kiss Marco no matter how briefly in front of so many. The blonde had both of her hands on her cheeks, madly blushing no doubt reliving the memory over and over in her pretty head as the rest disappeared through the portal, Meteora turned a shade of green and ran for the bathroom.

It took a minute for her to calm down, she shuffled her feet, her cheeks still red as she nervously clasps her hands.

Janna pursed her lips unsure to do with this latest development.

"I thought you were over him, Jackie."
"...I thought so, too."

Jackie looked away from Janna, she tried to mask how she look but no doubt it looked accusing no matter how hard she tried. She couldn't help but feel as if things were thrown awry, with all that had happened it was as if nothing mattered. The world could very well end any day now.

That's what probably spurred her own...

Janna thought to herself as she and Jackie sorta stewed over what happened.
Jackie albeit in a better mood than her.

So lost in thought but not alone, time tinkered away before they were made aware of it again when the portal sprang open as an enraged Eclipsa came stomping out of it.

The two stared at her.
She breathed heavily, her fists shaking; if the two weren't so afraid they would have noticed she had been crying.

As if suddenly alerted to their meager presence, she snapped her neck at them and gave them a look of great annoyance.
Janna felt herself seize up, Jackie however couldn't help but nervously ask,

"A-are you alright?"
"NO: I AM NOT ALRIGHT."
"OkaythenletsgoJackie—"

Before the two could scamper away Eclipsa roared,
"MARCO YOU BLOODY BASTARD!"

The two froze as she marched out of the room before they ran for their guest room, taking a route that avoided the queen at all cost.

Once they were safely back there the two bounced questions off each other, how could the queen went from lovable to quite frankly murderous in a span of a few minutes. And Marco the cause of it.

"It just doesn't make sense..." "Doesn't matter, she was pissed!"
"I bet he said 'no'." "I mean, yeah, but to turn into that?"

Jackie pouted as she hugged her pillow, it had an intricate rose pattern.
Much like the rest of the room's decor and theme.

Janna watched Jackie for a moment, she tried to steer the conversation to the kiss but somehow Jackie had managed to wiggle out of it. A direct blunt question was the only way...

"Why'd you kiss Marco?"

"C'mon, Jackie..."
"...honestly, I think Marco is alone."
"...?"

Jackie sat up, she rested her chin on the pillow,
"Back on Earth, Marco was so distracted, then coming back from Mewni he was so different, so hurt...I can only imagine. Now, he's back here and I finally understand how much this place changed him, what it put him through. I mean, Star is gone, his best friend...and he couldn't do anything. I just...I just want him to know that there will be someone for him at the end of it."
"What do you mean? End of what?"

Jackie just stared at the carpet floor, unsure what she meant too.

"If you haven't noticed he has that Kelly girl and even Hekathot."

Jackie only shook her head at the words, barely registering it as her thoughts drifted back to Marco…

.

Marco followed his teachers glancing at the many graves and tombstones, many of them weathered and moss ridden; inscribed with runes and etching that escaped his understanding. He brushed some vines on a nearby tombstone trying to get a better look when Buttercup grunted, he looked at the Lizard then realized he had stepped off the beaten path and onto the wet grass.

"Take care Marco, this is a sacred place, even as a Dark Knight, it would be disrespectful to step on another's grave."
"Noted." Marco moved back, Oblivion looked at him for a moment before turning away.

The two stood in front of the mausoleum entrance, thick old oak doors that were marred with deep slashes and studs of metal from arrow and spearheads. Buttercup grabbed the rusted door handles and pulled them as the heavy doors groaned from disuse.

Marco peered into the darkness before his teachers entered, uncaring of the lack of light,

"Well come on lad, nothing to be afraid of."
"The darkness is the least of your worries."

Marco stared into the abyss,
"I'm not afraid of the dark." His thoughts drifted to the soft-spoken Hallow, he quickly let it wash over him to cover his blush.

Marco could hear shuffling before a click or two before a torch was lit against a nearby pillar, Buttercup did the same with the next and next revealing a plain altar, some molding pews, he looked around seeing crumbling statues with stained sheets thrown over them.

Marco waited for the entire room to be adequately lit before he saw a massive tapestry, faded with age and patched, there was no denying what he saw: a knight clad in tarnish armor with gauntlets resting upon a sword pommel.

He stared at it for a moment, his mouth barely forming words, the ghost looked at him before glancing up and nodding,

"Yes, I was awestruck too when they made it, though Brother Naught was another story."

The ghost looked around the mausoleum wistfully, running his ethereal hands across the altar; a mournful sigh escaped him as he drifted along.

"How long has it been since I last came here…"
"I'd like not to think on it…" Buttercup sighed; despite the torches the light did not reach all recesses of the mausoleum.

The Lizard took a torch and led the way deeper coming upon a descending staircase; the ghost gave an unnatural shiver,

"I don't know why it has to be in the crypt."
"It's the only place that fits."
"I'm convinced I'm being led to my demise."

Neither answered, but Marco could sense their eye rolls as they continued down.

Reaching the bottom, Marco felt himself being pushed forward as an eerie light floated at the center of the crypt. Oblivion snapped his fingers and the will-o-wisp perked up and divided lighting up the dark interior.

There were coffins, urns and sarcophagi lining the walls however at the center stood a circular stone and podium where the faerie light used to be. He glanced at the two but there merely looked on, Marco clenched his jaw for a moment and walked forward; this was his alone to endure. As he walked he took gander over his surroundings again before he realized something was seeping out of the many burial containers. Without warning swirling vapor shaped itself and the whole room was filled with ethereal knights, clad in crudely painted armor.

The Dark Council watched as Marco made it to the center, their eyes gleamed from their mighty helms.

So another 'Dark Knight' has been brought onto Mewni.

Marco felt his skin crawl at the cold response, but he couldn't tell who spoke.
Unsure what was going to happen or how to even begin; he chose to introduce himself, as courtesy,

"I am Marco Ubaldo Diaz, Dark Knight of Mewni. Appointed by Eclipsa Butterfly, the Queen of Darkness."

INDEED.

Marco stood before the many ghosts, unsure what more to do, if anything they merely observed him, as if trying to divine his entire being by only their eyes.

Why are you here, Sir Diaz.

"...a great Scourge comes for Mewni, I am in need of knights, Dark Knights, to rise up to this evil."

What—another Dark Knight has come afoul.

Marco blinked at the words.
Oblivion and Buttercup tighten their faces.
And fists.

Unconcerned by Marco's puzzlement or his teacher's silent anger, they continued,

After our many battles and victories for Mewni...why should we rise up...again.

A dark murmur passed through the council.
Marco's eyes darted side to side, dreading their answer.

It took only one, just one...to wash our history in blood.

"Then I will undo it." Marco asserted, his memory of the particular Dark Knight dredged up.

How original.

Yes, I remember those words exactly.

Pray tell: what Scourge is rampaging through this sorry land.

Marco's lips tighten, knowing that the truth would be no better than deceit,
"A clone of myself has been made and has run amok, setting Mewni to the flame."

Ah. Now that is truly tragic.

And we shall not help you.

Marco balked at the words.
He looked around, but the Dark Council no longer looked at him but at Oblivion.

Ah, yes, Dark Knight Oblivion Pendragon — the Knight of the Fallen Crown, Heir Apparent of the Dragon Slayer. You've trained yet another student; and failure is all you show for it, was the others not enough.

Marco readied to retort but the ghost held a hand to stop him as more specters began to appear alongside his teachers. Just like the Dark Council, they wore their battle worn armor, obscuring their appearance.

I see, your peers have come to behold this folly.
Welcome,

Dark Knight Naught Rend — the Hand of the Crimson Shadow
Dark Knight Edge Heartflutter — the Poet of the Drunken Haze
Judge Spook Goblinbane — the Rightful Judge of the Onslaught
General Nettle Hardstriker — the Master of the Blood Ripple
Dark Knight Idris Daggertail — the Storm of Battle Frenzy
Priestess Eilig Bloodywine — the Lady of a Thousand Poisons

Oblivion looked fondly over them.

What is your measure of this pup.

Marco swung his head back forward, narrowing his eyes at the words, unsure who spoke.

"Okay, I don't know whose speaking because all of you are wearing your ridiculous helms while dead by the way; so take those damn things off so I can—HOLY SHIT NEVERMIND!"

Marco threw up his hands as the council removed it revealing their decomposing grotesque faces.
Grunting they put them back on.

Now that you've seen our faces Sir Diaz.

YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE.

Marco stared.
He glanced behind him then back forward.

Eilig.
Now's not the time for that.

Grouch.

The six sans Oblivion drifted and quickly circled Marco, feeling their piercing appraising eyes on his entire person.
He felt their eyes drift to his naked hip as if expecting to see something.

Marco's hand twitched, before he forced it limp, reminding himself where it was.

The scrutiny didn't last much longer than a minute as they drifted back behind him, Marco felt that it was too brief to get a proper evaluation of himself.
He resisted the urge to look at his teachers if his concern were simply nerves.

The boy, and yes that is befitting, seems to have acquire ample tutelage and skill, I can certainly vouch he is a fearsome warrior.

Despite that, I do have misgivings if he could rouse the fallen Dark Knights to his cause; that is paramount.

There are too many who were forgotten, lost and never properly put to rest across Mewni, it's nigh impossible for him to call upon them.

'Tis much bitterness between the Dark Knights and the Kingdoms of Mewni, we didn't fight just for Butterfly dynasty, however they were the most noteworthy.

We served also the descendants that would become the rest of the nobility to these lands; a poor trade, the worse deal struck to date.

Marco felt an unnatural chill fall upon the room.
As if reminded of their tragic legacy deaden the room even more.

Gathering his wits, Marco spoke,

"If you're worried about the monarchs getting away from this crisis scot-free, they have been severely thrashed, I've seen it with my own eyes. They're—"

IRRELEVANT.

If this problem were to happen again, then it is for naught.
The current monarchs must be judged.

It may be best to have no ruling monarchs at all.
Ill governed and willfully ignorant, making excuses and blaming others for their short-comings—bah! Mewni deserves better than this.

Perhaps the flames of war shall remake this dimension.
Cleanse it for the better.

"How can you say that—how can you stand by and watch your people die!"

SILENCE

Marco flinched.

Do not act as if we cannot see through you.
You do not care—not as much as we do.

Now Marco was taken back at that declaration.
His reaction didn't go unnoticed as he felt them glower at him, sending an icy chill down his back.

Your words are hollow, just as your outrage.

You do not get to shame nor guilt us.

YOU ARE NOT BETTER THAN WHO YOU JUDGE, LEAST OF ALL: US.

"It doesn't change blood is being spilled! They are still dying out there! Will you still do nothing?" Marco yelled.

We pledged ourselves to them.
Fought, bled and died for them.
Died for them.
All of them.

And do you know how we were repaid.
Wronged.
Discarded.
Forgotten.

Marco felt the disdain roll off each word, he looked all them, each no different from the last.
He couldn't bear to look at Oblivion...fearing he would be the same.

"They are different now.
Better than who they were."

Which, pray tell, Sir Diaz are you referring to?
The ones who sided with you or the ones already dead or beaten to a bloody pulp.

One of the ghost sadly shook its head.
The rest remained resolute to their words.

Even now…your words still fail to rouse us to your cause—no matter how much you pour your emotion into your trifling squawks; we can smell your disgusting insincerity for such convictions.

Your subpar performance insults us.

"I've been labeled a monster by this dimension and its people yet I still rise up in their defense; is that insincerity!" Marco demanded, his eyes hard on the council.

The council regarded him coldly.

Yes.
And you know it.

Lie to us, fine.
BUT DO NOT LIE TO YOURSELF.

Marco glared at the Dark Council.
Icy glares were returned in kind,

"…I truly am the last Dark Knight of Mewni." Marco declared.

Silence.

Marco stood there mute as a statue before clangs of iron and steel echoed the dark chamber.
He noticed the ghost had grown hazy, as if ready to disappear.

His thoughts flew back to Shastacan's fate.
Had he...?

Last Dark Knight? You insult yourself, your teacher and this Knightly Order, with your declaration.

Marco blinked.
He looked at the Dark Council more closely and what he mistook for being hazy was actually them shaking violently.
In anger.

There hasn't been a 'Dark Knight' in many a year.

Now get your wretched self out of our sight.

Marco glowered at the words before he turned his back and walked for the exit, Oblivion, Buttercup and the ghosts parted to let him walk out.

His retreating steps echoed until no more.
The two parties looked at each other.

…brave little shit, I'll give him that.

If he lives that is...

Marco didn't wait for his teachers.
He didn't trust himself to not yell at them.
What was the point of bringing those six if they weren't going to—

He breathed heavily, the night air was pleasant contrasting his boiling anger, but it felt ill deserved. The council truly saw through him: deep down he didn't care for Mewni, only a precious few mattered.

He wiped his chin feeling it slick with sweat, glancing back before shaking his head and marching back to the Grove.
Alone.
He had come empty-handed.
He would have no army at his back.

Passing gravestones to shadowed trees to finally the gardens, Marco looked around to see only Honeysuckle, she greeted him.

"You're alone."
"I am. Your friends left do something."

Marco frowned knowing most of them were not in any shape to go gallivanting, the Lizard saw it and soothed his misgivings.

"They're not doing anything dangerous, but you might want to see what they're up to." She gestured out of the Grove, Marco nodded but before he could leave she pulled something from behind the log.

"Can't be running around Mewni with a naked hip, Buttercup meant to give you this but Oblivion wanted to give you his sword instead." Honeysuckle held out the sword, the icy blade glittering as Marco took it.

"He called it 'Historia Repetit'."
"I can't call it that." Marco's thoughts falling on the Concept, the Lizard nodded understandingly.

"Thought so. Well, what will you call it?"
"Warpath, just what I intend for Darcy."

The leopard gecko smirked as she handed him the scabbard and Marco made his way to his allies.

.

Marco stared at the massive castle.
Kelly and Hekapoo waved at him from the ramparts, albeit the redhead was a bit less enthusiastic as Automata tapped her cane making her way to him, he quickly closed the distance as the Elemental stopped and folded the arms.

Welcome back Marco.
"Automata..."

The Elemental gestured to her blindfold then to the castle behind her,
Built that castle around the sword, now all we got to do is fill it with some brave knights.

"..."
I know you didn't convince them, but every second we don't prepare the sorrier we will be when this war finally breaks out. No point in moping.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you and your sisters."

The Elemental paused and turned her head to him.

Let's deal with Darcy.
We can talk about you later.

Marco glanced down, feeling beyond guilty but finally looked up after gathering some resolve
He found himself alone instead.

.