Portal Master Who?

Nothing too crazy, he can still fight without it and he doesn’t panic without it. But if its not with him he feels…off.

It’s been with him since his time In the Light Realm so he would just REALLY rather have it by his side. The weight of it in his hands grounds him in the present in a way he can’t describe.

His personality shifts slightly in battle when he has his sword vs. without it. He’s more leaned back, slightly more assured of himself and is less rash.

Also thinking about how Fiesta keeps this in mind in their relationship, almost like a guitar case, Fiesta keeps a case on his back that can hold Knight Light’s Scimitar easily.

(This one IS a direct continuation of #4)

Protecting the courthouse proved to be harder than Knight Light had initially thought it would be. It wasn’t the physical element that got to him, but the sheer absurdity of the crowd's existence in the first place.

Knight Light remembered how unified Skylands had felt during the Doom Raiders Crisis, the world against a common enemy. But why, when faced with adversity this time, had Skylands become so polarized!?

The thought continued to gnaw at him after the trial ended, even as the crowd's roar grew deafening at the sight of Stratosfear being escorted from the building.

So when Rubble Rouser suggested that they all get drinks to wind down from the day, he had agreed earnestly.

So that's how he found himself on some random rooftop bar with the rest of the Skylanders.

“Ay and I told him- I said ‘You throw one more thing at me, I’m shedding my skin and throwing it at you!’, and the bugger just ran off.”

Knight Light couldn’t contain his laughter as Rattle Shake finished his story.

Knight Light could feel the alcohol enter his system as his laughs started to come out easier.

“Y’all think I’m joking, but I’ll do it right now, look.”

Knight Light continued laughing as Fiesta and Chill immediately started urging Rattle Shake to keep his skin on. Knight Light took this opportunity to sneak another glance at the mariachi. In his buzzed state, Fiesta seemed very… spirited. Quick sarcastic jabs mixed with such a passionate and entertaining personality, Knight Light could see how people would be so easily…enthralled with the man.

Knight Light went to take another swig of his drink just to find it empty—no harm in getting another one.

“A Saturn, please.” He asked. The Storm Giant behind the bar just nodded at him as he moved to make this drink.

“Such a bright drink, huh?”

Fiesta's voice pulled Knight Light out of his lull as he walked up to the bar.

“I guess that would make sense for you, right ángel?”

Fiesta looked at him with an artful grin.

Despite all his other feelings throughout today, Knight Light found himself laughing at the joke.

“Who am I to defy expectations?” Knight Light countered, donning the same grin on his face, “Especially when it comes to Skyland’s most talented musician.” Knight Light emphasized the word ‘talented’ by unfurling his wings.

Fiesta laughed as the bartender came back with Knight Light’s drink.

“I’m sure introductions are moot at this point, but I’m Fiesta,” he put out his hand, “a member of the SL-10 Initiative.”

Knight Light should have felt resentful, angry, scorned, and any other emotion under the sun with a negative connotation.

But all those feelings seemed so far away as he shook Fiesta’s hand with a smile.

That had to be because of the drinks, right?

“Knight Light,” he responded, “part of the Trap Masters.”

Fiesta turned towards the Storm Giant behind the bar, “One Pantera Rosa, please.”

The Storm Giant rolled his eyes as he moved to make the drink.

“Odio a esta gente,” Fiesta whispered under his breath as he turned toward Knight Light.

“I shoot the finishing shot that takes down the tyrant oppressing this city, and they still treat us like we’re some chompys in here!”

“So that’s why they had you testifying today. I was wondering why they needed you up there.” Knight Light replied.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. It was a waste, though. All they asked me was to go through the events again, and then belittle me about my past.”

Knight Light felt a severe urge to change the topic.

“Back to the earlier topic,” He fumbled with his drink a little bit, “The Storm Giants have always been… posh people. From what I’ve heard, we’ve had an alliance with them for years, but their attitude is everlasting.”

“‘Posh’ is a real nice way to say ‘Assholes’.”

Knight Light gave a hearty laugh at that.

“And I won't disagree with you.” Knight Light chuckled out.

Before Fiesta could say anything back, the Storm Giant returned with his drink, but slammed it down as he walked away.

Knight Light leaned over to Fiesta, “I think he might have heard you.”

Fiesta playfully punched his arm as they laughed.

“I had no idea about their attitude, up until about two years ago.” Fiesta continued.

“I’ve only been out of the realm of the undead for about three years now, so I’m still getting used to all these new commun-”

“I thought you’d been up here for five years now?” Knight Light interjected.

Fiesta’s head shot up as he gave Knight Light a blank expression. The lights in his sockets dimming just a little. “I-what?”

Knight Light felt his hands burn as ice-cold dread ran through his body. Fuck, he wasn’t supposed to know that. He had slipped up. He needed to fix this; he needed to be quick.

“Wha- I meant like, more in a, I uh, it just feels like it’s been longer than three years! You seem to fit in everywhere I see you, so it's hard to believe it’s only been three years, I would guess five with how much everyone likes you!”

Knight Light took a big swig of his drink to shut himself up.

He was scared to look back at Fiesta, but when he did, he could see Fiesta's eyes glowing just as bright as when they had just started talking.

Relief flooded Knight Light’s body.

“Thanks, that…actually means a lot.”

“Hey, guys?” Chill’s voice drew their attention.

“I tried ordering a drink, and the bartender told me to ‘Go suck my own spear.’...so I think we’re done here.”

Fiesta and Knight Light could only laugh with each other.

—————

I think this will be the last snippet I’ll post as teasers for the fic!! I’ll post the summary up here soon. But I’m about half way done with the fic now.

….and If I said that I ship Knight Light and Fiesta….

Not a direct continuation of 3, but still later on in the story!!

———-

Once they had entered, one of the Storm Giants escorted them to a side room, saying something about how Master Eon was almost ready.

The inside of the hall was beautiful. The entirety of the inside was painted to imitate the sky, and Knight Light found it remarkable…was it not for the mariachi walking in front of him.

He hated how much all this…nothingness was getting to him.

He watched as Fiesta and High Volt made conversation on their way to the room. He noted that the man was very energetic, from his laugh lingering in the hall to the melodies he would hum as he listened to High Volt speak.

A jab to his ribs broke him out of his thoughts as he turned towards Knight Mare and shot her a vexed look.

“You're gonna burn holes into the back of his skull if you keep looking at him like that.” She whispered to him. “What the hell did he do for you to be staring at him like that anyway?”

Knight Light just waved his hand in her direction as they entered what looked like a giant waiting room.

The familiar sight of the other Skylanders in the room gave a Knight Light a sense of relief. But as he and Knight Mare settled in the corner of the room, Knight Light could discern the heavy feeling of gloom in the room. If some of the tattered clothes were anything to go by, Knight Light would have to guess that everyone had to go through the mob outside.

Knight Light huffed to himself, and Knight Mare said his armor was too much.

As he was about to voice his snide comment to Knight Mare, he felt the room hush as Queen Cumulus entered.

“Please, please,” she laughed, “No need to be all stuffy, I’ll be going around the room to greet all of you,” she waved her hands in the air. “Please carry on in your conversations.”

Knight Light gave her one last glance as she moved and struck conversation with both Ghost Roaster and Chop Chop.

Knight Light felt himself relax a little. Diplomatic conversation was something he was good at; a skill he had refined during all the meetings during the aftermath of the Doom Raider Crisis. Meetings were an unconventional, calming setting for him, one of the environments where he could show just how sharp he was, and not just on the battlefield.

Or maybe he just liked showing how much more professional he was than everybody else, like a silent little game that only he played.

Just maybe.

“So, do you want to tell me why you were glaring daggers at Fiesta in the hallway orrrr?” Knight Mare asked, startling Knight Light a bit.

“Mare…” Knight Light dragged his hand across his face as he turned to face her, “I have no idea what you're talking about. I simply w-”

“You’re such a bad liar,” she laughed. “The lenses on your helmet are see-through at close range. I saw you staring.”

Knight Light’s wings went rigid as he tucked them in, “I, I don’t know Mare, maybe it's the fact that a brick kissed my face ten minutes ago, or how unexpected the mob of people outside is, there’s a lot of things on our plate right now.”

Knight Mare gave him a vexed look, “I was just a question Light, and don’t act like y-”

“There they are!!”

Knight Light and Knight Mare both turned to face Queen Cumulus as she approached them.

“The bearers of Light and Dark, an honor it is to finally meet you!”

Knight Light and Knight Mare bowed in unison, “The pleasure is ours, Your Highness.” Knight Light spoke, keeping his voice steady.

“Oh, please, none of that,” She waved her hands at them. “I must apologize for the crowd outside, but I would have to assume Trap Masters such as yourselves see things like this daily.”

Knight Light fought the urge to grimace, wings almost splaying in frustration. “You’d be surprised” he said, trying his best not to strain his voice.

“Well,” she said, starting to go towards the Superchargers, “ On behalf of the entire Cloud Kingdom, we welcome the harbingers of Light and Dark!”

Knight Light slumped as she started talking to Fiesta and High Volt, sighing as he turned to Knight Mare, “I hate that they still call us that.”

She rolled her eyes. “It just feels so patronizing. Every day I loathe that article.”

Knight Light nodded in agreement. He pushed the bad memory down; there was nothing they could do about that awful title, but they had worked through…in a way.

As he checked his armor, Knight Light couldn’t help but overhear the Queen's conversation with Fiesta.

“My dear, I must warn you,” She started,” when you're up on the stand later, they might ask you about your…past adversaries.”

Fiesta let out a soft chuckle. “It's no secret who I used to work for mi reina.”

He sofly tapped his foot, his spurs creating a soft rhythm, “But I would hardly worry about their questions…I would say Count Moneybone and I were never really that close.”

Knight Light stilled at his response. ‘Never really that close’? His mind flashed back to the files he had pulled out. He vividly remembered the word ‘fiancé’ whenever it referred to Fiesta’s relationship with Count Moneybone.

His mind continued to reel. Why lie? Why would Fiesta make it public knowledge that he used to work for the Count, but clam up when it came to their deeper history? A little seed of anger flared up in Knight Light's chest. Fiesta made that decision; he should own up to it.

Knight Light snapped himself out of it; he technically shouldn’t know that information. He couldn’t let him affect him like that.

————-

Love keeping y’all updated!! Again take these snippets as like teasers, the full story is way ling than what I’ve posted. And I will post the link when it’s done! Please feel free to comment or ask questions, I will happily reply!!