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Disclaimer:
Chapter 42
The Mewni Crisis:
The Sorrow Before the Storm
XxXxXxXxX
Weary brown eyes fell upon the castle had sprung up around where the Traitor's Sword had been; completely protected from outside forces but such a powerful weapon didn't need protection. It was for others who would foolishly or unintentionally touch it before its wrath would be dispensed on high.
Darcy survived narrowly, had she not thrown it when she did, her doom would have been sealed.
It would have saved me a lot of grief if she had held it longer...
Marco stared at the castle.
Unsure why the Elementals poured their energy into such a thing when they could have been resting in the Grove. He could hear the undeniable sounds of rushing feet and busy preparations, the Dark Knight could only surmise that they would go to war with him as well.
His hand touches Warpath briefly, feeling the cold steel before he resolved himself for the worst.
The large oak door swung inward to greet him, Moku undoubtedly in control seeing no other force or mechanism moving it along. Marco looked around the castle, despite it being built so quickly he marveled at the artistry from column, beams, pillars and even the archways. He paused at a massive portrait illustrating him with a flaming sword and an immersive bulge; he shook his head and made his way to where the sword was undoubtedly kept.
Opening doors and passing through rooms, he stared at it sensing the sword's power imposed upon the Dimension, crafted by his own Will.
I could…pull the sword free…call my allies, all of them, and come down on Darcy like a wrathful god...
He sighed at the same repeating bitter thought…
Without a doubt, Darcy would flee...
Even she wasn't that stupid or arrogant, nevermind calling herself a 'God'.
He stared at it for a long minute, knowing this journey of his…began with this legendary sword.
That sword has a sordid past with us, you know.
Told in hushed whispers and scathing words.
The Oathbreaker...the Traitor's Sword…the Sword of the Dragon...
Marco realized that the loud clangs of work had stopped in the distance as the Elementals came into view. He saw them all, dressed in apparel of their choosing, most of which covered their hideous burn affliction caused by his dastardly Fell Flames.
We thought nothing could inspire such hatred from us like that sword...until we felt the inferno of the Fell Flames and the monster it somehow birthed.
As if hearing the grievance, Marco felt a hulking shadow thaw out from behind him, he crane his head to see a massive built humanoid figure wreathed in Fell Flames and a skull mask gracing its face.
"..." Marco stared at it before glancing at the Elementals, "How is it seen by you but no one else..."
We figured it has something to do with the physical plane...a manifestation of your will and fighting spirit...given form by the twisted flames...we are of that realm while our Concepts Sisters cannot perceive them.
Marco mulled the words over, unsure if the explanation even made sense in the best of context but he let it go.
"...if you're going to lurk around me...you're going to listen to me...your flames will not hurt the Elementals, ever again." Marco said quietly, the beastly thing stared at him, "And goes without saying their sisters, the Concepts."
It merely tilted its chin upwards, somehow still keeping its gaze on him, Marco's eyes harden,
"You WILL NOT hurt anyone else without my say so."
Marco's eyes bored into the skull, the void of its eyes return the glare.
...SO BE IT.
Marco felt an unnatural chill wash over him as it shrunk back out of view, he looked over to the Elementals all of them watching him intently.
Jewel cautiously walked over, Marco glanced at his shoulder before he felt a pair of soft small hands held his own. Jewel smiled at him, he felt his lips part as he knelt down and hugged her,
"I'm so sorry I got you hurt...got you in this mess of mine..."
You better have.
Marco felt his ear get pulled as the other Elementals came and crowd around him, ruffling his hair, their arms wrapping around him.
Please...don't...
Don't hurt us again, Marco...
Marco froze.
His eyes slowly turned to see Automata, she smiled at him, his red blindfold still present.
Without intending to, he nodded despite her blindness.
Enough of this dreary topic.
Let's talk business: what are your knights going to use against Darcy's minions.
Marco couldn't stop his shoulders from slumping.
"You already know: I don't have an army. I only have the Knights of the Hood and maybe a few more but that's it. No one else will stand against her, the Mewmans and Monsters...they've been traumatized, terrorized and beaten to a pulp by her, those who could stand against her...well, they are with their families and kingdoms or...have joined her side. Or perished already. You've seen all the weapons I managed to get, if you're planning on making more we'll have more weapons than hands to use them."
Automata smirked.
How little faith you have in them.
Though I do agree, I'd like to think if more showed up I'd rather they don't fight with their bare hands.
Marco understood the line of thinking, "...instead of more melee weapons why don't you make some cannons and rifles?"
I can make the weapons, but understand I'm not Hanabi, I'll have to be outside of you whilst I channel my powers. I can reload and supply the munitions to the weapons but knowing Darcy I'll be easily a target for her Magick. Any disruption and my creation built by my powers will fall apart or fail to reload itself, unless the munitions comes from an outside source my powers will be only as good as Darcy can be fended off.
Marco turned to Moku, "Trebuchet and siege weapons will come in handy. I can think of traps, spike pits and snares that will be very helpful."
Like Automata said if I make them directly from me, Magick will definitely disrupt it but if I make it from a separate source Darcy can't get a freebie by just targeting me. I'll get to work on those, Golem and Jewel you can help supply me some fireballs and shard shrapnel.
Raigu, Dunes and Yuki faced him,
We'll join you in battle, unless you think we'll be better off somewhere else.
"No, I think being with me will be for the best, we'll be fewer in numbers so gotta make sure every single one of us hits like a Calamity. You'll be helping me direct the troops, that will turn the tide of battle, in our favor."
"Not without me, you wont!"
Marco turned to see Kelly jogging to meet him, her claymore securely attached to her. Hekapoo was not far behind, taking a more leisure pace than her counterpart. The Elementals bid them their leave as they went off to prepare Marco's war machines.
"Marco! Hey, you got a new sword! Lemme see it!"
"Yay..."
Marco gave Warpath to Kelly as she unsheathed the icy steel, admiring the razor edge artistry; Hekapoo fished out Marco's Dimensional Scissors. It didn't go unnoticed, his eyes lingering on it for a moment as she casually flicked it them apart before they lengthen, forming the short blades.
"I'll be using these."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Hekapoo bit her lip softly, as if ready to retort before it passed and she turn and left, Kelly gave him a discreet glance but continued to admire the Warpath. He sighed, walking off in the direction he hoped was the outside balcony or courtyard, feeling a draft he followed it to a staircase and ascends. Kelly watched him for a moment, torn between joining him and leaving him be…she sighed as she chose the latter.
He peered outside the small windows, just enough to for an archer to shoot an unlucky foe as he continued to follow the cool draft. He breathed in the cool air as he walked on the ramparts, seeing vast forest, twinkling of lights from distance homes and kingdoms, mountain ranges far off in the distance, the stars winking from overhead.
Marco sighed and slumps against the cool stone, his head swam with worry, still unsure if he could pull off something this far-gone. His eyes rolled over the surrounding area, on instinct his mind began to take account of the place, trying to decipher how to best use it. He quietly groaned when even that did not help soothe his worry about the upcoming slaughter, his thoughts turning morbid as he saw the fields littered with the dead.
The blood...
the cries...
the carnage permeating the air...
"...focus, Diaz…" Marco muttered under his breath, as he closed his eyes, "Don't psyche yourself out...you've been in worse scraps than this...they—they will make it..."
Marco shuddered as he breathed in deeply.
He glanced at the fields again and it was mercifully empty.
He blinked when trees shook and fell to the ground with a mute thud, squinting he saw Moku and Golem working their powers, he watched them for a moment before something else caught his eye.
And he grinned, making his way down the rampart to meet his guest.
.
Higgs waved at Marco as she trudged up to him from the castle entrance, a backpack filled and many swords, axes, lances, bows, daggers and whatnot clang and dangle from her bodice.
"Marco, I saw the castle being built so I took all that I could carry."
"You shouldn't have."
"But I did~!"
"No, you shouldn't have." Marco deadpan, "What will the Butterfly Kingdom use then?"
Higgs pulled a face.
"They got plenty and besides most of these are the ones I made. Tried my hand at forging, I'd say they aren't too bad. And…I tried to convince some of the squires and knights I had trained with through the years...but don't be heartbroken if they don't show up."
Marco smiled and helped her take off the weapons setting them aside, "You being here is plenty. I know you wont turn and run at Darcy's goons."
"As if! You're not the only one who deserves a turn with Darcy!" Higgs bumped her knuckle on Marco's chest as the two returned to the main hall. She took the castle quickly also admiring the workmanship, she excitedly talked to the Elementals asking varying questions much to their amusement.
Catching Marco's eye, she broke off the conversation and reached for a familiar tarnished sword and held it out to Marco.
"Marco you should use Frost Flame, you'll be needing it more than me."
"I don't think so, he's got a really nice blade right here."
Kelly came into view handing Warpath to Higgs as she too marveled at the sword, but quickly shook herself, adamantly holding out the Frost Flame,
"But it's your sword!"
"And I know its best place would be with you, Higgs, really."
"...I mean, if that's what you want."
Marco nodded as Higgs looked unconvinced but didn't voice it.
The Dark Knight pushed how similar this talk was with Kelly out of his mind.
Marco walked over to the Prima weapons he brought with him. It was just a precaution; some were just the Elementals flexing their powers and creativity, totally not their fondness for him.
Shadesbane
Night Fang
Bandit Terror
Runic Warblade
He walked over and lifted the rectangular claymore upright, he knew the Prima residents took their time making each weapon lovingly but the massive claymore threw him off balance while he worked. He had used it sparingly, and the times he did was to make a statement...and cutting off that rock behemoth's arm off.
"Kelly, give this a whirl."
"Uh, sure, if you insist."
Marco felt his lips tug to a smile, despite Kelly's misgivings, she really took to the blade as she lifted the claymore with ease and after giving her some space, swung and spun just as easy.
"Where have you been keeping this?"
Marco could sense a slight edge of accusation, he shrugged, "I had my teacher's sword, that was plenty already."
Kelly resisted the urge to roll her eyes, Marco used a lot of weapons but she felt this claymore he kept out of her radar, unintentionally or not.
Sorry to barge in a very stellar conversation but you're required, Marco.
Marco paused but regardless followed Golem to the entrance of the castle.
Kelly waving to him as he left.
.
Raymond weakly waved to Marco, who quickly rushed him into the closest room in the first floor, the young knight sighed tiredly on the bench, propped against the table. Bringing the tired lad up flights of stairs would have been cruel with him in such a state.
Finally, catching his breath, Raymond started his report, "We were in the middle of moving weapon cache but then we ran into Darcy's kidnapped royals, I got the other members to send them to their respective kingdoms. I'm sorry, but I don't know if they were more, they only knew of a handful of prisoners."
"No, all of this is helpful, thank you Raymond."
He tiredly nodded, Marco's thoughts fell back to Hekapoo, who was imprisoned by Darcy and kept isolated from the other hostages, besides the kingdom's heirs who could be there be?
"Ah, not so fast, the good news isn't over yet."
Marco's musing stalled, he saw Raymond produce a sheet of parchment, a crude map as he pointed at X's on it.
"In a day's time those who would fight Darcy will arrive, coming from these villages, towns, kingdoms and encampments."
"...where were they when Darcy unleashed her reign of terror?" Marco asked slowly.
Raymond grimace, "I can't speak for all of them…but the ones I did thought it couldn't get worse...until it did."
Marco scoffed and took a step away, shaking his head.
"They decided it was the right time to fight Darcy when she's at her absolute peak, I don't know if they got a death wish or other."
"Yeah...I thought so, too."
"Regardless, they know where to go?"
"This castle, magnificent by the way, should catch their eye, I'll raise the Knights of the Hood flag so they can't miss it."
"...so where were they suppose to meet before?"
"...er, Commander Tad's hidey-hole shop in the outskirts of the Butterfly Kingdom?"
"Yes...of course."
Raymond quickly brushed the fact aside and excitedly blurted out, "You have a hundred brave fighters on their way here! Maybe even two hundred if news spreads far and fast enough!"
Marco felt his gut drop at the number but nodded anyways: it was more than he had come up with even with his teacher's backing.
"Do you have an estimate of Darcy's goons? I mostly fought those she had coerced through threat and Magick, but with the royal hostages freed those from that kingdom shouldn't be under her banner."
"It's hard to say even with that...I know she had followers, goons and mooks under her thumb, I can't see her commanding more than a thousand, maybe two thousand?"
Marco nodded, that seemed right, from he understood Darcy had a very small inner circle: herself that massive crow and that clone when he was in Butterfly castle...
Everything seemed to drift...
Raymond...
the stone floor...
her hand over her blood-stained
"LORD MARCO!"
"?!"
He glanced to the hand tugging on his sleeve, he looked up to see Raymond staring at him with concern, "Are you alright? Maybe you should lie down."
"A-ah, I'm fine, just spaced out."
The young hood gave him a worried look, "Its late, maybe you should just turn in. Eat something?"
"No, there's too much to do, and you need to lie down more than I do, you've been running around all day seems like."
Raymond didn't budge.
"Lord Marco, you fought Darcy and from what I could gather...you were pretty beat up the entire time. I'll turn in, so long as you do too."
Marco stared at him for a moment, before he nodded and he showed him to some empty quarters, he rolled into the soft bed before he sat up again.
"How about the others?"
"The Elementals rest when they need to, Hekapoo, Kelly and Higgs are—"
"Yes, ah, I mean the rest of the Knights of the Hood."
Marco blinked before realizing, "Ah, right, I'll ask one of the Elementals to show them to some vacant rooms, they'll be comfortable."
Raymond readied a well crafted response but the bed's soft embrace caused him to lie back down, "They'll like this place...Tad's hideout is nice, but you just can't beat a castle this nice...zzz..."
Marco held back a laugh as Raymond dozed off mid-conversation, he quietly left the room, just as he promised he found Raigu and quickly gave her instructions for the rest of their forces.
The Elemental nodded to the instructions before pointing him to his room, telling him he needed his rest as well.
He bid her good night and made his way slowly to his room, feeling everything that had happen finally sink in. His body hurt everywhere and his mind was definitely suffering from all the stress he had endured within the few hours for just being back on Mewni...
Mewni...
He stopped at the top landing, his mind clouded with the thought...the place...the dimension...
Marco held back his surprise as he had unconsciously clenched his hands, seeing his knuckles whiten, he quickly relaxed feeling the blood rush back. He stood there for a moment realizing how easy it was for him to lose his composure while he was here.
Not just in my head...but my body too...
Marco glanced at his palms, seeing them callous and scarred, he shook himself of wandering thoughts and opened the door, seeing his room lavishly furnished with furniture, decor and fixings.
And a snoring Hekapoo on the king size bed.
He rolled his eyes before Moku manifested from a bookshelf, staring at the sleeping intruder before she looked ready to flip the bed over.
Marco silently shook his head and Moku frowned at him, she made another bed frame while he took out futon, blankets and a pillow from a closet and assembled a passable bed.
Good night, Marco.
"Don't stay up too late, Moku."
The Elemental gave him an impish smirk before she meld with the door, appearing somewhere else in the castle no doubt.
Marco threw off his boots, his gear and hoodie before rolling under the covers getting comfortable, he groan realizing the lanterns and whatnot were still on, he readied to get out again.
"Don't bother."
Marco froze as an alabaster hand rose up and with a snap of her fingers, the lights went out.
"...how long were you awake?"
"With all the racket you made, quite a bit."
"Well, you're in my bed."
"I don't see your name on it."
Marco pulled out his pillow and threw it at the blacksmith and she yelled as a soft pillow collided into her rear.
"You bastard!"
"My parents were happily married when they had me."
Hekapoo spat some more insults, but Marco ignored it.
He flop back down before he sat back up again,
"Can you give my pillow back?"
"No, it's my now, you gave it to me."
"I threw it at you."
"Whatever."
Marco threw his covers off and made his way to the bed, he caught two eyes glaring at him before he grabbed the one Hekapoo was using from right under her head and marched back to his bed.
Hekapoo threw more insults but again he ignored them as he got comfortable, he buried his into the pillow. He dearly wanted nothing more than to just drift off into sleep, but his uneasiness...it...zzz
.
Marco stirred, he yawned feeling sunlight flood the room, the golden rays cutting through his grogginess faster than he'd like. He sluggishly blinked, wanting nothing more than to stay in bed...let the world fend for itself for just a bit longer...
"Get up you pillow thief."
"...you're awfully cranky."
Marco closed his eyes as he buried his head into the pillow, not wanting to see Hekapoo for another minute.
"Get your face out of that pillow, your girlfriends and fan club are looking for you downstairs."
"Mmmfph."
Marco felt Hekapoo's warm breath tickle his ear as she hissed into it.
"QUIT SNIFFING MY PILLOW AND GET UP."
The Dark Knight reluctantly sat up, the blacksmith glared at him with her hands on her shapely hips, "Move it."
He looked at her for a moment before he asked,
"What? No good morning kiss—?!"
Hekapoo using her index and thumb pinched Marco's lip shut, he glanced at her hand before she got eye level with him, "Get your ass downstairs."
Marco deflated.
Hekapoo's eyes soften and for a brief moment, she leaned forward...
Marco blinked as she quickly caught herself and without another word, stood up and left.
.
The Dark Knight paused at the stairs seeing the gathered audience:
Higgs and Kelly waved to him.
The Knights of the Hood stood still at the sight of him.
The Elementals made themselves comfortable on seats or couches.
He expected them.
No, those who made him pause was Sir Lavabo and what look like a few older Butterfly knights watching him with stony faces.
He looked at the others:
Monsters who avoided his gaze, an assortment of citizenry from Waterfolk, Jaggy Mountain and a dozen Pigeons.
He mentally remark the lacking from the other kingdoms, before he shook it off, anything was better than what he had before.
"Sir Marco Diaz!" Sir Lavabo called out, the Butterfly knights didn't respond and merely stood by.
Marco continued his intended path and stood before them all, they looked at him with nervousness and dismay.
"You all are—"
"WHERE'S YOUR ARMY!" blurted a slime Monster, everyone looked at him for a moment, before they all looked at the Dark Knight expectantly.
It wasn't their first question they wanted to ask...but the genie is out of the bottle now...
Marco made sure he didn't flinch at the sudden question, but he could feel the atmosphere change quickly,
"I was going to thank you all for deciding to stand by me against Darcy.
And I still thank you all.
But as it stands: you are my army."
"And we're more than enough to curb stomp Darcy!" Raymond exclaimed, the Knights of the Hood nodded in agreement.
Sir Lavabo gave Marco a reassuring smile.
"Well said, Raymond!"
"Couldn't agree more!"
One of the Waterfolk had a thousand yard stare,
"We're doomed."
A pigeon cooed.
The Butterfly knights finally decided to speak up, the positivity of the Knights of the Hood clearly getting them, "What is the actual plan, Marco Diaz? There's only a handful of us against Nefon's legion."
"THAT'S LORD MARCO TO YOU!"
"YEAH!"
The knight ignored the hollering.
Marco stared him down before he took measured steps toward him.
"You do realize that Nefon is Darcy, yes?"
"Frankly, Dark Knight, I don't give a fuck what you call her, she's amass quite a following and we are a paltry force."
"In numbers." Muttered Elf Usu, the Elementals grunted in agreement.
Marco gave him calculating look, "You say that with so much confidence."
"...because I thought of leaving and hiding in the Forest of Certain Death..." the knight could feel the barbed glares, "Look, not everyone can be as heroic as this fearless Dark Knight here...but while I was there Nefon showed up and riled the crowd that were hiding in refuge, the way she talks...I've seen it twist Mewman and Monster alike, like she's enthrall them. And there were hundreds maybe even a thousand of refugees there, I shudder to think what's she's done to other kingdoms."
The knight hung his head, "I didn't want to be pulled into whatever batshit insane thing she had planned so I returned to my station, I hoped and prayed things wouldn't get worse...but then she suddenly appeared in the castle and what she did to the King, the Queen and the Princess...she could do to hundreds more."
Everyone took a moment to digest the information, Marco glanced to Higgs and the Elementals, both parties were there when the royals went mental. They shared a look of affirmation that it could be indeed what the knight said: hundreds more bewitched by Darcy to do her dirty work.
"How can we tell if they are enthralled by her?"
"They could be part of her group if we let them in our army, we could get stabbed in the back."
Marco waved it off, "Darcy is amassing her forces to fight ours, it would defeat the purpose of giving us time to rally to end it anticlimactically. Darcy wants Mewni to despair."
The group didn't look convinced but he caught Raigu's eye, the Elemental discreetly nod,
I'll tell my sisters to keep an eye on anyone suspicious who joins the army.
"I fought Darcy yesterday, that means she's bound to give us two more days before we clash."
"How can you be so sure?"
Marco glanced at Kelly, Higgs, Sir Lavabo then the Knights of the Hood, the fan club knew what was coming...
"Nefon...Darcy is a clone of myself made by a Mewman royal. I know who the culprit is, but right now, that Fiend needs to die. As for the days, personally I would give three."
There was a words abuzz at the information, the KotH members folded their arms, remembering Solid Spider's story and how he was still with Tad.
He looked at the pigeons before he picked one up and it coo weakly, "I know you've been terrorizing the place for months now, but I need you spread the word that we need fighters for this final battle with Darcy, I need you to go to every kingdom and every place you can think of to get us braves. Can you do that?"
The pigeon looked at him before it gave a hearty coo, as did the rest; Moku quickly made fibrous sheets and jot down an inspiring message to get more fighters on their side:
Want to kick Darcy/Nefon's ass?
Join Marco Diaz's Army now!
Marco frowned but let Moku continue, the other Elementals helped making their own message but it was overall the same effect: a chance to fight Darcy without doing it completely alone.
He looked at the rest, "While the pigeons are spreading the word, I want you all to help out as well, I don't doubt the message will be ignored by many, but if it means one more fighter joins us, the better."
Sir Lavabo turned to them all, "I know some of you came along with me with the thought Sir Diaz had some ace in the hole, some miracle he would pull and defeat Darcy singlehandedly...but he can not. Or rather should not. This is Mewni, our home; we should not burden the sole responsibility nor survival on one person no matter how extraordinary.
Here and now, we can show Darcy she hasn't beaten us.
She hasn't won.
It has just begun.
And she and her mob will feel our wrath."
The crowd began to nod, even smirk with bloody enthusiasm at the thought of Darcy at their mercy. Marco gave Sir Lavabo a look of awe the knight leaned over and whispered, "These old bones still got it." "Wish I riled them up that well." "You'll be doing that in no time, believe me."
Moku sighed in relief as the many rolls lay ready for the pigeons as they eagerly grabbed two and flew out, ready to spread the word.
The Knights of the Hood instructed those who had fighters in mind to follow them, they would escort them to the places they needed to go as to serve as a guard. Those who were left Sir Lavabo and Marco began to tour them around the castle along with its many defenses and offenses.
The two realized something:
We're they on the offense or defense in this battle?
"Even with all this defenses, Darcy would just pummel this place flat."
"Indeed, quite the quandary."
Marco looked at the fighters then to Sir Lavabo, remembering he couldn't fight like he used to.
"I got it, lets have you man the castle while I marshal the troops outside. Those too injured or too inexperienced can man the castle, they'll be rain upon the enemy while I get the troops to finish them off."
"Marco, there are too few fighters to do either. Its either they are all out or they are in the castle."
Marco furrowed his brow at the problem, "The Elementals could make a handful of copies to work the defenses but then we'll be sorely lacking their powers in the field."
Sir Lavabo sighed and glanced around the castle, then back to the Dark Knight, "We could also be over thinking it, perhaps we'll have enough for both if the others come back."
"Yeah, that would be nice, but with what Darcy did to Mewni, who knows how many are willing to fight back."
The older knight wag a finger at him, "Now, now, lad, you underestimate what happens when you force someone's back into a corner." "Much like Darcy has done to us?" "Exactly, mark my words we'll have more than what we started with."
"HEY MARCO! YOU BETTER SEE THIS!"
The two knights glanced up to see Hekapoo on a landing above them, she jut her thumb over her shoulder.
Bewildered Marco walked over to a nearby window and glanced outside, there seemed to be a crowd marching towards the castle, he squinted trying to see the lead when his gut dropped:
It was Tad.
Riding on the shoulder of Solid Spider, his benign clone.
Marco blinked several times trying to figure out what the heck the green furball was up to before he decided to meet him at the front of the castle, Sir Lavabo and the rest not far behind.
Moku easily swung the massive entrance for them just as Solid Spider and Tad reached the front, the crowd eagerly murmured amongst themselves seeing two Marco Diazs.
"What the hell are you playing at, Tad."
"...it wasn't my idea, but it's really out of my hands when he left the hideout, I tried to stop him, I swear."
Marco wasn't convinced but he glanced at the clone who didn't wilt under his gaze,
"What's the meaning of this."
"Darcy is going to bring my brother Liquid Lizard into this battle, it will sow confusion and despair if it's kept from the populace. Morale will plummet and everything else is sure to follow."
The Dark Knight said through gritted teeth, "Or you could do that now and make no one join us at all."
The clone didn't reply, Marco looked past the two and saw the crowd, a mix Monster and Mewman, a voice spoke up within the group,
"There really is two Marco Diaz!"
"Spitting image, I think I'm seeing double!"
"Whoa..."
Marco walked forward as the group collectively held its breath,
"And what brings you all here today.
Hopefully, not to just gawk at me and him."
"..."
Marco waited for someone, anyone from the crowd to muster up some courage to speak when a bandaged Mewman limped forward, Marco turned his attention to him,
"Are you gonna fight that bitch…?"
"I'm going to assume you mean Darcy."
He grunted as he struggled to stand straight.
"But are you going to fight her?"
Marco looked at the crowd before back to him,
"Yes, I will."
"Good, I want to fight her, too."
Marco glanced at the crowd again, "And you, all of you: do you want to fight Darcy?"
"..."
"Mhmmm, okay, well I can say for certainty she will fight you."
"Can we beat her?"
Marco scanned the group trying to fight who asked but regardless he answered,
"Certainly, if you decide to stand against her, Darcy will fall."
A doubtful murmur rippled through the crowd, again someone spoke up,
"Are you going to rule over us when its all over?"
Marco was slightly taken aback by the question, many looked at him expectantly and he shook his head,
"No, I think Mewni should be ruled by those who reside here.
Once Darcy is dealt with I shall leave Mewni to its devices."
Uneasiness fell upon them,
"You left and look what happened."
Marco only answered as he turned and began to walk back to the castle, "That is an eventuality we all can entertain after Darcy is dead and buried, getting ignored by the worms."
.
It was late in the afternoon when the Knights of the Hood and rest came back, a size-able group followed behind them as they approached the castle, many of them commented seeing the many more fighters around the castle, most of which were already armed.
"The Dark Knight did all this?"
"A lot more than I thought..."
"...how?"
Raymond and Elma glanced at the group behind them before they gestured for them to enter the castle, Automata greeted them from the entrance, many fighters loitering around her.
Glad you all made it back.
"There wasn't anymore bandits or else when we town to town, kingdom to kingdom, Darcy really pulled back all her forces."
That doesn't bode well then.
The new group nervously entered the castle hearing the clangs of metal and work, Sir Lavabo waved to them as he began lining them up and inspecting them as did the other older knights, asking them short but important questions like their occupation, if they had served or fought before, if they were in good health and the like.
From there Kelly and Higgs outfitted them, weapons, armor and the sundries for battle, Marco then took the group either to their stations or outside, the rear of the castle had many tents along with the siege weapons, the Elementals harvesting the necessary material and not conjuring from themselves.
"Some of you already know you'll be stationed in the castle or manning the siege weapons, the rest will be with me, I'll leading the charge against Darcy's army in the front lines."
Many of the fighters liked the news, nodding approvingly.
Marco again spoke,
"I've also asked around how many she has under her banner but no one is clear on the numbers she commands. By the by, Sir Lavabo already informed you—"
"Darcy and Nefon is the same person, yes, orientation was very to the point."
Marco refrained from rolling his eyes.
"I don't know, Dark Knight, I'd be surprised if she had more than a hundred."
"Two-hundred?"
"She did have a following for a long time."
The batch of fighters talked amongst themselves, Marco rubbed his chin, realizing no one had a concrete idea of her numbers and that was both a relief and problem.
"If I take that knight's words as fact she could have hundreds, a thousand or she could be rolling out a handful...neither scenario would be comforting...she could overwhelm us with numbers or she could have a handful of strong fighters ripping through the troops like wet tissue..."
Marco's eyes roved slowly over the troops, their faces filled with unease and doubt, but they nonetheless decided to fight...fight and die...
Marco felt his stomach lurch painfully and he audible gasp, the group took notice and asked him if he was alright,
"I'm fine, you've been all separated into your groups...make sure you get to know each other, you'll be watching each other's backs very soon."
"What's the point of getting to know each other: we're all gonna die anyways."
"Hey!"
"You can't think like that, man!"
"Oh, hey you made her cry!"
"C'mon read the room!"
Marco felt bile fill his mouth, the conversation, the atmosphere...it was too much like...
Vixen...the Warband...they…
"ENOUGH! If you think its pointless to defy and fight Darcy, I'm not going ask you to stay."
Marco looked at them, his eyes with a menacing glint,
"But if you remain in the army regardless, fight for those around you, your friends, your family, if you wont fight for yourself."
Marco wasn't surprise when two took off their issued gear and handed to someone then walked off.
He watched them until they faded into the distance.
"Last chance to walk away now."
Silence.
Marco could feel eyes on him from the castle battements.
A Monster moved to the front of the group, his eyes pained as he spat out,
"All of my friends and family are dead.
I'm only here for vengeance."
"Good, I can use that." Marco remarked.
The group stared stunned, he turned to them, "Everyone here has a reason to fight Darcy, some of it noble, some of it selfish and simple, but we are all here to put a stop to her madness and carnage. I can't promise you, any of you, that you'll make it back, but I will be there in that bloody battlefield with you all. This is my fight as much as it is yours, I wont shrink from my duty to you."
The group stood there in silence before they all made a gesture that made Marco's heart sank.
They saluted him in their own ways and custom.
And all he could do was bow his head.
And walked back to the castle.
.
Sir Lavabo sighed as he sank into one of the soft chairs, the other knights agreeing by sighing into their rest, taking a swig of water, juice, wine and whatnot from the wooden chalice Moku had crafted for them.
"Long day..."
"It was, still kinda nostalgic seeing all those lad and lass lining up for their things."
"I know what you mean, all the trouble we get into, the damn drills and tests. The jousting incident?"
"Sir Majesty Whiskers, bless his soul, would wring your ears if he knew it was you!"
The knights fell into a laughing fit, remembering their old Drill Master and the awful mustache he had.
Sir Lavabo rolled his eyes, grinning hard at the memory, "Can't believe he taught for so long, should have retired or gave it to his stellar successor."
"Ah, that old goat was too uptight for his own good."
"The old coot...wish he was here now."
The knights fell into a somber silence, sloshing their drink,
"Sir Lavabo...we'll be triumphant, yes?"
"Best keep your spirits high, it will show otherwise when we're fighting."
The knight rolled his eyes,
"I meant Marco—" "Ahem."
"Sir Diaz is Mewni's Dark Knight...he'll defeat her...?"
The old knight leaned back, sighing, "I've trained Sir Marco Diaz since he was appointed a Royal Squire, made into a Dark Knight, left then saved me and Lady Higgs...he has grown up a great deal, many trails and tribulations. I have faith he will see us through this crisis, mark my words."
"Surely the other kingdoms see this crisis, we could all band together, crush Darcy in one fell swoop."
Sir Lavabo shook his head, his thoughts on King and Queen Butterfly, "Darcy is a vile monster, the things she done to the kingdoms and their royals families...I understand why they are frighten of her, but...standing against her is a better alternative than let her roam free and continue to cause mayhem."
The knights fell to their musing as a Monster Captain walked over, he glanced at the knights before addressing Sir Lavabo,
"Nefon promised us we'd be treated better in her dealings and negotiations with the kingdoms and communities, but nothing came out of it, we bloody each for her amusement. She played everyone, we should have all collective descend upon her instead too many of us cower before her now."
Sir Lavabo looked at the Monster Captain, he was about to ask his question but the Monster beat him to it, "I'm Sines, my fellows are Ioan and Sufyan." He pointed at a bird Monster and bull Monster.
The old knight rolled out of his chair and shook hands with each, nodding before coming back to Sines, "Well, better late than never, Darcy has much to answer for." "Indeed."
The knights and captains talked a bit more before dispersing, Sir Lavabo walked around the castle, seeing the Elementals busily work around as did Higgs and Kelly, and even Hekapoo albeit she merely inspected passing fighters blades and weapons before shooing them away.
The knight continued to walk upwards before he found himself in the cool evening air exiting into a balcony, he walked to the stone edge and saw the many tents, campfires and obvious chattering in the air. He felt a mix of emotions seeing the many tents, the many fighters, brave and...
He didn't finish the thought and sighed softly...
"I don't hear you sigh often..."
"!"
He looked up to see Marco sitting in the dark corner, he looked sorrowfully at the ones below, "Ah, Marco! You gave this old man a fright."
"...sorry."
The old knight smiled at him but Marco didn't return it, he looked at him, a look the old knight knew very well,
"You're thinking about their fates, aren't you?"
"...yes, and how...how I asked..."
Sir Lavabo could see Marco squeezing his fists near to breaking,
"I'm asking them to risk their lives and d—"
"You are not." He cut him off, he placed a hand on his shoulder and knelt at eye level, "You are not sending them off to die, they are here for the same reason as you, Marco: to stop Darcy."
Marco shook his head, "All I see is my Warband all over again...people who put their trust in me...and look where they ended up."
Sir Lavabo was at a loss for words.
"And not just them...the Knights of the Hood...Kelly, Higgs, you...even Hekapoo...I'm pitting you against that blood thirsty maniac."
"..."
"I'm touched, Marco, really I am."
The two flinched and saw the lady blacksmith sitting on the stone railing, her eyes on him, "You feeling guilty putting us in harms way? That things could end extremely poorly for all of us and it's your fault?"
"Of course, I do." Marco replied with more edge than he'd like.
She slid off the railing and stood in front of him,
"You shouldn't dwell on things you can't control, Marco...but knowing you care about every life than comes into yours...its comforting even though you're a Dark Knight now, that deep down you're still that boy all those years ago…"
"Hekapoo...why now?" he questioned.
She gave a smirk, "Don't you make amends before something climatic happens?"
With that she turned and left the two alone.
Marco gazed wistfully where she had gone before Sir Lavabo's words rouse him,
"She's right, Marco, you've been blunt with everyone so far, but you're afraid and guilty for getting us involved."
"..."
"Know this Marco: we stand by you, wherever it takes us."
.
Book 2 will soon come to a close