From Hell and Back to Earth (Mark's Pre-Adoption Arc)
Previously known as: "Endless Levels of Hell to Witness (Mark's Pre-Adoption Arc)"
It was a dark time for Mark K. Krieg. Before he was adopted by Alexandre, he was a young, blind boy who seemed to be stuck in an eternal nightmare. But, this wasn't even a nightmare. To be blunt, this "eternal nightmare" was his damned soul in Hell before being baptized. This was part of a curse that he, apparently, had at first. Strangely, he was still barely alive before he was at he hospital. Unfortunately, those were mostly both the only good things at the time...
Upon entering the realm of Hell, Mark was pyrophobic as he watched humans burning alive in what has been called the Sea of Flames. Neither demons nor demonesses were first spotted by him. However, one did eventually meet him half an hour after his debut. At the time, they were both of similar ages, near 2 to 3 years old.
"Hi! You must be new here."
(He looks very nervously at her.) "What are you?"
"I'm a demon girl, or demoness. However, you can call me Wendy. So, your name?"
"Mark, I think."
"It's nice to meet ya, Mark! You're pretty lucky you're still alive."
"What is that?"
"According to Satan, my cute dad, you are apparently not dead yet. Being alive on Earth is like when you're awake. But, once you'll probably die on Earth, where you'll actually go is ambiguous. You can possibly die, but still go to Heaven. When you're dead, your soul may be separate from your original body, which can be buried or cremated back on Earth. But, if you die here, you will die back on Earth, too."
(He cries out of fear as his eyes close.)
"Look, kid! I'm only telling you what I'm knowing. For Pete's sake, at least you are not dead!" (She rolls her eyes as she gives a hug.) "But, I guess I'll help you."
"You would do that for me?"
(She smiles happily.) "Yeah, I would. I'm an only child, but my mom hates humans. I can't let her see thi-" (She pauses as Lucy spawns.)
"Wendy! What the hell have I told you so much? Never befriend huma- Oh, it's probably just a toddler with 'stained clothes'."
"Mom, he is a new friend."
(Lucy looks surprised at her daughter.) "Friend, you said?" (She looks skeptically.) "Your friends are mostly teenage demons. How can he fit in with those young men?"
"Mom, he is an orphaned child who is now inside of Hell; most demonic folks you know would torture him and let him die. Please, give the boy a chance." (She starts to cry a bit.)
"Fine, Wendy; if you're obsessed over him, I'll be his maternal figure." (She hugs Mark.) "Don't worry, Sweetie. I'll help you out, even if my name weren't Lucina "Lucy" Ferr." (She raises him over her shoulders.) "C'mon kiddo, we can go explore."
(Wendy looks surprised at her mother, then at you.) "You know, this was somehow easier than I thought."
After somewhere around half a year, Mark's 4th birthday was currently planned. Mark looked curiously at who was the motherly Lucy. "Cake, presents, and more are pretty common at this time," she said. "Four years old already? I'm glad that Wendy met me," thought Mark. Lucy looked happily as Mark gave her a hug. "Wendy and I are setting up for your 4th birthday," she said. "Why," he asked. She knelt down to look him in the eye(s). "It's because a birthday will happen annually, once a year. Birthdays celebrate when you were born," explained Lucina. Mark looked around a bit nervously at the thought. "How big will this party possibly get," he asked. Lucy then looked cheerfully at him. "As big as you would like it. Wendy and I will happily plan it for you," she said. "Thank you, Ma- um, I mean, well, I'm sure you know what I meant to say," said Mark. Lucy smiled as Mark was blushing. "Don't worry, Mark; it's OK if you call me Lucy," she said. "Thanks," said Mark as he also felt some happiness.
At about 12:00, Mark heard his name be called. "Time to celebrate your fourth birthday," said the voice. Instead of being a nervous wreck, for the first time, Mark was now very excited. "Well, here I go," he thought as he walked down the stairs. Wendy and Lucy shared some smiles as both of them saw Mark. "Happy Birthday to you," said Lucy. She hugged Mark as he walked up to her. "Wendy, thank you so much for finding him months ago," she said. "You are welcome, Mom," replied Wendy. Mark snuggled his hugging friend Lucy. "You're like a son to me, Mark," she said. Mark smiled eagerly as Wendy delivered his first gift. "Here you go, Mark," she said. Lucy lowered Mark as he unwrapped his first gift anybody gave him. He looked surprised with the Pokémon Yellow and Game Boy Color Bundle. "Pokémon? This sounds interesting. Thank you, Lucy," he said. "Glad you like it," she said. Wendy looked jealously, but Lucina glared back at Wendy, who replaced her envy with a smile for Mark. "Mom, I might want one later, too," mentioned Wendy. Lucy smiled back at her daughter. "Sure, but that's probably when you're older," she said.
After opening the Game Boy's box, Mark quickly set up the Game Boy with batteries and Pokémon Yellow. When he turned on the switch, he saw the logo and was excited for this. "You have a few more gifts, Mark," added Lucina. Mark lowered the volume, put down his new Game Boy next to him, and saw a second gift. He unwrapped the gift, only to find a photo of him with the two demonesses who he also called his family. Lucy smiled as she remembered that spare photograph she had for him. "Wherever you go, please don't forget that you have been in our family," she said. Mark proudly smiled at who has been like a mother to him. "Thank you; you've helped me greatly, Lucina," he said. Wendy presented him the last gift. "I think you have one more gift," she said. Mark looked at the pendant Wendy showcased to him. "Is there a reason for giving me that small pendant," he asked. "Most demonic organisms hate seeing that charm," she said. "Why," asked Mark. "If a demon or a demoness attempts assaulting you, you can overpower them with platinum lightning," she said. Mark looked curiously at the third and last gift. "Who would wear this," he asked. "That belonged to Raigeki Blitz Krieg, who would wear it because it has helped with self-defense," explained Lucina as she helped put it on. Mark expressed a smile of relief. "I see. Wendy and Lucina; thank you," he said.
After a while of living with Wendy the Demoness, alongside Lucy Ferr, Mark's soul went back to Earth. When Lucina looked for his body, she saw that he was gone. "I guess that last night was when I should have said good bye," she thought. But, she did find a note at his bed, next to his favorite electronic; his Game Boy Color.
"Dear Wendy and/or Lucy Ferr,
Thank you for welcoming me and helping me find happiness throughout the home you let me stay in.
Mark"
After this point, Mark was adopted after his real form's successful and professionally executed surgery. But, Mark's memories and pendant have been migrated into the real world. Now, Alexandre is his parental figure.