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Chapter 29:
Beneath the Water...
~Sapphire~
"We'll just have to try to train our minds away
from the magic." Geno took in a deep breath, then
exhaled slowly, meeting their faces with his eyes. They
had come a long way, and he was still feeling somewhat
weak from the earlier incident.
"Right." Mario intoned. "But it may be
harder for the rest of you. Peach, Luigi and I have
already been down, so we know what to expect."
"Mmm hmm." The others could only nod in
affirmation at this, though their minds were busy as they
all sat pondering the situation and if there were any
other way to go about it.
Mallow tried to stand as tall as he could, as he was
a great deal smaller than the rest, and was bound to be
left out of some great decision. "Let them do their
worst." He declared, standing at the edge of the
platform. He had to prove to them that he was brave
enough, that he could do this, that he could be as
strong as Mario or Luigi and maybe even be useful. He
couldn't let himself be pushed back into the tumalt of
things and be left behind. He had to be strong now.
"Mallow, are you sure you're up to this?"
The princess asked, staring at him concernedly. But he
stared back with determination sparkling in his eyes.
"I'm not afraid." He said, forcing them to
become words that were strong, and not how he really felt
inside. In the center of his being he felt afraid, and he
must not let the others see that.
Peach nodded, as Mario took a deep breath and peered
over the edge.
"Are we all going to go in together, or in two
separate groups just in case?"
The rest of them all looked at each other. How they
were going to go about this task hadn't been thought of.
Mario of course would be one of the first to go, but
should other's wait behind just in case..?
Yoshi stepped up. "I'm tired of just sitting
around!"
"Yoshi's right. We need to think of something,
fast." Mallow agreed. He hadn't worked up this much
courage for nothing, and he was determined not to let it
go to waste. "Two groups. Me, Mario and Yoshi will
go first. The rest of you wait here."
Luigi arched an eyebrow. "But Mallow-"
"No buts. I am tired of sitting around. It's now
time for me to prove that I can be useful too! Oh and...where's
Jinx?"
His voice trailed off as they all looked around.
Where was Jinx? There was simply no sign of him
anywhere. He was just... gone.
"Let's go." Mario said finally. "Come
on Yoshi, Mallow."
The three of them soon disappeared beneath the
surface with a splash, even before the rest could utter
the words "Be careful."
Be careful. What could they do now but sit and wait?
Luigi felt uneasy. Everything seemed so horribly wrong,
perhaps this was their fate, that they were destined to
meet some sort of doom sometime, and this was it.
No. He thought firmly. I won't let that
happen.
He hated to think of himself as being frightened -
utterly frightened! Nothing seemed to add up, everything
was a mess.
"I hope they have better luck than we did,"
Peach sighed, sitting next to him. Geno still stood at
the water, an unreadible expression in his eyes, fear and
silence overtook them all as they remained still,
waiting, for a sign, for anything.
None came.
Below the surface, Mario braced himself for the
changes that were soon to occur, and was shocked to
discover that none at all were appearing. The water
remained as clear as a bell!
But this is impossible, he thought. The memory
of how the water had once been was etched in his mind. It
wasn't clear, and yet now it was, even as he went deeper.
was this another illusion?
He turned his head. Mallow was to his left and
appeared to be having some trouble, then made eye contact.
Yoshi had swum further ahead, and then disappeared as
finally the water became less clear.
Mario reached out for Mallow and grabbed onto one of
his arms.
Mallow didn't like being underwater, or feeling the
water slowly press around his body. He was relieved when
Mario reached out, he didn't know how much longer he
could continue on. But then he felt ashamed. How could he
possible prove to be brave on his own, if Mario was going
to be right there and always pull him out of trouble?
Nonetheless, they kicked hard and went further into
the deep, Mallow not paying much attention to the
surrounding area as his thoughts still were running on
overtime.
I refuse to become a nothing.
~Masamune~
One thing remained in Yoshi's head as he trailed
Mario and Mallow, rushing memories of what had been
perhaps a week ago. Under the cold icy sea, searching in
ah opeless manner for Mario's body. the ressure of
knowing that a shared weight of his existence was split
between Luigi and himself. Now as two of his friends were
swimming deeper and deeper in front of him, he could not
help but imagine something horrible happening again. He
could not let it happen.... but if it did, what could he
do?...
No memory of that event entered the head of Mario as
he continued below. It was like any other time, when he
went through squids and fish. Electrically charged
urchins, underwater koopas, erupting underwater lava
lotus plants. Even sharks and huge sting rays and spider
like creatures that would inhabit the surface. He had
been through all of those, what could be so scary about
some magically enchanted water?...
Mallow's experience underwater was not as extensive
as Mario's, but being raised by frogs, he had his share
of it. He had learned to swim at a young age, even if
later than all the tadpoles who were born with the
ability. After meeting Mario for the first time, they
fought Belome and were washed away by a huge wave of
water. They rode down a treachourous waterfall to his old
home. Then later they travelled underwater through
vortexes into a cave and then into a sunken ghost ship.
So if he could not be brave in some building room full of
water, when would he ever be able to?...
Above the water, Luigi watched as three of his
friends submerged and vanished from view. He worried for
them, he had also been under the water as well. When he
had returned, he had been to ashamed to admit what he had
saw for it could of been easily been an illusion. But
deep beneath he could see large bulky form with red
peircing eyes closely inspecting him. He truly beleived
something hideous awaited them below... but what?...
Far away, outside of the tower, a small force of
mushrooms and koopas were assembling. At the head was a
large, armor bound koopa who overlooked his small group
of soldiers. Soon they would march in battle, and face
one of the largest and feircest armies in the world.
Several days ago, if someone told Keiro to march out
against his former master, he would of said it was the
most absurd thing in the world. But now in such dire
times, there was no choice in the matter. But while he
was sneaking in and protecting Toad, he wondered who
would protect his sister?...
Alone in one of the dark tents of the small koopa-mushroom
encampment, Ten sat alone deeply involved in his own
thoughts. He has lost so much that day so long ago...
When he and his crew were taken into the Transakoopa
hill, his life was changed forever. He learned to conceal
himself, to hide in the shadows of the Transakoopas.
Sometimes he would try and imagine the faces of his
former group, but was unable to do it. It was hard to
even remember their names sometimes... and he hated
hismelf for it. When he met Toad and the others, he
thought perhas he could finally belong again. When they
prepared for battle, he was warmed by their strong will
and devotion. But once again it changed when Toad first
used the wand. The two drifted apart after their short
yet strong freindship. It even resulted in the two
breaking in a fight. Toad had conquered it now, but it
did not mean they could friends now. With battle looming
over them, one of the could easily die. Could he really
go through losing everyone he held dear again?...
~Sapphire~
The water seemed endless. There seemed to be no
bottom to the ever darkening pool of despair nor any
light at the other end which would ultimately be the
surface. At this point, they barely remembered the reason
why they were making this long and perilous journey.
The mystic blueness still haunted those who peered
into it, a vast ocean of dark secrets. Geno's eyes once
again scanned the surface, and then turned upwards, to
scan the ceiling, if could be called that, of the room.
Not particulilarily high, but high enough. The walls of
the entrapment were a ghostly white, to offset the
blueness of the water. Something that was supposed to
appear comforting, but instead made it all the more
uncomfortable.
How could such a room exist within the walls of the
castle? Or had such magic been put into it that it was
only to appear this way? He looked at his companions, who
seemed to notice it too - wondering if they were still
prone to be attacked in this atmosphere which was to
appear comforting.
Now that they were separated, they were weaker. He
sighed. What a foolish idea this was. They were doomed,
after all.
And what had happened to Jinx? He was so
small, had he already slipped in to the water,
undetected, perhaps trying to fill a void of self-sufficiency?
Though it wouldn't be like him.
Here they were: pawns. Geno was angry. He was not
created for this purpose; nor to sit here and wait for
his doom. There had to be another way. His eyes moved to
glance at his companions: The plumber and the princess.
They were very still, lost in thought. The tension hung
thickly in the air, an invisible fog that entered the
caverns of their minds.
"It's like last time." Peach's voice seemed
to echo, though her voice was soft, the low voice of an
angel that they all turned their ears towards in respect.
This water didn't seem prone to have pirates, or even a
ship for that matter, so for that they were relieved.
Luigi put a comforting arm around the Princess. "We
seem to be safe for now."
But even he could not mask the dark feeling that he
had in the center of his very being.
-----
"This is boring!" Beezo exclaimed
studdenly, causing his companions to jump slightly in
surprise.
"Sure it's boring." The snifit replied
acidly in response, "But at least we are getting the
job done."
Beezo cackled. It felt great to be on the winning
team for once. He peered closely at the screen which
monitored the events going below. The three of them were
still there, standing as if enchanted. Now would be a
perfect time to invent another creature and have some fun.
Perhaps not as strong as the other two, but strong enough
to watch an interesting battle. Maybe throw in a few more
tricks so that it would be impossible not to go
anywhere but down.
"What do you think, guys?" He asked, after
voicing his opinion. Shyguy shrugged, as he was getting
somewhat fed up with the events. He was getting
increasingly irritated since he wanted to take a lunch
break. But orders were orders, and he always took great
pains to follow them. He just wasn't sure if they were to
be destroyed, or simply weakened and captured. What was
the point to it all?
Snifit carefully counted out four magic spears.
"These should do it."
"How many?" Shyguy asked threateningly.
This time Snifit chuckled slightly. "Don't worry, I
only am going to use four this time. That should keep
them busy."
---
It was the eyes again. Red as they were they sparkled
like rubies, raptureous jewels in the ever-coming
darkness. Mario couldn't make out what they belonged to
as of yet, he was come concerend with making sure that
Mallow was safe, forgetting his experiance in the water.
And Yoshi, behind them, still troubled by thoughts of
a time not long ago. He was dreadfully hungry, even
moreso than the others, as it was his perogrative to eat,
anytime, anywhere. Rarely ever was he satisfied, even if
he did manage to get a good decent meal in.
The eyes. He winced, remembering the Blaargantua.
They were so close to being beaten if it hadn't been for
the few quick thinkers in the group.
As he drew closer to the large red spots, Mario began
to feel increasingly uneasy, the confidence which he so
openly wore seemed to be stripped from his soul. And
that's when it happened.
He felt something smack against his face, at the same
time making him accidently release his hold on Mallow.
There was no clearness now; all was dark and black. He
could barely see other tentacles swishing slowly, one
smacking into Yoshi and another threatening to wrap
around his body.
Mario hesitated, pondering whether to swip upwards or
stay and face this creature which he had finally come
face to face with. He knew his air supply would run out;
he saw Mallow for an instant, swimming past them,
swimming downwards, and he realized that he was searching
for the exit. He peered closely. There was a small
opening behind this large and monstrous creature, and
Mallow disappeared right into it. He felt relieved
slightly, but realized that it was up to him and Yoshi
now, to attempt to destroy this creature so the others
could make it by freely. There was no way to go back up
and contact them; it would be easier to swim through this
exit.
The red eyes were aware of his presence as they
seemed to pierce through him. It was time. For a brief
moment he wondered what was going on at the surface.
~Ditto McCloaker~
At last, the sinister Darktopus decided it could wait
no longer. Closer, it's quarry approached, closer, blind
and unaware.
WHAP! a long black tentacle snaked out, and
hit one of them, sending it spinning backwards through
the water. The other one, unaware of what had happened to
it's partner, continued on.
After flailing his arms about, Mario finally got his
bearings. He had no idea what had hit him, but his eyes
opened in alarm as he saw the silhouette of Yoshi headed
dead-on in it's direction, totally unaware of the danger.
He swam forward, trying to go fast enough that to keep
the endangered froggasaur in sight.
Yoshi continued on, pumping his short, stubby legs,
propelling himself effortlessly through the water, as
Yoshis can. Before long, the joy of the feeling of flying
underwater overcame his judgement, and he began to kick
ahead with more and more powerful and careless pumps, and
lost all heed of possible danger. He didn't even bother
to look around to make sure Mario was around, let alone
keeping up. He continued on in this blissful state of
ignorance for some time before the thought of his pal
rattled again in his brain. Opening one eye, he cast a
glance around, and realized that Mario was probably far
behind. Yoshi slackened his pace, and continued forward,
slowly, glancing back occassionally to see if Mario
caught up. He slowed until he was floating dead in the
water, and there was still no sign of Mario.
Yoshi began to get uneasy, and looked around
frantically. Nothing. Then, he remembered something.
Yoshis have a second, clear eyelid underneath their
normal outer ones. It's clear, and Yoshis can close them
without closing their outer ones, so as to keep foreign
particles out and still see around. He did so, and was
promptly shocked.
The moment he pulled his invisible eyelids over his
eyes, the thick, inky darkness which had enveloped him
disappeared completely, and for a moment, Yoshi had the
sensation that the water had disappeared altogether. It
hadn't as his continued floating confirmed, but it had
become as clear as pure, polished crystal. He didn't
grasp why, but the fact was that by blocking his eye, he
blocked out the evil magic which played over the water,
which caused a swimmer to see only inky blackness. For
Yoshi, the illusion was completely gone, and he could see
all around him.
That's when he got his second shock.
Down below, he saw the a massive, disgusting bloated
mass of gray, fleshy matter plastered along the bottom
wall of the pool. From this wrinkled black blob snaked
eight long tentacles, writhing about it like a gigantic
underwater spider. Perched in the middle of the enormous
head-shaped structure were to of the most malevolent,
vicious red eyes he had ever seen. A long snout protruded
from underneath, clearly it's mouth. Yoshi also saw, not
far from it, Mario, swimming frantically around,
pointlessly. Yoshi grasped that the plumber's vision and
direction were still mysteriously clouded.
Further, Yoshi's heart stopped in his white, smooth
chest as he saw the one of the Darktopus's sleek, oily
tentacles slither outward, toward the helpless man. It
wrapped around one of Mario's pantlegs, and began to pull.
Mario began to frantically wave his arms around, and his
mouth opened, though only bubbles came out. Yoshi watched
in utter horror as Mario began to be pulled downward,
clearly in the direction of that disgusting, gaping snout
underneath the immobile blob. Yoshi looked around, and
could easily establish which way was back. He pumped
smoothly, at the top of his speed, going back in the
other direction in mere seconds. He saw where the pool
opened up at the top, and he shot like a Polaris missile
up to his comrades.
Luigi stood on the edge of the side of the hole which
led down to what was to him a tunnel of sparkling, clear
water. Peach sat off to one side, and Geno stood rigidly
to the other. Aside from Luigi's occassional comments and
mutterings, no one really said anything. He had a notion
to just pop down a little, without actually going too far
in, to see if he could spot Mario at the other end. He
was seriously considering this course when he saw a green
object streak into view and rocket upwards, exploding
through the surface sending water everywhere.
Yoshi spat out some water and sputtered excitedly
about what he had seen seconds before.
"What?!" cried Luigi. "Something IS
down there, and it's got Mario?!"
Peach stood bolt upright and walked over to the pool
where Yoshi's bobbed over the surface. Yoshi nodded.
"Get him free!" she cried to Yoshi, as
though it were obvious. Yoshi replied excitedly that it
would be impossible. He was at a loss to describe the
size of the creature he had seen sticking to the bottom
of the pool, but he managed to get across how hopeless it
would be to tug against it. He panicked. He didn't know
what to do.
Another splash had cut short their wild exchanges.
Geno, wood and cloth, had immediately dove into the
water, and began to swim forward. Soon, his eyes too
began to cloud up, but he focused, and soon his little
red eyes began to sparkle golden, as he magically willed
for his divine vision to pass through the curse of the
enchanted pool. He did not have to swim far to indeed
make out, at the distant end of the clear pool, a hulking
dark object, slithering and warbling about. If Yoshi was
right, it had Mario in it's clutches. Being made of wood,
Geno's body was not built for swimming. There was no way
he could get to the other end in time. Even so, he had
doubts as to how much effect his magic would have against
the creature.
The doll floated there, suspended underwater, alone.
His eyes, peeking out from underneath is blue cap, beheld
the shapeless mass in the distance.
He had only one option.
The movement of Geno's limbs ceased, as he began to
merely float in state. His large eyes slowly drooped, and
his head turned upward. His arms dropped cae to rest
parallel to his body, his jointed fingers outstretched.
Closing his eyes, Geno again made an entreaty to the
Head Office; the personal request for undisguised,
immediate, direct intervention in mortal affairs that a
Star Guardian is permitted to make only three times, the
third marking the termination of said Guardian's
existence. Dreading the thought of his Superior's likely
displeasure at making his second such request so soon
after his first, Geno made his Second Wish.
Mario frantically thrashed against the darkness as he
felt himself being pulled downward by an unpleasant force.
His breath escaped him in gulps, floating upward. Down
below, the Darktopus gleefully pulled it's meal to it.
Off at the entrance to the water pool, Luigi, unable
to restrain himself any longer, ran forward and did a
perfect plunge into the water. Peach rushed to the side
of the pool and looked anxiously after him.
High above, the nasty Shy Trio watched through their
special one-way glass floor, with chuckles and much back-slapping.
Beezo was busy rifling through his collection of black
magic spears with the air of a golfer trying to pick out
the best club for his next hole. With Mario out of the
way, he could simply create something to finish off the
others. He wasn't looking down, at the scene below as his
comrades began uttering puzzled exclamations.
"Wait... what's happening?"
"Is it just me, or is that water level going
down?"
"GASP! It is!"
Somehow, at the bottom, the water was slowly draining
down a covered drainhole at the bottom. One that no one
had apparently noticed before. A tiny whirlpool formed as
the enchanted water filtered down from the chamber.
The Darktopus began to cringe. The water pressure,
which it was designed to feel comfortable in, was
dissipating fast. Mario suddenly felt himself released.
He touched the bottom, but at the same time, he was aware
of the water surface around his ears, then around his
nose, then his waist. As he opened his eyes, he found
himself, soggy yet safe, standing upright in a relatively
deep yet dry chamber. Off to his right, he heard the
familiar, satisfying sound of water gurgling and guzzling
down a drain, though much louder than from a simple
bathtub. Finally gaining control of his senses, he heard
a familair voice calling to him. A voice low, nasal, and
casual, though deeply accented. He turned to see his
brother Luigi running toward him, just in time to see him
slip on a puddle and his legs whip up over his head. He
didn't hit the hard floor, however. Instead, much to his
amazement, he stopped in mid-fall, his legs awkwardly
over his face, and then righted himself in mid-air,
before touching down gently. He shot a thankful glance
over at Geno, who nodded and gave a wooden smile. Luigi
then adjusted his common cap and continued toward Mario
at a more safe clip, followed by Yoshi and Geno. Behind
them, Princess Peach floated gently down to the green-tiled
from the hole at the top of the formerly water-filled
chamber.
Mario was glad to see them, but as he met them, Luigi
pointed over Mario's shoulder.
The beached Darktopus thrashed and warbled violently
in the open air. The Mario Brothers exchanged glances,
and nodded. They ran full-speed toward the helpless
creature, and then, with the running start,
simultaneously bounded high into the air, courtesy of the
Mushroom Kingdom's weaker gravity. In mid-air, Mario did
a somersault, buckled his knees, and came down full
force, with both boots together, onto the head of the
fleshy beast, knocking the wind out of it. Luigi, who had
gone higher, came down less dramatically, but with as
much force as his brother. The two both bounced up in the
air again, like on a trampoline, and came down again and
again, pounding the air out of the giant gasbag.
They bounced off, landing gracefully on either side.
The creature bulged and contorted, and then began to
shrivel up, smaller and smaller, before finally
disappearing with a small pop..
The Mario Brothers, no, the Super Mario
Brothers had done it again.
Peach came up and threw her arms around both heroes.
This was the pair she knew. Geno and Yoshi stood off to
the side and watched the scene of reunited friends. At
long last, the group began to regain a little of their
former confidence, the subtle assurance of success, the
sense of invincibility that no Starman could provide.
High above, the Shy Trio looked down in silence.
Behind their masks, one could only imagine the looks of
shock on their faces. Not a word passed between them. The
bag of spears dropped limply at Beezo's side.
After the kudos had been handed out, Mario, Luigi,
Yoshi, Geno, and Peach again turned their attention to
the job before them. They walked ahead, through the
opening through which Mario had seen Mallow pass. They
entered a circular room. There was no sign of a door or
entrance of any sort. Where had Mallow gone?
"Up here, guys! Up here!" came a small
voice from above.
The group looked up. High above, Mallow peeked down
over the edge of a tunnel high in the wall.
"Hey! Where'd all the water go? I used it to
swim up to here! It's nice and dry, and leads further
into the castle, but I don't see any way for you to get
up!
Mario and Luigi looked up helplessly at the high hole
in the wall. The absence of the water, it seemed, was a
curse as well as a blessing. They were left low and dry,
as it were, as they stood down there trying to figure out
how to rise to the occassion, with no ladder or rope
anywhere in evidence.
"Hey, Luigi, how tall are you?" asked
Mario, his chin in his hand.
Luigi looked at him crossly. "You know I'm 5'10."
he answered. "I'm five inches taller than you."
Mario nodded, grumpily, at being reminded of his most
prominent... shortcoming. He put it out of his mind as he
continued to figure. Peach stood about 6' in heels. He
added it up in his mind. Perhaps, he thought, If
I were on Yoshi... and Luigi were on my shoulders, and
Peach were on his...
Mario shook his head, glad he hadn't thought that
out loud. Yoshi most certainly would not approve of being
at the bottom of that human totem, or himself, either,
for that matter. Finally, a slight blush crossed his big
round nose as he realized the implications of standing
directly underneath Princess Peach. The guards would
never let him back in the Kingdom again, he thought with
a chuckle. Enough silliness, he scolded himself. He had
to focus on how to get up there.
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