Hey everyone, I’m TAD, filling in for the absent BOB, who’s on hiatus for now. Oh right, to the point. The chase was on! Cap’n Torte and his motley crew had left the Barrel Volcano in pursuit of Crystal and the newly-hatched Anglor, which the chef-gone-villain-gone-pirate needed to complete his master plan. The HMS Torte was now sailing eastward, along the Vista Sea toward the Mushroom Capital. Cap’n Torte and his clone stood angrily in wait, each clutching their respective frying pans. The Apprentice was again at the helm, and most of the other Team of Terrorites were hiding below deck from the fuming fiend.
“MON DIEU!” Cap’n Torte shouted. “Vat ist taking so long, Apprentice? Ze book’s almost oveir, and if I don’t get my moment of glory, it’ll be your shell on ze barbie!”
The Apprentice swallowed nervously. “Y-yes Master Cap’n! But, I’m not sure how I can make the boat go faster...”
BAM! The Apprentice was out cold. “Soshi! Take ze helm!” Torte commanded, the blue dragon obeying. “Hmm, Mini Moi, didn’t I hire some technical vhiz to deal viz zese sorts of problems? Like a guy who’s a real genius?”
Mini Moi nodded with a large smile. He pulled up a picture on a notepad he had sketched, showing a rough doodle of the henchman.
“Ah yes! Changling!” Cap’n Torte praised.
Mini Moi looked at his doodle, realizing his mistake. But before he could get his clone’s attention, the chef had already summoned the Magikoopa.
“Changling! You’re ze go-to-guy for technical problems so,” Cap’n Torte said while Changling nodded, “how can ve make ze boat go fasteir?”
Changling scratched his chin thinking about the question. “Well Cap’n, you could always use the Turbo Boosters Genius Guy put in before we left the base...”
“Alors! Zat’s GOLD Changling, GOLD!” Cap’n Torte shouted. The Terrapin began walking astray to the front of the ship but stopped abruptly. “Vait a second... zis ship has Turbo Boosteirs?!”
Changling’s confident look vanished. “Uh... yes?”
The captain was furious. “SO VE VASTED ALL ZAT TIME AND CHAPTEIRS GOING TO PROARCTICA, VEN VE COULD HAF EASILY USED ZE TURBO BOOSTEIRS?!”
Changling shrunk inside his cloak, only his glasses and hat visible. “... We would have made it in two hours at full speed...”
Cap’n Torte was frazzled, his mustache tweeked in different angles, smoke rising from his head. His eyes were bloodshot and drool was crusting over at the sides of his closed mouth. His teeth were grinding together, and his arms were aiming out and down, both hands free. Mini Moi rushed up to him and tried to console the villain by playing a game of shirades. The tiny Torte began with five fingers and the motion of an old handheld film-camera. He then moved his arm forward as if holding a thin item in his hand. Afterwards, he placed both hands on his cranium, knocking his hat off and pulled on his scaly, bald head.
“OVERDRAWN AT ZE MEMORY BANK!!!” Cap’n Torte exploded.
Mini Moi responded with a smile and a tap on his snout.
“I feel betteir... “ Cap’n Torte said. “In fact... I feel a song coming on...”
Mini Moi smiled. The Sun was killed and fainter, spotlights and a disco ball that originated from an unknown origin appeared. The other Team of Terror members appeared on the deck, with the Grand Glum Reaper wearing a headset, records in front of him as he played the role of disc jockey. One large spotlight appeared in the center of the ship showing the backs of Torte and his clone, who were now in their classic pastry hats... of EVIL!!!
“Zis ist a veiry sensitive subject...” Chef Torte said, looking at his clone. “HIT IT!”
The Grand Glum Reaper fired up the music, a slow pop-like music.
“Just the two of us... Just the two of us...” The music began.
Chef Torte stopped his groovylicious dancing and walked forward as if to a camera.
“From ze moment I heard Genius Guy, say I had a clone. I knew zat I’d be safe, cuz I’d neveir be alone! An evil chef shouldn’t speak a lot about his feelings, my hurt and my pain don’t make moi too appealing! I’d hope Apprentice vould look up to moi, take oveir ven I’d croak... pshaw! I’ve got an evil empire, trying to be bad, due to lack of love, and ze zings I neveir had. Ze ozeirs zought, zat I vas a good guy, I’ll take revenge on zem, gonna make ‘em cry! Gotta be evil! Eveir since zat contest on TV, viz Chef Spore and ze accursed Tayce T! But ze judges rejected my dairy delight, so I danced viz ze devil in ze pale moonlight! But now, I’m not alone in ze fight! Mini Moi, you complete Moi!!!”
“Just the two of us! We can make it if we try!”
Chef Torte returned to Mini Moi’s side, where they connected their arms and began a wave between them, then breaking up and performing the robot dance.
“Just ze two of us!” Chef Torte sang.
Mini Moi stopped dancing, throwing his POCKET PAN OF PAIN into the air.
“YOU AND I!!!”
The music died down as the Team of Terror looked at Mini Moi in perplexion. The clone caught his weapon and winked at all of them. Chef Torte bent down and gave his little clone a hug.
“Well, Chef Torte...” Changling started.
“HEY!” Cap’n Torte said, pointing to his pirate hat sitting atop his head.
“Err... Cap’n Torte, that certainly was...” Changling mumbled.
“Uplifting?” Cap’n Torte said. “Impressive? Funky? Groovylicious?!”
“I was gonna say a waste of time...” Changling peeped.
“VAAT?!” Torte shouted.
“I meant it in a good way!” Changling cried, the PAN OF PERIL his immediate future.
Genius Guy stepped over the unconscious Changling. “Actually Cap’n, he does have a point. Your song took us the time to catch up to Crystal and the Anglor, they’re flying just ahead. And we didn’t even use the Turbo Boosters!”
Torte smacked himself in the face. “Mon dieu! I forgot again!!!”
“Yes, anyhow I’ve been toiling away down in the lab I crafted, and have designed an obediance necklace that we could throw around each Anglor creature...” Genius Guy briefed.
“Vouldn’t it make more sense for an obediance collar?” Torte asked.
“NOOO!!! Collars are stupid!” Genius Guy hissed. “Moving on, if we get the NECKLACES around each one, they will obey any command given to them through this wireless Wavebird controller I’ve modified. The most significant change being the microphone attachment... kinda like that stupid game Seaman...”
“Great job Genius Guy, zis chapteir might not end viz you falling oveirboard for vonce!” Cap’n Torte replied.
Genius Guy’s cute and fuzzy demeanor was wiped away, leaving an angry and vicious one in it’s place. “YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!”
Torte jumped back, putting both hands out in defense. “Okay! Okay! You vill go oveirboard!”
Genius Guy batted his eyes flirtatiously, putting both hands behind his back and shifting one foot on his toes. “Aw, you’re too sweet on me, cappy!”
The Shyster skipped off back into the depths of the ship.
“Those Anglor thingies are HUGE!” Embert shouted.
Cap’n Torte took his first view at the great Anglor beasts with a gasp. The four monsters had enormous wings glinting with ice crystals, a row of icicle-like spikes down their backs, and a long tail. Their bodies were colored mostly white, but there was some blue and purple in them. One of the creatures was about half the size of the ship. Their mouths were much like a Birdo's, only teeth that curved backward into the mouth were visible. And finally, their eyes were completely red.
“Whomp moderately move by flying aminals! URR! URRR!” Whomp commented.
“And there’s the icy-bird girl who took them!!” Dingpot snorted.
Cap’n Torte looked down to the disgusting cauldron. “Vhy are you in zis story again?”
“I helped revive the ghost-dude-thing at the beginning... remember?” Dingpot answered.
“Not really... and vhy aren’t you viz Gruntilda anyvay?” Torte questioned.
Dingpot’s chummy smile changed to a saddened frown. “Stupid Birdy-thing never kept promise to save Dingpot from awful Grunty! So Dingpot had to do it all by hisself!”
“Riiiiiiight,” Cap’n Torte said, not trying at all to be interested. “You may vant to lay off ze zhird person stuff too, a little creepy...”
“CAP-I-TAN!!!” Genius Guy called, walking up carrying four metallic necklaces and the modified Wavebird.
“Ah! Ve can finally haf a point to zis chapteir!” Torte said, taking the necklaces. “Okay, I, Soshi, ze Grand Glum Reapeir, and Mini Moi vill be flying out to zose four monsteirs and roping zem viz ze necklaces. Vonce done I’ll shout HOOCHI MAMA and Genius Guy, zat’s your signal to stop ze Anglor from killing us! Got it? BREAK!”
Torte and Mini Moi’s jetpacks popped out from behind their capes, and Soshi began flapping his wings to gain altitude. The Grand Glum Reaper’s eyes glowed bright green as he began to float upward. The four flew off toward the four feathered creatures ahead, each armed with an obediance necklace. As Cap’n Torte began to fly off, he had apparently forgotten the damage dealt to his Jetpack earlier in the Barrel Volcano. It began to short out and the damaged turbine exploded, launching the wacko chef forward at an incredible speed. He blasted right by one of the Anglor, hitting its wing and making some contour feathers poof out and slowly drop to the ocean below. The beast took notice of the spiraling speciman, screaming and hastily flying away. It snorted and fired a bright blue beam of freezing-cold energy from its mouth. The laser just missed Torte, but the rush of air with it flipped him about in the air, causing the poor foreign Koopa to fly higher and higher into the gray clouds above.
“MON DIEU!!!” Cap’n Torte screamed.
Crystal, who hadn’t seemed to notice the bogeys following closely, hooked right, the Anglor turning with her.
“Come on! We can’t let them get away!” Soshi grunted, flying faster.
The blue dragon flapped forcefully, successfully gaining agility and following the Anglor swiftly. He then dove downward like a missle to the lowest creature, passed its face, and tossed the necklace around the monster. Soshi pulled back as the beast fired a wave of blue ice, hitting the Vista Sea below and causing a large portion of water to freeze over.
“One down, you’re up Reaper!” Soshi declared.
The Grand Glum Reaper spun around in the air, and in a puff of black smoke and purple fire teleported away. The ghostly creature reappeared before the highest monster of the bunch, shoving the necklace forward with a magic gust. The device was wrapped expertly around the arctic animal’s neck and the Reaper teleported away before a blast of blue could befall him. He reappeared before Mini Moi, giving him a thumbs up. Mini Moi nodded, but before he could chase after the next one a sudden sound from above broke the moment.
“UUU!!!” Cap’n Torte continued as he reappeared, still spinning out of control.
The pan-happy pirate flew into view and headed straight for his shrunken self. Torte and Mini Moi screamed as they collided and rocketed forward to the soaring super-Birdos. They flew far in front of the last two, and finally were able to stable their jetpacks. They carefully awaited the coming of the last two, and split apart to wring each one’s neck.
“Mwa ha HUH?” Cap’n Torte blurted as he tried to pull away from his clone.
Mini Moi and the captain looked back at each other. The necklaces had gotten tangled! Now they were stuck, and the two angellic creatures were coming straight at them!
“Serenity now...” Cap’n Torte whispered as the oncoming beasts neared him.
Both hungry heads of the creatures stretched to the sides to snatch their prey, but to no avail. Cap’n Torte and Mini Moi were smacked forward but able to stop before too long. They looked down, both creatures were snagged with a necklace, only tied together because of the tangle! And now they were very frustrated on which way to fly.
“Vell, two heads are betteir zan vone, right?” Cap’n Torte suggested, Mini Moi shrugged. “HOOCHI MAMA!”
Back on the ship, Genius Guy jumped for joy. “That’s my cue!” The Shyster flipped on the Wavebird and moved the microphone to his lips.
“Attention Anglor! Return and fly along side the HMS Torte, post haste!” Genius Guy commanded.
The captain, holding on to his clone because his jetpack was still broken, watched as the Anglor listened to the command and flew back. Cap’n Torte laughed in triumph and he and his clone flew back to the ship.
“Great! Now vonce ve arrive at ze Mushroom Village, ve’ll sick zese beasts on ze city and wreak havoc and all zat good stuff! Mwa ha ha!” Cap’n Torte laughed.
“Wait a second, what happened to Crystal?” Embert asked.
“Yeah, she disappeared after the Anglor followed her into that turn...” Soshi mentioned.
“Hmm... Vell it’s of no matteir now. Ve vould haf marrooned ze little vixen anyvay. Now, I must commend my brilliant minion, Genius Guy! Eh, vhere ist ze little gimp?” Cap’n Torte asked.
“He said he was going skinny dipping for success...” the Apprentice answered.
“Skinny dipping? But Shy Guy’s neveir take off zheir masks and cloaks...” Cap’n Torte pondered.
“Down here Cap’n!” Genius Guy called.
Cap’n Torte peered off the edge of the ship and instantly turned green.
“MON DIEU! Zat’s vat you look like?! HOW DISGUSTING!!!” the captain cried.
Torte began to feel queasy and lifted himself over the side to vomit, unfortunately losing his grip and plunging into the water right after his excreted barf. Splash!
“MAN OVERBOARD!!!”
Meanwhile, still locked in his magical cell crafted by the Grand Glum Reaper, Jagger sighed. “Err... did everybody forget about me down here?”
Chapter 61: The Disastrous Decoy
Once again it’s me TAD, the temp narrator. We begin this chapter with the awesome battle between the Mushroom Kingdom Allegiance and King Bowser’s Battalions, each struggling for victory. Let’s enjoy!
The enourmous Clubba creature proceeded in dragging its spikey club along the ground as it walked forward, with booming footsteps to the squadron surrounding Merlink. It curled its lips back and showed a grin of yellow, moldy and jagged teeth. A brown haze seeped from its mouth, making anyone in the vicinity woozy. The tall creature roared with might, announcing its arrival. Those fighting nearby stopped, now very interested in the upcoming events of the Clubba.
“He’s been sent to destroy the shield!” Toad concluded. “We mustn’t allow that to happen!”
“No worries my fungi friend, Dasher and I will keep him back,” Jinx said confidently, stepping forward, his cape flowing heroically in the wind.
Dasher was less enthusiastic about the idea. “Uh... right!”
“Come now Dasher, do you really think this primitive turtle is stronger than Ekin?” Jinx asked.
“Oh right, I kinda forgot about that...” Dasher admitted.
Jinx chuckled, folding his arms. “Now Apprentice, here is a great test for you. Defeat this colossal, fighting solo.”
“What?!” Dasher exclaimed. “Sensei, I... I don’t think I’m that strong yet!”
“Trust me, give it a try,” Jinx assured.
“Well... here goes nothing!” Dasher said, his shell dying into a mixture of red and orange.
The beast before him smiled again. “Trubba Clubba will smash puny Koopa!”
The young student of Jinx unsheathed a katana and leapt forward.
~*~*~*~
“Everything seems to be going all right...” Kamek said, using his telekinetic powers to see the battle. “Except that the troublesome forcefield the fortune teller has produced isn’t letting any of the air troops in...”
The blue-cloaked sorcerer was sipping a cup of hot coffee in the living quarters on board the Devastator. The six royal Koopa offspring were busying themselves in the room, only the youngest interested in Kamek’s tale.
“Where’s Poppa?” Junior asked.
“Hmm...” Kamek said, scratching his chin. “He doesn’t appear to be in the battlefield at this time... though I wouldn’t be surprised if-”
“KAMEK!!!” Kammy shouted, just bursting into the room.
Kamek, startled by his cousin’s shout, knocked over his mug of black coffee. He sighed and made a cloth appear in his claw to wipe it up. “What is it, Kammy?”
“Something’s happening to the Reznor... I suspect Vermik has resurfaced from the shadows, as well,” the Magikoopa informed.
“Show the way!” Kamek said. He stopped and turned back to the Koopalings. “Oh, and no funny business while we’re away! Junior’s in charge!”
As Kamek dashed out the door five sinister smiles appeared, along with a light chuckling. One frown showed up, a whimper to partner with it.
Kamek and Kammy rushed to the deck of the ship and peered out into the groggy bay. The Four Bringers of Fire were trying to swim around a large orange barrier. Just as one of the creatures was nearly around the magic wall, a second barrier appeared before it.
“It’s Vermik all right...” Kamek muttered. “But I still don’t know his motive.”
“There’s time for questions later, Kamek. Right now we need those monsters to get to the shore and save us from another loss. Now let’s go!” Kammy snarled.
Kamek watched as the naggy witch shot off on her broom. He stepped onto his and shook his head muttering, “She’s got some major issues with this guy...” Kamek bolted after his cousin.
~*~*~*~
Mallet cursed. “Auggh! Why haven’t they destroyed the forcefield yet?!” The Hammer Bro was still afloat in his Cloud Nine transport, just above the green shield of magic.
“Not to worry anymore, Major!” a lowly Paratroopa said.
“Huh? Why not?” Mallet asked.
“Our King has returned!” the Paratroopa said excitedly.
Mallet peered behind the Troopa and found a large aircraft flying in his direction. It was a fourth the size of a doomship, but looked even more impressive. The large Bowser head at the front of the ship was very encouraging to the Koopas.
“Bwa ha ha! Admiral Jade, the Koopa Jet is magnificent!” Bowser raved.
“You’ve not seen the firepower of this beauty yet, milord,” Jade replied.
“Correct! And I think it’s time to change that. If we can’t cut the source of the problem from the root, then we’ll just have to blast it! Wait, now I’m confused... Ah, just fire the dang thing! I’m too excited!” Bowser ordered.
“Aye aye, King Koopa!” Jade responded with a sturdy salute. “Just turn on the power and... voila! Stand clear for the Breaker Beam!”
The gleaming Bowser head’s eyes flashed red and continued to glow in the same color. The large maw of the statue opened wide and a cylinder-shaped gun poked out. The concentrated beam of heat and light blinded anyone in its path at the first second of its attack. Then white-hot ray of energy rocketed forward, pounding into the shield with such force it shook the ground. The Breaker Beam pulverized the ever-weakening magic forcefield until it finally shattered into shards of green light. The wave of light striked past the shield once it had dissipated, wiping out a large group of both sides. Bowser was astounded with the results as the Breaker Beam dissolved and the Bowser head closed for a recharge.
“Listen to me Jade, for I will give you one word. FABULOUS!!!” Bowser rejoiced. “Maybe I didn’t even need the Reznor to win this battle... wait a second! I sent Clever Guy the word to release those monsters over ten minutes ago! What’s taking them so long to get to the shore anyway?”
Jade didn’t respond, trying best not to make eye contact with her liege. Bowser ignored her, pulling up his walkie-talkie.
“Clever Guy? Clever Guy? This is King Bowser!” Bowser spoke. There was no answer. Bowser growled. “Clever Guy! Pick up now! I’m getting impatient!” Bowser waited again for his cohort to respond. “THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! CLEVER GUY, REPLY!!!”
“Yes, King Koopa!” Clever Guy said in his usual, suspicious voice. “Forgive my tardiness, sire.”
“Enough of your Fraiser-dribble, why haven’t the Reznor arrived yet?” Bowser demanded.
Clever Guy was silent for a moment. Bowser was about to yell through the walkie-talkie again, but the Shyster responded in time. “That’s odd... the Reznor seem to be taking a strange route... most likely some minor technical difficulties. Negative persperation however, my sovereign.”
“What did he just say?” Bowser asked to Jade, but didn’t give time for an answer. “Whatever Clever Guy, just get them to the battlefield as fast as possible! I’m not going to lose again!!!”
~*~*~*~
SLAM! Dasher just avoided another powerful blow from Trubba’s massive club. The Terrapin hadn’t landed a hit as of yet, but wasn’t dealt one either. The shield had broken, so the others spectating were now in battle once again, though Jinx kept a close eye on his apprentice.
“TAKE DUS!” Trubba Clubba snorted.
The massive club swung horizontally this time, catching Dasher offguard and hitting him hard. The Koopa flew back about fifteen meters, the wind was knocked out of him. Dasher reached for his katana, assuming he had dropped it to his side when landing, but only clutched a pile of mud. His blade was somewhere amidst the fighting that surrounded him.
“Shoot!” Dasher complained, standing up.
“HUR HUR HUR! Trubba’s comin’!” Trubba Clubba taunted as he slowly made his way to Dasher.
However, Jinx’s new student wasn’t focused on his foe right now. He scanned the battleground for any sign of his sword. There it was! A shine of light was visible from under the muck. Without thinking, Dasher popped into his shell and zoomed forward to retrieve his fallen weapon. He fired straight at Trubba Clubba’s right foot, knocking the giant oaf off his feet and into the air. The oversized Clubba landed with a thud and a soft moaning as his own club fell down upon his head, producing a tall, pink lump. Dasher jumped out of his shellshot and snatched his katana.
“Ha! Now I’ve gotta go beat Trubba,” Dasher said, suddenly realizing what he had done to his foe. “Whoa, I guess I don’t know my own strength!”
Dasher hussled over to the fallen warrior, checking his condition. A low growling was heard as the Koopa stepped closer. Trubba Clubba swiped his hand along to trip Dasher, but failed when the combat-ready Koopa leapt above his arm and countered with a swift slice to Clubba’s side. The beastly baffoon cried out in pain and rolled over in the mud away from his attacker, in doing so crushing a few Goombas.
“This guy is too easy!” Dasher laughed.
“TRUBBA MAD NOW!!!” the monster yelled, managing to get to his feet.
Dasher’s brief moment of sheer confidence was lost, and now he knew the fight wasn’t quite over. Trubba Clubba lifted his weapon and fiercely strafed it ahead of him in a horizontal swing. Dasher continued walking backward as the club continued getting closer. The katana-wielding Koopa tripped over a fallen soldier as he walked backwards from the fray. Just a few more seconds and he would be plowed by that club! Dasher looked down at the fallen fighter and picked up a long rope he had carried with him. Extremely quickly, Dasher tied the rope to the hilt of his blade and began whirling it above his head. Then just before the club was going to hit him, he released the rope and launched the katana forward.
“RROAURRGGH!!!!” Trubba Clubba roared.
The sword had stabbed directly into the enemy’s heart. Trubba dropped his club and fell to his knees. Before the defeated monster collapsed, Dasher pulled on the rope to retrieve his blade. He smiled triumphantly for a moment, but then set aside his victory and rushed back into battle with the Koopa army. He may have won the battle, but the war wasn’t over yet!
~*~*~*~
Ryanoshi, Crazy Koopa, and Blue Boo had arrived at the cove of the Mushroom Bay, and were perplexed by a strange orange wall looming out in the water. They couldn’t see it very well, but it stood out through the fog.
“What could it be?” Crazy asked.
“I don’t know, but it can’t be good...” Ryanoshi answered.
Blue Boo lifted up his top hat and pulled out a short telescope. “Perhaps we’ll get a better view with this!”
“Great idea, Blue!” Crazy Koopa praised.
“Let’s see now...” Blue Boo murmured as he toggled with the settings. “WOAH! There’s four giant dinosaurs out there!!!”
Ryanoshi and Crazy Koopa squinted to see anything out there, but the fog covered all.
“And... and... it looks like Kamek and Kammy are there too!” Ryanoshi was about to say something but Blue Boo cut him off. “Hold it! Hold it! Unless my eye is deceiving me... it looks like there’s a rather large bat-creature out there also!”
“A bat creature?” Crazy Koopa said in confusion.
The poltergeist handed the telescope to his Yo’ster friend. “Wow, you weren’t kidding. Though I had a hunch the bat thing was going to be red, not black,” Ryanoshi said, smiling at his somewhat inside joke, handing the telescope to Crazy Koopa.
“Hey... the bat thing is fighting Kamek and Kammy!” Crazy Koopa said.
Ryanoshi gave a concerned groan. “I think there’s more to Bowser’s plan, and those monsters are the proof. We’ve got to go tell the others, I may have a plan!”
Ryanoshi, Crazy Koopa, and Blue Boo rushed off back to their comrades still fighting in the planned distraction by Bowser, while Kammy and Kamek were having problems of their own...
“Take this, Vermik!” Kammy spat, firing a spell of multiple geometric shapes composed of pure energy.
Vermik, who had shapeshifted into the form of a giant, demonic bat of black and orange colors dodged the blast effortlessly, and exhaled an orb of silver and black energy that Kammy barely avoided. Kamek had flown to the mysterious orange wall created by the malevolent mage. He placed his foreclaw forward, and upon contact the substance made him shout.
“Aiie!” Kamek shrieked, pulling back his fingers. “How interesting... this orange wall is freezing cold.” Kamek studied his injured finger, which now had the orange stuff melting. “Orange... ice? No wonder it’s stopping the Reznor. Well, a little blue fire will certainly do the job!” The sorcerer twirled backward on his broomstick and revealed his wand. The Magikoopa raised the staff high and a blue tint glowed from inside the gem. “To’oa, jyraul, koolack!” The blue light burst into a large blue ball of flame, which Kamek then used as a blowtorch to melt the orange ice.
Vermik, who had been fighting Kammy during all of this, had just taken notice. “What?! No!”
Kammy jumped at the opportunity when Vermik let his guard down. “Vishkimus!” A bright ray of lavender eminated from the witch’s wand and rammed into Vermik’s morphed state.
“ACK!!!” Vermik cried, purple lightning spreading all over his body.
He began to plunge into the water below when he transformed back and shot out his hand. A wispy willow of orange color formed and damaged the Magikoopa in purple. Kamek watched as the two disappeared beneath the waves. The wizard donned in blue hovered over the waves looking for his submerged cousin. Below, he saw a few more flashes of orange and purple, then for a moment nothing at all. He waited until he heard someone gasp and resurface next to him.
Kammy breathed in. “Kamek, help me up...”
Kamek outstretched his hand and lifted her onto his broom behind him.
“Thanks...” Kammy gasped again. “I finished him off with that last attack... I doubt he survived, he appeared to be sinking to the bottom unmoving.”
“Good, then we won’t have to worry about him foiling our plans,” Kamek summarized. “Oh, and the Reznor are already closing in! This scheme might pull off afterall!”
Kammy smiled when Kamek looked back at her. “Yes, it’s been so long since we’ve had a victory... I’ve forgotten...”
Kamek turned to face forward and began flying toward the devastator. “Come on, let’s get back before those rotten kids get up to anything...”
Kammy only smiled and pulled out the necklace with the snowflake crystal on it. She crushed it in her palm and tossed the fragments into the ocean.
~*~*~*~
Toad tossed his blue hammer at his nearest foe and jumped over to pick it up. A knieving Clubba, of regular size, stood over him with his club held high. But a sharp jump-kick to the side put that ogre out of commision. Jinx nodded at Toad before taking out the nearing troops behind him.
“Toad! Toad!” Ryanoshi called.
“Er...” Toad said, smacking another Koopatrol with his mallet. “What is it?”
Ryanoshi, Crazy Koopa, and Blue Boo rushed up to him, out of breath and quite strained for strength. Blue Boo spoke first. “Bowser... the army’s a decoy... monsters in the bay!”
“What? What do you mean?!” Toad persisted.
Crazy Koopa grabbed a hold of Toad’s shoulders and stared at him in his beady eyes. “BOWSER’S GOT GIANT MONSTERS HEADING THIS WAY!!!”
It took the Mushroom Retainer a few moments before placing all the information together. “My goodness... how long do you think we have until they arrive?”
Ryanoshi opened his mouth to speak, but a chilling roar replaced his words. Just entering the realm of the battlefield were the Four Bringers of Fire. Ryanoshi looked back at Toad, his mouth still open. “Not long...”
Chapter 62: The End is Near...
Oh my goodness! It’s Kumquat, Lord of
the Inferno!!! What an exciting turn of events to aspire! Heh heh, looked
that one up in the dictionary. Oh right, let us quickly rejoin our heroes.
The fate of the Mushroom Kingdom, nay the world, could be at stake!
Kumquat, the devilish creature consumed by flames, stepped forward once again. His feet stamped against the ground, causing the platform floating above the lake of lava to rumble. Splooshi and Orchil both crouched backward against Mallow, whose forehead was now damp with sweat, and his breathing staggered. The Nimbian Prince lay down with his eyes closed. Kumquat laughed again.
“Haw haw haw! You, the Cloud Prince! You still have something that I desire. GIVE ME THE SACRED SUN!!!” Kumquat growled.
Splooshi looked down at Mallow, his hand was closed tightly. A trace amount of golden light shined out through the nooks and crannies of the white palm.
“No! We won’t let you have it!” Orchil shouted, standing up and drawing her bow and arming it with an arrow. “You want to use its power for evil!”
Kumquat smiled again. “Such a brave lass, and a sharp one too! All I want the Ancient Light for is to release the Inferno upon the surface world you all dwell on! And I shall be able to once the Four Bringers of Fire spill blood on the ground... and I possess the relic you are witholding from me. Now fork it over!!!”
The volcano shook with the demon’s demands. Splooshi stood up beside Orchil, both of them standing before Mallow. Orchil released her arrow, it shot forward only to be melted by Kumquat’s aura of flames.
“Oh no! My arrows can’t touch him!” Orchil cried.
“HAW HAW! Ya got that right!” Kumquat laughed. “Now try THIS on fer size!”
The burnt scaly arms of the Inferno Lord rose upward and then collided with the ground at an incredible speed. A trail of fire blasted forward where each fist hit. The flames separated the three from each other. Splooshi and Orchil rolled to either side, a wall of flames keeping them from Mallow. The atrocity of flames lurched forward in between the rows of fire to the feeble Mallow.
“No! Splooshi, we’ve got to do something!” Orchil screamed.
“Grr! I’ve had enough out of you!” Kumquat snarled, throwing a fireball in Orchil’s direction.
She was slammed to the ground by the
attack, her body blackened some by the flames. As she tried to stand up
and recollect herself, Splooshi gritted his teeth on the opposite side
of the platform. Kumquat was nearing Mallow, but Splooshi didn’t have any
way to harm him. The blue Yo’ster turned his view to the side and noticed
the staff of Kumquat’s that was in reach...
Yoshi immersed himself in a giant egg with green spots. He revved up and shot into the room, a dust trail kicking up behind him. The reptillian creature and the large Podoboo were stunned by the confusing predicament for a few miniscule seconds as Yoshi zoomed along the room. This was the effect the green dinosaur had hoped for. Yoshi shattered the egg and jumped while still in a constant speed, reaching for the Mystic Moon in front of him. He landed too early and only knocked the item with the end of his fingers, the Mystic Moon shot upward and over the room to a different corner. The reptile and the pyro finally realized what was occurring.
“It’s that Yoshi! Quick Scorch, don’t let him get his grubby hands on the Mystic Moon!” the fireball ordered.
“Right, Torch!” Scorch complied.
The lizard creature leapt forward and
dashed to the magical item. Yoshi hopped up and knew he’d be beat if he
tried to run. The green dinosaur instead opened his mouth and shot out
a wave of fruit juice just ahead of the lizard creature. Scorch’s feet
slipped on the liquid and sent him flying off his feet. Scorch landed next
to the object, and accidentally whipped it in the air again with his tail.
As it flew overhead, Yoshi and Torch pounced up for it.
Orchil screamed as Kumquat lifted Mallow’s body into the air. His searing hand wrapped around the Nimbian’s arm, slowly roasting it as black smoke and ash billowed above.
“Haw haw haw! Once your friend’s arm is melted off of his body, the Sacred Sun shall be mine!” Kumquat laughed.
“I don’t think so!” Splooshi called heroically.
“Wha?” Kumquat mumbled, turning around.
Splooshi pointed the long staff with both hands at his enemy. “Time to get a little taste of your own medicine, jerk!”
Splooshi thrust the talisman towards Kumquat, firing a blast of fire so hot it was white. Kumquat yelled out in fury when the white-hot flames pounded into him. He dug his feet into the ground, trying to keep from the fire pushing him off of the platform, but to no avail. Kumquat’s body was pierced with the white fire, leaving a rather large hole in his chest, and the devil could hold on no longer and was forced into the firey pit below by the awesome heat of the white fire. Mallow’s body was released and flew above. Splooshi dropped the scepter and jumped up to catch his friend. He fluttered back down and placed Mallow securely on his saddle. The flames had died and Orchil rushed up to him.
“Great job Splooshi, I thought we were toast for sure!” Orchil exclaimed.
Splooshi’s proud smile diminished as a sickening roar bellowed from beneath. The platform busted apart into several pieces. Splooshi and Orchil jumped off of the falling chunk of rock into the cavern Yoshi had traveled through. Kumquat, now more charred then ever, floated in the center of the volcano. Once again the Lord of the Inferno was in possesion of the scepter.
“Pathetic mortals! Do you really think that I, Kumquat, Lord of the Inferno, could be so easily defeated? Those flames were just a simmer to me! Let’s see how you like it when you’re in the cooker, shall we?” Kumquat threatened.
“Run!” Splooshi shouted.
The pair of blue hastily fled the scene, descending down the stairway. Kumquat’s roars of fury were heard and the beastly demon began to chase after them.
The Mystic Moon fell at the doorway of the room. Torch and Yoshi landed and began speeding towards it. Scorch hopped on his feet and ran forward as well. Just as Yoshi’s hand was about to grab hold of the Mystic Moon, Splooshi and Orchil came screaming down the cavern and fell into the room. Splooshi tripped and knocked the Mystic Moon away, this time it flew for the center of the room. All eyes were on the object as it plunged into the plasma-pulsating substance, and disappeared. For the first time, Yoshi took sight of the image in the pool. It showed Mushroomers and Koopas fighting and fleeing, as four enormous monsters crept along the plains surrounding the Mushroom Village outskirts. It was a portal back to the Kingdom!
“Splooshi, Orchil! Make sure you’ve got Mallow and the Sacred Sun and follow me!” Yoshi commanded.
The dinosaur ran ahead and dove into the portal, vanishing from sight. Yoshi’s next vision was a battlefield filled with complete horror as the Reznor began to ravage the land. Yoshi looked in all directions, perplexed at what exactly was happening. Then Orchil and Splooshi, still carrying Mallow, appeared next to him. They too took a moment to discover the surrounding battle. As Scorch and Torch began to appear, Splooshi noticed a slow-moving Koopatrol in the path of an angry Reznor.
“Take Mallow!” Splooshi cried, tossing the Nimbian in the air and running to the Koopa in peril.
Yoshi caught his comrade and placed him on his saddle. The pyrosphere Torch caught sight of the green dinosaur and Mallow.
“Over there, Scorch!” Torch shouted.
The reptillian creature and the fireball rushed toward the green dinosaur, this time successfully crashing into him. All four of them were thrown into the air, and landed hard onto the ground. Mallow came to with the sudden impact on his skull. He looked at his open hand and gasped.
“Oh no! The Sacred Sun! Where... where is it?” he said weakly.
A golden light flew above and far off into the battlefield. The lizard and the Podoboo pursued it quickly. Splooshi rejoined the group with the exhausted Koopatrol on his saddle.
“Yoshi... we’ve got to get it, before they find it!” Mallow gasped.
“Not until we get you to safety!” Yoshi responded.
“Yes, especially since those things are coming this way!” Splooshi worried.
“You guys!” Orchil called. “Let’s hide in that trench over there!”
Yoshi placed Mallow onto his back and they followed after Orchil. Once inside the trench, they recognized a few other faces taking shelter from the beasts, including Toad, Jinx, the Dojo Master, Merlink, and Genji T with Roshi III. Toad looked bewildered to see Yoshi.
“Wha... what are you doing here, Yoshi?!” Toad mumbled.
“Escaping a pyromaniac bent on melting Plit,” Yoshi said. “So what’s going on here?”
Toad was interrupted before he could speak by Genji. “Excuse me, blue Yoshi. But that Koopa on your back... that’s Slash, Sergeant of the Koopa Troop!”
Splooshi looked back at the nervous Koopa. “He is? Well I saved him from the Reznor.”
“Um... why? He’s the enemy!” Genji asked.
“Because if the Reznor got him... oh no!” Splooshi stood up, accidentally letting the weak Slash fall to the ground. “We can’t let the Reznor kill anyone! No matter who or what species!”
“Why not?” Merlink asked.
Orchil gasped. “That’s right! If that happens, Kumquat will be free to roam the surface of Plit again!”
“Kumquat?” Dasher said. “Wasn’t he that Pyroguy on TV?”
“No, that’s just a cartoon character. The real Kumquat is a terrifying demon with huge horns and a magic wand that can blast the hottest of flames!” Splooshi warned. “And if he comes up here, the Inferno will be released up here!”
Everyone gasped. Yoshi nodded his head. “That must have been the boss those two were talking about. You saw him then?”
“Yes, Yoshi. But we don’t have time to waste! If the Reznor kill anyone Kumquat will surface, and if he finds the Mystic Moon or the Sacred Sun, we’re done for!” Orchil said.
“This isn’t good... but not to worry. We’ve already sent out three of our best to Bowser’s ships out in the bay. That vile Koopa has been controlling the Reznor, and once we stop his machine or whatever he’s got, they will listen to us,” Toad said.
“I see, but once Kumquat appears, that will not do you any good. The Reznor will be under his control, I’m sure,” Splooshi said.
“He’s right. We need to find the Mystic Moon and the Sacred Sun!” Orchil declared.
“I may be of service there, my friends,” Merlink said, throwing out his hands and concentrating. “Yes, I can see them. One is a golden sun, the other a silver moon. They both flew off in separate directions when appearing here, and are now somewhere on ships. One is flying to the eastern bay, one is in the northern Vista Sea...”
“Okay, now’s the time to strategize. Splooshi, you and Orchil shall lead the attack to the flying ship in the east. Accompanying you will be the Master, Genji, and Roshi. I will go to the ship in the Vista Sea along with Jinx, Dasher, and Merlink. Toad, take Mallow to a safe place. He still needs to recooperate,” Yoshi explained. “We won’t have much time, the Reznor will not fail to kill for long. Let’s go now!”
~*~*~*~
Kamek and Kammy returned to the Devastator and found the six Koopa brats to be gone. Kamek grumbled. “I knew we shouldn’t have left them alone.”
Kammy looked at him. “Yes. Where do you think they ran off to?”
“I’m not sure. You can reproduce your broom now, let’s fly above the ship and see if we can find anything,” Kamek decided.
The two Magikoopas floated high above the Devastator, witnessing the lone doomship, the Warrior Wing, fly towards the Kingdom.
“Wait a minute... the Warrior Wing was supposed to return here after expelling all of the soldiers aboard. Why’s it flying back out?” Kamek mumbled.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Kammy asked, obviously annoyed with the whole predicament.
“Those darn Koopalings hijacked the Warrior Wing! Come on cousin, let’s go get them,” Kamek mumbled.
“Wait..." Kammy said. “What’s that?”
Kamek looked where Kammy pointed: a small boat cruising along the water sped to the side of the anchored Cerberus.
“They’ve sent someone to sabotage the control machine!” Kamek deduced. “Those punks can wait, this is a much more imperative situation. We’ve got to stop them now!”
“Yes,” Kammy said. “But isn’t it a little difficult to do such a task when one is impaled in the back?”
“Huh?”
Kamek gasped, seeing the end of a dagger poke through his stomach...
~*~*~*~
“Alright, we’re close enough!” Ryanoshi said. “Blue, got the grappling hook?”
Blue Boo pulled out the very item from underneath his tophat. “Check!”
“Okay, let’s go!” Crazy Koopa exclaimed.
The hook fired upward and snagged on the railing of the ship’s deck. Ryanoshi, Crazy Koopa, and Blue Boo climbed up the side of the ship on the rope, looking like a bad Batman spoof. Once they reached the top of the Cerberus, they found the large tower on top where the control panel must be.
“No guards? This is too easy!” Ryanoshi said happily.
“Wait a second... I don’t see anyone up in the control tower...” Blue Boo.
“Ah don’t worry about it, whoever’s supposed to be on the job probably stopped in the facilities. You know how Bowser’s incompetent workers always have the runs!” Ryanoshi explained.
“Holy macral! The floor’s splitting!” Crazy Koopa cried.
The trio sent to disarm the Reznor’s control device plunged into a large gap in the deck of the ship as two panels opened up, then closed tight when the three of them were inside the dark room.
“Blue Boo? Ryanoshi? Can anyone see anything?” Crazy Koopa asked.
“I can see the darkness, heh heh!” Blue Boo laughed.
Crazy Koopa chuckled at the joke. Ryanoshi then spoke up. “Well before you go off and cast ‘Magic Missle’ into the darkness, you two should be aware of the glowing pair of yellow eyes just ahead.”
“Magic Missle... elloell!” Crazy Koopa snickered.
“Wait... yellow eyes?” Blue said.
Indeed, there was a pair of terrifying yellow eyes peering through the darkness at them. Then a sinister laugh sounded from all sides.
“Perfect, simply perfect!” the voice called. “The three of you arriving, that is.”
“Who are you?” Ryanoshi called out.
“Knowing my name will matter not to you, as in mere minutes your hearts shall beat no more, but alas you will here of my identity,” the voice responded.
“Um... what did he say?” Blue Boo asked.
“Yeah... the way he talked was really confusing. And none of us is named Alice!” Crazy Koopa said.
“I’m surrounded by idiots. Silence! My name is Clever Guy, I am Plit’s most intelligent being. Besides being of a superior mind to all, I’m known for my malevolence and treachery,” Clever Guy answered.
“You wouldn’t happen to know a Genius Guy... would you?” Ryanoshi asked.
Clever Guy’s voice seemed bored and maybe annoyed. “Enough. This is not an interview, it’s your funerals and project CG Beta’s first test run.”
“CG Beta?” Ryanoshi asked.
“Code Name: The Clever Cobra!”
The lights flipped on, revealing the surrounding room to be the lair where the Reznor once lurked. It was much larger now that the cage was gone. In front of them, a large silver and green machine shaped like a snake showed a small control pod where Clever Guy sat, when the head of the Clever Cobra stretched out from its neck. Clever Guy smirked and the pod disappeared when the head refitted completely on its neck. A large hissing began to sound as the CG Beta lifted its head into the air and flapped out its large neck and showed its venomous fangs.
“Snakes... “ Ryanoshi said. “I HATE snakes...”
~*~*~*~
Yoshi, Jinx, Dasher, and Merlink had made great distance in the short time and were now staring out to the Vista Sea. They were on the outskirts of the Mushroom Way, where the Mushroom Villagers had escaped to. Yoshi looked through a telescope belonging to a child citizen of the town. Out at sea he could see two large pirate ships approaching. One he recognized, the other was unknown. Yoshi handed back the telescope.
“One of them is Johnny’s ships,” Yoshi said.
Dasher looked to Jinx. “Sensei, they must have already taken Stario and Luigi to their destination...”
Yoshi looked back at him. “Oh my! I had forgotten about them! Where are they?”
“Stario and Luigi have traveled far to a place called LVK Industries. The princess was captured by a very dark evil,” Jinx answered.
“It was Vuljiin... yes I can sense it now. Our good friends are just starting through the fiend’s headquarters,” Merlink commented.
The moment of worry was broken when four humongous monster of white and blue soared overhead. Everyone screamed.
“What was that?!” Dasher shouted.
The monsters landed on the far side of the Mushroom Way, not far from the escaped villagers.
“Merlink, Dasher, you two stay here and protect the villagers in any way possible. Jinx, come with me. We’ve got to get to Johnny’s ship. He’ll take us to the other ship!” Yoshi ordered.
The dinosaur and the sensei departed
together. Dasher and Merlink drew their customary weapons and headed forth
to the new threat, unsure of anything they could do to prevent disaster...
“MWA HA HA HA!” Cap’n Torte laughed maniacally. “Ze Anglor haf been unsheazed! No vone vill be able to stop us now! Genius Guy, Changling, Grand Glum Reapeir! Report at vonce!”
The three henchmen summoned appeared in front of Torte. “Yes, Cap’n?”
“You zhree take zis ship,” Cap’n Torte began, pushing a button on his PAN OF PERIL that opened a side door on the ship, revealing a small aircraft, “and fly viz ze Anglor to ze Mushroom Kingdom to supeirvise ze destruction!”
“Aye aye, Cap’n!” Genius Guy said.
The three quickly jumped into the ship and flew off toward the shore. “Mini Moi!” Torte’s tiny clone appeared next to him, his face smothered with chocolate. “Aw, you’re so cute ven you’re hungry and ravenous. Anyvay, ze plan has been initiated, and ve are quite oveirdue for an evil laugh. Join moi vill you?” Mini Moi swallowed and licked his face clean, then nodded in agreement. “Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
“Not so fast, Torte!” Yoshi interuppted.
“Huh? Who dares to inteiruppt our evil chortle?” Cap’n Torte said, looking across the ship, finding Yoshi. “YOU!!!”
“Oh, you were expecting Plit to just fall in your gloved hands?” Yoshi taunted.
“GRRRRRR!!! ENOUGH OF YOUR FOOLISHNESS, YOSHI!! YOU’RE ONLY VONE GREEN SPEC AND I CAN TAKE YOU!!!” Cap’n Torte spazzed. “Howeveir, I’m going to let somevone else get a morsel of revenge instead.” A flapping of wings was heard. “You remembeir Soshi, do you not?”
Yoshi grinned as Soshi landed in front of him, looking as vigorous and fierce as ever. “You never cease to surprise me, blue dragon. I thought that cement head that fell on you crushed you to death.”
“You know, what can I say? I die hard,” Soshi replied.
“Mon dieu! Zis ist veiry familiar dialogue...” Cap’n Torte said. “Anyvay Yoshi, even if Soshi shows ze slightest sign of failure, my clone and I vill use our magnificent veapons to defeat you. I’m not making ze same mistakes again.”
“No, you’re making all new ones,” Yoshi responded. “I’ve brought a few friends to meet you two anyway. Johnny! Dimplestick!”
Cap’n Torte and his clone watched as Jonathon Jones and Dimplestick, whom they had battled with earlier on the high seas, jumped onto the ship. Apprentice, who had been watching by the helm, stepped forward.
“Do not worry, Cap’n! I will take them down for you! TERRIAH!!!” Apprentice said, flailing his arms wildly as he ran to the shark intruders. But Johnny tripped Apprentice with his tail fin and knocked him off the boat.
“Mon dieu! Vat a fool...” Cap’n Torte grumbled.
“Arrgh! Ye be the one who’s a fool, Torte. Ye may have won by default last time cuz o’ that clown missle from space, but my nephew and I will send ye and yer ugly clone to de depths of Davy Jones’ locker!” Johnny growled.
Johnny and Dimplestick both pulled out their skewers. Cap’n Torte and Mini Moi laughed and whipped out their frying pan weapons. “So be it, shark. Zis bout vill truly decide who ist ze best pirate to haf eveir sailed along Plit’s vateirs.”
As the battle up on deck began, Jinx had darted past anyone’s field of view and escaped to the back of the boat, still in search of either the Mystic Moon or the Sacred Sun. Two beady eyes of black glared at him through a window. Down in the deck, Torch had also snuck on board in search of the same treasure. Jagger looked at the large, red Podoboo.
“Wait a second, you don’t look like the fireball I saw... You’re someone else... who are you?” Jagger asked.
“My name’s Torch R. Chambers, and unless you’ve got an idea where a bright shiny thing shaped like a sun or a moon is, stop talking,” Torch grunted.
“But I do know where that thing is!” Jagger said excitedly.
“What? Where is it?! Tell me now!!!” Torch demanded.
“Only if you can free me from this infernal prison!” Jagger replied.
“Fine, you’ve got a deal.” Torch smashed into the walls and let his strong pyros dissolve the cage. “Now where’s the relic?”
“It was in the room down the hall... a large pot had it,” Jagger answered.
Torch said nothing and rushed in the direction pointed. Jagger looked around and began his plan of escape...
~*~*~*~
Splooshi, Orchil, The Master, Genji, and Roshi arrived near the bay’s coast and found the Warrior Wing flying back toward the battlefield.
“That must be the ship it’s on,” Splooshi concluded.
“How are we going to get on it, though?” Orchil asked.
“Leave that to me,” The Master said, grinning.
The strong Mushroomer focused his power and swiftly tossed everyone into the sky, then jumped himself. The tosses were so expertly done and combined with The Master’s strength, everyone landed on the Warrior Wing. Splooshi, Orchil, Roshi, Genji, and the Master were smack dab in the middle of six of Bowser’s children.
“Uh oh guys, we’ve got company!” Wendy shrieked.
“The Mario Brothers?!” Roy said worriedly.
“No, it’s a bunch of extra characters... “ Iggy said. “Odds are they can’t be that tough to beat.”
Muffled noises came from Bowser Junior, who had been tied up and gagged. “Shut up, Junior!” Larry said.
“Well what are we waiting for?” Morton asked. “This is the climactic battle for us Koopalings! Sure we don’t have any glorious or good enemies to fight, but that doesn’t matter, because we’d probably lose if it was anyone like that anyhow. So let’s brawl! That is to say, each of us excluding Junior of course. Sheesh I hate him. He’s so stupid. But anyway, let’s brawl. Five of us, five of them. I think I’ll take the tiny Mushroomer there, he looks like fun to squash. Don’t you think? I mean I hate the taste of Mushrooms... but I’m gonna eat this guy up. Of course I’m not speaking in literal terms here, but...”
“SHUT UP, MORTON!!!” everyone yelled.
“Oh... sorry,” Morton peeped.
“Alright youse guys! It’s time to crush these so-called rebels. Koopa kin, attack!” Roy demanded.
The two forces charged each other, one
seeking fun and glory, the other concerned with a much more important task,
the location of the ancient relic aboard the ship...
“Admiral Jade!” Bowser roared.
“What is it, King Koopa?” Jade asked, still at the control panel.
“I was asleep, what just happened?” Bowser asked.
“Well, the Reznor are on the loose, nearing the Mushroom capital...” Admiral Jade began.
“Ooh, that’s good!” Bowser said gleefully.
“But four more monsters that are just as fearsome and look to have ice powers have appeared and are nearing the city as well...” Jade finished.
“Ooh, that’s bad!” Bowser said gleefully. “Wait... I didn’t mean to say it like that. This is terrible! But fire melts ice... Bwa ha ha! We’re still on top, baby! Admiral, fly the Koopa Jet towards the ice monsters and fire up the Breaker Beam. We’re going to give a little helping hand to my lovely Reznor!”
“It shall be done, my liege,” Jade replied.
~*~*~*~
“Those things look a lot bigger now, Merlink...” Dasher said nervously.
“Yes... but we mustn’t fret. Every being has a weakness, no matter how big and fearsome,” Merlink said with confidence.
“Hey, look at that!” Raini called from the shelter where the villagers were hiding.
A medium-sized aircraft, gray in color, hovered by and floated closer to the Anglor. The emblem on the side of the ship was a chef’s hat inside a large purple circle with yellow spikes on the end of it.
“Wiat a second... that symbol must mean...” Dasher began.
“Chef Torte,” Tayce T said. “That old fool still thinks he’s evil? Ha! What a doofus, and a terrible cook. Never eat his food, it’s toxic!”
Dasher and Merlink looked down to the Mushroomer who had boldly left the shelter when the ship appeared.
“Um, Tayce T, those monsters are still here. It’s not safe...” Dasher explained.
“Look, if Torte’s behind this whole scheme, I’m not worried in the least!” Tayce T laughed.
“Perhaps you would be wise to note Bowser’s airborne vessel nearing as well, then Tayce T?” Merlink asked.
“What? Oh... I guess I hadn’t noticed... heh heh. Well, I’m still not afraid of Chef Torte. But Bowser’s a completely different story. Good luck you guys!” Tayce T said, running back to the shelter.
“Sheesh, why DO they hate each other so much?” Dasher wondered.
“Even the Cosmos may never know...” Merlink said. “Now let’s find out who’s in that ship of Chef Torte’s...”
The image of Dasher and Merlink running off bubbled and flowed in the pool, back deep in the Inferno. Lord Kumquat glared into the portal, still restricted from Plit’s surface. The image then changed to Scorch, his reptillian cohort, sneaking aboard the Warrior Wing. Then it showed Torch poking around the HMS Torte. Kumquat began to laugh again.
“HAW HAW HAW! While the others are distracted,
my henchmen will collect the objects I need to obtain total power. Soon
the Reznor will make a kill, and I will be released. Then the Inferno shall
burn once more on the surface world, allowing I, Kumquat, to become Lord
of the Planet! HAW HAW HAW!!!”
Boy, this looks for an exciting climax, doesn’t it? But what of Stario and Luigi? They must find the princess! But that’s next chapter. So for now, it’s the replacement narrator, TAD, signing off! Goodnight folks!!!
Chapter 63: The Last Battle Begins
Once the pair of heroes stepped into the massive, menacing tower that served as a haven for the notorious Vuljiin, an ominous change in the air was definite. The temperature inside of the building was very cool and caused the hair on one’s neck to stand outward. Then the duo placed another step forward, and their exit was instantly sealed. Staro and Luigi turned back suddenly at the door slamming to a close.
“Don’t worry Luigi. If need be, that door won’t hold when I’m through with it,” Stario reassurred.
The two became silent once again, studying their new environment. The main entranceway of LVK Industries was of grand proportion. The ceiling was far out of reach, and the space was plentiful. There were two doors on each wall adjacent to theirs, and one large threatening blast-door ahead of them. An elevator shaft was also along that wall. As they entered the room, Stario clenched his fists and surveyed the ground for any sudden movements of enemies hidden. Luigi peered around and stared at one of the cameras occupying the area. He gave it a smug look and continued forward to join Stario.
“Stario, it seems pointless to tell now as we were let in, but he knows it’s us for sure now,” Luigi said without looking to Stario.
“Yep,” Stario replied, eyeing another camera. The hybrid of Stars and legend looked to each of the different pathways. “Where would the princess be?”
Luigi pointed up. “In the highest room. It’s practically a law for such things. I’m sure even a crafty villain like Vuljiin would have done so.”
“Yes, that seems to be true,” Stario said. “And Vuljiin would be?”
“That’s a bit tougher. As I’ve encountered, the big boss usually lurks near the top or in the basement. Wherever the control room would be,” Luigi explained. “But I have a hunch it’s behind this larger, more defensive door.” The green plumber pointed to the blast-door.
“What would be in those directions? Any of the doors on the other walls?” Stario asked.
“I’m not sure. Probably whatever mysterious research LVK Industries was formed for. I remember the major function when we searched for it back in the Mushroom Kingdom to be genetics,” Luigi said.
“We needn’t worry about that now then, time is of the essence my brother,” Stario said, a touch of worry in his voice.
Luigi felt awkward when this being standing next to him, Stario, had called him ‘brother’. Mario, was his brother, his only brother. “Y-yes.”
“You find the princess, I’ll seek out that knieving fiend and put a stop to him once and for all. I can feel the potion’s strength building in me again, just like when I was first given it,” Stario spoke. “Luigi, good luck.”
Luigi’s demeanor came back to him, despite the earlier awkwardness. “You too. And don’t worry, once the princess is safe, I’ll be rushing to your aid. I’m not letting you take on Vuljiin singlehanded again. This time, we fight together.”
Stario nodded and grinned, but said nothing. Luigi stepped forward to the elevator and pushed the button to open it. The silver doors split apart, allowing the plumber clad in green to enter. Luigi looked one last time at Stario, then the doors closed. Stario stared, knowing Luigi pushed the button for the highest floor, wondering how tall this building really was. The magnificent warrior stepped to the large door and tried to open it. As expected, there was no response. Stario took a short moment to focus his energy, then released a fierce and swift kick to the door. In a bright golden flash, the door cracked along the middle. Stario proceeded to punch the door, the object shattering to pieces that fell ahead into the dark hallway that the door once concealed. Stario spied in as the dust settled. No light was visible from the hall ahead. He drew in a breath.
“Here we go.”
Meanwhile, inside the control room Vuljiin and his loyal servant were intentively watching every move made by the two intruders. The attendant tweeked nervously as Vuljiin’s claws tapped against his metallic arm rest, his breathing becoming more angered and throaty.
“Release the first line of defense,” Vuljiin hissed.
“By your command, Lord Vuljiin,” the darkly robed minion responded.
Vuljiin’s lackey glided across the room to yet another control panel. A button was pressed, and the task was done. Whatever the first defense strategy was, it was now underway. The servant turned to view his master, curious if he was watching him. Vuljiin’s glare was fixed on Stario and Luigi. The henchman turned back and chose an image to view on the small monitor of the console. At once he looked into the princess’ room. Toadstool was crouching in the corner, avoiding the vile guard standing near the door. It was her, his love. She was assigned to guard the princess. He continued to watch while Vuljiin ignored him and peered onto his monitors at Stario and Luigi.
Inside the princess’ room, Peach had
been silent and scared ever since the frightening guard arrived. It was
the same one who brought her meals, but there had been nothing to eat this
time. But she knew why the hooded figure was here, this proved it. Stario
and Luigi had finally come to rescue her. Peach smiled, thinking of the
wonderful moment when she would again be free from this nightmare, but
then noticed the slight movement of the hooded figure. Her head dropped
and hung down in front of her, with a sigh eminating from behind the dark
furrows of the cloak. This was strange, Peach had always seen this guard
act so cold, so mechanical. Perhaps there was more to her than met the
eye...
Luigi continued to wait impatiently as the elevator slowly scaled the skyscraper. Each robotic ‘ping’ noise when a new floor was reached put him more on edge. Vuljiin knew he was there, someone or something could be waiting for him on any level. And there was also the chance that the elevator could get shut off. Just as this thought passed Luigi’s mind, the lights shorted out and the elevator stopped moving.
“Shoot,” Luigi murmured. “Now what am I gonna do?”
The green plumber tried pressing a few buttons, with no results. He opened up the compartment containing the phone, picked up the device and stopped midway to his ear and cracked a smile.
“Right. I’ll just call up Vuljiin and tell him the elevator’s down. Great plan!” Luigi sighed. “Maybe I’m close enough to a doorway, and I’ll be able to climb out...”
Luigi began slamming against the door
with his shoulder, but found no success. The next tactic the plumber tried
was creating a green fireball. He rubbed the luminescent flame in his palm
against the door, wearing it down on some level. Afterwards, Luigi stepped
back and tossed the fireball into the doorway. A loud crash and a jolt
from the impact made Luigi fall. He slipped downward, the elevator had
shifted into a diagonal position when he blew the door off. While falling,
Luigi frantically grabbed for anything. He fortunately grasped onto the
outer edge of the elevator as the rest of his body fell out of the carrier
device. Luigi felt the wall against his back, he’d be squished in between
if the elevator was in its normal position. As he dangled, the plumber
looked up and saw the cables keeping the elevator suspended. Luigi climbed
back in the elevator car and carefully manuvered a wall-kick onto the top
of the elevator, then started to climb the cables.
Stario turned a corner, the dark corridor long behind him. All of the lights were shut down inside the building, but a few minor light sources like computer monitors and red back-up lights, among other things, provided visibility. As the mighty hero placed a foot in front of him, he picked up a noise. It was robotic, of machine. The noise was coming from around the next corridor. Stario stepped forward and cautiously poked his head around the corner. He saw three robotic guards. They couldn’t have been taller than Toad. Their tops were domed and a single red light served for a sense of sight. Below the dome were mechanical feet that the machines prowled around with. There didn’t appear to be any weaponry on them, but Stario wasn’t prepared to gamble. He pulled out a spare cap and tossed it out into the hallway. In the flash of seconds, the robots deployed several laser blasters from compartments in their domes, and eliminated the hat. The red bulbs serving as eyes were enlargened, a certain programming enabled them to be alert. Stario found the machines to be cleverly designed, but not enough to stop him. The amazing combatant flipped sideways out into the hallway, a blaze of golden fireballs streaking from his hands to the robot guards. Only a few hits and the machines were toast.
“This is too easy!” Stario proclaimed, walking down the hall.
The plumber was silenced when a loud
mechanical noise was heard from behind, followed by a large stomp. Stario
twirled about, finding himself face-to-face with a massive robotic guard.
This one had a domed head like the others, but also had arms. Both arms
were really just large ion cannons, a white light forming inside the canister
just before they unleashed two laser bullets at Stario.
Luigi had luckily made it pretty far inside the elevator and only had to climb the rope a few more stories. He looked up and counted, only three left until the top floor. He continued climbing with a smile and turned to his right, a camera peeking right in his face. A concerned look fell over Luigi, something bad was about to happen. A whirring noise startled the plumber, he looked up and saw the base of the rope; the mechanical claw was moving. In a heartbeat, the rope was released. Luigi cried out as he felt his stomach slam into his lungs as the intense speed of falling affected him. The plumber took a chance and leapt from the rope. He slammed into a feeble door and crashed into a floor five stories below the top. Luigi picked himself up and wiped off his shirt of dust.
“Well, that was fun,” Luigi mentioned to himself.
Our green hero stepped forth courageously, only noticing the peculiar effects of the area after he had left the room into a long and large room.
“What in the world...?” Luigi began.
There were dozens of cylinder-shaped glass tubes. Most of them were empty. But a few choice ones contained frightening and freakish things Luigi would never wish to see. They were chambers used for mutations and hybrids and things simply not fit for this world. All of the creatures inside were dead, or perhaps never alive at all, but it was still a chilling experience. As Luigi passed by he noticed a few of the freak creatures. One was a Goomba that had a few distinct properties of a Bob-omb, like a wind-up key jutting out of its back, a rounder body, and a fuse on the top of its head. Another genetic monster was a Nimbian fetus with a strange crest coming out of its forehead. There were wires hooked up to all of the ugly beasts, but this one’s wires still looked active. The next one was many dead wires connecting to an egg- a Yoshi egg. Luigi realized most of the failed experiments in the room were Yoshi-based.
One Yoshi mutant had enormous forearms
with massive claws. The feet of the creature were very small however. Another
had no feet and no arms. The body of the Yoshi was twisted and molded to
resemble something like a snake. Luigi looked to another, the Yoshi seemed
normal, aside from its feet, which had the middle toes jutting out with
a larger sized toe. Then Luigi noticed a strange pair of humps on its shoulders,
like something was trying to break out of there, but Luigi had no idea
what. He turned to the next one, this one seemed to be very well developed.
Its scales weren’t smooth like Yo’sters', but rough and visible. The eyes
of the mutant were blood red. Strange crests almost like spikes or feathers
poked out of the Yo’ster’s head. It also had razor sharp teeth, claws and...
wait, where were the feet? Luigi peered down into the tube, but the feet
weren’t inside. He looked puzzled at the creature, seeing that the tube
was actually broken from the back and the Yoshi mutant was leaning inside
of the tube. But... that can’t be right. Luigi looked to its eye, a twitch
in the pupil. Luigi screamed, in a split second, the creature recoiled
out of the glass chamber and made an expert bound over the container and
in front of the plumber. Luigi pulled back as the athletic creature curled
its lips and licked its teeth with a slimy tongue...
Stario prepared to dodge but was struck with the lasers first. He fell to the ground in pain, a critical blow dealt to him. But the Star-powered warrior wasn’t out, not by a longshot. Stario jumped up with an orange glow and shot at the robot like a missile. With his fists out in front of him, Stario spiraled around, creating the Stario Whirlwind technique. The whirling plumber sliced through the robot guard effortlessly. The machine exploded as Stario came out of the attack and landed on the ground. He turned around and walked by the debrie, giving out an annoyed groan.
“Where are you, Vuljiin? Stop sending your worthless cronies on me! Challenge me instead of hiding like a pathetic worm!” Stario shouted in his fury.
Stario entered a dark room, this one not lighted by anything. From the echoing of his footsteps, Stario knew that it was a large area. He felt a bead of cold sweat run along his back when he found the two eyes, the two crimson eyes, stained with the evil acts performed by the beholder of the eyes. Stario drew his sword when the familiar hissing-laugh sounded.
“I’m right here, Stario,” Vuljiin replied.
Stario said nothing, but tightened the grip of both hands on his Star Saber. Vuljiin laughed again.
“I’m not going to underestimate you again, oh no. I shall not make such a foolish mistake twice,” Vuljiin told, his ominous voice shredding Stario’s confidence like a cat to furniture. “I am well aware that your power is at its peak as of right now, however that will surely diminish soon. I know of your iminent destruction.” Stario growled. “Even with your full power right now, you will not have enough time to foil me again. You aren’t quick enough, even with your superior strength and mystic blade. But I’ve got a surprise this time...” The sound of unsheathing was heard. Stario saw bright purples and reds from two swords glow in the darkness. The lights flipped on, revealing Vuljiin, his twin blades, and the arena. The two doors to the room slammed shut. “This time I have twice the power to slice. You don’t stand a chance Stario, give up now.”
“No Vuljiin, it’s you who doesn’t stand a chance,” Stario spoke heroically. “For my time may be short, the power of the Stars, the might of Mario, and the hope of Plit and all its life give me strength, and the will to overcome. I will not fail, I can not fail. For if I do, Plit fails with me. I may not have time on my side, but I promise that even with my last breath, I shall see you dead.”
Vuljiin cackled, shifting into a combat stance. “So be it.”