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Chapter 31:
Reunion.
~Masamune~
"So this is
it..." Mario said as he looked across the bridge,
"Strange we did not run into one magikoopa though..."
"I think I
know why!" Yoshi suddenly exclaimed, pointing out a
large battle going on below.
"What the
devil is going on down there?" Geno replied.
"It looks
like Bowser's army fighting other koopas and... mushroom
people!?" Luigi said in astonishment.
The group all
looked down and watched in awe at the massive battle. It
then took an even stranger turn as a large monstrous
beast appeared in the middle of Bowser's army. They
recognized it instantly as Blaargantua, the monstrous
beast they never were able to defeat. It easily overtook
the suprised and and scared witless soldiers.
"How did
that..." Mario began.
"I don't
even want to know!" Yoshi interrupted, "Whoever
they are, they've got the magikoopas off our backs."
"Yes... but
the look familiar..." Peach said in a worried tone.
"You
needn't worry much longer." A voice said, behind
them stood Kammy Koopa in all her glory (if there is any...),
"I'm afraid I cannot let you pass."
"Wasn't
last time enough for you?" Mario sighed, "We
are getting through, no matter what you say."
"Oh, I
don't think so..." Kammy said as she raised a wand,
"By the power of Aurean..."
The group found
their bodies froze, unable to move any further than where
they stood. Kammy looked at their pathetic attempts and
cackled, "And so the great hero and his moron
brigade is defeated!"
~Meanwhile...~
Toad and the
others had managed to get across the room of fire after
the monster had been rid of. That was not to say that it
was easy, such a large spell sapped a lot of Toad's
strength. After going through there and another corridor,
they entered a room half filled with water. It was
surrounded with dead vines that allowed them to safely
climb in the water and swim to the other side where
another room awaited. After passing through there, they
reached another room. It was finally a room with windows
that allowed some air to circulate in. The only exit was
open, there the group could see Kammy standing there and
gloating.
Then... behind
her stood an even more suprising sight. Frozen in a mix
of suprise and anger, stood the heroic plumber Mario.
Behind him was his brother, a white puff he remembered as
Mallow. A wooden figure named Geno and the princess... He
listened in closer to hear what was going on before doing
anything...
"Them shys
left and I led them to ya as ordered." A small green
haired creature said.
"Very good,
the disguise was perfect." Kammy replied.
"T'aint
nuttin'" The figure chuckled as he transformed into
that of a Transakoopas, "They didn't suspect a thing!"
Toad mumbled a
curse under his breath, whoever that koopa was
impersonating, it had fooled Mario and the others. He
looked back at Keiro, Daisy and Timier.
"We have to
unfreeze them..." Toad said, "I think I can do
it with the wand, but then you have to attack. I'm having
enough backlash as it is to actually be hit by magic..."
"Understood."
Kiero replied, "The canine and myself should be able
to overcome them easily."
"Then it's
settled." Daisy interrupted, "We can't let
Luigi stay like that!"
Toad nodded and
held up Kichra once more and chanted. He pointed
it at Mario and the others, while Kiero and Poochy
suddenly charged Kammy and the Transakoopa. The group was
unfrozen while Kammy and the Transakoopa were tackled and
pinned in suprise.
Toad quickly
grabbed Kammy wand and held both wands at her, "I
wouldn't make another move..."
"Hmph...
you wretched fungus..." Kammy muttered, "Fortunately
I need not a wand to do this...!"
Before Toad
could react, she and the Transakoopa vanished in a cloud
of smoke. When the mushroom finally looked back up, Daisy
and Luigi were already embraced in a hug. Yoshi and
Mallow had taken a interest in Poochy. Geno was speaking
to Kiero and Timier. Mario and Peach... they were looking
at Toad with questioning eyes.
"Heh...
Hiya" Toad chuckled nervously, "It has been a
while."
"It has...
what happened?" Peach asked.
"It's a
long story..." Toad sighed.
"Then it
will make a good one for when we return home." Mario
replied, "But we need to get to Bowser.... where is
Jinx?"
"Who?"
Toad asked, "The little grasshopper guy?"
"Ditto."
"An
imposter..." Toad replied hesitantly.
"As
touching as this reunion is..." Keiro interrupted,
"We need to reach Bowser as soon as possible. My
soldiers can not last forever."
"Agreed."
Geno said, "We can get aquaintd and catch up as soon
as we overcome Bowser."
"What about
Jinx?" Mallow asked, "Where is the real one?"
~Meanwhile...
Away from the battle...~
Two opponents
stand with their eyes on eachother. On one side was a
koopa warrior and a small elvish, green haired fighter.
"So we meet
again..." Jinx said.
"Indeed..."
The koopa replied, "I have grown since our last
fight."
"I can tell..."
Jinx agreed, "It is a pity you choose this side..."
"Is it so
odd we would fight?" Jagger asked, "You trained
me so that I could serve Bowser."
"I had
hoped that my training would of had more influence."
Jinx answered sadly, "This time we will finish this
the right way."
"Prepare
yourself, sensei" Jagger replied, "I shall not
hold back this time."
Jinx closed his
eyes and nodded, "Neither shall I..."
~Lzn64~
Mario looked
around for a quick second, but he already knew that Jinx
was not going to be there. He didn't like not knowing
where the brave sensei had gone, but undoubtedly Jinx
could see to his own health. Mario quelled the worry he
had with the relief he was now feeling for Toad, and the
other mushroom people.
But now was not
the time for thinking of things like that... it would all
have to wait. His long-time rival waited somewhere in the
black, spiked turrets that rose above them, high into the
dark ocean of clouds that blanketed the whole of Dark
Land like a cancer.
----------
Kiero watched
his troops anxiously, knowing that even their bravery
would never outlast the blind loyalty of the Magikoopas.
He was in a hurry to start the hunt for King Bowser,
needless to say. He may have been the sovereign of his
people at one time... but there was always a time for
change... and that time was now.
He looked away
from his troops, unable to bear the pain of knowing he
had to abandon them for the greater good.
Bowser was his.
------
Yoshi stared at
the people that had suddenly gathered around them. He was
happy that the mushroom people were all right, but to be
frank, his hunger was out-ranking them on his priority
list. He wanted to get inside, where dozens of tasty
koopas undoubtedly waited... it was a pity that these
koopas were good guys.
He sighed,
waiting impatiently for a signal. They were all stalling,
though... Bowser had proven throughout the entire,
grueling adventure that he was more powerful... and a lot
smarter... than he had ever been before. Of course, the
green dino wasn't really phazed by these matters. Very
little actually shocked him, after all, he had been
travelling with Mario for years. Ever since had had
barely been able to talk.
-----
Mario, Luigi,
Peach, and Daisy gave eachother a final look of
determination. It was time to confront the big boy. Toad
stood not far off, having wandered over toward Ten,
Kichra grasped firmly in his hand. He was unafraid of the
trials that lay ahead... after all, they had already been
through so much.
Mario knew the
door would be unlocked. Bowser might have been low enough
to let his minions attempt to curb them, but he was not
cowardly enough to lock his door against them. Oh, no.
Bowser was much to arrogant for such things. Mario
stepped inside first, feeling, for just a second, that
this was just another adventure, unlike the many others
he had had in the past.
Luigi entered
next, Daisy clinging to his arm in an annoying manner
that he hardly even noticed. He scanned the room almost
mechanically for the first wave of attacks, knowing that
they were inevitable, but like so many other things, that
had changed as well. There was no first assault, only an
ominous silence, and the eerily familar entry way to the
montrosity known as Bowser's Castle.
Peach wrinkled
her nose in distast as the sulfuric smell, now five times
greater since it was trapped indoors, invaded her nose.
She knew that several traps waited for them in these
halls, and undoubtedly a number of them would involve
lava. That, at least, had not changed. It provided, in
some strange way, a comforting bit of security, a small
bit of proof that cunning or no, Bowser was still Bowser.
The entry way
was dark and silent. The heavy footsteps from the
plumbers' heavy boots echoed hollowly on the marble
floor, sending waves of ominous sound bouncing off the
walls. They were all exhausted, and Peach was secretly
harboring doubts toward her own ability to stick it out
to the end.
Suddenly, the
door Mario, (and so everyone else,) had been heading
toward opened of its own accord. A look of weary distaste
settled on the plumber's features as a familiar form
scurried out, stopping dead in its tracks as he realized
who he had run into.
There stood
Croco, in all his purple glory.
He was lugging a
considerably more plump bag than he had been toting
during their previous meeting, and seemed a bit more at
ease, as well. Which was not entirely a good thing. His
beady eyes settled on Mario, and a grin crossed his
reptalian features. He tipped his overly sized tophat in
mock greeting, but Mario was far too worn out to think up
a snide reply to his subtle insults.
Of course, not
one to miss anything, Croco noticed the general lethargy
of the group, and his eyes once again filled with the
familiar glint of greed. Mario was vaguely reminded of
Wario.
"So, fellas...
looks like you could use a little... freshen up," He
laughed, placing his hands on his hips.
"Not now,
Croco. Please."
"Hahaha...
did I fail you before? C'mon. You can trust me."
Mario sighed
irritibly. What a way to start the final trek.
~Sapphire~
Peach and Luigi
glanced at each other, being that they were the two who
had dealt with him beforehand, and hadn't gotten the
chance to inform Mario of just how little servicable
Croco had been.
"Just spit
it out, Croco." Peach said, crossing her arms
irritatedly across the front of her dress. The more she
thought about it, the more she hated the dress. Pink,
what an awful color, she thought. After being put
through countless trials and tribulations she was out of
patience, especially for pathetic and greedy creatures
like Croco.
Croco seemed
slightly taken aback by the tone in Peach's voice, but
smiled nonetheless, that sly smile which he thought
permitted him to get exactly what he wanted.
"And how
much will you be paying for my services this time?"
he mocked.
Peach didn't
respond, only clenched her palms into fists. Mario
started to say something, as the plumber was greatly
annoyed by this disturbance. He adjusted his cap and
stared directly into the fiend's eyes.
Suddenly, Luigi
began to smile himself, recalling what had happened while
in the land above the clouds. Daisy clung to his arm
pathetically, desparate for his attention, though she was
nothing but an annoyance. He wanted her away from him,
off of his arm, if anything. Just because she looked up
to him as a hero didn't mean that he enjoyed it.
His lifted a
hand to his chin and rubbed it thoughtfully. "What's
in the bag, Croco?"
Croco's eyes lit
up. "Lots of delicious morsels."
Luigi hesitated.
The invisible bridge had been one thing. What if the
'tasty morsels' were things that not even Yoshi
found edible? Should he chance it? He looked at his
companions for help, but was met by confusion. Except for
Peach, who was also recalling the sawdust incident. Croco
had obviously felt cheated. Maybe it was time to
negotiate on those terms.
If it were even
possible.
Daisy's eyes
were wide in confusion. She had only joined up with them
because of Luigi, and he was now practically denying her
existance. Being with Mushrooms bored her and here she
was being left out again. isn't it just like Peach to
be front and center with the Mario brothers, she
thought, feeling a brief surge of jealousy rise through
her. She hated this treatment. She would have to do
something. Determinedly she pulled from Luigi and pushed
Peach aside so she was face to face with Croco.
"All right
buddy, just show us what's in the bag. You want payment,
I'm a princess. I could get you a reward." She said,
placing her hands on her hips. Croco kept the smile on
his face. This one was new. And she seemed more
agreeable.
He pondered
opening the bag and revealing the tasty morcels that he
had hidden. or maybe he should switch it for the bag that
hld those other-worldly Koopa treats. He could show the
bag with the food and then switch them. But another
princess, with a kingdom that was bound to be full of
more riches and a princess less irritable than Peach!
His mouth practically watered at the chance.
"I never
show what I sell until the price is on the table, Princess."
He replied, clutching the bag closer to him.
"Name your
price. Whatever it is, you can have it."
"Let's not
bother with this creep and keep going." Yoshi
grunted, even though the appeal of food was becoming too
great. Mario stared out determinedly across the bridge.
This was taking too long. Yet here was another hinderance.
"There is
no negotiating with him, Daisy. He'll never show us what
he has until it's too late." Peach said, her voice
no longer hostile, but with cool detachment, not out of
dislike for the girl, but simply because she obviously
had no idea with whom she was dealing.
"You'll
negotiate with me, won't you?" Daisy pleaded.
Luigi rolled his
eyes. "Croco, this is your last chance."
Croco's smile
brightened. "All I desire is free access to your
castle--" he was about to add, 'and it's riches',
but caught himself in time.
Daisy nodded.
"Yes, okay. Now, give me the bag."
"Daisy-"
Peach began, but was cut off by Croco.
"'Eh, would
you mind telling me where your castle is?"
"Of course."
Daisy replied, and she told him. Dollar signs seemed to
appear in the reptilian's eyes as the thought of free
acess was enticing. This was almost too good!
The rest of the
company shifted nervously.
Croco reached
inside and pulled out a small bag. "Happy eating!"
He said, flinging the bag towards Daisy, then racing past
them and out of the hall.
Peach arched an
eyebrow. "Well, about time," she said. "Can
we just get on with it?"
"Yeah. I
really want to understand more about Toad's wand."
Luigi said, changing the subject, turning to one of the
three silent members of their party. Geno seemed to be in
deep thought, as did Toad, while Mallow's eyes were
focused on the road ahead.
He seemed so
changed, as he had seemed to mature quickly after his
daring rescue. And Toad was very different as well; he
seemed to have done very well without them there to offer
assistance, in fact, would seem to require no assistance
but his wand.
Maybe our
time is running out, Luigi thought. The hero's were
being replaced easily. So much time had seemed to pass
that there was no need for them at all.
Daisy prodded
him in the ribs. "I think that guy cheated me, but
there was just barely enough to go around."
He looked up and
realized that everyone had begun eating the food, which had
turned out to be tasty delictables after all. Daisy
shoved something into his hand. "Here. Eat up. It's
all that's left."
Luigi didn't
feel too hungry, but he watched as his companions
devoured their food hungrily, especially his brother
Mario and Yoshi, who's stomach resembled a bottomless pit.
The only one not eating was Peach, but her portion had
been the smallest.
Toad felt left
out. Even though he had rejoined 'the old group', so much
time had passed between them that it didn't seem as if it
infact were 'the old group'. If everything were returned
to normal he wouldn't know how to handle it.
He took a deep
breath. "Guys... I think we ought to keep moving."
~Masamune~
The journey
through Bowser's castle was by no means an easy one.
Fortunately the food given seemed to provide a pleasant
after effect that seemed to recover their energy. After
realizing this, Mario managed to coax Peach into finally
trying some and recovering. Even then it left them all
terribly hungry, most of all Yoshi and Poochy who had the
largest stomachs of all. Before going any further, Toad
and Mallow seperated with Timier and the ghosts to assist
in the battle below.
Of course, when
the first wave of goomba foot soldiers arrived, the
hunger problem was solved for the two. The other fought
in their own manner, whether by pummeling, squashing or
magic. It was a easy battle, which they were all thankful
for due to the recent circumstances they had been in. It
was quickly followed by a large group of koopa troopas.
Mario and Luigi showed off their jumping power by hopping
from one koopa shell to another, until most were trapped
on their back and unable to get up. One of the few
standing up growled at the group and spoke up.
"Why do you
insist on Lord Bowser's downfall again!" The koopa
growled, "Do you delight in making us suffer any
more from his loss!?"
Mario frowned,
he had never looked at it from that perspective before.
It must of been very difficult to tolerate that monstrous
abomination after being defeated. And preparing for the
difficult task they had been going through, it would be
insuprising if the stress was overcoming to koopas from
it.
"Stop."
Keiro interrupted, stepping forward from behind Toad and
Geno from where he had been the majority of the time,
"There is no reason to fight."
"Absurd!
Why would we listen to you?" The koopa retorted.
"I was
General Drake Koopa, the former general before Jagger
koopa took over after I left." Keiro explained,
receiving shocked faces from his comrades, "Bowser
is not fit to lead the Koopa Kingdom, you should realize
this by now."
"... what
are you suggesting then?" The koopa asked.
"The fate
of this battle is drawing near. The victor will soon be
decided, if Bowser wins your life will not get much
easier. If we succeed, he will be even harder than ever
on your side." Keiro replied, "Below a battle
wages as you may already know. I suggest you rethink your
options and loyalties."
The koopa stood
silent for a while before speaking, "... stand aside
soldiers and allow them to pass."
"C-captain,
Bowser will kill us!" A soldier exclaimed.
"I said
step aside!" The koopa captain demanded again,
"Better killed by him than by them."
"You made
the right decision." Keiro said, nodding to the
koopa captain.
The group
proceeded on to the next room while the soldiers stood up
and glanced at the captain with questioning eyes.
"Go down
there and aid the mushroom people and other koopas. I
shall try and persuade other soldiers to join who are
uncontent with Bowser's rule." The captain ordered,
"Let us make this decision not be in vain!"
--------------------------------------------
Jagger was
knocked back several feet into the cold stone of the
castle. Even through his shell reduced most of the
damage, it still was painful. Jinx was wearing down as
well, most of his techniques were dodged by the koopa who
had learned to evade them over the years of training. The
two recocvered and stared aye to eye, only moving to
breathe.
"You have
improved." Jinx observed, "You are not nearly
as careless as before."
"You're
holding back!" Jagger yelled, "I demand you
fight me with all your power!"
"Very well..."
Jinx replied, "I have not used this move in a long
time... I suppose it is time for the Jinx Ruby to be
unleashed once more."
He placed his
two hands together and began meditating deeply. His body
began to glow a red light while Jagger took on a
defensive stance. Suddenly he lashed out, charging at the
koopa at full speed. He rammed him with such amazing
force and speed, that Jagger was thrown into the wall
which shattered from the impact. Amazingly he managed to
crawl out and face Jinx through painful, tear-filled eyes.
"That was
the move... the one you were practicing when I first saw
you..." Jagger sputtered.
"Indeed it
was." Jinx said sadly, "I had hoped I would
never need to use it after I perfected it."
"I... I am
just glad I was able to learn every technique you
possesed..." The koopa coughed again, "I just
wish I could of been half as powerful..."
"You will
be and much more." The sensei replied, "You are
always welcome to return to the dojo."
"I cannot
now..." Jagger said in a defeated tone, "It is
better I die now and atone my sins as an acursed Boo..."
"I am
afraid I cannot allow that" Jinx replied in a
commanding voice, "But at your sensei, I cannot
allow you to make a decision when you are in such a
condition."
The koopa looked
over at his big-sized teacher and smiled weakly, "Thank
you...."
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