Hello there everyone, how's it going?  Well then, here is a new story that I'm writing, and I hope that you all enjoy it!  The story was inspired and recommended to me by my Dearly Beloved girlfriend Inori! I hope that you all enjoy this new story, and I hope you follow it and comment on it!  Oh, and by the way, I may not be able to post that often since my internet will be disconnected soon. (My internet wasn't working these weeks so I was on my IPad, but for now I'll try to post as many chapters as I can.)  Enjoy the story everyone!

 

Prologue: One Goal

 

Muffled cheering can be heard from the locker rooms.  Cheers of fans waiting for their hero to emerge and face his next opponent.  He’s been the talk of the city for months now, claiming that he’s one of the most incredible underdogs in boxing.  He’s one of the only rookies in the sport who’s managed to keep an undefeated winning streak, and critics and sports professionals alike have been dazzled by his abilities.  And now, as the crowd pleads for him, he’s ready to face his next opponent.  And so, the young boxer makes his way to the ring, and as he walks down, the lights of the stadium blind him, but after he’s able to adjust his vision, he sees the legions of fans, screaming his name. He smirks and waves to the crowd and strikes a battle pose, and then he heads towards the ring, ready for a fight.

 

And so, with the match about to begin, commentators Nick Brandon and George Smith aim to excite the crowd before the big fight.  Nick looks at George reassuringly, and George starts off the hype: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our exclusive live boxing match of Markus Dominic versus Lance Storm!”  This is a battle that everyone has been waiting for, a match some say, that’s once in a lifetime, isn’t that right Nick?”  Nick smiles and waves his arm excitedly at the crowd and says: “That’s right George, and who would have thought that the rookie Markus Dominic would rise above the ranks and face off against one of the industry giants?”  George nods in agreement and fixes his tie.  “How right you are Nick, it’s a surprising fact to us all.  He came out of nowhere just eight months ago, and just look at him now, with his legions of fans and his skills to back him up.  He’s unstoppable!”

 

They both nod in agreement, and the fans roar of excitement.  “Well, it seems that the crowd is hyped for this match, don’t you think so Nick?”  Nick nods and looks excited himself.  “That’s correct George! And now, ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the match!”  As they continue discussing the latest news in sports events, Markus looks eagerly at his opponent Lance, and Markus’ coach, Mr. Craig, looks at him with a concerned look on his face.  Markus then looks at Mr. Craig, and his smirk fades into a frown.  “Hey, why the long face?” he asks.  Mr. Craig sighs and says: “Look Markus, we both know how talented you are, but Lance is a tough customer, and trust me when I say that it’s bad for you to fight him!”  Markus rolls his eyes and says: “Stop being so overprotective, your worse than my parents. Look, I know the risks that came along with this, but I’m prepared for whatever happens.  You just worry about keeping me up to speed and stitching me up when I get down, okay?”  Mr. Craig nods reluctantly, and Markus’ smirk comes back to his face, and he turns around to face the crowd and wave at them and get them even more excited for the match.  Mr. Craig then thinks to himself: “That boy.  I fear that one day he’s going to get beat down hard, and he may not get back up.  Why is it that those in youth must be so reckless?”  He then goes to the side of the ring and looks onward to the fighters.

 

Markus heads over to Lance, and he nods at him and then the referee makes his way to the ring, and he starts going over the rules.  Markus just ignores him. “Yeah, yeah, we get it already.  You don’t have to constantly be mentioning the rules you know…”

 

Then, when the referee finishes, he rings the bell, and the match begins.  Lance looks at Markus with no show of concern or intimidation in his face.  “Well kid, you made good to get this far, but every rookie must have his first loss.”  Markus laughs and says: “Ha, you wish!”  And then the match begins, and Markus quickly performs a jab to Lance’s jaw, then followed by an uppercut and then he strikes his ribs.  Nick and George marvel at his abilities.  “Unbelievable!  He’s one fast fighter, I mean, the match just started and he’s already taking care of Lance!  Just incredible!  Can you believe this Nick?”  Nick follows up while cheering on for Markus.  “I know how you feel George!  It’s hard to believe that a rookie could have such skill!”  The crowd goes wild as Markus keeps dishing out punishing blows to Lance.  Markus concentrates fully on his opponent, and he immerses himself in the match, drawing out all noise and distraction and only focusing on his target.  And with just the right timing, Markus delivers a fatal jab to Lance’s jaw and he smirks, as he sees Lance’s body falling to the mat.

 

The crowd stands up in anticipation, and Nick and George are awe struck.  Then the referee starts the count.  Markus smirks and lays back on the ropes, relaxing as everyone is cheering his name.  “This is incredible George, just five minutes into the match and he already decimated Lance!”, Nick says in bewildered amazement.  When the referee reaches the count of ten, he declares that the match is over and that Markus is the winner.  Everyone roars of approval as the referee raises his arm.  Nick and George stand up and clap their hands, and they have quite the smiles on their faces.  “Wow Nick, that was quite the spectacular show!  That was truly amazing!”  Nick smiles and pats George’s shoulder and replies: “We only see these kinds of things every once in a lifetime.  This kid’s going to the hall of fame for sure!  He’s elevated his winning streak to 18-0!  Just incredible!”  Markus smirks and makes his way out of the ring and towards the locker room, along with Mr. Craig.

 

“What did I tell you Craig?  I told you I would own that chump.” Markus says with a smirk on his face.  Mr. Craig smiles and shakes his head. “Boy, you have some unnatural luck, you keep coming out of these matches like if they were nothing but rag dolls.” Markus laughs and says: “It’s not luck Craig, it’s skill, and besides, I learned it all from the best coach around.”  Mr. Craig smiles and nods in agreement and then he fetches his keys.  “Okay sunshine, I’m going to rev up the truck, so pack up and let’s go home.  Oh, and by the way, someone’s expecting you.” Mr. Craig says.  Markus raises an eyebrow, but before he can ask, he hears a familiar voice: “Oh come on now Markus, did you already forget me?”  And out of the hallway comes a beautiful woman with green eyes and curly hazel hair perfectly flowing to her shoulders, with quite the features and attractive face.  Markus smiles and says: “I’d never forget you, sweetheart.  Come here.”  They smile and kiss each other, just the kind of kiss you’d see in romantic movies.  The woman smiles and says: “You won again.”

----------------------------

 

A man’s goal becomes his obsession.  As he gains more fame, his values disappear.  Will he awaken before it’s too late?  Or will reality crumble before his very eyes?  Stay tuned for Chapter One: “The Next Step.”

 

Great two chapters. Nice interview, and I'm so glad that Michaela and Angelica woke up.

 

P.S. So far, my finals went great. Got an 'A' in General Psych.

Thanks for commenting everyone, and I'm glad your doing well in your finals Keyblade101!  Here's the next chapter!

 

Chapter Forty Three: Farewell, Dear Quincy…

 

  And so, the celebration began in earnest.  The house was literally glowing, as Markus, Joshua, Quincy, Katrina, Michaela and Angelica were enjoying being in each other’s company again.  For these precious moments, they forgot about all the sorrows they had endured, and they felt rejoiced and full of life.  Joshua gave Michaela a Transformers toy set, which she adored to bits the moment she saw it, Quincy brought in a basket of freshly picked apples, and Markus held Katrina in his arms as they embraced, while Angelica was providing the finishing touches to the food that Markus and Joshua had been preparing.  Everything was perfect, and then Markus suddenly heard a knock on the door. He excused himself and went to see who was there, and when he opened the door, he saw Nick Brandon and George Smith, with presents in hand.  Markus immediately felt appreciation for the kind gesture, and he let them in without the slightest bit of hesitation.  Everyone smiled and warmly greeted Nick and George, and they immediately felt at home.

 

  “Good evening my good people, we came here because we’d heard the news that Michaela and Angelica had fully healed, and we wanted to bring in something for you both.”  Nick said with a smile on his face, and so he and George gave their gifts to Michaela and Angelica.  Markus went over to them and shook their hands.  “Thank you both, for everything, you’ve always been looking out for me, and I’m glad I have friends from the media who don’t want to make a story out of everything.”  George nodded.  “if there’s one thing we do Markus, is respect a person’s private life, and no one deserves to be cut some slack more than yourself, and me and Nick are firm believers in you and your family.  Look at how those two young ladies were able to pull through!”  Markus looked back and saw Michaela’s shining expression when she opened the present and saw a set of Marvel DVD’s, and Angelica smiled as she saw a beautiful necklace with as silver color.  He then looked back at Nick and George.  “You know what?  Your right, we’ve definitely pulled through.”

 

  And so, for the rest of that evening, everyone had a great time, and there were many games and activities to do, and then after Michaela had fallen asleep, everyone went outside the porch and discussed many topics, both new and old, and they remembered of good times and bad times.  Everything was quiet and peaceful, and then, after a long while, Nick and George bid goodnight and went on their way, and Joshua left soon after, saying that he had to get a good night’s rest for tomorrow.  Angelica went to take a shower, and Katrina went into the kitchen to do the dishes, and so only Markus and Quincy remained in the porch.  For a moment, everything was silent, and the peaceful atmosphere ensured that nothing bad would happen, and that everything would be all right.  Markus was about to say something but instead he shook off the thought, and soon after Quincy broke the silence by chewing on an apple.  Markus laughed and looked at the old man quizzically.  “Wow, you know, I think I know why your so healthy.”  Quincy smiles and chuckles.  “Oh really?  Do tell.”  Markus pointed at the apple in Quincy’s hand.  “I always see you eating apples.  No wonder your fast for an old geezer like yourself!”

 

 

 

 

  Quincy immediately burst into laughter and then caught his breath.  “Oh boy, that was a good one!  For your information boy, this old geezer has a few more tricks up his sleeve!”  Markus smiles and nods.  “Of that I have no doubts.”  They smiled and then took a moment to look up at the beautiful and immense night sky, taking a moment to admire the scenery.  Markus then stood up and walked towards Quincy and put his hand on the old man’s shoulder.  “You know old man, I really need to thank you.  During these past few weeks, I’ve really become so much stronger, and I’ve been able to make peace with my past, and I’ve been able to hone my skills.  I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without your help.  Thank you for always being there for me, my dear friend.”  Quincy smiled and stood up and then he patted Markus’ shoulder.  “Oh my boy, I didn’t do anything special.  You did all the work!  All I did was give you a little push.”  Markus immediately glared at Quincy.  “You did more than that, and you know it, don’t underrate yourself.  You really gave me the incentive to do things right.”

 

  For a moment, both of them remained silent, and then Markus smiled and looked at the old man once more.  “You know, in a way, you remind me of Mr. Craig, and of my father.  You have traits from both of them, and you always have that never give up attitude.  I guess maybe that’s how I warmed up to you so fast.  You remind me so much of my loved ones that I guess it’s inevitable.”  Quincy smiled and continued eating his apple, and then he laid back on the porch, admiring the shining resonance of the stars.  He then stood up and looked at Markus.  “My boy, I’ve seen you grow so much for these past couple of weeks.  I’ve gotten to know you and your family now, and I have to say that you indeed have something worth the fight.  I’m proud of you for having made it this far, and I know you’ll make it even further in life as long as you never lose sight of who you are.  Always keep that in mind, and there’s nothing you can’t do.”  With that, Markus started shedding tears and he and Quincy hugged each other, and then Markus had an idea.

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbbSgQmpUKA

  “Hey Quincy!  I was wondering, when all this is over, I know that you said that you’d be going off to see the world and such, but in the meantime, would you like to say and live with us for a while?”  When Markus said these words, Quincy was caught off guard for a moment.  He even thought about it for a few long seconds.  “You know, that just about sounds like the nicest thing you’d do for me.”  Markus nodded.  “Of course, after all you’ve done for me, I’d be glad to repay the favor!”  Quincy smiled and then he walked down the stairs of the porch and into the front yard.  Markus felt puzzled by this, and then Quincy turned around and shook Markus’ hand.  “You know Markus, I appreciate your offer, but I will have to politely decline it.”  Markus then felt immediately puzzled.  “What?  Why is that?”  Quincy then looked up at the stars one more time and then he smiled.  “Because it’s time for me to go.”  Markus then looked at Quincy shocked.  “Go!?  No, you can’t go, there’s still so much to do!  And my family loves you too, you do know that, right!?”  Quincy smiled.  “Of course I do boy, but it’s not a question about love or no love, this is something bigger than any of us.”  He started walking away, and Markus ran towards him and held him by the arm.

 

  “No Quincy, please don’t go!  Your like a father to me!  I don’t want to lose you too!” Markus says, tears rolling down his face.  Quincy then touches Markus’ face and pats his shoulder.  “My boy, that’s the thing.  No matter what happens in this short life that we all must live, I’ll never be away.  I’ll always be in the hearts of those who know me and cherish me.  After spending time with your family, I know that you crazy lot won’t forget me.”  Markus felt shocked and hurt, but at the same time he felt that he knew that Quincy had to do this, and there was no way to stop it.  “Wait, but at least, let me look at your face!  Ever since I met you, no one ever saw your face!  In fact, no one even noticed you always wore a hood on!  At least let me look at your face before you go!”  Quincy for a moment hesitated, but knowing how good intentioned Markus had been ever since he changed, he proceeded to walk in front of Markus and put his arms behind his back.  “All right then my boy, take off the hood if you so wish.”

 

  And so, Markus kneeled down until he was level to level with Quincy’s face.  Slowly, he took off the hood, and when he took it off completely, there was nothing there.  No face, no head, and soon, Markus noticed, no body as well.  For when he took off the hood, nothing but rose petals came out of Quincy.  Markus knelt there, shocked at what he just witnessed.  For the old man who had been diligently training him, the old man that had suffered what everyone had suffered, the old man that had become so close to him, was nothing more than a shadow.  A person, but a person that was not of this world.  Then Markus looked up to the sky and noticed the rose petals ascending to the heavens.  He then smiled and tears rolled down his eyes as he immediately understood what this meant.  “So God, you had sent Quincy as a guardian angel, huh?  Well, he did his job right.  He deserves all the praise in the world.  Take good care of my friend.” he said silently to himself as the last rose petals ascended to the skies and then vanished.

(End Song Here)

---------------------

 

A beloved friend’s time had come, and his purpose had been completed.  Now Markus has more resolve than ever, and he’s decided to do everything in his power to honor the teachings Quincy had given him.  And on the back of his mind, the looming thought of his match against Raven continues.  Be prepared for Chapter Forty Four: “One Last Sparring Session.”

Wow...

Okay, here's the next chapter!  I hope you enjoy it everybody!

 

Chapter Forty Four: One Last Sparring Session

 

  The next morning, Markus woke up refreshed, but at the same time he felt saddened and full of grief.  He still couldn’t believe that Quincy was gone, and he wasn’t sure how to break it down to everyone else, since they were not aware of the situation just yet.  When everyone else woke up, he said good morning and he made breakfast for them and they ate and cherished their precious time together.  A little while later, Joshua came by and he stayed to keep everyone company.  Markus didn’t know how much longer he could hold in the sad news of Quincy’s departure, and Michaela was the first to notice his saddened expression.  She then tugged at Markus’ shoulder and she looked up at him sadly.  “Daddy, what’s wrong?  You look sad.  Did something bad happen?”  As Michaela asked this, Markus couldn’t help but see how concerned his little daughter was for him.  Everyone then took immediate notice and Katrina went by his side and kissed him.  “What is it Markus?  You can tell us.”  Joshua, who had been outside, came in all of a sudden and then he looked at everyone.  “Hey, where’s Quincy?”

 

  “That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you all about…Quincy you see, left last night.”  Markus said sadly.  Angelica then gasped and crossed her arms.  “What do you mean he’s gone?”  Markus then thought of the most positive way to put this to everyone so they wouldn’t feel so sad.  “Well, I was talking to him last night, and he said that he had many things to do, and little time to do it.  He wished us all the best of luck and blessings, and then he went on his way.  He said he wouldn’t come back.”  Everyone felt saddened by the news, but then Joshua stepped in and offered words of comfort.  “Wow, I can’t believe he’s gone.  But you know, he wouldn’t want us to be sad and moping around, he’d want us to keep giving it our all in everything we do, so let’s keep on living our lives, and live for Quincy too!  What do you say everyone?”  When he said this, everyone immediately felt better, including Markus, and they all agreed.  For the next few hours, the atmosphere was less sad and everyone was having a good day.  Markus then went to Joshua and he put his hand on his shoulder.  “Hey Joshua, could I have a moment with you?  Excuse us please, we’re going for a walk, okay?” He said to everyone, and they all nodded.  Joshua then started walking with Markus, and he noticed how quiet Markus was.  He knew that something was up.

 

  “So uh, Markus, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” Joshua said curiously.  Markus remained silent for a while and then he looked up at the sky and then proceeded to put his hands on his pockets.  “Well Joshua, I just wanted to have a little walk with you, since it allows me to clear my mind.”  Joshua kept looking at Markus, trying to see what he was going with this.  “Well, I’m glad you wanted to have a walk with me, but what is it that you really want?”  Markus smiled and looked at Joshua and nodded.  “You have quite the sense of intuition, don’t you?  Well, I just wanted to ask you something important, something that I hoped you would do for me. Like a favor, if you will.”  Joshua then smiled and shrugged his shoulders.  “Okay, sure, I’d be happy to do a favor for you Markus.  Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”  Markus then looked up at the sky again.  “No, it’s not something I want, it’s more like a sparring session.”  Joshua looked at Markus quizzically.  “A sparring session?  Oh, you mean you want to practice boxing with me?”  Markus nodded in approval.  “Exactly.”  Both of them agreed to it, and then Markus kept on walking, smiling and somehow looking relaxed.

 

  “So Markus, where are we going to spar?  If you want, we could go to the gym.” Joshua suggested.  Markus disagreed, and then he kept on walking.  “No, not the gym.  Joshua, I want to show you the place where I learned to box, the place where I met Mr. Craig.  I think it’s about time you knew where this place was.” Joshua then nodded enthusiastically and smiled.  “All right then, fair enough.”  Then, for a little while, Markus and Joshua walked through town, and the sun was shining bright.  The citizens were going about their daily business, and Joshua noticed all the little details.  Dogs chasing each other around, cats laying lazily on top of roofs or windows, squirrels climbing up trees, people being friendly and having good conversations.  It was all encouraging to Joshua, as he saw that everyone was having a good time living out their lives.  He then saw young children playing near a park, and teenagers rocking out in the garage to rock music, and a nearby yard sale where there were many odds and ends that Joshua found curious.  He was so distracted by all the things he was seeing that he accidentally bumped into Markus, and then he regained focus.  “Ah, sorry about that Markus!  My mind was a little off just now.”

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhlPAj38rHc

  “Not to worry Joshua.” Markus said as he smiled and looked at the building right in front of him.  Joshua was impressed by the sight he was seeing now: An old training center with faded out posters and faded paint.  “It’s been a long time since I came here.” Markus said as he unlocked the door and showed Joshua inside.  “Whoa, so this is where you trained with Mr. Craig!?  That’s awesome!  Wow, look at that ring!  And look at all this gear!”  Markus smiled as Joshua was exploring the whole place, and after he was done, he then put on his boxing gloves and gave another pair to Joshua.  “All right Joshua, let’s get in the ring.  No holding back now, all right?”  Joshua nodded.  “Right!”  And so, they prepared themselves, and they put on their protective gear, and for a moment, it was as if time froze, for everything seemed so serene and calm.  Almost immediately, as if on instinct, Joshua delivered the first strike, which Markus was caught by surprise, and then Markus counterattacked with a jab to the ribs.  Joshua slightly grunted, but then he stood his ground and they both clashed fists quickly, and he dodge many of Markus’ attacks, and then he delivered furious left and right hooks to Markus.  It hadn’t been even ten minutes, and both of them were already sweating like crazy.

 

  Both of them started to laugh as they fought, enjoying the moment.  Joshua dodge an uppercut from Markus and counterattacked with a left hook, sending Markus falling to the ground, and then Markus stood up quickly and delivered a right hook to Joshua, then making him fall down.  Markus was quite surprised by how good Joshua was.  He had never seen him boxing, so he was impressed by just how far he was going.  They both kept into the rhythm of the fight, and they were both evenly matched.  Joshua then tried to outsmart Markus by opening up his defenses.  When Markus went in for a strike, Joshua quickly dodged and then jabbed Markus’ face, which sent Markus falling down again.  “Huh, I have to admit Joshua, you have some mighty good skills.  I’m really impressed.”  Joshua nodded and smiled.  “All right, get up Markus, if you want to win against Raven, you can’t do that while laying on your ass, now can’t you?”  Markus smirked and then stood up.  “Oh, being a little cocky there, aren’t you kiddo?  We’ll just see how cocky you get.” They both smirked and continued sparring, now even more intensely. 

 

  As the minutes reached a full hour, Joshua and Markus were starting to get tired.  Both of them had beaten each other up pretty good, and Markus was outstandingly impressed that Joshua hadn’t passed out yet.  “Joshua, you have my respects.  You definitely know how to hold your ground against an opponent.”  Markus said as he wiped some sweat off his forehead.  Joshua smiled and then taunted Markus. “Come on, you know you want to knock me out.”  With that, Markus smirked and they started to assault each other viciously again.  Both were giving it their all, and Markus could almost hear the cheering of the crowd, even though the crowd wasn’t there.  Joshua, on the other hand, was thinking of Denzel, and how he would have said that he was proud of him.  That made his motivation stronger, and with that, he delivered an incredible uppercut that almost knocked out Markus.  But then Markus got the upper hand and delivered a series of jabs and hooks to the point that he knocked Joshua out of the ring.  “You know what?  I think you are ready to fight Raven, very ready.”

(End Song Here)

 

  With that, they both burst into laughter, and Markus went out of the ring and then he stretched out his hand to help Joshua up.  Accepting the help, Joshua took Markus’ hand, and he was able to stand up again, though weak and battered, but still standing.  “Well, the showers are over there, so let’s get clean, otherwise the girls will freak if they see us like this.”  Joshua laughed.  “Ha, you’re telling me!  It looks like we were beat by thugs!”  They both laughed once more, and after having taken a shower, they both looked like if nothing had happened, and so they went back home, where Katrina, Angelica and Michaela were outside.  Katrina was making some fried chicken outside while Angelica was making mashed potatoes.  “Oh, there you guys are!  Where have you been?” Katrina asked with a smile on her face.  Markus and Joshua looked at each other and tried not to laugh.  “Oh, nothing, your boyfriend and I were just taking a walk around town, and looking at some awesome new video games that are coming out, you know, the usual.” Joshua said as Markus was trying to keep himself from laughing.

-----------------

 

With Markus’ skills refined and with Joshua’s impressive skills, here came the last sparring session before the match.  Soon the time for battling Raven approaches, but now things seem more calm and peaceful, signs that this struggle was worth it after all.  Stay tuned for Chapter Forty Five:  “A Picnic At The Park.”

Wow.

Nice two chapters.

 

I didn't think that Quincey would be Markus's guardian angel; I actually thought that he would've turned to be Markus's future self, or something like that.

Edited December 13, 201312 yr by Keyblade101

I'm glad you liked the chapters everyone!  Now here's the next chapter!

 

Chapter Forty Five: A Picnic At The Park

 

  The next day, Markus had woken up refreshed and renewed thanks to a long and good night’s rest.  His body felt sore after having battled against Joshua yesterday, but he still didn’t tell Katrina or the others that he had done so, because whenever he tried to tell them, he would just smile and then try to hold his laugh.  Shortly after, Katrina woke up and kissed his neck and she yawned.  “Good morning there handsome.  How’s my champion doing today?”  Markus smiled and kissed her lips and then he stretched his arms wide.  “I’m doing pretty good, a little sleepy, but all good.  Katrina smiled and she sat on the bed and then she smelled something.  Something very delicious, and judging from how close the scent was, she deduced that it was coming from downstairs.  “I think Angelica is cooking something mighty delicious for breakfast!”  Markus then looked surprised at the clock.  “Um, babe, take a look at the clock.”  Katrina then looked back and then she saw that it was 12:00pm.  “Wait what, we slept through the entire morning!?  Wow, we slept like bricks, didn’t we?”  Markus laughed and he scratched his head.  “It would appear so.  Well then, I’m guessing we’re just in time for lunch.”

 

  With that, they smiled and took a morning shower together, and then they brushed their teeth and changed their clothes and then they went downstairs, and they saw, to their surprise, two baskets, where a delicious scent was coming out of them.  Angelica then saw Markus and Katrina and she clapped her hands together.  “Oh good, you’re here!  You two slept quite a lot, so I decided to not wake you up.”  Joshua came in through the door and smiled.  “Yeah, but I was about to wake you guys up!”  Angelica looked at Joshua and smiled and then she turned her attention back to Markus and Katrina.  “Now then as I was saying…”  But before she could say anything at all, little Michaela came downstairs and she stood in front of Angelica.  “Grandma, grandma, can I tell them!?  Please, please, please, please, please!”  Angelica saw the eagerness and adorableness of Michaela that she couldn’t help it.  “All right, you can tell them.”  With that, Michaela burst into joy.  “Yay!  Okay, so then daddy, mommy, we are going to have a picnic in the park, so I helped grandma and Joshua make delicious food for our picnic!”  Katrina looked at Michaela shocked.  “Did you just call me mommy?”  Michaela nodded.  “Well duh, your with my dad now, so you’re my mommy!” The way that Michaela said this made Katrina smile and then tears started flowing down her cheeks.

 

  “Uh oh, daddy, am I in trouble?  Was it something I said?” Michaela said, looking concerned for Katrina.  Markus laughed and wiped off Katrina’s tears and then he patted Michaela’s head.  “No honey, not at all, you see, Katrina’s crying of joy.”  Michaela then felt relieved and then hugged Katrina.  “Hehe, don’t cry silly!  But although, if your crying of joy, then don’t stop crying!”  With that, everyone started laughing, enjoying this heartwarming moment.  Soon after, everyone made the preparations and packed enough food and refreshments for the day.  After a few hours, they proceeded to leave the house, and they got on the car and drove to the park, and then they started looking for the best spot they could find.  Joshua looked surprised.  “Wow, you know, the park is unusually full today.  It’ll be difficult finding a good spot here, but I think we can manage.”  Markus and the others agreed, and then they saw a nearby family looking at the same spot they were looking.  “Uh oh, it looks like they want to take our spot!” Katrina says.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB25ZcTuXaM

  Markus raises his hands and then he looks at everyone.  “Guys, we can’t let that family take our spot, this is going to be tough, but now we have to beat them to it!”  Michaela giggled and clapped her hands.  “Oh, you mean like a competition?”  Markus smiled and nodded.  “Exactly, now then everyone, let’s do this!”  In the blink of an eye, everyone starts running, and the other family does the same, both of them trying to get to the spot first.  The other families were watching and smiling, seeing them having a silly competition.  Michaela was giggling nonstop, and Katrina and Angelica were practically shoving other people aside to make a path.  Joshua couldn’t help but laugh, and Markus also joined in the laughter.  “So Markus, it looks like this is the mighty picnic triathlon, wouldn’t you think so?” Joshua said laughing.  Markus took his breath and laughed.  “Yeah, it seems so.  Oh crud, look, the other family is getting ahead of us!”  Taking no other moment to rest, Markus kept running, and the others followed suit.  The other family was hilariously knocking other people off as well, and their kids were laughing as well.

 

  “We’re almost there!” Angelica says as she suddenly sprints and gets ever closer to the spot.  The other family has no choice but to take a moment to rest since they’re all tired from the vigorous run they had made.  Michaela then shouted. “Dad, we got this now!  It’s gonna be our victory!”  Markus smiled and then he pointed his finger to the spot they wanted to take.  “That’s right!  You hear that everyone?  The spot is all but ours!”  Everyone laughed, and finally, after many minutes of running, they were able to take the spot they wanted, and the other family had no choice but to find another spot.  Everyone was panting and sweating, and Angelica smiled warmly and she took out a few water bottles.  “Who wants water?” she says enthusiastically.  Before she’s even able to give out the bottles, everyone takes them and drinks them.  Michaela smiles and then she goes near the tree to get some shade.  “That was fun!”  The others smiled, and Katrina looked up at the sky.  “Wow, the day is so pretty today, isn’t it?  It looks so bright and peaceful, with the promise of a great future, doesn’t it?”  Joshua then looks at Katrina and laughs.  “Wow, being pretty poetic there, aren’t you?”  Everyone smiled and laughed and then they took a moment to rest, so they simply laid back on the blanket Angelica had laid out and they looked at the clouds.

(End Song Here)

 

  For the following hours, they laid on the blanket lazily and saw may cloud formations.  Some looked like rabbits, others looked like smiley faces, and others had an unidentified shape.  Michaela was happily playing with the other children, and Angelica was soaking in the sun’s rays, hoping to get a tan.  Markus and Katrina held hands, and they felt their hopes coalesce with each other, and they felt so happy and peaceful, like nothing else mattered.  Joshua was spaced out, for he had seen a pretty girl who had passed by and smiled at him, and he was searching through the crowds of people to see where she was.  He was hopeful that if he approached her and talked to her, they’d be able to make a good start as friends.  The hopes and dreams of everyone in the park could be felt, like an aura that was spreading throughout the land.  Markus looked up at the sky and then looked at Katrina.  “You know honey, your right, the day does signal a shining future.  And in that future I see us, being a happy family.  How does that sound to you?”  Katrina smiled and kissed Markus’ cheek.  “That sounds extraordinarily wonderful.”

 

  Angelica then signaled that it was time to eat, and everyone turned their attention to the baskets.  “Yay, now you’ll get to taste what we cooked, daddy!”  Markus patted Michaela’s head and nodded.  “That’s right sweety.  Now then, what exactly did you cook for us?”  Angelica smiled.  “Well, there’s a few hamburgers, some Fries with Chicken Tenders, and Rice with Corned Beef!”  Markus licked his lips and closed his eyes.  “Mmm, mmm, mmm, you had me at Corned Beef.”  With that, everybody dug in, and they enjoyed eating the food, and as the day passed, they talked about silly things and they played games with Michaela and then they laid back on the ground again to see the clouds.  Then the sun started to set, and everyone started to pack up and head for the car.  Markus signaled Angelica that he would be walking home with Katrina, so Angelica took Michaela and Joshua and they left.  As the sun kept setting, Markus and Katrina held each other’s hands, happy to be together in each other’s hearts.  “You know something Markus?” said Katrina.  “Hmm, what is it?” Markus said.  “I love you more than anything else in this world.”  Markus smiled and pulled Katrina in for a kiss.  “I love you too Katrina.  More than you could ever know.”

---------------

 

With the calm and respite of a warm and shining day, everyone feels at peace and at bliss.  The days seem more peaceful, and the days seem to have more meaning.  Markus ponders in his mind the meaning of life, and he hopes to dream anew.  Be prepared for Chapter Forty Six:  “Markus And Raven.”

I like this chapter.

Okay then everyone, here's the next chapter!  I hope you all enjoy it! ^_^

 

Chapter Forty Six: Markus And Raven

 

  The next day, the sky was overcast, and Markus found it difficult to wake up.  He just wanted to wake up and go downstairs, but it was so cloudy that he felt the urge to keep on sleeping.  Eventually, he gave himself the strength to wake up, and then he kissed Katrina’s forehead and headed downstairs.  Strangely, he didn’t feel hungry, and no one else seemed to be awake, so he just headed outside and took a breath of fresh air.  He felt peaceful and content, as seeing the overcast sky made him feel at ease.  A cold and refreshing breeze was coming from the east, and he was basking in the refreshing air.  He then went down to the front yard and sat in the grass, and he closed his eyes and started to meditate, just like Quincy had taught him.  He felt his aura getting stronger, and then, in his meditative state, he saw Keera and Mr. Craig smiling at him.  He went to reach out for them, but the closer he got, the further away they would go.  They just kept smiling, and they were stretching out their hands to Markus so he could take them.  Markus tried ever so hard to reach out for them, but then he understood what was going on. It was something inevitable that couldn’t be helped and couldn’t be changed.

 

  They were moving onto the afterlife.  Markus had already found peace with his past, so that meant that Keera and Mr. Craig would proceed to go into the afterlife.  Markus didn’t want them to go, but he knew in his heart that it was their time to finally rest in peace.  With that, he simply smiled and waved them goodbye, and tears started rolling down his cheeks.  Before he opened his eyes, Keera came to Markus and put her hand on his shoulder, and then she gave him one final kiss, and then Mr. Craig came and hugged Markus tightly, and together, they started fading away, their spirits soaring to the heavens.  Markus felt a wave of contentment and happiness as he saw his two loved ones finally being able to go in peace.  Then, he opened his eyes and stood up, and then he looked at his watch, and it said that it was still 6:30am.  He wondered why he had woken up so early, but he decided to just let the thought go, and then he decided that he would buy a little bit of groceries by going to a nearby supermarket.  He walked down the street and into the nearby park, and then he walked through the park so he could cut a path, that way the trip wouldn’t be so long.  After a few minutes, the supermarket was within his line of vision, and so he took a nearby cart and went inside.  It was still relatively early, but that suited Markus just fine.  That way he wouldn’t have to wait in a long line.

 

  As he went through the aisles, he picked the necessary things: fruits, vegetables, beans, rice, spam, some Macaroni and Cheese, Corned Beef, and other goods here and there.  Before he knew it, he was already done.  He then went to the cash register, and the nearby clerk instantly recognized him and she smiled and took the things he had in the cart and then he paid her the money and she gave him the receipt.  “Um, Markus, you know, I just want to say that I’ve admired your skill in the ring for a long time now, and I just want to say that I’m going to be rooting for you in your match with Raven!  Just two days left, I can’t wait!”  Markus smiled appreciatively and nodded.  “Thanks, I’m touched by your words.  I’ll beat Raven for sure, so just hang on to your seat.”  The clerk smiled.  “Oh yes, I will, definitely!”  With that, Markus said goodbye and he took the groceries in bags and then walked outside.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ6qT_FdOkA

  As he was walking, Markus suddenly saw someone that definitely made him feel angry.  He saw that someone walking towards him, and Markus kept on walking as if he hadn’t seen that person.  Then that person patted him on the shoulder.  “Hey, no need to be a stranger Markus, I just want to talk.”  The person who spoke was none other than Raven Sable, who was smiling sarcastically at Markus.  “I have nothing to talk to you about Raven, whatever you want to say doesn’t matter, because what’s going to happen between us will be settled in the ring once and for all, so don’t you even bother speaking to me.”  Raven crossed his arms and chuckled.  “My my, what a sourpuss you are.  I just want to talk and here you are being all hostile towards me.  I’m hurt!”  Markus growled and turned around to face Raven and then he glared at him.  “Not as hurt as how you’ve made my family feel!  Not as hurt as you’ve made me feel for all the losses I’ve had to endure!  You may act all innocent and people may be blind to who they think you are, but once we fight, and once I win, I’m going to expose you for the rotten little bastard you really are.”  With those words, Raven simply chuckled, and his smile widened, which pissed Markus off.  “Ah, so that’s how you feel, don’t you?  Well, even if you try to expose me, you have no proof to back up your claims.  So even if you win, you will lose.”

 

  Markus smirked and then he rolled his eyes.  “Oh don’t worry Raven, when there’s a will, there’s a way, and trust me when I say that I’ll do what I can to find the proof needed to put you behind bars.  So you just sit back and relax and in two days we’ll see who gets the last laugh.”  Feeling triumphant, Markus walks away with his head held high, but then Raven suddenly laughs.  Markus then turns around, wondering what’s so funny, and then Raven simply stopped laughing and then he cleared his throat.  “Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just having myself a little laugh.  Just thinking about that stupid old man Mr. Craig makes me laugh.  He truly was a pathetic man, not being able to control you, and because of your rash actions, that’s what led to his demise.  You truly are something Markus, causing the deaths of the people you love the most.”  Markus remained calm and then he glared defiantly at Raven.  “Just so you know Raven, I already accepted my mistakes.  I know that I caused Mr. Craig to fall into misery, and I know that my actions led to dire consequences, but unlike you, I had the balls to admit it, and I had the balls to do something about it, not unlike a certain someone who deceived and manipulated people to do his dirty work.”

 

  Raven’s smile quickly faded into a frown, and then he felt overwhelmed.  “Oh, now that’s a low blow Markus.  And here I was just trying to be friendly to you.”  Markus then laughed sarcastically.  “Oh, wow, I’m touched!  If this is your friendly side, then I don’t even want to know what your bad side is!”  Raven quickly clenches his fists and then he growls.  “Oh Markus, just to let you know, I don’t regret having made you suffer.  I don’t regret having made your life a living hell, and causing your loved ones to die.  And I especially don’t regret running over your little daughter and her precious grandmother.  It was all such a pleasure, seeing how you cracked on the inside every time I would take someone dear from you.  But the most satisfying thing was when Denzel was killed.  Ah yes, now that made my day.  It made me feel so good when I saw you all in such a miserable state.  Serves that little bastard right for having betrayed me.”  Markus again looked at Raven defiantly.  “He never was your ally to begin with.  He did what he did because he wanted to protect his sister.  And trust me Raven, you’ll regret having done all the things you did.  You’ll have to deal with it for the rest of your life.”

(End Song Here)

 

  With that, Markus left Raven silent, and then he continued on to his home, with grocery bags in hand.  Markus couldn’t be more furious, but at the same time, he knew that he had to remain calm, so that way he would be prepared mentally to fight Raven in two days time.  As he walked on home, he noticed that the sun was starting to pierce through the overcast sky, and that somehow made Markus feel more at ease.  He kept on walking until eventually the sun was high and bright in the sky.  He arrived home in a few minutes time, and then he put the groceries in the kitchen and then he sat on the sofa, and he noticed that Michaela was coming down the stairs.  “Oh, hey there sweety, good morning.”  Michaela nodded and went towards Markus and sat beside him.  “Good morning daddy.  How are you?”  Markus smiled.  “I’m good thanks.  Just a little sleepy.”  Michaela smiled and giggled.  “Hehe, everyone’s still asleep, they must be tired from all the running we did yesterday.”  They both laughed and smiled.  “You know what sweety, your right.  Hey, since both of us are awake now, why don’t we eat some Frosted Flakes and watch Spongebob.  Does that sound good to you?”

 

  Michaela squealed of joy and she ran around the sofa two times.  “Yay, that sounds great!  Come on, let’s get the Frosted Flakes already before Spongebob starts!”  Markus smiled and laughed and so they first organized the groceries he had bought, and then he took out the Frosted Flakes from one of the bags and he served them in one big bowl so that both he and Michaela could eat from.  They then sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV, and luckily, Spongebob had just started, and for the next few hours they enjoyed a Spongebob marathon, and they were laughing at the silliest things, and before they knew it, the Frosted Flakes from their bowl were already gone.  “Wow, either we eat fast, or we’ve been watching a lot of Spongebob episodes.” Michaela said while giggling.  Markus nodded and agreed.  “You know what, I think it’s both.  Now come on, let’s go outside and play with your Transformers action figures, all right?” Michaela nodded.  “Okay then, I’ll go get them right now!”  As she ran to get her toys, Markus smiled and thought to himself of how lucky he is to have such an adorable daughter.

--------------------

 

Not having been swayed by Raven’s words, Markus triumphantly held his ground and his calm, and he walked away with one more mental victory over Raven.  Now, with only one day left before his big match with Raven, Markus must finally be prepared both mentally and physically for the match of his life.  Next time, Chapter Forty Seven: “The Day Before The Match.”

I loved how Michaela called Katrina 'Mommy', and I loved the race for the picnic spot.

 

As for the fight between Markus and Raven, if I were Markus I would've had a tape recorder or something so I could've caught Raven admitting to causing all of those horrible things and turned the recording over to the cops.

 

Anyway, I love this story. Keep going with your amazing writing.

This is funny.

Thank you so much for your comments you two, I'm sincerely flattered.  Comments like that are the ones that make me more than happy to keep posting stories here.  Now then, here's the next chapter!  I hope you all enjoy!

 

Chapter Forty Seven: The Day Before The Match

 

  Excitement.  That is the only word that could describe what everyone in the house was feeling today.  Excitement that there was only one more day left for Markus’ big match with Raven.  And not just in the house, but it seemed that everyone was in an uproar about it.  The news had a special on Markus’ career, and a conference to debate on who would win this match.  Even the newspaper had an article anticipating Markus’ big match.  Markus felt flattered, but at the same time, he felt overwhelmed.  The only thing that gave him calm was that no fans were begging for his autograph on the front door.  Suddenly, Michaela bursts through the door.  “Daddy, daddy, you have fans who want to see you!”  Markus sighed and smiled.  “Ha, just my luck.  Well then, time to sign the autographs then.”  Markus patted Michaela’s head and then he grabbed a nearby sandwich that Angelica had made and so he went outside to meet his fans, who were all booming with excitement.  Markus felt sleepy, but at the same time, he felt happy, so he didn’t mind it at all.

 

   One of the fans came up to him and raised his fists triumphantly. “Markus, I’m so psyched for your big match!  I’m definitely going to be cheering for you, your gonna beat Raven’s ass!”  Markus laughed at the fan’s enthusiastic comment, and he signed on the man’s hat.  “Well, I’m glad to hear that.  I’ll be sure not to disappoint.” Another of his fans, a teenage woman, was squealing of joy and couldn’t even find the words to speak.  Then, after catching her breath, she smiled and extended a notebook to Markus.  “Oh God, I can’t tell you how much of a fan I am of you Markus!  I’ve loved every single one of your matches, and I always watch them with my Dad!  I hope you stick it to Raven and show him you’re the top dog around here!”  Markus laughed and nodded.  “Will do, and don’t worry, I have plenty of bite to dish out.”  He smiles and signs the woman’s notebook, and then he proceeds to listen to every one of his fans’ excitement and good luck comments for most of the morning.  Michaela was peeking outside and Katrina came behind and held her hand.  “Hey there Michaela sweety, what are you doing?”  Michaela smiled and giggled.  “Oh, I’m just watching Daddy taking care of the crazy people.”  Katrina laughed and she stroked Michaela’s hair.  “Well, that is one way to call them.  Come on, let’s go help out your Daddy.” 

 

  With that, they both went out to the porch where Markus was, and he sighed appreciatively and then they sat down beside him to control the crowd.  Overall, throughout the morning, it all went pretty well.  After 12:00pm, the fans had already left, and Markus laid on the porch, feeling tired and sleepy.  “Wow, signing autographs is much more work than it looks like.”  Katrina laughed.  “Well, you handled it there honey, and that’s all that matters.”  Michaela nodded in agreement.  “Yeah Daddy, you handled them like a pro!”  With that, the three of them laughed, and then Katrina headed inside while Markus and Katrina stayed out on the porch.  They sat there silently for a long while, soaking the rays of the sun and holding each other’s hands.  Katrina then turned to look at Markus and she smiled.  “You know Markus, I have to say that you’ve come a long way.  I’m proud of how much effort you’ve put into all this.  You’ve really hung in there, and you’ve taught us all how to overcome adversity.  For that, I want to thank you.”  Markus smiled and leaned close to kiss her lips, and then he pulled away and hugged her.  “It hasn’t been easy, but I know that all this will be worth it in the end.”

 

  Katrina nodded and pulled him into a kiss again, and then she pulled away and stroked his hair.  “Markus, I have faith that you’ll be able to do this.  I know that you’ll be able to see it through to the end.  And you won’t be the only one, because we’re all in this together.”  Markus smiled as he heard those comforting words, and then he suddenly felt distant, and Katrina immediately noticed Markus’ change of expression.  “What is it Markus?”  He looked at her and sighed.  “It’s Raven.  I saw him yesterday in the supermarket, and he was trying to get under my skin again.”  Katrina looked concerned and she crossed her arms.  “And what happened?”  Markus looked up at the sky.  “Don’t worry, there wasn’t any fighting involved, he was just trash talking and then he tried to bear down on me by telling me of all the mistakes I did.”  Katrina stayed silent, ensuring Markus to continue.  “And then, after I told him that I accepted my mistakes because I was able to face them, he was saying how much he enjoyed making me suffer, and taking out the people closes to me.”  Katrina frowned and she cursed under her breath.  “That damn bastard…he’ll have to pay for what he’s done to us Markus.”  He nodded and smiled and touched her face.  “I know babe.  I know.”

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tLElCKeTGk

  Katrina then stood up and she looked at the sky, and Markus was wondering what was going through her mind. She then looked at him and she leaned her back on one of the wooden beams of the porch.  “You know Markus…I can’t believe how there can be such heartless people in this world.  God created us all as equals, and yet we all squandered the perfect lives that we could lead, all for misery and pain and suffering.  I can’t believe how there can be selfish people that don’t give a damn about others, like rich people who won’t even spare some money for the poor.  And I hate how women are abused sexually and mentally, and how people use them as objects, and I hate all the messed up things in this world!  Why can’t everyone learn to accept their flaws and do something about it?  Why can’t they try to be better people?  If only they could be able to have a change of heart, if they could feel any remorse for what they’ve done, they could be able to try to turn it all around and make it all better.  But sadly, that’s not how the world works.  Sometimes I wonder if we’re even worthy of being on this Earth.”  She looks down sadly and starts crying, and she remembers Denzel and of all the times they had spent together, and Markus immediately understood how she was feeling.  It wasn’t just because of Denzel.  It was because of all the injustice and bad things in this world.

 

  Markus stood up and embraced Katrina in his arms and he rubbed her back.  “It’s okay Katrina, I’m here.  And well, if we were perfect, we wouldn’t be here.  The best thing we can do is make the most of the time that is given to us.  Life isn’t easy, and the many roads we take have different outcomes and consequences.  One thing leads to another, and then another, until it all splits up in different paths in our lives.  We can’t right the wrongs of the world because we don’t have that kind of power.  But we can try to make a difference every day of our lives.  We can live in memory of our beloved, in the name of God, in the name of happiness.  As long as we all have a main goal to keep us pushing through on life, nothing can stop us.  We are blessed to be on this Earth, and although it’s a dangerous place sometimes, that’s how the world is.  But at least the best we can do is enjoy every day of our lives like if it was our last, wouldn’t you say so dear?”  Katrina looked up at Markus and smiled.  “Your right, it’s true that we have to enjoy life while we have it.  Thank you so much Markus, I feel so much better now.”

(End Song Here)

 

  With that they smiled and kissed each other with tender and loving passion.  Katrina then looked back and she touched Markus’ face.  “Well darling, I’m going inside to help Angelica cook, okay?”  Markus nods.  “All right.”  As he watches Katrina go inside, Markus smiles and feels so happy.  Not only has he found someone to love, but he’s found such a happy family, a happy place where he knows that he can be able to make a difference.  Seeing their smiles makes him feel accomplished, as if he had climbed over the tallest mountain, or as if he had crossed the stormiest ocean.  He looked up at the sky and he felt a sense of peace.  Then he closed his eyes and came into focus.  Tomorrow would finally be the day when Markus ends this all, where he finally gets to atone for everything bad that he had done.  He breathed in deeply and then breathed out, feeling physically and mentally attuned.  He then smiled and remembered how much he had learned from Mr. Craig and Quincy.  “I’ll make you both proud.  Your time with me won’t have been in vain.  I promise you that.” he says as the soft breeze blows through his face, the comfort of his promise seeping into his heart.

 

  As Markus went inside, he welt this overwhelming feeling of energy, as if he was about to burst from so much that he had inside him.  He felt mightier than ever, and he felt rejuvenated and calm.  “Don’t worry everyone.  Tomorrow, I’ll finally be able to set things right. This is when I’ll be able to take back all the suffering that we went through, when all our sorrows wash away.”  With that, he went inside, where everyone was waiting for him.  He sat down and enjoyed a healthy meal with his family, and then he and Katrina took a shower together and then had a passionate night, and after all that, he laid on his bed, holding Katrina closely to him, and he smiled and slowly closed his eyes, as sleep took hold of him and embraced him.

-----------------

 

The time for atonement has finally come.  Now, all the trials and tribulations that Markus has been through shall come back to put him to the test.  Will Markus be able to triumph over Raven Sable?  Find out in Chapter Forty Eight: “The Final Hour Part 1 of 3: The Confrontation Begins.”

 

 

Nice.

Okay everybody, here's the match you've all been waiting for!  Prepare yourselves!

 

Chapter Forty Eight: The Final Hour Part 1 of 3: The Confrontation Begins

 

  The time has finally come.  Everything has led to this moment.  After many months of training, Markus is finally ready to overcome his final obstacle.  He had woken up early this morning, and everyone had given him an inspirational pep talk, and now they were all watching him from the spectator seats.  Joshua stayed at the corner of the ring, volunteering to be with Markus during the length of the match.  Roars of excitement could be heard from the crowd, and everything had fallen into place.  The Stadium was jam packed, for everyone had been waiting for this once in a lifetime match.  With the excitement as high as ever, Nick Brandon and George Smith began their commentary.  “Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the match of a lifetime, where we’ll be witnessing a clash of titans!” Nick spouted out enthusiastically.  George followed up with an equally exciting comment.  “That’s right Nick, two legends of the ring will put it all on the line here, to prove who’s the best of the best, the lion of the pack, the man among boys!  Today we’ll witness Raven Sable, the boxing juggernaut, against Markus Dominic, the rookie legend!”

 

  As everyone was cheering, Markus made his entrance, which made the crowd go wilder.  As he entered the ring, he thought of what happened just a few seconds ago.  He was in the locker room along with Katrina, who was smiling as she saw him getting ready for the match.  Markus had stopped for a moment to look at her, who was looking as beautiful as ever, and then he pulled her into a loving kiss.  They smiled as they embraced each other, and then they pulled away, and she held onto his hand.  “Go show the world who you really are.” she says with a smile.  With that, Markus opened his eyes and smiled as he stood on the corner of the ring, waiting for Raven to show.  George then crossed his arms.  “Well then Nick, it seems as though Markus is more than ready for the match, don’t you think so?”  Nick nodded in agreement.  “I hear you George, and look, here comes Raven Sable!”  Markus and Joshua looked towards the entrance, and Raven made a spectacle of an entrance, coming along with many scantily clad women and an insane rock song.  People roared of approval while Markus’ fans booed the whole time.  Raven went into the ring, full of pride and swag, and then he took off his robe and went to his corner of the ring.  The referee went over the rules, and then Joshua tugged on Markus’ arm.

 

  “Look man, if things look too extreme, don’t hesitate to take a break.  You know that you’ve got limits too, okay?  Now go get ‘em, we all have faith in you!” Joshua said.  Markus nodded.  “Don’t worry, I’ll make you all proud.”  With that, the referee officially rang the bell, and the match began in earnest.  The crowd immediately chanted Markus and Raven’s names, obviously the whole stadium going half and half on who they want to win.  Markus calmly sidesteps as he sees Raven acting cocky and reckless.  With a deep breath, he closes his eyes, and Raven delivers the first strike, which Markus immediately dodges.  “Whoa, did you see that Nick!?  Three years of absence from the ring and Markus dodges Raven’s first punch effortlessly!  Talk about a heck of a guy!”  Nick stays speechless and the crowd goes wild, and Markus and Raven clash fists a few times and finally Markus is able to hit Raven.  Markus’ fans go crazy, and Markus follows up with a few quick hooks to Raven’s face, and then Raven blocks and counterattacks with his signature attack, The Sable Plunge.

 

  Markus dodged most of Raven’s hits, but managed to take a few as well.  He still remained relaxed and calm, which was starting to piss Raven off.  “Who do you think you are Markus?  Come on, don’t you want to take out your rage on me?  Don’t be such a wuss!” Markus continues with his calm behavior, and that unsettles Raven even more, and then he goes all out, delivering jabs and uppercuts to Markus, but he’s not able to break through his defense.  “Wow, this is impressive, five minutes into the first round, and none of them has done significant damage to each other, you can clearly see how well built they are, huh?” George says.  Nick agrees.  “That’s true George, it seems as though both of these men have an unbreakable will that will not let either of them back down.  It’s truly impressive!”  As the match continues, Markus manages to find an opening in Raven’s defenses, and then he quickly delivers a jab to Raven’s ribs, which causes Raven to stagger momentarily, and then Raven delivers a devastating right hook that sends Markus falling back towards the ropes.  Everyone gasps, and Raven’s fans go wild, while Markus’ fans encourage him to get back up.  Markus eventually stands up and, sure enough, he remains as calm as ever.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVs0egR_pQ

  Before they both notice, the first round is already over, and each of them goes to their respective ring corner.  Raven glares at Markus angrily as his manager refreshes him with a cup of water.  Markus, on the other hand, simply talks with Joshua, much to the crowd’s amazement.  “So, how’d it go for my first round?” Joshua made a funny expression.  “Hmm, not too shabby, not too reckless.  I like it.  And it looks like your getting on Raven’s nerves, which is good.  Just what are you planning to dish out on him?”  Markus’ smile grows ever wider into a smirk, and then he shrugs.  “Oh, you’ll see.”  With that, he take a sip of water and he refreshes himself.  Meanwhile, Katrina, Michaela and Angelica watch from the spectator seats, feeling excitement and nervousness at the same time.  “Yeah Daddy, you can beat the ugly man, you can do it!”  Some nearby fans smiled and agreed with Michaela, and they all cheered on for Markus.  And so, the bell rang anew, and the second round had commenced.  This time, Markus went in for the first assault, sidestepping and disorienting Raven, delivering a series of quick hooks and jabs followed by an unexpected uppercut which caught Raven by surprise, sending him falling to the ground.  The crowd went insane as Raven hit the ground.

 

  “Holy snap, did you see that George!?  Markus was so fast all of a sudden that I wasn’t even able to see his technique!  Amazing!”  George nodded excitedly.  “Oh yes, this is the Markus that we all know and love, fast and furious, and most of all, full of surprises!”  Both Nick and George were literally hanging onto the edge of their seats, as the match grew more intense.  Raven stopped Markus’ assault and retaliated with another of his techniques, the Whirlwind Punch, which sent Markus back a few steps.  Markus smirked and he sidestepped Raven once more.  “That’s very impressive Raven.  You’ve got some pretty good techniques there.  If only your personality was as charming.”  At that, Raven felt insulted and he delivered a sudden jab.  “Don’t you dare insult me you little bastard!  I’m going to humiliate you in front of the whole world, and there’s nothing in the world you can do to stop me!”  Markus shook off the effect of Raven’s jab and then for a moment both of them delivered a flurry of attacks to each other, and they actually managed to bruise each other considerably.  As the fighting continued, three whole rounds had already passed, and the crowd was going even more insane.

 

  Raven was smirking as he delivered many strikes and punches to Markus, but Markus continued to stay calm, which was eating away at Raven’s mind.  “How the hell can this bastard stay so calm when I’m obviously giving him a pounding!?  This little bastard is trying to play mind games with me, that’s it!  Well I’m not going to fall for it, no sir!”  With that, Raven came down hard on Markus, ensuring that he wouldn’t be able to counterattack or step back.  Raven’s fans were obviously in a frenzy, while Markus’ fans were cheering on for their hero, pleading him to strike back.  “Wow, this is just amazing Nick, this stadium is literally boiling over these two, I’ve never seen a crowd so intense over a match!” Nick then nods and looks at George.  “Oh yes, you’ve definitely got a point there.  But you know, you have to give these two guys credit though, they sure know how to control the crowd with their fighting.  I mean seriously, look at those two go at it!”  As the match continued, Katrina closed her eyes, praying that Markus would be able to win this match, and then she opened her eyes and watched on hopefully, and Michaela and Angelica were going wild, cheering for Markus.  The match was getting ever more intense and exciting.

 

  As the crowd continued going wild, Markus smiled, and then, after multiple strikes from Raven, he broke through the attack and delivered a devastating left hook to Raven’s face, followed up by one of his signature attacks, The Dynamo Punch, which sent Raven reeling down on the mat once more.  The referee started the count, and Raven got up by the count of four, and Markus immediately smirked.  Something was developing inside his mind, for during the entire match, he had been observing the way that Raven fights, which is why he remained so calm.  Being calm was key, and now he decided that it was time to go on the offensive.  The minute Raven stood up, Markus went on a rampage, delivering quick jabs and combos from out of the blue.  The stadium was going wild over Markus, and Raven’s fans were shocked and impressed from Markus’ skills.  Within a few more seconds, the bell rang, signaling another break.  Raven immediately went into his corner, enraged by how the match was turning out.  Markus, in the meantime, helped himself to a burrito that Joshua had handed to him.  Everything was going out exactly as Markus had planned in his mind, but he still wanted to keep his best technique for last.

(End Song Here)

 

-------------------

 

The crowd goes insane over the two titans of the ring, and Markus has the upper hand so far.  What will continue to ensue during this epic match?  And what exactly is Markus’ best technique?  And why is he keeping it until the very last moment?  Find out in Chapter Forty Nine: “The Final Hour Part 2 of 3: Battle Royale.”

 

 

Cool.

Excellent start to the fight. Markus has some great moves and can sure keep his cool.

Edited December 19, 201312 yr by Keyblade101

Thanks for the comments guys, now here's the semifinal chapter of this story!  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Chapter Forty Nine: The Final Hour Part 2 of 3: Battle Royale

 

  The bell had rung and Markus and Raven were taking a momentary pause from the match, thus ending the fourth round.  The crowd was going wild with excitement, and Nick and George were on their toes as well.  “Wow Nick, this match is definitely a thrill maker, and look at how we’re literally hanging on the edge of our seats!”  Nick smiled and nodded.  “Oh, you got that right George, this is definitely looking to be one hell of a match, one for the record books, mind you!”  As Nick and George continued providing commentary, Markus felt relaxed, calm, cool and collected.  Katrina, Angelica and Michaela  were looking onwards with hopeful eyes, and the fans were all on the edge of their seats.  Joshua looked at Markus as he was eating, and he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.  “Well, I’ll be, you know Markus, I didn’t expect you to be so calm in this match.  I really need to hand it to you, you really know how to tick this guy off.”  Markus smiled as he finished eating the last bits of his burrito.  “Oh don’t worry, I intend on pissing him off even more.”  With that, the bell rang, signaling that the fifth round had begun, and not soon after Raven came in charging furiously, hoping to do a real number on Markus.

 

  For a moment, Markus was caught off guard, but he was able to capitalize and he retaliated by sending a furious uppercut up Raven’s chin that sent him almost flying out of the ring.  The crowd was in a frenzy, and then Raven noticed that he too had to act all cool and collected, otherwise he was going to keep going in a downwards spiral during this match.  With that, he smirked and then he started to deliver some jabs to Markus and then he quickly changed his technique and made Markus stagger and fall back to the ropes.  Raven’s fans were growing even more excited, as they saw how he was beating up Markus.  Nick and George looked surprised, and they were jaw dropped by what had just happened.  “Did you see that George?” George nodded.  “I sure did Nick, Raven found a foothold and now he’s dominating the ring!  Now the tables have turned!  Will Markus be able to counterattack, or has Raven taken the match from here?”  Markus’ fans were gasping as they saw Markus take a beating, and then Raven delivered a fast right hook to Markus, sending him falling down on the mat.  For a moment, Markus felt slightly dizzy, as if he was caught in a strong burst of wind. The referee started the count, but Markus thankfully was able to get up by the count of two.

 

  “All right pretty boy, let’s dance.” Raven says as he taunts Markus.  They both clash fists a few times, and they bruise each other greatly, and two more rounds pass, and their onslaught continues.  Neither of them refuses to back down from this, because this is where they get to prove to the world who truly is the best.  Nick and George are practically out of their podiums and cheering for Markus, and everything seems to go in slow motion.  Markus can feel the energy of the crowd, and he can feel the energy inside him charging up.  “Not yet.” he says to himself.  He continues to take a beating from Raven, and then he finds an opening and makes a devastating thrust to Raven’s chest, making Raven stop cold in his tracks, and subsequently making the whole arena go mute.  Everyone stood up from their seats, waiting to see how Raven would react, and Raven quickly went and struck back with a series of punches and quick hooks, and the entire arena was going crazy.  “I need to focus, otherwise Raven is going to get the upper hand on me.” Markus says to himself as he calmly observes Raven.  Every action that he makes is one more thing for Markus to analyze.  Old habits die hard.

 

 

  Nick crosses his arms and he sighs of relief.  “Well George, it looks like Markus has come back to the fold and he’s regained control of the match again.  Seriously, these two have come today to make one hell of a statement.”  George nods and looks at Nick in agreement.  “Boy, are you right.  Neither of these guys is willing to stay down.  Now all that’s left to see is how far they’ll actually go in this match.  Every warrior must fall, or so they say.”  As they looked on to the match, Markus and Raven were going at it quicker and much more intense.  Raven was delivering some strong attacks and techniques, and Markus was on the defensive, waiting for the right moment.  After a few seconds, Raven started to slow down on his attacks, feeling tired from throwing so many punches relentlessly.  Markus thought that now was the time to go on the offensive.  He took the crowd by surprise, as he was doing a signature move no one had seen before.  He delivered a right hook, a left hook, an uppercut, and a series of lighting fast punches, and then he delivered a devastating right hook to Raven, making him fall to the mat once more.  The referee was starting the count yet again.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hvv6BXdQiU

  This time, the crowd was counting as well, and the echoes could be heard throughout the arena.  “1…2…3…4…5…6…” but at the count of six, Raven stood up again, and Markus’ fans were screaming in disbelief.  Raven’s fans were satisfied, because they knew that Raven wouldn’t fall so easily.  That served Markus all the same, for this was his chance to make Raven really angry.  “This is for everything you’ve done to me and my family Raven.  Today, I take my life back!”  With that, he furiously assaults Raven, catching him off guard and sending him reeling towards the ropes, desperately defending himself from Markus’ barrage of attacks.  Katrina, Angelica and Michaela were standing up from their seats, cheering Markus on, and everybody else followed suit.  “Wow Nick, never in my life have I seen people so excited for something.  You can tell that all of these good people here have really missed Markus, wouldn’t you think so?”  Nick smiled and applauded.  “That’s right George.  It’s like a long lost hero who’s been wandering the world.  Now that he’s back, his admirers are basking in the radiance of his return.”  The fans immediately started to say Markus’ name over and over, chanting it as if it was a battle cry, and Raven’s fans were cheering for Raven.

 

  Markus smiled as he heard the crowd cheer his name.  He wasn’t feeling cocky like he had three years ago, he was feeling grateful that he was receiving so much support.  Raven, on the other hand, was letting all the cheering get to his head, and now he was acting like if he was king of the world.  Markus paid no attention to Raven’s taunts, and then he said.  “Hey, Raven, why don’t you stop being a piss ass and focus on taking me down?”  Apparently that made Raven angry, as his expression changed drastically.  “Why, you!  Your going to pay for that!  You will regret the day that you decided to insult the great Raven Sable!”  Markus smirked and then he prepared to defend himself from Raven’s onslaught, and he was able to defend himself from most of his blows, but then, Raven caught him by surprise and struck him right in the ribs, making Markus suddenly lose his breath, and he falls to the mat in shock.  Everyone gasps as Markus hits the mat, and the referee starts the count.  Everyone is worried, for the severe blow that Raven did just now might just practically finish Markus off.  Michaela was screaming.  “Daddy, don’t give up, you can’t give up now!  Show the meanie who’s boss!”

 

  Markus felt everything around him enveloping in slow motion, and for a few seconds his vision had blurred.  All he could see was a blinding light, and suddenly he saw in the distance a familiar figure.  He saw Quincy extending his hand towards Markus.  With that, Markus struggled to stand, but thankfully was able to, and at the count of seven he had already stood up.  His forehead was bleeding, and Raven was furious, for apparently he thought that he would finish Markus off with that attack.  Markus wiped some of the blood from his forehead, and he glared at Raven with determination, and Raven was actually shivering with fear.  But before Markus could have a chance to act, he was stopped short by the bell, which had signaled the end of the eight round.  He went to the corner of the ring, where Joshua quickly came and cleaned his wound.  “Sheesh man, you gave us a startle there!  For a moment I thought that you were a goner!”  Markus smiled.  “I always have to get back up now don’t I?”  Joshua nodded and smiled back.  “Right you are, brother.”  With that, he cleaned Markus’ forehead wound and then treated him to a bottle of water.

(End Song Here)

 

  Meanwhile, on the other corner of the ring, Raven was furious, his patience hanging by a thread.  His manager was urging him to calm down, but Raven wouldn’t listen.  His sights were dead set on Markus, and he wouldn’t think of anything else.  “So you think that after three years you can just come here and humiliate me in front of the whole world huh?  Well don’t worry bastard, there’s still four rounds left, and I’ll be sure to make those rounds a living hell for you.”  With that he smirked and then his manager cleaned up his bruises and gave him a bottle of water as well.  “Wow George, this match has been one hell of an event, and I just received a notification now that pay-per-view purchases for this match have skyrocketed!  Talk about a record breaking night!”  George nodded.  “That’s right Nick.  No words can describe the tension that these two gladiators are feeling right now.  These two legends have given it their all, and with only four rounds left for this match to end, one can’t help but wonder what will happen next?”  With that being said, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of the ninth round.  With that, Markus and Raven headed straight for each other, eyes filled with determination and bloodlust, for they knew that this was where they would end this once and for all.

--------------------

 

The battle lines have been drawn and the battle scars have been wrought.  With legions of fans supporting both fighters, this match has come to it’s ultimate peak.  What will be the outcome?  Who will win this clash of legends?  Will it be Raven, or will it be Markus?  Find out in the thrilling finale, Chapter Fifty: “The Final Hour Part 3 of 3: The Swan Song.”

 

 

Awesome.

Well everyone, here comes the end of A Reason To Fight!  I hope that you all enjoyed the story, because I certainly enjoyed writing it!  Now then, without further ado, here's the final chapter!

 

Chapter Fifty: The Final Hour Part 3 of 3: The Swan Song

 

  And so, the ninth round has begun.  Markus and Raven are as determined as ever to end this once and for all, and they let no moment go to waste as they practically decimate each other within a few seconds into the round.  They exchange brutal hooks and jabs and they stand their ground, each refusing to back down, for they know that this is the final battle, the final decision that will determine the outcome of their future.  With that though in Markus’ mind, he wastes no time and goes on the offensive, constantly attacking Raven and making sure that he has no chance to counterattack. The onslaught continues, and the arena is jam packed with the cheers of the crowd, demanding that the victory be settled soon.  “Nick, this is getting intense.  Already I can feel the impending desperation that comes with the final rounds.” Nick nods and looks onward to the ring.  “That’s right George, the world watches anxiously as these two titans are about to make their final stand.  What will happen is anyone’s guess!”  As they look towards the ring, they see Markus and Raven getting ever more aggressive in their attacks, practically bashing each other to the ground.

 

  Raven smirks as he sees Markus so determined and confident.  Markus wonders why Raven is smiling so much, and then he’s caught off guard, and Raven strikes Markus in the middle of his chest, sending a sickening shiver up Markus’ spine.  For a moment, he feels as if bones cracked inside him, and then he found himself falling down to the mat, the world going in slow motion as his vision blurred increasingly.  The roars of the crowd were beginning to sound distant, and he felt as if his life was being taken away.  He struggles to stay conscious, and he falls back down.  Then he manages to see Katrina, Angelica and Michaela, with shocked looks on their faces, showing concern and worry over Markus.  He looks around as the world continues to go in slow motion, and then he feels a mighty hard blow to his face, and he finds himself falling again.  Then he sees Raven standing over him, smirking and laughing, and Markus starts to close his eyes.  He tries to stay conscious, but he can feel his mind shutting down.  “No…I can’t….not yet…I need to see this through.” he says to himself, struggling to stand again.

 

  And then, that’s when he sees them.  Keera, Mr. Craig and Quincy, looking at him and smiling, reassuring that they are there for him.  He tries to reach out for them, but they slowly fade away, and he can hear Quincy’s voice resonating in his mind.  “Boy, the time for you to depart isn’t now.  You still have your whole life ahead of you.  Now get up, and finish what you started.”  Markus nodded and tears flowed down his eyes, and then he started to stand up as Keera, Mr. Craig and Quincy disappeared, and then he was able to get back to his feet.  The crowd was amazed and stunned, and even Nick and George were shocked, for Markus was bleeding excessively from his forehead, and yet he still had the will to stand.  Raven was dumbstruck, for now even he was shivering in fear.  “What the hell do I have to do to make you stay down you bastard!?” Raven screams as he heads over to finish off Markus.  Hearing Raven approaching, Markus quickly dodges his attack, and then he counterattacks with a fatal uppercut that sends a shocked Raven reeling back towards the ropes.  Markus then breathes in and then breathes out, calmly taking in his surroundings.  The bell rings signaling the end of the ninth round, but neither fighter accepts, and so they continue on fighting, bruises and all.  Two more rounds pass, and now they are in the final round. 

 

  “Well ladies and gentlemen, this has been a contest for the ages.  None of us expected for this match to turn out the way it has.  This has proved that Markus has made a hell of a comeback, and it proves that with undying determination and a willing heart, you can do anything!”  George says enthusiastically, and Nick follows suit.  “That’s right, and now the final round has come upon us, and it leaves us wondering, who will come out the victor here?”  The crowd roars of approval as they cheer on for Markus and Raven, and so the final round begins in earnest.  Markus calmly sidesteps Raven, who from what he can tell, is on his last legs.  Raven desperately goes towards Markus and delivers violently fast jabs and hooks, desperately trying to knock Markus back down.  “What’s the matter Raven, did I make you lose your nerve?” he said with a smirk.  Raven growled and delivered a jab to Markus.  “Shut up!”  With that, both of these fighters continue to fight on violently, each of them getting one bruise after another.  Michaela starts crying as she sees Markus so beat up, and Angelic comforts her, saying that it’ll be all right.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NvrWciHrBw

  Raven then topples Markus down with a right hook, again causing a severe blow to Markus’ head, but Markus refuses to back down, and then he takes a deep breath and takes a moment to relax and closes his eyes.  Raven makes a what the hell expression, and everyone is curious as to what Markus is up to.  Then he opens his eyes just as Raven is about to deal the finishing blow, and then he counterattacks with a jab, sending Raven back a few steps, and then he goes and unleashes the attack that he had been holding back.  Now was the time to put Quincy’s teachings to use.  “Step 1, finding my strength!” With that, he delivers a bone crushing left hook to Raven, sending a few teeth flying out from his mouth, and then Raven tries to counterattack, but Markus starts to speed up on his attacks.  “Step 2, refining speed!”  As he says those words, he goes ever faster, striking and definitely impaling a shocked Raven, who then manages to strike Markus down to the mat, and the referee starts the count.  But Markus then looks up and breathes heavily.  “Step 3, a rigorous climb!”  He then starts standing up slowly, trying not to fall back down, and he manages to get back on his feet once more, and then he continues his assault on Raven, who blocks his attacks.

 

  “Step 4, a bare knuckle fight!”  Raven gets pissed off by Markus’ constant talking, and he tries to do away with Markus, but is unsuccessful, as Markus starts to strike hard with his fists, ensuring that each attack hits his mark.  Everyone is practically on the edge of their seats and Nick and George howl excitedly over the turnout of this match.  “Will you look at that George?  That’s Markus’ new technique, look at him go!”  George nods happily and screams of joy.  “Yes, yes, yes, go Markus, go!”  Raven’s fans stay awe struck over Markus’ abilities, and Markus’ fans are practically celebrating, knowing that Markus is going to ace this fight.  Raven then starts to attack furiously, and then Markus smirks.  “Phase 5, dodging is key!” With that, he effortlessly dodges each and every one of Raven’s attacks, which makes Raven continuously angry, and then Markus shouts out his final step.  “Step 6, facing myself!”  With that, he comes to terms mentally with everything he’s done, and he summons up all the energy from inside him and he delivers a devastating uppercut that knocks Raven down to the mat.  “Your done.”  With those words, the referee begins the count, and everyone begins to count as well.

(End Song Here)

 

 

  “1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9……10!”  The bell then rings, declaring that the match is officially over, and the referee officially declares Markus the victor.  Markus’ fans cry of joy and scream in triumph, as their hero has triumphed over the odds.  Katrina, Angelica and Michaela squeal of happiness and Joshua fist pumps happily, screaming of joy.  Katrina then comes into the ring and kisses Markus passionately, and he kisses back, smiling through the kiss, and she smiles and whispers to him. “You did it.”  Markus nods in disapproval.  “No.  We did it.”  With that, the referee raises his arm in victory, and everyone cheers, and even Raven’s fans eventually give Markus an applause.  Nick and George meanwhile, are on the verge of a heart attack.  “Kiss my sneakers and call me a monkey’s uncle Nick, Markus won, he won!!!!”  Nick smiles and hugs George, as they practically jump and prance in joy.  “Hell yes!  Yes George, Markus won, he won!!!  What a guy!”  After a few seconds, Raven stands up, feeling a little dizzy, and then he sees how everyone is directing their attention at Markus.  He simply scoffs and starts to walk away, when all of a sudden, someone speaks on the microphone.  “Um, excuse me everyone!  I have an announcement to make!”  Everyone looks at the person, who turns out to be the clerk from the supermarket that Markus had went to before, and he wondered what she wanted to say.

 

  “Um, I just wanted to tell you all that Raven is a criminal, and that he made Markus suffer a lot.”  Everyone looked at her quizzically, and Raven’s fans were just writing her off as an obsessive fangirl, but Markus looked at her intrigued.  One of Raven’s fans then says: “What makes you so sure?” The clerk then holds up something in her hand.  “Because, the day Markus went by to the supermarket, I saw when he was talking to Raven, and they looked like they were having a discussion, so I took my recorder and recorded the entire conversation.”  Raven’s heart dropped, and Markus was seemingly shocked and at a loss for words.  As she put play on the recorder, everyone heard everything that Raven said to Markus, and then the clerk smiled and nodded.  “So yes, he’s a criminal, and I’ve already called the police, and they should be here right about…now.”  Suddenly, the police burst through the arena doors, and Raven tries to escape, but everyone in the crowd prevents him from doing so, even his own fans, who have now turned against him.  The police eventually come and handcuff and take away Raven, who isn’t even able to speak out of sheer shock, and then everyone cheers, glad that the troublemaker is finally going to jail where he belongs.

 

  Markus starts crying, and Katrina hugs him tight and then he whispers to her ear.  “We’ve done it honey.  He’s finally gone.  We’ve done it!”  With that, everyone triumphantly cheers for his victory, and then he looks up to the arena lights and then he closes his eyes.  “Keera, Mr. Craig, Quincy.  I did it.  I did it for all of us.  You are all my reason to fight.”

-------------------------------

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

Epilogue: A Fulfilled Life

 

10 years later…

 

 

  Ten years have passed since that fateful day when Markus defeated Raven Sable and got his life back.  After the match, Markus declared his official retirement from boxing and then he and Katrina married each other, and they made sure to raise Michaela to be a fine young woman, and they had another child, which they named William.  The days went by peacefully, and everyone was able to lead peaceful lives.  Nick and George went on to be the best commentators on sports TV, and Angelica had even aired her own cooking show.  Markus and Katrina would always visit the graves of Keera, Mr. Craig and Denzel, and they would talk about all the things that had happened.  Markus felt a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in a very long while, and he was happy that he had been able to fix all of his mistakes, and he thanked God every day for the life that he was currently leading.

 

  As for Joshua, thanks to rigorous training sessions from Markus, went on to become one of the most successful rookie underdogs in boxing, and Markus would always be there for him in his matches.  He saw so much of himself in Joshua that he had taken the initiative to be the mentor that Mr. Craig had been to him.  He knew that with the right advice and with the right words, Joshua would be able to reach great heights.  One day, while Markus and Katrina were watching TV, Michaela suddenly came inside, and she looked at Markus with a nervous look on her face.  “Um, Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Ruben.”  Markus and Katrina looked at each other and then smiled.  “All right, bring him in.”  With that, Michaela excitedly brought Ruben in, and eventually he became quick friends with Markus and Katrina.  Markus realized that a new chapter in Michaela’s life had begun, and he was determined to be there to witness every moment of it.

 

 

Now THAT was COOL.

Nooo it's over I loved this story, it was excellent! And I like the epilogue

I absolutely LOVED this story. I loved the final fight, and the epilogue. Also, Raven definately got what he deserved. And the store clerk using the recorder; was that from my comment? Nice touch with it either way.

 

Loved the story, and I'm sure I'll love your next one.

Thank you all for reading my story, and I'd also like to thank my dear Inori for giving me the idea of this story. And to answer your question, Keyblade101, yes and no. The recorder thing was something I had planned from the start, but I liked it when you questioned why I hadn't implemented it. I hope you all read my KH Christmas special and my next story The Keyblade War Chapter 2: Chaotic Twilight.