Part 9: Racku's Victory?!
TMS marched in and saw a single beam of light shining down from the stained glass window onto the relative he had a cold hatred for. Racku turned around, yet his gaze seemed to look through the boy he had called forth. "It's over Racku. You can't run forever."
"To run implies fear... fear implies mortality... how I wish I had fear." Racku closed his chilling red eyes and opened the white wings on his back.
‘He sounds different now... who am I facing?' TMS fixed his gaze upon the young man before him. "I just want to know one thing... what is your problem?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you... my only freedom is available from your death... I'm sorry it has to be this way..."
"You're the king of Staria... have you realized that? You out rank me in both age and power."
"I don't care... I never wanted the throne anyways... it was to be forced upon me... I've just now come to my wits... I'm sorry about everything..." With that, the fire-haired one turned back.
"C'mon kid! What're you waiting for?! Kill him! He's a murderer and a thief!" Bowser roared.
"Hold your tongue, Koopa... Racku?" TMS walked forward, then rested his hand on Racku's shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" Racku cried out, pushing TMS's hand off. All of a sudden a blast of power filled the room.
***
TMS awoke in the clothing of a bard. It was a bright cheerful outfit. He found a lute leaning against his bed. "How...?"
"Well, about time you woke up! You slept in your clothes again, too!" Dinogirl sighed.
"Huh? What am I doing here? Why do I have an instrument?"
"Well duh! You're a traveling bard! I'm your lovely and talented accompanist! You know, other people pay better than you do!"
"Why are you in my room?" TMS asked, the haziness beginning to clear from his mind.
"Well, Chimu... to waken you for our performance... thank you for coming to your senses."
TMS hopped out of bed. "Right... The King."
As TMS left for the audience chamber and approached the throne he felt the crawling sensation that evil was about to befall him. One look at the king sent, in a blast, his true memory of why he was here. ‘Racku... Racku is king...'
The piercing red eyes fixed upon TMS,.‘He should remember by now... it was almost impossible for me to rid him of all his worries for one moment... this is the world he wants after all...'
‘How can I possibly fight him if he can not only rearrange the dimension but make me believe I'm someone else?' They just stood there, gazes fixed upon each other, their thoughts continuing. Racku finally spoke up. "You are the bard, correct?"
"No... I am not a bard... not even remotely close... you know who I am."
"Chimu! What're you doing?!" Dinogirl shouted.
"C'mon! We're outta here!" TMS grabbed Dinogirl's arm and managed to pull her out of the castle.
"Can you tell me exactly what I'm doing here?" Dinogirl asked, shaking her head as if coming out of a daze.
"Racku transformed the dimension and then erased our memories. I have an idea though... if we find everyone else and help them regain their memories, we should be able to initiate the most powerful attack a mortal can use against a Kasara-Chiri in his own turf... Dream Wall. It'll make it so he has no power over the dimension."
***
‘He looks so like you... Father... I curse that evil Odera! I miss you everyday and it pains me to know I was the one blamed for your death when it was HER. Now she torments me.' Racku looked down. He remembered a time when he was happy and carefree. He hadn't been too oftly old and his father's embrace was protective of him.
***
There across the horizon was a red castle and TMS recognized the dragon circling it. Running with Dinogirl following, he knew this was his next destination.
***
‘My lady... someone approaches... should I scorch them?' the dragon asked. It was obviously Smash.
"Hm... no... leave this one... I have the feeling that this one has something interesting to say." The red clothe-draped figure stretched. She was pale-skinned with deep blue eyes and violent red hair.
At that moment TMS hit the stairs and came flying up in a hurry. "Smash!"
‘Huh? How do you know my name?' Smash asked.
"It's me! TMS!"
The pupils of Smash's eyes became smaller, suddenly he transformed human. "What am I doing here? I thought..."
"We were in the final battle... Racku threw us out to this dimension."
"Interesting..." the lady in red sat up.
"Do I know you? You look awfully familiar..." TMS frowned.
Smash circled the lady, then put his hand on her shoulder. "It's Gill."
"That's right! I'm the red sorceress Gillian and you are trespassin-"
"Ssh..." Smash said and she instantly fainted. He picked her up in his arms.
"What'd you do to her?" TMS asked.
"Minor sleep spell... she's too changed to realize who she is right now."
"Ah..."
At that moment Dinogirl chose to grace them with her presence.
"Hello, hello," Smash greeted. "Having a little gathering, eh?"
TMS ignored Smash, walking over to the edge and grasping the railing with his hands. ‘What dark insanity could bring a man to such a thing? What torture must be endured to drive someone to a hatred of life? I must know... ' Suddenly he was enveloped in a mental vision.
‘I am your only hope... I am the savior of Plit.' It was Racku with his back turned to TMS. He wore a white and gold tunic and he seemed to stand where TMS had thought himself moments ago. TMS reached out his hand and touched Racku's shoulder. He was surprised as brown eyes met his, not the light red he had been expecting. ‘I am the truth.'
TMS came out of the daze to find his hand touching air before the rail. ‘What is happening? Is the legend coming to life? The hero has arrived? If so, I must save him from himself...'
"Something wrong?" Smash inquired.
"No... just lost in an ocean of thought." He put his hand to his chin. ‘ I will save you... you, my only family... The true king of Staria and hero of the people... savior of the planet... I shall forgive you for now I understand...' He sighed, "Let us depart and find the others..."
***
Racku leaned on the balcony railing of the castle he was king of. ‘He ran off... strange...' He became lost in his memories. His eyes began to sting as he recalled the day they had become the haunting red they were now.
‘RACKU!' Odera had screamed.
He had looked up just in time to be hit by a powerful darkness blast and then go tumbling several feet, landing in a crumpled ball holding his face.
‘Get up you ungrateful child. You have training and I heard about you going with your father to his business meeting last night. You're in trouble, boy.' She kicked him in the side hard.
‘I can't... my head hurts...' he had replied.
‘Excuses...' She had pulled him up, pushing his hands away from his face, and had been greeted by a magic power she had never seen before pulsating in his eyes that caused them to glow red. ‘What?!'
‘That doesn't look good, mother... perhaps you should let me take care of him?' Nathan had grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him away. His eyes had never been right since. They had once been a deep and emotion-filled brown, now they were the chilled haunting red of a cold dead heart.
‘It's all her fault...' Racku thought. Then he caught sight of TMS. He looked small, a young boy standing on the balcony of a castle so far away he should have been a speck. His hand was reached out and his eyes were glazed over. ‘What's he doing?'
Racku leaned forward trying to see better and then TMS came out of his seemed trance, said something and then departed with three companions, one unconscious.
***
Gillian's eyes fluttered open. "What?" She rubbed her eyes. "Oh... Smash..."
"How's the memory, Gill?" TMS asked.
"I'm ok... I think... I'm rather sure I can walk, Smash."
Smash shrugged and set her down. He didn't let her out of his sight until he was sure she was alright though.
"What did he do to me?" Gillian asked, holding up her hand. She seemed fascinated by the pale peach skin. "I'm… Human..."
"He's pretty powerful and I think he specializes in transformation." TMS frowned.
"Something wrong?" Gill asked.
"We've got a change of plans... our goal is no longer the destruction of Racku... it is the rescue..."
"Rescue? Of Peach you mean?"
"No... Racku..."
"From who?"
"Himself... trust me on this... the world would be in trouble without him."
"Trouble without him? I would only think it'd be trouble to have him."
"Trust me."
It was a slow process regaining each party member, but slowly they recruited them and at last the journey was about to come to an end. ‘How I wish this decision would never pass... ‘
***
Racku turned around and waited, his eyes followed the path of the adventurers as they entered. He continued standing at the balcony even as the door to the room he was in opened. "You've come to kill me, but first you must catch me..."
"Quickly! Think of any wish and dream you've ever had!" TMS cried out.
The first to respond was Bowser. ‘Peach and Clawdia... I want them both to love me... I want to be the most powerful being in the world... I want vengeance... I want love... I want to live forever... I want life... I want the planet to thrive... I want it under my rule...' his thoughts and dreams and wishes continued to flow.
‘I want the fabled Happily Ever After... I want to be a great sorceress and mage... I want to be Smash's forever and always... I want the fairy tale of golden peace... I want to unite the three kingdoms... I want to beat my sisters...' Gillian's thoughts joined in.
‘I want to finally get things right... I want the life I've always dreamed of... I want a handsome prince... I want a fairy tale life... I want to be beautiful and glamorous... I want to know where I'm going... I want to be a winner... I want to be the greatest being to ever live...' Makina closed her eyes.
"No." Racku cut the Dream Wall spell short with one word that sliced through the thoughts of all. "You don't need that silly spell. Besides, did you really think it'd work?"
"How?" TMS stood stunned.
"I'm not some silly school boy getting kicks from his magic... whatever made you think I was? My mission is to rid myself of my mother. To do so I must rid the world of you. I suppose just so I'm not wasting their time... I'll allow them to fight…" Racku paused to think, "Ah... yes... my final minion... Daren Koopa..."
"WHAT?!" Bowser yelled at the top of his lung, "THAT'S MY BROTHER! ARE YOU SAYING MY BROTHER SIDED WITH YOU?!"
"Well, someone in the family had to get the brains... it certainly wasn't you..." Racku then waved his hand. "Shoe, shoe... Daren's right through that door."
***
"Welcome little brother... such a pity you didn't think and refuse that child... we could be fighting on the same side... though I doubt it would've worked..." Daren turned the chair around. He was bulky with thick black hair that was strangely more manageable than Bowser's. His eyes were a near white blue within darkness. He raised a clawed hand, balled into a fist, and pounded it on the desk he was seated at. "Who first? Who first? Ridding myself of three family members! Don't think I didn't recognize you Dinogirl and you too Gillian... a daughter and a niece... what fun!"
"Wretched creature... I dread calling you my father." Dinogirl clenched her teeth.
"You attempted to kill my mother... you murdered my father... for that I can not forgive you, evil uncle." Gillian was angry now, but still attempted to keep some control over her emotions. She didn't want to return to her former way of life, living on the moment, jumping from one emotion to the next. Smash had helped her overcome that her greatest fault.
"Well, well... I hear you're not into the Koopas, Gill... what is it? A Dragon? Half Dragon?" Daren snickered.
"He is my only love, and your cruel and twisted heart would not understand!"
"This is my battle. It's always been my battle. You tried to have me killed, brother... you tried to kill my children." Bowser once again added with pure hatred, "Brother. You killed Eon... you attempted to kill Corola... you used Aden as a shield... I can accept them, for they are what family should be... but you... you are loathsome scum..."
"I'm glad you finally realized that, Bowser... but I'm not the stupid one... I am the most powerful... you didn't think I'd side with this Starian madman for nothing, did you? He promised me unbelievable power! And now, I am the greatest of all Koopas!"
***
"This room is the battle field..." As Racku said that, the illusionary wall that had been on the right end disappeared, turning the room into a large battlefield.
TMS took note of the flaming fire design on the blackened right half of the room and finally the patterns of light rays on the white left end. "You think yourself the righteous one of this battle?"
"I consider myself of more virtue than you. I am the prince of light and justice... I bring order to chaos... or so it is rumored I am suppose to. Ah, being a legend isn't so grand..."
"Then forget the legends... you can return to the kingdom you once knew with me."
"I can't do that... how I wish I could... she'd haunt me for eternity then... the face that lies beyond death..."
"Odera..."
"Yes..."
"So be it then... we will battle..."
"By the way..." Racku turned around, his red hair seeming on fire as he looked out the window, "that new form of yours was only ever discovered by one other person and it's called the True Prince Form... That one other person was me..."
"Then you'd agree to fight me as such..." A light breeze wafted in as TMS transformed, it was not the usual gust.
"If you insist..." Cherry blossoms floated in and suddenly it seemed he were staring a new opponent in the eyes. The eyes were a warm brown tinged with that horrible eerie red. "Fighting for love and freedom, I am the former prince."
"Fighting for the future and justice, I am the true prince. Fire essence!" TMS called the power to his hands.
"Light Shield!" The room blazed with a white light and Racku seemed a pale figure trapped in it. His hair, once a wild cape of bloody curls after being unleashed from its braid, now seemed a brand of purity, white as the first snow.
Then TMS saw it, it was strange that he hadn't seen it before. It was a spirit form of Odera. She was a vapor ghost, making her look like some Arabian djinni (or genie). Her arms were draped around Racku's neck and she was whispering things in his ear. Finally, he saw the true Racku as well. Racku did not look evil or at all angry, he looked sorrowful and almost frightened. He was certainly disgusted by all the killing he had to do. Was all this death just to satiate Odera? She seemed a fiendish devil of a woman who would allow her son... no... her stepson to wallow in the blood of those who stood in her way... to make him take the blame that rightfully belonged to her.
‘That's right, Racku... kill him... do as I say...' Odera looked up and realized TMS could see her. ‘Not possible... how can a mortal of flesh and blood see a dream spirit?! N-no! How is it things never go my way?!'
TMS walked forward, allowing the fire essence to disintegrate in his hands. It hurt him greatly, allowing a powerful magic to return, as all returned magic hurt. He knew he most likely would lose if he battled Racku now.
‘What is he doing?' Racku allowed his shield to disappear as TMS walked closer.
"Hold still..." TMS reached out and grabbed one of Odera's hands. He knew it would seem strange to Racku, but he had to get rid of this awful witch who controlled the man who would become the hero of all. ‘This is my destiny...'
‘ No... it can't be... the Osa Kala Ni Chi? The being with the heart of a child and the power to see truth?! This ruins my plans! Wait a second... I'm seeing this the wrong way... this is better than planned...' Odera grinned and grabbed hold of TMS.
TMS felt about ready to faint as the power overcame him. He knew what was happening. He had taken away from Racku the haunting curse. Now he would be the one to pay. He looked up with his now red-tinged blue eyes. They were almost purple around the edges. They met a solid brown that looked rather surprised.
"What have you done?" Racku backed up. "You... you took her away... I can't let you do that! She'll kill you!"
"Don't worry about me... you're the important one..." TMS rubbed his forehead. ‘How can he take this pain? It takes an iron will just to not burst out crying...'
"Alright then... the least I can do to repay you is forfeit the battle... I have no reason to fight anymore..." Racku returned to his original form, except now his eyes were brown.
"Good..." TMS nearly fainted once more as he returned to his normal form. His eyes were tinted with the eerie red to a frightening purple.
***
"What?" Daren felt a sudden power loss from the room next door. "He forfeited?!" Bowser looked up from his position on the floor. He was almost sure he was as good as dead. His spinal cord had been broken in half and he knew it. A million thoughts passed through his mind as he relived the good and bad of his life. "Daren..." He breathed heavily. "I'm sorry about when we were kids... I forgive you for Eon..."
"Wh-what?" Daren looked at his brother strangely. "After twenty-five years of deserting me, leaving me in the dust... denying that I'm even related to you... you finally say you're sorry?! I am the older brother here! I should have been the one to desert you! No, you were always the most difficult! You sided with Eon in everything! No... no... I can never forgive you... you've won this battle, but the war isn't over, Bowser Koopa." Daren stormed off.
"But it is..." Bowser whispered. "congratulations..."
"UNCLE DAREN!" Gillian called after him.
Daren turned to look at Gillian. "What do you want?! You've all forsaken me, so what can you possibly want from the outcast?!"
"He's dying... have you no love for your own family?" Gillian wiped away a few tears as she kneeled beside her young uncle. "I can't do anything... I'm so sorry..."
"What?! No! No! We still have so much more to fight about!" Daren was instantly by Bowser's side. "You can't do this to me..."
At that moment the door opened. In a strange almost golden ray of light, Racku walked in. The beautiful light was spoiled as TMS stepped in, blocking the doorway. It was dark in the room and TMS's eyes seemed to glow an eerie purple.
"Racku... you have to help him... I know you can..." Daren looked up and was surprised by the wondrous brown eyes set in the same face he had associated with the cruel red eyes.
"This is my fault..." Racku joined those kneeling beside Bowser.
‘Oh great... he's gonna bring the idiot back...' Blackbelt thought to himself.
A light filled the entire room. As it faded, TMS casually pulled his hair back, taking a wrap out of his pocket and putting it back in it's normal ponytail. "It's about time you fixed my hair..."
Blackbelt looked down at himself seeing that Gillian was once again a Koopa. "I'm a Human again..." He felt an emptiness within him as he realized this. "Please... change me back..."
Gillian focused on her snout. "Hey! What'd you do?! My face isn't right! My snout's too short!"
"I'm sorry... it's the best I could do to reverse my spell..." Racku stood up and waved his hand before Blackbelt's face, changing him back to a Koopa. "You can stand up Bowser..."
"Hello?" The voice echoed through the room. "I'm sorry... I seem to have gotten lost..." It was Peach.
Walking slowly, Racku reached her and hugged her, gently placing a kiss on her cheek. "I'm sorry..."
Memories slowly flooded into Peach's mind of everything that had happened. "Racku..."
"Peach..." Bowser stood up, "It's ok... we made it here and TMS defeated Racku... take my hand..." He reached his hand out for hers.
"I can't..." Peach ran a hand across Racku's cheek. "I'm sorry Bowser, but I'm afraid I've fallen in love with someone..." With that she pulled Racku into a kiss.
Six months later…
Things had been peaceful and all had died down. The pain TMS had first felt from taking on Odera and freeing Racku had slowly diminished and he had to wonder if he in fact was the stronger one. He was rather certain this whole ordeal was over with, but still felt uncomfortable as he sat at the wedding in the robes of the Starian Prince.
"You may kiss the bride." The Starian priest watched as Racku and Peach kissed. "May I be the first to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Racku Kasara-Chiri."
Bowser watched, and sighed. "The better man won... oh well..."
"Don't write me off yet, Bowser Koopa... you've still got a Mrs. Bowser Koopa, remember?" Clawdia kissed Bowser and several of the Koopalings groaned in disgust.
"I shall have to study the subject of love more," Ludwig stated. "Care to help me, Karma?"
"What?" Karma was surprised as Ludwig kissed her.
"Eeew!" Larry covered his eyes. "All this kissing is making me sick!"
"Have some more so you will get sick!" Wendy leaned over and kissed her younger brother.
As the people dispersed, the throbbing of magic returned painfully to TMS eyes. "Oh no..."
Credits
Author: TMS
Character Creators:
Mewd: Mewd
Smash Sumashi: Smash
Sandslash (mentioned): Sandslash
(SS)
Makina: Matthew Villani (MV)
Aleth Yoshpan: Aleth
Blackbelt Koopa: Blackbelt (BB)
Gillian: TMS (She was not so recently
given to Smash)
Jon: Jon
Dinogirl: Dinogirl (DG)
Daren Koopa: TMS (Special thanks
to Mewd for helping create his bio!)
Racku Kasara-Chiri: TMS (Thanks
to all my friends who pre-read each part and gave suggestions!
Special Thanks:
Mewd: A great friend and fellow
author... thanks for permission for using your character as well! (Shameless
Plug) Visit his site! http://mewd462.tripod.com/! (End Shameless Plug)
Jon: For sarcastic remarks and
both funny and unfunny jokes as well as comments on the story. Of course
for the use of his character as well.
Dinogirl: For comments and character
use.
Stoker Bramwell / King Bowser:
For comments and support. Remember, don't taunt the octopus! (Shameless
Plug) Visit his site! http://www.angelfire.com/ab4/kingbowser13! (End Shameless
Plug)
Makina PKA Matthew Villani: Thanks
for use and twisting of your character!
Smash: For his enthusiasm with
this story, the use of his character, and his friendship.
Sandslash: Well, he may have only
been mentioned in the story, but I'd like to thank him for being ok with
being mentioned in it.
Lemmy: For accepting this story!
(Pointless Information) You're at his site right now! (End Pointless Information)
Statistics:
65656 letters
14283 words
1191 sentences
652 paragraphs
41 pages
Not counting the credits and this
stuff!
The End
| If you would like to send some feedback
to the author of this submission, please complete this form.
What's your name?
What's your Email address?
How do you rate this submission?
Does this submission belong in Little
Lemmy's Land?
Would you like to see more from this author? Comments and suggestions:
|
