Chapter 5: Rivals
Where am I now? Mario thought to himself as he looked around.
He was in space, on a space station. He looked around and saw nothing to keep him from suffocating, yet he was still able to breathe regardless.
I’ll never be able to get used to Mobiüs, Mario sighed. The sooner we get back home, the better.
Mario soon found that the station was a large sphere, which he was on the surface of. He heard a small rumbling sound not too far off in the distance. He went to check it out, and that’s when he saw it: Robotnik in his EgGoliath Armor!
“Sonic, you’ve foiled my plans for the last time!” Robotnik shouted. “I’ll destroy you even if it means that I have to destroy all of Mobiüs!”
Even Mario couldn’t help but fear the machine, despite the fact it looked like Robotnik.
“Does my new creation intimidate you?” Robotnik laughed. “Well it should! These arms are thousands of times more powerful then any crane, and they could grind you to dust without the slightest effort! This armor, strong enough to withstand even the fiercest of missiles! All fueled by a jewel containing the ultimate power: the Master Emerald!”
Well, that tilts the odds in his favor, Mario chuckled, but that’s how things always are… hopeless until the last minute.
“You’re smiling?” Robotnik asked in a confused manner. “You’re about to die, and you’re smiling?”
“About to die?” Mario laughed. “You underestimate my determination.”
“Your optimism
can’t save you this time!” Robotnik shouted. “It’s time to meet your maker!”
[Why did he have to bring Shigeru Miyamoto into this? Okay, so he thinks
he’s bringing Yuji Naka into it, but that’s not the point…]
“You haven’t won yet, plumber!” Bowser shouted as he ran off.
What just happened? Sonic asked himself as he looked around. He recognized the place as Toadstool’s castle.
Well, at least I know where I am… Sonic thought to himself. Too bad I didn’t see most of the place when I was here.
Sonic looked around, and saw a few windows, stars shining through them. When he looked out, he saw Bowser on a strange platform, holding what looked like a pink and white baton with a star on top of it.
“Yeah, that’s masculine,” Sonic snickered. “Is this the best you can do, Gramps?”
Sonic went off
in the direction Bowser ran, and soon found his way to the castle’s catwalk.
When he looked down, he saw that the castle was flying high in the air.
Good thing
I’m not afraid of heights, Sonic thought to himself as he boarded the
odd platform, only to see the catwalk collapse after he was on the platform.
Aboard the platform was Princess Toadstool, who was being held hostage,
and Kammy Koopa, who Sonic didn’t know.
“What’s with the old hag?” Sonic asked.
“How many times do I have to tell everyone to stop calling me a hag?” Kammy asked. “And I already told you, I’m Bowser’s right-hand woman.”
“So you’re the mother of those eight whiney brats?” Sonic said.
“You’re kidding me, right?” Bowser fell to the floor laughing. “Me and that old hag? Married? That’s a good one!”
Kammy cried, “Why does everyone keep using the ‘h-word’ to describe me?”
“Because it fits,” Sonic said.
“Agreed,” Bowser said as he got back up. “But enough fun and games! You die now!”
“How? Are you going to do the ballet with your little baton and make me laugh to death?” Sonic taunted.
“Actually, I was thinking of doing something a little more like… THIS!” Bowser shouted as he doubled in size.
“Wait a minute, how did you do that?” Sonic asked.
Kammy laughed, then said proudly, “This platform increases the power of the Star Rod a hundredfold, making Lord Bowser invincible, even against your accursed Star Beam!”
“Star Beam?” Sonic said in a puzzled manner.
“She’s old, and you’re senile,” Bowser mocked both Kammy and Sonic. “Now, where were we?”
“Oblivion’s embrace, my lord,” Kammy responded.
“Ah yes,” Bowser
said. “Mario, prepare for oblivion’s embrace!”
“Everything has its Achilles heel,” Mario smiled. “It’s only a matter of time until I find what it is for your EgGoliath.”
“So you say now, but I promise you, this is the end of the line, Hedgehog!” Robotnik shouted as the massive legs of the EgGoliath marched towards Mario.
With every step the massive machine took, the entire station shook, as though it was unable to support the machine’s mighty girth. Robotnik laughed as the machine curled its hand into a fist, and swung at Mario. Mario quickly rolled to the side to dodge it. When he looked back, Mario noticed that the EgGoliath’s fist was stuck inside of the space station’s hull. It easily removed the hand from there, but ripped out a small portion of the hull with it. It revealed a strange core that Mario didn’t recognize completely, but thougth was familiar.
“Oh no, this place couldn’t be!” Mario cried. “You’re worse then Luigi!”
“Who’s Luigi?” Robotnik asked. “And what in the world does he have to do with this?”
“This thing is a Death Star, isn’t it?” Mario sighed.
“DeathEgg, but of course, I must give credit to Vader and his emperor for the inspiration,” Robotnik chuckled.
“I’ll never complain about Luigi being a Questy again…” Mario sighed.
“You dare compare me to a Questy?” Robotnik asked.
“Yeah, it’s the same thing,” Mario said.
“I’ll make you wish you were never born!” Robotnik shouted as he tried to swat Mario like a fly.
When the hand landed, Mario quickly used a homing attack on the mech’s knees. However, he failed to even do so much as scratch its paint job.
“Go ahead, try all you like, you’ll find the EgGoliath to be quite invincible!” Robotnik laughed.
“Isn’t that what you said about Robo Giga Bowser?” Mario asked.
“Did the primary defense systems deal too hard a blow to your head?” Robotnik asked. “Because I would never create a machine with such a horrible name!”
Right, that hasn’t happened yet, Mario sighed. Time travel is too confusing to keep track of.
Robotnik quickly withdrew the fist, and used it to perform a back-handed slap against Mario. Mario took the blow, which knocked him to the ground. Mario quickly got back up, and attempted to attack the EgGoliath’s face. Had Mario been in his own body, he may have succeeded. However, since this was not the case, he failed to jump high enough to hit his target, and kicked the body instead.
“Hey! Are you
even listening to me? You’re not going to get through this robot’s armor!”
Robotnik shouted.
Sonic quickly jumped on top of Bowser, who seemed to barely be phased by the attack.
“Jump all you want, Plumber, but nothing can prepare you for this!” Bowser said as the Star Rod strengthened him.
“Mario, use the Star Beam!” said a Goomba.
“Who are you?” Sonic asked.
“Wow… you really did get hit on the head back there… It’s me, Goombario, your biggest (and most annoying) fan!”
“Star Beam… how do I do that again?” Sonic asked.
While they were distracted, a fireball narrowly missed Sonic, drawing his attention back to Bowser.
“That’s right, go ahead, try your pathetic Star Beam!” Bowser laughed. “It’ll never work!”
“Don’t listen to him, that’s just what he wants you to think!” Goombario said. “Plea to the Star Spirits for help.”
“Um… help?” Sonic asked.
“Not a fromal request, but I’m not picky,” said Eldstar as he appeared along with the rest of the Star Spirits.
The Star Spirits formed a beam of light, and hit Bowser with it. However, his connection with the Star Rod’s power was unsevered.
“Now do you get it?” Kammy asked. “With this platform, Lord Bowser is invincible!”
“Invincible? Yeah right!” Sonic laughed. “That’s what Robotnik said about the EggTerminator, and you don’t see that walking pile of scrap around anymore!”
Bowser held up the Star Rod, and two bolts of lightning flew down, one striking Sonic, the other striking Goombario.
“Not bad,” Sonic said as he got back up. “But certainly not invincible.”
“Mario, I think a retreat may be in order,” Eldstar suggested. “With the Star Beam rendered useless, we won’t be able to help you.”
“You can pull out,” Sonic said, “but I’m staying right here.”
“Very well,” Eldstar sighed. “We won’t abandon you after having gone so far.”
“Let’s see what this hammer is capable of,” Sonic said as he tossed the Ultra Hammer at Bowser.
The hammer simply bounced off of Bowser, not even phasing the self-proclaimed Koopa King.
“Okay, so maybe
he is invincible,” Sonic said. “But that doesn’t mean he’s unbeatable.”
The EgGoliath’s hand attempted to swat Mario like a fly, but Mario quickly performed a backflip to get out of the way. Mario then saw it, the EgGoliath’s one weakness: its knuckles were completely unarmored.
“Invincible?” Mario asked. “I doubt it!”
“Really?” Robotnik laughed. “Then do you care to try again?”
“Gladly,” Mario said as he made a spin dash at the fist that was still implanted into the surface of the DeathEgg.
Robotnik quickly removed the fist, and punched Mario with the other in a low, sweeping motion. Before Mario could even stop, he was hit from the side with the cold, hard, metal fist. The blow injured Mario’s right arm, or rather Sonic’s, to the point that he couldn’t even feel the pain. Mario ignored his wounds, and jumped back before Robotnik could take another swipe. Robotnik threw his fist at Mario again. Mario quickly rolled to avoid the potentially fatal blow. Mario noticed that the fist was once again lodged into the DeathEgg, and this time, he acted without hesitation, striking the knuckles of the mech and severing its right index finger.
“Inconceivable!” Robotnik shouted. “You damaged the EgGoliath!” But that’s, that’s, that’s-“
“Impossible?” Mario mocked.
Robotnik’s disbelief caused but a momentary pause in the battle until the mad man snatched at Mario. Mario ran towards the EgGoliath, and ran up the mech’s stomach, and onto its left shoulder. Mario then spin dashed down the arm and into the left middle finger, destroying a second digit.
“You fool!” Robotnik shouted. “Even if you manage to destroy the fingers of the EgGolaith, I can still crush you underneath my foot like a bug!”
As Robotnik said
that, he attempted to do as he said, having the EgGoliath stomping around
trying to crush Mario with its feet. Mario dashed from side to side to
avoid being crushed, easily dodging Robotnik’s attempts. However, Robotnik
simply laughed. His true plan was just beginning…
“Mario!” Princess Toadstool shouted. “You can’t give up, not now! You’ve come so-“
“Put a sock in it!” Kammy shouted.
Just then, a small star flew towards Peach.
“Twink!” Peach shouted.
“Sorry I’m late,” the young star replied.
“So, you’re the little rat that’s been giving Mario his information!” Kammy shouted. “If it wasn’t for you, Lord Bowser wouldn’t have had to deal with Mario himself! But it doesn’t matter, you won’t be bothering us again!”
Kammy made a large, stone block appear above Twink. Twink was knocked to the ground by the block, and nearly knocked out. However, he got back up and tried to knock Kammy off her broom. Kammy simply swatted at him like a fly.
“Twink, don’t give up!” Toadstool shouted.
Kammy dropped another block on Twink, but noticed something strange.
“That second time he didn’t seem to be affected as much… Now how was it that the stars get their power…” Kammy pondered. “Oh well, no time for that now.”
While Kammy was lost in thought, Twink rammed into her.
“Why you impudent, little brat!” Kammy shouted. “You’ll pay for that!”
“Stay strong, Twink!” Toadstool reassured him.
Kammy blasted Twink with another stone block, but this time, it barely even phased him.
“How are you still floating?” Kammy asked. “You should be on the floor right now!”
Twink rammed into Kammy once again, this time too fast for her to even notice what was happening.
“You’ve almost got her, Twink!” Toadstool shouted in encouragement.
“Where is your strength coming from?” Kammy asked as she created another stone block above him.
This time, Twink wasn’t even phased by the block. Instead, he flew straight through it and towards Kammy, knocking her off the broom.
“Lord Bowser, we may have a bit of trouble!” Kammy said.
“What is it now?” Bowser asked.
“I just remembered where the stars get their power from!” Kammy said. “With every wish, they grow stronger, and with all the wishes everyone below is making, the Star Rod’s power may not be enough!”
“Nonsense! The Star Beam was unable to stop it!” Bowser laughed triumphantly.
“Mario, everyone back in the Mushroom Kingdom is giving us strength,” Eldstar explained. “They’re all cheering for you, and their wishes are as invigorating as ever.”
“In short?” Sonic asked.
“Try using the Star Beam again!” Eldstar said. “We may yet stand a chance!”
“Right!” Sonic said. “Come on, let’s do this!”
“Not what I was expecting, but it’s a request regardless,” Eldstar chuckled as he and the other Star Spirits created another Star Beam.
Bowser lost his aura of power, and the Star Rod no longer protected him from harm.
“I may not be invincible,” Bowser laughed, “but I’m still unstoppable!”
“Then come and get me,” Sonic said.
Bowser unleashed a sea of flames upon Sonic, who quickly jumped over the flames and behind Bowser.
“What good is all that power if you can’t even hit your target?” Sonic asked. “Perhaps you need a little speed training.”
“You want to see speed? I’ll show you speed!” Bowser laughed as he held up the Star Rod.
A bolt of lightning struck Sonic to the ground before he could even think of a comeback, which for Sonic, takes no time at all.
“Not bad,” Sonic said as he struggled to get back up, “but I’m still not impressed.”
“You’re not supposed to be impressed,” Bowser laughed. “You’re supposed to be killed!”
If this keeps
up, that’s just what’ll happen, Sonic thought to himself. There
has to be someway to stop him…
Robotnik continued to stomp around until Mario climbed atop the EgGoliath’s “boots”, wall kicked off the EgGoliath’s knee cap, and sliced off the rest of the EgGoliath’s right hand.
Robotnik simply laughed. “You think you’re winning, don’t you? Well let me show you exactly what you’re up against!”
The EgGoliath opened its “mouth”, revealing something that worried Mario.
Wait, if that’s the Master Emerald, and that’s a focusing lens, that can only mean… Mario thought to himself, …it’s a LASER! And with the power of the Master Emerald, it could easily vaporize me with a single blast. If that thing hits me, it’s all over.
Mario quickly started to run every which way, attempting to prevent the LASER from getting a lock on him. There was a blinding flash… the blast was so powerful, it created a shockwave of sound so loud, it knocked Mario to the ground, despite having dodged the LASER.
How am I supposed to fight something like that? Even if I can manage to dodge it, there’s no chance of me being able to avoid the shockwave that results, Mario thought to himself.
Giving up so soon? Cronos Sonic laughed. Is this all that Mario, the famed Superstar of the Mushroom Kingdom, is capable of? Have you reached your limits so soon? Surely, you’ve faced greater trials then this.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to encourage me, Mario thought as he chuckled.
I simply don’t wish for such an entertaining fight to end so abruptly, Cronos Sonic explained. Besides, I can’t stand to see that fool, Ivo, claim a victory over anyone. I should mention that you have the Chaos Emeralds with you, if only you can figure out how to use them.
Why do I have the feeling that this is some sort of trap? Mario asked.
Fine, you don’t have to take my advice, Cronos Sonic laughed. You’ll meet your end sooner than I had intended… pity.
Cronos Sonic then vanished from Mobiüs; it was time for him to check up on Sonic.
Robotnik chuckled
as a fireball shot out of the EgGoliath’s nose. Mario tried to catch the
flames in his hand, not realizing that he lacked the FireBrand. Needless
to say, Mario was hit hard and burnt by the attack. Robotnik advanced…
Bowser repeatedly struck Sonic with bolts of lightning, not even allowing him to get up.
Such a pity, to think that you would fall so easily, Cronos Sonic mocked. After defeating me, I’d think that destroying this fool would be nothing for you.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Sonic said aloud.
“That was rather… random,” Bowser stated.
They can neither see nor hear me, remember? Cronos Sonic reminded him.
“Fine, just what do you want?” Sonic asked. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of busy.”
“He’s gone off the deep end!” Bowser laughed.
“Could you give me a second?” Sonic asked Bowser.
“Um… okay,” Bowser said, then shouted, “Hey… wait a minute! WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT!”
“So?” Sonic asked.
“You’re not getting off that easily!” Bowser shouted.
The Star Spirits can be powerful allies… Cronos Sonic explained. If you wish to survive long enough to be crushed by my hands, then I suggest you ask for their help.
“Afraid he might outdo you?” Sonic mocked. “Can’t stand to see someone else succeed where you failed?”
“Who are you talking to?!” Bowser fumed, now realizing that Sonic was ignoring him.
That may be the case, but do not forget that in my current state, I could eliminate your entire existence at my slightest whim, Cronos Sonic said angrily. I simply wish to torture you before I rid this world of you.
“You can rid the Mushroom Kingdom of me anytime you want,” Sonic chuckled. “I’ll gladly go back to Mobiüs.”
“This guy is two coins short of a 1-Up!” Kammy commented.
While Sonic was distracted, Bowser exhaled a fireball at him, which was met in midair by a stream of water.
“What was that?” Sonic asked, then looked down to see a purple Cheep Cheep.
“Just glad I could help,” Sushi answered.
“Thanks… anyone else here?” Sonic asked.
“What, you didn’t think we’d chicken out, didja?” Lakilester asked.
“We’re in this until the end!” Parakarry added.
“It’ll take more then a little rod to scare us off,” Kooper continued.
“We’ve come so far, you didn’t really think we’d abandon you after all that, did you?” Bombette inquired.
“Let’s show tat meanie!” Watt finished.
“And don’t forget about me,” Goombario chipped in.
Sonic smiled, then said, “All right… this is it Bowser! All the pain you’ve caused the people of the Mushroom Kingdom ends this day!”
“But it’s the middle of the night,” Bowser said in a puzzled manner.
“He’s speaking figuratively, my lord,” Kammy whispered to Bowser.
“Right…” Bowser
whispered, then shouted, “So Plumber, what do you want on your grave?”
Mario could barely move as the EgGoliath towered over him.
“Now Sonic, after all the trouble you’ve caused me, you die!” Robotnik laughed as the LASER charged for one final blast.
I’ve no choice… I have to use the Chaos Emeralds, Mario thought as he focused his mind and transformed into Super Sonic.
There was a blinding flash, and when Robotnik could see again, a pillar of smoke was where Mario once stood.
“And so ends our game of cat and mouse…” Robotnik laughed. “To be honest, I will miss our fights. Farewell, Sonic the Hedgehog.”
“Don’t count me out just yet,” Mario said as the smoke cleared. “I’m not the type to give up so easily.”
“I-impossible! But that knucklehead has the Chaos Emeralds! I personally made sure he had them!” Robotnik shouted, then realized. “He gave them to you… after I took the Master Emerald, he must have realized the full extent of my plan, and entrusted them to you.”
Sure, let’s go with that, Mario thought to himself as he flew up slightly.
“B-but it matters not! The power of the Master Emerald exceeds that of its servers!” Robotnik shouted as he charged up another blast.
Mario flew behind the EgGoliath so quickly, that it seemed as though he never even moved. As soon as the LASER had fired, Mario flew back to the front before Robotnik could close the machine’s mouth, crushed the focusing lens, and ripped the Master Emerald from the machine. With nothing left to power it, the EgGoliath collapsed.
Mario smiled, then said, “Game, set, and-“
Not so fast, Cronos Sonic laughed. True, you’ve won a set, but the match is far from over!
Before the DeathEgg
even collapsed, before Robotnik could launch the DoomsEgg Machine, Mario
was whisked away to yet another challenge…
Everyone attempted to gang up on Bowser, but he simply slashed at them with his claws.
“Don’t you fools get it?” Bowser laughed. “With the Star Rod, I’m inbeatable!”
“Unbeatable, my lord,” Kammy whispered.
“Unbeatable?” Sonic laughed. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that before?”
“You’re still standing?” Bowser shouted. “Well then, now it’s just you and me, Plumber!”
Sonic knew that he didn’t have enough strength to do this, so he did the only thing he could… he swallowed his pride, and asked for help.
“Star Spirits, here my plea, I ask that you lend me the remainder of your power so that I can fight to protect this land,” Sonic said. “I’m not normally one to ask for help, but I know when I can’t do something alone.”
Eldstar, Mistar, Muskular, and the others circled around Sonic and revived his strength as Bowser snarled.
“It matters not! If you wish for me to kill you, then draw your hammer and prepare for death!” Bowser said as he ran towards Mario in an attempt to slash him with his claws.
Sonic simply jumped up and crushed Bowser’s left hand, simple as that, forcing him to drop the Star Rod. Sonic grabbed it, then threw Mario’s hammer at the Koopa King, knocking him out cold.
“Anytime you want a rematch, I’ll be happy to put you in your place,” Sonic chuckled as he vanished…