Chapter 9: Overshadowing the Shadows
6:51 PM; Temple of Unity
There were countless Boos hammering on the entrance to the temple.
"Can you shoot them down?" Mario asked Tatanga.
"What, do you think lasers have unlimited ammo or something? This baby can hold a quarter of a million shots, but I used up about a tenth of that rescuing you four," Tatanga said. "There has to be at least two million of them there, my ship can't even figure out how many there are, and there's not enough energy in my ship for another super blast."
"If we try to fight them head on, we'll lose for certain," Waluigi said.
"If only we could fight them from inside. With such a small hallway, we'd only have to worry about a few at a time," Red said.
"Actually, if you guys are willing to move a few rocks, we could arrange that," Waluigi said as he smiled.
***
"This is a lot easier to do with the Podoboos here," Waluigi said. "You know, Wario, this whole thing is your fault!"
"What are you talking about?" Wario sneered, "You're the one who wouldn't let me hit you!"
"Actually, Mario's the one who insisted that he and I both explore the temple in the first place," Luigi laughed.
"Well... actually, I can't think of a reason why this is your fault," Mario said to Luigi as they traveled through the cave that Wario and Waluigi had used to get into the temple for the first time.
"Here it is," Wario said. "Let's get this over with!"
They carefully moved the pile of debris, and went inside. They went to the right and into the shrine's chamber.
"Quickly, place the remaining statues!" Green shouted. "The barrier will break momentarily!"
Wario and Waluigi placed the appropriate hammers in their respective statues.
"Tornado Crush," Yellow said, not even explaining what it did.
"Geyser Strike," Purple said, doing the same.
A huge earthquake started.
"The barrier, it's dead!" Red shouted.
"Mario, you wouldn't happen to have any more useful items in those seemingly infinite pockets of yours, would you?" Luigi asked.
"Sorry, all out," Mario said. "We'll have to do this the old-fashioned way!"
"Gotcha!" Luigi agreed as the five of them prepared for the oncoming attack.
The first thing they saw was Bow, Bootler, Vivian, and James flying through in a retreat. Then, the onslaught of Boos began. Tatanga took an early initiative and started blasting at the Boos before they got within striking distance. The blasts, firing far faster then anything the plumbers could think of, quickly emptied out the blaster's ammo.
"Now it's time for a little weapons test!" Tatanga shouted as he ran towards the Boos.
"Wait!" Mario shouted. "We need to stay on the defensive."
"I know what I'm doing, planet dweller," Tatanga argued. "Just consider me the first line of defense."
Tatanga went on ahead and pulled out a long metal stick, which had a button in the very middle of it. Tatanga pressed it and it started to glow with an eerie light.
"And just what is that?" asked one of the Boos.
"This is the Phantomizer 1000, rips through ghosts like butter, and if you somehow used it against me, it would do no more harm to me then a normal stick would," Tatanga laughed. "Who's first?"
"Empty threats will get you nowhere!" said another Boo.
"Let's see you stop this!" said another as they all turned invisible.
"Plmubers, catch!" Tatanga said as he threw each of them a helmet.
"Bulky enough?" Mario joked as he put his on.
"It'll let you see the ghosts, so don't complain, planet dweller!" Tatanga said.
Tatanga fought fiercely, taking on hundreds of Boos at a time, until finally, his staff just turned off.
"I knew I should have used an anti-matter engine," Tatanga said as the Boos prepared to finish him off.
"Now!" James shouted as an explosion could be heard from the hallway.
"What was that?" Waluigi asked.
"This morning I found the remains of that Boo-omb. Then I copied it, and then I modified the copies to explode when the room reached a certain decibel level," James explained. "Also, they won't harm anyone that's alive."
"Retreat!" shouted one of the Boos that wasn't close enough to be hit by the boo-ombs.
All the Boos did as he said, and when all seemed safe, one last attacker appeared.
"You won't stop Master Titaniboo," said Gadd as the Boos ran past him. "I'm here to make sure you don't even make it past your own front door!"
"Another evil split?" Luigi asked.
"No, Titaniboo is simply controling his mind," said a random Boo as he ran away. "But you still can't beat him."
"We'll just see about that," James said as he stepped forward. "No one has ever prevented me, the great agent 008, from successfully completing a mission!"
"And no ghost that defies my master has ever survived an encounter with me," Gadd said. "Prepare to have my hypothesis proven!"
"What hypothesis?" Luigi asked.
"That the Poltergusts that you've stolen from me will have no effect on me whatsoever." Gadd laughed. "You really thought you could take my inventions and just get away with it?"
"We didn't steal them!" Waluigi shouted. "You gave them to us!"
"Yeah, the only thing I ever took from you was your wallet," Wario said, "which didn't even have any money in it, I might add!'
"Shut your yaps, youngins!" Gadd shouted. "You haven't a chance against me!"
Gadd pulled out one of the princess' blow dryers and aimed it at Tatanga.
"Please, you think your little toy gun scares me?" Tatanga asked.
"That's not a gun," Mario said, "it's a blow dryer."
"It's still a pathetic choice of weaponry," Tatanga said. "If you want to make any changes to your will, now would be the time to do it, old man!"
Tatanga rushed towards Gadd, but when Gadd pulled the trigger of the blow dryer, it shot out a burst of flames. The torches in the hallway were instantly burnt to a crisp, and Tatanga's armor was completely incinerated.
"Okay, I think I'll be going now," Tatanga said as he ran out through the hole in the wall.
"Let's surround him," Wario said.
"Good idea, for once," Mario said.
The Mario Bros. jumped behind Gadd and the Wario Bros. ran in front of him.
"Four against one; I feel sorry for you," Gadd said.
"What about us?" James asked. "We can still fight."
"Not anymore, you can't!" Gadd shouted as he sucked James up into his own Poltergust 3002.
Wario got his Quadramasher ready, and stated spinning around as fast as he could while holding the Quadramasher out. He spun faster and faster, until finally, a tornado shot out from where he was standing towards Gadd. Gadd quickly set the Poltergust in reverse and blew the tornado back towards Wario. Luigi, however, got out his Poltergust and pulled the tornado towards himself, and therefore, towards the professor. The tornado stood still with the two conflicting machines trying to make it go in opposite directions, until it simply dissipated into the air.
"Try this one on for size, gramps!" Waluigi shouted as he pounded his Quadramasher on the floor. Gadd quickly stepped out of the way as a huge geyser soon appeared where he was standing. Gadd ran towards the Wario Bros. and pulled their caps down over their faces, then ran past them.
"Is he retreating?" Luigi asked.
"We shouldn't take any chances," Mario said. "We need to keep him at close quarters."
Luigi nodded and rushed up ahead to catch up with the professor. Mario followed shortly.
"Persistant little whippersnappers," Gadd said. "Time I taught you to respect your elders!"
Gadd pulled the Flame-Blower out and pointed it at Luigi. The flames shot out as the professor slowly waved the Flame-Blower back and forth, setting fire to both of the Mario Brothers' hats.
"YEOUCH!" Wario shouted. "He's burning my hat! I'm too rich to wear a burnt hat!"
"He's not- yow! He's not burning your- mamamia!" Mario tried to say, "He isn't burning your hat, he's burning ours!"
Wario and Waluigi fixed their caps and went towards the professor.
"Let's try something new," Waluigi said. "Initiate Elemantal Thief Bros. attack!"
"What?" Wario asked. "I call the shots around here!"
Waluigi prepared his Quadramasher, and pointed in front of Gadd while saying. "Wario! Make a tornado there!"
"This oughta be fun!" Wario said as he spun around, creating another tornado.
When the tornado was in the right spot, Waluigi pounded his Quadramasher on the ground, shooting water through the tornado and at the professor, and knocking the wise old owl out. Mario ran up to the professor and checked his pulse.
"He'll be fine," Mario said. "He's simply unconscious. Luckily, no real harm was done."
"Let's go!" Wario said. "It's time I took that Egyptian hat Titaniboo wears!"
"We need to stop him before he creates more mischief than we could ever compete with!" Waluigi said. "No one outdoes Waluigi in the area of mischief!"
"Gadd's a good freind of mine, and Titaniboo made us fight our friends on multiple accounts," Luigi added. "He won't get away with what he's done!"
"He's turned Peach into a monster, framed Bowser in an attempt to trap me..." Mario started. "He decided to be released the day before I was planning on proposing to Peach..."
"You weren't going to propose," Luigi interupted. "You said it yourself, until Bowser is a thing of the past, you're not going to propose to Peach."
"It's my turn to be upset at Titaniboo," Mario said. "And lastly, no one destroys Bowser's Castle but me!"
"You really aren't used to this being angry thing, are you?" Wario asked.
"No, not really," Mario admitted. "To Rogueport?"
"Where am I?" Gadd asked as woke up. "Mario, Luigi? How did I get here?"
"You okay, Professor?" Luigi asked. "You aren't in the mood to hurt us or anything?"
"Why would I attack you two?" Gadd asked. "If I wanted to get rid of you two, I would have just let Luigi go into the mansion without the Poltergust 3000!"
"Glad to have you back," Mario said. "Do you know how we can get to Rogueport before tomorrow?"
"Don't worry about that, I'm back," said Tatanga, who was wearing replacement armor, which didn't look any different then his original armor. "And in case you forget, my ship can get there easily."
"Do you even know where Rogueport is?" Mario asked.
"I've been studying you ever since our first encounter," Tatanga explained. "I've got detailed maps from everywhere you've been, planet dweller."
"Then we're off to the Palace of Shadows," Mario said.
12:00 Midnight (Twelve Hours Remain); South Mushroom Sea, north of Rougepost
"I can see DK Island to the north," Luigi said. "Why aren't we going in closer for a drop?"
"Because they might have surveilance satelites," Tatanga said. "You may be primitive, but you aren't blind."
"If we're so primitive," Mario smiled, "then why was it so easy to defeat you?"
"Don't aggrivate me, planet dweller!" Tatanga yelled. "You know that I've improved my weaponry since then! Now that I have my full arsenal on the moon... the moon! I'd better notify my troops and see how they're doing."
"What are you talking about?" Waluigi asked.
"I'm building a massive engine on the moon to slow its orbit, therefore prolonging the time we have to destroy Titaniboo," Tatanga explained.
"Too risky," Gadd argued. "A lunar abnormality of that proportion could easily cause the tides to be disturbed, therefore doing more damage then good."
"I'm not cancelling anything," Tatanga said. "My troops have their orders, and if you don't succeed in six hours, I will fire the cannon," Tatanga explained. "You've got five of what you call hours and fifty minutes until I unleash the Penumbra Engine's full potential."
"Gadd's right, it's too risky," Mario said,."Give the order to terminate the launch or you won't make it to see us stop Titaniboo."
Tatanga reached behind his back, pulled out his blaster, and pointed it at Mario.
"I can hit a target from five miles away with ease," Tatanga explained. "So shooting you from five feet, it will be impossible for me to miss."
"It'll be the last shot that ever comes from that blaster," Mario said, "because you couldn't hit me if you put that thing to my head!"
"I could easily prove you wrong at any time, planet dweller," Tatanga said. "Just go ahead and say one more word, I challenge you, planet dweller!"
Mario started to accept Tatanga's challenge when Gadd grabbed him by the shoulder and said, "Not now, Mario. I know Tatanga can't be trusted, but he is a powerful ally, and we can't afford any more enemies right now."
"You're right." Mario sighed. "At least I'm not working with Bowser again..."
"I guess this gives a new definition to the phrase, 'In war, your only allies are enemies'," Luigi said. "Right, Mario?"
"Never heard of that one before," Mario said, "but I guess that's true. Where'd you get that phrase from?"
"That's the motto of the game StarCraft," Luigi explained. "Playing your typing game is okay, but I prefer that instead."
"You weren't playing it on my computer again, were you, Luigi?" Gadd asked.
"Of course not. Of all the things to do with a homemade supercomputer estimated to be a multibillion dollar investment that really only cost you fifty dollars and five days to fix, why would I be playing a video game?" Luigi asked. "Why the pure thought of it is absolutely ridiculous, Professor!"
"Gill, when is the last time the file StarCraft.exe has been activated?" Gadd asked after taking the GBH from Luigi.
"Exactly one week ago as of today," Gill Bates said, "at percisely 3:11 AM."
Everyone just stared at Luigi.
"What?" Luigi asked. "I couldn't do it while he was awake, he was always busy improving the computer. And I couldn't just let the servants of the Overmind run amuck!"
"Luigi, it's nothing more then a video game. Who in the world gets up at three in the morning to play a game?" Mario sighed. "Nevermind, everyone ready?"
"You got it, Bro!" Luigi said.
"Waluigi number one!" Waluigi consented.
"That ghost is toast!" Wario shouted.
"Who ya gonna call?" the professor asked.
"Count me in," Tatanga agreed. "Besides, I've recharged my ammo, and now that I know that the Phantomizer 1000 works properly, I'll bring both of them for backup weapons."
"Us four will stay here and gaurd the shrine," James said. "Good luck, everyone!"
1:15 AM; Rougeport Sewers, the Thousand-Year Door
"This is the Thousand-Year Door?" Luigi asked. "Looks nice, considering the evil that it hides."
"Nice?" Wario laughed. "I'd like to put that door in my vault!"
"Let's go," Red said. "Be careful, we've no idea what this place is like. When we fought Titaniboo, he came to us."
"Be ready for anything," Green explained, "and expect the unexpected."
"Don't get caught offguard," Yellow continued, "and always make sure to put your opponent in that prediciment."
"And most importantly," Purple said, "never forget that you all need to work together to do this."
The four of them nodded as they opened the door. The palace seemed empty at first glance. Then, Titaniboo himself appeared.
"I'm not going to fight you, not yet," Titaniboo said. "I just wanted to say, I'm rather impressed, and someone impressing me doesn't happen often. You've broke the professor of my mind control, humiliated my minions, given me plenty of laughs by forgetting about my curse on numerous occasions, restored power to the Quadramashers in only three days, defeated a swarm of my minions that outnumbered you ten thousand to one, and to top it all off, you reached the Palace of Shadows unharmed... Perhaps I misjudged you four."
"Does this mean that you're surrendering?" Wario asked.
Titaniboo laughed, smiled, and said, "I like a sense of humor, so I'll give you four one last chance: join me, or suffer the fate I meant for Hyrule!"
"Hyrule? But that's in an entirely different dimension!" Mario said. "Is Link here?"
"No, but he will die eventually, by my hands; he won't get away with destroying my plans," Titaniboo said.
"What are you talking about?" Luigi asked./ "Link never said anything about fighting Boos."
Titaniboo chuckled sinisterly, then smiled and explained, "I've many forms in many different dimensions. If I'm defeated in one, I travel to another dimension and have fun there. I've had my share of losses, but never until then was I defeated by a child."
"If I treated Link like a child, I probably wouldn't have won the Super Smash Bros. tournament," Mario admitted. "Tell us, what was your name in Hyrule?"
"Why are you asking me if you already know the answer?" Titaniboo asked., "I can see it in your eyes; when you talked to Link, he must have told you about it."
"You were known as Majora when in Hyrule, weren't you?" Mario asked.
"You mean that mask that Link said tried to destroy that whole planet by crashing the moon into Termina?" Luigi asked.
"Very good, but do not think that you will be so lucky," Titaniboo laughed. "Do you accept my offer?"
"Before we deny your offer, I've got one question for you," Waluigi asked. "If you're called by Titaniboo and Majora, which is your real name?"
"I've so many names: Titaniboo, Majora, Giyagas, but I only remember these because they remind me of those I need revenge on," Titaniboo explained. "Take your pick, I've no true name."
"Fine then," Waluigi said. "Now that that's all done with... Wait... Why are we declining his offer?"
"Because even if we wanted to join him, he couldn't be trusted any farther then we could throw him," Mario said.
"Right," Wario agreed. "Just remember not to use the phrase when talking about Bowser."
"Fine then," Titaniboo laughed. "It's your funerals, not mine! I'll be waiting for you four in my main chamber, and these six can tag along if you wish. If you make it to the throne room, then I'll fight you."
"But you'll never make it that far," said a voice from the shadows. "Tell me, Wario, do you really find it wise to insult me while I'm in the same room as you?"
"Bowser?" Wario asked. "You're working for this chump, too?"
Bowser stepped into the light. Instead of his normal intimidating collar, he was wearing an electronic one.
"What is that?" Gadd asked. "And why does it have my company logo on it?"
"Why wouldn't it?" Titaniboo asked as he vanished. "You made it!"
"I really wish I could remember what went on when I was under his mind control," Gadd said.
"Mario!" Bowser shouted. "Prepare yourself for the great beyond!"
"So you're helping Titaniboo... Why?" Wario asked.
"First of all, he wants to kill Mario," Bowser laughed maniacally. "And second of all, if I don't do what he says, this collar puts enough electricity through me to make my brain stop working for half an hour!"
"What brain?" Mario taunted.
"You'll pay for that, plumber!" Bowser shouted as he lunged towards Mario with a swipe of his right claw.
Waluigi ran behind Bowser and prepared to strike his back. Luigi jumped to Bowser's right, and Wario to his left.
"We've got you surrounded," Mario said. "You can't even take me alone, so how do you expect to stop all six of us?"
"Six?" Bowser repeated. "Who else is here?"
"You'll have to deal with me too," Gadd reminded him.
"You? Fight? You've got to be kidding me, old man!" Bowser laughed. "You only won last time because I was weakened from my battle against King Boo!"
"I defeated you before?" Gadd asked.
"Nevermind, but that's still only five of you," Bowser said.
"Oh look, Bowser finally learned how to count," Mario mocked. "Now we just need to teach you how to write your name!"
"That's it, I'm eating fried plumber tonight!" Bowser shouted as he inhaled.
Mario jumped aside as Bowser blew his fire breath. Bowser focused all his attacks on Mario, practically forgetting that there was anyone else in the room. Bowser swiped both his claws at Mario, and bit the plumber's leg after his slaws missed.
"Ouch!" Mario shouted as he pulled out his Quadramasher.
Mario banged Bowser's head, getting the Koopa off his leg. Mario jumped on top of Bowser's head and swung at Bowser's head again. Bowser shook Mario off before the attack could connect. Just as Mario was about to use the Ultra Fire Drive, Bowser fell to the ground unconscious.
"Tatanga," Bowser said as he fainted.
"Now why did you do that?" Mario asked. "I had everything under control."
"We have little time to waste, planet dweller," Tatanga reminded Mario, "unless you want me to launch the Penumbra Engine."
"You're right, and this palace is huge," Mario agreed. "Thank you."
"I told you before, planet dweller, I'm not interested in your gratitude," Tatanga said. "I'm simply here to ensure that my people remain the dominant species in the universe."
"But if you're the dominant species, then why did you work for me for that short time?" Wario asked.
"You had something I needed," Tatanga explained. "Let's go, I didn't have any more real ammo."
"What do you mean 'real ammo'?" Waluigi asked.
"What he has with him only stunned Bowser, it won't harm anything," Gadd explained. "Bowser is merely paralyzed for the time being."
"Correct," Tatanga said, "which is why we'd better keep moving."
1:22 AM; Palace of Shadows, Throne Room
"They're here already?" the Shadow Queen asked. "They are stronger then I thought; perhaps I should deal with them personally."
"Those four are not what worries me," Titaniboo said, "but the one that I do fear is with them."
"He will not stop us," she reassured him, "and it is time that my servant proved her usefulness."
"As you wish," Dark Peach said, appearing from the hall behind the throne. "I will destroy them all."
"One question," Titaniboo said. "Whatever happened to my favorite pet?"
"You mean Gloomtail?" the Shadow Queen asked. "Mario and Vivian did away with him."
"Vivian? You don't mean your own Shadow Siren Vivian, do you?" Titaniboo asked.
"Yes," she admitted.
"Make sure they suffer," Titaniboo said.
1:32 AM; Palace of Shadows, room of the eight trials
"Are we supposed to take these keys out?" Waluigi asked.
"No, I had to put them in last time I was here," Mario explained. "We go up the stairs."
Just then, the stairs rose up into the ceiling.
"What did I just say?" Mario asked. "Put the key back!"
"Now is that any way to talk to a lady?" Dark Peach asked as she revealed, herself holding a key. "A princess at that, I should mention."
"Come back for more?" Tatanga asked as he aimed his blaster at her.
"Please, the only reason you were able to shoot me last time was because I didn't even know you were there," she explained. "Do not think you'll be so lucky this time."
Peach immediately activated the necklace, shooting a beam of dark energy out directly at Tatanga. Tatanga was knocked to the ground, and badly weakened. He reached for his pocket and pulled out a radio communications device.
"The is General Tatanga," he said. "Activate the Penumbra Engine immediately!"
"There's a problem, sir!" said a technician over the radio. "We have some Dark Boos attacking the base and we can't finish construction!"
"You're telling me the entire fleet is unable to stop a single swarm of Boos?" Tatanga shouted. "Your orders are to destroy the boos, finish the engine, and fire it as soon as possible!"
"Sir, we can't, the Boos, there are too many! We have no choice, we must retreat!" the technician argued.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Tatanga said, "but give the orders to withdraw the fleet."
"Yes sir!" the technician said. "We'll have the mothership standing by for your return."
"No," Tatanga said. "Get the whole fleet out of there, initiate a full scale retreat!"
"Understood, good luck, General!" the technician said.
"No one forces me to withdraw my fleet," Tatanga muttered as he pulled out a Phantomizer.
"I already know that thing won't hurt me," Peach said. "How foolish do you think I am?"
Tatanga didn't activate the Phantomizer. Instead, he used it like a ninja would a bo staff, attacking her with it directly. Peach easily dodged most of the swipes, and whenever a blow was about to hit her, created a barrier of shadow energy to protect herself. Wario got behind her and sent a tornado towards Peach. She dodged it, and it hit Tatanga instead.
"Watch where you're aiming that thing!" Tatanga shouted as he got back up after being thrown into the wall.
"Is that all the great General Tatanga has in him?" Peach taunted. "Really, I expected more from someone so feared."
Luigi shot a bolt of lightning at Peach, which she blocked with a shadow barrier. Waluigi created a geyser, which finally hit Peach.
"Talk about a low blow," Wario laughed. "Who would've thought you could attack somebody from underneath them, right?"
"That's it!" Mario said. "Waluigi, hit this!"
Mario created a fireball, threw it into the air, and lobbed it towards Waluigi with his Quadramasher. Waluigi hit the fireball with a geyser, creating a huge cloud of steam. Gadd decided to suck it up with his Poltergust. When he was finished, he saw everyone but Luigi lieing on the floor. Wario was fighting Tatanga, Waluigi was fighting Mario, while Luigi and Peach were just waiting for the steam to clear.
"There's one for the newspapers," Peach laughed. "All I have to worry about now is the coward."
"Not quite," Luigi said as he pounded his Quadramasher on the floor, causing an earthquake.
However, the room was still.
"Don't tell me this place is quake-proof!" Luigi said. "That was all we had left!"
Peach walked up to Luigi and started to activate the necklace. When she prepared to shoot a blast of dark energy out of it, Luigi immediately shot out a bolt of lightning with his Thunderhand attack. Peach fell to the floor.
"Not like I was planning whatsoever," Mario said, "but it still worked, so- hey! You two can stop fighting now!"
"You were on my payroll!" Wario argued as he and Tatanga exchanged punches with one another.
"Name one time you actually paid anyone on your payroll!" Tatanga shouted as he was given a black eye.
"How dare you?!" Peach shouted as she got back up. "You'll pay for that, Luigi!"
Mario swung his Quadramasher at the necklace, shattering it and causing her to lose her shadow powers.
"Professor, do you have anything we can use to keep her out of trouble until we can get her brain back?" Mario asked.
"Try this. It's not my own invention, but it should do the trick just fine," Gadd said as he dug through a backpack.
"Really, what's it called?" Mario asked.
"It's really a miraculous device that I like to call a rope," Gadd laughed as he handed Mario a rope. "I'm surprised you never heard of it!"
"Haha, very funny," Mario said sarcastically as he tied Peach up. "Though I must say, I'm the last person I would expect to be tieing up Peach."
"Can't say I would've expected you to ever do it," Luigi agreed.
"Ready to do this?" Tatanga asked.
Wario took the key that Peach had taken out, and placed it back in the keyhole, which lowered the stairs back into their spiraling form. The ten of them continued on.
5:57 AM; Palace of Shadows, Gloomtail's room
"I remember this," Mario said. "This is where I fought that dragon."
"I remember it too," said Vivian as she appeared.
"Vivian, why are you here?" Luigi asked. "I thought you were back with Bow and James guarding the shrine of unity."
"I figured you guys could use some help. I used to live here, in case you forgot," Vivian said.
"No sense in asking you to turn back now," Gadd said, "and we could use some help."
Vivian approached them, and then punched Mario in the face, knocking the four plumbers to the floor.
"I never thought I'd be happy that Vivian was a traitor," said the Shadow Queen, still disguised as Vivian. "Now that I'm used to this young girl's body-"
"She's an adult, you know," Gadd interupted.
"Compared to me, you're nothing more then a young boy," the Shadow Queen said.
"Good point," Gadd agreed.
"Prepare to be swallowed by the eternal darkness!" the Shadow Queen said as she showed her true form.
Just then, the room started shaking. Everyone except Tatanga was confused.
"I see that you were able to get the Penumbra Engine working after all," Tatanga said over the radio.
"Sorry, but this is where it all ends," said a Boo on the other end. "You see, we've finished construction on this machine your troops were making, but we set in reverse! Now, instead of buying you time, the eclipse will occur in one hour!"
"Well, it looks pretty hopeless for you now, doesn't it?" the Shadow Queen laughed. "You don't stand a chance against me, much less getting past me and to my husband in less then an hour!"
"Everyone, go on ahead!" Tatanga shouted. "This is my prey."
"You sure?" Luigi asked.
"I'll be fine, you planet dwellers just make sure you stay alive long enough for me to conquer you, got it?" Tatanga asked. "The path is too long, you'll have to hurry if you're to make it within an hour!"
"Don't die, or else I'll fire you, got it?" Wario asked.
"Come on!" said Waluigi as he pulled Wario away.
The plumbers, Gadd, and the Podoboos went on ahead.
"Just you and me now!" Tatanga said.
"You fool!" the Shadow Queen laughed, "'No more can you evade my wrath... then you can your own shadow!' (Blizzard Games)"
Tatanga just smiled and pressed a button on his gauntlet. Several holograms of Tatanga appeared, and they all "attacked" the Shadow Queen along with the real one. Tatanga kept throwing simple punches, while the Shadow Queen simply absorbed the attacks. The Shadow Queen sent a swarm of shadow hands to attack Tatanga, but he activated a forcefield before the attack could connect. However, the Shadow Queen now knew which one was real, as the shadow hands simply went through the holograms' fields, while they bounced off of the real Tatanga's forcefield. Tatanga disengaged his forcefield and took out his blaster. He blasted away at the Shadow Queen while reaching for a strange golfball-sized machine on his belt. He pressed a lone button on it, and threw it. He then looked away, and a blinding flash of light was emmitted from the machine. When it stopped Tatanga looked around and saw that the Shadow Queen was gone.
"A weapon for every occasion," Tatanga laughed. "That was easy."
Just then, Tatanga pulled his blaster back out and shot the last of his ammunition as he turned around to see that the Shadow Queen was hiding.
"Too easy," Tatanga said. "You really think I'd be so gullible? You're going to have to do better then that!"
"Foolish being," the Shadow Queen laughed. "It seems you're unable to fire anymore; looks like you're the one who needs to do better."
The Shadow Queen shot a large beam of shadow energy from her hands, tearing right through Tatanga.
"Very foolish indeed," the Shadow Queen laughed. "Now, to stop those- what?"
Tatanga appeared unharmed by the shadow energy, just standing as he was before. Then, Tatanga held his gun right up to the Shadow Queen from behind her.
"I never get tired of having that hologram projector," Tatanga laughed. "Say goodnight!"
"You think I'm afraid of an empty gun?" the Shadow Queen laughed.
"No, but there's one problem: my gun isn't empty, it's simply out of laser cells."
"Without which, all you're doing is wasting electricty."
"Not quite." Tatanga laughed.
The blaster was beeping with an annoying tone, until it simply exploded. Tatanga's hand was burnt from it, but he was otherwise fine. The Shadow Queen, however, was knocked away, and Peach was knocked unconscious before she could even open her eyes.
"As your own servant said, 'Nothing in life is that easy!' Perhaps Hooktail was the most intelligent warrior you had," Tatanga laughed. "Well, it's all up to the planet dwellers now."
6:45 AM (15 minutes remain); Palace of Shadows, throne room
"I was beggining to wonder if you were going to make it." Titaniboo laughed as the heroes entered the room. "I must say, I'm impressed."
"Let's hurry up and do this!" Mario said as the four of them surrounded Titaniboo. They pounded the Quadramashers into the floor at the exact same time, shooting out the elemental power that each of them had. The four of them looked up and saw Titaniboo unharmed.
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be scared?" Titaniboo mocked. "Oh no, the Shrine of Unity is powering the Quadramashers again... Come on, did you four really expect to get me the same way twice?"
"It worked when we fought you," Red said, "so we were kind of hoping."
"You fools!" Titaniboo laughed. "Last time it was nowhere near a solar ecclipse, and you baited me into that temple!"
"Wait a minute!" Luigi said. "Before we have this epic battle, I have a few question for you."
"I need to stall anyways, so go ahead." Titaniboo laughed.
"Have you ever been known as the Darkmatter in any of the dimensions you've been to?" Luigi asked.
"No; Darkmatter is a friend of mine, and we don't hunt on each other's territory," Titaniboo explained. "Besides, I don't find beating up gumballs as fun as making whole dimensions suffer at a time."
"What about Ganon?" Luigi asked.
"If I was Ganon, how could I be Majora in the same dimension?" Titaniboo asked.
"Good point; what about Andross?"
"Never even heard of him."
"Mother Brain?"
"Do I look like I'm a woman to you?"
"The Nightmare King?"
"I already told you, I don't hunt on Darkmatter's territory."
"Giyagas?"
"I already told you that when I told you that I was Majora!"
"Count Dracula?"
"You have way too much free time on your hands, you know that?"
"Just checking."
"No, he's right about that," Mario said. "You really need to find a hobby."
"What's the professor doing?" Wario asked.
Gadd had a small piece of a machine in his hands that he was working on.
"Not sure, but we haven't any time to find out!" Mario said.
"Don't think this means that I'm going to help you be a hero when this is over," Wario said.
"Same here," Waluigi said.
"Titagora, prepare to be defeated!" Luigi shouted.
Everyone gave him a strange look except the professor, who was too occupied in his work.
"I combined the three names, Titaniboo, Giyagas, and Majora," Luigi explained.
"You really do have too much time on your hands," Green said.
"Can we stop discussing my free time?!" Luigi said sternly. "I get the picture!"
"Very well," Yellow said. "Just make sure you get a hobby after this is over."
"You cannot survive!" Titaniboo shouted as his jewel started to glow. "You can't last five minutes against me, not that it would do you any good, seeing as you only have ten to stop me!"
The four Podoboos were pushed back into the wall.
"He's created a barrier of dark energy!" Purple explained. "We can't stay here; I'm afraid you four are on your own!"
"It's okay!" Mario said. "We'll be fine! Get out of here while you still can."
Titaniboo inhaled, and when he exhaled, a tornado apperead, which went towards Mario. Mario tried to jump aside, and would have succeeded if tornadoes didn't draw things towards themselves. The tornado sucked Mario up, and shot him into the barrier. Wario was on the opposite side of Titaniboo from Mario, and used the opportunity to create his own tornado, which went right into Titaniboo. Although it threw him into the barrier which he had created, he retaliated immediately and showed no sign of the attack having done anything more then moving him.
"Why didn't he phase through it?" Luigi asked.
"My reaction to battle is a bit slower then I remember; I guess I'm a bit out of shape." Titaniboo laughed. "Guess that means this warm-up will help me to get back into shape!"
"Are you sure this guy was beaten by a ten-year-old?" Wario asked. "I can't immagine Link doing much of anything to this guy with that pocket knife he carries with him."
"He was defeated by Ness, too, so he's been defeated by a ten-year-old on two separate occasions," Mario said. "Nonetheless, we can't afford to underestimate him!"
Mario got back up and signaled to Wario. Wario wound up his swing, and Mario shot an Ultra Fire Drive directly at Wario. Wario created a tornado, which sucked up the flames and shot them all over the place. Titaniboo dodged several fireballs which were shot from the tornado.
"That all you got?" Titaniboo asked. "Tell me when you're ready for a real fight!"
***
"We know what we've got to do," Red said.
"I agree, it's the only way," Green agreed.
"As do I, but you three realize we probably won't come out of this alive..." Yellow said.
"Ten thousand years too late for that." Purple laughed. "And besides, we're doomed for certain if Titaniboo isn't stopped before the eclipse."
The four of them flew through the barrier, bearing the pain, and flew towards the Quadramashers that each of them used to hold. They disapeared.
"What just happened?" Waluigi asked.
"We only have a minute until the eclipse," Red explained, "which is about as long as we'll survive."
"We're powering up the Quadramashers with all our strength," Green said. "Don't worry about us!"
"You have to stop Titaniboo now, or else all is lost!" Yellow added. "You four have to work together!"
"Thank you for everything you've done to uphold the traditions of our people," Purple said. "Now, as our final request, we ask that you show evil that it cannot destroy righteousness!"
The four plumbers nodded as the Quadramashers glowed brightly. The four of them surrounded Titaniboo again.
"How dense can you guys be?" Titaniboo asked. "Didn't you notice that this did nothing last time? Well, you've only got a few seconds left, so I might as well laugh at your idiotic desparate attempts to excape my wrath!"
They ignored him and pounded the Quadramashers into the ground. A beam of light broke the barrier, and Titaniboo seemed to be shrinking. However, it was too late. The eclipse had begun. The seal started to weaken just as it looked as though it had swallowed him whole.
"You fools thought you could defeat me? How can you defeat me? By destroying me you would have only made me stronger!" Titaniboo laughed. "Now, it is time to obtain the power that will destroy you!"
Titaniboo laughed as the Palace of Shadows disappeared, revealing the solar eclipse.
"You should be honored to hear this poem: only the most persistent of annoyances survive long enough to be destroyed by it!" Titaniboo laughed as he started to recite the poem:
"Ancient chaos, hear that which you
are!
Become one with I, that which swallows
the star!
Darkness and light eat each other
away!
Only allow I, the chaos to stay!"
??:?? ?M; Realm of Chaos
The place looked like it was made of pure shadows, all forming what looked like an artistic depiction of a black hole. Titaniboo had disappeared, and other then the four of them, no one else seemed to be around.
"What happened?" Luigi asked. "This looks bad."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious!" Waluigi said sarcastically.
"We haven't lost yet," Mario said.
"Show yourself, you coward!" Wario shouted.
"You fools, I'm right here!" said Titaniboo as he appeared. "And now I'm invincible!"
"That's what Bowser said to me when he got the Star Rod," Mario laughed. "I don't know the meaning of the word invincible!"
"Then perhaps it's best I show you!" Titaniboo shouted as he rushed towards Mario. "Just like Red, whoever controls fire always seems to be the first to upset me." Titaniboo laughed.
Wario sent a tornado at Titaniboo, which he swallowed, and sent back at Wario a hundred times stronger.
"Don't you fools see? I consume worlds as a hobby," Titaniboo snarled. "I've succeeded countless times, and you have no hope of stopping me now that my plan is complete!"
Luigi created an earthquake, sending rocks shooting at Titaniboo. The chaos threw everything out of proportion, causing the rocks that shot out to be the size of a planet. Because of the immense power of the blow, Luigi was hurt from using it, and he was sent flying backwrds.
"There's no possible way he can survive that!" Waluigi said.
The gargantuan boulders hit Titaniboo with unbelievable force, but when the dust had cleared, Titaniboo was still there, unharmed, not even blinking.
"Don't you see? There is no one who can defeat me!" Titaniboo laughed. "I am unstoppable!"
"He's right; whenever we attack him, he's able to overpower it and send it right back at us!" Waluigi noticed. "Even when he didn't touch Luigi, the earthquake hurt Luigi and didn't even phase Titaniboo!"
"Maybe his strength is infinite," Luigi said.
"I can't believe this, but we've lost," Mario said as a tear came from his eye.
"Hey! Stop crying, you big baby!" Wario said as he punched Mario in the face. "We've put up with each other for too long to just give up now!"
"Wow!" Luigi gasped. "I never expected Wario to be one to give a good pep talk!"
"And he's actually right, we've come too far," Waluigi agreed.
"You're right. And you've just shown me how we can stop him," Mario smiled. "We're going to make a much stronger seal then the last one."
"Good, now tell me so that we can put that hat in my vault!" Wario said.
"Nevermind," Luigi said. "He still stinks at pep talks."
"Let's do this!" Mario said.
The four of them surrounded Titaniboo again.
"Maybe there is something greater then my power," Titabiboo laughed, "the stupidity of you four!"
They ignored him and held up the Quadramashers, but instead of using them at the same time, Mario hit first, shooting flames towards Luigi. Luigi created an earthquake that combined with the fire to make a flow of lava, which was now headed for Wario. Wario created a tornado, which combined with the lava to make a storm of brimstone which was headed for Waluigi. Waluigi used the geyser crush to redirect the brimstone, and combined with the other three elements to make a beam of pure light. The light headed straight for Mario, who then added more fire to it and hit it back to Luigi, and the cycle started all over again: Luigi to Wario, Wario to Waluigi, Waluigi to Mario. And again it was repeated, each time the light glowing brighter and brighter. Titaniboo then realized what they were doing.
"No! You're creating energy that's the exact opposite of chaos!" Titaniboo shouted. "I won't let you do this! I will consume all!"
Titaniboo tried to fly up, but the plumbers had already started to step closer to each other, making the area of safety for the ghost narrower and narrower, until finally, the four of them were within striking distance of the evil Boo. The four of them struck him at the same time, sending the energy of pure order surging through Titaniboo. Since Titaniboo was made of pure chaos energy, the beam tore through him like he was nothing more than thin air.
7:00 AM; Palace of Shadows, throne room
Titaniboo was weakened, but he was still there.
"I'll be back," Titaniboo threatened, "and this is the first world on my list for revenge, seeing as I've been banished from it several times, Termina only once, and three times from Eagleland. So, I guess I'll be seeing you later, when it's time to erradicate you once and for all!"
"No you don't!" Gadd shouted as he pulled out his Coronos Reactor. "You see, this machine is the pinacle of my achievements, and even more dangerous then you."
"Oh really, exactly what does it do?" Titaniboo asked. "Coronos, what an unoriginal name, everyone knows that's the name of the greek titan of the sky and... You don't mean, it can't be!"
"Yes, named after the titan of time itself!" Gadd smiled. "And now to rid this universe of your dangers and it's own at the same time! I'm trapping you within a time loop, which you'll never be able to escape from, nor will the Coronos engine itself!"
"I'd really like to be trapped inside that shrine right about now," Titaniboo said as Gadd threw the Coronos reactor at Titaniboo.
It stopped in midair, and so did Titaniboo. At first, it seemed that they were merely frozen in time. Then, all of a sudden, without even the smallest fraction of a period of time to separate the difference, Titaniboo and the Coronos engine disappeared.
"You did it!" Red shouted happily.
"So what do we do now?" Green asked.
"If I recall corectly, we were playing Monopoly: Mushroom Kingdom Edition," Yellow said.
"As we have been for the last thousand years," Purple sighed.
"Got anything better to do?" Red asked.
"No," Purple admitted, "but I want to be able to use the Toad as my peace this time!"
"I call the Koopa!" Yellow said.
"Why do I always get stuck with the Goomba?" Green asked.
"We're forever indebted to you." Red smiled.
"Is there anything we can do to repay you?" Green asked.
"You bet there is!" Wario shouted. "I never got my reward!"
"Here we go again!" Waluigi sighed as he and his brother started to chase after the Podoboos.
Just then, Peach came in.
"Mario!" she shouted. "Why do I feel like I've been in two places at once?"
"You know, it's a funny story, but if you wouldn't mind sitting down for a few hours, I'd love to explain!" Mario laughed.
The End
Author's Note: For those of you who are wondering, the origins of James Boo and the Coronos Reactor (the most important part of the Coronos Gateway) will be discussed in my next Fan Fic: Mario Vs. Sonic: Mobiüs Mania!
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