Chapter 8: Die By the Sword
“Zis is Captain Koopa reporting,” Ludwig said. “Captain Mario, Captain… Sonic, what is your surname?”
“My what?” Sonic asked.
“He means your last name,” Mario said.
“I don’t have a last name,” Sonic said.
“Just shut up and takeoff already!” Bowser shouted. “Or else you’ll all be stripped of your ranks!”
“You know, an honorary title just doesn’t mean much when it comes from you,” Peach said to Bowser. “And since when do you know enough about military strategy to be called ‘Admiral Koopa’?”
“Just takeoff already!” Bowser whined.
Mario, Sonic, and Ludwig started up their doomships.
Mario’s crew consisted of Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Iggy, and Lemmy. Sonic’s crew consisted of Knuckles, Espio, Charmy, and Vector. Ludwig’s crew included Roy, Morton, Wendy, and Junior. Bowser used the Klown Kopter, and Tails used the Cyclone2.
“On my mark, 3, 2, 1, lift off!” Tails shouted via radio.
Everyone but Bowser took off simultaneously. Bowser, upset that he didn’t get to give the order, used his radio to complain. “What part of the word admiral do you not understand?”
“Just come on!” Mario said. “We haven’t got time for this!”
Bowser roared wildly for a few minutes,
then joined up with the others in the Klown Kopter.
Back at the edge of the Green Hill Forest, the professor was heading towards the fire, since he knew that where there’s trouble, you’ll more then likely find Mario trying to stop it.
“Whew! Traveling sure is harder with arthritis!” the professor panted. “I remember being able to walk for almost a day and feel fine… I guess age is finally catching up with me, and she is one harsh mistress!”
“She’s not the only one that’s catching up!” Shadow laughed from behind a tree.
“Who’s there?” Gadd asked.
“Just hand over anything useful you might have,” Shadow said.
“You mean anything of value, right?” Gadd laughed. “Well all I have is this backpack and a water pump, so why don’t you just give up right now?”
“I said anything useful, and that’s what I meant. How about I take that star-shaped object in your pocket then?” Shadow asked.
“You can’t have anything from me!” Gadd said. “What part of no don’t you understand?”
“What part of old and frail don’t you understand?” Shadow asked.
Gadd laughed a bit, then replied, “I understand perfectly well what both of those words mean, but only one of them fits my description!”
“Is that a challenge?” Shadow asked.
“I don’t take thievery lightly,” Gadd said. “But I don’t enjoy fighting either, so how about we just both go our separate ways?”
“For an old geezer, you sure are stubborn,” Shadow said.
“WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?” Gadd asked. “That’s it, if you think that just because I’m old that means I can’t defend myself, you’ve got another thing coming, youngin’!”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!” Shadow laughed as he jumped towards the professor while swinging his fist.
“You’re just full of hot air,” Gadd said as he used the Cronos Engine to slow down time enough that he could dodge Shadow’s attack.
“How did you manage to do that?” Shadow asked. “There’s no way someone with a body that frail could have moved so quickly!”
“You’re going to regret that comment, sonny!” Gadd said as he used the Cronos Engine to slow down time enough that he was punching faster then Shadow could move.
The punch sent Shadow flying into the
air, but the robotic hedgehog didn’t stop to tend to his wounds. Shadow
tried to take the Power Stars, but Gadd was able to dodge his attempt easily.
“Full power to the engines!” Dr. Robotnik shouted from the bridge of the Eggcarrier. “Load all weapons! All radars to optimum range! Prepare for lift off!”
“What do I do?” Wario asked as the mammoth engines roared.
“You’ll be testing out a special invention that I’ve made for you, an armor that can fit anyone, even a person of your enormous girth!”
“Well look at the Spyder calling the Piranha Plant poisonous!” Wario said. “And for the record it’s all muscle!”
“Did you just call me overweight?” Eggman snarled. “I doubt that you even possess the intelligence to operate my machine!”
“A new toy, can I beat up Mario with it?” Wario asked.
“Don’t forget about the hedgehog!” Robotnik reminded him. “I will not have the Eggshell wasted before I can even get proper data on it!”
“What kind of name is the ‘Eggshell’?” Wario asked.
“Just hurry up and put it on, it’ll increase what little strength you have ten-fold!” Robotnik said.
“What kind of weapons does it have?” Wario asked.
“You’ll have super-human strength and be almost untouchable with it on, what else do you want?” Eggman asked. “I mean really, what to you want me to do, make you into some sort of deity? Ha! If I ever make something like that, it’s going to me and me alone, understand?”
“Eggman, we have arrived!” said a robot over the radio. “The enemy is advancing on our position in three large ships and two small fighters!”
“What? Repeat that immediately! Did you just say that they have three ships?” Robotnik asked.
“That is correct,” said the robot.
Eggman laughed sinisterly for a moment,
then regained his composure, and said, “This is the thing I love best about
being an evil genius, I get to obliterate everything they create in a pathetic
attempt to stop me!”
“Did he rebuild it again?” Sonic asked. “Tails, do you see what I see?”
“I see it!” Tails said. “The EggCarrier shouldn’t pose too much of a threat!”
“Well, we never did get to properly thank Ivo for stranding us here,” Bowser laughed. “All ships open fire!”
“Roger that, Fazer!” Ludwig said. “Sonic, get along ze EggCarrier’s port! Mario, you get the starboard! We shall assault the bow!”
“What did he just say?” Sonic asked. “Could you cut out the naval talk and give it to us in English?”
“He wants us to surround the EggCarrier with you guys on the left, Ludwig will take the front, and Mario will take the right,” Tails said. “Bowser, follow me through for an attack run! If this is as much like the first two EggCarriers as it seems to be, I should be able to lead you in for an attack run… What is your helicopter armed with?”
“Twenty Mechakoopas and two jumbo cannonballs,” Bowser said.
“What are Mechakoopas?” Tails asked.
“Let me just put it this way, when you don’t have an army to board the ship, use these little guys to do the job!” Bowser laughed. “We’ll see who can build a better robot!”
“Are they attempting to surround us?” Robotnik asked.
“Affirmative,” said a robot over the radio. “Which one do you wish for us to launch Wario onto?”
“Do we know which ship Sonic is on?” Robotnik asked.
“That is a negative, sir!” the robot replied.
“Then fire at the middle one. If Sonic
isn’t leading the attack, then it must be Mario! We need to eliminate those
two before we worry about anything else!”
“Starboard cannons fire!” Mario shouted. “Iggy, Lemmy, make sure those cannons don’t break! Luigi, how are things in the engine room?”
“It’s fine, surprisingly enough,” Luigi said.
“Well, looks like Bowser might have actually used his head when designing these things!” Mario mocked. “Peach, are you ready to take over my post?”
“Don’t worry about us!” Peach replied. “Just get on there and capture the EggCarrier!”
“Sonic, you ready?” Mario asked.
“Sure thing, all these military terms are making my head spin!” Sonic said. “Knuckles can be the captain right now for all I care!”
“We’re hit!” Ludwig shouted. “Wait a minute, it didn’t damage us; what is it, then?”
“I think it’s Wario!” Roy replied. “But he looks like he’s wearing some sort of egg!”
“Wario? He’s no big deal! Roy, throw him overboard!” Ludwig said.
“I’m trying, but he won’t budge!” Roy said.
“Hey!” Wario shouted. “No one throws me overboard!”
Wario then stood up and punched Roy in the face.
“Hey! That’s my job!” Roy complained as he swung back.
The punch did nothing to Wario, who just stood there and laughed.
“I think we might have a bit of a problem!” Roy shouted. “We could use a bit of help over here!”
“Mario, Sonic, one of you get over here right now!” Ludwig shouted.
“Yeah, I’m coming!” Sonic said. “Tails, can I get a ride?”
“I’m passing under the ship in three,
two, one, now!” Tails said as Sonic jumped onto the wing of the Cyclone.
Tails then flew over Ludwig’s doomship and Sonic jumped off.
“We have located Sonic!” a robot said. “He has just jumped onto the middle ship!”
“So he’s going to try to stop Wario,” Robotnik said. “And what of Mario, do we know which ship he is on?”
“Negative, are you even sure he’s here?” the robot asked.
“Smithy and Metal Sonic may not be trustworthy, but they certainly know what they’re talking about; Mario is here!” Robotnik argued.
“He’s closer than you think!” Mario
said over the radio after jumping onto the EggCarrier and stomping on the
robot’s head.
“What?” Robotnik shouted. “How did
he do that? Nonetheless, initiate battle mode!”
“Roger that!” said a robot from the control room.
Just then, the EggCarrier spread its wings, and the bridge was raised up.
“Let’s see him get through this!” Robotnik
laughed.
I can’t keep this up much longer! Gadd thought to himself. If I keep using the Cronos Engine, I could tear the very fabric of time and space apart!
Gadd shut down the Cronos Engine and started to run, but without the power of time to aid him, Shadow easily caught up with him.
“So that’s what those star-like objects are for,” Shadow laughed, thinking that they were the source of the professor’s speed. “But it seems as though they have failed you.”
Shadow took the Power Stars from Elvin and then tried to punch him in the head. Gadd was knocked to the ground by the blow.
“Fine, keep those, but I’m not going to let you take what you came for!” Gadd said as he reactivated the Cronos Engine.
With that, Gadd ran off.
“What did he mean by that?” Shadow asked
himself aloud. “I’d better get back to the factory.”
“We’re taking heavy damage over here!” Luigi said. “Tails, do you think you could take out some of those lasers on the wing?”
“I’m on it!” Tails said. “Bowser, follow me! I need you to release those Mechakoopas after we take make sure that Peach’s ship is safe!”
“Bowser Koopa Senior takes orders from no man!” Bowser argued.
At that moment, a few lasers passed right in front of the Klown Kopter.
“But then again, you are technically
a fox,” Bowser cowered. “So lead the way!”
“Stand back, I’ve got Wario!” Sonic said.
“Well then, I guess we’ll just have to get out of your way!” Wendy said as she ran down to the control room. “Ladies first!”
“Yeah right!” Roy said. “I don’t run away from fights, I start them!”
“Well then, how about I finish it?” Wario asked as he stomped on Roy’s foot.
“Hey, Egghead Junior!” Sonic said. “Let’s see you hit something you can’t see!”
“What did you call me?” Wario asked. “That’s it, now I’m going to kill you twice!”
“Wow, you’re even dumber then you look,” Sonic said. “And you look pretty dumb to begin with!”
Wario tried to headbutt Sonic, but Sonic simply jumped out of the way.
“Gotta be faster then that to catch me!” Sonic taunted.
Wario turned around as he swung a fist at Sonic. Sonic quickly ducked to dodge the blow. Sonic jumped on top of Wario’s head, looked down, and waved at him. Sonic then tried to use a spin dash to break the helmet with no luck.
There’s not a dent on it! Sonic thought to himself as he looked around. Why do they even have masts on a flying ship? Wait, that’s it!
“Stand still for a moment!” Wario shouted.
“Have it your way,” Sonic said as he stood in front of the mast. “I’m waiting!”
Wario tried ramming into Sonic with his elbow. Sonic stepped aside at the last moment, sending Wario flying into the mast. The mast fell down, landing right on Wario’s head.
“Glad that’s over!” Sonic said. “Now to go help Mar- Hey!”
Wario threw the mast overboard and laughed.
“Shouldn’t you be unconscious right about now?” Sonic asked. “And if you could throw the mast so easily, why didn’t you just use it as a weapon to hit me with?”
Sonic ran over to Wario, and tried to punch him in the eyes. Wario grabbed Sonic’s hand and picked him up.
“Rat overboard!” Wario shouted.
“Wait, you’re not calling me a rat, are you?” Sonic asked. “Because that would mean that you’re about to toss me into the water.”
“So?” Wario asked. “It’s not like you can’t swim!”
“Well then, why not finish me off up here?” Sonic asked.
“Because I want to use a ground pound
on you!” Wario said as he pulled his hand back to throw Sonic.
Mario had just reached the bridge when he found another robot with a radio. Mario quickly punched it and used the radio to mock Robotnik.
“You call those traps?” Mario asked. “Please, there are gymnasts that could have done that easily!”
Mario started to reach for the door when he heard a strange sound behind him.
“You again?” Shadow asked. “What are you doing here?”
“Well if it isn’t the rodent dopleganger!” Mario said. “Face it, you’re done causing trouble!”
“Oh really?” Shadow said as he kicked the radio out of Mario’s hand. “It seems like you’re the one who’s outmatched. Robotnik, I have what we came for!”
“Fine then, keep that plumber from escaping!” Robotnik shouted.
Mario dropped to the floor laughing. After he regained his composure, he snatched the radio back from Shadow. “I’m not sure about Sonic, but I don’t make running away a habit of mine!”
“Then perhaps it’s time I taught you a new trick!” Shadow said as he tried to jump on top of Mario.
Mario dodged out of the way and laughed, surprised that anyone would try to jump on him. Mario swung a fist at Shadow, but Shadow simply rolled under Mario. Shadow then ran up on top of the bridge.
“Going up?” Shadow asked. “Or does the term vertigo bring fear to your mind?”
Mario ignored him, backed up, and used a triple jump to reach the roof of the bridge.
“Robotnik, he’s taken the bait!” Shadow said. “Activate the barrier!”
“Very good, now don’t fail me!” Robotnik said as an electrical bubble surrounded the bridge’s roof.
“Regardless of what happens in our little bout, this will be your grave, and I will complete my mission, even if I am terminated in the process.” Shadow laughed.
“The only thing you’ve done is trapped yourself!” Mario said. “Let’s see you survive this!”
Mario charged up his Firehand until it collapsed on itself and made an explosion that filled up the whol barrier. Smoke and ashes filled the air and clouded Mario’s sight. When the smoke cleared, what Mario saw wasn’t an evil hedgehog, but an evil robot which had the framework of a hedgehog.
“In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not truly Shadow the Hedgehog, or even an organic being!” Shadow laughed. “Your flames have no effect on me!”
“Fine then, I’ll just do this the old
fashioned way!” Mario sighed. “Here we go!”
“Can’t I have a last request first?” Sonic asked.
Wario was just about to toss Sonic off the edge when the thief started sweating.
“Whew! It sure got hot all of the sudden!” Wario said. “I need a glass of water! Hey wait, we’re above an ocean! I’ll just use you as a surfboard!”
Just then, Wario realized that the armor was on fire.
“No one touzes my veautiful mast!” Ludwig shouted. “Fried eggs, anyone?”
“Thanks,” Sonic said as he picked up a radio. “Tails, the Eggcarrier is escaping, could you give me a lift?”
“Roger that, I’ll be in position in fifteen seconds!” Tails said. “Bowser, get ready to drop those Mechakoopas! All other ships, prepare to engage primary target!”
"How many times must I remind you?" Bowser growled. "I'm the admiral here!"
Despite the fact that he was angry,
Bowser did as Tails asked, and kept behind the Cyclone. As Tails passed
under the doomship, Sonic jumped down, landing on the Cyclone's right wing.
Shadow charged up a spin dash [I know, and yes, just about everyone from Mobiüs can do that]. Shadow zoomed towards Mario, but the plumber quickly jumped over Shadow and landed behind him. They both turned around and ran towards each other. Shadow used a swiping kick, but Mario jumped up and kicked in the air at Shadow. Shadow rolled under Mario, and used a bicycle kick to hit Mario while he was in midair. Mario fell only inches short of the barrier. He immediately jumped back onto his feet, then used a Mario Tornado to give Shadow a barage of punches. Shadow was thrown in the air, and Mario jumped up and tried to punch Shadow into the ground. However, Shadow used a spin dash in the air to move himself out of the way. When they landed, Shadow jumped on top of Mario's head. Mario then laughed.
"That's my job," Mario said as he used an uppercut to knock Shadow off of his head. "It seems as though we're pretty evenly matched!"
"That is where you're mistaken," Shadow said. "I am a robot, after all, and I could fight all day and not get tired. You, however, are slowly getting tired, and you'll eventually lose all of your strength to fatigue!"
He's right! Mario thought to
himself. If this keeps up, I'm just going to wear myself out! I have
to think of something, and soon!
Professor Gadd finally reached the Oil Ocean's shore.
"According to this," he said as he looked at his watch, "the Power Stars should be in this direction."
He looked ahead and saw the Eggcarrier.
"Well, looks like I'm going to have to use this thing again afterwards," Gadd said.
The professor froze time, then used the oil to build stepping stones for him to climb on. When he was done, he climbed up the stairs and on top of the Eggcarrier, then he deactivated the Cronos Engine.
"Now to find that mad doctor!" Gadd
said.
"Do you two see that?" Tails asked as he pointed to the barrier around the Eggcarrier's bridge.
"I see it," Sonic said. "But what is it?"
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't look like we should get too close," Tails said.
"Agreed, just drop me off on the deck," Sonic said. "I'll find Mario and help him."
"You forget that the Tornado doesn't have landing gear in combat mode," Tails said. "You'll have to jump off."
"Fine with me," Sonic said as he disembarked.
"Bowser, send those Mechakoopas to assault the Eggcarrier!" Tails shouted.
"Yes sir!" Bowser said, then proceeded to do so. After he had finished, he thought for a moment, then started growling loudly, and then shouted, "I'm the admiral of this fleet!"