I'm So Sorry

Chapter Eighty- Love and L.O.V.E

Dara had never been more relieved to see horror on other people's faces.

Okay, that sounded bad. 

But the Luvlins weren't sure who to be more scared of, their comrades who were under control by 'Sovereign', or the dark army that was closing in on them yet helping them.

It sure as hell was one confusing fight, no thanks to Mark. Nobody could find it in themselves to kill someone under mind control! THANKS, MARK, FOR THE MORAL DELEMA! But this was something Dara was grateful for. He didn't really have to pick sides yet.

"Luvlins and other uncontrolled light creatures! We are temporarily teaming up with the dark kingdom to save our comrades from an unworthy king!" Adele declared, and since she was the future lead of the Luvlins, it was settled. 

"If that's the case- Lustre, we need you and Dara to go find Mark! Make him realize that he's doing more harm than good! Stick to the side until you sense his presence nearby! Please!" Thoran asked, holding Stanley still as Armia cast a sleeping spell that would last about six hours on him. Kian and the other nobles and their troops were still fresh and strong though, so Thoran would have to fight for a while longer. 

Leaving Lustre's brothers and sister in the dark army's care, Dara grabbed Lustre by the arm and ran. He tried to stay away from the light soldiers, but they were drawn to anyone not under the direct control of Mark. While you were lucky to be in the void, Dara and his Lustre had no such luck. 

Lustre cast spells to make them faster, but the soldiers were rushing at them from the east and the front. They were completely surrounded within only fifteen minutes of running. And now Dara had no choice. 

Dara drew his sword... And he transformed. A large black wolf-like beast, very similar to his sister. Him and his sisters all looked identical in this form and could only be told apart by their accent colors. Sara's color was yellow, so she was black and yellow. Dara's color was blue, so he was black and blue. But this transformation was different.

With the sword, he became a war-beast and grew a bit in size. His claws and teeth were now able to cut through flesh like butter, and... He had a sharp black horn on his head. 

...

Yeah, he didn't change too much in appearance... But it still looked cool!

Dara snarled, flinging a soldier off of Lustre and plowing through the soldiers. He gave mighty blows with his paws and tossed the Light Soldiers around so that he wouldn't kill them, just trying to get them away. But even he was having a bit of trouble. 

"You... You're a... You're a Dark Beast-man." Lustre said in a whisper of a breath. But he shook that off as Dara turned to meet his gaze. Dara leaned forward and gently booped his snoot against Lustre's chest. Before turning and smacking some random guy across the field. 

"Alright!" Lustre was a bit upset with himself for not seeing it earlier, but he would ignore it for now. It's not like he was going to let Dara go just because he was a demon. Hell no. 

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Isolde crossed blades with Valtuare once more. 

She had lured the Count deeper into the forest- the opposite direction of the village. This way, there would be no distractions as she dealt with the third most dangerous opponent in the battle. The first being the big Iplier himself, and the second being Fallen.

Isolde found herself running into a clearing. 'Shoot! There's nowhere to hide here!' She turned with a snarl, 'I'll have to face him head on now! I need to KNOCK HIM OUT!' Isolde grunted as Count Valt launched himself into the air, swinging his blade down and catching her from above. She deflected the attack with her blade, trying to think up a strategy.

Once more, she crossed blades with the Count. "You know... Well, I don't know if you can hear me..." She began, not knowing why she was speaking at all. Valtuare struggled against her as she knocked his sword away, hitting him upside the head with the flat side of her own sword. He reeled back but didn't pass out, surprisingly. 

"Goddammit, Valt, if it turns out you've been holding out against me this whole time... I'll never forgive you. It's unfair if you start being serious now. I've always been your opponent, so take me seriously!" Isolde yelled, going at him full force. Valt may have been fast, but Isolde had pure strength on her side.

Valt seemed to falter underneath her flurry of attacks, and he... Hesitated. Something in his eyes changed as she spoke. It was... A spark. A spark of color flashed back into his eyes. But that was just it. A spark. Nothing else.

"But then again, that's all it's ever been with you, hasn't it?" Isolde found herself saying, "nothing but a spark." She was bitter, but when her blade cut through the armor and into his arm... All of that melted away. He didn't make a sound, but she could feel his pain as her own, see it in his eyes. She quickly reeled back as if she, herself had been stabbed. 

But Valtuare didn't move despite her getting away. Instead, he was trembling, struggling to lock eyes with her. "...I...-e You..." He tried to speak, blood dripping down his chin the more he defied his commands. 

Before Isolde could try to find out what he was trying to say, he launched another attack.  

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"Dark! Varion has spotted Mark! He's heading right towards us! Regar is trying to stop him, but he's having a hard time catching up!" Scarlet reported as Dark led the heroes and villains-in-training back into the safety of the barrier to regroup. 

"It sounds like the big boss himself has come to settle things once in for all... Everyone stay here, you'll be safe! Heroes, you can go out if you wish, but stay close just in case the barrier is broken! I'm going to confront that bastard." Dark ordered, Determination evident in his gaze. "But-" Scarlet started, only for her hair to be ruffled. "Don't worry, kid... Nothing bad will happen to Mark. He's a good person. I hate to say that I'm getting rid of whatever's left of your father, but that's kinda what's happening here." Dark chuckled.

"Wait! But you said you haven't found a way to save him, except for-" Anti grabbed Dark's arm, tugging him back. "I haven't." Dark's answer was plain and simple, but it shattered Anti's heart. No, it shattered their hearts. "Fine. We'll lend you a hand, so that the repercussions won't be as bad. We won't have you dying out there, Darkiplier!" The virus said, shaking despite their words.

"No. You'll stay here." Dark said plainly, pushing Anti back by the shoulder. "What?! Why?! You can't beat him on your own, dumbass! We can-!" The glitch slapped Dark's hand away, growing frustrated until... Dark did something that Anti would remember for the rest of his life. 

The king reached forward, tears in his eyes. He embraced Anti tightly, "I know. But you don't have the strength to help, and you are needed here."

"...You... You're not... You can't be serious! You CAN'T! I-" Anti tried to squirm from Dark's grasp, but the other just held him tight. Dark's intentions were clear. "...You can't..." Anti found himself to be the one crying this time, falling to his knees when Dark ended the sweet embrace. He grasped onto Dark's pantleg, pleading now. "Please... Let me go with you... Just let me help you!... Why the hell won't you let me help you...?" 

"You're not strong enough, Anti. You're still recovering, and you've helped me more than enough already... And you'll find that you'll help me once more here soon. I need you to rest, more than anything. This is my fight to fight, not yours..." Dark kneeled down, running his hand through Anti's hair soothingly. 

Dark smiled gently, "I know it's a lot, but I do need something from you..."