Clarisse and the Magikoopa Sorceress

By Prince Peace

Chapter 1: Clarisse’s New Teacher

Clarisse is in her house, preparing lunch.  Clarisse is almost 17 and has long, straight brown hair and a gentle face.  She wears a skirt, a short-sleeved shirt, and suede shoes, all tan-colored.  The kitchen is pretty much spotless, and in it there is an oven, a cupboard for dishes, a small fridge, a shelf for spices, and a small bookshelf with a few books.  Going over to the bookshelf, Clarisse pulls out a dark pink book that reads Zess T’s Recipes – Add Some Spice to Your Cooking on the cover.  She flips through it and stops on a page that says “Healthy Salad” at the top.  As she’s gathering ingredients to make it, however, someone knocks at the door.

“Who could that be?” she wonders aloud, exiting the kitchen and heading toward the door.

Answering it, she sees an old man with a straight beard wearing a gray robe with white diamond designs on it.  “Clarisse, I presume?” he says.

“Yes, and you are?” Clarisse asks.

"My name is Chalan. I received a vision that I am to train you in the art of magic."

"Really?" Clarisse asks, shocked.

"Truly. May I come in?"

"Oh! Sorry. Of course you may."

The two go back inside the house.  Chalan looks around.  The room is a fairly sized with a bed, dining table, pots of flowers here and there, a lamp, and a dresser.  There’s also a pleasant and welcoming feeling that seems to come from the house.

“I was just about to make something to eat.  What would you like?” Clarisse asks, entering the kitchen, the only other room.

“I’ll just have some tea.  Thanks,” Chalan replies, sitting down at the table.

“You sure?” Clarisse asks, poking her head out of the kitchen.

Chalan nods, and Clarisse returns to the kitchen.  After a while passes, she reenters the room carrying a tray with a bowl of Healthy Salad and a cup of Zess Tea.  “Here you are,” she says, placing the tray on the table and handing Chalan the tea.

Chalan sips it and says, “Delicious.  You’re a very good cook.”

“Oh, I just followed the recipe in my Zess T. Cookbook,” Clarisse responds, taking a bite of her salad.

“The book doesn’t make the food for you.  Somebody else could have easily messed up the recipe.  I believe Zess T. couldn't have done a better job herself.”

"Oh, you're exaggerating!" Clarisse laughs, blushing, "Thanks though."

"I have to ask. What is someone like you doing in a town like this?"  Chalan asks.  Clarisse lives in Rogueport, a very dismal and unsanitary town with shady characters.

"Well, after my grandma died a few months ago, I knew I had to find some way to support myself, so I moved here and take on requests at the Trouble Center to earn money for food and such."

"What about your parents?"

Clarisse puts down her fork and remains quiet for a few seconds. "My parents were detectives and were killed by a Magikoopa they were investigating... I was only 3. That's when I went to live with my grandma."

"Wow, it must have been hard."

Clarisse tilts her head back as memories flood back. "I had come to hate all Magikoopas because of my parents' death, but my grandma told me that I couldn't judge all Magikoopas just because of what one did and that hating others never solved anything. She was the one who first taught me white magic."

"I see. What about your grandpa?"

Clarisse goes back to eating and replies, "I never knew him. He left the family because of some dispute before I was even born."

"I see. Did they ever tell you what the dispute was about?"

Clarisse shakes her head. "No. That's all they told me."

Chalan finishes off his tea and stands up. "Well, what do you say we get started on your training?"

"All right," Clarisse replies, quickly finishing off her salad.

She leads him out into her backyard.  Chalan marvels at what he sees as he comes into a beautiful landscape.  Fresh and healthy grass covers the earth.  There is a pleasing wooden fence surrounding the area, a garden of lovely flowers next to the eastern fence, and a couple of trees growing near the farthest side of the yard.  Even a few butterflies hover in the area, a sanctuary from the rest of the disgusting, dangerous town.

"Amazing. Did you do all of this?" Chalan asks, looking around in wonder.

"Yeah," Clarisse answers, walking over to the flowers to water them. "I used to help my grandma with her garden before she died. In fact, some of these flowers were hers. It seemed a shame that they'd all go to waste, so I brought some with me."

"It sounds like you really miss her."

Clarisse puts down the watering can and walks back over to Chalan. "I do, but I know that she's happy where she is."

After a few second, Chalan replies, "You're a very strong girl. I hope you know that."

Clarisse nods.

"Now," Chalan continues, "let's begin."
 

Chapter 2: The Ransom

Deep in the Forest of Illusion, Kit is chasing after Greenoomba.  Kit is a Duplighost wearing a green sheet with a black star stitched on the torso.  She has yellow ponytail-like fluff on her head.  Greenoomba looks like a normal Tanoomba but green.

“Get back here, you jerk!” Kit yells.

"You'll never catch me!" Greenoomba shouts back.

"We'll see about that," Kit retorts, speeding up.

"You forget. This is the Forest of Illusion. I can hide very easily in here.”  Greenoomba jumps up into the trees.

Kit stops and yells, "Where'd you go? Come out, you coward!"

Suddenly, blue fireballs rain down from the trees at her. Kit gasps and tries to dodge them, but there are too many; being slammed by all of them, she falls to the ground unconscious. After a few seconds, Greenoomba jumps down from the trees and walks over to Kit, looking at her curiously. "But, I didn't do that," he says, "so, who did?"

"That would be me." A Boo with red eyes and wearing a black-exterior and red-interior cape appears.

"Barbootos!" Greenoomba exclaims in surprise.

"That's right, and now that I've helped you with your enemy, you're going to help me with mine."

"You mean Boobart? You lost last time. What makes you think you'll win this time?" Greenoomba asks, eyeing Barbootos skeptically.

Barbootos eyes Kit with an evil grin. "Because this time we have bait.”  He then teleports them to Boo Mansion.

* * *

In the study of Boo Mansion, Boobart is studying the spells in the BOO-k, a powerful book of spells that he acquired, but that’s another story.  Boobart is an intelligent blue Boo with glasses.  Suddenly Frank, one of Boobart’s best friends, pops up through the floor and shouts “BOO!”

“Hi, Frank,” Boobart says, unfazed.

"Drat! I didn't scare you?" Frank asks.  Frank is a gold ghost who wears a flat, yellow hat with a dead, shriveled flower on it.  He’s a comedian, but not a very good one, and he’s rather thick and child-like.

"After the 100th time, I've kind of gotten used to you popping up out of nowhere," Boobart replies, not even looking up from the BOO-k.

"Do you wanna hear a new joke I made up?" Frank asks.

"Sure," Boobart replies, still reading.

"Okay, a Koopa and a Dry Bones are talking, and the Koopa says, Man, you’ve got to eat something. The Dry Bones asks, Why's that? And the Koopa replies, ’Cause you're nothing but bones!  Frank starts laughing hysterically for a few seconds and then asks Boobart, "So, what do you think?"

"Uuuhhh, keep working on it," Boobart says, looking up from the BOO-k for a second and then resuming his reading.

Frank looks down, saddened. Floating down through the floor, he mumbles, “Well, I thought it was funny.”

Once Frank's gone, Boobart sighs and shakes his head at Frank's remark.

* * *

Barbootos and Greenoomba teleport near the mansion with a still unconscious Kit. Barbootos hands Greenoomba a note. "Give this to Frank and tell him to deliver it to Boobart."

"Why don't I just give it to Boobart?" Greenoomba asks, taking the note.

"Because the moment he reads that note, he'll come after us, and my plan isn't setup yet.  Now go!"

"Sheesh, he's as bossy as ever," Greenoomba says as he walks toward the mansion. He sees Frank standing in front of the door. "Hey, Frank.”

Frank turns and sees Greenoomba. "Hey, Greenoomba! I haven't seen you in a while. Wanna hear a joke?"

"Maybe later," Greenoomba answers, rolling his eyes. He then hands Frank the note. "Give this to Boobart."

"Okay," Frank says, taking it. "Are you sure you don't wanna hear a joke?"

Greenoomba rolls his eyes again and replies, "Positive," as he walks away.

He gets back to Barbootos. "Did you deliver it to Frank?"

"Yeah, so now what?"

"You'll see," Barbootos says, teleporting them elsewhere.

* * *

Boobart finally closes the BOO-k. "Time for a break," he says. Looking around, he continues, "Maybe I should go find Frank. I haven't seen him since he told me that bad joke. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings or anything.” Boobart floats down through the floors until he finds Frank on the ground floor, trying to make up a joke.  "Hey, Frank," Boobart greets, going over to him.

"Huh? Oh, hi, Boobart!" Frank greets cheerfully, as usual.

"So-"

"Oh, hang on," Frank interrupts. He opens his mouth, digs his hand around inside, and pulls out a piece of paper. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Boobart says, disgusted but taking the paper by the corner, "and what is it?"

"A note from Greenoomba," Frank answers casually.

"What?" Boobart exclaims, quickly forgetting his disgust and opening the note as swiftly as possible.

Hello, Boobart,

We have your friend Kit. If you want her back, meet us on top of Thwomp Volcano within 24 hours. There, you will give me the BOO-k in exchange for her. If you don't show up within that time, or show any resistance, we will kill Kit. Hurry. The clock is ticking.

-Barbootos

Boobart shivers as he reads who the note is from.  “Barbootos?” Boobart exclaims. "We barely beat him the first time!  Well, he did warn that he’d be back…"

Boobart rereads the note. "Kit is in trouble... but we can't just hand the BOO-k over to Barbootos." Boobart sighs. "What should we do?"

After a few seconds of thought, Boobart exclaims, “I’ve got it!  The note says that I have to come.  It doesn't say anything about you, Frank, so they won't be expecting you to be there.  While I'm distracting them, you come up from behind, invisible, and get Kit. Then, I'll quickly teleport us back here to safety.”

"Sounds good," Frank says, although he doesn't really seem to be paying attention.

"All right, we'd better hurry," Boobart says, opening the BOO-k. He casts the teleportation spell and teleports them to Thwomp Volcano.

* * *

Barbootos and Greenoomba appear on top of the volcano. "Now what?" Greenoomba asks.

"All right, here's the plan…" Barbootos begins.
 

Chapter 3: Rescue

Kit wakes up, finding she has been tied up with a rope. "Where am I?" Kit asks, looking around.  She then sees Barbootos. "You! What are you doing here, and where is here?”

"We're on top of Thwomp Volcano, and you are the bait that will lure Boobart here so that I may obtain what should have been mine to begin with," Barbootos answers.

"Not if I can help it," Kit replies. "You seem to have forgotten that I can transform. I'll just transform into something small enough to get out of these ropes and escape."

Kit transforms into a bird and is about to fly out of the ropes when they tighten around her. Kit transforms back, the ropes widening with her, and she gasps in surprise. "What the?"

"Remember me, Kit?" the ropes ask.

"I know that voice. Greenoomba!" Kit exclaims.

"I knew you would use your transformation powers to try to escape," Barbootos explains, "so I had Greenoomba become the rope so that he could adjust to whatever shape you transformed into. Now, I think it would be best if you took a nap."

Barbootos's eyes glow red, and he lifts his hand toward Kit. Kit begins to feel disoriented. The world around her blurs, and her eyelids get heavy. She then falls into a deep sleep.

* * *

Boobart and Frank arrive at the bottom of the mountain "We're here.  Barbootos and Kit are at the top. Now, you remember the plan. Right, Frank?"

"Yep... um, what do I have to do again?"

Boobart sighs. "Come on. I'll tell you again on the way up."

* * *

"Remember, concentrate. Imagine yourself standing beside the tree," Chalan instructs as he continues to train Clarisse on the spell they're working on.

Clarisse nods, her eyes closed. After a few seconds pass, Clarisse disappears and reappears beside one of the trees in the yard. She opens her eyes and exclaims in delight, "I did it!"

"Good job. However, you just teleported within the same vicinity. The truly hard part is teleporting to an entirely different location. Also, don't forget that you either must have been where you're about to teleport or have seen an image of it and have a good sense of where it is.  Otherwise, you'll either fail to teleport or you'll teleport to a random location."

"All right," Clarisse says as she nods.

"Let's take a break," Chalan decides, sitting down in the grass. Clarisse follows suit.  "You're learning very quickly. You're a natural."

Clarisse smiles. "Thanks."

"While we rest, tell me what spells you know," Chalan says.

"I know how to heal myself and others, shrink myself and my allies, cast a barrier to protect myself and others, and create illusions of my friends and me; I can also use levitation to fly and can allow my friends to fly for a short time. I can cloak any sound or smell we make, and now I've learned how to teleport, at least for short distances."

"I see," Chalan replies. "Well then, I know the perfect spell to teach you to combine with one of the spells you mentioned. Ready to start training again?”

"Of course," Clarisse replies, standing up as Chalan gets up as well.

* * *

Once they're almost at the top, Boobart and Frank stop. "Okay, Frank," Boobart tells him, "phase through to the inside and, while I distract Barbootos, sneak up from inside the volcano and grab Kit. Got it?"

"Yep," Frank responds, phasing into the volcano.

"I sure hope so," Boobart comments.

Boobart heads to the top and sees Barbootos with an evil grin on his face and Kit, who's tied up and unconscious. "Ah, you've arrived," Barbootos says. "Now, hand over the BOO-k."

"Hand over Kit first. Then I'll hand over the BOO-k," Boobart counters.

"Do you take me for a fool?!" Barbootos retorts. "You'll just teleport out of here with your friend and the BOO-k. Now, hand it over, or your friend goes into the volcano!"

"Fine," Boobart answers, going over to Barbootos. Where is Frank? Boobart thinks.  Just then, Frank appears, grabs Kit, and quickly floats out of Barbootos's reach over the volcano. "Ha! We've fooled you and now we're out of here!" Boobart says, opening the BOO-k.

* * *

“Concentrate.  Pretend that you are being completely ignored. Block out all distractions from the world. They aren't paying attention to you. No one even knows you exist."

Clarisse nods, closing her eyes to concentrate. A few seconds pass, and Clarisse disappears. "I did it!" Clarisse exclaims with glee.

"All right, now try combining it with the other spell," Chalan instructs.

"Right."

After a few seconds have passed, Chalan says, "All right, once you've cast the spell, try rustling the grass." The grass moves, but it makes no sound. "Excellent, now try speaking. If I can't hear you, I'll nod and you can undo the spells." There is silence for a few more seconds. Chalan nods, and Clarisse reappears. "Well, I think that's enough for a while."

"All right, would you like to stay for supper?"

Chalan smiles and says, "Sure."

The two go back inside. Chalan sits down at the table while Clarisse goes into the kitchen and prepares to cook.  Just then, Chalan receives a vision. He sees a volcano and dark clouds in the sky, stretching over the land. The vision then magnifies on an evil-looking Boo, who is laughing manically as he holds a book up in the air. The vision ends. Chalan stands up and says, "We need to leave."

"Huh? Why? What's going on?" Clarisse asks, hurrying back into the room.

"I received a vision that the world is in danger. We have to leave immediately," Chalan replies. He then teleports them to the volcano he saw in his vision: Thwomp Volcano.

* * *

Just as Boobart is about to teleport them out of there, the rope binding Kit transforms into a Cobrat and bites Frank, who then drops Kit. The Cobrat then transforms into a Pidgit, with Kit lying on the flying carpet, still unconscious.

"You took me too lightly, you fool!" Barbootos mocks. "Did you actually think I didn't see this coming? I knew you would think of some pathetic plan to save your friend, so I had Greenoomba transform into the rope that binds her to stop you."

Boobart groans in frustration.

"Now, hand over the BOO-k!"

"Never!" Boobart shouts. "Frank! Get Kit!"

Frank dives to snatch Kit away from the transformed Greenoomba. Greenoomba tries to get out of the way in time, but in doing so, accidentally drops Kit, who tumbles toward the open mouth of the volcano.

"Kit!" exclaims Boobart.

Just then, Clarisse and Chalan appear on top of the volcano. Clarisse sees Kit falling toward the volcano. She gasps and quickly casts a levitation spell. She then flies over, catches Kit, and sets her on the ground.

“Kit!" Boobart exclaims, rushing over to her as Frank does the same.

"And who are you?" Barbootos asks, annoyed by the interference.

"I am Chalan, and that is Clarisse," Chalan answers, stepping forward. "And you would be?"

"I am Barbootos," he replies, wrapping himself in his cape. "Now, this affair is none of your business, so don't interfere or you’ll be destroyed."

"Actually, this affair is our business, for your actions are going to affect this whole planet, involving everyone who lives on it. Thus, I'm afraid we cannot allow you to lay your hands on that book," Chalan responds, pointing toward the BOO-k he sees in Boobart's possession.

"Fine, then you can perish with the rest of them!" Barbootos exclaims, firing a giant fire spell at Chalan.

"Master!" Clarisse cries.

Chalan calmly raises his hand and casts a glowing barrier that easily withstands the spell's might. "Your pathetic spells will have no effect on me," Chalan informs Barbootos, barrier still raised.

"Really?" Barbootos asks suspiciously, glancing at the others behind him. He then quickly turns around and fires a large lightning spell at them. Chalan quickly casts a barrier around them as well, blocking the spell.  "Hmph, fine, I have other ways to battle," Barbootos says. He then disappears.

"He's become transparent. Be careful," Boobart warns.

They all look around for any trace of Barbootos. Just then, Greenoomba appears from out of the volcanic crater and transforms into a Cobrat, wrapping himself around Chalan. "Thank you, Greenoomba," Barbootos says as he appears next to them. Barbootos places a hand on Chalan, who begins feeling weaker by the second.

"What…?" Chalan begins.

"I'm draining your energy. Soon you won't have enough power to protect yourself, nor your friends."

"Master!" Clarisse cries.

Boobart opens the BOO-k and quickly casts a fire spell at Barbootos, who counters with his own fire spell. Barbootos's fire spell easily overcomes and envelops Boobart's and begins heading towards the group. Boobart then quickly casts a barrier to block the spell.  However, the spell is too powerful and breaks through. Clarisse, Boobart, Frank, and the unconscious Kit are blasted backwards from the force. Clarisse looks at Chalan, who groans as the last of his energy begins to be drained away.

"No, I... I won't let you do this!" she shouts.  Suddenly, sand begins whipping up around Clarisse.  She floats up into the air, semi-conscious, as a giant sandstorm begins brewing around her.  As the sandstorm begins to batter Barbootos, he stops draining Chalan's energy to brace himself against the storm.

"What is this?" Barbootos asks.

Chalan opens his eyes and sees Clarisse and the sandstorm. "It can't be," he says, amazed. "Could this be the Sandstorm spell? But that's..."

Barbootos becomes aggravated and shouts, "All right, enough of this foolishness."

He prepares to fires a spell at Clarisse. However, Chalan, who manages to pull one of his hands free while Greenoomba is distracted by Clarisse’s spell, places his hand on Barbootos and says, “Now, there'll be none of that.  How about admiring my apprentice's spell up close and personal?"

"Wha-?!" Barbootos exclaims in surprise as he is teleported deep into the sandstorm.  Barbootos tries to teleport back out, but is knocked out in mere seconds from the power of the sandstorm.

Greenoomba begins trembling and says, "Eeehhh, I'm out of here!" He then lets go of Chalan and slithers away.

As the sandstorm spell begins to end, the storm dies down, and Clarisse floats back down to the ground, barely conscious and drained from using such a powerful spell. "Wha-What happened?" Clarisse asks.

"You don't remember?" Boobart asks, as he and Frank go over to her.

"You were awesome!" Frank exclaims in delight. "The way you made that sandstorm appear out of nowhere, and you beat Barbootos good, and then Greenoomba ran away like a chicken."

"Wait! Barbootos!" Boobart exclaims, remembering that he had been knocked out from Clarisse's spell. However, when he looks toward where Barbootos fell, he is nowhere to be scene. "What? Ugh! He must have gotten away!"

"Hey, Kit! Wake up! You missed all the fun!" Frank shouts, trying to wake her up.

However, Kit remains motionless. "Kit?" Boobart asks, worriedly turning his attention to her.

"It appears she's under a spell," Chalan informs them. "Clarisse, break the spell.”

"Right," Clarisse replies, getting up and kneeling down next to Kit.  Clarisse places her hands over Kit, and a bright light eminates from them. As the light disappears, Clarisse stands up and Kit awakens.

Kit quickly sits up and shouts, "Barbootos!" She then looks around and sees Boobart. "Boobart! It's a trap! You have to-"

"It's all right, Kit," Boobart says, trying to calm her. "We beat him, with the help of these two."

"You did?" Kit asks, amazed. She then stands up, bows to Clarisse and Chalan, and says, "Thank you for aiding my friends in rescuing me."

"Oh, it was no trouble. We were happy to help," Clarisse replies with a smile.

"Next time, try not to get captured though," Chalan advises, a little rude.

Kit nods. "Thanks for the help. Maybe we'll see you again sometime."

Boobart says, "Until then, see ya." Boobart then teleports himself, Frank, and Kit back to Boo Mansion.

"All right Clarisse, teleport us back to your house," Chalan instructs.
 

Chapter 4: The Approaching Threat

Boobart, Frank, and Kit appear back inside the mansion. "So, you're all right, right, Kit?" Boobart asks.

"Never better," Kit replies. "Thanks for saving me."

"No big deal. You are our friend, after all."

"Well, I'll head out now."

"Already? But you just got here. Can't you stay for a little while?" Frank asks.

"Sorry, but after getting captured by Barbootos, I'm going to train more than ever, starting as soon as possible."

"All right. I understand, but come visit more often, okay?" Boobart says.

"I will, and, um, thanks again," Kit says. Just as she is about to leave, Kit quickly kisses Boobart on the cheek and runs off.

Boobart blushes as he touches his cheek where Kit kissed him. "Ooooo, Boobart and Kit sitting in a tree.  K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Frank begins teasing.

"Hey, cut it out! Stop it!" Boobart begin shouting, still blushing, as Frank continues to tease him.

Meanwhile, Kit walks into the shadows of the trees next to the mansion.  "Is all going according to plan?" a familiar, villainous voice asks.

"Yes, they don't have a clue," Kit replies, smiling evilly.

"Excellent," Barbootos says as he emerges from the shadows with Greenoomba. "Then it's on to Plan B."

Barbootos teleports the three elsewhere to get ready for their next scheme.

* * *

Clarisse and Chalan appear back inside Clarisse's house, right next to the dinner table where they had left. "Very good work for your first long distance teleport."

"Thanks," Clarisse replies. "So what spell are you going to teach me next?"

"First, Clarisse, I wish to talk to you about that spell you used to defeat Barbootos."

"Oh, that.  I hardly remember it myself.  Frank said I created a sandstorm?"

"Correct, and it shocks me because that is a powerful spell, but the thing that shocks me the most is that... the Sandstorm spell is black magic."

Clarisse gasps in shock. "Black magic? But, I've never studied black magic in my life!"

"It appears that you have a gift for magic, both white and black. Thus, next, I will be teaching you another powerful black magic spell."

"What? But, Master, I don't want to use black magic. White magic is the only kind of magic I need, the kind that is used to aid others, not hurt others."

"I'm sorry, Clarisse, but as your teacher I must insist on you learning black magic. You have too much talent for it all to go to waste on white magic.  Now come."

Chalan quickly strides over to the back door and exits into the backyard.  After a few seconds pass, Clarisse sighs and follows.

Standing across from each other, Chalan begins, “All right, first, since you think white magic is all about aiding others, I'll teach you a white spell that is able to hurt others.”

"What?  A white magic spell that can hurt others?" Clarisse repeats, not believing what she heard.

"Yes, it's very powerful. However, you can only learn it in one way."  Chalan takes out a scroll from his robe. "This scroll will allow you to learn the spell. It was placed in a location where it would be very difficult to obtain, so only the mightiest of spellcasters could obtain it."

Chalan opens the scroll and sets it on the ground. Inside the scroll are strange swirling marks that form two circles on the left and right sides of the scroll.  In the middle is a blank space with straight lines branching out from it. The middle seems to glow with a light that is so brilliant and soothing.  "Now, sit down, and place your hands on the left and right circles. The scroll will do the rest."

"O-Okay," Clarisse says, a little nervous and unsure. She sits down and places her hands in the swirling circles as instructed. The light that seemed to glow in the middle circle becomes apparent as its glow increases exponentially, enveloping Clarisse. Clarisse, her eyes closed from the blinding light, feels a warm feeling that feels somehow kind and harsh at the same time as it flows up her arms and then disperses throughout her body. The light diminishes, returning to the scroll. Clarisse gasps for breath, weary from absorbing the spell.

"Excellent. We'll take a short break so you can rest and catch your breath," Chalan decides, sitting down.

Clarisse sighs, dreading what she's going to learn next.  Sitting down, Clarisse tells Chalan, “I would rather not learn any black magic.”

"Nonsense! You have too much talent for both white and black magic for it all to go to waste on just white magic," Chalan retorts.

Clarisse clasps her hands to her chest and explains, "But my grandma was the one who taught me white magic and told me that hatred breeds violence and violence breeds more hatred.  Thus, white magic was the only true way of defending yourself and others. And," Clarisse pauses and hangs her head, "I feel that if I were to learn black magic, I would betray her."

“Look, Clarisse.  I’m sure your grandmother was a wise woman, but she was blinded.  Arguments are bound to happen that cannot be solved peacefully with words and white magic alone.  You need to learn black magic!  It’s time you see that!” Chalan argues.

Clarisse doesn’t answer and continues to hang her head, apparently sulking.  Chalan sighs and says, “It’s time to continue your lesson.  We'll need to go to a less populated area so we don't hurt anyone while practicing this powerful spell. Hmmm, I believe Dry Dry Desert will do, if we're not too close to Dry Dry Outpost. Ready, Clarisse?”

He teleports them to Dry Dry Desert, not waiting for an answer.

* * *

Clarisse and Chalan appear somewhere in Dry Dry Desert. "Oh my. I've never been to a desert before," Clarisse says, trying to force herself to cheer up. "It's even hotter than I imagined."

"Indeed, but the faster you learn this spell, the faster we can return," Chalan says. "All right, let's begin. To perform this spell, you begin spinning around, and as you spin imagine the wind is twirling around with you. Then, spin faster and faster, and imagine the wind is spinning faster as well. Although it seems like a simple spell, it is actually very difficult to do and one of the most powerful of black magic spells. Now, begin."

"All right," Clarisse replies, a little unsure if she can do it, not to mention whether she even wants to be able to do it.  Shutting her eyes, she begins twirling. After a few seconds, she begins to go faster. However, after a few more seconds, she falls down, dizzy from spinning, onto the hot sand.  "Sorry," Clarisse says, getting up.

Chalan sighs and comments, "This might take longer than I thought."

A half an hour passes, and Clarisse still isn’t even close to being able to use the spell.  Clarisse gets up again and breathes heavily in the hot weather.  "I'm getting thirsty. Can we please take a break and get something to drink?" Clarisse suggests.

Chalan sighs. "Fine, I will go get something to drink. You stay here and continue to practice."

Chalan teleports to Dry Dry Outpost.  Clarisse sighs and asks aloud, “Grandma, what should I do?”

Before she can do anything else, a band of Pokeys suddenly pop out of the ground and attack her. Clarisse gasps and quickly puts up a barrier. However, against an onslaught of so many Pokeys, the barrier won't last long.  "Oh, Chalan, please get back soon," Clarisse prays as the Pokeys pound on the barrier.

* * *

Chalan exits the store in Dry Dry Outpost, having bought some lemonade. Teleporting back to Clarisse, he sees the horde of Pokeys surrounding her and pounding away at the barrier she created. He sets the lemonade down and paralyzes the Pokeys with a spell. "Clarisse, try to use the spell we've been working on; now!" he yells to Clarisse.

"A-All right, I'll try," she says.  She begins spinning.  As she envisions the wind swirling around her, the wind does so. She spins faster, envisioning the wind spinning faster too, which it does. Just then, the wind begins picking her off the ground. Losing her focus, Clarisse falls to the ground as the wind returns to normal.

The Pokeys begin wriggling their way out of Chalan's spell. "Clarisse! I can't hold them for long. Just use the Pure Light spell that you learned!  All you have to do is imagine the purest of light is casting from your hands!"

"Okay," Clarisse replies, standing up. She lifts her arms up in the air, closing her eyes to concentrate, and does so.  After a couple seconds, the brightest of light eminates from her hands, a light that is so pure that it hurts anyone with a black heart that it may fall upon as it stretches to the area around her. The Pokeys scream in agony as it touches them and they literally fall to pieces.  The light disappears, and Clarisse puts her arms down and breathes heavily. "Using that spell takes a lot of energy," Clarisse says.

Chalan picks up the lemonade, goes over to Clarisse, and hands it to her.  "Here, have a drink."

"Thanks," Clarisse says, taking it and drinking the whole glass. Finishing it, she wipes the sweat off her forehead and asks, "So, was it just a coincidence that all those Pokeys just appeared out of the sand and started attacking me?"

Before Chalan can answer, he receives a vision. An evil witch cackles as she stirs a gunky, green liquid in a cauldron. It then flashes to a scene where she's firing spells at Clarisse and Chalan. The scene ends with the witch, her image fuzzy, firing a powerful spell at them.  Chalan gasps as the vision ends, and breathes heavily.

"Chalan, are you okay? What is it?" Clarisse asks, worried.

"No, I don't think it was an accident, Clarisse," Chalan answers. "Someone sent those Pokeys to kill you, and I think we need to strike back, but not alone. We will definitely need others’ help.”

"Okay," Clarisse says, nodding but worried about what is to come.

"Let's teleport back to Rogueport for now," Chalan says. “We can regain our strength and then perhaps ask those three from before to help.”
 

* * *

Clarisse and Chalan reappear inside Clarisse's house. Chalan sighs, sitting down at the table. "So, what happened to you back there?" Clarisse asks, sitting as well.

Chalan sighs. "I received a vision of what is to happen. I usually don't get them very often, but the things they show are usually life-changing. That’s actually how I knew who you were and where to find you. I received a vision that I was to train you in magic.  Remember?"

Clarisse nods.  “Mhm, so what did you see in the vision back there?”

"I saw a powerful witch who we were fighting. We weren't fairing very well.  That's why I think we'll need help to defeat this sorceress.”

"I see," Clarisse says, pondering what Chalan said, with a worried expression on her face.

"Well, I think we've rested enough," Chalan says, getting up. “Let’s go see those three from Thwomp Volcano and ask for their help.”

“You mean Boobart, Frank, and Kit?” Clarisse asks, getting up as well.

“Yes, and I believe they’re probably at Boo Mansion.” And with that, Chalan teleports them there.

* * *

Chalan and Clarisse appear inside the mansion's living room, where Boobart and Frank are.  “Oh, hi there,” Boobart greets, surprised to see them. “It’s Chalan and Clarisse, right?”

"Yeah, it's good to see you again, Boobart, Frank," Clarisse says.

Frank goes over to Clarisse, bouncing up and down. "Hey, Clarisse!" he says cheerfully. "Thanks again for helping us save Kit! I still remember that cool trick you did. Can you teach me how to do that sometime?"

"Uh, sure," Clarisse nods, smiling, though not sure how she could teach him since she doesn’t know how she did it herself.

"So, what brings you here?" Boobart asks.

Chalan replies, "We have come to ask for your help against an evil sorceress that we're soon to face."

"An evil sorceress? Who is she?"

"I... don't know. I saw us fighting her alone in a vision, and she easily had the upper hand. So we're gathering allies to help us defeat her. Will you help us?”

"Well..." Boobart begins, thinking about it.

"Come on, Boobart. They need our help! Let's do it!" Frank persuades Boobart.

"All right, we'll help," Boobart says.

"Thank you. Oh, wait, where's Kit?" Clarisse asks, looking around, just realizing that she's not here.

"She left," Boobart answers. "We don't know where she went. We just know she went somewhere to train."

"Already? She was almost killed! You'd think she would take a few days to rest," Clarisse says, shocked.

"Yeah, that's Kit for you," Boobart comments, smiling.

"And you would know, huh, Boobart?" Frank says, elbowing Boobart with a mischievous grin on his face, referring to what happened before Kit left.

Blushing, Boobart pushes Frank and says, "Shut up."

"Clarisse was attacked by a horde of Pokeys in Dry Dry Desert," Chalan explains. "Though someone might think that this was a coincidence, I'm sure it was the sorceress' doing. I believe she is probably hidden deep within Dry Dry Ruins.  We were most likely training close to it, and she wanted to eliminate us just in case we happened to be a threat to her plan.”

“I see.  Then, whatever her plans are can’t be good,” Boobart analyzes

Chalan nods and replies, “Yes.  Now, let’s go.” Chalan then teleports the four of them back to the desert.
 

Chapter 5: The Truth

Clarisse, Chalan, Boobart, and Frank appear in the area of Dry Dry Desert that Clarisse was training in.  “Clarisse, it’s time I teach you another spell,” Chalan says to Clarisse.

"Huh? Now?" Clarisse asks, wondering if this is the right time to be learning a spell.

"Yes, it's a spell that helps you to find the way to the location you want to go," Chalan explains. "It will guide us to Dry Dry Ruins. Now, hold your arms out in front of you."

Clarisse does so and closes her eyes in order to concentrate more easily.  "Good. Now, repeat after me. Mystic powers of magic, aid us in finding the path to that of which we seek."

Clarisse does so.  Suddenly, she feels something pulling on her arms, leading her to the right. Clarisse is startled by this and almost opens her eyes before Chalan instructs, "Don't lose your concentration. Relax, and let it guide you."

Clarisse takes a deep breath and nods, relaxing again.  Chalan, Boobart, and Frank follow Clarisse as she slowly leads them even deeper into the desert.  Soon, they near a large ruin. "This is it," Chalan says as Clarisse lowers her arms and opens her eyes, the force pulling on her arms having stopped.

The four are silent for a bit before Clarisse takes a deep breath and says, "All right, let's go," before running up the steps and inside. Chalan walks in next. Frank and Boobart look at each other, nod, and enter as well.

Meanwhile, in a chamber deep within the ruins, the sorceress senses them enter. "I see that my Pokey attack didn't discourage them from coming," she says, a hint of resentment in her voice. "Fine. Let's see how they handle this." She waves her wand in a circle in the air.

Back with the group of four, they enter a room with a few coffins lying against the wall; Boobart tries to suppress a shiver of fear. Just then, the coffins open; Pokey Mummies waddle out of them and head for the group.

Boobart quickly casts a fire spell, which incinerates one. However, there are still many more. "There's too many of them for me to defeat," Boobart says.

"Allow me to help," Chalan says. He closes his eyes and places his palms together. After a second or two passes, he opens them and thrusts his palms toward Boobart, who feels a sudden surge of power. "Now, try again,” Chalan instructs.

Boobart does so, and this time, a giant fireball flies through the room, incinerating all the Pokey Mummies.  "How did I-?" Boobart begins.

"I sent some of my power into you to increase the power of your spell," Chalan explains.

"You'll have to teach me that one," Clarisse tells Chalan.

Chalan nods, then looks forward and says, "Let's continue."  The group continue through the ruins.

Meanwhile, the sorceress, using her magic, has watched what happened. "A group of spellcasters; hmmm.  This should be interesting." She cackles.

The group comes to a room with many doors and stairways. Chalan turns to Clarisse, who understands and uses the spell that she used to find their way to the ruins. They head down a staircase and into a door. As soon as they enter, a Stone Chomp surprise attacks them by dropping down from above and lunging at Clarisse. “Eek!” she screams, casting a barrier that the Stone Chomp bounces off of and falls to the floor. Boobart then fires a bolt of lightning and destroys it.

"Clarisse, continue the spell," Chalan instructs.

“Uh, right,” Clarisse replies, doing so and walking across the room until she reaches the wall.  Clarisse turns back to the others. "The force keeps tugging at me as if it wants me to go through the wall,” she explains.

"Oh! Like me?" Frank says cheerfully as he zooms across the room and through the wall. After a few seconds pass, Frank reappears. "Hey everyone, there's a hidden corridor on the other side of this wall."

"I'll handle this," Boobart says, coming forward. "Get out of the way, Frank.”

Frank does so and Boobart fires a lightning and fire spell at the wall, creating an explosion and a hole that reveals the path Frank was talking about. "All right, let's go," Clarisse says, running into the passage. Chalan, Boobart, and Frank follow.

Exiting the corridor, the quartet see a Magikoopa standing on a landing at the top of some stairs at the other end of the room.  She is a larger Magikoopa with a black gem at the end of her wand and wearing green lipstick and a dark purple robe with black circular symbols on it.  Next to her sits a cauldron with something that appears to be brewing in it. Her mouth forms a crooked smile, showing her amusement and her contempt for the meddlers. "I never thought that you would make it this far. Allow me to introduce myself." She thrusts her wand up in the air. "I am Kamagicia!"  She then begins twirling her wand, and the tip of it glows red. "And you are interfering with my plan to become the ruler of Mushroom Kingdom!" She then points her wand at the group and fires a fireball out of her wand at them.

"Look out!" Chalan shouts. He, Boobart, Frank, and Clarisse jump out of the way of the attack.

“Is that all you got?” Frank asks.

"Hm, I wasn't even trying. I won't miss next time," Kamagicia warns.

"So you plan on taking over the Mushroom Kingdom? How?" Boobart asks.

"Hmph, with this magic potion," Kamagicia replies, pointing to the cauldron. "It's almost complete. Once it finishes boiling to the right temperature, it will greatly increase my power. Then, I will use my new power to takeover the kingdom." Kamagicia cackles.

"I won't let that happen!" Clarisse shouts, casting the pure light spell at Kamagicia.

"Agh!" Kamagicia cries, wrapping herself with her robe in an attempt to block the light. "You little brat!" Kamagicia then fires an ice spell at Clarisse, who gasps. Chalan quickly casts a barrier to block the spell.

"Very good, but let's see how you handle this!" Kamagicia says, lifting her wand into the air. A thunderstorm begins to appear over them.  Suddenly, four lightning bolts strike, one coming down towards each hero.  Clarisse, Chalan, and Boobart quickly cast powerful barriers to protect themselves. However, Frank, who doesn’t have a barrier to protect himself, is struck.  Yelping in pain, Frank falls to the ground as smoke rises from his body.

“Frank!” Clarisse and Boobart cry.

"Clarisse! Quickly, go heal him!" Chalan tells her.  Clarisse nods, goes over, and begins healing Frank.

"And one falls," Kamagicia gloats.

"You," Boobart says, angrily. He then fires an ice spell at Kamagicia.

Kamagicia points her wand in front of her and casts a barrier, which easily blocks the spell. "Is that the best you can do?" Kamagicia says, continuing to gloat.

Chalan then casts a spell. A wind seems to appear out of nowhere and swiftly heads for Kamagicia. "Ha! You fool! Nothing can get past my force field!”

"Then I'll just go around it," Chalan says, matter-of-factly.

Kamagicia eyes widen as Chalan instructs with a hand movement for the sharp wind to go around the barrier, slicing Kamagicia.

"Aagghh!" she screams. Shaking with rage, she says, "Oooh, you'll pay for that." She straightens, does a flourish with her wand, and then points it at Chalan, casting a spell. A few spikes appear in midair around Chalan and pierce him.

Clarisse, still healing Frank, gasps and cries, "Master Chalan!"

Chalan grunts in pain and says, "I'll be all right, Clarisse. Just continue healing Frank.”

The spikes then disappear into thin air. "My, you're quite persistent, aren't you?" Kamagicia says with a sneer.

“I’m okay, Clarisse,” Frank tells her as he sits up. “I’m a ghost, so I can’t die.  Go heal Chalan.”

“O-okay, if you’re sure,” Clarisse replies, racing over to Chalan, who is kneeling on the ground in pain.

Suddenly Kamagicia begins glowing green.  “Aaahhh, the potion is finally kicking in.  Soon, I will be powerful enough to takeover the kingdom single-handedly!  However, you four will not live long enough to see the day!”  Kamagicia begins laughing manically as she begins wildly firing fireballs at them.

“Everyone!  Quickly, cast your barriers!” Chalan shouts.

Clarisse and Chalan do so.  Meanwhile, Boobart dodges the spells as he hurries over to Frank, who is too hurt to move.  Once Boobart gets to him, he casts his barrier just in time to protect them from a fireball, which bounces off.  “Thanks, Boobart, but you realize that I can’t die, right?  Like I said before, ghosts can’t die.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Frank!” Boobart shouts over the roar of the dozens fireballs, “Whether you’re a ghost or not, you can die!”

“Huh?  How can a ghost die?”

“You’re just going to have to trust me when I tell you they can.”

Kamagicia continues shooting fireball after fireball from her wand, cackling madly, lost in the euphoria of being so powerful.  “Clarisse!  Tip over the cauldron!” Chalan yells over to her. “That will end the spell!”

“A-All right, I’ll try,” Clarisse answers.  She then focuses and imagines herself across the room next to the cauldron.  After a few seconds, she teleports over to it.  Acting quickly, Clarisse pushes against the cauldron with all her might and tips it over, spilling the disgusting, bubbling, green liquid out.

“Noooo!” Kamagicia cries as she stops firing at them and begins trying to scoop the liquid back into the pot.  Clarisse quickly teleports back down to where she was.  Trembling with rage, Kamagicia looks up at Clarisse, her eyes looking as though they’re glowing red behind her glasses.  “You!  You’ll pay for this!”   She readies to fire a spell at Clarisse, who gets ready to cast her barrier.  Then, glancing over at Chalan, Kamagicia fires at him instead.

Clarisse gasps, horrified, as she watches Chalan topple over, having taken the full blast.  "Next time, don't get in my way," Kamagicia sneers as she opens a portal and walks through, it disappearing behind her.

Clarisse runs over to Chalan and immediately begins trying to heal him.  "It's no use, Clarisse," Chalan wheezes. "The damage is too immense."

"Ooh, there must be something I can do," Clarisse says, kneeling down.

Chalan chuckles and says, "You've done enough for today. It's time this old man moved on.

"Clarisse," he continues, "there's something I need to tell you." He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and says, "I'm your grandfather."

Clarisse's eyes widen in shock. "My... My-"

"Your grandfather, yes," Chalan completes.

Clarisse is silent for a few seconds and then asks, "So, why did you leave?”

Chalan coughs, sighs, and then replies, "Well, your grandmother found out I was practicing black magic, which, as you know, she was dead set against. When I refused to stop studying it, we got a divorce."

"I see," Clarisse says, pondering what she's learned.

After a few seconds, Chalan begins coughing uncontrollably. "Grandpa!" Clarisse gasps, "No, you can't die!"

Clarisse leans over him as he struggles for breath. "Sorry I was never there for you, Clarisse."

"Grandpa." Clarisse's eyes fill with tears.

Chalan sighs and whispers, "Goodbye," as he slowly closes his eyes.

"Grandpa, don't leave me!" Clarisse pleas, lifting up his upper body from the ground as she begins to cry.

Chalan's body sits there, still as a rock. Clarisse hugs him and cries, "Noooo!"
 

Chapter 6: Barbootos’s Trap

Boobart, Frank, and Clarisse, still weeping and hugging Chalan's body, appear in Clarisse's house.  Boobart goes over to Clarisse and says, "Clarisse, I'm sorry."  Clarisse's sobbing seems to calm down a little bit.  Boobart closes his eyes and lowers his head. He then turns to Frank and says, "Come on, Frank. Let's go."

"Oh, okay," Frank says glumly as Boobart goes back over to him. Frank then says to Clarisse, "Come by if you want me to tell you a joke to cheer you up."  Boobart and Frank teleport to Boo Mansion, leaving Clarisse alone to mourn over the last of her family.

* * *

Boobart and Frank arrive outside the mansion. "I hope Clarisse will be okay," Frank says as they enter.

Boobart nods and says, "Just think how we'd feel if we had lost Kit back at Thwomp Volcano. Clarisse probably feels even worse."

"Speaking of Kit," a Boo says as he appears in midair before them, startling them, "she left this for you."  The Boo hands them a note and disappears into another room.

Boobart opens it up and reads it. After he finishes, his eyes jump wide in shock, and he tells Frank, "Apparently, Kit's found some kind of artifact related to the BOO-k at Crystal Palace. She wants us to come check it out."

"Sounds fun," Frank says.

"Still, why didn't she just bring it here?" Boobart wonders aloud.

"Maybe it was too big," Frank suggests.

"Hmmm, I guess that must be it.  Well, we'd better not keep Kit waiting any longer."  With that, Boobart teleports himself and Frank to Crystal Palace.

* * *

Entering Crystal Palace, Boobart looks around and calls, "Kit! We're here!"  Boobart is answered by silence. "That's weird," Boobart says, getting suspicious. "Let's look around for her," he then says to Frank.

They begin traveling through the palace. Boobart and Frank enter a large, bare room with a door on the other side. Just then, an ice storm brews inside the room and immediately begins freezing the room and covering it in snow. "What's going on?!" Boobart exclaims in surprise.

Boobart tries opening the door they came through as Frank says in delight, "Nice trick! It's snowing inside!"

The door is locked. Boobart shivers and tells Frank, "Yeah, and if you don't want to become a permanent part of this winter wonderland as an ice sculpture, we have to get to the door on the other side of the room and pray it's unlocked."

Boobart and Frank rush to the other side of the room, although Frank is laughing while he's doing it, apparently thinking that it's a game.  Boobart tries to open the door, but it's frozen shut!  "Shoot!" he exclaims. Looking back, he sees snow and ice is beginning to pile up in the room. Boobart tries frantically to open the door, but is unsuccessful. Thinking quickly, Boobart creates a small fire and melts the ice from the door. Boobart then opens the door, and he and Frank escape the frigid room, Boobart slamming the door behind them.

"Yay! That was fun! Can we do it again?" Frank asks.

"Strange; Kit didn't mention any traps," Boobart recalls. After a few seconds pass, Boobart tells Frank, "Let's keep going.  We have to find Kit.”

Boobart and Frank continue through the palace. Suddenly, Frank runs into an almost undetectable wire hanging in the air. Kunai and shuriken rain down from the ceiling at them. Boobart gasps and quickly casts a barrier, protecting them from the onslaught. Lowering the barrier, Boobart picks up the tripwire that had triggered the trap. "Ninja tools?" Boobart says aloud.  After a few seconds pass, he says, "I hope Kit is okay."

"Why? Hoping for another kiss?" Frank says with a mischievous grin, elbowing Boobart.

"This is serious, Frank!" Boobart scolds Frank. "Something's definitely wrong! First, Kit doesn't mention in the letter that there are traps here.  Next, she isn't anywhere to be found. And now we're attacked by the same kind of tools she uses to battle? Kit's probably in danger!"  Frank's eyes widen in realization.  "Come on. We have to find her before it’s too late," Boobart tells him.

Boobart and Frank swiftly make their way deeper into the palace. They soon reach a hall with a door at the end.  Suddenly a wall drops down from the ceiling behind them and icicles appear on the walls to the left and right of the duo. The walls then begin closing in on them.  "Ahh! Hurry! We have to get out of here!" Boobart cries.  He and Frank race to the door and try to open it.  However, it's locked.  Looking to the sides of again and with the icicled walls closing in, Boobart fires a lightning spell at the door, busting it down. Boobart and Frank go tumbling into the room on the other side.

"Ugh, where are we now?" Boobart wonders, pushing Frank off of him and looking around. Just then a fireball flies toward him, and he quickly dodges it. "Who's there?" Boobart demands.  There is a familiar laugh, and Barbootos reveals himself, Greenoomba soon after.  "Barbootos!" Boobart shouts bitterly.  The two continue to smile evilly at Boobart and Frank.  Boobart, remembering his missing friend, looks around and demands, "Where is Kit?"

Just then, a shuriken flies out from the shadows and pierces the ground in front of Boobart.  Boobart looks down at it and then in the direction of where it was thrown from.  Kit walks out of the shadows, an evil smirk on her face.  "Kit! ... What? ... Why?" Boobart wonders aloud, at a loss.

Barbootos laughs and says, "You fool! You mean you still don't get it?"

"Get what?!" Boobart demands, his rage building.

"Have you already forgotten? Can't you recall another time that Kit turned against you?"

Boobart eyes widen in realization and he says, "No, not again…"

Barbootos laughs once more and confirms, "Yes, I used my mind controlling ability on her. Up on top of Thwomp Volcano, before you had even arrived, I put her into a trance and took ahold of her will."

"No," Boobart says, barely above a whisper. "I can't believe this is happening again.”

Kit's smirk has spread into a giant sneer. Boobart is at a loss of what to do. Just then, Frank tells Boobart reassuringly with a smile, "Don't worry, Boobart. Remember?  You got Kit and I out of that trance last time.  All we have to do is weaken Kit enough, and the spell will be broken. Besides, we know that somewhere inside, Kit is fighting to break free."

After a few seconds, Boobart smiles, nods, and replies, "You're right, Frank. Thanks. Let's get Kit back."

The sound of Barbootos's laughter makes them look over. "Ignorant fools," he says, "do you really think it will be as easy as last time? You're clearly outmatched one million to one."

"Hmph, never give up," Boobart says, opening the BOO-k, "that's one of the things I learned on my journey to obtain this spellbook, and I won't soon forget it. Ready, Frank?"

"Ready!" Frank says with an expression showing excitement and determination.

"Idiots, after I defeat you, I'll claim the book that is rightfully mine, and I'll continue using your friend as my puppet!" Barbootos mocks.

"We'll see about that!" Boobart exclaims, casting a fire spell at Barbootos.  Kit quickly jumps in front of Barbootos and takes the attack.  She cringes, but then continues to smile evilly at Boobart.  Kit, hold on, he thinks to himself.

“Aim for Boobart first.  The other is hardly any threat,” Barbootos instructs.  Kit throws a shuriken at Boobart, who quickly evades.  However, Greenoomba throws his leaf shuriken immediately after, giving Boobart no time to dodge it and cutting him.

“Aaahhh!” Boobart screams in pain, wincing as he holds his hand to where he was cut.

“Boobart!” Frank cries.

“That is nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you,” Barbootos says, shooting a massive fire spell at them.  Boobart quickly casts a barrier around himself and Frank to block it.  However, Barbootos’s spell is too powerful and breaks through the barrier.  Boobart and Frank scream as they are burned and scorched by the flames, and they fall to the floor.  Barbootos laughs and says, “Is that really all you’ve got?  I knew that time you beat me was just a fluke.  Now, I'll be taking that BOO-k.  Don’t move, or I’ll have Kit and Greenoomba strike you with a barrage of shuriken."

Boobart looks toward Frank, whose eyes are full of fear.  Boobart can’t  recall ever seeing Frank scared until now.  The fear on his face looks like innocent and frightened, as though it could belong to a child.  Seeing Frank like that makes Boobart want to cry.  He then looks at Kit, who is already prepared to throw some shuriken at any sign of resistance.  She is being forced to act against her will by this evil Boo who will continue to bend her to his will.   He, Boobart, has failed.  He couldn’t protect his friends from this evil warlock.  What kind of a friend is he?

Just as Boobart is on the verge of tears, suddenly Kit begins holding her head and appears to be struggling with something. She then shouts, "Boobart! Don't give up! You can still win! I believe in you!"

"Silence!" Barbootos shouts, raising his hand toward Kit, who falls over, unconscious.

"Kit!”  Boobart cries.

“Now, hand over the BOO-k!” Barbootos orders.

After a couple seconds pass, Boobart answers, “No..." as he struggles to get up. “My friends are counting on me… and I won’t let them down!”  Shaking with rage, Boobart opens the BOO-k to a new page as it begins to glow.  He gets up, points at the floor, and shouts, “Ground, tremble!”

At that moment, the earth begins to shake.  "Wh-what's happening?" Greenoomba asks.  The floor begins splintering, small chasms start opening, and parts of the floor jut up; the walls and ceiling begin to crack.

"Grrr, no! How could he have this much power?!" Barbootos shouts in disbelief.

"Barbootos! We have to get out of here!” Greenoomba says, panicking. “I don't care what you do to me.  I'm leaving, with or without you."

Barbootos shakes with anger and finally says, grudgingly, "Fine."  He then teleports himself and Greenoomba away, forgetting about Kit.

The earthquake begins to subside, and Boobart falls to the ground, exhausted, as the BOO-k loses its glow. "Woah," Frank says, at a rare loss for words.

Just then, the ceiling begins coming down. Frank looks up and shouts, "Uh oh. Boobart, we have to get out of here!"

"Right," Boobart says, gasping for breath, "Get... Kit." Frank goes over to Kit and carries her back over to Boobart. "Hopefully I still have enough energy to teleport us out of here."

Boobart quickly flips to the page with the teleport spell and teleports the trio just as a giant chunck of the ceiling collapses onto the spot where they were.
 

Chapter 7: She’s Baaaack

Maggie, a Magikoopa with an orange robe, arrives back at Bowser’s Castle from her unauthorized retreat to Yoshi Island.  Entering through a window and putting her broom away, she notes, "Hopefully no one noticed I was gone."  Just then, she thinks she hears voices coming from a room down the hall.  Going to investigate, she peeks around the corner to find an unbelievable sight.  Koopa Troopas, Hammer Bros, and Koopatrols are all lined up and at attention in front of a large Magikoopa standingon a platform. She’s wearing green lipstick and a dark purple robe with black circular symbols on it, and her wand has a black gem at the end of it.

The Magikoopa cackles and says, "Ah, this new plan is foolproof. With so many mindless slaves at my command, I'll be the ruler in no time." She lifts her hands to her mouth, concealing an evil smile. "And once everyone is under my spell, no one will think to oppose me!" She cackles again.

Maggie looks on in horror. "Mindless slaves? She's brainwashed them?"

"Who's there?" Kamagicia asks, hearing Maggie's voice and looking around. She then spots Maggie spying around the corner.

"Oh, no!" Maggie cries.

"You! How dare you? I'll teach you to eavesdrop on me!" Kamagicia shouts, shooting a giant fireball at Maggie.

Maggie quickly gets out her broom and hops on. However, she isn't fast enough and gets hit by the fireball right as she's exiting the window. She screams and rockets off a great distance, towards Rogueport.

"Now, let my plan resume. Continue collecting guards from around the castle, bringing them here so that I may place them under my spell!" Kamagicia orders

"Yes!" the Koopa soldiers say in unison before marching out of the room.  Kamagicia begins cackling once again.

* * *

Clarisse look sullenly on her parents’ and grandparents’ graves.  Why? she wonders. Why did they have to die?  Clarisse bites her lip and resists the urge to cry.  She quickly teleports back to her house and away from the depressing scene.

Back in her home, Clarisse takes a deep breath and decides to go to the Trouble Center to help someone so that it might cheer her up.  As she exits her house, however, a screaming Magikoopa falls from the sky and lands a few yards in front of her. Clarisse runs up to the Magikoopa and asks, "Oh my! Are you okay?"

The Magikoopa just groans. She's wearing an orange robe and is holding a broom. Both she and the broom are burnt.

"Oh, dear. Here. Let me help you," Clarisse offers, pulling the Magikoopa up and putting one of the Magikoopa's arms around Clarisse's neck to help support the Magikoopa as they walk back inside the house.

After Clarisse finishes healing her, the Magikoopa tells her, “Thank you.”

"You're welcome, but what happened to you?" Clarisse asks.

"Oh!  That's right!  That evil Magikoopa!"

"Evil Magikoopa?" Clarisse repeats, those words reminding her of something.

"Yes. When I arrived back at Bowser's Castles from my vacation, I came across a sorceress that had placed a mind-controlling spell on some of the guards, and she's recruiting more as we speak. She plans to use this spell to takeover the world!"

"Wait! What did she look like?" Clarisse asks, something clicking.

"Well, she was larger than most Magikoopa and wore a dark purple robe," the Magikoopa recalls.

Clarisse gasps and exclaims, "Kamagicia!"

"You know her?"

"She... killed my grandfather," Clarisse explains, still feeling a pain whenever she remembers how he died in her arms.

The Magikoopa gasps and says, "Oh, I'm so sorry!"

There is silence for a few seconds, and then Clarisse says, "My grandma taught me that revenge is never the answer, but if that witch is performing another of her twisted plots, then I have no choice but to stop her!”

"Oh, thank you! My name is Maggie, by the way. Pleased to meet you," Maggie tells Clarisse, standing up and extending her hand.

"My name is Clarisse. Pleased to meet you too," Clarisse replies, shaking it.  Clarisse then says, "It'll take more than us to stop her.  I know from the last time I fought her.  We'll ask some of my friends for help.”  She quickly teleports them to Boo Mansion.

* * *

Frank, an exhausted Boobart, and an unconscious Kit appear back in the mansion. Boobart sighs, almost passing out from exhaustion. "Woah!  Boobart are you okay?" Frank says, quickly floating over next to Boobart.

Boobart sighs again and says, "Yeah, I'll be fine.  Hopefully I'll never have to use that spell again, though.  It takes a lot of energy."

"But it was so cool!" Frank says, getting his usual cheerfulness back. "Just think, if you could use that all the time, you would be unbeatable!"

Boobart chortles. Just then, Kit moans and begins to stir. Frank jumps as Kit leans up. Squinting and looking around, she asks, "Where am I?"

"Uh, Kit?" Frank says, unsure.

"Huh?" Kit opens her eyes and turns to Boobart and Frank, who look at her suspiciously. "Boobart! Frank!" she exclaims, hopping up and running towards them. "You did it!"

"Hold it right there," Boobart tells her.

Kit stops in her tracks. "Huh? What's wrong?"

"How can we be sure that you're not under Barbootos's influence anymore?" Boobart says.

"Yeah, hmmm?" Frank agrees, giving Kit a suspicious eye that seems more comical then serious.

"How can you tell?" Kit wonders, folding her arms. "I don't know. All I can say is that I'm back to normal."

"Yes, but you might not and could just be lying," Boobart points out.

"Okay, so how can I show that it's really me?" Kit asks, unfolding her arms.

A second or two pass before Frank jumps in cheerfully, "Oh, I know!  You could kiss Boobart again!”

"Wha?  How would that solve anything?" Boobart asks, embarrassed about the subject being brought up again.

"I don't know.  I just wanted to see it again," Frank says, grinning ear to ear.

"Wait.  Again?  As in, it happened before?" Kit asks, at a loss.

"Yeah, don't you remember? When you were under Barbootos's control, you kissed Boobart on the cheek before you left," Frank recounts, still smiling.

"I did what?!" Kit exclaims, turning red.  She spins around in embarrassment and starts carrying on, stuttering, "Oh, gosh, I, did, what? Oh, um, oh, sorry, about that, oh, I mean, oo, that stupid Barbootos, making me do that! When I get my hands on him, he's going to wish he was never born! Why I oughta!" Kit swiftly storms out of the mansion, steaming from rage and embarrassment. She then transforms into a bird and flies off.

After a few seconds, Boobart concludes, chuckling, "Yeah, I'm going to guess that Kit's back to normal."

“Yep, that's Kit all right," Frank agrees, smiling too.

Just then, Clarisse and Maggie appear inside the mansion.  "Huh? Clarisse? What are you doing here?" Boobart asks.

"Boobart, Frank - Kamagicia is back!" Clarisse responds.

Frank and Boobart gasp in surprise. "She's back?" Boobart asks, his eyes wide.

"Yes," Clarisse answers before motioning to Maggie. "This is Maggie, and she says Kamagicia's at Bowser's Castle recruiting Bowser's Koopas into an army she's creating by using a mind control spell on them."

Boobart sighs and says, "Great, just what we need more mind control. Well, you can count us in.”

"Yeah! Let's go!" Frank shouts with his usual enthusiasm.

"Do you know if there's anyone else who could help us before we go?" Clarisse asks.

"Well, Kit could, but she just left," Boobart replies.

"I see. Well, hopefully we'll be enough to stop Kamagicia."

"We have to go now before Kamagicia enslaves any more Koopas," Maggie says.

"Yes; the problem is I've never been to Bowser's Castle before or seen a picture of it, so my teleportation spell won't work."

"Don't worry, I'll just use my teleportation spell then," Boobart says, opening the BOO-k.

Boobart then begins teleporting the four of them to Bowser's Castle. As they teleport, Clarisse prays. Chalan, please watch over us and help us to defeat that evil witch.
 

Chapter 8: Hatred

Clarisse, Boobart, Maggie, and Frank appear outside Bowser’s Castle.  "There," Maggie says, pointing to a hole where the window that Kamagicia had blown to bits had been, "she's in a room through there."

"All right, just a second," Clarisse says before casting her levitation spell on the four of them.  The quartet then float up and enter through the hole.  Entering the room, they see Kamagicia standing in front of an army of Koopas, cackling.

"She has twice as many under her spell as she did before," Maggie observes, worried.

"Soon, I will have enough troops to start my conquest, and more and more will join my ranks as I enslave them with my spell!" Kamagicia boasts to herself.

"We won't allow you to do that!" Clarisse yells.

Kamagicia instantly stops laughing and just now notices the group. "You!  You're that girl from before!  Must you appear to stop my plans every time?"

"Yes! We won't allow you to enslave the minds of everyone in the world!" Clarisse retorts.

After a couple seconds pass, Kamagicia's mouth twists into a grin. She then begins to chuckle, her laughter growing louder and louder until she is cackling once again.  "Stop me?!  Just because you've brought a new friend doesn't mean anything!  Look in front of you!  I have an army at my disposal!  Do you really think you can win?”

"She's got a point," Boobart whispers.

"Yes! We can win!" Clarisse shouts.

Kamagicia's smile drops. "Fine, let's see how well you do.  Minions!  Attack!" Kamagicia cries.

About 100 Koopatrols, Hammer Bros, and Magikoopas begin marching toward the group.  “Ummm, Clarisse, any ideas?" Boobart asks, opening his spellbook.

"Mmmm, I don't know," Clarisse admits, "but we can't give up. We have to stop Kamagicia!”

A few Magikoopas begin firing magic blasts at the four heroes, but Clarisse quickly casts a barrier to block them. Maggie retaliates by firing magic blasts back at the slowly advancing army while Boobart casts a fire spell on them.  Their attacks have little effect as the mindless soldiers just get right back up again.  As the minions march closer, the Hammer Bros. begin throwing hammers at the barrier.  With each hit, Clarisse shakes, struggling to keep the barrier up.  “I don’t know if I can hold it up much longer,” she informs the others.

“Hold on,” Maggie says, waving her wand a bit before pointing it at Clarisse, who instantly feels stronger and no longer has trouble maintaining the barrier.

“Huh?  What did you do?  I’m not having trouble keeping the barrier up anymore.” Clarisse asks.

“It’s a spell that increases a trait of the person it’s cast on,” Maggie explains. “It can increase strength, speed, stamina, or magic.  I just increased your magic to increase the strength of your barrier.”

“Okay, thanks, Maggie.  I should be able to block the attacks a little while longer,” Clarisse tells them.

“Maggie, can you increase my magic?” Boobart asks. “I have an idea.”

“Sure,” Maggie answers, repeating the wand motions and performing the same spell on Boobart.

“How’re you going to beat them, Boobart?” Frank asks.

“If we can’t stop them by harming their bodies, then let’s focus on making it impossible for them to move,” Boobart explains.  He then waves his arm in the direction of the advancing mind slaves, shouting, “Freeze!”  A sub-zero flurry blows across Kamagicia’s brainwashed forces, encasing them in ice.

Kamagicia laughs and says, “Do you really think that will work?”  She twirls her wand.  Suddenly the Koopas break out of the ice and begin marching toward the four heroes again.

“Wha-?” Boobart begins, shocked.

“Not only can I bend them to my will, but I can also manipulate their strength, a lot like that Magikoopa’s spell only much better.”  Kamagicia cackles again as the troops resume attacking as they continue moving forward.

“What now?” Maggie asks, beginning to panic.

Suddenly the Koopatrols charge headfirst towards them.  Striking the barrier with their increased strength, they easily shatter it.  Clarisse topples backwards to the floor.

Kamagicia cackles and says, “Just like I said, you can’t win.  Do you understand now?  Give up, and I might just spare you and let you join my army.”

“We’d never join you!” Boobart yells.

“Yeah, you witch!” Frank joins in.

“As if I’d join someone who controls people against their will,” Maggie responds.

“And I would never join someone as evil as you, especially since you were the one who killed my grandfather!” Clarisse shouts, getting up.

“So be it,” Kamagicia answers, her eyes showing hatred for them. “Time to die!  Minions, charge!”  Her mindless drones prepare to attack.

“Clarisse!  Quickly!  Let’s both put up a barrier!” Boobart tells her. “It might be enough to stop their attack!”

“All right,” Clarisse answers, casting her barrier again, Boobart casting his immediately after.  The troops attack simultaneously: Magikoopas firing magic blasts, Hammer Bros. throwing hammers, and Koopatrols charging at the group.  They strike the twin barriers, but luckily, the barriers just manage to hold.  However, Boobart and Clarisse gasp for breath, trying to maintain the barriers after the onslaught.

“Hmph, persistent, aren’t you? ...  You remind me of these two investigators I killed once,” Kamagicia comments, remembering back.

Clarisse’s eyes widen as she listens intently.

“The couple never gave up, even when they were near death.”  Kamagicia cackles.  “It was fun ending their foolish, hopeful lives!”

Clarisse lowers her head as her body begins to shake.  “Mom… Dad…”  Clarisse’s hair begins to stand on end.  “You were the one who killed my parents…You’ll pay…You’ll pay!”  She then floats up into the air as lightning flies from her in every direction.  Her hair and eyes turn black as she looks upon Kamagicia with pure hatred.

Kamagicia’s eyes widen in fear.  “Minions, get her!” she shouts.

“No!  Get her!” Clarisse booms in a voice that sounds like her and yet is somehow completely different.

The soldiers about face and march toward Kamagicia.  “What?!” she exclaims. “No!  Attack her!  Attack her!”  The Koopas turn and head toward Clarisse again, but she swings her wand toward Kamagicia and they once again head back toward her.

Kamagicia does the same with her wand, and half of the soldiers turn back.  The two groups of Koopa Troops then begin fighting each other.  Kamagicia and Clarisse growl in frustration.  Clarisse shoots a fireball at Kamagicia, who uses her wand to redirect it, spinning it around herself and firing it back at Clarisse, who extinguishes it with a wave of her arm.

“Is that really Clarisse?” Frank asks, a little frightened, as Clarisse and Kamagicia fire and counter each other’s spells.

“Yes; at least, I think so,” Boobart responds, a little frightened himself.

Looking toward the fighting soldiers, Maggie spots some soldiers breaking through who begin heading toward the three.  “Guys, some of the soldiers are coming for us,” she warns. “Get ready!”
 

Chapter 9: Sacrifice

The mind-controlled Koopas break through and rush toward Boobart, Frank, and Maggie.  Maggie and Boobart begin firing spells, while Frank sinks into the ground.  Their spells blast a Magikoopa and Koopatrol to the ground while the rest continue to run toward the two.  Boobart quickly raises a barrier, and Maggie casts a spell to become invisible, both avoiding attacks from the other Koopatrol and Magikoopa.  As the two Hammer Bros. race toward them getting ready to throw their hammers, Frank’s hands suddenly pop out of the ground and grab one of the Hammer Bro’s legs, tripping the Hammer Bro and making him drop his hammer.  Phasing out of the ground, Frank picks up the hammer.  “Oooo, this oughta be fun!” he says in delight, smiling mischievously.

Seeing the other Hammer Bro about to throw his hammer, Frank quickly begins pounding him on the head with the hammer he obtained.  After being hit 10 consecutive times, the Hammer Bro finally falls to the floor, limp.  “I was right.  That was fun,” Frank chuckles. “But it would have been more fun if I would have gotten a funny reaction from him.”

Meanwhile, the Koopatrol charges toward Boobart who quickly casts a lightning spell, blasting him back and sprawling to the floor.  The other Magikoopa fires blasts randomly, trying to hit an invisible Maggie.  Suddenly a magic blast erupts from nowhere and strikes the Magikoopa full blast in the back, dropping her to the ground.

“Yeah!  We did!” Frank cheers.

Maggie becomes visible again and says, “Don’t let your guard down.  Another bunch of Koopas could get by any second.”

Clarisse fires a torrent of lightning bolts at Kamagicia, who easily blocks them with a barrier.  “Is that really all you have?” Kamagicia asks smugly, regaining her confidence.

Clarisse growls and fires a blast of water at her.  However, Kamagicia shoots a giant fireball from her wand, evaporating the attack.  Clarisse then fires a giant ball of ice at her, but Kamagicia just blasts another giant fireball, evaporating that too.  Becoming very frustrated and angry, Clarisse places her palm out, and a giant, flaming vortex erupts from it and heads toward Kamagicia.  Still, Kamagicia just scoffs, absorbs the attack with her wand, and fires it back at Clarisse, who blocks most of the attack with a barrier.

As Clarisse breathes heavily, having become exhausted, Kamagicia laughs and says, “You’re fairly good.  You have great potential in black magic.  However, you’re still a novice, and a novice could never defeat me, a master of black magic, at my own game.”  Kamagicia begins cackling again.

Clarisse groans.  Just then, a voice rings through Clarisse’s head.  Remember my words, Clarisse, black magic is nothing compared to white magic.  Pour your heart and soul and all your pure emotions of love and joy into your magic, and your white magic will be strong enough to conquer anything.

“Grandma,” Clarisse whispers to herself, calming down as tears begin to form at the edges of her eyes.  Closing her eyes, Clarisse begins to change back to normal as she slowly descends back to the ground.

“What?  Are you ready to give up now?” Kamagicia mocks.

Memories of the time spent with her grandmother flood Clarisse’s mind.  Thank you, Grandma.  I know what I must do now.

Kneeling down, Clarisse appears to begin to pray.  Kamagicia cackles and says, “Praying won’t save you, girl!”  Kamagicia then shoots a huge fireball from her wand at Clarisse.

“Clarisse!” Boobart, Frank, and Maggie cry.

However, as it reaches her, it appears to hit an invisible barrier and is extinguished.  “What?” Kamagicia exclaims in surprise.

“No, she can’t be using that spell, can she?” Maggie whispers.

Kamagicia growls and shouts, “Get her, my army!”  The Koopas, who stopped attacking each other after Clarisse changed back, rush toward Clarisse.  However, just like the fireball, they run into an invisible barrier and try to break their way through it.  The barrier emits a shockwave that sends all of the Koopas flying against the walls and collapsing on the floor.  Kamagicia grits her teeth, aggravated.

Clarisse opens her eyes and exclaims, “I sacrifice my life to banish this evil from existence!”  Clarisse then thrusts out her palms, and a magnificent golden door appears behind Kamagicia.  The golden door opens and begins sucking Kamagicia in.

Kamagicia struggles against the suction, firing magic attacks at the door and Clarisse with no effect.  “No!  This can’t be happening!  I can’t lose!   Not now!  Not here!  Not to them!  No!”  The suction gets stronger and pulls Kamagicia in.  “NOOOO!” Kamagicia cries as she is sucked through and disappears into the light on the other side.

Clarisse stands up, turning to the others with a smile that seems somehow happy and, yet, sad at the same time.  “Thank you all.  I couldn’t have done it without you, and now,” Clarisse says, pausing as she closes her eyes. “It’s time for me to go.”

“What?  What do you mean ‘go’?” Boobart asks.

“It’s the Banishing Spell,” Maggie answers. “I read about it in a book once.  With it, the caster can defeat any foe, but at the cost of their own life.”

“What?!  Clarisse, is that true?!” Boobart asks.

“But you can’t go!” Frank exclaims.

Clarisse just replies, “I’ll never forget any of you.”  She then leaps up into the air and is pulled in by the door.

Boobart, Frank, and Maggie gasp.

“Thank you, and goodbye!” they hear Clarisse say as she disappears into the light beyond the door.  The beautiful, accursed door then closes and deteriorates into sparkling dust.
 

Chapter 10:  The Tome of Life

“Clarisse…” Boobart says, tears beginning to form in his eyes.

“Boobart, Clarisse isn’t really gone, is she?” Frank asks, hopefully.

Boobart turns away from him, not having the heart to answer.

Just then, Maggie’s solemn face lights up with an idea.  “She may not be.”

“Huh?” Boobart asks.

“She gave up her life willingly with a spell, so there may still be a chance to revive her if we can find The Tome of Life.”

“The Tome of Life?” Boobart asks.

“Yes, a tome that one can use to revive someone who willing gave up their life through unnatural means, such as a spell, namely the Banishing Spell,” Maggie explains.

“All right, then we have to find it so we can save Clarisse.  Do you know where it could be?”

“Um, excuse me,” a voice interrupts.

The trio jump in surprise and turn to see a Hammer Bro, Koopatrol, and Magikoopa, now conscious and looking at them.  “You were the ones who saved us, right?” the Hammer Bro who interrupted asks.

“Yeah… Though one of us is…” Maggie begins, trailing off.

“Thank you very much,” the Koopatrol says. “It was awful being under the control of that witch.”

“Yes, we can’t thank you enough,” the Magikoopa joins in.

“It was no trouble, really,” Maggie replies.

The Koopas begin walking away when the Hammer Bro begins patting his body, saying, “Hey, where’s my hammer?”

After a couple seconds, Frank remembers and exclaims, “Oh!  I have it!”

As Frank holds it out to him, the Hammer Bro looks Frank up and down.  Noticing Frank doesn’t have any means of fighting without it, he replies, “Well, you can keep it.  I’ve got plenty of hammers back in my room anyway.  Consider it a thank you.”

“Really?  Thanks!” Frank replies, gleefully.

“Anyway, according to my studies,” Maggie continues as the Hammer Bro walks away, “I would have to say the Tome of Life would probably be somewhere in the Shiver Region.  I’ve heard of someone in a place called Starborn Valley that may know its exact location.”

“All right, so to Starborn Valley then,” Boobart says, opening the BOO-k and teleporting them there.

* * *

The trio appear in a small, snowy, icy valley.  An aurora shines in the sky above, its light glimmering off the ice particles on the ground, making the earth appear to twinkle.  A few small houses with smoking chimneys and pine trees covered in powdery snow are in the valley.  As they look around in wonder, a Ninji chasing after some giggling, misbehaving Star Kids passes the group.

“Wow, this place is amazing!” Frank says.

“Sure is,” Boobart says, still looking around at the wonderful scenery.

“Hmmm, I think he lives in that house over there,” Maggie says, pointing to the highest house on the incline of the valley.

The three climb up the slope to the house, and Maggie knocks on the door.  “Who is it?” a voice calls.

“It’s three friends.  We have a question and have come seeking your knowledge,” Maggie answers.

“I see.  Come in!” the voice answers.

Maggie opens the door, and the trio enters  The house is small and cozy with nothing more than a fireplace, shelves and drawers, and some jarred food and bottled drinks.  Facing them is a short Shaman with a long, dark blonde mustache.  “Welcome.  My name is Merle.”

“My name is Maggie, and this is Boobart and Frank,” Maggie replies, pointing to each person when she says their name.

“Nice to meet you.  What can I help you with?”

“Well, you see, a friend of ours sacrificed herself to defeat an evil sorceress by using the Banishing Spell, so we were hoping that you could tell us where the Tome of Life was so that we could revive her,” Maggie explains.

“Hmmm, the Tome of Life is serious business.  It cannot be entrusted to just anyone,” Merle tells the three.

“Please, we need to save Clarisse,” Boobart pleads.

“Please,” Frank reiterates.

“Hmmm. Ecuse me, I must consult the stars,” Merle answers.  He closes his eyes and folds his hands.  The star in the orb near his neck begins to spin, and Merle begins to slowly levitate into the air.  Suddenly the room darkens, and star-shaped lights circle the room.  Maggie, Boobart, and Frank look around in amazement.

After around half a minute passes, the lights fade and the darkness lifts as Merle slowly descends to the ground.  Opening his eyes, he says, “Yes, I have seen the selfless things that Clarisse has done, and what extraordinary things she will do in the future.  I must agree that Clarisse needs to be revived.  You will find the Tome of Life at the very bottom of the depths of Crystal Palace.  The way to it has been hidden and passed down in this village for centuries.  Come with me, please.”

The trio follow Merle out of the house; Merle then calls, “Ninjim!”

A black Ninji wearing a black headband and cloak begins running up the slope to them.  “Yes, Merle?” he asks when he reaches them.

“Please guide these three to the Tome of Life,” Merle tells him.

“The Tome of Life?” the Ninji called Ninjim repeats, some of his surprise showing on his face. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, it is absolutely necessary that their friend is revived.”

“Well, all right,” Ninjim says, seemingly convinced.

“Thank you, Merle,” Maggie says, Boobart and Frank saying their thanks after her.

“You’re welcome.”

“All right, I’ll teleport us to Crystal Palace,” Boobart says, flipping his BOO-k open and casting the Teleport spell.

* * *

The four arrive in front of Crystal Palace, which, unlike the back of the palace, looks completely unaffected by Boobart’s Earthquake spell.

“Follow me, please,” Ninjim says, entering the palace.

The trio follow him into the palace, through a door, and down a hole in front of a Dino Rhino statue.  In the new hall, they spot a green Duplighost who appears to be searching for something.

“Kit!” Boobart shouts, surprised to see her here.

Kit turns, startled by the outburst, and sees them.  “Boobart, Frank, what are you doing here?”

“We could ask you the same thing,” Boobart replies.

“I’m looking for that no good Barbootos so I can give him a piece of my mind,” Kit answers, punching her palm with her other hand. “I thought he might still be here; and you?”

Boobart and Frank look down gloomily.  “Clarisse sacrificed herself by using a spell to defeat Kamagicia.  We’re looking for the Tome of Life to try to bring her back to life.”

“Clarisse died?” Kit exclaims in shock. “All right, if that thing can really bring her back, let me help you find it.  She saved me once; it’s time I helped save her.”

“All right, follow me,” Ninjim says, walking through a hole at the end of the wall.  Following him through it, the group comes to a room that is completely empty except an open empty chest on a platform.  The four watch as Ninjim hops up and feels the wall.  Suddenly he presses a part of the wall in, and a doorway appears.  “This way,” Ninjim says.

The quartet follow Ninjim down a dark flight of stairs until they come to a dark room lit up only by a few large, glowing crystals around the room.  In the center is another crystal, smaller than the others, containing a yellow book embroidered with white twine.  “This is the Tome of Life,” Ninjim says, going over to the crystal-encased book.  Looking around, Boobart notices particles falling from a crack in the ceiling over the crystal.  Wait.  How far into the palace are we? Boobart wonders. Are we below where Frank and I fought Barbootos?  Hopefully the roof doesn’t collapse on us.

Gathering around the crystal, Kit asks, “So, how do we get the book out of there.  Smash it?” Kit asks.

“No, brute force won’t break it,” Ninjim states.  He places his hand on top of the crystal, which begins to glow.  Then, perhaps by magic, Ninjim’s hand sinks through the crystal, grabs the tome, and pulls it out.  “Here you are,” Ninjim says, handing it to Maggie.

After Maggie takes it but before she can say ‘thank you’, a voice in the direction of the entrance says, “Well, well, what have you got there?”

Turning, the group is shocked to see Barbootos and Greenoomba smiling mockingly at them.  “Barbootos!  Where’d you come from?” Boobart asks.

“Greenoomba and I were hiding, and we saw you open the secret passage and enter; we followed you to see what you were up to.  Whatever that book is, it must be very valuable to be hidden so well.  I think I’ll take the BOO-k and that other book you have when I defeat you.”

“In your dreams, Barbootos,” Kit shouts. “And I’m going to make you pay for controlling me!”

Barbootos chortles menacingly.  “Are you now?  How do you expect to do that when you’re still under the influence of my mind-controlling spell?”

“What!?” Boobart, Frank, and Kit cry.

Chortling again, Barbootos explains, “You see, I’ve learned how to turn the control on and off.  However, even when it’s off, I can turn it on-” Barbootos lifts his hand, “just like that.”  Barbootos snaps his fingers.

Kit suddenly lunges and grabs the books out of Maggie’s and Boobart’s hands and begins racing toward Barbootos.  “The books!” Boobart cries.

“Fire, heed my command! Stop her from reaching them!” Maggie chants before firing a stream of fire from her wand; the fire then races in front of Kit, cutting her off from Barbootos. “Quickly, grab the books!” Maggie exclaims.

However, Ninjim is already dashing toward Kit at high speeds.  Reaching her, Ninjim tries to snatch the Tome of Life back.  However, Kit tries to evade him, and Ninjim ends up taking the BOO-k instead.

“You fool!  What were you thinking?” Barbootos yells. “I want the BOO-k more than that sickening, cheerful-looking book!  Get it back!”

However, Ninjim has already tossed it back to Boobart, who manages to catch it.  Kit rushes toward Boobart; however, Ninjim intervenes and strikes her with the bottom of his palm, pushing her back and grabbing the Tome of Life.

“You imbecile!  Now, they have both of them!  Get them back this instant and bring them to me!”

“Take care of this,” Ninjim says, running over and handing the Tome of Life to Maggie.  As Kit begins dashing towards them, Ninjim continues, “I’ll take care of her.”

“Just weaken her and knock her out; that should undo the spell,” Boobart informs Ninjim.

“Noted,” Ninjim says as he races toward Kit; the two ninjas then begin battling at high speeds.

“Hmph. Greenoomba, fetch the books for me,” Barbootos orders.

“Fine,” Greenoomba groans, not too keen about taking orders.  Greenoomba runs toward the remaining three but Frank floats out in front of them and blocks Greenoomba from the books.  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Greenoomba says, chuckling at the thought of battling Frank.

“Frank, are you sure you can handle him?” Boobart asks, worried.

“Yep, don’t worry,” Frank says, smiling before he pulls out of his mouth the hammer that the Hammer Bro gave him.

“Fine, let’s see what you’re made of, un-funny boy,” Greenoomba says before performing a roundhouse kick at Frank.  Frank, however, ducks and hammers Greenoomba to the side of the room.

“Why, you dim-witted…” Greenoomba begins as Frank hurries over, and the two begin doing battle.

“Hmph, if you want something done right, do it yourself,” Barbootos says, shooting a big fireball at Boobart and Maggie.

Maggie quickly lifts and twirls her wand in the air.  A giant boulder suddenly materializes over her.  Maggie cries out as she points at Barbootos with her wand.  The boulder, in turn, flies toward Barbootos, running into and eliminating the fireball as it continues hurtling towards Barbootos.  Barbootos snorts, then fires black lightning that easily shatters the boulder and strikes the ceiling, shaking the whole room.  “Wha-what was that?” Boobart asks, terrified of the spell’s power.

“One of my most powerful spells: a dark elemental spell,” Barbootos answers, amused by Boobart’s fear. “I combine the darkest of dark magic with elemental black magic spells to make them immensely more powerful.”

Boobart trembles as Barbootos, smiling evilly, charges up a fireball composed of black flames.  Noticing that Boobart’s trembling and his eyes are wide with fear, Maggie tells him, “Boobart, don’t worry.  I can increase the power of your spells, remember?”

Snapping out of it, Boobart asks Maggie, “Do you think it’ll be enough?”

Maggie looks at the now giant fireball hovering above Barbootos’s hand.  “I don’t know, but if we don’t try, we’ll die here anyway.  I’ll amplify your magic; after I do, cast your most powerful spell.”

“My most powerful spell?” Boobart repeats, his mind flashing back to when he used his Earthquake spell against Barbootos before. “The thing is, though, my most powerful spell would probably bring this whole room down on us.”

“Well…” Maggie begins, thinking about it.

Just then, Barbootos fires his spell at the two.  They gasp and Maggie exclaims, already beginning to cast her strengthening spell, “We don’t have any more time!  Just cast the spell!  It’ll at least force him to retreat!”

Boobart flips to the page with the Earthquake spell as Maggie finishes casting her spell.  Feeling a surge of energy, Boobart points to the ground and shouts, “Earth, tremble!”

Immediately the room begins to shake vigorously.  As the black fireball continues toward them, Maggie and Boobart close their eyes in fear.  Luckily, however, a giant chunk of the ceiling falls on the fireball, stopping it before it reaches them.  The two open their eyes and sigh in relief.  Boobart then yells over the rumbling of the collapsing room, “Frank, Ninjim, over here!  I’ll teleport us out of here!”

Frank and Ninjim, who’s carrying an unconscious Kit on his back, sprint over to Boobart.  Boobart flips to the page with the Teleport spell, and Greenoomba, panicking, scurries over to Barbootos.  Barbootos bores through Boobart with a stare full of hatred as the two parties teleport themselves out of there, just as the room collapses in.
 

Chapter 11: Blessed

“I see.   Well, I’m glad you’re all safe and that the Tome of Life didn’t fall into the wrong hands,” Merle says after the group finishes explaining what happened.

“Yeah, we owe a lot to Ninjim,” Kit says.

“If it weren’t for him, Barbootos might have the BOO-k and the Tome of life, and Kit might be with Barbootos, still under his control,” Boobart comments.

“If I’m not still under his control,” Kit comments. “What if he’s just turned off his control again?”

“Since Ninjim knocked you out this time, and not Barbootos, I think the spell’s effects should be gone now,” Boobart concludes.

“Thank goodness,” Kit sighs with relief. “And, again, sorry about what I did back there.”

“It’s all right.  It wasn’t your fault,” Frank replies cheerfully.

“Thanks,” Kit says, and then, turning to Ninjim, she continues, “and thank you for all your help.”

“I was just doing my duty.  There’s no need to thank me,” Ninjim replies.

“Well, thank you anyway, Ninjim,” Boobart says.

“And thank you, Merle, for allowing us to use the Tome of Life,” Maggie says.

“Please, it was nothing,” Merle answers.

“We’ll be sure to bring it back when we’re done with it,” Boobart says.

“Actually, the Tome of Life teleports to somewhere else in the world after it’s used,” Merle informs them. “That’s why it has to be very important before resorting to the Tome of Life, since we have to find it again after it’s used.”

“I see,” Maggie says. “In that case, thanks again.”

The group say goodbye to Merle and Ninjim and teleport to Clarisse’s house.

* * *

In Clarisse’s backyard, Frank, Maggie, Boobart, and Kit are in a circle around the Tome of Life.  Reading the instructions, Maggie says, “All right, place your hands over the book, and I’ll recite the spell.”  The quartet do so, and Maggie begins chanting the spell.  “Life, precious and priceless, yet so easily taken away: Breathe life back into one whose life was taken away too soon.  One who was selfless and sacrificed her own life to vanquish a great evil.  Please, revive our dear friend, Clarisse.”

The tome suddenly flashes brightly, and an intense light appears in the backyard a few feet off the ground.  The four squint as they see a figure slowly descend out of the light to the ground.  Just as suddenly as it appeared, the light disappears, and the Tome of Life seems to evaporate.  Rushing over to the body lying on the ground, the four see that it’s Clarisse.  As the seconds pass and Clarisse remains unmoving, the four begin to get nervous.  “Clarisse, wake up,” Maggie says, urgency in her voice.

Clarisse remains still.

“Clarisse, come on; this isn’t funny,” Frank whines.

Clarisse’s body remains silent.

“Clarisse, please, you have to be alive,” Kit pleads. “You saved us so many times.  Don’t tell me we failed in saving you.”

Clarisse still remains motionless.

Finally, Boobart shouts, “Clarisse!  Please, you can’t be dead!  Wake up!”

The other three join in, begging Clarisse to wake up.  As memories of Clarisse fill their minds, tears begin dropping from the group’s eyes onto Clarisse’s unmoving body.  One of the tears drops on Clarisse’s hand.  Just then, Clarisse’s hand twitches, though the four don’t notice the movement through their tears.  Clarisse then exhales, and the group gasp and hold their breath.  Clarisse’s eyes flutter open as life slowly returns to her body.  Sitting up, she looks around at her teary-eyed friends gathered around her and says, “Boobart?  Frank?  Kit?  Maggie?”  Then looking at the palms of her hands, she continues, “I’m… alive?”

“Clarisse!” the four exclaim, hugging her, laughing; and, after a couple seconds pass, Clarisse begins laughing too.

* * *

Inside Clarisse’s house, Clarisse, Boobart, Frank, Maggie, and Kit are having a party in honor of Clarisse’s return.  The house has been decorated in colorful streamers, and there’s some music playing in the background.  Everyone is talking and enjoying the food Clarisse made as her gratitude to them for saving her.

“Everyone,” Clarisse begins, the group quieting down as she begins to talk, “I’d just like to thank you all again.  Without you, I wouldn’t be here right now.  It feels so good to know that you all care about me so much to go through all this trouble to bring me back… I only wish my grandpa could be here with us too.”  Tears begin to fall from Clarisse’s eyes.  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she continues, smiling and quickly wiping the tears away. “Please, enjoy the party and help yourselves to the food.”

Clarisse turns around and walks out the door to her beautiful backyard.  As she walks toward the middle of the yard, she looks around, taking in the things that she never thought she’d see again.  Once she reaches the center, she looks up and begins to pray.

Grandpa, I hope you’re happy where you are.  I know I only knew you for a short time, but it meant the world to me.  Grandma?  I just want to thank you for all you did for me.  I am who I am today because of you.  Thank you.  Mom, Dad… I still miss you, but right now, I’m needed here, with my friends.  I know I’ll see you again…someday.

“Hey, Clarisse!” Frank calls, sticking his head out the back door. “Come back inside!  You’re missing all the fun!”

“All right,” Clarisse calls back, giggling.  Before heading back inside, Clarisse turns her head and gazes dreamily at the sky, thinking about how her life has been blessed so much by the people who are and have been in it.

The End

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