Mari's return

Judgement

Four years had passed since Mari had arrived in the other world. In that time she had become a general for the Kingdom of Light that was the home for all sorts of different races. From elves, orcs, dwarves, and even gremlins, Mari had fought alongside each of them to combat the forces of the Demon Empire. After countless battles and skirmishes against the Demon Lord’s powerful generals, the war was drawing to a close as the Kingdom led its assault on the throne. 

Mari paced upon the steps of the spiral staircase that led up to the Demon Lord’s throne room. She could hear the screams and cries of her comrades below her as they held back enemy forces from slowing her down.

Finally, she reached a large pair of doors where the Demon Lord should be waiting. As Mari approached it, she could see a large floating mirror to the side. Curiously, she examined the mirror. In its reflection, she could see herself with no one standing behind her. All she saw was the warrior that she had to become to survive in this world.

The warrior wore a long dark coat that almost touched the floor of the castle. Light plates of armor adorned her body, with several scratches and burns decorating them. A pair of swords remained sheathed on her back. And, a large white mask with a big black dot in the center had sat on her face. The figure that stood before Mari looked nothing like the kind gentle girl she knew when she first arrived in this world. But soon she could finally leave once the Demon Lord had fallen.

Turning back to the doors, Mari pointed her palm towards it. As mana condensed where her hand was, a blinding glow engulfed the room. Firing the blast, the doors flew inside towards the now smoke-filled chamber.

“Has no one ever taught you to knock?” a deep voice spoke.

“Sorry, I’m in a bit of a hurry.” Mari chimed back at the voice, as smoke obscured their form.

“That mask. So you must be Mari, the Sword Saint.” The Sword Saint, a title Mari had earned for helping everyone she came across, all the while slaying any demons that she came across.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” she drew her swords, prepared to slay the Demon Lord.

“Very well, let's begin. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming. On days like these. Kids like you.” The smoke began to dissipate from the room. Mari could now see a skeleton in a large blue hoodie approaching her, a blue light emanating from their left eye. He looked weak as if a single blow would turn him into dust. “SHOULD BE BURNING IN HELL!”

Mari’s body suddenly felt heavy, as a series of bones charged at her. Swiftly dodging them, she was then met with what appeared to be dragon skulls with blasts of mana charging in their mouths. Dodging again, Mari felt herself out of breath. The skeleton was much stronger than he appeared.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t expect that I would use my strongest attack at the start?” he spoke.

Furious, Mari struck at the Demon Lord who vanished from where he stood.

“Did you think I would just stand there and take it?”

It looked like this fight would give Mari a bad time.

The two continued to duke it out. Mari still struggled to land a single blow on the skeleton, as his attacks left her tatters. If it wasn’t for her immortality then she likely would’ve been dead by now.

It felt like years passed until Mari was finally able to strike him. He mumbled something about getting food, and if someone wanted anything. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter as he crumbled to dust. The Demon Lord was dead.

“General Mari!” a voice cried. Turning around Mari could see some of the soldiers that she commanded. The group looked around the room, appalled at the damage done within the room from the battle. One of them finally spoke up “Did you- Is the Demon Lord dead?” Mari simply nodded in response. Cheers from the soldiers echoed throughout the halls.

The next few days felt like a blur as the Demon Empire crumbled. All Mari remembered from that point were parties celebrating the Kingdom’s victory. Until one day she was called to a research facility located in the depths of the Empire. Once she entered, a researcher guided her to a room, where a black door stood. According to the researchers, it was a prototype Hellgate that could hypothetically transport someone across worlds. The Empire could never get it to work due to a large amount of mana needed to power it, but mana was never a problem for Mari. Grasping the doorknob, Mari felt her mana being drained.

“Just picture where you want to go.” The head researcher instructed.

Mari thought about her home in the nowhere town of Faraway. The treehouse where she played cards with Basil. The lake where she and Aubrey would brush each other's hair. The kitchen where she would bake cookies with Hero. The living room where Kel stained their carpet with Orange Joe. And their room where she would always find Sunny reading his favorite books.

The door opened, and Mari was pulled inside of it.