EDIT: The chapters are best viewed with the 'Core Theme'. Otherwise, the quotation marks seem to change into strange symbols.EDIT 2: Want to read/download SMB 1-7? The written board has been taken down, but you can find them here (http://www.esnips.com/web/SMBFanficSeries).(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/smb8banner.png)
If anything ever happens to any of the chapters, you can read them here (http://nsider2.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=561868).
After a brutal struggle to save the kingdom from a demon invasion, Mario has learned that he has more in common with these demons than he originally thought. Eager to learn more about his past and to respect a deceased comrade's final request, Mario departs from the Mushroom Kingdom and enters the homeland of the demons. Meanwhile, as the Mushroom Kingdom is left without its greatest hero, a sinister force prepares to strike...
This is the eighth and penultimate installment of my Super Mario Brothers series. There is no need for you to go back and read 1-7 because I have spent a great deal of time writing Character Bios to bring you up to speed. Also, the majority of the Prologue will serve as a summary of what has happened so far in Mario's life.
SMB6 and SMB7 are posted on Nsider2, so you can find them here (http://nsider.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=293587) and here (http://nsider2.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=446799&st=0), respectively. I'll eventually upload the first five to some file hosting site so you can download them, but I won't repost them since they aren't too good and would be a waste of space. I'm grateful that this one thread could be moved to the Starship Mario board.
If you're new to the series, I highly recommend you read the information below. Otherwise, you probably won't understand most of what's going on. Even if you are familiar with the series, it couldn't hurt to brush up on your knowledge. Also, keep in mind that my writing skills have developed from 1-7, so earlier parts of the series will have poor quality compared to more recent parts.
Character Bios and Other Information: (Note: Even if you know who the character is, you should still definitely read his/her bio. There is a lot of information that is exclusive this series. Also, some bios are especially long because they contain important information.)
Terranean Division Long ago, at the very beginnings of time, before the difference between life and death was established, everything in existence was a part of one colossal kingdom known as Terranea. The kingdom lived in peace for many centuries, until the first traces of evil the world has ever known began to emerge. A brutal civil war between the beliefs of good and evil broke out. Those who represented 'good' were labeled the Olympians, and those who were the 'bad' were informally known as demons. The Terranean War lasted for centuries, until a group of twenty four indescribably powerful demons were developed. These experimental demons were known as Grimnexes. Each was assigned a letter of the Greek alphabet based on his rank, with Alpha being the strongest. However, before the Grimnexes could turn the tide of the war, the Olympians succeeded in defeating the demons. A man named Zeus became their leader, and they divided Terranea into two parts, sealing the demons- and the Grimnexes- away in the second part that later became known as the Nightmare Vault. A curse was placed upon the Nightmare Vault's citizens that caused their skin to burn if they were ever exposed to sunlight. The Nightmare Vault became a kingdom of darkness, an everlasting prison that fostered hatred and bitterness.
The leader of the demons, simply known as the Phoenix, swore revenge upon Zeus and the other Olympians. Though he met his end at the end of the war, his people dedicated themselves to finding a way to break out of the Nightmare Vault to seek revenge. Over time, some demons began to blame themselves for their punishment. They thought that the Olympians did the right thing by sealing the demons away. Soon, these people began openly protesting against the demons of the Phoenix. In an era that became known as the Bellum Era, demons blindly slaughtered each other because of their conflicting beliefs. It wasn't until much later that the Dimidius Era began. In this era, demons separated into two distinct sides, greatly reducing confusion and meaningless murders. These opposing sides were known as the Phoenix, and the Demon Resistance. To this day, their 'civilization' is devastated by this perpetual civil war.
Meanwhile, back in Terranea, Zeus was faced with more problems. Another force of evil arose, and nearly succeeded in destroying all of Terranea (For more specific details, see Lord Shade's bio below). After the catastrophe ended, Zeus decided that it would be best if he split Terranea up once again. A vast land known as the Universe would exist as a judgment phase, where Zeus would evaluate a person's character. Depending on a person's actions during his or her lifetime, he would either be sent to the Underwhere, a place where unworthy beings would reside, or the Overthere, a land of peace much similar to that of Terranea's before it was devastated by war.
Five realms now existed. The Universe was a world where people could be evaluated, branching off to the Underwhere and Overthere. Far below the Underwhere was the Nightmare Vault, a place where demons still battled one another in a never-ending war. Towering above the Overthere was Mount Olympus, a place where Zeus could govern over the events of all the other realms. Each of these realms was held together by a binding dimension known as the Nexus, a place where one could travel from one dimension to the next. And in the dimension known as the Universe, on a small planet called Earth, our story begins...
Lord Shade (Deceased):(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/LordShade.png)
Many ages ago, the Universe, Overthere, and Underwhere were united as a single kingdom called Terranea. There were many groups of people, and bitter rivalries between races. Two childhood friends, Shade and Inoni, were of two different races. Shade, a member of the Dark Tribe, went against his parents orders and became friends with Inoni. However, the two of them were soon separated. Thrown into uncontrollable rage, Shade attacked. It took Terranea's strongest forces to defeat him. The ruler of the kingdom, Zeus, split Terranea into three parts. The Universe would be designed as a judgement phase, where he could watch over people and decide whether they were good or bad. Whenever a person died, he'd be brought to the Underwhere. If he was good, he could advance to the Overthere, where he'd live in an eternity of peace. Those who were not pure would remain trapped in the Underwhere, where they'd be unable to do harm to those who deserved tranquility. With all of his might, Zeus sealed Shade in the Underwhere. For years, Shade studied the Dark Prognosticus and eventually found a way to escape.
Instead of ending up in the Overthere, he found himself in the Universe. Vowing that Zeus was a terrible leader and that he would someday take his place, Shade set out to prove himself by conquering the Universe. He formed a group called the Shadow Shrowds, an elite fighting force that contained warriors from around the Universe. By using methods of trickery and deceit, Shade forced hundreds of civilizations to fight by his side. Shade once attacked the earth, but Mario's father managed to drive him away at the cost of his life. Recently, Shade came back stronger than ever. At last, through events that will be listed later on, Mario put him to rest. Of course it still helps to know who Shade is, because he'll be referred to at various points in the story.
Velno (Deceased):(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/Velno-1.png)
He was created by Lord Shade's top scientists. When Lord Shade first attacked Brooklyn, he captured a human being and used him for a wicked experiment. Project V.E.L.N.O., or Vicious Energy Lacking Nasty Organism, was meant to be a creature that was naturally strong, but could also take the strength of others by devouring them. The human that Lord Shade captured had his organs replaced with mechanical parts, and his body was covered in metallic armor. When no one was around, a man named Crimson snuck into the laboratory and modified Velno's programming so that he would obey him instead of Shade.
As soon as he was able to think, Velno escaped from Shade and fled into Brooklyn's sewers. Years later, he emerged in the Mushroom Kingdom, looking to kill Lord Shade for leaving him behind. He was destroyed by Wario, Waluigi, and Luigi in Mushroom Castle, but Crimson revived him in SMB7. It is later revealed that Velno keeps himself alive by feeding off of the flesh of dead human beings, to Mario's great disgust. Eventually, Velno was permanently destroyed by Mario.
CrimsonNot much is known about this man, but he has the potential to be even more dangerous than Lord Shade. No one knows what Crimson used to be like or what his real name is, but at some point or another he ended up joining Lord Shade's military, the Shadow Shrowds. Over time, for an unknown reason, he no longer wished to be a part of the army and convinced as many soldiers as he could to leave with him. They formed a small band of unknown fighters that lurked in the shadows, blindly following Crimson's orders. No one was quite sure what Crimson was after, but they respected him for his great leadership skills and immense power.
Just recently, after Mario defeated Lord Shade, Crimson suddenly became very interested in the Mushroom Kingdom. He was the mastermind behind the kingdom's latest catastrophe. He resurrected many of Mario's old foes and used them to try to open a gateway between the Nightmare Vault and the Mushroom Kingdom, referring to this operation as the Demonic Trials. The main purpose of these trials was to put Mario through grueling hardships that would put his abilities to the test. Mario triumphed, proving to Crimson that Mario is the one he has been searching for. After the end of the trials, the only minion that remained with Crimson was Smithy. After muttering something about 'the Armageddon', Crimson orders Smithy to begin the next stage in his plan...
Smithy(http://www.smrpglegacy.com/Super%20Mario%20RPG%20-%20Boss%20Pictures/smithy.gif)
If you haven't played Super Mario RPG, Smithy is a mechanical tyrant that once tried to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom and fill the world with weapons of war. He resided in his factory, manufacturing all sorts of mechanical weapons and enemies for Mario to face. Luckily, Mario stormed into his factory and defeated him.
In SMB7, it was revealed that Smithy was built by Lord Shade and his scientists. After the Smithy Gang was resurrected, many battles between Mario and his old enemy ensued. By the end of SMB7, only Smithy himself remained. He is now working alongside Crimson to build the 'ultimate weapon'.
Mario(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/conker8989/mario.jpg)
When Mario first entered the Mushroom Kingdom, he didn't care deeply about it or even suspect himself to be its true hero. Once the Mushroom Kingdom was targeted by a galactic army called the Shadow Shrowds, however, Mario came to realize who he truly was. He finally accepted the Mushroom Kingdom as his true home, and in the end, he gave his life to protect it. In the afterlife, Mario met with an Elemental God named Skulleon, who revealed that the Shadow Shrowds had not been entirely defeated by Mario. Skulleon bestowed Mario with the Iceball ability, and after many trials, granted him another life.
Later on, Mario meets another Elemental God, Raiden, who reveals that Mario is from the Hero bloodline. This bloodline was created long ago to keep the world save from evil, and was bestowed with tremendous power from the gods. Mario's father was the previous Hero, and was born with immense powers locked deep within him. Mario inherited 75% of these powers, though they could only be unlocked through brutal training. After this revelation, Raiden taught Mario the Thunderball technique.
After learning to use all 75% of his inherited power, Mario was ready to fight Lord Shade- the leader of the Shadow Shrowds. After winning in an all-out duel, Mario disappeared for two years. During the events of SMB7, Mario returned to find that the kingdom was in danger once again. As he ventured across the kingdom on yet another adventure, Mario slowly began to realize that an alternate personality was developing within him- one that represented pure evil. After battling demons, past enemies, and the like, Mario finally faced off against the leader of the operation, known as Velno. During the final battle, Mario went through a strange transformation and lost control of his actions, accidentally killing one of his comrades. Feeling guilty for this manslaughter and wanting to learn the reasoning behind the strange new evil growing within him, Mario left the Mushroom Kingdom to visit the homeland of the demons- the Nightmare Vault.
Luigi:(http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/17637BioLuigi1.jpg)
Luigi is Mario's younger brother. He deeply respects his brother, and often worries about him. Luigi can be a bit cowardly sometimes, but deep down he is very courageous and heroic. Lately he has begun to feel as though he relies too much on his brother, and wants to become stronger so he can protect the kingdom in his brother's absence.
Since Mario is from the Hero bloodline, and the two of them are brothers, Luigi has also inherited unusual powers. There are a few rules that one must keep in mind in regards to the power of the Hero Bloodline. The first child of a Hero inherits his powers and his title as the Hero, which is why only Mario is recognized as part of the Hero bloodline. However, the younger sibling of a Hero possesses the same amount of potential strength as the first born. While he possesses the same potential, Luigi cannot master more than one element like his brother has. In addition, the second-born child's power is not purified at birth. The choice to be good or evil is his to make. If he should choose to be tainted with evil, the effect could be deadly.
In SMB7, Luigi discovers that he has a hidden power known as the Emerald Flame. Because of the rules mentioned in the previous paragraph, Luigi's body absorbs any nearby evil like a sponge. This evil slowly builds up over time, and is harmless as long as Luigi continues to fight for the side of good. However, at certain times in the past, Luigi's body has instinctively used the power of the Emerald Flame. When activated, it can only be described as an aura of dark green flames that surrounds Luigi.
Glaive(http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/thumb/4/40/Darknut.png/250px-Darknut.png)
Glaive is a demon from the Nightmare Vault that eventually ended up joining Mario's side. During his childhood, his only friend was a girl named Sara. The Nightmare Vault had been in a civil war for thousands of years, and their village was often plundered by enemy forces. The demons were divided among those who wanted to annihilate the human race, and those who wanted to make peace with them- the Demon Resistance. Glaive's village was a part of this resistance. When Sara was taken away and brainwashed into a heartless soldier by a demon named Botis, Glaive blamed the Demon Resistance for his losses and vowed to end the civil war- and kill Botis- with his own hands.
Lord Shade, leader of the Shadow Shrowds, once came to the Nightmare Vault to recruit soldiers for his army. Glaive was one of these recruits. In exchange for Glaive's help, Shade promised that he would lift the curse on the Nightmare Vault and end the civil war. When Glaive realized that Shade was lying, he left the Shadow Shrowds and later ended up in the Mushroom Kingdom. When Mario and Luigi bump into some trouble during the Shadow Shrowd invasion, Glaive comes out of seemingly nowhere to rescue them. From then on, he joins Mario's group in order to seek vengeance upon Lord Shade. After Mario defeated Lord Shade, a friendly rivalry formed between Mario and Glaive. Because of this, Glaive decided to stay in the Mushroom Kingdom to help Mario protect the kingdom.
The demons within the Nightmare Vault were cursed with the inability to live under bright lighting. To counter this, Glaive wore heavy armor to block out the sunlight of the Mushroom Kingdom. In SMB7, Glaive learned that many demons had managed to become immune to sunlight. Through long and grueling training, Glaive finally was able to live in the Mushroom Kingdom without his heavy armor weighing him down. Later on, in the final battle with Velno, Mario went through a stunning transformation and unwillingly killed Glaive. His final request was for Mario to end the civil war in the Nightmare Vault in his place.
Ace SpadesAce, much like Glaive, is a demon that has joined Mario's side. He fights by carrying a deck of cards that, when crushed, transform into various forms of weaponry such as bombs, swords, whips, and shields. He is extremely intelligent and became the leader of Poker Face- the main military of the Demon Resistance- at a very young age. Years prior to this, when he was only five, everyone in his family except for his brother and himself was slaughtered by the Phoenix's Assassination Force. Ace's brother, Jack, escaped and later became the first leader of Poker Face. Ace, however, was not so lucky. He was taken in by the Assassination Force and raised to be a ruthless warrior. One day, he was given the task of assassinating his own brother. Ace did not realize the impact of this assassination until it was too late. He had murdered his own brother.
Afterward, Ace left the Assassination Force and joined the ranks of Poker Face. By the time he reached his late teens, Ace rose to the top of Poker Face and became its leader. When the Mushroom Kingdom faced its most recent threat, Ace was sent to the Mushroom Kingdom to help prevent a demon invasion. It was then that he met up with Mario. Much later on in their quest, Ace disobeyed a direct order from Poker Face and lost his job. Still eager to help in any way he can, Ace journeyed to the Nightmare Vault alongside Mario.
LorneLorne is one of Crimson's former minions and was later revealed to be Mario's cousin. When Lord Shade attacked Brooklyn, Lorne's father mysteriously vanished, leaving Lorne to be captured by Shade's men. He was enlisted in the ranks of the Shadow Shrowds, but he wasn't particularly good at fighting. When Crimson led a small group of warriors away from the Shadow Shrowd hideout, Lorne left with him and became a part of his gang. Through years of personal training, Lorne became strong enough to be involved in the Mushroom Kingdom's latest threat. Eventually, Mario and Lorne ended up fighting each other. After a fierce exchange of beliefs, Mario was able to break the villain's cold exterior and convince him to join the side of good.
SladeSlade is much like Lorne in the sense that he is one of Crimson's former minions that has joined up with Mario. As a child, he was abandoned by his hateful parents. He was discovered by demons and taken back to the Nightmare Vault, where he was raised to be a ruthless warrior. Eventually, he returned to the human realm to seek revenge. He could not find his parents, and instead met up with Crimson's gang. He joined up with them to accomplish a common goal- to release the demons of the Nightmare Vault into the human realm. Mario and Slade crossed paths many times, and Mario eventually convinced Slade that not all humans are evil. To make up for his crimes, Slade accompanied Mario in his journey to the Nightmare Vault.
Princess Peach:(http://myhaven.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/peach.jpg)
Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. Time and time again she has been kidnapped by Bowser, though she has been looking after herself quite well during Mario's past few adventures. She has strong feelings for Mario, who is always there for her. When Mario left for the Nightmare Vault, she was devastated. When she asked when he would return, Mario did not reply.
Mario Jr. and Luigi Jr.:(http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/ml2/art-001.jpg)
Although the picture shows them as babies, picture them being a little older. When Mario left for the Nightmare Vault, Mario Jr. was ten and Luigi Jr. was seven. For the sake of simplicity, Mario Jr. was nicknamed Mark, and Luigi Jr. was nicknamed Luke. They are both Mario's children (brought by the stork), but Mario forced them to move to Yoshi Island when the kingdom was attacked by Bowser. Up through the Shadow Shrowd's attack, they stayed there, waiting for Mario to return for them. Mario refused to bring them back until he defeated the Shadow Shrowds and their leader, Lord Shade. After the battle was over, they left Yoshi Island to live at the Mario Brothers' house.
Just to clarify, there are two methods of 'reproduction' in this fanfic series. In the human world that is parallel to the Mushroom Kingdom (Brooklyn, and the world we live in), children are born through the same methods that we are familiar with. In the Mushroom Kingdom, the stork brings children to a parent or parents. Mark and Luke were brought to Mario by the stork, and therefore have not inherited Mario's Hero powers.
Wario:(http://www.searchviews.com/wp-content/themes/clean-copy-full-3-column-1/images/wario.jpg)
Wario is a hefty man who holds a grudge against Mario. As you most likely know, Wario is extremely greedy. During the Shadow Shrowd invasion, he and Waluigi decided to form a temporary alliance with the Mario Bros. to save the kingdom. But Wario only wanted to help so he could become more famous than his rival. Because they did not play a major role in stopping the kingdom's most recent threat, the Wario Brothers feel a small amount of guilt. As such, they are preparing for the next time the kingdom is in peril.
Waluigi:http://www.mariomayhem.com/reference/character_bios/waluigi1.jpg Waluigi is almost the complete opposite of his plump brother, Wario. Waluigi is tall and skinny, and looks very sinister. Waluigi loves to cause mischief, although he was forced to work with Mario and Luigi in an attempt to become as famous as the Mario Bros. Waluigi is a bit sarcastic at times and smarter than his brother. Not much is known about this shady character, as he has only appeared in Mario spin-offs.
Skulleon:(http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/nickdoom1/stalfos1.gif)
Although he looks fierce in the above picture, he is actually on the side of good. He is the Ice God, one of three Elemental Gods, and looks over the Ice Orb. After Mario's death in SMB3, Skulleon notices that Mario has much hidden power locked away. When Mario dies, Skulleon takes Mario under his wing and helps him become stronger. At the end of Mario's many trials, Mario earns the right to touch the Ice Orb, giving him the powers of ice. Through a sequence of strange events, Mario is given life once again. Skulleon warns Mario to stay away from Lord Shade, but Mario challenges Shade anyway. As a god, Skulleon can speak to anyone he wants using his mind, no matter how far away that person may be. He is always watching over Mario and his friends.
Raiden(http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/3/31278/935490-iron_knuckle_large.png)
This is the Thunder God, Raiden! He watches over the Thunder Orb, and is even more powerful than Skulleon. As you might have guessed, he wields the element of thunder. When Mario first requested to learn from him, Raiden turned him down. But he soon learned that Mario had already mastered the elements of fire and ice. It is considered impossible for one to contain more than one element within their body, with the only known exception being Grambi, the very ruler of the Overthere. Puzzled at Mario's abilities, Raiden agrees to let Mario touch the Thunder Orb- after he goes through some bone-breaking trials!
Grambi(http://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/6/60/SuperPaperMario_character_artwork4.jpg/200px-SuperPaperMario_character_artwork4.jpg)
He may look old, but he's really the king of the Overthere. He possesses the Capacity of Elements, meaning he can wield Fire, Ice, and Thunder. Grambi first appeared in Super Paper Mario, when Mario and his friends went to the Underwhere to search for a Pure Heart. They met Grambi's wife, Queen Jaydes, who allowed them to pass into the Overthere to search for a Pure Heart if they agreed to escort their daughter, Luvbi, back to Grambi. A monster by the name of Bonechill had attacked Grambi, and Mario was forced to stop him. Afterward, it was revealed that Grambi had turned the Pure Heart into a living being to hide it from evil years ago, and this person was Luvbi. Knowing that it was her destiny to help stop Count Bleck, Luvbi became a Pure Heart once more.
However, much more is revealed about his past when the Shadow Shrowds attack. Grambi's real name is Anthony, and he was Mario's father during his lifetime. Long ago, Lord Shade assaulted Brooklyn. Anthony sent his infant children, Mario and Luigi, to the Mushroom Kingdom while he tried his best to fend Lord Shade off. Anthony was killed, but Shade was so worn out from the battle that he had to go to other planets to recruit more soldiers. One day, he swore that he would return. Meanwhile, in the afterlife, Anthony was given the title of Grambi, and he became ruler of the Overthere.
MK Map- This map shows some of the basic areas in the Mushroom Kingdom. I made it myself, so it is no way affilated with Nintendo.
(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/MushroomMap.png)
Prologue: A New Journey
Moving On (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6f6db0a0-72b1-442f-a1f7-96b89fcf9aac/Moving-On)
Mario scratched his head as he gazed upward at his new boss- a tall, burly demon that towered above him even while sitting at his desk. His green, serpent-like skin and shifty, bloodshot eyes almost caused Mario to doubt his authenticity. "Are you the one in charge?"
"You will refer to me as Commander Botis," the demon hissed, clearly angered by Mario's lack of respect. "State your business."
So this is Ace's replacement? Mario wondered, holding back a grin. He's a lot more formal than Ace was. However, Botis had earned the right to demand the respect of others. He had replaced Ace Spades as the commander of Poker Face, the primary military of the Demon Resistance. "I'm Mario, the Mushroom Hero. One of your men came to the Mushroom Kingdom and requested that I join your ranks."
Almost immediately, Botis leaned back and exhaled a deep breath. "Ah... You're the Mushroom Hero? You are a lot smaller than I expected." He folded his arms over his desk. "Well then, as I said before, I am Commander Botis. I've heard a lot of rumors about you, but I want to get the original story from the legendary Mushroom Hero. Please, tell me about yourself. Take a seat, and tell me everything."
Mario nodded slowly and slumped onto a shoddily built wooden chair. "Okay... where to begin? I guess I'll start from my earliest memory, the day that my father sent me away...
"I was only a few days old, at the most. At that time, I was just any other ordinary child living in Brooklyn. But before long, a tyrant named Lord Shade attacked. He had raised an entire army and traveled across the universe, dominating every planet in his path and adding more soldiers to his military. When Shade arrived in Brooklyn, my father sent my brother and me through a warp pipe that led to the Mushroom Kingdom. Back in Brooklyn, my father, Anthony, fought Lord Shade with all of his might. He lost his life, but managed to damage Shade's army enough to cause him to retreat.
"Meanwhile, I had lived in the Mushroom Kingdom for a few years. When a Koopa by the name of Bowser started to attack more and more frequently, the Yoshi tribe sent my brother and me back to Brooklyn, hoping I could grow up as a normal child. For the next seventeen years or so, I did just that. I met a woman named Pauline, and we quickly fell in love. She was the most important person in the world to me, and I eventually planned to marry her. However, one of Lord Shade's mechanical creations had fled into the sewers before Shade's retreat many years ago. This same creature, named Velno, emerged and attacked Pauline and me in the middle of the night.
"I fought to the very end, though I was not Velno's target- Pauline was. In the middle of our battle, the creature turned and attacked her. Overcome with anger and hatred, I lost myself as I rushed at the two of them. All I can remember is a blur of red, and by the time I regained my senses, Pauline was dead at my feet. In a terrible accident, I had killed the most important woman in my life. Velno had only suffered a minor injury, and was able to flee to the sewers once again. After that day, I vowed that I would always protect anyone in danger, and that I would never take the life of a human unless it was absolutely necessary. Those vows would carry on to the Mushroom Kingdom, which I accidentally discovered while I was fixing the plumbing in Brooklyn sewers. My brother and I stumbled upon a warp pipe that led to the kingdom our father had sent us to when we were young. As we ventured inside, we were completely unaware that Velno was watching our every move.
"We found the Mushroom Kingdom in a state of chaos. Bowser had taken control of the kingdom once again. As we entered Mushroom Castle to find out the cause of the kingdom's problems, we saw Bowser's minions carrying Princess Peach away. In that one moment that our eyes met, I thought of Pauline and the vows that I made as she died in my arms. I took it upon myself to defeat Bowser and rescue the kingdom, and swore that I'd always protect the Mushroom Kingdom from any sort of danger.
"Two years ago, Lord Shade decided to return to Brooklyn. He gained complete control with ease, but stumbled upon the warp pipe that led to the Mushroom Kingdom. Inside, he found a parallel universe filled with even more planets to conquer, starting with the Mushroom Kingdom. He learned of four Oracles of Power that would grant their user an untold amount of power. They were the Star Rod, Power Star, Shadow Rod, and Z Star- and they kept the balance of good and evil in the world. Shade launched a military campaign to retrieve these objects, and that was when I met Glaive. He was originally one of Shade's men, but quit years ago and now sought revenge. During another conflict, I had a second encounter with Velno. I learned that he had been created by Lord Shade, but I did not recognize him as the monster that I fought back in Brooklyn. After many struggles with Lord Shade's military, Shade finally succeeded in collecting the Oracles of Power.
"It was during these attacks that I met with the three Elemental Gods. They revealed that I was a descendant of the Hero bloodline, a bloodline created by Zeus to defend the world from evil. Each Hero passed his godlike strength to his offspring, and my father inherited these powers as well. When Lord Shade attacked, he passed 75% of the Hero's Power to me, keeping 25% for himself so that he could battle Lord Shade. With 75% of the Hero's Power hidden within me, I trained with two of the Elemental Gods- Skulleon, the Ice God, and Raiden, the Thunder God- and learned the Iceball and Thunderball techniques. At last, I was ready for the final battle.
"As I was preparing for battle, my allies had already begun their showdown with Lord Shade. With the four Oracles of Power in his grasp, however, Lord Shade proved to be too strong. There were many casualties, but I was able to show up before Shade slaughtered the last of my comrades. With my new powers and increased skill, I fought a valiant battle against the tyrant. But in the end, he was just too strong. Just as the situation grew hopeless, my father contacted me and revealed the truth. He explained that Grambi- king of the Overthere- and Anthony- my heroic father- were one in the same. The shock took control of my body, and- much like the time I slaughtered Pauline- I felt a strange power erupt from within me. This time, I felt as though I had more control. With my new transformation, the Tri-Elemental Form, I was able to defeat Shade once and for all.
"After my victory, the Star Rod was used to undo all of the casualties that resulted from Lord Shade's attack. As I made my escape from Shade's lair, I found myself trapped in a strange dimension created as a last-ditch effort to eliminate me. It took me a while, but two years later, I finally found my way back to the Mushroom Kingdom. It was at this time that the Smash Tournament, a fighting competition for warriors from across the kingdom, was being held in Dry Dry Desert. I signed up for the tournament anonymously because my father had warned me of a dark presence approaching the kingdom. I thought that this evil force may have entered the tourney, and when I learned that the prize was a wish from the Star Rod, all doubt was erased from my mind.
"I fought to the final round of the tournament, eventually revealing myself and facing off against an old enemy from Lord Shade's army- Metal Mario! He managed to nab the Star Rod and escape to the depths of Mushroom Castle, where something called the Nexus Access Point was hidden. It was then that we learned that dimensions such as this one and the human realm are bound together by a gateway called the Nexus. If one enters the Nexus, he can enter any dimension he wishes. Metal Mario used the Star Rod's power to try and open the Nexus, forming a barrier around Mushroom Castle in the process. His true intentions were to open the gates to the human realm and the Nightmare Vault simultaneously, allowing thousands of demons to pour into our realm and cause massive destruction. We turned to my father for help, and he suggested that we look for mythical objects known as the Hero's Garbs. With them, we could negate the Star Rod's force field and enter Mushroom Castle. We immediately set out to find them, fighting many grueling battles along the way.
"Luckily, we had Ace Spades, your predecessor, at our side. He revealed himself as the leader of Poker Face, and led us on several missions to collect each of the six Hero's Garbs. As the battles dragged on, I slowly began to develop a second personality within me. Whenever my battles would grow especially dangerous, or whenever I felt extreme hatred, my second personality would try to interfere. Eventually, I thought I had managed to banish this personality, but I soon found an ominous connection between my alternate personality and my Tri-Elemental Form. As we progressed, we gradually learned more about the forces that were behind Metal Mario's resurrection. We discovered that Crimson, one of Shade's former minions, had used one of Shade's old devices to resurrect all of his fallen cyborg warriors. These included Metal Mario, Velno, and the Smithy Gang. We weren't sure why, but for whatever reason, Crimson was trying to put my skills to the test. After countless close calls and narrow victories, we finally made it to the end of the road. Velno had devoured Metal Mario, adding my metallic clone's strength to his own. I was in for the toughest battle of my life.
"Velno and I fought a fierce battle, and I finally learned that he was the one who attacked Pauline and me on that dreadful night. Despite my anger, I was unable to defeat the cyborg. Velno ended my life in front of a few of my closest friends- Luigi, Ace, and Glaive. Thrown into a fit of uncontrollable rage, Ace even disobeyed direct orders from Zeus to avenge my death. As they fought on my behalf, I heard my second personality whispering to me. As my life slowly slipped away, he somehow managed to bring me back. I stood up, once again overcome with a strange power surging through my veins. I tried my luck against Velno once again, but my second personality gained full control and caused a radical transformation. In my new demonic state, I went berserk... I slaughtered Velno, and then turned to attack my own comrades. Glaive even sacrificed his life to stop me... When I saw him lying dead at my feet, I couldn't bear the pain I had caused. I reverted back to my normal state, left to wonder what kind of evil was lurking within the depths of my soul. As Glaive's life faded away, he pleaded for me to travel here and end the civil war. It was his life's one true goal, and it was my duty to complete it.
"Only a few days later, I was visited by a few demons from the Nightmare Vault. They asked me to join Poker Face and fight in the civil war. At first I refused, until they told me that I had a distant relative who was a demon. They informed me that the second personality within my soul was likely that same demon, trying to take control of my body in order to wreak havoc once again. I didn't know what to believe. Did I really have a small trace of demon blood flowing through my veins? In order to find out the truth about myself, and respect Glaive's final wishes, I traveled here to fight alongside you."
Botis sat in stunned silence, taking it all in. After a few minutes, he finally spoke. "You seem to have led quite an interesting life, Mushroom Hero. In fact, I kind of like you. It seems as though you've given this world a lot of thought, something I can't say about most humans. The way you treasure life may be a liability, but based off of what I've heard from yourself and others, I think you'll be a fine addition to our ranks." His eyes shifted to the man standing beside Mario. "And what about him?"
"My name is Slade," came an indifferent reply. He wore a tattered red cloak, black pants, and a silver vest. Gold plates of armor encased his arms and legs, and a blood-red sword was sheathed at his waist. He had spiky brown hair, the bangs of which partially hid his piercing blue eyes. "I've also come to join your little army. Unlike my partner here, I could care less about who dies in this war. I know that we can't achieve victory without casualties."
Botis nodded slowly. "Of course... but just who are you, exactly? I haven't heard anything about you."
"I was abandoned by my parents as a child and raised by demons to become a ruthless warrior. I earned quite a reputation. They called me Nightmare."
Botis' eyes lit with realization. "Oh, now I remember. You left the Nightmare Vault in order to seek revenge on your parents, correct?"
"I planned to help exterminate the human race. After fighting with Mario several times, he managed to convince me that there were some humans worth sparing. That's why I decided to accompany him. If I fight for the Demon Resistance, the side that fights to protect humans, maybe I can finally understand why human life is treasured by so many demons."
"Very well. You may go. You'll be given your first assignment tomorrow," Botis informed them in a stoic manner. "I expect great things from both of you." With a half-hearted salute, Mario and Slade turned and exited the room.
Botis grinned from ear to ear. In a single day, we have obtained two of the finest warriors a military can hope to gain. Mario, the Mushroom Hero, and Slade, the one formally known as Nightmare... They are truly some of the strongest fighters on the side of good... and that's exactly why they have to die.
The wooden door swung open with a loud creak, and Mario walked in with Slade following behind him. Flipping the light switch on, he sighed as he inspected his new home. A worn green carpet, two beds, and a crude bathroom were all that he would see for the next few years. "It's a little barren..." Mario observed disappointedly.
Slade clicked his tongue. "Most demons would find this room to be luxurious. I had almost forgotten how spoiled you human beings are."
Mario shrugged. "I guess it'll do. It looks like it was a good thing that Ace left us after all." As they approached the Poker Face headquarters, Ace had decided that it would be best for him to leave the group.
"Are you sure?"
"I lost my job as the leader of Poker Face," Ace explained. "If I returned with you, I would not be greeted with open arms. Although I am leaving you, I am not abandoning your cause. I will continue to side with the Demon Resistance, but this time, I will battle as a force entirely separate from Poker Face."
Mario nodded. "I understand. I guess this is goodbye..."
"Before you go, I have something I want to give you. When I was fired, Poker Face demanded that I return my Nexus Pass. Instead of returning it to them, I'd like you to hold on to it. I trust you more than an organization that turned its back on me for trying to avenge a fallen comrade. When I was faced with the choice of either fighting for your honor or fighting for Poker Face, I chose to fight for you. It only makes sense that I give this to you."
"So... what exactly does this thing do?"
"The Nexus Pass is perhaps one of the most valuable objects in all of creation. Only one exists, and it is given to the leader of Poker Face. It allows the user to enter the Nexus and travel to any dimension he or she may desire. It took Metal Mario and Velno a great deal of effort just to pry the Nexus Gate open. If they had possessed this pass, their plan could have been executed in mere seconds. That's why Poker Face wants me to return this pass so badly. But instead of trusting Poker Face's new leader, who I've never met, I'm going to trust you. Take it, and never let it fall into the wrong hands."
Mario turned the golden cube over in his palms. An 'N' was inscribed in the golden cube, likely standing for Nexus. "The Nexus Pass..." He yawned and stuffed the pass into his overalls. "I'd better get some rest. I've got a big day tomorrow."
Chapter 1: Taming the Beast
"I can't believe it..." Mario sighed. "I should have known that this day was off to a poor start..."
"My first mission is... what?!" Mario thundered in confusion as Botis towered above him. "I don't understand... I thought you were going to send me into battle!"
Botis shook his head. "With your soul as confused as it is, I cannot permit you to enter a combat situation. Based on what you've told me, I can conclude that a demon is somehow coexisting with you inside of your own body. Until you can win a decisive victory against this demon inside of you, he will continue to try and gain control of your body. That is your first mission. I've asked Swift to guide you through this process."
"Swift?" Mario parroted.
"I believe you two know each other. I sent him to the Mushroom Kingdom to recruit you," Botis recalled. "He is one of the best warriors in our entire military. You can trust him."
Swift's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d76d8906-c603-40a9-9bc0-37232e1ea73d/A-Fight-to-the-Finish)
In accordance with Botis' orders, Mario and Slade had journeyed to a cavern that used to be a training ground for Poker Face's military. Thousands of stalagmites protruded from the ceiling, and rasping sounds pierced Mario's ears every time his feet rubbed against the jagged ground. After several hours of hiking, they finally met with Swift at the heart of the cavern.
"Finally," Mario muttered. "We've been walking through the same dark blue cavern for hours. I was starting to think that we were in Vanilla Dome."
"I think I'll sit this one out for now," Slade announced with a yawn. He took a seat against the wall and closed his eyes. "Call me if you need me."
Mario hesitantly stepped toward Swift. "It's been a while. The last time we met was back in the Mushroom Kingdom, when you were trying to recruit me. Well, here I am."
"As you are now, you cannot hope to battle against the Phoenix. Your very soul is divided amongst a hero who hesitates to kill and a heartless demon that destroys everything in his path. As long as these two forces oppose each other, you are useless on the battlefield," Swift informed Mario. He wore a cerulean tunic and had deep, sapphire eyes. His shaggy brown hair was partially covered by a blue cap, and his brown boots were soaked in mud.
"Tell me something I don't already know," Mario groaned impatiently. "Botis sent me here so you could help me win this struggle within me. Before you do, I need you to be honest with me. Am I really related to a demon?"
Swift nodded. "Of course. When we told you that you were one of us, we meant it. If you were one hundred percent human, we would never have asked you to join us. Our pride will not allow humans to fight alongside us."
"I see..." Mario whispered. "The Demon Resistance fights to protect humans, and yet... it is still unwilling to accept help from humans."
"Precisely," Swift affirmed with a nod. "What's the point of fighting a war to protect humans if we're just going to send them to their death?"
"I have one more question. Can you tell me everything about the demon inside of me? I feel like Botis is hiding something. What caused this demon to surface? Why now?"
Swift remained silent for a moment. "Very well... As you already know, you are the descendant of a demon. When a demon has a child, he can sometimes pass a part of his soul onto his offspring. As the generations went by, this demon's soul was likely passed on to you. However, even if one inherits a demon's soul, the demon will usually remain dormant in the deepest reaches of his body. Demons thrive off of hatred, and so discovering a feeling of pure hatred was most likely what woke your inner demon from his slumber. Think back to the time that you first encountered your strange, demonic powers. Did you feel even a tiny bit angry?"
Mario's eyes widened with shock. "It was the day... that Velno attacked... When he attacked my girlfriend, I was thrown into a fit of rage. I blindly dashed forward, and in a flash of red..." He shook his head. "But after that, I wasn't affected by this 'demon' until a few weeks ago! What was this demon doing for all of those years in between?!"
"Allow me to explain. When you trained with the Elemental Gods, you learned to use 'Elemental Energy', the energy that allows you to use Fireballs, Iceballs, and Thunderballs. Well, demons possess their own kind of Elemental Energy, called Iniquity. From the moment you awakened your inner demon during your battle with Velno, this energy remained dormant within your body. Although your inner demon had life, there was a barrier that divided your energy into two sections. One side was for your Elemental Energy, and the other side was for your demon's Iniquity. As long as this barrier existed, the demon within you could not even lift a finger. However, if I heard correctly, you absorbed energy from the Elemental Orbs during your battle with Lord Shade. Is this true?"
Mario nodded slowly. "Yeah... So what does that have to do with anything?"
"When you absorbed energy from the Elemental Orbs, your Elemental Energy overflowed, causing the barrier separating your two kinds of energy to burst. Your Elemental Energy and Iniquity mixed and blended together, resulting in the birth of your Tri-Elemental Form."
Mario gasped. "You're saying that..."
Swift's face remained cold. "Your Tri-Elemental form was actually a state in which both of your energies mixed, giving you temporarily immense power. This mix allowed your inner demon's Iniquity to blend with your Elemental Energy, and by the time the barrier separating your energy reformed, it was too late. With your energies mixed together, it became easier for your demon to surface. And whenever you experienced feelings of extreme hatred, your demon would take complete control. This became even easier anytime you used the Tri-Elemental Form."
Mario hung his head. "So... each time I used the Tri-Elemental Form, I was giving my demon another chance to take control. I understand now... So, how exactly do I get rid of him?"
"No one has ever successfully gotten rid of a demon soul," Swift informed him icily. "However, there is a treatment that should be able to keep your demon quiet. In order to cure you, we'll need to seal that demon as far within you as possible. And in order to do that, I'll need you to let your demon take full control."
"No way!" Mario refused, clenching his fists. "How does that make any sense at all? In order for me to seal my demon away, we have to let him take control?"
Swift shook his head. "No. You aren't going to be sealing anything away. I'm the one who has to do all the work. More to the point, the seal that I'm going to create only works on the conscience that is currently dominating the body. If I used it now, I would seal you away instead of your demon."
Mario gulped. "Wait a minute... I'm can't just let him loose... You have no idea what he's like... He'll kill you!"
Swift grinned and gestured toward Slade, who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. "That's why he's here. Just in case I can't subdue your demon, I'll have him jump in to help."
Internal Struggle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/768822e2-75ab-47b1-a892-0eb03e6114a5/Internal-Struggle)
Mario thought for a moment. He allowed himself to let his internal resistance slip for a second, and he felt his demon leap at the chance to take control. "No! I can't free him! You don't understand... the horrible feeling he gives me..."
"Then I'll just have to force you to release him," Swift said, his face stoic and emotionless. He drew his blade and took a step toward the plumber. "If I accidentally kill you, you can blame your own stubbornness."
Mario clutched his head in agony. No... I won't let you surface...
"You heard the man. Let me go. Or are you afraid that I might permanently take control? Even if I do, it doesn't matter. Sooner or later, your body will belong to me. There's no point in delaying the inevitable. Just hand it over, no one will know. Most would have died from the psychological stress by now."
"You'd better hurry up and release him!" Swift urged him, swinging his blade at Mario. The plumber sidestepped the sword and lunged forward, connecting a right hook with Swift's face. Swift staggered backward and wept the blood from his lip. "I see... It looks like I have no choice. I didn't want to hurt you, Mario, but you've left me no other option." He raised his hand, revealing a blue badge on the underside of his right forearm. "All Demon Resistance soldiers are required to wear a badge that reduces their power when they enter the human realm. This is to prevent traitorous Phoenix spies that joined the resistance from causing destruction in the human realm. But now that we're back in the Nightmare Vault..." He peeled the badge off.
Mario gasped in horror as Swift's body began to transform. He grew another foot tall, and his body became much more muscular. His broadened shoulders made him at least twice as wide as Mario. "He's huge..." the plumber breathed, gazing up at the true Swift.
"And don't think these muscles slow me down, either," Swift chuckled. "In fact, I'm even faster than I was before. I'll only say this one more time. If you want to live, you had better bring out your demon!"
Calling the Demon (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e212d7de-fbb7-4d41-b67a-75b451b32cf5/Calling-the-Demon)
Swift dashed forward and attacked with a horizontal slash. Mario performed a back-flip, landing on the tip of the blade. Swift angrily threw a punch at him, but the plumber nimbly leapt off of the blade, bounced off the ground, and struck the demon's chest with his right fist. Swift didn't even flinch. Mario pulled his fist back, realizing that he had bruised his knuckles.
He's rock solid, Mario thought, shaking his fist in pain.
"Let me out..."
Mario put some distance between Swift and himself by executing a few consecutive back-flips. "Is this all your true form can do? Sure you've got great defense, but can any of your attacks actually hit me?"
Swift sighed. "Mario... I tried to save you..." He gripped the hilt of his blade with two hands and held it parallel to the ground. "But now... I can see that I'm going to have to fight you seriously in order to bring your demon out!" Aiming the tip of his blade at Mario's chest, Swift charged forward at breath-taking speeds.
"Let me out..."
Mario bawled his fists. "Bring it on." Charging up a Fireball in his palm, he sprinted forward at the oncoming Swift. He's using a charge attack with his blade, so I'll be safe as long as I hit him from above. He took a great leap into the air and hurled a Fireball downward at his opponent.
"Misconception number one: Do you really think an attack like that can stop me?" Swift exclaimed as the Fireball bounced off his muscular chest. "Misconception number two: My sword strikes can easily change direction!" As Mario hovered helplessly in the air, Swift skidded to a halt and thrust his blade upward. His sword sunk into Mario's chest, causing blood to trickle down the blade. He stabbed his sword into the wall, effectively pinning Mario. "It's over. If only you would have brought your demon out..."
Mario looked up, a red tint in his eyes. "You called?" With a bloodthirsty cry, he viciously tore Swift's blade from his chest and slashed at his foe. Swift took a step back, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Instead, only a shallow slash appeared on his midsection.
"So... this is the inner demon that Mario was so afraid of..." Swift muttered. "I can see why he was so hesitant to bring him out..."
A red aura began to emit from Mario's body. "You know, split personalities are a drag. I can only come out whenever this softie starts to slip. Whenever he uses his Tri-Elemental Form, feels extreme hatred, or nearly dies, I get an opportunity to take full control. If I annihilate you, there'll be no one to bring Mario back to the way he was before!"
"Good luck," Swift replied with bold sarcasm in his voice. "Your demon powers are strong, but there's no way you can use that body's full potential. The only one who can ever do so is Mario himself!"
The possessed Mario responded with a battle cry as he dashed at Swift with his sword raised. Intending to end the fight with one blow, Mario sliced at his foe's head; however, Swift caught the blade in his left palm. Swift then lunged forward, placing his right palm on the plumber's chest. A symbol began to materialize on Mario's chest as Swift chanted softly in another language. Mario's eyes widened as he realized what the marking symbolized, and he tore the blade from Swift's hands and attempted to cut his arm off.
Swift quickly backed off, evading yet another fatal injury. A long gash now running down his arm, he grabbed Mario's throat and slammed him into the ground. He wriggled his blade free from Mario's grip, pointed it downward, and viciously stabbed at the plumber's chest. The demonized Mario rolled to the side and sprang to his feet, escaping the scuffle unharmed.
Swift glanced at his arm. "I see... It appears that you are aware of what the Olympian Seal is. The only way I'll be able to use it is if I immobilize you first." He pointed the tip of his sword at Mario's head.
Still leaning against a nearby wall, Slade observed the battle with great interest. This man... Swift... Though he hasn't injured Mario yet, he's the only person who has ever been able to last in a fight against Mario's demon side. Moreover, he managed to get his sword back after 'Mario' stole it from him. Swift... you truly are an accomplished warrior...
Uphill Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/a22356d3-220b-4c60-8fe8-d2a6a626ad47/Mario-vs-Velno)
Gently running the tips of his fingers down the blade of his sword, Swift stared intently at his target. "A blade held parallel to the ground combined with the speed of a bullet... This is the ultimate stabbing motion." He sprinted toward Mario at a record-breaking speed, thrusting his blade forward as he did so.
"Is that the only technique you know? I've already seen it once!" Mario exclaimed, ducking as the blade passed over his head.
"It's my favorite move, and it has several variations!" Swift retorted, twisting his wrist as he changed his stab to a downward slash. The sword struck Mario's shoulder, causing blood to splash into the air as Swift tore it from his flesh. "Now, stand down. If you continue to fight with that shoulder injury, it will put Mario's life in jeopardy. I'm sure I don't need to remind you: if Mario dies, you die." Mario remained silent. He clutched his wound, blood trickling down from his shoulder. Swift breathed a sigh of relief.
Grinning wickedly, Mario rose to his feet. His red aura grew larger, and his appearance began to change. His shirt changed to a shade of purple, and his overalls became dark green. His skin grew darker until it appeared to be a shade of purple. His normally sapphire eyes gleamed red with hatred. Mario's demon was in full control.
"This demon... Does his power have any limits...?" Swift gasped. His eyes narrowed. "No... I must not fear him." He raised his sword. "I cannot lose. Even if I have to use that... Mario's life depends on it! "
"Mario is gone forever!" the possessed Mario declared angrily as he dashed toward Swift. "And it's all thanks to your own arrogance!" He lunged forward, wrapping his hand around Swift's blade as his opponent prepared to defend himself. In one powerful jerk, Mario tore the sword from his hand and tossed it out of his reach. Mario then proceeded to use an Iceball to freeze his own arm into a blade of ice, the tip of which was pressed to Swift's throat.
Swift swallowed hard, preparing for his life to end with one final strike. He closed his eyes and waited. Only a few more inches, and the blade of ice would slit his throat. Hours seemed to pass. He was a mere thrust away from death. That thrust never arrived. He opened his eyes and gasped.
The ice on Mario's arm shattered. Standing firmly between Mario and Swift, Slade took a battle stance. "I know you'd be able to defeat any other enemy without my help... But I wanted to make sure that Mario survives, so I hope you don't mind if I lend a hand." He handed Swift his blade.
Swift grinned. "It's not a problem at all. Between the two of us, we should be able to put an end to this. Do you think you could fight him one-on-one for a little while? I was planning on using my Final Smash, but I never got the chance. If you can keep him occupied, I'll end this fight once and for all."
Slade nodded. "That's fine, but... why didn't you use your Final Smash to begin with...?"
"Even now, I'm still a bit hesitant to use it... It'll take care of Mario's demon, but... I'm afraid it could also affect Mario. Even the slightest trace of hatred is targeted by my attack. If Mario contains even a tiny drop of hatred-"
"Use it. Trust me, Mario will be fine. You are worried about your attack harming Mario, but that man bears no grudges. His heart is pure, as are his intentions," Slade assured him.
"Very well. I'll trust in your judgment. Good luck, Slade."
Slade charged at Mario, his sword held high above his head. He unleashed a blazing fast combo of accurate slashes and stabs, but Mario calmly evaded each and every one of them. As Slade desperately attempted to strike his foe, Swift prepared to use his trump card.
"My Final Smash..." Swift mumbled as his body was surrounded with a rainbow aura. "Mario... I hope Slade was right about you..." He lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his blade, and the ground began to rumble. "Judgment!" The quaking grew stronger, eventually causing Slade and Mario to stagger back and forth. Cool as steel, Swift raised his blade and pointed the tip at Mario. "Now... What sort of judgment awaits you?"
Sickening groans began to echo from beneath the ground, and four skeletal arms slowly rose from the dirt beneath Mario's feet. Soft whispers could be heard below as the skeletal arms wrapped around each of Mario's limbs. "What's going on?! Release me!" The mumbles from below grew louder.
"Your fate is being considered... by the residents of the underworld..." Swift informed him grimly. At last, everything grew silent. The rumbling stopped. "They have made their decision. And the only way to find out what that decision was... is to impale you with my blade! If your heart is pure, you have nothing to fear! The residents of the underworld will prevent me from harming a kind soul."
Slade moved to the side as Swift sprinted forward and sank his blade into Mario's flesh. As he did so, a circle with a triangle embedded in it appeared on the plumber's chest. There was a blinding flash of light, and a bloodcurdling scream...
"It looks like Swift was able to beat you after all."
"Damn you! What will you do without me?! Without my guidance, you'll be killed! You're far too soft to fight in this civil war!"
"Say what you want. I'm not the one who's about to be sealed away. You can stick to your beliefs, and I'll stick to mine. I've decided that I don't need you. I can end the civil war and fight Crimson without your help."
"You may have regained control, but you can never destroy me! I'll come back someday... and when I do, I'll use this body... to ensure the systematic destruction of all of your friends... And after that... true purpose... reclaim body... kingdom... revenge..."
The demon's voice slowly faded away, and Mario was once again in control. The flashes of light died down, and Mario's body returned to normal.
Victory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/64a37341-3ac7-44b0-8f77-7c86d5648f1d/Victory)
Mario's eyelids opened, and he saw Swift and Slade smiling before him. "You two... thank you so much..."
"So? How do you feel?" Slade inquired. "How does it feel to be in complete control of your body again?"
Mario lay back on the soft ground and closed his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief. "For the first time in weeks, I can think without hearing contradicting whispers inside of my head. Finally..." His head felt clear, as if he had just recovered from the flu. His aching headaches were gone as well. At last, he was back to normal. He stared up at the sky, enjoying his renewed freedom.
"Sorry about the injuries," Swift apologized. "Your inner demon is the toughest I've ever faced. He was a dangerous one, but hopefully you'll never have to worry about him again. However, there is something I need to warn you about."
Mario sat up and yawned. "What...?"
"You must promise to never use your Tri-Elemental Form again. Doing such a thing will drop the barrier between your Elemental Energy and your Iniquity. This will allow your inner demon to return. As long as you never use that form again, your demon will never have a chance to resurface."
Mario slowly rose to his feet. "Alright... let's head back..."
"Are you sure you should be standing?" Swift asked, allowing Mario to lean on his shoulder for support.
"Trust me, I've been through far worse," Mario chuckled. "Thanks again." Tears of joy began to stream down his cheeks. "I've never felt so relieved. He's finally gone..."
Swift gestured toward Slade. "You should thank your friend. I was hesitant to use my Final Smash because I was afraid that it would harm you. You see, my attack targets any traces of hatred, and I assumed that all humans held some sort of darkness within their heart. Slade convinced me that you were different. He said that there was no evil to be found in your heart, other than your demon of course."
Slade nodded. "Well... I only spoke the truth..."
Mario was brimming with joy and relief as the three of them walked back towards the Poker Face headquarters. Now... all that's left for me is to end this civil war... and then I can go back to protecting the Mushroom Kingdom. But I have to wonder... what was that demon trying to warn me about as he started to fade away?
Swift's eyes shifted over to Mario. Mario... I can tell that there are many people who are waiting for you back in the Mushroom Kingdom. I can't allow you to let those people down. Mario, I swear that I will do all that I can to ensure that you return to them safely.
Chapter 2: The Thunder Swordsman
Ominous Presence (http://www.esnips.com/doc/81c6cc2b-01f1-4caf-afa9-a7333b6be0b5/Ominous-Presence)
"So, you're finally back on your feet?" Swift inquired with a smile. Mario, Swift, and Slade were walking side-by-side toward Botis' office. "It's been at least a month since we freed you from your demon soul. Considering the mental stress you've been through, you bounced back pretty quickly."
"Like I said before, I've been through worse," Mario chuckled. "Anyway, why do you think Botis called a meeting? Are we finally going to enter the battlefield?"
Slade shook his head. "Warriors like us are too valuable to send into the fray. I'm sure Botis is planning to use us for behind-the-scene assassinations and investigations."
Swift nodded. "That's basically it. The civil war has been that way for as long as I can remember. Every day, each side sends their disposable pawns into battle, allowing them to think that they are fighting for a greater purpose. However, the true war is being fought behind the scenes. Each side possesses a small number of specialized fighters; for the Phoenix, those fighters are the Grimnexes. For the Demon Resistance, that responsibility falls upon the three of us."
The three of them stopped at a set of double doors. "Well, let's find out what Botis has in store for us," Mario mumbled.
The doors slowly creaked open, and Mario, Slade, and Swift stood before their commander. "Welcome, Mario. I can see that you've managed to overcome your demon with a little help from your two friends." He cleared his throat, and glanced at three stoic, emotionless faces. "Let's get down to business. In this war, our primary enemies are the Grimnexes. Their main base of operations is in the Nightmare Abyss, the deepest, darkest area in all of the Nightmare Vault. Before we can storm into enemy territory, we need to take out a few key enemies along the border of the Nightmare Abyss. If we neglected to do so, these enemies would appear to block our exit the moment we entered the abyss. From there, we would be trapped in enemy territory and face an attack from all sides. In order to be successful, it is vital that we seize all territory that is near the border of the Nightmare Abyss. And we'll start by sending Mario to the city of Sanctum."
"Me?" Mario parroted. "Alone?"
"Yes. I want you to travel to Sanctum as an undercover spy. It is the only city in all of the Nightmare Vault that hasn't been claimed by us or the Phoenix. It is entirely neutral. Its territory is ideal for war, and both sides have had their eyes on it for years. Neither side has made an effort to conquer it in fear of the conflict that would result. That is, until now. I've heard rumors of an undercover demon of the Phoenix that is trying to take over the city. If he succeeded, it would mean the end of the Demon Resistance."
"This sounds like a pretty significant job," Mario insisted. "Are you sure I can handle it?"
"No, I have no idea if you're up to the task. But, I do know that you're the only person we can send. If anyone in Sanctum saw one of our soldiers patrolling the area, it would raise suspicion, and our cover would be blown. Mario, on the other hand, appears to be an ordinary human. Most demons will not acknowledge you as a citizen of their town and ignore you. You can investigate as much as you want, and everyone will think of you as an annoying tourist."
"Gee, thanks," Mario grumbled. "So my job is to make sure that there aren't any Phoenix demons occupying the area."
"Correct," Botis affirmed with a nod. "Try not to draw attention to yourself. If a Phoenix demon discovers that you are working for us, they will show you no mercy." He gestured toward the double doors that led to the exit. "I'll send a few guards to escort you to the halfway point. From there, they'll give you directions to Sanctum. We can't risk you being spotted with our soldiers, or suspicion will arise."
Mario saluted him and took his leave. Great. I just can't wait to get started. He grinned as he shut the doors behind him.
Both Slade and Swift were put on standby until further notice. After only a few minutes, they left to prepare for whatever mission awaited them next. Alone in the darkness of his office, Botis slipped a walkie-talkie from his pocket. A wicked smile spread across his face. "Are you still there? ...Good. Did you catch all of that? He'll be taking the back route to Sanctum. Once he's there, you can make your grand entrance."
"Interesting..." Swift muttered, leaning against the outside wall beside a slightly open window. "Just what is our new leader playing at? I think I'll keep a closer eye on him..."
Sanctum Forest (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e915570b-d3c6-4e0c-a596-5db1432d51fc/Sanctum-Forest)
"I never knew demons gave such awful directions," Mario grumbled, walking alone on a dirt path toward a thick forest. The tree trunks were a black-ish brown color and towered at least 30 feet above Mario's head. As opposed to the green pigment that Mario was accustomed to, the color of leaves varied between blue, violet, and orange. As he took his first step into the woods, he heard the babbling of a brook nearby. The sky's normally green and red gradient was replaced with the varied colors of foliage in the treetops.
"They were supposed to give me directions to a city, not a forest," Mario groaned as he ventured into the forest. "I guess I'll just have to trust them. It's better than trying to go my own way and getting lost." He glanced around him. "Now, where's that half-eaten tree trunk they told me to look out for?"
Suddenly, an earsplitting crackling noise erupted from nearby. Mario whirled around and spotted the tree that he had been looking for. The sound of a rumbling thunderstorm pierced his eardrums as the half-eaten tree tumbled down toward him. He grinned and aimed his opened palm at the falling tree. Nothing a Fireball can't handle.
"Look out!" came the cry of a young boy. He appeared from behind the underbrush and dove into the plumber, knocking him out of the falling tree's path. Mario slowly rose to his feet and brushed himself off. He glanced down to see a young demon child, no older than ten, staring up at him with confused eyes. "What were you thinking? Were you trying to catch that tree with your bare hands?! You would've been crushed if I hadn't saved you!"
Mario opened his mouth to explain how he was about to burn the tree with a Fireball, but hesitated. It would be best for him to keep his powers a secret. "Yeah... what was I thinking...?" Noticing the boy's suspicion at his poor acting, he decided to change the subject. "So... what's a young boy like you doing out here in the forest?"
The boy unsheathed a sword from his back. "My name's Adam. I was practicing swordsmanship, and I cut down the tree that almost killed you. I'm sorry."
Mario put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's okay; you made up for it by saving me. But anyway, practicing on trees isn't exactly the best idea." Well, I'd better not tell him to protect the environment. After all, I was originally planning to burn the tree down before he saved me. I don't want to be a hypocrite. "You see, trees don't exactly fight back. Don't you have anyone back at home to help teach you?"
"My father is Mayor Bedlam, the leader of Sanctum, so he doesn't spend much time with me. I've always wanted to learn swordsmanship so I can help fight in the civil war, but my dad won't allow it. He says that Sanctum should stay out of the war."
"I can understand that," Mario said with a nod. "Sanctum is the only town that hasn't been devastated by the war, and he must want to keep it that way."
"Anyway, since my father won't teach me, I'm looking for a personal bodyguard- one who can train me to become one of the strongest soldiers in the Demon Resistance. He has to be extremely skilled and heroic... Do you know anyone who might fit that description?"
Mario replied with a few sarcastic coughs. I'd better not tell him I'm the Mushroom Hero... "I dunno... So anyway, if your father is the mayor, you certainly must live there. Would you mind leading me to Sanctum? I...uh... heard it was a popular tourist attraction..."
Adam nodded. "No problem."
A sequence of beeps began to blast from Mario's back pocket. He quickly pulled out his recently-acquired cell phone. "Hold on a sec... I have to take this call..." He retreated into a deeper area of the woods, hoping that Adam would not follow him. "Hello?"
Murderous Intent (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0e5cdd8f-9976-476f-b09d-0963c703cf1e/Murderous-Intent)
"Mario, this is Commander Botis. How is your journey coming along?"
"You sound flustered. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Mario assured him.
Botis grinned, though Mario obviously could not see this. "That's good to hear. I just wanted to inform you about a rumor I heard. Apparently, the undercover Phoenix demon is garbed in all black. He wears black armor, wields a black sword... even his eyes and hair are said to be jet black..."
"Alright, I'll keep an eye out-" he was cut off by the scream of a young boy. There was only one person it could be- Adam. Mario gasped. "Sorry, Commander Botis, I've got to go!" He hung up, pocketed his phone, and frantically sprinted back toward the area where he first met Adam. "Come on, where is he?! I left him somewhere around here!"
Meanwhile, in a small clearing in the forest, a group of bandits had surrounded Adam. Their leader held a dagger to the child's throat. "If you make another sound, I'll slit your throat. Now, come with me. You're the mayor's son, and I'm sure he'll be willing to pay a fortune for your safe return."
Mario emerged from behind the underbrush. He clenched his fists and prepared to charge at the bandits. Before he could take another step, the ground was soaked with warm blood. Mario gasped in horror. The leader of the bandits now lay face down on the ground, a black sword through his back. Beside him stood a tall, muscular man covered in black armor. His spiky black hair gleamed with sweat as he tore the blade from his victim. Adam gazed up at him in amazement. The man held his blade to the sky. "This man has been judged by the clouds above. Once again, Raven, the Thunder Swordsman, has fulfilled his duty."
Realizing that their leader had just been killed, the rest of the bandits angrily charged at their new opponent. Without even turning around, Raven silently calculated his next move. "Let's see... One... Two... Three... Only four of them?" His blade began to glow a bright yellow color. "Very well. The wrath of the Thunder God will rain down on you all." He whirled around and swung his enormous black blade, resulting in an earsplitting rumbling sound.
"It... sounds just like the rumbling of thunder..." Mario whispered in disbelief. His eyes narrowed. "This has to stop."
Without even making contact with Raven's blade, three of the four bandits fell onto the ground in a pool of blood. It was as if an invisible bolt of lightning had launched out from Raven's sword and struck them. The fourth bandit staggered backward in fear, Mario standing firmly in front of him. "That's enough."
The two warriors' eyes locked. Raven frowned. "And who might you be?"
"A fellow Thunder-user, though I don't use my powers for murder. The name's Mario." The plumber's voice was dripping with bitter disagreement.
"So, Mario, are you questioning my methods? If it had been up to you, this child would have been dead. You're lucky that I arrived to save him."
Mario clenched his fists. "There's no need to kill these men. They may have been shameless bandits, but... haven't enough people died already? Is there any need for meaningless massacres when there's a civil war ravaging the entire Nightmare Vault?" Tension filled the air as the two warriors silently glared at each other, daring one another to make the first move. Mario stood boldly with his fists clenched, and Raven's sword was wrapped tightly in his grip.
"That was incredible!" Adam gasped as he darted in between them. He gazed up at Raven, his eyes wide with admiration. "You saved my life! Mr. Raven, would you like to be my personal bodyguard? You'll be paid lots of money..." he trailed off in tantalization.
Raven paused to think for a moment. "Well... Why not?" As Adam cheered in delight, Raven's eyes shifted to Mario. He taunted the plumber with a wicked grin. "After all, who wouldn't want easy money? It's a good thing I arrived when I did, or you'd be as good as dead."
Mario took a step forward, his body trembling with rage. His pride had suffered a serious injury. I could have beaten those bandits... That could have been me. Instead, that Raven guy had to show up when he did. He turned to leave. "I guess I'll figure out how to get to Sanctum on my own."
"Wait!" Adam called, running after him. "I did almost kill you, so I have to make up for it somehow. I'll escort you to the city and grant you special permission to stay at an apartment, free of charge."
"Fine," Mario grumbled, trying to ignore Raven's arrogant grin. It's gonna be a long walk to Sanctum...
Later that evening, Mario paced the streets of Sanctum in search of the Phoenix demon. As he traveled up and down the dark alleys, he questioned his feelings of anger toward Raven. It's not the money that I care about, it's just that... I'm used to being the hero... Being a spectator didn't feel right at all.
Mario turned a corner and ventured into yet another suspicious dark alley. Even the shadows had vanished in the blackness of the alley. Night had fallen, at least, what Mario considered to be night. The Nightmare Vault was never particularly bright, but its darkness peaked at certain times throughout the average day. It had been nearly two months since Mario first ventured into the Nightmare Vault. Since then, he had gradually developed a new sleep schedule and a grasp for the general time system.
"Maybe being a spectator wasn't what bothered me... Maybe it was the hero that had taken my place..." he mumbled. "The way he killed all of those bandits without hesitation... Something about him makes my stomach turn. That black armor... that black sword..." His eyes widened. "That black hair... Wait a second... Isn't that how Botis described the undercover Phoenix agent...? Raven... but why would he bother to become a bodyguard for some random child...?"
Ominous Presence (http://www.esnips.com/doc/81c6cc2b-01f1-4caf-afa9-a7333b6be0b5/Ominous-Presence)
"My father is Mayor Bedlam, the leader of Sanctum, so he doesn't spend much time with me. I've always wanted to learn swordsmanship so I can help fight in the civil war, but my dad won't allow it. He says that Sanctum should stay out of the war."
Mario gasped. "Why couldn't I see it before?! He's using the kid to get to Mayor Bedlam! If Bedlam trusts this guy enough, Raven will have the freedom to strike whenever he wants... I've got to get to the mayor's estate, but how? I'm sure they're not going to let a human in, of all things." His fast-paced walk increased to a jog, and then to a sprint. I'll think of something... I just need to get there before it's too late...
The plumber frantically raced down the empty streets of Sanctum, reading signs and asking the few demons who were still out for directions. Somehow, he managed to deduce the location of the estate without raising too much suspicion. A human running around a demon city asking for the location of the mayor would ordinarily spark some sort of conflict, but the darkness helped to conceal Mario's identity as a human.
At last, Mario reached the front gates of the mayor's estate. Breathing heavily, he observed the security that stood between him and the mayor. Four guards were posted at the gates' entrance. Mario decided it would be best to avoid a direct conflict and moved to the left side of the gate that bordered the entire estate. He caught his breath and got a running start before jumping once, twice, and then a third time, resulting in an extra-high front-flip that barely launched him over the spiked tip of the gate.
He coughed up a mouthful of leaves as he landed in a colossal bush. He peered out into the courtyard and spotted dozens of patrolling guards. Wearing the bush as camouflage, he got onto his hands and knees and slowly crawled toward a stone wall. After stopping occasionally to avoid being detected by nearby guards, he finally removed his 'camouflage' and pressed his back against the wall. He sidled along the stone wall, masked by complete and utter darkness. Without any flashlight-equipped guards nearby, edging his way to the front door was a cinch. As he was within fifteen feet of the door, he discovered two more guards in front of the entrance.
How am I going to lure these guys away? This door is the only entrance I can find... There's no way I can sneak around them. If I try to fight them, they'll scream and alert all the other guards... Unless I... No... that wouldn't work, would it? He cupped his hands together and gently whispered, "So I heard you got beat up by a human. That's pretty pathetic."
One of the demons looked over at the other. "What'd you say?"
The other demon shrugged in confusion. "I didn't say anything. You're losing it."
The first demon clenched his fists. "First you call me weak, and then you call me crazy. You're dead!" The two guards drew their swords and began fiercely slashing at one another, exchanging profound insults that made Mario grimace with disgust. They wrestled each other onto the ground, and Mario silently crept by as they rolled around in the dirt. He gently pushed one of the double doors and slid into the mayor's mansion without a sound.
"I can't believe that worked," he whispered triumphantly. "Now, where would I be able to find Raven?"
"I cannot thank you enough for saving my son's life!" Mayor Bedlam exclaimed with gratitude. "If you become my son's bodyguard, I'll pay you twice the average salary." Bedlam was an elderly man, with several strokes of white in his long, gray beard. He had pale blue skin and was about a hundred pounds overweight, giving him the appearance of a giant blueberry.
"Yeah! And you can teach me all of your fancy sword techniques, too!" Adam chimed in. "You have to accept the job!"
"Now, now, it's past your bedtime Adam," Bedlam scolded. He led his son out of the room before wishing him a good night's sleep. He reentered the room and shut the door behind him. "Raven, for your great deed, you shall be known as a hero."
Looming Hatred (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59537ec-86f2-48ca-a47d-53ed4c88a621/Looming-Hatred)
Raven rolled his eyes. "Enough groveling. I have no interest in your son's life, or yours for that matter. I have no intentions of becoming your son's bodyguard, and I refuse to work under you. The only thing that I'm interested in is power. The greatest war that has ever taken place since the Terranean War is ravaging all of the Nightmare Vault. Don't you want to know what it's like to stain your hands with the blood of your own kind? Don't you want to be a part of something greater? This war has been going on for centuries, and this city is the only place that hasn't picked a side. Is it just me, or does that seem to hint at some cowardice on your part?" Raven smiled wickedly.
Bedlam stood up and slowly backed away. "You're insane! Using my child's feelings to get to me was a dirty trick!"
Raven gripped his sword and took a step toward Mayor Bedlam. "But it worked, didn't it? Results are all that matter in this world. I've wanted to enter this war for quite some time now, but I don't really support either side. I was hoping to start a third side, but all of the land in the Nightmare Vault has been taken. That's when it hit me; Sanctum. This town has yet to be conquered by either side, and it has a crucial strategic advantage. It's surrounded by a forest that is far too elaborate for an outsider to navigate. The Sanctum Forest acts as a natural barrier to keep invaders out! Now listen carefully; you're going to hand all of the city's power to me. From there, we'll lead a surprise attack on the Demon Resistance. The Resistance is weakening, and one final push will end it. After that, we'll become the Phoenix's new enemy. We'll keep our soldiers within Sanctum's walls. And when the Phoenix goes to attack us, they'll find themselves lost in Sanctum Forest! With our military, we could isolate and destroy each individual soldier in their entire army!"
"And what are the citizens of this peaceful town going to think about that?!" Bedlam snapped, beads of sweat dripping down his face.
"They won't suspect a thing. You can stay in charge, but I'll be giving you orders behind the scenes. All you have to do is insist that your actions are for the good of the city. Surely a mayor who has kept their town safe for all this time will be faithfully trusted by all of his people."
"I won't do it! I won't abuse the trust of these innocent people!" Bedlam protested. Although his words spoke of resistance, his body did not. With each advance Raven made toward Bedlam, the mayor took another step back.
"Well then... In that case, I'll have to resort to option number two. I'm sure you know what I mean."
Mario, who had only recently pressed his ear against the room's outside wall, gasped as he desperately turned the doorknob. "Locked!" he cursed, bawling his fists. "Looks like I have to ruin a perfectly good door..."
Unbearable Suffering (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d976966-bf59-421c-b7e6-2b2a4af3f95b/Unbearable-Suffering)
Mario gathered all of his might and unleashed a powerful kick that split the door in two. As he stormed into the room, his eyes widened with terror as the floor was stained with blood. Mayor Bedlam was dead.
"Cowardly old man," Raven spat, furiously tearing his blade from the mayor's flesh. "I would have killed him eventually, anyway." He looked up and finally noticed Mario. He grinned with wicked sarcasm. "Oh, it's you. If you're here to apply for a job as a bodyguard, the last position has just been taken."
"So, you had to kill him?" Mario whispered regretfully. "What are you trying to accomplish here? How will this make any progress in the war that has already taken so many lives?"
"Mario, I want you to listen very carefully. Do not ask me how, but I know all about your true identity. I know that you are the Mushroom Hero, so don't try to hide your immense strength like you did earlier. I want you to embrace your powers, and join me in the Nightmare Vault's struggle for power. The Phoenix wants the brutal extermination of all Olympians, the ones who bask in sunlight outside of the Nightmare Vault- the humans. The Demon Resistance fights to protect those humans from the harm that the Phoenix wishes to inflict upon them. I am a man who hates the humans, but I do not wish to go to the extremes that the Phoenix is willing to. I wish to create a third side in the war, using Sanctum's advanced technology and the geographical advantage that is provided by Sanctum Forest. Will you join me, Mario? With you at my side, I could finally end this civil war once and for all."
"I refuse," Mario replied firmly, gazing sympathetically at Bedlam's corpse. "That man symbolized the peace that these people have lived in for all of these years. And now that he's dead, you want to drag all of these innocent people into a brutal civil war? I've heard about what the Grimnexes are capable of. You can't possibly hope to wield a simple geographical advantage against them."
"So what, then? Are you going to continue with your pointless missions, praying that the war will eventually end on its own?"
"No. For the sake of this family's honor, and for the safety of the people of this city, I'll put a stop to your plans," Mario declared, his eyes lit with determination.
Raven grinned. "Honor? The safety of a bunch of demons? Neither of them really matter to you. You humans could care less about what happens to us demons. The only reason you came here is to find a way to get rid of the demon soul within you. Oh, and you also came to defeat the Phoenix, just so that you could prevent them from attacking your precious kingdom. You don't give a darn about us! Have you even shed a single tear for the man that I just slaughtered? What if that had been the leader of your kingdom? I bet your reaction would be severely different."
Images of Princess Peach flashed in Mario's head. "No... Don't bring her into this. This fight is between you and me. Raven, for the safety of the Mushroom Kingdom and the citizens of this town, I will stop you."
Chapter 3: Clash of Thunder
Fated Clash (http://www.esnips.com/doc/59a87aa5-69c3-43a4-a5a4-ca121255ccab/Fated-Clash)
Raven let out a murderous shriek as he drew his colossal blade and sprinted toward the determined plumber. He raised his sword over his head, and with a hateful grunt, brought it crashing down toward Mario. The swift Mushroom Hero rolled to the side, and the force of the blade's collision with the ground created a shockwave that caused the entire room to shake. As Raven put all of his might into lifting his sword from the ground, Mario lunged forward and tossed a right hook at the swordsman's face.
Raven staggered backward and wept the blood from his lip. "You're pretty good. I've heard a lot about you, Mushroom Hero. I must admit that when I first saw you, I was a bit skeptical. It seems that you can do much more than unclog toilets."
"I gave up on that job years ago," Mario replied with a grin, "but for some reason, these clothes have grown on me. It wouldn't feel right to wear anything else."
Raven responded by twirling his massive sword above his head, causing gusts of wind to blow throughout the office. Mario gazed up at the enormous blade, noting its extreme weight. That thing must weigh a ton, he thought. His attacks may be strong, but they're slow and easy to dodge. There must be a catch. With such a poor fighting strategy, this man couldn't possibly be a threat to anybody.
"I hope I'm not interrupting your daydream!" Raven howled as he released the blade from his grip, sending it flying toward the plumber at blazing speeds.
Blood trickled down Mario's right cheek. He had managed to tilt his head to the left just in time, narrowly avoid a fatal blow. Instead, the blade was now wedged into the wall beside him. As Raven dashed toward him, Mario considered his options. I could try to remove it from the wall, and then he'd be at a disadvantage without his weapon. Or would he? For all I know, he could have something else up his sleeve. Besides, a sword like that is best wielded by large, muscular warriors. I hate to admit it, but I'm not suited for such a massive weapon.
"Too late!" Raven cried as he landed a fierce blow to Mario's stomach. The Mushroom Hero tumbled onto his back, coughing up a mouthful of blood as he descended. With a powerful jerk of his arm, he tore his blade from the wall and pointed it at Mario, who was lying on his back. The plumber rolled to his feet by performing a backwards somersault. "Any opponent that has lasted this long against me has questioned my fighting style by now. I can tell by the look on your face that you are confused. You're wondering if there's more to my strategy, and there is!"
"I know that your speed is greater than you've been leading me to believe. I saw your fight against those bandits before. You claimed to be the 'Thunder Swordsman' and used some sort of secret technique to attack them," Mario recalled. "So why don't you show me how you earned your title?"
Raven's face grew stern. "If you wish to challenge the power of the Thunder Swordsman, so be it. The clouds above will not back down from a challenge." He pointed the tip of his sword at the ceiling. An earsplitting rumble shook the room, and a lightning bolt pierce the ceiling and struck Raven's sword. Electric sparks emitted from the now golden blade. "Now, you will finally learn how powerful thunder can be!"
In the blink of an eye, Raven was only a few inches away from Mario. He swung his sword at a much faster speed than before. Mario narrowly dodged it with a quick sidestep, but spotted Raven's blade in the corner of his eye. He quickly took a step back, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow to the head. How can he move so quickly? It's as if his sword just got ten times lighter! The ground shook as Raven's blade missed its target once again. But it hasn't lost any of its power! How can that be?
Mario's eyes widened as he felt his back hit the wall. Raven brought his sword upward toward the plumber's chin. There was no room to dodge.
The clattering of metal echoed through the darkness of the night. Raven gasped. "What is that?!"
Mario grinned. Wrapped tightly in his grip was a cluster of flames that were compressed into the shape of a blade. "I developed this technique right before my battle with Lord Shade. I needed a way to fight against enemies that were armed with swords, and I eventually discovered that I could channel a Fireball into the shape of a sword."
The two warriors fiercely pressed their blades together, each trying to overcome the other. Neither of them noticed Adam standing at the doorway, his eyes wide with shock. My father is dead... One of these men killed him... but which one was it? It must have been that human. After all, Master Raven saved my life while that cowardly human hid in the depths of the forest. He'll have no trouble eliminating that murderous coward. As for his father, Adam didn't shed a single tear. He had little to no emotional connection with him. All of his love and respect were dedicated to Raven.
Raven took a step forward, putting all of his might into his blade. Mario, still fiercely gripping his sword of flames, had his back pressed to the wall. "No... It can't end this way... I won't allow you to betray the trust of that innocent boy!" He pressed his feet against the wall and used the power of his famed jumps to plow into Raven. The swordsman staggered backward, and Mario broke the deadlock with a slash of his sword, sending sparks flying into the air.
Adam gasped. He's good... No... He's great! Who is this man? How is he able to hold his own against Master Raven?
"You managed to survive... But how long can you last against the might of my thunder techniques?" Raven inquired with an arrogant smile.
Mario wept the blood from his cheek. "Thunder techniques? I don't think you're as great as you claim to be. In fact, I've already discovered the trick behind your 'Thunder Swordsman' techniques. That blade that you hold up to the sky... It's some kind of lightning rod, isn't it? In fact, your seemingly primitive sword is actually a piece of complicated technology. It's much more advanced than any lightning rod I've ever seen before, but that's definitely what it is. From there, complex wiring within the blade probably enables the lightning energy to somehow make your sword lighter. Your title of 'Thunder Swordsman' means nothing. That blade is doing all of the work. All that garbage about 'the clouds above' is just to fool your opponents into thinking that you're some kind of god."
Raven's eyes were lit with rage. "Even if you have figured out my secret, it won't help you defeat me!" Holding his colossal blade high above his head, Raven sprinted angrily at the confident plumber.
"Not physically, but it does help me psychologically. I know that you're a fraud, and you've been blinded by your own rage. Our mental states have changed drastically, which means you don't even have a chance at victory," Mario explained. As Raven's sword came crashing down, Mario parried the blade with his blade of flames and brought his other fist forward. His fist burning with the power of a charged Fireball, Mario unleashed his strongest Flaming Punch upon Raven's face.
Howling in agony, Raven tumbled onto his back in defeat. He grabbed his blade and pressed it against the ground, using it to help him up. He got onto his hands and knees.
Unbearable Suffering (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d976966-bf59-421c-b7e6-2b2a4af3f95b/Unbearable-Suffering)
"Raven... Your plans will put the Nightmare Vault in grave danger. To protect the humans, the Demon Resistance needs the city of Sanctum. Forgive me, but I'm going to have to fight this battle to the finish," Mario explained glumly. He pointed his flaming sword at the demon's head. I have to do this... This is the new world that I've entered... I have to finish my opponents off. But even if they are demons, once I get to know them... they remind me so much of humans...
Raven hung his head in defeat. "Do it now..."
Just then, Adam sprinted in front of Raven and boldly stood in Mario's path. "Don't do it! There's no reason to kill Master Raven! He saved my life, and he promised to teach me how to wield a sword. You can't kill him now... He's the only man I ever respected... His death would hurt me more than my father's death ever will..."
Mario's sword faded away in a puff of smoke. "You're right... It's already enough... But I can't let Raven teach you swordsmanship... At the very least, I have to take him into custody. You see... Raven isn't really-" Mario gasped as he was cut off by a bloodcurdling scream. Blood stained the floor, and the plumber felt a sharp pain in his chest. "I never knew... you'd go to such extremes..." He coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Raven viciously tore his blade from Mario's flesh and pulled it through Adam's stomach. Adam fell to the floor in a pool of blood- dead.
Mario fell to his knees, clutching a gash on his chest. "You stabbed through that innocent boy... just to injure me..."
Raven struggled to his feet. "It seems as though that boy was even more useful than I expected. I was only using him to get to his father's power and wealth, but I never expected to be able to use him to defeat you. Regardless, he has outlived his usefulness. You've outlived yours as well. Making me look good by failing to rescue Adam was perfect. It only added to his foolishly immense respect for me. But now, as you can see, I no longer need your help." He turned to exit the room. "Goodbye, Mushroom Hero."
Uphill Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/a22356d3-220b-4c60-8fe8-d2a6a626ad47/Mario-vs-Velno)
"...Do you even realize... how much respect that boy had for you...?" Mario muttered, slowly rising to his feet. "Do you understand... what you've just done...? You saved that boy's life.... You gave his miserable life some hope... He looked up to you as if you were his father... And now that you're done using him, you've decided to just kill him? You betrayed the admiration of a young child... and by doing that, you just turned this battle into a personal matter..."
Raven whirled around in surprise. "You're angry... I've heard that this is the part where you become a completely different person. They say it's because you've got some kind of demon soul within you."
Mario shook his head. "That was before... I've banished that wicked spirit from my heart, and I don't intend to see it again anytime soon." His eyes were lit with determination, and his body began to glow with a brilliant blue aura. "I swear, I'll make you pay for what you've done to this family..."
Raven staggered backward in fear. "This man isn't the raging demon that I've heard so much about... He's different... Is this what the Mushroom Hero is truly like without any demon interference?" His eyes narrowed. "Well, a human can't possibly be stronger than a demon. He'd be better off if he let his demon soul take control. But either way, he can't defeat the Thunder Swordsman's Final Smash."
"Final Smash?" Mario parroted.
With a bloodthirsty shriek, Raven slashed his sword horizontally in Mario's direction. Accompanied by the rumbling of thunder, Mario felt a gust of wind blow in his direction. He dove to the side, and an invisible shockwave struck the wall behind the spot he had just stood in. "The rumbling of thunder..." Mario mumbled. "Of course!"
"You'd better use your Final Smash too! You know, the one that Grambi taught you!" Raven exclaimed. "Otherwise, you're gonna be killed by my thunderous shockwaves!"
Mario shook his head. "No. I could never forgive myself if I used my Final Smash on such an unworthy opponent. You aren't even worth killing. You ramble on and on about how great you are, and how I'd better use all of my strength to beat you. Compared to the life-or-death battles I've faced so far, you're nothing. You're Final Smash is simple to figure out. When you swing that heavy sword of yours, its sheer weight displaces wind in the shape of a blade at your opponent. The sound of this wind displacement is similar to that of thunder. That's all there is to it."
"How'd you pick up on that so quickly?" Raven gasped, angrily clenching the hilt of his sword.
"Normally, I'd never be able to understand the whole wind displacement thing. But... I also have a Final Smash that displaces wind. However, using this Final Smash on you would be an insult to all of the worthy foes that I've wielded it against in the past. Against you, showing you the true power of the Thunder Element is more than enough!"
His black eyes now red with rage, Raven charged at the plumber, creating dozens of invisible shockwaves as he did so. Mario jumped, ducked, and weaved past the oncoming attacks, all the while charging his right fist with a Thunderball. As the two warriors were about to collide, Mario brought his fist forward, shattered Raven's sword with a bone-breaking Thunder Punch, and still had enough power to deal a crippling blow to the demon's face.
Raven collapsed onto the floor in agony, his body trembling before the awesome might of Mario's Thunder Element. "I've been through training under each of the Elemental Gods. I wield the elements of Fire, Ice, and Thunder. You're title, 'Thunder Swordsman', means nothing to me. I've trained under the Thunder God, and he's much more powerful than you." He began to walk away.
"What... are you going to do... with me...?"
Mario stopped, but didn't turn around to face Raven. "I already told you. You aren't even worth killing. You'll be taken into custody and be imprisoned for the rest of your life. Living through your sentence is the least you can do to make up for the death of Mayor Bedlam and his son."
With the city of Sanctum under the Demon Resistance's control, Mario had taken one step toward achieving victory. However, as the months went by, Mario began to grow restless. He hadn't yet received a new mission from Botis, and Slade had just returned from his most recent assignment.
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
"Well... that's pretty much the whole story," Mario concluded, sitting with Slade at the shoddy coffee table that had recently been added to their hotel room. "Raven's strength was derived from his fierce ambition and his clever little tricks. Any ordinary soldier would have a tough time against him, but people who have been in as many battles as we have can see through his strategies."
Slade nodded slowly, his arms folded over the table. "Raven may have been fairly easy, but his 'clever little tricks' almost got you killed. You allowed that demon child to bring merciful thoughts into your head, and your hesitation gave Raven the chance to stab through the child and nearly finish you off. If you would have ended Raven's life while you had the chance, the mayor's son would have lived. As much as I may respect you, your hesitation to kill others irritates me to no end."
Mario hung his head. "Commander Botis told me the same thing. He gave me a lecture on how I should slaughter any enemies of the Demon Resistance without hesitation. Despite the murder of Mayor Beldam and his son, the Resistance was still able to occupy Sanctum. Yet the commander didn't even congratulate me on my first successful mission."
"Don't take it personally. Botis is the commander of the entire Demon Resistance. Despite your victory, we're still fighting an uphill battle- no; it's no longer a hill. At this point, we're at the base of a cliff, looking up as the Phoenix stares down at us from the top. They have the Grimnexes, and I'm not sure if you comprehend just how powerful they are. Raven wasn't even as powerful as the Omega Grimnex, the weakest one out of all the Grimnexes," Slade explained grimly. "We're not here for gratitude, and Botis understands that. The only thing we have to work for is the future- for the peace of all of our descendants. If we continue to involve ourselves in this war, the chances of us living to see the end are slim."
"I understand that... It's just..." Mario muttered, unsure of how to translate his thoughts into words. I don't want to die... I want to live, and protect my friends... How can I protect anything if I'm dead...?
Neither of them noticed Swift standing at the doorway, ready to give Mario and Slade their next mission. He was listening intently to their conversation. Ah.... Conflicting heroic beliefs... Is it better to sacrifice yourself for the benefit of mankind's future, or live on for the sake of your friends? Is it best to slaughter anyone that opposes you, or try to spare their lives? This conversation... is far too important to interrupt. It looks like I'll have to complete the mission for them. He turned around and left without saying a word.
"It's simple. If you encounter evil, you destroy it," Slade stated firmly.
"I know... But if I did finish Raven off right in front of Adam, I would have crushed his spirit. That child admired Raven more than his own father. Causing that child such pain would be almost as bad as killing him with my own two hands..."
"I suppose it can't be helped. You have your way of doing things, and I have mine. Either way, we're both trying to accomplish the same thing. We want the Phoenix to drown in their own bitterness and vanish from existence," Slade murmured, clenching his fists.
"Right..." Mario affirmed hesitantly. He gave Slade a confused look. Just what is Slade after, really? He was abandoned by his parents, raised by demons, and fought against me to justify his hatred for the humans. I managed to convince him that not all humans were as wretched as his parents, but that still shouldn't give him enough of an incentive to risk his life in such a brutal war. Is he really that worried about the human race, or is there something else he's after...?
Slade closed his eyes, and wicked images of his parents formed in his mind. I vowed to kill them... I searched everywhere for them... They aren't in the Nightmare Vault or the human realm. I can't search the Underwhere or Overthere until I'm dead... so... the only place left for me to look is the Nightmare Abyss... They're only two simple humans, so as unlikely as it may be... I cannot stop searching for them even for a second. ...Besides, if I do die in this war, I can just continue my search in the afterlife...
"This is perfect... Yes, he's still here. Oh, of course, Mario's here too. It seems as though this worked out perfectly. Northern Fort? Absolutely. One final obstacle before it becomes ours! And the best part is, the 'good guys' will be the ones to ensure our victory! They don't even suspect a thing."
Meanwhile, Mario and Slade continued their intricate conversation. "Mario, there are no second chances in the Nightmare Vault. Sparing the lives of your enemies may seem noble, but it'll only cause you to fear that they'll come back for revenge someday. It's better to be rid of them for good." Slade stood up and yawned. "I'm feeling a bit thirsty. I think I'll go get something to drink in the cafeteria."
"Is it still open this late at night?" Mario inquired, his mouth suddenly watering. "The food here isn't as good as it is back in the Mushroom Kingdom, but I think I've finally gotten used to it."
"I'll get you something to eat," Slade sighed, strapping his sheathed blade to his waste. He quietly slid the door open and crept into the darkness of the hallway. As he ventured to the bottom floor of the hotel, a pair of eyes silently followed him from around the corner. Slowly creeping up behind him, the dark figure's footsteps were in complete sync with Slade's.
Murderous Intent (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0e5cdd8f-9976-476f-b09d-0963c703cf1e/Murderous-Intent)
"Empty," Slade murmured as he pushed open the double doors that led to the checkerboard-tiled floor of the cafeteria. He sauntered up to the vending machine in the corner of the room and reached into his pocket. "It looks like Mario had a point. No one in their right mind would stay up this late to sell food." As he dug into his pocket for spare change, the silent figure slowly inched closer to him.
"Slade... I can never forgive you..." the woman whispered, removing a dagger from under her shirt. She dashed at Slade from behind, her blade raised high above her head. Her eyes glowing with hatred, the woman viciously slashed at her target. A metal clang echoed through the room.
Slade grinned. He had whirled around and drew his sword just in time to block his assailant's attack. "That was a poor attempt at following me. Did you think I wouldn't notice you just because you kept your footsteps in sync with mine? I can hear your breathing, and I can feel the hatred emanating from your body. So what did I do to make you so angry?"
"My brother... You killed him..." the woman hissed through clenched teeth. "I'll avenge his death and prevent you from claiming anymore victims!"
As the two blades clashed, Slade observed his opponent. She had long blond hair and vengeful, emerald eyes, and she was garbed in a blood-stained t-shirt and ripped jeans. "I remember now... You must be Eris! Your brother's foolishness is hard to forget. So, you've come back for revenge?"
Eris winced as a sharp metal clang pierced her eardrums. With one deadly slash, Slade had cut the blade off of her dagger. Her body trembling with rage, she charged at her foe with her bare hands. As she was only a few feet away, she stopped dead in her tracks. The tip of Slade's blade was lightly pressed against her throat. "No... Brother..."
"In the end, you were just as foolish as your brother," Slade spat, his eyes beginning to gleam red with anger. "And now, you'll suffer the same fate." Blood trickled down Eris' neck as Slade began to put pressure on her throat. As he prepared to deal the final blow, he was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Hold on, Slade!" Mario shrieked, knocking the blade out of his comrade's hand. "What happened here?"
The redness in Slade's eyes slowly faded away. "Forgive me... Every now and then, I lose control of myself. It's hard to stay civilized after being a killer for so long..."
Moving On (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6f6db0a0-72b1-442f-a1f7-96b89fcf9aac/Moving-On)
"I see..." Mario whispered, nodding in comprehension. "I already knew that you went by the title of Nightmare when you grew up here in the Nightmare Vault, and I also knew that you held a strong hatred for humans because your parents abandoned you. But I had no idea that you actually used to think that you were a demon."
Slade nodded. "Yeah... I used to live in the human realm just like you, but my parents abandoned me when I was only a child. I was found by demons and brought back to the Nightmare Vault, though I'm still not sure why. I eventually started thinking I was a demon of the Phoenix, and I traveled the Nightmare Vault slaughtering any demon that was a part of the Demon Resistance."
"And this girl's brother was..." Mario trailed off, afraid of what the answer might be.
"He was a soldier in the Resistance," Eris finished. "When I saw that Slade was a part of the Resistance, I thought that he was only trying to kill more soldiers when their backs were turned. To avenge my brother and protect the other members of the Demon Resistance, I attacked him. I never even considered the possibility that Slade had changed his ways."
"Does that mean you can forgive him?" Mario asked hopefully.
Before she could answer, Slade muttered, "I don't care if she forgives me or not, but there is something I would like to know. Based on your explanation, you just happened to notice that I was a part of the Demon Resistance. That leads me to believe that you came here with another purpose in mind, but then you got sidetracked as soon as you saw me. What did you really come here for?"
Eris fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. "...Please let me stay with you... I need you to hide me... from them..."
Chapter 4: The Northern Fortress
Looming Hatred (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59537ec-86f2-48ca-a47d-53ed4c88a621/Looming-Hatred)
Far to the north- casting a shadow that shrouded the rest of the Nightmare Vault in darkness- stood a tall stone fortress. Deep within its walls, a group of three figures stirred. A female demon with purple skin stepped forward and cleared her throat. "Mr. Seraph, I'm afraid that-"
"Eris has escaped again," Seraph finished sternly. He was the leader of the group, a tall, blue-skinned demon with a mop of gray hair and a pair of swords strapped to his back. "I'm already aware of that, Rune. You should have kept a closer eye on her. Now she's escaped into Poker Face's main headquarters. If we allow her to stay there, she'll likely start some sort of trouble. Before a conflict can arise, someone needs to retrieve her at all costs. Gale, I'm leaving you in charge of this mission."
The room shook as Gale turned to leave the room. He was a colossal, muscular demon that wielded a mammoth wrecking ball, which was currently slung over his shoulder. "Leave it to me," he obeyed gruffly. "I assume you want me to bring her back alive?"
Seraph nodded. "Under normal circumstances, I could care less. In this case, however, I want you to bring her back alive."
"Them?" Mario parroted confusedly. "Who are they?"
"They live in a fortress far to the north, right around the border of the Nightmare Abyss. There are three of them, and they are the most powerful non-Grimnex demons on the Phoenix's side. I've been imprisoned there as long as I can remember. They captured me during one of their invasions and have kept me alive because of my unique abilities."
"Unique? There's nothing unique about your fighting abilities," Slade mumbled. "I learned that firsthand."
Eris shook her head. "No, it has nothing to do with that. I have the ability to materialize weapons at will. That blade I used against Slade is a perfect example. Of course, I can also create guns and bombs."
She kind of reminds me of Ace, Mario thought. Interesting...
"Really?!" Slade inquired, his eyes suddenly wide with interest. "Why don't you just make us a bunch of weapons so we can take the Phoenix down?"
"I can't," Eris refused with a frown. "That's the whole reason I tried to escape. The Northern Fortress Defense Squad has been making me manufacture weapons for them for a few years now, and I'm sick of it! The very same weapons I create for them are being used to destroy hundreds of lives! I came here hoping that you would shelter me from them."
"Who cares about that? We have the key to defeating the Phoenix in the palm of our hand!" Slade exclaimed triumphantly. "This is perfect!"
"No," Mario stated firmly. "That attitude is probably the reason she ran away from Northern Fortress. They thought they could use her weapons to win the war, and she got sick of it and ran away. She came to us looking for help, not to be stuck in the same situation as before." Mario turned to Eris. "You can stay here, just as long as you don't use your powers to materialize any sort of weapon."
Eris nodded. That was easy.
"If you ask me, we're passing up a huge opportunity by not bringing her to Botis," Slade muttered. "I guess it wouldn't do any harm to let her lay low here for a while, but what about the Northern Fortress Defense Squad? If her powers are as useful as she claims, those three won't let her go without a fight. They'll come looking for her, and she'll most likely be found out."
Mario shrugged. "That's true, but there are only three demons in their little defense squad. If they attack, it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Besides, if they aren't Grimnexes, and we lose to them, I think we deserve to die."
"True," Slade agreed. "After all, if we couldn't defeat a non-Grimnex, we wouldn't even stand a chance in this war. We'd be better off dead."
"So it's settled. Eris can stay here as long as she doesn't attract any outside attention."
Mario yawned and sat up, groggily rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His body was telling him that it was time to wake up. There was no definite morning or afternoon in the Nightmare Vault, but by now Mario's body had already adapted to a suitable sleep schedule. After a bit of stretching, he left to go on a short walk. He had not been assigned a new mission in quite some time, and because of this he often went on morning walks to help relieve some stress.
As he exited the hotel, he heard whispers coming from around the corner of the building. Recognizing one of the voices, he sidled along the wall and got as close to the conversation as he could without being detected.
"Those are your only two options, Eris," a colossal, muscular man informed her. "You can either come back with us quietly, or you could watch as this building meets with an unfortunate accident. We wouldn't want your 'heroes' to meet with an untimely end."
"Leave them out of this, Gale," Eris demanded firmly. "If you promise not to harm them, I'll follow you back to the fortress without another word."
"Looks like you've made a few new friends," Gale chuckled as he scooped her up in one of his enormous hands. "I didn't think you were capable of being friends with anyone. Usually you only make friends so that you can get something that you're after, but you must really care about these people if you're willing to be captured in order to assure their safety." With Eris tucked under his arm, Gale turned and began to walk off into the distance.
From around the corner, Mario had been watching the scene intently. His fists were clenched with frustration. He shouldn't have forced her to make such a difficult decision... If I follow him, he should lead me directly to Northern Fortress...
"Wake up! We're here," Gale announced gruffly, shaking Eris until she finally awoke. "I still can't believe you chose your friends' lives over your own. Based on your personality, it doesn't make any sense for you to care about the lives of people you just met. Do they care about you as much as you seem to care about them? Not one of them tried to stop me as I carried you away."
Fighting Spirit (http://www.esnips.com/doc/94554fe8-00ca-47e9-8077-3cba6f046ef9/Fighting-Spirit)
"Looks like you fit the all-brawn-no-brains stereotype perfectly," a sarcastic voice echoed. Gale whirled around as Mario emerged from behind a nearby tree. "I've been following you since you left the hotel, and I couldn't help but overhear a certain threat that you made. What was it again? Something about her friends meeting an untimely end if she didn't go with you?"
Gale tossed Eris onto the ground and clenched his fists. "I've known you for about ten seconds, and I already want to bash your skull in."
"Take it easy with the threats," Mario chuckled. "With fists and muscles as large as those, I'm sure you can do more than just talk tough. Before we start, how about we make a deal?" He clenched his fists as he locked eyes with his opponent. "If I can storm into your little fortress and beat you and your two buddies, you have to let Eris go."
Gale grinned as he began to crack his knuckles. "And what if you can't?"
"If I can't beat the three of you, then I have no reason to continue fighting in this war. I'll let you take my life, and Eris can stay with you until the day she dies," Mario promised. Before he could say another word, Gale had launched his wrecking ball into the air toward the plumber. Mario nimbly leapt out of the way, landing on a nearby tree branch. He bounced off of the branch and soared through the air, landing on the balcony of the fortress' second floor.
"Get down here!" Gale roared angrily as he pulled his wrecking ball from the ground. "We aren't finished yet!"
"Well, when I noticed that my 'colleague' was here, I decided to let him fight you in my place," Mario replied as he entered the fortress through an open window. "I hope that you'll have just as much fun with him as you did with me!"
"Colleague?" Gale parroted in confusion. "Whatever. He blindly rushed in, even though Eris is still out here with me. If he thinks he can defeat the other two members of the squad, he's sadly mistaken. And even if he can, he'll still have to come back out here to face me." Suddenly, he winced as he felt a sharp pain in his back. He looked over his shoulder to see Slade standing with his sword drawn.
Slade vs. Gale (http://www.esnips.com/doc/fbfdba2a-88c3-440f-b10c-7da289b62654/Slade-vs.-Gale)
"You should've checked your surroundings more thoroughly. Not only did you allow Mario to follow you, but you completely ignored him when he told you that one of his 'colleagues' had arrived."
Gale whirled around and began to swing his ball and chain high above his head. "Maybe if you checked your surroundings more accurately, you would've captured Eris while my back was turned instead of attacking me."
Slade sighed. "It seems that every time you open your mouth, you add further proof to your ignorance. Take a look up in that tree."
Gale's eyes shifted to the top of a nearby tree. Standing lightly on one of the branches was Rune, who was holding the unconscious Eris in her arms. In the blink of an eye, she vanished and reappeared on the balcony that Mario had entered the fortress through. "I'm taking her to the boss!" In a blur of purple, Rune disappeared into the darkness of the fortress.
"Once again, you've taken your eyes off of your opponent!" Slade exclaimed as he rushed forward with his blade pointed at the demon. "That's three strikes; you're out!"
Gale, still swinging the wrecking ball above his head, brought his attention back to Slade and slammed the ball down in his direction. Slade dove to the side, narrowly dodging Gale's ball and chain, which left a colossal crater in the ground. His chain wrapped tightly in his grip, Gale used the chain to pull himself in Slade's direction at incredible speeds. Slade, not expecting this burst of speed, was unable to block Gale's blazing-fast right hook. As Slade soared backward, Gale began to swing his wrecking ball before launching it at his airborne opponent.
"That's the match!" Gale cackled wickedly as his weapon was about to strike Slade.
"Not quite," Slade whispered, performing a few midair back-flips before landing nimbly on top of his opponent's wrecking ball. Still airborne, Slade grabbed the chain and used it to pull himself in Gale's direction. Too slow to move out of the way, Gale was helpless as Slade stabbed his sword through the demon's lower chest. Gale coughed up a mouthful of blood, and Slade removed his blade from the demon's flesh and took a few steps back.
"Damn," Slade cursed, spitting up a few drops of blood. "I missed his heart. I was moving too fast through the air to aim properly."
"Not bad, for a scrawny human like you," Gale muttered as he clutched his wound. "But your luck won't last forever. Rune is bound to run into Mario on her way in, and if so, he's in for a rude awakening. That girl is the closest thing to a ninja that you'll ever find. And then there's Seraph... I can't even begin to describe him! It would be in your best interest to leave." He swung his ball and chain before tossing it at Slade yet again.
"In other words, you're the weakest of the Northern Fortress Defense Squad!" Slade exclaimed, taking a few steps backward as the wrecking ball was about to hit him. Before Gale could make his next move, Slade stabbed his blade through Gale's wrecking ball and into the ground. From there, he sprinted forward at Gale with his fists clenched. "You're nothing without that ball and chain!"
Gale attempted to defend himself, but could do nothing but crumple onto his knees against the might of Slade's bone-breaking punches. After dealing one final blow to the gash on Gale's chest, Slade kicked the demon onto his back. "I'll be right back with my sword. Don't go anywhere." At this point, Gale was practically begging for mercy. By the time Slade was back and prepared to deliver the final blow, Gale had been brought to tears.
"Nightmare... Why have you returned after all of these years?! Wasn't once enough?!" Gale screamed in agony as Slade's sword pierced his heart.
"Wait a minute... What?" Slade inquired, gazing down at his foe. "You called me Nightmare... Did we really fight in the past?" It was too late; Gale was dead. "It's possible... But back then, I only fought against demons that belonged to the Resistance..." He shook his head and stepped into the fortress. "No... I need to stop putting so much thought into everything."
There was a ring at the phone in Botis' office. He slowly brought the device to his ear and grinned. "Hello?"
"Commander Botis, this is Seraph. Pardon my insolence, but are your men attacking us? I recently heard that you recruited a couple of humans. It would seem as though they chased after Gale when he came to recapture Eris, but why would they do such a thing? Don't they realize that the Northern Fortress belongs to the Demon Resistance? They're fighting against their own comrades!"
Botis' grin widened. "Well... that does seem to be a problem. Those boys are still fairly new, and they probably aren't familiar with the allies of the Resistance just yet. Eris probably convinced them that you were the enemy."
"If that's the case, shouldn't you call them off? They've already slaughtered one of our soldiers."
"That won't be necessary. I'm sure that if you just talk to them, you can sort this whole mess out." Without another word, Botis hung up. Soon, Eris will have them clawing at each other's throats. Northern Fortress will be ours... And then I can finally reveal my true identity...
On the other end of the line, Seraph was beginning to sweat. "Botis... Those humans don't understand anything at all... They believe that Eris is the victim, and that she must be saved at all costs. If they continue to drive themselves to save her with that belief in mind, words won't be able to sway them. First, we need to put a stop to their assault with brute force. Once they've been defeated, we can calmly explain the truth."
"I agree," a voice whispered. For the first time, Seraph spotted Rune standing in the corner of the room, completely masked by darkness. At her side was Eris, who was lying unconscious on the floor. "The Mushroom Hero, presumably the leader of the group, is on his way here. If we work together, we'll have no trouble taking him down."
"Really? How about we find out?" a second voice called out, this time from the room's entrance. Mario stepped in, his fists clenched. "You don't think I can take both of you at the same time? We'll just have to see about that."
"He's here already?!" Seraph thundered. "This plumber doesn't waste any time. Very well, it's a bit sooner than expected, but it'd be in our best interest to take him out now. I don't know what Botis is trying to accomplish, but whatever it is, he can't do it if we rid ourselves of these intruders!" Seraph unsheathed his dual blades and charged full-speed at Mario.
Mario clenched his fists as his eyes locked with those of his oncoming opponent. He uses two blades... I've never fought someone like that before. He isn't as strong as a Grimnex, but fighting both of these goons could be a bit of a challenge. His eyes shifted to the spot where Rune had just stood. She was nowhere to be found. "Great, an aspiring ninja."
He veered to the right just as a shuriken stuck to the ground in the area he had just occupied. His focus shifted to Seraph, who was already starting to swing his blades forward. His blades crossed in an X shape, the demon lunged forward and landed two slashes across the plumber's chest. Mario staggered backward for a few seconds before ducking under a kunai slash. Standing beside him was Rune, preparing to toss a handful of shuriken at him. As the shuriken zoomed toward him, he molded an Iceball into the shape of a shield. Each of the shuriken stuck to the ice, causing Mario to grin triumphantly.
All or Nothing (http://www.esnips.com/doc/7e03b2f0-5a81-47e3-be09-94f566b6114e/All-or-Nothing)
"At times like these, I might as well use my new Final Smash," the plumber chuckled, removing each of the shuriken from his shield of ice. As Rune lunged at him with her kunai yet again, Mario jerked his right elbow upward, knocking the kunai from her hand and landing a powerful blow to her jaw. In the corner of his eye, Mario saw Seraph charging at him once again. The Mushroom Hero whirled around and sprinted toward his approaching foe, electric sparks emitting from his body and his right fist engulfed in flames. It's been at least a year since the last time I used this. Hopefully I can still do it right.
As Mario rushed toward his foe, he remembered the steps of his newest Final Smash- the Nova Strike. First, I have to use the lightning-fast properties of the Thunderball to sprint toward my foe at an incredible speed. Along the way, I have to use the defensive properties of the Iceball to shield any vulnerable parts of my body from damage. And as I make my way toward my target, I have to gather the strength of the Fireball into my right fist in order to deliver the final blow.
With only a few feet between the two warriors, Seraph crossed his blades and lunged forward. Mario's left hand became encased in ice, and the plumber pressed it against the Seraph's blades, pushing them to the side so that he could unleash his Final Smash. With Seraph's body wide open, Mario threw his flaming right fist forward, heating up the air around it as he dealt a bone-crushing blow to Seraph's chest. But the fiery punch is only the first part of the attack. If the punch is strong enough, it will displace the wind around it, causing hundreds of wind bullets to follow after it and strike the target with the same amount of power as the original punch.
The sound of hundreds of bone-crushing blows filled the room as Seraph was thrown onto his back in agony. Mario fell to his knees, gasping for air. His right fist was badly bruised and had cuts all over it. "Heh... Looks like I still can't control it completely... My hand still bleeds every time I use it..." Despite his injuries, the plumber had triumphed against the final two members of the Northern Fortress Defense Squad.
Seraph slowly rose to his hands and knees. "Mario... Before you take Eris, you must know the truth... She doesn't care about you at all!"
"What would you know...?" Mario shot back, breathing heavily. "You've been holding her captive, forcing her to manufacture weapons... and now, she's finally free..."
"Time for the true mastermind to reveal herself," Eris whispered as her eyes fluttered open. She used her finger to draw an imaginary symbol on her right arm. After clasping her hands together, her right arm morphed into some sort of arm-cannon. She struggled to her feet and aimed at Seraph before firing a red beam at her target.
Fallen Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/16499496-88e2-4db7-9d24-480e5c47f3ab/Fallen-Hero)
"Please... you have to listen to me!" Seraph pleaded, begging on his hands and knees. "Eris isn't what she pretends-" He was cut off as his chest was pierced by a ray of red light. Blood dripping from his wound, Seraph collapsed face-first onto the floor. "Mario... You allowed Eris to convince you that she was the victim, when in reality, she was only trying to use you..."
"No... It can't be..." Mario muttered in disbelief. "No... Eris, you didn't!"
Eris pointed her cannon at Mario. "Yeah, and you fell for it! I was working for the Phoenix all along, manufacturing weapons that were used to slaughter the fools that belonged to the Resistance. One day, I was captured by the Northern Fortress Defense Squad, and I thought of a plan to turn the Resistance against itself. I escaped from the fort and convinced you that I was a victim of the Phoenix's cruelty. When the Northern Fortress Defense Squad came to retrieve me, I was sure that you'd try to rescue me. It all worked out flawlessly."
Mario was trembling with rage. "You... I can't believe you'd do something so cruel..."
"You allowed yourselves to be deceived," Rune muttered, turning to face Eris. "But now that we know who the true enemy is, we can put this conflict to an end." She sprinted toward Eris, a kunai wrapped tightly in her grip. "You'll pay for what you did to Seraph!" Before she could reach her target, Eris unleashed another ray of light from her cannon. Rune fell to the floor in a pool of blood.
"Two down, one to go," Eris chuckled. "...Huh? Where'd the plumber go?" She looked to her right to see Mario soaring above her head with his foot extended. She whirled around and fired a beam at the airborne plumber. Mario, now helplessly descending toward the beam, could do nothing but veer slightly to the right to avoid a fatal wound. The beam still pierced his chest, but missed his vital organs.
Bitter Determination (http://www.esnips.com/doc/7cc6911f-bfd5-4a03-a382-bac60fadf5a7/Bitter-Determination)
Mario collapsed onto the ground with a thud. He attempted to stand up, but winced as blood began to ooze out from his open wound.
"Looks like you're still alive," Eris observed. "One more blast should fix that." Mario, in agonizing pain and still unable to stand, could only watch in horror as a red ray of light erupted from Eris' arm-cannon. He closed his eyes and waited for the beam to pierce his heart and end his life. Instead, he felt his body being shoved to the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw Slade kneeling in the space that he had just occupied. Just before the beam had struck Mario, Slade had tackled him out of the way and took the blast in Mario's place.
"Slade... Why did you do that?!"
"Don't worry about me... I won't die from a wound like this..." He tried to stand up, but similarly to Mario, he felt excruciating pain as he tried to do so. He collapsed onto his hands and knees. "Damn... It's no use... Neither of us can fight with these wounds..."
"You're wrong," Mario muttered, wincing in anguish as he slowly rose to his feet. "After all... If I can't take a hit like that... then how am I supposed to fight against the Grimnexes...?" He slowly staggered toward Eris. "I'm... not going to die here... I refuse..."
"Stay down!" Eris exploded, firing yet another beam at Mario. The plumber weaved to the side and lunged forward, wrapping his grip around Eris' arm-cannon and pinning it to the wall. He created a Fireball in his palm, severely burning her and causing her arm to revert back to normal. Still not willing to give up, Eris morphed her free hand into a blade and slashed across Mario's upper torso. The plumber collapsed onto his back. "Just stay down! There's no reason to continue suffering when I can end your pain in an instant! Why can't you just accept a quick death?! Now you'll have to wait until you bleed to death!"
"Who said... that I was finished yet...?" came Mario's muffled reply, his face still pressed against the floor. The plumber stood up yet again, causing Slade to wince at the mere sight of it.
How can he still get up after all of that? Slade wondered, grimacing as Eris slashed him with her blade once again.
Mario staggered backward for a moment before regaining his balance. "Because... I got Slade into this... I fell for your deception and tried to rescue you... If it weren't for my interference, the members of the Northern Fortress Defense Squad wouldn't have died... Slade wouldn't be here with that injury... and you wouldn't have gotten your way! This is all my responsibility..."
He rushed forward one final time, his eyes lit with determination and his body engulfed in a vivid blue aura. As he drew closer, his pace began to slow down, and the room grew darker. As he threw his fist forward, he felt his entire body collapse onto the ground. The room became silent.
Chapter 5: Betrayal
Mario's eyes slowly fluttered open, and he found himself all bandaged up in the comfort of his hotel room. He tried to sit up, but sharp pains erupted all over his body. "What happened...?" He pressed his palm to his forehead. He had a splitting headache.
In another bed across from his was Slade, slightly bandaged up but not nearly as wounded as Mario. "You're really something, Mario. For a second, I really thought you were invincible, but then I remembered the Velno incident back in the Mushroom Kingdom. We thought you were invincible back then, but your death during your battle with Velno brought us back to reality. Each time I watch you fight, a mysterious force starts to make me believe that you can do anything."
"But I didn't win... I collapsed before I could do anything..." Mario groaned, still puzzling over how he managed to survive.
"Standing up to Eris was brave, but... in a way, all you managed to do was further your injuries," Swift informed him with a grin. "At least, that's if you look at it from a medical point of view. But I believe that it also bought you some time for me to arrive."
Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xis9bi2OeM4)
Slade nodded. "We would have been slaughtered if Swift hadn't arrived. He caught Eris off guard and brought her to Poker Face's headquarters for interrogation. After we got all of the information we could from her, she was executed."
"I see..." Mario whispered, staring at the ceiling. "I can't believe she used us... She pitted us against the Northern Fortress Defense Squad..."
"Here's where it gets interesting," Swift continued. "If you didn't already know, the Northern Fortress was used by the Demon Resistance to help reduce the number of Phoenix soldiers that entered and left the Nightmare Abyss. In other words, it was probably the last advantage that the Demon Resistance had in this war. As you are already aware, Eris pretended to be a damsel in distress in order to get you to attack the fortress and defeat its three guardians. It wasn't a bad plan, but if you think about it, it doesn't make much sense. Wouldn't any ordinary member of the Resistance know that the Northern Fortress was on the same side as them? And if they knew that they were allies with the Northern Fortress, they wouldn't be deceived the same way you two were. In order for Eris' plan to work, she would need to trick powerful rookies that didn't know who their allies were just yet. And the only people around that fit that description are you two.
"Now, that's all fine and dandy, but if Eris was locked up in that fortress for so long, how would she know exactly who to pick for her little ruse? How was she supposed to know that you two were the only people that her plan would work on? This question coincides with another bit of information that slipped from Eris' mouth when we were interrogating her. She muttered something about an inside source, someone from the Resistance that had leaked information to her. Whoever it was, he probably told her that you two would be the perfect targets for her trickery. Regardless, it doesn't end there.
"Immediately after Eris spoke of an inside source, Botis ordered her execution. The interrogation was halted, and she was killed on the spot. It was almost as if he was trying to hide something. And then there's one last piece of information. You were probably wondering how I managed to save you from Eris. Well, the truth is that I was already in the area. Prior to your little 'rescue', Botis ordered me to storm Northern Fortress and take its squadron into custody. He sounded like he wanted all three members of the defense squad dead. Now, what conclusions can we draw from all of this? Botis wanted the Northern Fortress Defense Squad dead, information was leaked that helped accomplish this goal, and Botis tried to hide something during Eris' interrogation. This is just a theory, but I believe that Botis is really working for the Phoenix, and that he was the one who leaked information to Eris. I wouldn't act upon this information yet, but make sure you keep an eye out."
Swift turned to leave, but Mario stopped him. "Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving Poker Face. Something doesn't feel right, and I don't want to be a part of it. I'm still fighting for the Resistance, but not for Botis."
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
Months passed by. It seemed like ages since Swift had left Poker Face, but the theory he left behind had impacted Mario severely. It had been almost two years since Mario's battle with the Northern Fortress Defense Squad. Since then, Mario had not accepted any new missions. He spent most of his days sitting in his bed and staring at the ceiling. Other times he wandered off for days, weeks, even months at a time before finally returning. He remained silent at all times, only speaking when spoken to, even when around Slade.
Mario returned to his hotel room late at night, laid back in his bed, and stared at the ceiling. "All of those lives that were lost... Was it all a waste? Did Botis really have a purpose behind all of those missions? Am I killing for no good reason...? I came here to help Glaive rest in peace... But if Swift is correct, I may have made things even worse... I can't fight anymore, not like this... If those battles truly were a waste, Glaive will never be able to find peace in the afterlife. I don't want to fight for Botis anymore, just in case he's a traitor... but I could never abandon this place to go back to the Mushroom Kingdom, either. If I left now, Glaive's last request would never be fulfilled..."
"Mario, can I come in?"
Mario recognized the voice. It was Botis. "Y- Yes."
"Mario, what has happened to you? Are you really going to spend this time wallowing in your own despair? I've searched far and wide for you, but you just keep on wandering off!"
"I can't fight for you... not now..." Mario muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "All of these innocent lives... Were they lost for nothing?"
Botis smiled gently. "Ah, I understand what has happened. Even the finest of warriors have gone through this phase. You are unsure if you're fighting for a worthy cause. This problem only takes a few months for most demons to get through, but not in your case. You've spent your days in the Mushroom Kingdom as a protector, saving innocent lives and being known as a hero. Now you're a destroyer, a soldier with the sole task of obliterating the Phoenix. Until you come to terms with this change, you will not be able to fight at your maximum. However, I have good news. The end of the war is in sight, and our final battle is at hand."
Mario's eyes were lit with hope. "...Really? Have we truly progressed that much?"
Botis nodded. "Yes, yes. While you have been out of commission, our soldiers have made significant progress against the Phoenix. Slade and I were about to head out for the final battle, and I wanted to know if you would like to join us."
Mario remained silent for a few minutes. "I... I really don't think it's a good time for me to be fighting... But if it's to end the war, I guess I could help. For the final battle, I suppose I could fight for you one final time," Mario agreed hesitantly. He stood up on his feet, his eyes lit with passion. It's time to put this adventure behind me. Maybe we can trust Botis after all. If this truly is the final battle, I can finally fulfill my promise to Glaive and return to the Mushroom Kingdom... Come to think of it, I've already been here for a few years. I wonder how everyone is doing back in the Mushroom Kingdom...
Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Nightmare Vault, there was a downpour of rain accompanied by a fierce thunderstorm. A lone figure walked down a path through a ruined town, mud splashing under his feet and the smell of death filling his nostrils. He remained cold and silent as he passed by countless bones and severed body parts, finally stopping at a cemetery at the edge of the ruined town. "My hometown..." Ace muttered regretfully. "They destroyed everything... I was among the only survivors..." He walked up and down countless rows of gravestones, searching for a specific name. "My brother should still be buried here."
As he continued his search, he heard footsteps behind him. He whirled around to see an old man with a dagger held high above his head. Ace quickly reached for the deck of cards strapped to his waist, crushed one of the cards in his palm, and materialized a blade of his own. A metal clang rang throughout the abandoned cemetery, and the old man backed off.
"Forgive me," the elderly man apologized. "I thought you were a gravedigger, but now I can see that you're one of us. In fact, I think I remember seeing you once before." The old man closed his eyes, recalling the first time he had met Ace. "It was a stormy night, just like this one. You walked into this cemetery with a dead body in your arms, and your eyes were as cold as ice. Your voice was stoic and emotionless as you asked me to give your brother, Jack Spades, a proper burial. After that, you turned around and left without shedding a single tear. Though you remained silent as you walked away, I could feel the sorrow and regret emanating from your body."
"Is my brother still buried here?" Ace inquired hopefully.
"He should be. After all, I've been guarding this area ever since he was buried. You see, it is my duty to look after this graveyard, which contains the bodies of the Zepar tribe."
"Zepar tribe?" Ace parroted. "What do you mean?"
"You mean to tell me that you don't know the name of your own tribe? You must have fled the village before its destruction."
"Actually, I was captured by the Assassination Squad when I was a child. They saw my abilities and decided to let me join them. While I worked for them, I eventually ended up killing my own brother. To atone for his death, I decided to join Poker Face. I eventually became its leader, until I recently lost my job. I'm looking to fight against the Phoenix on my own, but I decided to stop at my brother's grave while I was in the area."
"I see," the old man replied with a nod. "It all makes sense now. Perhaps it would be best for me to explain more about the Zepar tribe. Members of the tribe have always been known for a single technique: the ability to materialize objects through the distortion of symbols. When you used that sword of yours, I instantly knew that you were a member of our tribe. I had previously thought that I was the only one left, but I can see that there is one more survivor. Well, in truth, there is a third survivor named Eris, but she betrayed us and joined the Phoenix years ago."
"You mean... All of my people possessed the same abilities that I did?" Ace inquired, his eyes wide with surprise. "If that's the case, why did the Assassination Squad decide to recruit me when they had a village filled with adults that were even stronger?"
"I would assume it was because you could use the secret ability of the Zepar tribe at such a young age. Usually we can't use this ability until we go through at least fifteen years of training. The Assassination Squad was probably surprised by your natural talent and decided to recruit you. But if you could use the basics as a child, you must be a master by now!"
Ace shrugged. "Uh... no... I still need to use cards to materialize things, and I can only create certain weapons..."
"You mean you haven't progressed at all?!" the old man thundered in astonishment. "I see... It must have been because you weren't exposed to others with the same powers as you after you were taken by the Assassination Squad. You see, when war was officially declared, the Zepar tribe representatives stated that they would remain neutral. However, they were secretly honing their skills in preparation to fight on the Resistance's side. When the Phoenix learned of this, they sent the Assassination Squad to wipe out the entire tribe. To my knowledge, only four of us survived: Jack- your brother who died soon after, Eris- who betrayed us, you, and me."
Ace had gotten so caught up in the tale of his tribe's past that he had forgotten all about visiting his brother's grave. "And to think I always believed I was the only person who possessed these abilities... In reality, my entire tribe had these powers, but they were killed off by the Phoenix..." He clenched his fists. "Now, more than ever, I have a true reason to fight against the Phoenix... By the way, you implied that there was a lot I still didn't know about the Zepar tribe's power. Would it be possible for you to teach me a few new tricks?"
The old man grinned, a crafty look in his eye. "That's one of the main reasons I've kept myself alive all of these years instead of seeking revenge. I felt that it was my duty to live on so that I could protect this cemetery and teach any survivors of their tribe's past. I had a feeling that there would be a survivor that was younger than me, and it seems as though I was right. I'll teach you everything there is to know about the hidden skill of the Zepar tribe- the art of Conjuration. In exchange, it will become your duty to avenge your fallen tribe."
Ace nodded. "Of course. But first, I'd like to go see a good friend of mine. It's been a few years since I've seen him, and I'd like to talk a few things over with him. Would it be okay if I went to visit him first?"
"Absolutely."
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. I'll return soon, so just wait here for me." Ace started to walk away before turning around. "Wait a minute; I forgot to ask you your name."
"My name? I've long since forgotten such meaningless things... I hardly have enough room in my memory for all of my knowledge of the Zepar tribe. How about this: your name is Ace, so why don't you just call me King?"
"Funny," Ace grumbled. "A card pun..." Without another word, Ace turned around and departed to pay a visit to an old comrade.
With that, King heaved a deep sigh. "Well, back to work." He plopped down in a comfy chair and began to read. "That was my first bit of excitement in a while... This place doesn't get many visitors... Still, I can't believe a fellow survivor would just appear one day and ask me to teach him the secrets of the Zepar clan... Erm... Why did he come here in the first place...? Oh well, I guess it's not really important..."
As King went back to his reading, he too forgot about the purpose of Ace's visit. But if one of them had remembered, and if they had checked the very last row at the rear of the grave, they would have found that the grave labeled 'Jack Spades' had been dug up.
Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xis9bi2OeM4)
As Mario, Slade, and Botis ventured toward their destination, Mario observed his surroundings with confusion. They were on rugged terrain, with several rocks and boulders littering the ground. The sky was a gradient of green and red, with a small tint of purple mixed in. Mario was certain that he had been to this place before. As he scanned his surroundings, he suddenly realized what their destination truly was. He stopped dead in his tracks.
Botis turned around and gave him a dirty look. "What are you doing? We can't stop now; we're almost at the Nightmare Abyss. Don't tell me you've decided to give up after we've already come so far?"
"This isn't anywhere close to the Nightmare Abyss," Mario replied, almost in confusion. "Our true destination... is the Nexus Access Point, isn't it? It's the only place in the entire Nightmare Vault where you can access the Nexus. Once inside, you can freely travel to any dimension you want- even the human realm."
Slade grinned at his comrade. "So you finally caught on. I was starting to think that I was the only one who realized Botis' true intentions. I knew that if he was a true leader, he wouldn't have stormed into Grimnex territory so carelessly. When he told us we were going to invade the Nightmare Abyss, that's when it hit me. Instead of fighting him right then and there, where he might have allies hidden nearby, I decided to allow him to lead us all the way out here, where he most likely planned to ambush us as soon as we reached our destination."
"Correct..." Botis muttered in astonishment. "You figured it out, but my betrayal is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to know the truth, the Demon Resistance crumbled apart years ago. When Ace, the previous leader of Poker Face, left to visit your world, I took control as their temporary leader. With me in charge of the strongest military in the Resistance, it wasn't long before the Phoenix was able to assassinate Cole- the demon in charge of the entire Resistance- and take complete control. However, we were still unable to escape from this cursed dimension. I realized that we could escape through the Nexus, but the only way to enter the Nexus was with a certain pass that only the leader of Poker Face is given. I was only a temporary leader; Ace had the Nexus Pass that I was looking for. So I pulled a few strings and got Ace to lose his job, making me the permanent leader. I waited for Ace to return with his Nexus Pass, but instead, you arrived. I searched high and low for the location of the Nexus Pass, until I discovered that one of you two possessed it. That's the true reason why I led you here."
"You want to steal the Nexus Pass and invade the human realm," Slade concluded. "That's a bold plan, but just who are you? Now that we know you're on the Phoenix's side, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to tell us."
"Very well," Botis chuckled, an evil glint in his eye. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Botis, the Beta Grimnex."
Slade took a step back, trembling at the sight of the Grimnexes' leader. "You... You're..."
"The leader of the Grimnexes? Yes, I am. As you know, the Alpha Grimnex went missing many years ago. I have taken full leadership of the Grimnexes in his absence."
"We thought we were being led by the commander of Poker Face... Instead, we were being manipulated by the leader of the Phoenix..." Mario muttered in pure shock. He clenched his fists and glared angrily at Botis. "And that means... Every single one of those missions... every last one of the lives that were lost... It was all pointless!"
"No," Botis replied with a grin. "Not at all. Those 'missions' finalized the Phoenix's dominance in the entire Nightmare Vault. Even with the collapse of the Demon Resistance, there were still a few areas that posed a threat to us. Sanctum, for example, was untouched by the Phoenix's hands. Thanks to you, Mario, we were able to change that. Oh, and don't forget Northern Fortress. We had them convinced that Poker Face was still alive and well; imagine their shock when the two of you stormed into their fortress! With a little help from Eris, I was able to hatch a plan to purge the Northern Fortress of its warriors once and for all. But I would have never done it without you two."
"You're sick," Mario spat in disgust. He took a step toward Botis, preparing to engage him in a fight.
"Mario, stand back!" Slade exploded, his face pale with fear. "That's the Beta Grimnex," he repeated, talking slowly as if to a child. "Do you understand what'll happen if we attack the strongest Grimnex in existence? The demons you've fought so far aren't even worthy of shining his boots!"
"He has a point," Botis agreed, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I believe you were acquaintances with Glaive before he died. Did you know that I was the one who took the love of his life away from him?" His grin widened.
Struggle to Protect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NGYR3ro2HQ&feature=related)
Mario's eyes widened. "What... did you say...?" He stared into Botis' eyes and began to boldly walk toward him. "You... A filthy murderer like you has no right to say that name!" Without a second thought, he sprinted toward Botis with his fists clenched. As he was only a few feet away from the Grimnex, he leapt high into the air and aimed his opened palm at his target. With a shriek of pure hatred, Mario unleashed a series of Ultra Fireballs upon his opponent. Botis vanished into the sea of flames, suddenly reappearing above Mario.
"Is that the highest you could jump?" he inquired with a pompous grin. "Three fingers. That's all I'll need to beat you." As the two slowly began to descend, Botis held three fingers up and used them to smack Mario in the back of the neck. The plumber let out a cry of pure agony as he zoomed toward the ground, landing with a sickening thud.
"It seems that your friend isn't quite as smart as you," Botis informed Slade as he landed beside the fallen plumber. "You understand who I am, and you fear me. That's a good thing. Besides the Alpha Grimnex and the Phoenix himself, I am the most powerful creature in all of existence. Mere humans cannot hope to put a dent in my skin."
"You said three fingers, right?" Mario inquired with a grin, slowly pushing himself to his feet. His body was severely bruised, and half of his face was covered with blood. "That's all you'll need to beat me, huh? We'll see about that..."
"Looks like I missed his spinal cord," Botis muttered in mock disappointment. "Oh well, I can always try again."
"Mario! Stand back!" Slade ordered. "I'm not sure if you understand who this is, but listen to me! If we fight him now, our lives will be over! You won't be able to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, and all of our goals for the future will turn to dust! Just give him the Nexus Pass that Ace entrusted you with!"
Instead, Mario charged forward once again at Botis. Before he could reach his opponent, a strange invisible force sent him tumbling onto his back. "You should listen to your friend," Botis advised him. "If you couldn't see that attack, you have no business fighting with me. Stay on the ground and slip into unconsciousness. I'll take the Nexus Pass from you and leave without another word."
Mario, now lying on his back, struggled in an attempt to stand up. His body was aching all over after only two attacks from Botis. His body wouldn't budge. His eyes closed, and Ace's voice flooded into his mind.
"The Nexus Pass is perhaps one of the most valuable objects in all of creation. Only one exists, and it is given to the leader of Poker Face. It allows the user to enter the Nexus and travel to any dimension he or she may desire. It took Metal Mario and Velno a great deal of effort just to pry the Nexus Gate open. If they had possessed this pass, their plan could have been executed in mere seconds. That's why Poker Face wants me to return this pass so badly. But instead of trusting Poker Face's new leader, who I've never met, I'm going to trust you. Take it, and never let it fall into the wrong hands."
"Ace... you trusted me with the Nexus Pass... If I hand it over, Botis will escape into the human realm and destroy everything... But if I try to fight against him... he'll kill me immediately... If I die, I won't be able to stop him from attacking the Mushroom Kingdom... Either way... we're all doomed..."
"We've made a grave miscalculation," Slade stated grimly. "I suspected he was a traitor, but I never thought he'd be the leader of the darned Grimnexes! How was he able to surprise us? Someone should've known that Botis was the name of the Grimnexes' leader!"
"Wrong. The names of the Grimnexes are never spoken of outside of the Nightmare Abyss. Our identities are kept a secret, mainly because no one who has ever seen us has lived. Glaive was one of the few exceptions- at least, before you killed him," Botis explained with a wicked grin.
"Interesting... But as Mario said before, a filthy murderer like you has no right to say that name," a voice called out from nearby. Ace stepped out from the shadows, a deck of cards strapped readily to his waist. "It's been a few years since I've seen you guys. I never thought we'd end up meeting like this."
"You... why did you come here?" Slade inquired. "You should have escaped to warn the Mushroom Kingdom! We can't stop him, even if all three of us attack at once..."
Ace grinned. "I never anticipated a fight with the Beta Grimnex so soon, but I think we can still pull this off."
Chapter 6: A Promise Fulfilled
Ace's Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q0eoj8wkLY)
"It's been a few years," Ace stated with a grin. He glanced at the severely injured Mario, who had taken a knee. "It's strange... I spent a lot of time with Mario and his friends back in the Mushroom Kingdom. Seeing him defeated so easily... It confirms Botis' identity as the Beta Grimnex."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Slade grumbled. "He did that to Mario with only three fingers. Even if our combined force is twice as strong as Mario, it isn't going to be enough. You better have put a lot of thought into that plan of yours."
"Of course," Ace chuckled, drawing a card from the deck strapped to his waist. "Mario, you've taken quite a beating. Why don't you stand back and let us have a turn?"
Mario responded with a weak nod.
"Perfect." Ace's eyes narrowed. He spoke softly, so that Botis would not hear him. "I need you to distract Botis for a few moments. I've got a few techniques that I never got to use back in the Mushroom Kingdom. They might be powerful enough to do some damage, but they'll never work if Botis has time to counter them."
"Alright. I'll keep him busy for a few seconds, but that's probably the best I can do," Slade agreed. "I hope you aren't overestimating yourself..." Slade unsheathed his blade and stepped forward, analyzing Botis' stance.
"Are you finished whispering?" Botis inquired with a wicked grin. "I see that Ace has returned to the battlefield! However, I no longer have any use for him. After all, Mario is the one who has the Nexus Pass!"
"You'll have to get through us, first!" Slade declared as he sprinted forward, his blade held high above his head. As he was only a few feet away from Botis, he leapt into the air and swung his sword downward, aiming for the Grimnex's head. Botis nonchalantly raised his left arm, causing the blade to sink only a few millimeters into his flesh. Slade's eyes widened. What is he made of?
Botis extended his index and middle fingers before thrusting his right arm upward, piercing Slade's flesh with only two fingers. Slade's body flashed red as two beams erupted from the tips of Botis' extended fingers, piercing through his body and launching him into the air. He hovered in the air for a short time before slamming into the ground with a lifeless thud.
Meanwhile, Ace had drawn a total of five cards from his deck. "Hmm... A three of hearts, a five of hearts, an eight of hearts, a ten of hearts, and a queen of hearts... A flush, huh? That'll work perfectly." With the five cards neatly stacked on top of each other, Ace crushed them in his palm and hurled them in Botis' direction. He took a few steps back and covered his ears. "Boom."
Botis' glare shifted to Ace just as the cards were drifting toward him in midair. The cards struck his body as softly as any ordinary crumpled up piece of paper would. Just as Botis was about to question his foe's sanity, he vanished into a devastating explosion that engulfed the entire area in smoke.
Slade rose to his feet and, clutching his wound, slowly limped over to the triumphant Ace. "What did you just do? Those cards... and that explosion..."
"It's simple. I carry around an ordinary deck of cards with me at all times. Whenever I crush one of these cards, they become a weapon for me to wield in battle. The only exception to that rule is the bomb-type card, which detonates after I throw it. Different types of weapons materialize depending on what suit the card is," Ace explained. He grinned and began to shuffle his cards. "However, it can get much more complex than that. Though I haven't really tested this trick out very much, I can use different combinations of cards to create even more powerful abilities. If I draw five cards of the same suit, which is known as a flush, the weapon's power is enhanced drastically. Since I drew five cards of the same suit, and bomb-type weapons are created from this suit, the result was an explosion that was five times as powerful as it would ordinarily be."
"Such a complex fighting style," Slade muttered. "Being able to consider all of the different card combinations and drawing the cards that would create a suitable weapon..."
"Yes, it packs quite a punch," a voice admitted from within the cloud of smoke. As the dust settled, Botis revealed that he had only suffered minor injuries. His body was covered in small scrapes and burns, and he showed no signs of feeling pain. "If you weren't so inexperienced with the Zepar clan's abilities, you might have been able to do some real damage. However, in order to prevent any future resistance, I'll end all of your lives here and now."
Struggle to Protect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NGYR3ro2HQ&feature=related)
In the blink of an eye, Ace found that his chest had been impaled by Botis' fist. Before he could reach for his cards, he was already on the ground in a pool of blood. His body trembled with fear as his grim fate finally became clear. Slade was right... We made a grave miscalculation... thinking that we could fight against the Beta Grimnex...
"Don't feel too bad. I probably would have killed all of you anyway," Botis chuckled. "It's a shame that your friend Glaive wasn't here to help." Just as those words escaped Botis' lips, he felt a solid fist collide with his cheek. The Grimnex staggered to the side for a moment before regaining his balance. His eyes, now as red as the blood that trickled from his lips, locked with Mario's.
"I thought I told you before... Never say that name in my presence..." the plumber muttered between breaths. Though he had successfully landed a blow on Botis' face, his body had been worn down from his previous injuries. I'm not sure how long I can last... But for the sake of Glaive's pride, I can't give up without a fight!
Botis stared at Mario, his entire body trembling with rage. "A human has touched my face... This humiliation will not go unnoticed!" Before Mario could blink, he felt his body being thrown back by a bone-breaking combo of fierce punches and kicks. As Mario's body was helplessly tossed about by the force of Botis' attacks, the plumber couldn't help but grin. Botis noticed his opponent's triumphant smile and paused for a moment. "That smirk... Have you finally gone insane?"
Mario wept a stream of blood from his lip. "Nah, it's just that... I thought you said that you'd only use three fingers to beat me. You used both of your fists just now... and I'm still standing."
"That's it..." Botis breathed, finally succumbing to his rage. "So you've turned me into a liar, if you consider that standing. Your ribs are broken and your body has suffered significant damage. The only punch you landed was because I wasn't paying attention, and even then, your fist probably suffered more damage than my face. The difference between me, the illustrious leader of the Grimnexes, and you, a mere human, is obvious. What would you have done if I had used my Final Smash?"
Mario's grin widened. "That depends... How many fingers would you be using?" he inquired, his voice dripping with mockery and sarcasm.
No longer able to tolerate his foe's insolent attitude, Botis sent Mario soaring into the air with a fierce uppercut. The helpless plumber couldn't budge an inch as he ascended, eventually colliding with a downward punch from Botis. The Mushroom Hero plummeted downward like a meteor, eventually crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. His body remained still.
Botis wept a thin stream of blood from his mouth. "Even if I wasn't being serious, it's still humiliating that I was touched by a human. Let's see... The plumber is dead, and Ace fell after one blow..." He looked over to Slade, who was now lying unconscious. "That wound from before must've taken its toll on him. All three of them are down for the count, and the Nexus Pass is mine!"
Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xis9bi2OeM4)
"At long last..." Botis gasped in delight. He slowly made his way toward the fallen Mario and began to dig through the plumber's pockets. "It must be in here somewhere..."
A pair of eyes watched from nearby as the Beta Grimnex searched for the Nexus Pass. A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness and grinned, an evil glint in his eye. He silently crept toward Botis, who was still preoccupied with his search. The mysterious demon unsheathed his blade and viciously drove it through Botis' flesh.
"At last, I have returned."
Botis slowly turned around, his eyes wide and bloodshot. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as he stared into the eyes of his assailant. "Who... who are you?"
"Don't you remember me? I told you that I'd return someday." The demon's voice was hoarse and extremely bitter. "Remember, I said that I'd return to take your place?"
"It's you... but how... How did you become strong enough to... pierce my skin...?"
"Simple. On my own, I do not possess enough power to injure you. However, much like the Mushroom Hero once did, I am borrowing power from my ancestor- a demon that will soon live again. But don't worry about such trivial details, especially now that your life is about to end. I told you that I'd return to take your place. Now, it's time for me to fulfill that promise." The demon drove his blade through Botis' heart, instantly ending his life. "Even with my ancestor's power, I'm not sure if I could have defeated him in a fair fight. That's why I needed to wait for him to drop his guard... At any rate, my job is almost complete. Normally, when the leader of the Grimnexes dies, the Grimnex at the rank below him takes over. However, it is possible for a deceased Grimnex to be replaced. If an ordinary demon can defeat a Grimnex and prove his worth to the other Grimnexes, it is possible for him to earn the rank of the fallen Grimnex. It may take some time, but I will eventually be able to claim the title of the Beta Grimnex. From now on, I'll need an alias to keep my identity a secret... I'll be known as Zagan, the demon king."
His eyes shifted to the trio of fallen heroes. "They were foolish to fight against a Grimnex without proper training. It's hard to believe that Mario is the one I've been searching for. He isn't prepared quite yet, but in a few months, he'll be in perfect condition for the resurrection. Until then, we each have our own goals to accomplish. Mario must settle his personal matter with Crimson in the Mushroom Kingdom, and I have to fight my way to the top of the Grimnexes. Though we must part ways, our fates are intertwined, and we are destined to meet again."
Moving On (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6f6db0a0-72b1-442f-a1f7-96b89fcf9aac/Moving-On)
"...ar....Ma....rio....ari.... Mario!"
Mario quickly sat up, his fists clenched as he scanned the room for enemies. Instead, he saw that he was back in his hotel room. Both Slade and Ace, who appeared to have made a full recovery, were standing above him with a concerned look in their eyes. He grimaced in pain and fell onto his back. "What happened to Botis?"
Ace shrugged. "When we awoke, he was dead. We weren't sure who did it, considering the three of us were scarcely able to put up a fight. We were finally able to conclude that he had been stabbed through the heart, but Slade says that he didn't do it."
"In the end, I was no match for him," Mario grumbled. "So what does that mean for the rest of the Nightmare Vault? Is the war over?"
"Sort of, but not in a good way," Ace replied grimly. "If anything, the Phoenix succeeded. The entire Demon Resistance has crumbled, leaving the Nightmare Vault in total control of the Phoenix. Despite this, the Phoenix has suffered a crippling blow. Their leader has been assassinated, and a new one must be chosen. Grimnexes aren't exactly the friendliest group of demons, either. They'll all be drooling over the chance to become king. I'd say it will be at least four months before the Grimnexes can stop fighting amongst one another and choose a new leader. That gives us some time to prepare for the final battle. Today, we managed to get a good taste of how we compare to the enemy. Unless we can improve drastically, the Phoenix will succeed."
"Succeed at what?" Mario parroted. "They've already gained control of the Nightmare Vault by defeating the Resistance."
"Yes, but controlling the Nightmare Vault is only part of their plan. From the very beginning, the Phoenix has sought to seek revenge upon those that sealed them within this realm- the Olympians. After four months have passed, and their leader has been chosen, they'll make their move. I'm not sure what they plan to do, but with the power of all of the Grimnexes and not a single demon to resist them, I can only assume that they'll try to pry open the door to the Nexus. From there, they'll unleash a full-scale invasion upon the other four realms of reality: Mt. Olympus, the Overthere, the Underwhere, and the Universe."
"What about Zeus? Isn't he supposed to be some kind of god? Why isn't he doing anything to stop the Grimnexes?" Mario inquired.
"In truth, Zeus isn't one of the theological gods that humans believe in- he's a mortal, just like us. During the Terranean War, Zeus was able to take control because he possessed great strength and courage. However, he knew that he would not be able to defeat all of the Grimnexes if they attacked at once. Instead, he chose to seal away the demons and Grimnexes in a cursed dimension, the Nightmare Vault. Since then, Zeus has kept himself alive, watching over all of creation and silently hoping that the Grimnexes and demons would wipe themselves out over time. By now, Zeus is far too old and fragile to deal with the might of the Grimnexes. He still has his Olympian soldiers, but I doubt they can do much better than the demons of the Resistance did. Regardless of how strong his army is, Zeus' life is slowly fading away, and the Grimnexes will be ready to attack in just a few months. If we fail to stop them, a Grimnex will likely replace Zeus as the king of Mt. Olympus."
"And what about the Grimnexes? Haven't they aged at all?"
"Only a few people truly know what the Grimnexes are, but one thing is certain. They are not entirely organic, and this allows them to live several times longer than an ordinary being. There have been some deaths among the Grimnexes, but most of them weren't ranked high enough to be considered a significant loss. Many of them weren't replaced, but I've heard rumors that a few Grimnexes have been killed and replaced by ordinary demons. In any case, I can confirm that there are at least thirteen of them left."
"So how are we going to stop them?" Mario inquired glumly.
"We'll spend the next four months bringing closure to any remaining conflicts in our lives. The chances of victory are slim, so we'd better make sure that we don't have any regrets when we go to fight the final battle."
Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)
"I'll stay here in the Nightmare Vault," Slade declared. "I'm fairly certain that my parents aren't in the human realm, so I'd like to continue my search here. Besides, the more time I spend with other humans, the softer I become. Even if I am a human, the Nightmare Vault feels like my true home."
Mario gulped. "Your parents... What will you do once you've found them?"
Slade angrily clenched his fists. "I'll slaughter them both... and cast their bodies into the wind... They abandoned me when I was just a child, and I can never forgive them for that."
"I'm going back to the Mushroom Kingdom," Mario decided, trying to change the subject. "I have a bad feeling... I wonder if everyone is alright..."
"Before you go, why don't you visit his grave?" Ace suggested. "You know, Glaive? He was killed in the Nexus during your battle with Velno, but when we came back a little while later, his body was gone. I wasn't sure why, until I stumbled across his grave at a cemetery not too far from here. Someone must've moved him to the Nightmare Vault to give him a proper burial."
"In that case, I'll go there first. In fact, there is something else I need to take care of before I can go back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Ace, would you go in my place and make sure that everything's okay?" Mario requested.
Ace nodded, and Mario tossed the Nexus Pass to him. "Are you sure you want me to go? There's only one Nexus Pass, so you'll be trapped in here until I come back."
"That's fine," Mario answered with a nod. "There's someone else I need to find, and I'm not sure how long it'll take. You can come back to pick me up whenever you think the time is right. I'll be at least a few days, but if there is a crisis going on in the Mushroom Kingdom, you might want to stay for a while to make sure everyone is safe before you come to get me. It's your call. You trusted me with the Nexus Pass, and now I'm going to trust you."
With that, he departed to visit an old friend's grave. As Slade and Ace watched him vanish into the horizon, they silently considered their chances of survival. "Make sure you don't let him down," Slade reminded Ace. "I can tell that he's nearly fallen apart, especially after learning that he was being manipulated by Botis. One more tragedy could cause him to snap. It's not that I care about him or anything. We need him to defeat the Grimnexes."
Ace grinned. "Of course." As Slade turned to walk away, Ace grew serious. "Wait a second."
Slade stopped, but didn't turn around to face him.
"Is it worth it? Your revenge... Is that really all that you have left to live for? What will you do once you've murdered them?"
Without responding or looking back, Slade simply kept on walking. His face remained stern, but a small teardrop could be seen forming in the corner of his eye.
The Nightmare Vault was silent, except for a cold breeze that blew from the north. Since the death of Botis, all demons had evacuated to the depths of the Nightmare Abyss. With the leader of the Grimnexes gone, a new king had to be chosen. The Grimnex Palace would soon become the site of a colossal battle royal that would last for days, weeks, or even months.
Mario sighed gloomily as he took a seat beside his fallen comrade's grave. He closed his eyes and clasped the palms of his hands together. After remaining silent for several minutes, he finally spoke. "Glaive... I'll never forget what you did for me... If it weren't for you, that demon within my soul would still be using my body like a puppet. It must've taken a lot of courage to do what you did. Your sacrifice is a feat in itself among normal men, but considering the life that you led beforehand... I can hardly believe that you were willing to die for me.
"Throughout your childhood, you lived in a poor village that was frequently attacked by the Phoenix's soldiers. Somehow, throughout all of those raids, your village barely managed to survive. Your supplies were meager, and your happiness was scarce, but you and your family held on. However, as you grew into a teenager, you finally suffered your first true loss. A Grimnex named Stolas led his troops into your home and slaughtered the love of your life, a demon named Sara. After her demise, you lost every ounce of faith that you had in the Demon Resistance. You decided to work alone, and you charged into a fortress belonging to one of the Grimnexes.
"You later found that this Grimnex's name was Botis, and he was far superior to you. Despite your thirst for revenge, Botis tossed you aside like a ragdoll- but he still wasn't finished. Just when you thought that your life couldn't get any worse, Botis revealed something that would haunt you for the rest of your life. Instead of just killing Sara, Botis had brought her corpse back to the Grimnex Palace and revived her as one of his minions. Seeing Sara being controlled by Botis was too much for you, and you swore revenge.
"Botis left you in the wilderness to die, but you managed to find your way back to him several years later. After demonstrating how strong you had become, Botis offered you a position among the Grimnexes. Instead of joining up with him, you told him that you would return someday. In the meantime, you decided to work under a man named Lord Shade, who promised to ease your people's suffering in return. As the years went by, you worked as one of Lord Shade's soldiers and slaughtered hundreds of innocent people. When you began to suspect that Shade would never fulfill his promise, you swore revenge and ended up teaming up with me. After I defeated Lord Shade, you decided to stay in the Mushroom Kingdom for a while.
"By joining Lord Shade, you had hoped to lift the curse that was placed upon the Nightmare Vault. With Shade dead and his promise discovered to be a simple lie, you wished to return to the Nightmare Vault. Whether it was to fulfill Sara's wish to end the war in the Nightmare Vault or if it was to join Botis as a member of the Phoenix, you never got the chance to go back. During our battle with Velno, I lost my temper and the demon within me took control. From there, I went berserk and started attacking anything that moved- even my own comrades. Realizing the desperation of the situation, you decided to battle against me in an effort to return me to normal. Your strategy worked, but it came at a high price. The only shock that could bring me back to my senses was the feel of your blood on my hands. By the time I had regained control of my actions, you were dying at my feet. I could do nothing to save you as you whispered your final request- to return to the Nightmare Vault in your place and find a way to end the war."
As Mario mourned for Glaive, two pairs of eyes watched him from a distance. "That man will play a crucial role in our final plot. Wouldn't you agree, Delta Grimnex?"
"Yes. Whether he likes it or not, he is destined to return here after finishing his personal matters in the Mushroom Kingdom," a stoic voice replied. "Shouldn't we head for the Nightmare Abyss, King Zagan?"
"Ah, Ipos, you shouldn't refer to me as 'King' Zagan just yet. I have to earn that title by defeating all of the other competitors for Botis' throne. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to start referring to me as the king... With the power I recently acquired from my ancestor, there's no way they can deny me as the new leader of the Grimnexes."
"Of course."
The two demons turned around and vanished into the horizon, anxiously awaiting the day their plan would be put into action. A few minutes after their departure, a third demon entered the cemetery. This time, Mario was joined by one of his comrades.
"A fallen ally, huh?" Swift inquired as he stepped out of the darkness. "Mind if I interrupt you?"
Mario shook his head and rose to his feet. "Nah, I'm done grieving for now. So what have you been up to? I haven't seen you since... well... after the Northern Fortress incident."
"Like I said before, I left Poker Face because something didn't feel right. And based on what I've heard, my gut feeling was right. Botis was a traitor all along. I knew that you'd probably be pretty bummed out about being forced to fight all of those battles for nothing, so I decided to track you down and see how you were doing. I knew all of this depression would be the perfect snack for the demon inside of you. I fought your ancestor's soul once before... and I want to prevent him from resurfacing at all costs."
"You mean... he could come back?"
Swift nodded. "Absolutely. What we did a few years ago was only a quick fix. It'll last for the first few years, but each and every time a negative thought pops into your head, that demon's soul will feed on it and grow stronger. If this was an ordinary demon's soul inside of an ordinary human, it'd be about fifty years before the demon could become powerful enough to return. However, judging by the strength of your demon and taking into account the incredible stress you've been under the past few years, I'd say he could return in about a year. Of course, that's only if you don't continue to feed him with your negative thoughts. If you continue to stress yourself out like this, or if you use your Tri-Elemental Form, it could become a matter of months or even weeks."
Mario gasped. "W- What can I do?"
Swift began to stroke his chin. "Hmm... Well, I guess I could... Erm..." Do I really want to put up with this? "...I suppose you could train under me for a while. If you're willing to let me teach you, you can become stronger and drive the evil from your heart. I wasn't planning on passing down my knowledge, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to have a successor. You see, my ancestors belonged to the noble family of knights that protected Zeus during the Terranean War. If you can complete my family's forbidden training program, you will find peace within yourself and fight with the nobility and grace of the legendary Royal Guards."
Chapter 7: Six Years
Moving On (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6f6db0a0-72b1-442f-a1f7-96b89fcf9aac/Moving-On)
The Mushroom Kingdom, a land that used to be devastated by the forces of greed and villainy, now exists in an era of peace. Six years have passed since Mario defeated the mighty Velno. After triumphing over evil once again, Mario left his kingdom to settle a foreign affair on behalf of his fallen comrade, Glaive. Since then, not even Bowser has shown his face, except for the occasional party or sporting event. The kingdom had remained at peace even without its greatest defender... or has Crimson, Mario's greatest foe yet, been hiding in the shadows, slowly gathering his strength and waiting for the chance to strike?
As the years went by, Mario's friends and family have been keeping themselves occupied in many different ways. Wario and Waluigi, feeling guilty for not being involved in the kingdom's latest threat, left for a dojo in the west to prepare for any future battles. Peach has continued to carry out the duties of a princess, watching over the kingdom for any sort of uprising. She is steadily growing impatient for her beloved's return and fears that the kingdom is in grave danger without Mario to protect it. Rumors say that Lorne has been lurking in Forever Forest, wandering about in search of a reason to live. Having spent most of his life as a member of Crimson's gang, Lorne is having trouble finding something to fill the void of his previous lifestyle.
As for Luigi and the sons of Mario, they have continued to train at the Master's dojo. Luigi may have proved himself to be stronger, but the Master's knowledge far surpassed that of the cowardly plumber. Under the Master's guidance, the trio of plumbers had improved to such a degree that even Luigi Jr., the youngest of the group, could put up a fight against the Master.
"Do your best, Chan and Lee!" the Master ordered gruffly as he prepared to begin his training session.
Luigi and the younger Mario brothers, who preferred to nickname themselves Mark and Luke, were sparring with the Master and two of his other students. Luke was paired with Chan, a Buzzy Beetle with a green shell and black, braided hair. Mark was pitted against Lee, a Duplighost that wore a blue sheet instead of the usual white one, and Luigi, the strongest of the group, was matched up against the Master.
Chan withdrew into his shell and launched himself at Luke, who reached out to grab the shell like a football. Instead, he was thrown onto his back as Chan collided with him at full speed. Luke rolled to the side, evading a second charge by Chan. The young plumber sprang to his feet and bawled his fists as Chan bounced off of the wall and came zooming back toward him. Luke, now thirteen years old, refused to be defeated by a single Buzzy Beetle. That shell is moving too fast... Unless I can stop it, there's no way I can attack him.
Remembering his father's many encounters with shell-wearing enemies, Luke leapt forward with expert timing and landed flawlessly atop the Buzzy Beetle's shell. Chan, now flipped over onto his back, was helpless. Luke was the victor.
Meanwhile, Lee vanished into a puff of smoke and reappeared as a perfect clone of Luke. "Heh, heh, heh... How will you fight against your brother?"
Mark, now a young man of sixteen years, merely grinned. "That's a pretty stupid question. You're asking me how I could possibly defeat my little brother?" He clenched his fists and sprinted toward his opponent. As he did so, Lee tossed a flurry of Fireballs in his direction. Mark skillfully weaved, ducked, and jumped past several dozen Fireballs before finally reaching his target. "Didn't you know? The oldest brother is always the strongest!" His fist connected with Lee's jaw, sending him tumbling into the wall. After triumphantly thrusting his fist into the air, Mark took a seat and patiently watched his uncle battle against the Master.
Beads of sweat trickled down their faces as they exchanged a fierce series of blows that was almost a blur to the younger Mario Brothers. After several minutes, Luigi finally swept one of the Master's punches to the side with his forearm and lunged forward with a right hook that was charged with the power of a Fireball. The punch connected with the Master's stomach, and the elderly Toad crumpled onto his knees.
"You haven't lost a match... in over three months..." the Master noted, slowly rising to his feet. "Not only have you become strong enough to have a chance at beating me... You've become powerful enough to guarantee your victory each time we face off. You have my congratulations."
"Thanks, Master," Luigi replied with a bow.
"You're free to become the new lead instructor of the dojo at any time," the Master informed him. "However, I believe you are too young to begin passing your knowledge down. Until you are ready to retire, your primary focus must be the safety of the Mushroom Kingdom."
Luigi nodded. "But since I've become even stronger than you, does that mean I don't have to train here anymore?"
"Of course not!" the Master barked angrily. "If Chan, Lee, and I are not strong enough to challenge the three of you, then we'll just have to find you a trio of opponents that are worth your time."
Crimson's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/b9e8fca9-f6b1-4390-9cb6-878399efca2b/Crimsons-Theme)
Meanwhile, out in the depths of Dry Dry Desert, an evil plot was unfolding. Standing before a group of four warriors was Crimson, whose face was concealed by a jet black veil. He was about six feet tall and wore a blue coat with streaks of gold on its collar. A cloak with shades of black and violet draped down his back, and a sword was sheathed readily by his waist. Beneath his veil, he was grinning.
"Interesting... Both of you hate Mario? I don't hold a grudge against him, but two of my assistants do. That makes four of you. If you're willing to take a few orders from me, I'll gladly allow you to have a shot at revenge. Will you join me?"
"Yes, of course. I'd do anything to witness the death of that wretched plumber..."
"After all, he did take Pauline away from us..."
"Mario... First you take her away from me, and then you kill her... I can never forgive you for what you've done..."
Crimson's grin widened. "It seems as though all of you are very eager to begin. Very well. We've already completed the first phase of our plan, the Demonic Trials. Mario lacked the strength to hold his own against me, so we set up a course of obstacles to help sharpen his skills. At the end of the line, Glaive managed to fulfill his duties flawlessly. Sending that plumber away for six years gave us just enough time to prepare one of our secret weapons. Now that it's complete, we can begin the third and final phase of our preparations for the Armageddon: the systematic destruction of everything that Mario holds dear! When he returns, he'll find his kingdom in ruins and be driven by anger and a thirst for vengeance. These emotions will push him past his previous limits, and as the kingdom reaches its final hour, our long-awaited duel will commence!" Crimson burst into insane laughter, his body trembling in anticipation.
Smithy grimaced. "Master... What do we do first?"
"Just wait a little while longer. We will start by eliminating anyone that makes direct contact with Mario's friends. Each of them will fall one by one, and the survivors will be thrown into a state of fear and panic. Once we've given them a good scare, we'll tell them the person who is responsible for their suffering: Mario, the hero of this wretched kingdom. After that, we'll finish the job and wait for Mario to return."
Monstro Town (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB8UaKJSe3k)
"Where are we?" Luigi inquired as he emerged from a green warp pipe beside the Master and the younger Mario brothers. "I've never been here before."
"We're in Monstro Town, an area far to the west of the Mushroom Kingdom," the Master informed him. "Your brother once travelled here on one of his journeys to save the kingdom, but that was back when you used to be a house-sitter."
"I remember those days," Luigi grumbled bitterly. "Anyway, why did we come here?"
"I'd like you to meet an old acquaintance of mine. He's small, but don't let his size fool you. He's even more powerful than I am, and I heard that his two students have gained quite a reputation."
The Master climbed a set of stairs and entered a blue wooden door. Luigi, Mark, and Luke followed after him, noting the wooden sign with a 'J' inscribed on it. They were completely shocked when they saw the students that the Master had been referring to.
"Well, look who paid a visit," Waluigi mumbled nonchalantly. "What do you three want?"
"Yeah, this dojo isn't free!" Wario exclaimed. "Is the kingdom in danger again, or did you just want to waste our money- err... time?!"
"Now, now, that's no way to treat our guests," a voice reprimanded them. Luigi glanced around the room for a moment, trying to locate the source of the voice. The Master pointed at the floor, and Luigi looked down at an extremely tiny man. "My name is Jinx. I'm the master of this dojo." His only distinguishable features were his red cape and green hair, which was sticking straight up.
The Master tilted his head in Luigi's direction and grinned.
Jinx understood the message and nodded. He cleared his throat. "Oh, it's just one of my inferior colleagues. Have you finally come to admit that my dojo is better? It's a shame that your students couldn't have learned from me."
Mark stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Take that back, Shorty!"
"What if I don't? Are you challenging me?"
Mark grinned. "Am I challenging you? No. All I'd have to do is step on you. That's not much of a challenge at all."
"I see your students are as foolish as they are poorly trained," Jinx taunted. "At any rate, I suppose you've come to settle the score between us and find out whose dojo is truly better. My students seem to hold some sort of grudge against yours, which will likely make this a showdown to remember. It would be a shame for the public to miss out on such a battle. How about we host our little match somewhere else?"
"And where would that be?" the Master inquired.
"Our rivalry is almost as famous as the legendary Mushroom Hero, Mario. The only place that is worthy of hosting our duel is Mushroom Castle."
"Mushroom Castle?" the Master parroted. "The castle isn't meant for fighting! The princess would never allow it!"
"Haven't you heard? Princess Peach and the owners of the Smash Stadium have decided to dedicate a new fighting arena to Mario. It will be constructed in the castle courtyard beside a statue of the famous plumber. Whenever Mario decides to return, they plan to welcome him with a Smash Tournament held in this brand new arena."
The Master stroked his chin. "But for a match this important, and considering how much Luigi has contributed to the Mushroom Kingdom's safety, Princess Peach would surely allow us to use the arena. I suppose I could agree to your terms, but I need to make sure my students are willing to fight in front of an audience."
Luigi nodded. "We'll do it."
"We can finally prove that the Master's dojo is way better than this one," Luke agreed.
Mark gave them a thumbs-up. "I'm in."
"In that case, we'll have to decide how the winning dojo will be decided. How about three one-on-one matches?" the Master suggested.
"The dojo that wins two out of three matches will be the victor," Jinx agreed. "However, your dojo has four representatives..."
The Master shook his head. "No, I'm only here to give them advice. Luigi has surpassed me, and as such, he is the true leader of the dojo. I will not be taking part in any of the battles."
"In that case, I suppose the battles will go like this: Luke vs. Waluigi, Mark vs. Wario, and Luigi vs. me," Jinx concluded. "I suppose you're getting too old for this sort of action, huh?"
Luigi shook his head. "Actually, I have a score to settle with Waluigi. Besides, I'm not really meant to be the big hero; I'm supposed to support Bro. I'm going to trust Mark to battle Jinx in my place, and Luke will fight against Wario. Is that alright with you guys?"
Mark grinned. "I've been itching to stomp on that midget for some time now."
Luke shrugged. "I don't really care who I fight."
"In that case, the matchups will be changed to Luigi vs. Waluigi, Luke vs. Wario, and Mark vs. me," Jinx declared. "The arena should be finished within the next few days. I'll inform Princess Peach about the matches. All you four need to do is show up, just as long as you aren't afraid of losing in front of a crowd."
"Trust me, we won't have to worry about that," Luigi retorted. "I'm actually kinda pumped for this. After all, we haven't had much action in the past six years." He gulped. Wait a minute... There's gonna be a crowd? I'm not exactly the best at keeping my cool in front of an audience....
Looming Hatred (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59537ec-86f2-48ca-a47d-53ed4c88a621/Looming-Hatred)
After a long day of arguing and traveling, the Master, Luigi, Mark, and Luke decided to return to their own dojo. As they stepped inside, however, they saw something that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
"What is the meaning of this?!" the Master thundered, his face pale with shock. Luigi rushed past him to see what was wrong. He gasped.
"W- Who could've d- done t- this?" Luigi stuttered in fear. The floor was covered in a pool of blood that vaguely formed the shape of a crescent moon. Lying face-down in the center of the room were Chan and Lee- dead.
Mark and Luke wanted to see what was going on, but the Master blocked the entrance with his arm. "It would be best if you didn't look. Your young hearts would be forever blackened by this atrocity." He closed the door, telling them to wait outside until he told them to do otherwise.
"I don't understand... Did Chan and Lee have any enemies?" Luigi inquired.
The Master shook his head. "No... They practically lived here, spending every moment of their lives training with me. Those two didn't do anything to deserve this..." He took a closer look at their bodies, hoping to determine the cause of their deaths. He found that Chan's shell had been smashed to bits, and Lee had been stabbed multiple times. He also discovered a note beside Chan's body. He inspected it before handing it to Luigi.
Luigi read it aloud, his face pale with fear. "These two were only the beginning. If you're reading this, you've already become a future target. Enjoy living the rest of your life in fear."
"It looks like Chan and Lee were killed as a warning. But who could do such a thing? Jinx may be a rival of mine, but he'd never go this far."
"Now what do we do?" Luigi asked fearfully. "This guy sounds dangerous. Not only did he kill Chan and Lee, but he might also come after us. It could just be an empty threat, but I've got a bad feeling that the one responsible for this isn't your average serial killer. Maybe we should have Princess Peach make some sort of announcement."
"That won't do. It would throw the kingdom into a state of panic. If anything, it'd make the perpetrator's job even easier. No, we need to take a different course of action. If the one responsible for this held no grudge against Chan or Lee, why would he target them specifically? More importantly, why would he leave a note behind? I have a feeling that he was after you, Luigi. Surely your brother has made plenty of enemies over the years, and without him around, you're the next best thing. If someone is looking for revenge, he'll likely take it out on you or your nephews. If this truly is the case, murdering someone that you have connections with and leaving a warning message behind is a classic way to intimidate you," the Master explained. "I suggest that you remain extremely cautious for the next few days. That's when a new problem arises."
Luigi gasped. "The battle with Jinx..."
The Master nodded. "Exactly. If the criminal is looking to cause damage on a much larger scale, he'll have his chance in just a few days. The entire kingdom will likely gather to witness the opening of the arena and the clash between Jinx and us. With so many people in a single spot, it would be a perfect opportunity for the perpetrator to strike. You'd better contact as many of your old comrades as you can. That way, the kingdom's greatest warriors will also be gathered at a single spot. If anything happens, I'm confident that you and your allies will be able to handle it."
"I understand."
"Now, this note could also be a way for the criminal to cause psychological damage. Perhaps he merely had a thirst for blood and decided to leave a note behind to give whoever read it a good scare. Like you said, it could be an empty threat. But looking back on all of the times this kingdom nearly met its end, I'd say it would be best to expect the worst. For all we know, our culprit could be the same Crimson fellow that was behind the kingdom's most recent threat."
Flashback (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
The howling of wolves rang through Lorne's eardrums as he gazed at the full moon. He hadn't moved for days. When he wasn't searching for food, he was leaning against a tree trunk and staring at the night sky in search of a purpose. He had spent his early life grieving for his father's death at the hands of Lord Shade. He dedicated the next few years to adjusting to his new life as a forced recruit of Shade's army. From there, he escaped with Crimson and became a cold and emotionless assassin. He lived most of his life this way, until he finally met with Mario six years ago. After being convinced that a life as an assassin was wrong, Lorne set off on his own to find another purpose in life. Six years had passed, and this purpose still eluded him.
"What is it that I am missing? Deep down, I know that I was unhappy as an assassin. Thanks to Mario, I was finally free to walk on my own path. But where will this path lead me? I've spent six years searching for this answer... and still, I've made little progress."
Several hours passed as he continued to stare at the stars in the sky. His eyelids gradually became heavier until he nearly fell asleep. Just as he was about to pass out, something hit him. His eyes widened as he leapt to his feet. His heartbeat sped up as he felt the presence of someone familiar. "He's here... Crimson, he's somewhere in this kingdom... I can feel it..." He paused for a moment. "Wait... What was I thinking? Why would Crimson be here? How foolish of me..."
There was a rustling in some bushes nearby. Lorne drew his sword and took a step toward the source of the sound.
"Wait a second! Hold on!" Luigi yelped, Lorne's blade only inches away from his throat. "Sorry for bothering you this late at night. You see, I may need your help. If you aren't doing anything, would you mind coming to Mushroom Castle in a few days?"
"You seem flustered. Tell me everything."
Mushroom Castle Stadium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SWAvrU9To)
Three days passed, and the battle between the rivaling dojos would soon take place. On the bottom floor of the castle, in the center of the castle's courtyard, a colossal arena had been built. It was an enormous stone circle that was surrounded with rows of posh red seats that expanded upward into the second and third floors. Outside of the arena, below a monitor that displayed a flawless view of the stage, was a mammoth golden statue of Mario. The crowd exploded with fanatical applause as the six competitors walked into the room.
Jolene, who was paying a special visit from her normal duty at the Smash Pit, stepped into the arena. "Welcome to the brand new Mushroom Castle Stadium! To celebrate the opening of this stadium, we're going to host a fierce grudge match between two opposing dojos! The first dojo belongs to the Master, who resides in this very town! There are three students of this dojo who are rumored to be nearly as strong as, if not stronger, than the Master himself! However, their opponents are the three notorious warriors of Jinx's dojo. For the past six years, Jinx has been training two new students: the infamous Wario Brothers! That's right! Although Mario is not currently with us, the rivalry between the two families can finally be settled! Do you know what that means? Two grudges are going to be settled in this arena: one between families, and another between dojos!"
The crowd roared with anticipation as Luigi and Waluigi stepped into the ring. The Master, who was sitting in the front row of the audience, cupped his hands and called out to Luigi. "Luigi! Good luck to all three of you! Do your best, and don't let yourself be beaten by a couple of thieves!"
"Give it a rest, old man," Jinx chuckled. "Your students are no match for mine. And do you know why? It's because they were trained by you."
Luigi, sweat now trickling down his face, took a fighting stance. "Alright... This is it. This is the chance I've been waiting for. It's time for us to finally find out who's stronger."
Waluigi sauntered up to his opponent and grinned arrogantly. "Heh, I'm surprised you found the courage to actually show up."
Jolene cleared her throat. "The rules are simple! This will be a series of three one-on-one bouts. Whichever dojo can win two out of three of the matches will be declared the victor. The winner of each match will be decided in a similar manner to all of our previous Smash Tournaments. If you are knocked out of the ring or are unable to continue the fight for any reason, you lose. Good luck to both of you... AAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDD... BEGIN!!"
Retronintendodude7 just reminded me of a problem that's been bugging me. If strange symbols have been appearing in the chapters, try switching to the 'Core Theme'. It seemed to fix the problem for me.
Chapter 8: Grudge Matches
Long Awaited Duel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuWy6Dfpd9s)
Waluigi began by pulling a Bob-omb from his pocket and hurling it at his rival. Luigi leapt in fright and dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the explosion. The green plumber frantically searched for his opponent, realizing that the smoke created from the explosion greatly obscured his vision. He glanced upward and saw Waluigi hovering in midair above him with a purple Fireball in his hand.
"What's the matter? Can't keep up?!" Waluigi taunted as he tossed the Fireball downward.
"It's because you're so thin," Luigi retorted with a grin as he rolled out of the Fireball's path. He sprang onto his feet only to find that Waluigi had landed beside him. The thief threw a kick at Luigi, who ducked out of the way and countered with a right hook. The nimble Waluigi caught his rival's fist in his palm and performed a roundhouse kick that connected with Luigi's jaw.
"IN-credible! Waluigi's speed and precision have certainly increased over the years! Does Luigi have anything up his sleeve to counter this?" Jolene inquired in a suspense-building tone.
"His legs are as strong as a kangaroo's," the Master noted. "If Luigi can't avoid his kicks, he won't last for very long. Waluigi must've spent most of the last six years strengthening his legs."
Luigi wept a thin stream of blood from his mouth before rising to his feet. "Not bad... I'll have to watch out for those kicks."
The crowd gasped as Waluigi sprinted toward his opponent at Olympic speeds. Luigi glanced to his left and saw that his rival was already behind him and preparing to attack with another kick. Luigi ducked and whirled around with a Fireball-enhanced uppercut. Waluigi leaned back to avoid the blow and retaliated with another fierce roundhouse kick. Luigi fell onto his back once again.
"Is anyone else starting to notice a pattern?" Luigi wondered aloud as he pushed himself back onto his feet. "He attacks me with one of his legs, I counter and miss, and then he nails me with the other leg..." The plumber grinned as each of his fists began to glow with the power of a green Fireball. "Let's try this again."
The audience grew silent. "It looks like Luigi still has some fight left in him. Is he planning to blindly rush at his rival, or does he have some sort of plan?" Jolene announced in anticipation.
This time, Luigi took initiative and charged at his foe. He released a single Fireball from his left palm, aiming not at his opponent, but at the ground in front of him. This caused smoke and debris to rise from the stadium floor, obstructing Waluigi's view. Without hesitation, Luigi sprinted into the smoke toward his rival.
"Did you really think I'd fall for my own trick?!" Waluigi cackled as Luigi charged through the smoke. The thief threw a powerful kick at Luigi, who took the hit head-on. Luigi grinned as he staggered backward a little before lunging forward and punching the unsuspecting Waluigi in the gut. Waluigi soared through the air and crashed face-first onto the stadium floor.
"Interesting..." the Master murmured. "Luigi realized that Waluigi was using his first kick as a decoy, waiting for Luigi's counter to fail, and then attacking with a surprise roundhouse. Luigi used the first Fireball to throw Waluigi off balance and then got hit by his first kick on purpose, furthering Waluigi's surprise. This left him the perfect opening for an attack."
"You're saying that your student got hit on purpose?!" Jinx exploded with anger. "What kind of strategy is that?"
The Master grinned. "While you focus on strengthening your students and teaching them how to fight, my training only emphasizes the former. I give my students the privilege of coming up with their own strategies. This gives them the flexibility to adapt to almost any situation."
"That was just a lucky hit," Waluigi grumbled as he sprung back onto his feet. "It looks like it'll take more than a basic trick to get the best of you. I think it's time for me to show you my Final Smash. I've been practicing it every day for the past six years, perfecting it in preparation for the day I'd use it against you." He aimed his opened palm at Luigi, and each of his fingers began to emit a purple glow.
"I've got a Final Smash of my own," Luigi declared, raising his fists to defend against Waluigi's attack. "Bring it on."
Waluigi pointed his index finger at his rival and fired a thin purple Fireball that moved twice as fast as an ordinary one. Luigi swiftly stepped to the side, receiving a cut across his right arm in the process. He clutched his wound and took a knee as he felt a severe burning sensation in his arm.
"How does it feel?" Waluigi inquired with a sinister grin. "Because my body is so thin, my Elemental Energy can flow from place to place faster than it could in a normal person. This allows me to concentrate Fireballs into the tips of my fingers. Since these Fireballs are more concentrated, their strength and speed is enhanced greatly. So, what did you learn from that old fossil?"
A slight smirk appeared on Luigi's face as he slowly rose to his feet. "Just the basic stuff. I learned how to control my Elemental Energy with greater precision, just like you. However, as the Master said before, we have to come up with our own strategies. I figured out how to do this without anyone's help." Luigi closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
The crowd gasped in amazement as Luigi vanished before their eyes. Had the plumber truly become invisible?
"If you look hard enough, you'll be able to see me," Luigi's voice echoed from seemingly nowhere. "Remember the Vanish Cap from Super Mario 64? I can use my Elemental Energy to create a similar effect, making me transparent and even allowing me to move faster and jump higher."
Waluigi squinted and spotted his transparent foe. "Neat trick, but just like the abilities granted by a Vanish Cap, your Final Smash doesn't make you completely invisible. And just because I have trouble seeing you doesn't mean my attacks won't hurt you!" This time, Waluigi began to launch Fireballs from the tips of all of his fingers. Luigi sprinted back and forth as the arena was covered in dozens of miniature explosions.
As the speedy Luigi zoomed past his opponents Fireballs, he discovered several drawbacks to Waluigi's strategy. He's going to waste all of his Elemental Energy if he keeps trying to hit me with his special Fireballs. Not only that, but my Final Smash's speed and transparency should give me enough of an edge to sneak up on him. At that moment, Luigi changed his direction and began sprinting toward his opponent.
"So, you're going for a final charge, huh? In this form, you can easily dodge one of my blasts, so I've got another plan," Waluigi chuckled. "It's a little risky, but it's all that I can do to counter your enhanced speed." His right index finger was completely engulfed in purple flames as he pointed it toward the ground in front of him. Luigi, running too fast to stop, could only swallow his fear as he charged at Waluigi.
"It looks like this match is about to reach its exciting conclusion! Luigi is rushing full-speed at Waluigi, who plans to fire a pointblank Ultra Fireball through his index finger at the ground in front of him! The explosion could be powerful enough to severely injure both Luigi and himself, but only if he times it just right!" Jolene announced, her eyes glued to the fight.
A fierce explosion rang through the audience's ears as the stadium was covered in smoke and ash. The crowd went silent, and a thud echoed throughout the arena. As the smoke cleared, Luigi was revealed to be lying on his back with his eyes closed. A few moments later, the audience spotted Waluigi, who had been tossed out of the arena by the explosion.
"So... who's the winner?" Jolene wondered aloud. "Luigi appears to be unconscious, and Waluigi has been knocked out of the ring..."
Mushroom Castle Stadium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SWAvrU9To)
Luigi groaned and sat up. "Ugh... am I alive?" He rubbed his head and stood up.
The crowd exploded with fanatical applause. "It appears as though Luigi wasn't unconscious after all! If that's the case, Luigi is the winner! Waluigi's trump card almost ended the fight in a draw, but Luigi managed to come out on top!" Jolene declared.
"How did he manage to avoid being knocked out of the arena?!" Jinx thundered, angered by his pupil's loss.
"It's simple. His Final Smash made him too fast to turn around, so he used his enhanced jumping ability to leap into the air just before Waluigi fired his attack. By jumping with perfect timing, Luigi cut the impact of the blast in half. Waluigi was actually closer to the explosion, which is why he was knocked out of the arena," the Master explained. "Regardless, Luigi's Final Smash still has its flaws. His enhanced abilities and transparency fade after less than a minute, making it less than perfect."
As the crowd went wild, Waluigi stood on his feet and stepped back into the arena. Instead of a rude insult, Waluigi offered congratulations. The two rivals shook hands. "That Final Smash of yours is pretty handy, but you have to get the job done quickly," Waluigi chuckled.
"Yeah," Luigi agreed. "My Final Smash expired only a few seconds after the explosion... Heh, that was actually pretty fun."
Waluigi nodded and began to walk away. "I guess. Just make sure you improve your Final Smash before the next time we fight."
Luigi returned to his teammates, who showered him with praise and congratulations. He gave the Master a sideways glance, as if he had realized something during his battle with Waluigi. The Master picked up on this and grinned. Ah, Luigi... I had a feeling you might see through our ruse... "Don't tell the little ones," The Master instructed him.
A wide smirk spread across the plumber's face. "If you insist."
"Outstanding! We couldn't have asked for a better match!" Jolene exclaimed. "With the first victory going to Team Master, it appears as though Jinx is beginning to sweat! However, will Wario be able to help his team make a comeback? His opponent is Luigi Jr, also known as Luke, and he is the Master's youngest pupil. Luke isn't your average teenager, though; he's the youngest son of the Great Gonzales! With Mario nowhere to be found, will Luke be able to fill his father's shoes and fight against one of his strongest rivals?"
Wario hoisted himself onto the arena and met his opponent in the center of the ring. "I hope you're ready to lose, kid."
Luke gulped. "N- No."
"Hey Luke, don't let him get to you! Remember that you're fighting for your father's honor!" the Master encouraged him.
"Are both fighters ready? ................BEGIN!!"
Wario vs. Luke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szby_3IkA4c)
"You should've stayed out of the ring, punk," Wario growled as he began to stretch. "You're not ready for the major league yet. Besides, I bet too much money on this fight to lose."
Luke took a step back, his body quaking with fear. I've gotta calm down... The Master told me not to worry... but so many people are watching... What if I make a complete fool of myself? Wario's right... I should've stayed at home...
"Watch out!" Luigi cried as his nephew was struck in the face by Wario. Luke tumbled onto his back, blood dripping from his lip. He remained still as the greedy plumber charged at him and delivered a kick to his chest, sending him soaring into the air. Wario aimed his opened palm at the airborne Luke and hurled a yellow Fireball at him. As the battered Luke plummeted downward, he was enveloped in a cloud of smoke.
"He's not even fighting back!" Mark gasped in horror, his fists clenched with anger.
Before Luke could hit the ground, Wario charged into him at full speed. The teenager coughed up a mouthful of blood as he ascended into the air once again. This time, however, he was hovering above the outside of the arena.
"Young Luke is not even fighting back! Is the greedy brute too much for him to handle? Will the match truly end this way?"
"Was that the best you could do?" Wario cackled as his opponent descended.
"Not yet... I can't lose... just yet..." Luke mumbled as he was only a few yards away from the ground. He cupped his hands together and launched a Fireball at the ground, propelling him upward. He landed back in the arena and bawled his fists, fire burning in his eyes. "I'm not losing without a fight."
"A tough guy, huh?" Wario snickered. "Fine. I'll use a more sophisticated move. My Final Smash hasn't been perfected yet, but it'll be enough to beat you." He flexed the muscles on his right arm, and before Luke's very eyes, his arm became a shining silver color. Wario threw his head back and laughed. "Wahahaha! Meet Metal Wario! I can only make certain parts of my body metallic for a limited amount of time, but as I said before... It'll be more than enough to trounce a baby like you!"
Luigi gasped. "Luke's too young for a Final Smash! There's no way he can counter an attack like that!"
Luke raised his fists into a defensive stance as Wario sprinted toward him with his metallic fist clenched. Trying to think like his father, Luke glared at Wario's metal arm. His Final Smash has to have a weakness... The metal must make him slower, and if he's powered up only his right arm, then that'll be the only arm he'll attack me with. In that case, I should focus on avoiding attacks from his metal arm only!
Wario, laughing at his seemingly helpless foe, threw his metal fist forward. Luke, expecting him to attack this way, ducked to the side and connected a right hook with Wario's face. Wario staggered backward, clutching his bloody nose in irritation. For a moment, Luke was smiling. However, when he saw Wario's bloodthirsty smirk as he withdrew his hands from his nose, Luke's grin faded away.
Wario charged at him once again, and Luke prepared to repeat his strategy. However, this time, Wario attacked with his non-metal fist first, catching Luke by surprise. Luke, dazed by the surprise attack, was unable to defend himself from Wario's next attack: a direct punch to the gut with his metallic fist. Luke screamed in agony as he tumbled out of the arena with a lifeless thud. The match was over.
Luke gazed up and saw his older brother standing above him. "You put up a good fight, Luke. We all thought the match would end a lot sooner. You proved us wrong. Besides, Wario is a lot older than you. He has much more experience, and his insatiable greed wouldn't allow him to be beaten."
"But I- I lost..." Luke mumbled as he struggled to stand up.
"That may be true, but that means both teams have a single win. All I have to do is defeat Jinx in the next match," Mark assured him. "Don't worry about it. How tough can a dwarf like Jinx be, anyway?" He held out his hand and helped Luke rise to his feet. They both turned around and saw Wario standing before them.
"Nice match, kid," Wario congratulated him. "I didn't mean to be so rough, but I bet a lot of money on that fight. I couldn't afford to be beaten by a child and lose a ton of money in a single match." He leaned closer to them and lowered his voice to a whisper. "One more thing: If you think Master Jinx will be a pushover just because he's small, think again." With that, he turned and joined his comrades at the opposite end of the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there will be a short intermission before the final match. Please utilize this time to restock on snacks and use the bathroom. Thank you," Jolene announced.
"Let's regroup with everyone else," Luigi suggested. "Two rounds have passed, and I haven't seen anything suspicious."
Just as Luigi proposed, he and the younger Mario brothers met up with Peach and Lorne. As they exchanged greetings, Luigi spotted a familiar face nearby.
Calm Sorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
"Ace, you made it!" Luigi exclaimed. "I heard rumors that you had returned to the Mushroom Kingdom, but I didn't think they were true! How did things go in the Nightmare Vault? Where's Bro?" The group approached Ace, who had not been seen since he left with Mario six years ago. He was the only link they had to their missing hero.
Ace hung his head. He remained silent.
Peach's eyes widened with fear. "No... It couldn't be..."
Ace gave them the faintest of smiles. "I'm sorry; it's hard to be positive given the circumstances, but Mario is alive. Slade is in good health as well. Both of them are in the Nightmare Vault. Each of them is preparing for the final battle in their own way. I hate to break it to you, but our mission was only a partial success."
"What happened?" Luke inquired, his eyes sparkling with innocence. "Will Dad be okay?"
Ace hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "For now, I suppose. Allow me to recap our journey in the Nightmare Vault. Mario was recruited by the same military that I used to be in charge of, Poker Face. However, it was all just a ruse set up by the Beta Grimnex. You see, when I left the Nightmare Vault to help you deal with the Velno incident, this Grimnex, Botis, took control of Poker Face and eliminated the Demon Resistance in its entirety. Botis posed as the new leader of Poker Face in an attempt to steal my Nexus Pass, and for six years, he slowly worked toward achieving his goal by manipulating Mario and Slade. They eventually caught on and battled Botis, but were no match for him. The situation was desperate... When we awoke after being knocked unconscious, we found that Botis had been assassinated by an unknown force."
"So the leader of the Grimnexes was murdered... Doesn't that mean the war is over?" Luigi asked hopefully.
Ace shook his head. "No, it just means that we have some extra time to get our act together. It will likely take the Grimnexes about four months to decide on their new leader. After that, the Grimnexes will take action. Now that their chance to claim the Nexus Pass has slipped away, they will try to find a new way to escape from the Nightmare Vault. In four months, we must be ready for them. The only problem is, our performance against the Beta Grimnex was laughable. In truth, we couldn't even put a dent in his standard form. He still had his Final Smash, which would have made him several times more powerful. If we want to have a chance at defeating the Grimnexes, we're going to have to come up with a plan. Mario will be returning here soon, so you can breathe a sigh of relief for now. However, in four months, or perhaps even sooner, I cannot guarantee anyone's safety."
"Are the Grimnexes really that strong?" Lorne inquired. "Stronger than Mario? What about Crimson?"
"I'd say about half of them are more powerful than both," Ace estimated. "The situation is desperate. Mario wanted me to stop by to make sure this kingdom has remained safe in his absence. Have there been any problems?"
Luigi nodded. "We're not sure if it's a severe threat or not, but read this." He handed Ace the note left at the dojo.
"...I see. This would be an ideal time to strike. Many people are gathered in one place, and the participants will be exhausted after their bouts. If the perpetrator is serious about his threat, it might be a good idea for me to stay until the end of the final match. After that, I'll return to the Nightmare Vault to pick Mario up."
"That note... let me see it," Lorne urged. He snatched the note from Ace's hand. Scanning the criminal's handwriting, Lorne's eyes widened. "It couldn't be..." He handed the paper back to Luigi. "No... It's nothing." Master Crimson... Are you really still after this kingdom? And if you are... will I have to fight against you? Though I detest the life of an assassin, you still saved me from a life of slavery. However, Mario was the one who taught me to follow my own path in life. When the time comes, will I be able to choose a side...?
Mushroom Castle Stadium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SWAvrU9To)
Lorne's thoughts were interrupted by Jolene's voice echoing throughout the stadium walls. "AAAAAAAAAALLLLLLRIGHT! It's time to get back to the main event: the final bout between Team Master and Team Jinx! If you couldn't already tell, this match will determine the outcome of the fierce rivalry between the two dojos! Luigi took the first victory for the Master's dojo, and Wario was able to help Jinx's dojo make a comeback by winning the second bout. Now, with each team holding a single victory under their belt, the final, tiebreaker match is about to begin! Representing Team Master is Mario Jr., who prefers to go by the name of Mark. Mark has been training since he was a young boy, waiting for the day he could fight alongside his father. Though he has helped out in the past, Mark has yet to play a pivotal role in one of his father's battles. Now, as he fights on behalf of his father, will Mark finally succeed at fighting in his father's place?
"His opponent is known far and wide as one of the fiercest martial artists in existence: Jinx! He may be small, but don't let his size fool you! Jinx has proved on numerous occasions that size and strength have nothing to do with each other. Mark may tower above his opponent in size, but how will he fare against Jinx's unparalleled fighting expertise? Was it wise for Luigi to leave his nephew in charge of taking down the strongest of their opponents? It's time to find out!"
Mark eagerly hopped onto the arena, the Master right behind him. "Remember Mark: Jinx is much more powerful than you seem to think! If you battle with wisdom and determination, you should have a shot at beating him," the Master assured him.
Mark nodded. "Alright, this is it. The Master's pride is resting on this fight." He met Jinx at the center of the arena.
"Master, he doesn't have much of a chance, does he?" Luigi inquired quietly. "I mean, not to be a pessimist or anything... but in reality, what chance does Mark have of beating someone as skilled as Jinx?"
The Master grinned. "His chances of winning are nonexistent... And yet, this is all going exactly as planned... Jinx is playing his part perfectly, as well. I just hope he doesn't decide to go easy on the boy."
Chapter 9: The Master's Ruse
Grudge Match (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szby_3IkA4c)
"Ready? BEGIN!!"
The crowd began to roar in anticipation as Jinx took a fighting stance. "You lack the proper training to face me. I'll make this quick."
"What was that? Speak up; I can't hear you from all the way up here," Mark taunted as he looked down upon his opponent.
Jinx, clearly angered by his foe's remark, clenched his fists and began to sprint across the arena toward Mark. Mark squinted, his eyes unable to keep up with such a small target. He raised his fists as Jinx ran circles around him, ready to attack at any moment. In a blur too quick for Mark to follow, Jinx lunged at him with a powerful kick that sent him flying backward. The speedy Jinx raced after his target as the young plumber soared helplessly through the air.
"What a hit! It seems that Jinx is too fast for Mark! Will Mario's son be able to make a comeback?!"
"He's helpless!" Luke cried as Jinx finally caught up with Mark.
The Master grinned. "It looks like Jinx is taking this personally. Good. That means he won't hold back, which will work out perfectly for me."
His confidence in the Master's secret plan slowly dwindling, Luigi approached the arena to cheer his nephew on. Is the Master really behind all of this? If Jinx takes this too seriously, he could really hurt Mark. I hope he knows what he's doing...
Jinx, now sprinting beside the airborne Mark, leapt upward and unleashed a furious combination of lightning-fast punches and kicks. "This is what happens when you judge a fighter solely by his appearance!" Jinx thundered as he ended his assault with an elbow to Mark's gut. The young plumber tumbled onto the ground before skidding to a halt. Lying face-down on the arena's stone floor, Mark remained still.
Fighting Spirit (http://www.esnips.com/doc/94554fe8-00ca-47e9-8077-3cba6f046ef9/Fighting-Spirit)
"And Mark goes DOWN!" Jolene declared. "Has Jinx proved to be too much for the young warrior to handle? Was such a quick bout truly enough to settle the rivalry between dojos? There's only one way to find out! If Mark does not stand up soon, Jinx will be declared the winner!"
The audience let loose with fanatical applause for Jinx. Luke began to climb onto the arena, but the Master restrained him. "This is your brother's fight. If we interfere now, all of this will be for nothing."
Luigi gave his master a sideways glance. I'm starting to wonder if there really is a method to his madness...
The stadium grew silent as the fallen Mark began to chuckle. He slowly rose to his feet, a thin stream of blood dripping from his lips. He grinned as he wept the blood off with his glove. Jinx turned away from his fans to face his opponent once again. "You fight a lot more aggressively than I thought you would, Shorty," Mark snickered. "I didn't think you'd take this so seriously. I'm sure you get comments about your height all the time."
"Insolent brat... You haven't learned your lesson yet, have you?" Jinx inquired angrily. "Very well. That will be the last time you mock my stature."
Mark took a battle stance. "Don't be so sure. You may be a dwarf, but at least you've earned my respect. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from a fighter so small, but now I've got a better idea of what I'm up against. You won't catch me underestimating you again. I'll start taking this seriously now."
"Even after the warnings we gave him, he still felt the need to verify Jinx's strength," the Master grumbled. "He'll need to take this seriously if he wants to survive."
Luigi smiled from ear to ear. "That attitude... It kind of reminds me of Bro..."
"Outstanding! After taking a swift beating that my eyes could barely follow, Mark is ready for another round! I had a feeling this match would be a long one. Get ready for one of the most spectacular matches you'll ever see!" Jolene announced, her voice dripping with excitement. The audience cheered twice as loud as before, and the second round began.
Grudge Match (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szby_3IkA4c)
Mark stared at his right palm. "I'm getting that same warm feeling... Will I be able to use that technique?"
"You shouldn't take your eyes off of your opponent!" Jinx advised him as he leapt into the air, ready to deliver another beating. Mark lunged forward with a right hook, but his target was too nimble and small. Jinx weaved to the side and delivered a kick to Mark's head. The young plumber staggered to the side for a few moments before striking the airborne Jinx with his fist.
"You left yourself open with that kick," Mark chuckled. "Your mobility is reduced in the air, and because you're so small, most of your attacks require you to jump." All I have to do is wait for him to strike. As he descends back toward the ground, that's my chance to attack!
"Excellent observation," Jinx replied. "I'll step up my game a bit." He charged at his foe once again, this time at an even greater speed.
Mark stepped to the side as Jinx leapt into the air to attack. He threw a punch at the seemingly exposed Jinx, but his punch passed through Jinx's body. "An illusion?" Mark wondered as 'Jinx' disappeared into thin air. He felt a sharp pain in his back as Jinx delivered a kick from behind.
"More like an afterimage," Jinx corrected him. "You didn't really think I was moving as fast as I could before? My size limits my physical strength, but I make up for it with unparalleled speed. I can throw over twenty punches in a single second. The combined power of these punches equals the strength of a single punch from an ordinary martial artist. And if I combine my attacks with energy from the special attacks I have devised over the years, my strength drastically increases."
"Just as I thought: Mark isn't ready for someone at his level," Luigi muttered. "This could get messy..."
"We'll see just how fast you are," Mark said with a grin. This time, Mark was the first to attack. He attempted to kick his speedy opponent, but he only managed to strike an afterimage. He turned around to see Jinx preparing to strike from behind. Mark tossed a punch at him, but his fist passed through him once again. He gasped as several afterimages began to circle him.
"Can you keep up?" Jinx cackled as Mark struggled to follow his movements.
Before Mark could react, he found himself receiving several blows from all directions. The young plumber wrenched himself free from his opponent's grasp and began to sprint in the opposite direction. "There's only one way I can hit him..."
"Uh oh! It seems as though Mark has decided to retreat! Is he forfeiting the match?!" Jolene inquired as the audience grew silent.
"Running away? Or are you perhaps hoping that my afterimages will follow me in a straight line as I come to attack you? Yes, then you would know that the Jinx in front would be the one you should target," Jinx deduced. "Too bad your plan won't work on me!" His afterimages spread across the entire width of the stadium as they rushed toward Mark.
Mark grinned, his right fist beginning to glow. This had better work. All I have to do is concentrate that feeling in my hand... As his opponent and his afterimages grew closer, Mark's right fist became engulfed in flames. "Please, work!" Mark pleaded as he threw his fist forward, releasing a flurry of Fireballs that formed a wall of flames. The flames encompassed the entire width of the stadium, leaving Jinx no choice but to be struck by his attack.
Jinx slowly rose to his feet, his body mildly scorched by the attack. "He launched a flurry of Fireballs that struck every possible position I could have been occupying... This kid is brilliant under pressure..."
"It's a lot easier when I know what direction you're coming from," Mark explained with a triumphant smirk.
"Very clever," Jinx commended him. He's steadily growing more dangerous. It would be best for me to end the battle now. Before Mark had time to celebrate his successful attack, Jinx had launched a ball of static electricity from his index finger. Mark leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the blast.
"You fool!" the Master thundered, watching in horror as Jinx prepared to attack the defenseless Mark. As the young plumber descended toward the stadium floor, Jinx delivered an uppercut that sent him hurling over the outside of the arena.
"Game over," Jinx declared as Mark plummeted. "Wait... He might use a Fireball to propel himself back into the arena like his brother did..."
Mark cupped his hands and aimed them at the ground. Before he could unleash a Fireball, Jinx swiftly leapt above him and prepared to slam Mark into the ground. However, as Jinx threw his fists downward, he felt his arms pass through Mark's body. It was an afterimage! Mark reappeared above Jinx, his fists locked together. With a cry of determination, the young plumber slammed his foe with all of his might, sending Jinx zooming toward the ground.
"He stole my move..." Jinx grumbled as he untied his cape, using it as a parachute to glide back onto the arena. "But how did he learn it so quickly?"
Mark regained his momentum and performed several stylish flips before landing beside his opponent. "I thought I'd borrow your technique. I hope you don't mind."
Jinx gazed at his opponent, carefully planning his next move. From the beginning, I thought he was underestimating me. Now I can see that it's the other way around: I'm the one who has underestimated him. His ability to adapt and grow stronger was clearly inherited from his father. If I continue to fight carelessly, I could lose. I can't let this drag on any longer. "Mark, I'm afraid I cannot hold back anymore. If you want to keep your life, I suggest you forfeit the match."
Mark bawled his fists. "Bring it on, Shorty. I'm not quitting anytime soon. Why would I retreat from someone I'm not even scared of?"
The Master's eyes widened slightly. "It's time... to find out if this is worth it. Whether or not Mark's skills can be pushed any further... Now is the time to find out."
"That's your big plan?!" Luigi exploded, his body trembling with rage. "You're letting him risk his life just for some stupid training?"
The Master nodded. "To put it simply, yes. Either Mark will unleash his latent potential, or I will spend the rest of my life regretting the death of one of my finest pupils." But the person that will affect this plan the most... is Mark... Whether or not he can swallow his pride and retreat when the time is right... That will be the deciding factor... I can only hope that Jinx does not fight with the intent to kill.
Jinx began to glow with a red aura. "This is a technique that is called Vigor Up. It drastically increases my strength and speed. If you want to pull out of this fight, now is the time to do it. At this point, the only thing you can do is decide how many injuries you want to lose with. You can quit right now, or after I've beaten you to a pulp."
Mark stood firmly. "I'm not giving up."
Jinx nodded. "Very well. In that case, I must inform you that I will end this battle with one blow. This attack could be life-threatening if your body is too sensitive."
Mark took a battle stance.
"Intense! Jinx has powered up and proclaimed victory, but Mark is standing firm! Who will emerge victorious?!" Jolene inquired, the entire audience now silent with anticipation.
Mark gulped as he noticed a blur of red rushing toward him. He prepared to defend himself, until all traces of Jinx suddenly vanished. Mark's eyes widened as the sound of an explosion echoed throughout the silent stadium. Jinx had reappeared behind him and dealt a crushing blow to the back of his head. His world slowly turning black, Mark could only groan in agony as he tumbled onto the stadium floor.
Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
"Once again, Mark has been taken down!" Jolene declared. "I think this is it, folks! Mark seems to be unconscious! I will verify the status of this fight as soon as I can determine Mark's condition." She scurried over to the fallen Mark and knelt down beside him. "Mark, are you awake? If you don't stand up soon, you'll forfeit the match."
"Wake up!" Luke called, teardrops forming in the corners of his eyes.
"He's not going to awaken anytime soon," Jinx stated firmly. "That technique is called Quicksilver. It enables me to get behind my opponent and deal a critical blow to the back of his head. Mark will likely remain unconscious for a few days."
Luigi glanced at the Master, who nodded to verify Jinx's claim. "The match is over. Jinx saw that Mark had learned all he could from the battle and decided to end it before it was too late," the Master explained.
"Too late for what?"
"Mark must not be allowed to win this fight, no matter what the cost may be. That is what I told Jinx. He recognized Mark's burning determination and realized that he would not withdraw from the fight. It was the only way he could win without killing Mark."
"I don't understand why you want Mark to lose!" Luke cried in frustration. "Why would you plot against your own pupil? I thought you wanted to prove that your dojo was better than Jinx's!"
The Master smiled. "Didn't you know? Our rivalry is nonexistent."
"Well, Mark still isn't moving," Jolene observed. "Jinx is a martial arts expert, and Mark appears to be unconscious, so I'm afraid that I have to end the match. The winner of the third match is..."
Wait...
Agonizing Desperation (http://www.esnips.com/doc/30033888-4311-4724-bfae-076da0854e39/Agonizing-Desperation)
Jolene hesitated. She glanced back and forth, searching for the source of the voice she had just heard. She gasped as she looked down at Mark, who was beginning to rise from the stadium floor. His body trembling with agony, Mark slowly pushed himself onto his hands and knees. He lifted his head and gazed into Jinx's eyes. "I'm... still... awake..." He rose to his feet, staggering back and forth as he did so.
The crowd went wild with applause, clearly impressed by Mark's tenacity. "Phenomenal! It seems that Mark still has some fight left in him, but will it be enough to claim victory?"
"You don't know when to quit," Jinx grumbled, preparing to continue the fight. "I did that for your own good. Even though you appear to be conscious, your body is still suffering heavily from that blow I dealt to your head. Your vision must be severely impaired, and your body has become sluggish. Just forfeit the match. You've proven yourself a worthy opponent, but now is the time to quit."
"No... for my father's honor... I'll fight for as long as I have to... This pain is nothing... compared to the pain of being left behind... the pain of being considered... a liability..." Mark murmured, his eyes glowing with determination.
"Mark! Forfeit the match right now! That's an order!!" the Master screamed, fearing for his student's life. "Jinx is going to kill you if you don't!"
Jinx sighed, unable to stomach what he was about to do. "From this point on, I cannot control whether you live or die. For reasons you do not understand, I simply cannot allow you to win this match. So if you aren't willing to give up, perhaps I'll have to use my Final Smash." His body began to glow with a blue and silver aura. "This attack has a reputation of killing anything it touches. This is the Silver Bullet!"
"This is it! The infamous Silver Bullet is the technique that Jinx uses when all else fails! The winner has yet to be decided, but one thing is certain: this will be the final bout of one of the most incredible matches I have ever witnessed!" Jolene bellowed, her eyes glued to the two warriors. The audience exploded with words of encouragement for Mark, who had clearly become the crowd favorite. Starting off as the underdog, Mark had continued to bounce back after Jinx's relentless attacks. Now, he even had a shot at winning.
Mark's eyes began to glow a bright blue color as he rushed forward, his hands glowing with Elemental Energy. Without any fear or hesitation, the son of the Mushroom Hero sprinted toward his demise. Jinx also charged at his foe, his fist glowing a bright silver color. Before he could unleash the power of his Silver Bullet, Mark launched a wave of chilling wind from his left hand. Jinx staggered back for a moment, but he soon regained his footing and lunged forward at Mark. Mark also threw his right fist forward, which was now emitting electrical sparks. As the two fists collided, the stadium was lit by a blinding light.
Peace (http://www.esnips.com/doc/3c191504-8fce-4fa4-a6df-393132b29c6c/Peace)
As the audience finally regained their sight, they saw only one man standing in the arena. The other had been knocked out of bounds by the impact of the blast. Jolene gasped, and with a warm smile, announced the winner. "After a battle that lasted much longer than any of us would have expected, the victor has been decided. The winner of the grudge match is Jinx!"
Mark, bruised and badly beaten, felt as though he had let his father down. However, his face lit up as soon as he was surrounded by his friends: the Master, Luigi, Luke, Peach, and even Ace and Lorne. "I'm sorry... I let all of you down..."
"Don't be a fool," Jinx chuckled as he approached Mark. "Though they probably won't admit it, the rivalry between your father and Wario ended long ago. As for the grudge between our dojos, that was just a simple ruse. You see, you haven't let anyone down. In fact, you've done quite the opposite." He reached out his hand, and Mark hesitantly took it.
"I'm sorry for lying to you," the Master apologized. "You see, this was all a part of your training. I told Jinx that I'd be visiting him and that he should pretend to be my rival. I contacted Princess Peach, and she got Jolene to play along as well. I wanted you to believe that your father's pride was at stake, because I knew it would bring out your true potential. I knew you wouldn't be able to defeat Jinx, but you'd put up a decent fight if you had the proper motivation."
"Why was it so important for Jinx to win, then?!" Mark inquired, angered at having his emotions toyed with.
"That's easy," Jinx replied. "If you defeated me, a famous martial arts master, at such an early age, you would become as arrogant as your father originally was. You see, before he fought against Lord Shade and became the Mushroom Hero, he was quite conceited and only protected the Mushroom Kingdom for fame and glory. However, he soon learned that this kingdom was his home, and he vowed to protect it at all costs. Since you're the Mushroom Hero in your father's absence, the Master thought that this ruse would be necessary."
"Actually, in truth, I wasn't entirely responsible for this scheme," the Master confessed. "Before he departed for the Nightmare Vault, your father stopped by my dojo. His words are still etched in my mind: Please take care of my sons; I have a feeling they'll be training at your dojo soon. I want you to make sure that Mark doesn't end up like I did. If it weren't for my training with the Elemental Gods, I'd still be as arrogant and selfish as before. Please watch over him, and make sure he grows into a responsible young man. And as for Luke, ensure that he always provides support for his brother, just as Luigi has always done for me. Oh, and if Mark ever has to go on an adventure, please hire a house-sitter. Luke is too young to stay home alone. Yes, your father has an interesting sense of humor, even when he's about to rush into a life-or-death situation."
"So you did this... because my father asked you to?" Mark inquired, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "Thank you..."
Jinx smiled. "I'm sorry I was so rough on you."
Mark grinned wearily. "That's alright... I think I'll be okay after I get some rest..." The two warriors shook hands.
"More importantly, you showed us that you possessed a very interesting trait. As you battled against Jinx, you were eventually able to win over the entire audience with your bravery and determination. I could see that even Jolene was rooting for you during a match in which she was supposed to be impartial. The ability to make people cheer for you is one that you likely inherited from your father. It will take you far," the Master proudly explained. "You even learned what I believe to be your Final Smash: the ability to borrow your father's power. You used his Iceball and Thunderball techniques without even realizing it!"
"That's enough talk about fighting," Peach scolded. "Now it's time to reveal the true purpose of gathering everyone here! We're going to have a colossal feast! There's enough food for everyone!"
"A reunion? I should've known," Ace chuckled. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a bite to eat. I've always wanted to learn more about this kingdom's fascinating cuisine."
"Where'd the Wario Brothers go?" Luigi inquired. "I doubt they'd miss a chance for a free meal."
"I believe they went to the infirmary to have their wounds treated. Wario's injuries weren't too severe, but Waluigi suffered a great deal of pain from that explosion during his fight with Luigi. I'll go tell them about the feast," Jinx volunteered. "Don't wait up for us. We'll be right back."
[End Music]
Mark waved goodbye at Jinx, for whom he had discovered a newfound respect. As his friends departed to eat their fill of the kingdom's finest dishes, Mark gazed back at the door that Jinx had exited through. For some reason, he felt the need to stay behind. He had a strange feeling in his gut. It was as if he had forgotten something.
"Hey Mark, are you coming?" Luigi called after him. "There's not gonna be any food when you get here!"
Suddenly, it hit him. Mark was stricken with a sudden sense of desperate sorrow. He felt the urge to follow Jinx. Overcome with panic, the young plumber sprinted after the martial artist toward the infirmary. He knew that something wasn't right. At last, the door swung open, and he dashed inside. Mark gasped. As his terrified scream echoed through the stadium, Mark's friends appeared at the entrance to the infirmary. All at once, they realized that they had been too careless. The next victim had already been claimed.
Chapter 10: The Four Comrades
Looming Hatred (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59537ec-86f2-48ca-a47d-53ed4c88a621/Looming-Hatred)
For the first time in six years, Lorne's sapphire eyes began to glow with emotions of fear and angst. His face turned as pale as his snow-white hair. "That marking..."
Lying face-down in a pool of blood, Jinx's body did not stir. Beside him was Waluigi, who was on his back and groaning in agony. Mark remained still, his body trembling with sadness, fear, and despair. Waluigi slowly crawled over to him, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He gazed up at Mark with bloodshot eyes and recalled the events that had transpired within the infirmary.
"It was him... He killed... doctors... Jinx..." Waluigi stammered, his injuries preventing him from speaking clearly. "He returned... ade... came back... revenge..."
"Slade?" Ace inquired with a frown. "That's impossible. He's still in the Nightmare Vault, and I have the Nexus Pass with me. Besides, despite being a loner, he's still on our side."
Waluigi shook his head, his eyelids beginning to shut. "Not... Slade... It was... Sh..." The severely wounded thief finally lost consciousness.
The sound of a toilet flushing came from a nearby room, and each of the warriors prepared to face the perpetrator. Instead, a foul stench filled the air as Wario staggered out of the bathroom. "You might wanna wait a while before going in there... Wha?!" Wario rushed over to his fallen brother and master. "What happened here?!"
Ace covered his nose. "Ordinarily, Wario would be a prime suspect... but I think this stench proves that Wario has a valid alibi."
"Waluigi passed out before he could tell us what happened," Luigi explained. "But whoever did this couldn't have gotten very far." He glanced at Lorne, who was staring at the blood stains left on the floor. "Odd... the blood forms the same shape we saw when the Master's students were murdered... It's the shape of a crescent moon, or something like that..."
Lorne shook his head. "That's not a crescent moon... It's the letter 'C', and it's Crimson's favorite symbol. Having worked for him in the past, I know that Crimson sometimes orders his men to paint a 'C' out of their targets' blood. He loves nothing more than seeing his first initial inscribed in the same color he refers to himself as: crimson."
The others gasped. "In that case... Crimson really was the one who was threatening us! But what is he after?" the Master asked.
Lorne shrugged. "I'm not sure. After all, I'm no longer affiliated with Crimson. However, from my time working under him, I know that he holds a strange interest in Mario."
"Mario?" Peach parroted in confusion. "What would he want with our Mario?"
Everyone remained silent as they pondered their next move. Their thoughts were interrupted by Waluigi, who had begun to talk in his sleep. "Come... back... ade... Escaping to... Mushroom Fields... have to... catch up..."
Frantic Rush (http://www.esnips.com/doc/eb98c367-4733-4f0b-b6af-56a34c21509e/Frantic-Rush)
"Mushroom Fields? I'm on my way!" Mark affirmed as he sprinted out of the room after the perpetrator.
The Master whirled around and called after him, "Mark! Get back here right now!" He was too late. The son of the Mushroom Hero had his mind set on only one thing: revenge. "That fool... He just fought a brutal round against Jinx... Does he really think he'll have the strength to fight someone who was tough enough to defeat the same foe he lost against?"
"Should I go after him?" Luke offered, worried about his brother.
The Master shook his head. "Until we know what we're up against, everyone else needs to stay here. If you all rush blindly into a fight, we may suffer from several casualties. If Mark dies alone, we'll at least have other heroes to work with. I know it sounds grim, but we just have to pray for Mark's safety and stick together to avoid any more fatalities."
Meanwhile, Mark frantically rushed through the deserted Toad Town. Several dozen mushroom houses blurred past him as he sprinted at full speed in order to catch up with Jinx's assailant. At last, a black dot appeared on the horizon, and Mark doubled his speed in order to catch up with it. He stopped behind a tall man dressed entirely in black.
"Turn around!" Mark growled, clenching his fists in resentment.
The man in black complied. He was twice as tall as Mark and wore a black tunic with a matching cape. His right arm had been replaced with a mechanical energy blade, and his hateful face appeared distorted and metallic. "Ah, Mario? No... You're his son, aren't you? Perfect. I can finally carry out my revenge by taking away his son's life."
"Who are you?!" Mark demanded, gradually moving closer to his foe. "Were you the one who killed Jinx and injured Waluigi?"
"Waluigi... I remember that name. But as for the tiny man and the doctors, I didn't bother to get to know them. If those are the people you are referring to, then yes, I was responsible for their injuries and/or deaths," the man chuckled wickedly. "It's sad that you don't recognize me. I don't believe we've ever met face to face. However, I'm sure my name will ring a bell. Has your father ever mentioned a man by the name of Lord Shade?"
Instead of responding, Mark uttered a cry of pure detestation as he charged his father's former enemy. He leapt into the air and hurled his right fist at Shade's face, but Lord Shade caught the punch in his palm. "You're strong... just like your father... However, I've had a few upgrades over the years, and I'd much rather have a rematch with your old man!" Shade snickered as he began to squeeze Mark's fist.
Mark screamed in agony as he felt the bones in his right hand begin to crack. Out of desperation, he threw a punch with his left fist. Shade caught this punch as well and began to crush both of the young plumber's fists. He began to laugh wickedly, until he felt a shock in both of his hands. He quickly released Mark from his grasp and saw that he had begun to charge Thunderballs in each of his hands. Before Lord Shade could respond, Mark unleashed pointblank Thunderballs from each of his palms.
Mark gazed up hopefully, but gasped as he realized that Shade was virtually unharmed. "You know a lot of your father's moves, don't you? Oh well. Too bad nobody ever told you that you need to come up with your own abilities, too." Shade lunged forward and slashed across Mark's chest, causing the plumber to stagger backward. In a flash, Shade's sword retracted into a machine on his arm, causing it to morph into the shape of a cannon. He then fired a plasma beam at Mark, who was busy attempting to regain his balance. Mark, who was struck directly by the blast, tumbled onto his back in agony.
Defeat (http://www.esnips.com/doc/8f4f928f-86be-46a9-b0bc-d2626a95eca7/Defeat)
"Your reflexes are still far too slow," Shade informed him smugly. "You've disappointed me... and your father."
Mark struggled to stand up, but found that he could no longer move his body. Instead, he writhed in anguish as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"What more did you expect... from the son of that scum, Mario?" another voice spat, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Finish the job, Shade. We've already wasted enough time as it is. Crimson ordered us to kill only one of Mario's friends. We shouldn't wait around for another one of these cockroaches to show up. It would interfere with our perfect plan."
Shade nodded. "Of course, Enzo. Master Crimson would be most displeased if we ruined his grand scheme." With a helpless shrug, Shade changed his right arm back into a blade and drove it through the open wound on the young plumber's chest. "There. Happy now?"
Enzo nodded. "Master Crimson may have judged this kingdom's hero with the Demonic Trials... but now, it is time to judge this kingdom's authority. The next phase of the plan will be a full-scale assault on Mushroom Castle. Make sure that you're fully prepared by tonight." The two of them walked away, leaving Mark to die.
The young hero desperately attempted to move, but his injuries and fatigue were too severe. Lord Shade is back... and he's teamed up with Crimson... They're gonna attack tonight... I've got to warn them... Despite his efforts, Mark was unable to budge an inch. As the reality of his fate finally began to sink in, Mark could only lie on his back as he slowly bled to death. The air began to grow humid, and dark clouds formed overhead. Before long, the fallen hero was being drenched with rain. The world around him slowly growing darker, Mark's eyelids began to close.
"It's been almost five hours since he left," the Master noted as he glanced at the clock. "All of the guests have left, and only the seven of us remain. The Mushroom Castle also has security guards, but I doubt they'd be strong enough to handle anything that Mark couldn't."
Princess Peach scurried into the room, her cheeks damp with tears. "We just finished burying Jinx... Waluigi has also been sent to the hospital to receive treatment for his wounds. Has Mark returned yet?"
Luigi shook his head.
"He'll be back," Luke assured her. "I know he will..."
"At least I won't have to pay for Jinx's expensive lessons anymore," Wario stated with a forced laugh as he tried to lighten the mood. The room remained silent, and he hung his head. "I can't believe it all happened while I was in the bathroom. If it had been at any other time, maybe I could've helped... Maybe Jinx would've survived..."
Crimson... Am I going to have to fight against you...? Lorne wondered, leaning against the wall with his eyes shut. Mario... You told me to find my own path in life... But six years have passed, and I still haven't found it... Would I be better off as an assassin?
Meanwhile, Ace was dealing with a conflict of his own. Now what do I do? Mario can't leave the Nightmare Vault without the Nexus Pass. But if I go to pick him up, I'll leave the entire Mushroom Kingdom vulnerable. Will Mario's other comrades be able to survive long enough for us to return?
"So what's next? Should we all just go home?" Luigi inquired. "Or should we stay together?"
Frantic Rush (http://www.esnips.com/doc/eb98c367-4733-4f0b-b6af-56a34c21509e/Frantic-Rush)
"Umm... My vote goes to us staying together," Wario informed them timidly.
"Why?"
Wario pointed to a nearby window from which a colossal red annihilator beam could be seen. "Watch out!" Luigi screamed as he grabbed Peach and sprinted away from the window. Seconds later, the annihilator beam pierced the castle wall and obliterated everything in the area that Peach had just stood in, leaving a mammoth hole in the floor. The heroes' vision was obscured as the room was filled with smoke and ash.
"We're... under... attack!" one of the castle's guards shrieked between coughs.
"Really? I hadn't noticed!" Wario blurted out in sarcasm. "That's fine with me! I can finally get the chance to avenge Jinx! ... On second thought, I need to use the bathroom again. I'll be right back!" Wario turned around and sprinted blindly through the smoke in search of a bathroom.
"You might be okay with fighting them head on, but Peach won't be able to defend herself! Bro would never forgive me if I let her get hurt! I'm getting her out of here!" Luigi declared as he jumped through the hole in the floor with Peach in his arms.
"Luigi! Come back!" The Master demanded. "Fools! We shouldn't be splitting up at a time like this! ...Luke, go make sure Wario doesn't run into any trouble!" With that, he dove into the hole after Luigi. "If we can keep at least two warriors in each group, we just might survive..."
"Looks like it's just you and me," Ace observed. "Lorne, are you sure that you won't have any problems fighting against your former allies?"
Lorne shook his head. "I'll be fine. However, I prefer to do things my way, so I'm afraid you're on your own."
"I understand." As Ace watched Lorne sprint off into the darkness, a dark figure entered through the enormous hole he created in the castle wall. The smoke finally began to clear, and Ace gasped as he realized who his opponent was. "So it was you? I thought Mario defeated you, but apparently not."
Lord Shade shook his head. "It's been about eight years since I fought with him... In the end, he managed to incinerate me. However, I was able to survive thanks to this device on my arm. Not only can it change my arm into a sword and cannon, but it also serves a different purpose. It is always recording my movements, my memories, my feelings..." Shade tapped his head as he grinned wickedly. "It's like having a tape recorder attached to my brain. I may have been killed, but the machine on my arm managed to survive. During the Demonic Trials, Crimson found it and gave it to Smithy. For the past six years, Smithy has been working tirelessly to rebuild me as an android. I, Lord Shade, have been reborn as Master Crimson's 'Ultimate Weapon'!"
Ace removed a card from the deck strapped to his waist and crushed it in his palm. "Lord Shade, you're going to pay for what you did to me!" Ace hissed as a beam sword materialized in his hand. "Do you remember when you visited the Nightmare Vault? You were trying to recruit demons for your army, the 'Shadow Shrowds'. You also met and fought with a young boy... That boy was me."
"Yes... Now that I think about it, your face does ring a bell."
"I can never forgive you, Shade... Because I was busy fighting against you, I couldn't save Glaive's friend from the Grimnexes! I realize that I am partially to blame, but because of you... Sara, the one closest to Glaive, was murdered! Moreover, you promised to lift the curse on the Nightmare Vault if Glaive joined your army! Your empty promise caused Glaive to suffer for years!"
Shade couldn't help but chuckle at Ace's speech. "Ah, if only Glaive was here right now... I'd enjoy crushing his spirit yet again, but it seems as though I'll have to settle for you. If you really hate me that much, then why don't you do something about it?"
As Luke dashed through the pitch black hallway in search of Wario, he was thrown off balance by what felt like an earthquake. Staggering about as the hallway trembled, Luke spotted the source of the quakes: Smithy! He had just entered the castle by pounding a hole through the roof with his colossal hammer.
"You! What did you do with my brother?!" Luke inquired angrily.
Smithy shrugged. "Run along, little boy. I don't know what happened to your brother. Perhaps one of my allies got rid of him?"
"Allies?" Luke parroted. "What are you talking about?"
"We are known as the Four Comrades. We have cast aside our differences and joined together for a single purpose: the systematic destruction of Mario's life!" Smith explained with a vile smirk. "If you wish to know the reason for your suffering... It is because of your father. We have taken it upon ourselves to attain vengeance for all of the times Mario has acted against us."
"If you're looking for my father, he isn't here. I'll gladly fight you in his place!" Luke declared as he sprinted toward his father's former adversary.
Smithy grinned as he raised his hammer above his head. An easy victory... Even if he hadn't been worn down from his fight earlier, he still wouldn't be a match for me.
"So you're Enzo, the leader of the 'Four Comrades'? Having a leader seems to contradict the name of the group, which implies that each of the four members is equal," Lorne informed the apparent leader. Though his statement was a sarcastic one, his facial expression did not change.
Enzo sighed. "It's not very polite to express sarcasm with a straight face. But I can hardly blame your stoic demeanor, considering all that Crimson has told me about you. I still can't understand why you betrayed him. You found success after all those years of being a slave, and then you threw it away to live a life of mediocrity."
"Shut up," Lorne replied dryly. "You're trying to irritate me, and it isn't working. The only man who has ever upset my balance is Mario."
"So you left Crimson to befriend that scum? If that's the case, I won't hesitate to end your miserable life." Enzo stepped into the light, revealing his hateful face for the first time. He wore a pair of black jeans and a dark blue jacket. His hair was a mix of black and gray, and though his face was wrinkled, Lorne's experience told him that Enzo was still fairly young.
"You're a human..." Lorne observed, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I thought Slade and I were the only remaining humans that had ever worked for Crimson."
"Crimson decided to recruit a few more of us. When he heard how much we hated Mario, he was happy to give us the job," Enzo explained.
He's using them as pawns, just as he once used Slade and me, Lorne thought. Should I try to help him? He won't hesitate to kill me... Holding back and trying to sooth his anger isn't the safest option, but I know that's what he would do...
Before Lorne could make his decision, Enzo removed a dagger from his pocket and lunged at his conflicted opponent.
Wrath (http://www.esnips.com/doc/67ceb8d6-3bf7-449a-8cc8-eb0e8938d2fb/Wrath)
"What's going on up there? The castle's been shaking like crazy!" Luigi shrieked as he dashed through the castle with Peach in his arms. "I know we're under attack, but seriously... could they try to ease up on the fancy explosions?"
His rant was interrupted by a nearby tremor, causing him to fall flat on his face. "Luigi, are you okay?" Peach inquired worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Luigi whispered, though his body was trembling as he glared at the source of the explosion. He gasped as a colossal beast walked in through a hole he had punched in the wall. His body was covered with brown fur, and he wore two metallic gloves on his fists. "Is that...?"
"Mario... Where's Mario?!" the beast exploded as he viciously pounded on his chest with his fists. "Bring him to me!!"
Peach took a long look at the beast. "Donkey Kong, is that you?!" she shrieked in sudden realization. "No, it couldn't be... What happened to you?"
"What did Crimson do to you?!" Luigi demanded angrily. "Donkey Kong, snap out of it!"
Donkey Kong stared into the plumber's eyes and howled with fury. "Luigi... Mario's brother... DESTROY!" The ape dashed on all fours toward Luigi, whose instincts immediately told him to run.
Luigi shook his head. "No... Now isn't the time to be a coward... Without Bro or Mark around, it's my responsibility to protect Peach." He stood firmly as DK charged at him with blind fury. "Princess... You've got to get out of here."
"I can't go!" Peach refused. "I don't want to lose you too! Even if I do escape, there'll be no one to protect me if you all die!"
Luigi smiled sadly as the furious DK was only moments away from striking him with full force. Just as the ape began to throw his fist forward, the Master smashed through a nearby wall and kicked him in the face. "I decided to borrow your method of transportation," the Master chuckled as DK tumbled onto the ground. "Luigi, how can I be of assistance?"
"Escort Peach out of here," Luigi requested. "I'll take care of things here."
The Master nodded. "As you wish."
Before they departed, Luigi turned around to face Peach. "Don't worry; I'll bring Donkey Kong back to our side. After all, that's what Bro would do. And don't worry about Mark. Even if all of us do meet our demise, you'll still have someone left to protect you. I don't think Mark would die so easily. Have faith in him, and have faith in us as well. We'll protect the kingdom until Mario returns."
"Foolish boy... Can't you understand? You're far too tired and weak to survive against me!" Smithy cackled as he slammed his hammer against Luke once again. The bruised plumber soared through the air before crashing into the wall and landing on the ground with a lifeless thud.
He's right... Luke thought as he struggled to his feet, his body quivering in agony. "That hammer really packs a punch... In my condition, I don't think I can dodge it..."
"You didn't last very long at all, did you?" Smithy inquired in mock sympathy. "You're still tired and wounded from your fight with Wario earlier on. Too bad." He began to laugh maniacally as he swung his enormous hammer toward the helpless Luke. Luke closed his eyes, waiting for the sound of his shattering bones to pierce his eardrums. Several moments passed. The sound did not come.
"Hey kid... You gonna move out of the way?" Wario inquired, his arms trembling under the weight of Smithy's hammer. "This thing isn't made of paper, ya know." Luke quickly rose to his feet and moved out of the hammer's range. "Now get out of here, kid. You need some rest after that beating you took from me earlier."
"Wario... I can't leave... Jinx is already dead... After I finally started to think of you guys as my friends... I don't want to see you die!"
"Those are the ropes, kid," Wario replied glumly as he batted Smithy's hammer away with his fist. "I'm sorry we gave you the wrong idea. I don't hate your old man... I judged him before I got to know him, but this isn't the time to get mushy. The only reason I'm doing this... is to make up for those injuries that I gave you earlier! So get out of here, before you start to get in my way!"
Luke smiled as tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. Deep, deep down, that guy isn't just a grumpy, money-hungry thief. Despite his attitude, he's standing up to Smithy so I can get out of here safely... As his cheeks became damp with tears, Mark turned around and sprinted into the darkness.
The stage was set, and a battle on four fronts had been set in motion.
Chapter 11: Castle Invasion
Fallen Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/16499496-88e2-4db7-9d24-480e5c47f3ab/Fallen-Hero)
Luke sprinted into the darkness away from Wario and Smithy, tears streaming down his cheeks. Wario... Will I ever see you again...? I spent so much time hating you and your dojo... But once I actually started to like you... Now that I think of the three of you as my friends... Are you really all going to die?
Wario smiled sadly as he watched Luke fade away into the darkness of the castle's dimly lit hallways. "Sorry, kid... I can't let Mario come back to find both of his sons dead..." He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding Smithy's hammer. He lunged forward, his right first encased in metal, and tossed his most powerful right hook at his opponent.
Smithy began to cackle wickedly as he swiftly swung his hammer a second time, knocking Wario onto the ground in an instant. His body trembling in agony, Wario attempted to stand up. As he struggled to his feet, Smithy clutched his hammer with both hands and brought it down toward the greedy plumber.
I guess this really is the end... I'm even starting to talk and think like Mario... Wario thought with a grin as Smithy's hammer slowly descended toward him. I don't know why I felt the need to protect Mario's family... Maybe it was the way Ace described Mario's condition to me... It sounded as though Mario's sanity was hanging by a thread, and that any further shock could cause him to snap... Or maybe I just wanted to fight for my master's honor... Whatever the case may be, that kid had better stay alive...
Smithy's hammer made contact with Wario's lifeless body, abruptly bringing his life to an end. "Fool... Fighting for Mario's family will only result in death. Besides, you've only managed to prolong the inevitable. Anyone who associates himself with Mario will meet his demise in the end." He glanced at the watch strapped to his wrist. "It's almost time. I think I'll get out of here and watch the castle's destruction from the outside."
Sparks flew into the air as Lorne and Enzo engaged in a lightning-fast swordfight. However, as their swords collided, it soon became apparent that Lorne was on the defensive. With his smaller and sleeker blade, Enzo was able to strike at Lorne with incredible speed and precision. Lorne, who possessed a longer and heavier blade, could hardly keep up as his bloodthirsty foe continually lunged at him with the intent to kill. Not only that, but he was also having trouble fighting at his best because of his conflicting emotions. As a former assassin, Lorne's skill was at its peak when he fought without bringing his feelings into the battle. Now suffering from extreme confusion and guilt, Lorne could only narrowly parry Enzo's swift slashes as he pondered his purpose in life.
What am I supposed to do...? Either way, I'll end up betraying someone who has helped me in the past... Lorne's eyes widened. Unless... Is that the path I was meant to take? Is death the only thing left for me...?
"What's the matter? Feeling guilty, traitor?!" Enzo hissed as his dagger sunk into Lorne's lower chest. He tore the blade from Lorne's body and kicked him onto the ground. "That's what happens when you cross one of the Four Comrades. All of Mario's friends and family will be eradicated."
Am I really going to die here...? This place... It feels familiar... Lorne gasped. This tower... This is where Mario and I fought six years ago. This is the place where I made my decision to walk a new path in life. Heh... After all of these years, I've ended up right back where I started...
Suddenly, out from the darkness of a nearby hallway, Luke emerged. Breathing heavily, Luke shrieked as he saw Enzo standing above Lorne with a dagger in his hand. Without even stopping to think, Luke charged at Enzo and delivered a kick that sent Mario's self-proclaimed rival tumbling onto the floor. "I've already abandoned Wario... This time, I won't run away..."
Enzo rose from the floor and wept the blood from his lip. His eyes widened as he realized that he had been struck by Mario's son. "You... You're his son..." His eyes began to glow red with hatred. "Mario's... child..." He raised his dagger above his head and slowly began to approach Luke. "Sorry Lorne, but Mario's blood relative takes priority over you. I'm afraid he'll have to die first!"
Wrath (http://www.esnips.com/doc/67ceb8d6-3bf7-449a-8cc8-eb0e8938d2fb/Wrath)
"You're not going anywhere!" Donkey Kong howled with fury as he viciously pounded his fists against his chest. The ape dashed toward the Master with his fists raised. After swallowing his fear and preparing for battle, Luigi stepped firmly in DK's path. "Stay back. I'm the only person you need to worry about right now." His eyes were glowing with determination, and a green flame began to engulf his body.
"Those flames..." the Master muttered as he stroked his chin.
"Go," Luigi commanded, and the Master complied. With the princess held safely in his arms, the Master began to sprint away from the battle in order to find an exit.
"Luigi... I hope you know what you're doing..."
Donkey Kong punched at his foe with all of his might, but Luigi was able to dodge it just in time. The room began to quake as DK's fist collided with the floor, creating a miniature crater. "Those brass knuckles he's wearing make his punches even more powerful. If I take a hit from one of those, it's over." His eyes widened as he noticed the green flames that were beginning to cover his body. "Is this... the Emerald Flame? Six years have passed, so I'm sure there's been enough time for my body to gather more negative energy. I must be using the Emerald Flame instinctively because of the peril that I'm in."
Donkey Kong pulled his fist from the floor and charged at Luigi once again. "This isn't good... The Emerald Flame's power comes from the darkness in other people's hearts... If I don't do something soon, my entire body will be consumed by evil." He stared into the eyes of his opponent. His body glowing with the power of the Emerald Flame, Luigi dashed forward at DK. Just as they were only a few feet away from each other, Luigi aimed his opened palms at DK and unleashed a blaze of green inferno from his hand. Donkey Kong stopped dead in his tracks and began to stagger backward as his body was engulfed in flames. He screeched in agony as his fur was set ablaze by the might of Luigi's attack.
"It's over," Luigi sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
However, Luigi had little time to celebrate. As soon as he let his guard down, the burning ape lunged forward and struck the plumber in the chest with a punch that was fueled by his intense hatred. Luigi shrieked in anguish as he tumbled onto his back, his body still lit by the Emerald Flame. "You don't understand, do you?" Donkey Kong inquired as he towered over the injured plumber. "You can burn me all you want... My body has already been ignited with the flames of my hatred for Mario..."
Luigi's vision began to grow black. He groaned and clutched his head as he began to suffer from a splitting headache. "The flames... I don't know how much longer I can last..."
"Mario... We first met in Brooklyn a long time ago... All I wanted was to be loved by someone... I eventually kidnapped Pauline..." Donkey Kong explained between grunts of anger. "Then he showed up... He ruined everything... And then... After we met here in the Mushroom Kingdom... we put our rivalry behind us... But I secretly grew jealous of his fame and success... That's when Enzo found me... and promised that I could have my revenge... if I joined his group..."
Luigi's eyes suddenly snapped back open. "Enzo...? Is that the name of your leader?" Luigi inquired as he slowly rose to his feet. He coughed up a mouthful of blood. "So... Crimson finally found another puppet. It's about time. After all, Velno's been dead for six years... And in order to get you to join him, this 'Enzo' took advantage of your hidden feelings of envy and frustration." Luigi's body began to grow brighter than before. "...Not again... Who does Crimson think he is?! Can't you see that he's using you all as pawns?!"
Donkey Kong replied with a roar of pure malevolence.
"Think about it! Is it really right to blame all of your problems on Bro?!" Luigi cried, his flames beginning to flow down his arms and into his fists. If I channel all of the Emerald Flame's power into my hands, I can prevent it from overwhelming me! The plumber and ape sprinted toward each other one final time. Luigi lunged forward and threw his fists forward, connecting with the brass knuckles attached to DK's fists. Donkey Kong staggered backward, and his brass knuckles shattered. Luigi, his fists bleeding heavily from the use of his Emerald Flame, stood up and charged at the ape once again. "You kidnapped Pauline! My Bro did the right thing by saving her! And now you're saying that a little jealousy and loneliness justifies all of this destruction?! Why don't you get over it and do something to improve your life?!" As he spoke, Luigi delivered several blows to his opponent's chest. After a few moments, his fists gave out on him, and the plumber fell.
Peace (http://www.esnips.com/doc/3c191504-8fce-4fa4-a6df-393132b29c6c/Peace)
The color began to return to Donkey Kong's face as he was finally brought back to his senses. "Luigi... What have I done...?"
Luigi grinned, unable to stand because of the severity of his injuries. "Heh... Now you've come back to us... You could've done it before you beat me to a pulp..."
Tears began to form in the corners of the ape's eyes. "Luigi... You endured all of that pain for me... You should've saved your strength for my three former comrades... but whatever you did, it worked. Somehow, you managed to get through to me even after Enzo hypnotized me..."
"Then it was worth it," Luigi chuckled weakly. "It's good to have you back."
Donkey Kong pulled a Super Mushroom out of his pocket. "Luigi, I want you to have this. Your injuries are far more severe than mine are, and while it won't fully heal you, you should be able to walk again." He handed the Super Mushroom to Luigi, who gratefully swallowed it in one gulp.
In a flash, Luigi was back on his feet. "That's better. I've still got some pain in my fists, but I should be okay for now." He stared into the darkness of the hallway that the Master had escaped through. "Donkey Kong, could you do me a favor? I'd like you to make sure that the Master and Princess Peach escape as quickly as possible. If they run into any trouble, please defend them at all costs."
Donkey Kong nodded. "But where will you go?"
"My first priority was to get the princess to safety. Now that you and the Master have got it covered, I've gotta go back and help my friends."
"You're not going to change your mind, are you?" Donkey Kong inquired with a slight grin.
Luigi shook his head.
"In that case, good luck."
Uphill Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/a22356d3-220b-4c60-8fe8-d2a6a626ad47/Mario-vs-Velno)
Meanwhile, Ace and Lord Shade were engaging in a battle of beam swords. The sound of static electricity echoed through the castle's empty halls as they gradually grew more aggressive. Ace lunged at his foe's throat with his blade, but Shade parried the attack and landed a slash across the demon's shoulder.
"I thought you wanted revenge," Shade chuckled in mock confusion. "I guess you lost your nerve. Don't worry; I'm sure some good news will bring your spirits up. Remember the tiny martial artist that died today? I was responsible for his death."
"I thought so," Ace murmured, still clutching the gash on his shoulder. "You were careless. You left someone alive, and he was able to tell us where you ran off to. As soon as Mario's son heard, he rushed after you in a fit of rage. If you truly killed Jinx, then you must have encountered the boy at some point."
"Him? That's easy. You can find him in the Underwhere. Don't bother trying to make the journey; I'll send you there myself!" Shade exclaimed as he began slashing at his wounded prey.
"You mean... he's dead?!" Ace howled in disbelief. He reached for his deck with his free hand and crushed a second card, causing another beam sword to materialize in his left hand. Now wielding two swords, Ace lunged at his foe with a shriek of hatred. Shade staggered backward, overwhelmed by Ace's dual blades. Electric sparks lit the dim hallway as their artificial swords clashed.
As they fought, Luigi entered from a nearby hole in the floor. "Ace, are you alright? Do you need any help?"
Shade, now pinned against the wall, began to assess his situation. With both of them here, my chances of victory are slim. Perhaps it is time to finalize the plan. "There won't be any need for that. If both of you team up against me, I won't stand a chance. I surrender."
Luigi raised his eyebrows in confusion. "You... wait a minute, you're Lord Shade?! How could you have possibly survived?!"
"I'll explain that some other time," Ace assured him. "For now, I want Shade to give us some answers. Why are you even bothering to surrender? You must know that we're not going to let you out of here alive, regardless of whether or not you admit defeat."
"Brilliant, as always," Shade commented with a faint smile. "You're free to finish me off at any time. But before you do, I'd like you to listen closely. With the modern technology that you humans have come up with, copying data can be done by simply pressing a few buttons. Now, picture the advanced equipment that Crimson has in his possession. Smithy created me by salvaging my old data and forming it into a mechanical body. Did you really think that he'd use this data to create only one body? When I said that I was repaired, I wasn't talking about a simple reconstruction; I was talking about mass production!"
"You mean... there are more of you?" Luigi inquired fearfully.
Shade nodded. "Exactly. I am one of many Lord Shade clones. Each of us possess the memories and abilities of the original, and any new memories that are recorded by a single clone can be instantly transmitted to the others. As I said before, feel free to end my life. But before you do, I suggest looking out of the window."
Ace did as Shade suggested and gasped in horror. Marching toward them from miles away were hundreds of Lord Shade clones. "If we're attacked by that many clones... we won't stand a chance."
"That's right. If you want to kill me, that's fine. You will only ensure your own demise. If you want to escape from here with your lives, I suggest you start running. I won't stop you."
Frantic Rush (http://www.esnips.com/doc/eb98c367-4733-4f0b-b6af-56a34c21509e/Frantic-Rush)
"Luigi, I think he has a point! What difference will it make if we allow him to live? There are hundreds of other clones coming right toward us!" Ace cried in desperation. "Let's go!"
Luigi nodded and sprinted alongside Ace toward the castle's exit. Sweat trickled down their faces as they frantically made their way through the castle, counting down the moments until the army of Shades arrived. At last, Ace stopped at a fork in the hallway. "Where are you going?" Luigi asked. "The exit is the other way!"
"I'm going back to the Nightmare Vault!" Ace replied. "The Nexus Access Point is in this castle's basement. This could be my last chance to enter the Nexus!"
"The Nightmare Vault..." Luigi whispered. "Does that mean...?"
"Yes. It's time for Mario to return and protect his kingdom. I'm going to give him the Nexus Pass so he can get back here, but I think I'll be staying in the Nightmare Vault. I have to prepare for the final battle with the Grimnexes, and I'm sure that Mario will be fine without my help. If there's anyone that can stop an army of Lord Shades, it's him."
"So, I guess this is goodbye," Luigi sighed. "Well, for a while, anyway."
"Yes, but first I have to explain a few things that Lord Shade told me. It's your job to inform the rest of your comrades."
Luigi nodded. "Aright. Shoot."
"Get over here, you worthless piece of trash!" Enzo hissed through clenched teeth. He was chasing Luke to and fro, swiftly and erratically stabbing his dagger at his prey. Luke had been on the defensive since the battle began; he was so focused on dodging Enzo's attacks that he couldn't find an opening for a counterattack.
"I don't understand... why do you hate my father?" Luke inquired as he ducked beneath another one of his foe's stabs. "What could he have possibly done to justify all of this?"
Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
Enzo's eyes flashed red with hatred as he lunged forward and connected a powerful kick with Luke's chest. The young plumber tumbled onto the ground and gazed upward in fear. Enzo was towering above him, his dagger in hand and a wicked grin plastered on his face. "Do you want to know why I loathe your father? Ask yourself this: How would you feel if your father died in the Nightmare Vault? Wouldn't you hate the ones who took him away from you?"
Luke nodded hesitantly.
"Of course you would... It's human nature, after all. You see, something very similar happened to me and my fiancé many years ago. Before you were even born, your father lived in a dimension parallel to this one, in a town called Brooklyn. Donkey Kong used to live there too, as did I. Oh, how our lives were so different back then... I was happily engaged to the love of my life. My life was perfect... until he came along. For no apparent reason, Donkey Kong stole my fiancé away from me and brought her to the top of a construction zone. I was prepared to rescue her, but before I could make my move, your father showed up and saved the day. I was humiliated. As Mario thwarted the ape and brought her to safety, my fiancé didn't even bother to look at me. She pretended as though she didn't even know me, and eventually changed her name to Pauline. Just like that, the love of my life was gone...
"However, that's not the worst part... You're probably too young to understand this, but sometimes when you love someone, you have to let them go. I decided that I would not interfere with my love's relationship with Mario. She seemed... happy with him. I felt as though I could eventually move on as long as she was able to find happiness with this man. And just when I began to recover from my loss, it happened. While reading the newspaper one morning, I discovered that she had been killed by this 'Mario' in a 'tragic accident'. I was devastated. Your father came along out of nowhere, took the love of my life away from me, and then mercilessly slaughtered her. From that moment on, I dedicated my life to hatred and revenge. I spent my days learning swordsmanship and trying to hunt Mario down. Eventually, I met Crimson and agreed to work for him. Now that I am a part of his scheme, I can finally fulfill my dream of revenge."
"Don't be stupid! My father didn't kill Pauline on purpose!" Luke screamed, his face growing red with rage. "How can you accuse him of something like that?! Did you even bother to get to know my dad before you jumped to conclusions?! My father has saved this kingdom from destruction countless times, and not once has he murdered someone out of cruelty!"
"Damn him..." Enzo cursed, his fury welling up inside of him. "Damn you, Mario... You've even brainwashed your own son!" His frustration finally exploded as he closed in on Luke to deal a fatal blow. Just as his dagger was inches away from Luke's throat, a second blade knocked Enzo's weapon from his hand and onto the floor.
Lorne frowned as Enzo hurriedly scooped his dagger off of the ground. "Sorry, but I wasn't quite finished yet. I couldn't help but overhear your interesting tale, and I must say that something about your story doesn't seem quite right. Call me a skeptic, but I have a feeling that Crimson was involved with your tragedy. He has quite a history of manipulating others' emotions to accomplish his own goals, and I still can't understand why Pauline would change her name after meeting Mario. But enough about that. You're holding an illogical vendetta against the father of two innocent children, a father that has been one of few to earn my respect. It doesn't matter to me what truly happened back in Brooklyn; in order to defend the honor of this child's father, I cannot back down from this fight."
"Speaking of fathers, did you know that your father is alive?" Enzo inquired with an evil smirk.
Lorne's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. Mario's father, Anthony, and my father, Dante, each fought against Lord Shade when he attacked Brooklyn many years ago. Anthony was able to bring the Mario Brothers to safety, but my father died before he had the chance to save me. As such, I was enslaved by Lord Shade for several years until Crimson helped me escape."
"Sort of," Enzo replied. "However, your father didn't die in his fight with Lord Shade. Do you want to know what happened to him? I'm afraid I can't say much more than the fact that he is alive and well."
In the blink of an eye, Lorne's blade was pressed against Enzo's throat. "You will tell me where my father is."
Enzo shrugged in sarcastic helplessness. "I'm afraid that I couldn't even if your threats did scare me. I'm new to Crimson's gang, so he didn't fill me in on all of the details. However, there's one more thing I can tell you with absolute certainty: If you begin to search for your father, you will not like what you find at the end of your path."
"Well then. I suppose there isn't any purpose in letting you live," Lorne stated indifferently. Just as he was about to slit Enzo's throat, the castle shook with an enormous earthquake. Lorne's blade clattered to the floor, and Enzo quickly made his escape.
"The clones are finally here!" Enzo exclaimed gleefully as his voice faded into the darkness.
Seconds later, Luigi stormed into the room. "Guys, what are you doing here?! Hundreds of Lord Shade clones are standing outside of the castle as we speak! We need to get out of here before they make their move!"
"Shade clones?" Luke parroted in fright.
"In that case, we'd better leave. You can give us the details later. As a former assassin, I should be able to lead you out of here without being detected. Follow me," Lorne instructed them. "However, if they attack before we can get out of here, not even my stealth will be able to save us."
Chapter 12: Crimson's Declaration
Negotiating with Bowser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFbdwxLDzMA)
"What? That's ridiculous!" Bowser roared as he glared at the battered and breathless group of heroes. "Let me get this straight. You want to team up with me?!"
Princess Peach nodded slowly. "We're not too fond of the idea either, but it seems to be our only option. Mushroom Castle has been invaded, and we have no one left to turn to. Bowser, won't you let us stay with you?"
Bowser growled, struggling to ignore his feelings for the princess. "Grr... What do I gain from all of this?"
Luigi stepped forward. "Listen. There's another group of villains that hates Mario. They've already captured Mushroom Castle, something that you've only been able to do a handful of times. If you don't watch it, Crimson just might replace you. He might even kidnap Peach for himself."
"Nrgg... Alright," Bowser agreed gruffly, his arms crossed. "I get the idea. It's cliché, but I'll help you protect the kingdom that I plan to rule someday. Besides, I'm the only villain who's allowed to kidnap the princess."
"But how are you going to fight against Crimson? He's got an entire army of Lord Shade clones!" Luke protested.
"I've got a little army of my own, kid," Bowser chuckled. "Mario is the only person who has ever toppled my Koopa Troop. Speaking of which, would you like to join it? Usually I don't let losers like you in the Koopa Troop, but I can see how badly you want to be a part of it. Just this once, I'll make an exception."
"Wonderful," Luigi grumbled cynically.
"Now that we have Bowser's Koopa Troop on our side, what should we do?" Donkey Kong inquired. "I doubt that Bowser's minions will be much of a match for the Shade clones."
"What was that?!" Bowser growled angrily.
"I think we should wait for Bro to get back," Luigi suggested, ignoring the offended Koopa King. "If we had him on our side, we'll have a better chance of winning. Unfortunately, it could be a while before he returns from the Nightmare Vault. Until then, we have to try and survive for as long as we can. Bowser, can you prepare your troops for battle? For all we know, this castle could be Crimson's next target."
Bowser nodded grumpily. "First, I'll take a headcount. There are six of you, but Princess Peach isn't a warrior. Kammy! Add the following names to the Koopa Troop roster: Luigi, Luigi Jr., Lorne, the Master, and Donkey Kong. Princess Peach's safety is also a top priority!"
"Of course," Kammy obeyed as she scribbled the names down on a piece of paper. "Are these six really the only survivors?"
Princess Peach hung her head. "The castle was evacuated just before the assault, but we don't know how many made it out alive. Also, there are probably a lot of people who don't even know about Crimson's assault. Is there any way we can warn the other residents of the kingdom?"
"I'll look into it," Kammy offered. "Your grunginess, didn't that Nintendo 3DS you bought have the ability to record video footage? If I combined it with some of my magic, maybe I could broadcast a warning to all of the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom."
"Then get to it, hag," Bowser commanded. "I'll go prepare the Koopa Troop for battle."
Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
The Mushroom Hero sat cross-legged in a vast, white abyss of nothingness, a gentle blue aura emanating from his body. He took a deep breath. The words of his new mentor, Swift, began to echo through his mind.
"If you're willing to let me teach you, you can become stronger and drive the evil from your heart. I wasn't planning on passing down my knowledge, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to have a successor. You see, my ancestors belonged to the noble family of knights that protected Zeus during the Terranean War. If you can complete my family's forbidden training program, you will find peace within yourself and fight with the nobility and grace of the legendary Royal Guards.
"Are you ready to begin? Very well. For the first step of your training, you must obtain peace within yourself. As you already know, a demon is lurking within the depths of your soul. No matter what you may think or say, this demon will always be a part of you. It wishes to control you, and you wish to suppress it. As long as you continue to oppose each other, your body will be tortured by this eternal struggle. In order to attain peace, I want you to meditate for the next two weeks."
"Two weeks?! There's no way I can stay still for that long!"
"In that case, you may want to reconsider training under me. Allow me to explain the reality of this training program. If you decide to train under me, you must remain in a meditative state for about two weeks. This meditation will bring you into the depths of your soul, where you must find the solution to your despair. If you end the program before you are successful, the balance between your demon and human conscience will be lost, and there will be serious repercussions. Likewise, if you do not awaken from your meditation by the end of the fourteenth day, I will kill you with my own hands. In other words, I'll assume that the demon within you was able to slay you. In order to prevent your body from being used as a puppet, I'll have no choice but to end your life."
"What if I finish the training program before two weeks have passed?"
"You won't. Trust me."
"Ten days have already passed," Mario whispered, his voice echoing into the distance. "I've managed to tap into this strange realm inside of me, but I haven't seen that demon at all. This is more complicated than I thought it would be... What if Swift managed to permanently seal my demon away when I arrived in the Nightmare Vault six years ago? I only have four days left... What if there's nothing to find within this realm...?"
"Mario!" A voice exclaimed from seemingly nowhere. "This is Swift. It seems that someone wants to talk to you. Are you in the middle of something?"
"No," Mario replied, not sure what direction he should project his voice in.
"Ace has a message that he wants to give you. However, if you exit this state of inner peace, you will have to start the training program over, and all the progress you have made will be eradicated. Instead, I will relay Ace's message to you from the outside world. It seems as though the Mushroom Kingdom has been attacked by Crimson. The situation appears to be grim, and Crimson has managed to clone an army of Lord Shades."
In mere seconds, the inner peace that Mario had struggled to maintain quickly crumbled away. "No... Why now...?" Suddenly feeling the burden of the Mushroom Kingdom's safety weighing on his shoulders, Mario pondered his options.
Meanwhile, Ace waited for a response from Mario, who appeared to be sleeping while sitting up in the outside world. "He's not moving..." Ace observed hesitantly. "Are you sure he's not sleeping?"
"He has successfully traversed into the depths of his soul," Swift explained. "Even if he did want to help you, I doubt he could willingly awaken from his meditation. Just wait a few more days. After four more days, I assure you that Mario will be ready to protect the Mushroom Kingdom."
"We can't afford to wait that long! Please, this is an emergency!" Ace pleaded. "In four days, the Mushroom Kingdom will be a barren wasteland!"
"You'll just have to wait. Mario's training is much more important than-"
"I'll see what I can do," Mario assured them as he slowly rose to his feet. "The Mushroom Kingdom's safety is my responsibility. I can't allow this petty meditation to distract me any longer."
Swift gasped. "You fool! Do you understand the consequences of what you've just done? You've exited your meditative state! Unless... Were you able to discover the answer to your struggle four days earlier than expected?"
"Not really," Mario replied. "For now, I've decided that I need to defend the Mushroom Kingdom."
"That may be true for the most part, but I can tell that part of you disagrees with that decision. Deep down, you fear the might of the Grimnexes. You know that this training is necessary, and without it, you may suffer unbearable agony. The balance between you and your demon soul has been thrown off, and the internal strife will tear you apart just as the final battle begins. You've been struggling with this decision for the past six years, and the time has come for you to answer it. Do you want to fight for the present, or the future? If you stay with me, the Mushroom Kingdom will likely meet its end. However, your chances of defeating the Grimnexes will increase, and a demon invasion could be averted. On the other hand, if you leave now, your loved ones will be safe. But as a result, you will be ill prepared for the war against the Grimnexes."
For a moment, Mario remained silent. "I'll... I'll find a way to protect both of them... Somehow..."
Ace hung his head as he saw the despair that filled Mario's eyes. Mario... Your heart has become fragile after all of these tragedies... I can only hope that your friends are still alive...
"Go, then. Get out of my sight," Swift spat, gesturing for Ace and Mario to leave. "You clearly do not know what you wish to protect. At first it was the Mushroom Kingdom, but now the stakes are much higher. In the end, I fear that the pressure building up inside of you will lead to a sudden and untimely demise..."
His mind made up for the time being, Mario jogged beside Ace toward the Nexus Access Point. "Are you sure about this?" Ace inquired for the third time.
Mario nodded slowly. "I can't think about the future right now... I'm too worried about the present..."
The two of them stopped walking. Ace handed Mario the Nexus Pass. "I suppose this is goodbye for now. As long as you survive the battle with Crimson, we can meet up in four months to prepare for whatever the Grimnexes have in store for us."
Mario waved goodbye to his demon comrade. "See ya. Make sure you learn as much as you can from that King guy."
"I will. He has told me a lot about the potential of the Zepar tribe's abilities. Good luck with Crimson. I'll be praying for your safety." With that, Ace turned and began to walk away, his mind filled with concern for his friend. Mario... What's this feeling I have in my gut...? I hope your friends and family are alright... I can't imagine what your reaction will be if something has happened to them.
"What's taking so long, hag?!" Bowser roared in frustration.
Princess Peach, the Master, Luigi, Luke, Lorne, Donkey Kong, and Bowser were lazing about the castle's lobby, impatiently waiting for Kammy to finish modifying the Koopa King's Nintendo 3DS. "I'm sorry, your eagerness. It seems that I was foolish to believe that this device could broadcast to the entire kingdom."
"IDIOT!" Bowser screamed as a wave of fire launched from his throat and burnt the Magikoopa to a crisp. "We don't have time for your excuses! Those are my citizens to terrorize! If we don't warn them, Crimson might get to them first!"
"Err... I'll get back to work," Kammy grumbled, her body trembling in pain. She crawled beside the television set that was hooked up and began to fiddle with a clutter of wires and cords.
The heroes remained silent, pondering their next move. The stillness was broken by a familiar voice. "So I guess you haven't started fighting back yet?" Waluigi inquired as he entered the room.
"It looks like you're feeling better," Luigi observed cheerfully. As he opened his mouth to continue speaking, he bit his tongue. He had forgotten all about Wario. "Waluigi... I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault," Waluigi replied glumly. "If there's anyone to blame other than Crimson, it's me. I was at the hospital, tending to my wounds. If I had been with you guys back when Crimson attacked the castle, I could've helped Wario..."
Peach put a hand on his shoulder. "Try not to worry about it. No one else is going to die. Mario is coming back, and he'll stop Crimson. Think about it. The same thing happened when Lord Shade attacked. Mario always came to the rescue whenever Shade sent one of his minions to destroy us. When the time came for the final battle, Mario was eventually able to triumph. The same thing will happen with Crimson."
"He does have a habit of hogging all the glory," Waluigi agreed with a sarcastic grin. Even so, Mario was barely able to defeat Velno, and even then, I heard that he had to use some sort of demonic power. When the time comes, will Mario be able to face Crimson?
The room grew quiet yet again, until Kammy yelped with a triumphant squeal. "Just attach these two wires, and... DONE!"
"Done with what?" Waluigi inquired, not yet aware of the group's plan to broadcast a warning to the citizens of the kingdom.
"Well, I've been trying to get King Bowser's Nintendo 3DS to inform everyone about Crimson's invasion," Kammy explained. "If I press this button..."
"Couldn't you have just used your magic to materialize the necessary equipment?" Waluigi asked, causing nearly everyone in the room to press their palm against their face.
Kammy remained silent for a moment. ".......Erm... As I was saying... if I press this button..."
Crimson's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/b9e8fca9-f6b1-4390-9cb6-878399efca2b/Crimsons-Theme)
Suddenly, she was interrupted as the television turned on by itself, revealing an image of Crimson and Smithy. "Greetings, citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. We interrupt your lives of mediocrity to bring you this special announcement: Mushroom Castle has been taken over."
"It looks like he decided to make the broadcast for us. How nice," Waluigi remarked sardonically.
"I know you are all very busy people, so I'll have to capture your attention with a familiar face. Remember this guy?" A Lord Shade clone stepped onto the screen. "That's right. Remember when Lord Shade had this kingdom under his complete control? Well, Lord Shade is under my control, so I'm sure you can imagine how powerful I must be. But enough bragging. I'll get straight to the point. I've scoured the universe in search of a special person, and I think this kingdom just might be the home of said person. As such, I've decided to 'test' the citizens of this kingdom. I have mass produced clones of the very same Lord Shade that you see before you, and they will soon be given orders to eliminate anyone that crosses their path. Your job, my dear viewers, is simple. If you can manage to defeat one of these clones, you will be personally invited to Mushroom- or should I say, my castle for a one-on-one duel with yours truly. Alternatively, if you can get past the hundreds of Shade clones that guard my castle, feel free to challenge me. It is through one of these processes that I will locate the person I am searching for. Oh , and if it turns out that he is not here, I'll simply eliminate this kingdom and move on to the next."
"Crimson... What are you after?" Luigi wondered aloud. "Whatever it is, it's clear that he wants to lure the kingdom's strongest warriors to him."
"I'm sure we'll find out what he wants soon enough," Lorne muttered. "That is, assuming we live long enough to hear about it."
"Of course, I understand that not everyone specializes in combat," Crimson continued. "In fact, the majority of you are too weak to be worth my time. If you fall under this category, I suggest you find a safe place to hide. Despite the fact that the majority of you are worthless to me, there is a group gathered in Bowser's Castle that holds promise." Crimson grinned. "That's right. I know where you are. You should probably get your act together before Bowser's Castle is swarmed by Shade clones. You don't want a repeat of Mushroom Castle, do you?"
The heroes gasped in shock as they rushed to the nearest window. Sure enough, Shade clones began to appear along the horizon. "I guess he really isn't big on wasting time," Waluigi muttered in astonishment. "He didn't even give us a chance to retaliate!"
"Crimson has searched for this mystery man for over a decade. I'm not sure who it is, but either way, Crimson will do anything to find him," Lorne explained. "Crimson isn't afraid to eradicate every life form on this planet. Shade usually took his time to search for strong warriors to recruit, but not Crimson. He believes that the man he is looking for will find a way to survive no matter how difficult the circumstances are."
"In other words, he isn't holding back," the Master continued. "If Crimson does end up destroying everyone, he'll simply assume that the one he is searching for is somewhere else."
Luigi frowned. "That's pretty grim. What if he accidentally killed the person he was looking for?"
"It's obvious that Crimson is searching for someone who possesses great power. Therefore, this mystery person would not die against a clone of Lord Shade," Lorne reasoned. "I wish I knew who it was... I've recently begun to suspect Mario, but he's not that much stronger than all of us."
"Instead of speculating, we should probably mobilize Bowser's military," the Master suggested.
"I've already got that covered," Bowser chuckled confidently. Suddenly, the castle was shaken by an enormous quake. The group peered out of a nearby window to see hundreds of Lord Shade clones battling with various species of Goombas, Koopas, Dry Bones, Hammer Bros., and other common soldiers. Bowser gasped as he saw his Koopa Troop getting slashed to pieces.
The Master gulped. "It's just as I feared... The Koopa Troop is no match for a single Lord Shade, let alone an army of them."
"What do you suggest we do?" Peach inquired fearfully.
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
Bowser grinned. "I always hate when things start to get mushy, but you guys really need to get out of here. I can see that my Koopa Troop isn't going to be able to hold them off much longer. You need to get the princess out of here as quickly as possible. Besides, you'd only get in our way."
"You expect us to leave?!" Luigi thundered. "I thought we were a part of the Koopa Troop! You think we're just going to run away like we did in Mushroom Castle?"
The Master grabbed Luigi by the collar of his shirt and spoke with a grim seriousness. "Luigi! Look outside. Do you see what's happening?" Luigi's eyes widened as he saw the bloodstained ground and the hundreds of Goomba and Koopa corpses outside of the castle. "This is different from Lord Shade's invasion. If we try to resist them, the fight will be over instantly. No matter how many times we encounter them, the result will be the same. If we want to defeat Crimson and his Shade clones, we need to use our heads. Before we can formulate a plan, we need to escape to safety."
"But if we leave now, Bowser and his Koopa Troop will all die!" Luigi shot back, his face red with frustration. "We may not be on the best of terms, but after all of these years... I've learned that Bowser isn't such so bad compared to people like Lord Shade and Crimson!"
"Casualties are inevitable. If we don't get out of here now, their sacrifice will be in vain. I know it hurts, but now isn't the time to rush into battle without a plan! If we all stay here, every one of us will die! If we all try to escape, the Shade clones will follow us and destroy us all! Unless Bowser and his troops stay behind to hold off the clones, all of Mario's friends and family will be gone!"
Luigi gasped in sudden realization. He hung his head. "I'm sorry... I just... I don't want to see anyone else die..."
"I'm flattered by your concern, but don't worry," Bowser assured them. "I'm not gonna die. Mario trounced me dozens of times, and I always came back. Besides, you're the ones Mario cares about most. Your safety takes priority over mine. Now get out of here! That's an order!"
"Let's go," Luigi agreed at last. After saying their final goodbyes, Luigi, Luke, Lorne, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Waluigi, and the Master began to sprint toward the back entrance of the castle. Several more earthquakes shook the castle, and synchronized footsteps echoed in the background.
Peach gasped. "Wait a minute... Where's Waluigi?"
Luigi stopped and whirled around just in time to see Waluigi sprinting back toward the site of the battle. Waluigi noticed him and waved goodbye before turning a corner and vanishing from their sight. "Wait! Waluigi!" The footsteps of the Shade clones grew louder.
"We don't have time to go back!" the Master urged him, teardrops forming in the corners of his eyes. "The Shade clones are right behind us. If they come from around that corner and spot us, we'll never be able to escape!"
Meanwhile, Waluigi stood his ground as hundreds of Lord Shade clones stormed in his direction. "Sorry guys... I have to do this... It's my fault that Wario died... If I hadn't been at the hospital, I could've protected him..." His fingertips began to glow with purple flames as he dashed toward the mob of clones. He fired as many blasts as he could before he was engulfed by an ocean of blackness. "Sorry, Bro... I'll be seeing you soon... But before I go... I'm gonna take down as many of these freaks as I can!"
As Luigi and the others descended the stairs that led to the castle's exit, they heard a bloodcurdling scream echo from the hallway they had just left. All at once, they realized the severity of Crimson's invasion. This was nothing like the war with Lord Shade. They needed to think of something soon, or each and every one of them would die. Their grim fate saddened them, but an even deeper fear lurked in the back of their minds. Ace promised that Mario was going to return soon, but who would remain to greet him?
Chapter 13: Counterstrike
Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)
Now that they were sufficiently hidden from the Lord Shade clones, Princess Peach, Luigi, Luke, the Master, Lorne, and Donkey Kong stopped to mourn their fallen allies. They had taken shelter by escaping into the sewers via a warp pipe near Bowser's Castle. The rumbling that could be heard overhead only moments ago finally ceased. The battle was over.
Peach's face was buried in her hands, and the floor was soaked with her tears. "They're all gone..."
"First it was Jinx and Mark. Now Waluigi, Bowser, and the entire Koopa Troop have fallen," the Master observed grimly. "The six of us, along with any other civilians that managed to escape to safety, are the only remaining survivors."
Luigi wept the tears from his cheeks and stood up. "We don't have any more time to waste. Unless we think of something soon, Crimson's going to find us. These sewers will keep us safe for the time being, but hiding won't help us defeat Crimson."
"Before we can do anything, we'll need supplies," Lorne informed them. "In addition to food and water, we'll also need recovery items such as Mushrooms in case we are injured in battle. We can't afford to have any more casualties."
"There's an item shop in Toad Town," Luke recalled half-heartedly. "But Toad Town is probably overrun with Shade clones, considering how close it is to Mushroom Castle."
Luigi's face lit up. "That's true, but there's a pipe in Toad Town that's connected to these sewers. If we quickly dart into the shop and then back down here, we could probably avoid detection. I know all of the passageways down here by heart, so I can lead the way."
Donkey Kong sighed. "We don't have much else to work with, so why not?"
Meanwhile, a chilling wind blew across the Mushroom Kingdom. Hundreds of Shade clones stoically marched across the land, bringing nothing but death to all who crossed them. One such victim laid on his back, his chest covered in dry blood. His body was cold and numb, and the life seemed to be drained from his body. However, a faint pulse still surged within him. As his eyelids slowly fluttered open, the survivor could see nothing but the gloomy, gray sky. The temperature was dropping, and soon, winter would arrive. Unable to move, he simply sighed as his eyelids slowly closed once again.
"Here we are," Luigi announced proudly. "This pipe should lead us straight to Toad Town. Let's test it out to make sure it still works." He eagerly dove into the pipe, causing the classic warp pipe sound to echo through the sewers. A few seconds later, however, the pipe spat him back out and onto the floor. "It rejected me..."
"Crimson... He probably disabled the pipe," Lorne stated, angered by his former leader's brilliance. "We can't underestimate him."
"It was actually one of Crimson's soldiers," a voice echoed from nearby. Moments later, a group of six Toads emerged from the shadows nearby. "After hearing Crimson's broadcast, most of the kingdom's citizens rushed into the nearest warp pipe in an attempt to take refuge in the sewers. During our escape, a Shade clone began to pursue us. Just as we got away, the clone fired at us and destroyed the other end of the pipe. We managed to flee, but this pipe has been rendered useless."
"So most of you survived?" Peach inquired gleefully. "Thank goodness!"
"Yes, we've set up a semblance of a village down here," one of the Toads replied. "It's nothing special, but at least we're safe."
"For now," the Master grumbled cynically.
"In that case, all we have to do is use another pipe. If anyone wants to go look for some supplies, I can lead them to the pipe that's connected to my house," Luigi offered.
"I'll go," Donkey Kong volunteered. "I was originally one of the Four Comrades. I should be able to enter Toad Town without raising suspicion. Meanwhile, the rest of you should follow these Toads to their makeshift village. Feel free to take a break, but don't get too comfortable. We have to make our move quickly, or Crimson will find us."
Luigi nodded. "Let's go."
Luigi and DK said their temporary goodbyes and departed from the group. Donkey Kong groaned, feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of the maze-like sewers. Despite DK's confusion, Luigi expertly led them through without turning back once. His experience as a plumber had clearly paid off.
"So, Donkey Kong, you worked under Crimson for a short time. What do you think about our chances of surviving this catastrophe?" Luigi inquired as they jogged through the labyrinth of pipes.
"Frankly, I never really saw Crimson in action," DK replied. "But I know that he must be tough to be able to control such powerful underlings. Unless Mario has something up his sleeve, our chances of victory are slim. However, there is one thing that I'm certain of. As long as Lord Shade clones continue to be produced, we won't even get close to Crimson. Smithy was one of the Four Comrades, so I know that he's the one responsible for manufacturing the clones. He has likely set up some sort of factory within Mushroom Castle. It is inside this factory that you must find a way to stop the production of the clones and destroy Smithy."
Suddenly, Luigi and DK stopped in front of a tall, green pipe. "Here it is," Luigi declared. "Thanks for all the information. Are you sure you want to go alone?"
Donkey Kong nodded. "If Crimson or one of the clones saw you with me, it would only arouse suspicion. As long as I am alone, they will think that I am still on their side. You need to focus on informing your allies about Smithy's factory. From there, you'll have to coordinate a plan to invade Mushroom Castle and defeat Crimson once and for all."
Luigi waved goodbye. "Good luck."
"Likewise." The ape vanished into the pipe, prepared to journey to Toad Town in search of recovery items for the kingdom's few remaining heroes.
"I see... You've managed to set up your own little village down here, haven't you?" Peach inquired cheerfully. "I'm glad that there are so many survivors."
"After all the times Bowser has invaded, we've gotten used to cowering into the sewers," a Toad explained.
"There's quite a few of you," the Master observed, referring to the crowd of Toads, Koopas, and Goombas that surrounded them. "You should all be safe for now. However, we won't be able to hide down here forever."
"Crimson is probably looking for us as we speak," Lorne informed them. "You can't escape from him so easily. He'll attack us eventually, so we might as well be the first ones to strike. The only question is, how do we approach this situation? He has hundreds of Lord Shade clones at his disposal, and our numbers are beginning to dwindle."
"I've got it covered," Luigi announced with a grin as he emerged from a nearby pipe. "Donkey Kong gave me some useful tips before he left. Smithy is the one in charge of creating the Shade clones, and he has set up a factory somewhere inside of Mushroom Castle. If we want to get to Crimson, we'll need to shut the factory down first. From there, we might even be able to eliminate the currently active clones."
"It makes sense, I suppose," Lorne mused. "Controlling an army of Lord Shades does sound a bit risky. Smithy likely has a deactivation switch just in case the clones decide to revolt."
"If that is the case, we must locate this factory at once," the Master urged them. "The longer we wait, the more clones we'll have to deal with on the way there. If I'm not mistaken, there should be a pipe that leads directly to the basement of Mushroom Castle."
Peach nodded. "It's protected with a security password, though, so I'll have to come along."
Luke's eyes lit up. "We still might have a chance! With Uncle Luigi, Lorne, the Master, and me, we shouldn't have any trouble defeating Smithy."
"Actually, I have no intentions of engaging in a fight with Smithy," Lorne refused. "I'd like to have a discussion with Crimson. I'm sure he'll allow it, considering I used to work for him. If I speak persuasively enough, perhaps Crimson will leave this kingdom alone. It's worth a try."
The Master nodded. "That's not a bad idea. It would be ideal if we could end this battle in a civilized, peaceful manner. If you have strong ties with Crimson, you just might be able to save this kingdom from peril."
"Alright, then, it's settled. We're going to Mushroom Castle!" Luigi declared excitedly. "I'll lead the way to the pipe."
Invaded Mushroom Castle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/36b39bb7-95af-4a7a-aad4-04ad563baa72/Invaded-Mushroom-Castle)
"Alright, we're finally here," Luigi sighed as he leapt out from a pink pipe in the basement of Mushroom Castle. "Why are the villains that attack this kingdom always too lazy to build their own castle?"
"Crimson has no interest in owning a castle. He likely chose this location because it is a landmark that is easy for potential challengers to find. He doesn't want to confuse the person that he is searching for. Another possibility is that he is intrigued by the arena that was built in Mario's honor," Lorne explained. "He's looking for the strongest heroes this kingdom has to offer, and he wants to meet with them as quickly as possible. Notice how the castle's décor hasn't changed to match Crimson's personal taste. This is because such details are negligible when compared to Crimson's search for a worthy adversary."
"Well, hopefully we can satisfy his hunger for a challenge," the Master muttered. "Anyway, this place seems to be empty. We should memorize this location and return here if we encounter any trouble. After all, there's a pipe if we want to hide in the sewers, and the area appears to be free from the surveillance of Shade clones. It's perfect."
"Now that we're inside, Peach should go back underground," Luigi suggested. "... Uh... Peach?"
The other four turned to see Peach lying against the wall, her face as white as a ghost. "I'm feeling a bit... queasy..."
"Maybe I should take her back to that underground village," Luigi volunteered. "She doesn't look so good." He put his hand against her forehead. "She has a fever. What could be wrong with her?"
"It was probably her exposure to the sewer air," the Master deduced. "Her highness isn't used to living under such murky conditions. Luigi, you should see if there is a doctor among the survivors that we met with before."
Luigi clicked his tongue. "No good. The pipe seems to be sealed shut. Crimson must have modified it so that it would close whenever someone entered, trapping any possible intruders inside. If that's the case, I'll stay here and watch over Peach. Meanwhile, Lorne will try to reason with Crimson, and the Master and Luke will take on Smithy."
Crimson's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/b9e8fca9-f6b1-4390-9cb6-878399efca2b/Crimsons-Theme)
"Sir Crimson, the Koopa King's castle has been occupied by our troops," a Lord Shade clone explained, kneeling before his master. "The majority of Bowser's minions were destroyed, but the only other death we can confirm is Waluigi's. Bowser seems to have escaped, and Mario's other friends are nowhere to be found."
"Interesting... The Shade clones have occupied nearly every town in the entire kingdom, and yet you still cannot find them. They may be hiding underground, but I think it's even more likely that they are hiding right under our noses," Crimson hypothesized. "I received a signal from the pipe in the castle's basement. None of us know the password to activate the pipe from underground, so it must have been one of Mario's friends. I bet they weren't expecting the pipe to close on them, and with such a massive number of Shade clones guarding the castle's interior, it won't be long before they're caught."
"Do you really think they've managed to infiltrate the castle, sir?"
"I hope so. I'm beginning to grow impatient for my first challenger to arrive." Crimson's voice was dripping with eagerness. After so many years, it will finally begin. My challenger will soon arrive, and I will finally discover the answers that I am searching for.
"Do you really think it was a good idea to split up the group?" Luke inquired as he jogged alongside the Master through the castle's interior. "I mean, can the two of us beat Smithy on our own?"
"Lorne wants to speak with Crimson about ending this battle peacefully, and Luigi is responsible for guarding the princess. We could wait for Lorne to return and for her highness to recover, but we'll only manage to waste precious time. The longer we wait, the more time Smithy will have to manufacture Shade clones. Also, Princess Peach and Luigi are safe in the castle's basement for now, but who knows how long it'll be before they are discovered. And Lorne may never return at all, considering he'll be face to face with the man behind this kingdom's suffering. All we can do is be strong, and hope that everything will work out. We can't afford to falter now, during this kingdom's darkest hour."
"I know, but it's hard to concentrate without knowing how everyone else is doing. I'm worried about my brother, too. I want to believe that he's still alive, but how can I be sure...?"
"Mark is a strong young man," the Master replied with certainty. "I don't think that his determination would allow him to die just yet."
The two of them stopped in front of a colossal set of steel double doors. From behind these doors, both of them could hear various assortments of mechanical beeps and whirrs. Luke looked at his master, who nodded in approval. The young plumber gulped before grabbing hold of the left door. The Master pressed his palms against the right one, and the two of them pushed open the doors that led inside of Smithy's factory.
"This is it," Luke gasped in amazement. He gawked at the array of flashing lights that were located above a long conveyor belt. This belt carried clumps of metal from the far side of the room, passing under various mechanical devices that shaped them along the way. When these clumps of metal finally reached the other end of the conveyor belt, they appeared identical to the Shade clones that Luke and the Master had seen previously.
"We need to find a way to shut this place down," the Master muttered. "But how? There must be some sort of deactivation switch. It'll take some time to find it, so we had better start looking."
"Uhh... Are you sure that the clones that are being manufactured won't try to stop us?" Luke inquired nervously.
"It appears that the clones in this room do not yet have consciousness. The conveyor belt appears to be taking them to another part of the factory," the Master obsvered.
"Very perceptive," a voice chuckled from behind them. "I heard a rumor that the pipe in the castle's basement had been used by outsiders, but I never thought the intruders would be an old man and a child. How... disappointing."
Smithy Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymM6MIzLxgw)
"You... You're the one that killed Wario, aren't you?!" Luke recalled angrily. "I've got a bone to pick with you."
"We can't allow ourselves to be distracted. We have to find a way to deactivate the Lord Shade clones," the Master instructed his pupil. "Understand?"
Instead of responding, Luke sprinted directly at Smithy. Without hesitation, he hurled a green Fireball at the sinister robot, causing him to be enveloped in smoke. When the dust settled, Smithy appeared completely unscathed. "You think those puny attacks can put a dent in my body?" Smithy paused and scanned his surroundings. "Wait... where'd he go?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Luke retorted as he descended from out of seemingly nowhere. His fist glowing with the power of a charged Fireball, Luke landed a right hook directly across Smithy's face. "How'd that feel?"
"Not bad," Smithy commended him as he rubbed the dent in his face. "But that was just a lucky hit." He swung his hammer downward at his nearby opponent, but Luke was able to dive out of the way just in time. Luke swiftly rolled around to Smithy's backside and lunged at him with another punch. However, Smithy whirled around and blocked the plumber's fist with his hammer. Smithy then jerked his hammer forward, knocking Luke off balance and sending him staggering backwards. The sinister cyborg raised his hammer above his head and hurled it downward at his prey.
Luke narrowly avoided the attack, but was unable to defend against Smithy's next thrust. He yelped in agony as the hammer struck his body in midair, knocking him onto the floor with a thud. He slowly rose to his feet, his body quaking in anguish. Smithy lunged at him once again, preparing to end his life with one final swing of his hammer. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the hammer's collision with the floor caused the entire room to shake. Smithy grinned wickedly, lifting his hammer from the ground to admire his handiwork. His eyes widened.
"Looking for someone?" the Master taunted, standing atop Smithy's hammer with Luke kneeling beside him.
Smithy howled in frustration as he pointed his free hand at the duo. Holes opened up at the ends of his fingertips, and he began to unleash a barrage of bullets at the Master and Luke. The two of them separated, circling around Smithy from opposite directions. Smithy focused his bullets on the Master, who skillfully weaved back and forth in order to dodge them. At the same time, Luke managed to get close to Smithy. He leapt into the air to deal a blow to the robot's face, but Smithy quickly turned his attention to Luke and swung his hammer at him. Luke nimbly performed a midair back flip, successfully dodging Smithy's attack. Meanwhile, the Master managed to catch Smithy off guard and dealt devastating combo of punches and kicks. He ended the assault with a fierce right hook to Smithy's jaw, knocking him onto the floor.
"Those pistols embedded in your fingertips allow you to attack from long distances, and that hammer can be used when your enemy gets too close," the Master observed. "However, since it takes two hands to wield that heavy hammer, you cannot use both of your weapons at once. In other words, you aren't suited for fighting more than one opponent at a time. You can't keep up."
"Yes, you two are quite troublesome when you work together," Smithy agreed as he rose to his feet. "As I am now, I will not be able to fend you off. I'll just have to show you my true form."
Smithy's Second Form (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z847R5hFog&feature=related)
"True form?" Luke parroted in fear. "What do you mean?"
"Heh... This is only the beginning. Few people have witnessed this transformation. And your father is one of them," Smithy chuckled as he began to smash his hammer against his own head, slowly sculpting it into a new form. In seconds, his white facial hair vanished entirely, and his face became wider and block-like.
"What's so special about this form?" the Master inquired. "You've lost your beard and changed the shape of your head."
"Watch, and you'll see," Smithy assured him. Once again, he began to sculpt his own head with his hammer. This time, his head gradually changed into the shape of a tank. "I can alter my abilities by sculpting my head into different shapes. Want to know what this form lets me do?" Instead of waiting for a response, he aimed the turret attached to his head at his two opponents and fired, causing the entire room to quake.
When the smoke finally cleared, Luke and the Master were lying against the far wall, their bodies covered in ash. They struggled to their feet, breathing heavily. "He can turn his head into a tank?" Luke inquired in disbelief. "How do we fight against someone like that?"
"There's more where that came from," Smithy boasted as he began to sculpt his head once again. This time, it transformed into a treasure chest with a question mark on it. "Remember those Lord Shade clones you hate so much? In this form, I can create similar clones in mere seconds." He smashed his hammer against the ground, and in a puff of smoke, three Lord Shade clones materialized before them.
"I think we're screwed," Luke said with a gulp.
"These clones might be a problem, but I don't think that they're as strong as the ones we encountered before. Why would Smithy bother to manufacture them in a factory if he could create them in this form? Creating clones must consume his energy, so we won't have to worry about him creating an infinite amount of Shades," the Master deduced. "I'll fend off the clones while trying to search for a deactivation switch. Meanwhile, you'll have to take on Smithy. He isn't invincible."
"Why do I get the feeling that you're using this as an excuse to train me?" Luke grumbled as the Master charged at the trio of clones.
"You've seen two of my powers so far. You'll love this next one," Smithy informed Luke sarcastically. After remodeling his head once again, his face was covered by a silver cloak as two hands extended from the sides of his head. The crackling of thunder could be heard above, and lightning bolts soon began to fire from the ceiling. Luke frantically ducked, dove, and leapt past dozens of bolts, but Smithy soon decided to interfere. As the plumber struggled to dodge Smithy's lightning bolts, the war machine swung his hammer at him. Luke barely managed to leap to the side, but as a result, he was struck by a thunder bolt in midair.
"Dad... Mark... where are you...?" Luke muttered as his body began to grow numb.
"Luke!" the Master screamed, attempting to break free from the Shade clones' grasp. They had him outnumbered, and all of the might in his body would not be enough to overpower them. He could only watch helplessly as Smithy prepared to end his pupil's life. He closed his eyes, grimacing as the room was shaken by Smithy's hammer. He slowly opened his eyes and gasped.
"Did you miss me?" Mark inquired, standing beside his younger brother at the opposite end of the room.
Been having some problems with my laptop that has a barely expired warranty. In about an hour, though, they'll be a new chapter and a link in the first post leading to a place where you can read or download previous parts of the series.
Chapter 14: Lorne's Mutiny
Smithy's Second Form (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z847R5hFog&feature=related)
"Mark... you're alive...?" Luke inquired as his brother lifted him onto his feet. "Where were you...?"
"I'll explain everything later," Mark replied. "For now, we've got a job to do. Help the Master find the deactivation switch while I deal with this freak."
Luke nodded. "Don't do anything reckless, okay?" With that, he sprinted over to his master to help free him from the trio of Lord Shade clones. "Now that Mark's here, we can focus on finding a way to get rid of these clones."
"I had a feeling he was still alive," the Master whispered in astonishment. "Everyone in the Mario family seems to share a single distinctive trait: the ability to stay alive even after enduring injuries that would kill most ordinary humans. Even after all of the times this kingdom has faced peril, you're all still standing..."
Meanwhile, Mark began to slowly approach his father's former adversary. The two of them were locked in a standoff. "So, why'd you lose the beard?" Mark commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Before you looked like Santa Claus. Now you just look like a toaster."
"You know, your father said something very similar when he fought against this form," Smithy recalled. "Mario's family really is filled with arrogant fools."
"But my dad still defeated you, didn't he?" Mark inquired with a wry grin.
Enraged, Smithy broke the stalemate and began to sculpt his head into the shape of a tank. He hurriedly fired a blast at the location Mark had just stood in, but soon realized that the young plumber was no longer there. "He's fast..." He scanned the room for his opponent, but the smoke that had formed as a result of Smithy's misfire made it difficult to see.
I've gotta wait for him to switch to the right head, Mark thought. It's probably the only way for me to take him down in a one-on-one fight.
Smithy, growing impatient, fired a blast in a random direction, hoping to hit Mark. The shot missed and only caused his vision to be obscured by even more smoke. "Perhaps this isn't the proper head for me to use..." He modified his head once again, covering his face with a silver cloak that had two hands protruding from it. "I'll just shower the entire room with lightning!" The room quivered as every inch of the area within Smithy's range was pelted by dozens of thunder bolts. The smoke finally cleared, and Mark was nowhere to be found.
"Foolish child!" Smithy cackled with glee. "That didn't take long at all." After briefly celebrating his apparent victory, Smithy's head morphed back into its standard form. "Now, where are those other two?"
Mark breathed a sigh of relief, having hid behind a conveyor belt far beyond Smithy's reach. This is my chance. He leapt out from his hiding place and dashed at the sinister robot from behind. His right fist glowing blue with the Element of Ice, Mark lunged at Smithy and delivered a chilling punch. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you just lost to another member of the Mario family."
"What are you talking about?" Smithy snickered, only a few parts of his body covered in ice. "Did you think that you could just freeze me?"
"Take a look at your hammer."
Smithy complied, and gasped as he realized that his hammer had been frozen in a prism of solid ice. "You... You never meant to freeze me!"
Mark grinned. "I watched part of your fight with my little brother before I intervened, and I noticed how difficult it would be to battle someone so unpredictable. There was no way of knowing how many different forms you had or how far you could push your abilities. That's when it hit me. You were only able to transform because of that hammer, and now that it's frozen in a block of solid ice, you're stuck in that form. All I had to do was wait until you changed into a form that wasn't a threat to me, like this one."
"But where did you get this ability? Mario was never able to wield ice against me!" Smithy roared in confusion.
"We've all been through some changes over the years," Mark explained with a grin. "While he was preparing to battle Lord Shade, my father obtained the Iceball and Thunderball abilities. My Final Smash allows me to borrow some of his moves, and although I haven't quite mastered them all, this little trick was enough to beat you." His fist began to emit electrical sparks as he planned to finish the job.
Smithy aimed his free hand at his approaching foe. "Don't come any closer! I've still got these pistols embedded in my fingertips!"
"Oh, did I forget to mention that I froze them shut?" Mark inquired sardonically. "Face it; you've lost. Plus, the hammer is frozen to your hand, making it nearly impossible for you to move with all of that extra weight. And in this form, you don't have any flame-based attacks to melt the ice with."
"Damn... you..." Smithy grumbled as Mark laid his palm on the robot's forehead. "Mario... Curse you... and your family..."
"I'm not as soft as my father," Mark informed him as he unleashed a powerful Thunderball from his palm, brutally shocking Smithy. "Sorry, but I can't afford to let you live."
His body beginning to fall apart, Smithy could only mutter a few last words. "Crimson will... finish the job... Everyone... that Mario holds dear... will be eradicated..." At last, the robot's body exploded into hundreds of mechanical pieces. This time, he was gone for good.
"He would've been pretty tough if I didn't limit his abilities like that," Mark muttered to himself. "He was just one of Crimson's lackeys. I wonder if we even stand a chance against Crimson..."
Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
"How'd it go?" the Master inquired as he and Luke emerged from around the corner.
Mark gestured at the pile of rubble that was once Smithy. "Not bad. Did you find a way to shut the clones down?"
Luke nodded. "Those Shade clones nearly had us, but we found the deactivation switch at the last moment. Not only did it prevent more clones from being produced, but it also destroyed the majority of the clones that already existed, including the ones we were fighting."
"The computer told us that ninety six percent of the clones had been successfully deactivated. I suppose a few of them were too far away for the main computer to have an effect on them," the Master pondered. "Regardless, defeating a dozen or so Shade clones will be much easier than fighting against hundreds of them. When Mario returns, we'll be able to make short work of them."
"That's not the problem, though," Mark said with a frown. "Smithy is gone, Donkey Kong has returned to our side, and the Lord Shade clones have almost been entirely eradicated. That only leaves Crimson and Enzo."
"When I saw Lorne fight him, Enzo didn't seem to be too powerful. I'm sure he won't be too much trouble," Luke recalled. "At this point, our only major threat is Crimson."
"By the way, how did you manage to survive?" the Master inquired. "I could have sworn that one of the Lord Shade clones told us that you were dead."
"Yeah, one of 'em almost managed to kill me. I was completely worn out after my fight with Jinx, so I didn't stand a chance. The Shade clone stabbed me in the chest and left me to die. I struggled to stay alive for as long as I could, but after it began to grow dark and cold outside, I knew that my life would soon be over. That's when Donkey Kong found me on his way back from Toad Town. He explained everything that had happened while I was away, and how he had ventured into Toad Town to gather some supplies. Unfortunately, he had only managed to find two Max Mushrooms. After feeding me one, he told me that he would return to the jungle. He had witnessed the power of Crimson and his underlings firsthand, and decided that it would be best for him to stay out of this battle. He told me to hold on to his last Max Mushroom before saying goodbye. After that, I followed his instructions and ventured after you."
"At least Donkey Kong was able to come through for us. It's unfortunate that all we have left is a single Max Mushroom," the Master sighed. "Well, we won't accomplish anything by standing around. If you boys want to turn back, now's the time to speak up. I have a bad feeling about Luigi and the princess, so I'll be going back to check on them. If you two want to come with me..."
Mark shook his head. "My father entrusted me with his duty as the Mushroom Hero. There's no way I could back down now."
Luke nodded in agreement. "And he told me to always watch my older brother's back. We're gonna fight Crimson as a team, just like Dad and Uncle Luigi would."
"I understand. Good luck to the both of you." The Master turned and jogged in the opposite direction. As he dashed down the silent corridor, a pair of eyes watched him intently.
"Is he the one responsible for all of this commotion? No... There must be more than one of them. I'll just let him lead me to his comrades." Enzo grinned. "Soon, I will finally be able to eliminate Mario's few remaining loved ones. And once he returns to his beloved kingdom, he will find that everyone he has ever cared for has been reduced to nothing but dust."
Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
"Retreat? Lorne, I thought you knew me better than that," Crimson muttered in disappointment. "I've waited nearly three decades to find a suitable opponent for the Armageddon. First you betrayed me, and now you expect me to leave this kingdom peacefully for the sake of your new friends?"
Lorne nodded firmly. "Forgive me, Sir Crimson. You've had such a large impact on my life... You're the reason why I've become so strong... You helped me escape from a life of slavery, but... Mario has helped me realize that I didn't want to become an assassin. I never wanted to murder others for my own selfish gains. I've found that the only time I can ever really justify killing someone... is when it's to ensure my own survival."
"Fighting to survive, huh?" Crimson parroted. "You say that you're walking your own path, but what have you found so far? Let me guess: a life of emptiness and mediocrity, right? Killing others merely for the sake of survival... It's primitive, Lorne. You're no different than a peasant, dying on the roadside. You only live to survive; your life has no luxuries. Think back to when you worked under me. You had money, freedom, and power, but you threw it all away."
"I had luxuries, but I was unhappy," Lorne replied simply.
"Happiness. That's why you abandoned me? Well then, can you honestly tell me that you've found happiness here in this kingdom? You look just as unhappy as when you were an assassin. In fact, you seem even more depressed. Do you know why? Now you carry the burden of guilt. You're torn between two people that have drastically impacted your life: Mario... and me. And no matter what side you may choose, that guilt will still remain within you." He drew his sword. "That's why... I'm going to end your life, Lorne. That way, you won't have to feel guilty any longer."
The Invincible Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d982a4c-8800-4858-9af6-a9d0bfa07072/The-Invincible-Crimson)
"I had a feeling it would come to this," Lorne muttered as he drew his own blade. "I've got no choice. I can't show any mercy, even to you, Crimson."
A smile spread across Crimson's face as he placed his right palm on his veil. "I expected nothing less. Hmm... I think fifty percent will be more than enough." His palm began to emit a purple glow, and Crimson's veil became slightly transparent. "There we go... I've unsealed fifty percent of the darkness dwelling within me." A terrible feeling of bloodlust began to fill the air as a crimson aura swirled around the villain's body.
Lorne gritted his teeth. I've never actually seen Crimson fight before. I had better be careful. His thought process was interrupted as he lost sight of his former master. He glanced upward and dove to the right, noticing Crimson lunging at him from above at the last second. He felt a gust of wind rush past him as Crimson's blade sunk into the spot that he had just stood in. Not wasting any time, Crimson yanked his sword from the floor and began to duel with his ex-underling.
"Not bad," Crimson commended him as he parried one of Lorne's sword swings. "I always knew that you were skilled, but I never suspected that you had this degree of talent."
Sparks flew into the air, and metal clangs echoed throughout the empty corridor. Lorne knocked one of his foe's slashes to the side and lunged forward. Calm and cool, Crimson swiftly elbowed Lorne in the face, abruptly bringing his attack to a halt. Crimson pursued with a vertical slash, but his former minion quickly dodged it with a back flip. Lorne regained his balance and rushed forward. The two blades clashed once again. It was a stalemate.
"I've been pretty generous so far," Crimson chuckled arrogantly. "I've only been attacking you with my sword. Now it's time for me to try a little harder."
As the two warriors' swords were still pressed together, Crimson brought his free hand forward and unleashed a blast of electricity from his palm. Lorne howled in agony as he soared backward, dropping his blade in midair and eventually colliding with a stone wall. As Lorne slowly lifted himself off of the ground, he realized that his blade was on the far side of the room. Standing between him and his weapon was a bloodthirsty Crimson. He attempted to stand up, but soon discovered that he was stuck in a kneeling position with one of his palms pressed against the floor. "Why... can't I move?"
"That blast I struck you with has a temporary paralyzing effect. Don't worry; it'll wear off in about thirty seconds," Crimson explained smugly. "After that, you'll be free to move. That is, if you're still alive!" He raised his dagger above his head and began to sprint toward his former underling. Lorne remained helpless on his hands and knees, unable to escape from Crimson's next attack. Just as Crimson's blade was only inches away from Lorne's throat, he stopped dead in his tracks. Droplets of blood stained the floor. In the corner of his eye, Crimson spotted a colossal icicle that extended from the wall and into his chest.
Lorne, having regained his mobility, fled to the opposite side of the room and regained possession of his sword. "You were too careless, Crimson."
"Ingenious," Crimson gasped, tracing a path of ice from the icicle in the wall to the spot that Lorne had just stood in. "I forgot that you could manipulate ice. Now that winter is beginning, it must have been easy for you to transmit ice from your palm to the floor. From there, it traveled up along the wall and formed into a stalagmite, nearly impaling me as I prepared to finish you off."
A chilling wind blew through the room as chunks of ice began to swirl around Lorne's blade. "It's been six years since I took orders from you. Since then, you've likely forgotten most of my moves. Allow me to refresh your memory. This is the Blizzard Dagger!" The cool breeze that filled the room began to surround Lorne's sword, creating a miniature snowstorm. The stoic warrior swung his frosty blade forward, sending an icy shockwave in Crimson's direction. Next, he sprinted directly at Crimson, preparing to end the battle with a one-two combo.
Crimson gripped his sword tightly as Lorne and his snowy shockwave drew closer. A wave of ice quickly rushed past his body, freezing him in a thin sheet of ice. Lorne followed closely behind, prepared to finish off his immobilized foe. However, just as he was about to deal the final blow, he realized that the battle had already ended. Blood seeped out from several gashes on his chest, and the warrior fell to his knees.
"Well done, Lorne," Crimson congratulated him as the ice surrounding his body shattered. "That was the first time in a while that I was able to derive some enjoyment from a fight. You've managed to increase my expectations for my challenger when the Armageddon arrives."
"When did you... cut me...?" Lorne inquired as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Right after you launched that blizzard attack at me. I managed to land quite a few slashes on your chest before the ice froze me. By the time I was immobilized, you were far too injured to deal the final blow," Crimson explained. "Although, I will admit that I had to reach deeper into my power. In order to gain the speed I needed to slash you before your attack immobilized me, I needed to use seventy percent of my strength."
"You... keep using... the word 'percent'... What do... you mean? Percentage of... what?"
"You don't need to concern yourself with such trivial details," Crimson replied. "I'll make you a deal: If you can survive until Mario arrives, I'll tell you everything. In the meantime, you will remain here at all times. I will not raise my sword against you as long as you do not make any attempts to escape."
Lorne nodded slowly as he collapsed onto the floor. "But... what do you want... with Mario...?"
"What about my father?" Mark inquired as he and Luke stepped into the room.
Luke gasped. "Lorne! What happened to you?!"
Mark glared at Crimson, his body emanating with anger and hatred. "Why did you do this to him? He just wanted to talk."
"We're not gonna let you get away with this," Luke added angrily. "We've already taken care of Smithy and his clones. You're next."
"Stay back..." Lorne warned them. "You two... aren't ready for him..."
Mark and Luke stepped forward, ignoring their ally's advice. Crimson grinned. Yes... Two more loved ones for Mario to grieve for. This is perfect...
"How is the princess?" the Master inquired as he entered the cramped cubicle in which a pipe leading to the sewers was positioned. Leaning against this pipe was Peach, whose face was sickly and pale. Luigi stood firmly beside her, prepared to defend her from anyone who might enter their hideaway.
"Not too bad," Luigi replied with uncertainty. "Whatever she's got, it doesn't seem life-threatening. But she does look like she's in pain."
"We need to get her to a doctor, and fast," the Master urged him. "Now that the boys and I have defeated the majority of the Shade clones, the entrance to the castle should be left unguarded. Now's our chance to bring the princess to safety."
"Boys?" Luigi parroted. "I thought you and Luke were alone."
The Master grinned. "Mark arrived to aid us against Smithy. It turns out that he managed to survive, with a little help from Donkey Kong. I told the boys to come back here with me, but they insisted on fighting against Crimson. They'll need our help."
"In that case, you should take Peach somewhere safe. Any doctors that would normally be in Toad Town are probably down in the sewers. For now, you should find her a comfy place to recover," Luigi instructed him. "For now, I'll help the boys with Crimson. If you feel confident that Peach will be safe on her own, you can come back to help us after you bring her to shelter."
"You're forgetting about someone," a wicked voice echoed from the entrance. A cruel smirk spread across Enzo's face. "Did you really think that you could escape? The traitor and the two brats are up against Crimson, so you might as well consider them dead. And now that I've finally found the last few stragglers, this little rebellion of yours is over. Without anyone to oppose him, Crimson will take control of this kingdom for all of eternity."
The Master sighed. He stepped forward, not surprised in the least by Enzo's appearance. "What a foolish child. Do you not understand that Crimson is manipulating you and your desires? Crimson has no interest in ruling over this kingdom. He has some sort of personal affair to settle. He's merely using you as a pawn to further his own goals. Your desire for vengeance means nothing to him."
"Crimson told me that you'd say something like that," Enzo remarked with a grin. "I won't fall for your mind games."
"Very well. I'll have to show you how feeble you are," the Master informed him with an impassive yawn.
"Will he... be okay...?" Peach inquired softly, her voice barely audible.
Luigi nodded. "Trust me. He knows what he's doing."
"Will your death result from my blade, or a heart attack?" Enzo taunted as he drew his sword. Without giving the Master a chance to reply, he lunged at the elder Toad and thrust his sword forward. Enzo blinked and scanned his surroundings. "Where'd he go...?" He glanced upward and saw the Master standing nimbly on the tip of his sword. "Damn you..." He sent his fist upward toward his opponent, but the Master was too quick. His attack missed yet again, and Enzo was left wide open. The Master capitalized on this opportunity and dealt a crushing blow to his chest.
"Now do you understand?" the Master asked, shaking his head in disappointment. "Your eyes are too slow. You need to be able to spot your opponent before he attacks you."
Enzo slowly rose to his feet, clutching his wound as he chuckled to himself. "I'll admit that I've never been much of a fighter. When I swore vengeance against Mario, I soon realized that I'd never be able to beat him in a fair fight. I knew that it would take more than physical strength to take him down, so I developed a different kind of tactic." His eyes began to glow red as he gazed at his opponent. "You are the master of Toad Town's dojo... and one of the most accomplished martial artists in the kingdom... However, along with all of the wisdom you've obtained over the years, you've also been forced to shoulder quite a bit of guilt..."
The Master's eyes widened. "What are you... talking about?"
"Don't try to hide your feelings," Enzo sneered. "Your gruff exterior hides your true feelings from everyone else, but not me. I can see everything: your regret for allowing your students to be killed, your fear that Crimson will annihilate everything in his path... I can even see that you partially blame Mario for not being here to protect everyone."
The Master shook his head. "No... It isn't true..." He began to clutch his head. "Stop it..."
"This is my ability," Enzo declared wickedly. "I can see into a person's mind and amplify any feelings of guilt or regret, no matter how deep they may be buried. All I have to do is wait until your remorse overtakes you, rendering you helpless."
Chapter 15: The Breaking Point
The Invincible Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d982a4c-8800-4858-9af6-a9d0bfa07072/The-Invincible-Crimson)
"What's the matter? I haven't even started trying yet," Crimson chuckled.
Breathing heavily, the teenage Mario brothers stood side-by-side as Crimson approached them. "He's good..." Luke whispered. "Do you still think we can beat him by ourselves?"
"I'm not sure," Mark replied with uncertainty. "If you want, you can try to escape while I distract him."
Luke shook his head. "If you've decided to fight Crimson, it's my duty to support you."
"Get... out of here..." Lorne urged them. "He'll... kill you..."
Determined to fill their father's shoes, Mark and Luke sprinted at Crimson with their fists clenched. Crimson placed his palm on his veil. "Let's see... I've been taking it easy on you so far. It's time for me to step up my game a bit," he declared. "I'll use fifty percent of the darkness inside of me."
Mark was the first to attack, lunging at Crimson with a right hook that was augmented by the power of a Fireball. Crimson caught the attack in his palm and yawned. He tossed the teenager into the air and prepared to deal with his other opponent. Luke nimbly dove through Crimson's legs, sprang to his feet, and leapt at his foe from behind. He reached under Crimson's shoulders and brought his own arms up, effectively restraining Crimson's arms. "Get him, Bro!"
Mark, still soaring in midair, nodded and performed a few back-flips to regain his momentum. Now in full control of his descent, he extended his right foot toward his target. In response to this, Crimson reached back and grabbed Luke's throat. Chuckling lightly to himself, he tore Luke off of his back and tossed him over his head toward Mark. Unable to change their courses, the two brothers collided in midair and collapsed onto the ground with two simultaneous thuds.
The younger Mario Brothers rubbed their sore heads as they rose to their feet. As soon as they brought their attention to Crimson, they saw several bolts of electricity heading straight for them. They dove in opposite directions, but the lightning bolts changed their paths and struck the brothers with full force. Mark's eyes fluttered open only a few seconds later, and he saw Crimson towering above him.
"Luke... get out of here..." Mark muttered as Crimson grabbed him by the throat. He raised the young plumber with one hand and drew his dagger with the other.
"It's been fun, but I'm afraid I cannot allow you to live to see your father's return," Crimson snickered. As he brought his blade toward Mark's throat, he felt a sharp pain in his back. His sword clattered to the floor. Crimson whirled around to see Luke standing firmly with Lorne's blade in his grip.
"You..." Crimson hissed, releasing Mark from his grip. "Fine. I'll get rid of you first."
"I told you... to leave..." Mark groaned as he tumbled onto the carpeted floor. "Luke... run away..."
Defeat (http://www.esnips.com/doc/8f4f928f-86be-46a9-b0bc-d2626a95eca7/Defeat)
Luke raised his comrade's dagger, prepared to defend himself. Crimson merely grinned and wrapped his hand around the blade, causing it to shatter instantly. Luke staggered backward in fear. Crimson drew closer. In a quick flash of light, the villain drew his sword and landed several slashes across the young boy's chest. Blood trickled from Luke's wounds, and he collapsed onto the floor. With a sigh of satisfaction, Crimson pointed his dagger downward and stabbed through Luke's back. The young plumber cried out in agony, sending chills down his brother's spine. Blood flowed from the boy's body and stained the carpeted floor.
"That's one down... Now, how long will you survive, Mark?" He turned to his next target, ready to spill his blood. Instead, he was met by a colossal blaze of fire.
Mark unleashed a cry of agony as he pointed his open palms at Crimson, unleashing yet another series of Fireballs. After bombarding Crimson, he sprinted to his brother's side. He scooped Luke up in both arms and began to rush down the nearest corridor. He finally understood the depths of Crimson's power. They were outclassed. Now, as he sprinted away from Crimson and defied everything that his father had ever taught him, only one thought pervaded his mind: escape. His heart began to beat faster, and sweat trickled his face as he desperately searched for a place to hide. As he turned the next corner, all of his hope faded away.
"It looks like you've let your father down once again," Crimson informed him in an almost melancholy tone. His attitude suddenly seemed to change. Instead of enjoying his battle, he was acting as if he was being forced against his will to end Mark's life. A drop of blue visible in his normally red eyes, Crimson thrust his blade forward and pierced the young plumber's flesh. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Mark dropped his brother and collapsed onto the floor.
After silently admiring the fallen brothers, Crimson turned and walked away, his head hung low.
Several moments passed, and seconds seemed to last for hours. Luke's eyes slowly opened, even as blood continued to drip from his wounds. Sharp pains erupted throughout his entire body as he struggled into a sitting position. "Not... yet..." He crawled over to his fallen brother, wincing in pain along the way. At last, he began to rifle through Mark's pockets, eventually removing the single Max Mushroom that Donkey Kong had managed to find. "Here... it is..." He collapsed onto the floor, the mushroom still wrapped tightly in his grip. "Dad told me... to always... look out for you... So take this... and live... please, Bro..." Not even bothering to break off a piece for himself, he opened his unconscious brother's mouth and fed him the Max Mushroom. A sad grin spread across his face, and tears began to stream down his cheeks. His final duty fulfilled, Luke collapsed onto the floor as his world began to grow dark.
The Master fell to his knees, finally succumbing to the guilt within him. "This guilt... I can't... overcome it..."
"The more you know, the darker your soul becomes," Enzo sneered. "Wisdom may come with age, but as you learn more about our world, you soon discover how disgusting we humans really are. That's why my abilities work best on the elderly." He turned to Luigi. "However, you seem to have some pent up tension as well. You aren't nearly as old as the Master, but your depression is nearly as severe as his. You feel as though you're a failure, and that you cannot accomplish anything without your brother at your side. Isn't that right?"
"No... that's not..." Luigi groaned, clutching his head. His body suddenly began to tremble as a sudden feeling of rage swept over him. "You... You have no right to talk about the darker feelings inside of us. You're the one who spent half his life plotting against a man he didn't even get to know! You're nothing but a hypocrite!"
His hatred for Mario welling up inside of him, Enzo exploded with resentment. "You're only saying that because Mario is your brother! You all love to believe that Mario is some kind of perfect role model, but I know what he really is: a cold-blooded murderer!" With a loathsome shriek, he lunged at Luigi with his blade.
Although he was fueled by anger, Luigi was still under the influence of Enzo's guilt-amplifying ability. This created a blend between anger and despair, which had a severe impact on Luigi's mobility. He groggily staggered back and forth, barely dodging Enzo's slashes. Whenever he dazedly attempted to counterattack, Enzo would merely dodge him and continue his assault. At last, Luigi slipped up and was barely nipped by Enzo's dagger. Luigi fell to his knees, his sorrow overcoming his resentment.
"You fought well, considering the immense sadness you must have been feeling," Enzo commended him. "Too bad. The Master and his pupil have been paralyzed by their own anguish, and the princess is too ill to defend herself. This is the end."
"I guess Enzo was right..." Luigi whispered, teardrops forming in the corners of his eyes. "Without Bro at my side, I really am a failure..."
Mushroom Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/de663555-8bd0-469d-ab0f-700f64296001/Mushroom-Hero)
"Don't say that about yourself, Bro. You held Crimson off for long enough. I'll take over from here," Mario declared as he slowly entered the room. His clothes were ragged and torn, and many wounds were visible on his face and through the rips in his clothing. His eyes had changed slightly; they almost appeared fragile and confused. However, despite his tattered appearance, Mario's words were more than enough to assure them that everything would be alright.
Peach gasped. "Mario... is that... really you...?"
Mario kneeled beside her. "Sorry for making you worry. I told you that I'd be back someday, and here I am." The two of them embraced, and Mario turned his attention to the Master. "Thanks for looking out for Luigi and the boys. I knew they'd be in good hands..." At last, he began to approach his brother. He held his hand out to him, and Luigi gladly took it. "And Bro... Sorry for leaving you to handle this alone..."
"You've arrived a little earlier than expected," Enzo stated irritably. "Of course, it still won't hinder Crimson's plan."
"So, who's this?" Mario inquired. "One of Crimson's new lackeys?"
"Something like that," Luigi replied with a grin. "Oh, and he's vowed to bring about the systematic destruction of everyone you know. Apparently he was engaged to Pauline before you rescued her from Donkey Kong. Now he wants revenge because you murdered her."
Mario turned to Enzo, who was trembling with hatred. "That doesn't sound right. I've never seen this guy in my life. Besides, Pauline would have told me if she left someone else to be with me. Pauline didn't keep secrets." He clenched his fists. "So, what's your name?"
"Enzo," his foe replied. "The reason you know nothing about me is because 'Pauline' cut all ties to me after she met you. She even went so far as to change her own name. I was satisfied as long as she was happy with you, but then... you murdered her and got away with it... Now all of these fools worship you as a pure-hearted hero. It sickens me."
"Enzo... If what you say is true, then I'm sorry. However, there are a few things I want to make clear. First, whether you believe me or not, Pauline's death was an accident. There are some things about me... that not even I understand. And second, I've never been a 'pure-hearted hero'. I started off as an arrogant jerk who rescued this kingdom time and time again for the glory and fame. As time passed and my fate unfolded before me, I grew to understand my true purpose: to defend this kingdom. Although I may not be perfect, and though I may be related to a demon, it is my duty to stop Crimson's plot. Even if you rightfully deserve revenge, I can't let you terrorize this kingdom."
"You're just a bunch of talk," Enzo spat with disgust. "You can cover up your true nature as much as you want, but you can't fool me." He raised his sword and sprinted toward Mario, something he had dreamed of doing for over a decade.
Nimbly dodging his opponent's slashes despite his injuries, Mario's thoughts were elsewhere. There were so many things he wanted to know. Were his other loved ones alright? Were these the only survivors? Had Lorne turned against Crimson, or reunited with him? What had happened so far in the war between Crimson and the Mushroom Kingdom? The only thing that stood between him and these answers was Enzo.
He's still just as skilled as I remember, Luigi thought as he watched his brother snag the upper hand against Enzo. But Enzo has yet to use his strange abilities on Bro. If Enzo were to tell him about all of the casualties we've faced so far, how would he react? Ace said that Mario was near the breaking point. How long will it be before he finally snaps?
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
At last, Mario landed a right hook on Enzo's chest, knocking him flat on his back. Enzo's dagger clattered to the floor, and he began to chuckle weakly. As he rose to his feet, his laughter increased. Seeing Mario standing before him, determined to protect his kingdom once again, filled Enzo with delight. He knew that the words he was about to utter would shatter Mario's hope and cast him away into an abyss of despair.
"Enzo, can't you just accept defeat?" Mario inquired hopefully. "This has gone on long enough. Can't you try to understand that Pauline's death wasn't as simple as you've been told? I don't want to hurt you, especially considering the lies that Crimson has uttered to all of his past minions. You're being controlled, just as Slade and Lorne were."
Enzo smiled wickedly at his opponent. "So, do you think you've returned just in time to save the day? You're probably thinking that this will be just like your battle against Lord Shade. Each time your friends found themselves in danger, you arrived just in time to prevent any casualties. And if there did happen to be one or two deaths, you would just use the Star Rod to give them another chance at life. Do you think this will be the same? Do you really believe everything is alright?" His grin widened as he felt Mario's greatest fears beginning to stir. "The Star Rod is gone. All casualties will be permanent."
"What are you... getting at...?" Mario inquired, his body beginning to tremble.
"I'm curious about this feeling of guilt emanating from your body, Mario. Are you perhaps a little troubled by the fact that your trip to the Nightmare Vault was merely a ruse planned by Botis? I bet you'd feel pretty bad if something happened to your friends while you were away." Enzo's eyes were gleaming with an insane, twisted joy. At last, the words that he had been burning to utter could finally escape his lips. "You thought you could get away with slaughtering 'Pauline', but your sins have finally caught up with you. The punishment for your crimes has finally been fulfilled. The Wario Brothers... and your two sons... are dead."
Time seemed to stop as Enzo's cruel words echoed through the silent halls of the castle. All at once, Mario's world shattered to pieces. He dropped his fists. His will to fight quickly drained away. Mario fell to his knees, his face pale with despair. He did not cry. His misery was at a level far beyond anything he had ever shed tears over. No reaction could do his deceased friends justice. Instead, he fell to his knees as his worst fears became a reality. He had abandoned his kingdom six years ago, and now he was too late to save it.
"No... How can you be so sure that the boys are dead?" the Master asked, his body trembling with fear. "And Lorne... He's still hanging on..."
Enzo smirked from ear to ear. "Want proof?" He pulled a metallic cube the size of a baseball from his pocket and tossed it on the ground beside Mario. After a few seconds, the box quadrupled in size. On each face of the enlarged cube, live video footage of different areas of the Mushroom Kingdom could be seen. One side displayed Jinx's and the Master's students' graves, while two other sides showed the dead bodies of Wario and Waluigi. A fourth face displayed Mark and Luke lying face-down in a pool of blood, and the fifth side showed Crimson's throne room, where Lorne was lying unconscious and Crimson was waiting patiently for his next challenger. "Oh, and did I neglect to mention that Jinx and the Master's other students died as well?" Enzo cackled, overjoyed at Mario's reaction to the grim news. "You were too late! We targeted each of your loved ones and took away their lives one by one! And this entire time, the helpless citizens of your kingdom were blaming all of this destruction on you!"
Mario slowly lifted his head up and gave Enzo a cold, lifeless stare. He rose to his feet. "Go."
"What?" Enzo inquired, holding his hand to his ear. "So you've finally spoken? I was worried that you had gone insane."
"Go," Mario repeated, his voice low and hoarse. "Leave, and don't ever come back." His body was trembling, though whether it was out of sadness or rage, Enzo could not tell.
"You're in no position to give me orders," Enzo snickered. "In the condition that you're in, you can't even lay a hand on me."
In the blink of an eye, Mario raised his palm and unleashed a fierce blaze upon his foe. Enzo shrieked in agony as his body was scorched by Mario's brutal attack. He staggered back and forth, his body lit ablaze with the flames of Mario's resentment. "Go," Mario repeated. "Get out of my face."
"...You'll regret this!" Enzo howled as he turned to leave. "I'll retreat for now, but I'm going to return with Crimson! And when I do, I'll be sure to watch as he effortlessly ends your pitiful existence." The fire shrouding his body quickly died out, and Enzo vanished into the darkness without once looking back.
Misery (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d619a5c9-87a5-457e-ba44-edfa6c194952/Misery)
Luigi breathed a sigh of relief. "He's gone... You showed him, right Bro?" He forced a chuckle, waiting for a positive response from Mario. "...Bro?" He slowly turned around, suddenly fearful of his brother's emotional state. He gasped.
The color had drained from Mario's face. His lifeless eyes looked straight ahead with a blank stare. "What... what kind of hero am I? I abandoned my kingdom... to fight for a bunch of demons... Six years passed... and I accomplished nothing... And now that I've returned... they're all gone..."
The Master rose to his feet and put his hands on Mario's shoulders. "You can't put all of the blame on yourself, Mario. If anyone is responsible for this, it's Crimson!"
However, the Master's words of wisdom fell upon deaf ears. "What meaning... does my title as the Mushroom Hero hold...? I vowed to protect this kingdom... I swore to Pauline that I'd protect those who were close to me... But now... after finding out about my demon heritage... after leaving all of my friends to die... after instilling hatred in Enzo's heart... how can I call myself a hero...?"
Luigi stepped forward and grabbed his brother by the collar. "This isn't like you at all! We can grieve for everyone later! Right now, you've got to focus on eliminating Crimson! Our family and friends may have been killed, but we can at least avenge their deaths! Can't the Mushroom Hero do at least that much?"
"Destroy... Crimson...?" Mario murmured dreamily. These words stirred memories within him, memories from the Nightmare Vault:
Botis stormed into the room, breathing heavily. "Mario, what has happened to you? Are you really going to spend all of this time wallowing in your own despair? I've searched far and wide for you, but you just keep on wandering off!"
"I can't fight for you... not now..." Mario muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "All of these innocent lives... Were they lost for nothing?"
"Well?" Luigi inquired impatiently, still holding his brother by the collar. "What's wrong with you?! You've always been able to handle these kinds of things! Stand up, and we can fight against Crimson together!"
"Luigi, let him be. He's been through a lot," the Master stated glumly. "We need to wait until he's ready."
"But if Bro was in my shoes, he'd be doing the same thing!" Luigi thundered, angrily shaking his brother. "He'd tell me to stop whining and help him fight Crimson!"
"No..." Mario refused hoarsely. "I've had enough... Hasn't there been enough senseless fighting...?" Luigi's eyes widened with fury as he dealt a furious right hook to his brother's face. Mario made no effort to block it and tumbled onto the ground, lifelessly staring at the ceiling.
Fallen Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/16499496-88e2-4db7-9d24-480e5c47f3ab/Fallen-Hero)
"Wait a minute," the Master interrupted, pointing at the video cube that Enzo had left behind. "In Crimson's throne room... Is that... Mark? He's fighting with Crimson! But how did he survive? ...Perhaps it was the Max Mushroom that Donkey Kong gave him?" Mario sat up and turned to view his son's battle.
"See?" Luigi inquired angrily. "Some of your loved ones are still alive! Look at Mark, fighting with everything he has. You mean to tell me that you won't even help him? He's going to die, Bro! One of your sons already has! Come with me, and we'll work as a team. We can take down Crimson once and for all!"
Mario slowly shook his head. "I won't... I refuse to fight... I'm tired of these... senseless battles... Haven't enough people died...? I have no right to call myself... the Mushroom Hero... That title belongs to... Mark..."
Luigi grabbed his brother's head and forcefully twisted it until Mario was staring straight at his son's battle with Crimson on Enzo's cube. "Take a good look, Bro! That's your son! Even now, he's still fighting with everything he has... And do you know why? It isn't because he thinks he's the new Mushroom Hero. He hasn't been fighting to replace you, and he doesn't think that he'll be the one to stop Crimson! Right now, Mark isn't trying to be a hero. He isn't thinking about the countless lives that are depending on him. Do you know what he's thinking about right now, as his life is dwindling? He's picturing the moment of your return! He's waiting for you to rescue him at the last second, for you to tell him that you're proud, and for you to assure him that everything will be alright!"
Mario did not respond.
Unable to control his fury any longer, Luigi stood up and began to walk away. "Fine. You can sit there as long as you like. While you're busy whining, I'll be trying to help save my nephew's life. While I'm at it, maybe I'll tell him how much of a coward his father is."
No response.
Luigi turned around. "I don't know what happened to that determined look you always used to have in your eyes. Now all I can see in them is fear. Those six years in the Nightmare Vault changed you. Maybe you're right. You aren't the Mushroom Hero. You're just a demon." Tears forming in the corners of his eyes, he stormed out of the room.
Chapter 16: Decision
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
"Mario... Won't you fight alongside your brother?" the Master pleaded. "Please... Don't you want revenge for all of the lives Crimson has taken?"
"Revenge...?" Mario parroted lifelessly. He shook his head. Revenge was not what he was searching for. Revenge would not bring his friends and family back to life. Revenge did not motivate him to stand once more.
"Back for more, eh?" Crimson inquired as Mark rushed at him once again. The young plumber unleashed a furious array of punches and kicks, all of which Crimson effortlessly blocked. "I don't know how you managed to survive, but it won't really matter in a couple of minutes."
Tears flowed down Mark's cheeks as he desperately attempted to strike his opponent. Images of Luke's death crowded his mind:
Mark groggily rubbed his eyes and sat up. "I'm... alive...?" He glanced over at his brother, who was laying face-down on the blood-stained floor. After recognizing the taste of a mushroom on his lips, he gasped. "Luke... No... He fed me the Max Mushroom that Donkey Kong found..." Frantically, he rolled his brother onto his back and checked for a pulse. Luke's body was cold and lifeless. Teardrops formed in the corners of Mark's eyes. "Why... Why didn't you keep it for yourself?" Against all logic, Mark turned and began to march toward Crimson's throne room. His thoughts of escape were quickly replaced by a thirst for revenge. He would avenge his brother's death, or die trying.
No longer able to control his resentment, Mark formed two Fireballs, one in each of his palms. With a shriek of pure detestation, he slammed the Fireballs into the ground in front of him, causing smoke to rise from the ground and obscure Crimson's view. Crimson grinned and gazed upward. "You can't hide from me, Mark!"
Sure enough, Mark was attacking his foe from above. Crimson caught Mark's foot in midair and tossed him onto the floor. As he struggled to get up, Crimson placed his foot on Mark's back. "You just don't get it. Do you know why all of your friends are dying? It isn't because of their affiliation with Mario; that was just to make the Four Comrades believe that they were important. The real reason is because they're weak. I've judged each warrior that has stood before me, and none of them have met my expectations. And until someone does, I will never be satisfied."
"That's... it...?" Mark inquired, struggling to push himself up. "This is all because... we don't meet your standards...?"
Crimson nodded. "I'm searching for one person in particular. Anyone else is just trash." He unsheathed his blade. "No matter how many times you come back to face me, the result will be the same. Though you may hold a grudge against me for killing your brother, your hatred still won't be enough to bring you up to my level. However, you don't have to worry about living through a second defeat. This time, I'll make sure that you do not survive."
"Crimson..." Luigi hissed angrily as he entered the room. "If Mark doesn't live up to your standards, maybe I will."
"Ah, Luigi. I was wondering when you'd show your face. Welcome," Crimson greeted him. "The brother of the Mushroom Hero... Maybe you can offer more of a challenge than your nephew did." He held out his hand.
"You think I'd shake your hand after all that you've done?" Luigi inquired, angrily swatting Crimson's hand away. "This isn't a joke. I'm not here to exchange pleasantries. Who do you think you are? You think you can slay people just because you find them to be unworthy?"
"Why not? Society does it all the time," Crimson replied. "If someone doesn't act in accordance with the laws set by society, he is punished. That's all I'm doing." He placed his palm on his veil and began to summon his strength. "You know, we have a lot more in common than you think, Luigi."
Enraged, Luigi raised his fists and charged toward Crimson. "Shut up! I'm nothing like you!"
"You won't be saying that after I've told you the truth. It's only a matter of time. Mario should be here any minute now," Crimson chuckled. "Until then, I'll have to settle for the two of you."
Mario continued to dreamily watch the battle between Mark, Luigi, and Crimson. Seeing the blood drip from his son's wounds did not motivate him to fight. It only added to his despair. The Master continued to beg him to fight Crimson, but his plight fell upon deaf ears. Mario had already vowed to never stand in the name of violence again.
"We're doomed..." the Master sighed, burying his face in his hands. "Luigi has surpassed me, and Mark is nearly at my level. If they can't stop Crimson, and Mario refuses to fight... there won't be anyone left..."
Hope (http://www.esnips.com/doc/403e8aab-d430-417c-905e-98ed67458e68/Hope)
Suddenly, Mario felt a gentle tug on his overalls. He sluggishly turned to see Peach laying beside him, her hand clutching his shirt. Her face was pale and sickly, and her eyes were barely open. "Mario... please... Protect them... Save Luigi... and your son... Don't let them... die..."
Suddenly, color began to return to Mario's eyes. "Protect...?"
"I can't fight for you... not now..." Mario muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "All of these innocent lives... Were they lost for nothing?"
Botis smiled gently. "Ah, I understand what has happened. Even the finest of warriors have gone through this phase. You are unsure if you're fighting for a worthy cause. This problem only takes a few months for most demons to get through, but not in your case. You've spent your days in the Mushroom Kingdom as a protector, saving innocent lives and being known as a hero. Now you're a destroyer, a soldier with the sole task of obliterating the Phoenix. Until you come to terms with this change, you will not be able to fight at your maximum."
Mario's eyes widened. These past six years... I've changed... Fighting in the Nightmare Vault... During my battles against the Phoenix... The entire time, I was concerned with only one thing: destroying the demons and Grimnexes. That's all Botis ever told me to do. He said that I was used to being a protector, and that I slumped into a deep depression because I was now only fighting to destroy the Phoenix.
"Mario... please... help them..." Peach repeated, her frail voice barely audible.
The reason that I couldn't bear to fight Crimson... It was because I was tired of fighting simply to destroy something... I lost sight of my true purpose, to protect the Mushroom Kingdom. But who would have thought that Botis would be the one to help me find the answer to my despair? He helped me understand my depression. I am a protector, not a destroyer. The entire time I was in the Nightmare Vault, I was fighting to eliminate the Phoenix instead of to protect the Demon Resistance.
Mario's body began to shine with a blue aura, and the Mushroom Hero slowly rose to his feet. He stood up, not to fight against Crimson, but to protect his remaining friends from Crimson.
The Master gasped. "Mario... are you...?"
Mario shook his head. "I'm not going there to fight Crimson; I'm going there to help defend the Mushroom Kingdom."
"Thank... you..." Peach murmured before finally slipping into unconsciousness.
Mario began to walk away. "There's no reason to thank me." He turned to the Master. "Now that I'm feeling better, you should get Peach to safety. She should be fine as long she knows that I'm okay."
"But Mario... Do you think that you can handle Crimson?" the Master inquired doubtfully.
"I'll do what I have to; nothing more," Mario answered without turning back. He silently ascended the stairs that led toward Crimson's throne room, his blue aura illuminating the dark stairway.
"Incredible..." the Master gasped in astonishment. "He truly is a hero. Luigi commanded him to fight alongside him against Crimson, but no matter how loud he shouted, his plea could not reach Mario. However, when her highness begged Mario to protect his friends, despite how soft and frail her voice was, he responded to her request."
Once again, Luigi and Mark rose from the floor after a serious beating. Breathing heavily, they stood firmly before the wicked Crimson, who was approaching them at a menacingly slow pace. "I've dragged this out long enough. Mario should be here any minute. One of you has to die by the time he gets here." He drew his sword, his eyes gleaming red with bloodlust. "So, which of you will it be?"
Mark staggered forward. Though it took all of his might just to stand, the young plumber was grinning. Fighting with his life on the line made him feel important, as though he was finally giving his father a reason to be proud.
"No, Mark! You're too young!" Luigi protested. "You shouldn't be risking your life! If anyone's going to die, it'll be me."
There was a long pause, and the two plumbers began to laugh. Despite the many lives that were lost, they realized that they had still managed to benefit from the war with Crimson. Mark finally began to feel as though he could protect the kingdom in his father's absence, and Luigi had begun to overcome his ordinarily cowardly nature. In a way, they almost seemed satisfied with death.
Crimson sighed impatiently. "Fine. I'll choose myself."
As their superior foe rushed toward them, eager to end the battle, Luigi and Mark snapped back to reality. Mario was on the way, and even if it was for only a moment, they simply had to see him again. Accepting the fact that one of them would have to die, Luigi and Mark embraced their fate and sprinted toward their approaching foe. Crimson's blade glided through the air and struck its target with pinpoint accuracy. Blood stained the floor. Another life had been taken.
Mark coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the floor, clutching the gash on his chest. Despite his mortal wound, Mark was determined to survive for just a bit longer. He refused to die until he could see his father one last time. However, as time passed by, Mark's eyes began to close. His vision grew black. He could wait no longer.
Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
Just then, the room was lit by a bright blue aura. Footsteps could be heard near the entrance to the throne room. Mario had arrived.
"Bro... no... Mario... You're finally here..." Luigi whispered in disbelief.
The instant Mario's name escaped from Luigi's lips, everyone in the room felt a slight rejuvenation. The unconscious Lorne awoke from his slumber, as did Enzo. Luigi excitedly rose to his feet, eager to see his brother in action. Even Mark felt a slight boost in vitality, though his wounds were still terminal. The young plumber managed to open his eyes, allowing him to see his father for the first time in six years.
"Dad..."
Mario kneeled beside his dying son. "Mark... You fought with everything you had... You truly proved yourself to be worthy of my title. There may have been some casualties, but the survivors are alive because of you. Without you, Crimson would have taken the life of every person in this kingdom. Thanks to you, there is a kingdom left for me to save."
There was so much that Mark wanted to say, but his condition hindered his words. However, there was no need for him to speak. As Mario spoke softly to his dying son, he understood in an instant how much his words of gratitude meant to Mark.
"Father... I..." Tears began to stream down Mark's cheeks as his eyes slowly shut.
"Mario Junior, you've made me proud. I'm sure Grandpa Grambi will have a comfy place for you in the Overthere."
Luigi held back his tears. What happened to him? How did he become so emotionally strong in such a short amount of time? The way he reacted to Mark's death... He understands that Mark was satisfied with his demise and that he would not want grief to hinder his father's performance against Crimson.
Hope (http://www.esnips.com/doc/403e8aab-d430-417c-905e-98ed67458e68/Hope)
Several minutes passed, and Mario finally stood up. He turned toward Crimson. Calm and cool, the Mushroom Hero strode up to the one responsible for the death of many of his friends and family members. He stopped only a few feet away from Crimson. At last, the two of them were standing face-to-face.
He'd better be careful, Luigi thought with a gulp. In the condition he's in, Bro wouldn't stand a chance against Crimson. I hope he has something planned, because if he makes even one wrong move, Crimson will annihilate us all. What Bro does next will decide the fate of the entire Mushroom Kingdom.
"So, have you finally finished mourning your friends' deaths?" Crimson sneered, eagerly awaiting Mario's reaction.
Mario nodded, his facial expression still stern and focused.
"I see... You've gotten over your depression. Good. You know, I've waited a long time for your return. I've spent the last few decades of my life waiting to meet a certain someone, and I've long suspected this person to be you. Now that we're finally standing toe-to-toe, would you care to prove my suspicions?"
Mario grinned. "Sure."
Lorne frowned. Mario... You fool! You're playing right into his trap! If you fight him now, you will die! And if that happens, we're all doomed...
"Not right now, though," Mario continued with a sarcastic grin. "You see, I've been feeling kinda tired. All of these consecutive fights have really drained my stamina. You wouldn't mind giving me a little break, would you?" He waited for Crimson to object. He received neither a positive response nor a negative one. His grin widened, and Mario waved his index finger in front of Crimson's face. "One week. Give me seven days to rest up and prepare for our battle."
"And what makes you think I'd agree to that?"
"It's simple. From what I've heard, you're looking for someone who can challenge your might. If you fought me now, there's no doubt in my mind that you'd crush me. However, if that happened, you'd never truly know if I was the one you were searching for. The only way you can be sure is if you fight me while I'm at my best. While I may not be much of a challenge to you now, if I have some time to regain my strength, maybe I'll be able to prove myself worthy."
Crimson remained silent for several moments. At last, he gave Mario a thumbs up. "Alright, you win. I will relinquish all of my power and return this kingdom to its rightful rulers. For one week, this kingdom's survivors can continue their daily lives of peace and mediocrity. However, after seven days have passed, we will meet in a stadium that was built in this very castle. You are not aware of this, but the arena was built in your honor. It seems fitting that you should die there."
"How ironic," Mario chuckled. "You're on."
Crimson began to tremble with eagerness. "I'll announce the duel to this kingdom's civilians so they can come to watch our fight. I must admit that I'm feeling quite enthusiastic about our upcoming match."
"But before you do anything else, I want to know something. Who are you?" Mario inquired. "I think we deserve to know that much."
"Mario..." Lorne murmured as he crawled toward the Mushroom Hero.
"So, you really did survive," Crimson snickered, referring to his former minion. "Lorne... I promised that I'd tell you everything if you managed to live long enough for Mario to arrive. And since Enzo's here, I'll let him be a part of the story too. Listen closely, because I'm sure you don't have much time left to live."
Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
"It all began a few decades ago, when Lord Shade first attacked Brooklyn. The Mario Brothers were mere infants back then, and their loving father managed to send them away to the Mushroom Kingdom in order to be safe from Shade. However, Anthony, the father of those two boys, had a brother named Dante. That's me."
Mario gasped. "You mean... you're my uncle... and Lorne's father...?"
Crimson nodded. "Yes, it's quite the family reunion. My real name is Dante, and I fought side-by-side with Anthony against Lord Shade many years ago. We gave it everything we had, and yet we were still no match for the merciless lord's might. That day, when Anthony lost his life against Lord Shade, I finally began to understand the power of darkness. Up until that point, I had worked alongside my brother as a police officer. I thought that justice would always prevail; that is, until Shade introduced me to a different philosophy. As soon as I understood the power of the Shadow Shrowds, I begged Lord Shade to be a part of his military.
"Needless to say, I got the job. I even took the liberty of donating my own son, Lorne, to Lord Shade's cause. Many years passed, and while Lorne endured a life of slavery, I kept my identity a secret from him. To this day, I'm still not sure why I decided to create an alias, but whatever the reason may have been, I began to refer to myself as Crimson. As the Shadow Shrowds grew increasingly more powerful, our missions became more dangerous. It was during these missions that I began to stand out to Shade as an extremely brutal and cutthroat warrior. That was when I began to understand the legacy of the Hero Bloodline.
"As you know, the eldest child of a Hero inherits his title. In other words, you, Mario, inherited your title as the Mushroom Hero from your father. You also inherited 75% of the Hero's Power, 25% of which your father kept for himself in order to put up a fight against Lord Shade. However, your father had a second son, Luigi. In the event that an heir to the Hero Bloodline has more than one offspring, the firstborn will inherit the title of Hero. While the Hero's younger siblings may not be considered heirs to the Hero Bloodline, they will still possess the equal potential of power that the firstborn does. To put it in simpler terms, both Mario Brothers have the potential to wield 75% of the Hero's Power because that was the amount that your father passed down.
"Despite this fact, there are a few key differences between the power of a Hero and his younger brother. While a Hero's power is purified at birth, his sibling has the ability to choose between good and evil. If the younger sibling of a Hero happens to choose darkness over light, the effects could be deadly. That's why Velno was so interested in Luigi's power. As the younger brother of the Mushroom Hero, his body was a magnet for negative energy. If I remember correctly, Velno cultivated this dark energy and used it against Mario's friends.
"Another difference between a Hero and his younger sibling's power is that the younger sibling can never add to or take away from his maximum potential. It remains the same from the day he is born. On the other hand, the Hero can end up losing power by passing it on to the next heir. For example, if Mario decided to pass on 50% of the Hero's Power to the next heir, he would only keep 25% for himself. However, Luigi would still have all 75%.
"Why am I telling you all of this? Well, think about it. Your great grandfather passed down 100% of the Hero's Power to Anthony and me. Your father gave you 75% of it, leaving 25% of it for himself. Regardless, I've still retained all 100% of the Hero's Power. Lord Shade explained all of this to me, stating that if I could somehow learn to control all of my power, I could become far stronger than him. Unfortunately, I soon learned that controlling the Hero's Power was far more difficult for the younger sibling of a Hero. Knowing all about my immense potential and yet still unable to reach it, I quickly grew impatient. One day, my eagerness forced me to take extreme measures.
"As we navigated through the depths of the Universe on Lord Shade's starship, Shade warned the pilots to keep their distance from a nearby planet. This planet contained the Fountain of Lust. Drinking from this fountain is said to bring out your innermost evil and grant you untold quantities of power, but the immense evil will consume you and drive you insane. Even Lord Shade himself feared it, and instead sought after the Oracles of Power in this kingdom. I didn't care. I was young and foolish. Without hesitation, I drank from the fountain and awoke all 100% of the Hero's Power within me. At the very same time, I had managed to corrupt the heroic power of my noble ancestors.
"Far stronger than Lord Shade or any of his men, I decided to abandon the Shadow Shrowds. I gathered a group of soldiers who didn't want to work for Shade anymore, many of which were the warriors that you would face during the Velno crisis. I even persuaded Glaive to leave Lord Shade's side, though he left my gang shortly after. Now free from Shade's tyrannical rule, I set off into the deep reaches of space, hoping to find a new purpose for my existence. Unfortunately, I quickly found that there was little enjoyment in challenging those that are weaker than you. I almost immediately longed for someone who could put up a fight against me. My search began.
"The rest of my story isn't too interesting, but I might as well give Enzo some closure before he dies. The truth is, your fiancé never abandoned you; you abandoned her. You see, Enzo, I returned to Brooklyn after obtaining my new powers because I thought that the best chance I had at finding a worthy opponent would be to search for any surviving family members. I gave Velno orders to search for any of my relatives, and that's when he found Mario. Though Anthony had sent him and his brother to the Mushroom Kingdom as babies, the Yoshi tribe brought them back to Brooklyn to protect them from Bowser's uprising. Anyway, in order to test Mario's strength, I asked Velno to locate the human who would be best suited for fighting against him. Do you know who he found? It was you, Enzo.
"In order to set up a clash between the two of you, Velno bribed Donkey Kong into kidnapping a woman that looked almost exactly like your fiancé. When you witnessed Pauline's abduction, you immediately assumed that she was your girlfriend. When you heard Mario call her Pauline, you simply thought that your fiancé had changed her name to escape from you. When you decided that you were satisfied as long as your 'fiancé' was happy, I needed to find a new way to test Mario. Eventually, I simply decided to send Velno after him. That's how Pauline ended up dying, and then you know the rest. Enzo began to plot his revenge, not realizing that his real fiancé was still alive and well. Thinking that Enzo had purposely left her, she eventually decided to move on and find another man."
"In the end, I decided to put my search on hold," Crimson concluded. "Once I heard news of Lord Shade's defeat, I knew that my opponent was somewhere in this kingdom. And I believe that this challenger just might be you, Mario."
Unbearable Suffering (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d976966-bf59-421c-b7e6-2b2a4af3f95b/Unbearable-Suffering)
Lorne's body was quivering with sadness as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. His cheeks were damp with tears, and although he knew that his life was coming to a close, he felt somewhat satisfied. At last, he knew the truth. "So... the two answers I was looking for... were one in the same... My father is alive... and he's... Crimson..."
Mario kneeled beside him. "Lorne... Save your strength... You can still make it..."
"No... Somehow... I knew... that I'd die... when Crimson decided to attack... this kingdom... He dealt the final blow... a while ago... Now that I... know the truth... I have nothing left to live for... I can finally... rest in peace..."
"Don't say that, Lorne! You can live through this! You-" He was cut off as Lorne's eyelids shut, and the young warrior's life finally faded away. "Lorne... It must have been hard to learn that your father was responsible for all of this. I know it's hard for me to believe that my own uncle could be so cruel."
Crimson turned to Enzo, whose eyes were widened with shock. His face had grown pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. "I'm afraid you've outlived your usefulness."
"Don't," Mario admonished bitterly. "Look at him. You've already ruined this man's life."
"This man died many years ago," Crimson spat as he violently pierced his blade through Enzo's skull. "He was a true fool."
Mario, trembling with rage, struggled to prevent himself from charging at Crimson. He knew that he was in no condition to fight. Instead, he held his hand out to his wounded brother. As he helped Luigi rise to his feet, Mario glared angrily at Crimson. "Crimson... no... Dante... All of these years, you've manipulated countless people's lives for your own selfish purposes... I can't even count the number of decent men that have suffered because of you. Slade, Hunter, Lorne, Enzo, Donkey Kong, and even Glaive... In fact, you were partly responsible for Pauline's death as well..."
Crimson smirked. "They have only themselves to blame. They were too foolish to understand that they were being used as pawns. As for the death of Pauline, you were the one who killed her. Don't try to blame me for your mistake."
The Mushroom Hero took a step toward Crimson, but Luigi restrained him. As he and his brother began to walk away, Mario clenched his fists. "I'll be coming back here later today... When I return, I expect you to be gone. And I don't want you to show your miserable face in this kingdom until after seven days have passed..."
Crimson could only tremble with anticipation. "At last... I've found my opponent, and the date of the Armageddon has been decided upon." He gazed at the darkness of the hallway that the Mario Brothers had exited through. "Now I must let fate decide which one of us deserves to live."
Chapter 17: Counting Down
Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)
"Unbelievable..." the Master whispered in astonishment after listening to Mario's tale. After declaring that he would be ready to face Crimson in seven days, all of the kingdom's citizens had been informed that it was safe for them to come out of hiding. With the hospital now back in business, Mario, Luigi, and the Master had decided to pay the recovering Peach a visit.
Luigi frowned, his brother's story weighing heavily on his conscience. "We heard a lot of the details from Ace, but still... Hearing about your perspective on the war in the Nightmare Vault really gives us some insight on how miserable you must have been for the past six years. I... I'm sorry I wasn't there to help..."
"Don't worry about it. The Mushroom Kingdom needed you," Mario assured him. "Besides, I went to the Nightmare Vault to learn more about myself. We may be related, but that doesn't mean that you are also a demon. From what I understand, a demon's soul remains dormant as it is passed from generation to generation, and it can only stay in one body. As long as the soul remains inactive, it is harmless to the host body. However, our demon ancestor's soul has awoken within me, and I'm not sure if I can suppress it forever. On the bright side, as long as I don't have any more children, the demon's soul will vanish completely once I die."
"Is that why you transformed during our battle with Velno?" Luigi inquired. "What if... what if it happens again...?" The two brothers remained silent. "Do you expect me to...?"
Mario nodded. "I'll try my best to prevent it from happening, but if I ever go on a rampage again, you'll have to take my life."
"Anyway, shouldn't we focus on Crimson?" Peach asked, hastily attempting to change the subject. "You'll beat him, won't you, Mario?"
"Of course," the Master chuckled, patting Mario on the back. "Did you even have to ask?"
Peach frowned. "I know, but... Will seven days be enough for you to recover? You've been through so many battles throughout these past six years..."
Mario stared at the floor for several moments. At last, he looked up at the princess and smiled warmly. "To be honest, I could have been ready to fight Crimson in less than a day. This kingdom has been through some rough times, but if I searched hard enough, I'm sure I could have found a shop that had at least one Max Mushroom left. The reason I asked for one week isn't because I needed time to heal. You see, even if I fought him at full strength, Crimson would still probably mop the floor with me."
"What are you saying?!" the Master exploded. "Are you implying that we're all doomed?!"
Mario grinned. "Short-tempered, as always. Let's not talk about the end of the world anymore, okay?" He yawned and walked toward the window. Pulling apart the curtains, the plumber allowed the hospital room to be filled with warm sunlight. "Ah, it's such a beautiful day outside. Days like these are rare, especially in December. I think I'm gonna pay a visit to the Royal Graveyard. After that, do you guys want to go for a picnic?"
"Sorry, but I have to decline. I've got a dojo to run," the Master refused. "Luigi won't be able to go either. He has an intense training session to attend."
"What? Aw..." Luigi groaned.
"And I'm still recovering..." Peach sighed. "I feel fine, but they'd never let me leave the hospital this early."
"I'm sure the Master can make an exception, right?" Mario snickered, nudging the elderly Toad with his elbow. "And if Peach feels better, I'm sure the hospital staff wouldn't mind letting you go if I asked politely."
"...Very well," the Master grumbled. "Just this once. But tomorrow's training session will be twice as difficult. As for the princess, I strongly advise against-" He looked up and saw that Mario had already left. He sighed. "Mario sure is acting strange... Why do you think he's being so cheerful? He admitted without hesitation that he didn't stand a chance against Crimson."
"I don't get it either," Luigi agreed. "What was the point of making us worry for the next seven days? Why did he bother to give us a false sense of hope if he knows that we're all going to die in the end?"
"He didn't say that he was going to lose, though," the Master recalled. "He said that he would lose if he fought Crimson at his full potential at this very moment. Perhaps he intends to spend the next seven days training."
"Whatever his plan may be, I believe in him," Peach stated firmly. "He'll come through for us. He always does."
Later that same day, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach met in Flower Fields for a picnic. Mario had not exaggerated when he had said it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the flowers had not yet begun to suffer from the winter weather. "Even in December, this place still has fairly warm weather. This is the perfect place for a picnic," Mario explained happily.
Luigi and Peach agreed. After hungrily feasting upon as many Shroom Steaks as they could squeeze down their throats, they each washed their meal down with a glass of Tasty Tonic. Afterward, the Mario Brothers spent the rest of the day laying in the flowers and gazing at the clear blue sky. Meanwhile, the princess had gone to pick flowers.
"This is so... relaxing..." Mario sighed, all of his troubles melting away. "I haven't felt like this in years..."
Mushroom Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/de663555-8bd0-469d-ab0f-700f64296001/Mushroom-Hero)
"Uh... Bro?" Luigi inquired hesitantly. "I know that we're trying to relax and all, but... shouldn't we be worried about your upcoming duel with Crimson? You said that you wouldn't stand a chance against him, even at full strength. If that's the case, what are we going to do? Is Crimson really going to have his way with the Mushroom Kingdom?"
"I'm not sure what's going to happen to us," Mario replied with uncertainty. "Crimson has the ability to wield 100% of the Hero's Power, while I can only use 75%. It's simple math. He's stronger than me." As he spoke, Mario did not show signs of anger or jealousy.
"How can you say that so calmly?!" Luigi exploded. "First you were depressed, and now it seems like you aren't even worried about us! You keep avoiding our questions about how you plan to defeat Crimson. You haven't even spent any time training! All you want to do is relax and enjoy your life..."
"Truthfully, I don't have any kind of secret plan. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to defeat someone as powerful as Crimson. But do you really expect me to say that to all of the people that are counting on me? Take a look at Peach." He pointed at the princess, who was happily trudging through the meadow with a bundle of flowers in her arms. "Look at how happy she is. I've spent six years away from this kingdom. I missed all of you, and I know that you missed me. That's the real reason why I asked Crimson for seven days. I wanted to spend some time with my family and friends. I want to live these next seven days without once having to worry about this kingdom's fate. These are times of peace, and whether I defeat Crimson or not, they aren't going to last forever. I want to treasure the time that we have left, just in case I am unable to protect the Mushroom Kingdom. And once these seven days are over, I plan to walk right up to Crimson and give him my best shot. Fate will decide whether I win or lose."
At last, Peach returned, her face beaming with joy. The sun was beginning to fall, and the sky was a gradient of red, orange, and yellow. "This has been such a relaxing day... I'm glad I decided to sneak out of the hospital."
"Toadsworth is probably scouring every corner of Toad Town for you," Mario snickered. "He never changes."
"In that case, we'd better get going," Peach sighed. "I don't want to cause too much of a fuss." She turned around and began to walk toward the exit.
"Wait a second," Mario called after her, beginning to rifle through his overall pocket. "Before we go, I have something to ask you."
Peach slowly turned around to see Mario kneeling in front of her, his right arm extended. In his right palm, he held a tiny blue jewelry box. With his left hand, he pulled open the box and revealed a golden ring with a red 'M' engraved in it.
"Princess Peach... Will you marry me?"
Her sapphire eyes sparkling with joy, Peach lovingly wrapped her arms around the Mushroom Hero. Tears of happiness running down her cheeks, she answered, "Of course I will." As the two of them embraced with a stunning sunset in the background, Luigi couldn't help but shed a few tears as well. He remembered his brother's intentions of taking everyone's mind off of Crimson, and he suddenly realized that Mario's proposal had done just that.
Just then, the romantic moment was spoiled as Toadsworth rushed onto the scene. Hobbling as fast as an elderly Toad could, the steward immediately began to voice his disapproval. "I say! First you sneak out of the hospital with Crimson lurking about, and then you agree to marry someone without my consent! This is not how a princess should behave!"
"But Mario has kept us safe for years! We can trust him!" Peach protested as the three of them sprinted away from the enraged Toadsworth. Mario and Luigi, laughing hysterically, ducked as the Toad's cane soared over their heads.
"Get back here!"
Still chucking to himself as they fled from Toadsworth, Luigi finally understood his brother's intentions. If only these seven days could last forever.
Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)
In this way, six days quickly passed by. On the day before the duel that would decide the kingdom's fate, Mario disappeared. The only person who knew anything about the Mushroom Hero's location was Luigi. Whereas the previous six days had been gentle and peaceful, this particular day was frigid and dark. The sky was covered with thick gray clouds, and a cold wind blew across the land.
His breath clearly visible, Mario rubbed his hands together in order to generate warmth. Only one day left. Now that I've spent plenty of time with my friends and family, I know that I won't have any regrets later on. He wandered aimlessly through Forever Forest, trying to convince himself that he was training for his battle with Crimson. However, a single thought continued to haunt him from the back of his head: Crimson was far superior to him.
"Feeling a little down, son?" a familiar voice inquired.
Mario turned around and spotted Anthony, also known as Grambi, the king of the Overthere. "What're you doing here, Dad?"
"I should be asking you the same question."
"You're responsible for all of Overthere. Why did you abandon your duties to visit me?"
Anthony sighed. "Mario, you know why I'm here. Stop trying to avoid it. I know that something's been haunting you. You know that you and your remaining friends are all going to die. You admitted to your friends that Crimson was stronger, and yet you acted as though this fact did not bother you. I know better. You've led your friends to believe that you still have a chance at beating him, but you are starting to realize that the chances of you triumphing over Crimson are nonexistent. I would even say that you are somewhat afraid of him. I can't blame you." Teardrops formed in the corners of his eyes. "Dante... he used to be so... different..."
"You used to know him... I mean, before he changed... What was Uncle Dante like?"
Anthony gazed upward at the gray sky. "There was never a man who was so dedicated to his cause... As a child, he always looked up to me and followed in my footsteps. Our father was ill, so I was mostly responsible for taking care of the family. When I became a police officer, Dante practically worshipped me..." He began to sob, and his cheeks became damp with tears. "I was so proud... when he finally became a police officer and began to work alongside me. He became obsessed with his job... To him, justice was the most important thing in the world. He believed that those who did good deeds would find happiness in life. However, as time passed by, our father's condition grew worse.
"Over time, as we solved countless cases and brought dozens of men to justice, Dante began to grow cynical. He once asked me, 'If we work every day to make the world a better place, why does the world give us only misfortune in return...?" I couldn't answer him. Soon after, when we convicted a poor man for robbing a store, the man begged us to let him go. He told us that he had to feed his starving children. It was our duty to bring him to justice. Yet at the same time, Dante knew that if we had been in the man's position, we would have stolen as well. It was then that Dante began to question the laws of society altogether. He would constantly ask me if what we were doing was truly right, and I could never give him a concrete answer.
"When Brooklyn was attacked by Lord Shade, we were among the first to face him. When Dante witnessed my death at the hands of Lord Shade, he was shown that the law does not always win. Lord Shade showed him that a person can act out of greed and hatred and easily obtain what he desires. Dante was introduced to the overwhelming power of darkness, and from that day on, he never turned back."
Mario hung his head. "I see... So Uncle Dante wasn't evil to begin with... It was Lord Shade that changed him. Have I ever told you that I hate that guy? Even now, he's still getting back at me."
Anthony nodded. "Yes, Lord Shade's rise to power sparked a lot of events that are still affecting us today. However, not all of them are bad. For example, after I was killed by Shade, I eventually became the king of the Overthere. Because of that, I am still able to see you even though I am technically dead. Also, if it weren't for Shade, you wouldn't have had a reason to become as strong as you are now. Thanks to people like Shade and Crimson, you've had multiple chances to hone your skills for the war against the Grimnexes."
"I guess so..." Mario sighed. There was a long silence. "Anyway, there must be another reason why you came here. I'm sure you wanted to do more than just talk about the past."
Anthony nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Back on the topic of your fight with Crimson... well... I know that I don't have to tell you that 100 is greater than 75."
"So what? Did you just want to rub that in my face again? I know that Crimson has more power than me, no thanks to you. If you hadn't kept 25% of the Hero's Power for yourself, I might have a chance," Mario grumbled.
"In a way, you should consider yourself lucky. You see, it was my ill father that helped me understand my powers. He knew that he was dying, but before that happened, he wanted to summon as much of the Hero's Power from within me as he could. It took me almost a month, but I managed to master 25% of it. That's when Lord Shade attacked. My father warned me that I would likely die against him, as there was no time for me to master any more of my power. If I died with all 100% of the Hero's Power within me, I would not be able to pass it down to anyone, and all future generations would be doomed.
"Usually, a Hero must pass his power down to an offspring by willingly transferring it to him before he is born. At the time, both you and Luigi were already born, and there obviously wasn't enough time to have a third child. My father knew a secret method of transmitting the Hero's Power to a live child, but there was one minor setback. Using this method, a Hero could only transmit power that he had not yet mastered on his own. In other words, since I had already mastered 25% of the Hero's Power, the most I could give you was 75%. My father and I agreed that it would have to do. So before I left to battle Shade, my father helped me seal 75% of the Hero's Power within you. In order to protect future generations and keep the Hero Bloodline alive, I sent you to the Mushroom Kingdom and prayed that you would find a way to master your hidden strength on your own."
"Now I understand..." Mario muttered. "So you had no choice but to give me 75%. It was good enough to defeat Lord Shade, but against someone like Crimson-"
Sadness (http://www.esnips.com/doc/4a6d4c26-7c3e-403f-885d-317eeb7c0554/Sadness)
"I didn't finish speaking," Anthony intervened. "I came here for one reason only: to tell you that there is still a way for you to obtain the 25% of the Hero's Power that rests within my body. Are you interested?"
"Dumb question."
The king of the Overthere hung his head. "I know that you aren't going to like this," Anthony sighed, his face suddenly filled with pain. "There is only one way for you to inherit my fragment of the Hero's Power: You must take my life. I cannot kill myself, nor can anyone else do the job. In order for the transaction to be successful, my death must be by your hands alone."
A frigid wind rushed past them as snow began to fall. "Oh... I see..." the plumber muttered, his eyes hidden by the tip of his hat. "If I want to gain the power to save my friends from Crimson, I have to kill my own father..." He fell to his knees, tears running down his cheeks. "...Why am I always forced to make these kinds of decisions...?"
"Think about it. I'm only a single man. If you don't kill me, all of your friends will die. Is my life really that important?"
The snowfall was growing heavier by the second. Mario stood up and angrily grabbed his father by the collar. "Don't act like this isn't a big deal! You're already dead, Dad. If I took away your life now, you wouldn't even exist anymore. You're the king of the Overthere! Your kingdom needs you!"
"It's either my kingdom or yours, son," Anthony replied somberly. "I'll give you some time to think it over." He wriggled himself free from his son's grasp, turned around, and vanished into the whiteness of the blizzard.
"No... come back..." Mario whimpered, reaching into the white abyss of snow for his father. "You've done so much for me... Without you, I wouldn't have survived Lord Shade's attack on Brooklyn... I would have never been able to protect this kingdom without the powers that you gave me... I would have never found the will to stand against Lord Shade time and time again... You're one of the only people that I can talk freely with about my past... You know more than anyone else about our bloodline..." He furiously punched the snow-covered ground. "I need you... And now you're asking me to kill you just to get stronger... How the hell could I agree to something like that?"
The sun shined upon a brand new day. Seven days had finally passed. It was the day of Mario and Crimson's duel, and the stadium that had been built in Mario's honor quickly became packed with anyone who cared even the slightest bit about their kingdom's fate.
Standing at the center of the arena was none other than Jolene. "Welcome, everyone! Who else would you expect to be the announcer for such a legendary match? We've all been hanging on to the edges of our seats for seven long days, but the wait is over! In this very stadium, Mario and Crimson will battle for the fate of this entire kingdom! The stakes are high; if Mario cannot emerge victorious, Crimson will be allowed to have his way with the Mushroom Kingdom."
A pair of double doors swung open as Crimson entered from the left side of the stadium. His face was stolid and unmoving. Looking straight ahead, he marched onto the ring and remained silent. Mario was nowhere to be found.
"Ah, our first contestant has arrived! Any comments on the upcoming match?" Jolene inquired, waving her microphone in front of Crimson's face.
No response.
"Uh... Well... In that case, I'll just explain the rules of the fight while we wait for Mario to arrive. Ahem... There will be three rounds, each two minutes long. Whoever wins two out of three rounds will be the victor. Manslaughter results in disqualification, and if you give up or fall unconscious, you are out of the match. We do not permit-" Jolene stopped as she heard the sound of a blade being unsheathed. She glanced downward and saw Crimson's dagger only inches away from her throat.
"Shut up. I will be the one to decide when this match is over," Crimson growled. "I'll let you live this time, but if you ever try to restrict my battle with the Mushroom Hero again, you'll pay with your life."
Advent of the Armageddon (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d7215c7b-871e-4503-a19e-baf64e2ad789/Advent-of-the-Armageddon)
"Miss Jolene, we've just been informed that Mario has arrived!" one of the security guards informed her excitedly.
"Did you hear that?!" Jolene boomed into her microphone. "At last, our hero has arrived! It's time for the battle of the century to finally begin!" The crowd remained silent. All eyes were on the pair of double doors on the opposite side of Crimson. They had all heard rumors of Mario's return, but few of them had actually seen him in person.
I heard that he spent the seventh day alone in Forever Forest, Crimson thought. I wonder what he was doing... It would have been the perfect time for my brother to offer him a chance to obtain the final 25% of the Hero's Power. Mario knows that he cannot defeat me without that power... Still, I'm quite curious... Did he really kill his own father?
Mario took a deep breath. This was it. Light filled the stadium as the Mushroom Hero emerged from behind the double doors. The audience began to fanatically cheer for their hero. Crimson and Mario's eyes locked. His eyes focused only on Crimson, Mario began to slowly approach the arena. On the way, Luigi and Princess Peach stopped in front of him to wish him good luck. "I'll be fine," he told them, still not breaking his stare with Crimson.
"I believe in you, Mario..." Peach whispered as Mario stepped onto the arena.
Crimson grinned with anticipation. Those eyes... He's changed somehow... He's no longer the conflicted plumber that challenged me one week ago. But what could have happened...? Those aren't the eyes of a murderer...
"Thanks for waiting. I'm finally ready to face you," Mario declared boldly. "Whenever you're ready, Jolene."
Jolene gulped. "Of course... People of the Mushroom Kingdom... Without further delay, we bring you the long-awaited bout between Mario and Crimson!" She took a deep breath. "Let the match... BEGIN!"
Chapter 18: Advent of the Armageddon
Advent of the Armageddon (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d7215c7b-871e-4503-a19e-baf64e2ad789/Advent-of-the-Armageddon)
"BEGIN!"
Mario bawled his fists as he cautiously walked toward his opponent, careful to avoid leaving any possible openings for Crimson to attack. "So, I take it you've heard the full story from my brother," Crimson stated, firmly standing his ground. "That means he must have also told you how to obtain the final 25% of the Hero's Power. Surely you would not be foolish enough to enter this arena without first acquiring that power."
Mario grinned. "I didn't come here to talk. I'll let my fists tell you about the decision I made." He sprinted forward, catching Crimson off guard. His uncle swung his sword at the approaching plumber, but Mario quickly leapt above it. Crimson looked upward and grinned. Descending helplessly in midair, his opponent had left himself wide open. He swung his blade at Mario, but the dagger passed directly through its target. It was an illusion. Crimson looked down and noticed the real Mario, his fist glowing with the power of a charged Fireball.
"You shouldn't have dropped your guard so soon, Crimson," Mario chuckled as he lunged forward. Crimson veered to the side, narrowly dodging the Mushroom Hero's flaming fist. In retaliation, Crimson swung his blade at the exposed Mario, who avoided the slash by performing several backward handsprings. They both stood on opposite ends of the arena. Neither was short of breath. It was a stalemate.
"Incredible!" Jolene explained in amazement. "Even after that swift exchange of blows, neither of them appears to be injured! If this is a sign of what's to come, I think we're about to witness one of the most legendary brawls in history!"
"He strikes without hesitation," the Master observed. "I don't know what happened to him, but Mario seems pretty confident in himself."
"Finally," Crimson whispered, an eager smile spreading across his face. "At last, the Armageddon can finally begin!" He placed his palm on his mask, causing it to turn almost entirely transparent. "I wasn't sure if you were the one... But now that you've proven yourself somewhat worthy, I'll wield 75% of the Emerald Flame against you."
"Emerald Flame?" Luigi parroted. "Oh yeah... I keep forgetting that he's the brother of the former Hero... and my uncle..."
"Lucky me," Mario muttered, grinning wryly. "You might as well save me the suspense and use all 100% of your power."
"In due time," Crimson replied. "I can't use all of my strength on just anyone. You'll need to prove yourself first. But I do like your enthusiasm."
Mario vs. Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5ce657a3-0590-4f80-943e-4c7b6560ee45/Ferocious-Clash)
"Why, thank you," Mario chuckled as he sprinted toward his foe, his fists clenched. He threw a right hook at Crimson's face, but he leapt into the air to avoid it. Mario glanced upward at him, prepared to strike at his airborne uncle. Before he could do so, Crimson aimed his opened palms at the stadium floor and unleashed a barrage of green energy balls. Mario dove, leapt, ducked, and weaved past several dozens of blasts, eventually getting struck by one of them. He lost his balance, and before he could react, his body was bombarded with several more of the same green spheres. The barrage ended as Crimson landed on the stadium floor, still untouched by any of the Mushroom Hero's attacks. The impact of the blasts caused Mario to topple onto the floor, but he quickly rose to his feet.
"What's wrong? Can't handle being attacked from multiple angles?" Crimson inquired, aiming his palms at the plumber. Once again, he unleashed a flurry of green spheres upon his opponent.
"Not again," Mario groaned. This time, however, he did not hold his ground. He sprinted directly at the source of the projectiles: Crimson. Charging the power of a Fireball into each of his fists, he batted away every energy ball to cross his path. At last, he reached his target. The plumber lunged forward with his flaming fists, but Crimson fended him off with a swift upward slash of his sword. Mario dodged the swipe with a back-flip and tossed the Fireballs that were in his palms at Crimson, who slashed them to pieces in midair. This caused the Fireballs to explode directly between Crimson and Mario, resulting in an explosion that obstructed their view.
"Do you have the guts to rush at me through this smoke?" Crimson taunted.
Mario took the bait, creating a Thunderball in one hand and an Iceball in the other before charging at his unseen enemy. He felt a breeze rush toward him as Crimson's dagger cut through the air. Thinking quickly, the Mushroom Hero caught the blade in one hand and used the Iceball that he had prepared earlier to freeze the dagger to his hand. Using the blade to pull himself toward Crimson, Mario unleashed a deadly electrical punch upon his foe's face.
The crowd gasped. "Did you see that?! After a brilliant maneuver, Mario has struck Crimson in the face for the first time!" Jolene boomed. "Is our hero about to turn the tables on this fight?"
"Pain..." Crimson muttered, almost in ecstasy. "It's been so many years since I've felt that sensation..."
"Looks like we've got a potential masochist," Mario snickered as he took a fighting stance. "Well, if you like being hit so much, I think I can help you out with that."
"Clever," Crimson retorted. "I'm glad that you can keep up with me. I'll try a bit harder this time." With a bloodthirsty shriek, he drew his blade and sprinted at his target. He stabbed at Mario, who quickly sidestepped the dagger. Not giving his enemy any time to counterattack, Crimson followed up with a series of rapid slashes. Mario warily dodged the sword, desperately searching for an opportunity to strike back. He continued to stagger backward, narrowly avoiding his foe's quick but accurate slices. Suddenly, his foot slipped into an empty space. He had reached the edge of the arena.
"Watch out, Bro!" Luigi cried.
"Mario has been backed into a corner! How will he escape?" Jolene inquired as the audience grew silent.
"Let's see you get away from this!" Crimson cackled, thrusting his blade forward. Mario began to perform a backward handspring, his hands barely grasping the edge of stadium. As Crimson prepared another slash, Mario, now in a handstand position, executed a cartwheel to the left. He reached backward and released a Fireball, giving him enough time to flee to the arena's center.
The audience exploded with enthrallment. This was truly the most exciting event that had occurred in the past six years.
"Where is he?" Mario wondered aloud, waiting for the smoke from his Fireball to die down. That was careless... If I had fallen out of the arena, I would have been completely vulnerable.
Futility (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc3410f1-5948-4a0b-80cf-d22765292dc1/Futility)
"Questioning yourself?" Crimson inquired from behind Mario. "Now who's dropping his guard?"
Mario gasped. In the corner of his eye, he spotted Crimson's blade pressed against the back of his neck. Breathing heavily, Mario began to doubt himself. How did I let him get behind me...? He's only using 75% of his power, and yet I'm still having trouble keeping up... After all of this, he barely has a scratch...
"Use the 25% of Hero's Power that you obtained from your father," Crimson demanded. "I've had enough of your games. I know that you can put up a better fight than this. Use the strength that you killed your father to acquire, or I'll kill you where you stand."
"I can't," Mario replied, wary of the dagger pressed to his neck. "I didn't... I didn't kill my father..."
"So, have you finally made your decision?" Anthony asked solemnly. "Very well then. In order to maximize the chances of a successful transfer, try to make my death as quick as possible."
"I can't do it," Mario replied, hanging his head. "If I killed my own father just for more power, I wouldn't be any different than Crimson. I refuse to do it. I'll find some other way to beat him." He turned to leave.
"But Crimson will slaughter you!"
Mario did not turn to face his father. "I'll think of something. If it means murdering you in cold blood, I'd rather die against Crimson. I may have vowed to protect my friends, but I could never show my face to them again if I had to stoop to such a low level."
"Is that truly your answer?"
Mario nodded. "I won't walk the same path as Crimson. I won't betray my beliefs."
"I see... So you do not possess 100% of the Hero's Power?" Crimson inquired. "...You foolish man." He sheathed his sword and dealt a crushing blow to the Mushroom Hero, causing him to topple onto the opposite side of the arena. "You knew about my power, and yet you still decided to pass up a chance to obtain the strength necessary to defeat me?! You fought for six years in the Nightmare Vault, gradually evolving from a protector to a destroyer! Do you know why? It was because fate was preparing you for your battle with me! Over those six years, you were supposed to become a hardened warrior who wouldn't hesitate to kill when necessary! All you had to do was slaughter a helpless old man, and the power to defeat me would have been yours! Instead, you allowed your hardened exterior to shatter, leaving behind your soft, merciful nature. Do you see what that brought you? Strength is the only thing that truly matters in this world. You've allowed things like friendship and mercy to distract you from your true purpose."
"I'm not like you," Mario replied bitterly as he rose to his feet. "You threw everything away for power... but I'm not as weak as you! I'll find the strength to beat you... without betraying my own beliefs..." His body began to glow with a vivid blue aura. "I won't take... the easy way out..."
"You... You are not the man I've been searching for," Crimson declared gloomily. "Your beliefs are those of a weakling... I'm disappointed in you, Mario... I will end this fight with only the power that I have unleashed so far..." Crimson pointed the tip of his blade at the Mushroom Hero. In a flash of light, several bolts of lightning launched out of the dagger and toward Crimson's target.
Mario managed to weave past a few of the bolts, but it wasn't long before he was struck by one of the electrical projectiles. A violent shock erupted through his body, and the plumber fell to his knees. "Heh... You're going back on your word, Crimson. That didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. You said that you were gonna kill me..."
"I'm about to," Crimson replied as he charged at the Mushroom Hero with his blade held high above his head.
Mario attempted to stand, but found that his entire body had been paralyzed by Crimson's lightning attack. I can't move... Is this really the end...? Maybe he's right... Maybe I should have taken that power from my father... With each passing second, Crimson grew closer and closer to dealing the final blow. I've got no choice... Otherwise, he'll kill me... I have to use it...
Tri-Elemental Form (http://www.esnips.com/doc/ebb0b02d-4d83-4216-bf1e-a50e9e2ce87c/Tri-Elemental-Form)
A metal clang echoed throughout the silent stadium. Crimson's blade had struck Mario's body, and yet it did not pierce his flesh. The blade had stopped the moment it collided with Mario's body, which was now glowing with a rainbow aura. Crimson gasped. "What... What is this...?"
"My Tri-Elemental Form," Mario answered as he slowly rose to his feet, his paralysis beginning to wear off. "I should warn you. You've come to know my softer side, but there's also a darker part of me. Don't push me too far, or you'll regret it."
"Interesting..." Crimson muttered, stroking his chin. "Perhaps there's still a chance... that you are the one I am looking for..."
In a rainbow-colored flash, Mario sprinted behind Crimson and landed a series of blows on his opponents back. Crimson coughed up a mouthful of blood, staggering forward in agony as he realized that Mario wasn't fooling around. He quickly whirled around and swiped his sword at Mario, who effortlessly ducked under it before striking Crimson several more times. Mario's uncle could do nothing to defend himself as his blade clattered to the floor.
"Mario has transformed and turned the tables once again! Is this it for the mighty Crimson?" Jolene inquired, the crowd gasping in awe at Mario's Tri-Elemental Form.
"He has the advantage... for now..." the Master whispered. "But he took a great risk when he decided to use that form... Now the demon within him can resurface easily. I hope Mario ends the battle before that happens."
Luigi gulped. "Bro... Why did you do it...? The Tri-Elemental Form is too dangerous..."
Suddenly, Crimson's eyes flashed red with rage. With a furious howl, he connected a mighty right hook with Mario's face, knocking the plumber onto his back. "You've surprised me, Mario... I had to tap into 85% of the Emerald Flame's power just to break free from your assault. To beat you in your current condition, that's all the strength I should need."
Internal Struggle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/768822e2-75ab-47b1-a892-0eb03e6114a5/Internal-Struggle)
"Foolish human... You'll need to use every bit of strength you've got if you hope to overcome me..." Mario whispered as he rose to his feet. His rainbow aura was quickly replaced with a dark red one. His eyes gleamed with hatred. The demon within Mario had returned. "Now that I have resurfaced, your time is short."
"I see... So the rumors are true..." Crimson gasped in astonishment. "So, demon, can you put up a better fight than Mario?"
Just then, Mario began to clutch his forehead. He fell to his knees, the pain of his internal struggle too great to bear. "Get out... of my head..."
"What're you doing? Can't you see that you need my help? If you don't let me take over, that human is going to kill you!"
"I didn't ask for your help!" Mario snapped, wincing in agony.
"Of course you did. What did you think would happen when you activated your Tri-Elemental Form? You couldn't beat him with your own power, so you began to use mine. Allow me to take control. I know more about my own strength than you do. Besides, I'm not as weak as you are. What do you think I've been doing for the past six years? I've been slowly regaining my strength... preparing for my return... It won't be long before you end up back where you started six years ago."
Mario shook his head. "No... I'm not going to let you take control!" He cupped his hands together, and his rainbow-colored aura returned. "There's only one way to settle this..."
The audience stared in confused silence at Mario's inner conflict. No one quite understood the force that had brought the Mushroom Hero to his knees- no one except for a few of Mario's friends and Crimson. "Um... It looks like Mario is suffering from a severe headache... Can someone get him an aspirin?" Jolene inquired.
"No thanks..." Mario refused as he aimed his cupped hands at Crimson. "Just tell everyone... to take cover..."
"Ladies and gentlemen... It seems as if Mario is preparing to unleash something big..." Jolene warned them.
Crimson picked up his blade. "Heh. I know what you're trying to do. It's not gonna work. You're dreaming if you think I'll wait for you to finish preparing the Tri-Elemental Blast." His dagger started to glow with a black aura as he sprinted toward the vulnerable Mushroom Hero.
As his uncle was only a few feet away from him, Mario unleashed three elemental beams from his hands. One was empowered by fire, one by ice, and the other by thunder. These three rays of light combined to form a single annihilator beam: the Tri-Elemental Blast. Crimson was engulfed by this blast only moments after releasing a dark energy beam from his sword. The resulting explosion caused the stadium to be lit with flashes of red, blue, yellow, and black.
"Mario!" the Master screamed, his vision obstructed by smoke. "What was he thinking? That blast could have killed them both!"
Mario coughed of a mouthful of dust. He struggled to his feet and peered into the smoke. After a few moments, he spotted Crimson's silhouette on the opposite side of the stadium. He grinned. "Good... We're both still alive..."
"I think... I can see them..." Jolene murmured, scanning the arena for signs of life. As the smoke cleared, both Mario and Crimson were still standing. "They're alive! Both Mario and Crimson are still alive! It looks like this match still has a long way to go!" The crowd exploded with fanatical applause.
"You... You never intended to kill me with that blast..." Crimson asked with a grin.
Mario shook his head. "I just needed to get rid of some of my demon ancestor's energy... I'm sorry for the interruption... He should stay quiet for a while..."
Wrath (http://www.esnips.com/doc/67ceb8d6-3bf7-449a-8cc8-eb0e8938d2fb/Wrath)
"Brilliant..." Crimson gasped. "You knew that your energy was divided between your Elemental Energy and your demon's Iniquity. In order to weaken the demon within you, you mixed almost all of his Iniquity into the Tri-Elemental Beam. As a result, your demon has very little energy to feed on. However, you also drained a lot of your Elemental Energy. Are you sure you can still continue?"
Breathing heavily, Mario nodded.
Crimson grinned. "I'm impressed. You've successfully managed to peak my interest. Since I began observing your battles, I've noticed something about you. Despite your apparent limitations, whenever you are backed into a corner, you seem to find some way to overcome your opponent. You even said it yourself. If I push you too far, you'll make me regret it. You may possess 75% of the Hero's Power, along with the strength of an ancient demon, but there's something else about you... That's why... It's time for me to show you the full extent of my power..."
Mario clenched his fists and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's about time..."
"Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like this is it..." Jolene declared hesitantly. "Mario is looking pretty fatigued... and Crimson is only beginning to show the true depths of his strength... Can our hero find a way to overcome his invincible uncle?"
Crimson pressed his palm against his mask. "It's been so long... At last... I can finally use 100% of my Emerald Flame's power..." His body swirling with a black aura, Crimson viciously tore the veil off of his face. The audience shielded their eyes as Crimson's body was shrouded with a purple beam of light.
Mario took a fighting stance. "All of this time... this is what I've been preparing for..."
As the light began to die down, Crimson's face became visible for the first time. Mario expected his face to be hostile and bloodthirsty, but was surprised when he saw that it seemed heavy with sadness and regret. Though his body glowed with a black aura, his normally red eyes were now blue. "Finally..."
Crimson's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/b9e8fca9-f6b1-4390-9cb6-878399efca2b/Crimsons-Theme)
Mario felt a sudden feeling of dread as he gazed into Crimson's piercing eyes. "He looks... different..."
"So, Mario, are you impressed?" Crimson inquired solemnly.
"Who are you?!" Mario shot back, waving his fist at Crimson. "Your eyes... They're different from Crimson's!"
"How perceptive..." Crimson stated dryly. "Forgive me for not informing you earlier. You see, my personality is divided into two separate consciousnesses. It all began long ago, when I began to understand the evils of men. That was when my tension began to build. However, the separation wasn't complete until I witnessed the death of my dear brother. That was the birth of my second half, the merciless and bloodthirsty Crimson. He's the one you've been fighting against this entire time. It was an even split, until I drank from the Fountain of Lust and awakened the darkness sleeping within me. I threw everything away and embraced my darker side in exchange for power. This caused Crimson, my more violent and aggressive half, to gain dominance over my body. However, there were a few occasions in which I was able to regain control, even if it was for only a moment. This time, I plan to remain in control for the remainder of our fight."
"What should I call you, then?"
Crimson's unidentified second personality held out his hand. "I'm Dante. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"So, you're the real mastermind, huh?" Mario inquired, suddenly fearful of his new opponent.
Dante nodded. "From the very beginning, I was the one who first dreamt of the Armageddon... Crimson only wanted it so that he could fight against someone as strong as himself, but me... My purposes are far more complex..."
Mario gulped. This feeling... There's something different about him... This is the original Dante... the man who abandoned society and donated his own son to the Shadow Shrowds... Crimson was emitting a constant desire for blood, but Dante... He seems so much... darker...
Dante took a deep breath. "It feels so good to finally have that mask off my face. It was designed to restrain my power when there was no need for me to use it. After all, if I constantly remained at 100%, the strain on my body would shorten my life... Anyway, that's enough talk for now. This is what we've both been waiting for. Whenever you're ready, Mario..."
Chapter 19: Mario's Plight
The Invincible Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d982a4c-8800-4858-9af6-a9d0bfa07072/The-Invincible-Crimson)
"So, this is the Emerald Flame's full power?" Mario inquired, clenching his fists. Though he was out of breath from his previous bout with Dante, he charged directly at him anyway. Making the first move, the Mushroom Hero threw a flaming right hook at his uncle. Just as Mario's fist was about to make contact with his chest, Dante's body vanished into thin air. Mario felt a hand on his back and quickly whirled around. In his open palm, Dante held a glowing green energy sphere. With a wicked grin, he unleashed the blast and sent Mario soaring across the arena.
Performing several back-flips in midair, Mario quickly regained his momentum and nimbly landed on his feet. He took a kneeling position for a few moments before finally rising to his feet. "You were a bit slow getting up," Dante chuckled. "I hope you aren't feeling tired yet. We've still got a long way to go."
"I'm fine," Mario replied, grinning despite the obvious difference in their strength. "Never been better."
"In that case, I'll have to try a little harder," Dante snickered as he aimed his open palm at the plumber once again. In a flash of light, he released dozens of the very same blast he had struck Mario with before.
"Not this again," Mario groaned wearily. Charging up a Thunderball in each hand, the Mushroom Hero sprinted through the barrage of oncoming energy spheres, occasionally batting one or two away with his electrified fists. Once he was finally close enough, he leapt at Dante and directed a Thunderball-enhanced punch toward his uncle's face.
"You'll have to try harder than that," Dante lectured him as he caught each of his nephew's fists in his palms. Still holding Mario's fists tightly in his grasp, he yanked the plumber downward and sent his knee directly into the Mushroom Hero's gut. Crying out in agony, Mario tumbled backward onto the stadium floor once again. This time, he did not stand.
"Mario has succumbed to yet another one of his uncle's deadly blows!" Jolene declared fearfully as the audience grimaced at their hero's injuries. Mario's impending defeat had clearly impacted her. At first, she had been excited for the match between Mario and Dante. Now that she finally understood the grim truth, she couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"Sorry," Mario apologized as he struggled to his feet, breathing heavily. "I was just trying to catch my breath..." With a flash of his famous desperate grin, he took a fighting stance and prepared for another round.
"This is getting ugly. How much longer is he gonna keep this up?" Luigi wondered aloud from the sidelines.
"Until his body gives out," the Master answered solemnly. "Remember his battle with Lord Shade? Mario won't quit, even in a situation like this." He swallowed hard. "It's only going to get more gruesome from here on out."
"What if we helped him?" Luigi asked, clenching his fists. "I don't know much longer I can bear to watch..."
The Master shook his head. "Absolutely not. If we helped him now, our safety would become his first priority. He'd lose his concentration, and if anything happened to us, he'd blame himself."
"But still... Does that mean we're just going to sit around and watch him die?!" Luigi exploded.
All or Nothing (http://www.esnips.com/doc/7e03b2f0-5a81-47e3-be09-94f566b6114e/All-or-Nothing)
"Not necessarily..." the Master mumbled. "Mario still has a trick up his sleeve... He hasn't given up yet. There's still a chance for him to pull through."
"Mario..." Peach whispered, her eyes gleaming with hope as the Mushroom Hero stood his ground against the approaching Dante.
Though he appeared to be calm and collected, Mario was frantically pondering his options. His full power is even more terrifying than I could have ever imagined... I've tried almost everything on him... There's only one thing I haven't used yet, and though I probably don't have enough Elemental Energy left to wield it... I have to try... He began to charge a Fireball in his right palm. This was his last chance.
"Good, good... Show me your Final Smash!" Dante cackled as he raised his fists to defend against his foe's attack. "To make things easier for you, I won't move from this spot. How does that sound?"
"Fine by me!" Mario replied, grinning as he used the Element of Thunder to move at lightning-fast speeds. As he was only a few feet away from Dante, he pulled his flaming right fist back, placing all of his hope on one final attack. His fists are raised... If I charge at him blindly, he'll be able to block it! Just as he was about to unleash the Nova Strike, he lowered his body and lunged forward, striking Dante's unguarded chest with his left fist. Dante, thrown off balance, was completely vulnerable. With a cry of determination, Mario leapt at his foe and released his built up Fireball in the form of a punch. The right hook displaced the air around the two warriors, sending dozens of tiny wind bullets with strength equal to the original punch directly at Dante. Mario landed skillfully in front of his foe, who was caught up in a whirlwind of deadly blows. Still not satisfied, Mario stood up and cupped his hands together, unleashing as many Thunderballs at his susceptible uncle as he could.
"What a maneuver!" Jolene gasped, awed at this sight of Dante's apparent defeat. "That was one of the most spectacular beatings I've ever witnessed! What a comeback!"
Exhausted, Mario fell to his knees. That was all of the Elemental Energy I had left... If that couldn't get rid of him, there won't be anything else left for me to try...
A thick cloud of smoke created from the explosion of Mario's Thunderballs obscured everyone's vision. The stadium was silent. Had Dante fallen unconscious from the severity of his injuries? Had he been completely eradicated by the blast? Was he still standing? The answer to these questions would decide the fate of the entire kingdom. The spectators all leaned forward in their seats, eager to find out if their hero had truly succeeded. At last, the smoke finally cleared. Mario was on his hands and knees, breathing heavily. Dante was nowhere to be found.
Mario breathed a sigh of relief. "Is he... really dead...?" As he prepared to celebrate his victory, a blade pierced through his chest. He looked up to see Dante towering above him. Mario's uncle was still standing. Moreover, he was relatively unscathed.
"You thought that I was finished, didn't you?" Dante chuckled. "That's what I wanted you to believe. Though you caught me by surprise and managed to get past my defenses, I soon realized that your Nova Strike wasn't much of threat anyway. Your attack had been weakened because of your fatigued condition, so I allowed myself to get hit by some of the 'wind bullets' that were created by your flaming punch. After you hurled those Thunderballs at me, I slashed them to bits at the last second, creating an explosion that hid my presence with smoke. While everyone assumed that I had been killed, I used my sword to deflect all of the remaining wind bullets created by your Nova Strike. From there, I was able to hide myself in order to catch you off guard."
"Why... would you bother... to hide...?" Mario inquired as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Dante yanked his blade from the plumber's chest. "I was hoping you'd ask. You see, I could have just as easily deflected your attacks as soon as I realized how weak they were. But the more viscous, cruel half of me wanted to torture you a bit. In order to keep him satisfied, I allowed you to believe that you had won. And just as you began to think that it was over, I appeared and crushed your pathetic hopes of victory. In addition to keeping Crimson quiet, I also did it because I wanted to show you that I am superior to you in more than just strength. You've disappointed me, Mario."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry..." Mario apologized with a grin, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He rose to his feet, clutching the wound on his chest. "I think you've got it backwards... You've disappointed me... Since this match began, you've been rambling on about how excited you were to fight me with 100% of the Emerald Flame's power... And now that you've unleashed it, you still aren't taking me seriously... You've been resorting to childish pranks just to keep the darker side of you quiet... Maybe that's a side effect of using the Emerald Flame's full power. Crimson must be getting pretty eager to take control..."
Champion of Destruction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPzbISrq8mg)
"You arrogant fool!" Dante screamed, unleashing a gust of wind from his body that knocked the plumber onto his back. "Do you honestly think that you could survive if I fought you seriously while in this state?!"
Mario grinned. "Isn't it your goal to kill me in the first place?"
"Silence!" Dante hissed, a black aura engulfing his body. "Just remember, you brought this upon yourself!"
Great... Why'd I have to get him all worked up? Mario wondered as his foe's aura expanded across the entire stadium.
"Mario... He can find a reason to smile even in the most desperate situations," the Master sighed. "This time, his sarcasm may have just triggered this kingdom's destruction."
"Get out of here!" Mario called, pointing at Luigi and the Master. "Dante's building up his Emerald Flame into one colossal explosion!"
"That doesn't sound good!" Jolene shrieked. "Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly recommend that you all get as far away from this arena as you can until this situation blows over." The audience burst into screams of mass hysteria as everyone crowded toward the exits. In less than a minute, nearly all of the spectators had escaped. "What about you?" Jolene called as she sprinted to the exit.
"I'll stay here," Mario answered firmly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Jolene nodded. Knowing that it would be pointless to argue, she joined everyone else in the evacuation of the stadium.
Mario turned to face Dante, whose aura was nearly covering the entire stadium. "Why didn't you escape when you had the chance?" his uncle asked.
"If I left the area, I'd forfeit the match," Mario replied with a grin. "Besides, you'd probably just follow me and endanger everyone else. If I stay here, I'm the only person who'll be at risk." He crossed his arms in front of his face. "Besides, I don't intend to die."
"You're arrogance is going to get you killed," Dante sighed hopelessly before thrusting his arms in opposite directions. The entire stadium shook, and Dante's black aura catalyzed a colossal explosion that demolished all surrounding areas within the castle. The swirling vortex of blackness annihilated everything in its path and shrouded the castle in complete and utter darkness. "I shouldn't have lost control like that... That blast probably expanded far enough to destroy all of those innocent, fleeing spectators."
Mario coughed up a mouthful of dust as he emerged from underneath a pile of rubble. He held his hand in front of his face and gasped. Nothing but black. He had gone blind.
Just as he started to panic, sunlight filled the room and began to cut through the darkness that had been created by Dante's aura. Mario breathed a sigh of relief and realized that Dante's attack had drained the castle of all light. Luckily, the blast had created a mammoth hole in the ceiling, allowing the sun to illuminate the ruined arena. As the last of the shadows finally faded away, Mario was able to get a good look at the damage that had been caused by his uncle. His jaw dropped in horror.
"It's gone... It's almost completely gone..." he breathed, completely awestruck at what he saw. For about as far as a single football field, there was nothing left but dirt and rubble. Past that, Mario could see that the surrounding areas within the castle had collapsed. Standing at the center of this destruction was Dante, who appeared entirely unharmed.
"So, you're still alive?" Dante inquired, half-surprised. "You were probably building up some of your Elemental Energy while you were taunting me before. I bet you had just enough strength to shield yourself from the explosion. But where will you go from here? You've used up every last drop of your Elemental Energy." He frowned. "You're such a disappointment."
Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)
"Don't worry, Mario! They're all okay!" a familiar voice called from nearby. Grambi, Luigi, and Peach emerged from behind a wall of debris, followed by a massive crowd of Toads, Koopas, and Goombas. "It looks like I arrived just in time. When I came to watch your battle, I saw that Dante was creating a blast that had the potential to eradicate every innocent spectator in the stadium. I quickly sprang into action and summoned a barrier to protect them from danger."
"Well thanks for giving me one," Mario grumbled with biting sarcasm. "Anyway, I appreciate your help. If you came to offer your powers to me, my decision hasn't changed."
"I didn't think so," the plumber's father sighed.
Mario turned to Dante. His body began to glow with a fierce blue aura. "Now, where were we?" Breathing heavily, Mario sprinted toward his uncle with his fists raised. With absolutely no hope of winning, the Mushroom Hero sprang into the air and unloaded a series of his strongest punches. Each blow made direct contact with Dante, and yet none of them even made him flinch. It was as if Mario was punching a brick wall.
"No good," Dante muttered in dissatisfaction. With a simple punch, he effortlessly put Mario's assault to an end. The plumber soared through the air and crashed into a wall of debris. His body lifelessly bounced off and hit the ground hard. "Mario... You aren't fulfilling your duty as the hero of the Armageddon..."
"Armageddon?" Mario parroted weakly. "What are you... talking about...?"
"The Armageddon is defined as the ultimate battle between good and evil. It is an event that is meant to decide the dominant force in the world. An Armageddon was held many generations ago, when Zeus and the Olympians defeated the Phoenix and sealed the demons and Grimnexes within the Nightmare Vault. In that particular Armageddon, goodness dominated evil and became law. Even now, after thousands of years, this same law is upheld; murder and theft are frowned upon. At first, I was one of the ones who believed that goodness would always triumph over evil. However, after I witnessed the death of my brother at the hands of Lord Shade, I learned the truth. I knew immediately that the laws that had been set by Zeus were false, and that the only way to remedy this would be to hold a new Armageddon.
"Of course, I was certain that I was meant to be a part of this new Armageddon. With 100% of the power that Zeus bestowed upon the Hero Bloodline, and my heart tainted with evil, it seemed fitting for me to play the role of the ultimate villain. However, the problem resided in the fact that I could not find a worthy opponent. After drinking from the Fountain of Lust and realizing my full potential, I soon understood that my strength was beyond even Lord Shade, the man that I had thought to be invincible. Refusing to obey someone weaker than myself, I gathered a group of rebels and abandoned the Shadow Shrowds. One of these rebels was Glaive.
"Now free from Shade's tyrannical grasp, I began the search for my opponent. I remembered that Velno, a cyborg that I had hacked back when I first joined the Shadow Shrowds in Brooklyn, should still be alive. I used him to locate you, and I had him test your powers by sending Donkey Kong and Enzo to fight you. Even Velno himself was eventually forced to attack you, but you were barely able to fend him off. Disappointed with your lack of growth, I decided to forget about Brooklyn for the time being. I decided to track down Lord Shade to see if his military had acquired anyone strong enough to face me.
"If I had wanted to, I could have crushed Lord Shade and his entire army. With the power I attained from the Fountain of Lust, it wouldn't have been any trouble at all. But as I gave the matter some thought, I came up with an ingenious plan. I remembered how Shade once told me about my bloodline. I knew that there were members of the Hero Bloodline that were still alive, and that these survivors had the same kind of powers that I possessed. I had also heard a rumor that the Hero Bloodline was destined to vanquish Lord Shade. Putting these two bits of information together, I hypothesized that Shade would be the perfect bait to lure one of the members of the Hero Bloodline out of hiding. If this Hero was truly related to me, he would have no trouble defeating Lord Shade. Therefore, I decided that whoever killed Lord Shade would become my opponent for the Armageddon.
"I tracked Lord Shade's movements to the Mushroom Kingdom, and I decided to send Glaive as a spy to see if anyone had managed to defeat him. Glaive held a personal grudge against Shade, so I felt that he would be perfect for the job. While on his mission, he eventually met you. As soon as he learned that you were the Mushroom Hero, he followed you around and pretended to be your ally. He observed your battles, waiting for you to finally defeat Lord Shade. Unfortunately, by the time you had succeeded, Glaive began to consider you his friend. He didn't want to betray you, so he tried to cut all ties with me and start a new life in your kingdom. Two years passed, and I finally lost my patience. I sent a Metal Mario clone to investigate, and I quickly learned that you were the one who defeated Lord Shade. At last, I had found a promising warrior.
"I was disappointed to learn that you only possessed 75% of the Hero's Power. In order to help prepare you for this fight, I had Metal Mario and Velno attempt to open the gateway to the Nightmare Vault. Thus, the Demonic Trials began. Your battles against countless demons, your gradual understanding of the demon within you, and your final battle with Velno were all plotted by me. Sadly, you were still not ready to face me. In order to further your training, I commanded Glaive to lure you to the Nightmare Vault by trusting you with his dying wish. He was reluctant at first, but he knew that he owed me because I had helped him escape from Lord Shade. We eventually came to this agreement: If Glaive would ask you to enter the Nightmare Vault, I would allow him to die a noble death and preserve his friendship with you. With your kingdom left completely vulnerable, I only had to wait until Smithy was finished designing the Lord Shade clones. Once they were completed, I began to eliminate all of the people who were close to you. This was to cause your anger to well up inside of you, therefore making you even stronger. However, even after all that I've done to enhance your power, you still aren't able to match my power.
"I've waited countless years for this day. I truly believed that you would be the one who could match my strength and help me settle the score between the forces of good and evil. If I find out that everything I've done in preparation for this battle was just a waste, I'll make you pay..."
Defeat (http://www.esnips.com/doc/8f4f928f-86be-46a9-b0bc-d2626a95eca7/Defeat)
Summoning all of his strength, Mario was able to stand once more. "So... in addition to telling me that you're responsible for all of the hell I've been through against Velno and the demons, you're also saying that Glaive was a traitor all along...? That's ridiculous... I saw the look in Glaive's eyes as he trusted me with his final wish... He was shedding tears of genuine despair... Who do you think you are...? Insulting a warrior as brave and noble as Glaive..." Though his strength had been completely drained, the Mushroom Hero angrily charged at his uncle yet again.
"Bro..." Luigi whispered, struggling to keep his eyes on his brother's beating. His entire body was trembling with frustration. At this point, Dante wasn't even trying. The sound of Mario's ribs breaking echoed through the silent stadium as the hero collapsed onto the floor once again. A few moments passed, and Mario was back on his feet.
"Stay down..." Peach murmured, her eyes wide with terror. "Please... stop..."
Mario cried in pain once more as Dante dealt yet another crushing blow. Before the plumber could even attempt to stand, Dante had placed the heel of his shoe on his back. "You're pathetic... It's insulting...The way you keep standing against me despite your weakness..." With a vicious thrust of his foot, Dante began to crush his nephew.
No one, not even Jolene, could utter a single word as their hero screamed in pure anguish. No one... except for Princess Peach. "...Mario! Please...Please stop fighting! ...I can't bear to watch anymore!"
Dante turned to face the princess. He slowly removed his shoe from Mario's chest. "Hmm... I don't know what irritates me more: that woman's constant whimpering, or that dirty look that your brother keeps giving me." He began to approach them. Suddenly, a wicked smile spread across his face. "Ah, I forgot all about Luigi. This battle has grown boring. Perhaps I could find more entertainment in ending your brother's pathetic life."
Struggle to Protect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NGYR3ro2HQ&feature=related)
Just then, Dante's face was struck with a fierce right hook. He staggered to the side for a moment before turning to face his enraged nephew. The Mushroom Hero was shining with a blinding aura of blue, and his body was trembling with rage. "If you even lay one hand on him... I swear, I'll make you regret it..."
"Ooh, that's a scary look," Dante sneered. His eyes were gleaming red with bloodlust. "It seems that my decision to kill your brother has lit a spark of power within you. Good. The more you burn to protect him, the greater your shock will be when he's gone." He turned and continued to walk toward Luigi and Peach.
With a shriek of anger, Mario threw himself at Dante. He soared through the air and pounced at his uncle, his fists augmented with the power of charged Fireballs. He unleashed a furious series of punches, none of which aroused even the smallest reaction from Dante. His eyes were glued to Luigi. Nothing would stop him from ending the green plumber's life.
"I see that you've converted some of your body's physical energy into Elemental Energy," Dante observed nonchalantly. "That's a risky move. If you overdo it, you could die from the strain. Allow me to prevent you from doing it a second time." He whirled around and dealt a crushing blow to Mario's chest. The plumber collapsed onto the ground, but didn't stay down for long.
Luigi's eyes widened as he watched his brother continue to stand in Dante's path. Each time Mario got in his way, Dante would knock him down with full force. However, no matter how many times Mario went down, he continued to stand once again. Tears streamed down Luigi's cheeks as his body quivered with rage. "No... I can't stand by and watch this anymore..." Tossing all of his fear and hesitation to the wind, Luigi sprinted into the fray.
"Luigi, come back!" Peach shrieked.
"You're falling right into his trap!" the Master howled. "Fool!"
"Luigi knows that," Grambi observed glumly. "He understands that he's about to die. He's willing to throw away his life in order to help his brother... He's doing the same thing that Mario did six years ago in the battle against Velno... When Mario realized that he didn't stand a chance against Velno, he allowed himself to be killed in order to wake Luigi, Glaive, and Ace from their hypnosis. Luckily, the demon within him was able to revive him. However, if Luigi sacrifices himself... he'll be dead for good... The Star Rod is gone, so we won't even be able to resurrect him..."
"It looks like your brother has finally gotten over his fear of death," Dante stated. "I can't let you get in the way, so I'm gonna have to hit you a little harder this time." He pulled his fist back before striking his nephew with a punch that was far more devastating than any blow he had dealt so far. Mario's body flew across the ruined stadium before lifelessly landing with a thud. It took him several seconds to get back on his feet, and even then, he was still rather far from the battle between his brother and Dante. Fear and desperation welling up inside of him, the Mushroom Hero made a frantic sprint toward his uncle.
"I'll continue in Bro's place," Luigi declared, bravely standing in front of his cruel uncle. He cupped his hands together and formed a massive green Fireball. With a cry of determination, he sprinted toward Dante and unleashed a deadly Ultra Fireball. The explosion caused a cloud of smoke to obscure everyone's vision.
"Luigi!" Mario wailed as he blindly dashed into the smoke. Breathing heavily, he frantically scanned his surroundings for Dante and his brother. Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks as blood splattered onto his overalls. He gasped. One the ground beside him was a pool of blood in the shape of a 'C'. Staggering forward in despair as the smoke finally began to clear, he collapsed onto his knees beside his fallen brother.
Chapter 20: The Awakening
Fallen Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/16499496-88e2-4db7-9d24-480e5c47f3ab/Fallen-Hero)
"Farewell, my nephew," Dante whispered as he withdrew his blade from Luigi's heart. His red, bloodthirsty eyes had been replaced by his gloomy, sapphire ones.
"Bro..." Luigi murmured, blood dripping from his mouth. "Was I... finally able... to make you proud...? Did I... finally prove myself...?"
Tears formed in the Mushroom Hero's eyes and fell upon his dying brother. "Luigi... I've always been proud of you... and I've always known that deep down... you're just as brave as I am..."
Luigi uttered a frail laugh. "Too bad... it wasn't enough... After hearing Dante's speech... I realized that it would never be enough... He's manipulated our lives... put us through hell... and as much as we fought... no matter how hard we tried... we still couldn't beat him... It's just... too much... None of us... ever stood a chance..." A single teardrop trickled down his face and landed on Mario's glove. "But at least... I was able to... return the favor... for what you did... against Velno..."
Mario held his brother close to him. "No... Luigi, you're not gonna die... You can make it through this... Both of us can still..."
Luigi slowly shook his head. "Sorry, Bro... Sooner or later... we were all going to die anyway... Whether it was against Crimson... or the Grimnexes... we were doomed from the start..." His eyelids gradually closed, until his head finally fell to the side. Mario remained silent, holding his deceased brother in his arms.
Dante grinned wickedly. "I suppose it was best for me to allow Crimson to do the job. Gruesome deaths aren't really my style. Though I suppose it doesn't really matter; his life meant nothing to me. The only person that matters to me right now is you, Mario. Have you finally decided to kill your father and realize your full potential?"
Agonizing Desperation (http://www.esnips.com/doc/30033888-4311-4724-bfae-076da0854e39/Agonizing-Desperation)
"Shut the hell up..." Mario hissed, slowly rising to his feet. "You keep on talking down to us as if you're some kind of god... Who do you think you are? For the last six years- no, for decades- you've been using innocent people as mere pawns in some kind of twisted game. What's the point of all of this? I've spent the last decade of my life trying to figure out what I am... At first I thought I was a hero, destined to save the Mushroom Kingdom... Then I learned that I was the descendant of a demon, and my whole world began to change... Now I'm not even sure what the hell I really am... But there's one thing that I'm certain of... You're little game, the Armageddon... I've been trying to play along with it for this entire match, but not anymore... I'm not going to be a part of this... I won't fight as some kind of legendary hero, or as an ancient demon... None of that matters to me anymore... For the sake of all the lives you've ruined... I'm going to put an end to your game..." A splendiferous blue light began to pour out from the Mushroom Hero's body.
"Something's not right..." Grambi muttered, his body trembling. "I'm starting to feel... weaker... My power's... beginning to fade..." His eyes fell upon his son, whose body was glowing with an aura brighter than ever before. He gasped. "Mario... are you somehow... draining the Hero's Power from my body?"
"So you still refuse to take your father's life?" Dante inquired impatiently. "You know, I won't hesitate to kill every person in this stadium to get what I'm after." He pointed to a black cloud that was beginning to form above the stadium. "See that? I created it earlier when I unleashed that explosion with my aura. Does it look familiar? It's the Void, the thing that Count Bleck attempted to use to destroy all worlds. As you know, Lord Shade was just as skilled at wielding the Dark Prognosticus as Count Bleck was. I was easily able to pick up the spells just by overhearing Lord Shade rehearse them."
Mario's eyes narrowed. "What's your point?"
"This Void won't end all worlds... It's been compressed into the space of this castle. Thus, the amount of time that it will take for the Void to expand will be drastically shortened. Also, the damage will be less widespread, only eradicating everything within this castle. In other words, you and your friends have less than ten minutes to live."
"Like I said, what's your point?" Mario repeated, his blue aura expanding across the ruined arena. "It doesn't matter if you create a Void... I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else in this stadium... They're all going to live to see another day... even my father."
Grambi's eyes widened. "What's going on...? His despair allowed him to instinctively absorb the Hero's Power from my body... And now he's using his aura to shield everyone else in the castle..." He glanced at Dante, who appeared to be growing more impatient by the minute. Wait a minute... Dante hasn't realized it yet, and neither has Mario... Am I the only one who knows what has happened here? Mario has found a way to obtain 100% of the Hero's Power without killing me!
"It looks like you still haven't learned anything," Dante muttered, turning to the crowd of spectators. "You're still uttering the same garbage as before. Your aura will keep your friends safe from the Void for the time being, but I can still kill them with my blade. I said it before, and I'll say it again: Until you decide to kill your father and inherit his strength, I'll just have to continue to attack your friends. Who will it be this time? How about Peach..."
Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)
Just as Dante reached for his dagger, he felt a hand tightly grasp his wrist. Dante's eyes widened. Mario was standing firmly beside him. "I already told you: I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else in this stadium." His eyes were burning with despair as his blue aura swirled around him.
"Let go of me," Dante admonished, trying to wench his hand free from his nephew's grip.
"You know, I can usually learn to respect my enemies. Lord Shade had a troubled childhood, and Velno was just an ordinary human before he became a part of some twisted experiment. You weren't any different. When I heard about how you were forced to witness the death of your own brother, I felt sorry for you. I'll even admit that for a while, I was even a little jealous of you. You obtained 100% of the Hero's Power with ease, while I was only able to acquire 75% through intense training. It didn't seem fair. The way you flaunted your power around... it seemed like something I wouldn't mind having... With all of that power, I knew that I'd be able to take on the Grimnexes with ease..."
"So? If you really want to be as powerful as I am, all you have to do is kill your father," Dante replied.
"That was before..." Mario continued. "Now I see that we're completely different. I realized that I wanted your power because I needed it to protect my friends, whereas you only use your strength to cause death and destruction. That's why I decided that I wouldn't choose the same path as you. I didn't want to take the easy way out, to throw away my father's life the same way you threw away your humanity. I'm not that desperate. Buried beneath all of that power you've acquired is a coward who fears death."
"I'm sorry, did I just hear you call me a coward?" Dante inquired, tearing his arm free from his nephew's grasp. "Are you implying that you're somehow better than me? That's interesting... allow me to test that theory!" In a flash, he unsheathed his blade and lunged at Mario, who nimbly sidestepped the stab and connected a ferocious right hook with his opponent's face. The spectators watched in amazement as Dante soared across the arena and tumbled onto the solid ground.
Mario turned to face the Master and gestured toward his deceased brother.
"I understand," the Master whispered, rushing over to Luigi's body while Dante was still down. "He died a noble death... We have to ensure that he receives a proper burial." He gently placed the corpse over his shoulder and jogged back toward the sidelines. "No matter what happens, this body has to make it out of the stadium in one piece."
Mario smiled and turned his attention toward Dante. "What's wrong, Dante? You still aren't taking me seriously. I'm different from before."
"What are you talking about?" Dante spat angrily.
"Can't you tell? I already told you that I wasn't going to play by your rules anymore. Listen very carefully, because I'll only say this one more time: I'm going to win this match without killing my father. I've found another way to obtain 100% of the Hero's Power. Luigi may have been my brother, but he is also my father's son. When he died, the grief that we felt created a family bond that allowed me to borrow my father's power."
"You expect me to believe that?" Dante sneered. "You're bluffing. That was just a lucky hit."
"I guess there's only one way to find out," Mario replied. "Let's continue where we left off."
Mario vs. Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5ce657a3-0590-4f80-943e-4c7b6560ee45/Ferocious-Clash)
"Fine with me," Dante shot back as he charged at his nephew, eager to prove himself. He assaulted Mario with a horizontal slash, but the Mushroom Hero swiftly ducked beneath it and lunged forward with an uppercut. Dante immediately leaned back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and retaliated with another slice of his dagger. Mario, beginning to charge a Thunderball in his palm, caught the blade in his hand. He released the Thunderball, causing electrical sparks to run through Dante's sword and shock his entire body. With his opponent stunned by his Thunderball, Mario closed in with a series of flaming punches.
"Incredible..." the Master breathed. "He's actually putting up a fight..."
"He's doing more than just that," Grambi added, equally amazed. "As long as Mario can defeat him before the Void engulfs the castle, we just might survive."
Mario continued to pummel his uncle, his fists still engulfed in flames. At last, Dante brought the assault to a stop with a fierce uppercut, sending the plumber soaring into the air. As Mario attempted to regain his momentum, Dante raised his sword to the sky and unleashed a beam of electricity at his enemy. Mario, helplessly descending in midair, could do nothing to dodge it. Screaming in agony, Mario's body thrashed wildly about as he was severely shocked by the thunderbolt. When he finally hit the ground, Dante dealt a gruesome roundhouse kick that sent him crashing into a wall of debris.
"Mario!" Peach shrieked. "Please be okay!"
"This battle has gone farther than I thought it would..." Jolene said, speaking softly into her microphone. "Mario, enraged by his brother's death, has found the strength to continue his duel with Crimson... For the sake of everyone who has died in this war, please... Please put all of your faith in Mario..." With that being said, Jolene tossed her microphone onto the floor. "This isn't the type of match that needs commentary. This is a battle for survival."
Just then, the ruined arena was lit with a flash of blue light. Mario appeared from behind a wall of debris, his clothes rugged and torn. After wiping the blood from his chin, he was ready to continue. Without hesitation, the two warriors rushed at each other and resumed their match.
As he watched his son battle against his own brother, Grambi's eyes were wide with astonishment. "Mario... Your strength has gone beyond anything I could have ever imagined... Once a Hero has obtained 100% of the Hero's Power, his complete power is multiplied to a level far beyond that of when he only had a fragment."
"Is that the reason for this drastic increase in power?" the Master whispered.
"Not only that, but Mario gained this power without having to kill me... He has held on to his purity, and that makes his 100% Hero's Power more complete. Dante, a man who obtained his power through pure evil, and Mario, a man who obtained his power through pure righteousness, both holding nothing back as the castle falls apart around them... This truly is the greatest battle I have ever witnessed. I've known that something like this would happen for quite some time, but there was nothing I could ever do to stop it. Here and now, Dante's Armageddon will finally be settled."
Mario ducked past one of Dante's punches and delivered a kick to his uncle's face, knocking him onto his back. Charging a Thunderball in each of his hands, the plumber slammed his electrified palms against the grounded Dante. The crowd gasped in awe as bolts of electricity ran through Dante's body and caused him a great deal of pain. Afterward, Mario leapt into the air and aimed his palms at Dante, who was still lying on the ground in agony. His eyes filled with determination, Mario bombarded his uncle with a series of brutal Fireballs. It was as if Dante was being pummeled by a meteor shower.
"Unbelievable..." Grambi muttered as Mario finally landed beside a colossal crater.
"You should leave while you still have the chance," Mario informed the spectators. "He won't stay down for long. My aura may able to prevent the Void from damaging your bodies, but that won't help you once the entire castle collapses."
"But Mario... what about you?" Peach inquired, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Trust me; you don't want to stick around for this battle," Mario assured her. "I'll catch up with you as soon as I finish my match with Dante."
"But you barely survived the last time you told us to leave! What if you need our help?!"
"It's different this time. The match isn't going to last much longer. It won't be long before Dante starts to break down," Mario explained. "I don't want you to be around to witness what's about to happen. Understand?"
Peach nodded hesitantly. "Mario... You'd better come back alive..."
"I will," Mario affirmed confidently.
Under Peach's command, the remaining spectators flocked toward any exits that had not been blocked by debris. Before leaving, the Master slung Luigi's body over his shoulder. "Luigi... No matter what... I'm going to make sure that you receive a hero's burial..."
Final Bout (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc3410f1-5948-4a0b-80cf-d22765292dc1/Futility)
With all of the spectators gone, Mario took a battle stance once again. Dante staggered out of the mammoth crater, his hands clutching his forehead. "You... how did you...?"
"Now do you believe me?" Mario asked impatiently. "I told you before... I've found a way to borrow my father's power, and I didn't even have to kill him... I'm done playing by your rules..." Suddenly, he noticed that Dante appeared to be suffering from an internal struggle. "What's wrong? Is Crimson trying to take over again?"
Dante looked up at him, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. "Mario... do you know what my true motives are...? Crimson wanted to face someone who could challenge his power... but I... I wanted to see who would triumph in an all-out battle between good and evil... However, it wasn't because I thought that I should replace Zeus... It was because the very same struggle... was going on inside of me... between myself and Crimson... The victor of this battle... will finally decide... which of my personalities will obtain complete control..."
The ruined arena began to shake as small chunks of debris rained upon the two warriors. "I see..." Mario murmured, his eyes wide with shock. "This entire time, you've been trying to make me think of you as a heartless villain... You wanted me to view you as the ultimate embodiment of evil, as my opponent in the Armageddon... In reality, the same battle between us is happening between you and Crimson. You're using this match... to finally put an end to your internal strife..."
Dante smiled sadly. "You finally understand... When I abandoned society to become a member of Lord Shade's military, and when I awakened the darkness within me by drinking from the Fountain of Lust... there was always a part of me that felt guilty... At the same time, I tried to ease my guilt by continuing to kill others. This was the cause of Crimson's birth. Deep down, I still believed that what I was doing was wrong. However, Crimson was the opposite... He was pure evil... For over a decade, Crimson and I have been fighting in our own Armageddon..."
Mario began to charge a Fireball in his palm. "In that case, let's finally put this Armageddon to rest... both of them..."
After a nod of approval, Dante's eyes were filled with malice. Crimson had returned. "It's my turn... Dante represented the pure side of his soul. He would have held back. I'm not as soft as him. If I can kill you, Dante will be vanquished forever, and this body will be mine."
"Are you sure you can beat me, as emotionally confused as you are?" Mario inquired as he prepared to rush at Crimson one final time. "My demon isn't interfering because he doesn't have any strength left. However, you and Dante are still fighting amongst each other. Unless the two of you can cooperate with each other, you won't be able to stand up to this attack."
"Shut up!" Crimson snapped, his blade glowing with a black aura. "I'm gonna kill you and eradicate Dante once and for all!"
Prepared for one last charge, the two warriors were finally ready to put their match to an end. With a cry of determination, Mario sprinted toward his uncle, his fist burning with the flames of his resolve. Crimson, his eyes glowing with a lust for blood, rushed forward at his oncoming opponent. His blade held with two hands above his head, Crimson put all of his might into one final slash. Without a drop of hesitation, Mario tossed his flaming fist forward. The empty stadium was lit with an explosion of red and black. The Void, now finished expanding, caused the castle to collapse inward in a blast of fire. Their beliefs placed upon their final attacks, the battle between Mario and Crimson, and the struggle between Crimson and Dante, had finally been decided. The Armageddon was over.
The crowd of Goombas, Koopas, and Toads gazed in awe at the burning castle. At last, the Void finally began to shrink. Mushroom Castle had been completely annihilated. Mario was nowhere to be found. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Princess Peach buried her face in her hands. "He's gone..."
"I can't believe it..." the Master whispered sorrowfully. "No... Mario always finds a way... he can't be..."
"No!" Peach screamed in despair. "It's not fair! Why did they all have to die?! Mario... Luigi... Mark... Luke... and so many others..."
Grambi hung his head. "Mario... You and your friends fought with everything you had... Thank goodness it's finally over..." His eyes widened as he felt part of the Hero's Power surging within his body. "Wait a minute... This must be the 25% that Mario borrowed from me..."
Tears trickled down the Master's face. His mouth curled into a smile as he pointed at the burning castle. He couldn't hold back his joyful laughter. Everyone cluttered around the elderly Toad to see what he was pointing at. From within the blaze, a silhouette could be seen approaching them. As the shadow grew closer, they could see that something was on the man's back.
His body battered and beaten, his clothes rugged and torn, his conscience weighing heavily with the deaths of his friends, Mario limped through the inferno with Dante slung over his shoulder. All at once, Mario's friends and family burst into tears of happiness. They crowded their hero and showered him with affection. Mario gently laid Dante on the ground before falling to his knees.
The End of Crimson (http://www.esnips.com/doc/842898a9-db3d-495b-a153-a03da6f74b1e/The-End-of-Crimson)
Dante's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Why... why did you... save me...? You won... Why would you bother... to spare my life...?"
Mario grinned wearily. "It's because I'm stupid... As much as I grow to hate someone... I always end up feeling sorry for him after I beat him... Besides, if I let you die, all of this would have been a waste... This Armageddon... at first, I thought that it didn't have a point... I couldn't understand why you were senselessly killing all of my friends... After I understood its true purpose, I couldn't help but feel that this wasn't all for nothing... Even though so many people have died... You can finally live without ever being torn apart by an internal battle... Crimson is gone for good..."
"But... I sacrificed so many lives to get this far..." Dante protested. "When I killed your brother... I saw hatred in your eyes... After all of this, how could you possibly forgive me...?"
"It's because... I understand what it's like to have another personality constantly battling against you for survival. I know what it must have been like to live with Crimson for all of those years... I have the soul of an ancient demon within my body... I know how it feels to fear the darkness within... I don't want anyone else to have to live with such a burden... So after hearing the truth, despite how much I resented you for what you did to my friends and family... I finally understood that Crimson was my true enemy... You were forced by Crimson to kill all of those people... Because I know what it's like to be controlled by something else living inside of you... I was able to sympathize with you... and I can find it my heart to forgive you..."
Dante's cheeks soon became damp with tears. "Mario... thank you... Kinder words have never been spoken to me... Because of you, I was able to drive Crimson out of my heart..." He slowly rose to his feet. "However... I cannot blame Crimson for all of the sins I have committed. In truth, I wanted the Armageddon just as badly as he did. As long as I could finally be free from my inner conflict, I didn't care who died in the process..." He began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Peach asked timidly. "I'm not sure what happened, but... if Mario can forgive you, then so can I."
Dante hung his head. "Regardless, I must pay my debt to society. This body has taken countless lives. Whether it was by my choice or not, this body must also pay for the sins it has committed. I'm going to spend some time living a life of solitude... Until I can lessen my guilt, there's no way I can return to my former life."
"Wait-"
"Let him go," Mario insisted. "He's lived with another personality for even longer than I have. His emotional wounds are certainly deeper than mine are. Give him some time to heal, and I'm sure he'll be back someday."
"I can't believe that it's all over..." Peach sighed. "In the end, almost everyone died... Jinx, two of the Master's students, the Wario Brothers, Mark and Luke, Lorne, and even Luigi... They're all gone... This kingdom sure will be lonely without them."
Mario placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's out of our hands, now. All we can do now is grieve for them and move on... Besides, we won't be lonely for long... Our wedding is only four months away. Soon, we'll be getting ready to start our own family..."
As the two of them embraced, everyone around them began to cheer. At last, the war with Crimson was over. However, as Mario and Princess Peach held each other closely, the Mushroom Hero knew that this peace would not last. As he gazed at the sunset, Mario remembered that his wedding wasn't the only event that would take place in four months.
Don't worry about Luigi and the others... With the war against the Grimnexes coming in only a few months, I have a feeling we'll be seeing them sooner than you think.
The End
(Find out how the story ends in the series finale, Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation)