“FLY, YOU FOOLS!!!” Torte shouted again.
Soshi, Whomp, Embert, Changling, the Grand Glum Reaper, and Apprentice watched as their quazi-sane, movie-quoting psycho for a leader released his hold on the edge of the bridge and flipped backward into a speedy descent, down to the fiery pit of lava below. The six cohorts, along with the unconscious Mini Moi, turned their gazes of shock and confusion upward to the pack of peeved Podoboos peering back at them. Spark, the halfbreed in command, narrowed his beady eyes and snorted.
“Get them!” the Pyrospark ordered.
In an instant, the panicked posse of reject underlings frantically ran in the opposite direction, toward the weakened wall they'd searched. The pack of Pyros leapt over the gap in the bridge and hastily hopped after the imbecilic intruders.
Meanwhile, Cap’n Torte was free-falling straight into the heart of the volcano, the atrocious Zombone plummiting just before him. The rapidly-descending PAN OF PERIL was just out of reach of the pirate cook. Torte placed his arms on his sides and flashed a wily grin before approaching an even greater speed. His green-ensconsed claw reached out and snatched the mighty weapon directly at its hilt. A bellowsome roar sounded from the skeletal beast below, the Czar Dragon’s skull lifted and fired a blast of purple flame up at its opponent. The Captain batted the attack away with the rear of the PAN OF PERIL. It was time to flee, and so Torte pressed a button on his weapon and two turbines attached to long silver pipes appeared from either side of his shell behind his red cape.
“Farevell Zombone, my admirable adversary,” Cap’n Torte quoted, blue sparks beginning to whiz out of the jetpack.
However, the bony claws of the deceased Czar Dragon were close enough to slam into the narrow, rocky walls of the remaining pitfall to the lake of lava. Torte was unaware and landed right on top of the ferocious beast before taking off. The left jet was damaged from the collision, rendering the escape device useless.
“Mon dieu! Curse you, skeletal scum!” Cap’n Torte spat, a nervous twitch in his voice. “Vat am I to do now?”
Torte jumped as the jolt of another roar echoed from the open jaws of the monster. The Zombone turned its short neck around to face Torte, attempting to snap at him.
“Mwa ha ha! You can’t reach moi! Nyah nyah nyah!” Torte said gleefully, jumping up and down.
On the third and final jump of his glee, the disturbing noise of the Zombone’s claws tearing down through the rock was heard. The beast could no longer hold its current position! It was about to fall.
“AGGAH! I’m too young and gorgeous to die!” Cap’n Torte screamed. “Vait a second... zat’s it!”
Cap’n Torte stood tall on the slowly falling monster. He fastened a rope around its stomach, the end of it attached to the top spike on his PAN OF PERIL.
“For ze last time, adieu!” Torte said to the Zombone.
His thumb pressed down, the rocket fired upward, Zombone released and began to fall. Torte was still not being lifted, the rope was lifting up with the rocket as fast as he fell. Beads of sweat poured down the chef’s face as the dramatic conclusion to this scene drew nearer. He heard the splash as the Zombone landed in the magma, mere seconds would finish it off. Just as his feet began to perspire, he felt a tug and was saved from a second bath in lava. An evil cackle passed through Torte’s conceited lips as he flew above the volcano and the ruined cave of Hinopio. It wouldn’t be long until the rocket was out of the volcano and ultimately... exploded.
“Uh oh... I forgot about zat,” Cap’n
Torte whimpered.
KABOOM!!! An explosion of blues and greens appeared in the air, not to mention a rather loud aggah. The flash of the firework caught Genius Guy’s attention from the open window as he toiled away in his makeshift laboratory. He lifted his protective blowtorch mask and stuck his head out the porthole.
“GREAT SCOTT!” Genius Guy shouted. “That’s the signal!”
The Shy Guy donned in a labcoat tossed his mask and silly string to the floor and pulled out a Butterfinger, unwrapped it, and took a bite. He chomped on it joyfully and took a glance at his demonic cat flickering her pointed tail off in the corner. She rolled her red eyes and buried her head in her bushy tail.
“Oh right, I’ve got to get the boat repaired! Lucy, what would I do without you?!” Genius Guy praised.
The Shyster rushed up to the deck, in search of the leftover comrade to help him prepare to shove off. He found Crystal in a holific pose; with her wings and arms outstretched, she was almost levitating it seemed. An eerie blue aura surrounded her and a transparent white-cloaked Magikoopa stood awkwardly in the distance. All four of the gigantic eggs appeared to be glowing with a silvery light.
Genius Guy folded his arms along his
chest and shook his head disapprovingly. “I just knew she’d make me do
all the work, while she gets to further the plot with her stupid logic...”
the Shyper grunted, running off to perform the task himself.
The Team of Terror passed by the marking of the Magikoopa Guild long back, and were now expecting to see the heavenly spring to freedom. Unfortunately they found it to be missing upon arriving at the certain spot.
“Aw nuts! What do we do now?!” the Apprentice squeaked.
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Soshi panicked, his nails in his mouth.
“They’re not far behind us! We’ve got to think of something!” Changling screamed.
The Grand Glum Reaper looked around at his pathetic teammates. He floated into the center of them and gave an expression one would give to an ignorant child. Then he flew up and out of the volcano.
“Oh... right, I can fly...” Soshi mumbled, obviously embarrassed.
The Apprentice and Embert leapt up on the already full Soshi.
“Sheesh... you’re gonna pay for this...” Soshi snorted, flapping upward.
Changling transformed into a large blackbird and began to follow Soshi when he heard a voice below. “Ahem!” Whomp coughed.
“Oh right, Whomp...” Changling muttered. “Look, I’d really like to carry you but...”
Whomp growled, placing on his maroon viking helmet. “Changling, never is one to leave the Dungeon Master behind! If you proceed alone, the glorious light of total inner peace shan’t shine within you no matter how many years you may train.”
“Do I really need that though?” Changling questioned.
Whomp had enough. “RAY OF INSUBORDINATION! URR URRRRR!!!”
A powerful column of bright yellow poured down from the black clouds above, pure energy roasting Changling’s converted body. The Magikoopa reformed and was coated with black soot. “Fine...” he said, transforming into an enormous bundle of balloons.
“WEEEE!” Whomp shouted, being carried by thousands of rainbow balloons into the air as the Podoboos arrived.
“Don’t let them escape!” Blaze demanded.
“Geez! Whomp, we’ll never make it out in time... you weigh too much!” Changling complained.
“HEY, WHOMP BEEN GOING TO JENNY CRAIG!!! Oh, no wonder so heavy... still have TNT on back,” Whomp exclaimed, dropping their barrel. “Ah, that better!”
“Whomp...” Changling peeped. “Did you just drop a barrel full of dynamite down into a pack of fireballs?”
“Well when you put like that, of COURSE it sounds bad!” Whomp said.
The barrel of explosives slammed into the ground, causing the Pyrospheres to spread to the side of the cavern. When the dust settled, a youthful, ignorant Podoboo was found next to the barrel reading it.
“Hey Blaze, what does this mean?” the fireball asked. “It’s funny, because it looks just like TNT upside-down.”
Blaze blinked. “Did you say TNT?”
BOOM!!!
The artifical eruption of the Barrel Volcano pushed Changling, Whomp, and the others still fleeing out with a fast rising blast of fire. Immediately after passing to the exterior of the volcano, the Team of Terror dove headfirst into the nearby surrounding water. As they rose up out of the water, they found the ship beginning to move away from them. The Grand Glum Reaper looked off of the side of the boat and rolled his eyes. The gruesome ghost extended and enlargened his scythe to grab and pull in all of the water-logged cronies. Mini Moi sprung back to life once aboard the ship and eagerly searched for his larger counterpart, but Cap’n Torte was no where to be found...
“MON DIEU!!!”
A large crash announced the captain’s return. Torte pulled himself out of the deck and barfed up the wooden planks he had enhaled upon impact. Mini Moi rushed over and gave him a big hug.
“Aww, Mini Moi, you’re all betteir!” Cap’n Torte said warmly, forgetting the pain of splinters lodged into his tongue.
Genius Guy appeared, now wearing a blue-striped shirt and a red polka-dotted bandana with an eye patch and a fake peg leg. He raised his hand in salute. “Arrgh Cap’n! We be settin’ sail to what destination?” Genius Guy asked.
Cap’n Torte pulled himself out of the floor of the ship. “Vell, ve’ll need to go back in zhere in ordeir to bust down ze vall, zose eggs still need to be hatched!”
“We have to go back in there?!” Embert gasped.
“Those Podoboos must be hopping mad by now!” Changling complained.
“Big deal, a couple of Podoboos ist gonna scare you? Sheesh, no vondeir you’re all lousy rejects from ozeir stories and forgotten tales,” Cap’n Torte retaliated.
“If I may bud in...” Genius Guy budded.
“Vat ist it now, Genius Guy?” Torte said annoyed.
“Well, there’s no need to go back in to hatch the eggs, Crystal already hatched ‘em!” Genius Guy announced.
“VAAT?!” Torte spazzed.
“Oh yes,” Genius Guy said nodding. “The four big dealies and her flew off towards the Mushroom capital, I believe.”
Cap’n Torte scrambled to his feet. “VAT ARE YOU VAITING FOR?! EVEIRYVONE, AFTEIR HER!!! And somebody please, get rid of zose egg shells, zey’ll just slow us down!”
“AYE AYE SIR!” Genius Guy said, saluting before falling into the water.
“MAN OVERBOARD!!!”
As a lightning bolt strikes so suddenly, the hordes of Koopas and Troopas burst out in waves of fury toward their surrounding opponents of the Mushroom Kingdom and its allies. King Koopa rose into the sky immediately, pouring down several flaming spheres of death down upon the Mushroomer troops. Sergeant Slash and some fellow Koopatrollers shrunk inside their shells and fired their spikey hides toward the enemy. The few Goombas with the army cowardly retreated into the center of the Koopas to avoid harm. The charging Mushroomers with weapons drawn proved to be quite prepared for this battle, which the Koopa Clan had not counted on.
Ryanoshi, Crazy Koopa, and Blue Boo fanned out to give their strength where needed. The spectacles-wearing Yo’ster sliced away at the armored Terrapin with his broad sword. One intelligent Koopatrol attempted to knock the Yoshi off his feet from behind, but to no avail. Ryanoshi acted quickly and flutter-jumped over the assail and slammed down hard on his head when revealed from the safety of his shell. Two more Terrapin rushed up at the green dinosaur. Ryanoshi sprayed acidic fruit juice at one, causing him to stop in pain. He flipped backward to avoid the other and shot out his tongue to wrap around and pull the Shelled Warrior back, with a stab through the back of the shell.
Crazy Koopa plowed through enemies with his mighty Spaz Shell attack. The blue-shelled turtle, defected from Bowser’s rule, was proving to be an annoyance for the King’s soldiers. They had trained so long and hard, yet this young kid with no armor and no weapons was taking down nearly three troops in one attack. Slash snarled and rose his hands, focusing his energy to a hyper-charge. Once the Koopatrol glowed with a rainbow light, he revved up his shell and shot at the youthful Koopa. Crazy was hit critically in the front and fell to the ground clutching his stomach. Slash popped out of his shell and pulled up his vizer to get a clear look at the Noko that disgusted him so. A mean grin showed that Slash had already lost a tooth. Crazy Koopa glared up at him, but was trapped when Slash’s metal boot pushed down on his chest.
“Say GOODBYE!!!” Slash taunted.
Just as the sergeant was about to unleash a finishing blow, a loud crash sounded. The Terrapin was shot far to the right; a solid orange shell had smashed into him. Dasher Koopa extended his hand to help his ally to his feet while his chameleon shell transitioned back to its normal green color.
“Thanks!” Crazy Koopa said.
“No problem, let’s get these guys!” Dasher responded.
Five armored Terra Cotta fell to the ground due to a devastating blow to the head by a rapidly spinning sapphire object. Blue Boo retrieved the item, holding up his magnificent and pun-intending Boomerang. It was of great size for a Boomerang and could be used as a close-range device too, which the periwinkle poltergeist took advantage of when several angry Troopas caught him at his back side. Blue Boo fired his weapon again, trying to hit the Koopa King flying above the battlefield with this attempt. The Boomerang managed a weak hit to Bowser’s horn, which only annoyed the tyrant Troopa. The massive turtle belched a cloud of fire in Blue’s direction. The Boo countered by becoming transparent, fortunately at the same time as five or six Troopas jumped him from behind. The blast of fire toasted the henchmen of the King, their bodies falling to the ground charred black. The ground was the same color, smoke and ash rising upward. Blue Boo reappeared and quickly floated away to a safer battlefield.
Merlink and Jinx had ended up near each other, two lone combatants surrounded by a ring of ruthless underlings that obeyed the one named Bowser. The fortune teller Shaman and Sensei stood back to back, Jinx’s open hands like claws pointed toward their prey, and Merlink’s magical wand drawn, both black-gloved hands wrapped around the long septer, the spherical gem of multiple ever-changing colors glowing vigorously. One Koopa yelled out, all of them charged the duo at once. Jinx vanished in a trail of his former position, quickly appearing behind several of his opponents still running toward his first position. The crafty sensei pulled several Silver Bullet techniques, giving a devastating blow with his head to his enemy’s spine.
Merlink waved his wand bluntly like a sword, a trail of rainbow sparks drifting of off the weapon. A rush of wind violently tossed the frontline of Troopas back into those behind them. Merlink was faced then with two Koopatrol wielding hand-size Bill Blasters, the handguns of Plit. At exactly the same second, the triggers were pulled. Merlink dropped his wand and shot out both gloved hands to his sides. The Bullet Bills stopped in midair, though still spiraling. All around the sorcerer things seemed to be in slow motion. Merlink then conducted the bullets with his hands by tossing his arms toward the sky. Time seemed to return to a normal state when the bullets flew upward at the same speed they had been shot. The fortune teller rolled onto the ground and retrieved his staff as two more Bullet Bills passed overhead. He stood up and summoned two lightning bolts to smite the gun-bearing soldiers. Jinx rejoined the wizard as a large doomship appeared in the sky. They noticed Bowser’s delight.
“Ah, the calvary has arrived!” the tyrant of turtles growled.
On the deck of the Warrior Wing, Major Mallet along with Admiral Jade addressed the armies of Hammer Bros, Paratroopas, and a few Clubbas.
“The battlefield is right below us, your bretheren are dying down there!” Mallet announced. “Now’s your chance to shine, it’s up to all of us to bring down the Mushroom Kingdom, and give our King Koopa the rightful land he and our kind deserve!” Mallet waited while the troops shouted in fury. “Now go, grab a parachute and drop!”
The hordes of enemies rushed to the side of the deck. The Paratroopas were the first to go, diving off the ship and unsheathing whatever weapons they may possess. Once the bulk of the army was dropping, Mallet whistled and a Lakitu equipped with advanced head gear and goggles with a black army helmet whizzed by and floated next to him.
“Cloud Nine!” Mallet ordered.
The Lakitu rose his hands and summoned up his strength. A gray cloud appeared underneath the Hammer Brother. He saluted the airborne Koopa, dismissing him. Mallet’s large grin appeared when he pulled out his humongous hammer. Admiral Jade eyed the Koopa as he floated off of the ship and down into the battlefield. At once she jogged to the control room and commanded the ship to return to the fleet.
The Mushroom Kingdom troops stared in horror as thousands of Paratroopas ripped through the fog, swords and battle axes glinting as they flew down. Genji T and Roshi III were among those who were faced with the feathered foes. Roshi III ducked lo wto the ground as the skilled Genji drew his blade and jumped off his Yo’ster friend. He sliced the first two red-shelled Paratroopa’s, one in the stomach and the other in the left wing. Both continued to glide lower until landing on the ground, dropping their weapons. As more and more troops fell, a hail of hammers fell from the sky when the fist ot the Hammer Bros appeared. Toad had found his way to Merlink by some miracle.
“Merlink! NOW!” Toad screamed.
The wizard shot his hand to the sky, in an instant a semi-transparent forcefield of green color appeared above in a dome shape around the fighting grounds. Only one hammer had passed through the shield before having cast, and thankfully didn’t harm anyone. A few Paratroopas had been locked out of the magic shield, and tried to slash at it with their weapons but to no avail.
“It worked!” Toad praised.
“Yes, but it will only hold as long as I am able to remain like this. You must protect me!” Merlink instructed.
Toad quickly gathered Jinx, Dasher, the Dojo Master, and other forces to surrounded the fortune teller. Toad himself revealed a blue Star-decorated Hammer and helped to aid in the protection of Merlink.
“What’s going on here?” Bowser roared in anger, pulling up one of his own soldiers at the chest. “Why haven’t the others gotten here?”
“Sire!” the Koopatrol squeaked. “A magical forcefield above has blocked them from getting in!”
“Oh really?” Bowser said, lowering the Koopa almost to the ground. He looked at the shield and his troops stuck on the outside of it. Bowser roared in anger. “FIND THE MAGE REPONSIBLE FOR THIS... NOW!!!” Bowser threw his henchman carelessly toward some nearby troops locked in battle.
The King of Koopas abruptly levitated in his Koopacopter higher and higher, a few arrows and Paratroopas flying by him. Bowser stopped once coming to the wall of energy and studied it. He flicked it with his foreclaw, watching a ripple effect occur. Breathing in deeply, the monstrous villain exhaled a trail of fire to the forcefield. A small tear opened up that Bowser flew through. It quickly recovered when he was on the other side.
“The Fungus freaks are getting too crafty...
time for a new tactic!” Bowser rumbled, pulling a walkie-talkie out. “Clever
Guy! It’s time to pull out the big guns! Release the Reznor!”
Back at the Cerberus near the shore in the Mushroom Bay, the Shy Guy smiled sinisterly down at the anxious beasts that seemed to know of the battle going on in the distance. Clever Guy placed his walkie-talkie to his lips.
“Compliance.”
Bowser nodded, although it was a longshot
Clever Guy could see him. He returned the walkie-talkie into his shell
and placed both claws on the rim of the Koopacopter. “Bwa ha ha ha! I must
find Jade, victory awaits when I unveil my final weapon...” Bowser flew
off into the foggy sky.
Toad swung his hammer at a charging Koopatrol, luckily hitting him away. Jinx and Dasher used numerous combos of kicks and shell shots to fend off a group of disgruntled Paratroopas. Genji and Roshi III had joined the fight to protect Merlink. Genji was now off of Roshi, sword and shield out. Roshi pulled out a watermelon from under his saddle and chomped on it. The dozens of Koopatrollers rushing him weren’t prepared for a wave of watermelon seeds fast and deadly as bullets. The seeds sank into the armored shells of the Koopas, not killing them but more than enough to knock them to the ground. Protecting the entire back side of Merlink was most likely the strongest Mushroomer in existance. The Dojo Master stood defensively, though his hands were connected behind his back. A stern, serious look compiled his face, and his graying beard had a few whiskers drooping off of his chin. Another peculiar attiribute of the Master was his size, being much more broad and tall than the rest of the species. He was clad in a black robe and his spore head was decorated with yellow spots.
Two Paratroopas armed with long, jagged daggars swooped down and flew like a missile at the Dojo Master. The rock-solid Mushroomer didn’t move until the last moment, when he jumped with awesome agility and landed two swift kicks on each foe’s head. The winged drones of Bowser’s army fell to the muddy land below, out cold. The Mushroomer restored his position humbly and as speedily as he had left it. He looked ahead and found legions of Koopatrols and other vicious soldiers charging him. Quickly he spread out his arms and started to take down the oncoming troops one by one. Each split second the Master was in a new location, slamming a different Koopa down. Much like Jinx, the Master left trailing images of himself as he nearly warped along the battlefield, effortlessly defeating the hundreds of soldiers heading his way. Piles of trounced Troopas lay on the ground before him when a loud dragging sound could be heard through the fog. The Master squinted to see the oncoming opponent, even Toad and the others let their guard down to witness the new creature approaching.
The horrific image of a massive Clubba,
half the size of Tubba Blubba slowly approached, dragging his spiked club
in a long muddy trail behind him...
Ryanoshi stabbed another Koopatrol, this was too easy. He stumbled through the fog and fallen footmen and happened to find his comrades in sapphire, Crazy Koopa and Blue Boo.
“Ryanoshi! Have you seen Bowser lately?” Blue asked.
“No, actually. Though I wasn’t keeping an eye out for him,” Ryanoshi replied.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this...” Blue worried.
“Wait, now that you mention it, I saw Bowser leave the battlefield in his weird clown thingy!” Crazy Koopa exclaimed. “He flew off through the forcefield by roasting it with his firebreath, then continued on towards the bay.”
“The bay!” Ryanoshi proclaimed. “That’s where his fleet must be... I’ve got a hunch there’s more to this scheme of his then a fancy new army...”
The trio of infamous nobodies joined
together once again and headed towards the misty waters of the Mushroom
Bay...
Clever Guy stomped down the drafty halls, the familiar Gameboy Advance SP in his hand. He flipped up the LCD screen and peered into it as he continued walking. The image showed Kammy and Iggy, the former sipping a cup of tea and the latter listening to headphones while drumming on a wooden table with his claws.
“Perhaps there wasn’t a need to bug Kamek after all,” Clever Guy, said snapping the device shut and placing it in his pocket.
The Shy Guy of brilliant proportions came to a junction in the mess of halls that filled the Cerberus. In front of him was a ladder to the surface of the ship. He scaled it and opened the small valve, jumping out to the deck of the vessel. It was empty, not a soul in sight. The fog still loomed in the distance, shrouding the shoreline from vision. Clever Guy scuttled over to a large tower, where he walked up its long overlapping staircase to reach the summit, all the while humming some annoying tune.
“I love Lucy, and she loves me! We’re as happy as two can..” Clever Guy stopped, an angered face had appeared. “How absurd, one such as I should never speak of such proposterous lyrics...”
As Clever Guy continued, he almost seemed embarrassed by the song he had muttered subconciously. Finally, he arrived at the zenith of the tall tower protruding from the ship’s deck. There was a magnificent control panel complete with video screens and loads of computer stuff. He flipped three switches upward and pulled a rather large gray lever down. A whirring sound of a fan indicated the machine’s activation. Numerous lights of green and gold lit up on the console. In a matter of seconds, the several screens of the many computers and televisions blipped on. Various data and information of landscaping appeared on the computer monitors. A few scenes of battle were shown on the televisions, cameras had been sneakily placed during the fight on land. Some more televisions showed first and third person perspectives of the still-caged Reznor. The image of the Reznor showed an abrupt commotion when the floor began to move upward, the catwalks folding to the side of the room. The Reznor growled anxiously. Clever Guy removed his finger from a button and transitioned his gaze to the deck below. A vertical split in the deck appeared and opened up a shaft where the cage containing the Reznor was now visible. The green Shyster pressed one last button, this one red. The semi-invisible wall of Boorilium restraining the monsters flashed twice before vanishing. Bright purple lights glowed on the collars of the ancient reptiles.
“It is time, go forth and crush all in your path toward your destination of the Mushroom Kingdom Royal Castle! GO!” Clever Guy shouted.
The Reznor were zapped with a small
amount of green electricity once the command was given. Instantly they
obeyed and dove into the water, the frigid liquid now boiling with intense
heat. Clever Guy stepped back from the window and returned to the control
console, a pompous smirk about him.
The Four Bringers of Fire were now unleashed upon the world...
The only source of light were the horrific flames of red and orange that burned the very souls of the four adventurers. Taking one glance at this feral land, something told each of them they never should have come to such a dark and evil place. Cries of pain sounded from the distance in all directions, with hideous, demonic laughing responding to the unspeakable pains of the poor fool being tortured. Yoshi frowned with discomfort, this was way over his head. Mallow and Splooshi’s stomachs convulsed listening to the wretched acts that must be occurring all around them. Orchil closed her eyes and her lashes became drenched, witholding tears. Yoshi sighed deeply, knowing he was the one that had to tell them to press on. How much he wished to say, let’s go back, but the decision was out of his hands now. Somewhere in this infernal place was a being in possession of the Mystic Moon, a treasure of the ancient Plitian Spirits. Judging from the surroundings, the being who lived in this place wasn’t likely to be someone wanting the item to strike down evil.
“All right...” Yoshi said, not looking back at his three comrades. “Let’s move on. It’ll be best to get out of this place as soon as possible.”
The others obeyed silently, and cautiously trekked behind their green leader. All over the devilsome realm were cavernous areas and flames of death. The ground that they trodded along: stone completely unsaturated of moisture. It cracked and flaked off with each of their gentle steps. Along the walkway were some ominous-looking splits in the ground, with ghastly steam rising out of them. The heat was far more than they could imagine. The volcano was nothing to this. Their bodies’ natural cooling systems had been dried out, and all four of them were left panting. In the background of the terrible Inferno, waves of lava and magma gushed out from high areas and fell upon darkened figures that screamed in extreme pain as done so. Finally they had arrived at a large junction in the path, but there was no way to cross. Below, a massive lake of boiling lava. The mists rising could be enough to melt a person. The structural cave-like city around the lake was formed into a gigantic silo, the top consumed by darkness. Across the lake of fire were several other cave entrances to many other destinations.
“How are we going to cross?” Splooshi asked.
“I’m not sure...” Yoshi responded.
Suddenly in the lava’s center, a large bubbling announced the breeching of some vile creature. Black as the darkness looming above, a dragon with crimson eyes and rows of vicious, unforgiving teeth emerged. Its head was enormous, and as it rose high up to the cliff where Yoshi and the others stood, only its spikey neck was seen as it climbed in the air to reach them. The head of the demon was dressed with horns and spikes, everything about the creature was terrifying. It stared with its red eyes deep into the souls of Yoshi, Mallow, Splooshi, and Orchil. None of the four moved, or even breathed. The dragon leaned closer and opened its maw, a large forked tongue of orange reaching out. The intruders to this land didn’t scream or even try to run, they were petrified. Violently, Yoshi was snatched by the sticky tongue and retracted into the jaws of the dark beast. All came to at once, screaming and crying out for their lost friend. The dragon turned around and looked in the opposite direction. It leaned over again and opened its mouth. The orange tongue unraveled, placing Yoshi in the new location unharmed. The Yo’ster was completely stunned that he was alive. Everyone smiled as the dragon turned back.
“It’s a transport creature...” Splooshi exclaimed.
“Yes, you’re right,” Mallow agreed. “Okay, Orchil, you go next.”
The young Sprite nodded in agreement. She volunteeringly stepped up to be grabbed by the dragon’s tongue. After Orchil was safe on the other side, it was time for Splooshi to go. Once the blue dinosaur had crossed, the dragon came back for a final time to transport Mallow. Mallow nervously allowed himself to be taken by the dragon. Yoshi, Splooshi, and Orchil watched as the beast turned around and began its way to their current locale. But then the creature stopped halfway.
“Something’s wrong...” Yoshi worried.
The creature snorted and submerged back into the lava, taking the Nimbian Prince with him!
“MALLOW!!!” the trio shouted.
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” came a low, demonic voice. “Your friend is alive. He’ll be awaiting you in my domain...”
Yoshi and Splooshi instinctively growled when the voice had sounded. “Who are you?!” Yoshi asked angrily, with no response. He lowered his head and gritted his teeth. “Come on, we’ve got to find Mallow!”
The three of them pressed onward, determined to find Mallow and retrieve the Mystic Moon. More cries of pain were heard in the distance, some of the voices whimpering seemed frighteningly similar to some of their best friends back on the surface of Plit. But no one brought that up, fearing the worst. The emptiness of their journey along the Inferno was ended when they came into a large valley of enslaved creatures. All of them were gripped to the ground by a hand composed of fire that grasped along the ankles of the creatures. Yoshi, Splooshi, and Orchil walked passed these beings in utter silence. Some were Koopas, others were Boos and Goombas. There were a few Mushroomers and even some Yoshis among the lot. These were just a few of the large number of creatures roaming this place. All of them were given large boulders to bust open with nothing but their bare hands. All of the prisoners inhabiting this valley were stripped of their belongings and left with nothing but bruises and burns. Yoshi gasped when they passed the last few. Towering above them all was an enormous Koopa with a red shell and long orange hair that poured down his back. Two large horns ripped out of his skull and poked into the sky above him. The beastly Koopa eyed them as they quickly passed.
“King... Morton...” Yoshi mumbled.
Soon the valley of the dead was long behind them, replaced by a corridor of darkness lit only by the few scattered ashes among the once flaming floor. Orchil had no shoes to protect her feet from the still-heated coals, so she rode on top of Splooshi, closing her eyes and holding onto him in fear. Once the two Yo’sters had crossed the dark hall, a small volcano that could be easily scaled loomed above them. Splooshi was completely exhausted, but didn’t have the heart to ask Orchil to get off him. The duo of green and blue marched forward, assuming that Mallow and whomever the fell mastermind behind this plot were waiting for them inside. But as they walked along, one last sight came before them. In a huge crevace just before the volcano, was a large ring of black fireballs containing something. Silently they took a closer look, seeing a large Star-creature incased in the flames. Its eyes were red, and its hide black and purple with sparkles of sapphire all over it. It stared up at them and they immediately had to look away. Yoshi retched without any of his own consent and Splooshi fell to the ground clutching his stomach, thus knocking Orchil off his back. She climbed to her feet and helped up her friend.
“Yoshi... what was that... thing?” Splooshi asked nervously.
“I’m not sure... but I don’t really want to find out,” Yoshi answered.
They passed the crevace without looking down at the horrid creature of utter evil within, and began climbing the volcano. The stone the mountain was carved of was even hotter than the coals they had passed, but all three bared through. Once at the summit, Yoshi and his two friends searched down into the volcano. Inside, there was one platfrom floating above the dark red lava. Something white was laying on it... Mallow! They quickly jumped down to the platform and rushed to their downed friend, finding him unconscious and beaten. A large black scar dragged from his forehead down near his left eye and ended slightly below his waist on his left thigh. Mallow’s eyes dripped out tears that couldn’t be held in any longer, however the Nimbian had no control over this most likely.
“Mallow! Can you hear me? Mallow?!” Splooshi yelled.
Yoshi turned his head from Mallow’s body to the inside of the volcano, ahead there was a small cave and a path leading further down. He stood up and walked to the edge of the platform.
“Yoshi! Where are you going?” Orchil asked anxiously.
“To find the Mystic Moon!” Yoshi answered. “You two stay here and protect Mallow!”
“But Yoshi!” Splooshi cried.
The green dinosaur looked back at him and did not respond. He looked at his three friends one last time and leapt across the flames into the cavern. He walked down a spiraling staircase made of the volcano, and the heat got worse with each step. Soon he heard some voices.
“The war up on Plit has begun, and it looks like the Koopa King has finally released the Four Bringers of Fire!”
“Yez! Once they spill blood on the ground, Mazter shall be freed!”
Yoshi took another step and peered around a corner, seeing the perpetraitors. They were the duo that seemed in control during the attack on Flora Isle. One, a lizard creature that was very much shaped like a Yoshi, but seemed more athletic and deadly. His claws were razor sharp and he had black quills spiking up out of his head and along his back to his tail. The other was an overly-sized red fireball with beady black eyes. Both of them were staring into a pool of strange liquid, much like the one Yoshi had jumped into to arrive in this place. He strained to see the image in the pool, but could not without getting closer. Yoshi maintained his secrecy and continued to eavesdrop instead.
“Boy, thiz one cannot wait to be free to roam the surface. All we need now iz Mazter to combine thoze two things and he’ll be invincible!” the lizard said.
Yoshi followed the creature’s finger,
it pointed to the Mystic Moon floating humbly on a rock nearby. If he could
get that, he’d be able to harness its righteous power and defeat these
two. But who was their master? Yoshi had to act fast, Plit could be counting
on him!
Splooshi and Orchil contnued to aid Mallow back to health. All of sudden, he shook himself awake screaming. Splooshi grabbed both of his arms.
“MALLOW! It’s all right! We’re here now!” Splooshi shouted.
Mallow stopped screaming and looked around. He jumped up hastily and looked rather paranoid. “Where’s Yoshi? Where’sYoshi? Whrsoshi?” Mallow spoke very fast, quicker than his abrupt movements.
“Mallow! What’s wrong?” Orchil asked.
“HE... “ Mallow rasped.
“Who?” Splooshi asked again.
The answer came, but not from Mallow. Out of the lava below, something huge and threatening aflame leapt, then slammed onto the platform floating above. The creature unfolded itself, showing its immense and frightening form. It had two enormous arms with gigantic claws, one grasping a large ruby staff with a large ruby gemstone carved into a fireball shape at the top. Its legs were just as ferocious as its arms. Its thick hide was colored a dark brown. Its huge muscles in its legs, arms, and chest didn’t comfort them either. Its hideous head was a complete nightmare; eyes gone, just empty sockets, and mouth that could never be shut due to the number of teeth that sprawled out in every whichway, its nostrils aflare, and two horns coiling out of the side of its head. The creature was completed with an aura of fire surrounding it. The monstrocity pointed his staff in the direction of Mallow.
“For the last time...” the morbid voice of the demon spoke. “Give me the Sacred Sun!”
Mallow fell to the ground and gasped. “Never!”
Splooshi looked up at the beast. “What, are you?”
The devilish atrocity smiled crookedly
at the concerned Yoshi. He laughed heartily again and slammed the end of
the wand into the ground so he could free his hand. He stepped forward
and unleashed his claws and went into a fearsome stance.
“I am Kumquat, Lord of the Inferno!”
Chapter 59: Shadows of the Future
Stario rose his hand to salute the newly restored Captain Jonathon Jones. Luigi, standing next to him, did the same. Back up on the ship, Johnny, standing with one crutch under his left fin, saluted them back. Dimplestick saluted and waved goodbye. Stario and Luigi were now standing on the shores of the island, where LVK Industries was located.
“Johnny, what will you do now?” Stario asked.
The pirate thought about the question for a moment. “I believe I’ll be heading back to the Mushroom Kingdom, as a matter o’ fact. I feel like I need to be there...”
Stario and Luigi nodded. “Good luck to you Johnny, and thanks for the ride. We WILL see you again someday!” Luigi said.
“Farewell boys! May the Stars watch over you!” Johnny called, as the boat got under way to the Mushroom Kingdom.
In seconds the pirate ship that transported them here was lost in the darkness. The two heroes turned to view the island. Most of it wasn’t visible, the dark clouds saw to that. Ahead was the enormous plateau they had to climb in order to reach the tower, and neither of them was looking forward to it.
“Well Luigi, it looks like we better start climbing this thing...” Stario groaned.
“Not so fast, pal.” Luigi laughed. “I’m well aware that you can fly!”
Stario cracked a smile. “Yes, that’s true... but I’m not carrying you!”
“I thought as much.” Luigi chuckled. “Luckily I’ve been keeping this little gem for quite sometime now...” Luigi pulled a large white object out of his hat, it was shaped like a wing and had a large pink “P” stamped on it. “With this we can both fly up easily!”
Luigi crunched the item in his hand, where a white light began to glow. In a flash, he was armed with a raccoon tail and ears, plus a badge with a P appeared on his chest.
“All righty! Let’s-a go!” Stario said happily.
Both plumbers jumped up and began to
soar upward to the plateau’s top. Nearby, a small unnoticed Pirahna Plant
watched the plumbers fly upward with its mouth open. A tiny lens was inside
its mouth...
“So, the acursed fools have already arrived? They’re ahead of schedule...” Vuljiin hissed, sitting ominously in his throne. His red eyes peered on the television screen showing their image flying upward. “I’ll have to inform the facility...”
The darkly dressed wizard scrambled to his feet and stomped his way to a large console and flipped a switch. He cleared his throat and pulled the lone microphone to his opening in the cloak.
“Attention, all LVK Industries employees! We’re on full alert! The two have arrived! Prepare defense systems!”
Peach jumped at the announcement. “The...
two? Could it be?” She smiled with delight and clamped her hands together.
“Oh Stars above, let it be them...”
Meanwhile, the two hooded figures stood silently as the message passed, the larger one grasping onto his love’s shoulders. The shorter one rubbed a green claw along her stomach nervously.
“It’s time... we’ll have to say goodbye again...” the female spoke sadly.
“Now, now. This just means our next step closer to victory... Once we have become victorious, our time together shall be infinite,” the taller male replied. “Now go, keep an eye on the princess. I’ll rush to Lord Vuljiin’s side at once!”
The larger figure separated and went for the door. “Wait!” the other called.
He stopped. “What is it?”
I have to tell him. “It’s.... it’s... nothing. I love you, and we’ll see each other again soon...”
He nodded through the cloak and left. The female figure walked slowly and departed through the opposite door.
“I repeat! All LVK Industries employees be on full alert! The two have arrived! Defense systems on full power! And quickly take shelter!” Vuljiin announced.
He flipped the switch off and growled, turning away from the console. He walked forward to a huge gray door in the corner of the room and placed his palm in the correct location. The machine scanned it and the door opened, shutting behind him quickly. Vuljiin walked down the long hallway again, and eventually made it to the end. He punched in a code, and this last door opened vertically, revealing the large room where the figure he obeyed remained. Lord Vuljiin continued closer and arrived at the podium. He turned a dial and pushed a red button. The large sword encased in the podium glowed with several green and violet bolts of electricity. Then two crimson eyes formed in the emblem of the sword. The same shape as the emblem formed in the altar in front of Vuljiin and its eyes of crimson opened.
“My liege,” Vuljiin said, bowing to the figure of darkness. “Stario and Luigi have arrived on the island. They’ll approach the compound within minutes.”
“Then the time has come. Prepare the weapon, and make sure the A.I.D.S. is ready...” The ugly darkness commanded.
“Yes, my master,” Vuljiin said obeyingly.
Vuljiin punched some keys and the figure
disappeared, the sword powering down. The dark leader fled the room, the
necessity to be in his own chamber was growing.
Stario and Luigi had come to their destination. Now they were both at the plateau’s top. Ahead of them was the ominous perimeter fence surrounding the vile tower of LVK Industries. The fence was complete with spikes and electrical currents, and vicious mutated Pirahna Plants.
“Yikes! That’s a scary fence...” Luigi pointed out. “Good thing we can fly over it though, right Stario?”
Luigi jumped into the air but Stario grabbed his tail, pulling him back down to the ground.
“Hey! What was that for?” Luigi complained.
“I’ve got a bad feeling...” Stario said. He grabbed a rock from the ground and tossed it over the fence. The same microsecond it crossed over the fence, two linding lasers of green fired out from two spikes on the fence and distintegrated it. Luigi dropped his jaw. “Yeah, I though so,” Stario said.
“How are we gonna pass it then?” Luigi asked. “Can’t go around, over, or under?”
“Nope,” Stario responded with a smile.
“Nope? So what’s your idea?” Luigi asked.
“We go through it!” the heroic warrior said grinning.
Stario stepped back and punched his right fist forward as far as possible, then stopped. He returned to a normal fighting stance and placed his fists close together. The Star emblems on each glove were glowing bright golden.
“Uh... Stario?” Luigi prodded.
“Stand back bro!” Stario warned.
Luigi worriedly scrambled behind Stario’s
line of fire. Stario’s entire body began to glow with a golden aura, and
rainbow sparks hovered around him. His eyes were consumed by the same golden
light. The aura soon shaped like a fire enveloping the Star Warrior. Stario
shouted out something but Luigi wasn’t sure what it was. In an astonishing
speed, the blur of colors that made up Stario shot forward and in one blow,
a major portion of the fence was demolished. Stario reappeared in normal
speed hovering just above the ground with one fist out in front of him.
He lowered to the ground and the glowing stopped. Luigi walked forward
and followed Stario into the perimeter fence and toward the gruesome tower
above.
Vuljiin re-emerged from the hallway into his chamber. The large hooded underling of his was awaiting him, standing in the entrance of the room.
“Lord Vuljiin! I am prepared to carry out my mission until my death!” the figure pledged.
“Silence with your incessant chatting, already!” Vuljiin shouted. The dark wizard took his throne once again. The cohort standing idly by stepped forward a little as the large monitor appeared before them.
“They’ve passed through the perimeter fence, my lord,” the darkly robed servant spoke.
“I would have thought so. Stario is not the type to waste his time on pointless trials like a fence, idiot,” Vuljiin snarled.
“My apologies, Lord Vuljiin,” the servant replied.
“Quiet! They’re approaching the main gate...” Vuljiin released a sinister laugh. “Let them in...”
“Excuse me, my Lord, but did you say...” the servant asked.
“YES! Now do as you are told or I’ll have to deal with your insubordination presently, and I’m not in the jolliest of moods...” Vuljiin threatened.
“Yes my Lord!” the servant responded,
quickly performing the task.
Stario and Luigi walked up to the large silver gate of the green, ominous building that rose higher than the clouds above. The sign looming over them read LVK Industries. Stario was about to pull out his sword when a large mechanism started up. The main door opened before them.
“After you...” Luigi said nervously.
“Very funny...” Stario replied. “Princess Toadstool is in there somewhere... we have to find her! Come on Luigi, no more time for games!”
Stario and Luigi stepped into the massive
building, unsure of what lay ahead. And an interesting thought crossed
Luigi’s mind.
Heh, no more time for games. How ironic...