Hello guys and welcome back to this story… that is finally getting an update! I know I left you all hanging with that last chapter about how Marco along with the rest of the squires of the kingdom will be competing in a training exercise with squires from others kingdoms.
In today's chapter we'll be following up with Higgs after her loss to Marco and what she's had to deal with, leading up to announcement of the event.
Also, a quick heads up on how I'll be handling Higgs going forward in the story and what I think the show should have done with her in general. Okay so, when I first saw Higgs and her whole 'acting nice, then turns out to be a completely bully' thing, I thought that maybe afterwards if she appeared in more episodes where she and Marco had more time to get to know each other, she would eventually become like this friend/rival kind of character for Marco while he was on Mewni. But that never happened. She appeared in one episode and we don't see here again until season 4 where she is the same as she was when she was first introduced before getting written off and sending her to Hekapoo's dimension.
Now I get that the show had a lot of characters, but the show's major problem was that it was focusing too much on the shipping and I know a couple of people would agree with me on that.
Now if you've read the prologue of this story, then you'll know how I'll be handling Higgs. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's start this chapter.
Chapter 6: Training for the Trials: Marco, Kelly, and … Higgs!?
(Several days prior to Claudia and her parent's visit to Butterfly Castle)
Early one morning in the Butterfly Kingdom at the castle's training grounds, Higgs was in the middle of her usually/rare mourning training sessions with Sir Stabby.
However, if you were to ask one of the other spectators who were also there at the time, they would tell you that it looked more like Sir Stabby was straight out putting the poor girl through torture.
"Oh, come now Higgs, you can do better that this." Sir Stabby said standing over his knight to be as said squire was on her knees gasping for air as she held onto her sword.
Her face was dripping with sweat as she struggled but eventually managed to stand and ready her sword.
"There you go, see? All you had to do was just get back up." Sir Stabby said. "Now then, let's continue." He spoke.
Everyone there could see that Sir Stabby was pushing the girl far too hard. They understood that the training to become knights was tough, but it was not meant to be tortuous like what they were seeing.
"The heck is wrong with that guy? Can't he see the kid's about to fall over?" one of the knights said.
"I know, but what can we do about it?" another knight said as he watches Higgs try and fail to fully block Sir Stabby's attack, getting knocked about for what had to be the 11th time. "Oh, corn husks, I don't know how much of this I can keep watching."
"Watching what?"
The two knights that were talking look and see El, who had just entered the training field.
"Oh, Sir El!"
"What's going on here guys?" El asked.
"Just look over there at the painful display called 'training' and see for yourself."
El looked to where the guards were pointing to and saw what could only be described as absolute brutality.
"What in the world is he doing? El asked. "Is that what he calls training? The kid can barely hold her ground. How long have they been at this?"
"Since… before the crack of dawn." The knight said.
"I'd dare say, they've been here before anyone else showed up for their own training." The other knight spoke. "By the time we ourselves arrived, the poor girl looked she was about to collapse."
"I see, thanks for the info, guys." El said as he began making his way over to the arena.
"Wait, Sir El? What are you going to do?"
El didn't answer as he began to sprint over to the ring, his swords already drawn.
Meanwhile, Higgs had been sent flying across the ground, her sword knocked from her hands.
"Oh, come on Higgs," Sir Stabby spoke in disappointment, "I barley put any force behind that last one. You know what Higgs, I starting to wonder if you really have what it takes be a squire, let only a knight?"
"Huh?" when Higgs heard these words and from her own knight, something began to crumble away within her mind. "W-What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean." Sir Stabby said. "Ever since your loss to that upstart's little nobody of a squire, rumors have been going around about how someone who had little to no training lost to a squire under my mentorship."
"I-I didn't think he'd be able fight as well as he didn't." Higgs said through her heavy breathing as she struggled to get back up, only to realize her body barley had any strength.
"Come on! Come on! Get up!" she thought desperately while still trying to stand before her knight.
"This is just pathetic." Sir Stabby said. "I give you the honor of being my squire and you go drag my name thorough the mud."
"I-I'm not! I swear to you Sir Stabby, I would never do anything to disgrace you." Higgs said as she managed to get to at least one knee before her knight said something that threatened to cause to fall in more than just the physical sense.
"Poor Higgs. When I think back to that match you lost, I can't help but think of your parents and what they would feel about it."
When Higgs heard the mention of her parents, she suddenly started lose what little strength she had left managed to gather.
"Sigh, it really is a shame." Sir Stabby continued. "Two people who basically could represent the very pinocle of what it means to be knight. Sir Peter; your father, when it came to chivalry and displaying what one's honor truly means? None could even come close. It also helped that he was quite the strategists."
At this point, Higgs had fallen back to the ground as she began to have a bit of a panic attack as Sir Stabby continued.
"Then there's your mother," he said, causing the air in the girl's throat to stop. "Ah yes, Lady Rachel, or as she's commonly known as "Twin Blade Rachel". Now there was woman that any child would be proud to have as a mother and do everything in their power to make themselves worthy in the eyes of one who single-handedly defeated two platoons of enemies and bested a knight commander."
Higgs didn't say a word in response.
Before Sir Stabby could say anything else would damage the poor girl's self-worth further,
"Hey! What in the seven rings of the underworld am I looking at here!?"
Sir Stabby turned and saw El staring daggers at him before he saw the young man's gaze move to his squire.
Everyone else in the training ground looked on as the two knights stared each other down before El spoke again.
"Well? You going to tell me what in the ever. Loving. Heck. kind of training you are putting this kid through?" El asked in a tone that indicated he was not messing around.
Sir Stabby looked around at the other knights and squires and began silently cursing himself for letting his frustration slip out due to two people. One of them standing right in front of him.
"Yes well, it seems I let some of my own… frustrations slip in while I was training my squire here." He tried to explain.
"Frustrations, huh?" El said still maintaining his glare. "Now what exactly could frustrate you to the point that you'd begin essentially torturing your own squire?"
"Well… that's umm…"
While Sir Stabby was trying to think up an excuse, El looked down at Higgs and noticed that she had stopped moving.
He kneels down and sees that she had fallen unconscious, but also took notice of the tear streaks on her cheeks.
"Sigh, what he said about her mom and dad must have really broken her." El thought as he proceeded to pick up the now sleeping girl.
"H-Hey! Where are you going!? And with my squire no less!?" Sir Stabby demanded, only to have the young knight ignore him as he carrying Higgs with him over to the two knights by the entrance to the training field.
"Do you guys have a place for treating your injured? El asked them.
"O-Oh, yes we do. However, the one in charge there is currently out restocking at the moment." The guard on the right explained.
"Hmm… alright, thanks for the info, guys, keep up the good work." El said as he walked by them, while continuing to ignore Sir Stabby.
Meanwhile up in Star's bedroom, Jenny was reading some of the magazines that Mewni had available while sitting in one of Star's beanbag chairs. Thankfully they still had ones that were aimed at teens like her and Star. As well as an interesting twist on the latest fashions and trending boy bands.
"You would never guess a place based more around the medieval times to have things you'd find in the modern day" Jenny thought aloud as she was the only occupant at the moment, with Star having whisked Marco away for a day of hanging out.
Jenny then heard footsteps approaching the room and given their pattern and sound, she could already tell who was coming.
"Okay El, I can only guess that you couldn't find anything fun at the training field today so – "Jenny started to say before gasping at the sight that was in front of her.
The person was indeed El, but he was also carrying someone in his arms who turned out to be Higgs.
"Hey Jen," El said as he walked in, closed the door behind him with his foot and moved over to Star's bed where he placed the still sleeping Higgs after removing her red boots.
"Don't 'Hey' me! How about you tell me what the heck happened and why you're carrying an unconscious girl in here!?" Jenny shouted as she shot up from the beanbag chair and almost teleported next to El.
"Alright, alright." El said. "But first you think you can handle patching her up while I explain? You've got more first aid supplies on you than me."
"Okay then, just start explaining." Jenny said as she opened the storage compartment via her 'belly button' and retrieves a first aid kit.
As Jenny was treating Higgs, El went into detail of what he saw when he got to the training field and also what he had heard from the guards there.
Thankfully, Jenny's self-control ensured that she didn't accidently hurt the sleeping Higgs further while she was tending to her. because given what El said the kid's knight/teacher did and told her, the teenage robot was seriously considering ponding the guy into a pulp.
"And… there." Jenny said as she finished treating Higgs. "I'm surprised she didn't wake at all while I was patching her."
"Yeah well, well you can thank Sir 'Slave-driver' for that." El said. "Probably didn't even let the kid catch her breath."
"Please tell me again why I can't go find this jerk and reduce him to ashes or why we can't at least tell Queen Moon and King River about this!?" Jenny shouted.
"Because the kid will just say he was pushing her to go beyond what she can do." El said, which just confused Jenny. "Look; based on what I saw when the guy brought up Higgs's Mom and Dad, I guessing they were her main motivation for wanting to become a knight." He explained. "And based on how Stabby refereed to them by name, he was at least a comrade in arms to them."
"Then why the heck is he treating their daughter like a pack horse if they were fellow knights!?" Jenny asked/softly shouted.
"I guessing while they were all fellow knights, Higgs's parents were more venerated and acknowledged for their impressive skills from what I've heard pinky say." El said. "Which of course would lead to pink hair being jealous of them."
"So, when the daughter of the two people who he was most envious of was to be his squire, of course he'd take the chance to make her life literal torture." Jenny said. "But why doesn't Higgs just let her parents know about this?"
El just looked out the window for a moment before telling Jenny the reason.
"Most likely, they're no longer around to watch out for her."
"Huh?" Jenny asked.
"In the castle library, there's a memorial with the names of all the kingdom's knights that have passed away of fallen in battle in its defense." El explained. "When I heard Stabby mention the names of Higgs's parents, I had an unfortunate retaliation."
Jenny looked over at the still sleeping Higgs and then back at El.
"So, what your saying is that…" Jenny said before El answered.
"Yeah." El said. "So, knowing this, with her parents gone and Stabby boy being the closes person to them, it makes sense why she doesn't just up and quit as his squire." He spoke. "But I'd sooner give up my swords than let such a talented kid be left in the hands of idiot like pinky."
"So, what do you plan on doing about it?" Jenny asked.
"Not sure yet." El said as he looked out the window. "But I have a feeling that the opportunity will come sooner than we think."
(Current day, after Claudia and her parent's meeting with Moon and River)
News of House Enfield's proposal soon spread quickly throughout the other kingdoms, causing the air itself to buzz with excitement, anticipation, and curiosity.
However, the most dominate feelings and expectations among the squires of the various kingdoms was their competitive drive at how the squires of other kingdoms will perform, and conviction of how far their willing to go to achieve victory.
Currently, Marco was running for his life in the Forest of Certain Death as monsters of various sizes and species were looking to make him their midday snack.
"Star! Aren't there other ways to better improve my stamina! You know one's that don't involve me fearing the fact that I might end up as something's next meal!" Marco yelled as vaulted over a fallen tree, avoiding being snapped in two by the pincers of a cross between a crab, spider, and lizard.
"Come on Marco! The Squire Trials could throw anything at you, a run through the Forest of Certain Death can help anyone with running speed, stamina… am I forgetting anything?" Star said from above as she flew on Cloudy.
"You forgot reaction time Star." El said, sitting next to Star on her summoned friend while Jenny hovered next to them with her jet boots.
"You two are going to end up killing him before the Squire Trials even begin." Jenny said.
"Oh, don't worry Jenny. This isn't Marco's first go in this forest." El said.
"Yeah, Marco's been through this forest plenty of times." Star added. "Not as along as me, since I've been through this place like since I could crawl."
"Since you could… never mind. I shouldn't be surprised at this point." Jenny says as she and the others look and see Marco come out the other side of the forest.
"Okay, I think I've … ran through… the forest… enough already." Marco said in between his gasping.
"Okay, okay Marco, we'll move onto your next training exercise for the day." El said. "Now from what Miss Claudia explained, you'll mostly being pairing up with other squires for some of these trials. Whether your paired up with ones from the kingdom you're representing or your randomly paired with someone from the other kingdoms, what will matter is how well you work together." He explained.
"With that being said, I came up with a method that should help." Jenny said as her monitor screen extended from her chest. "I suggested that you train with one of the squires here from the kingdom, while we can have some act as a stand-in for if your paired with someone from the other kingdoms."
"Okay, cool. So, who are the two people I'll be training with then?" Marco asked.
"Well, you are MY squire Marco, so I asked a friend of ours who likes fighting as much as I do to help out with your training." Star said.
"Alright so who is it?" Marco asked. "Your dad?"
"Bzzt! Wrong! Try again Diaz." Star said.
"Tom?"
"Cold Marco. Also, Tom's helping his parents pick out squires for the trials." Star said. "And before you even say it, that also goes for Pony Head too." She added.
"Hmm… Buff Frog?"
"Nope. Give up?" Star playfully asked as she saw Marco roll his eyes.
"Yes, so can you please tell me who I'm training with?" Marco asked before he heard the sound of cutting and turned around to see a portal open up and someone jump out.
This person was a teenage girl with brown skin, no apparent nose, big round black-rimmed glasses, and long bushy aquamarine hair that was tied into a ponytail with a pink hair tie that reached down to her ankles. She wore an oversized pink-and-white-striped sweater, black shorts, and pink boots with tassels that were the same color as her hair.
"What! Kelly!" Marco said surprised and happy to see the girl again.
"Hey Marco, long time no see dude." Kelly said as the two gave each other a high-five.
Kelly then noticed that Marco wasn't wearing his signature red hoodie.
Marco was wearing one of the new outfits El had crafted for him. After Star had found out that El could alter a person's clothes, she insisted that he do the same with the rest of Marco's clothes since they all consisted of the same red hoodie. However, El did recreate the outfits to a least have the color red incorporated in them.
Marco was currently wearing a black shirt with two brown straps across his chest and a brown belt around his waists. Over that he was wearing a red long-sleeved jacket with yellow buttons on the collar, metal cuffs on the sleeves, and a metal shoulder piece on the left shoulder. Next, he wore white pants with red outlines for the pockets and yellow straps. The pant legs had red cuffs that were held in place with a yellow button. Finally, Marco was wearing red sneakers with a metal cap on the front that went around to the back, giving him the look of wearing armored sneakers.
she also noticed the silver necklace with the tree sword charms around his neck as the light caught it.
"Whoa Marco, switched your look up huh?" Kelly said eyeing Marco's new clothes. "Gotta say, it's kind of an upgrade from what you usual wear dude."
"Uh, what was wrong with my usual look?" Marco asked.
"Nothing really, I'm just saying a little variety is the spice of life dude." Kelly said as Marco rolled his eyes. "Anyway, Star called and asked me help you get ready for these Squire Trials that everyone has been talking about non-stop."
"Why do I suddenly feel over a million eyes are on me right now and the event hasn't even started?" Marco said.
"That's the weight of expectation your feeling Marco." El said. "Just don't pay too much attention to it and you'll do well. So, Star? You kind of forgot to tell me that friend you were calling over would also be a very capable fighter herself" he said looking Kelly over.
"Well, I don't like to toot my horn or anything, but I do like fighting. I mean like my home dimension's whole society is based around fighting." Kelly says confidently. "So, I'm guess you're the super amazing knight Star told me about?"
"Didn't think I was getting this much flattery on our first meeting." El said chuckling a bit.
"Please don't butter him up, it'll go right to his head which is already big enough as is." Jenny said. "My names Jenny, Jenny Wakeman."
"Nice to meet you, Jenny." Kelly said shaking the robot-teen's hand. "Well now that we've gotten all the greetings out of the way, where should we start first?"
"Hmm, good question." El said pondering for a few seconds before a smile came across his as coming an idea came to mind.
"Judging by that smile on your face, you came up with an idea huh?" Jenny said.
"Yep. But first we're going to need someone else for this." El said as he started making his way to the castle.
"Huh? Who?" Marco said as he and the others quickly followed after El.
"Oh, you'll see." El said as they made, they're to the castle.
'Just hope she'll be where I think she'll be at this time.' He thought.
Meanwhile at the castle training grounds, Higgs, Baby-man, And Old Guy were training in preparation for the Squire Trial.
Currently, Higgs and Baby-man were in the middle of a sparring match. However, it looked more like a one-sided smack down as Baby-man couldn't hold a candle to Higgs as she swiftly knocked his sword out his grasp.
"That's it! Higgs wins… for the fifth time." Old Guy said. "Yeesh Baby-man seriously, I think that was faster than the third round." He commented.
"Well, I can't help it, Higgs is just stronger than me." Baby-man said, only to find the tip of Higgs's sword right in his face.
"That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard!" Higgs yelled. "Baby-man your three times my weight and size. You should at least be around an intermediate level when it comes to swordsmanship. Which to remind you for the sixth time is the VERY basic thing a knight should be able to do!"
"I know! I know!
"Clearly you don't! because if you did, I wouldn't be mopping the floor with you so darn quickly!"
"She's got you there, big guy." Old Guy said.
"Yeah, but Higgs didn't do much better when she fought that new guy a couple of weeks – "
Old Guy's eyes widen in terror as he was about to tell Baby-man to shut up about that, but was too late as Higgs drove the pummel of her sword into the big guy's gut, sending to his knees where Higgs grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"I thought I already explained that guy got lucky!" Higgs said.
Old Guy just sighed as he made his way over and placed his hand on Higgs's shoulder, drawing the girl's attention to him.
"Okay Higgs, I think the big guy here remembers. So maybe let him go before he wets his pants." He says calmly.
Higgs looks at Old Guy for a minute before looking back at Baby-Man before letting him go.
"Just… shut up about the stupid duel." Higgs said. "I already get enough reminders and flak from Sir Stabby about it."
"Sigh, I don't get why Sir Stabby is so hard on you for losing one dual Higgs." Baby-Man said as he got up. "it's not like it was first time you lost a match."
"Dude, it was in front of every person in the kingdom. Including the king and queen, and to someone who was just starting out as a squire that day." Higgs clarified.
"Well for someone who just became a squire, he sure doesn't act like it in some areas." Old Guy said.
"What do you mean?" Higgs asked.
"I'm pretty sure you saw it during when you fought him… and the others times I see you spying on him and that El fellow when they train here sometimes." He said which caught Higgs off-guard.
"H-How did you know about that!?"
"I'm old Higgs, not blind." Old Guy said, chuckling. "Anyway, what I mean is that Marco guy may act like a rookie when it comes to certain duties of a squire, but when it comes to combat and the like he moves as if he were a first-year knight." He explained.
"Don't over-exaggerate, the guy's not THAT good." Higgs said as she saw Old Guy continue to look at her with a raised eye-brow before caving in. "Okay fine! He at least looks like a guy who remembers to keep up with his training… unlike some people who will remain nameless." Higgs said taking a quick look at Baby-Man before looking away.
"Hmm, true." Old Guy said.
"Okay, that's enough talking." Higgs said. "Baby-Man, getting your butt out of the way. Old Guy, draw your sword and get ready."
"Right, right." He said as Baby-Man moved to the side as Old Guy stood opposite to Higgs.
Just as Higgs was about charge at the old man, she stopped when she saw Star enter the training ground with three others.
Two of whom caused a swarm of emotions to begin brewing inside her.
"Perfect! Just the person I was looking for. How you been little lady?" El said as he waved to Higgs.
"When the heck did, I say you could call me that!?" Higgs shouted in embarrassment. "And what the heck are you even doing? I thought you were supposed to be training him for the competition?" she said pointing to Marco.
"That's what I'm doing, which is why I came looking for you." El said which surprised everyone.
"You want Marco to train with Higgs?" Star asked.
"Yep, she technically is his senior given she's been a squire longer than him. So, it makes sense for him to train with someone with more experience." El said.
"He's not wrong there," Kelly added, "if Marco's going to be competing alongside squires from the Butterfly Kingdom, better he gets some pointers from a couple of them who've been at it longer."
"Oh yeah, that way they can know what to expect if they team up with one another." Star said. "That's such a great idea!"
"Uh Star?" Marco said. "That all depends if Higgs doesn't mind? I mean we kind of interrupted her own training from the looks of it."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it." Old Guy said. "We were just doing some simple sparring, nothing special really. I'm sure Higgs wouldn't mind a little change up."
"What? Well, I mean…" Higgs stuttered while looking between Marco and El before sighing in frustration. "I guess as your senior, I… got make sure you don't embarrass us at this event." She spoke.
A few minutes later, Marco was standing next to Higgs, his sword resting on his shoulder as he waited for further instruction from El.
While they waited Higgs noticed he was wearing different clothes than the last time she saw him training. She also took the time to get a better look at his sword, which was the same one he used in their match.
The blade looked to be about medium in length and was a midnight blue color. Higgs could see her own reflection in the blade which was a clear sign that Marco knew to keep his weapon in good condition.
Soon, the two see El and Kelly enter the arena, Kelly now carrying her singled edged two-handed sword.
"Okay, so for today's joint training session you two will facing me and Kelly here in a tag match." El said. "Now the point of this is exercise is to see how quickly you two can adapt to fighting an opponent with more combat experience."
"Question?" Higgs said. "If that's the purpose of this training match, why is the princess's friend paired with you? Um… no offense."
"None taken." Kelly said, waving it off. "But I'm guessing you haven't fought anyone from the Woolandia dimension, have you?"
"Um, not really." Higgs said, as this was her first-time hearing of that dimension.
"Welp," Kelly says as she effortlessly swings her sword around, "your about to find out how someone from there fights today!" she shouts as she literally bolts towards Higgs who quickly raised her sword to block the incoming attack.
"What the!" Higgs shouted as she struggled with the surprising amount of force the green-haired girl was putting into the attack as the two lock swords. "Argh!"
"First thing to know about Wooletts," Kelly says as she swiftly moved back causing Higgs to fall forward, leaving her wide open for Kelly to drive her boot into her gut pushing her back before she stopped herself by digging her sword into the ground. "We are naturally born fighters. Be it hand to hand combat, swords, lances, axes? The moment a Woolett learns to walk, it knows how to fight."
"Wait, is your whole people's culture based around fighting?" Higgs asked.
"Hmm… pretty much, yeah." Kelly said shrugging her shoulders before taking notice of something going on behind them. "Whoa, check those two out."
"Huh?" Higgs turned around to see what Kelly was talking about.
When she did her eyes widen in stunned shock at what she was looking at.
Marco swiftly blocked an attacked from his left before jumping back as El thrusted his sword towards his chest. He then ran forward unleashing a barrage of slash attacks that El either blocked or parried.
"Aiming for my blind spot, huh?" El said smirking.
"Where else am I supposed to aim for?" Marco quipped back. "you've got your guard up everywhere else."
"So, you decide to try and aim for my weak point by coming at me with a bunch of normal slashes? Ha! You're starting to remind me of myself back when my sister started training me." El said joyfully as he and Marco continued to clash in a flurry quick movements and attacks.
"Holy," Higgs breathed out as she saw the two's movements and attacks.
"I know, right?" Kelly said. "This is actually my first-time seeing Marco sword fight. I never saw how Marco fought before when Star was living on earth with him, but I'm glad I got to see this version of him."
Higgs looked on as the two sparred and couldn't help but notice how Marco and El were both smiling and enjoying themselves as they trained.
Higgs can't even the remember the last time she and Sir Stabby trained like that. From her first day onward she's either training on her own or running an errand for Sir Stabby. Watching Marco and his own knight training and bonding with on another made Higgs want something like that with her own.
"Hey, you, okay?"
Higgs jolts back when she hears Kelly's question and realizes she's been spacing out.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah I'm fine." Higgs said.
"You sure? Because it looked like you were thinking about something." Kelly said.
"it's nothing really." Higgs said. "Now come on, I want to see just how strong you really are." She said raising her sword.
Kelly just smirked as she raised her own weapon.
"Okay, just don't regret it later is all I'm going to say!" she shouted as she charged at the mewman.
After a while, Higgs and Marco were standing next to each other again. Only little more bruised up, with Higgs having the most due to basically getting flung around by Kelly each time she tried to block an attack.
"Okay, now that we're done with the warm up…" El said before Higgs cut him off.
"That was a warm up for you guys!?" she asked/shouted.
"Surprisingly enough, yes." Marco said. "That's how I've usually been starting my morning training."
"But we're at that for like nearly an hour! But it felt like it was longer than that!"
"Whelp, that's how it's supposed to feel when you train." El said. "Or at least that's how my sister trained me. Now onto the next part of our joint training. Higgs?"
"Yeah?"
"Step on up, you're going to be sparring with me now."
"Huh?" Higgs said, confused.
"I've seen what you can do against Marco and I saw how you were fairing against Kelly. Now I want to see how you will do against me." El explained. "I'm pretty sure you've done this before with Stabby right?"
"Well, yeah I have." She answered. "But what is me sparring with you going to help with?"
"Won't know until I find out now, will I?" El said as he drew both his swords. "Kelly and Marco?"
"Yeah, come on Marco." Kelly said moving towards Star and the others.
"Right," Marco said as he began following after Kelly before turning back to Higgs. "Good luck Higgs." He said as he placed an assuring hand on her shoulder before leaving.
"Uh yeah, thanks." She said awkwardly as her gaze lingered on Marco a bit longer before turning back to El and drawing her own sword.
Meanwhile Sir Stabby was walking the halls of the castle as he was making his way to the training grounds. As he was turning the corner, he came across two other knights who took notice of him.
"Oh, good day to you Sir Stabby." The knights greeted.
"Good day to you both as well." He greeted back.
"Have you come to do a bit of training today?" one of them asked.
"Oh no, I just came to collect my squire. She and I have some important things to take care of." He spoke.
Of course, by "important things", he means having Higgs run all sorts of errands for him while he relaxed and did nothing.
"She and a couple of her fellow squires came here to train for the upcoming Squire Trials." Sir Stabby said. "I can understand her need to make sure her fellow mewmans are prepared for the event. But with the amount of training and instruction I've been giving her, I think she needs no further training.
"Hmm, perhaps she wishes to just go over the teaching s you've bestowed on her with her fellow squires." One of the knights said.
"I'm of a different opinion." The second knight said. "I believe the group that entered the training grounds not too long ago could provide the young Higgs and company with a different view and way of training."
"Hmm? Another group is at the training grounds with Higgs?" Sit Stabby asked.
"Yes. I believe said group consisted of Princess Butterfly, one of her friends, Sir El and his young squire and the other new arrival." The knight described.
When Sir Stabby heard of the descriptions, he could feel his blood begin to boil. Truth be told, Sir Stabby had thought that El's and the Princess Star's friend's inclusion as knight and squire of the kingdom was nothing more than a joke by Queen Moon.
But then after Higgs had lost the match to that boy, Sir Stabby had begun to hear from everyone outside of the castle about the boy's performance. Saying things like how he carried himself or how his knight was giving him helpful instruction during the match.
At first Sir Stabby could deal with all the praise the two were getting from the commoners. but when the other knights began to speak about the two, that's when it began to grate on his nerves.
"If you two will excuse me? I'm going to go get Higgs." Sir Stabby said as he quickly walked passe the two.
The knights only shrugged their shoulders in confusion, thinking that whatever Sir Stabby and his squire had planned for today must be quite important.
'You've got to be kidding me! Are those three here just to make me look bad!? Mewni only knows what kind of nonsense their filling Higgs's head with!' Sir Stabby thought as he made his way to the training ground.
Just as he reached the entrance, quickly stopped himself and instead chose to look and see exactly what garbage Higgs was going through.
But when peeked around the entrance and looked in he saw that Higgs was in the middle of sparring with El. Not only that, she looked like she was having fun, which made no sense to Sir Stabby.
Training for a knight is a means to get stronger to protect their kingdom. It's not meant to be fun and games, that just slows you down and makes you soft. He had thought that Higgs would know this given how he had been training her.
He peeked back in to look further at the 'joke' called training, but then noticed something he hadn't at first glance. He saw that Higgs was moving… differently.
She was moving with more aggressive but swift and precise movements. Her sword swings and foot movements looked to have even improved greatly. But what really shocked Sir Stabby was what he saw next, that really started to make him fume with anger.
On the few (And I mean like almost few) moments Sir Stabby trained Higgs, he would always end the training by beating her with one of his techniques and then have her try to replicate it. He this to either watch her struggle or just to watch her try and fail. Either way he would get a laugh out of it.
The technique in question consisted of attacking the opponent with three quick sword jabs. It was this move that earned him the name Sir Stabby.
However, what he saw was that Higgs had not only perfectly copied his technique but had also improved and evolved it.
"Whoa! Higgs what was that move you just did! That looked so cool!" Sir Stabby heard Star shout excitedly.
"Yeah, it was!" El said just as impressed. "Where you'd pull that move out from?"
"Well technically speaking, the move was one that I've been trying to master from Sir Stabby." Higgs admitted.
"Wait, that was one of Sir Stabby's techniques?" Marco asked.
"The first part of it with the sword jabs yes." Old Guy said. "The rest of it however? That looked more like Higgs added more onto the move."
"You know, for someone who's way too old to still be a squire, you sound like one of those retired old knights who's seen a lot in his time." Jenny said.
"Ho-ho, you're giving me too much credit here Miss Jenny." Old Guy said, laughing off Jenny's words. "But I won't deny I have seen my fair share of squires and knights showing off their skills and techniques enough times than I can count. But how about we get a repeat of that move Higgs just showed, hmm?"
"Not a bad idea there." El said in agreement. "Hey Jenny, come on up here and be Higgs's training dummy for her move."
"…. Excuse you?" Jenny asked. "I want to make sure I heard you right. You want to me to be what now?"
"Would you prefer I use 'damage sponge' then?" El joked as Jenny sighed, while Marco, Star, and Baby man try and fail to not laugh.
Jenny just sighed and made her over to the two.
"Um, I get that she's made of metal. But how- "Higgs started to say before seeing Jenny bring her arms together in front of her, which then morphed into a tall roman shield. "Oh, okay then."
"Ready whenever you are." Jenny said from behind as El backed up a bit.
Higgs got into the starting stance, then quickly lunged forward and did three quick but powerful jabs on Jenny's shield with the third one pushing Jenny back quite a bit. When this happens, Higgs dashes performing an upper slash, before landing and twisting her bodying around quickly to do a strong horizontal slash that pushed Jenny even further back.
"Whoa, that was just… whoa." Jenny said shocked that Higgs had managed to push her back not once, but twice.
"That move was really something Higgs." Marco said. "And you came up with it all on your own?"
"Well not all of it." Higgs said bashfully. "Like I said, the first part of the move I just copied from Sir Stabby and just… built-off of that."
"Well, I still think it's cool." Marco said. "You should make that your signature technique."
"Yeah, Marco's right." Star said. "You also need a cool name to go with it too."
"I'm… not so sure about that Princess." Higgs said.
"Aw come on, it could be fun." Star said. "Also, you don't have to be all formal and stuff with me. You can just call me Star."
"A-Are you sure that's okay?" Higgs asked.
"Sure, I'm sure." Star said making her way over to Higgs. "Also, I was hoping maybe you'd consider being Marco's first squire friend? You know, seeing as the two of you will be representing Mewni in the Squire Trials." She explained. "That and my mom said I had to know a couple of our squire's names and not just Marco."
"So, it's more of less homework that your mom gave you?" Jenny said grinning.
"Yes Jenny, my mom gave the Mewni's equivalent to earth homework." Star said before puffing her cheeks up as Jenny kept grinning at her.
"Okay you two, settle down." El said. "Still, I gotta agree with Marco and Jenny here. You have some serious potential." He complimented.
This caused Higgs's cheeks to turn red at the praise she was receiving.
"Hey Higgs, you sick or something?" Baby-Man asked. "Your face is turning red."
"S-Shut up! I'm not sick you moron!" Higgs shouted.
"Nope, your defiantly not sick." Old Guy said. "I'd say it's either love or embarrassment. And since I'm pretty sure it's not the first one- "
"Yep, pretty sure it's embarrassment." Kelly said smirking
"I swear to corn if you both don't shut up!"
"Hahaha! You are as straight as an arrow, aren't you?" El said laughing as he patted Higgs on her head. "Nothing wrong with letting your hair down now and then."
When Higgs felt El patting her head, it began to remind her of the times whenever her mom or dad would do the same thing when they were still –
"Sorry if I'm interrupting this little gathering."
Everyone turned to the entrance at the voice and saw Sir Stabby making his way over to them.
"Well, well, if it isn't Stabby himself." El said. "So, what brings you here?"
"Well, if you must know, Sir El. I'm here to collect my squire as she and I have some important tasks that need to be taken care of." Sir Stabby explained.
"Is that so? Even if that cuts into her training for the Squire Trials?" El asked.
"Huh? That's weird. Cause Higgs didn't mention anything about having stuff to do after- "Baby-Man started to say before Old Guy cut in.
"Baby-Man my boy I think you may have taken one too many falls while training with Higgs."
"Huh?"
"I'm pretty sure Higgs mentioned it when we all got here."
"Oh, yeah. She probably did and my forgetful- self forgot." Baby-Man said.
"That's why I keep telling you over and over to invest in a better helmet." Old Guy says. "That little thing you have now isn't doing you any favors."
"Well put Old Guy." Sir Stabby said, bringing the attention back to him. "Now then, if you'll all excuse us, Higgs and I must really be on our way now." He said as he ushered Higgs to follow.
Higgs follows after Stabby, but bows her head slightly to everyone before disappearing after her knight.
"Welp, we better get going too." Old Guy said. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. Princess Star. Come on, Baby-Man."
"Coming!" he says, following Old Guy out of the training grounds.
"Okay, I guess with that concludes today's training… for now." El said.
"How'd I know you were going to say that?" Marco says.
"Because he enjoys being messing with people a lot." Jenny sighed.
Just then Star's mirror phone goes off.
"Hello? Oh, hey Pony Head! What's up girl? Uh-huh… yeah Marco's here with me, why? Oh… Yeah of course he'll do it! Okay bye!"
"Pony Head?" Marco guessed. "She needs something?"
"More like she needs you for something Marco. Come on! You too Kelly!" Star says excitedly as she drags Marco and Kelly out of the training ground at lightning speed.
"You are following after them, right?" El asked Jenny.
"Yes Actually, I need a distraction from having to see Sir Pink Pompadour." Jenny said as jets off to catch up with Star and the others, leaving El alone with his thoughts of what he's seen of Higgs.
His mind replayed back to when he saw Higgs performing her technique. He saw something quite interesting that the others didn't see.
He first noticed as Higgs did the third sword jab, there was a faint red glow along her sword. Also, while she followed up with her two slash attacks, he noticed a faint glowing outline of what looked to be a fleur-de-lis.
"That girl Higgs has got more to her than she even knows." El said as he begun to leave the training ground with a clear-cut goal in mind now. "Looks like I'm going to have to get serious here if I want that kind of talent to be seen and properly nurtured."
'Ugh, I'm starting to sound more like you now, sis.' He thought.
A/N: Hey Guys, sorry this chapter too a long time to get out. You know how it is. Anyway, as you can see, I gave Higgs a decent enough back story on why she wants to be a knight. And possibly alluded to how she ended up with a crap knight like Sir Stabby. Also brought my girl Kelly into the story and had her meet Jenny and El, as well as letting you all know that Marco will not be wearing the same set of clothes. I already introduced the fact that he'll have different outfits in this story, so you better believe I'm sticking to it.
One last thing, I'm going to be changing somethings in regard to Higgs. mainly just her weapon, what abilities she'll have, and a touch up to her character description.
Okay, I think I've said all I need to, See Ya!