Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics.
Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Author's Note: This storyline will be the final installment for "Marvel Knights". I hope you have enjoyed the run as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Many issues that have come up in the last storyline will be resolved in this story line. Again, I hope you have enjoyed its run. Thank you.
Chapter 15 Marvel Knights
The next evening as the sun set...
"So this is it," Cloak said to Blade as he took the half-human, half-vampire's hand in his. "This is our last battle. It seems like just yesterday we were fighting vampires at the Axis. Our only goal was to hunt down demons."
"We've all come a long way," Blade replied. "We've faced the darkest of humanity and the darkest of the supernatural. But we've arrived here at this moment, ready for whatever comes."
"And we've lost our own," Dagger replied as she entered wearing the white costume she started out her vampire slaying career wearing. She noticed Cloak was wearing his traditional cloak as well. "One of the originals isn't with us."
"Marvel Boy," the two men stated in unison.
"It's hard to believe he's gone," the Slayer continued. "It seems like only yesterday he was here giving us all a hard time about school, or boys, or fashion. He matured a lot during his time with us. We owe this battle to him."
The two nodded. Dagger put her hand out. "Shall we kick this demon's ass for Davey?"
Cloak smiled and put his hand on Dagger's. "Count me in."
Blade looked from Dagger's face to Cloak's. Then he grinned and put his and on theirs. "Agreed."
"Then let's do it," Dagger replied.
The three released their hold and headed toward the lair. Dr. Strange, Whistler, Moon Knight, and Punisher were waiting for them.
"It's about god damn time you three got down here," Whistler began. Then, noticing what they were wearing, he said, "What the hell are you wearing now?"
"Call it luck," Blade said.
"We're going to need all the help we can get," Whistler replied. "This demon, D'Spayre, he's one tough shit. The books have a lot on what he's done. He was in full power during the Dark Ages, back when it seemed humanity as a whole was down in the dumps. And during the Great Depression, too.
"He's the one taking over the city with all the suicide that's going on. The reason is so he can feed. He's got a hankering for death and suffering and he's aiming to get it any way he can."
"We'll just have to make sure he doesn't get anything," Blade said. "Is everyone ready?"
Everyone nodded.
"Then let's get going."
Blade mounted his motorcycle while Cloak and Dagger climbed in Cloak's car. Punisher, Moon Knight, Whistler, and Dr. Strange climbed into Punisher's Suburban. The three different engines roared to life and the Marvel Knights fled the safety of their lair to battle the forces of darkness in the city.
"Stay in constant communication," Whistler had briefed them before. "The enemy will put many thoughts of sadness in your minds, especially with the passing of Davey. We have to keep clear heads about this."
Everyone remembered the words of the Watcher and had their own personal radios turned into the same frequency so they could keep in constant communication.
"See anything, Blade?" Whistler asked from the radio in Punisher's Suburban.
"Nothing yet, but it won't take long for us to get into more populace venues. Remember what to do when you see anyone ready to commit suicide, Dagger."
"I remember. Hit them with light daggers. The positive energy that flows through me can illuminate their hearts and force the feelings of despair away."
"What about everyone else?"
"Incapacitate them as quickly and painlessly as possible. If they can't move much, they can't be a threat to themselves or others," Cloak answered.
"That's right. Keep your eyes peeled."
A short while later, the team entered the city. Blade noticed several people on rooftops preparing to jump. "We've got attempters," Blade called through the window.
Cloak, hearing Blade's warning, stuck his hand out the window and muttered "." Energy formed around the people on the rooftops. One by one they jumped but the energy floated them to the ground. They tried moving but couldn't go anywhere. It was as if the energy were bubbles protecting them from the environment.
Dagger noticed several people ready to throw themselves in front of the vehicles. She threw her arm out and thirty light daggers shot forth connecting with the attempters. They fell backwards with smiles on their faces, safe from the disturbing thoughts of suicide.
Dr. Strange jerked his head back.
"Find something, Stephen?" Whistler asked.
"The despair, the hopelessness. He's feeding from everyone in this city."
"Can you tell where it's going?"
Dr. Strange nodded. His medallion hummed and a light formed from the inside. Then, with a burst, the light shot down the street. The team followed and arrived at Bicentennial Park. They jumped out of their vehicles and headed toward the center where D'Spayre stood, his arms outstretched.
"Now, Dagger," Whistler commanded.
Dagger let fly dozens of light daggers. They zoomed through the air toward the demon. Just when the Knights thought they were about to hit, D'Spayre turned and held up his hand. The daggers bounced off his shielding.
"Get him!" Ghost Rider exclaimed.
Everyone attacked at the same time at full force. Dagger jumped up and wrapped her legs around the demon's neck and she wailed away on his head. Blade and Ghost Rider each grabbed an arm and held it back as Moon Knight punched D'Spayre's stomach as hard as he could. Whistler and Punisher kept their distance but had their weapons trained on the demon ready to shoot if necessary. Even though everyone knew it didn't have an effect, it distracted him. Something is better than nothing, as Whistler commented when they planned their attack. Cloak and Dr. Strange stayed back away from the fighting. They were performing a ritual in which they focused positive energy, goodness and happiness, into one area. It was their hope that the positive "bomb" would destroy D'Spayre once and for all.
D'Spayre screamed in rage as the team muscled him into submission. But it didn't last long. As Moon Knight prepared for a powerful blow, the demon swung his leg up and kicked Moon Knight. Moon Knight flew across the park and hit a tree near Cloak and Strange. D'Spayre watched where the Knight went and saw what the two wizards were doing.
The demon swung his arms with all his might and brought Blade and Ghost Rider around slamming them into each other. He did this several times until they released their grips. Dagger, noticing what was going on, stood up on his shoulders and flipped backwards. As she fell down, she spun around kicking the demon in the face and landed on her feet. Blade and Ghost Rider stood up on either side of her.
D'Spayre swung his fist at Dagger. She grabbed his wrist in mid-air and Blade swung his leg up connecting with the demon's stomach. Ghost Rider swung his fist around and punched D'Spayre in the face. D'Spayre brought his elbow up and hit Blade in the face. Then he swung Dagger around and hit Ghost Rider with her. The two went tumbling away. He brought his fist around and hit Blade in the face again, causing him to fall to his knees. The demon brought his fist up for a third blow but stopped. He jerked his head around and saw what was going on with Cloak and Strange. Bringing his arms out to his sides, he muttered something unintelligible and then brought them over his head. Darkness shot down from the sky and he focused it toward the two wizards. The energy blast hit the two and knocked them away from each other. They tried to recover but were so overwhelmed by the dark energy they could not focus and continue the ritual. Their plans had failed.
"Now you realize the futility of your efforts," D'Spayre said as he turned his focus back on Blade. He brought his fist up ready to strike when Punisher and Whistler open fire. A shield formed around him and the bullets had no effect whatsoever.
"My God," Whistler whispered. "There's nothing else we can do."
The demon stopped again. His eyes widened in pure pleasure. He turned and saw what he had been searching for: the being whose darkness and depression outweighed all the darkness in the city.
"What's going on?" Whistler muttered.
"Be thankful for small favors," Punisher replied.
D'Spayre turned and started walking toward the being as a wanderer in the desert would march toward an oasis. "It's you," he whispered.
Dagger stood and saw who the demon was heading toward. "It's the guy who killed Ryan and Caleb."
Everyone else looked and saw a cloaked, masked figure standing a distance away.
"You are all that I could have hoped for in one person," D'Spayre said. "And you came to me."
"You can have me willingly," the masked man said. "I won't fight you."
D'Spayre laughed in triumph. His hands reached out.
"Wait. Let me take these off, first." And the masked man pulled the hat and goggles off, and the scarf was pulled down to reveal^Å
"Oh, my God!" Cloak exclaimed.
"Harris!" everyone gasped.
"You can take it all," Harris said. "I don't care."
D'Spayre's hands came down on Harris's head and he sucked the darkness within the youth. Shadow seemed to surround them as D'Spayre feasted.
"Hit him while he's feeding!" Whistler replied.
Dagger threw light daggers for all she was worth. Ghost Rider and Blade attacked but their attacks did nothing. The darkness erupted and threw them all back.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Harris muttered as the energy was being sucked from him.
"Immensely," D'Spayre stated.
"Have you ever bothered to see the root of despair?"
"What do you mean?"
"You feed off emotion, right?"
D'Spayre nodded.
"Dig a little deeper."
D'Spayre fed harder and deeper and then his eyes widened and he let out a scream that rung throughout the city. The shadowed energy he fed off suddenly turned white.
"What's happening?" Dagger asked as the Marvel Knights gathered to watch the events unfold.
"Harris's despair is rooted in something D'Spayre cannot handle: love," Whistler explained. "His love for Davey was the cause of his great sadness. No matter how depressed he was, love was the foundation of it all."
"And now D'Spayre is getting a belly full of it."
"Strange, Cloak, do you think you can whip up some kind of positive energy to attack from outside."
The two nodded and held hands. They began their ritual again.
"Dagger, throw as many light daggers as you can generate."
The Slayer nodded and hurled dagger after dagger at the demon. His skin began to smoke from the impacts.
White energy formed between the two wizards and lifted up over their heads. They turned their eyes toward the demon and their eyes glowed white. The energy flew forth and hit the demon.
"Come what may," Harris muttered.
Combined with all that he absorbed, the demon exploded and the concussive force threw everyone back. Then all was still.
Slowly, the Knights came to and found their ears still ringing from the explosion. Nothing physical was damaged, however. They looked around and saw the sky was still dark, but the darkness was slowly dissipating.
"Harris," Cloak exclaimed as they looked over and saw him lying on the ground.
They headed over but stopped as a beam of light shot through a cloud and surrounded the youth.
Everyone wondered what was happening but none found the voice to ask. Slowly, a form appeared in the light and walked over toward Harris. The form took further shape and then turned toward them.
Dagger's hand went up to her mouth and eyes widened all around. Kneeling by Harris was the form of Davey. He smiled at them and waved. Then he turned back to Harris and reached down.
Harris opened his eyes slowly and looked up. He could not believe who he saw kneeling over him. "Davey?" he managed to get out.
Voices from the clouds seemed to sing the same three words over and over. "Come what may."
"Never knew I could feel like this," Harris struggled to say. "Like I've never seen the sky before. Want to vanish inside your kiss^Å" Then he coughed.
"Seasons may change winter to spring," Davey continued. "But I love you until the end of time."
Everyone watched as a white form stepped out of Harris's body and they realized it was his soul. Harris died. But his soul, the immortal essence of him, was with Davey's soul. The two turned and looked at the Marvel Knights. They waved and smiled and stepped away from the body. The white light from the clouds faded out.
Blade noticed a piece of paper sticking out of the pocket of Harris's body. He walked over to it and pulled it out.
"What's that?" Whistler asked.
Blade opened it and looked it over. "It's a letter from Harris."
"What does it say?" Ty asked.
"Dear Friends, if you are reading this, I'm either badly injured and in the hospital or I'm dead. I want you to know that I didn't plan on being in this condition. It must have been a result of what I attempted to do. The demon known as D'Spayre entered my mind several times. He wanted to feed of the despair and sadness that I felt because of Davey. Ever since Davey slept with those other two guys, I haven't been the same. The world looked dull to me. None of the colors were as vibrant. And my sadness brought D'Spayre to this city. It made me realize that I had to find a way to stop it, to stop him from causing anyone else to commit suicide.
"After Davey died in my arms, the anger and darkness took over. I wanted to avenge Davey's death by killing his murderers, which is what I set out to do. They seemed to live to satisfy their sexual drives. I thought the fitting end would be their sexual drives. After a lot of research, I came up with the little drug that did what it did. Don't worry; no one can replicate what I did. I destroyed my notes, deleted my tracks, and got rid of all the chemicals I used.
"I thought that, after killing them, I would feel much better and be free of the hurt inside. But revenge doesn't take away the pain. It may lessen it for a time but, in the end, the person you love is still gone.
"The costume was taken from someone I met while I was running. I was in New York and I met a guy who was depressed all the time. He felt like he didn't have anything to live for. For him, life seemed to be about sacrifice and doing the right thing. I couldn't figure out how he believed that as he was so dark and empty inside. He called himself the Shadow. I think because he was such a shadow inside. That's how I felt after Davey was no longer in my life, like I was an empty shell. So I took the Shadow's persona, at least as a costume, and did what I felt I needed to do, even though it didn't work.
"Because it didn't work, I did more research on the demon. I found out that the opposite of despair hurts him. Good feelings and thoughts harm him. The root of my despair was love. I figured confronting him would make him come after me. After he dug deep enough into my feelings, maybe he would absorb the root of the feelings and it would weaken him. Then, you guys would be able to destroy him.
"I hope that you guys are too sad for me if I'm dead. I'm sure I will be in a much better place. Anything is better than living life without the one person who completes me. I'm hoping I'll be at peace. May all of you have wonderful, love-filled lives with the person who completes you, too. Your friend always. Love, Harris."
Tears ran down the faces of Harris's friends as they grieved for their friend. They knew, though, that he was in a better place. And he was with Davey. Now he was complete.
Over the horizon, the first rays of the new day appeared.
At the mansion, everyone was saying their goodbyes to those who were leaving. Moon Knight and Dr. Strange were invited by the group known as the Avengers to join them. The two took the group up on their offer. Moon Knight explained that his purpose in being in Columbus was to stop D'Spayre. Now Khonshu was urging him to join the Avengers.
"Something evil must be coming their way. They will need my help to stop it."
Dr. Strange reminded them they already had a powerful wizard on their team and that they wouldn't need two of them. "But if you ever need a second, I would be glad to return to help you.
"I also want to get the Legacy virus to Xavier. He and his staff may be able to find a cure to it."
Ghost Rider told them that he found a place elsewhere, a place where he had already done some good. He knew that was where he belonged. But he wished everyone well and told them he would come if they needed him.
Punisher, having already told Blade that he needed to go, told the others as well. "My place isn't fighting the supernatural darkness in the world. I realize that now. I haven't been much help to you. My place is fighting humans who are evil in their hearts. They are the ones I'm to punish, not demons or vampires, or any other mystical force. I'm to punish evil humanity."
The last vehicle drove away leaving Blade, Ty, Tandy, and Whistler standing, watching, and waving.
"It's been quite a ride," Ty said. "One that I'm glad is over, though. I need a vacation."
"We all need a vacation," Tandy added.
"But evil never takes a vacation," Whistler said.
"There are plenty of other heroes in the world," Blade said.
"Very true," Whistler said. "But none of them are Marvel Knights."
Tandy turned and smiled. The others smiled at each other and chuckled.
"Then let's go give the demon world hell."
The End
I hope you have enjoyed the "Marvel Knights" run. I enjoyed writing it. There were times I was stuck on what to say, on what to write. I hope it turned out well for everyone. I want to thank everyone for their emails of support as well as their questions and comments. Without you, this story would never have been written, nor would it have gone on for as long as it has. I've felt every emotion that you've felt when the characters had their greatest triumphs as well as their tears. It is my hope that this ends on a note that everyone will find acceptable. Davey and Harris are together. Punisher has gotten back to his original mission. And Blade, Cloak and Dagger are still together as a team. It's been wonderful!
For those of you wondering about "Real Dark Knight", "Return of a Real Dark Knight" will begin soon. Keep an eye out.