Chapter 34:

~Masamune~

The train skidded to a stop as it neared the factory. Wart and Mamu quickly disembarked and entered the factory. Mack and a few Shysters were quick to greet them.

"Did you see a curious group of students pass through here?" Wart asked.

“Our cameras show that, taking off with two of my prisoners.”

"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" Wart shouted, throwing his hands up. "This is a FACTORY. Don't you have anything to send after them?"

"We only have several robots in pre-construction; we were working on the Blade II up 'til then... The rest are guards."

"Send 'em out anyways! All of 'em!" Wart shouted.

Mack glared, "I outrank-"

Mack suddenly toppled over as an energy bubble from Mamu hit him. Mamu looked at Wart and grinned, "Not anymore."

Wart raised an eyebrow, "You took out a fellow robot of Smithy?"

"I take after you more than you think."

"Ha ha! Been paying attention haven't you?" Wart turned to the Shysters, "All right! Listen up. I'm in charge of the Factory now. Send every robot out that can move. Lock up all the servants then, so you guys can attack too!"

The head Shyster would have widened his eyes, but no one would have been able to see it. "B-but, someone could break in!"

"We can call Bowyer in, have him, Yaridovich, and Mack guard the place," Mamu suggested.

"Good," Wart replied. "Once I get those kids, I'll personally wring their scrawny necks..."

"The 'shrooms don't have necks."

-----------------

Croco sighed, he could not see anyone and Wart stopped answering his calls. He looked at Truffatore behind him, "Call up da rest of da crooks. Tell 'em we's heading back to Chai City."

"Understood Master Croco."

Croco grinned, finally someone who showed respect. Sometimes. He turned his plane around and his crooks followed suit. They had only been flying half an hour when Truffatore rumbled behind him.

"I'm picking something up on my radar, Master."

"Yeah? Spit it out."

"Three things flying. Two rather large ones and a small one."

"Meaning..."

"It looks like the Shy squad..."

"Those little-"

"Watinga..."

"Traitorous..."

"... and that Raven."

"BOYS! Let's get it into overdrive! Those goodies are in for some revenge, I GAR-UN-TEE!"

"We are closing in on them."

"Time to test the guns on these babies!"

----------------

Beezo screeched as he dodged to the side, "SHYGUY! We're being shot at!"

Shyguy climbed on Dodo's head and looked back, "Gack!"

Snifit shoved Shyguy to the side, "Hold still birdy so I can aim!"

Beezo and Watinga (stopping to drop his passengers off on the already burdened Dodo) turned around to face their attackers.

"Got one down!" Beezo shouted as a Sackit opened a parachute below him.

"All ready got two!" Snifit shouted from the top of Dodo's head.

Watinga flew to the side as a skypop flew towards him shooting a volley of bullets; as soon as it did Watinga grabbed the tail of the plane and snapped it off with his claw. The plane nose-dived to the ground as the Mouser pilot jumped out with his parachute.

Croco growled, "Useless crooks! Come on, AIM you idiots!"

One of Snifit's bullets razed the side of his plane, but only scratched it. Croco's glared and pushed his plane's engine to the max as he set off after Dodo.

"I'm up to ten!" Beezo shouted excitedly.

Snifit, however, was fresh out of bullets. And completely out of breath. Shyguy climbed back on top, "You'll have to say you won, Beezo because-"

However, at that moment, one of the few planes left over shot Beezo's wing and knocked him out of the sky. Shyguy's eyes widened, "Nooo!"

Watinga rushed to save him, but two planes flew at him from opposite direction intent on making him a flying pincushion. He managed to escape both; destroying one with his claw and letting it crash into the other. However, he was too far away from Beezo now.

Tweeter peeked out from under Dodo, "Beezo's unconscious!" He cringed and leaped on top of the much larger bird's head.

"Tweeter!" Bandit shouted, "What are you doing!?"

"I'm gonna save him!" Tweeter shouted with a determined look. Or at least Bandit assumed he did. Shy mask always made expressions hard to make out.

Snifit looked up, "But I thought he couldn't fl-"

Tweeter, at that moment, jumped off of Dodo and started plummeting towards Beezo. He used his rather small wings to maneuver above Beezo before he nose-dived straight towards him. Dodo tuned around just as the two disappeared under the clouds. The Shy Squad all watched in anxiety, fearing the loss of two of their brave members.

"Come on guys... come on..." Shyguy whispered, "You can make it..."

Watinga continued to attack the planes while Croco lined up his sights at the large black bird. His scaly finger held the trigger, ready to fire once he was in range. They were too busy to notice him.

"Look!" Snifit exclaimed as he pointed below him, "They made it! They made it!"

"Tweeter did it!?" Shyguy exclaimed in shock.

"Actually... no," Bandit replied. "Beezo is holding Tweeter, guess his wing got better?"

Beezo dropped Tweeter on Dodo, "Some friend, my wing is here stinging and you make me carry you back up."

Tweeter looked down sadly, "I tried..."

Watinga destroyed the last of the Crook's planes and turned to the others, only to see Croco flying towards them. Watinga flew towards them as fast as he could, even though he knew he could not catch up to Croco in time. He yelled out to bring attention to Dodo and the Shy Squad, but it was too late for the rather large bird to move out of Croco's sight.

The large insect felt something wiz by his head though, he quickly recognized it as a white ball with black spots. The ball hit Croco's wing, causing him to go into a spiral fall. Croco cursed as he tried to see whom it was. Watinga immediately turned around, there coming up on the rear was the Nimbus. Mallow driving with Frogfucious at his side, while Kari was standing on top of the NimBus. The NimBus quickly caught up with the Shy Squad and Dodo was relieved to drop the group off.

"I didn't expect to see my Grasshopper so soon," Frogfucious said toward Squid Guy. He then looked at Watinga, "Where are the Mario Brothers?'

"We got separated when taking over the Blade II," Watinga explained.

"Shyguy! Snifit! Beezo!" Mallow shouted. "I recognize them! Those dirty little-"

"We're good now, honest!" Snifit exclaimed.

"And Dodo!" Mallow shouted.

Dodo looked at Mallow and screeched, he had once impersonated that creampuff.

"He's good too," Shyguy confirmed. "He got sick of working under Croco, just like us."

Frogfucious grinned at that, here they were faced with a group of nine reformed bad guys, and all vouching for how each one of them were good. Snifit however, was interested in the Yoshi. "Wow, you shot that egg?"

"Aww it was nothing..." Kari replied, though visibly beaming.

"That was AWESOME! Excellent aim, I must say!"

"Need I remind you that we have a mission!" Shyguy exclaimed.

"What mission is that?" Mallow asked.

"It was, umm... Bandit, tell 'em."

"Me? I uh... Lampy? Lantern Ghost...?" Bandit looked down at the ghostly little Shy. He was asleep, apparently for the whole flight. "Hey! Wake up!"

"Huh, huh?" Lantern Ghost mumbled. "What did I miss?"

"The mission!" Bandit exclaimed. "Don't you REMEMBER?"

"Oh... umm, to help Mario in Chai City?"

"That's right!" Shyguy exclaimed. "We will save Mario and stop Smithy! The Shy Squad.... will prevail!"

"We're following a train, see the tracks down there?" Mallow asked. "Our friends are-"

"Headed to the Factory? Oh, that's no good," Shyguy replied. "Not a good place to stop at, you know?"

Watinga agreed to that, "We better hurry and get there."

"What about the Mario Brothers!" Shyguy exclaimed. "The MISSION!"

"They'll be fine," Watinga replied. "Let's go."

Dodo squawked out something. Tweeter translated, "He says he's heading to Chai."

Watinga raised an eye ridge, "Why?"

Tweeter translated again, "He said there's 'someone close' in Chai he wants to rescue."

"Then I'm going with him!" Kari exclaimed.

Kari climbed on to Dodo's back and made their goodbyes. Dodo then jumped off the Nimbus and made towards Chai. Watinga looked towards the rest of them, "Let's go then."

"Yes, yes..." Frogfucious agreed. "But after that, we must return to the Mushroom Kingdom. We've been gone long enough."

---------------------------

Croco and Truffatore finally reached the ground, the parachute covering them as they did so. Croco used his claws to tear open a whole and climb out. He looked up to see the NimBus fly overhead. He then turned to Truffatore, "'Dat didn't go well."

"I will contact Smith-"

"Forget it."

"What?" Truffatore asked in shock. "But-"

"Listen. Truffs, a good thief knows when to quit, yeah? We's done here."

"But-"

"Do you WANT them to destroys ya? I sure as heck know I likes having my skin, there's a world of treasure out there, Truffs. And we's just the boys to steal it," Croco explained as he stood proudly. "What says you to 'dat?"

The Mekabon thought for a moment, "All that money will be hard to keep track of for you. I am rather good at counting."

Croco said his stubby arm on Truffatore's head. "Ya know, 'dis looks like da beginning of a BEAUT-IF-UL relationship!"

The two started walking off towards the sunset when Croco looked at Truffatore, "Ya know, we didn't get a coin from all of 'dis!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"Eh?"

Truffatore opened a compartment in his robotic body and produced a few golden coins, the golden crown Croco has worn before, and a few gems. "I saved these for an emergency."

"Truffs, you my boy are da BEST."

--------------

Back in Chai City, deep underground beneath the Sarasaland Castle and Academy, Smithy made his visit to the Engineer, who was busy working on his creations. Smithy looked over his shoulder to see what it was, "What have you got here?"

"Top plan secret!" Engineer exclaimed, "But I have stuff I show now."

The Engineer left his current project and walked into another room where many robots were sitting in various places, some finished, most not. The Engineer did all his work here, creating the 'top of the line' robots that Smithy would not entrust to the Factory and their slave force.

"First, I are having perfected Gotchawrench design!" Engineer said while motioning to a pair of Gotchawrenches. One orange and the other purple. "These be like no others before, I have... improve-id the design."

Smithy looked them over; they did indeed look faster and stronger than the ones he had saw before. "Will they be able to handle the Mario Brothers?"

"Yes! If not, then I have recreated an old creation you have making of," Engineer replied, "Domi-Cloaker! It are combines the power of Domino and Cloaker... Strength and Magic, yes."

"Don't fail me Engineer," Smithy warned. "Your Clubmin has been a waste, the Macein Rangers eliminated. Watinga's body suit is lost and Wart and Mamu we've lost track of. So help me, if I have to take out the Mario Brothers, I will personally use you as their grave markers."

The Engineer would have gulped had he the ability to do so, "I guarantee success."

"Good." Smithy replied as he turned to leave.

At the door stood the slim, tall figure of Valentina waiting for him. She motioned for him to follow her outside the door. As soon as Smithy had caught up to her, she turned around. "Why haven't you found Dodo?"

"I've been busy Val," Smithy growled. "The Mario Brothers have eliminated every one of my minions I've sent out. The Blade II is in ruins!"

Valentina sighed, "Yes... but there is no way the Mario Brothers can stop you. Those are all just setbacks, no more."

Smithy nodded as he relaxed. "Yes, you're right. It won't be long until we have a world of weapons. And then, I will be unstoppable!"

--------------

Wart watched the robots march out from the factory as he looked to Mamu. "This beats those 8-bit losers any day."

Mamu nodded and looked back at the factory, "I don't feel good about leaving the factory unprotected."

"Ah, those three will be fine. Once we take care of Mario and Luigi, there won't be ANYBODY to stop us."

~Luigi of the Pipes~

The carts rolled past Pakkuns and Pompons (to which Chibobuigi had advised holding their breaths, as Pompon pollen is poisonous) before they finally rolled upwards through one of Chai City's gates. They city was as beautiful as ever, as if Smithy had never invaded its boundaries. The smell of chocolate greeted their noses as they neared the first store in the area, a candy store full of chocolates and nougats and truffles...

"Truffle!" Toad cried, hands going to his mouth in fret. "Aw man! I completely forgot about her! She must be worried sick!" Toad turned nervously to Mario to explain. "When I ran into the Forty Crooks, it was because I was chasing one of them who'd stolen a ring from me." Mario grinned and elbowed Luigi lightly, then they both winked in unison. Toad shook his head and produced the item, having retrieved it while still thinking himself Loot. "It's just a little trinket for her, not what you're thinking. But, uh, I never did like this adventuring stuff, so if you don't mind, could I... uh..."

"Go ahead," Mario nodded, looking back at his still large group. "I think we can manage without you. How will you get back?"

"Oh, don't worry. Daisy owes me a Sky Pop." Toad scuttled off, waving as he went.

Mario assessed the group's reaction to the recent event. They all seemed a bit disappointed to watch Toad go, save for Nokobono, who was outright angry. Not the best disposition to have a team in. The troubles of being a leader...

***

"Where's the boss?"

"Clubmin!" Mack exclaimed, ushering the giant hammer in. "It's good to see you! Master Smith said you were terminated."

"I need to talk to the boss," Clubmin repeated, shoving the knife aside and moving to peek under a table.

"Uh, he's at the Academy."

Clubmin whirled and grabbed Mack by his cape. "Don't you ever lie to me again! He's here! I know it!" He shoved Mack backwards, causing him to lose his balance and topple to the floor.

Bowyer and Yaridovich, watching the scene from a distance, moved forward and helped their companion back up. "Rude he is, nyah," Bowyer sneered, crossing his arms.

"Ah, I don't blame him," Yaridovich replied, brushing frost from his shoulders. "All I had to do was search Frosted Frappeland for a new factory spot. You two didn't even go that far. Clubmin..." He motioned to him. "He had to deal with Mario."

"Still rude."

They watched Clubmin's antic behavior for some time, until the entrance of five more figures interrupted their musings.

"Macein Rangers, reporting for upgrade of objectives," Macein Red droned.

"What's wrong with your original objectives?" Yaridovich asked, yawning at Macein Red's monotone voice.

"There is no malfunction. Merely deemed it fitting to check in with superior officer and objectives upgraded while in the area."

They watched Clubmin a bit more, suddenly unnerved by the idea that Mario might do the same thing to them. "You stay here with us and defend the factory." Yaridovich grinned privately with his other two partners, glad that they had someone else to send into the inevitable fight first.

"Affirmative."

Clubmin turned to regard the Macein Rangers, then shook his head and turned back to his search. "The boss and I are gonna have an abrupt conversation."

"Relax already," Mack groaned, hoping to ease the other. "The Engineer should be arriving soon with Domi-Cloaker and another new lieutenant. What was it? E.Gatt?" The others shrugged. "Something like that. You can talk with him then."

"Not him. Gotta talk to the boss."

Mack sighed.

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