Chapter Thirty-Nine: King of Beans
MARIO
Fawful laughed manically as his giant robot stomped into view of the castle. The look on his face was one of insanity. "You had the thinking I would not find you, no? WELL YOU HAD FALSENESS! Fawful has only one thing to say before this fight of epicness. It was not nice knowing you." Fawful grinned and pushed a button on a small metal remote control. There was a loud rumbling beneath us as a large, steel platform came out of the ground. I motioned to the princess to run, and she did. She went back to the castle as I continued lifting into the air. No more running.
The platform finally came to a stop several stories up in the sky. It was a large and gray platform, long and shaped like a saucer. The sky was completely dark. It was illuminated by screaming, multicolored lightning and roaring thunder. Rain came pouring down like a legion of blades. A dome of energy enveloped the entire field down to the ground. The motor of the platform whirred, and the large flame keeping it airborne was loud. Fawful grinned. "And now, an upgrade of smallness." His robot started changing. It grew bigger. The arms bulked up, one becoming a large blade. The steel armor changed a shade of blue and weapons bristled from inside the mechanical monster.
Fawful stepped forward, before breaking into a run for me. He swung his large blade forwards. I pushed my hammer upwards, blocking the blade. I jumped into the air, and landed on Fawful's robot before front-flipping forward and landing on the ground. Fawful turned around, rain soaking his non-exposed face, snarling. He raised his other hand into the air and started charging energy. I jumped forward. Fawful, expecting this, shot several Bullet Bills from his back that chased me. I cursed and ran. The Bullet Bills were a silver color, which was odd. "What's up with the color scheme, Fawful?" I asked.
"HEHOHEEEHA!!! FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF, FINK-RAT!!!"
The Bullet Bills began to descend. I began to jump, but then stopped. The Bullet Bills started circling me. A jolt of pink electricity connected from one to another, as they circled closer and closer. I attempted running out of the way of the incoming projectiles, but was shocked by a wall of electricity and thrown back. "AAAAAGH!!!" I could feel my bones burn from the attack. I stood up, watching the approaching Bullet Bills come closer. All the while, Fawful was charging that large ball of doom in his hand.
As the Bullet Bills closed in, I was losing breath. I focused, and went straight into a powerful Mario Whirlwind. I flew up near the top. There was a silver Bullet Bill in my way. I thrust my hammer at it, causing it to be thrown out of the pack. The electric wall paused for a moment. Using the opportunity, I jumped off the head of one, and landed on my feet. I spun quickly and fired several spheres of flame at the Bullet Bills. Several exploded. I smiled. One came out of the fog and rammed into my chest. There was an explosion and I flew back in pain, blackened and burned.
I got to my feet, and realized, Fawful had finished charging. He flew high into the air and thrust it downward. It connected with the ground, and I was lucky I was not hit directly. I flew backwards in pain. I hit the barrier surrounding the field hard, and fell back to the steel. I fell on my side and angrily stood up. I flew up into the air, using my cape and getting to where he had been. Fawful smiled at me and pointed his long arm at me. It folded out and turned into a large cannon. My eyes widened, as it readied. I flew away, as the orbs of energy fired at me. Greens, Reds, Yellows, and several different colors were sent flying my way.
I dodged and whipped about, avoiding every one. Fawful growled and rushed at me. A large mace was formed out of his right hand. He swung it down upon me, and I grabbed it, struggling to keep it from gutting or squashing me. I pushed upward with my hammer, and slammed it into the hull of the robot. Fawful growled as it was knocked backward. Spikes popped out of his chest and flew towards me. I batted them away with my hammer as if I was a batter in a baseball game. A claw opened up, and flames shot out of it. I ducked under the deadly blast just barely.
Shortly afterwards a smog of pink mist floated in front of me. I screamed. I saw white lights flashing before my eyes, and I tumbled forwards, clutching my eyes. Fawful came from behind me and shot a golden orb at me. I flew into the barrier, and was met by several electric bolts. I fell to the ground again. I rose into the air, shooting several pyros of fire that collided with the robot. Fawful growled behind his glass barrier. He spiraled forward and smashed the air with his fist. He missed me and I was behind him. I grabbed the mechanical arm and began to spin, creating a whirlwind. I let him fly, right into the painful barrier around the platform.
He spun in the air, his thrusters burning, a pattern appearing in the air. He punched his hand through the air and the symbol went flying straight at me. I dodged, just barely avoiding being hit by the deadly blast. He started glowing a deadly red as his bot bulked out even more. Two long swords materialized in his hands and he rushed towards me. He laughed and slashed the air in front of me. I ducked under the sweep. I retaliated with a pyro-filled uppercut. He thrust his sword downward, just missing me by a couple of inches.
I swung my hammer up, to block the blow, then forced his sword back towards him. He was hit in the face, which only dented the glass a bit. He turned both hands into cannons and aimed them at me. I barrel rolled, avoiding several fiery orbs. I then rushed at him with great speed. I hung onto him and pushed forward. As I pushed him, we plummeted down to the steel of the platform. We hit with a large crash, sending a massive shockwave reverberating throughout the structure.
I punched him repeatedly, trying more than just to dent the seemingly unbreakable glass. Fawful threw me off him, and I hit steel hard. Fawful stood up, obviously ticked off. One of his arms turned into a missile launcher. Several thin missiles came out and rained down. I weaved through them and smacked Fawful's robot with my hammer. I then rushed forward and jumped onto his head again. His arm melded into a deadly chainsaw and he ran at me, trying to separate my head from my body. I kicked his chest which sent him flying backwards.
He hit the ground then got back up. One of his claws opened and fired out, attached to a long, metal rope. I jumped over and landed on the metallic claw. He reeled it in fast and I jumped into the air and kicked him over onto the ground. He got up, slamming the ground with his metallic claw. Shockwaves traveled through the ground. Jumping into the air, I brought my hammer down on the robot. It groaned mechanically and returned to its fighting stance.
I built a large fireball in my hands. Fawful's robot was getting weaker with each passing moment, and I had to keep pouring on the power. I brought the fireball right into the robot's chest. A large hole was blown right in the center of it. Fawful roared with anger. He pushed a button and flew out of his robot, but was caught by the flames as it exploded. He flew backwards and landed on the ground. I smiled and made a peace symbol with my hands. Fawful groaned from his position on the ground. "Urrk... Plan B..." Fawful pressed a button on his remote control before falling to the ground.
Suddenly in the air, something happened. A large vortex appeared. It was large and black and demonic looking. I felt my body rising as it was lifted into that void. I struggled to regain stability, but my strength gave out and I was sucked in. Then... there was a bright light in front of me. A large, steel door was staring at me. And then it slowly opened, revealing a void of eternal darkness...
Chapter Fourty: Stumbling in the Darkness
SLIMER49'R
It was nighttime in Toad Town. All the street lights had gone out, and me and my friends had just finished bowling. We were now sitting and eating dinner at Boo Mansion. I was having a pizza again, this time steak topping the cheese. Bow sat back and yawned. It was a long day, especially after seeing Mario after so long. I wanted to throttle the pesky guy, but then reluctantly helped him, although the crazy talking guy had gotten past us. What a surprise.
"I have... A PAIR OF ACES!!!" Mewtwo90 shouted from nowhere.
"Um... dude? We're eating. Not playing poker..." I said to my oblivious pal.
"Slimer's right. Sit down and stop it before you get yourself hurt," Bow said, the coolheaded person that she was.
"GO FISH!!!" Mewtwo90 bellowed.
I groaned. "Shut up."
Mewtwo90 looked at me, suspicious of something. "You... you can't fool me!!!"
I had a confused look on my face. "What do you mean?"
"YOU'RE THE WAFFLE PEOPLE OF NEBULA SEVEN!!! HERE TO TAKE MY GINGER ALE!!!" babbled the alien.
He sliced the table in half with his tail blade, then started cutting things wildly. Bow ran. "HE'S A MAD DOG!!! PUT HIM DOWN!!!" she shrieked.
I leapt upon my crazed friend but was pushed into the ceiling and dropped. I rubbed my sore head and got up, to see the psychopath running straight towards me. "GOOD DAD!!!" I screamed. He barreled on me, and we were wrestling. I finally slapped him in the face a dozen times, and he stopped.
"Wow. Thanks," he said.
I sighed. "Well, we should probably get to bed."
"Agreed," replied Bow.
We all went upstairs into the guest room and I collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It had been a long day, it was nice to finally get some rest...
~
In the middle of the night, Slimer woke and once more walked as if pulled by some mysterious force. This time however, he went towards the basement. The Boo down there was sleeping, so he didn't notice the entranced Koopa. Mewtwo90 once again discovered his friend missing and followed him. He saw the Koopa down in the basement. He was facing a bare wall. He touched it, and it began to crumble. The stone flaked back to reveal a large, steel door.
Mewtwo90 gasped, as Slimer touched the door and it opened, mechanical and slow. Mewtwo90 went over to his friend and shook him. The Koopa looked at the passageway and gasped. "Did I do that?!" he asked in a Steven Ercal-esque voice. The two slowly walked through the doorway, not speaking a word. All around them, a dim glowing metal floor was below them. Purple and blue flames leapt around the edges of the intimidating structure. They continued walking along the dark passageway, with no clue of what they were getting into.
They cringed as giant statues of Boos loomed over them, looking as if they would come to life at any moment. Slimer thought he saw a glint in their eyes, but it must have been a trick of the light, or lack of whatever. Another door opened in front of them, and another room was revealed. There was a large, open space where the spirit-like flames leapt up to grab anyone daring to try to avoid that obstacle. However, there was also a long, rickety rope bridge.
Slimer slowly stepped onto it, gulping as he saw the bridge swaying a bit. He held onto the side, not wanting to plunge into the dangerous substance that awaited him below. The wood creaked and he motioned for his alien friend to wait for him, before he crossed. Inch by inch, bit by bit he made it slowly over the rickety rope bridge. He was halfway there, and still moving as gingerly as possible. He finally stepped over to the other side. Then he called his friend.
"C'mon, dude!" Slimer called. He nervously stepped onto the bridge. He slinked slowly across, also not wishing to fall. He was a quarter of a way there, one half... a plank of the bridge went spiraling into the dark sea. Mewtwo90 hung down from his hands. Slimer panicked and ran over. He grabbed his friend's hand and tried to pull him up. He was very heavy, so it was a hard task to do. He heard the ropes splitting, and quickly pulled up the alien.
They ran over to the end of the bridge and made it back to the steel. The bridge collapsed into the fire and the two gulped as a sizzling sound was heard and it dissolved. They turned back around. A large shadow was looming from a large boulder. They hid behind it and peeked out at the monstrous beast that was there. They could feel his hot breath washing over them. Its drool hit the floor with a splash and the beast could be seen. It looked like a large Dry Bones. It had an enormous body. Its chest was slightly cracked and looked damaged. Its shell still had patches of red remaining on it.
Its tail was a stump, and cracked a bit. The most terrifying thing about this creature was that one eyeball hung out from its socket still. It had a large, steel, threatening club that it dragged on the ground. It did not see them, thankfully, and stalked on by until it was out of sight. Slimer breathed a sigh of relief and the two courageously walked on. They walked down large, stone steps until they reached a spiral staircase. They walked and walked for what seemed like forever, but then they came to an interesting place.
They saw an odd-looking laboratory, with beakers fizzing and bubbling. There was a chair turned to a large computer and a giant tube in the middle of the room. Lights came from the almost invisible ceiling. The chair whirled around, and sitting there was a Boo. Slimer and Mewtwo90 hid, not wanting to be seen. The Boo had brown hair, and circle rimmed glasses on his face. "HAHAHAHA!!! It's almost complete... I just need one more thing..." The Boo paused for a second.
"I know you're there..." the voice called. Slimer gulped. Could he really see them? "I'm glad you came. I needed you." Almost at once, Slimer felt the same trance-like feeling wash over him again, and he walked forward. Mewtwo90 gasped. He rushed out and whipped his tail at the Koopa. Slimer's hand shot out and he grabbed the alien's neck, then threw him across the room. "Ha. Fool, he will not listen to you." The Boo smirked.
The alien's face contorted and he scowled. "Who are you?" Mewtwo90 said.
The Boo tapped his finger impatiently before replying. "Franze. But that is not important. Especially when you and the whole world are about to be introduced to someone. Someone very special," he said. Slimer walked over to the enormous tube. He found a thin needle by it and picked it up. Then he drove it into his shoulder. His blood dripped out, and he leaned over. A smaller tube appeared, and the blood entered. The Boo smiled. "Blood from one who has returned from the grave. Excellent. SAY HELLO, YOU MORTAL FOOLS!!!" the Boo cackled evilly.
The tube glowed with an intense light, and steam poured out of it. Slowly the door opened and a creature staggered out. It was a large, purple Boo, and revealed two hook claws at the end of its fins. It laughed evilly. "I have returned... VENOM!!! LORD OF THE SHADE!!!"
Chapter Fourty-One: Like Father, Like Son
LUDWIG
The ghostly figures appeared from the fog and slowly revealed themselves. It was Bowser, Kamek, and the hunter. I bit my bottom lip 'til it bled. I growled at them. "WHAT DO YOU WANT, FATHER?" I roared, feeling my blood boil and every tiny nerve of me twitch. Karma's eyes were filling to the brim with tears, this had been the same occurrence that happened in her dreams. I knew of this, through the bond we had.
"Karma's life... you know very well..." Bowser said.
My eyes widened as I remember the happening from her dreams. Kamek raised his wand and pointed it at Bowser. Bellowing, I tackled him to the ground. Bowser was stunned and gawked for a moment. I raised my claws and slashed them deep into Bowser's face. Blood leaked down the left side of Bowser's cheek. Bowser roared and charged flames from deep in his throat. I reached down and grabbed his throat, clutching it tightly. Bowser panicked before finally swallowing the flames. He yelped before leaping and knocking me off him.
Kamek was flying at Karma. "NOT A CHANCE!!!" I roared and breathed a large ball of fire at the Magikoopa. The startled Magikoopa was burned badly and fell to the ground unconscious.
I turned back to my father. He had ducked inside his shell and was rolling around on the ground towards me. I leapt over him and ducked inside my shell. I revved up, and shot at Bowser, while he shot at me. "Heh... You actually think you can beat your old man..?" Bowser asked.
I snarled ravenously, an animal-like fierceness in my eyes. "I don't know... but I'm going to try!" I swerved his shell sideways at the last moment and crashed into Bowser, knocking him over.
Bowser flipped into the air, landing fully out of his shell. I ran forward and slashed at him repeatedly, trying to penetrate his shell. He then reared back and exhaled a fountain of fire breath that passed by harmlessly when I jumped over it, speeding towards my father's face. I kicked him in the face viciously several times. He grabbed my leg and threw me roughly into the ground. I tried to get back up but was pulled off the ground and back into it on the other side of Bowser. Then Bowser tossed me into the air, and rammed his head into my chest. I gasped for breath and was thrown back several meters.
I saw that Bowser wasn't trying to kill me, for if he'd been trying, he would have already. But that was the difference between us. I was trying. I ducked into my shell, and zoomed around to the other side of Bowser. I lunged for his tail. It figured; after all the battles with Mario, he had learned to avoid this. He automatically ducked into his shell. His shell rammed into me, and I was grabbed and tossed into the air again. His shell was facing up, and his spikes were twirling dangerously. I shot a fireball, but it did nothing against the harder than steel upper half of Bowser's shell.
I fell, awaiting pain, but then, he flipped over. This was Bowser's mistake. He tried to squeeze me in his arms, but I flipped over, my upper shell facing downwards. Bowser's eyes opened wide, and I impacted. My spikes drove deep into his shell and flesh. He roared with pain, as I jumped off him. I ran around and charged a rather large fireball and shot it at his back. He was pushed forward and I ran to grab his tail. He roared out with pain. I dug my claws deep into his tail and watched as the blood coated my claws and ran to the ground. I swung him around and threw him several yards. He landed with a crash. Karma watched with fear from the other side. "I will protect you..." I muttered as Bowser got up from the rubble. I could tell he was mad now. His own son was attacking him and hurting him.
Bowser roared and ran forward. He grabbed me roughly and reared back his head. I tried to duck into my shell but he grabbed my neck. "Don't even think about it, Son... I have to teach you a lesson today... about who's in charge. Why I am doing this... you have broken the most important rules... a royal Koopa is not to marry someone outside his family, your own gender,w and most of all, especially not a HYBRID!!!" Bowser slammed his head into mine, and blood splattered about the ground. I fell to the ground, clutching my skull. Bowser grabbed me by the arm and threw me into the ground. He stalked over to me, and grabbed me by the hair, pulling me upwards. I twisted around and breathed fire in his face.
He reared back in pain, clutching his face. "GAH! MORCIOUS! HELP ME OUT HERE!" The hunter ran to Bowser's side. "Do not kill him, just beat him within an inch of his life... I want him to beg to be killed..." Bowser said. The hunter nodded and rushed forward. He smirked at me, before holding out his long, glowing spear. He spun it... slow at first, but then the rotating accelerated. He ran towards me, lashing out with the dangerous spear. I shot fire in his face, but it was deflected by the glowing spear. He grinned at me, then shoved his spear into the ground.
A great many cracks and fissures appeared, causing lightning to rocket from the ground. It issued forth to me, and I leapt back, in attempt to escape. It was futile. The blast shocked every part of me and I fell to the ground writhing. Behind the hunter I saw Bowser approaching Karma. "NO YOU DON'T!!!" I bellowed.
I ducked into my shell, and zoomed at the hunter. He was taken by surprise, and I went straight around him. I rammed into Bowser and knocked him over onto his back. He glared up at me, looking into my soul. "Stubborn brat... WHAT FUELS YOU?!" he roared.
"MY HATRED OF YOU!!! AND MY LOVE FOR KARMA!!! I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER AWAY!!!" I leapt upon him, pounding his face with my fists. I repeatedly smashed him in the face. Then I raised my claws and drove them towards his throat. He rolled out of the way swiftly and clawed me in the face. I was thrown to the ground. He kicked at my body and issued out a legion of flames from his mouth. I jumped away, the ground being burned, but me remaining alive.
I leapt on top of him, a great inferno raging inside me. I raised my claw high into the air at his throat, this time holding him down tightly. Bowser snarled with disgust. "Well? What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me? Come now... all that rage inside you. Just let it out..." Bowser said. I raised them higher, and plunged them down with great force. I was mad beyond reason, and I wanted him dead. But as I was about to deliver the finishing blow, a voice rang out from the silence around us.
"STOP!!! STOP THIS FIGHTING NOW!!!"
I whirled around to see who was standing there. And my arm fell limp. I stopped in my tracks. Bowser got up, and he too looked amazed to who was there. And there she was... crimson hair flowing in the breeze, her lips like cherries. My mother... Clawdia.
"... Mom?" I asked, unbelievingly. Her face remained stern.
"You must stop this madness. We are a family. I left you, yes... but now I wish to return. But there must be some new rules. Ludwig... I understand your rage..." she said.
I snarled at the ground. "How could you understand my rage, Mother... You have no idea the anger inside me... you left us for all these years... AND YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST COME BACK?! But... I don't blame you in a way... being married to..." I sighed, saying no more.
Bowser roared. "Clawdia! Try to understand... He broke one of the sacred rules..." he said, glaring at Karma, who was staring at Clawdia like she was a ghost.
"That's true... but then again... so did you. YOU MARRIED ME!" she said, looking into Bowser's eyes.
Bowser hung his head. "That's right... When I first set eyes on you... I saw your beauty... I guess I shouldn't judge," he said.
Without another word I ran to Clawdia and hugged her, my head upon her chest. A voice from behind startled us.
"MWAHAHAHA!!! Nice little family reunion." Morcious raised his spear and shot a beam at Bowser. I gasped.
"What is the meaning of this?" Bowser asked, growling.
"Never trust a stranger..." Morcious said, grinning. He charged his spear and a blast of color shot into the clouds above. Then, I saw a bright light, and a large wooden door. The door opened, revealing darkness. I screamed as I was pulled in...