Forged Together Chapter 3

	Marco rode through the wildlands until his steed could go no more.  The creature was in desperate need of water, and in his haste Marco forgot to bring any. All he had brought with him from Earth, besides his mercenary outfit and his scissors was a pair of cheap headphones and an Ipod Shuffle he got from a homeless man in exchange for his own half-eaten sandwich. That is to say, Marco didn't have an idea. Despite all this, he did have an idea; Marco opened portal back to his house, his kitchen to be exact. Marco stuck his hand through the portal and grabbed at things until he found what he was looking for.

"C'mon, cmon...where is it?." he mumbled.

He was careful not to actually step through the portal. Even if he was only gone for half a second, he had a strong feeling he would come back only to find a skeleton of his ride.  Finally, Marco found what he needed; the fridge door handle. He opened the fridge and searched for what felt like a water bottle. He pulled his hand back through the portal only to realize he took a Red Bull.

"Nope, this won't-" The creature suddenly grabbed the can out of his hand and swallowed it whole.

The creature's eyes began to dilate, it pranced around like it was having a seizure.

"I've killed it. Fantastic work Marco."  He said as he facepalmed.

It then began to gallop at full speed, going around in circles around Marco. It seemed to be faster than usual. Marco drew the sword he took from the raider and prepared to end it's misery, as it's the humane thing to do. After a few seconds it stopped moving, it moved over to Marco and licked his face.

"H-hey, maybe I didn't kill you after all." Marco smiled as he wiped drool off his face.

The creature motioned Marco to get on; it looked like it was supercharged. Marco got back on his saddle and the creature took off with amazing speed. Marco knew he should probably be worried that an Earth drink has such pronounce effects on interdimensional creatures when normally all it does is turn your pee green; however, he was having too much fun traveling at blistering speeds to really care. Marco rode on for a few more hours as night began to set; he rode past a sign that read "Diaztead" followed by an arrow pointing the way.

"Heh Diaztead; now thats a coincidence if I ever heard one." Marco told himself as he rode towards the apparent town. He was making good time, but knew he should probably find some shelter for the night.

A while after the sun set, Marco could see light coming from buildings in the distance. The area had become quite foggy and swampy, a far cry from the more desert area he had been traveling through. Oddly enough this place did feel familiar; but Marco couldn't quite put his finger on it, as to why. Marco arrived at the front gate of the settlement, a sign hung above the iron doors welcoming people to Diazstead. The place seemed fortified by a wall going all the way around; this wasn't the first time Marco has seen security like this. He got off his steed, and knocked on the iron doors. A small window opened up on the door but Marco couldn't see anybody.

"State your business traveler," A voice said.

"Hello sir, I am a traveler on my way to the coast. I would like to spend the night here and maybe stock up on supplies if possible." Marco replied.

"Mhmm...any weapons on you?" the voice asked.

"Just a sword, and a vast knowledge of ways to kill a man with a pencil. But mostly just the sword" Marco answered.

There was silence for a moment before Marco got a reply.

"You may enter, but do not draw your weapon in here or else we will have a problem. Now just pay the entry fee of 10 gold coins and I'll open the door."

"Yeah, about that I don't actually have any money on me. I sort of left my home in a hurry, really should have thought this through more in hindsight; but I can offer you many services in exchange for what I need."

"Sorry pal, prostitution is illegal here."

"No, no nothing like that. I uhmm..I can capture a bounty for you...after I come back from the coast. You have my word" Marco said with a stammer.

"Yea...pass. Look either pay the fee or..."

"Oh oh, I am a bard. I can sing your people songs from a far away land called Earth. Bet the townspeople have never heard the tale of two lovers who never came to be...it's called Just Friends"

Suddenly the guard who Marco was talking to poke his head through the little window in the door.

"Look pal, I don't know what sort of game you are playing but...but..." The guard stopped talking and looked at Marco in shock.

"This is impossible, what sort of dark magic is this?" The guard mumbled.

"I don't know what kind is it?" Marco asked confused. "Please just let me in, you have my word I'll find a way to pay for everything or my name isn't Marco Diaz"

The little window closed in Marco's face. Marco sighed and began to walk away; it was time to camp outside. As he did the iron doors began to open, revealing several guards and the main entryway to the center of town, where a fountain and giant statue stood. It was this statue that captured Marco's attention; it was a gold statue of him. The moonlight made his well golden abs shine like diamonds.

"How in the hell..." Marco began to say.

"You, what's your middle name?" The guard asked.

"Ubaldo" Marco answered.

"It IS him" the guards mumbled.

"Why do you guys have a statue of me?" Marco asked equally amazed.

"The town founder, had it built centuries ago to honor the hero of his caravan. A hero from another world that seemed to just vanish one day, and now appears to have come back" The guard answered.

"Oooohhh, now I know why this place seemed familiar," Marco mumbled to himself.

He told the guards his story. How when the first time he was here, he met a lone trader and his family, during one his Hekapoo chase missions. The mad had a dream of starting a prosperous trading outpost, problem was his little venue wasn't getting enough visitors thanks to all the werewolf attacks from a nearby pack. In exchange for info on one of the Hekapoo clones and a better more fire resistant leather jacket, Marco offered to slay all the werewolves; which of course Marco did with ease. The guy seemed grateful, but Marco never thought he'd name the town after him and much less build a giant statue.

The guards seemed to believe Marco as he had details only a few people in town knew. The welcomed him with open arms into the town he's partially responsible for creating. It wasn't long before a crowd gathered at the local Inn and tavern wanting to hear stories from Marco's past; which of course Marco was more than happy to tell. The children especially seemed to love the story of the time Marco karate chopped Tom's hand off, oh how they laughed at his pain. After a few hours, Marco finally called it a night, much to the dismay of the townspeople. He was offered the best room in the Inn, which he happily accepted; by morning he was up and ready to go. The local blacksmith gave Marco on his finest broadswords and some custom fit gauntlets, he also got a knapsack filled with snacks and some health potions to pour on wounds if need be. Marco climbed back on his steed as the townspeople waved goodbye. One of them told him he should reach the coast in a few hours if he doesn't stop...and also that he's crazy if he thinks he can take on all those psychopaths that have taken control of the run down fortress there.

"Well...you don't know my friend, she's just as crazy as I am.And together we may have just enough crazy between the both of us to get out of there alive" was what Marco had to say about that.

Afer riding a while longer, and stopping for snacks for both himself and his animal friend; who appears to be suffering from Red Bull withdrawal Marco could hear seagulls and that all too familiar beach smell. A little while later after riding up a hill he finally saw the ocean...and the cliffside fortress that loomed in the distance. The sight was eerily beautiful, despite the danger that lies ahead.

"I'm so glad to be back...I've missed this" Marco told himself.