WTUD Chapter 2: Exhibition Match

Matt and Mars stand in front of each other in a fighting stance. Mars, who was not really in the best mood to fight right now, but Matt needed to know what he was dealing with.
Matt: Petals, Rose. Get those two somewhere safe.
Petals: But where? We have no idea where to go!
Matt: The main threat is right in front of me. Just get outta here!
Petals and Rose nod as they drag Venus and Medea away. Mars doesn’t even turn to them as they run past him and into the unknown.
Mars: Leaving yourself behind so other people can live… how gutless.
Matt: What…? How is that gutless?
Mars: Suicide is the cowards way out.
He says throwing a punch at him, but to his surprise, Matt caught it and countered the attack, sending Mars a bit back, but unfazed. They continued to trade blows for a while until Matt finally got one clean blow in his skull.
Matt: *in head* Huh… that was easy…
But then… Mars starts to laugh. It looked like the brain damage was getting to him but he just shakes his head as he knocks Matt’s hand away and the backside of his head regenerates.
Mars: Surprised, aren’t you? I doubt you even have enough mastery of your own powers to do that!
Matt: How did you-
Mars: You see, unlike you, Ares has given me the permission to use his full power as my own! I can regenerate, get stronger from any attack, and even nullify it to make it useless to me! And believe me… all of those came in handy
He moves a part of his jacket away and turns off a part of Ares’s armor in order to show a gaping hole in his chest where his heart should have been. It was completely empty.
Mars: Thanks to that little blue haired girl with the staff, she was able to stab me through the heart, and that was the first and only time I felt pain. Mental and physical. I was almost about to die, but that would be too easy…
Matt:So what you’re saying is you’re using your powers to substitute for your body parts…?
Mars: Exactly! My heart, my bones, and my flesh, fully coated in Ares armor! And thanks to your little attack there, so is my skull!
Matt *in mind* well that explains how he’s hitting so hard… Now I just have to figure out how to counter it-
Suddenly, Matt felt a swift jab to the face, breaking his nose in the process.
Mars: Try and regenerate that, clone!
With regained focus, Matt was pushed on the defensive, blocking every attack, stepping back with each hit a Mars laughed hysterically
Mars: IS THIS IT?! IS THIS YOUR FULL POWER?! I THOUGHT I FELT MORE THAN THAT!

Suddenly, Mars stomped on the ground, sending rocks, and Matt, up in the air, He tries to concentrate, but suddenly hears movement coming from around him, but he can’t process it! Where is he coming from? But then in his ear, he hears him. As if everything was going in slow motion. Matt felt the back of his head gripped tightly.
Mars: You’re not that good at this, are you?
He then sends them both straight down as a thunderous smash was heard throughout the city. When the dust settled, Matt’s body was completely broken, paralyzed from the neck down, but alive. Mars sat on top of a rock, mocking him as he relished in his opponent's agony.
Mars: You’re really stupid, you know that? With “full power” like that, you’re lucky you survived that crash. I didn’t even need to use the other abilities I’ve obtained.
He turns to walk away, satisfied with the fight, but he hears the sound of teleportation, turns around, and Matt is gone.
Mars: …that bitch…
Matt wakes up in a familiar location, with a smiling goddess staring at him.
Persephone: Ah! You’re up! Welcome to the underworld!
Matt: Aunt Persephone?
She squeals in delight from being called that
Persephone: How precious! I’m an aunt in your timeline!! Well you’re all healed up so why don’t you go see your kids?
Matt: Wait… I thought soul magic doesn’t work on me because of Ares…
Persephone: Well yes, but I didn’t use soul magic. I’m the goddess of agriculture too, you know.
She says with a small wink before opening the door and letting the two kids in. Rose and Petals rush to their father teary eyed
Rose: Dad! Are you okay? Are you hurt?
Petals: I should have stayed behind to help Father… I wish I wasn’t so-
Matt: Don’t worry about it. You two aren’t weak. You’re just inexperienced… power comes from both pain, and determination. Got that?
The two nod as Matt gets up. Venus and Medea are waiting outside.
Alt Venus: Sorry about before, but the boss needs to see you now.
Matt: Yeah alright. Take me to him.
Medea and Venus stare at each other as they walk him along the hallways. When he gets there, he sees 4 people. A hooded figure he doesn’t recognize, his mom and dad… and… Fox?
Alt Fox: Hey kid. Glad you could make it.
Matt: Huh… you’re the boss?
Alt Fox: Yep. However we should probably send you back to your own timeline…
Matt: What? Why?!
Alt Fox: We saw your fight. You used your full power and you still ended up almost dying.

Matt just stared at him in disbelief before laughing. Everyone looked confused and thought he was insane but he calmed himself down and just looked around.
Matt: D-did none of you notice it?
He shakes his head and sighs.
Matt: You see, I learned a thing or two from you in my timeline, and one of the most important ones… was bluffing.
Everyone looked at him shocked. Apsogos smirked at the idea of his son being stronger than him in the other timeline while Aella looked on proudly.
Matt: I actually have been using 40%. I have no idea how much he’s using. He was mostly toying around… and he didn’t seem at his max power… But I think I can handle him.
Fox looks impressed and claps for him. He laughs to himself as he takes a sip from a glass of water next to him.
Alt Fox: Bravo. It looks like you are a fighting genius. Now, we can talk about the rematch later. You can settle down for the night and wake up tomorrow for the big day. Mars isn’t going anywhere.
Fox claps his hands to announce that the meeting is over. He got up to show Rose and Petals their rooms to sleep for the night. Matt stood silently as Aella walked up to him hesitantly. After a while she tried to go in for a hug but Matt jumped back.
Matt: I-if you’re going to do some experiments on me, I’m not consenting.
Alt Aella: Experiments…?
She suddenly gasped at the thought of harming her child.
Alt Aella: oh no no no no no! Did she do that to you in your timeline?! I’m so sorry! I just… wanted to see my son again…
Matt’s expression softens. He realized right away that she was entirely different from his mom in his timeline. After a moment of silence, Matt held up his arms as Aella hugged him tightly. He looks up and sees Apsogos leaning on the side of a wall just staring at him. He flashes a peace sign as Matt does the same. Aella finally pulls away and lets him go talk to his father.
Matt: So uh… I never really got to know you.
Alt Apsogos: Really? I can say the same for you. All I know is that man pretending to be a god.
Matt: …You died in my timeline. You were killed by the Boss of Scarab.
Apsogos doesn’t even seem fazed as he laughs a bit
Alt Apsogos: Figured he would have done that if I tried to quit. Anyways, we never knew each other, so how about a sparring match later?
Matt: That would sound nice…
Alt Apsogos: Good. Oh and have you met my adopted kids?
Matt looks up and sees Venus and that hooded figure from before standing there.

Alt Apsogos: We couldn’t bear losing a child, so Fox, who had lost his own already, made us adopt these two.
Matt: Wait… what happened to Er-
Alt Apsogos: Aren’t they fun?
He says ignoring him
Alt Apsogos: That's Venus, as she’s been named by her old parents, and thats…
???: My name is Shadow.
Alt Apsogos: …Take off that stupid hoodie. This is my son you’re talking to.
The hooded figure suddenly started blushing and took off the hood to reveal her pink hair and fidgety expression.
Alt Linda: D-dad!!! I wanted to act cool and mysterious in front of them!!
Alt Apsogos: You look like a ninja who took too many cigarettes. Now go greet him.
Linda stared at Matt, looking extremely nervous and then bowing before running away out of sight.
Alt Apsogos: Ignore her. She’s a bit scared of you because of… well. Mars.
Matt: Yeah I get it.
Alt Apsogos: …so shall we?
Matt: Yeah sure. Let's go.
And so the two headed into an empty room to spar. It was fun to finally fight with his dad, and both of them were clearly enjoying themselves.
Alt Apsogos: Your daughters really are something. One of them gave me a business card.
Matt: Really, huh? Petals has been messing with the printer a lot
He says ducking a blow and then hitting the weapon out of Apsogos’s hand
Alt Apsogos: They’re also saying you’re the strongest?
Matt: Hah! Nah. Not even part of the top three I know.
Alt Apsogos: That's impressive… Anyways we should wrap up for the night. See ya tomorrow
Matt: Yeah… see ya
He says leaving the room with his dad. That night… Petals had a dream. She was in her garden with her mom, who was helping her tend the flower… and then she asked three questions.
Petals: …mom…? Why do people hate me? Why am I so weak? Do I deserve to be here?
Violet stares at her confused but smiles reassuringly
Violet: sweetie… You’re not weak… no body hates you, they just don’t understand you. And of course you deserve to be here.
Petals: Then why doesn’t it feel like it?
Violet sighs and takes her hand.
Violet: Someday… You’ll be even stronger than me… and maybe even Matt, but don’t count on that last part
Petals: of course! He’s the strongest!
She giggles as she turns into her demon form, shocking Petals
Violet: …you’re just like a beautiful flower, and I love to watch you grow.
Petals then was woken up by Rose shaking her awake.
Rose: Petals! Petals! Let's go!
Petals: huh…? What?
Rose: We’re gonna defeat Mars!
Petals: …it’s morning already?

Rose: No, silly! It’s night! We’re going to ambush him together, so nobody else has to put any work in!
Petals: …what…?
Rose: Come on! We can do it! I believe! So are you in?
Petals thought about this logically, if she went in there to fight Mars, there’s a high chance they’re not coming out… but… maybe this could be a good experience… She wants to prove to her dad and her mom that she was strong, brave, and powerful. And so she nods and gets up.
Petals: Let's go.

To be continued

Peak

The idiot children, classic

hey good chapter

Chapter 1: imgflip.com/i/9f655g

cooked as always neat