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Game-o-rama => General Gaming => Topic started by: shadowmarioguy on December 03, 2010, 08:12:26 PM

Title: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on December 03, 2010, 08:12:26 PM
NOTE: The chapters are best viewed with the 'Core Theme'.  Otherwise, the quotation marks seem to change into strange symbols.

(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/smb9banner.png)

After avoiding yet another disaster, the Mushroom Kingdom has lived in peace for four months.  However, this peace has come at a huge price: the lives of Luigi, Mario Jr., Luigi Jr., Wario, Waluigi, and many others have been lost.  Meanwhile, as Mario and Princess Peach finally prepare themselves for marriage, the Grimnexes of the Nightmare Vault have decided to strike.  Their attack will begin a struggle that will bring each of our remaining heroes into the heart of enemy territory.  With each 'hero' having his own reasons for entering this war, the Super Mario Bros. series will reach its heart-wrenching conclusion.

This is the ninth and final part of my Super Mario Brothers series.  There is no need for you to go back and read 1-8 because I have spent a great deal of time writing Character Bios to bring you up to speed.  It may seem kind of silly to read the final part of a series without reading anything else, but previous parts in the series aren't written as well, especially the earliest ones.  If you're new, I'd recommend reading all of the bios and the first few chapters to see if you're interested.  From there, you can decide if you want to go back and read everything or just continue reading the current story.

If you're interested, you can read/download SMB1-8 here (http://www.esnips.com/web/SMBFanficSeries).

If you're new to the series, you should absolutely 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 1-8, 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 to 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 demise 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.  Up until recently, their 'civilization' was devastated by a gruesome 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 similar to Terranea 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 fought viciously amongst themselves.  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 judgment 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, Anthony, 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.

Dante (Formerly known as: Crimson)

His real name is Dante, and he is both Anthony's brother and Mario's uncle.  When he was young, he strongly believed that justice would always prevail.  When he fought alongside Anthony against Lord Shade, they were no match for him.  After witnessing the death of his brother, Dante began to question his beliefs and morals.  He ultimately joined Lord Shade's military, bringing his infant son with him.  Years passed, and Dante began to develop a second personality.  While Dante struggled to hold on to his morals, Crimson, his second identity, embraced the darkness within him.  One day, after being taken over by Crimson, Dante drank from the Fountain of Lust, allowing him to unlock his true potential in exchange for throwing away his humanity.

With total control of Dante's body, Crimson became even stronger than Lord Shade.  Refusing to obey someone weaker than himself, Crimson gathered a group of Shade's strongest warriors and deserted the Shadow Shrowds.  Glaive and Lorne (see below) were both members of this gang.  Now no longer being bossed around by Lord Shade, Crimson was free to do whatever he wanted.  He had only one thing in mind: finding someone who could challenge his might.  Working together with his other personality, Dante, they hatched a scheme that would satisfy them both.  Crimson learned that he was part of a bloodline that possessed extraordinary powers.  Therefore, if he tracked down a relative, he would likely find the challenge that he was searching for.

After hearing that Mario had defeated Lord Shade, Crimson suddenly became very interested in the Mushroom Kingdom.  Unfortunately, Mario was not quite strong enough to face him.  Crimson 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.  Satisfied, Crimson launched an assault upon the kingdom, effortlessly killing nearly all of Mario's friends and family members.  When Mario and Crimson finally met in combat, Dante's motives for the battle against Mario were revealed.  As Mario and Crimson fought, the same struggle between good and evil was happening within Crimson, between Crimson and Dante.  The victor in the bout between Mario and Crimson would also decide which of Dante's personalities would triumph.  In the end, Mario defeated Crimson, and Dante regained control of his body.  Feeling remorse for his sins, Dante has vanished without a trace.

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 is permanently destroyed by Mario.

Zagan

This mysterious figure appeared briefly in SMB8 when he assassinated Botis, the leader of the Grimnexes.  In the struggle for power that followed, Zagan was able to emerge as their new leader.  His plan, motives, and true identity are all a mystery, but one thing is certain: his sights are set on Mario!  With the Grimnexes planning to make their move any day now, Mario is about to face the greatest struggle of his life.

Mario

(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/shadowmarioguy/marioba.png)

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 met another Elemental God, Raiden, who revealed that Mario is from the Hero bloodline.  This bloodline was created long ago to keep the world safe from evil, and was bestowed with tremendous power from the Zeus.  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 Glaive, 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.

Once there, Mario learned that he possessed the soul of an ancient demon within his body.  He began to train with a demon named Swift in order to help suppress the demon soul within him.  Finally at peace, Mario fought with the Demon Resistance against the demons of the Phoenix, or so he thought.  He and his comrades eventually discovered that the Demon Resistance had been defeated long before Mario had even entered the Nightmare Vault.  The entire time he had been fighting in the Nightmare Vault, Mario was actually being manipulated by Botis, the leader of the Grimnexes.  Botis' goal was to obtain the Nexus Pass, a key that would allow the demons to escape from the Nightmare Vault.  Mario confronted Botis, but was no match for him.  Luckily, while Mario was unconscious, a mysterious figure appeared and assassinated Botis.  Now left in a state of depression, Mario could feel the demon within him beginning to resurface.  He began to train with Swift yet again in order to obtain inner peace, but they were soon interrupted.  After learning that the Mushroom Kingdom was under attack from Crimson, Mario departed from the Nightmare Vault to help defend his kingdom once again.

After learning that most of his friends and family had been killed, Mario blamed himself.  Once he finally finished grieving for his loved ones, Mario and Crimson met in battle.  Though he only possessed 75% of the Hero's Power, he was able to borrow the final 25% from his father after witnessing the death of Luigi.  As he learned more about Crimson's motives, Mario realized that they had more in common than he originally thought.  After gaining a trace of respect for Crimson, Mario showed him mercy and allowed him to live.  Now living in peace, Mario plans to marry Princess Peach.  However, in the back of his mind, he knows that a battle with the Grimnexes is imminent.

Luigi (Deceased):

(http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/19600/405501-111130-luigi_large.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.

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 discovered that he had 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.

In SMB8, Luigi managed to live through the majority of Crimson's assault on the Mushroom Kingdom.  However, during Mario's duel with Crimson, Luigi threw his fears to the wind and fought alongside his brother in order to protect him.  Though he was killed by Crimson, his sacrifice was not in vain.  After witnessing the death of Luigi, Mario found the strength to challenge Crimson in one final bout.

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 two 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 joined up with Crimson and abandoned the Shadow Shrowds.  He was then ordered by Crimson to travel to the Mushroom Kingdom for a surveillance mission.  When Mario and Luigi bumped into some trouble during the Shadow Shrowd invasion, Glaive came out from seemingly nowhere to rescue them.  From then on, he became a part of Mario's group in order to seek vengeance upon Lord Shade- and to spy on the Mario Brothers for Crimson.  After Mario defeated Lord Shade, a friendly rivalry formed between Mario and Glaive.  Because of this, Glaive decided to cut his ties with Crimson and to stay in the Mushroom 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.  This dream has finally been fulfilled, but not in the way he had originally hoped for.  The Demon Resistance has been crushed, and soon, the Grimnexes will attack all other realms of existence.

Ace Spades

Ace, 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 brother, Jack.  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 to atone for his crimes.  By the time he reached his late teens, Ace rose to the top of Poker Face and became its leader.  When the Mushroom Kingdom was attacked by Velno, 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.

Once there, he continued to fight alongside Mario, but not as a member of Poker Face.  He entrusted Mario with his Nexus Pass and set off to visit his brother's grave.  However, once he reached the cemetery, he met with a demon who called himself King.  This demon explained that it was his responsibility to guard the bodies of the Zepar tribe.  He continues to reveal that Ace is a part of this clan, and that the two of them are the only survivors.  Long ago, the Assassination Force eliminated the Zepar tribe for betraying the Phoenix, but they decided to recruit Ace because of his unusual talent.  Now, with little time before the Grimnexes make their move, Ace is training day and night with King to unlock the hidden powers of his forgotten tribe.

Lorne (Deceased)

Lorne is the son of Crimson (Dante).  When Lord Shade attacked Brooklyn, Anthony and Dante fought side by side against him.  After deciding to join Shade's military, Dante brought his son with him to work under Lord Shade.  Unfortunately, Lorne was often abused and mistreated due to his lack of combat skills.  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, not knowing that Crimson was actually his father.  Through years of personal training, Lorne became strong enough to be involved in Velno's assault on the Mushroom Kingdom.  Eventually, Mario and Lorne ended up fighting each other.  After a fierce exchange of beliefs, Mario was able to break his cold exterior and convince him to join the side of good.

After Crimson personally attacked the Mushroom Kingdom, Lorne did not know who he should side with.  He ultimately decided to fight for Mario's friends.  Still not realizing that Crimson was his father, Lorne battled against many of his former comrades.  Eventually, Crimson revealed his identity to him only moments before killing him.  Now spending his days in the Underwhere, Lorne is burning to question his father's motives.

Slade

Slade is much like Lorne in the sense that he used to work for Crimson, but now fights on Mario's side... sort of.  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.  In order to sharpen his skills and possibly gain information about his parents' whereabouts, Slade accompanied Mario in his journey to the Nightmare Vault.

Although he has decided to help Mario battle against the Grimnexes, his top priority is to find his parents and kill them.  He has spent the last six years training for the war against the Grimnexes.  Though he feels some loyalty to Mario, he will not risk his life unless it is to further his own goals.

Princess Peach:

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:rxUNVwLmwVxg-M:http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb274/demononstrings/PrincessPeach.png&t=1)

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 constantly worries about Mario, who often disappears after his adventures.  When Mario returned from the Nightmare Vault, she was overjoyed.  Now that Crimson has been defeated and the kingdom is at peace, Mario and Peach plan to get married.

Mario Jr. and Luigi Jr. (Deceased):

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.

During Mario's subsequent adventures, they gradually became more involved in their father's battles.  They have come a long way, and though they have not inherited the Hero's Power, it is clear that they possess great strength.  Unfortunately, during Crimson's assault, Mark, age 16, and Luke, age 13, died in combat.  Now preparing to journey from the Underwhere to the Overthere, they are not yet aware that their adventures have not come to an end.

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://asmallvictory.net/idol/archives/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.  Although they did not play much of a role in Velno's attack, they fought bravely against Crimson and his henchmen.  Wario met his end after a great display of selflessness in which he protected Luke from Smithy.

Waluigi:

(http://www.mushroomkingdom.nl/waluigi.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 once forced to work with Mario and Luigi in an attempt to become as famous as the Mario Bros.  Years later, he worked alongside Mario and his friends in an attempt to protect the Mushroom Kingdom from Crimson.  Waluigi, much like his brother, died a hero's death, taking on dozens of Lord Shade clones while his friends fled to safety.

Skulleon:

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:M_Uzw1BGoETxNM:http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-02/art/oot-stalfos.gif&t=1)

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 agreed to let Mario touch the Thunder Orb- after he went through some bone-breaking trials.  Much like Skulleon, he continues to watch over Mario and his friends.

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.

Grimnexes

Although few know the full truth behind the Grimnexes, most know that they are a group of demons that are believed to be nearly unstoppable.  Many believe that they were created in an experiment that went horribly wrong.  Regardless, they are the leading force behind the Phoenix's military, and Mario has yet to enter a full-scale confrontation with them.  They are feared by even Zeus, the governor of all realms of reality.

There were once 24 Grimnexes, but their numbers have decreased over the centuries.  Each Grimnex each assigned a Greek letter, which serves as their rank.  The Alpha Grimnex is the strongest, and the Omega Grimnex is the weakest.  To counter their decline, the Grimnexes have been known in the past to bestow an ordinary demon with a vacant Grimnex rank if he proves himself worthy.  Here is a list of the Grimnex ranks and the status of each of them as of the end of SMB8:

(Note: If a rank is crossed out, either the Grimnex holding the rank has died, there is no one who currently possesses this rank, or both)

1.   Alpha- Mysteriously vanished years ago, believed to be alive
2.   Beta- Considered the leader of the Grimnexes
3.   Gamma
4.   Delta
5.   Epsilon
6.   Zeta
7.   Eta
8.   Theta
9.   Iota
10.   Kappa
11.   Lambda
12.   Mu
13.   Nu
14.   Xi

15.   Omicron
16.   Pi
17.   Rho

18.   Sigma
19.   Tau
20.   Upsilon
21.   Phi
22.   Chi
23.   Psi

24.   Omega

Obsolete Grimnexes

In the past, there have been a few Grimnexes who have been deemed unfit to hold the rank of a full-fledged Grimnex.  Those who betray the Phoenix's goals or act out of line are often stripped of their ranks and assigned an obsolete Greek letter.  The Digamma Grimnex was killed by Glaive six years ago, and the Sampi and Stigma ranks are not currently being occupied.  Also, these Grimnexes are not ranked in any particular order.  Here is a list of their 'ranks' anyway:
1.   Digamma
2.   Heta
3.   Quoppa
4.   Stigma
5.   San
6.   Sampi
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation
Post by: shadowmarioguy on December 03, 2010, 08:26:13 PM
Prologue: Wedding Vows

Four months.  It had been four months since that fateful day.  It was the day that marked the end of the Mushroom Kingdom's most recent crisis.  However, this disaster had been very different from those that the kingdom had grown accustomed to- there were casualties.  And not just a few.  From ordinary civilians to heroes that had been defending the kingdom for years: no one was excluded from the carnage.

Still, the number of casualties was not the only issue that troubled Mario.  It was also the motive behind each of these massacres.  Unlike previous battles with enemies such as Lord Shade and Velno, Mario found himself facing an enemy that was not interested in power.  And once he learned more about Dante's motives, no matter how hard he tried, Mario could not hate him.  Even with the knowledge that Dante was the sole cause for the deaths of countless innocent people, including his own brother, Mario was unable to find it in his heart to finish Dante off once the battle had ended.  Weeks later, Mario continued to question himself.  Why feel sympathy for such a cruel man?  And then the answer finally came to him.  It was because they were the same.

Years ago, Dante had developed a second personality named Crimson.  Dante struggled to suppress Crimson, but to no avail.  As time passed, Dante developed a plan to free himself from Crimson's grasp.  By assaulting the Mushroom Kingdom and triggering an Armageddon, he could resolve the struggle between good and evil within himself by watching how the very same battle unfolded in the outside world.  Many lives were lost, but in the end, Mario rose to the challenge and defeated Dante.  His plan succeeded, and Crimson faded away.  Despite this, Dante felt remorse for the many crimes he and Crimson had committed in the past.  He ultimately decided to live a life of solitude until he could find a meaningful purpose for his existence.

Similarly, Mario has been facing his own inner conflict.  He has recently learned that he is distantly related to an ancient demon whose soul lives on within him.  For the past six years, Mario has been fighting to drive this demon from his heart.  Because of this, Mario was able to understand Dante's desire to be free from Crimson's influence.  Although Dante was successful in ridding himself of Crimson, Mario has had little luck with his demon ancestor.

Though his battle with Dante was indeed noteworthy, Mario's thoughts have lately shifted to a different event: his own wedding.  More specifically, he is worried if his wedding will be interrupted by an upcoming crisis that will prove to be even more lethal than Dante.  Six years ago, Mario had traveled to the Nightmare Vault to end the civil war between the Phoenix and the Demon Resistance.  Much to his dismay, there were a few setbacks, and the Phoenix crushed the Resistance.  Mario was nearly killed by Botis, the leader of the Grimnexes, but a mysterious figure appeared and assassinated Botis.  When Mario awoke, the war was over- for the time being.  Ace, one of his comrades, estimated that it would take the Grimnexes about four months to choose a new leader.  Once they had accomplished this, they would seek revenge upon the world for sealing them within the Nightmare Vault.

Mario began training with a demon named Swift in order to suppress his ancestor's soul, but he decided to leave the Nightmare Vault early once he heard news of Dante's assault.  After helping Dante free himself from his alternate ego, Mario spent the next four months living in peace and helping to rebuild the kingdom.  The date of his wedding was approaching, but something else crowded his thoughts...  He was haunted by the fear that the Grimnexes had found their new leader.  Day and night, he worried that the most precious day of his life would be interrupted by the Grimnexes.  Most of all, he feared that if the Grimnexes did decide to strike, he would be powerless to stop them...




"By the power vested in me by the Mushroom Kingdom Church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Mario and Princess Peach gazed into each other's eyes.  At last, the moment that they had waited for had finally arrived.  As he prepared to spend the rest of his life with the woman standing before him, Mario's eardrums were pierced by a shriek of terror.  He looked down and saw that his shirt had been stained with blood.  His eyes returned to Peach, and he gasped in terror at what had become of his bride.

Standing beside her with a blade held tightly in his grip was a menacing, pale-faced demon.  Without even thinking, Mario understood that it was a Grimnex.  He closed his eyes, hoping that the gruesome image would fade away once he reopened them.  Instead, as his eyelids fluttered open, he saw something far more horrid.  The blade that had previously been held by the Grimnex was now in his own hands.  Lying at his feet was the corpse of his bride.

The sight of his fallen bride was too much for him to bear.  For the second time in his life, Mario had slaughtered a woman that he was prepared to marry.  Suddenly, as if controlled by some profound force, Mario pointed the blade at his own throat.  Though he struggled with all of his might, he could not stop the dagger from inching closer to his throat.  With a violent thrust, the plumber ended his own life.


Mario's eyes widened as he rose to a sitting position, frantically gasping for air.  He looked around and let out a sigh of relief.  "Not good," he muttered to himself as he leapt out of bed.  "This isn't the first time I've had that dream.  What does it mean?"  He glanced at the calendar.  "And on the day of my wedding, too?  Fantastic."

As he prepared to leave the room, he turned around and gazed at the green-blanketed cot at the bottom of the bunk bed he and his brother once shared.  "Bro...  I have a feeling that we'll all be seeing you sooner than you think."




Princess Peach heaved an impatient sigh as she gazed longingly at the sunrise.  "It's finally here...  The day I've awaited for so many years..."  She suddenly snapped from her dreamy state.  "Oh, what am I doing?  I need to finish the wedding preparations!  And I still need to consult Toadsworth...  He's probably still a little uncomfortable with the thought of me getting married..."

She rose to her feet and scuttled toward the marble double doors that led out of the Royal Chambers.

"Hold it, Princess Peach."

Black Heart (http://www.esnips.com/doc/44404b4d-cc83-4be6-b66a-f9f54b148ee9/Black-Heart)

Only four words had been spoken to her, and yet they were enough to paralyze her entire body with fear.  She slowly turned around, her body trembling.  Standing before her was a tall, pale skinned man.  He was dressed in entirely black clothing, except for a white chest plate of armor.  He wore baggy black pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and his hair was a mop of gray.  Strapped to his waist was a long dagger sheathed in a jet black scabbard.  His sapphire eyes casted a cold, stoic glare upon the frightened princess.

"Who... who are you...?" Peach whispered through trembling lips.

"My name is Ipos."  As the princess prepared to speak yet again, Ipos silenced her with an impatient wave of his hand.  "Silence.  Princess Peach, you have been chosen to aid the Grimnexes' cause.  You are to come with me to the Nightmare Vault."

"...And if I refuse...?"

"I will give you until the end of today to think it over.  If you tell anyone else about this conversation, I will interrupt your wedding and slaughter everyone."

"I'd hardly call this a conversation," the princess grumbled as she rolled her eyes.  "Besides, how would you possibly interrupt my wedding...?  Mario would stop you..." she hissed, quivering with defiant rage.

"Mario?  You mean the Mushroom Hero?  He could never hope to stand up to a high-ranking Grimnex such as myself.  Tell me, has Mario seemed restless these past few months?  Has it seemed as though something was troubling him?  He was not nervous about the wedding that will be taking place today.  Rather, he fears that it will be interrupted by the Grimnexes.  This is because he knows that he cannot hope to stop us."

"You're wrong..." Peach murmured, though it sounded as if she was trying to convince herself rather than Ipos.

"Regardless, if you do not meet me with a positive response by tonight, Mario will die."  With that, Ipos turned and began to walk away.

"Wait!  Why not just kidnap me now?" she called after him.

Ipos stopped for a moment, but did not turn around.  "Because you would resist, and I might be forced to injure you.  It would be preferable if I brought you to the Nightmare Vault unharmed.  If I give you time to think and the proper motivation to come with me, there won't even be a struggle."  He vanished into the depths of the dim Royal Chambers.  Peach gazed pensively in Ipos' direction until she could no longer hear the echoes of his footsteps.

[End Music]




Recently, a wave of excitement had rushed through the Mushroom Kingdom and its previously depressed citizens.  Since the Dante incident, there was little for them to be cheerful about.  Now that the day of the wedding between Princess Peach and Mario had arrived, they finally had something to celebrate.  Indeed, a great deal of effort had been put into the reconstruction of Mushroom Castle so that it would be rebuilt in time for the wedding.

Not a single soul in the entire kingdom dared to miss this event.  The only exception was Bowser.  Mario had gracefully set aside their rivalry and offered him an invitation, well aware of the assistance that Bowser had provided during Dante's invasion.  However, the Koopa King declined, likely because of his own feelings for Peach.

Gathered in a church built within Mushroom Castle, the spectators whistled as Mario and Peach entered.  Mario wore a fancy black jacket with a rose protruding from the collar, a white buttoned shirt beneath it, black striped pants, and a seamless pair of black shoes.  Peach giggled.  Mario appeared to be a completely different person without his usual plumbing attire.

"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Prince Mario and Princess Peach in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.

"To all present I say: We are gathered here, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is. We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate with Mario and Peach the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives, and the commitment they make today.

"True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding."

The officiant turned to face Mario.  "Do you, Mario, take Princess Peach to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?"

Mario remained silent, slowly taking the officiant's words in.  At last, he grinned and nodded firmly.  "I do."

The officiant's eyes shifted to the bride.  "Do you, Princess Peach, take Mario to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

Silence.  Peach swallowed hard, remembering Ipos' threat earlier on.  Would she be able to keep such a vow?  Seconds seemed like hours as everyone eagerly awaited her response.  At last, her eyes met Mario's, and she could not deny that she loved him.  No matter how much danger this decision would put her in, she would not allow Ipos to drain the love from her heart.   "I do."

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you.  Let it be a reminder that I am always by your side and that I will always be a faithful partner to you," Mario said with a gentle smile as he slid a golden ring onto her finger.  He chuckled to himself, remembering the script that he had rehearsed several times with the Master.

Peach pulled out a ring of her own and placed it on Mario's finger.  "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.  As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you.  I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

The officiant nodded.  "By the power vested in me by the Mushroom Kingdom Church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

The entire church exploded with cheers and applause as the two newlyweds embraced.  Tears of joy flooded down the princess' face.  "Oh, Mario...  Can we finally live in peace together?"  Mario nodded with a warm smile, and she wrapped her arms around her husband.

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

Suddenly, Peach felt a deep sorrow building within her heart.  Somewhere, deep down, she knew that this would most likely be their final embrace.  How she yearned to tell her husband all about Ipos' threat!  This was the perfect opportunity to warn Mario about what was to come, but her love for Mario and her desire to protect him prevented her from speaking.  After all, Ipos had described the consequences for such a betrayal in vivid detail.  She held Mario closer to her, never wanting to let go.

"Attention all guests: The after-party will be held on the second floor of the castle in fifteen minutes.  If you wish to attend, please follow the designated escorts."

"Mario... I need to freshen up before the party begins," Peach lied, her mind made up.

"That's fine.  I was actually going to change into some more comfortable clothes anyway," Mario replied with a grin.  He turned around and jogged toward the dressing rooms, a red shirt and a pair of overalls tucked beneath his arm.

"Please forgive me..." the princess whispered glumly.  As all of the guests filed out of the room, Peach was left alone.  "I have to do this...  It's for your own good..."  Her cheeks damp with tears, the bride descended the steps leading outside of the castle.  After a moment of hesitation, she firmly pressed the double doors open and stepped outside.  The sky was gray.  The change in weather that day seemed to symbolize the emotional rollercoaster that Peach had been through.  When she first awoke, the sun was shining, and she eagerly anticipated her wedding with Mario.  As the day went on, her depression grew and the sky became dark and gloomy.  Before long, it began to rain.  Scuttling through a downpour in her wedding dress, Peach felt her whole world crumbling to pieces.

"Regardless, if you do not meet me with a positive response by tonight, Mario will die."

"It would be preferable if I brought you to the Nightmare Vault unharmed.  If I give you time to think and the proper motivation to come with me, there won't even be a struggle."


"This is... for the best..." she reassured herself, the world around her growing dim and cold.  Now soaked with rain and tears, the shivering princess spotted a dark silhouette approaching her from the distance.  "This wedding... it was never meant to be...  Mario...  I'm so sorry..."  She buried her face in her hands.

"Wise decision," the shadowy figure sneered.  "I was on my way to Mushroom Castle.  If you had been even a few minutes later, everyone attending your wedding ceremony would have died."

"Ipos..."  The princess fell to her knees, unable to control her sobbing any longer.  "Please... please let me stay...  I don't want to leave him..."

"Quiet," Ipos demanded unsympathetically, looking down upon her with disgust.  "Dry your tears.  We're going to the Nightmare Vault.  Face it.  Your marriage was not meant to be.  Mario is of demon origin.  He even killed his previous fiancĂ©.  What makes you think that man was worth marrying?"

"Shut up!" Peach howled with resentment, rising to her feet in anger.  "Don't you dare talk about Mario that way!  You don't know anything about him!"

"I know more than you ever could," Ipos replied coldly.  He seized the princess by the hand and pulled her toward him.  With his free hand, he removed a silver cube with an 'N' engraved on each of its faces.  With a flourish of the cube, a swirling purple vortex formed in front of him.  "That's enough of your senseless prattle.  We're going."

"But... how can you travel between dimensions without a Nexus Pass?" Peach inquired, her eyes wide with terror.  "Have the Grimnexes finally found a way to enter the human realm?"

"This is a forged Nexus Pass," Ipos informed her.  "Its abilities are severely limited compared to the real thing.  It only allows the user to make one roundtrip to any dimension he chooses.  Also, the user must complete his trip within one day, or the pass will deactivate and become useless.  Besides, one of these fake passes takes nearly a year to create.  In other words, it would not be practical for the Grimnexes to launch an invasion with forged Nexus Passes.  You can breathe a sigh of relief for now, I suppose."

As Ipos explained this to her, Peach tried to wrench herself free.  For a moment she managed to get away, but the Grimnex soon caught up with her.  "Enough questions.  It's time for us to go."  With Peach's arm held tightly in his grip, Ipos placed one foot into the portal.  Peach closed her eyes, suddenly burning with a desire to hold Mario one last time.  As Ipos began to place his second foot into the vortex that led to the Nexus, he was blinded by a flash of red light.  From out of seemingly nowhere, a Fireball struck the portal with pinpoint accuracy, causing it to close before Ipos could use it.

Mushroom Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/de663555-8bd0-469d-ab0f-700f64296001/Mushroom-Hero)

"Don't let him get to you, Peach," Mario chuckled, clenching his fists as he sprinted onto the scene.  "You should've told me about this guy sooner.  If I had gotten here ten seconds later, you would've been long gone."

Ipos turned around and glared at the defiant plumber.  "And just who are you?"  His eyes scanned Mario's body, and a smirk spread across the Grimnex's face.  "Wait a minute...  Those overalls...  That mustache...  You must be Mario."

"Mario!" Peach gasped as she wept the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm flattered.  It looks like I've become a celebrity even in the Nightmare Vault," Mario snickered, confidently walking toward his opponent.  "I'm not sure who you are, but it was pretty cowardly of you to try and lure Peach to the Nightmare Vault without confronting me.  How could you toy with someone's emotions like that?"

"Is that a challenge?" Ipos inquired, his tone calm and stolid.  It was evident that Mario's arrival had not shaken him up at all.  "If it is, I'd be happy to accept.  I've heard a lot about you, Mushroom Hero.  In fact, I'm so impressed by the rumors that I've heard that I'll let you make the first move.  Don't disappoint me."

Mario took a fighting stance.  "As you wish."  Who is this guy?  He went through all of that trouble to capture Peach without facing me, and yet he doesn't even seem surprised that I caught up with him.  Am I missing something?  ...Oh well, I guess there's only one way to find out.  If he's giving me a free hit, I might as well go for it.

"Mario..." Peach whispered frightfully as her husband charged at Ipos with his fists raised.  "Don't..."

With a cry of determination, Mario sprang at his foe as his right fist began to glow with the power of a Fireball.  Interesting, Ipos thought as he prepared to defend himself.  As the plumber's fist was inches away from his face, Ipos caught the punch in his right palm.  "That's a clever technique.  You charged up a Fireball in your palm, but instead of releasing it, you used its power to augment one of your punches."

"There's more where that came from," Mario grumbled, struggling to free his right fist from Ipos' grip.  With his free hand, he formed an Iceball and lunged at Ipos with yet another punch.  Once again, Ipos blocked the attack with little effort.  Both of the Mushroom Hero's fists were now in the Grimnexes grasp.  Mario was trapped.

Black Heart (http://www.esnips.com/doc/44404b4d-cc83-4be6-b66a-f9f54b148ee9/Black-Heart)

"My turn," Ipos muttered, his voice stoic and indifferent.  In the blink of an eye, Ipos' knee collided with Mario's chest, sending the plumber soaring into the air.  Clutching his wounded chest as he descended, Mario's eyes widened as he felt a gust of wind rush past him.  Mario glimpsed upward and saw Ipos hovering above him, his blade moving in slow motion.  Before he could comprehend what had just happened, Mario tumbled onto the solid cement of a nearby sidewalk.  Running diagonally across his chest was a bloody gash. 

His body trembling, Mario looked up at his opponent.  "What... What just... happened...?"

"What a disappointment..." Ipos sighed.  "Is this a joke?  After kneeing you in the chest, I slashed you with my sword while you were still airborne.  By the time you landed, you had already been cut."  He sheathed his sword.  "That was rather anticlimactic."

"Heh... you think it's over...?" Mario inquired, slowly rising to his feet.

"Mario, stay down!" Peach pleaded.  "He's a Grimnex!  You'll never survive against him!"

Mario's eyes shifted from Peach to Ipos.  "A Grimnex...  Really...?  That explains it..."

"If you wish to back down, now is your chance," Ipos informed him as he drew his sword.  He paused to give Mario time to think.  Barely able to stand, the plumber clenched his fists and prepared for more.  "Didn't you hear her?  I'm a Grimnex; you don't stand a chance.  Don't be a fool.  Your own wife is asking you to back off."

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

Although his entire body was numb with pain, Mario grinned.  "Heh... are you even listening to yourself...?  My own wife is asking me to back off...?  Of course she is...  She wants to protect me...  But I'm not going to stand down... because I want to protect her, too...  I made a vow... that I'd always protect her... through joy and sorrow... through sickness and health... through whatever challenges we may face..."  His eyes gleaming with determination, Mario sprinted at Ipos and lunged at him with another right hook.  "Even if you take her back to the Nightmare Vault, I'll still save her... even if I have to fight every last Grimnex by myself!"

Ipos swiftly veered to the right, dodging Mario's punch with ease.  He retaliated with a fierce blow to Mario's jaw, knocking the plumber onto the cement sidewalk with a lifeless thud.  "Hmph.  Such arrogance.  You won't even lay a foot in the Grimnex Palace until you can strike me in the face like that."  He turned to face Princess Peach.  "It's time for us to go.  This man isn't worth our time.  Your true destiny will be revealed once we reach the Nightmare Vault."

"Don't... don't listen to him..." Mario murmured, his voice barely audible.  Though he could not stand any longer, the Mushroom Hero had not lost his will to fight.  Lying face-down, he called to Ipos, "Grimnex... I'm not finished with you yet...  You're the new leader of the Grimnexes, right?  Then if I take you out, it'll take them another four months to choose a new ruler..."

"Not quite," the Grimnex informed him coldly.  "My name is Ipos.  I am the Delta Grimnex."

"No..." Mario whispered in disbelief.  "That means..."

Ipos nodded.  "Exactly.  You didn't even land a single hit on me, and I'm not even the highest ranking Grimnex.  Not only that, but I wasn't even trying.  I didn't even use my Final Smash."  He held his blade above Mario.  "Now do you understand?  No matter how strong your desire is to save her, Princess Peach belongs to us now.  You could never hope to take on the remaining Grimnexes by yourself."  With a powerful thrust, Ipos stabbed his dagger into Mario's arm.  The plumber howled in agony as Ipos slowly brought his blade upward, resulting in a vertical gash that ran up Mario's entire forearm.  "Keep this scar as a reminder of the impossibility of Peach's rescue.  And remember that if we ever meet again, you'll lose that arm."

Defeated, Mario could only lie down as he slowly bled to death.  Is this really how it all ends...?  Slaughtered by a Grimnex on the day of my own wedding...

Peach gazed at her husband, who was lying face-down in the rain, a pool of blood forming beneath his body.  As the plumber looked up at her, she averted her eyes.  She could no longer bear to see her husband in this broken state.  "Goodbye, Mario..." she whispered, turning around as she followed Ipos into the portal that led to the Nexus.

Amongst the pouring rain and crackling thunder, Peach's farewell had been the loudest sound to enter Mario's ears.  As she said her final goodbye to him, he realized his defeat.  He looked up at his wife one last time.  She turned her head away from him.  Too weak to stand, Mario reached toward Peach as his vision began to blur.  At last, the portal closed, and they vanished without a trace.  His head fell to the soaking wet sidewalk as tears streamed down his cheeks.  Blood continued to pool out of his wounds until his entire world became black.  Peach was gone.  And she was never coming back.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 1: Regaining Momentum)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on December 10, 2010, 07:08:44 PM
Chapter 1: Regaining Momentum

Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXM5lzeeWz8)

Deep within the Nightmare Vault, a calm, eerie stillness swept through the land.  The war between the Phoenix and the Resistance had ceased, and the land seemed to finally be at peace.  Ordinary demon citizens had begun to come out of hiding, thinking that the Resistance had won and that they were safe.  However, there was an area within the Nightmare Vault that only a small number of people knew about: the Nightmare Abyss.  It was within this cold, wretched wasteland that the wicked Grimnexes lurked.  They resided there for countless centuries, manipulating the war from behind the scenes.  In truth, the Resistance had been entirely eradicated.  It wouldn't be long before the Grimnexes set their plan for vengeance in motion.

At the center of the Nightmare Abyss was a colossal tower, known as Grimnex Palace.  On the top floor of this palace, all of the remaining Grimnexes had been gathered for a meeting.

"Now then, has everyone arrived?" the new Beta Grimnex inquired.

Ipos nodded.  "All except for the three that have been deemed obsolete."

"Good.  Now that I have officially been chosen to lead the Grimnexes, I feel that it is necessary for me to properly establish my role as your leader.  I am Zagan, the Beta Grimnex.  As you know, the Demon Resistance has been defeated for quite some time.  However, we were unable to put the next phase of our plan into action due to the lack of a leader.  Today, that is going to change.  Everyone, please bring your attention to Ipos."

Ipos gestured toward Peach, who was currently tied up and surrounded by three lower-ranking Grimnexes.  "This is Princess Peach, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom."

"Why did you bring one of those disgusting humans here?!" one of the Grimnexes protested.

"This isn't just any human.  She possesses the Phoenix Link," Ipos explained, causing the other Grimnexes to gasp.  "She will be a crucial asset to us in the near future."

"What's that supposed to mean?  If you think I'm going to help you, you're sadly mistaken!" Peach exclaimed defiantly.  She was silenced when one of the Grimnexes guarding her held his blade to her throat.

"Princess Peach, you are going to be a sacrifice for a ceremony known as the Phoenix Salvation," Ipos answered icily.  "That is your true destiny.  Though you may refuse now, I'm certain that you'll grow comfortable with your purpose soon enough."

"Well done, Ipos.  Is there anything else worth mentioning about your trip to the human realm?" Zagan asked with a smirk.

"No.  I did have a brief encounter with Mario, but you asked me if there was anything worth mentioning.  I see no reason to waste my breath speaking of such an enormous fool.  In case you were wondering, he isn't a threat to you or any of the Grimnexes, especially in the condition he's in now."

"Of course.  That will be all.  Still, I want everyone to maintain their usual posts until preparations for the Phoenix Salvation are complete."




"....ch...P....ach...Pea...ch...Peach!" Mario screamed as he abruptly sat up and clenched his fists.  Sharp pains erupted throughout his right arm, causing him to wince in pain.  He looked around and realized that he was in the hospital.  Bandages were wrapped around the wound on his chest, but his right arm, which had been severely cut, was left untouched.

"Finally awake, huh?" Grambi inquired with a weary smile.  "I was worried you weren't going to make it.  When everyone at the after party realized that both the bride and groom were missing, they all went looking for you.  They eventually found you bleeding to death on the sidewalk and brought you to the hospital.  When I saw how slow your recovery was coming along, I paid you a visit and used my powers to speed things up a bit.  But your injuries... what in the world happened?

Mario closed his eyes, trying to recall the events that had unfolded leading up to his wounds.  "There was this Grimnex named Ipos...  He kidnapped Peach, and I tried to stop him, and then..."  His eyes widened, and he leapt to his feet.  "Peach!  He took Peach to the Nightmare Vault!"  He began to sprint toward the exit, but Grambi caught him.  "Don't be a fool, Mario.  If you went head to head with a Grimnex, it's a miracle that you're even alive.  Not even I know about the origin of the Grimnexes.  All that I know is that they're known as the most dangerous life forms that have ever existed, aside from the Phoenix himself.  That's why they were sealed away in their own section of the Nightmare Vault, known as the Nightmare Abyss."

"I don't care who they are...  They took Peach, and they're gonna pay for it!" Mario exclaimed, angrily clenching his fists.

"Mario, the Grimnexes were sealed away by Zeus because he was unable to stop them with brute force.  At that point in time, Zeus was commanding an entire army.  For you to even attempt to take on the Grimnexes by yourself...  Not only is it something I'd advise against...  It just simply isn't possible."

"That's what everyone said when I took on Lord Shade and Dante, but I still found a way to beat them...  Besides, I won't be alone.  I have a few comrades in the Nightmare Vault who are waiting for me."

"It might be a different story if you had Luigi, the Wario Brothers, and all of your other friends, but they were killed by Dante and his men!"

"Wait a minute, you're Queen Jaydes' husband!  The Underwhere is just another dimension attached to the Nexus, right?  If you talked to her, I'm sure she'd let my friends and comrades use the Nexus to travel to the Nightmare Vault.  If we banded together, I'm sure we could get the job done!"

Grambi shook his head.  "I'm sorry.  It doesn't work like that.  Besides, there's something about Luigi and the Wario Brothers that I'd like to tell you...  When they died, they were not sent to the Underwhere."

"What do you mean?!" Mario thundered.  "They're still alive?!"

"No, that's not it.  They're dead; we have a record of them passing through the Nexus about four months ago.  However, we have no record of them entering the Underwhere.  It's as if they just vanished once they reached the Nexus."

"Well, what about everyone else?  There are still a few people in the Underwhere that could help me.  There's Mark, Luke, and this other guy named Lorne, and-"

Grambi sighed.  "As much as I'd love to go along with your plan, Zeus forbids it.  I didn't want to tell you this, but Zeus sent me a message earlier today.  He must've known that you would try to rescue Peach.  He said that as long as the Grimnexes don't have the Nexus Pass, none of the outer worlds are in any danger.  If you used the Nexus Pass to enter the Nightmare Vault, and one of the Grimnexes got his hands on it, it would all be over.  As such, you are forbidden to enter the Nightmare Vault under any circumstances."

"You think I care?" Mario inquired angrily.  "I'm not going to let some old geezer tell me what to do.  He doesn't think Peach's life is worth the risk because she's not his wife!"

"That's not the only reason," Grambi informed him.  "Haven't you been wondering why the doctors didn't bandage your arm?  Roll up your sleeve and take a look at it."

Black Heart (http://www.esnips.com/doc/44404b4d-cc83-4be6-b66a-f9f54b148ee9/Black-Heart)

Mario complied, slowly pulling his sleeves up to reveal his arm, which had been severely wounded in his battle against Ipos.  The plumber's eyes widened with fear.  Over his arm, a black, bone-line substance had begun to form.  "What... what is that?"

"It's just as I feared.  Your Demon Exoskeleton has already started to form," Grambi stated grimly.

"My what...?"

"Each day, the demon soul within you is coming closer and closer to seizing control.  The Demon Exoskeleton is a skeletal structure that begins to form in the later stages of this process.  Ultimately, it will cover your entire body, and your demon ancestor will take control," Grambi explained solemnly.

"I thought I got rid of him, but I guess not..." Mario whispered, terrified at the skeletal material that was growing on his arm.

"Previously, the struggle between you and your ancestor was mostly psychological.  However, the appearance of a Demon Exoskeleton means that this battle will also start to become physical.  If a particular body part is entirely covered by the Demon Exoskeleton, your inner demon will be able to control it at will without even taking control of your mind.  When the transformation is complete, you will resemble a black skeleton, and your demon ancestor's flesh will begin to cover the bones.  Once that happens, it will all be over.  You will become a permanent prisoner in your own body."

"Why... why are you telling me this...?" Mario inquired fearfully.  "I mean, what does this have to do with Zeus prohibiting me from entering the Nightmare Vault."

"Isn't it obvious?  The Nightmare Vault is the home of the demons.  The air is thick with Inequity, an energy that demons feed of off.  Within the Nightmare Abyss, the concentration of Inequity is even greater.  If you enter the Nightmare Abyss in an attempt to rescue Princess Peach, the demon within you will become stronger, and the Demon Exoskeleton will grow at an even faster rate."

"I see..." Mario mumbled, staring blankly at the wall.  It's just as I thought...  I could feel my demon ancestor growing closer each day...  This Demon Exoskeleton is proof of it...  It's only a matter of time before I lose control...  "This demon inside of me...  Isn't there any way I can get rid of it...?"

Tension filled the air.  Grambi did not respond.  "Forgive me...  Our demon ancestor has chosen you as his host...  There's nothing we can do..."

A feeling of dread began to overwhelm them.  Hoping to change the subject, Mario returned to the matter of Peach's rescue.  "Even so, I still have to try-"

"Don't be a fool, Mario!  You've got too many things working against you!  Peach is being guarded by over a dozen Grimnexes, most of your comrades are dead, and entering the vault would only strengthen your demon ancestor!  And above all, Zeus, the governor of all realms of reality, has ordered you to stay put!"

Mario hung his head in defeat.  "It just isn't fair...  We were so close...  We could have lived the rest of our lives in peace..."

"I'm sorry," Grambi apologized, his conscience weighing heavily with his son's sorrow.  "I may have sounded a bit harsh, but you have to admit that attempting to rescue Peach would be suicidal.  Please, Mario... give up on her..."  He patted his son on the shoulder before approaching the exit.  "I'll give you some time to think things over..."

Now sitting alone in his hospital room, Mario sighed with frustration.  "Why...  What do they want with Peach...?  I feel so helpless..."  He closed his eyes and remembered Ipos' cold expression as he took Peach away from him.  "That Grimnex... Ipos...  They way he looked down on me... The way he treated Peach...  He thinks that she's just a tool to further the Grimnexes' goals..."

"You didn't even land a single hit on me, and I'm not even the highest ranking Grimnex.  Not only that, but I wasn't even trying.  I didn't even use my Final Smash."  He held his blade above Mario.  "Now do you understand?  No matter how strong your desire is to save her, Princess Peach belongs to us now.  You could never hope to take on the remaining Grimnexes by yourself."

"Keep this scar as a reminder of the impossibility of Peach's rescue.  And remember that if we ever meet again, you'll lose that arm."


With images of Ipos flooding his mind, Mario slowly rose to his feet.  He opened the window and gazed at the horizon.  Ever since Peach's abduction, the sky had been covered with a layer of thick, gray clouds.  As Mario glanced at the golden ring on his finger, he remembered the vows that he and Peach had exchanged.  At that moment, Mario understood what he had to do.




Negotiations (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFbdwxLDzMA)

"This is a joke, right?" Bowser inquired hesitantly.  "Could... could you repeat that?"

"I need your help," Mario reiterated sincerely.  "Trust me, if it was for anything else, I wouldn't ask.  But there's no one left in this kingdom for me to turn to!  Crimson wiped almost all of my friends and family members out.  We're the only ones left.  And while you may not be the toughest person who has ever kidnapped Peach, out of all of them, you still have the biggest heart.  I know that you're always trying to act like my rival, but deep down, you're really not such a bad person."

"...Seriously?  You mean it, don't you?  I never thought I'd see the day...  The legendary Super Mario is actually groveling at my feet!" Bowser cackled.  "You can complement me all you want; there's no way I'm joining up with you.  Haven't I helped you enough already?  Whether it was against Smithy, Fawful, Count Bleck, or Crimson, I've always ended up shouldering most of the burden whenever your precious kingdom was in danger.  What is it this time?"

Mario grinned.  He's just as arrogant as ever.  This'll be easier than I thought.  "Well, you see, I just wanted to let you know that your role as my rival is most likely going to be replaced.  The other day, this demon came along, beat me, and took Princess Peach away- and on his first try, too.  Things aren't looking too good for your reputation, especially considering how easily your army was beaten by Crimson's."

"Wait, what?!  The princess has been kidnapped?!"

Mario nodded.  "Yeah, and I don't think I can rescue her alone.  I was going to ask you to come with me, but if you're too busy..."

Bowser raised his eyebrows with suspicion.  "I see what you're trying to do...  You think I'll fall for the same clichĂ© as always, don't you?  I've got a better idea.  Why don't I just let you rescue Princess Peach?  Then, once you get back, it'll be the perfect opportunity to make my move!"

"Yeah, but... aren't you supposed to, uh... not tell me that?  Besides, your plan is useless if I can't even manage to retrieve Peach.  Think about it this way.  If you come with me, you can steal the spotlight from me, prove that you're a better villain than the Grimnexes, and impress Peach all at the same time," Mario explained. 

The Koopa King remained silent.

"Please, Bowser...  I don't know what they're planning to do with Peach...  She might not have much time left..." Mario pleaded, determined to persuade Bowser to assist him at all costs.

At last, Bowser answered.  "Well...  If you're going to be so pathetic about it, I guess I can go with you.  But don't think for a minute that I'll be your obedient little sidekick.  If you end up slowing me down, you'll be on your own."

"Right.  I'll keep that in mind," the plumber chuckled triumphantly.

"So, when do we leave?"

Mario shrugged.  "I was hoping we could go right now.  There are some people that don't exactly approve of my plans to rescue Peach, so I'd like to get going as soon as possible."




Final Mission (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c9639266-11f0-4985-82e2-8fe650a42839/Final-Mission)

"Mario, are you sure you want to go through with this?" the Master inquired.  Deep beneath Mushroom Castle, many of Mario's closest friends had gathered to see him off.  At last, the time had come for Mario and Bowser to face off against the Grimnexes.

Mario nodded.  "For these past four months, I've been trying to ignore the threat of a Grimnex invasion.  Peach's kidnapping has reminded me that my duty as the Mushroom Hero isn't over yet.  Four months ago, I promised Ace that I would meet him in the Nightmare Vault.  Now it's time for me to keep that promise."

"Can we get on with this?" Bowser grumbled impatiently.  "It's not that big of a deal.  Nothing's going to happen to us.  After all, I'll be assisting Mario."

Mario reached into his pocket and removed a golden cube with an 'N' engraved on it.  "Right.  Let's get going."  With a wave of the Nexus Pass, Mario caused a swirling purple vortex to open in front of them.  "Once we jump inside of that portal, we'll be in the Nexus.  You aren't having any second thoughts, are you?"

Bowser shook his head.

"Wait!" an elderly voice called from the stairway that connected to Mushroom Castle.  Grambi emerged from the darkness, a faint grin on his face.  "I had a feeling that you'd be here.  You were never one to play by the rules."

"Don't worry about the Nexus Pass being stolen.  That's why I brought everyone here," Mario assured him.  He tossed the Nexus Pass to the Master.  "Guard this with your life.  I want all of you to take turns monitoring the Nexus.  Once every hour, I want you to use the Nexus Pass to open the gateway to the Nightmare Vault.  If I'm not there, close the gate immediately and wait for another hour to pass.  This way, there won't be a risk of the Nexus Pass being stolen, and I won't be trapped in the Nightmare Vault after I rescue Peach."

"I can see that you've thought of everything," Grambi sighed with a nod.  "Very well.  I won't stop you.  As long as the Nexus Pass isn't taken into the Nightmare Vault, I suppose Zeus won't mind."

Mario smiled.  "Thanks, Dad.  If you could, show them how to use the Nexus Pass.  The success of this rescue counts on all of you.  After all, even if I manage to rescue Peach, it will all be for nothing if we can't return from the Nightmare Vault."

"Good luck, you two."

Bowser entered the portal, and Mario began to follow.  Just before departing, he turned around and gave them a thumbs up.  "Don't worry about me.  We'll be back in no time.  Peach is going to be just fine.  And once we get back, this kingdom can finally live in peace, just like it was meant to."  With a firm nod, he turned and leapt into the vortex that led to the Nexus.  The war with the Grimnexes was about to begin.




Ruined Landscape (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c3dc9b9f-a27c-46ab-a8dc-291fd989bdf3/Ruined-Landscape)

"I can't believe four months have already passed," remarked a tall demon with jet black hair.  He wore a long white coat and black pants, and a deck of cards was strapped to his waist.  The demon smiled.  "It's been a while, Slade."

"You're awfully cheerful, Ace, considering the circumstances," Slade replied grumpily.  He wore a tattered red cape, black pants, and a silver vest.  A sword was sheathed readily at his waist, and his arms were covered in bandages.  He had spiky brown hair, the bangs of which partially hid his bitter gaze.  "So, have you gotten any stronger in these past four months?"

Ace nodded.  "Of course.  I learned a lot about the abilities of my nearly-extinct clan, the Zepar tribe.  How has your stay in the Nightmare Vault been treating you?"

"Meh.  I still couldn't find my parents," Slade grumbled.  "The only place I have left to search is the Nightmare Abyss.  Though I doubt I'll find them there, it's the only place I haven't checked yet, besides the Underwhere.   They've done well to avoid me for this long, but I'll find them, and when I do..."  His body began to tremble with rage at the mere thought of his parents.  "I'll make them suffer for what they did to me...  They treated me like trash... and then left me to die..."

"Slade, I understand that you've made it your life's goal to find and eliminate your parents, but is it really worth it?  What will happen once you've satisfied your thirst for vengeance?  It will only cause you to feel more emptiness."

"Enough.  I'm tired of waiting.  Where is Mario?  He was supposed to be here."

"I suppose he's running late."

Slade began to walk away.  "I'm going ahead.  You can catch up with me later."

"Wait, Slade!" Ace called after him, but he was too late.  Slade had already vanished into the distance.




"Maybe I should have gone with Slade," Ace sighed impatiently.  "It's already been a few hours since he went off on his own.  Maybe Mario isn't going to show up after all."  Just as he was about to give up hope, two silhouettes appeared in the distance.  They were approaching him, and fast.  Ace peered at the oncoming strangers.  "Who could they be...?  It couldn't be Mario; he was supposed to come alone... Are they Grimnexes?  No...  They're coming from the wrong direction..."  His confused frown curled into a relieved smile as he finally recognized the two figures.

"Sorry I'm late," Mario apologized, out of breath.  "I had to convince this lug to come with me."

"I'm not the one who spent all of that time saying his goodbyes," Bowser retorted.

"I thought we could use some backup," Mario explained.  "It's good to see you again.  Where's Slade?"

"He went off on his own a few hours ago.  If we hurry, we might be able to catch up with him."  Ace glared at Mario in astonishment.  What happened to him?  He's changed...  He's not the same depressed plumber that I knew four months ago.  He seems... focused...  "So...  What happened with Crimson?"

Mario began to stroke his chin.  "Hmm... Where to begin...?  It's a pretty long story.  I'll explain it on the way to the Nightmare Abyss.  You know how to get there, right?"

Ace nodded.  "Yes.  Follow me."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 2: Guard at the Gate)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on December 17, 2010, 05:48:16 PM
Chapter 2: Guard at the Gate

Ruined Landscape (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c3dc9b9f-a27c-46ab-a8dc-291fd989bdf3/Ruined-Landscape)

"And that's pretty much the full story," Mario concluded as he, Ace, and Bowser jogged through the depths of the Nightmare Vault.  Even as he spoke, Mario could feel the air around them growing colder.  Soon, they would be in the Grimnexes' territory.

"How awful...  I'm sorry I couldn't have been there to help," Ace apologized, the death of Mario's friends and family weighing heavily on his conscience.  "If I hadn't been so preoccupied with the Grimnexes, I... "

"Don't worry about it.  It's not your fault," Mario assured him, noticing the pained expression on the demon's face.  "First Glaive, and now Luigi...  I know it's hard to lose a comrade...  But right now, we can't afford to dwell in the past.  We need to focus on the Grimnexes.  Ace, how close are we to the Nightmare Abyss?"

"We're here," Ace replied as the three unlikely allies stopped dead in their tracks.  "Did you notice the severe temperature drop?  The Grimnexes are the most powerful demons in existence; the Inequity emanating from their bodies has created an imbalance in the Nightmare Abyss.  In some areas, the concentration of Inequity is greater, and therefore the temperature will be higher. We are in an area where only a few Grimnexes reside, which is why the temperature is much lower."

"So basically, the Grimnexes in this area are weaklings," Bowser chuckled.  "Good to know.  Let's get started."

Ace held his arm in front of Bowser.  "Wait.  The Grimnexes aren't as dumb as you think.  Their security has to be better than this."

"You should listen to your friend, foolish turtle," a menacing voice whispered.  The ground quickly froze over, and a pillar of ice began to rise in front of them.  The trio gasped as the column of ice began to take the shape of a demon.  "What an interesting group of intruders...  There's a demon, a turtle, and a human."

"He's huge..." Mario muttered in astonishment.  The Grimnex that had appeared before them was at least nine feet tall.  His muscular, powerfully built body only added to his voluminous structure.  This Grimnex wore a suit of ice, likely for protection.

"Welcome to the Nightmare Abyss.  I am Cerberus, the Omega Grimnex.  As the gatekeeper of the Nightmare Abyss, it is my job to prevent unworthy life forms from entering," the Grimnex informed them.

Bowser stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear.  "The Omega Grimnex, huh?  Give me a break.  Who was the idiot who thought that the weakest Grimnex would be best suited for scaring off trespassers?"

Cerberus sighed.  "You should keep your mouth shut, turtle.  You aren't making a very good first impression.  If you enter the Nightmare Abyss with that frame of mind, you'll never make it out alive.  If you live to see another day, remember this: judging a Grimnex solely by his rank is a fatal mistake.  When up against a Grimnex, you must always consider what his or her Final Smash is, among many other things."

"I'm not a turtle," Bowser hissed, ignoring Cerberus' advice.  "I'm a Koopa.  And I'm not just some underling like you are; I'm the Koopa King."

"In that case, you must not be a very good king if your Koopa underlings weren't even powerful enough to bring here.  A strong soldier with reliable comrades is always superior to a feeble king with useless minions."

Bowser roared with frustration before charging angrily at the Grimnex.  Cerberus merely smirked before pressing his palms to the frozen ground.  Ace opened his mouth to warn his ally, but it was too late.  Hundreds of ice shards rose from the ground and surrounded the trio of heroes.  In a flash, the fragments connected and formed a colossal dome of ice around Mario, Ace, and Bowser.

"Hey!  Let us out, you creep!" Bowser screamed, bashing the icy walls with his fists.

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

"Is there no end to your stupidity?" Cerberus inquired with a sigh of disappointment.  "Didn't you hear what I told you before?  If you want to get out of the Nightmare Abyss alive, you must understand that a Grimnex's abilities and Final Smash can, if used properly, allow him to defeat a Grimnex ranked above him.  I may be the weakest in terms of basic strength, but don't think for a second that I was chosen for the eternal duty of guarding the Nightmare Abyss because of my rank."

"Wait a minute... Of course!" Ace gasped in sudden realization.  "It all makes sense now...  I was wondering why he'd bother to tell us his rank before fighting us!"

"So, you've finally figured it out.  It is traditional for a Grimnex to tell an opponent his name and rank at the beginning of a fight.  However, it isn't because we feel like being nice.  It's because we know that our opponents will make assumptions about us as soon as we tell them our rank.  The one called Bowser is a prime example.  As soon as I told him that I was the Omega Grimnex, he assumed that I was weak just because I was the lowest ranking Grimnex.  He didn't even bother to think about what my Final Smash might be, and that's why your group ended up trapped inside of my Igloo Prison."

"Ah, so it's an igloo.  Not bad, but you forgot to add the exit," Mario remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Mock me while you can.  This isn't any ordinary igloo.  As long as you remain trapped inside, it will drain you of your strength and use it to fortify the walls of ice," Cerberus explained.  "That is why I was chosen to guard the Nightmare Abyss.  I can easily trap enemies and drain their stamina, rendering them helpless.  Plus, this is the perfect location for me to use my abilities.  Because none of the Grimnexes besides me reside in the outskirts of the Nightmare Abyss, the concentration of Inequity is extremely low.  That's why this area is so cold.  Conditions like these may be bothersome to you, but they are perfect for using my Igloo Prison."

Ace hung his head in defeat.  "We've underestimated the intelligence of the Grimnexes..."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't mean we won't be able to find a way out," Mario stated optimistically as he formed a Fireball in his palm.  "For someone who just ranted about how dumb we are, you're not so clever yourself.  So what if you trapped us inside of a giant igloo?  It won't do you any good if your foe has any sort of fire-based technique under his belt."  He planted his flaming fist into the icy wall, causing it to begin to melt.  Before even the tiniest hole could form, a new layer of ice froze over the area that had been thawed.

"Gwahahaha!  That was pathetic!" Bowser cackled, stepping in front of the plumber.  "Lemme try!"

"You're just wasting your energy," Cerberus informed them smugly.  "The Igloo Prison isn't made up of just any ice; it has my Inequity flowing through it.  As long as I continue to channel my Inequity into the igloo, any damage done to the walls will be instantly repaired."

After Bowser's flame breath failed to create an exit, Mario stepped forward once again.  "In that case, I'll just have to try a little harder.  Stand back, Bowser."  He cupped his hands together and formed a much larger Fireball than before.  He aimed his opened palms at the wall, releasing a wave of flames that made Bowser turn his head in envy.  This opened a hole in the igloo, but it was only slightly larger than Mario's fist.  Before he could do anything to expand the breach, it was quickly repaired with ice created from Cerberus' Inequity.

"If your Ultra Fireball didn't work, we're in trouble," Ace sighed.  "We need to think of something, and fast."

"Don't worry; give me some time and I'll make a hole big enough for all of us to escape!" Bowser declared, furiously pummeling the wall with his fists.

"Hey, Cerberus.  You may want to reconsider this.  After all, you've trapped one of your own comrades," Ace informed the Grimnex calmly.  "That's right.  Besides me, one of us is actually a demon.  Can't you feel his Inequity?"

"I'll admit, I did feel something abnormal coming from one of you," Cerberus replied, holding his ear to the outside of the igloo.

"That's right," Ace continued.  "He might even be a Grimnex.  How would your superiors react if you killed such an important ally?"

"Nice try, but I don't care who I kill.  My job is to guard the entrance to the Nightmare Abyss.  Human, demon, Grimnex, or even turtle- those who are unable to defeat me are not allowed to enter the Nightmare Abyss.  It's as simple as that."

Mario began to pace back and forth.  "It's no use.  Bowser is gonna keep hammering at the walls until he collapses, and Ace is busy playing mind games with Cerberus.  I might as well try to find a way out of here on my own."  There has to be something we can do...  He's the weakest of the Grimnexes, after all...  He's got to have some sort of fatal flaw...  Suddenly, an idea struck him.  "Wait a minute...  It feels colder over here..."  He dashed to the opposite end of the ice dome.  "And over here, it starts to get warmer...  In fact, the temperature fluctuates drastically in different areas of the igloo...  But what does it mean?" 

Comeback (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0419b31b-473b-408f-9072-a029edd8aec4/Comeback)

Mario's eyes widened.  "Of course!"  The words that Ace had spoken earlier flowed into his mind:

"Did you notice the severe temperature drop?  The Grimnexes are the most powerful demons in existence; the Inequity emanating from their bodies has created an imbalance in the Nightmare Abyss.  In some areas, the concentration of Inequity is greater, and therefore the temperature will be higher. We are in an area where only a few Grimnexes reside, which is why the temperature is much lower."

Next, he remembered something that Cerberus had told him:

"The Igloo Prison isn't made up of just any ice; it has my Inequity flowing through it."

"It all makes sense now!" Mario exclaimed.  He scuttled to the coldest area of the dome.  "Yeah, this might actually work...  Hey, Bowser!  Come over here for a second!  Try hitting this spot with your flame breath!"

"Uh...  I'm not sure what the difference is, but okay..."  The Koopa King took a deep breath before exhaling a column of flames.  To his surprise, the inferno melted through the wall of ice with ease, creating a gap large enough for each of the heroes to fit through.  With a triumphant cry, the three heroes dove through the breach and escaped from Cerberus' Igloo Prison.

"Mario...  How did you know which part of the igloo to strike?" Ace inquired in astonishment.

"No matter what his abilities may be, he's still the Omega Grimnex.  Because he can't control his Inequity as well as higher-ranked Grimnexes, the flow of Inequity inside of the igloo wasn't uniform.  In some parts, the concentration of Inequity was extremely high, causing the temperature to increase.  Likewise, certain areas inside of the igloo were enforced with less Inequity, causing the temperature to drop.  It was all thanks to you, Ace.  What you told us before really came in handy."

"Ingenious..." Ace breathed.  "Once he figured that out, all he had to do was find the coldest area of the igloo.  Because the coldest part would have the least amount of Inequity reinforcing it, Mario knew that it would be the perfect spot to attack."

Bowser scratched his head in confusion.  "I'm not really sure what you're talking about; I'm just glad that I was the one who got us out of there."

"I'm impressed...  Few have deduced the weakness of my Prison Igloo," Cerberus commended them.  "You may have overcome my Final Smash, but you still haven't faced me in combat."

"If you insist on fighting us, I'll take you on," Mario declared boldly.

"Alone?  Are you sure that you won't need any help from your friends?" Cerberus inquired with a smirk.

Mario shook his head.  "If I can't even beat the weakest Grimnex on my own, how can I expect to rescue Peach?"  He closed his eyes, and an image of Ipos appeared inside of his head.  "Besides, I still need to prove myself to someone...  I have to show him that I can take on the Grimnexes..."

Grimnex Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/39e6b1bd-2d6a-402d-8bce-46576777ce3b/Grimnex-Battle)

"Whatever you say," Cerberus chuckled as he smashed his fists against the ground, sending a wave of jagged ice toward the plumber.

"Stay back, you two.  I'll handle this on my own," Mario warned his companions.  After receiving a nod from both Ace and Bowser, the Mushroom Hero turned his attention to Cerberus' approaching attack.  He looked up at the ice wave and immediately understood that it was too tall to jump over.  Instead, he created a Fireball in his fist and sprinted at the oncoming wall of ice.  With a flaming right hook, the plumber melted a hole through the ice, causing the wave to pass right by him.

"You're pretty good at using the Fireball technique, aren't you?  Very well; let's see how you deal with multiple ice waves," Cerberus declared, pounding the ground with his fists yet again.

"Too easy," Mario snickered, creating a Fireball in each of his palms.  The Mushroom Hero punched holes through every ice wave that got close enough to him, all the while drawing closer and closer to Cerberus.  Once he finally reached the Grimnex, Mario leapt at him with a mighty flaming hook.  However, just as his fist was about to connect with Cerberus, the Grimnex shattered into hundreds of ice shards that fell to the ground.

"Nice work, Mario!" Ace cheered from a distance.

"I didn't do that!" Mario shouted back, staring at the ice fragments in confusion.  After a few moments, the shards began to levitate above the plumber's head.  All at once, the sharp ice fragments launched themselves directly at Mario, creating several minor cuts all across his body.  The ice shards then began to merge, causing Cerberus to reform.

"Did I happen to mention that I possessed the ability to separate my body into tiny ice crystals?" Cerberus inquired with a sarcastic leer.

"It must've slipped your mind," Mario remarked dryly as he rose to his feet.

"Mario, are you alright?" Ace called, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm fine," Mario replied.  "These cuts aren't deep or fatal."  He glared at his opponent.  This Grimnex...  I can tell that he's a lot weaker than Ipos.  He's slow, and his attacks aren't that dangerous...  Even so, his unique abilities still make him tough to beat.  If I get too close, he'll just separate and attack me with his ice fragments.  If I attack with Fireballs from a distance, he'll counterattack with those ice waves.

"What's the matter?  Is something on your mind?" Cerberus sneered.

"Not at all," Mario responded, charging up another Fireball in his palm.  "I've got an idea...  First, I'll test it out..."  Just like before, Mario sprinted directly toward Cerberus.  He lunged at the Grimnex, who split himself into ice crystals once again.  The shards attempted to injure Mario once more, but this time, the plumber was ready.  With a swift roll to the side, Mario narrowly dodged the majority of the ice fragments.  He watched the crystals intently as they reassembled themselves to form Cerberus.

"You said it yourself: if you can't even defeat the weakest Grimnex, how can you possible save Princess Peach?  As the guardian of the Nightmare Abyss, it is my job to keep out those who are unworthy of setting foot in the land of the Grimnexes.  If this is the best you can do, I'm afraid I'll have to send you back where you came from."

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"Sorry about that.  This time, I'll make sure I hit you," Mario chuckled as he cupped his hands together.  Confident that his plan would succeed, the Mushroom Hero created an Ultra Fireball.  For the third time, Mario charged at the Omega Grimnex.  Just as expected, Cerberus split himself into tiny crystals of ice.  Mario stopped dead in his tracks and focused his attention on the approaching ice fragments.  With his free hand, the plumber lunged forward into the flurry of ice shards, managing to grab a handful of them.  Next, he sprinted at the cluster of ice crystals, which had already begun to rebuild Cerberus.

"And what did that accomp-" Cerberus stopped in midsentence to gasp for air.  He looked down and saw a gaping hole in his chest.  His entire body trembling, Cerberus pointed angrily at the shards in Mario's hand.  "How did... you know...?"

Mario grinned triumphantly.  "Well, when I saw you reassemble for the first time, I figured that you'd probably need all of your ice fragments to reform properly.  That's when it came to me: the best way to defeat you was to steal some of the ice shards that make up the structure of your body.  The only problem was, I didn't know which ones to take.  I decided to conduct a little experiment when I attacked you the second time.  I watched the ice shards carefully this time and tried to determine if specific shards fit into certain places.  I kept my focus on one crystal in particular, and when your body reassembled, the crystal ended up in the same exact spot on your body as when you separated.  With that knowledge, all I had to do was keep my eye on the shards that were in the general area of your vital organs.  When you separated for the third time, I nabbed them, and, well, you know the result.  Like a puzzle that's missing some of its pieces, you can't function properly."

"Brilliant..." Ace gasped as his mouth curled into an astonished smile.  "It's been a while since I've watched him fight.  I don't know why, but there's just something about him...  It seems as though there isn't anything he can't do...  I swear, that man never ceases to amaze me.  Every time I see him, he proves not only his strength, but his ingenuity as well."

"Eh, I guess he's kind of cool," Bowser admitted.  "But that was against the weakest Grimnex!  I could've beaten him in half the time!"

An Ultra Fireball still gleaming in his palm, Mario sprinted at the vulnerable Cerberus and dealt a deadly flaming punch to his gut.  The Grimnex toppled onto the ground with a cry of agony.  "So, what's the verdict?  Have I earned your approval?  Am I worthy of entering the Nightmare Abyss?" Mario inquired.

Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)

Cerberus nodded weakly.  "You've... proven yourself...  Now... finish me..."

"I didn't come here to kill the Grimnexes," Mario replied.  "I came here to rescue Peach.  I'm not afraid to eliminate a Grimnex if necessary, but I don't see much of a reason to finish you off if you aren't planning to stand in my way anymore."  The plumber dropped the ice fragments beside Cerberus.  "These are yours."

"Mario, what are you doing?!" Ace thundered.  "As usual, you're being too soft!"

Cerberus used the ice shards to fill the gap in his chest.  "I thank you for your kindness.  Mario, you are a man of true character.  Your focus is clear.  Perhaps you can rescue Princess Peach."  He turned to Ace.  "However, I am sure that you came here for a different purpose.  I can tell that you are a member of the Zepar tribe.  If you wish to obtain vengeance, I will offer you my life."

There was a long silence as Ace contemplated his next move.  "Don't be ridiculous," he answered at last.  "Maybe it's just Mario's softness rubbing off on me, but I don't want to kill you.  It wouldn't feel right.  Besides, we already have an avenger among us.  I wouldn't want to take that title away from Slade."

Cerberus began to stroke his chin.  "Slade?  You wouldn't happen to be referring to the human that passed through here not too long ago?"

"Yeah, what happened to him?" Mario asked eagerly.  "Did you fight him?"

"Well, I tried, but he ran right past me.  He asked me if I knew the location of a certain couple.  After pointing him in their general direction, he sped off before I could say another word.  I could have tried to pursue him, but when I saw the look of pure hatred in his eyes, I could tell that he would be able to defeat me with ease.  I decided to let him slip by, but I had no idea that he had reinforcements behind him."

Ace thought for a moment.  "If you helped him, maybe you could help us too.  Do you know where Princess Peach is being held?"

"In the center of the Nightmare Abyss is the Grimnex Palace.  Right now, she is being held at the top floor.  But as soon as preparations for the Phoenix Salvation are complete, she will be used as a human sacrifice.  If you intend to rescue her, you'd better do so before the ceremony begins."

Mario nodded.  "Okay, what can you tell me about Ipos?

Cerberus gasped.  "Ipos...  He's a sketchy one...  He's not very friendly, but his loyalty to the Phoenix is unquestionable.  Not many people know much about him, but I've heard some refer to him as 'he who slaughtered a thousand angels'.  He's one of the most powerful Grimnexes, and there's a rumor going around that he's tougher than the Beta Grimnex.  But that can't be right.  If that was the case, why didn't he become the leader of the Grimnexes instead of Zagan?"

"That's interesting; thanks for the info.  Before we go, I have one more question.  Some of my friends died recently, but they didn't go to the Underwhere.  You wouldn't happen to know what could have happened to them, would you?"

The Grimnex scratched his head.  "Hmm...  There is a possibility that they were taken to the Purgatory...  It's a research facility northeast from here.  I've never personally been there, but I've heard that it's a place where banished Grimnexes conduct all sorts of twisted experiments.  It's your best shot at finding them, I suppose."

Ace gulped.  "The Purgatory...  I never thought I'd be paying that place a visit..."

"What's wrong?" Mario asked, sensing Ace's anxiety.  "Have you heard of the Purgatory before?"

"It's nothing..." Ace sighed, gazing off into the distance.  "Let's keep moving.  We can't waste any more time."

"Yeah, let's go!" Bowser urged them.  "Mario has had his share of the spotlight.  The next Grimnex we encounter is mine!"

As Ace and Bowser began to jog toward their next destination, Mario turned to Cerberus.  "Are you sure it's okay for you to just let us pass?  Won't you be accused of treason?"

"I have spent the past few centuries alone, rarely speaking with other Grimnexes.  Unlike the majority of my comrades, I am not entirely loyal to the Phoenix or his underlings.  My true passion lies in my eternal duty as guardian of the Nightmare Abyss.  You have shown me that you are capable of holding your own against a Grimnex.  Therefore, I am obligated to permit you to enter.  It's as simple as that."

Mario began to walk away.  "I see...  In that case, wish me luck."

"Farewell, Mario.  Perhaps we'll meet again someday."

The plumber grinned.  "Of course we will; you'll see me while I'm on my way out- after I save Peach, that is."  With that, the Mushroom Hero sprinted off to catch up with Ace and Bowser.

As Cerberus returned to his post, he did not notice a thirst for blood looming nearby.  Someone had been watching his battle against Mario.  "Traitor," the Grimnex hissed, clutching a tall axe in one hand.  Mario... the Mushroom Hero...  I'll have to keep an eye on him... but first, I must deal with Cerberus' betrayal and file a report to Zagan.  Yes, then I'll be able to spill a human's blood for the first time in decades...
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 3: The Purgatory)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on December 26, 2010, 01:56:51 PM
Chapter 3: The Purgatory

Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXM5lzeeWz8)

"A traitor, you say?" Zagan inquired with feigned interest.  "The Omega Grimnex...  In truth, I had forgotten about him.  He didn't seem to be as enthusiastic about the Phoenix's cause as the rest of us.  So, Ares, have you taken any action against him?"

"Cerberus breathes no more," Ares responded with a grin.  "As expected, he went down quickly.  He refused to tell me anything, but I had already witnessed enough.  In total, he allowed four outsiders to enter the Nightmare Abyss.  One entered by himself, followed by a group of three.  So far, I've identified two of them.  One is the former leader of Poker Face, Ace Spades.  The other is Slade, a human who made quite a name for himself in the Nightmare Vault after being raised by demons."

"So, Slade has returned?  How interesting.  I'm sure he'll be surprised once he finds what he's looking for. So many things have changed since he left...  By the way, was one of them garbed in blue overalls and a red shirt and cap?"

Ares thought for a moment.  "Yes, I believe so."

"Ah, so Mario took the bait after all.  Ares, I'd like you to keep an eye on Mario."

A wicked leer spread across Ares' face.  "Don't worry; I was already planning to.  I haven't had the opportunity to fight a human in decades.  I can't wait to spill his blood."

"Not yet.  I want you to spend some time studying Mario's group," Zagan commanded firmly.  "I'm sure that Mario will be paying a visit to the Purgatory.  I want to see how he handles the horrors that await him inside..."

"Fine, but if another Grimnex attempts to finish him off, I'll be forced to step in.  As of right now, Mario's head belongs to me."  With that, Ares slung his axe over his shoulders and stormed out of the throne room.  "No one will deny me the pleasure of this kill."

Zagan sighed.  "Hmm...  Everyone seems so eager to eliminate the Mushroom Hero.  I'm beginning to question the wisdom of informing Ipos about Mario.  He'll likely take this matter into his own hands, and I doubt Mario is ready to face him...  If Mario dies before the Demon Exoskeleton is complete, all of my efforts will have been for naught."




"Judging by how you reacted to Cerberus' mentioning of the Purgatory, Ace, I'd say you've heard of it before," Mario recalled as he, Ace, and Bowser jogged in the direction that Cerberus had pointed to.  "What can you tell me about it?  Do you really think Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi might be trapped inside?"

Ace gulped.  "I've only heard rumors, but either way...  Nothing good can come from visiting that place...  It's an abandoned laboratory that is rumored to be the dwelling of some of the most twisted and insane Grimnexes in existence.  I've heard that they often intercept the dead as they travel through the Nexus to the Underwhere.  If a person interests them enough while they are alive, these Grimnexes will actually wait for his or her time of death, and just as their prey is being transported from the living world to the Underwhere, they nab their victim and return to the depths of the Nightmare Abyss.  Once there, the victims are confined within the walls of the Purgatory, never to be seen again.  They are doomed to spend all of eternity as prisoners and test subjects of the merciless Grimnexes that dwell within the Purgatory."

"That's awful," Mario replied with a grimace.  "Even if Luigi and the Wario Brothers aren't trapped inside, I still feel obligated to free all of the prisoners.  No one deserves that kind of torture."

"Getting distracted already?" Bowser inquired, abruptly stopping dead in his tracks.  "If you want to waste your time saving the helpless captives of the Purgatory, go right ahead.  But don't expect me to lend a hand.  I already told you that I wouldn't be your obedient little sidekick.  I came here to steal Peach for myself, not to take part in community service."

"But Bowser," Mario protested, "if we free Luigi and the others, rescuing Peach will be a cinch.  I don't know how much farther we can get with just the three of us."

"I don't need anyone's help to take care of the Grimnexes," Bowser answered stubbornly.  "You two are just along for the ride.  I'm the brawn of this operation.  I could slay all of the Grimnexes at once, but they're all hiding inside of their little palace.  First, I'm gonna knock down their puny fortress with my bare fists, and then I'm gonna show them how a real villain builds his hideout."

Without further argument, Bowser stormed off in the direction of Grimnex Palace.  Mario attempted to go after him, but Ace stopped him.  "Face it, Mario, he's gone.  His stubbornness and arrogance would have only gotten in our way.  He's just going to have to learn his lesson the hard way.  Once he gains an appreciation for how powerful the Grimnexes are, he'll be back."

"I guess you're right," Mario agreed.  "He'll be okay, at least until we catch up to him.  If we're lucky, he might even find and team up with Slade."  He gulped.  Just as long as he doesn't encounter one of the higher ranking Grimnexes...  If he bumps into someone like Ipos, he's screwed...




"Princess Peach, I've brought you a glass of water," Ipos informed her nonchalantly as he entered the princess' cell.  The cubicle was cold and built out of dull, gray stone.  Iron bars blocked the exit and the single window on the rear wall of the cell.  The second floor of Grimnex Palace, the Confinement Hall, was silent.  The Grimnexes were not in the habit of releasing their prisoners; most had died of malnutrition years ago.  As such, the scent of rotten flesh pervaded the hallway.  Princess Peach had been revolted by the scent at first, but she quickly grew accustomed to it.  The smell of death was the least of her worries.

The princess turned her head in defiance.  "I'm not thirsty."

"I don't care.  It is Zagan's will that you remain healthy for the Phoenix Salvation."  Ipos held the glass in front of her face.  "Drink it."

"I won't.  I have no wish to comply with the will of your heartless leader," Peach responded bitterly.  "I don't care what you say; I'm not going to help you."

"I know what you're thinking.  Give it up.  You are not going to escape.  You do not have the power to resist the Grimnexes," Ipos informed her icily.  He placed the glass of water on the floor beside her.  "In addition to providing you with hydration, I also came to tell you that Mario has entered the Nightmare Abyss in an attempt to rescue you.  In fact, as soon as I'm done here, I'll be taking care of him."

Peach's eyes widened at the mentioning of her husband's name.  However, her despair only grew once she realized the unlikelihood of Mario's success.  She shook her head.  What am I thinking?  I can't afford to hope anymore...  I saw Ipos crush Mario with my own eyes.  He doesn't stand a chance against the Grimnexes...

"Since your imprisonment, you've held on to a small sliver of hope.  I came here to erase that hope, to inform you that Mario's days are numbered."

"No... Please... Don't hurt Mario..." Peach pleaded, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Ipos exited and locked the cell door behind him.  "Mario will die, and there's nothing you can do to stop it from happening.  You should give up on your false hopes of freedom.  By the time I finish eradicating the Mushroom Hero, that glass of water beside you will be empty, and the reality of your fate will have sunken in."

Now alone, Peach buried her face in her hands.  Deep in her heart, she knew that Ipos was right.  It was time for her to accept her fate.




"This must be the place," Mario affirmed, gazing up at the dilapidated, two-story building that stood before them.  The Purgatory was constructed from worn, gray bricks, contributing to its decrepit appearance.  The sky was entirely shrouded by black clouds, but the area was occasionally lit by a flash of lightning.  "I can see why you were hesitant to come to this place."

Ace cringed with terror.  "The Purgatory...  People have described it to me countless times, but I never could have imagined it would appear this foreboding..."

Mario stepped forward.  "...We have to press on.  Is that the entrance?"  He jogged over to a set of stone double doors before giving them a firm shove.  "They won't budge.  It looks like we'll have to use force."

"No!" Ace scolded him, keeping his voice to a whisper.  "If we did that, our cover would be blown!  We can't afford to face more than one Grimnex at a time.  We'll have to move about stealthily and pick off the Grimnexes individually."

"That's great and all, but how are we supposed to get in?" Mario inquired.

Ace pointed toward an air vent near the roof of the building.  "We could use that to get in.  The only problem is... well...  I don't think I'll be able to fit through it...  You would have to go on your own..."

"True, you are a lot taller than me," Mario admitted.  "Even if you could squeeze into it, I doubt you'd be able to jump high enough to reach it."

"Fair enough.  What about you?  Should I give you a boost?"

"Nah, jumping is my specialty," Mario snickered, taking a few steps back.  He sprinted toward the wall at breakneck speeds, jumping twice to build up his momentum.  As his feet touched the ground after the second jump, Mario took a great leap into the air, flipping forward as he ascended.  The plumber gained just enough air to grasp the bottom of the air vent.  He pulled himself up and climbed inside.  "How was that?"

"Not bad," Ace replied with a smirk.  "Just make sure you remember to unlock the front doors from the inside so I can join you."

Mario nodded.  "Of course.  Let's just hope I don't get lost along the way."  Determined to liberate his friends from the Purgatory, the Mushroom Hero crawled through the vent and into the worst nightmare of his life.

Purgatory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/1a33691c-af53-4f2a-96c8-fffd89879a1e/Purgatory)

"Whew, it's really hot in here," Mario observed, wiping the sweat from his forehead.  At last, he reached the end of the vent and found himself within the walls of the Purgatory.  The plumber calmly took in his surroundings.  He stood on a thin, stone walkway that bordered the mazelike hallways of the Purgatory.  Lining both sides of the corridor were dozens of prison cells, most of which contained motionless, decrepit bodies that were the result of some twisted experiment.  In the center of each hallway was a pool of lava that expanded the entire length of the corridor, though Mario could not understand why.

The plumber grimaced at the horrors that lay before him.  He began to tremble, now overwhelmed with a sudden feeling of anger.  "Who would do something like this...?  To think that so many people were deprived of an afterlife just to be trapped inside of this hell..."  Eager to find his comrades, he began to sprint down the corridor, glancing at the prisoners trapped within each cell that he passed.

I had no idea the Grimnexes were kidnapping the dead to such an extent, Mario thought to himself.  It's worse than I thought it would be...  I don't know how much longer I can bear to look at these prisoners...

As he searched through hallway after hallway, Mario began to understand the task that he had undertaken.  Each cell held a different horror to be witnessed.  Not one of them could be overlooked, because that one cell just may have belonged to Luigi.  As he plunged deeper into the nightmarish Purgatory, the atrocities grew more severe, as did his desperation.  He feared that he would be lost in the labyrinth forever, doomed to become one of the Grimnexes' eternal test subjects.

After what seemed like hours of searching, Mario stopped dead in his tracks.  In the corner of his eye, he had caught a glimpse of a disfigured but familiar body.  He turned around slowly, his body trembling with shock.  The prisoner's clothes were rugged and bloodstained, and his body was covered with cuts and bruises.  On the floor beside him was a worn cap inscribed with a green L.  Mario had found what he was looking for.

"Luigi!" Mario gasped, his eyes widening with horror.  He grasped the iron bars that stood between him and his brother.  "Bro!  Wake up!  It's me!"

No response.

"Hold on, Bro, I'll get you outta there!" Mario screamed, his fist glowing with the power of a charged Fireball.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

Mario whirled around to see a tall, female demon standing before him.  She wore a ragged, baggy violet robe and had blood red hair.  Her face was cold and unsympathetic.  She was unaffected by the hundreds of suffering prisoners scattered around them.  "You are trespassing on forbidden grounds, human."

"Who are you?!" Mario challenged, advancing toward her with his fists clenched.

"It's impolite to shout while on someone else's property, but...  I am Leviathan, the Quoppa Grimnex," she informed him.  "As you can tell by my rank, I am not a conventional Grimnex.  I have been deemed obsolete, but I believe traitorous would be a better adjective to describe myself."

Mario's body was quivering with rage.  "So... This place belongs to you...?"

"Yes, and if you don't mind, I'd like to begin my newest experiment on that worthless creature in the cell behind you.  He was quite a rare find.  I've been told that he is the brother of the Mushroom Hero."

Mario could not tolerate her heartless words any longer.  His fury now at its boiling point, he sprinted at the Grimnex with his fists raised.




"I really wish Mario would hurry up," Ace sighed.  "I hope he doesn't try to liberate the Purgatory on his own.  If he gets caught, it'll all be over."

"Shouldn't you be worrying about yourself?" a wicked voice inquired.  "You were so busy wondering if your friend was discovered that you forgot to keep yourself hidden.  Fools like you won't last very long in the Nightmare Abyss."

"Ah, I was waiting for one of you to show up," Ace chuckled.  "I need someone to test my new abilities on.  So, what's your rank?  Or are you an Obsolete Grimnex?"

"My name is Kobal.  I am the only Grimnex in the Purgatory who has not been deemed archaic.  My rank is Omicron."  The Grimnex was about Ace's height and wore white pants with a black shirt.  He had long, messy blue hair, and handcuffs were strapped to his wrists, though he did not seem to mind.

Ace heaved a sigh of relief.  "Good; I was getting worried for a moment.  As long as you aren't one of the top five or ten Grimnexes, I should be able to handle you on my own."  He gestured toward the cuffs around Kobal's wrists.  "Besides, you can't even use your hands.  Are you sure about this?"

Kobal nodded.  "I'm touched that you're so concerned for my safety, but I've worn these handcuffs for centuries.  No matter how hard I try to remove them, they continue to cling to my wrists.  But I'll cut you a deal: if you can shatter the chains that bond my handcuffs together, I will lead you to the Purgatory's master release switch.  Once pressed, all of the prisoners will be freed simultaneously.  I'll even give you one free shot at breaking them."  With a tantalizing grin, he held his handcuffs in front of his body.

"I accept your challenge," Ace replied with a smirk.  He reached for the deck of cards at his waist and placed one of them in the palm of his hand.  With a swift crush, Ace crumpled the card in his fist, causing a blue energy saber to materialize in his grasp.

"I see...  You must be the lone survivor of the Zepar tribe," Kobal observed.  "I didn't expect you to be so well equipped.  Even so, I'll still let you have a free shot at my cuffs."

Ace complied, dashing at his foe with his blade gripped in both hands.  With a cry of determination, Ace struck the chains on Kobal's handcuffs with a deadly downward slash.  The demon's eyes widened.  Not even a scratch.  He used all of his might to press the blade against Kobal's chains, but to no avail.

"See?  I was telling the truth," the Grimnex taunted.  Before Ace could react, Kobal delivered a swift upward kick to his jaw, sending him soaring backward.  Ace quickly regained his footing by performing a backward handspring.  "Wow, you're pretty nimble.  I'd expect nothing less from the former leader of Poker Face."

Ace wept a small stream of blood from his chin.  He's a lot tougher than I thought he'd be.  Those handcuffs barely slow him down at all.  Ace drew another card from his deck and crushed it in his palm, creating a second energy saber.




Cursed Grimnex (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5v5w-zxu4)

His fists engulfed with flames, Mario charged at Leviathan with malice in his eyes.  He lunged at the Grimnex before unleashing a furious barrage of Fireball-enhanced punches.  Now on the defensive, Leviathan frantically caught each of her opponent's blows in her palm.  After dozens of unsuccessfully attacks, one of Mario's right hooks finally connected.  Struck in the chest, Leviathan tumbled onto her back.

"How could you do something like this...?  To think that someone could sink so low..." Mario growled, his eyes flashing red with hatred.  "My brother honorably sacrificed his life to save countless others...  And you have the nerve to deny his right to a peaceful afterlife?  Doesn't he at least deserve to rest in peace?"

Leviathan chuckled softly as she rose to her feet.  The burns on her hands and chest began to fade away.  "So, the stories about you are true.  Those punches were quite painful.  It's a shame that I am practically invulnerable to fire."  She began to cackle maniacally as her body was surrounded in an aura of flames.  "As for your brother, I couldn't care less about what he deserves.  In his lifetime, he displayed quite an impressive growth rate.  It's unbelievable how much his powers have grown since before Lord Shade's invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom.  Of course, I would have preferred to capture you, but you managed to survive your battle with Crimson.  Fortunately, fate has brought you into my hands, still alive and well.  I can't wait to examine that cursed body of yours.  You're the descendent of the Hero bloodline and a demon.  What an ironic mixture."

"Shut up..." Mario hissed, trembling with fury.  "You sicken me...  You think everyone is just a guinea pig for your twisted experiments..."

"Yes, yes I do!" Leviathan cackled as she burst into insane laughter.  She pointed her opened palms at the plumber, creating a blaze of fire that scorched everything in its path.

Caught off guard, Mario was knocked onto his back by the force of the flames.  When the inferno faded away, his body was covered with minor burns.  "That was a close call...  If I hadn't shielded my body with a thin layer of ice, my injuries would have been far more severe."

"Not bad, Mushroom Hero, but I'm going to capture you even if I have to scorch you a thousand times!"

"No," Mario answered firmly, slowly rising to his feet.  "I'm gonna free every single one of your prisoners.  Maybe you'll learn to respect the dead once I've killed you!"  His body was surrounded with a bright blue aura as he cupped his hands together, forming a colossal Iceball.  "Usually I hesitate to take away my opponent's life, but against someone as heartless as you, I can make an exception!"

"No...  Wait... anything but ice!" Leviathan shrieked as the plumber dashed toward her.  With a howl of detestation, Mario hurled an Ultra Iceball at the Grimnex.  Leviathan cried out in agony as her body became encased in ice, one of her only weaknesses.

"How intriguing," a demon from the shadows whispered to himself.  "A human that can wield fire and ice...?"  The Grimnex grinned.  I'll wait for Leviathan to finish him off, and then I'll make my move.  That human is as good as mine.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 4: A Brotherly Plight)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on January 01, 2011, 02:58:08 PM
Chapter 4: A Brotherly Plight

Cursed Grimnex (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5v5w-zxu4)

Meanwhile, Ace and Kobal continued to duel around the exterior of the Purgatory.  Ace ducked under yet another roundhouse kick before retaliating with a slash of one of his energy blades.  Kobal blocked the sword with the chain connecting his handcuffs, wrapped the chain around Ace's blade, and yanked his opponent into a deadly upward kick.  With Ace's sword still gripped by his chain, Kobal attempted to pull his opponent back for another kick.  However, Ace released his blade and regained his footing.

"Those handcuffs...  Instead of accepting them as a weakness, you've turned them into a valuable asset," Ace observed with a grin.  "It seems as though I was wrong to doubt you.  Those cuffs don't slow you down at all."  He drew another card from his deck and crushed it, materializing a new energy saber to replace the one Kobal had stolen.

I see...  Without those cards, he's helpless, Kobal thought with a smirk.  If I can steal them, he won't be able to fight back.  With newfound aggression, the Grimnex sprinted toward Ace with his arms outstretched.

"What's he up to?" Ace wondered aloud as he took a fighting stance.  Without even attempting to defend himself, Kobal lunged at the deck strapped to Ace's waist.  Ace slashed downward with both of his blades, wounding each of the Grimnex's shoulders.  However, Ace failed to notice Kobal's true intention: to steal his supply of weaponry!  It was too late.  Kobal had succeeded.

Kobal leapt backward, the deck of cards in his grasp.  "Fool, did you really think I'd rush at you without even bothering to properly guard myself?  I never intended to injure you.  I just wanted these."  He triumphantly waved Ace's cards in front of his face.

"Was it really worth it?" Ace inquired with a grin.  "Those wounds on your shoulders look pretty painful.  Besides, I still have these two blades.  As long as I don't lose them, I won't even need those cards."

"Heh, you're awfully confident.  Let's just hope you don't lose your grip on those swords."




"I've met some pretty sick people in my life, but you're one of the worst," Mario spat with disgust as he looked down upon the severely injured Leviathan.  "What kind of person imprisons the dead for experimentation?"  He turned around and approached his brother's cell.  "Bro...  Just hold on a sec; I'll get you outta there."

"...I already told you...  Stay away from my test subjects!" Leviathan howled as she rose to her feet.  Mario's eyes widened as Leviathan's body began to heal itself at an alarmingly fast rate.

"What are you...?" Mario gasped, taking a step back.

"I am a human who has been scientifically combined with the corpse of a Grimnex!" Leviathan cackled, her wounds now fully healed.  "I cannot die... because this body is already dead!  No matter how many times you injure me, I'll always bounce back!"

"If I can't kill you, I'll just have to destroy your body," Mario declared boldly.  "You may be nearly invincible, but you still aren't tough enough to fight me on your own."

Leviathan grinned.  "I couldn't agree more.  I am a scientist, not a fighter.  Luckily, my Final Smash forces others to fight my battles for me."

"What do you mean?" Mario inquired, angrily clenching his fists.

Leviathan aimed her opened palms at the cell behind Mario.  "My Final Smash allows me to gain complete control over the dead.  Why do you think I surrounded myself with the bodies of so many deceased creatures?  My Final Smash allows me to waken them from their slumber and use them to do my bidding.  Allow me to use your brother as an example."

"Leave him out of this!" Mario growled as he dashed toward Leviathan.  An explosion from behind caused him to stop dead in his tracks.  He whirled around and saw that Luigi's cell had been blown open.  Mario gasped as Luigi emerged from the smoke, his body surrounded with a violet aura.  "Luigi, wanna lend me a hand?"

Mario charged at Leviathan, but Luigi leapt over his head and landed between the two of them.  "What's wrong, Bro?" Mario asked.  "Leviathan's the one who locked you up in this place.  Don't you want revenge?"

"It's your fault," Luigi replied mechanically.  "I died because you couldn't defeat Crimson on your own."

Mario's eyes shifted to Leviathan.  "You... What did you do to him?"

Desperate Struggle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/1fd3ca93-e1ee-46b8-a97e-ce146b2c39d1/Desperate-Struggle)

"I already told you.  My Final Smash gives me complete control over the dead, and I've chosen your brother to fight this battle for me," Leviathan explained.

"Give him back!" Mario demanded, furiously sprinting toward the wicked Grimnex.  However, Luigi intervened with a right hook to his brother's face, knocking Mario onto the floor.

Leviathan smirked.  "I'm afraid Luigi isn't going to let you come near me.  Unless you're willing to kill your own brother, who has already died because of you, you'll never be able to reach me.  So, Mushroom Hero, what are you going to do now?"

His body trembling with rage, Mario slowly stood up.  "You... I didn't think you could sink any lower...  But now, you're actually using my dead brother as a shield...?  I swear... As soon as I find a way to bring Luigi back to normal, I will kill you..."

Luigi rushed toward his brother and threw another right hook, but Mario dodged it with a back-flip.  When his brother pursued him, Mario blocked all oncoming punches in his palms.  Even when he had the opportunity, the Mushroom Hero did not retaliate.  He continued to dodge Luigi's attacks, which were growing more and more dangerous by the second.  At last, Luigi struck his brother in the face, causing Mario to stagger backward.

"Luigi, you've gotta listen to me," Mario urged him, wiping the blood from his lip.  "You're being controlled...  Please, I need your help..."  Luigi responded by hurling a Fireball at him.  Mario leapt out of the way, but did not notice his brother approaching from behind.  Distracted by the explosion caused by Luigi's Fireball, Mario was taken by complete surprise when his brother struck him from behind in midair.  The Mushroom Hero tumbled onto the ground in pain before struggling to his feet.  "Bro...  Stop this...  I'm not your enemy..."

"It's your fault," Luigi repeated, his voice still monotone and emotionless.  "You weren't there for me...  When I was up against Crimson, you didn't protect me...  I died because of you...  It's your fault..."

"Luigi died because he wanted to protect me," Mario angrily informed Leviathan.  "Get your facts straight.  Luigi would never blame me for his death."

"But I'm not making him say that," Leviathan chuckled.  "I've only awakened his inner conscience and told it to fight for me.  I have no control over his physical movements or his speech.  The words that he has uttered must come from the depths of his conscience.  They are his true feelings.  So tell me, how does it feel to be hated by your own brother?  You came all this way to rescue him, and he doesn't even want to be saved.  He prefers living in this hell to returning with you to the Mushroom Kingdom.  And do you know what else?  Princess Peach feels the same way!  Your friends are growing tired of your inability to save them!  Think about it: how many people have died because you weren't there to protect them?  Come to think of it, nearly all of them perished during Crimson's invasion.  Princess Peach was one of the only survivors who truly mattered to you, and now she is gone as well.  All of your friends deserted you, so you teamed up with whoever you could find: a demon failure and an old rival- who, by the looks of it, has already abandoned you.  And it won't be long before even Ace decides to leave you behind.  Face it; you're all alone."

Mario hung his head as Leviathan's words sunk in.  Luigi took advantage of his brother's guilt and delivered a flaming uppercut to the Mushroom Hero's gut, sending him soaring above the lava pool that ran down the center of the corridor.

A wicked leer spread across Leviathan's face.  "Ah, I see that you've stumbled upon my river of magma!  Without it, the Purgatory would probably freeze over.  The only Grimnexes that live here are my husband and me.  Kobal occasionally comes by to deliver new prisoners, but he doesn't stay for long.  None of us are particularly strong; Even with the three of us, the concentration of Inequity in the air is fairly low.  That's why we need magma to flow throughout the hallways of the Purgatory.  Oh, and it also makes an excellent method of torture, as you are about to find out."

Leviathan and Luigi peeked over the edge of the platform to see if Mario had been burnt to a crisp by the river of lava.

Determination (http://www.esnips.com/doc/940f7b47-c65a-4414-8b3d-827aec1c91fa/Determination)

"Leviathan, you may be onto something," Mario murmured, standing atop the frozen lava.  He leapt onto solid ground and locked eyes with the Grimnex.  "I've been pathetic.  I spent six years away from my kingdom, giving Crimson the opportunity to take away the lives of everyone I cared about.  I failed to defeat the Grimnexes, and then I returned to my kingdom to find that I had failed as the Mushroom Hero, too.  That's why I'm here.  I'm going to make things right.  I'm going to shut down this factory, and then, once I've reunited with all of my friends, we'll storm the Grimnex Palace as a team.  And whoever stands in my way, whether it'll be you, or Ipos, or the king of all Grimnexes, I'll find a way to bring Princess Peach home.  You Grimnexes can forget about your revenge...  I'm not gonna let it happen."

"That's touching, but I've already told you... you're friends don't want to be saved!" Leviathan cackled, hurling a blaze of fire at Mario.

"You're wrong," Mario shot back, blocking Leviathan's attack with the same Iceball that he had used to freeze the magma.  "I know what the Grimnexes are trying to do.  You want to plunge my friends into darkness, to make them think that they belong in the Nightmare Abyss.  But you can't erase their true feelings, you can only hide them.  I'll dig them up, no matter how deep you've buried them."

"Hmph.  If that's what you think, fine.  Luigi, I want him dead."

Luigi complied and sprinted toward his brother.  He unleashed yet another flaming punch, which Mario made no effort to dodge.  The Mushroom Hero struggled onto his feet yet again.  "Heh...  The real Luigi's punches hurt a lot more...  Yours almost tickle..."

"Fight back!" Leviathan demanded as Luigi continued to pummel him. 

Mario didn't even raise his fists to defend himself.  "I won't.  Luigi isn't my enemy; you are.  Unless you come over here and hit me yourself, I won't feel a thing."

How can this be...?  No matter how many times Luigi hits him, he bounces back onto his feet for more.  Perhaps Luigi isn't as powerful as I thought, Leviathan thought, aiming her opened palms at Luigi.  "Very well.  If Luigi can't eliminate a foe that won't even fight back, he's worthless to me.  You Mario Brothers are a disappointment."  With a flourish of her arms, a tower of magma rose from the ground and hurled itself at Luigi.

"Watch out, Bro!" Mario exclaimed as he dove in front of his brother.  He formed an Iceball into the shape of a shield and held it in front of his body in an attempt to repel the lava.  However, much of the magma melted through the ice and struck the Mushroom Hero's body, severely wounding him.  He collapsed onto the ground, his body smoldering.

Luigi gazed at his brother in confusion.  "...Why...?"

"Bro... I'm not your enemy... Leviathan is...  Can't you understand that...?  Let's work together... just like the old days...  We can take on the Grimnexes as a team...  Or would you rather be left behind... while I go off on another journey to rescue Princess Peach...?"

"What a fool!  You risked your life to save the man who tried to kill you!  Your brother belongs to me, now.  He's tired of you letting him down," Leviathan snickered.

Agonizing Desperation (http://www.esnips.com/doc/30033888-4311-4724-bfae-076da0854e39/Agonizing-Desperation)

The color began to return to Luigi's face as his wounded brother lay before him.  "You...  You did this to us...?" he inquired, his body quivering with hatred as he turned to face Leviathan.  "You turned us against each other... didn't you...?"

"I only awakened your innermost feelings," Leviathan responded smugly.  "You were the one who desired this outcome... to see your brother lying dead at your feet.  I was the one who made it all possible.  You should be thanking me."

"Shut up," Luigi snapped, his body flaring up with a dark green aura.  "You don't know anything about us...  You say that this is what I wanted, but I'm not buying it...  It's like Bro said, you can't eliminate our true feelings.  You can only bury them with your dirty lies...  You don't have any respect for the dead...  You're just the kind of demon that makes me sick...  Demons like you deserve to be sealed away..."

"Such rebelliousness...  How did you break free from my control...?"

"It was Mario...  His words finally sunk in.  He reached out to me, even though I was too busy pummeling him to listen," Luigi explained bitterly.  "You could learn a thing or two from him."

"And just look at where your brother's softness got him," Leviathan chuckled, gesturing toward Mario's body.  "Now he's lying on the ground in pain.  He was a fool, and you're following right in his footsteps."

"That's enough; I'm not gonna let you talk about my brother that way anymore!" Luigi howled as he charged at the Grimnex.  He jumped, weaved, and ducked past dozens of flaming spheres before he finally reached his target.  His eyes gleaming with hatred, Luigi lunged at Leviathan and unleashed a ferocious assortment of flame-enhanced punches and kicks, all of which connected with the Grimnex's frail body.  To top it all off, the plumber released an Ultra Fireball at pointblank, engulfing Leviathan in green flames.

Screaming in agony, Leviathan toppled onto the stone floor.  Her body still smoldering, she rose to her feet.  "Did you not learn from your brother's mistakes?  I am immune to fire!  You do not possess the Capacity of Elements, so you cannot wield more than one element!  You're limited to those puny Fireballs!"

His rage overcoming all logic, Luigi's body was lit with the very same flames that had previously engulfed his fists.  With a furious howl, the plumber hurled himself at Leviathan once again.

Something isn't right, Leviathan thought with a frown.  My wounds from his attacks... They aren't healing... But flames cannot hurt me!  What's going on...?  ...Those flames...  Could they be...?  Of course...  He's using the power of the Emerald Flame!  It's an ability that only the brother of the Mushroom Hero can wield...

Once again, Luigi overwhelmed Leviathan with a series of blows augmented with the strength of the Emerald Flame.  After dozens of bone-crushing strikes, Luigi ended the combo with a fierce uppercut that sent Leviathan tumbling across the corridor and into a stone wall.  "That was for my brother..."




"This is taking longer than I thought it would," Ace whispered to himself, breathing heavily.  One of his energy blades had already faded away due to prolonged usage.  "It won't be long before my other sword fades away, too."

"You're running out of time.  The weapons that you materialize don't last forever; they have a limited lifespan," Kobal sneered.

Ace angrily rushed at his foe, grabbed the chain connecting his handcuffs, and viciously pulled Kobal toward the point of his blade.  Just as Kobal's throat was mere inches away from the energy saber, Ace's blade vanished in a blue puff of smoke.  Stunned with shock and irritation, Ace released his triumphant opponent from his grip.

Kobal threw his head back with laughter.  "I warned you!  It looks like you're helpless without your cards after all!"

Ace's Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q0eoj8wkLY)

"Not quite," Ace replied, grinning from ear to ear.  "If we had fought four months ago, I'd probably be screwed right about now.  But thanks to my training with King, this battle's far from over."  Ace held out his palm, which had begun to glow with a blue aura.  After three blinding flashes of light, a brand new deck of cards materialized in his palm.  He proudly strapped the new deck to his waist.

"This doesn't make any sense!  You can't just pull a new deck out of thin air!  Only experienced members of the Zepar tribe can pull off something like that, and you're just a rookie!  I can tell by the fact that you still use cards to create your weapons.  Cards like those are given to the children of the Zepar tribe because they are too inexperienced to summon objects on their own!"

"That's true for ordinary members of the Zepar tribe.  The only problem is, all of the 'ordinary members' were slaughtered by your kind," Ace retorted bitterly.  "I was one of the only survivors.  I grew up knowing nothing about my tribe's powers.  I thought that I was the only person who possessed the ability to conjure weapons by crushing cards in my palm.  That was before I met King, the last known master of the Zepar tribe's art of Conjuration:

"Ace, two months have already passed since you began my training regimen.  Your rate of progression far surpasses even mine when I was a boy.  Now that your skills have reached a new plateau, the time has come for you to learn the art of Conjuration.  It's not as simple as you may have previously thought.  Even I cannot pull objects out of thin air.  There is a limit to what you can summon, and each time you conjure something, a great amount of energy will be consumed.  At your level, creating something as simple as a sword would drain nearly half of your energy."

"That's not going to cut it!  How is the art of Conjuration supposed to help me if I barely have enough strength to use it?"

"Ah, you didn't let me finish speaking.  The time has come for you to develop a Chosen Conjuration.  Even the most experienced members of the Zepar tribe have a limit to what they can conjure, with one exception: their Chosen Conjuration."

"What's that?"

"A Chosen Conjuration is sort of a loophole, an exception to the rule.  At some point in their training, every Conjurer must choose an object that he or she wishes to create an infinite amount of with minimal energy consumption.  For some, it may be something as simple as a sword or a whip.  For others, it could be something more practical, like a clock or a pair of shoes.  It can be anything, but you must choose wisely.  Try to pick something that will be useful in all possible scenarios."

"...I've made my decision.  My Chosen Conjuration will be a deck of cards."

"A deck of cards?  Doesn't that defeat the purpose of this training?  I thought you were trying to learn how to conjure objects without the use of your cards."

"You're wrong.  Before, I was limited to the contents of one deck of cards that was shuffled randomly.  By using cards as my Chosen Conjuration, I can have an infinite supply of various different weapons.  Instead of limiting myself to conjuring one weapon, such as a sword, I can have various weapons for all sorts of different situations.  On top of that, I can conjure the cards in any order I want, so I know the exact contents of my deck."

"So simple, and yet... so brilliant...  I never would have thought of that..."

"I've used cards to supply me with weapons for my entire life.  This way, I can continue to fight with a method that's familiar to me."


"Kobal, are you familiar with the term 'Chosen Conjuration'?  Well, I chose to be able to conjure an infinite number of cards at any given time.  It allows me to summon a wide variety of different weapons, and I don't even have to change my fighting style.  All I have to do is conjure up another deck of cards once I run out," Ace explained.

"Fascinating," Kobal gasped.  "That may be the most ingenious Chosen Conjurations I've ever heard of."

"I'm glad you approve," Ace chuckled.  "Now, where were we?"




Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

Smoke still emitting from her body, Leviathan gradually pushed herself to her feet.  "You...  You wretched plumber...  You'll pay... for each and every wound that you've inflicted upon me..."

"You still haven't had enough?" Luigi inquired with feigned confidence.  In truth, Leviathan's endurance was beginning to worry him.  With his brother too injured to assist him, he was on his own.  If Leviathan overpowered him, the Mario Brothers would spend the rest of their days locked away in the nightmarish Purgatory.

"Up until now, I've been rather sporting to the both of you...  But no more...  This time, I won't hold anything back...  My Final Smash allows me to control the dead, but I am not limited to just one body.  I can manipulate any corpse within a one mile radius.  If I wanted to, I could even turn every prisoner in the Purgatory against you..."

Luigi gulped.  "You wouldn't...  You're bluffing..."

"Not at all...  If you have any doubts, why don't I show you...?"

"There's no need for that," a voice from the shadows whispered.  From around the corner, another Grimnex emerged.  He wore a dark red tunic with a black cloak and had long, flowing gray hair.  His piercing red eyes shifted from the shivering Luigi to the barely conscious Mario, and finally to the overjoyed Leviathan. 

"You've arrived, dear..." Leviathan greeted him with a smile.  "Allow me to introduce you to Crocell, the San Grimnex.  He's my husband."

"I apologize for being so late.  In truth, I spent a great deal of time watching from the shadows...  I have to say, such extreme measures aren't necessary to deal with these maggots.  Think about how long it would take to ensure that each prisoner returned to his cell.  Besides, they don't deserve such an easy death.  Allow me to lend a hand, and we can make them suffer together."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 5: The Immortals)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on January 11, 2011, 07:26:02 PM
Chapter 5: The Immortals

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

"...Another one...?" Luigi gasped, his eyes shifting from Leviathan to Crocell.  "How am I supposed to take on two Grimnexes all by myself...?"

"Simple: you run away," Crocell sneered, gradually approaching the battered Mario Brothers.  His eyes were gleaming with bloodlust.  "It's been so long since we've had guests...  I can't even remember the last time we had a live intruder in the Purgatory."  He licked his lips as he observed the brothers' fatigue.  "I wonder how long they can last before we put them out of their misery...  They look pretty tired, but I don't want this to end too quickly."

"We'll just have to keep them alive for as long as possible- but just barely," Leviathan answered with a wicked grin.

"These creeps... They think that we're just puppets for their own amusement..." Luigi grumbled, slowly rising to his feet.  His body quivering with newfound rage, the plumber charged at Crocell.  He unleashed several flaming hooks, but the Grimnex effortlessly blocked each of them in the palms of his hands.  At last, Crocell grasped each of Luigi's arms, pulling him closer until their faces were only centimeters apart.

"Aw, what's the matter?" Crocell taunted with mock sympathy.  "Can't you do anything without your brother's help?"  Cackling maniacally, he opened his mouth and sunk his teeth into Luigi's shoulder, causing the plumber to cry out in agony.

Leviathan grinned.  "Dear, I thought you said that you didn't want this to end?  If you use that move, well..."

After a few more moments, Crocell released his grip on Luigi, causing him to fall lifelessly onto the floor.  "I'll do my best not to kill him, but there's no point in allowing him to live unless he's suffering."

Clutching the wound on his shoulder, Luigi stood up once again.  "Ugh...  A vampire...?  Couldn't you be a little more... original...?"

"Such an ignorant presumption," Crocell spat, glaring at his injured opponent.  "Do you honestly believe that I'd enjoy drinking the blood of a filthy human?  Your blood is not what I was after.  I intended to ingest some of your skin cells, a method for activating my special abilities.  However, I don't necessarily have to bite you to unleash my powers- I just need to obtain some sort of DNA sample.  I could have taken a strand of hair from you, or perhaps even a piece of your clothing would have done the trick."

Luigi's eyes widened.  "Wait...  What are you planning to do?"

"It's amazing what I can accomplish once I've analyzed the DNA of my opponent.  Of course, this is instantly accomplished once I ingest their DNA sample.  Now that I've swallowed some of your skin cells, my brilliant scientific mind understands everything there is to know about your body.  With that knowledge, I can begin to make a few minor modifications.  Let's start with your left arm."  His eyes glowing with anticipation, Crocell aimed his opened palm at Luigi.  "You've certainly got your work cut out for you, fighting against two Grimnexes and all.  I just hope your arm doesn't break."

At that same moment, Luigi fell to his knees as he heard a sickening crack.  He clutched his left arm, crying out in anguish.  With a simple wave of his hand, Crocell had broken Luigi's arm.  "What did you do to me...?" Luigi inquired, wincing in pain as he spoke.

"After I've consumed a DNA sample from my opponent, I gain complete control over nearly every cell in his body.  I can't control your physical movements- that's Leviathan's specialty.  Instead, I can gain sovereignty over many of your bodily functions by manipulating your cells.  It was a simple task for me to take control of the bone cells in your left arm, and you know what the result was."

"No way... he can break every bone in my body with a snap of his fingers..."  Luigi muttered in disbelief.  "Damn it... If only I had known earlier..."

"It wouldn't have made a difference," Crocell assured him.  "Sooner or later, I would have managed to steal a sample of your DNA.  But just remember, I want your death to be slow and painful.  You've still got a long way to go before I decide to end this."  Crocell flourished his palm once again, causing a stomach-turning snap in Luigi's right leg.

Once again, Luigi screamed in pure misery.  Falling to his knees, his eyes widened with fear as he gazed upward at Crocell.

"What bone should I break next?" Crocell snickered.  "Or perhaps it's time for me to move on to your internal organs?  Yes, I think you'll be able to survive if I only take away one of your lungs."  As he began to raise his palm, a Fireball struck him from behind.  The Grimnex slowly turned around to see Mario standing on his feet once more.

Desperate Struggle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/1fd3ca93-e1ee-46b8-a97e-ce146b2c39d1/Desperate-Struggle)

"Get away from him, you freak," Mario admonished, his fists clenched.  "Now I understand why you both became Obsolete Grimnexes...  You have no regard for anyone but yourselves.  You have no loyalties, not even to your own kind.  All of the other Grimnexes are fighting for a cause that they think is right, but you two only mistreat others for your own amusement."

"That's true," Crocell responded, making no attempt to deny Mario's words.  "Even among a race that is renowned for its cruelty, we are two of the most despicable demons that have ever lived.  However, deep down, every living creature is just as wicked as we are.  The only difference between demons and humans is the fact that we do not try to hide our true evil nature, while humans do.  The life of an Olympian is filled with nothing but lies.  That's why my wife and I abandoned the deplorable lifestyle of the humans."

"You know that he's right," a voice echoed from within the depths of Mario's consciousness.  Suddenly, the Mushroom Hero winced as he felt a sharp pain in his right arm.  "Humans are just like demons...  As hard as you may try to suppress your darker nature, the fact that I still exist within you proves that Crocell is right.  Why don't you drop the act and set me free?  With me in control, you can slaughter every last Grimnex and rescue your precious wife.  Come on, Mario.  What's stopping you?  You know that I'm going to take over eventually.  Can't you feel your Demon Exoskeleton growing?"

"No... I've already told you...  I'm through with you...  I don't want your help anymore!" Mario shouted, clutching his head.  Inequity began to pour out of Mario's body as he was surrounded with a red aura.

"Then why don't you banish me from your consciousness?  Why haven't you gotten rid of me yet?  I know why.  It's because deep down, you know that you still need me.  You understand that without me, you cannot accomplish anything.  How many times have I been forced to clean up your mess?  I've surfaced during your battles with Velno and Crimson, not to mention the handful of other skirmishes in which I've awakened.  Once you realized how powerful I made you, you decided that you would never be able to turn me away."

"Shut up!  I don't need your help!" Mario cried, rising to his feet.  "I'll handle this on my own!  I'm not gonna let Leviathan and Crocell turn me into one of their test subjects, and I'm sure as hell not gonna let you turn me into your puppet!"  The red aura encasing Mario's body quickly died down before being replaced with a swirling blue one.

"Very well.  If that's how you feel, I'll leave you alone for now.  But just remember: your body will belong to me someday."

His eyes gleaming with willpower, Mario charged at Crocell.  To his battered brother's amazement, the Mushroom Hero was putting up a decent fight despite his injuries.  Still unable to stand, Luigi watched the battle in awe.  Bro...  First, you took a direct hit from Leviathan to save me...  And now, you've refused the powers of your demon ancestor to fight for my sake...

Desperate to prevent Crocell from injuring his brother any further, Mario assaulted his foe with a nonstop barrage of punches and kicks.  Just as long as I don't stop attacking, he thought to himself as Crocell blocked each and every oncoming attack.  Just as long as I keep him busy...  Bro will be safe...  With a devastating roundhouse kick, Crocell knocked Mario onto his back.  Without even stopping for a break, the plumber bounced back onto his feet and hurled himself at the Grimnex.

"Now I understand," Crocell chuckled.  "You think that our fight is distracting my attention from your brother.  How clever.  But in truth, I could crush each of Luigi's internal organs with a flick of my wrist.  Watch this!"  Just as Crocell expected, Mario lunged at him out of desperation to save his brother.  Unfortunately, it was only a fake.  He quickly turned away from Luigi and drove his razor-sharp nails into Mario's chest.  "You're just as gullible as I've heard.  That was the oldest trick in the book."

Mario coughed up a mouthful of blood as the Grimnex viciously tore his hand from his prey.  He stared at Crocell, realizing the grim fate that awaited him.  "No... I shouldn't have let him..."

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

A sinister leer spread across Crocell's face as he observed the hand with which he had pierced Mario's chest.  "Blood... tiny bits of flesh...  Yes, this will be perfect."  He opened his mouth and licked every last drop of blood from his hand.  After shuddering in disgust, he gave Mario a cold, wicked stare.  "Do you know what this means...?"

Before he could respond, Mario let out a shriek of anguish as his left arm and right leg simultaneously broke.  "...There's nothing I can do now..."

"I'm sure that you're familiar with this technique," Crocell snickered triumphantly.  "My abilities aren't limited to just one person.  In fact, once I ingest a DNA sample from a subsequent enemy, the injuries that I've inflicted to my previous foes are immediately applied to my newest victim!  That's why your leg and arm are broken just like your brother's."

"No... It can't end this way...  Not now... Just when I've finally reunited with Luigi..." Mario murmured, his entire body trembling with fear.  He felt the Demon Exoskeleton that encased his arm begin to expand.  "Will I have to resort to using my demon ancestor's power again...?  No...  I can't keep relying on him..."

"Talking to yourself?  Have you already gone insane?" Crocell inquired, laughing alongside Leviathan.  "Look at this dear.  I've caught them both.  Now it's time for the fun part to begin.  We can slowly torture them, breaking each individual bone and organ in their bodies, until they finally perish long after their hopes and dreams have dwindled away!"

His vision beginning to blur, Mario could only gaze at Crocell's feet as he gradually drew closer.  I've gotta think of something...  If I don't hurry up, Luigi and I are gonna die... Think, Mario...  If Crocell has such a powerful ability, why hasn't he become the leader of the Grimnexes...?  Why is he being confined to the Purgatory...?

With the Mushroom Hero kneeling before him, Crocell brought his heel down upon his foe.  "Now do you understand your own foolishness?!  You and your band of misfits could never hope to rescue Princess Peach!  And do you know what else?  She doesn't want to be saved!  Tell me: how does it feel to know that all of your efforts have been nothing but a waste?"

Mario did not respond.

"Answer me!" Crocell demanded as he extended his opened palm toward Mario, causing several of his ribs to break.

His body quivering, Mario slowly got up onto his knees.  He raised his right arm, and spoke softly, "Crocell, can you do me a favor...?  Ipos once promised me that he'd cut this arm off...  But since I didn't even get a chance to have a rematch with him, I'd like you... to fulfill Ipos' promise..."

"You're asking me to amputate your arm?  It seems as though you've gone insane, but who am I to deny such a request?" Crocell cackled as he extended both of his palms toward the plumber.  Luigi winced, bracing himself for the pain of his arm being severed.  Several seconds passed, and nothing happened.

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"What...?  Why hasn't your arm fallen off?!" Crocell thundered, his mouth wide with shock.

"It's called a Demon Exoskeleton, you should try getting one!" Mario retorted in sarcasm as he used his uninjured leg to propel him off of the ground at Crocell.  With a fierce right hook, the Mushroom Hero sent his fist directly into the Grimnex's opened mouth.  Next, he released his grip on a few silver hairs that he had unintentionally collected while fighting Crocell, forcing them down his throat.

"What have you done?!" Crocell roared in a mix of rage and confusion.

"Exploiting your only weakness," Mario replied with a triumphant grin.  "It turns out that my theory was correct.  You aren't immune to your own technique after all."

"No...  You didn't!  How did you know?!"

Mario's smirk widened.  "You said it yourself.  Once you swallow someone's DNA, the injuries you've already inflicted upon your previous foes are instantly applied to your newest victim- in this case, yourself.  After I figured out how to beat you, I just needed to find a DNA sample to ram down your throat.  Luckily, I inadvertently managed to pick up a few hairs when I was trying to distract you from hurting Luigi earlier on.  You know, you really should get a haircut.  The last thing I needed was to figure out a good way to surprise you.  The pain I felt in my right arm reminded me of my Demon Exoskeleton, and that's when I decided to fool you into attempting to sever my arm.  The shock that was caused when my Demon Exoskeleton repelled your technique gave me the perfect chance to make my move."

Crocell fell to his knees, his left arm and right leg now broken.  "Damn... you..."

"Ingenious...  And he came up with all of this in a matter of seconds..." Leviathan gasped.  "This Mario is really something else..."

That's my Bro for you... Luigi thought with a grin.  And to think that I actually doubted him for a moment...

"You can keep using your powers if you want, but you'll be affected as well," Mario declared.  "Of course, I'm not going to give you that opportunity."  He pulled his right fist backward, gathering electricity for a colossal Thunderball.  Sparks emitting from his entire arm, he lunged at the Grimnex and dealt a critical blow to Crocell's torso.  Leviathan's husband tumbled onto his back, his body thrashing wildly about.

"He's dead," Luigi uttered in disbelief.  "He's really dead..."

"My arm... and my leg...  They're back to normal," Mario observed with relief.  "The effects caused by Crocell's ability must've been negated now that he's dead."  He and Luigi stood up on both legs and wearily turned to face Leviathan.  "Now, where were we?"

Luigi clenched his fists.  "Give up, Leviathan.  We may be a little fatigued, but as long as we're able to stand, there's no way you'll survive."

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

"Not bad, but I'm afraid you've killed us in the wrong order," Leviathan cackled, waving her arms toward Crocell's corpse.  "Or did you forget entirely about what I'm capable of?  For one, I can resurrect the dead to fight by my side.  And since Crocell is already allied with me, reviving him will be a cinch!  Yet because I am already dead, it's impossible for you to kill me!  Unless you can find a way to get rid of me first, I'll simply continue to revive Crocell to fight by my side!"

"There's no way we can keep this up," Mario cursed as Crocell's eyes fluttered open.  "We're in no shape to fight them again...  It's almost as if we're back where we started..."

Luigi fell to his knees in defeat.  "No...  They're immortal...  The only way to defeat Crocell is to somehow kill Leviathan, but she's already dead... "

"Quite a bind, isn't it?" Crocell taunted as he rose to his feet.  "Not only that, but my death has caused my bones to return to their former state.  You see, the only way to reverse the effects of my technique is to kill me.  That stunt you pulled before won't work a second time unless you can find a way to prevent my wife from reviving me."

"I see...  So this is what you've both become...  No wonder I had such a difficult time finding you," a voice declared from a distance.  As the sound of footsteps drew closer, Slade stepped out of the shadows.  "I never thought that you'd both become Grimnexes..."




"What's wrong, Ace?  Feeling a bit tired?" Kobal teased as he parried yet another one of his opponents slashes.  "You don't want to disappoint Mario again, do you?  You always seem to let your friends down...  You were powerless to prevent Glaive's death, and you weren't even around to help Mario's comrades during Crimson's invasion.  You were too busy training, and we can both see how much good that did you!"  He landed a kick on Ace's chest before lunging forward and pinning him to the front doors of the Purgatory.  He viciously pressed his chains against Ace's throat in an attempt to strangle him.

Ace had released his grip on his blades after being tackled by Kobal.  Now defenseless, he scooped up a handful of explosive cards from his waist.  Desperate for air, he placed the cards between their chests and crushed them, causing an explosion that neither of them could escape.  Both of them were sent soaring in opposite directions, and a hole was blown open on the doorway that led into the Purgatory.

"Have you gone insane?" Kobal inquired as the smoke cleared.  "You could've killed both of us...  But since you just showed me your explosive powers, it's time for me to reveal mine."  He pointed his finger at Ace and fired a thin red beam of light.

Unable to dodge in time, Ace was struck in the arm by Kobal's ray.  Nothing happened.  "What was that supposed to do?  I don't feel a thing..."  Moments later, blood spurted from Ace's arm as dozens of cuts and bruises formed along the limb that had been struck by the Grimnex's beam.  "Wha... what did you do to me...?"

"It's my Final Smash, the Sin Detonator, and it usually isn't very effective against demons.  However, ironically enough, your exposure to the lifestyle of the humans has made you vulnerable to my abilities.  Humans, or any species of Olympians for that matter, attempt to live peacefully by concealing their negative feelings within them.  Every once in a while, these feelings come out, and the result is known as war.  This is proof that the Olympian lifestyle is a false one, and that demons were always meant to rule.  My Sin Detonator allows me to search the depths of my opponent's conscience for any signs of hidden 'evils', such as guilt, hatred, or despair.  It then turns these feelings into a 'bomb' that destroys you from the inside out.  Most demons do not try to hide their sins, which is why this technique is ineffective against them.  But against someone like you, my Final Smash cannot be overcome!"

"Damn..." Ace muttered, clutching his wounded arm.  After a few moments of silence, he turned around and dove through the hole he had created in the Purgatory's front doors.  He frantically sprinted through the dim, mazelike hallways in an attempt to escape.  With a Final Smash like that, there's no way I can fight him head on.  I need another plan of attack...




Darkness (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e9ad26c5-0e8c-430b-a659-8381f6717876/Darkness)

"Who are you...?" Leviathan inquired, staring at Slade in puzzlement.  "Crocell, do you know this young man?"

Crocell shrugged.  "I've never seen him before in my life.  Hey kid, how do you know Leviathan and me?"

Slade sighed.  "Leviathan...  Crocell...  Those are your Grimnex names, huh?"

Mario and Luigi dashed to their comrade's side.  "There you are, Slade!  We've been waiting for you to show up!  So have you found your missing parents yet?"

"You're looking at them," Slade murmured, his eyes glowing with hatred.  "Leviathan is my mother...  And Crocell is my father...  Their bodies are different, but I can tell...  Their voices, their attitudes...  They're exactly as I imagined...  Of course, I wouldn't be able to recognize them even if they were in their original bodies...  They abandoned me when I was only a toddler...  They left me to fend for myself, until I was found by demons and taken back to the Nightmare Vault..."

Luigi grimaced.  "No wonder you've spent so many years trying to find and kill them.  These two are low, even for Grimnexes.  And now that we know they're your parents, we have yet another reason to slay them."

"Ah, now I remember!  You're the little brat who ran away," Leviathan recalled.  "How tragic...  You actually believe that you once lived in the human realm with us, just like an ordinary family?  Crocell and I separated ourselves from humanity long before you were born.  We worked for years conducting scientific research for the Grimnexes.  I can still remember the discovery that made us famous...  We found a way to scientifically merge a live being with the corpse of a Grimnex.  This process would preserve the might of the Grimnexes, rescuing them from the impending threat of extinction.  Unfortunately, this discovery was made before we had earned the Grimnexes' trust.  No demon was willing to be used as a test subject in our experiment.  Thus, we resorted to having a child together, a child whose sole purpose would be to function as our guinea pig."

"That child was you, Slade.  The day that we prepared to operate on you, you abandoned us," Crocell continued.  "You managed to escape, and you grew up with a family of demons who believed that you were one of them.  As you were raised to despise human beings, we were busy creating another offspring.  This time, the experiment was a success.  Your brother was merged with the body of the fallen Eta Grimnex.  We became famous for our brilliance, and our human origins were quickly forgotten.  To reward our success, we were given two more Grimnex corpses.  I became one with the Pi Grimnex, and Leviathan united with the Rho Grimnex."

"But we still weren't satisfied," Leviathan added with a grin.  "We were members of the elite demon fighting force, the Grimnexes, and yet we still wanted more power.  That's when we began to take advantage of our Final Smashes.  We teamed up and began to slaughter Grimnexes that ranked above us.  Because I have the ability to control the dead, it only makes sense that killing the Xi Grimnex would be beneficial to me.  And Crocell, with the Final Smash that he has yet to reveal, stole the bodies of the Nu and Mu Grimnexes.  We thought that we could rise to the top, but once the most powerful Grimnexes caught on to what we were doing, we were overpowered and deemed obsolete.  That is why we have been confined to this wretched prison, with nothing to do but continue our experiments on the dead."

"Now do you understand why so many of the Grimnexes have been taken out?  It was because of us," Crocell informed them smugly.  "The Psi and Chi Grimnexes were the only Grimnexes to die in combat, and they were too weak to even matter.  Stolas was the Phi Grimnex before he defected from the Nightmare Vault to wreak havoc among the humans.  But from what I heard, he met his match against Glaive.  That leaves the Tau Grimnex, who was killed by his brother out of jealousy.  Oh, I almost forgot...  Partially due to your actions, the Omega Grimnex has been executed for his betrayal.  ...And that concludes our history lesson for today."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 6: Slade's Retribution)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on January 15, 2011, 01:20:02 PM
Chapter 6: Slade's Retribution

Cursed Grimnex (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5v5w-zxu4)

"This place... it's worse than I thought," Ace whispered, his back pressed against the inner walls of the Purgatory.  "It's despicable...  Just how many people have they imprisoned...?"

"Give me a break...  The Olympians have committed far more heinous crimes..." Kobal whispered as he emerged from around the corner, causing Ace to jump in fright.  "They sealed every demon within this wretched vault...  Think of the Purgatory as our way of giving the Olympians a taste of their own medicine.  If you think about it, this building is quite similar to the Nightmare Vault.

"What do you mean?" Ace inquired, slowly backing away from his foe.

"Zeus didn't just trap us inside of the Nightmare Vault; he deprived us of our afterlives.  Once a demon dies, he immediately follows the cycle of reincarnation and is reborn into an Olympian who remembers nothing of his previous life," Kobal explained bitterly.  "That's why I believe that Olympians are unworthy of their afterlives."

Ace clenched his fists in frustration.  "That's your reason for torturing innocent people inside of this hellish prison?"

"That's right, Ace...  Hate me...  Despise me...  You'll only increase the effects of my Sin Detonator," Kobal taunted, extending his index finger toward his opponent.  "Give it up, Ace...  How can you hope to face someone who can wield your own sins against you...?"

Ace leapt backward in an attempt to put some distance between him and Kobal.  I can't get too close...  As long as I have some time to react, I should be able to dodge his Sin Detonator...  My only chance is to stick to long range attacks.  In the blink of an eye, he drew several explosive cards and hurled them at the Grimnex.  Explosions, diversions, and sneak attacks...  They're my only options at this point...

The cards detonated beside Kobal, creating enough smoke to mask Ace's escape.  He frantically sprinted in the opposite direction, desperately brainstorming some sort of counterattack.  He looked over his shoulder and gasped as he saw Kobal emerge from the explosion unscathed.  The Grimnex aimed his index finger at his fleeing prey and fired a red beam of light, which struck Ace in the leg.  The former leader of Poker Face cried out in pain as his leg was covered in bruises and gashes.  He fell to his knees, watching helplessly as Kobal prepared to fire another Sin Detonator.  Out of options, Ace grasped his deck, scooped up a handful of cards, and tossed them at his oncoming enemy.

"Is that the only trick you have left?" Kobal cackled as the cards struck the ground beside him moments before detonating.  Once again, the corridor was lit with a chain of explosions.  Ace hopefully peered into the smoke.  He squinted and made out a faint silhouette approaching him.  Ace hung his head in defeat.  His leg was far too injured for a quick getaway.

"Tell me, Ace: why are you even here?  For what reason are you helping Mario?  After learning about the tragic fate of your clan, you swore revenge upon the Grimnexes.  Yet when you had the chance to smite the Omega Grimnex, you hesitated.  Therefore, you cannot be here to avenge the Zepar tribe.  What is it that you're after?  There was a time when your name was feared among the masses of demons that served the Phoenix.  Now you're nothing but a tool to further the Mushroom Hero's goals."

Ace remained silent, the sins of his past weighing heavily on his conscience.

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"Come on, Ace, you're not really gonna let him talk to you like that, are you?" a familiar voice inquired from behind Kobal.  "Just listening to this creep makes me want to ram my fist down his throat."

"Is... is that you...?" Ace gasped as Wario stepped between him and Kobal.  "But I thought...  Didn't you die during Crimson's attack on the Mushroom Kingdom...?"

"Did you already forget what this place is?" Wario responded impatiently.  "After I died, this jerk locked me up in this dump, and I've been trapped ever since.  Thanks to those little explosions of yours, my cell was blown open.  Now it's payback time."  The overweight plumber cracked his knuckles and began to stretch.

"I'm surprised that you're healthy enough to stand," Kobal stated, unshaken by Wario's arrival.  "Even when given an opportunity to escape, most prisoners aren't well enough to make their move."

Ace grinned wryly.  Heh, I never thought I'd be glad to see Wario...  "...Wario, are you sure you feel up to this?  His Final Smash is-" Wario was already sprinting toward Kobal with his fists clenched.

"You're even more foolish than Ace!" Kobal snickered as he fired his Sin Detonator at his oncoming foe.  The beam struck Wario directly on the chest, but it had no effect.  Left completely vulnerable, Kobal could do nothing to defend himself as Wario nailed him in the cheek with a right hook.  The Grimnex tumbled onto his back, blood dripping from his nose.  "What just happened?  I made a clear hit with my Sin Detonator!  And you're clearly not pure of heart, so there's no way you could be immune to it!"

Wario shrugged.  "Beats me...  I'm just doing what I do best!"  He reared his fist back, which was then encased with metal.  "It's time for my Final Smash: Metal Wario!"

"Of course!" Ace exclaimed.  "Kobal, you said that your Sin Detonator searches a person's conscience for any traces of hidden negative feelings.  Wario may have his flaws, but your Final Smash cannot harm him because he doesn't make any efforts to keep his sins bottled up inside. He openly expresses his greed and his desire to beat you to a pulp.  However, deep down, Wario is truly a good person.  Because of this, your Sin Detonator couldn't harm him even if you fired a thousand shots."

"A human without fear or regret...  I never thought I'd see the day..." Kobal gasped, gazing up at Wario in fear.  With a triumphant laugh, Wario used his metallic fist to deal a crushing blow to the Grimnex.  Just like that, the battle was over.  Thanks to Wario's unique personality, Kobal- and his Sin Detonator- had been defeated.

Ace heaved a sigh of relief.  "Wario...  Do you realize that you're one of the only humans with the ability to defeat Kobal?  Can you believe that I was lucky enough to unintentionally free you from your cell with my explosives?"

Wario flexed his muscles.  "Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty cool.  So why are you here, anyway?  And what happened with Crimson?"

"I'll tell you everything later.  First we need to find a way to free all of these prisoners, including your brother," Ace replied.

"Wait...  Please, listen..." Kobal murmured, still barely alive.  "Before I die...  Listen carefully...  Go to... the far end of the corridor... that branches to the right... from this one...  There... you'll find... the master release switch..."

"Why are you telling us this?"

"I owe you..." Kobal replied, holding up his arms.  Tears of joy flowed down his cheeks as the chain connecting his handcuffs shattered.  He was finally free.  "The fat one's... final attack... broke the chains... that I struggled for years... to sever...  You see... the Purgatory used to be... a prison for ordinary demons...  I was captured as an infant ..."

"So that's why you wanted me to break your chains..." Ace mumbled.  "It's no wonder you were so cynical."

"There's... no point... in feeling sorry for me...  You fight for the Olympians... I fight for the demons... Our struggle was inevitable...  It's been this way for thousands of years...  One of us had to die..."  Ace and Wario prepared to leave, but Kobal called out to them.  "Wait... Ace, you never answered my question...  Why are you here...?"

Ace thought for a moment.  "Not only do I still feel responsible for helping the Olympians, but... I want to assist Mario in any way I can.  He's saved my life countless times, and I still haven't finished paying him back."

"I see...  All that time... you spent in the human realm... really changed you... didn't it...?  It's too bad... maybe it could've changed me, too..."




Nightmare's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6114b5cd-048a-4246-8397-574402dd2416/Nightmares-Theme)

"Thanks for the lecture, but I'm sure you understand that I didn't come all this way just to talk," Slade stated impatiently as he unsheathed his dagger.  "Whether you abandoned me or I ran away, my mind has been made up.  The undeniable truth is that both of you were neglectful parents that deserve to die.  You didn't care about me.  You were too concerned about your experiments and your research."

"What an ungrateful brat!" Leviathan spat.  "If it weren't for us, you wouldn't have even been born.  If you hadn't decided to run away, you could have become one of the most powerful Grimnexes in existence.  But instead, you selfishly abandoned us and forced me to go to the trouble of giving birth to another son."

"Do you have any idea how miserable my life was because of you?" Slade inquired, his eyes flashing red with hatred.  "If you had treated me as a normal human child, and not as your guinea pig, I would've had no reason to leave.  I was all alone, until I was adopted by an abusive family of demons I didn't even know.  Living with them was hell...  Each day was a struggle for survival.  I had no friends; I didn't even know where my real family was."

"None of this really matters to us," Crocell yawned with disinterest.  "You mean nothing to us now.  We haven't even thought of you since the day your brother was born."

"Well I've certainly thought about you," Slade retorted bitterly.  "I've spent my entire life seeking revenge."  He took a step toward his parents.

"Wait!" Mario stopped him.  "You must've seen part of our fight with Leviathan and Crocell, right?  Unless we put a stop to Leviathan's Final Smash, we'll never be able to permanently kill Crocell."

"In that case, I'll leave my mother to you two," Slade whispered.  "On her own, she won't be too difficult to defeat.  Mario, you and your brother are the only two people I can trust with something this important.  I'm counting on you."

Mario nodded.  "No problem.  Bro, do you think you're up for another round?"

"If it's just that hag, I think I can manage," Luigi chuckled.  The Mario Brothers nimbly sprang into the air and landed on either side of Leviathan.  "Besides, I still owe her one for trying to use my body as a puppet."

"Stay away from her!" Crocell demanded, turning to strike the plumbers.  His attack was brought to a halt when he felt a sharp pain in his back.  He glanced over his shoulder and gasped.  Slade had stabbed him in the back.

"No one's going to protect you this time," Mario declared as he and his brother took another step toward Leviathan.  "There's no way Slade will let Crocell escape from here alive."

Leviathan formed a flaming sphere in each of her hands.  "Still, how do you plan to kill an immortal?"

"I've got an idea," Luigi whispered.  "Bro, can you see that faint purple glow surrounding her body?  I think Crocell has it, too."  Mario shook his head.  "Maybe I'm the only one who can see it, then.  Regardless, I think that's the same aura that surrounded me when I was under Leviathan's control.  Do you know what that means?"

"She's not really immortal at all," Mario concluded.  "You may be on to something."

"Do you think you can keep Leviathan busy while I take care of things?  You look pretty beat," Luigi observed with a smirk.

"Just make sure you hurry up."

Meanwhile, the struggle between Slade and his father began.  "Perhaps you do not understand just how much I loathe you," Slade hissed as he viciously tore his blade from the Grimnex's flesh.  "Never turn your back on me.  That's your first and only warning."  He swung his sword at Crocell once again, who caught the blade between his thumb and forefinger.

"You're quite the hostile one, aren't you?" Crocell snickered as he dodged several more of his son's sword slashes.  "Your vile glare... the aggressiveness behind your attacks...  I can practically feel your hatred..."

"Hating things was my only method of comfort while growing up," Slade answered icily as he skimmed his father's chest with his dagger.  "At first, I despised the human race...  But then, Mario showed me that not all humans were innately evil...  He helped me understand the source of all of my misery: you two."

"And what have these 'good' humans done for you?  Have they helped to ease your pain?"

Slade's eyes narrowed as he stabbed his father in the torso.  "Your demise is the only known cure for my disease."

"Fair enough," Crocell chortled as he grasped the blade wedged in his chest.  With a firm yank, he removed the blade from his flesh- and from Slade's grip!  The sword now in his possession, he took a moment to admire its exquisite design.  "Ah...  It's truly a remarkable sword...  I wonder if I could find a small sample of your DNA on its handle..."  He glared at his son, daring him to try and retrieve his weapon.

Vengeful Showdown (http://www.esnips.com/doc/92929005-840a-4cce-be46-21346feefc19/Vengeful-Showdown)

"Oh well," Slade sighed, calm and cool.  "You won't be alive long enough to treasure it, so it doesn't really matter..."  He casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his heavily bandaged arms.  "I've spent the past six years preparing for this day...  I've waited my whole life for this moment...  Did you really think I'd come unprepared?"  He began to unwrap the bandages, revealing his heavily scarred, blood-red arms.  "So, 'Dad', have you ever heard of a demon known as Nightmare?"

Crocell thought for a moment before nodding slowly.  "Yes, he's the one who can control the Nightmare Haze, correct?  Why do you ask?"

A slight smirk appeared on Slade's face as a red fog began to rise from his arms.  "I am Nightmare.  Or at least, I was.  Controlling the Nightmare Haze is my specialty, but this ability only works in areas that have an abundant supply of Nightmare Haze.  I have since overcome this weakness by learning to seal the haze within my body.  Not only can I release the Nightmare Haze whenever I choose, but I also have even better control over it than I did before."

"That's fascinating, but it won't matter once I ingest some residual skin cells from the handle of your blade," Crocell cackled, raising his son's weapon to his mouth.  As the handle was only inches away from the inside of his mouth, a wall of red haze formed in front of the Grimnex's face.  "What's this?!  You can solidify the haze as well?!"

"I can do much more than that," Slade replied stoically as the Nightmare Haze formed the shape of a colossal fist and dealt a severe blow to Crocell.  "Your clumsy abilities won't work on me...  At a moment's notice, I can block the entrance to your mouth to prevent you from swallowing my DNA."  Crocell angrily rose to his feet and tossed his son's blade at him.  Before the sword could strike Slade, he was surrounded by a barrier of Nightmare Haze.  "I can form a shield in the blink of an eye.  And because the haze is toxic, I could even use it to poison you."

"Impressive..." Crocell muttered, beginning to grow irritated.  "You must have gone through many years of painful training in order to master such a technique...  This body is no match for you and your hatred..."

"This body...  What do you mean...?" Slade inquired with his eyebrows raised in suspicion.

"I'll show you," Crocell sneered, his body becoming transparent as it emitted a faint yellow glow.  "This is my Final Smash...  Few people have ever seen it and lived to tell about it.  You see, once I use this technique, I become my opponent."  With a maniacal shriek, he flung himself at his son.  Slade attempted to cut him in half, but his blade passed through Crocell, who quickly used his ghostlike powers to enter Slade's body.

His body beginning to tremble, Slade coughed up a mouthful of blood.  "What... are you... doing...?"

"My Final Smash enables me to enter my foe's body and make it my own," Crocell's voice echoed from within Slade.  "How do you think I survived for so long?  If I had still been a human, I would be far too old to put up a fight against you.  But thanks to my Final Smash, I have obtained something close to immortality.  Whenever I begin to grow old and decrepit, I simply abandon my body and take over a new one!  Alternatively, if I find myself up against a superior foe, I can increase my own strength by stealing his body!  That is why I was deemed obsolete!  I continued to assault Grimnexes that ranked higher than me in an attempt to steal their bodies and further my own power!"

"So that's your plan...?  Even now, you want to use me for your own selfish purposes," Slade growled as he struggled against Crocell's takeover.  "It's too bad...  You do not possess immortality...  As long as I can maintain even the slightest bit of control over this body, and you're still inside of it, I have the advantage."

"What do you mean?  You will not be able to resist for much longer!" Crocell cackled.

Slade raised both of his arms toward the ceiling, signaling for his Nightmare Haze to return to his body.  The haze complied, condensing into tiny puffs of smoke before seeping into every pore on Slade's arms, causing them to turn red once again.  "You've just made a fatal mistake.  My body is immune to the Nightmare Haze, but you are not.  Now that I've absorbed the haze back into my body, it will undoubtedly infect you."

"I- Impossible!"

"I've already told you: controlling the Nightmare Haze is my specialty.  I can manipulate any nearby haze, even if it's inside of my body.  The Nightmare Haze is far superior to antibodies...  It can cover a vast amount of space, and it is far more deadly."

Shrieks of terror could be heard within Slade's body before Crocell finally tumbled out of his body and solidified.  His body now frail and withered, Crocell looked up at his vengeful son, quivering in fear.  "Listen to me, son..."

"You've lived long enough," Slade replied coldly.  "It's time to end this."

From across the corridor, Leviathan knocked Mario onto the floor with a burst of flames before rushing to her husband's aid.  "You can kill him as many times as you want; I'll simply revive him!"  She lunged at Slade, whose back was turned, her body lit with flames of aggression.  However, as she was only moments away from striking her target, she collapsed onto the ground- dead.

"How...?" Crocell murmured in confusion.  "How did you...?"

"That wasn't her real body," Mario explained with a triumphant smirk.  "The entire time, the Leviathan that we were fighting was only a dead body that the real Leviathan was manipulating from a safe distance.  That's why we couldn't kill her; we weren't attacking her actual body.  Luigi noticed the same aura surrounding you and Leviathan.  That's how we knew."

"We already knew that Leviathan used her Final Smash to bring you back to life," Luigi continued as he entered from around the corner of the hallway.  "That same aura also surrounded me after I had been revived.  From that, I concluded that any person she used her Final Smash on would be surrounded with a purple glow as long as it was still in effect.  That led us to believe that Leviathan was somewhere else in the Purgatory, battling us from afar by using a dead body as a puppet."

"Luigi decided to test our theory by conducting a thorough search through the Purgatory.  We believed that Leviathan's powers would work best if she was closer to the battle, so we didn't think she'd be very far.  It turns out that we were right.  Luigi managed to find and eliminate the real Leviathan, which caused her puppet to stop functioning."

"Impressive, as usual," Slade commended them as he turned to face Crocell.  "Now that that's settled, your death is assured."

Unbearable Suffering (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0d976966-bf59-421c-b7e6-2b2a4af3f95b/Unbearable-Suffering)

Slade scooped his blade off of the ground and pointed it at his father.  With a vicious stab, he drove his dagger through Crocell's heart.  "Why...  What was the point of all of this...?  You spent your entire life searching for more power...  Why...?"

"Because... the humans... deserve to die...  Your wife and I... were once one of them...  We understood that... our way of life is filled with nothing... but falsehood and lies....  That's why... the demons and Grimnexes are so determined... to escape from the Nightmare Vault... and overthrow Zeus....  Under the leadership of the demons... the world will be restored... to the chaotic state that it was... always meant to be in..."

"Then why did you betray the Grimnexes as well!  You don't believe in their cause, either!" Slade spat, driving his blade deeper through his father's torso.

"The demons... they're almost as bad...  A world with nothing but chaos and disorder... could never flourish...  This is a war... in which neither side deserves to win...  When I lived among the Olympians... I grew to despise them... but the more time I spent with the demons... the more I understood why it was necessary for them to be sealed away...  Both demons and Olympians... I truly hate them both... the only person I can truly rely on... is myself..."

"You're wrong, 'Dad'.  There's something that Mario once told me.  Long ago, I believed that all humans deserved to die.  To this, Mario responded that you cannot judge an entire race based on the actions of one or two individuals.  I hated you and my mother, which led me to despise all humans.  Mario understands that some humans are selfish and greedy, but not all of them.  The same is true for demons.  Father, you cannot judge a group of people until you've taken the time to accept and understand them.  You were always too quick to find reasons to despise others, and then you used these reasons to justify your selfish quest for power."

"Heh...  Perhaps you're right...  I just hope... that you're finally satisfied... now that your mother and I... are dead...  Even now... I can see the confusion in your eyes...  What will you do next...?  Either way... I have... no regrets... Except for... just... maybe... being... a... terr...ible... f...a..."  Crocell's eyes rolled back as he toppled onto the floor in a pool of blood.  The immortal Grimnexes had finally met their demise.

"He's dead," Slade stated simply, unable to find words to describe his feelings.  "My father is dead.  After all of this time..."

"Do you want to be alone?" Mario asked softly. 

Slade nodded slowly.  "Yes...  I think that would be best...  I'll catch up with you when I'm ready..."

"No problem," Luigi replied as he and his brother wandered off into the mazelike Purgatory.  "That was rough.  I wonder what Slade will do now...  Killing his parents was his primary goal in life.  Now that they're dead, what does he have left to live for?"

Mario sighed.  "He has to figure that out for himself.  Once he's done that, I'm sure he'll join back up with us.  For now, we should try to reunite with Ace and the Wario Brothers.  While we're at it, we should help the other prisoners find a safe place to stay until this conflict blows over."  He dreamily stared ahead, thinking about the words that his ancestor, the very first of the Hero bloodline, once spoke to him:

"Mario, I know what you've been thinking.  You are starting to wonder if the conflict between the Olympians and the demons is truly black and white.  Let me answer your question by saying that the world has done some terrible things in order to maintain peace.  All is not as it seems, and you will one day face off against many of your own kind..."

No... I can't afford to get distracted, Mario thought, reminding himself that the death of Slade's parents was supposed to be a success.  "Now we can finally get out of this place...  I just hope I haven't kept Ace waiting for too long..."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 7: The Fallen Kings)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on January 21, 2011, 04:45:12 PM
Chapter 7: The Fallen Kings

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

"This is the intruder that we've all been warned about?" a portly Grimnex with the head of a boar wondered aloud.  His skin was sea green and covered in diamond shaped markings.  He had long, flowing orange hair, on top of which he wore a tarnished bronze crown.  "And just who are you?"

"Heh, you don't know who I am?!" Bowser inquired, throwing his head back with laughter.  "I'm only the greatest villain ever!  I'm Bowser, the Koopa King, and I'm here to teach you smalltime henchmen how a real antagonist should operate."

"Never heard of you," the Grimnex muttered with disinterest.  "Though, I doubt you know who I am, either.  I am Argyle, the Upsilon Grimnex."

Bowser groaned.  "That's it?  When are they gonna start sending in their strongest soldiers?"

"Who knows?" Argyle replied with a shrug.  "It's obvious that they don't think you and your pals are a big enough threat to send out their upper ranking Grimnexes.  Most of them are inside of Grimnex Palace, lounging about while they wait for the ceremony to commence."

Bowser gazed upward at the foreboding palace that towered above them.  "So, they're all inside, huh?  And you're the only thing standing between us?  Gwahahahaha!"

The Koopa King charged at his equally bulky opponent, pulled his right fist back, and connected a bone-breaking hook with the Grimnex's chest.  He looked up at Argyle's face, eagerly awaiting his pained expression.  However, Argyle remained nonchalant, even with Bowser's fist still wedged in his torso.

"Hmm...  I misjudged you," Argyle yawned.  "You looked like you could punch a lot harder."

To this, Bowser responded with a barrage of blows equal in strength to his first punch.  Why isn't this guy in pain...?  It feels like I'm punching a tractor tire...
"Have you finished 'teaching' me yet?" Argyle asked with a sarcastic grin.  "I'm guessing the focus of this lesson was to not overhype yourself before a fight?"  He clenched his fists and retaliated with a blow that knocked the Koopa King onto his back.  "The muscles that I've trained for years to acquire make my body as solid as a rock.  Your feeble punches could never put a dent in me."




Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)

"Well, it looks like we're finished here," Mario sighed wearily.  After successfully directing the prisoners of the Purgatory to safety, Mario, Luigi, Ace, Wario, and Waluigi had regrouped to mount an assault on Grimnex Palace.  "Can we finally put this place behind us?"

Ace nodded in agreement.  "If we survive long enough, I'll certainly have nightmares about this place for years to come."

"On the bright side, the Princess Peach rescue team has gained a few new allies," Luigi stated cheerfully.  "If only Glaive could be here...  That would truly have made this a perfect team."

"I wonder why he wasn't brought to the Purgatory...  He was pretty tough," Wario recalled.  "After all, even a coward like Luigi was brought there.  Why would they ignore Glaive?"

"It's difficult to say...  Maybe it's because Glaive was a demon, just like them..." Ace mused.  "Or maybe because Glaive died inside of the Nexus, and Kobal didn't have enough time to intercept him before he was taken to the Underwhere.  Regardless, we'll have to work with what we have.  Bowser should be somewhere up ahead, providing he isn't dead, and Slade will catch up with us eventually.  That leaves, Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and me."

"Hold on...  Who said that we were going to help you on another one of your rescue missions?" Wario inquired gruffly.  "After all of the time I spent inside of that hell, I'm going home to spend some quality time with my television!"

Ace sighed.  "I suppose it's not my place to give you orders...  If that's really how you feel, then I can't stop you..."

"Of course we'll help," Waluigi chimed in, ramming his fist into the back of his brother's head.  "He's just acting this way for old time's sake.  Right Bro?"

"Yeah, right," Wario replied with an awkward laugh.  "Besides, based on everything you told us about what's going on, the Grimnexes are planning to use Peach to somehow obtain their revenge.  This is more than a simple kidnapping.  If we don't start cracking some Grimnex skulls, they'll eventually attack the Mushroom Kingdom.  It's my only chance to redeem myself for my embarrassing loss against Crimson's henchman."

"Whatever your reason may be, I really appreciate the help," Mario thanked him.  "There's just one thing that's been bothering me...  Are Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi still dead?  And what would happen to them if they were killed by a Grimnex?"

"Actually, 'death' is simply the act of being sent to the Underwhere," Ace explained.  "If you escape, you are alive again.  Since Kobal intercepted Luigi and the Wario Brothers before they entered the Underwhere, they are technically still alive.  They were probably in such bad shape when we found them because of their poor treatment at the Purgatory.  In short, if they died in an upcoming battle, they'd simply be sent to the Underwhere.  Now, the true problem arises when someone dies while in the Underwhere or Overthere.  Once that happens, the person follows the cycle of reincarnation, and his spirit is recycled into that of a new creature.  The demons undergo the same process, except they do not have an afterlife.  Once they are killed, they are instantly reincarnated."

"Is that why Glaive wasn't taken to the Purgatory?" Mario inquired.  "Has he already been reincarnated?"

Ace shook his head.  "It's difficult to explain, but...  Remember how Glaive could not be exposed to sunlight at first?  That is the curse that all demons must bear.  The lack of an afterlife is also part of this curse.  However, by spending enough time in the outside world, a demon can overcome his cursed fate.  Glaive is one of the few demons who have managed to fully lift this curse.  I personally only spent a few months in the human realm.  While I have enough experience to tolerate sunlight, I still do not have an afterlife to look forward to."

"Well, you'll just have to spend some more time in the Mushroom Kingdom after this is all over," Mario suggested.

"You're certainly optimistic," Ace chuckled.  As the group began to make their way toward Grimnex Palace, Ace concealed his despair with a faint smile.  Mario...  As usual, you're brimming with the innocent confidence of a child...  I'd give anything to return to the Mushroom Kingdom to live a life of peace...  If it only it were that simple...




Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

After tumbling onto the ground once again, the Koopa King slowly rose to his feet.  His body was covered in scrapes and bruises, and he was breathing heavily.  "You said my punches don't hurt you... but yours are nothing to brag about..."

"Have you looked in a mirror?  You won't be able to last much longer at this rate," Argyle shot back.  "This is a battle of brute strength, and you clearly can't measure up.  It was foolish of you to come this far on your own.  It's obvious that you can't accomplish anything without the help of your friends." 

"Bowser!"

"Are you alright?"

"We're here to help!"

"Ah, speak of the devil," Argyle chuckled as Mario and the others could be seen approaching from a distance.  "You're in luck."

"Stay out of this!" Bowser roared, raising his arm toward his oncoming comrades.  "I'll handle this on my own!"

"Wha...?  Bowser, it doesn't take a genius to understand that you're no match for him," Mario called out to his ally. "Let us help you!"

"How many times...  How many times have you fought against someone, even though the odds were against you...?  Even when your friends and family told you to back down, you never listened..." Bowser recalled, his emotions beginning to pour out.  "I'm gonna show you... that you're not the only one who can fight a Grimnex all by himself!"

Ace frowned.  "What do you think, Mario?  Are you going to let him risk his life just for the sake of his pride?"

"If we stepped in now, Bowser would never forgive us.  Most of all, he's lost confidence in himself as my rival...  We need to let him handle this on his own..."

"So, how does it feel to fall behind...?" Argyle inquired bitterly.  "I know all about you...  Long ago, Mario considered you to be a threat.  You could battle with him on equal footing, and you even came close to conquering the Mushroom Kingdom...  But, as time passed, you began to lose your role as the kingdom's greatest threat...  Villains such as Lord Shade and Crimson came along, and your enemies were quick to obtain more strength in response to these crises.  All the while, you've stayed the same...  Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Ace...  I suspect that each of them could defeat me on their own."

"Shut up!" Bowser growled as he rushed toward Argyle once again, only to be knocked down by another blow to the face.

"It's not as though I don't understand your pain," Argyle stated glumly.  "You see, both of us are fallen kings...  I was once the Beta Grimnex, the esteemed leader of all the Grimnexes...  However, the years passed, and while I was busy hiding behind my throne, the lower ranking Grimnexes were on the frontlines...  It wasn't long before I fell behind, and my rank quickly dropped.  And here I stand before you... as the Upsilon Grimnex..."  He extended his palm toward Bowser as his body began to glow with a rainbow aura.  "I'll end this with my Final Smash...  Once I kill you and your friends, I will reclaim my throne..."

In a flash of light, a colossal wad of rubber appeared in Argyle's hand.  With a snap of his wrist, the rubber formed into the shape of a colossal green snake.  Wielding the rubber snake as a whip, he flung it at his opponent.  Bowser, who was still struggling to stand up, could do nothing to prevent the whip from wrapping around his body and pulling him back toward Argyle.

"Let's wrap this up... heh," Argyle sneered, using the rubber properties of his whip to pull Bowser directly into one of his punches.

"That's it!  We have to step in!" Luigi cried, rushing toward the battle.

"No," Mario said sternly as he held his brother back with his forearm.  "Haven't you been listening?  These two were made to fight each other...  They're both fallen kings, struggling to prove their worth to their comrades..."

Argyle could not contain his laughter as he used his rubber whip to smash the Koopa King into the ground and back into his fist.  After several bone-crushing blows, Argyle released Bowser.  "Your fortitude is admirable, but you really should let your friends lend a hand."

Determination (http://www.esnips.com/doc/940f7b47-c65a-4414-8b3d-827aec1c91fa/Determination)

"Funny," Bowser laughed weakly as he struggled to his feet.  "Your Final Smash... is almost as pathetic... as your punches..."

"Is that so?" Argyle hissed, tossing his whip toward Bowser yet again. 

This time, the Koopa King caught the whip before it could reach him.  "You call this a weapon...?"  He reached into his shell with his free hand and pulled out a Pocket Chomp.  He broke the capsule, freeing the Chain Chomp, and tossed it at Argyle while still holding on to the end of the chain.  The Chain Chomp ran circles around the Grimnex, wrapping him up in chains.  With a cry of determination, Bowser yanked the tied up Argyle toward him before spitting out a mouthful of flames.  "Snakes are lame... Real villains use Chain Chomps as whips!"

"I told you he'd pull through," Mario chuckled.  "Good job, Bowser..."

"ACK!  My rubber!" Argyle shrieked as his body was lit by his opponent's flames.

Bowser cracked his knuckles.  "Heh, that was a pretty clever trick.  Once you started using that rubber snake, though, it didn't take long for me to figure it out.  You can produce and control rubber, which is what you were using to shield your body from my blows.  All I needed to do was use a little fire to get rid of your protection."  He released Argyle from his Chain Chomps grasp.  "Now, let's finish this the way we were supposed to: with our bare hands."

"Fine," Argyle agreed, clenching his fists.  Bowser and Argyle sprinted at each other in one final rush, both of their right fists held behind their bodies.  With all of their strength gathered into one last blow, they lunged at each other and struck each other in the face at full force.  Dazed and severely injured, they both struggled to stay standing.  At last, one of them fell.  Bowser heaved a sigh of fatigue.  The Upsilon Grimnex had fallen.

"Nice one, Bowser!" Luigi cheered as the Koopa King's comrades rushed to his side.

"Heh, that was... nothing... I didn't even... break a sweat..." Bowser mumbled before collapsing from exhaustion.  Try as he might, he could not hide the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes.

Mario placed a hand on his rival's shoulder.  "You can rest for now, Bowser.  You've already done enough."

They really do care, the Koopa King thought before finally allowing his eyes to shut.  These guys... they're not so bad... after all...

"Now what?" Waluigi asked, glaring at Bowser's unconscious body.  "We can't carry him.  Should we stay with him, or just leave him here?"

Mario glanced at the fortress that stood before them.  "It looks like Argyle was the only Grimnex guarding the palace's entrance.  Another Grimnex is bound to show up eventually, so we'll have to act quickly."

"Too late, Mushroom Hero," a cold, stoic voice echoed from the entrance to Grimnex Palace.  Mario's group stopped dead in their tracks and turned to face their next opponent.  Mario gasped, recognizing the tall, pale-skinned figure that stood before them.  The Grimnex's icy, sapphire eyes scanned each of Mario's comrades.

"Bro... have you two met before?" Luigi inquired frightfully.

"This is Ipos," Mario whispered, his body beginning to tremble.  "He's the Delta Grimnex, the one who kidnapped Peach.  I've been waiting for this."

"The same one who nearly killed you back in the Mushroom Kingdom?" Ace gasped.  "Mario, we're not prepared to face a Grimnex of this caliber.  The Grimnexes we've faced so far are nothing compared to him."

Rematch (http://www.esnips.com/doc/ca1f14ee-5b98-4ab7-828d-5f56b508045b/Rematch)

"I know, but we'll have to face him sooner or later," Mario reasoned, stepping forward to accept Ipos' challenge.  "Let me handle this alone.  We have a score to settle."

Ipos frowned.  "I don't understand.  You were blessed with enough luck to survive our first encounter.  I know that I clearly demonstrated your incapability of defeating me.  And yet... even after my threats... without even knowing the limits of my power... you've stormed into the land of the Grimnexes, knowing all too well that you would have to face me again at some point.  Why?"

"A heartless demon like you could never understand," Mario replied bitterly.  "You have no right to question my motives."

"Even with your friends by your side, you still opt to challenge me alone," Ipos observed.  "Interesting.  You're an even greater fool than I thought.  If you couldn't strike me down before, what makes you think you'll be able to now?  What could have possibly changed?"

"Let me show you!" Mario exclaimed, rushing at full speed toward the Grimnex.  He lunged at Ipos and unleashed a devastating combo of flaming right hooks, all of which were blocked in Ipos' left palm.  When the Grimnex saw an opening, he drew his sword and slashed at the plumber.  Quick to react, the Mushroom Hero abruptly ended his assault and leapt backward, narrowly dodging the tip of the blade.  The moment his feet touched the ground, the plumber hurled himself at Ipos once again.  He drove his fist into the ground, causing a wall of stone to rise in front of him.

"What a childish trick.  You put a wall between us to mask your next attack," Ipos predicted, stabbing his blade through the wall and into his target.  However, as the wall crumbled away, his eyes widened.  His sword had plunged into an ice statue of Mario, no doubt created by an Iceball.  As the Grimnex struggled to yank his dagger from the ice, Mario approached from the Grimnex's blind spot and drove his fist into Ipos' face.

Ace gasped.  Mario... You never cease to amaze me...

"Well, Ipos, it looks like I just earned the right to enter Grimnex Palace," Mario chuckled, remembering Ipos' words from their first encounter:

"Hmph.  Such arrogance.  You won't even lay a foot in the Grimnex Palace until you can strike me in the face like that."

Ipos glared at Mario as he wept the blood from his chin.  "Hmm...  You've gotten a little faster... But that's not all...  Something else about you has changed..."

"If you really want to know why I came here, I'll tell you," Mario declared, charging at Ipos once again.  "I didn't travel all this way for you; I'm here to bring Peach back to the Mushroom Kingdom!"  He attempted to land another hook on the Grimnex's face, but Ipos caught the punch in his right palm.

Uphill Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/a22356d3-220b-4c60-8fe8-d2a6a626ad47/Mario-vs-Velno)

"...Really?" Ipos inquired, his normally stoic expression shifting to one of moderate surprise.  "That's unusual...  A group of Olympians risking their lives to save a single human being...  I've never heard of such a thing.  The craven Olympians I once knew would have forgotten about the princess in order to avoid a conflict with us."

"Now that you mention it, Zeus did say something like that," Mario recalled, still struggling to free his fist from Ipos' grasp.  "We aren't following Zeus' orders...  We came here on our own accord."

"Imbecile," Ipos hissed, drawing his blade with his free hand.  "You cannot hope to win this war without the support of Zeus!"  Mario freed his hand and took a step back to avoid one of Ipos' slashes.  With another thrust of his sword, Ipos lunged forward at the plumber.  The point of the blade only centimeters away from his forehead, Mario managed to parry Ipos' dagger by molding his fire element into the shape of a sword.  They fiercely pressed their blades against each other, but neither of them budged an inch.  It was a stalemate.

"I bet you didn't know I could create a sword with my fire element!" Mario chuckled in a strained voice, still pressing his dagger against Ipos'.

Ipos sighed as his blade began to shine with a bright yellow glow.  In the blink of an eye, an identical sword materialized in his free hand.  Swift and deadly, Ipos plunged this new dagger into the Mushroom Hero's chest.  He then put all of his might into his original blade, causing it to slash through Mario's flaming sword and severely wound the plumber's torso.

"Did you see that?!" Luigi cried out in shock.  "Did that Grimnex's blade just... multiply?"

"Hmph.  You could never hope to match my superior sword with such a delicate blade," Ipos lectured the injured Mario.  His torso covered with two severe gashes, the Mushroom Hero fell to his knees.  Ipos held his blades to the plumber's throat.  "Now, your 'heroic' journey comes to an end."

Just as the Grimnex was about to deliver the final blow, he felt a gust of wind come from behind him.  "Bro!" Luigi shrieked, still soaring through the air toward Ipos.  Before he could reach his target, Ipos caught his foot and slammed him into the ground.  Before their scuffle could continue, Wario and Waluigi entered the fray and attacked Ipos from both sides.  The nimble Grimnex blocked each of their attacks with his dual swords before knocking them onto their backs with a swift elbow to each of their guts.  With only one opponent left, Ipos looked up to see Ace descending from above with an energy saber in his grip.  Ipos blocked Ace's blade with one of his one, and then used the hilt of his other sword to bat him away.  Even after attacking as a group, they had failed.

"Now I understand why you wanted to fight me alone.  These friends of yours are even weaker than you are," Ipos stated as Mario's comrades rose to their feet.

"What'd you say?!" Wario roared, charging recklessly at the Grimnex.

"Wait!  Don't challenge him by yourself!" Waluigi cried, pursuing his impetuous brother.  "You're gonna get yourself killed!"

"Such ignorance...  I will relieve you of your stupidity," Ipos declared as his duplicate sword faded away.  He extended his free hand toward the oncoming Wario Brothers before releasing a colossal blue annihilator beam, engulfing them both.  The two brothers cried out in pain as they were sent flying into the distance.  "Now, which one of you would like to be next: Ace, or Luigi?"

"You forgot about me..." Mario muttered, laughing weakly as he stood between Ipos and his remaining comrades.  "I'm not... gonna let you lay a hand on them..."

"Fine.  I'll simply eliminate them without using my hands," Ipos agreed with cold sarcasm.  He raised his palm toward the three heroes.  "If I aim carefully, I should be able to take out all three of you with one blast."  His hand began to emanate a bluish glow.

Before Ipos could fire his annihilator beam, a blue axe came from out of seemingly nowhere and struck the ground in front of Mario.  Another Grimnex descended from high above and landed beside the axe.  "Back off, Ipos," he admonished, pulling his weapon out of the ground.  "This one belongs to me."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 8: Falling Apart)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on January 28, 2011, 09:11:48 PM
Chapter 8: Falling Apart

Predicament (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f5aee58a-43ae-4dbe-a1fe-d64a6b2cb5ac/Predicament)

"Ares, what are you doing here?" Ipos inquired coldly, turning to face the Grimnex.  "Zagan has given me specific orders to take care of the intruders by myself.  Your presence here is in direct violation of Grimnex tradition."

"So?  Do I look like I care about our 'sacred' customs?" Ares retorted dryly.  He was about Ipos' height, with spiky black hair and bloodshot eyes.  His black leather pants contrasted his bright turquoise vest, gloves, boots, and axe head.  With a sigh of impatience, he slung his axe over his shoulder and began to approach Mario, Luigi, and Ace.  "I've already made up my mind.  No one will stop me- not even you, Ipos."

Mario took a step back, his body quivering with fear.  His wounds from Ipos' blade were severe.  He was in no condition to fend off two Grimnexes.  Who is this...? And why is he so bent on challenging us?

Ares grinned wickedly, now only a few yards away from the Mushroom Hero.  "Prepare yourself, plumber."  He raised his axe above his head and brought it down toward his target.  However, as the blade was at a forty five degree angle with the ground, Ares' axe was brought to a halt with a metal clang.

"This is your last warning: step away from the intruders," Ipos admonished, having parried Ares' axe with his sword, "unless you're willing to strike me down first."

Ares' smirk widened.  "Really...?  You're willing to accept my challenge after all these years?  Are these intruders really that important to you?"

"You misunderstand.  Each time that you've challenged me in the past has been for your own selfish desire to satisfy your bloodlust.  I had no motive to kill you back then.  Now that you have defied the will of the Phoenix, you are nothing more than a traitor.  It is my duty to deal with you appropriately."

Ares turned toward Ipos.  "In that case, the intruders can wait."

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?  On the Grimnex hierarchy, I am ranked far above you," Ipos informed him calmly.

"You always have to bring up that darned hierarchy!" Ares growled.  "It's finally time for me to claim your rank as the Delta Grimnex!"

Mario, Ace, and Luigi gradually inched away from the confrontation.  "What are they talking about?" Mario whispered.  "Why is Ipos so offended by Ares' desire to kill us?  And what is this 'Grimnex tradition' they keep talking about?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Ace replied.  "I do know that the Grimnexes revere the late Phoenix as their only true leader.  If I had to guess, I'd say that the Phoenix once enforced some sort of honor code under which his subordinates were not allowed to gang up on an opponent.  Because Ares does not wish to comply with the Phoenix's will, Ipos sees him as a defector."

"Shouldn't we use this opportunity to escape?" Luigi suggested, slowly backing away from the fight between the two Grimnexes.  "This might be our only chance."

Ace remained silent as he considered his options.  Ipos and Ares...  Who will win, and which victory would benefit us?  Ares doesn't seem to care about anything except for seeing Mario dead, while Ipos is a bit more civil.  Yes, perhaps it would be best for Ipos to win.  On the other hand, given the fact that he ranks higher than Ares, he'll undoubtedly be more difficult to take down.  Even if Ares wears him down, will we be able to finish the job?  He carefully analyzed Ipos' battle with Ares, not letting even one motion escape his view.

Neither Grimnex had landed a blow on the other.  Up to this point, they had only parried each other's weapons.  Regardless, it was clear that Ipos had the advantage.  While Ares was aggressively lunging at his foe with wide and powerful slashes, Ipos effortlessly blocked each oncoming attack without even breaking a sweat.  Even when he had the opportunity, Ipos did not counterattack.

"What's wrong?  Afraid to hit me?" Ares taunted, still on the offensive with his axe.  "After all, you do know what happens when someone strikes me.  You'd better not waste any hits."

"That's true," Ipos replied nonchalantly.  "Your abilities are quite unique.  However, that is not my primary concern.  You see, even though you have disobeyed the laws of the Phoenix, I am hesitant to strike you down.  The Phoenix forbade the Grimnexes from killing each other.  If I eliminated you, I would be nothing more than a hypocrite.  Are you positive that you aren't willing to compromise?"

Ace frowned.  Just as I feared...  They aren't taking each other seriously...  This will not be a fight to the death.  Ares does not have the power to kill Ipos, and Ipos does not wish to disobey the will of the late Phoenix.  At some point, they will have to reach a compromise, which means that we're back where we started.  I wish I could be as optimistic as Mario... but against two high ranking Grimnexes such as Ipos and Ares, we don't stand a chance in hell.  Our only option... is retreat.

"Compromise?" Ares parroted, ceasing his assault.  "What do you mean?"

"Instead of killing Mario, what if I imprisoned him?  Then, once granted permission by the Beta Grimnex, you could carry out Mario's execution," Ipos offered.

"I like the way you think," Ares chuckled as he lowered his axe.  "As long as I am the one who ends Mario's life, I have no complaints."

"Very well," Ipos sighed, turning to Mario, Luigi, and Ace.  "Mario, it seems as though you will have the opportunity to enter Grimnex Palace after all- as a prisoner, that is.  Come with me."

Without a second thought, the three heroes turned and began to sprint in the opposite direction.  They stopped dead in their tracks as Ares appeared in front of them.  "You weren't thinking about running away, were you?  Mario, I have already set my sights on you.  One way or another, you will die by my hands."

"Gee, aren't I lucky?" Mario inquired with a sarcastic smirk as he was surrounded by Ipos and Ares.  "Ipos, if I go with you, will you promise me one thing...?"

"What?"

Calm Heart II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glw4AT_GkPc)

"Let Luigi and Ace go..." Mario pleaded.  "Just let them walk away.  Allow them to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they can live in peace until the time comes for the Grimnexes to launch their assault..."

"Hmm...  You mean these two?  They're hardly worth your clemency, let alone ours.  But in this case, their lack of power has saved their lives.  In short, they are harmless.  Without you to guide them, to hold their hands until the very end, they aren't a threat to us."  With Mario walking between them, Ipos and Ares turned and began to walk toward the entrance to Grimnex Palace.  "Go.  Save your meaningless lives.  Just get out of my sight."

"C'mon, Ace, what are you doing?" Ace whispered to himself, his body quivering with frustration and anxiety.  "If it were me being taken away, Mario would have charged at them without a second thought...  Why can't I bring myself to do the same...?  Why can't I be like Mario and Bowser...?  This is my chance..."  He sprinted after them, but just as Ipos began to turn around, he fell to his knees.  After gently shaking his head, Ipos turned and vanished into the darkness of Grimnex Palace alongside Mario and Ares.

"Bro..." Luigi mumbled, tears forming in the corners of his cheeks.  "Bro... is this how it's all supposed to end...?"

"Again... It happened again..." Ace muttered, smashing his fists against the ground in aggravation.  "Mario sacrificed himself to save us... and I was powerless to do anything to help him...  Nothing has changed...  I'm still unworthy of calling myself his comrade..."




"Here we are, Mario.  You will remain here until Zagan decides what to do with you," Ipos declared coldly.  He opened the cell door and gestured for the plumber to step inside.  His wounds greatly hindering his mobility, Mario sluggishly complied.  "It's ironic.  You've come all this way to rescue your precious princess, and while you may have been captured, you've ended up trapped in the very same corridor.  So close, and yet so far.  By now, Princess Peach has surely accepted her fate.  Even if you could reach her, she would refuse to leave."

"Say whatever you want," Mario grumbled as Ipos chained him to the stone wall, his legs and arms in shackles.  "She won't break so easily."

"Watch him carefully," Ipos ordered another Grimnex, ignoring Mario.  "I need to report the Mushroom Hero's captivity to King Zagan.  I will return shortly."  He focused his cold glare on the battered and imprisoned plumber.  "In the meantime, I would suggest trying to clear your mind of all that optimism.  It will make the end much less painful."

With that, the Delta Grimnex turned and walked away, leaving Mario to contemplate his fate.  Further down the corridor, Ipos stopped at Princess Peach's cell.  "Princess?"

"I heard voices," Peach stated mechanically.  "Who was it?"

"It was Mario," Ipos replied in an equally emotionless tone.  "He remains alive for now, but he'll be dead soon enough."  He paused, taking note of the princess' impassive expression.  "Judging by your calm, stoic manner, I'd say that you've had a change of heart."  He glanced at the cup of water he had given to her earlier on.  It was empty.

"Change of heart?  I suppose you could call it that."

"Come with me," Ipos commanded, opening the princess' cell door.  "We're going to pay a visit to King Zagan."




"So, what are you going to do next?" Luigi inquired, the palace of Grimnexes locked in his gaze.  "Just so you know, I'm going after them regardless of whether or not you decide to accompany me."

"It's a tough call," Ace sighed.  "Bowser hasn't moved since he collapsed after his fight with Argyle, the Wario Brothers were blasted away by Ipos, and Slade is nowhere to be found.  Logically speaking, the chances of us being able to free Mario and Peach are slim."

"Coward," Luigi spat, beginning to walk away.  "And that means a lot coming from me.  If I can set aside my fear of death, you can certainly do the same for your logic and reason."

"You didn't let me finish," Ace chuckled, his eyes gleaming with determination.  "Our chances of success are small, but Mario's both a comrade and a friend, and it would be shameful to desert him after we've gotten so far.  If we turned back now, we would not only lose the right to call Mario a friend, but we would also be abandoning our duty as the only force still standing in the way of the Grimnexes' vengeance."

Luigi's face brightened.  "Good to hear.  I wouldn't last very long without your intellect.  Speaking of which, do you have any bright ideas about how we could sneak into Grimnex Palace."

"Hmm...  A replacement for Argyle hasn't come by yet, so I don't think there's anyone guarding the entrance," Ace speculated.  "Still, we are completely unfamiliar with the fortress' layout.  Getting lost inside of the tower that houses the most powerful Grimnexes would be asinine."

"What do you suggest?"

"I- Wait, I hear voices," Ace whispered, frantically attempting to pinpoint the source of the voices.  The Nightmare Abyss' terrain was mostly flat, but the Grimnex Palace was built on top of a deep depression in the ground.  From a distance, the palace appeared to have partially sunken into the dirt, and one would have to travel down a steep incline in order to reach it.  Ace realized that the voices had not come from within the fortress, but from over the top of the nearby slope.  "Follow me, quickly!"

Without a second thought, Luigi dashed after Ace into the pitch black entrance of Grimnex Palace.  A wall of darkness struck Luigi in the face.  Unable to see a thing, the plumber searched to and fro for a place to hide.  Instead, an arm reached out from his left and pulled him to the ground.

"Don't say a word," Ace commanded, his voice barely audible.  "Stay completely still."

"-come to think of it, we haven't been given an assignment in nearly six years," a cheerful, manly voice recalled.  "This has been our first mission together, Venus- err, would you prefer to be called by your former demon name?  After all, before you joined us and became the Gamma Grimnex, you were just an ordinary female demon."

"Call me Venus," the other Grimnex replied coldly.  "You should know better than anyone that I have cut all ties to my former life, Joker.  You've only been a Grimnex a few years longer than I have."

"Unlike you, I haven't forgotten about my previous lifestyle," Joker snapped, his voice suddenly filled with bitterness.  "I prefer to be called by my given name, to remind me of my purpose for becoming a Grimnex.  But since I am only the Zeta Grimnex, you can call me whatever you want."

The two Grimnexes, walking side by side, entered the palace and began to navigate the pitch black foyer.  His heart beating uncontrollably, Ace slowly rose to his feet and gestured for Luigi to follow him.  Keeping a safe distance between themselves and the Grimnexes, Ace and Luigi began to trail them.

"Why did you bother to bring me along, anyway?" Venus inquired.  "Our objective was to verify the deaths of Crocell and Leviathan.  Even if there were some stragglers waiting to ambush us, they would have been too fatigued to put up much of a fight.  Why did you ask me to accompany you for such a simple task?"

"I simply wanted someone to talk to," Joker answered with a shrug.  "You're one of the only Grimnexes that I can relate to.  We have a lot more in common than you may think.  We were both born as ordinary demons, led tragic lives, and were then accepted into the upper ranks of the Grimnexes."  There was a long silence as the two Grimnexes began to ascend a flight of stairs.  Luigi and Ace followed sluggishly behind, cautious not to alert their foes.  At the top, Joker heaved a steel door open, and the stairway was filled with light.

Ace gulped.  The light would make them easier to spot.  All Joker would have to do is turn around, and- where was Venus?  Hold on...  Where'd the other Grimnex go...?  He whirled around to see Venus standing on the bottom step, blocking their exit.  Likewise, Joker hadn't budged from his position at the top of the stairwell.  They were trapped.

"Venus, it seems as though these intruders were eavesdropping," Joker chuckled.  "In that case, I'm sure we don't need to tell them our ranks.  You two were wise to attempt to stay hidden, but we knew from the moment we entered the palace that you were here."

In the blink of an eye, Ace determined their nonexistent chances of victory and began to climb over the railing.  Just as he was about to jump off of the staircase, his entire body went numb.  "I... can't move...  What did you do...?"

"You just got here; why don't you stay for a while?" Joker sneered.  Luigi sprinted up the stairs toward Ace, but Venus appeared in between them.

She's so fast...  The Gamma Grimnex...  That means she's ranked above Ipos! Luigi thought, his eyes widening with fear.  His body moving faster than his thoughts, the plumber lunged at Venus with his fists clenched.  The next thing he knew, Luigi was tumbling backwards down the staircase with sharp pains erupting all throughout his body.  He did not even remembering being hit.  His vision began to grow dark.  "...Bro......"




The prison chambers were deathly silent, except for the sound of rattling chains.  His wrists and ankles bloody and torn, Mario continued to thrash about in an attempt to break himself free.  "You might as well give up.  You'll never escape as long as I'm watching over you," sighed the Grimnex put in charge of guarding Mario.

"Shut up...." Mario growled, refusing to heed the Grimnex's advice.  He continued to struggle until a familiar voice came from across the corridor.

"Helios, open the door.  I wish to speak with Mario for a moment," Ipos requested.  "There's someone that would like a word with him."  With an obedient nod, Helios complied.  The cell door screeched open, and two figures stepped inside.  "Mario, I've brought you a guest."

Black Heart (http://www.esnips.com/doc/44404b4d-cc83-4be6-b66a-f9f54b148ee9/Black-Heart)

Mario froze.  His eyes widened in shock.  Princess Peach emerged from behind Ipos, her face as cold and emotionless as Ipos'.  She wore a dark purple dress, a red broach, and red earrings, all of which reminded Mario of his battle against the Shadow Queen many years ago.  Her skin was paler than usual, and her eyes were a dull gray color.  She was no longer a human.  She had been transformed into a demon.

"P- Peach...?" Mario whispered, trembling at his wife's appearance.  "What's going on...?"

"Princess Peach is no longer our prisoner," Ipos informed Mario.  "She is now a willing member of our society."

"You're lying," Mario hissed through clenched teeth.  "Peach would never join up with you."

"He's telling the truth," Peach assured him.  "I am one of the demons, now.  But that isn't what I came here to tell you.  We just got back from a meeting with King Zagan, who has decided upon your fate.  You will be executed by the end of the day.  Ares is in charge of carrying out the death sentence by whatever means he may deem necessary."

Mario gasped.  Without even the slightest expression of sympathy, his wife had just given him a death sentence.   "...What do you mean?  Peach...  I came here to bring you home...  You can't be serious..."

"You're so naĂŻve," Ipos sighed.  "She belongs to us, now."

"What the hell did you do to her?!" Mario howled, furiously lunging at the Grimnex before his restraints stopped him.  "I swear, if you even laid a finger on her, I'll..."

Peach extended her palm toward Mario, silencing him immediately.  "Stop this, Mario.  Idle threats will do nothing for you.  You're making a complete fool of yourself.  You, the Mushroom Kingdom, and all of its citizens...  They all mean nothing to me.  And all the time and effort you've spent trying to rescue me...  It was all a waste."

Mario's eyes shifted to the princess' ring finger.  "Peach...  What happened to your wedding ring?"

"My what?"

"You mean this?" Ipos inquired, removing a golden ring from his pocket.  "Oh, your ex-wife asked me to hold on to it.  She said that it no longer meant anything to her, but it was too expensive to just throw away."  He glanced at Mario's ring finger.  "I see...  You wear the very same ring...  It is a symbol of your love for each other."  In a flash, he dealt a crushing blow to the Mushroom Hero's chest, knocking the wind out of him.

"What... are you... doing...?"

Ipos reached for the incapacitated plumber's finger and slid his wedding ring off.  "There.  Without your wedding ring, you no longer have any connection to Princess Peach.  Consider this an official divorce."  He pocketed the two rings and began to walk away.  "Now you can finally forget about her."

"Give... that... back!" Quivering with rage, Mario threw himself at Ipos once again.  This time, his right arm broke free of its shackles, and he was able to launch a Fireball at the Grimnex.

Ipos swiftly turned around and caught the blast in one hand before effortlessly crushing it.  Smoke emitting from his palm, Ipos proceeded to exit the cell.  "You should at least know when to give up.  Your ex-wife has openly admitted that she does not wish to leave us.  You've failed.  Peach will not return to the Mushroom Kingdom."

Mario fell to his knees in defeat.

"You should be thanking me," Ipos muttered.  "Now you can die without any regrets.  Princess Peach has been freed, and you will die knowing that she is living happily among the Grimnexes."




"Wha........My head..."  Luigi grumbled as he regained consciousness.  He sat up and scanned his surroundings.  It didn't take long to recognize that he was in a jail cell.  Looking to his right, he noticed that Ace was just beginning to awaken as well.

"Where are we...?" the demon wondered aloud.  He groggily looked up at the Grimnex responsible for guarding them: Joker.

"Finally awake, are you?" Joker snickered.  "Sorry, but we had to knock you out as soon as possible.  Otherwise, Venus might've unintentionally killed you.  I'm just watching over you while Venus informs the prison guard of your arrival.  It's my job to ensure that you don't escape, so let's try to remain civilized."  For the first time, Luigi and Ace got a good look at Joker.  He was a few inches shorter than Ace and wore a black tuxedo with a red tie.  He also wore a black and blue striped top hat, white shoes, and a pair of white gloves.  His face was covered with scars, especially his closed eyes.

Ace suddenly began to sweat.  "No, that couldn't be... but...  Your voice does sound kind of familiar...  And now that I look at you..."  He gasped.  "Joker, you told Venus that you preferred to be called by your given name!  Tell me, what is it?"

Joker's face grew serious.  "My real name... is Jack Spades."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 9: Lost Purpose)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on February 07, 2011, 04:48:02 PM
Chapter 9: Lost Purpose

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

With Ipos and Peach gone, Mario sunk to the floor in defeat.  His primary motive to fight against the Grimnexes had been shattered to pieces.  "Why...  Why did I even bother...?"

"Helios, we've captured two of the intruders," a female voice reported, breaking the somber silence of the corridor.  Without moving a muscle, Mario peered through the metal bars of his cell.  Standing beside Helios was a young woman with flowing black hair and silver body armor.  Her cold, black eyes reminded Mario of Princess Peach, as if she had also been mentally broken through the cruel methods of the Grimnexes.  "I need you to watch over them.  They seem especially feisty."

So they've even imprisoned Luigi and Ace...  I thought I told them to leave, but I guess I was a fool to think they'd abandon me... Mario thought, his despair growing.

"I'd love to, Venus, but I've got my hands full guarding their leader," Helios replied, kneeling before his superior.  "I'd be happy to help once Mario has been appropriately dealt with."

"Go," another Grimnex commanded from the shadows.  "I can handle everything from here."  Ares stepped into the light, his axe slung over his shoulders.  "I'm the one in charge of his execution."

"Master Ares, how long have you been here?" Helios asked with a bow.

"Never mind that.  Just go do your job somewhere else," Ares barked, his eyes bloodshot and his body quivering with what seemed to be anticipation.

"They're in cell B-1003," Venus informed him.

Helios scurried off into the direction of Luigi and Ace's cell, and Venus departed after receiving a nod of respect from Ares.  Now alone with Mario, a wicked grin spread across Ares' face.  He opened the cell door and stepped inside.  "Now it's just you and me.  I've been waiting for this ever since your fight with Cerberus."

No response. 

"Stand up."

Mario did not budge.

"In case you aren't already aware, I'm here to execute you.  Do you know what that means?  E-X-E-C-U-T-E."

The Mushroom Hero nodded.

"Aren't you gonna try to defend yourself?  Do you even care about your own life?  What about Princess Peach, the reason you came here in the first place?  If I slaughter you here and now, she will be lost forever!"  His frustration building, Ares charged at the plumber, who was still helplessly shackled to the wall, and delivered a right hook to his face.

Blood trickled down Mario's chin.  The Mushroom Hero slowly lifted his head and glared at him with cold, lifeless eyes.  "What's wrong...?  You were so eager to kill me before...  If you're gonna finish me off, do it now..."

Unable to control his rage any longer, Ares lifted his axe above his head and brought it down upon the plumber's right shoulder.




Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)

"Wait, your name is Jack... Spades?" Luigi inquired, giving the Grimnex a sideways glance.  "That means...  You and Ace are... brothers?"

"Liar!" Ace spat at last, having remained silent since Jack had properly introduced himself.  "You're playing a cruel game, Grimnex.  I saw Jack die before my very eyes years ago."

"Of course you did.  After all, you were the one who 'killed' me," Jack recalled bitterly.  "You assaulted me, your own brother, and then brought me to the graveyard of the Zepar tribe after you thought I was dead.  Imagine my shock when I awoke, buried deep beneath the soil of the Nightmare Vault.  I frantically clawed my way up before bursting out of my grave, gasping for air.  However, even as my eyes were filled with light, the only thing I saw was black.  You thought you had taken my life, but in reality, you only stole my light."

"Ace would never murder his own brother!" Luigi cried, enraged by Jack's accusation.

"No, I did kill Jack Spades," Ace corrected him solemnly.  "I explained the full story to Mario, but you weren't around at the time.  When I was a child, my village was attacked by a group of demons known as the Assassination Force.  They massacred everyone in sight, except for me.  I possessed exceptional talent for my age, so they decided to recruit me.  I was raised to be a cutthroat warrior, and I was sent on various assignments to murder key figures in the Demon Resistance.  I later learned that my brother survived the attack on our village as well.  He had become the leader of Poker Face, the primary militia of the Demon Resistance.  I was sent to assassinate him, and being a ruthless member of the Assassination Force at the time, I carried out my mission without hesitation.  It was only after Jack's death that I felt remorse, which led me to switch sides and fight against demons of the Phoenix."

"Heh, you never felt sincere regret for what you did for me," Jack sneered.  "If you had cared about me even a tiny bit, you would have visited my grave after returning to the Nightmare Vault with Mario six years ago.  If you had bothered to pay your respects to me, you would have noticed that my grave had been dug up."

"But I did plan to stop at your grave," Ace protested.  "Along the way, I met the only other survivor of the Zepar tribe, and I became preoccupied..."

Jack frowned.  "Exactly.  Your Conjuration training took priority over me."  To this, Ace did not respond.  "You never cared about me.  That's why you eliminated me without a second thought.  Don't try to use your involvement with the Assassination Force as an excuse."

"It's him," Ace decided at last.  "It has to be him..."

"How can you be sure?" Luigi whispered, not taking his eyes off of Jack.

"I think I know my own brother!" Ace snapped, glaring angrily at Jack.  "Despite your accusations, I stand firmly beside my reasons for fighting against the Phoenix and the Grimnexes.  But you still haven't explained your motive for swapping sides!"

"Heh, I just want to kill you," Jack explained simply.  "But not just your physical body.  I want to eradicate everything that holds proof of your existence.  I will crush your friends, your beliefs, everything that you fight for...  That was the decision I made after digging myself out of the ground.  And the only way for me to do that was to join the force that opposed the Demon Resistance, the Phoenix."

"If you want my life, you can have it.  But you'll have to wait until after I've finished assisting Mario!" Ace declared boldly, his eyes glimmering with resolve.  He reached for his deck of cards, but found that it was no longer there.

"Sorry about that," Jack snickered.  "I confiscated your cards while you and your friend were busy napping.  I know all too well about our tribe's powers.  Leaving those cards in the position of a Zepar is a recipe for disaster."

Ace grinned.  "Well then, you'll be happy to know that I've spent the past six years training.  I've even decided upon a Chosen Conjuration."  In a puff of smoke, a new deck of cards materialized in Ace's palm.  He quickly tossed a handful of them against the floor, resulting in an explosion that created a hole for them to escape.  "Quickly, Luigi!"  They prepared to dive into the hole and flee to the floor beneath them, but they were stopped by an unknown force.

"I'm afraid I cannot permit you to leave," Jack sighed.  "I'd rather kill both of you, but I cannot do so until given permission by King Zagan."

"Actually, you can leave now," Helios called as he came jogging from around the corner.  "Venus told me everything.  I'm here to take over."

"Ah, you've finally arrived.  Then I suppose the time for Mario's execution has arrived.  In that case, there's no reason for me to linger here."  With a snap of his fingers, Jack released whatever supernatural ability he had been using to restrain Ace and Luigi.  "You should take a look into that hole before you try to escape again.  Beneath each of these cells is a pit of spikes.  You can thank me for saving your lives later."

"But why?" Ace called after his brother, who had begun to walk away.

"Trust me, it wasn't out of brotherly love," Jack assured him sternly.  "You heard what I said before.  I'm not allowed to kill you until I receive further orders from King Zagan.  I may be leaving for now, but we'll meet again in the near future.  The next time we face off, I won't be so merciful."




"Hey...  Can you get up...?  Wake up, Bro..."

Wario sat up and rubbed his eyes.  "Ugh...  My body aches all over...  What happened?"  Waluigi held out his hand, and Wario eagerly pulled himself up.  Both brothers were soaking wet.  They stood knee-deep in water and were surrounded by two solid walls of rock. 

"I think we were blasted away by that Ipos guy," Waluigi recalled.  "We must have landed in some sort of gorge."

"Gah, I hate water!" Wario cursed, his teeth chattering.  "Now what?"

Waluigi stroked his chin.  "Whether we want to catch up to Mario or leave the Nightmare Abyss, we'll need to find a way out of here.  But these walls are too steep to climb, especially for you."

"You calling me fat?!" Wario roared, wrapping his hands around his brother's throat.  He tackled Waluigi into the water, nearly drowning both of them.  "Take that back!  At least I don't look like I'm from a freakin Paper Mario game!"

The two brothers wrestled underwater, both desperate for air.  "Alright, alright, I'm sorry!" Waluigi gasped after his head emerged from beneath the surface of the water.  "How am I supposed to apologize if we're both underwater, ya tub of lard?!"

"What's the point of saying you're sorry if you're gonna insult me again?!" Wario retorted, raising his fists to attack his brother again.

As the Wario Brothers bickered, they did not realize that they were being carried by the flow of the stream.  The ravine's walls began to grow farther apart until they came to a dead end.  "Wait a minute...  How'd we get here?" Wario wondered aloud, no longer quarreling with his brother.  Observing their surroundings for the first time in several minutes, they found themselves in a lagoon surrounded by a circular rock wall.  The water current was too powerful for them to turn back.

"Who's... there...?" a deep voice gurgled from underwater.  The center of the lagoon began to bubble, and the Wario Brothers instantly knew that it was a Grimnex.  "Finally... they've sent me a meal...  It's been too long..."

"Who are you?!" Wario challenged, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

"My name is Poseidon...  The Kappa Grimnex..."




http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul

A metal clang echoed through the silent corridor.  Ares continued to apply pressure to his axe, but it did not pierce the plumber's shoulder.  His eyes hidden behind the tip of his cap, Mario sluggishly rose to his feet.  "What...?  How...?" Ares stammered, withdrawing his axe.

Mario answered by stretching his collar, revealing his jet black shoulder.  "This is the Demon Exoskeleton...  I know what you're thinking...  I'm just some kind of freak...  Well, now that you know where to strike, you can finish the job.  What's wrong?  What happened to your desire to slaughter me?"

"What happened?" Ares parroted.  "You're asking me that question?  What happened to your unwavering determination to liberate Princess Peach from the clutches of the Grimnexes?  What happened to your passion, your desire to protect your friends?!"  He furiously slammed his axe into the ground and grabbed Mario by the throat.  With a cry of frustration, he smashed the Mushroom Hero against the stone walls of the prison chamber.  "When you fought against Cerberus, you wouldn't shut up about how badly you wanted to rescue Peach.  Were those just empty words?!"

With Ares' hands wrapped around his throat, Mario halfheartedly attempted to break free.  "Peach... doesn't want... to be... saved..."

Finally getting somewhere, Ares released the plumber from his grip.  "...Is that all?  Or is there something else bothering you...?"  His voice was now calm and patient.

After catching his breath, Mario responded, "It's just that... what if I'm the one who's at fault?  There's some kind of monster inside of me, desperately trying to take control of my body...  Sometimes I just... feel as though everyone would be better off if I died..."

"Mario, I won't lie to you.  I'd love nothing more than to spill your blood here and now.  But that's not good enough.  Even a bloodthirsty demon like me has his pride...  You see, I understand how it feels to be a prisoner in your own body...  Ever since I can remember, I have had an insatiable lust for blood.  But in a place as lonely as the Nightmare Abyss, this hunger is rarely satisfied.  I am prohibited from assaulting a fellow Grimnex, and the lower class demons in the Nightmare Vault are too weak to be of any excitement.  When I spied on your battle with Cerberus, I was overjoyed.  Human blood was just what I needed to quench my thirst for carnage.  But when I noticed your dedication, your seemingly limitless willpower, I could hardly control my excitement.  Murdering helpless foes does not thrill me nearly as much as assassinating a skilled, tenacious warrior.  I was expecting so much from you, and this is how you repay me?  As you are now, you're hardly worth killing.  But if you're not going to put up a fight..."

Ares swung his axe at Mario, who mechanically stepped back.  The Mushroom Hero winced.  He could feel the Demon Exoskeleton forming over his left leg.  I didn't mean to dodge that...  Is my ancestor somehow... controlling me?  He gasped as he recalled the words of his father:

"Previously, the struggle between you and your ancestor was mostly psychological.  However, the appearance of a Demon Exoskeleton means that this battle will also start to become physical.  If a particular body part is entirely covered by the Demon Exoskeleton, your inner demon will be able to control it at will without even taking control of your mind.  When the transformation is complete, you will resemble a black skeleton, and your demon ancestor's flesh will begin to cover the bones.  Once that happens, it will all be over.  You will become a permanent prisoner in your own body."

"If I can't fight you, I'll surely end up fighting the creature inside of you," Ares observed.  "You may be ready to die, but it seems that the demon within you refuses to do so.  Unless you begin to fight back, your demon ancestor will take over.  What kind of hero would that make you?  He would use your body to find and slaughter your friends and family!"

He's right, Mario thought, his mind racing.  My Demon Exoskeleton never grew this fast before...  Even if I can't help Peach, it's still my job to suppress my ancestor's soul.

Ares swung his axe at the plumber yet again.  Mario dodged, only this time, he did so of his own free will.  "That's right!  You're beginning to remember...  Your friends, your family, your wife...  Remember them!"  He lunged at Mario with another slash.  With almost no time to react, the Mushroom Hero leaned backward, only receiving a narrow slice on his chest.  His axe too massive to stop mid-swing, Ares was left vulnerable for a split second.  Mario capitalized on this opportunity and delivered a flaming hook to the Grimnex's exposed torso.  Ares did not even flinch.  "That was your first hit.  You shouldn't strike me unless you plan to kill me.  Now you only have two hits left."  A red three appeared on his chest and quickly changed to a two.

"Until what?" Mario inquired, though his foe only responded with a thrust of his axe.

"Until you activate my Final Smash," Ares answered after Mario dodged his weapon.  "Each time I am struck in battle, my bloodlust grows.  Once I am hit a third time, it will be all over for you.  My hit counter will reset only after I've massacred my foe or if I am knocked out cold...  Mario, how about we make a deal?  If you can defeat me in two more hits, this battle will be yours.  And I won't even try to defend myself.  You can attack me in any which way you like.  However, if I am still conscious after the third blow, you will die.  This will be a good test of your resolve."

All or Nothing (http://www.esnips.com/doc/7e03b2f0-5a81-47e3-be09-94f566b6114e/All-or-Nothing)

"You've got a deal," Mario chuckled, creating a sword of flames in his right hand.  "You're gravely underestimating me if you think I can't kill you."  He sprinted at the Grimnex and thrust his blade at Ares' heart.  However, the sword did not even pierce his flesh.  Mario's dagger of flames dissolved into thin air, leaving behind only a few small burns on Ares' upper torso.

"That's two," Ares informed him gravely as the number two on his chest became a one.  "Just remember, you're staking the lives of yourself and everyone you care about on this final blow."

"Alright, so I can't end this simply by stabbing one of your vital organs," Mario observed, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead.  "At this point, there's only one attack worth using.  And since he's already been so kind as to show me his Final Smash, it's only fair that I reveal mine."  His right fist glowing with the power of an Ultra Fireball, Mario sprinted toward Ares at lightning-fast speeds.  Thanks to his thunder element, his speed and agility had been enhanced drastically.  The gap between Mario and Ares quickly closed, and the Mushroom Hero hurled himself at his target.  He struck the Grimnex's face dead-on with his flaming fist, displacing the air around them and creating hundreds of wind bullets with equal strength to the original punch.  Mario landed several feet from his enemy and admired his handiwork.  With a pained grimace, he clutched his bloody fist- not even he was entirely safe from the might of his Final Smash.

As Mario's attack died down, Ares remained motionless.  During the onslaught of wind bullets, the Grimnex had not once cried out in pain.  Though his body was covered in mild bruises and scrapes, he did not show any signs of being severely injured.  He turned his body, which had twisted to one side as a result of the impact of Mario's Final Smash, to face the plumber.  His eyes were wide with what appeared to be bewilderment.

"I don't understand..." Ares muttered, his eyes bloodshot.  "Did you truly intend to risk your life... and the lives of your loved ones... on such a feeble attack...?"

Mario gulped.  "W- What...?  That was the Nova Strike, my Final Smash...  I mean, people have survived against it before, but no one has ever called it weak..."

The counter on Ares' chest changed to the number zero.  His body began to quiver uncontrollably as he nearly doubled in size.  "...I can tell that it was meant to be a finishing move, but your heart just wasn't in it.  Unless you can attack with the intention to kill me, and the determination to endure any and all hardships for your comrades, even a technique as deadly as the Nova Strike will become useless...  But it's too late for that...  My Final Smash has been activated..."

Darkness (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e9ad26c5-0e8c-430b-a659-8381f6717876/Darkness)

In the blink of an eye, Ares kneed Mario in the chest, struck him in the chin with an uppercut, and slammed him into the wall with a roundhouse kick.  The Mushroom Hero struggled to his feet, only to be knocked down by another brutal combination of blows from Ares.  "This is pathetic, even if I consider all of the Grimnexes you've faced prior to this fight.  You don't even have a purpose to fight me anymore."  He uttered a furious roar as he slammed his axe at the grounded Mario.

Mario wearily rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding death yet again.  He bounced onto his feet and made his best effort to counterattack, but to no avail.  It felt as though he was punching a brick wall.  "Your punches are emanating nothing but fear and hesitation," Ares informed him somberly.  "You don't want to kill me.  You're not even sure if it's worth it to continue fighting against the Grimnexes...  You're playing right into Ipos' hands, you darned fool!"  With a vicious shriek, he slashed diagonally across Mario's torso with his axe.  Blood seeping from his wounds, Mario fell to his knees.  "Don't you understand?!  Ipos is a master of both physical and psychological warfare!  He knew that if Peach snapped, you wouldn't have the will to continue fighting!  And do you know what?  He was right!"

Losing blood fast, Mario collapsed onto the floor.  Why... is he telling me all of this...?  Even now, as I'm dying at his feet...  Why does he almost seem to be... rooting for me...?  His vision began to grow black, but he could still faintly here Ares' words.

"Your friend, Glaive, suffered a similar loss many years ago!  Remember his beloved childhood friend, Sara?  She was turned into a Grimnex by the merciless Botis!  Just like Princess Peach, she was brainwashed!  To this very day, she continues to suffer deep down because of her involvement with the Grimnexes.  Are you just going to stand idly by and watch them suffer?  Deep down, the Peach you knew, and the Sara that Glaive knew, are both still alive.  From what I've heard, you've saved countless people from despair in the past.  If that's the case, then why can't you do the same for your wife and your deceased friend's true love?"

Just as the Grimnex's words had finally begun to sink in, Mario blacked out.  Misery welling within his heart, images of his friends and family flooded his mind.  Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Bowser, Slade, Peach...  And before his very eyes, they vanished with a scream behind a splash of blood.

Mario awoke from his nightmare on the streets of Toad Town.  He breathed a sigh of relief.  Was that... was that all a dream...?  But before long, his hopeful smile curled into a melancholy frown.  It was a frigid winter night.  Snow was falling gently from the starry sky.  The town had been set ablaze, and most of the buildings had already burned to the ground.  Not a sound could be heard.  Mario was alone.

"What... what is this...?" he whispered, gazing up at the full moon.  Squinting into the sky, he spotted the fiery silhouette of what appeared to be some sort of bird.  He could hear a voice calling to him.

"Mario, do you want to live?"
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 10: Prison Break)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on February 14, 2011, 08:43:28 PM
Chapter 10: Prison Break

"I'll ask again.  Do you want to live?" the silhouette repeated, his voice growing impatient.  "It's a simple question."

"It makes no difference to me," Mario replied at last, his tone firm and resolute.  "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my friends and family.  If that means that I have to die, then so be it.  If I could just eliminate the threat of the Grimnexes... my duty would be fulfilled, and I would accept death if need be."

"You wish to protect those who are dear to you...  But who will protect you?"

To this, Mario did not respond.  The question had dumbfounded him.  He had never given this matter any thought.

"I will," the shadow answered, breaking the melancholy silence.  "It may be your duty to protect the Mushroom Kingdom, but it is my job to protect you.  Stand up once more, Mario.  You are not yet ready to search for death."

"But... who are you?!" Mario called, reaching for the moon as his vision began to fade.

"Now that I have salvaged you from your despair, you must do the same for the woman you love most.  Mario, if you want to survive, you must cast your uncertainty to the wind and fulfill your role as the Mushroom Hero!  Or will you cower away from this challenge, and prove that all of your efforts up to this point have been in vain?  The choice, my child, is yours."

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"You have no business continuing to live on in this world," Ares spat, beginning to walk away from Mario's unconscious body.  "If you've already given up on the one most important to you, you died long before this execution.  Farewell, Mario.  In the end, you were not the hero that you claimed to be."

"Where... do you think... you're going...?" Mario whispered, his voice barely audible.  Lying face-down in a pool of blood, he slowly began to rise to his feet.  His body began to quiver as it was surrounded with a vibrant blue aura.  The dim corridor now lit by his determination, the Mushroom Hero stepped forward to challenge Ares once more.

"I see you've still got some fight left in you," Ares commented as he turned around to face Mario.  "I sincerely hope that you've thought of a decent reason to stand up."

"You shouldn't talk to me as if you're the only person standing in my way.  I don't have time to waste on the Iota Grimnex.  Your rank is too low," Mario informed him, charging at the Grimnex with newfound strength.  Ares replied with a swing of his axe, which Mario made practically no attempt to dodge.  The slice drew blood from his already severely wounded torso, but this did not stop him.  Mario lunged forward and delivered a right hook to Ares' face, sending him staggering backwards.

What just happened...?  He didn't even try to dodge my axe...  It's almost as if he allowed me to hit him, just so he could create the perfect opening for an attack of his own.  But that's ridiculous!  In his condition, it won't be long before...  Ares gasped.  "No...  You're bleeding has already stopped!  But how?!"  His eyes widened with sudden realization as he saw a black, bone-like structure through the rips in Mario's clothes.  "It couldn't be...  The Demon Exoskeleton is actually protecting him...  It's preventing Mario from bleeding to death!"

"Just this once, my demon ancestor has decided to protect me!  In exchange, I had to stand up once more, to fight for those who I wish to protect!  Princess Peach, Luigi, and all the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom...  As the Mushroom Hero, it's my obligation to protect them!"  He rushed at Ares once again, leaping over his axe and delivering a kick to his head.

"That's more like it...  This is the man that I came here to kill!" Ares howled, wiping his bloody nose.  "Don't hold back!  I want you to die while fighting with everything you have!"

"Weren't you listening?" Mario snapped, Ares' axe wedged in his right shoulder.  "I already told you; your rank is too low for me to lose against you.  I've still got too much to do...  Ipos, King Zagan, and any other demon that dares to stand in the way of me rescuing Peach...  I'll beat down every last one of em!"

"Now you're crossing the border between determined and arrogant!" Ares cackled, batting the plumber away with his elbow.  "Why don't you test your newfound tenacity by finishing me off?  How about you try that technique that you seemed so confident in?  Let's see if this newfound resolve of yours is genuine!"

If only I could...  There's no way I could muster enough Elemental Energy to execute the Nova Strike...  Breathing heavily, Mario leapt onto his feet and gathered the last of his strength into a single Fireball.  His blue aura expanding, the Mushroom Hero charged at Ares without even augmenting his speed with a Thunderball.  His Elemental Energy had been completely depleted.  This last Fireball was all he had left.  Images of Peach, Luigi, and all of his other friends and family members flashing in his mind, Mario tossed his left arm above his body to block Ares' axe.  His Demon Exoskeleton cushioned the impact, knocking Ares' weapon to the side.  With Ares left vulnerable for a split second, Mario lunged forward and struck the Grimnex with a flaming punch that was empowered by his resolve.  Just as the blow connected with Ares' face, the Grimnex tightened his grip on his axe and slashed his opponent across the chest.

In a splash of blood, Mario fell to his knees.  He instantly knew that the fight was over.  Not even his willpower would enable him to stand in his current condition.  Struggling to keep his eyes open, he summoned enough strength to turn his head.  Ares was still standing.

"Now... you understand... the power of determination... and fortitude..."  A faint smile spread across his face, and the Grimnex began to fall forward.  "A Nova Strike without any feelings behind it... is no match for an ordinary punch thrown for the sake of an important purpose..."  Ares collapsed onto the ground with a thud.  He did not rise.

Mario grinned triumphantly before falling to the floor and slipping into unconsciousness.




Luigi awoke to the quarreling of two figures standing outside of his cell.  He rubbed his eyes and turned toward Ace, who was wide awake and watching the conflict intently.  "Who is it...?" Luigi whispered groggily.

"One of them is definitely the Grimnex that was put in charge of guarding us," Ace replied, peering into the dim corridor.  "But I can't make out who the other one is."

"This is your last warning, human.  Leave this palace, or you'll be detained and likely executed," Helios admonished.  "I don't know who you think you are, but you've got a lot of nerve to give me orders."

The other figure sighed and unsheathed a long, blood-red dagger.  "It's a shame...  If you would have simply released those two and told me the location of the Heta Grimnex, I would have let you live."

"Slade!" Luigi called, finally recognizing his comrade.  "I knew you'd come through for us!"

"I'm not doing this for you," Slade grumbled.  "I simply came here to search for clues to the whereabouts of my brother.  As the only remaining link to my wretched parents, he cannot be allowed to live.  You two would facilitate my search, but unfortunately, this imbecile refuses to cooperate with me."

Helios responded by drawing his sword and stepping forward.  His entire body, with the exception of his head, was covered in thick armor that was stained with the blood of his previous foes.  He had a mop of white hair, but he had the face of a young man.  "You will refer to me only as Helios.  You'll find that I am just a bit tougher than the Grimnexes you've faced earlier on.  My rank is Lambda, which means I am among the stronger half of the Grimnexes."

"So?  Mario has already defeated the Iota Grimnex, and he's two ranks above you.  I saw it myself on the way here," Slade recalled.  "The Grimnexes have underestimated the power of human emotions.  Mario's determination to rescue Peach, and my desire to eradicate what's left of my miserable family...  Nothing will stop us, especially not you."

Grimnex Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/39e6b1bd-2d6a-402d-8bce-46576777ce3b/Grimnex-Battle)

"Let's put that theory to the test," Helios suggested, engaging Slade in a swordfight.  Metal clangs echoed throughout the silent corridor as Slade skillfully parried each of his opponent's sword swings.  When he saw an opening, Slade went on the offensive, swiftly deflecting Helios' blade before striking with his own.  Helios nimbly shifted to the left, narrowly slicing Slade's shoulder as his foe's dagger grazed his midsection.  Having each received a minor wound, the swordsmen leapt backward, putting some distance between them.

"I'm way faster than you, but your blows are more powerful," Helios observed.  "Does that mean that we're even?  Not quite."

You'd be singing to a different tune if we weren't inside of this crammed corridor, Slade thought.  If I released my Nightmare Haze, it would surely kill him, but I can't risk harming Luigi or Ace.  I'll just have to rely on my blade.  He rushed toward Helios with his dagger held high, but the Grimnex vanished before his slash could connect.  Slade whirled around to see Helios' sword inches from his throat.  He ducked, only losing a few strands of hair in the process.  Slade prepared to counterattack, but Helios had disappeared yet again.  "He's fast..."

"What's the problem?  Having trouble keeping up?" Helios taunted, his face a mere blur as he sprinted circles around his infuriated enemy.  Slade attempted to attack, but his sword passed through an afterimage.  At the very same moment, he felt a sharp pain in his back.  Helios tore his blade from Slade's flesh and dashed to a safe distance before his foe could counterattack.

"Coward..." Slade murmured clutching his wound.  "I don't understand... how are you able to move so quickly with that heavy armor on?"

"I suppose there's no harm in telling you.  In addition to being a Grimnex, I also used to work as a blacksmith.  As you already know, we demons are cursed with flesh that is extremely sensitive to sunlight.  To counter this, I devised a special kind of armor that would repel sunlight.  However, this armor is quite heavy.  As such, one is required to undergo extensive training in order to move about while wearing the armor.  Being the one who invented it, it should come as no surprise that I have completed the necessary training."

"Then you were the one who provided Glaive with his armor!" Slade gasped.  "But why?"

"I was ordered to do so by Botis, the former Beta Grimnex.  For whatever reason, it seemed as though Botis wanted Glaive to leave the Nightmare Vault with Lord Shade.  Regardless, most of the Grimnexes have already become immune to sunlight.  My armor is used mostly by lower class demons who serve as pawns."

"Interesting," Slade yawned, his voice thick with sarcasm.  "You may be fast, but don't let it get to your head."  He placed the tips of his fingers on his blood-red dagger and slid them up to the tip of the blade, causing it to shatter into hundreds of razor-sharp fragments.  With a wave of his hand, Slade sent the shards zooming toward Helios.

"That's not a bad idea," Helios mused, fleeing from the oncoming blade fragments.  "I know all about your ability to control the Nightmare Haze.  By channeling it into your sword, you've broken it into hundreds of tiny pieces that you can control independently of one another."

And because the Nightmare Haze is inside of the fragments, there's no risk of Luigi or Ace inhaling it, Slade thought, gesturing toward Helios.  The shards swirled around the speedy Grimnex, surrounding him with a cylindrical barrier that would slice him to pieces if he touched it.  Slade clasped his hands together, signaling for the splinters to converge and slash Helios to death.

"This is actually somewhat entertaining," Helios chuckled, leaping out of the cylinder through the opening at the top.  "These shards are much faster than you are.  Perhaps they can give me a good workout."  He began to sprint toward Slade, the sword fragments hot on his tail.  "There's just one problem!  Without your weapon, you're left completely vulnerable!"

"As if you could outrun my Nightmare Haze," Slade sneered as the shards of his blade sped past the oncoming Grimnex and formed a wall between them.  "You may be faster than me, but you're not even close to matching the speed of the Nightmare Haze.  Face it; you've lost your advantage."

Helios stopped dead in his tracks and darted in the opposite direction.  He sprinted up and down the corridor as he weaved, jumped, and ducked past the blade splinters while Slade commanded them with lightning-fast hand motions.  After several minutes of this, Helios finally stopped in front of Ace and Luigi's cell, gasping for air.  His friends now in potential danger, Slade gestured for the shards to halt.

"That's right...  You wouldn't want those razor-sharp fragments to harm your allies, would you?" Helios snickered, reaching for the ring of keys at his waist.  He swiftly unlocked the door to the cell and stepped inside.  Slade dashed after him, but Helios had his blade pressed to Luigi's neck in the blink of an eye.

"Ack!  How'd you get in here so fast?!" Luigi shrieked.

Ace reached for his deck of cards, but Helios glared at him.  "If any of you make even a single move, I'll slit this plumber's throat."  Although they were trembling with frustration, neither Ace nor Slade dared to budge an inch.  "Slade, I want you to restore your blade to its original shape, unless you want to endanger this man's life."

Slade irritably complied, holding out the hilt of his dagger.  In a flash, the fragments gathered around the hilt until each individual piece fit back into place.  Grumbling to himself, Slade sheathed his reformed sword.  "A hostage.  How original.  I hope you're proud of yourself."

"Shut up," Helios spat, edging his weapon closer to Luigi's throat. "Now, if you want your friend to live, you'll have to do exactly as I say.  First, I want you to-" He was silenced as a blade of ice plunged into his back.  His weapon clattered to the floor, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.  Falling to his knees, he turned to see who had struck him from behind.  He saw an icicle-shaped structure protruding from the ground, which connected to a trail of ice that snaked out of the cell and into an adjacent one.

"And you call yourself a guard?" a cold voice inquired from the nearby cell.  The door creaked open, and a young man with snow-white hair and sapphire eyes stepped outside.  He wore a bright blue vest and slightly torn jeans.  Luigi recognized him immediately.

Lorne's Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e87dfe64-3850-463f-97f9-a939fc8c6b02/Lornes-Theme)

"Lorne!" the plumber called cheerfully as he darted away from Helios.  "How are you?  It's been a while.  I haven't seen you since- wait, I thought you were killed by Crimson!  Were you trapped inside of the Purgatory with the Wario Brothers and me?"

"It's good to see you, too," Lorne replied with a smile.  "The truth is, I'm still technically dead.  As for Crimson, there's no need to try and hide his true identity from me.  I'm already aware that he is Dante, both my father and your uncle.  That's actually the reason I came here.  You see, after a long discussion with Queen Jaydes, she decided to let me leave the Underwhere for a week to search for my father.  I want to talk to him firsthand... to hear the truth from him in person.  I want to know why he betrayed me, his own son..."

"So... if you're looking for Dante, why'd you come here?" Luigi inquired.

"By the time Jaydes gave me permission to leave the Underwhere, I already knew all about your journey to rescue Princess Peach.  I also heard that my father had somehow been reformed, and I thought that he might have come with you.  If nothing else, I'd at least be able to repay my debts to you, Ace, and most of all, Mario.  I've got a full week before the time comes for me to return, and besides, if the Grimnexes escape from the Nightmare Vault, no one will be safe, not even the residents of the Underwhere."

"I bumped into Lorne on the way here," Slade explained.  "From there, we formulated a plan in which Lorne would hide in a nearby cell, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

"This is all very fascinating, but I'd like to get back to the task at hand," Helios groaned impatiently.  "Now that we've all gotten to know each other, I think this would be a swell time to unveil my Final Smash."




Wario Brothers vs. Poseidon (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f447677b-c6a0-4f8f-8a38-624f3ad05dcd/Wario-Brothers-Battle)

"What is that?" Waluigi asked, grimacing at the grotesque figure that stood before them.  Poseidon, the Kappa Grimnex, could only be described as a walking green blob with eyes that gleamed with hunger and greed.

"How'd a disgusting tub of lard like you become the Kappa Grimnex?!" Wario cackled, flexing his muscles.  "You'd better sink back into that puddle, tubby!"  His arrogance getting the best of him, Wario waded through the water toward the Grimnex.

"Such an ignorant species.  You should take note of your own prodigious girth before you speak ill of others," Poseidon hissed, his eyes flaring red with anger.  He made no attempt to dodge Wario's punch to his gut.  Much to the overweight plumber's surprise, Wario's fist passed through Poseidon's stomach with a splash.  "I'm afraid that ordinary punches and kicks will have no effect on my body, which is composed entirely of liquid.

"Whaddya mean?!" Wario exploded, struggling to pull his fist out of Poseidon's chest.  Poseidon's body had solidified around the area that had been struck, trapping Wario's entire right arm.

"You might as well punch a bucket of water," Poseidon chuckled.  "Except the water can freeze the instant you touch it, ensnaring you in an instant.  Once I capture my opponent, it's all over.  Let me show you what I mean."  Poseidon liquefied and molded himself around Wario before returning to his previous state- only this time, Wario's entire body was trapped within the Grimnex's stomach.

"He'll drown!" Waluigi exclaimed in horror, a purple Fireball glowing in the palm of his hand.  Before he could fire it, he was surrounded with a column of water that doused his attack.

Poseidon threw his head back and laughed.  "You'll have to do better than that!  I can control all of the water in this lagoon.  Putting out a little fire is nothing for someone like me."  His victorious moment was shattered as he felt a burning sensation in his stomach.  Wario had formed a Fireball from within the Grimnex's innards, melting the ice that held him in place. 

Gasping for air, Wario tumbled out of Poseidon's body.  "You shouldn't have done that..." the plumber growled.  "Now I'm mad..."  He turned to Waluigi.  "And as for you... stay out of this!  This punk insulted me, and I'm gonna make him pay..."

"I think it would be in your best interest to accept any assistance you can get," Poseidon advised him.  "That Fireball may have freed you, but it had no effect on me.  In fact, my body acts as a sponge that can absorb Elemental Energy.  Your Fireballs are only effective when trying to escape from within my body."

"I'm not buying it," Wario declared, sprinting at his opponent with a Fireball in each of his hands.  Poseidon didn't budge an inch as Wario unloaded dozens of flaming punches, each blow causing a tiny splash after connecting with the Grimnex's body.  Eventually, Poseidon swatted Wario away with a wave of his arm.  After taking one look at the Grimnex, Wario knew immediately that his assault had been ineffective.

"Is this enough proof for you?  There's not a scratch on my body," Poseidon informed him.  "Your Fireballs are only making me stronger."

"Ordinary punches pass right through his body, and any sort of elemental attack will be absorbed.  How are we supposed to hurt him?" Waluigi wondered aloud, watching his brother slowly rise to his feet.  Even if I went against Wario's wishes and fought alongside him, what could we possibly do?  Nothing can hurt him...  But he has to have some sort of weakness...  Otherwise, he'd be ranked much higher...

After another series of Fireball enhanced attacks, Wario was knocked onto his back yet again.  "Ah, thanks for the meal.  Now I'm full," Poseidon snickered.  "You should understand by now that I can absorb Elemental Energy.  Why do you continue to fight?"

"Because I'm still gonna win," Wario announced, wearily standing on his feet once more.  This time, he formed his Fireball into the shape of a sword.  He slashed at Poseidon several times, but dealt no significant damage.

"That's enough!" Waluigi cried, begging his brother to stop.  "Don't use your fire element!  Feeding him all of your Elemental Energy won't solve anything!"

"You're wrong!" Wario insisted, continuing to slice at the Grimnex, who didn't seem to be injured in the least bit.

Quickly growing impatient, Poseidon frowned.  "You poor, poor man.  I'll put you out of your misery."  He attempted to strike the plumber with his fist, but Wario lunged at him and stabbed his blade of flames into the Grimnex's chest.  The sword instantly dissolved as it was absorbed into Poseidon, who had begun clutch his stomach in pain.  "What...  What have you done to me?!"

Wario grinned triumphantly.  "Finally...  That took a lot longer than I thought it would..."

"My body...  It's... evaporating..." Poseidon hissed, beginning to vanish into a green mist.

"I never graduated middle school, so I'm no expert when it comes to these things, but... if your body can solidify and melt, shouldn't it also be able to evaporate if I add enough heat?  I figured that my best shot at beating you would be to force you to absorb as much heat as possible," Wario explained.

"I never thought he'd come up with something so brilliant," Waluigi chuckled.  "He couldn't hurt him with punches or Fireballs, but with enough heat, he actually caused him to evaporate...  Of course, it was pretty risky...  If he had run out of Elemental Energy before Poseidon reached his boiling point, he would've been screwed..."

Wario collapsed from exhaustion.  "Don't feel too bad, Poseidon.  Maybe you'll turn into a nice raincloud someday.  It's rare to find someone as strong and intelligent as I am, but you'll get over your loss eventually."

"Don't worry; I won't lose any sleep over it," a voice echoed from above.  The sky began to grow darker as rainclouds formed overhead.  In the blink of an eye, the Wario Brothers were being drenched with rain.  "Heh, you're just so powerful and so brilliant...  It's too bad that you completely forgot about condensation."

The downpour grew heavier as Poseidon's maniacal laugh echoed throughout the lagoon.  The water level was rising fast; Waluigi's feet could no longer reach solid ground.  He peered into the darkness and saw his brother floating lifelessly on the surface of the water.  Soaked and shivering, Waluigi furiously swam against the water flow toward Wario.  As he was only inches away, a column of water rose and formed into the shape of a hand.  With Wario wrapped tightly in its grip, the hand descended into the depths of the murky water.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 11: Passionate Greed)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on February 21, 2011, 08:21:49 PM
Chapter 11: Passionate Greed

Now there are four of them...  I don't like these odds... Helios thought, his eyes shifting from Luigi, to Ace, to Slade, to Lorne.

"You'd better start coming up with an escape plan," Slade declared, drawing his sword.  "With the help of my Nightmare Haze, I could effortlessly defeat you alone.  With Lorne at my side, it'd be over in seconds.  I'll give you one last chance to comply with my demands.  Tell me where I can find the Heta Grimnex.  If you don't know anything, scram."

"Hold on a second!  We're still shackled to the wall!" Luigi shrieked.

"Don't worry.  I won't allow him to hold you and Ace hostage again," Lorne affirmed, stepping between Helios and Luigi.  "I'll be sure to free you two once we take care of this guy.  I could probably cut your restraints right now, but fighting him two-on-one would be much less hectic than four-on-one."

"Good call," Ace stated with a nod.  "There's no need to make the situation more complicated than it needs to be."

"Your arrogance is astounding," Helios hissed, gradually inching closer to Lorne.  "You haven't even seen my Final Smash, and yet you're already claiming superiority over me?"

"Fine.  Use your Final Smash so we can prove your inferiority," Slade grumbled impatiently.  "It doesn't matter what special technique you have hidden up your sleeve.  Until I meet with my brother, I simply cannot fall in battle."

Helios placed a hand on Slade and Lorne's shoulder.  "We'll see about that.  How about we play a little game?"  In a flash of rainbow-colored light, Helios, Slade, and Lorne vanished into thin air.

"Where'd they go?" Luigi wondered aloud.  "Great, now we're back where we started: trapped without anyone around to help us."

Slade opened his eyes and found himself standing in the midst of a pristine, gently rolling plain that seemed to expand for miles.  The sky was pure blue; there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The grass was about six inches high, and a lone tree stood atop a nearby hill.  Lying against the trunk of this tree was Helios, who rose to his feet after being spotted.

"Welcome," Helios greeted him.  "Before you ask, this is an entirely separate dimension.  Isn't it beautiful?"

"Cut to the chase.  Why are we here?" Lorne demanded, appearing beside Slade.

"The prison corridor is far too cramped for my taste.  Besides, this territory is my Final Smash.  Up until now, the Final Smashes that you've went up against were probably used in combat.  Mine is much different; you see, my Final Smash is essentially a game of tag.  When I tapped your shoulders earlier on, the technique was activated, and the three of us were brought here.  Now, the two of you are it, and you only have one hour to tag me if you want to escape."

"Do you honestly think we'll agree to play your little game?" Slade inquired, charging at his foe with his blade raised.  "You just brought two superior opponents to an isolated battlefield in which there aren't any other Grimnexes to assist you.  This is the worst move you could have possibly made."  Holding nothing back, Slade swiped his sword at Helios, who made no efforts to defend himself.  The dagger halted with a metal clang as it connected with the Grimnex's flesh.  Not even a scratch.

"Don't feel bad, Slade.  Everyone always has the same reaction when I explain my Final Smash," Helios scoffed.  "Inside of this dimension, brute force cannot harm me.  The only way out of here is to tag me within the time limit."  Slade lunged at the Grimnex, who quickly darted out of his reach.  "It seems that you've forgotten about my speed.  I'm still the faster of the two of us.  And since you'll have to tag me with your hand, this could take a while.  You'd better start running if you want to catch me within an hour."

"We're gonna have to work together," Lorne whispered, noting Helios' speed.  "It'll be just like old times, back when we both used to work for my father."

"Meh, how dull," Slade yawned, sheathing his sword.  "I don't really feel like chasing after you right now.  Lorne, you can play his childish game if you want, but I think I'm going to take a nap."  He stretched and found a comfortable patch of grass to lie down on.  "Wake me up if you manage to tag him."




Wario Brothers vs. Poseidon (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f447677b-c6a0-4f8f-8a38-624f3ad05dcd/Wario-Brothers-Battle)

Drenched with rain, Waluigi peered into the depths of the murky lagoon as the image of his brother swirled and faded away.  He took a deep breath before plunging beneath the surface of the water in a desperate attempt to save him.  Frantically, the plumber paddled his arms and scanned the black abyss for any signs of movement.  At last, he located Wario, who was ensnared in the grip of colossal green hand.  Waluigi reached out to his brother, but his lungs could not hold out much longer.  His body sore and his lungs screaming for air, he had no choice but to retreat to the surface of the lagoon.

"Damn... it..." Waluigi cursed, gasping for air.  "The water current... is too strong...  And I'm too fatigued... to hold my breath long enough... to reach him..."  Quickly running out of time, the plumber dove after his brother once again despite his condition.  This time, he saw neither his brother nor the demonic hand of Poseidon.  Furiously searching for Wario, Waluigi saw nothing but a void of darkness.  Poseidon... I swear...  He had better be alright. 

After what seemed like an eternity, a metallic figure zoomed past him and broke the water's surface.  Waluigi raised his head from the water and heaved a sigh of relief.  "Ah, now I understand.  I almost forgot that your Final Smash also enables you to breathe underwater."

"Yeah, so did I.  It's a good thing I remembered at the last second, or I would have drowned," Wario gasped, coughing up a mouthful of water as the metal armor that encased his body faded away.  "I'm not sure how, but my Final Smash is even more awesome than before.  Now I can cover my entire body with metal, whereas I could only metalize a single limb during the war with Crimson.  I guess my battles against the Grimnexes have made me stronger."

"That still doesn't explain where that giant hand came from," Waluigi mused, glancing back and forth to avoid being caught off guard.  "This obviously has something to do with Poseidon, but that's about all we know."

"So the chubby one escaped by using his Final Smash," a wicked voice gurgled from underwater.  "How fitting.  It seems that your only chance at countering my Final Smash was to use your own."

"That was your Final Smash?!" Wario cackled.  "You think a little rainstorm is going to hurt me?  Or maybe that puny 'water hand' was supposed to drown me?"

"The rain was simply a means of returning to my liquid form," Poseidon explained, still unseen by the Wario Brothers.  "My Final Smash enables me to fully liquidize and become one with any body of water.  It's difficult to put into words, but your opponent is essentially this very lagoon!  All of it is a part of my body!  Escape is impossible; the rock walls surrounding you are too tall to climb!  Face it. You're surrounded!  And very soon, you will both become my first meal in weeks!"

"Now what?" Waluigi inquired, both brothers still bobbing on the surface of the lagoon.  "How are we even supposed to hurt him?"

"Beats me," Wario replied with a shrug.  "Until he comes out of hiding, we can't even lay a finger on him."

As if on cue, a long, snake-like body of slime lunged out of the depths of the water and struck Wario, pinning him to the towering rocky walls that enclosed the lagoon.  The hefty plumber thrashed wildly about in an attempt to break free, but to no avail.  His eyes gleaming with hunger, Poseidon opened his mouth and revealed several rows of razor-sharp fangs. 

"You look delicious.  I'll start with you," Poseidon declared, his mouth watering.

"Bro!" Waluigi gasped, swimming furiously toward the Grimnex.  He didn't get very far, however, as the water solidified around him, encasing the lower half of his body in some sort of ice-like substance.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to interfere with my meal," Poseidon sneered, preparing to swallow Wario whole.  "Don't bother trying to melt yourself free with a Fireball.  That's not ice; it's a special mixture of my own liquefied body and the water in this lagoon.  Your Fireball cannot generate nearly enough heat to melt this new substance!"

Then I'll just have to aim for you, Waluigi thought, pointing his opened palm at Poseidon.  In a radiant flash of violet light, he launched a colossal purple Fireball at the Grimnex.  As the blast was only moments away from striking Waluigi's target, a massive column of water rose from the surface of the lagoon and doused the flaming projectile.

"Did you already forget?  I have total control over all of the water that surrounds us!  Your Fireballs are useless!" Poseidon cackled, his jaw opening wide enough to swallow Wario with one bite.

"There's no way I'm getting eaten by someone so ugly!" Wario howled, flailing his arms and legs.

Waluigi could feel his heart pounding in his chest.  In mere seconds, his brother's life would be over.  With no other option, he pointed his index finger at Poseidon and fired a thin, purple Fireball.  Just as it had before, a tower of water protruded from the lagoon's surface to block Waluigi's Fireball.  Only this time, the Fireball pierced through the water barrier and shot Poseidon in the back.  Wario opened his eyes, and for just a moment, he saw the Grimnex's weakness: a red sphere roughly the size of a soccer ball floating inside of Poseidon's gelatinous body.

"Gotcha!" Wario cried, lunging forward at the stunned Grimnex and striking his core with a fierce right hook.

Poseidon roared in agony as he retreated a few steps away from Wario.  "Human scum!  No man has ever laid a hand on my core and lived to tell about it!"  His eyes flaring red with rage, he turned to face Waluigi.  "And you...  I can't believe you had the audacity to strike me while my back was turned!  For that, your suffering will be unparalleled, even for a man who has already died in battle.  I just have one question...  How did you get past my water barrier?"

"It was my Final Smash.  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.  And evidently, they can also travel through water without being doused."

"I see... but because these Fireballs are more 'concentrated', you must be packing an awfully large amount of Elemental Energy into them.  Try not to overexert yourself," Poseidon snickered.  "Either way, the lower half of your body is still trapped inside of my special substance.  And because it is a part of my body, I can control all of its properties... even its density.  I know that you two aren't the brightest bunch when it comes to science, but... Waluigi, tell me, do you know why some objects sink, while others float?"

Waluigi's eyes widened.  He immediately understood what Poseidon was getting it.  He gathered a Fireball in each of his palms and frantically attempted to melt the solid that encased his lower body.

"The answer, my friend, is density.  If a substance is less dense than water, it will float, just as you are now.  However, if I alter the substance so that it is denser than water... well... Let's conduct a little experiment."  The cruel Grimnex waved his hands toward Waluigi, who instantly began to descend into the abyss below.

Wario dove in after him without hesitation, but his rescue attempt was short lived.  Before long, he found himself caught in the tide of a ferocious whirlpool, no doubt created by Poseidon.  With some help from the Grimnex, the current had become so powerful that it was creating cuts and bruises all across the plumber's body.  Eventually, the force became so strong that Wario was hurled out of the water.

"Nice try," Poseidon taunted.  "It's too bad.  He's going to drown, and there's nothing you can do about it.  But what's wrong with that?  You're both thieves, aren't you?  If he dies, that simply means that you can have more money for yourself."

Ignoring Poseidon, Wario dove after his brother yet again, only to be ejected from the water once again by the almighty current.

Only Human (http://www.esnips.com/doc/53d84a55-e364-4e5e-bed8-db0c80c130a5/Only-Human)

"I don't understand you two," Poseidon declared, observing Wario's desperation.  "This entire battle, you've both been looking out for each other.  Whenever you were in trouble, Waluigi would give his all to protect you.  How can such a greedy bunch of people care for each other so much?"  His tone grew solemn and bitter.  "Greed is one thing that can never be shared amongst friends; greed is a disease that will push everyone away until you're the only one left."

"Shut up..." Wario grumbled, encasing his entire body with metal as he challenged the whirlpool's might yet again.  Though his Final Smash augmented his resistance, the violent current would not be overcome so easily.  The water around him began to turn red with blood as Wario's metal armor was gradually torn from his body.  His lungs ready to burst, Wario finally reached the bottom of the lagoon.  He shattered the material that imprisoned his brother with one punch, and the two brothers hurriedly retreated to the surface.

"It doesn't make any sense," Poseidon insisted, watching the two brothers gasp for air.  "They're both consumed by greed... but they can also be compassionate and even heroic..."

"You're talking as if you know all about us," Wario observed.  "How do you know so much?  And why are you so confused by our desire to keep each other alive?"

"A background check is performed on every prisoner to be admitted to the Purgatory.  These reports are often sent to other Grimnexes, and while reading through them, yours caught my interest.  Don't ask me why...  Maybe it's just because...  I can relate to a couple of greedy thieves like you two...  While your greed has brought the both of you closer together, mine has only brought me despair and isolation...

"I've always been the Kappa Grimnex.  In numeric terms, that makes me the tenth strongest Grimnex.  To be in the top ten of any group is almost always considered extraordinary.  Lower ranking Grimnexes envied the respect that I earned, and they were always quick to point out my flaws, hoping that I would be demoted and that one of them could replace me.  One such flaw was my excessive hunger.  Looking at me now, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I am overweight.  Back then, I was no different.  During the Terranean War, our food and supplies were meager.  In such tough times, my never-ending hunger was viewed as a hindrance.  One by one, my comrades pushed me away, and even as the years passed and we were confined to the Nightmare Abyss, my isolation only grew.  I was ultimately forced to live all alone in this miniscule gorge on the outskirts of the Nightmare Abyss."

"I see..." Wario mumbled, beginning to sympathize with the Grimnex.  "Greed may have brought upon your downfall, but it was what saved us from starvation many years ago...  Waluigi and I have no memories of our parents.  We were orphaned before we were even old enough to walk.  Our life was so miserable back then... We had so little...  Food was scarce, so we had to steal to survive...  That's how it all began...  Since then, we've both become obsessed with money... so that we would never have to live such a meagerly life ever again."

"Wario...  You've never revealed our past to anyone, not even Mario..." Waluigi whispered, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.  "You must truly feel sorry for him..."

"I hate to do this, but I'm gonna have to put you out of your misery," Wario declared, beginning to approach Poseidon.  The Grimnex hastily retreated beneath the water, and Wario activated his Final Smash, covering his body with a thick metal coating.  "Waluigi... I want you to stay on the surface and prepare your Final Smash.  Keep an eye out for his core.  Once you spot a red light, shoot at it."

"Bro...  Are you sure you want to do this?" Waluigi inquired, shivering as the downpour grew heavier.

Wario smiled sadly as he began to sink into the depths of the lagoon.  "It's the only way...  A couple of greedy guys like us are too stubborn to admit defeat."  With that, he vanished beneath the surface of the water.  His feet clanking against the lakebed as he walked, Wario analyzed his surroundings in search of his foe.  He spotted the faint red glow of Poseidon's core and began to chase after it.

"Stay back," Poseidon commanded in a gurgled voice.  Fleeing in the opposite direction, the Grimnex attempted to repel the hefty plumber by sending violent currents of water in his direction.

"Not a chance," Wario retorted, clenching his teeth as he braved the water flow.  After having most of his metal armor stripped away from him, he finally broke through the current and reached Poseidon.  With a gurgled cry of determination, Wario unleashed a series of punches and kicks that pushed the Kappa Grimnex closer and closer to the surface.

"That's it!" Waluigi exclaimed as he caught a glimpse of Poseidon's core.  He took aim and fired a series of concentrated Fireballs through his fingertips.  The blasts struck their target with pinpoint accuracy, causing Poseidon to burst onto the surface of the water with screams of anguish.  Seconds later, Wario emerged with a splash and struck the Grimnex's exposed core with a deadly, Fireball-augmented right hook.

"I don't understand... how greed can... benefit anyone..." Poseidon murmured, his core beginning to dissolve.

Wario, floating wearily on his back beside the Grimnex, chuckled softly to himself.  "Heh, you moron... Greed alone won't bring happiness to anyone, not even me...  To be sure, greed is a disease, but coupled with passion and love, it can become a person's greatest asset."

A slight smile spread across Poseidon's face as his core faded away entirely.  "Now I understand...  You humans are much more complex than I once thought..."  He turned his head and glanced at Wario and Waluigi, who were soaking wet and gasping for air.  The rain began to lighten, and the storm clouds overhead were replaced by a vivid sunset.  "When I first saw you...  I thought you were just a pair of heartless thieves... but now, I can see... when pushed to the brink of death, even a pair of bandits like you two can demonstrate compassion and understanding...  Perhaps... humans aren't as evil as we've been led to believe..."  The rainfall came to a complete stop, and a ray of radiant light shone down upon the Wario Brothers as Poseidon liquefied and became one with the lagoon.




Slade sat up, yawned, and stretched.  "Hey Lorne, did you catch him yet?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Not... yet..." Lorne replied, breathing heavily.  "Way to wait until the last second...  We've got less than five minutes until we run out of time..."

"Actually, you only have about three minutes left," Helios corrected him with a smug grin.  "The clock is ticking..."

Mind Games (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntKU2vQLbjM)

"Are you sure about that?" Slade inquired, beginning to approach the Grimnex.  "Are we really being constrained by a time limit?  Or was that simply a bluff?"

"What do you mean?" Helios growled, beginning to lose his composure.

"I've been thinking...  And I've come to the conclusion that there is no time limit- for us, anyway.  In reality, the one hour time limit is for you; it's the amount of time that you can sustain your Final Smash.  But if you told us that, we'd simply wait for an hour to pass so we could return to a place in which we could inflict damage upon you.  So instead, you tell your opponents that they must catch you within one hour, sending them into a state of panic and desperation.  The dread of a time limit looming in the back of their minds, they'll spend the next hour frantically exerting themselves in a fruitless attempt to catch you.  And once they finally tire themselves out, you come in for the kill.  But instead of falling for your childish bluff, I decided to bide my time and attempt to understand your Final Smash.  It's over, Helios."

"You're quite perceptive," Helios grumbled.  "Time is such a precious thing.  Even the most patient of warriors cannot resist its allure.  You are the first man to ever discover the true nature of my Final Smash.  However, you're both still going to die.  Lorne is too fatigued to be of assistance, and your little 'blade shards' trick won't be able to keep me at bay because I'm invulnerable in this dimension.  We may have less than two minutes left, but without your cheap tricks, you cannot hope to match my superior speed!"

"Heh, what do you think I've been doing for the past hour?  Sleeping?" Slade inquired with a sarcastic grin.  "Did you honestly think I'd be foolish enough to completely drop my guard inside of a Grimnex's territory?"  He threw both of his arms upward, and a cloud of Nightmare Haze rose from beneath Helios' feet.  After clasping his hands together, the haze solidified around the lower half of the Grimnex's body, immobilizing him.  "While I appeared to be napping, I was actually seeping my Nightmare Haze into the ground, preparing for this moment.  And now that you can't move..."  He gently tapped Helios on the shoulder.  "You're it."




"Gee, I really wish they'd show up," Luigi sighed.  "They've been gone for almost an hour...  Where do you think they went?"  As he finished his sentence, he was blinded by the same rainbow-colored light that Slade, Lorne, and Helios had vanished into.  When the light died down, he saw Lorne standing beside Slade, whose sword was wedged in Helios' heart.

"You're back!" Ace exclaimed.  He spotted Helios' fatal wound, and his excitement was replaced by confusion.  "What happened...?  Where did you go...?"

"Don't ask.  It was pretty boring; I just slept the whole time," Slade answered dryly, yanking his dagger from the Grimnex's chest.  "Such a risky Final Smash.  Once I tagged you, you were too exhausted from the prolonged use of your technique to even defend yourself."

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

Blood pooling out of the wound on his torso, Helios fell to his knees.  "Tell me... why have you all come here...?  You humans... blindly label us evil, yet you know nothing of the truth...  You justify this label by referring to us as monsters who mercilessly slay anything in their path... But under what grounds... have you earned the right to storm into our home... and slaughter any demon you come across...?  What makes you so different...?  What gives you the right to declare us evil and kill us without hesitation...?"

Slade smiled softly.  "It's a shame.  There's a friend of mine who would have loved to answer your questions.  But since he's not here, I'm on my own.  There are some humans out there who deserve only the most grueling and painful of deaths.  The same goes for a couple of Grimnexes I once knew.  However, if you look hard enough, there are some people out there truly worth saving.  Most of us are here to help those who deserve to live, but personally, I'm here to eradicate those who deserve to die.  That's why I'm searching for the Heta Grimnex.  I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me where he is?"

"I... see...  Go... Nexus... day of... execution... Heta... there..." Helios murmured, his life fading away.  "Tell... Beta... I'm... sorry..."

"Thank you," Slade whispered, kneeling beside the fallen Grimnex.  "Your dedication to the demon race is admirable, even to someone like me.  You spent your life forging armor for demons, both friends and enemies alike, that would allow them to overcome their dreadful curse.  You served as the Grimnexes' prison guard for decades, always performing your duties as instructed.  Never have I seen a demon who believed so strongly in his cause.  For you to assist me during your final breaths...  I am truly grateful.  Rest in peace."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 12: Preparations)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on February 27, 2011, 03:01:52 PM
Chapter 12: Preparations

Demonic Plot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXM5lzeeWz8)

"This had better be important," King Zagan grumbled, shifting impatiently on his throne.

"It is," Ares assured him, his body covered in bruises and scrapes.  "I have an important status report.  Both the Kappa and Lambda Grimnexes are dead.  In addition, two prisoners attempted to escape from their cells after the death of Helios.  However, I have successfully carried out the execution of all apprehended intruders, including Mario.  That only leaves the two brothers that defeated Poseidon, whom I plan to capture as soon as this meeting is adjourned."

"I see... Both Helios and Poseidon were killed..." King Zagan muttered.  "Interesting.  Including the Alpha and Heta Grimnexes, only ten of us remain.  These intruders have certainly proved themselves to be an even greater nuisance than we anticipated.  Ipos, you've failed to eliminate this oppression twice now.  Coming from you, even a single failure is a rarity.  Is something troubling you?"

Ipos bowed before the Beta Grimnex.  "My apologies, King Zagan.  I was unaware of Mario's Demon Exoskeleton during our first encounter, which undoubtedly saved his life, and Ares interfered during our second battle, preventing me from finishing the job."

"Ares, is this true?" Zagan inquired.

Ares nodded.  "Forgive me, my liege.  As punishment for my mistakes, please allow me to replace Helios as the prison guard.  It's the least I can do to make up for prolonging the deaths of Mario and his friends..."

"This is a surprise.  It seems as though you are finally taking responsibility for your actions, Ares.  Good for you," Zagan commended him.  "Very well.  You are now in charge of the detainment floor.  In addition, I expect you to terminate the ones who slaughtered Poseidon.  You are dismissed."

"Thank you, my lord," Ares said with a bow before hurriedly exiting the throne room.

That was quite convincing, Ares.  Had I not anticipated your betrayal, your act might have actually fooled me.  You'd better hurry, though; the execution will be taking place in only a few more days.  Train him well; after all, the resurrection can't happen until we have all the necessary components, Zagan thought, now alone with Ipos.  "Ipos, how is the princess faring?"

"She now accepts her fate.  In fact, she told Mario in person that she did not wish to be rescued.  Her loyalty is unquestionable."

"Good.  You're only assignment at the moment is to ensure that the execution runs smoothly.  Mario and his friends may have been dealt with, but don't let your guard down.  The Phoenix Salvation will alter the face of every realm in existence; we cannot afford to be careless."




Mario shielded his eyes from the light shining through the single, barred window of his dim cell.  Rubbing his eyes, the plumber sat up and yawned.  Noticing that his torso was heavily bandaged, he frantically scanned the area for Ares.  Instead, he saw five figures hovering over him.  Assuming the worst, the Mushroom Hero leapt to his feet and clenched his fists.

"Calm down, Bro, it's only us," Luigi whispered as he, Ace, Lorne, and Slade stepped into the light. 

Mario dropped his fists and heaved a sigh of relief.  "Hey guys, what's up?  I see that you've decided to return to the battlefield, eh Slade?  And Lorne too...?  But weren't you, uh... kind of, ya know... dead?"

"We'll explain all of that later.  For now, you have a guest," Slade declared, gesturing to his left.

Standing in the center of these four familiar faces was a woman with wavy, violet, shoulder-length hair.  She wore a sleeveless indigo tunic and baggy silver pants.  A sword and shield were strapped to her back, and her deep purple eyes were clearly those of a warrior.  "I don't believe we've met before, though I've heard much about you.  My name is Rhea."

"Nice to meet you," Mario replied, still half-asleep.  "I'm Mario, but you probably already know that.  So... um..."

"I'm sorry; this must be rather confusing, especially since you just woke up.  Where should I begin...?"

"She may be a demon, but like me, she's on our side," Ace informed Mario.  "I just wanted to let you know that before you became suspicious."

"To be frank, I've known all about you for quite some time," Rhea admitted.  "I've been watching you, Mario...  Your battles with the Grimnexes have inspired me to fight alongside you.  That's really all you need to know."  She flashed an exaggerated smile, and Mario understood that prying any deeper would be useless for the time being.

"What a second... Where's Ares?!" Mario thundered, remembering his bout with the Iota Grimnex.  "Shouldn't he be here?"

"He's decided to work with us," Rhea answered with a grin.  "I offered him my assistance, and-"

Battle Plan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UL_lQ40XC8)

"You're being too vague; let me explain," Ares grumbled, appearing at the entrance to Mario's cell beside Bowser and the Wario Brothers.  "You should all probably get out of that cramped cell.  After all, we have this entire floor to ourselves.  Zagan just appointed me as the new prison guard."

"Ares... Wario... Waluigi... Bowser..." Mario mumbled, scratching his head.

"Everyone's here," Wario announced.

"But most importantly, I'm here," Bowser chuckled.

"I can't believe you actually brought this trash with you," Slade groaned, referring to Bowser.  "He's hardly worth the amount of space that he takes up."

"Mario, much like you did for Rhea, you've inspired me," Ares explained, Bowser and Slade quarreling in the background.  "I originally wanted to face off against you to satisfy my bloodlust, but I've been thinking... I'm really not too fond of working for the Grimnexes.  If I joined up with you, there'd be plenty of action, and I'd finally be able to spill the blood of those cocky jerks that rank above me.  It doesn't sound so bad...  Besides, I have plenty of inside information that could surely be of some use to you."

"Ares...  You aren't very loyal to the Phoenix at all, are you?  Is that why Ipos attacked you before?" Mario asked.

"Sort of.  You see, even Grimnexes have an honor code.  We're too stubborn and proud to gang up on intruders like you, so we maintain our positions even while under attack.  Grimnexes are forbidden from straying too far away from their posts when intruders are lurking about.  Whatever Grimnex is lucky enough to stumble across the trespassers gets the privilege of finishing them off.  There is one exception to this rule.  If a Grimnex has a score to settle with an infiltrator, he is allowed to 'claim' him.  This was the case for Ipos.  He had claimed you as his target, and when I interfered, I directly disobeyed the Grimnex honor code.  This was a severe insult to Ipos, which is why he attacked me."

"I see... So this isn't a big deal, considering you were never truly devoted to the Grimnexes' cause in the first place."

"Exactly.  And now that I'm in charge of this floor, you can all rest here without arousing suspicion.  There are only four days until Princess Peach's execution, and in your current states, none of you are much of a match for the upper ranking Grimnexes."

Mario and his friends gasped.  "You mean... They're gonna execute Peach?!"

"I'm afraid that I have more bad news.  Nearly all of the small fries have been dealt with.  Excluding myself and the Alpha Grimnex, only eight Grimnexes remain.  Seven of them are even stronger than I am.  Moreover, King Zagan will be dividing his forces into two groups as Princess Peach is transported to the top floor of the palace, the Colosseum.  The top five Grimnexes will oversee the execution, while the remaining three will be sent to the Nexus."

"The Nexus?" Bowser parroted in confusion.  "You mean that dimension we passed through to get to the Nightmare Vault?  What a bunch of morons.  They don't even have a Nexus Pass!"

"Artificial Nexus Passes have been constructed several years in advance in preparation for the assault.  If the attack on the Nexus is successful, all realms will be altered beyond repair.  That's why we'll be sending a team to the Nexus to head them off.  Slade, Lorne, Bowser...  You three will use the Nexus to enter the Underwhere.  Once there, you should reunite with Mario's two sons.  Between the five of you, you should be able to defend the Nexus."

"Why would they storm into the Nexus during Peach's execution?  Wouldn't it weaken their defenses?" Waluigi wondered.

Ares shook his head.  "A handful of the top ranking Grimnexes is more than enough security.  Anyway, I've told you everything I know.  I was not given specific details because I am already suspected of treason."

"How are we even going to enter the Nexus?" Lorne asked.

"I've already got that covered," Mario chuckled.  "The citizens of Toad Town are periodically opening the gateway to the Nexus, eagerly awaiting my return.  Wait near the Nexus Access Point, and they'll eventually open it for a routine check.  While you're at it, you should explain the current situation to them.  They deserve to know.  I'm sure Toadsworth is worried sick."

Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)

Ares nodded.   "In that case, Lorne, Slade, and Bowser should head for the Nexus right away.  They'll have plenty of room to prepare for battle there.  As for Luigi, Ace, and the Wario Brothers, look around for a place to train.  These chambers are far more spacious than you may realize.  Mario, you'll be staying with Rhea and me."

"See ya, Bro," Luigi said with a wave as the heroes dispersed to prepare themselves for the upcoming battle.

"I'll see you in about four days," Mario called back.  He turned to Bowser, Slade, and Lorne.  "As for you three, I don't know when I'll be seeing you again.  Bowser, don't lose that burning passion of yours.  Once I rescue Peach, I'll be sure to tell her how much you helped me."

"That is, if you actually manage to save her," Bowser snickered.  "In the end, I'll probably be forced to defend the Nexus all by myself.  Then, once I hear about your defeat at the hands of the top five Grimnexes, I'll have to come all the way back here to singlehandedly rescue the princess."  The two rivals laughed, and Bowser started off on his journey.

"Mario, I haven't forgotten about what you did for me," Lorne thanked him.  "My father...  You showed him mercy even after all of the crimes he committed...  Tell me, is it wrong for me to want to see him again...?"

Mario smiled and shook his head.  "Not at all.  Your father isn't as evil as you may think.  When I fought him, I could see that part of him felt remorse for his crimes.  It might be hard, but just give him a chance."

"Perhaps I will...  Thank you again for all the advice you've given me.  I will do my best to keep your children safe."

"That means a lot to me.  I'm leaving them in your hands."

Slade held out his hand, and Mario gladly shook it.  "It's been a pleasure working alongside you, Mario, even if it was only for a short period of time.  This is the moment we've been waiting for ever since we first started fighting demons together.  The final battle will soon be at hand.  Don't let that demon inside of you bring you down."  He turned and began to follow Lorne and Bowser.

"Slade...  If you continue down the path of vengeance... you'll die," Mario informed him solemnly.

Slade stopped, but did not turn around.  "I know...  I've already accepted my fate.  Don't run away from yours."  He continued to walk forward without saying another word.

"Goodbye, my friend," Mario whispered, struggling to hold back his tears.

Without stopping, Slade raised his right arm and waved at his comrade before fading into the darkness of the dim corridor.  That was the last time they ever saw each other.

Royal Guardian Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d76d8906-c603-40a9-9bc0-37232e1ea73d/Royal-Guardian-Theme)

Now alone with Ares and Rhea, Mario heaved a deep sigh.  "Four days, huh?  That doesn't leave us much time.  No offense, but how exactly am I supposed to improve by sparring with someone I've already beaten?"

"Ares will be your sparring partner, and I will oversee your training," Rhea answered. 

"What could you possibly teach me?" Mario inquired, stifling a giggle.  "I mean, you're just an ordinary demon.  You're not even a Grimnex."

"Even better.  I'm a Royal Guardian," Rhea informed him with a grin.  "We are a noble family of knights that protected Zeus during the Terranean War centuries ago.  Only one other Royal Guardian remains: Swift, the demon who attempted to train you not too long ago.  Unfortunately, when your kingdom was attacked by Crimson, you ended your training early to aid your friends in battle.  Swift specializes with finding inner peace and strengthening the mind, whereas my training will enhance your physical skills."

"Really?  I had no idea you were one of the Royal Guardians!" Mario exclaimed, his face beaming with excitement.  "If that's the case, let's get started."

"As you wish.  For starters, I want you to do pushups.  Now," Rhea commanded in a low voice.  "You will continue until I tell you to stop."

"Pushups?  Isn't that a little... old fashioned?"

"If you want to reach Ipos' level, we'll have to start with the basics," Rhea insisted, her arms crossed.  "Unless this is too easy for you.  Ares, fetch Mario some cinder blocks.  We can use them to 'improve' his training environment by weighing him down."




"Ugh...  I think I'm already lost," Luigi sighed, wandering alone through the dark depths of the prison chambers.  "Ares is right: this place is a lot larger than I thought.  I hope I can find my way back...  Otherwise I'll end up missing the entire battle... and then everyone will go back to the Mushroom Kingdom and I'll be left alone with a bunch of dead demons and then..."  He took a deep breath.  "Calm down, Luigi... Stay positive...  It's not like I'm going to run into a demon or anything-"

He was silenced by a violent tremor that originated from a nearby cell.

Luigi gulped.  "Uh... Maybe I should go..."

"You...  Come closer..." a low, raspy voice commanded.  Trembling with fear, the plumber instead chose to back away.  "Come here...  Or I'll kill you."

"Of course!  I just love talking to strangers," Luigi yelped, peering into the opened cell from which the voice was beckoning.  "Yup, especially very ominous... very tough-looking strangers... that hang out in abandoned jail cells..."

"I haven't seen you around here before.  Who are you?"  Lazing about on the cold stone floor, Luigi spotted a muscular, middle-aged man with a mop of black hair and a five o'clock shadow.  He wore tattered black sweatpants and a bloodstained, sleeveless white shirt, and his dull, brown eyes never opened more than halfway. "My name's Gaea," he said with a yawn after clearing his throat.

"My name is L- Luigi.  I, uh... just got a promotion, so, um... I guess we'll be seeing each other a bit more often..."

"Ah, good.  I'm glad that you're a comrade; I really wasn't in the mood for a fight," Gaea sighed with relief.  "S'been years since I've had to do any work around here... and I'd like to keep it that way.  See, most of the Grimnexes and other miscellaneous demons hang out either above or below this floor, which is entirely made up of prison cells.  There really is no need for anyone to be here, so this is where I come when I want to avoid Zagan's assignments.  Of course, this has to stay between us.  Don't tell the boss."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Luigi chuckled, beginning to feel at ease.

"So why are you all the way out here?"

"Well, I guess I'm here to be alone, just like you," Luigi answered with a shrug.  "Only, I'm not trying to run away from my responsibilities.  The princess' execution is only a few days away, and King Zagan's plan is going to require all of us to fight...  I just want to be prepared.  Right now, I'm too weak to protect the people I care about..."

"You know what, Luigi?  I'm starting to like you," Gaea declared with a friendly smile.  "I feel like we have a lot in common.  Deep down, we both want to avoid our duties.  The only difference is that you resist the temptations of indolence, while I do not.  I know I can trust you with what I'm about to show you.  It's the second reason why I'm here all alone."  He curled his right hand into a fist, and it began to glow with a green aura.  His right arm now quivering with power, he gently touched his supercharged fist to the floor.  All at once, an earsplitting boom reverberated throughout the corridor as chunks of debris shot upward from the point that Gaea's fist had made contact with.

Awestruck, Luigi remained silent for several moments before collecting his thoughts.  "Incredible...  How did you do that...?  You barely touched the floor, and yet..."

"There's not much time left...  In only four days, not even I will be safe from Zagan's orders.  I've gotten rusty over the years, so I decided to spend the next few days in seclusion to practice my aura manipulation."

"Your... what?  Could you, uh... teach me?" Luigi requested, clearly impressed by Gaea's talent.

Gaea was taken aback by this inquisition.  "Teach you...?  Eh, I doubt I'd be a very good instructor...  Besides, not just anyone can learn to wield this technique..."

Luigi fell to his hands and knees.  "Please...  Unless I find some way to become useful during these next four days... my brother... and all of my comrades are going to have to pull my weight...  I don't want to be a burden to them...  I want to be on the front lines, fighting side by side with them in what may be the most crucial battle in history."

"You...  You have a brother?" Gaea inquired with sudden interest.

Luigi nodded.  "An older brother...  He's always two steps ahead of me, taking on greater challenges and facing off against tougher opponents...  It's almost as if I'm constantly being left behind...  I just can't keep up..."

"I see...  I was correct.  We have much more in common than you could ever realize.  I would be willing to teach you about aura manipulation, but... in only four days, how much progress could you possibly make?"

"I'll practice nonstop until the day of the execution!  Please, just teach me..." Luigi pleaded.

Deep in thought, Gaea did not speak for several minutes.  At last, he came to a decision.  "...Very well.  This is seriously going to cut into my relaxation time, but for someone like you, I don't mind putting forth a bit of effort.  Listen carefully.  Whether it may be Elemental Energy or Iniquity, all living creatures have some form of energy coursing through their bodies.  When used, this power circulates around the outside of the body.  This is called an aura.  You may have noticed such an aura in previous battles, especially when experiencing extreme emotions.  In truth, you can actually learn to manipulate the flow of your aura to perform feats that would be otherwise impossible.  For example, if you concentrate your aura into the smallest amount of space possible, its striking power is enhanced substantially.  That's why my fist did so much damage despite how gently it touched the floor.  Do you follow me?"

"I think so," Luigi responded with a hesitant nod.  "Maybe it'll make more sense when I actually try it.  So, how do I do this whole 'aura manipulation' thing?"

"It cannot be put into words.  You'll have to feel it out for yourself.  Whether or not you can figure it out within the next few days is up to fate.  You'd better get started.  I'll offer you whatever guidance I can."




After several hours of intense preparation, most of the heroes retired for the night.  Only Mario, Ares, and Rhea remained awake. "I think that's enough for now," Rhea declared.  Mario exhaled a deep breath and fell flat on his chest, his arms throbbing with pain.  Ready for a good night's sleep, his eyes gradually began to shut.  "Mario, what do you think you're doing?  You just finished warming up. Stand on your feet so the next phase of your training can began."

"Rhea, shouldn't he get some rest?  If he doesn't sleep at all during these next few nights, he'll be too exhausted to put his training to good use," Ares reasoned.  "Perhaps we should allow him to rest for a bit."

"Given the severity of our predicament, we cannot afford to waste any time until Mario has completed the training program," Rhea stated firmly.  "Mario, think back to your battle with Ares.  Don't you find it strange that your wounds have healed so quickly?  It was my healing expertise that got you back on your feet.  We're going to take advantage of my talent and work you to the brink of death for the next four days.  There will be no time to sleep, rest, or even eat.  Your only luxury will be a single glass of water per day.  On the night before the execution, I will heal your body of its fatigue and injuries, and you will even be permitted to sleep.  But until then, stand up!"

His arms trembling with exhaustion, Mario had to summon all of his might just to push himself onto his feet.  He grinned wearily.  "These next few days are gonna suck..."

"Yes.  Yes they are," Rhea agreed smugly.  "Now, it's time for you to spar with Ares.  Don't finish each other off, but don't hold back, either.  You will both continue until Mario can go for an hour without being struck by Ares.  Begin."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 13: The Execution)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on March 06, 2011, 01:46:48 PM
Chapter 13: The Execution

Impending Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N92V8ZFyzac)

"And that basically sums up the situation," Slade concluded, walking beside Bowser, Lorne, Mark, and Luke through the depths of the Underwhere.

"Your father is putting his faith in us," Lorne added.  "We cannot allow the demons to take control of the Nexus.  With access to every dimension in existence, there's no telling what kind of damage they could do."

"I can't believe Mario thought that these two brats could actually be of use," Bowser grumbled.  "They didn't even live through Crimson's invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom.  What makes him think that they can do any better against the Grimnexes?"

"We lasted a hell of a lot longer than you did," Mark retorted angrily.  "You and your entire army were wiped out way before Crimson defeated us at Mushroom Castle.  The only difference was that you managed to survive, likely because you deserted your men to save your own hide."

"And we're not brats.  Mark is sixteen, and I'm thirteen.  We're old enough to take care of ourselves," Luke reminded him.

"But did you two beat the Upsilon Grimnex?" Bowser inquired, throwing his head back with laughter.  "I didn't think so."

"Upsilon?  That's hardly worth gloating about.  Slade and I defeated the Lambda Grimnex with relative ease," Lorne recalled with a smug grin.  "Besides, Mark and Luke haven't even had the chance to fight a Grimnex yet.  For all we know, they could be the strongest out of all of us."

"I guess we'll know in a few days," Bowser grumbled bitterly.

"Ugh...  Why did Mario leave me with such an immature group?" Slade muttered under his breath.  "The sooner the day of the execution arrives, the better."




It was the dawn of the third day, and Mario's relentless training continued.  Breathing heavily, he weaved, ducked, and jumped past the ruthless axe swings of his opponent.  Ares, having every intention of striking Mario, began to mix in a few punches and kicks as well.  The Mushroom Hero took a step backward and found himself up against a stone wall.  He was cornered.  With a triumphant roar, Ares lunged at the plumber and swung his axe horizontally.  He blinked in confusion.  The plumber had vanished.

"Over here," Mario chuckled, standing on top of Ares' axe.  Before the Grimnex could react, Mario delivered a swift kick to his head.  Ares toppled onto the floor, and Mario landed nimbly beside him.  He turned to face Rhea.  "Time's up.  It's been an hour, hasn't it?"

Rhea nodded.  "Excellent.  You've gone an entire hour without being struck once.  Congratulations; you have surpassed Ares."

"It only took ya 36 hours," Ares groaned, gasping for air.  "Don't you ever get tired...?"

Everything is going as planned.  I doubt Mario has ever been in a combat situation for this long.  The extreme demand for energy has caused him to instinctively learn to control his breathing and conserve energy, Rhea thought.  "Now, we shall begin the final step of your training.  This exercise is almost exactly the same as the previous one."  She drew her sword and took a fighting stance.  "The only difference is that you'll be fighting Ares and me."




His fist beginning to emit a greenish glow, Luigi smashed his fist against the stone floor and created a dent that was merely half the size of the one Gaea had made a few days ago.  It was undeniable that he had made progress, but Luigi was not satisfied in the least bit.  He winced in pain, his knuckles bruised and bloody.

"You're not very good at this, are you?" Gaea inquired with a yawn.  "I barely touched the ground, and you hit it with full force.  Yet the crater I made was twice the size of yours.  Maybe you should just give up."

"No," Luigi refused, clenching his teeth as he punched the floor yet again.  "I'm not gonna stop... not for you... or anyone else...  Nothing's gonna prevent me from helping my brother..."  He raised his fist once more and slammed it into the crater he had made with his previous punch.  Again and again and again, Luigi did not relent.

I've never seen someone as cowardly as him demonstrate such tenacity.  I didn't tell him this, but he's mastered the technique to a degree that took me three years to reach, Gaea thought.  If he keeps this up, he may just be the first to fully master aura manipulation in a matter of days.




Mushroom Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/de663555-8bd0-469d-ab0f-700f64296001/Mushroom-Hero)

During the next 36 hours, Mario braved the most grueling hardships of his life.  He had been brought to the brink of exhaustion, fighting against a Grimnex and a Royal Guardian without any breaks to eat or sleep.  His clothes were rugged and full of rips, and his body was covered in cuts, scrapes, and bruises.  Yet, even as his fatigue grew, so did his accuracy, his striking power, and his skill.  Nearly an hour had passed since he had last been hit.

"Don't give him any slack, Ares!" Rhea demanded, rushing at Mario with her blade held high above her head.  She hurled herself at the plumber, slashing at him with the pinpoint accuracy that only a Royal Guardian could possess.  Ares joined in on the scuffle, keeping Mario on his toes with his furious axe swings.  With the two demons swinging at him with everything they had, Mario gracefully dodged each individual strike with ease.  His movements were narrow and precise, wasting as little energy was possible.  When he saw an opening, he lunged at Ares and dealt a right hook to his gut.  He then wrenched the axe free from the Grimnex's hand and hurled it at the oncoming Rhea, buying him some additional time to beat down Ares.  He struck the Grimnex with countless blazing-fast punches and kicks before turning around and sidestepping a sword swing from Rhea.

"Time's up," Mario chuckled, gently tapping his fist on the back of Rhea's head.  "Neither of you could even touch me once in the past hour."  After receiving a nod of approval from Rhea, Mario collapsed onto the floor from exhaustion.




"Tomorrow's the day," Princess Peach breathed, admiring the rain from a balcony at the peak of Grimnex Palace.  The black sky was occasionally lit with flashes of lightning, and the rainfall grew heavier with each passing minute.  As she gazed into an abyss of nothingness, her dull gray dress soaking wet, her mind was filled with muddled memories of the past.  "Rain...  It reminds me of that day, the first day we ever met...  Bowser had kidnapped me for the very first time, and then he came to save me..."  She closed her eyes, struggling to remember the identity of her rescuer.  "Who... who is he...?  Every time I close my eyes, I see him..."

"Princess, how are you feeling?" Ipos inquired, emerging from a nearby staircase.  "You know what tomorrow is, don't you?"

She nodded.  "Yes.  I will serve as a sacrifice for our fallen king, the Phoenix."

"Correct.  Now, please return to your room.  You wouldn't want to catch a cold the day before the ceremony, would you?"

"Ipos...  This hand, is there something missing on it...?" Peach asked, waving her ring finger in front of the Grimnex's face.  "This finger...  It feels... empty..."

"You're simply imagining things," Ipos assured her, quick to dismiss her suspicions.  "That's enough small talk.  Return to your room immediately and get some sleep.  Tomorrow, we will change the face of every realm in existence."




Royal Guardian Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/d76d8906-c603-40a9-9bc0-37232e1ea73d/Royal-Guardian-Theme)

That morning, Mario and his comrades awoke especially early.  Their minds were all focused on one thing: Princess Peach's execution.  Four days had come and gone, and now it was time for them to test their might against the remaining Grimnexes.

Mario sat up and yawned.  "That was great...  I can't remember the last time I slept so peacefully.  And my wounds are all healed, too.  Thanks, Rhea."

"So, you're finally awake?" Rhea groaned.  "I still don't understand how humans can remain dormant for such extensive periods of time.  Two hours of sleep was more than enough for the two of us."

"Today's the day," Ares informed Mario solemnly.  "There isn't much time left.  Ipos came by only a few minutes ago with orders to assume my position.  Rhea was able to use her magic to hide the both of you, but regardless...  The Grimnexes are preparing to strike.  Now is not the time to falter."

"If the Grimnexes are gathering their forces, then we'd better assemble ours as well," Mario affirmed.  "Luigi, Ace, and the Wario Brothers should be standing by at their designated locations.  Aren't you two going to meet up with them?"

"Ares will, but I'm afraid that this is where we must part," Rhea apologized.  "Before I can assist you any further, I must locate Swift.  As the only other remaining Royal Guardian, his presence is crucial to our success."

"Now Mario, are you sure that you don't want us to send someone with you?"  Ares inquired with a frown.

Mario shook his head.  "That won't be necessary.  You of all people should understand that I won't let anything stand between the princess and me."

Ares grinned.  "Of course."

The Mushroom Hero kneeled before Rhea.  "Thank you for all that you've done."  Having said their goodbyes, Mario and Ares turned and marched off into the depths of the prison chambers.

"Do not waver, my child.  End the nightmarish curse that we have unwillingly passed down," Rhea whispered, gazing off into the distance long after Mario and Ares had departed.




"I'm impressed by how much you've progressed," Gaea commended Luigi, who was making preparations for his departure.  "To master aura manipulation to such a degree in such a short period of time... you must truly care for your brother's safety.  Farewell, my demon comrade.  I look forward to fighting alongside you in the near future."

"Yeah... heh, me too," Luigi chuckled nervously.  "Thanks for everything.  Hopefully I can finally be of use to my brother..."  With that, he turned and walked off in search of his allies.

"Such an honorable man," Gaea mumbled, now sitting alone in his cell.  "He understands true bravery.  Despite his fears, he still has the courage to stand up for his loved ones.  If only all demons could follow his example..."

"There you are, Gaea," echoed a familiar voice.  "I've been looking all over for you.  You really shouldn't be down here, considering what day it is.  From now on, you should try to set a better example.  You may be ranked as the Epsilon Grimnex for the time being, but your irresponsibility may just come back to haunt you someday."

"Take it easy, Ipos," Gaea yawned.  "I was just giving one of our demon soldiers a few lessons."

"Very well.  Now come with me."




The Phoenix Salvation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8aUZz4ReG8)

Grimnex Palace, a fortress built atop the ruins of the battle in which the Phoenix had been overthrown, stood in the very center of the Nightmare Abyss.  The first floor was one of absolute darkness, an area that only Grimnexes with the most refined senses could traverse.  The second floor, a colossal labyrinth of prison cells housing those unfortunate enough to have been captured, was a place in which Grimnexes rarely dwelled- with the exception of Gaea and the designated prison guard.  Above these two floors was the Colosseum, a massive, circular stadium that spanned upward for the length of four floors.  For the most part, its design was true to that of the Romans, with its overlaying architectural arcades in which windows were placed at constant intervals.  There were no spectators to witness the upcoming ceremony; thousands of unoccupied seats lined the middle two floors.  The bottom floor was clearly a battlefield, and the top floor- the highest point in all of Grimnex Palace- was the throne from which King Zagan waited patiently for the ritual to commence.  Etched into the stone floor before the mighty Beta Grimnex was a circle bordered with strange markings and symbols.  A triangle with a phoenix at its center was inscribed within this circle.  It was on top of this peculiar drawing that Princess Peach stood, surrounded by three other Grimnexes: Venus, Gaea, and Jack.

A gradient of pink, purple, and red was visible through the hundreds of windows bordering the Colosseum- the closest thing that the demons had to a sunrise.  "It seems that we are all here.  It is time for the Phoenix Salvation to begin," King Zagan declared, his face illuminated by the incoming light.  His cold, foreboding presence struck fear into the hearts of even the highest ranking Grimnexes.  He was a tall demon covered entirely in bloodstained armor, with only two slits in his helmet that revealed his soulless black eyes.  "To begin the ceremony, Princess Peach must perish while standing atop the mark of the Phoenix.  Venus, why don't you carry out the execution?  After all, you are my second in command."

"As you wish, my lord," Venus obeyed, removing a dagger from a pouch strapped to her waist.  She was a beautiful young woman with flowing black hair and silver body armor.  Her emotionless, black eyes were nearly identical to those of King Zagan and Princess Peach, as if they had all somehow shared the same tragic fate.  "You should feel honored to die in the name of the Phoenix.  Do you have any last words?"

"Consider this not an execution, but a sacrifice," the princess replied.  "Let it be known that I willingly accept death for the sake of our lord.  I have chosen to embrace death as a demon, rather than struggle to live on as a human.  That is all."

Venus nodded.  "Farewell, brave princess."  She pressed the tip of her blade to Peach's heart and gradually applied pressure.  As the knife began to draw blood, a burning sensation scorched the back of Venus' hand.  The blade clattered to the floor, and the five of them whirled around.

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

Standing at the main entrance to the bottom floor of the Colosseum was Mario, smoke emitting from his opened palm.  He cupped his hands over his mouth and called out to the group of demons, who towered several floors above him.  "Hey guys, nice party!  I really wish I didn't have to crash it."

"Who is this imbecile?" Venus inquired, glaring at the Mushroom Hero.

"Ugh, I told you to leave me alone!" Peach screamed in disgust.  "I don't want to be rescued, you jerk!"

"Ouch, that was pretty harsh," Mario chuckled.  "Well, it doesn't really matter to me whether you want to be saved or not.  I'm coming up there, and as soon as I'm finished with your new demon pals, I'm gonna take you home."

"Demon pals?" Venus parroted.  "Whoever this man is, he isn't very bright.  Who does he think he is, interrupting the ritual in such an arrogant and insolent manner?!  He's mocking us, and I don't like it one bit."

Zagan stifled a giggle.  "Ah Mario...  He's just as brazen as always.  I was eager to see how he'd make his grand entrance, but I must admit that I was expecting something a bit more... subtle."

"He really doesn't know who he's dealing with, does he?" Gaea wondered aloud.  "Even so...  That was actually kind of cool..."

"He won't get very far," Jack reminded them.  "Or did you forget who was guarding the stairway?"

As Mario approached the long and winding staircase that led upward, a pale-skinned demon dressed in baggy black pants and a silver, long-sleeved shirt emerged from the second floor and stood firmly in his path.  His hair was a mop of gray, and his bangs partially hid his heartless sapphire eyes.  Strapped to his waist was a long dagger sheathed in a jet black scabbard.  "This is as far as you go.  Did you honestly think you could halt the Phoenix Salvation without first defeating me?"

"Nah, that's one of the reasons I came here," Mario declared.  "I wouldn't dare set foot outside of the Nightmare Vault without first settling the score with you."

Ipos heaved a deep, disappointed sigh.  "Fool.  You claimed that you would save the princess, but here I stand before you.  How could you possibly hope to reach her before she is executed?"

"What are you talking about?  I can't do all the work," Mario snickered, gazing upward at the top floor of the Colosseum.

"What a moron," Venus mumbled, bending down to pick up her knife.  "What did he expect to accomplish by warning us of his arrival from all the way down there?  Even if Ipos hadn't been there to stop him, we still could have easily pierced her heart before he climbed all of those stairs."  She turned to face Peach and gasped.  "The princess!  She's gone!"

"A distraction?" Zagan realized, his eyes widening slightly.  "Not bad, Mario.  Not bad at all.  You even caught me off guard by acting in accordance with your past displays of arrogance."  He pointed at Luigi, who was sprinting away with Peach tucked under his arm.  "Gaea, take care of the green one!  Don't let him escape with the princess!"

Gaea peered at the familiar figure.  "Could that be...?  No..."

"Release me, this instant!" Princess Peach demanded, flailing her arms and legs.  "What will it take to get you to listen to me?!"

"Should I pursue them as well?" Venus inquired.  "After all, I was the one who allowed the princess to slip away.  It is my mess to answer for."

"None of you are going anywhere," Ares called, emerging from behind a nearby column with Ace, Wario, and Waluigi at his side, "at least, not until you get through us."

Mastermind (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99f57f05-bc3b-4483-af77-f33950bf039d/Mastermind)

"Ares, it's so nice of you to join us," Zagan greeted him with mock friendliness.  "I was wondering when you'd show up with your band of misfits."

"Then...  Y- You knew all along?  B- But how?" Ares stammered, clutching the handle of his axe.

"Even if I hadn't foreseen your betrayal several months ago, the fact that Mario is still alive is more than enough proof," Zagan explained.  "You were always so rebellious, wanting to shed the blood of anyone who possessed even the slightest bit of power.  I knew that Mario would bring at least one Grimnex to his side, and when you volunteered to become the prison guard, I understood exactly what you were up to."

"If that's the case, why didn't you stop me?!" Ares exploded, shocked by how much King Zagan knew about his treachery.  "What could you have to gain by-?"

"More than you could ever understand," Zagan answered with overwhelming confidence.  "It's amusing, how little you all know about me.  All will be revealed very soon, but until then...  You'll just have to do your best to compete with Venus and Joker, who, as I am sure you are well aware, far outrank you.  In the meantime, I think I'll sit back and watch as these battles unfold before me."

Meanwhile, Luigi stopped at the opposite end of the Colosseum and gently placed Peach on her feet.  "This is as far as we can go.  Otherwise, we'd just be running closer to King Zagan.  Now, I just need to find a staircase that leads below...  Before you try to escape, just listen to me.  The Grimnexes are just gonna kill you.  Why wouldn't you want to come with us?  What did they do to you?"

"They showed me who I truly was," Peach responded bitterly.  "It is my duty to give my life for the Phoenix.  I know that trying to escape from you is fruitless, but rest assured, someone will come after me.  And when he arrives, you'll be sorry."

"I'm not here just to cower in the corner, you know," Luigi snapped.  "If a Grimnex comes looking for you, it'll be up to me to stop him."

"Those are pretty bold words coming from such a deceptive coward," Gaea hissed through clenched teeth.  "I can't believe you would shamelessly lie to me just to obtain more power.  I thought you were better than that, Luigi.  All of that garbage about protecting your brother... it was all a ruse...  You even had me convinced that we were comrades...  I never thought it would come to this."

Luigi turned around to see his former mentor towering above him.  Slowly backing away from the Grimnex, he attempted to explain himself.  "Listen, Gaea.  I wasn't lying to you.  Look at the man down there standing before Ipos.  He's my brother, Mario."

"Mario..." Peach whispered, closing her eyes in an attempt to remember the face behind that name.  "Why does that name... bring back so many memories...?"

"I know we may be on opposite sides, but that doesn't mean that we're not still friends.  Please... just let Peach go..." Luigi pleaded, falling to his hands and knees.  "I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to..."

Gaea remained silent for a moment.  At last, he sighed as he made up his mind.  "Because you both seem to harbor such deep feelings for this Mario, I think I'll permit you to watch this battle to its conclusion before escorting you both back.  I want to see if the legendary Mushroom Hero is worthy of his reputation."

Luigi thanked him and leaned over the edge of a nearby balcony.  "Hey, Bro!  We're all watching you from up here, so don't let us down!" he called to his brother, who was about to square off against Ipos.  "Peach is safe for the time being, so just focus on Ipos!"

Mario locked eyes with his coldhearted adversary.  "Looks like it's just you and me, Ipos.  It's time for a little payback."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 14: Fallen Angel)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on March 12, 2011, 04:23:01 PM
Chapter 14: Fallen Angel

In a matter of seconds, the Colosseum had been overtaken by chaos and turmoil.  King Zagan sat silently on his throne, pensively observing the series of battles that had unfolded before him.  The first was a conflict between old comrades as Ares and Venus stared each other down.  A short distance from there, Ace and the Wario Brothers had encountered Jack, the Zeta Grimnex.  On the opposite end of the Colosseum, Luigi and Gaea were at a stalemate, as were the two warriors taking part in the main attraction: Mario and Ipos.

"What is it that has driven you to such lengths?  Why have you come all the way here, despite knowing that the princess has lost the will to live on?" Ipos inquired, his stoic demeanor barely keeping his irritation in check.  "She no longer loves you.  The rings that you exchanged belong to me now, and the vows that you made are null and void!"

"Because you've forced this change upon her," Mario answered firmly.  "You did this to her, and I'll risk everything to bring her back to the way she was before.  I haven't forgotten about our first encounter.  She was in tears, Ipos.  I could see the look of pained desperation in her eyes.  She wanted to be saved, but not at the cost of my life.  She sacrificed herself in an attempt to protect me, and she pushed me away in order to discourage me from coming after her.  We can't even begin to comprehend the kind of pain she must have felt.  You put her through hell.  What more of a reason do I need to put my own life on the line?"

"Mario...  I...  I just wish I could remember..." Peach whispered, closing her eyes in a futile attempt to recall her past.

Mario vs. Ipos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnB25KVyynA)

Ipos cracked his knuckles and locked eyes with Mario.  "One hit.  In all of our encounters thus far, you've only managed to land a single decent hit."

"Thanks for the reminder!" Mario snapped, initiating the duel by sprinting toward his foe at an unusually fast pace.

"He's gotten quicker," Ipos noted, throwing a punch at the oncoming plumber.  However, by the time the Grimnex's fist reached its intended target, Mario was nowhere to be found.  Ipos whirled around just in time to be struck by a flaming right hook.  He toppled backward, nearly falling to the ground, until he regained his footing by performing a backward handspring.  He wept a thin stream of blood from his lip.  "Hmm...  You're different."

"You can't hold back this time, Ipos," Mario chuckled.  "I've changed.  Don't think for a second that you can beat me with your bare fists."

Ipos drew the long dagger sheathed at his waist and pointed the tip at Mario.  "Very well.  This time, I'll treat you as a true adversary."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Mario responded with wry grin.  The Mushroom Hero cupped his hands together and molded a Fireball into the shape of a sword.  This time, Ipos made the first move, approaching Mario from above with a downward slash of his sword.  The plumber blocked the Grimnex's blade with his own, but gasped as a second dagger materialized in Ipos' free hand.  Remembering their previous encounter all too well, Mario leapt backward and narrowly avoided the tip of his opponent's sword.  "Heh, I forgot all about your ability to clone your sword."

"You'd do well to remember it from this point on," Ipos warned him coldly as he pursued him with his dual blades held high.  Mario parried Ipos' first sword with his Fireball blade, but the impact was enough to douse the flames that comprised the Mushroom Hero's only weapon.  The Grimnex instantaneously continued his assault with a swing of his second dagger, which Mario deflected with a carefully executed left punch before lunging at his foe with a Thunderball-augmented right hook.  About to be struck for the second time, Ipos swiftly batted Mario's fist away with the hilt of his dagger and performed a roundhouse kick that sent him tumbling onto his back.

"He's good," Mario whispered, rolling to the side as Ipos stabbed one of his swords into the floor.  He clambered onto his feet and nimbly dodged each of the Grimnex's vicious sword swings.

"You may have gotten faster, but your blade is still just as feeble," Ipos informed him with a chilling frown.  "This time, even if you attempt to defend yourself with one of those delicate Fireball swords, I'll simply slice right through it."  His two daggers merged into one, and he charged at the plumber with the blade gripped in both hands.

"I figured that I'd have to come up with something new," Mario chuckled, his palms glowing with every color of the rainbow.  He cupped his hands together, and the light emitting from his hands began to form into the shape of a sword.  Now only a few feet away from his target, Ipos brought his blade crashing down at full force.  Even amidst all the multitude of battles occurring within the Colosseum, a metal clang could be heard by all.

"What is this?" Ipos demanded, his arms trembling as he tried to overpower Mario's new blade.

"My Tri-Elemental Blade," Mario declared with pride.  "It combines my Fireball, Iceball, and Thunderball techniques into a single weapon.  I start by creating a blade out of ice, and then I melt the outside of the sword with fire.  With a thin layer of water surrounding it, I can power up the blade even further by adding some thunder.  See, ice by itself isn't a good conductor of electricity, but water is perfect for the job."

"Ingenious," Ipos whispered, ending the struggle between the two swords by leaping backward.  "The ice serves as a solid, sturdy structure that cannot be easily broken.  And combined with fire, you can create water which, when mixed with electricity, can be quite deadly."

"That's right," Mario nodded.  "With this blade, I can finally stand toe-to-toe with you."

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

"We'll see about that," Ipos retorted, lunging at his opponent with the tip of his sword.  Countless metallic clangs reverberated throughout the Colosseum as the two warriors engaged in a deadly swordfight.  They sliced and parried each other with pinpoint accuracy, and sparks flew in all directions with neither of them letting up for even a second.  After several minutes, Ipos managed to slip past Mario's defenses and graze his waistline.  The Mushroom Hero swiftly retreated backward several steps, but was pursued by Ipos, whose attacks had suddenly grown several times more aggressive.  Now on the defensive, Mario clutched his wound with his free hand as he struggled to keep up with the Grimnex's relentless sword strikes.

Such speed...  I can't even counterattack, Mario thought, gradually being pushed back by Ipos' violent assault.  At last, he felt his back hit the wall.  Before Ipos could take advantage of his cornered prey, the Mushroom Hero charged forward and clashed swords with him.  Gripping his Tri-Elemental Blade with both hands, Mario's arms trembled as he put all of his effort into overcoming Ipos' dagger.  Ipos, holding his weapon with only one hand, effortlessly pushed back with enough resistance to prevent Mario from gaining any ground.

"Your new sword is impressive.  However, a weapon is useless unless the one who wields it possesses power," Ipos lectured him.  "Your efforts are in vain.  In truth, I pity you and your foolish friends.  We are among the highest echelon of Grimnexes, beings that once competed against Zeus for the Terranean throne.  You are nothing."

Mario angrily stared into Ipos' cold, condescending eyes. Gritting his teeth together, he opposed Ipos with all of his might, eventually managing to push the Grimnex back a few steps.  At last, the Mushroom Hero broke the stalemate with a fierce swing of his sword.  He rushed forward and dealt a subsequent slash, narrowly slicing Ipos' right cheek.  "You keep looking down on me, expecting me to break...  I hate to tell you this, but I'm not gonna give in.  You can play as many mind games as you want.  They're not gonna work."

"You may say that now, but rest assured... the worst is yet to come," Ipos admonished.

Meanwhile, from atop a balcony on the fourth floor of the Colosseum, Luigi, Peach, and Gaea were watching the duel intently.  "Get him, Bro!" Luigi cheered before cupping his hands over his mouth seconds later.  Oops...  I'd better not attract too much attention...  If anyone comes to lend Gaea a hand, I'm screwed...

"I must say, this Mario is quite the formidable opponent," Gaea admitted, stroking his chin.  "I feel sorry for Ipos.  Fighting him must be such a pain."

"What do you mean?" Luigi inquired.  "Are you saying that Ipos is gonna lose?"

"Heh, no way," Gaea chuckled, dismissing the idea as if it were a joke.  "But I know all too well the type of person that Mario is.  In fact, you're the same way.  Both of you possess the kind of tenacity that even Ipos has trouble conquering.  Even after your brother realizes that he is entirely outclassed, he'll continue fighting until the very end.  That's why I sympathize with Ipos...  No matter how much stronger he may be, this fight isn't ending anytime soon."

"So what next, Ipos?  Are we gonna resume that swordfight of ours?" Mario inquired with a grin.

Ipos did not respond.  Instead, his body began to vibrate uncontrollably as an exact replica of himself emerged from his front side.  Three more clones stepped outside of Ipos' body, resulting in grand total of five Grimnexes for Mario to face.  "Why the look of surprise?  Did you think that my sword was the only thing that I could multiply?"

Sweat trickling down his face, Mario could only stagger backward in shock.  "There's no way..."

One of the Ipos clones turned and began to approach the nearby staircase.  "It seems that your brother has interrupted the Phoenix Salvation.  Please excuse me while I ensure that the execution proceeds smoothly."

"Not until this fight is over," Mario growled, attempting to pursue him.  However, four Ipos clones stood firmly in his path.  "I see...  That's real cute.  Now get outta my way."

"Perhaps you did not hear him," the four Ipos duplicates chanted in unison.  "By the order of King Zagan, Princess Peach must be executed.  Your brother will also meet the same fate as punishment for his intervention."

Struggle to Protect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NGYR3ro2HQ&feature=related)

Mario glanced upward and saw that Ipos had already reached the second floor.  With a cry of desperation, he formed an Ultra Fireball in his left hand and hurled it at the Ipos doppelgangers.  The Mushroom Hero dashed around the inferno and toward the stairway, but a blade emerged from the fire to block his path.  The flames expanded and surrounded Mario, turning from red to jet black as they did so.  "What happened...?"

"You may possess Elemental Energy, but demons possess Iniquity.  With enough Iniquity, we were able to overpower your flames and make them our own.  The transition in color from red to black signifies this change," Ipos explained, though Mario could not see past the black flames that had nearly engulfed him.  "You've been blinded by the darkness of our Iniquity.  This is where your struggle ends, unless you plan to fight off all four of us while enclosed by our inferno."

"You just read my mind," Mario retorted, squinting his eyes in a futile attempt to see past the black fire that concealed the Ipos clones' presence.  His Tri-Elemental Blade still grasped firmly in his right hand, the plumber desperately fought off Ipos' sword slashes, which were coming at him from every conceivable angle.  "Damn, these flames are turning out to be a real pain.  Sorry, but they've gotta go."  With an Ultra Iceball wrapped tightly in his left hand, Mario summoned a frigid gust of wind in order to douse the flames of Iniquity.

"Use your head, Mario," Ipos sighed.  "These flames won't vanish unless your Elemental Energy can overpower our Iniquity."

"Hmm...  Now there's an idea," Mario whispered, smirking as he stroked his chin.  "If Elemental Energy alone isn't enough, why don't I just add some Iniquity?  I hope my demon ancestor won't mind if I borrow some."  He created a second Iceball- only this time, instead of possessing its normal bluish tint, the Iceball was black.  In a furious torrent of wind, the dark flames faded away, leaving behind nothing but ash and smoke.  Mario glanced back and forth, searching for his four opponents.  They were nowhere to be found.

"For a moment, I forgot all about your demon ancestry," Ipos admitted as he and his three clones descended from high above.  They quickly ganged up on Mario, with two duplicates restraining his arms and a third gripping him in a full nelson.  The Mushroom Hero thrashed wildly about in an attempt to break free, but the Ipos doppelgangers did not budge an inch.

I'm running out of time, Mario thought, glaring at the Ipos replica that was ascending the staircase toward Peach and Luigi.  He had already passed the third floor and was halfway up the next staircase.

"I understand that you fear for the princesses' safety, but that is no longer any of your concern," the original Ipos stated icily as he pointed his blade at Mario.  "With my copies restraining you, there's no chance of escape."

"Get outta there, Bro," Luigi mumbled, unaware of the approaching danger.

"Gaea, I had no idea that you were here.  It seems that you're slacking off, as usual," Ipos' clone sighed as he finally reached the fourth floor of the Colosseum.  "Stand aside."

"I did promise these two that the princess could live until the conclusion of your battle with Mario," Gaea confessed with a shrug.  "But I really don't feel like getting into an argument with you, especially for the sake of this traitor."

"Mario is about to die, anyway.  There's no reason to see how the fight ends if you already know the outcome."

At the bottom floor of the Colosseum, Ipos was only a few steps away from ending the Mushroom Hero's life.  With a forward thrust of his blade, the Grimnex lunged at Mario with every intention of killing him.  Adrenaline rushing through his body, the plumber jerked his head backward and struck the bridge of an Ipos doppelganger's nose.  He then wrapped each of his palms around the heads of two adjacent clones and smashed them into each other.  Now free to evade the real Ipos' sword, Mario dove out of the way with only a fraction of a second to spare.  Instead of piercing Mario's chest, Ipos found his dagger wedged inside of the duplicate that had stood behind him.

Mario climbed onto his feet and exhaled a deep sigh of relief.  "That was a close one..."

"Yet again, you've managed to cheat death," Ipos observed calmly as his mortally wounded copy faded away.  "No matter.  We have all the time in the world.  I'll slowly wear you down, until your bag of tricks is finally empty."  From Ipos and his two remaining clones, three more copies stepped forward.  "The six of us still stand in your way, and my seventh duplicate is preparing to kill the princess.  In just a few moments, the reason that you continue to fight me will cease to exist."

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"Hey Ipos, do these look familiar to you?" Mario inquired, holding out his hand to the Grimnex.  Resting gently on his palm were two golden rings- the rings that Mario and Peach had exchanged at their wedding.  "You were treating them so carelessly.  I couldn't resist snatching them from your pocket."  His face grew stern as he slipped one of them onto his ring finger.  "These rings aren't meant to be held by anyone but the princess and me.  Someone like you has no right to lay a finger on them!"

"How could he have stolen them from me?" Ipos wondered aloud, rifling through his pockets.  "Those rings lost their meaning long ago.  I can't believe you actually took the time to steal them back."  He and his six clones created duplicates of their swords and sprinted at the Mushroom Hero.  "Regardless, you cannot hope to parry twelve blades at once with that single elemental dagger of yours."

"Watch me!" Mario shot back, grasping his Tri-Elemental Blade with both hands.  With his sword held high above his head, the plumber charged directly at the oncoming Grimnexes.  As if augmented by his sheer determination, the Tri-Elemental Blade extended to nearly three times its original size.  Without even bothering to defend himself, Mario relentlessly slashed at every duplicate that came his way.

"Such recklessness," Ipos gasped.  He has no concern for his own safety.  Never have I seen someone charge into an outnumbered battle with such carelessness, and yet... it's actually working...

"Maybe I am outnumbered, and maybe you can clone your swords and your own body... but none of that matters!  You can create as many doppelgangers as you want; I'll cut down every last one of em!" Mario cried as he sliced one of the Ipos copy's blades in two.

I see...  His sword is forged from Elemental Energy, which means its size is entirely dependent on how much energy he feeds it.  For it to be this large... he must be pouring in everything he's got...  But what drives him to fight so recklessly?  Surely he cannot care for the princess' life this much...?

Mario cut through the final Ipos clone, leaving only the original and the one that was with Luigi and Peach.  "I may not be able to clone myself or my swords, but one mad off plumber is more than enough to deal with someone like you!"  His Tri-Elemental Blade grew a few shades darker as he added his demon ancestor's Iniquity into the mixture.  With his fully powered up sword, Mario sprang forward and clashed blades with Ipos once again.  The two struggled for a few moments, but ultimately the Mushroom Hero's dagger cut through the Grimnex's weapon and slashed diagonally across his chest.  Blood spurted out from his gash, and Ipos fell to his knees.

Breathing heavily, Mario turned his attention to the balcony on which Peach, Luigi, and Gaea were standing.  To his great relief, the Ipos clone that was prepared to sacrifice the princess had faded away.  However, this accomplishment had come at a high price.  The plumber's entire body was covered in gashes and scrapes due to the frenzied manner in which he assaulted Ipos and his doppelgangers.  In addition, nearly all of his Elemental Energy had been wasted on powering up his Tri-Elemental Blade.

"What'd I tell you?" Gaea grumbled with a helpless shrug.  "Ugh...  I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but I guess Ipos has no other choice..."

"Heheheh...  Mario, I've missed watching you battle against impossible odds," King Zagan whispered to himself.  I just knew that you wouldn't let me down.  After all, the Phoenix Salvation's success depends almost entirely on the outcome of this fight.  Of course, neither of you have any way of knowing that.

"One Grimnex down... four more to go..." Mario mumbled, wearily approaching the staircase that had been previously blocked by Ipos.

"Where are you running off to, Mushroom Hero?"

Black Heart II (http://www.esnips.com/doc/23b1d37a-eeaa-4e51-bbf8-084aac908393/Black-Heart-II)

Mario froze.  Slowly turning around, he gasped as his eyes met with Ipos' icy, condescending stare.  "This is the end, Mario.  I'll admit, you've put up more of a fight than any human I've faced in the past.  Your skills have undoubtedly improved, but this is where my praise ends.  Surrender in the name of the Phoenix, and your death will be swift and painless."

"You're telling me to just give up, after I've come all this way?" Mario inquired, dumbfounded by Ipos' proposal.  "Your clones may be a pain to deal with, but they're nothing that I can't handle...  If this is your idea of a bluff, then I'm very disappointed..."

"You do not understand.  Unless you stand down here and now, I'll be forced to use my Final Smash.  Right now, I'm essentially giving you two choices.  You can either die with grace and honor, or in a ruthless bloodbath after which your corpse will be mutilated beyond recognition."

Mario shook his head in frustration.  "Is this some kind of joke?  Go ahead and use your Final Smash.  I'm not gonna complain."

Ipos sighed in disapproval.  "Mario, your arrogance will be the death of you.  Haven't you heard of my title as 'he who slaughtered a thousand angels'?  My Final Smash is what earned me this name, along with the reputation of being the most ruthless and powerful of all the Grimnexes.  I did not want to bring about such suffering to anyone, not even you, Mario.  I tried to warn you.  But now, it is too late."

A gentle breeze began to blow through the Colosseum.  The vibrant gradient of pink, purple, and red had ceased to shine through the hundreds of windows that bordered the stadium.  The sky had been veiled by black storm clouds, shrouding the Colosseum in darkness.  Along with the looming rainclouds, a sudden feeling of dread began to stir throughout the amphitheater.

"Mario, just tell Ipos that you've surrendered!" Gaea called in sudden desperation.  "We may be enemies, but please... hear me out!  If you allow Ipos to go through with this, it'll be the end...  I don't ever want to see such a bloodbath ever again..."

Mario did not respond, although this was entirely due to his mortification at Ipos' transformation.  Ipos' face had grown pale, and the sclerae of his eyes were now a blood red color.  His body began to glow with a jet black aura as two angelic wings extended from his back.  A golden harp materialized in his right hand, and a ray of light pierced through the overhead rainclouds and shone down upon him.

Despite the immense heat being generated by the Grimnexes' Iniquity, a frigid wind chilled the Colosseum as Ipos set his sights on the battle worn Mario.  The Delta Grimnex's melancholy, angelic appearance sent chills down the plumber's spine.  What is this feeling... in the pit of my stomach...?  Why can't I bear to even look at him...?

Elsewhere, on the fourth floor of the amphitheater, each battle had come to an instant halt.  The Grimnexes could do nothing but gaze at Ipos in admiration.  "Ipos...  You've finally revealed your true self," King Zagan whispered.  "Poor Mario.  If only he had known that Ipos is even more lethal than I am..."

"I can't believe that human managed to push Ipos so far," Venus grumbled.  "Regardless, if Ipos is using his Final Smash, he won't be a problem for much longer."

Ares gulped.  Mario...  Up until now, I've never even seen Ipos' Final Smash...  If I had known that he was capable of such a dreadful transformation... I never would have sent you to fight him alone...  Please forgive me, my friend...

"You'd better say goodbye to your brother," Gaea informed Luigi with a yawn.  "You should take one last look at him while you're at it.  Ipos wasn't kidding about the whole mutilation thing.  Once this is over, Mario won't just be dead.  He'll be maimed beyond identification."

The two warriors' eyes met, and Mario was overwhelmed with a sudden feeling of despair.  "Mario, your death is at hand.  With this transformation, I have become the Angel of Death."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 15: Black Skeleton)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on March 19, 2011, 06:52:29 PM
Chapter 15: Black Skeleton

Struggle to Protect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NGYR3ro2HQ&feature=related)

"That frightened look of yours...  Do you regret urging me to reveal my Final Smash?  Do you still wish to continue, even after witnessing my transformation?" Ipos inquired, his icy glare sending shivers down Mario's spine.

Mario swallowed hard and took a fighting stance.  "I'm tired of hearing you talk...  Why don't you show me what your Final Smash can do?"

Ipos sighed.  "Your arrogance knows no boundaries.  Allow me to show you the power that once massacred a thousand angels."  As if wielding a bow and arrow, he held his harp in front of him and pulled his sword back against one of its many strings.

"You've gotta be joking," Mario grumbled as Ipos launched his blade at him like an arrow.  The Mushroom Hero quickly dove to the side, receiving only a minor cut along his cheek.  If he had moved even a millisecond later, he would have been decapitated.  Trembling as he saw the dagger pierce the wall behind him, Mario turned his attention to Ipos and gasped.

"This is where my blade multiplication technique truly becomes useful.  Using my harp as a bow and my swords as ammunition, I could fire at you for hours."

"In that case, I hope you get bored easily," Mario groaned as Ipos created a blade for each of his harp strings.  With the grace and precision of an angel, the Grimnex hurled a dozen swords at his opponent.  The Mushroom Hero evaded them by leaping high into the air, but in doing so he made a critical mistake.  He had forgotten about Ipos' wings.  The moment Mario reached the peak of his jump, Ipos took flight and appeared beside his foe in the blink of an eye.

"Disappointing," Ipos murmured, swatting the plumber downward with an elbow to the chest.  Without pausing for even a moment, he then fired twelve swords at the descending Mario.  The Mushroom Hero quickly regained his momentum by executing several midair back-flips and landing on his feet.  He noticed the oncoming blades and waved an Iceball above his head, creating a wall of ice to shield him. 

"That won't work."  Mario looked to his left and saw Ipos standing beside him with a dagger grasped in his left hand.  Time seemed to move in slow motion as the plumber instinctively raised his right arm, narrowly saving his own life by blocking Ipos' swing with his Demon Exoskeleton.  Mario tumbled onto his back several feet from the position he had just occupied.  The blades that Ipos had fired from above only seconds ago shattered his ice barrier with ease.  If he had stayed beneath his ice shield, he would have been a dead man.

The Mushroom Hero rolled up his right sleeve and saw that part of his Demon Exoskeleton had been shattered by Ipos' sword strike.  Before he could react, the exoskeleton began to regenerate, expanding even further to cover everything from his hand to his shoulder.  No...  That's the last thing I need...  Please, stay out of this...

"Did you see what my blades did to your pathetic ice shield?  Your elemental techniques are useless."

"We'll see about that," Mario retorted as he began to form an Ultra Fireball in his right palm.  Ipos simply fired one of his blades at the Fireball, dousing it as it rushed past the plumber's hand.

"There's no need to test out each of your abilities.  Rest assured, they are all useless," Ipos declared coldly.  "Now that I've finished introducing you to my Final Smash, we can end this meaningless duel."

"Meaningless...?" Mario whispered, suddenly trembling with fury.  He clenched his fists and lunged at the Grimnex with a newly formed Tri-Elemental Blade.  To his shock, Ipos effortlessly caught the sword in his hand and crushed it.  He then delivered a deadly uppercut to Mario's jaw, sending him soaring upward onto the second floor and through a stone pillar.  A small section of the third floor caved in, burying the plumber in rubble.

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

Ipos slowly rose to the second floor, the fluttering of his wings audible by all in the silent Colosseum.  He landed and approached the wreckage with quiet, melancholy footsteps.  "Stay down, if you know what's good for you."

As if only to defy Ipos' stoic command, the Mushroom Hero emerged from beneath a large chunk of debris.  His face was covered in bloody scrapes, and his clothes were rugged and torn.  With great effort, Mario rose to his feet and prepared to engage Ipos yet again.  "I already told you...  Nothing you say can deter me from my goals..."

"In that case, I'll tell you the truth about my rank.  I may be the Delta Grimnex, but if the Grimnexes were ranked on strength alone, I would be the Beta Grimnex without question.  You see, although he is undeniably strong when compared to lower ranking Grimnexes, King Zagan does not hold his position because of how powerful he is.  He has a certain...'quality' that makes us obey him.  Venus, his second command, was promoted because he holds special feelings for her.  The Alpha Grimnex disappeared centuries ago.  That puts me at the top of the Grimnexes in terms of power."

"I'm relieved..." Mario laughed weakly.  "I was a little embarrassed that I was having so much trouble against someone who wasn't even the toughest Grimnex...  Now that I know the truth, I feel a little better...  All I have to do is beat you, and then the strongest Grimnex will be out of the way..."

"You think this is noble?  Because all I see is a foolish man too stubborn to realize his own defeat," Ipos hissed, beginning to grow irritated by Mario's persistence.  "What are you accomplishing by standing up just to take another beating?  Why not resign from this futile battle and accept a quick, painless death?"

"Because I made a vow to Peach.  I swore that I would love and cherish her, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges we may face.  Do you see this ring, Ipos?"  Mario held his hand in front of the Grimnex, recalling the words that the princess spoke as she placed it on his finger.

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.  As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you.  I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

"This ring represents the promise that I made to her on our wedding day!" Mario cried, angrily charging at Ipos.

"You darned fool!" Ipos screamed, knocking him onto the floor with a brutal right hook.  "To what extent do you plan to adhere to this vow?!  Will you run to your death in the name of some oath you made to a woman who can't even remember your own name?!  How is it that this woman is so special to you?  How can this woman, who has sat perched on that balcony for the entirety of this struggle without so much as batting an eyelash, possibly mean so much to you?!  Damn you!"  His frustration overcoming his calm, cool demeanor, Ipos mercilessly stomped on the grounded Mario's chest, sending him through the floor with a violent crash.  He then dropped through the hole that he created, picked up Mario's lifeless body, and hurled him through another column, causing debris to rain down.  He lifted the plumber by the throat and began brutally pounding him with bone-breaking punches and kicks.  When he finally grew tired of this, Ipos dropped Mario onto the floor and stabbed his blade through his arm with a vicious shriek.

"Do you still think it's worth it?!" the Grimnex cried as he tore his weapon from the Mushroom Hero's flesh.  Mario could do nothing but howl in agony as he was subjected to this ruthless beating.  "Your vows mean nothing when faced with the cruel reality of your defeat!  The Princess Peach that you knew died long before this execution began.  Why can't you understand that?"

"You're still trying... to figure me out... with logic and reason...?" Mario chuckled softly, coughing up a mouthful of blood.  "Heh... and you're calling me a fool...?"  The Mushroom Hero clenched his fists and prepared to rise once more.

"Insolent human!" Ipos growled, placing his palm on Mario's chest.  In the blink of an eye, he sent a shockwave through the plumber's body that launched him into the wall at the opposite end of the Colosseum.  "Your idealistic determination is no match for scientific fact.  Now, this is your final warning.  Accept death gracefully or suffer the consequences."

His body battered and beaten, Mario struggled to his feet.  He merely smirked at the blatant impossibility of his victory.  "Maybe you didn't hear me...  I'm gonna beat you, Ipos.  And then I'm gonna leave the Nightmare Vault with Peach safely at my side..."

For Ipos, this was the final straw.  His cold, sapphire eyes gleamed with sheer hatred as his angelic wings gently carried him upward.  Everyone, demon or human, gazed up at Ipos, who had nearly been engulfed by the cloudy black sky.  There was a sudden roar of thunder, and the Grimnex pointed his golden harp at the Mushroom Hero.  And before Mario's awestricken eyes, Ipos began to multiply.

Mario's breathing had become heavy, and his eyes were now trembling with fear.  He attempted to speak, but only incoherent grunts of pure terror came out.  He could do nothing but stare in wide-eyed horror at the increasing number of Grimnexes that filled the sky.  There was a flash of lightning, and twelve golden harps glistened above the Colosseum.

"One dozen bows... A limitless quantity of arrows...  You do the math.  The only remaining outcome for you... is death," Ipos and his clones declared, his stern voice echoing throughout the amphitheater.  "Farewell."  With yet another crackle of thunder, the twelve angels unleashed a rainstorm of swords upon the tattered Mushroom Hero.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as Mario gawked helplessly at the flurry of blades heading his way.  He stood on the bottom floor of the Colosseum, a vast, level arena with nothing to hide behind.  Frantically scanning the area, he spotted the nearest form of shelter: a pile of debris that was half a football field's distance away from him.  His eyes narrowed.  He formed a Tri-Elemental Blade in his right hand.  With a howl of determination, he took off, sprinting frantically toward his only means of salvation.

The spectators gasped in unison as they witnessed this gut-wrenching race against time.  Despite all that he had been through up to this point, Mario still had a chance to survive Ipos' ultimate attack.  As expected by most, the daggers won the race.  The rainstorm of 'arrows' had finally reached the ground.  Now caught up in a frenzy of falling swords, Mario fiercely weaved, ducked, and dove past countless blades, even going so far as to parry any nearby daggers with his Tri-Elemental Blade.  His movements were erratic and unpredictable, and though he hadn't looked back even once, he was still untouched.  It was as if he was dodging rain.  Unwilling to accept defeat, Ipos and his doppelgangers added more blades to the mix.

"Unbelievable..." Gaea breathed, shaking his head in utter disbelief.  "This is... this is some sort of miracle...  To what lengths will this man go to rescue the princess?"

"Mario..." Peach whispered, her dark, emotionless eyes watching the plumber intently.  "That ring..."  She looked at her hand and then back at Mario.  "What is this feeling...?"

"I don't know how he's doing it, but he just might make it," Zagan observed in astonishment.

Closer and closer, Mario's desperation grew...  He had already passed the halfway mark and was now nearly two thirds of the way there.  Two thirds, three fourths, four fifths...  The otherwise useless pile of debris was practically within his grasp.  Just a few more steps...  Only a few feet away, Mario dove forward. 

Blood splattered onto the floor.

Black Heart II (http://www.esnips.com/doc/23b1d37a-eeaa-4e51-bbf8-084aac908393/Black-Heart-II)

There he was, lying defeated on the floor in a pool of blood mere feet away from shelter.  Six blades were wedged in his flesh: two in his back and one in each of his limbs.  His body trembled in anguish as he struggled with all of his might to stand once more.  Most horrifyingly of all, he could feel a cold, creeping sensation rise up his neck and onto his chin.  The feeling began to spread upward until Mario saw something black in the corner of his eye.  He immediately understood what was happening.  His Demon Exoskeleton now covered nearly his entire body.  All that remained unfinished was the skull.

Engulfed in a ray of light from above, Ipos descended as his duplicates faded away.  "You put forth more effort than any of my previous foes, but in the end, it was for naught.  You would have been far better off if you had chosen to die with honor."  He approached Mario's body with calm, gradual footsteps.

"Don't talk... as if I'm dead..." Mario grumbled, summoning all of his strength just to speak.  "I'm disappointed, Ipos...  You fired all those blades at me... but this is all you could manage...?  You really should... work on your aim..."  Quivering from head to toe, the Mushroom Hero slowly lifted himself onto his feet and pointed his Tri-Elemental Blade at the Grimnex.  "It's those eyes...  As long as you keep staring at me with those condescending eyes...I'll keep staring back in defiance..."

Ipos noticed the Demon Exoskeleton through the rips in Mario's clothing.  "I see...  That cursed exoskeleton is what has kept you alive.  I was wondering how you were still able to use your arm after our first encounter.  Come to think of it...  I made a promise of my own, didn't I?"

"Keep this scar as a reminder of the impossibility of Peach's rescue.  And remember that if we ever meet again, you'll lose that arm."

In the blink of an eye, Ipos snatched the plumber by the throat.  A light drizzle began to fall upon the Colosseum as the Grimnex fluttered upward, holding Mario above him like a trophy.  As soon as he was sure that everyone on the fourth floor had a decent view, he mercilessly pressed his blade against the Mushroom Hero's right shoulder.  In mere seconds, the Demon Exoskeleton had already begun to crack.

"What's wrong, Ipos...?  You seem a little ticked off..." Mario chuckled weakly, half of his face now covered in a black skeleton.

Each of Mario's comrades cringed as Ipos' sword finally struck flesh, resulting in several screams of agony.  The rainfall grew steadily heavier, and blood began to pour from the deep gash in the plumber's arm.  His bloodcurdling cries of misery echoed throughout the Colosseum, as did the sickening reverberation of Ipos' dagger slicing through his flesh.  In one swift, horrifying motion, the Grimnex fulfilled his promise.  Mario fell silent.  Ipos released his grip.  The one-armed plumber descended lifelessly through the rain before hitting the stone floor with an empty thud.  This time, he did not rise.

"Dead," Ipos whispered bitterly.  "The Mushroom Hero is no more."

Mario's allies were dumbfounded.  They gawked at Ipos with an expression of pure shock and terror.  The Mushroom Hero is no more.  These were words that not one of them had expected to hear.  They could not fight.  They could not cry.  They could not even move.  They were paralyzed by their own disbelief.  All but one.

Attempting Revenge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcbDxqi8nv4)

The melancholy silence was broken as a chilling battle cry erupted from the top floor of the Colosseum.  Ipos whirled around just in time to see dozens of green Fireballs heading in his direction.  From the edge of the balcony near Princess Peach and Gaea, a furious Luigi was hurling a nonstop barrage of flames at the Grimnex.  Ipos quickly vanished behind a thick cloud of smoke and ash, unable to retaliate as he was bombarded with Fireballs.

"Luigi!  Calm down!" Gaea demanded, his voice barely audible due to the deafening explosions resulting from the plumber's frenzied assault.  Not surprisingly, his orders fell upon deaf ears.  "This is gonna get messy...  I'd prefer to sit this one out."  With that, Gaea began to back away, taking shelter behind a nearby column.

Out from the smoke, a flurry of swords began to counteract Luigi's Fireballs.  Ipos had begun to fight back.  The exchange of blades and flames continued for less than a minute before Ipos himself soared through the center of the fray.  Luigi immediately ceased fire and clenched his fists in preparation for hand-to-hand combat.  He planted his foot on the very end of the balcony and launched himself through the air toward Ipos.  The plumber extended his right foot, attempting to kick his enemy, but the Delta Grimnex caught him by the leg and tossed him downward.  As Luigi descended, Ipos followed up with a round of twelve 'arrows'.

"I'm assuming you plan to avenge your brother.  How pathetic," Ipos sighed.

Luigi cupped his hands together and shot a Fireball at the wall, propelling him in the opposite direction and allowing him to evade Ipos' blades.  He then performed a wall-kick that boosted him upward in Ipos' direction, and as he closed the gap between him and his opponent, his right fist began to glow with a green aura.

That aura...  Isn't that Gaea's technique...? Ipos wondered, unable to react in time to dodge the plumber's new ability.  Augmented with the power of his rage, Luigi struck the Delta Grimnex in the face with a punch in which his aura had been concentrated.  Unfortunately for Luigi, Ipos was quick to recover and grabbed hold of him.  Now clutching him by the throat, Ipos swung the plumber around before tossing him into a column near Gaea and Princess Peach.

"Damn it, he knows," Gaea cursed as Luigi plowed through the pillar, burying himself in debris.  "I'll bet Ipos isn't too happy about me accidentally training one of the intruders..."

"No, I most certainly am not," Ipos agreed, emerging from the shadows behind Gaea.  "Assisting the enemy is an act of treachery.  As soon as the Mushroom Hero's younger sibling is dealt with, you and the princess are next."  He aimed his harp at the pile of rubble under which Luigi was buried.

In a burst of green flames, Luigi broke free from the wreckage and charged at Ipos.  But by the time he had taken his first few steps, Ipos had already launched a sword at him.  The blade pierced his right arm and pinned him to the nearby stone wall.  The green plumber screamed in pain as he attempted to pull the dagger from his bleeding arm, but Ipos had no intentions of allowing him to escape.  He pulled a sword back on one of his harp strings and aimed it at his helpless prey's throat.

"This is the end, plumber," Ipos declared icily.

"Ipos...  Wait..." Peach whispered, her entire body trembling in confusion.  "I...  I don't understand why... but...  I don't want to see him die..."

"What was that...?" Ipos inquired, slowly turning around to face the princess.  "Princess Peach, why are you looking at me with that human expression?  Do you honestly expect me to spare his life?  Nonsense."  He released his grip on his blade, sending it directly at Luigi's throat.  A scream echoed throughout the Colosseum, and the floor was stained with blood.

"You...?  What...?" Ipos gasped, unable to comprehend what had just happened.  His blade was wedged not in Luigi's neck, but in the chest of a battered, beaten figure.  His clothes were tattered and full of rips, and his body and face were almost entirely covered by a black skeleton.  Only the top left corner of his face remained exposed.  He was breathing heavily, and his right arm had been cut off at the shoulder.  By some miracle- or curse- Mario lived on.

"Bro...?" Luigi whispered, his eyes wide with shock.

Mario tore the blade from his chest and hurled himself at Ipos, wildly slashing at the Grimnex without even attempting to defend himself.  The two warriors clashed blades once again; only this time, Ipos was on the defensive.  Mario did not let up for even a second, and without an opening, Ipos was unable to back off and attack with his harp from a distance.  In fact, the demonic plumber's attacks were so savage and unpredictable that the Grimnex couldn't even risk a counterattack.

It doesn't make any sense...  How can he still be alive...? Ipos wondered, staggering backward as he struggled to parry his opponent's sword strikes.  Fed up with Mario's resistance, the Delta Grimnex went on the offensive.  Both warriors fueled by rage and passion, the swordfight grew to an entirely new level of intensity.  Sparks lit up the dank, rainy Colosseum, and the numerous metal clangs of their swords served as a background melody for their duel.

"L- Luigi...?  That man, Mario..." Peach whispered hoarsely.  "I...  Why is he so stubborn...?  Why does he keep challenging Ipos, even when the outcome is obvious?  And when he nearly died... why did you attack Ipos...?"

Luigi removed the blade that had previously pinned him to the wall.  "Heh, you remembered our names.  It looks like you're finally starting to remember," he said with a weak smile.  "Good.  Just keep watching them fight.  Do you want to know why Mario came here?  Do you want to know the reason he went against all odds, disobeying a direct order from Zeus, and teamed up with someone like Bowser?  He's endured all of these hardships... fought so many Grimnexes... and dealt with more internal conflict than you could imagine... all for you, Peach.  He said that he would rescue you, and that's what he's gonna do."

"For me... but why...?"

Only Human (http://www.esnips.com/doc/53d84a55-e364-4e5e-bed8-db0c80c130a5/Only-Human)

"Because he loves you...  He believes in you, despite your claims of becoming a demon.  He has faith that your former self is still somewhere, buried deep down inside of you.  That's why he won't give up on you, even when you tell him to quit."

Princess Peach shook her head emphatically.  "But... But Ipos said... this is my true identity...  My former lifestyle was nothing but a lie!"

"Did Ipos tell you that Mario is also a demon?" Luigi pried, growing more desperate by the minute.

Peach's eyes widened with shock.  "No...  He can't be..."  She squinted at the two warriors still engaged in a fierce swordfight.  "I can't believe I didn't see it...  That skeleton... that black aura...  He's part demon, part human... just like-"

"Just like you," Luigi finished.  "But there's a key difference between the two of you.  When Mario learned of his demon origins, he stayed the same.  He didn't turn on his friends, let alone forget about them altogether.  Even during Crimson's invasion, when the entire Mushroom Kingdom was in turmoil, Mario returned to protect us despite his demon heritage.  Human or not, he's still the Mushroom Hero.  And in the same right, you're still the Mushroom Kingdom's princess."

With a deadly sword strike, Ipos sent Mario's dagger clanging to the floor.  The Grimnex lunged forward and pinned his foe to the wall with his elbow.  The plumber retaliated by forging a Tri-Elemental Blade, it's rainbow color now replaced with shades of gray as a result of his Iniquity overpowering his Elemental Energy.  The skull of the Demon Exoskeleton continued to gradually expand, nearly covering his entire face.

"Look at him.  Even now, his demon half is winning the struggle for control over his body.  Yet he's continuing to resist the demonic power welling up inside of him, just so he can battle against Ipos and rescue you.  But I can tell that even he has begun to lose hope...  Ipos may very well be the most powerful creature in this dimension or the next.  And the person that he's gone through all of this hell for... doesn't even have a shred of faith in him.  How do you think he must feel, putting his life at risk for someone who won't even cheer him on?"

Peach's ordinarily sapphire eyes began to regain their color as teardrops dripped down her cheeks.  "I... I remember..."

"Do you, Princess Peach, take Mario to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

"I do."


After suffering another crushing blow at the hands of the Delta Grimnex, Mario tumbled onto his back in defeat.  As Ipos raised his blade to deliver the final blow, the skull on Mario's face finished materializing.  The Mushroom Hero had vanished, leaving behind only a black skeleton.  The Demon Exoskeleton was complete.  "Ah...  I've returned at last," Mario chuckled, now under his demon ancestor's control.

The fully demonized Mario leapt onto his feet and sprinted toward Ipos, but his awakening was short-lived.  A tearful, heartfelt cry reverberated through the otherwise silent Colosseum.  "MARIO!" 

The Mushroom Hero, now a walking black skeleton, slowly turned around to see Princess Peach kneeling atop a balcony on the fourth floor, tears streaming from her worried sapphire eyes.  "Please, Mario...  Don't leave me..."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 16: Angelic Blessing)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on March 26, 2011, 09:07:19 PM
Chapter 16: Angelic Blessing

The black skeleton paused, Princess Peach's plight still ringing in his ears.  He slowly turned his back on Ipos and gazed upward at his beloved.  Her cheeks were damp with tears, and the color had returned to her eyes.  Through her concern for Mario's safety, Peach had returned to her former self.  "Please, Mario...  Don't make the same mistake that I did...  Don't allow yourself to be swallowed by the darkness of your demon side....  Please...  Don't forget about me the same way I once forgot about you...  Take a look at the ring on your finger, and remember the vows that we exchanged..."

Determination (http://www.esnips.com/doc/940f7b47-c65a-4414-8b3d-827aec1c91fa/Determination)

A single teardrop ran down the dark skull that veiled the demonized plumber's face.  Memories of his loved ones flooded his mind, and his Demon Exoskeleton began to crack.  The Mushroom Hero raised his fist and delivered a powerful blow to his own face, smashing the black skull that covered it to pieces.  He took a deep breath and locked eyes with Ipos.  "Heh...  Did you think that I'd need to use my demon ancestor's power to beat you?"

"What is this...?  He...  He's discarding the Demon Exoskeleton just as an animal sheds its skin!" Ipos gasped.  "How can that be possible?  How can the will of a mere human overpower that of a demon?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, Ipos... but I've already relied on my demon half on far too many occasions.  This isn't gonna be one of them," Mario declared, a splendiferous blue aura radiating from his body.  In a single flash of light, the Demon Exoskeleton shattered.  He formed one last Tri-Elemental Blade and rushed at Ipos with a cry of determination.

"Bro...  He's actually doing it," Luigi muttered, his mouth wide with astonishment as the final round of the swordfight between Mario and Ipos commenced.

"That light emanating from his body...  I've seen it before," Peach whispered to Luigi, her right hand held against her heart.  "When Crimson finished you off...  Mario rose to his feet and began to glow with that same exact aura.  We later found out that his intense feelings of sorrow and grief allowed him to instinctively borrow his father's 25% of the Hero's Power.  Could that be what's happening now, despite the immense distance between them?"

Luigi smiled.  "The way you brought him back to his senses...  It reminds me of something the Master once told me.  Mario is a true hero...  If someone begs him for help, no matter how soft or frail their plea may be, he has no choice but to stand once more.  He stood up for you against Crimson, and now he's done the same against Ipos.  He can't ignore you, Peach.  That's why you of all people have to believe in him."

"Your wounds... How can you continue to fight after all the damage you've sustained?" Ipos inquired, staggering backward under the pressure of Mario's relentless slashes.

"I don't feel a thing!" Mario retorted, his attacks growing more aggressive by the minute.  "You can slice and stab me all you want, Ipos; I'm not leaving here unless Peach is at my side.  I'll cut down anyone that stands in my way, even if I have to fight every last Grimnex here!"

"Nonsense!  This is Princess Peach's home!" Ipos insisted, lunging at Mario with one final slash.

"Over my dead body!" Mario howled, pressing his Tri-Elemental Blade against Ipos' dagger.  "Even now, you're still looking down upon me with those cold, condescending eyes...  You've mocked me, you've ridiculed me...  Each time we've met in battle, you've done nothing but talk down to me in an attempt to crush my spirit... But I've got news for you, Ipos...  I'm not giving up, not even if you clone yourself a thousand times!"  His body shimmering with willpower, Mario cut through Ipos' dagger and sliced diagonally across his chest.  Ipos let out a cry of agony and frustration as blood spurted from his fatal wound.  The Grimnex fell to his knees, as did the Mushroom Hero.

Tragic (http://www.esnips.com/doc/0455d1b5-2c21-4129-8245-c7462b34f62b/Tragic)

Ipos' golden harp and shattered blade clattered to the floor.  The Grimnex coughed up a mouthful of blood.  "Heh...  I never thought it would turn out this way...  You really do care for that woman, don't you...?"

"What could you possibly understand?" Mario snapped, breathing heavily.  "You're just a heartless demon.  You don't know anything about us..."

"Is that what you think...?  I may not be a human...  And though I may appear to be a callous old demon... I understand the emotion of sorrow just as well as any other human..." Ipos whispered bitterly.  "Mario... please listen to what I have to say... so that you may understand why I acted the way I did...  Listen to the story... of the Grimnex who slaughtered a thousand angels...

"I was once a Terranean Angel... one of the four kings who competed for the throne of Terranea.  Years prior to this, a man named Kronos ruled with his son, Zeus.  However, when Zeus sensed the evil in his father's heart, he rebelled, beginning a bloody war between 'good' and 'evil'.  Those who were 'good' became known as Olympians, led by Zeus.  Those who were 'evil' were labeled as demons, led by Kronos.  It was during this war that the Grimnexes were created to assist the demons.  But Kronos gravely underestimated the power of his own henchmen, and in time, Gaea and I became powerful enough to compete with Kronos and Zeus for control over all of Terranea.  And thus, the four of us became known as the Terranean Angels..."  Ipos paused as Peach and Luigi came rushing to Mario's side.

"Ah, good...  Peach will want to hear this next part..." Ipos chuckled softly.  "While I was still a Terranea Angel, I committed what was considered among the demons as the most despicable act of treason possible.  You see, I fell in love with an Olympian...  Her name was Athena...  The two of us were inseparable, and for the first time, I was truly happy.  That woman... gave birth to the ancestor of both Princess Peach... and Pauline..."

Mario gasped.  "No...  You mean...  Peach and Pauline are... related...?"

Ipos nodded slowly.  "Yes...  But that's not where the story ends...  My subordinates would not accept an Olympian queen, and their hatred led to the brutal murder of the love of my life.  I was devastated.  Were these creatures truly so shallow that they could not accept our love...?  I was blinded by rage, and in my fury I went on a rampage, ruthlessly slaughtering a thousand of my own brethren before finally regaining my senses.  From that tragic day forward, I became cold and heartless, relinquishing my throne as a Terranean angel and isolating myself under the rule of Kronos.  When the demons finally lost the war and were sealed in the Nightmare Vault, Kronos, Gaea, and I united under the common goal of revenge.  Of course, Kronos, also known as the Phoenix, did not survive.  Knowing that he was the key to overthrowing Zeus, the Grimnexes and demons plotted to resurrect Kronos in a ceremony known as the Phoenix Salvation...

"However, I had lost all interest in revenge...  My life became empty...  I ceased to enjoy life, silently obeying my superiors while searching for the only remaining link to Athena... our offspring.  Centuries passed, and at last, I finally discovered my ancestral daughters: Princess Peach and Pauline.  For a time, I was content.  But my heart suffered another grave injury when one of my daughters was murdered in cold blood.  And the one responsible... was you, Mario..."

Mario hung his head.  "Pauline...  I still haven't forgotten about what happened...  My demon side took control for only a moment...  When I regained control, she lay dead in my arms..."

"Yes...  And after that day, I developed a deep, burning hatred for you...  But still, I continued to watch Princess Peach from the shadows.  That is, until you arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom, and nearly made her your bride...  I pleaded with King Zagan to send me to retrieve her.  After all, her demon blood would make her a perfect sacrifice for the Phoenix Salvation.  But I never actually planned to allow her to be executed...  I just wanted to keep her safe from you... So that she would not meet the same fate as Pauline..."

Sorrowful Goodbye (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5641e09b-5c71-4b62-bfb3-43ec543a17d8/Sorrowful-Goodbye)

"I tried so hard to take her away from you...  I was too blinded by hatred to see the truth...  When you fought so desperately to save her, I was baffled...  Why would a man who was cruel enough to slaughter his first fiancĂ© risk his life to save his second...?"  Teardrops formed in the corners of Ipos' eyes.  "As you battled on, I finally began to understand...  After witnessing your demon transformation, it finally hit me...  You never meant to kill Pauline...  Once again, we demons were at fault..."

Mario began to sob at the tragic nature of the Grimnex's tale.  "Ipos, please...  That's enough...  You'll die if you don't stop-"

"Mario... listen carefully...  After I killed you...  I planned to personally bring the execution to a halt...  But you've proven yourself worthy...    Please, Mario...  You must forge on where I have failed...  Rescue Princess Peach...  I give you my blessings, and pray that you live a full, happy life with my daughter..."  With every ounce of strength he had, Ipos placed his palm on Mario's right shoulder.  "This... is all that I can offer you as a wedding gift..."  A bright red light began to transfer from the Grimnex's hand to the plumber's shoulder, causing his Demon Exoskeleton to extend outward in the shape of an arm.  "Do not shatter the skeleton that I just created...  In time, it will fade away on its own... and beneath it... will be a brand new arm..."  His face now damp with tears, Ipos collapsed into a pool of blood.  He smiled softly as his eyes began to close.  "My only wish... is that you can both find it in your hearts... to forgive your foolish old father..."

"Ipos... thank you..." Mario replied softly, rising to his feet as Peach cried at her ancestral father's side.  "For years, I've tried to shoulder the guilt of Pauline's death by myself...  I rarely considered how her death may have impacted others, and for that, I apologize."  He, Luigi, and Princess Peach took a moment of silence to mourn the noble Grimnex's passing.

"Poor Ipos...  I know he was a Grimnex, but... is it wrong for us to feel compassion toward him?" Luigi wondered aloud, wiping his cheeks with his sleeve.

Mario shook his head.  "No, not at all.  Demon, Grimnex, or human...  In the end, we're a lot more alike than you might think.  After all, Peach and I are both part demon.  I suspect that if we took the time to get to know each and every Grimnex... we'd find that many of them would have their own story to tell..."

Battlefield (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmxtMyGsSPM)

"Pardon me for interrupting, but I'm afraid that I cannot allow you to leave," Gaea's voice echoed from the nearby staircase.  "I really hate to do this, but I have orders to escort Princess Peach back to King Zagan.  And judging by your group's condition, it seems that you have no choice but to comply."  His eyes shifted from the battle-worn Mario to Luigi, who had a severe gash on his right arm but was otherwise relatively unscathed.  Trembling in fear behind them was Princess Peach.

"Didn't you hear what I said before...?  I'll fend off every last Grimnex until Peach is safe," Mario admonished between clenched teeth.

"I may be one rank below Ipos, but in your fatigued state, you probably wouldn't notice much of a difference.  I'm really not too keen on kicking a guy when he's down, but I'd rather not be executed by Zagan for betrayal," Gaea informed them with a sigh.

Mario rushed forward at the Grimnex, but was slowed down severely by his wounds.  With little effort, Gaea dealt a crushing blow to the Mushroom Hero's chest, knocking him onto his back.  Mario frantically attempted to rise once more, but he was far too drained from his struggle with Ipos.  With a defeated sigh, the Mushroom Hero collapsed from exhaustion.

"Bro!" Luigi cried as he dashed to his brother's aid.  "Are you gonna be alright?  Your wounds..."

"The princess..." Mario whispered, pointing wearily at Peach.  Luigi had been too concerned with his brother's well being to notice that Gaea had managed to nab Princess Peach behind his back.  "Protect her...  I'll catch up..."  With a faint smirk, the plumber closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

Luigi turned to face Gaea.  "Let her go, Gaea.  Please, I don't want to fight you..."

"Enough," Gaea replied bitterly.  "Our business is done.  My mission is simply to return the princess to King Zagan."  With the flailing princess tucked beneath shoulder, the Grimnex turned and sprinted up the stairway.

"Gaea!  We're not finished yet!" Luigi called after him, hot on the Grimnex's tail.

Atop the Colosseum, King Zagan's eyes glimmered red with an eerie malevolence as he reflected upon the clash between Ipos and Mario.  This is most unexpected...  I certainly anticipated Mario's victory, but... to think that he actually found the willpower to overcome my influence...  His Demon Exoskeleton was supposed to stabilize and serve as a foundation for the Phoenix Salvation.  This changes things...  His omniscient gaze shifted to the ongoing battles taking place nearby.

Ace, Wario, and Waluigi stood with their backs to the wall, each of them staring down Ace's brother, Jack.  "What's wrong?  Are the three of you really that afraid of a single blind man?" Jack sneered as he adjusted his top hat.  "C'mon, you've got me outnumbered.  What more could you possibly want?"

"Cocky jerk," Wario grumbled, quivering with rage.

"Don't let his trash talk get to you," Ace warned the irate Wario.  "He may be blind, but he's my brother.  That makes him a member of the Zepar tribe, and who knows what kind of strange powers he's developed while working with the Grimnexes.  For one, he seems to be able to paralyze people without even touching them.  Nothing good can come from blindly rushing at him."

"Blindly?  Was that some sort of pun?" Jack inquired, his voice dripping with bitterness.  "I'm not amused.  You shouldn't make fun of your own brother, especially since you were the one who stole my light."

"Ugh, we don't need to listen to this," Waluigi sighed, pointing his index finger at the Grimnex.  "You told us not to rush at him blindly, but you never said it would do any harm to attack from a distance."  Before Ace could stop him, the thief fired a concentrated beam of purple flames through his finger.

"Hmm, that's no ordinary Fireball," Jack noted, cocking his head to the side as Waluigi's Fireball zoomed past him.  "Interesting...  Your unusually thin body structure allows you to concentrate your Elemental Energy into thinner, more powerful blasts.  That's quite an impressive Final Smash."

"I thought he was supposed to be blind," Waluigi mumbled.

Jack grinned.  "Yes, you're wondering how I not only dodged your attack, but discovered all that there was to know about it in mere seconds.  I'll give you a hint.  I used the same tactic to hear what you just said, despite the fact that you were talking under your breath.  Have you figured it out yet?  Well, let's just say that my body has compensated greatly for my loss of vision.  In exchange for losing my eyesight, I obtained otherworldly hearing.  Evading your attack was simple.  I listened for the whistling sound created by the wind resistance to your Fireball.  I also deduced your body structure by listening to your footsteps and the sound of the air moving against you.  I could even hear the flow of Elemental Energy within your Fireball.  In many ways, I can see the world even clearer than all three of you combined.  Even now, Waluigi is completely unaware of the fact that I have total control over his body."

Waluigi attempted to move, but found that he could not.  "But when did you-?"

"The instant after you shot that Fireball at me, I was already in control.  You were too focused on your attack to even notice."  With a few hand signs, Jack commanded Waluigi to point his index finger at his comrades.  "Now, let's put that Final Smash of yours to use."

"Ace, Wario, I can't stop myself!" Waluigi cried, his fingertip emanating a purple glow.

Ace and Wario leapt out of the way just in time to avoid the massive explosion created by Waluigi's pointblank Final Smash.  However, as they were in midair, Jack extended his opened palms in their direction.  By the time they had landed, he had already gained total dominance over their actions.

"And just like that, the three of you are in my grasp," Jack chuckled wickedly.

I've gotta figure out how he does that.  Until then, none of us stand a chance, Ace thought.

Jack glared at Ace with an evil smirk.  "What's wrong, brother?  I can tell by your increased heart rate that you're feeling nervous and even a bit frightened.  I'm glad.  Because you're going to suffer, Ace...  Everything that you stand for... everything that holds proof of your existence...  I'm going to annihilate every last bit of it...  And I'll start by forcing you all to watch helplessly as Princess Peach, the woman you came all this way to rescue, is executed."

"King Zagan, I have returned with the princess," Gaea informed him as he gently laid Peach at his feet.  "You may proceed with the ceremony."

None of this is right...  Mario was supposed to be here in his fully demonized form.  I can't execute the princess, not yet... Zagan thought, maintaining his calm and cool demeanor.  "Very well.  But it seems that you have been followed."

"Hey Gaea!  You're forgetting something!" Luigi called, gasping for air as he reached the top of the staircase.  "We still have some unfinished business!"

"Gaea, take care of this ruffian," Zagan commanded.  "I will personally ensure that Princess Peach remains here."

"Ugh...  Fine..." Gaea groaned lazily.  "I was hoping that I'd be dismissed for the day...  Oh well, I guess I gotta take responsibility for my own mistakes..."

"Gaea, please listen..." Luigi pleaded.  "We may be on opposing sides, but...  I still consider you my friend.  Do we really have to resort to fighting?"

"You lied to me by claiming to be one of us," Gaea replied, sternly shaking his head.  "After that, how can you expect me to trust anything that you say?  As far as I'm concerned, every word that you've spoken to me has been part of some dishonorable ploy to stab me in the back."

Luigi sighed.  "That's too bad...  But if you insist on standing in my way, I have no other options.  I guess I'll just have to demonstrate all of the skills that you've taught me."  He charged directly at the Grimnex, his fist emitting a dark green glow.  Luigi lunged at his former mentor and tossed a punch that was augmented by the power of his aura, but Gaea simply swatted the blow to the side with his left hand and retaliated with his right.  As the Grimnex's fist collided with his chin, the plumber instantly understood that his training had been inadequate.

Gaea threw back his head and laughed.  "Only a few days of training and you're already challenging your master?  Such arrogance.  You may have picked up the basics rather quickly, but the difference in our experience is obvious."

"Heh... you're right..." Luigi chuckled softly as he struggled to his feet.  He wept the blood from his lip and grinned.  "There's no denying it...  You're better than me...  But that doesn't mean I have to rely solely on the techniques that you taught me..."  He cupped his hands together as a colossal green Fireball began to swirl in his palms, and with a cry of defiance, he hurled the inferno at Gaea.

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

Meanwhile, a short distance away from the site of Luigi's desperate struggle, Ares and Venus locked horns.  "Venus, why did you become a part of this?  Why did you become a Grimnex?" Ares inquired, fiercely swinging his axe at the female Grimnex.

"I wished to serve the Phoenix," Venus answered, calmly parrying her former comrade's axe with her dagger, "and to forget about the past."

"Serve the Phoenix?  Don't give me that!" Ares cried.  "You're starting to sound like Princess Peach!  Someone with your background wouldn't simply decide to follow the Phoenix.  You were once an ordinary demon, living in a small village that was a part of the Demon Resistance.  Why the sudden change?  Why betray your family and friends to become a part of the Phoenix's army?"

"Because I felt like it," Venus declared firmly.  "I was willing to leave everything behind to become a Grimnex."

"You expect me to believe that?  Tell me the truth.  You were brainwashed by the Grimnexes, just as Princess Peach was!  To this day, you can do nothing but blindly follow the Beta Grimnex's orders in some futile effort to erase the past from your memory.  But you'll soon find that it's not as easy to forget as you may think."

"Enough.  You were never this obnoxious," Venus hissed.  "What happened to your bloodlust?  There was a time when you would drool at the chance to face me in combat.  Now it's almost as if you regret fighting me.  Did Mario bring about this change?  Is this what has become of Peach as well?  If that is what it means to return to my former self, then I'd rather die."

"Mario opened my eyes!  He's demonstrated that anyone, even a ruthless demon like me, can change.  When I first met him, I thought he was crazy too.  I couldn't understand how he expected to save Peach, who had all but forgotten about him.  His determination peaked my interest, and after personally enduring the blunt of his resolve, I now understand what that man is capable of.  You're the Gamma Grimnex... and I'm the Iota.  I knew from the very beginning that trying to overpower you would be pointless.  But I thought that maybe... you could change."

"Your shallow sentiments cannot even put a crack in the hollow shell that lies where my heart once was," Venus replied bitterly.  "My loyalty belongs to the Phoenix.  Traitors such as yourself cannot be allowed to live."  In the blink of an eye, she sliced through Ares' axe and stabbed the Grimnex in the heart.

"Venus... please..." Ares gasped, coughing up a mouthful of blood as he fell to his knees.  "S...a.... don't allow... the t...edy of... yo...r chi...ho...d... to r...n... y...r l...ve...f...r...G....ve..."  Tears began to drip down his cheeks, and he collapsed into a pool of blood.  The Iota Grimnex was no more.

"Excellent work, Venus," Zagan commended her.  "That only leaves the Mushroom Hero's brother..."

"My lord, pardon my insolence, but why have you not yet executed the princess?" Venus inquired, humbly bowing before her king.  "With all due respect, we wouldn't have to worry about her being kidnapped again if she was dead..."

It seems that even Venus has begun to question my hesitation.  I cannot delay the princess' execution any longer, or my own henchmen will begin to grow suspicious, Zagan thought.  "Yes, of course."

His body battered and bruised, Luigi frantically took note of the bleak situation.  No...  Ares is dead...  And it doesn't look like Ace or the Wario Brothers can move...  I'm on my own...  But I can't even handle Gaea in a one-on-one fight...  How am I supposed to take on Venus, Jack, Gaea, and King Zagan all by myself?  I want to help, but... do I even stand a chance...?
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 17: King's Revelations)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on April 09, 2011, 08:02:44 PM
Chapter 17: The King's Revelations

Crisis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkJ3tENU0kA)

His heart racing, Luigi frantically scanned his surroundings in search of a solution to his dilemma.  Lying dead in a pool of blood at Venus' feet was Ares, and only a short distance away, Jack had restrained Ace, Wario, and Waluigi with his unorthodox abilities.  Her eyes glued to King Zagan's blade, Princess Peach trembled at the center of a circle in which the mark of the devil had been inscribed.  Luigi took a step toward the princess, but Gaea stood firmly in his path.  He was on his own.

"Princess Peach, it is time for you to fulfill your duty as a loyal follower of the Phoenix," King Zagan informed her.  "The circle engraved beneath you serves as the only remaining link to the Phoenix's sealed spirit.  The mixture of your demon and human heritage is what makes you a suitable vessel for our lord's resurrection."

"I no longer have any interest in being the Phoenix's puppet!" Peach exclaimed as the Beta Grimnex seized her arm.  She struggled to break free, but to no avail.  "Release me!"

"I find it rather impressive... that Mario was able to change you in such a short period of time," Zagan muttered, unsheathing his blade.  He slowly raised his dagger to the princess's throat, taking every possible opportunity to delay her execution.  We're still missing the final key to the Phoenix Salvation, but... unless I kill her now, my comrades will grow suspicious...

As the hesitant Grimnex prepared to end Peach's life, the Colosseum was lit with a burst of red as a colossal Fireball soared through the air and struck Zagan in the back.  His blade clattered to the floor, and Princess Peach took this opportunity to make her escape.  "What was that?  I could've sworn someone just said my name."

"Ah, Mario.  You're right on schedule," Zagan chuckled as the smoke from Mario's Fireball cleared.  "I didn't think you'd be so quick to recover from your bout with Ipos."

"It turns out that a little nap was all I really needed.  I'm not at my peak, but Ipos told me all about your rank.  He was the toughest of the Grimnexes, so if I beat him, I think I can manage against you," Mario replied with a grin.

"Mario!" Peach shrieked, Venus now standing before her with her sword drawn.

"Stand down, Venus," Zagan commanded.  He turned to Gaea and Jack.  "You too."

Gaea dropped his fists, and Jack lifted his supernatural restraints from Ace and the Wario Brothers.   Venus stepped aside, glaring at her king as Peach dashed to her friends' side.  "With all due respect, why are we letting the princess go?"

King Zagan grinned from beneath his veil as he and Mario gradually approached each other.  "At this point, any encounter with those inferior fools is pointless.  The only battle that can truly settle this matter is one between Mario and me.  Instead of adding to the confusion, simply sit back and enjoy the show.  This way, the Mushroom Hero will not have to worry about his beloved's safety.  We can fight without any restraints."

"Sounds good," Mario affirmed.  He turned to his allies.  "The same goes for you guys.  Stay out of this.  I know you'll probably want to jump in to help me at some point, but this is something I have to do alone.  Besides, if you interfere, there's not a doubt in my mind that Venus, Gaea, and Jack would do the same, and who knows what would happen in all the confusion.  Please don't jeopardize the princess' safety."

Ace nodded.  "You have my word."

"Show him who's boss, Bro!" Luigi cheered.

Mario vs. Zagan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rneBa8dgl5A)

They're falling right into my hands...  And to think that only minutes ago, I was worried my plan would fail, Zagan thought with a grin.

Not one to wait for his opponent to make the first move, Mario charged at Zagan with his fists clenched.  He threw a punch at the Grimnex's face, but to his surprise, Zagan evaded it with ease.  After ducking beneath a retaliatory sword slash, the plumber quickly switched to the defensive.  He staggered backward, constantly veering from side to side as he dodged his foe's relentless swipes, but no matter how thoroughly as he searched, he could not find an opening to counterattack.

I didn't expect him to be so agile...  That armor he's wearing looks pretty heavy, Mario thought.  But that's not all...  His skill with a blade is impeccable.  I shouldn't be able to dodge all these slashes... yet somehow, my body knows how to react...  It's as if I've encountered his fighting style before...

His eyes following each and every motion that Zagan's sword made, Mario formed a Tri-Elemental Blade and prepared to go on the offensive.  The Mushroom Hero parried his rival's dagger with an upward slash before lunging forward at him, but he quickly found the Beta Grimnex's defensive skills to be superior.  Each time they clashed blades, sparks soared into the air and lit the dank Colosseum.  For a time, they matched each other blow for blow, but Mario could not keep up with Zagan's unparalleled swordsmanship for long.  The demon knocked Mario's blade out of his hand, but the plumber quickly responded by thrusting his right arm, which was now comprised entirely of his Demon Exoskeleton, forward.  He swept Zagan's weapon to the side and followed up with a Fireball-augmented left hook that sent the Grimnex teetering backwards.

"Heh, your punches still hurt more than any demon I've ever fought," Zagan chuckled as he regained his balance.  A deep crack now ran down the center of his veil, no doubt as a result of Mario's attack.  "You have no idea how long I've waited for this day... the day that we could finally settle the score between the two of us."

"What are you talking about...?" Mario inquired, suddenly stricken with fear.  "That veil... Who the hell are you?"

"Can't you tell?  Perhaps I should remove my armor and veil."  King Zagan began to strip away his armor, revealing a sleeveless grey shirt and baggy black pants.  He was about Mario's height, and without his armor, he appeared to be rather thin.  He placed his hand on his mask, the only remaining object that concealed his identity, and slowly slid it off of his face.

As more of Zagan's features became distinguishable, Mario gasped in wide-eyed disbelief.  His face grew pale.  He could never forget his former comrade's fair skin, dark brown eyes, and spiky black hair.  "You... You're... dead...  How could you...?"

From the sidelines, each of Mario's friends was equally shocked.  "I suspected he might still be alive... But I thought I was just being overly analytical..." Ace whispered.

"Ah, Mario, how many years has it been?"

Mastermind (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99f57f05-bc3b-4483-af77-f33950bf039d/Mastermind)

"You...  You're Glaive...?" Mario stammered, dumbfounded by Zagan's true identity.  "That's... impossible...  You died... six years ago..."

"Such naivety...  As long as I continue to be one of the Phoenix's chosen vessels, I cannot die any sooner than you can," Glaive informed him coldly.  "You see...  We both play a vital role in the Phoenix Salvation."

Mario's face turned ghastly white.  "What are you saying...?"

"You mean to tell me that you never once realized the truth... that you know nothing of you truly are?  In that case, I'll tell you.  Mario, you and I share a common demon ancestor.  And he isn't just any ordinary demon.  The demonic spirit that dwells within the darkest depths of our souls is that of the Phoenix.  And your precious princess over there is the perfect vessel in which the fragments of Kronos' spirit may be reunited."

Mario fell to his knees.  "You're... lying..."

"Not at all," Glaive assured him.  "Destiny brought the three of us to this very spot atop the Grimnex Palace.  You contain the Phoenix Spirit, I contain the Phoenix Consciousness, and Princess Peach possesses the Phoenix Link that will unite the former two.  My association with you... was purely for the sake of someday resurrecting my lord."

"All of those times we fought alongside each other...  That all meant nothing to you?!" Mario thundered, trembling with rage.

"Don't give Glaive all the credit," a voice echoed from within Glaive's body.  The sound came from his lips, but it was clearly not Glaive's voice.  "At this point, his body is almost entirely under my control.  Even before Glaive met you, I've served as a perpetual voice in the back of his head, constantly giving him orders so that my dreams of revenge could someday become a reality.  This entire time, Glaive was merely a puppet."

"Don't listen to this jerk!  He's just messing with your head!" Wario exclaimed from a safe distance.  "The Glaive that we knew would never betray us!"

"No...  His voice...  It's the same..." Mario clutched his head, remembering the demonic voice that echoed in the back of his head.  "I've heard that exact same voice...  It keeps on reaching out to me... attempting to coax me into relinquishing control of my body..."

A wicked, uncharacteristic smile spread across Glaive's face.  "You believe me...  I can see it in your eyes...  As much as you may want me to take back what I said, to tell you that this is all a joke...  it's real, Mario.  And this is only the beginning.  Not only am I your enemy...  I am the one who singlehandedly planned each and every one of your battles up until now."  His grin widened.  "And I'm not just talking about your struggles with the Grimnexes.  Lord Shade, Crimson...  One way or another, I was somehow involved in nearly every tragedy you've faced since the day you were born.  I know you've heard my story before, but allow me to start from the beginning.  What you are about to hear is the absolute truth, the full extent of my planning.  I will recall these events not through the eyes of Glaive, but through my own eyes as Kronos, the demon king:

"As a child, Glaive was a part of the Demon Resistance.  Although he was too young to fight, he nursed a deep hatred not for the Phoenix, but for the perpetual war waged between the Phoenix and the Resistance.  His frustration with this war eventually led him to make a vow to his closest childhood friend and only true love, Sara.  He swore that he would bring this war to an end, no matter what the cost may be.  That one promise would eventually prove to be his downfall.  It wasn't long before his village was attacked by Phoenix soldiers, and before his very eyes, Sara was cut down.  Not one soldier from the Demon Resistance arrived to help them.  This was what drove Glaive away from the Resistance.  Fed up and armed with nothing but a sword sheathed at his waist, he set out to avenge his beloved's death.

"His rage augmented his strength, allowing him to reach levels of swordsmanship that would otherwise take decades to obtain.  Slowly but surely, he began to singlehandedly cut down the Phoenix's army.  If only he knew that he had been slaughtering mere pawns.  Even now, in the grand scheme of things, the Grimnexes are all that really matter.  Glaive would soon learn this the hard way, as he came face to face with the Beta Grimnex at the time, Botis.  Botis was a cold, callous Grimnex who had rightfully earned his rank through his own cutthroat methods.  Their duel was over in seconds.  As Glaive lay dying before Botis, he saw something that he never should have seen.  In actuality, the Phoenix soldiers had previously brought back Sara's body, and the cruel Botis managed to revive her and transform her into a stoic, emotionless Grimnex.  Hearing the altered Sara pronounce him to be dead was too much.  Something snapped inside of Glaive, and his wrath was what awakened me from my slumber.

"With some assistance from me, Glaive summoned the strength to stand once more.  Though he was still no match for Botis, he managed to impress the Grimnex.  In a twisted act of mercy, Botis tossed Glaive into the outskirts of the Nightmare Vault.  As he abandoned the young demon, Botis made a most peculiar promise.  He said that if Glaive should ever return to his palace, he would grant him a position in the Phoenix's army.  With that being said, he walked away, leaving the injured Glaive all alone miles away from civilization.  No one expected to hear from him again.  But with the help of his hatred and a little support from me, it wasn't long before Glaive could stand once again.  In time, he came to a decision.  Sara, the one most important to him, had been stripped of her humanity.  Attempting to rescue her would be pointless.  The only way he could avenge Sara was by fulfilling the oath he had made: to end the war that had devastated his life and taken his best friend away from him.

"Four years passed, and Glaive's skills improved drastically.  Little did he know, I was also growing closer to him.  Now fully conscious and able to see the world through his eyes, I finally occupied a permanent place in his mind.  It was then that I began to formulate my plan for revenge.  However, not even I could anticipate the fortunate events that would soon transpire.  As Glaive returned to find his village in ruins, he learned that Lord Shade had visited the Nightmare Vault in an attempt to recruit soldiers for his own army.  Because the Grimnexes were too powerful to be controlled, Shade sought lower class demons instead.  When he bumped into Glaive and offered to lift the curse on the Nightmare Vault in exchange for Glaive's assistance, I knew that Shade was lying.  But Glaive was just too desperate to fulfill his promise to Sara.  He agreed to leave the Nightmare Vault with Lord Shade, but only after he settled some unfinished business.  He returned to Botis' palace, met with the Beta Grimnex himself, and reminded him of his promise.  Before Botis could respond, Glaive informed him that he was leaving the Nightmare Vault.  He swore that when he returned, he would cut down Botis and take his position as the Beta Grimnex.  But for the time being, he was obligated to stand at Shade's side in his struggle for universal conquest.  I couldn't complain.  After all, I finally had the opportunity to search for the remaining fragments of my spirit.

"For the next few years, Glaive served as Shade's second in command.  It wasn't until after Dante- your own uncle- joined Shade's military that Glaive began to entertain thoughts of betrayal.  Dante's second personality, Crimson, possessed an insatiable hunger for more power, and this desire was what eventually led to his treachery.  Crimson quickly gathered a number of Shade's toughest soldiers, including Glaive, and vanished.  Now under the leadership of Crimson, Glaive understood that Shade had never intended to lift the curse on his homeland.  Enraged by the tyrant's deception, Glaive vowed that he would claim vengeance against Shade.

"Though his current goal was vengeance, Glaive inevitably spent a great deal of time assisting Crimson in furthering his own plans.  Though he accomplished little while working under Crimson, I learned a nifty tidbit of information from his original personality, Dante.  By witnessing an otherwise meaningless conversation between Glaive and Dante, I heard all about the family members that Dante had left behind.  That was how I found out about your father, Anthony, which eventually led to my discovery of you.  Despite the fact that my existence was merely as a separate consciousness lurking within the depths of Glaive's mind, I was still able to use my godlike omniscience to instantly pinpoint the locations of both you and Lord Shade.  To my absolute delight, the two of you were on a crash course set to collide in the Mushroom Kingdom.  Using my influence over Glaive, I had him inform Crimson that Shade was now in the Mushroom Kingdom.  As you already know, Crimson had decided at this point that he could only find what he was searching for by locating the man who would overthrow Shade.  He decided to send Glaive to the Mushroom Kingdom as a spy, all the while believing that he was manipulating Glaive's hatred for Lord Shade to his own advantage.  Even now, he still fails to realize that he was an equally pathetic pawn in my grand scheme.

"Shortly thereafter, you met Glaive for this first time.  He feigned alliance with you, hoping that one of two things would happen.  Either you would defeat Shade and turn out to be the man Crimson was searching for, or at the very least, Glaive could have his revenge by slaughtering Shade with his own hands.  It was also the first time that I saw you, even if it was through someone else's eyes.  From that moment on, I watched your every battle, and once you finally succeeded at thwarting Lord Shade, I was certain of the role that you would play in my resurrection.

"As expected, Crimson eventually sent more of his men to the Mushroom Kingdom after not receiving a status report from Glaive in several months.  To my surprise, however, Glaive actually began to consider you and your comrades as friends, and as your friendship grew, my influence weakened.  I feared that he would someday banish me from his mind, but luckily, an ominous force began to stir within you.  Just as I had awakened within Glaive, my soul began to eat away at you from the inside.  Because you both possessed fragments of my power, my influence was actually strengthened as the two of you grew closer.  During the final battle with one of Crimson's toughest minions, Velno, my level of control began to peak.  Though Glaive fiercely resisted, I insisted that he cut his ties with Mario.  After much internal strife, Glaive and I eventually reached a compromise. 

"To maintain his friendship with you, he faked an honorable death at the hands of Velno.  I also ensured that his final request would be for you to return to the Nightmare Vault to end the civil war in his place, but this was of course merely a ploy to involve you in demon affairs.  After Velno's defeat, I simply resurrected Glaive the same way I've salvaged you from the brink of death countless times before.  Now thought to be dead and almost entirely under my control, Glaive was free to return through the Nexus to the Nightmare Vault.  Once there, he bided his time for six years before finally fulfilling his promise to Botis.  Under my orders, Glaive assassinated the Beta Grimnex and took over his position.  It was simple to win over the other Grimnexes' trust.  All he had to do was prove to them that I was his ancestor and that my consciousness lived on inside of him.  That is how Glaive, who chose the title of King Zagan, came to become the leader of the Grimnexes.  And this entire time, you thought he had chosen to selflessly die for the sake of you and your friends."

"Why...?  Why go to all the trouble of becoming the Beta Grimnex?!" Mario exploded, his body trembling with a combination of shock and rage.  "If you were truly controlling Glaive, then why did you wait until now to carry out your plans?!  If you wanted to, I'm sure you could have easily had Glaive capture the princess and me when we first met."

Mastermind II (http://www.esnips.com/doc/58ec15d9-85cd-461c-8415-aef72bd889ac/Mastermind-II)

"Good question.  It would have been much less troublesome for the both of us if my resurrection was as simple as you make it seem.  In truth, although you possessed a fragment of my soul, you weren't ready yet.  Your demon side had not been given enough time to develop.  Just because you possess a fragment of my soul doesn't mean you can be used in the Phoenix Salvation.  Unless you allow your demon half to mature, you're entirely useless.  With that being said, you've changed a lot since your first encounter with Ipos in the Mushroom Kingdom."

Mario gasped.  "No...  You mean..."

Glaive nodded.  "I can see that you're beginning to put the pieces together.  Remember how I told you that everything you've done up until now was partially my doing?  Now you understand my motive.  I involved you in Glaive's quest for revenge against Lord Shade so that you could learn to wield the 75% of the Hero's Power that you inherited.  I purposely drew Crimson's attention to the Mushroom Kingdom, ultimately leading to a confrontation with his most powerful underling, Velno.  It was during this struggle that I gained complete control over your body for the very first time.  After Velno's defeat and Glaive's 'death', you honored his final request by venturing into the Nightmare Vault, where you began to learn about your demon origins.  In your duel with Crimson, you learned how to borrow the final 25% of the Hero's Power from your father.  All of this, and you still weren't ready.  I needed to provide you with one final challenge, a trial that would be difficult enough to prepare your demon side for my resurrection.  That's when it hit me.  Princess Peach.  Not only would she be the perfect vessel for the Phoenix Salvation, but she would also serve as bait to lure you into a confrontation with the Grimnexes.  Based on Glaive's experiences with you, I deduced that your love for her would be enough to motivate you to challenge even the toughest of the Grimnexes.  And it seems that I was right.  You came all this way with the mindset that you've been doing the impossible, that you've defied all odds with your sheer determination alone.  Not only was I counting on you to get this far, you couldn't have done it without me.

"The only reason you survived those near-death encounters was because it was my will that you remained alive.  Without you, none of this would be possible.  And now, after your battles with Cerberus, Leviathan, Crocell, Ares, and Ipos, you're finally ready.  However, in order for the ceremony to begin, your blood must finally be spilled.  Be warned, now that your survival is no longer important to me, your Demon Exoskeleton won't be nearly as protective as it was before."

"I see... And I walked right into your trap," Mario whispered, his face pale.  I was warned countless times to stay away from the Nightmare Vault...  If only I had listened...

"I understand how you must feel, but this really isn't the time to have regrets," Glaive informed him smugly.  "Please, we should be enjoying ourselves.  Now we can finally settle the score between us."

"My rematch is with Glaive, not you," Mario growled.  "Stop using his body as a puppet, Kronos."

"You really don't have time to be picky," the possessed Glaive replied.  "It won't be long now until the reformation of Terranea begins."

"Terranea?" Mario parroted in confusion.  "But Terranea was divided into separate dimensions generations ago!  How would that even be possible?"

"The answer to your question... lies within the Nexus.  As you know, Terranea was first split after the conclusion of the war between my brethren and the Olympians.  A piece of the kingdom was broken off and became an entirely separate dimension known as the Nightmare Vault, a place where all demons would be confined for eternity.  Centuries later, after the uprising of Lord Shade, Terranea was broken apart yet again.  Only this time, it was divided into three even pieces: the Overthere, the Underwhere, and the universe in which you were born.  Towering above each of these realms is the only remaining fragment of Terranea that has been left unchanged: Mt. Olympus.  It is from this mountain that Zeus oversees all with his omniscient gaze.  These dimensions all share one thing in common: they are forever bound by the Nexus.  Because each of these realms once formed Terranea, they are perpetually attracted to each other like magnets.  The Nexus' purpose is not only to serve as a bridge between dimensions, but also to act as a stronger magnet that will keep these realms separate from each other.  Therefore, if one destroys a gateway to a realm from within the Nexus, there will be nothing to prevent it from sliding back into its proper place as a province of Terranea.  Once all of the gateways from within the Nexus are eliminated, Terranea will be reborn!"

"But why?  Why bother to rebuild Terranea if your only goal is vengeance?"

"Because to simply crush this pathetic world as it is now would be meaningless.  I will restore my kingdom to its former glory, to the way it was before we demons were sealed away.  It will almost be as if we are going back in time.  We will return to the day that the Olympians won the Terranean War; only this time, the Olympians will be the ones to suffer.  Those who do not meet their brutal demise at my hands will know the horrors of the Nightmare Vault and the atrocities that my brethren have endured for centuries.  And thanks to the Grimnexes that I sent to the Nexus, all of this will soon be possible."

Mario stifled a giggle.  "I'm afraid it won't be as simple as you make it sound."

"What do you mean?"

A wry grin spread across the plumber's face.  "I thought you knew me better, but then again, Glaive isn't even in control of his own body at the moment.  It just isn't my style to sit around and listen to my enemy monologue while my friends are out risking their lives.  But since your little speech was so riveting, I thought a few of my comrades would like to listen in.  And Grambi may or may not have been one of them, if you catch my drift."

"You...  You've been transmitting this entire conversation to your allies?" Glaive inquired, beginning to grow irritated.

"Yeah, now even Grambi knows about your plans.  And it won't be long before Zeus finds out.  Not only that, but we also received a little tip from Ares, so a few of my friends will be waiting at the Nexus to stop your underlings.  You may have minions that will listen to your every command, but I've got something different.  Each of these men that have ventured into battle with me is my trustworthy companion."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 18: Nexus Brawls)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on April 30, 2011, 09:04:01 AM
Chapter 18: Nexus Brawls

As the duel between Mario and Glaive took a shocking turn, an entirely new battle was about to unfold.  There existed five realms of reality: the Overthere, the Underwhere, the Universe, the Nightmare Vault, and Mt. Olympus.  At the center of these dimensions stood the Nexus, a structure which not only held them together, but also served as a bridge between them.  It is within this dimension- at the very center of all creation- that the war for the Nexus began.

"When are they coming?" Luke whispered, anxiously pacing back and forth down the circular hallway.  The walls and ceilings were painted black, with a worn red carpet lining the center of the corridor.  The inner wall of the circular hall was lined with torches, while the outer wall was barren with the exception of five tall doors.  "Ares said they'd be here today...  Maybe we should regroup with Slade and Lorne to see if they've encountered any Grimnexes..."

As if to assure Luke of the accuracy of Ares' prediction, a sudden impact shook the entire Nexus.  The quaking soon subsided, and the nearest gateway creaked open.  Standing in the opposite end of the doorway were three Grimnexes.  The demon at the vanguard of the trio stepped forward and scanned his surroundings, immediately taking note of Mark, Luke, and Bowser.  He wore a tattered blue robe and blood-red pants that matched the color of his tall, spiky hair.  Upon further inspection, Mark silently observed several similarities between the facial features of this Grimnex and Slade.

"Just as King Zagan feared...  Some of Mario's friends are here to stop us.  Hmm...  The overweight turtle appears to be Bowser, the one who defeated the Upsilon Grimnex.  Vulcan, seeing as how Bowser barely managed to succeed against Argyle, a Grimnex who was two ranks below you, I assume that you can handle these three alone.  Once you've taken care of them, destroy the gateway to the Underwhere.  Apollo and I will handle the remaining gates."

"Ugh, why do I always get stuck with the small fries?" Vulcan groaned.  "Whatever you say, Lucifer.  You can try to conceal my talent by matching me up with weaker foes, but King Zagan is bound to notice my talent sooner or later.  It won't be long before I outrank both you and Apollo."

"Keep telling yourself that," Lucifer mumbled to himself as he and Apollo vanished into the darkness of the dimly lit corridor.

"Lucifer... What an arrogant jerk," Bowser grumbled, his arms crossed.

"There was something... familiar about him," Luke whispered.

"Aren't you forgetting about someone?" the remaining Grimnex snapped impatiently.  "Those other two are of no concern to you at the moment, turtle boy."  Vulcan, the Sigma Grimnex, was by far the largest of the three.  His size and body structure were nearly identical to Bowser's.  In fact, his back was shielded by a thick, silver shell, and his face resembled that of a turtle's.  His skin was a light turquoise color that grew a few shades darker near his face, forearms, tail, and feet.

"Turtle boy?" Bowser parroted with an amused grin.  "And what are you supposed to be, a Koopa Troop dropout?"

Battlefield (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmxtMyGsSPM)

"Don't mistake me for one of your inferior kind," Vulcan hissed, his body suddenly surrounded with an aura of fire.  After inhaling a deep breath, the Grimnex exhaled a burst of flames in the three heroes' direction.  Mark and Luke swiftly dove to the floor, but the Koopa King, a bit slower to react, clumsily weaved to the side and narrowly avoided a severe burn.

"These flames...  They're even hotter than mine," Bowser whispered in disbelief, his left cheek tingling as the flames rushed past him.

"It doesn't matter how hot your fire breath is, just as long as you can still burn him," Mark stated as he and his brother rose to their feet.  "Luke and I are gonna charge him.  Cover us, okay?"

"We are?" Luke gulped as Mark took off at full speed toward the Grimnex.  He shrugged helplessly and dashed after him.

Big mistake, Vulcan thought, grinning as the young brothers sprinted at him.  Mark lunged forward at the demon with a flaming right hook, but his target made no attempt to defend himself.  As his fist struck Vulcan's chest, the flames that had previously engulfed Mark's hand dissipated.  Before the Mushroom Hero's son could get another shot in, Vulcan batted him away with a flaming uppercut, sending him crashing into the approaching Luke.  Both brothers tumbled onto the ground, and a column of flames zoomed above their heads toward the Grimnex.  Once again, Vulcan made no effort to dodge the oncoming attack.  Bowser's fire breath collided with the Grimnex, but not even a single burn could be detected on his flesh.

"He... he's completely resistant to our flames..." Mark muttered, clutching his scalded chest as he stood on his feet.

"I am a master of the element of fire," Vulcan declared with pride.  "You'll have to generate much more heat if you want to burn me."

Mark sighed.  "Fire won't work, and it doesn't help that he's built like a brick wall.  My punch didn't even faze him."




As they delved deeper into the Nexus, Lucifer and Apollo soon spotted two silhouettes at the far end of the corridor.  "Just as I thought.  It seems that our enemies have split into three groups.  This way, they can guard each of the three essential gates.  King Zagan wishes to reunite Terranea, but he also wants to punish those who opposed him by sealing them within the Nightmare Vault in the same way that we were confined many years ago.  For this to happen, the gateways to the Nightmare Vault and Mt. Olympus must remain intact.  The other three gates, which lead to the Overthere, the Underwhere, and the Universe, must be eliminated.  Once this happens, these three dimensions will merge with Mt. Olympus and restore Terranea to its former state.  From that point on, the Nexus will serve only as a bridge between Terranea and the Nightmare Vault," Lucifer explained.

"That's why there's no point in guarding the gateways to either the Nightmare Vault or Mt. Olympus," Slade affirmed with a nod.  "Lorne and I can take care of ourselves, but we decided to lump those three together because of their lack of skill."  He and Lorne drew their blades and began to approach the two Grimnexes.

"But that means the both of you have to fight alone," Lucifer snickered.  "Are you sure that it was wise to waste three of your comrades on the lowly Sigma Grimnex, the weakest member of our group?"

"They'd only get in the way," Slade hissed, squinting into the dark at Lucifer.  He recognized his foe in an instant.  "You...  I was told that I could find you here, but I didn't think it would be so simple."

"Ah, you must be my older brother," Lucifer sneered.  "You're the one that ran away.  Too bad.  You missed out on quite a bit.  This new body...  This power...  I owe it all to our loving parents."

Slade stepped forward, his body trembling with silent rage.  "Lorne, you can deal with the other Grimnex.  I won't let anyone get in the way of this fight."

"I understand," Lorne nodded, turning to face the silent Apollo.  "There's no need for me to involve myself in your personal affairs."

"I appreciate that," Slade thanked him as he and his brother gradually inched closer to each other.

"Slade...  Before you succumb to your hateful urges, tell me, why did you turn your back on us?  Why did you run away?  You could have become something great...  All of the powers of a Grimnex would have been yours.  But instead, you chose the life of a meagerly human."

"Our parents may have treated you like gold, but to them I was nothing but trash.  They viewed me as a mere tool to further their own twisted experiments.  When an opportunity presented itself, I ran away.  It's as simple as that.  I assume that they learned from their mistakes and raised you with love and respect, so that you would not be tempted to follow in my footsteps."

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?" Lucifer inquired with a cruel smirk.  "You're the one who decided to run away, not me.  You've already killed our parents.  You have no one left to blame but yourself."

Vengeful Showdown (http://www.esnips.com/doc/92929005-840a-4cce-be46-21346feefc19/Vengeful-Showdown)

In the blink of an eye, Slade's dagger sang through the air and pierced Lucifer's chest.  Blood trickled down Slade's sword, changing the blade to a crimson color, and he glared hatefully into his younger brother's widened eyes.  "Shut up.  Shut the hell up.  This family's existence is nothing but a curse.  I'm doing the world a favor by ridding it of scumbags like you and our parents."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed, and his astonished frown quickly changed to a wicked grin.  "You missed..."

It was Slade's turn to be shocked.  "What...?"

"Well, you certainly pierced my flesh, but that alone will not enable you to cut down this body," Lucifer informed him with an arrogant smirk.  "Our dear parents were kind enough to merge me with the body of the fallen Eta Grimnex, granting me a state of being comparable to immortality.  You see, I possess a unique talent.  I can rearrange my entire body structure.  From the locations of my organs to the length of my fingernails, nearly anything is possible.  When you stabbed me with your blade, I simply relocated my vital organs."

"I see...  So these are the powers that you stole from the Eta Grimnex..." Slade murmured, tearing his sword from his younger brother's chest before retreating backward a few steps.

"Don't give the late Eta Grimnex all the credit.  The brilliant scientific minds of our parents are also to blame.  Of course, despite my superiority to the Eta Grimnex, I had no choice but to accept the rank of an Obsolete Grimnex.  Because of our parents' treacherous actions, I was instantly labeled as the Heta Grimnex.  It's a terrible shame, too.  I could have easily been ranked among the top five Grimnexes."

"I'll admit, that ability of yours would probably earn you a comfortable position high up on the Grimnex food chain.  But if your only defense is to move your organs around, I'll simply have to keep stabbing you until I get lucky and hit something," Slade declared before charging at his brother yet again.  He raised his dagger above his head and slashed downward at Lucifer, but the fingers on the Grimnex's left hand expanded outward, wrapping themselves around his blade like tiny ropes.  Lucifer then reeled his brother in and delivered a right hook that knocked him onto his back.

"You're dreaming if you think I'd be willing to sit still and wait for you to be fortunate enough to predict where one of my vital organs will move," Lucifer cackled as he raised his right arm above his head.  His arm began to deform, eventually taking the shape of a dagger.  "Every part of my body can be used as a weapon.  You can't even begin to imagine the possibilities!"

As Slade wept the blood from his chin, he looked upward to see Lucifer's dagger towering above him, only moments away from plunging downward and spilling his blood.




Further down the torch-lit corridor, Lorne and Apollo drew their swords and took a fighting stance.  As they stared each other down, Lorne got his first good look at his opponent.  Although much older, Apollo had the innocent, unwrinkled face of a young man in his twenties.  His hair was a spiky mop of silvery gray, his bangs partially hiding his piercing emerald eyes.  He was about Lorne's height and wore a royal purple vest and sea green sweatpants.

"I can see that you're a man of few words," Lorne remarked with a smirk.

"Words serve little purpose.  But if you insist, I'll formally introduce myself.  I am Apollo, the Theta Grimnex."

"Then that makes you the strongest of the three, right?"

Apollo shook his head.  "I am undoubtedly superior to Vulcan, the Sigma Grimnex.  However, despite being an Obsolete Grimnex, Lucifer's abilities far surpass my own.  He possesses the body of the Eta Grimnex, not to mention whatever other outlandish skills he was granted by his parents."

"I see...  I guess I should be relieved," Lorne chuckled.

Apollo sighed.  "As I said before: words serve little purpose."  His movements too quick to be registered as anything other than a blur, the Grimnex lunged forward and clashed swords with Lorne.  Sparks lit the dank corridor, and the two swordsmen each pressed their blades together in an attempt to overpower the other.

He's no amateur, Lorne thought, his arms quivering as he struggled against his opponent's might.  I didn't even see that first attack coming.  I barely managed to block his sword in time...  Even now, I can't read him.  He isn't giving off any emotions at all...

With an upward thrust of his sword, Apollo won the struggle and sent Lorne teetering backward.  The Grimnex lunged forward with another slash, and Lorne weaved to the side in a last-ditch effort to dodge it.  The blade narrowly skimmed his waist, resulting in a minor cut.  Lorne swiftly regained his footing and batted Apollo's sword to the side before thrusting his own blade forward at the Grimnex's throat.  The cold, stoic Apollo caught the dagger between the thumb and forefinger of his free hand.  He then delivered a fierce upward blow to Lorne's chin with the hilt of his sword, and as his foe soared through the air, Apollo leapt after him and brought the full force of his blade crashing down upon the defenseless Lorne.

Lorne let out a cry of agony as he crashed onto the stone floor.  His body was covered in blood, and a deep gash ran diagonally across his torso.

"I cannot believe that your comrades trusted you with such an important duty.  Did they honestly expect someone as pathetic as you to guard one of the Nexus' gateways?  Who was foolish enough to entrust you with such a crucial task?"

Lorne closed his eyes as he recalled the final words that he and Mario exchanged before his departure.

"Thank you again for all the advice you've given me.  I will do my best to keep your children safe."

"That means a lot to me.  I'm leaving them in your hands."


A wave of adrenaline rushed through Lorne's body, and he slowly began to rise to his feet.  "Mario... was his name, in case you were wondering...  He entrusted me not only with the task of guarding the Nexus, but also with the lives of his children... And I've got news for you, Apollo...  I'm not about to let him down."




Vulcan Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_3b_uf1js&feature=related)

After taking a deep breath, Vulcan exhaled several bursts of flames.  Mark and Luke took cover behind the colossal Bowser, who firmly stood his ground.  "Gwahaha, don't worry.  In the heat of battle, I've had dozens of puny cowards just like you tremble in fear behind my hulking frame."

"Whatever," Mark grumbled.  "I guess that means you don't mind being burnt to a crisp?"

Bowser gulped as Vulcan's scorching flames grew closer and closer.  "True, the inferno would probably burn right through my shell.  And though I could use my lightning fast reflexes to simply dodge his flames, I'd be leaving you two unprotected."

"In other words, he's too fat to evade them," Luke whispered, causing both him and his brother to giggle.

"Well, I guess I could try... that..." Bowser mused, hesitantly opening his jaw.  "I haven't tried it since I singlehandedly defeated Fawful, but it's worth a shot..."  His mouth now wide open, the Koopa King began to inhale a deep breath of air until a miniature whirlwind leading into his mouth formed.  As the Grimnex's flames approached him, the force of Bowser's inward breath pulled them into his mouth and down his throat.

"He... ate them?!" Luke exclaimed in confusion.

"You've surprise even me, turtle..." Vulcan hissed, taken aback by Bowser's peculiar ability.

"It must be because he ate a Vacuum Mushroom all those years ago," Mark speculated.  "Dad told me about it once...  It gives Bowser the ability to inhale things as if his mouth is a vacuum."

"I'm not a turtle...  I'm a Koopa!" Bowser roared before exhaling a colossal sphere of fire that combined his own flames with the ones that he had previously swallowed.

"What's that...?  How did he...?" Vulcan stammered before diving out of the way, causing the entire floor to shake.  The inferno grazed his left shoulder, leaving behind multiple severe burns.  His scaly skin still smoldering, the Grimnex stood up and glared angrily at his opponents.  "He actually burned me...  But no one's flames are hot enough to do that..."

"Gwahahaha!  Sorry pal, but it looks like mine are!" Bowser chuckled.

"We'll see about that," Vulcan hissed, his body quivering with rage.  He exhaled another wave of flames before making a mad dash toward the Koopa King.

Bowser grinned and inhaled the flames yet again, only this time, he used too much force.  Not only did he inhale each of the Grimnex's flaming projectiles, but Mark and Luke as well!  Furthermore, he had been so focused on Vulcan's flames that he was ill prepared to defend himself when the hulking Grimnex finally reached him.  With a violent shriek, Vulcan struck the Koopa King in the face with a flaming uppercut, but Bowser quickly snapped back to his senses and retaliated with a vicious headbutt.  After staggering backward for a moment, the two behemoths lunged at each other once again and locked hands.  As they grappled with each other, it soon became apparent that Vulcan was the dominant force.

Meanwhile, deep within the Koopa King's interior, the downsized Mark and Luke wandered aimlessly.  "Ugh.  I can't believe that oaf swallowed us," Mark groaned, grumpily plodding along the reddish brown pathway that led through Bowser's body.  Moments later, they stopped.  On either side of them was a solid wall colored various shades of violet, and in front of them was a teal cannon aimed at a bulging red and orange structure.  They had reached a dead end.

"What is that?" Luke inquired fearfully.  "Maybe we should turn back..."

"No, I remember hearing about this in a story Dad told me...  If we activate that cannon, we might be able to help Bowser," Mark explained.

"I guess it's worth a shot."

Power Boost (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqfk0DuCkQ)

As Bowser struggled against the might of the Sigma Grimnex, he felt a sudden burst of energy in his arms.  Renewed by this sudden surge of power, the Koopa King thrust his arms forward, and Vulcan toppled onto his back with a helpless shriek.  Bowser stared at his palms in utter astonishment, unable to comprehend this newfound strength.  "What just happened...?"

"Hey, I think it worked!" echoed a voice from within Bowser's body.

"So if we bounce those red and green spheres back at that wall of muscle, Bowser gets stronger?  Sounds simple enough.  Let's try it again."

Bowser's eyes widened as yet another rush of energy erupted from within his arms.  "It must be those two brats...  After all, Mario and Luigi did the same exact thing when I swallowed them all of those years ago..."

"Once again, you've taken me by surprise..." Vulcan hissed through clenched teeth.  "But don't let it get to your head..."  Shaking with uncontrollable fury, the turtle-like Grimnex retreated into his shell.  Only seconds later, the shell began to spin, and as its rotational speed increased, flames began to emit from the shell's five holes.  "So, what do you plan to do now?  You're too heavy to dodge me, and if you try to fend me off, you'll be scorched to death by my flames!"

"He has a point... and those flames would probably melt right through my shell," Bowser pondered.  "Gah, since when do I think so much?  Go ahead and attack!  Gwahahaha!  I can handle anything you throw at me!  Did you already forget that I'm the Koopa King, and you're just some useless minion?"

"Humans, Koopas...  You Olympians are all the same... too blind and arrogant for your own good.  Your existence is irrefutable proof as to why your race deserves extinction!" Vulcan howled, now engulfed in flames as he launched himself at his opponent.  "I hate people like you.  You keep on reminding me of your status as a king... as if that somehow makes you better than me."

Bowser stood his ground and clenched his fists.  "Heh, you talk way too much."  As the flaming shell zoomed toward him like a meteor, the Koopa King pulled his right fist backward, gathering all of his might into a single punch.  He remained motionless until Vulcan was only a few yards away, and then he took a deep inward breath, inhaling the majority of the flames that were being emitted from the Grimnex's shell.  His shell no longer surrounded by fire, there was nothing to prevent Bowser from thrusting his fist forward and sending Vulcan careening into the Nexus' solid stone inner wall.  Vulcan's collision with the wall shook the entire Nexus, and several cracks were visible on his shell as he dizzily poked his head outside.

"Wait, you forgot about these!" Bowser cackled, exhaling the flames that had sucked up only moments ago.  Dazed from his opponent's crushing blow, Vulcan could do nothing to prevent himself from being scorched by his own inferno.  He howled in anguish, frantically rolling back and forth in an attempt to douse the flames, but by the time they had been extinguished, his body was already covered in a multitude of severe burns. 

His body still smoldering, Vulcan looked up at the Koopa King with cold, vengeful eyes.  "Enough of this...  You've shamed me for the final time..."  His body began to burn with an aura of flames; only this time, they were a light blue color.  "This humiliation will not go unnoticed...  For your crimes, you will be scorched by the unrivaled fury of my Final Smash."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 19: Father and Son)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on May 09, 2011, 08:03:07 PM
Chapter 19: Father and Son

Cackling maniacally, Vulcan's size began to drastically increase as his entire body was covered in a layer of blue flames.  Bowser gazed upward helplessly at his opponent, who now towered above him like a skyscraper.  "Now do you understand how puny you really are?" Vulcan boomed, causing the entire Nexus to shake.  "You're nothing but talk!"  He angrily dealt a flaming right hook to the Koopa King, who toppled onto his back with little resistance.

Every inch of his body aching, Bowser struggled to his feet.  "Not only is he freaking huge, but he's surrounded himself in flames...  I'm not sure what else I can do..."

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

After receiving another furious blow, Bowser soared upward before crashing into the wall and tumbling onto the floor.  "Is that all?  Pathetic.  Do you honestly expect me to believe that you're regarded as a king back in the world of light?  For the Olympians' sake, I hope that was just a bluff."

The world around him suddenly growing dark, Bowser recalled his final conversation with Mario.

"Bowser, don't lose that burning passion of yours.  Once I rescue Peach, I'll be sure to tell her how much you helped me."

"That is, if you actually manage to save her.  In the end, I'll probably be forced to defend the Nexus all by myself.  Then, once I hear about your defeat at the hands of the top five Grimnexes, I'll have to come all the way back here to singlehandedly rescue the princess."


Remembering Mario's words, the Koopa King felt a sudden surge of energy rush through his body.  He gradually pulled himself onto his feet yet again and grinned at his opponent.  "I've got a question for you, Vulcan...  Why are you so eager to prove your superiority?  This entire time, you've been challenging my authority as a king...  Why is that?  Is it because you're jealous?"

A sad smile spread across Vulcan's face.  "You couldn't even begin to understand...  All my life, everything has been about ranks and hierarchies.  A Grimnex must constantly stress over his rank...  How close am I to surpassing the Grimnex above me?  Will the Grimnex below me soon take my place?  These fears and uncertainties plague the minds of every Grimnex.  In the lonely abyss that is the Nightmare Vault, our ranks are all we have left.  We struggle to prove our worth to our superiors, silently chasing the dream of someday becoming king.  That is why I detest those who are born into power.  They don't work a single day in their entire life, and yet they are so easily given what countless others spend their entire lives working to achieve.

"Many years ago, I used to have a brother.  He served as the Tau Grimnex.  In other words, he was ranked immediately below me.  He was a gifted one, my brother.  Although he started out near the bottom of the food chain, he advanced three or four ranks within his first year.  And just like that, he was right below me.  With a little more experience, he would inevitably surpass me.  If I left things as they were, he may have eventually become tough enough to rival one of the top ten Grimnexes.  But being the sickeningly envious soul that I am, I couldn't bear to sit idly by and watch my younger brother take away what I believed to be rightfully mine.  So out of jealousy and hatred, I conspired to have him executed.  By giving a false report to the Beta Grimnex of his betrayal, my brother was silently disposed of.  And thus my rank- and my pride- were safe."

"Heh... That was low.  And coming from someone like me, that means a lot," Bowser chuckled softly.  "How do you expect to become king... just by eliminating those who are weaker than you...?"

"What do you know?!" Vulcan roared, striking Bowser in the face with a vicious slash.  "You were born as a king!  You never had to work for your position!  You couldn't possibly understand how I feel!"

"Maybe not..." Bowser whispered, lying on the ground in agony.  "But I do know how it feels... to constantly live in someone's shadow... to have a rival who thwarts you at every turn...  And no matter how hard I've worked, I still can't overthrow him...  That same man... is the reason why I'm fighting here..."

"Is that so?  Well, it seems that you've failed yet again," Vulcan declared bitterly, bringing his colossal foot down upon the helpless Koopa King.  "...Pathetic.  I thought that the Olympians would put more effort into defending these gates, but I suppose I overestimated them."  He turned his attention to the tall gateway that led to the Underwhere.  With a single downward swipe of his right arm, the double doors that led to the Underwhere crumbled to the floor.  And just like that, only two of the critical gates remained.  "What a waste of time.  I shouldn't have even needed to use my Final Smash against him.  Ah well, I suppose I should see how Lucifer and Apollo are doing."

Giant Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UV6fDwysOk)

"Not yet... I'm not finished with you..."

The Nexus suddenly grew dark as Vulcan was enveloped in a colossal shadow.  He whirled around to see Bowser, whose size had multiplied to even greater heights than his own.  "How... How did you...?"

"So what do you think activating Bowser's adrenaline did?" Mark inquired, still inside of Bowser's body with his younger brother.

Luke shrugged.  "I don't know, but it's suddenly much roomier in here."

"Ah, much better!" the mammoth Koopa King chuckled.  "You may have already smashed the gate to the Underwhere, but that's not gonna prevent me from getting a little payback.  Or are you too afraid to take on someone bigger than you?"

"So you can increase your size as well..." Vulcan grumbled.  "I wasn't counting on this...  But how do you plan to attack me if I'm covered in flames?"

"Eh, a few burns never hurt anyone," Bowser replied with a shrug of his enormous shoulders.  He pulled his fists back in preparation for a retaliatory beating.  "I'd say that this is gonna hurt me more than it'll hurt you, but I doubt that'll be the case."  With a furious howl, the Koopa King unleashed a devastating combo of punches upon his fiery foe.  "And here's a tip: if you want your rank to increase, try fighting someone who ranks above you!" His fists scalding from the layer of flames that shielded Vulcan, Bowser struck him with one final hook that caused the entire Nexus to quiver.




Cursed Memories (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)

Elsewhere in the Nexus, Lorne and Apollo's fight had been brought to a standstill by the sudden quaking.  "That rumbling...  Aren't you worried about your comrades?  The Sigma Grimnex can't be doing too well, especially considering he's up against Bowser and Mario's two sons."

"Even if those tremors were a signal of his death, it would make no difference to me.  Vulcan is responsible for destroying the Underwhere gateway.  If he can't carry out such a trivial assignment, he deserves to die."

"But he's your ally...  Don't you care at all about what happens to him?" Lorne inquired, puzzled by Apollo's lack of concern.

"As long as he fulfilled his duty, I could care less.  Friendships, alliances...  What could possibly be more pointless?  A warrior must learn to depend on himself, to rid himself of all meaningless attachments...  The weak exist solely for the purpose of nourishing the strong."

Listening to all of this with widened eyes, Lorne was instantly reminded of the past.  "It's unmistakable...  You're the same... the same way I used to be..."

Apollo's eyes narrowed.  "What was that?"  He lunged forward and clashed blades with Lorne.

"Before I met Mario, I used to be just like you," Lorne answered firmly, sparks flying as he struggled against the Grimnex's dagger with his own.  "I let my path be chosen for me.  I was enslaved at a young age and taught to be a ruthless, coldblooded assassin.  I threw all of my emotions away, or rather, I merely froze them away within the depths of my soul.  And it wasn't until Mario thawed them out and taught me to forge my own path that I became what I am today!"

"But if Crimson isn't right... then who is...?"

"That's something you need to find out for yourself.  I don't expect you to join up with me now that I've defeated you.  You don't even have to stop believing in Crimson.  When two different beliefs meet, a conflict will often follow.  Velno believes that it is his job to release the demons of the Nightmare Vault into this realm, and I believe that it's my obligation to stop him."

"But why...?  Why do you go to such lengths to help other people...?"

"I've come to believe that it's my life's purpose to protect this kingdom from all who wish harm upon it.  And that's exactly what I strive to do, each and every day.  When someone gets in the way of that, and I can't reason with him, I have no choice but to resort to violence.  No matter how ugly things may get, I do my best to move forward.  That's my philosophy."


"I only wish that Mario was here to fight you in my place," Lorne sighed.  "I'm sure he could save you, the very same way he saved me.  But I can't rely on him to do everything.  Right now, he's fighting even harder than I am, against tougher, higher ranking Grimnexes...  He's counting on me, and I refuse to betray his trust."

"You shouldn't have allowed this 'Mario' to change you so easily," Apollo remarked coldly.  "I may have had some respect for you if you stood before me as the man you once were.  You said that you used to be just like me, but you were wrong.  I'd never allow myself to be influenced by a human."

Grimnex Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/39e6b1bd-2d6a-402d-8bce-46576777ce3b/Grimnex-Battle)

"What a shame," Lorne chuckled glumly, stepping backward as Apollo broke their stalemate with an aggressive swing of his dagger.  When the Grimnex pursued him, Lorne swiftly retreated backward before placing his free palm on the floor.  To Apollo's surprise, several razor-sharp icicles suddenly protruded from the floor and blocked his path.  If he had taken one step further, he would have been impaled.

"You can control ice?  An interesting ability..."

"I guess you could say it matches my personality.  Or at least it used to, anyway," Lorne replied dryly.

Resuming his pursuit of Lorne, Apollo darted to the left and circled around the row of stalagmites.  As he closed the distance between himself and his opponent, numerous additional icicles rose from the floor in an attempt to cut him off.  However, the agile Grimnex weaved past each of the deadly obstacles without receiving so much as a scratch.  Now only a short distance away from his target, he raised his blade above his head, but Lorne had other plans.  Apollo stopped dead in his tracks.  His feet had been frozen to the floor.

"You let yourself get too comfortable.  I can do much more than create a few stalagmites," Lorne declared, removing his palm from the floor and gripping his weapon with both hands.  The ice began to climb up Apollo's legs, waist, and torso until the Grimnex was frozen from the neck down.  His foe now seemingly helpless, Lorne prepared to deliver the final blow.

"You should take your own advice," Apollo replied stoically as a dozen blue tentacles extended from his head.  One wrapped itself around Lorne's sword, while the others attached to the various ice structures that had been created by his opponent, including the thick layer of ice that now covered Apollo.  The tentacles began to glow, and before Lorne's astonished eyes, any ice that had been touched by them melted within seconds.

Lorne quickly snapped back to his senses and yanked his weapon free from one of the tentacles, but Apollo, no longer restrained by ice, lunged forward with a powerful downward slash of his blade.  Lorne attempted to parry Apollo's sword with his own, but the force of the Grimnex's dagger shattered his blade to pieces before plunging into his flesh.  Blood splashed onto the floor.  Lorne fell to his knees in defeat.

"I'd offer you some sort of explanation, but you're far too injured to continue.  As a token of respect for the man you once were, I'll put you out of your misery," Apollo muttered solemnly.

Not again... Lorne thought, his body growing numb as the blood rushed from his body.  First, I died at the hands of my own father... and after receiving a second chance... I've somehow managed to let my final opportunity to confront my father slip right through my fingers...  All because of this one Grimnex...  His eyes fluttered shut as he cursed his own failure.

A sharp metal clang caused him to jump, and his eyes snapped back open.  He gasped.  A wave of shock and relief rushed over him.  Standing between him and his assailant was a man who stood six feet tall and wore a blue coat with streaks of gold on its collar.  His jet black hair was slicked back, and a cloak with shades of black and violet draped down his back.  In his hands he held a crimson blade, which he had used to parry the Grimnex's attack.

"Father..." Lorne whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.  "I don't understand..."

"State your name," Apollo demanded, flawlessly maintaining his stoic demeanor.

"Dante," the man replied firmly.  He turned to his wounded son and spoke softly.  "Don't move, Lorne.  I'll take over from here."

"But why...?  And where did you come from...?  I have so many questions..." Lorne stammered, unsure at how to react at his father's sudden appearance.  However, as he began to take in this sudden turn of events, his hostility toward Dante grew.

"After my defeat at Mario's hands, Crimson, my alternate personality, was banished from my conscience.  I've wandered the Mushroom Kingdom for the past few months, searching for some method of atonement for the crimes I committed while under Crimson's influence.  And while I was convinced that I could not use my second personality as an excuse for my sins, Mario found it in his heart to forgive me, even after all of the lives that I took.  I slaughtered his own brother before his very eyes, and yet he spared my life and offered me the opportunity to redeem myself.  I-"

"But why did you come here?!" Lorne exploded, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.  "You may have his forgiveness, but you'll never earn mine!  You don't really think that this makes up for what you've done to me, do you?  When I was only an infant, you enlisted me in Lord Shade's military, and then while disguised as Crimson, you took me under your wing and used me as a pawn!  And as if that still weren't enough...  You were willing to slaughter me... your own son...  I don't have shred of forgiveness left to offer you!"

Dante hung his head, his face heavily wrinkled from many years of pent up guilt.  "I understand.  I would never expect you to forgive me.  Still, I will continue to atone for my crimes in whatever way I see fit, even if you continue to loathe me.  When I learned of the current situation, I spoke with Mario's friends at the Nexus Access Point.  They reluctantly opened the Nexus for me, and you were the first person that I saw...  I will defend the Nexus, whether you want me to or not.  Not only do I owe my life to you, but also to Mario... to the people of the Mushroom Kingdom... as well as to any other land that met its destruction at my hands.  The Universe deserves peace...  After all that Mario has been through against Lord Shade and me, I refuse to allow the demons to win without a fight."

"If you insist on fighting me, then get on with it," Apollo sighed.  "You're wasting time.  Words can accomplish nothing."

Dante rushed forward and engaged Apollo in a fast-paced swordfight.  "You're wrong.  Words can be even more powerful than actions.  They can change who a person is.  Without them, neither I nor my son would be who we are today."  A smirk spread across his face.  "It's ironic, when you think about it.  Would you believe that the words that changed me... and the words that changed my son... both came from the same man's mouth?"

"This Mario must be quite influential," Apollo observed, skillfully parrying each of Dante's slashes before countering with a pinpoint strike of his own.  "It relieves me to know that he'll be dealt with shortly."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Dante chuckled as he ducked beneath one of the Grimnex's sword swings and lunged forward with his blade, slicing Apollo across his midsection.  "Mario has the strangest tendency to surprise those that bet against him.  He'll deal with your king soon enough, and then this war will be over."

"Interesting...  Not only do you run your mouth even more than your son... but your skill with a blade is far superior.  That is quite a feat, especially considering your age."

"You're easily impressed," Dante snickered.  "You should've fought me a few months ago.  Back then, this would have been a cinch."

While it's true that my father is far stronger than me...  He hasn't really done much to show it...  This should have ended in seconds.  At his peak, he can be just as deadly as Mario when he uses 100% of the Hero's Power.  This Grimnex couldn't possibly be giving him so much trouble...   Lorne's eyes widened.  Of course...  It was Crimson, his warlike personality, that enabled him to wield 100% of his power.  Since Crimson has been banished from his mind, my father cannot use all of the Hero's Power!

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

Lorne watched intently as Dante and Apollo continued to cross swords.  Growing steadily more fatigued, Dante began to inch backwards under the force of his opponent's relentless blows. Now that Crimson's gone, he's lost most of his power...  Even so, he's putting his life on the line to fight on the behalf of the Mushroom Kingdom... for Mario... and for me...

The Grimnex lunged forward with a swing of his blade and sent Dante's sword clattering to the floor.  He continued his assault with another slash, but Dante grabbed the hilt of the blade, stopping it only inches away from his throat.  Turning his foe's blade so that it pointed downward, he overpowered Apollo and stabbed the sword into the ground.  Dante then struck him with a right hook to the face, causing the Grimnex to lose his grip on his weapon.  As Apollo regained his balance, Dante tore his foe's blade from the ground before rolling to the side and scooping up his own.  With both swords in his grasp, he rushed forward at breakneck speed and slashed the Grimnex, creating an x-shaped gash on his chest.

Apollo coughed up a mouthful of blood and took a knee.  "Your skill with one blade... was impressive enough...  But with two... heh... I couldn't even defend myself..."  He grinned faintly as his body began to emanate a bright blue aura.  "However...  I've been holding out on a few tricks of my own..."  To Dante and Lorne's horror, his body began to grow thin and lanky, somewhat reminding them of Waluigi.  His young, humanlike face soon morphed into that of a squid's, and his limbs transformed into long tentacles with sharp blades at their tips.  All semblance of the Apollo that they had come to know vanished, except for his cold, emerald eyes.  His fair complexion had been replaced by bluish, scaly skin, further adding to his squid-like appearance.

"What... what have you done to yourself...?" Dante inquired, horrified by his foe's metamorphosis.

"This is my Final Smash...  And while I could explain it to you, it'd be much quicker to give you a demonstration," Apollo replied icily.  In the blink of an eye, he extended one of his tentacles toward Dante, piercing his right arm with the blade at its tip.  Dante cried out in sheer agony as an electric shock ran through his entire arm.  However, this was only the beginning.  He grabbed the tentacle with his other hand in a desperate attempt to remove it from his arm, but it was too late.  In a flash of light, Dante's entire right arm disintegrated into tiny blue particles.

Dante's sword clattered to the floor.  He fell to his knees, his eyes wide with terror.  The pain was too great to scream.  He remained silent, his mouth agape and his body trembling.

"Father..." Lorne whispered, wincing at the sight of Dante's misery.  He then attempted to remind himself that he was supposed to hate his father, but gasped as Dante slowly rose to his feet for another round.

"Painful, isn't it?" Apollo sneered, the wounds on his chest beginning to fade.  "These tentacles can drain the life from your body, ultimately causing you to evaporate into nothingness.  On the other hand, the energy gathered by my tentacles nourishes my wounds and increases my stamina.  As you can see, the gashes on my chest have already started to heal."

"Heh, that's a neat trick..." Dante chuckled wryly, clutching his right shoulder.

"Now do you understand the fruitlessness of fighting for the Mushroom Hero's cause?  You were both better off before you met him," Apollo declared bitterly.  "Had the circumstances been different, I could almost see us as... comrades.  Instead of dying miserably at my feet, why don't you do your son a favor... and put him out of his misery?  Return to your stoic, coldhearted self and become the true warrior that you once were.  If you can do that, I may just spare your life out of respect."

"You're asking me to kill my own son in exchange for sparing my life?  Not a chance," Dante replied defiantly.

"Why not?  You've already killed him once before...  Very well, in that case, perhaps I should end his life for you!" Apollo exclaimed, extending another one of his tentacles towards the defenseless Lorne.  The Grimnex's blade struck flesh, and blood splattered at Lorne's feet.

"Why...?" Lorne whispered, his eyes wide with shock.

Sorrowful Goodbye (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5641e09b-5c71-4b62-bfb3-43ec543a17d8/Sorrowful-Goodbye)

Standing firmly in front of him was Dante, who had dove in front of him and been stabbed by the Grimnex's bladed tentacle.  Clutching his fatal wound, he fell to his knees as the life began to drain from his body.  Teardrops formed in the corners of his eyes, and his lips curled into a remorseful smile.  "Lorne...  I understand if you still cannot bring yourself to forgive me... but as long as you know... that I truly am sorry... I can finally be at peace..."

"Answer me!" Lorne exclaimed, his cheeks damp with tears.  "Why did you throw away your life... just to save me?"

"It was instinctive...  I did it without a second thought...  I know... that rescuing a single life... can never make up for all of the pain that I've caused...  But if there was ever a way for me to die... I'm glad that it was to save you, my son..."  Dante's eyes fluttered shut, and his head fell softly to the floor as tears trickled down his pale, wrinkled cheeks.

Lorne stared in wide-eyed silence at his father, who now lay dead at his feet.  His corpse continued to shrivel as the heartless Apollo sought to consume every last drop of his energy.

"Mario, I haven't forgotten about what you did for me.  My father...  You showed him mercy even after all of the crimes he committed...  Tell me, is it wrong for me to want to see him again...?"

"Not at all.  Your father isn't as evil as you may think.  When I fought him, I could see that part of him felt remorse for his crimes.  It might be hard, but just give him a chance."


"Stop..." Lorne whispered, his torso still covered in bloody gashes.  "Enough...  Leave his body alone..."

"That would be a waste," Apollo replied coldly.  "I'm afraid that I'll have to continue to drain his energy until his body evaporates into nothingness.  I don't see what the big deal is.  It's not as if he needs it anymore."

Resolve (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c00cfaed-8d74-470f-bc84-5e13bc4def84/Resolve)

His body still numb from blood loss, Lorne reached for his father's blade, which had clattered to the floor earlier on.  With a bloodcurdling shriek, he struggled onto his feet and sliced off the tip of Apollo's tentacle, preventing him from further siphoning any remaining nutrients from Dante's corpse.  Breathing heavily and trembling in agony, Lorne glared at Apollo with determined, sapphire eyes.

"Your defiance is misplaced.  Dante is dead," Apollo informed him icily.  "There's no sense in defending him."  He launched another one of his tentacles at Dante's corpse, but Lorne stood firmly in its path.  The bladed tip pierced his already severely wounded chest.  Lorne didn't even flinch.

"Dead or alive, I won't let you lay a hand on my father..." he growled, clutching the tentacle with his left hand before sending a wave of ice into the tentacle and toward his opponent.  The tentacle now frozen, Lorne ripped it from his torso and dashed toward the Grimnex with his father's blade wrapped tightly in his grip.  With an infuriated cry, he lunged forward and pierced the center of the x-shaped gash on Apollo's chest, causing him to howl in anguish.

"Hah, this wound won't be enough to kill me..." Apollo chuckled as three of his tentacles sunk their blades into Lorne's flesh.  "Once I've feasted upon some of your body's nutrients, my injuries will be healed in no time..."

Gritting his teeth and ignoring the pain brought about by Apollo's final defense, Lorne pressed his father's dagger deeper into the Grimnex's chest.  "If you want to freeze your soul and become a coldhearted bastard with no respect for the dead, then maybe I can help you out!"

"Wait... what are you doing...?" Apollo gasped, a cold sensation suddenly erupting from within his chest.  "Your ice... I forgot all about-"

With one final cry, Lorne channeled all of the ice he could muster through his blade and into the Grimnex's body, freezing him from the inside out.  Now frozen in a solid block of ice, Apollo remained silent.  Lorne tore the frozen tentacles from his body and wearily collapsed into a pool of blood.  A cool breeze rushed past the two fallen warriors.  The battle was over.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 20: An Avenger's Fate)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on May 18, 2011, 07:39:47 PM
Chapter 20: An Avenger's Fate

Cursed Grimnex (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5v5w-zxu4)

As Lucifer's blade-shaped arm loomed eerily above his older brother's head, Slade's eyes were glued to his own sword, which was still wrapped in the Grimnex's other hand.  Calm and cool, Slade removed the bandages from his right arm with a single tug and elicited a wall of Nightmare Haze between them.  He then unwrapped the bandages on his opposite arm, and with a complex series of gestures, he summoned a cloud of Nightmare Haze in the shape of a hand.  Lucifer's dagger collided with the wall of haze, resulting in a metal clang, while the hand-shaped cluster of haze wrapped itself around Slade's sword and tore it from the Grimnex's grasp.  The avenger retreated backwards several steps and called his Nightmare Haze back.  The wall of haze quickly disintegrated, and the synthetic hand delivered the blade to its master.

"That is quite an intriguing talent you possess," Lucifer chuckled, referring to Slade's Nightmare Haze.  "That mist...  It's toxic, is it not?  Are you sure that it's wise to store such a lethal substance in your body?"

"You should be more worried about it entering yours," Slade replied dryly as he waved his arms toward his younger brother.  A column of Nightmare Haze erupted from his palms and surrounded the Grimnex.  Before Lucifer could even consider escaping, the lethal mist had already begun to penetrate every pore on his body.  "That's better.  Let's see how complacent you are now that the haze has entered your body."

Beads of sweat dripping down his face, Lucifer's breathing quickly grew heavy as he fell to his knees.  He began to tremble violently and thrash wildly about, the poisonous haze now spreading throughout his entire body.

Slade turned around as the color began to fade from his brother's skin.  "It only gets worse from here.  Eventually you'll die there, frightened and alone.  Farewell."  He began to walk in the opposite direction, but was halted by a wicked cackle.  Slade turned around to see Lucifer rising to his feet in a fit of laughter.  His eyes widened with shock.

"I never thought you'd fall for that routine," Lucifer sneered, completely unharmed by his older brother's Nightmare Haze.  "

"H- How...?"

Lucifer grinned.  "I suppose you have your reputation to blame.  You made quite a name for yourself by controlling the Nightmare Haze.  It wasn't long before you were known far and wide as Nightmare.  Even so, I knew it was you.  And I thought to myself, 'If he can be immune to the Nightmare Haze's effects, than why can't I?  I am his brother, after all.'  I never thought that I would actually use such a skill against you someday.  I merely thought that if there was one warrior out there who could wield the Nightmare Haze as a weapon, why couldn't there be more?  I refused to be defeated in such a disgraceful manner, and in less than a year, I developed immunity to the haze.  You're going to have to come up with something else if you intend to kill me."

"True," Slade agreed with a shrug.  "Let me know if this is any better."  With a flourish of his arms, the Nightmare Haze quickly exited the Grimnex's body and engulfed him in a blood-red fog.  "Poisonous or not, it's still haze.  I wonder how well you can see inside of that fog."  His sword drawn, Slade sprinted directly into the haze.

"Fool...  Inside of this haze, you can't see any better than I can!"

Vengeful Showdown (http://www.esnips.com/doc/92929005-840a-4cce-be46-21346feefc19/Vengeful-Showdown)

"Actually, the Nightmare Haze can serve as my eyes and ears.  I know exactly where you are," Slade declared, emerging from out of seemingly nowhere and sinking his dagger into Lucifer's chest.

As his older brother's blade was stained with his blood, Lucifer's astonished frown quickly curled into a devilish smirk.  "You may be able to see my body... but you still can't find my vital organs."  The fingers on his right hand spiraled into five razor-sharp blades, which he then stabbed into his elder brother's torso.  "It's such a shame!  On the rare occasion that you can actually hit me, you fail miserably at striking even one of my vitals!"

"Then I'll just have to try again," Slade replied as his body evaporated into a red mist and merged with the Nightmare Haze that surrounded them.  Lucifer gazed upward in awe as the real Slade descended from several feet above, his dagger held high above his head.  With a vicious downward slash, the avenger sliced the Grimnex in two.  Blood spilled onto the floor, and Slade stoically sheathed his blade.  "Hmph.  What did you expect?  You were surrounded by my Nightmare Haze.  It was a simple task to create an exact replica of myself out of the haze to use as a decoy."  He looked upon the Grimnex's dismantled body with disgust.  "Rest in peace... you son of a ninny..."

Just as these words escaped his lips, a long, snake-like blade extended from the shadows and pierced his chest.  Slade coughed up a mouthful of blood, and wicked, maniacal laughter assaulted his eardrums.  Looking upward, his jaw dropped as he spotted his brother standing unharmed atop the gateway to the Overthere.  His right arm had morphed into a dagger and extended several feet, allowing him to attack from a distance the moment Slade had dropped his guard.  "But... how did you...?"  Now on his hands and knees, the weakened avenger slowly turned his head toward the Lucifer that he had sliced in two.  As the Nightmare Haze faded away, he spotted a long, thin structure that ran across the floor like a wire.  He traced this object with his eyes back to the area where he had slashed Lucifer. To his surprise, the Grimnex was nowhere to be found, and a bloody hand with a gash running down its center had taken his place.  He then traced the other end of the wire-like structure back to Lucifer and immediately realized what had happened.

"That was rather entertaining," Lucifer snickered.  "The way each of us planned several steps ahead, setting traps for each other...  I'm impressed.  Unfortunately for you, it seems as though I planned one step ahead.  In the end, the Nightmare Haze was your undoing.  Although it was meant to obscure my vision and give you an opportunity to strike me, I was never in any danger to begin with.  Using my otherworldly talents, I morphed my left hand into an exact replica of myself and stretched my arm out to be several times longer.  I then slipped unnoticed out of the haze while my clone stayed behind to endure whatever attack you had in store for me.  If it weren't for the Nightmare Haze, you surely would have noticed my arm running along the floor like an extension cord, leading you to the real me.  You made it all too easy, Slade."

"So what I really cut... was your hand...  Heh...  You're nothing... but a freak... a lab experiment gone insanely wrong..." Slade spat, blood still dripping from his wounds.

"Now now, let's not resort to name-calling," Lucifer chuckled, wrapping his already extended left arm around Slade as if it were a boa constrictor squeezing the life from its prey.  He then withdrew his blade and reeled Slade in by shortening the length of his arm.  His older brother now dangling lifelessly before him, Lucifer's sinister grin widened.  "Slade, I want you to reexamine your childish motives for seeking vengeance against me.  I haven't done anything to you.  Are you acting out of jealousy?  Do you envy me because our parents treated me with love and respect?  Or is this all just because you have nothing left to live for but vengeance?  You're all alone...  You have nothing left to do but spread your hatred.  Once you've taken me out, who will it be next?  Humans and demons... They really are the same.  The only difference is that humans attempt to hide their corruptness with things such as 'laws' and 'morals,' while demons embrace their wickedness.  Demon or human, living creatures will never run out of reasons to wage war against one another.  If you killed me, I'm sure it wouldn't be long before you found someone else to hold a vendetta against."

"Heh... That's not it at all..." Slade whispered with a faint smirk.  "I just don't want you... to follow in our parents footsteps...  I don't want... to see anyone else end up like me...  Our family... is a curse... that must be eradicated..."

"Is that all?" Lucifer inquired, throwing his head back with laughter.  "In that case, I have good news.  If you hate this family so much... If you believe that we truly are a curse...  Then I'll be happy to rid this world of your existence."  He released his grip on Slade, who tumbled lifelessly onto the floor.  "But before I finish you off...  I have a job to do."

Salvation (http://www.esnips.com/doc/ad663e72-8334-4bf9-87cc-9d254aef5cb6/Salvation)

"No... stop..." Slade pleaded, lying helplessly on the ground in a pool of blood.  "If you do that..."

"I can tell that the gate to the Underwhere has already been destroyed.  So if I eliminate this gateway, the good souls of the Overthere will be forced to coexist with the wicked residents of the Underwhere.  Now, doesn't that sound like fun?"  His right arm grew to several times its original size, and the wicked Grimnex began to pummel away at the gate.

"Get... away... from that..." Slade demanded as he extended his palms toward his brother and launched a cloud of Nightmare Haze at him.

"You know that won't work," Lucifer replied.  His left hand took the shape of a fan, and he blew the haze away with a single swing.  After flashing a cruel smirk, he continued to strike the Overthere gateway with his enlarged fist.

He's right...  I need something else...  Recalling his battle with Helios, Slade reached for his dagger.  His scabbard was empty.  Frantically scanning his surroundings, he located his blade, which rested on the floor several feet away from him.  That's it...  If I can just reach it in time...  Losing blood fast, he desperately crawled toward his sword.  Inch by inch, his only chance at salvation grew closer.  The nearby sound of the gateway crumbling to pieces served as a constant reminder of the situation's urgency.  His blade now finally within reach, Slade extended a quivering arm toward its hilt.  As his fingertips were only centimeters away from the blade's handle, an explosion shook the entire Nexus.  Slade whirled around and watched in horror as the gate to the Overthere collapsed into a pile of rubble and debris.  Gritting his teeth, he returned his attention to his sword, but as he reached for its hilt yet again, a blade pierced his outstretched hand.

"So close," Lucifer taunted, now towering over his fallen brother.  "But even if you had managed to retrieve your sword, what could you have possibly hoped to accomplish?"  He withdrew his blade-shaped arm from Slade's hand and held it menacingly above his head.  "Now, with one final strike, I'll rid the world from your hateful existence."

His vision growing blurry, Slade watched helplessly as his brother's blade dangled above him.  He summoned all of his might and pressed his right palm against the floor.  Unbeknownst to Lucifer, a trail of Nightmare Haze began to crawl along the floor and into Slade's dagger.  The Grimnex flashed a cruel smile as he pressed the tip of his sword to his older brother's throat, but his eyes widened after Slade's sword shattered into hundreds of tiny fragments.  These shards, each manipulated by Slade through the Nightmare Haze that had been channeled into them, formed a razor-sharp dome around the two of them.

"Now I understand... This was your plan all along..." Lucifer whispered in astonishment.  "But you were too late...  We're both surrounded.  If you unleash all of those sword fragments upon me, you'll be severely injured as well.  You might even die."

"I never intended to walk away from this battle alive..." Slade replied bitterly.  "As long as I take you with me... I'm content with dying..."  With a single gesture, he commanded the dome of shards to close in on them.  Although they were directed mostly at Lucifer, Slade was inevitably the victim of many severe cuts and gashes.  Blood splashed into the air as the blade fragments danced about, cutting Lucifer to ribbons as he howled in anguish.

Within a minute, the Grimnex's body had been mutilated beyond recognition.  The blade fragments reassembled into a single sword, which then clattered onto the floor beside its owner.  Battered and beaten, Slade stared at his brother's corpse with half shut, bloodshot eyes.  He heaved a deep sigh, and his head feel to the floor.  Content with his victory, he allowed his eyes to slowly flutter shut.

As he slipped away into unconsciousness, he did not notice the Grimnex's body begin to stir, nor did he hear the sinister laughter of his younger brother echoing throughout the silent corridor.




"Meh, what an idiot," Bowser spat, regarding the fallen Vulcan with disgust.  He sighed helplessly as his size returned to normal.  "I wonder how the others are doing.  Chances are, they've screwed everything up and are waiting for me to save them at the last minute."

"Your fight wasn't exactly a glaring success," Mark grumbled from within Bowser's body.  "You may have beaten Vulcan, but he still managed to destroy the gateway to the Underwhere.  And you never would have even won if we hadn't activated your adrenaline.  Now can you please let us out?"

"Erm... I don't know how..." Bowser admitted sheepishly.

"What?!  You mean we're stuck in here?!" Luke wailed, angrily flailing his arms.  "Let us out!"

"I would if I could!" Bowser snapped.  "I'll figure something out... eventually..."

Grimnex Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/746801fc-e86d-4ae6-b1e3-002da7829007/Grimnex-Theme)

As Bowser quarreled with the plumbers, he was entirely oblivious to the ominous figure that lurked nearby.  Crawling along the floor with a bloody trail following closely behind, the severely injured Lucifer gradually made his way toward Vulcan's body.  A wicked smirk spread across his heavily wounded face.  Just a... little further...  There...  He placed his left palm on the Grimnex and liquefied before entering Vulcan's body via his numerous battle wounds.

"Heh...  You might want to keep those two brats inside of you for a bit longer..." Vulcan sneered, causing Bowser to whirl around in fright.

"You...  How are you still conscious?"

Vulcan let out an obnoxious cackle before his body morphed to resemble a fully-healed Lucifer.  "Scared you, didn't I?  Let me assure you, Vulcan is no more.  However, from your point of view, I can't exactly say that's a good thing.  You'd stand a better chance against a handful of Vulcans."

Bowser squinted at his foe, recognizing him from before.  "You...  You're that cocky jerk from earlier.  I've got a bone to pick with you..."  He rushed toward the Grimnex with his fists clenched, shaking the ground as he did so.  The Koopa King threw a right hook, but Lucifer weaved to the side and delivered a crushing blow to his opponent's chest.  Bowser fell to his knees, gasping for air.

"Back off.  I have no intentions of fighting you," Lucifer declared as he vanished into the shadows.

Still coughing and gasping, Bowser clutched his chest and roared in agony.  At last, he spit out the young brothers that had been imprisoned within him.  Breathing heavily, he collapsed onto the floor from exhaustion.

"We're free!" Luke exclaimed joyfully.  "Now we can go home!"

"Not... yet...  Listen to me..." Bowser pleaded, struggling to remain conscious.  "Their leader... is still alive...  Take him out... before he destroys the other gates..."




"Ah, I see that Apollo has failed miserably," Lucifer observed, glaring at the fully intact gate to the Mushroom Kingdom.  "If anyone was going to fail, I thought it would be Vulcan.  What a disappointment."  He observed Apollo's frozen corpse.  "Such a pathetic way to die..."  He turned to the two bodies that lay at his feet.  "Hmm...  I see that we miscounted the number of warriors on the opposing side.  Or perhaps he showed up late.  Regardless, these two don't look like they'll be a threat to our operation anymore.  He placed his palm on the frozen Apollo.  "Vulcan...  Your powers will come in handy sooner than expected."  His hand became engulfed in flames, and the ice surrounding the Theta Grimnex began to melt.  Once Apollo had been completely thawed, Lucifer liquefied and entered his body in the same manner he had with Vulcan.

"Apollo... the god of light... Vulcan... the god of heat...  You were always meant to be one.  Both of your powers will serve me well," Apollo chuckled just before his body took the shape of Lucifer.  He tossed the blade that Apollo had been previously impaled with onto the floor.  "One more gateway...  And then the mission will be complete."  He attempted to take a step toward the gate, but found that his feet had been frozen to the floor.  Twisting his body around, he saw a gravely battered Lorne with his palms pressed to the floor.

"Don't take... another step..." Lorne admonished through gritted teeth.  He scooped up his father's blade and charged at the Grimnex.

"It seems that you do not understand who you are dealing with...  I possess the powers of Vulcan and Apollo, in addition to my own...  I simply cannot die," Lucifer informed him, surrounding himself in an aura of flames.  The ice confining his feet melted, and he sent Lorne tumbling onto his back with a wave of inferno.

His body smoldering, Lorne collapsed helplessly onto his back.  "Damn..."

"You shouldn't overexert yourself.  Defeating the Theta Grimnex is no simple task.  And you were the only one among your teammates whose gate wasn't destroyed.  Unfortunately, that will no longer be the case in a few moments," Lucifer snickered.  He turned his attention to the gateway that led to the Mushroom Kingdom, but was subsequently shot in the back with a Fireball.  The Grimnex whirled around to see Mark and Luke standing defiantly before him.  "You two... You're still alive...?  When I didn't see you before, I assumed that you were dead."

"They're... the only ones left..." Lorne murmured.

"Well well, out of all the warriors on your team, I never thought that you two would be the last ones standing," Lucifer chuckled.  "Let's see what you can do."

Lucifer Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oJt-2nJQx8&feature=related)

Fighting side by side, Mark and Luke charged simultaneously at the Heta Grimnex.  Abruptly stopping dead in his tracks, Luke formed a Fireball in his right hand and lobbed it above Lucifer's head.  As the flaming sphere whizzed past him, Mark leapt into the air and spiked the Fireball downward at their opponent.  He then extended his foot toward Lucifer, intending to strike him with a midair kick, but the Grimnex caught his foot and hurled him to the floor.

"Your Fireballs have no effect on me thanks to Vulcan's resistance to high temperatures," Lucifer informed them smugly.  Mark angrily rolled onto his feet and engaged the Grimnex in hand-to-hand combat.  As Lucifer caught each of the young plumber's punches in his palm, Luke silently approached from behind and hooked his arms under the Grimnex's shoulders.  His opponent's arms now restrained, Mark began to pummel his foe with a series of brutal punches and kicks.  With an infuriated howl, Lucifer set his own body ablaze with Vulcan's mighty flames, causing Mark and Luke to retreat.

"He has all of Vulcan's abilities!" Lorne warned them.  "You've already fought against him, so use your knowledge of his powers to your advantage..."

"Then the only way to burn him is to create something even hotter than the flames that he produces," Mark recalled.  He cupped his hands together and began to create an Ultra Fireball.  "Given enough time, I could probably create a Fireball hot enough to scorch him.  Would you mind holding him off for a bit?"

"I'll try," Luke replied with a nervous gulp.  But what can I do...?  If I hit him with punches or kicks, I'll just burn myself...  And Mark is already working on creating a Fireball hot enough to be effective against him...  What else does that leave me...?

"What's wrong?" Lucifer cackled, sending a column of flames towards the young plumber.  Luke dove to the side, narrowly dodging the inferno.  The impact of the blast sent him tumbling in the opposite direction, and when he looked up, he saw Lucifer towering above him.  Trembling in terror, he leapt to his feet and scuttled backward, but he soon ran into a wall.  He was cornered.  "It looks like you're trapped.  What do you plan to do?  I could melt the skin off of your bones with a single touch."

Father...  Why can't I be like you...? Luke wondered, shutting his eyes as he waited for his inevitable death.  Please... lend me your strength... and your courage...  Moments later, he felt a chilling sensation in his right hand.  His eyes snapped back open, and to his astonishment, an Iceball had formed in his palm.

"What is that...?" Lucifer inquired, his eyes suddenly wide with horror.

"You'll see!" Luke chuckled, hurling the Iceball at his foe.  Lucifer staggered backward, crying out in anguish as his flames died down.

"You...  Just for that... your death will be several times more painful than I originally planned," Lucifer declared, his eyes glimmering with hatred.  He extended his palm toward the frightened Luke, and a spiked tentacle launched itself at him.

"Luke!  Stay away from that!  It'll drain the life from you!" Lorne screamed.  However, it was too late.  The bladed tentacle had pierced the plumber's chest, and it had already begun to suck up the nutrients from Luke's body.  "No... I've got to... do something..."  As the horrified Lorne prepared to act, an Ultra Fireball soared from out of seemingly nowhere and struck Lucifer in the back.

"Thanks, Bro," Mark said with a weary sigh.  "That should do the trick..."

"I'm afraid not..." a frail voice whispered from the shadows.  "An attack like that... could never defeat that monster..."  His entire body covered in bruises and bloody gashes, Slade limped onto the battlefield.  "You may know what Apollo and Vulcan are capable of... but only I know how dreadful Lucifer can really be...  He's practically immortal..."

"I inherited it from our parents," Lucifer sneered, extending his blade-shaped arm toward the unsuspecting Mark, stabbing him in the lower torso.  The young plumber coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees.  Each of them severely wounded, Mark and Luke had been defeated.

An Avenger's Fate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp695Gcfveg)

"Lucifer... I won't let you hurt anyone else... I won't let you live on... to take the place of our parents..." Slade declared.  "Lorne... Mark... Luke...  Go meet up with Bowser... and get out of here..."

"No... we can't leave you behind..." Mark refused, clutching the gash on his chest.

"This is my fight...  I won't let anyone else interfere..." Slade insisted as he summoned a barrier of Nightmare Haze that separated him and his brother from his comrades.  "Live on... to fight alongside Mario..."

"Slade!" Mark cried, desperately banging against the wall of Nightmare Haze with his fists.  "You don't have to do this alone!"

"I guess you leave me no other choice," Slade sighed, sending a cloud of haze at Mark and the others.  After inhaling a single breath of the toxic mist, Mark, Luke, and Lorne blacked out.  "That wasn't enough... to kill you...  It'll only keep you unconscious... long enough for me to get the job done..."

"And just what job are you planning to finish?" Lucifer inquired.  "Look at yourself.  Can you even put up a fight in your condition?"

"You tell me," Slade spat, recklessly rushing at his brother with his dagger held high.  The ruthless Grimnex changed his arm into a dagger and pierced his older brother's heart without hesitation.  Slade, making no attempt to defend himself, continued his assault by stabbing his own dagger into Lucifer's chest.  "Heh... I know how... you survived that last attack...  You constantly kept your vital organs on the move... dodging each blade shard... as it attacked you...  But that won't happen this time..."

Lucifer gasped.

"I kept some... Nightmare Haze inside of you... during our last encounter...  Remember how... I said that the haze... can act as my eyes and ears...? It was what allowed me... to see you... even with my vision obstructed by the mist...  I thought about it... and if my haze is inside of your body... I should be able to see... exactly where your vital organs are..."  He channeled his Nightmare Haze into his blade, and the shards tore the Grimnex apart from the inside.  Only this time, they pinpointed the exact location of Lucifer's heart and brain and ripped them to shreds.

"You... You can't do this... to me...  I... I..."  With one final, bloodcurdling scream, Lucifer's eyes rolled back.  At last, the invincible Heta Grimnex had met his end.

"Now... this wretched family... can finally be put to rest..." Slade whispered, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.  "Heh... It looks like Mario was right..."

"Slade...  If you continue down the path of vengeance... you'll die."

"I know...  I've already accepted my fate.  Don't run away from yours."

"Goodbye, my friend."


"In the end... an avenger cannot escape death...  For my entire life... I've been alone...  And yet... you were the only one... who ever showed me compassion...  Mario... the rest is up to you...  Farewell, my friend..."  With nothing left to live for, Slade collapsed beside his brother into a pool of blood.  Although they had lived vastly different lives, the brothers had shared the same fate in the end.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 21: Rebirth)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on May 23, 2011, 03:34:32 PM
Chapter 21: Rebirth

Cursed Memory (http://www.esnips.com/doc/99babdcc-94c7-4446-ab31-ac6a501931b2/Flashback)

Though the war for control of the Nexus had subsided for the time being, the battle between Mario and Glaive atop Grimnex Palace waged on.  For the past ten minutes, they had been enwrapped in a fierce swordfight, and although they were giving it their all, neither warrior had once landed a single blow on the other.  Just when it seemed that the duel would drag on for an eternity, Mario lunged forward with an upward slash that knocked his opponent's blade upward, leaving him wide open to a fatal blow.  However, instead of continuing his assault, the Mushroom Hero lowered his blade and stepped back.

"Mario... what is the meaning of this?" Glaive inquired with disgust.  "You do realize what's at stake, don't you?  Can you really afford to hold back?"

Mario's Tri Elemental Blade disintegrated into a burst of rainbow-colored light, and he stared his former comrade down with a defiant glare.  "Forgive me, but...  I refuse to continue."

"Is this some kind of joke?  What do you mean?"

"I agreed to a rematch with Glaive," Mario stated firmly, "but you're not him.  You...  You're nothing like the man I used to know.  You used to be filled with such pride...  You wanted nothing more than to rescue your homeland from destruction, to lift the curse that shrouded your people in darkness.  The Glaive that I knew would never allow himself to be controlled, especially not by someone like the Phoenix."

"What is he doing...?" Luigi whispered, staring at his brother in confusion.  "There's no way that Glaive will listen... is there?"

"Does it really make that big of a difference?" Glaive sighed.  "Whether you like it or not, I am Glaive.  People change.  On the outside, I'm still the same as I was six years ago."  He struck Mario in the face with a right hook.  The Mushroom Hero, making no attempt to defend himself, tumbled onto his back.

"It does make a difference, more than you could ever understand," Mario answered, rising defiantly to his feet.  "You make it sound so simple, but your entire persona has been altered.  You were never this weak six years ago."

"Care to elaborate?" Glaive cackled, slashing his sword at the Mushroom Hero.  Refusing to fight back, Mario staggered backwards as Glaive assaulted him with dozens of pinpoint slashes.  It wasn't long before his opponent landed a shallow slice across his right breast.  He then proceeded to strike Mario with the butt of his sword, sending the Mushroom Hero crashing to the floor again.  "You were saying?"

"Didn't you hear me...?  I said that you've grown weak... over these past six years," Mario chuckled as he struggled to his feet.  "Glaive, by blindly obeying your inner demon, you've been taking the easy way out.  I've been locked in an internal struggle for the past six years, and not once have I willingly submitted to the Phoenix's will.  You, on the other hand...  You've allowed yourself to be used as a mere puppet.  You're nothing but a slave to the Phoenix's goals.  Looking back on the man you once were, I feel nothing but pity toward you."

"Silence!" Glaive thundered, angrily slashing his dagger at the plumber's throat.

His eyes gleaming with passion, Mario caught his opponent's blade in his bare hand.  The two warriors locked eyes.  "Glaive, I know what you're trying to do.  You made a promise to a loved one, didn't you?  You swore to bring this war to an end, no matter what the cost may be.  Even now, you've allowed that single vow to take priority over your comrades, your friends, and your life.  You became so obsessed with ending this war that you were willing to obey the Phoenix and fight for a cause that you knew in your heart was wrong."

"Shut up...  You... You could never understand..." Glaive snapped, his tone beginning to soften as blood dripped from the Mushroom Hero's hand.

"That's where you're wrong, Glaive.  I do understand.  Not only have I suffered the nightmare of struggling to maintain control of your own body...  But I also know what it's like to see a loved one die before your very eyes.  That vow you made... to your significant other...  You may think that nothing is more important to her than the fulfillment of this oath, but you're wrong.  By forcing yourself along this path of self-destruction, by throwing everything else away...  You've only caused more suffering for the woman who means more to you than anything else in the whole world!  You've done nothing but wallow in your own regret since Sara's death, all the while trying to escape from the pain by allowing the Phoenix to take control and use you as his puppet!"

Glaive remained silent, his eyes widening as Mario's words began to sink in.

"You already know about the tragedy behind Pauline, my late fiancĂ©e...  Not a day went by in which I did not mourn her death.  I blamed myself for her demise, and I knew that she would never be able to rest in peace unless I learned more about what happened that dreadful night.  After the Velno incident, I was finally able to put her death behind me.  Now it's time for you to do the same.  As things stand now, Sara will never rest in peace.  You said that Botis turned her into a Grimnex all of those years ago...  To this very day, she is still trapped within the cold, heartless body of a Grimnex, and it's your duty to end her suffering."  His eyes shifted to Venus.  "Do you honestly think that all of this has made her happy?  She's trapped, Glaive.  Sara would never want to live on if it meant that she had to remain brainwashed inside of a killing machine's body, nor would she want you to end the war in the Nightmare Vault if it meant bringing about the world's destruction."

Teardrops forming in the corner's of his eyes, Glaive's sword clattered to the floor.  "I see... How long have you known Venus' secret...?"

"Ipos told me that she got her position because she was special to the Beta Grimnex.  Once you revealed your true identity, it didn't take long for me to put the pieces together," Mario answered softly.

Glaive fell to his hands and knees as the floor was stained with his tears.  The Colosseum remained absolutely silent for several minutes, until Glaive finally lifted his head.  Mario held out his hand, and his comrade gladly accepted it.

"Your eyes...  They're different..." Mario observed with relief.  "Heh, I was starting to get worried.  Welcome back."

"Mario...?  I... I feel different...  What happened...?"

"Hmm, this is probably the first time you've been in complete control of your body since your 'death' during our battle with Velno," Mario noted.  "Don't you remember anything?"

Glaive nodded slowly.  "Yeah...  Some memories are fuzzier than others, but I know what's been going on."  He bent down and picked up his sword.  "For example...  I remember that we were in the middle of something.  What do you say we finish what we started?  We may never have another chance."

"Is he crazy?!" Luigi shrieked.  "We don't have time for this!  Bro, don't listen to-"

"You're on," Mario agreed with a grin.  "I know that you've been anticipating an opportunity like this for a while.  Besides, I said before that I would only fight the Glaive that I knew six years ago.  Now that you're back to normal, I'd be a complete and utter hypocrite if I refused your challenge."

All or Nothing (http://www.esnips.com/doc/7e03b2f0-5a81-47e3-be09-94f566b6114e/All-or-Nothing)

"It's settled, then.  The next blow decides it?"

Mario nodded.  "Fair enough."

"They're really going through with this?!" Luigi gasped.  "What are they thinking?  I mean, Glaive was the Beta Grimnex, but...  What about Gaea, Venus, and Jack?  If those two end up killing each other..."

"Somehow, I'm not surprised," Ace remarked with a grin.  "Those two...  Now that Glaive has returned to normal, nothing will stop them from settling their rivalry once and for all.  I'm eager to see how this will end.  Both of them have improved tremendously over these past six years."

"Listen to yourself!" Luigi screamed.  "What's more important: their pride, or the fate of every realm in existence?"

"Neither of them will be satisfied until their duel has reached its conclusion."

Cupping his hands together, Mario summoned another Tri-Elemental Blade before sprinting toward his rival.  He swung his sword horizontally through the air, creating an electric current that was aimed directly at Glaive.  The demon responded by slashing his sword with enough force to generate a powerful gust of wind that countered his foe's wave of electricity.  Each warrior having negated his opponent's long-ranged attack, Mario and Glaive closed in on each other with their weapons raised.  They met at the exact center of the Colosseum and swung their blades with all of their might, resulting in a blinding flash of light.

As the light died down, Luigi eagerly gazed at the two rivals.  Both Mario and Glaive had dropped their weapons and taken a knee.  Their upper torsos were scarred with a nearly identical diagonal slash.  They were breathing heavily, and a slight grin could be detected on both of their faces.

"After all of these years... it seems as though our duel has ended in a draw..." Glaive chuckled softly.

"Heh...  I can live with that..." Mario sighed, gradually rising to his feet.  He turned to face the three remaining Grimnexes that had silently viewed their duel from afar.  "Now that that's taken care of... we still have work to do..."

"Mario!" Peach screamed, rushing to her husband's side.  The two embraced, and Mario dug the princess' wedding ring out of his overall pocket.

"Sorry, I never got a chance to return this to you," he apologized, slipping the golden ring onto Peach's finger.

"Mario...  Can we finally go home...?" Peach whispered, her cheeks damp with tears.  As the Mushroom Hero opened his mouth to answer, the entire Colosseum began to tremble.  Beneath Mario, Glaive, and Peach, the mark of the Phoenix that had been inscribed in the floor began to glow.  "This symbol...  This is what Zagan- I mean, Glaive- told me to stand on just before the Phoenix Salvation began!"

"Do you think the marking has something to do with all of this shaking?!" Mario exclaimed, raising his voice so that Peach could hear him over the earsplitting quakes that had erupted all throughout Grimnex Palace.

Phoenix Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5aff4ce1-711a-4ae5-88c5-507bd64448c7/Phoenix-Theme)

"Oh no..." Glaive whispered.  He stared at the symbol etched into the floor.  It had been covered in Mario's blood, as well as his own.  As the shaking died down, the princess was suddenly surrounded in a column of purple light.  The sky grew dark, and a chilling breeze began to blow throughout the Colosseum.

"What's... what's happening to her...?" Mario wondered aloud, his eyes wide with terror.  "What's going on...?  This can't possibly be...?"

Glaive nodded grimly.  "It is.  Even I was led to believe that Princess Peach needed to be sacrificed before the ceremony could begin, but now it seems that there is more than one method of initiating the Phoenix Salvation."

"Peach!" Mario howled, reaching into the beam of darkness in a futile attempt to salvage her.  The moment his hand made contact with the ray of shadows, an overwhelming feeling of agony and sorrow reverberated throughout his body, causing him to stumble backward in sheer terror.

"What's happening?!" Luigi yelped, quivering in fright.

Noting the grim expression on Glaive's face, Ace realized immediately what was going on.  "There's no mistaking it.  Somehow, the battle between Mario and Glaive has triggered the Phoenix's resurrection...  And it seems that Kronos intends to use the princess' body as some sort of ...sacrifice."

"Targeting a defenseless woman first... what a coward," Wario grumbled, angrily clenching his fists.

Waluigi fell to his knees.  "So then... were all of our efforts for nothing...?  Isn't there any way we can stop this...?"

Ace shook his head solemnly as he observed the look of despair on Mario's face.  "We made a grave miscalculation...  We thought that the war was over... that once Glaive was no longer under the Phoenix's control, we could just leave whenever we wanted to...  Now we will all meet the demon king's wrath head on."

Violent shockwaves emitted from the princess' body as the column of darkness encasing her faded away.  After several flashes of red and purple light, the resurrection was complete.  Though most of Princess Peach's features remained the same, she had adopted a few of the Phoenix's characteristics.  Her skin was now a ghostly white color, and her innocent sapphire eyes had been replaced with soulless black voids.  Spanning from eye to chin, a single black line ran down each of her cheeks.  With black, electrical sparks radiating from his new body, Kronos took a deep breath and observed the world around him in silence.

"At last, I have been reborn," he murmured, sending chills down Mario's spine.

"That voice... it's the same one that I've been hearing inside my head..." Mario whispered in disbelief.  "So then... it really is you..."

Kronos turned his cold, penetrating stare toward the Mushroom Hero.  "Yes, only this time, I have been manifested into a physical form.  I hope you don't mind if I borrow this body for a while.  Ah, wait a minute... this woman is your wife, is she not?  If you want her back, go ahead and take her."  The Phoenix approached Mario with slow, menacing footsteps.  He then held his arms to the sky in mock defenselessness.  "Come now.  What are you waiting for?"

Petrified with fear, Mario's face grew pale as he gazed at his ancestor in utter helplessness.

Kronos burst into wicked laughter.  "Don't worry.  I have that effect on people."

"Kronos... how did you...?" Glaive inquired through gritted teeth.  "You told me that the princess had to be executed in order for the ceremony to commence."

"Yes, but upon reconsideration, I decided to settle for a live vessel," Kronos answered.  "A deceased vessel is ideal because it will last forever, but given the situation... I opted for a temporary, live one.  After all, I'll only need this body until I can get my old one back.  The princess' body should last until then."

"I see... and it was our blood that triggered your resurrection."

Kronos nodded.  "Your duel with Mario couldn't have ended more perfectly.  The blood of both my descendants spilled onto the symbol of the Phoenix, and then Princess Peach came rushing to your aid.  With all of the necessary conditions present, I was finally able to awaken from my slumber.  But alas, I don't have all day to stand around and answer your questions.  The Olympians will pay for all of the suffering they have caused me."  He raised his right palm, and in a flash of light, a purple vortex materialized in front of him.  "I really must be on my way.  Come to me, my remaining Grimnexes!"

"Sir!" Venus, Gaea, and Jack complied in unison.

"What about you, Glaive?" Kronos inquired with a cruel smirk.  "You're still the Beta Grimnex.  Abandon these pitiful weaklings and stand at my side.  Together, we can lift the curse on the Nightmare Vault and make the Olympians pay for what they did to us.  How about it?"

Glaive shook his head defiantly.  "Go to hell."

"I've already been there," Kronos replied with a wry grin.  "Suit yourself.  But you should really drop the tough guy act, Glaive.  You can't hide your fear.  I can see you trembling.  Even the famous Mushroom Hero has been crippled by fright," Kronos observed, turning his attention to Mario.  "Farewell, my ancestral son.  Like I said, I'll be borrowing your wife's body for a while.  If you change your mind and decide that you want to save her, you can find me in Terranea."  He took one last look around.  "Well, it seems that no one has the courage to try and stop me.  In that case, I must be off." 

With that, Kronos, Venus, Gaea, and Jack stepped into the portal that the Phoenix had previously opened.  "Farewell, Glaive..." Venus whispered as the vortex began to close.

"It seems as though my revenge will have to wait," Jack chuckled.  "But as long as we remain on opposing sides, a rematch is inevitable.  Until then, Ace, you can suffer in your own silent remorse."

"Luigi... you have disappointed me," Gaea declared solemnly.  "You had better pray that we never meet again."

"Mario... Glaive...  I never thought that my descendants would turn out to be such cowards," Kronos sneered.  The portal shut, leaving the Colosseum in absolute silence.  The heroes hung their heads in defeat.  Not one of them had stepped forward to challenge the Phoenix, not even Mario.

The Mushroom Hero smashed his fists against the stone floor.  "Damn it!  He was right in front of me, mocking me... and I just stood there, like a frightened child."

"You're being too hard on yourself.  I was just as afraid as you were," Luigi admitted.

"That doesn't surprise me," Glaive muttered.  "You haven't changed a bit."

"Whether Glaive will admit it or not, we were all hindered by fear," Ace assured him.  "Not only that, but out of all of us, your wounds are the most severe.  You fought against Ipos, the strongest out of all the Grimnexes, and then you challenged Glaive without giving your injuries a chance to heal.  It's a miracle that you're even alive.  You're in no condition to be-"

"Stop giving me excuses," Mario growled, angrily rising to his feet.  "It's just that...  When I reached through that column of darkness during Kronos' resurrection... his innermost feelings were as clear as day...  I could feel his sorrow, his passionate hatred, everything...  It was too much.  I still don't know the full story behind the Terranean War, but whatever the case may be...  There's something dark about Kronos... darker than anything I've ever felt before.  Ipos, Dante, Lord Shade...  They were nothing compared to him."

"So now what?  Do you plan to sit here and whine about how pathetic you are?" Glaive snapped.

Strength (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f96f3aac-6827-4209-a54c-f5287551e1a0/Strength)

"No...  I never thought it'd come to this, but there's only one course of action we have left.  We're going to Terranea.  Kronos isn't gonna be rid of us that easily," Mario declared.  "Are you guys in?"

"Best idea I've heard all day," Wario chuckled, nodding his head emphatically.

"Why not?  You guys need me too much," Waluigi agreed with a helpless shrug.

Ace grinned.  "Heh, do you even need to ask?  Jack and I have a score to settle, and besides, I promised that I'd fight alongside you until the day the Phoenix's empire crumbles."

Everyone turned to Luigi.  "Umm...  Well, the way I see it, I only have two choices.  I can either die fighting alongside you guys, or I can die alone when Kronos decides to send his demon army after me."  A wry smirk spread across his face.  "I think I'd prefer the former."

Mario's eyes shifted to Glaive.  "What about you?"

"Of course, but... are you sure that you want me to come along with you?" Glaive inquired, hanging his head in shame.

Mario nodded.  "Why wouldn't I?  You're one of the toughest guys I know, and more importantly, you're our friend."

"Friend...?" Glaive whispered in disbelief.  "Hah...  I never thought I'd hear you call me that again.  Well, if you want me on your team that badly, I guess I have no other choice.  Let's go."

"Wow, we've finally got our old demon-fighting team back together," Luigi observed with a grin.  "It reminds me of the good old days...  Bro, Glaive, Ace, and me...  We practically took on Velno's entire army."

"Yeah, with us four together again, plus Wario and Waluigi, we'll be just fine," Mario agreed.  "Now, we have to get to the Nexus as quickly as possible.  From there, we can get to the newly formed Terranea.  But before we do, I think it'd be best if we stopped to wrap up some of our wounds."

"We can stop by the palace's infirmary," Glaive suggested.  "It won't be the best treatment you've ever received, but it's better than nothing.  Your wounds are in especial need of bandaging, Mario.  I'm surprised you haven't already bled to death."

"Gee, thanks," Mario chuckled.

Phoenix Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5aff4ce1-711a-4ae5-88c5-507bd64448c7/Phoenix-Theme)

"Pardon the interruption, but I'd like to take this time to greet the inhabitants of the world of light.  And that also includes you, my lovely group of intruders.  I just wanted to let you all know that you have basked in the sunlight for long enough.  Before long, Zeus' Olympian empire will crumble beneath my feet.  As you are no doubt aware, the fragments of Terranea have begun to reassemble.  Although a certain group of rebels have managed to get in the way of my plans, rest assured that Terranea will be whole once again, and once my kingdom has been restored, the Nightmare Vault will become the residence of all who oppose me.  You will all know the suffering and anguish we demons have endured for centuries.

"Until then, try to enjoy your remaining time in the sunlight.  Or, if you prefer, you may come to Terranea in a futile attempt to stop me.  I understand that there will inevitably be a select few who will try to resist my uprising.  By all means... come and face my demon army.  While the Mushroom Hero and his comrades have been waging war against the mighty Grimnexes, my demon army has been busy assembling at a designated area within the Nightmare Abyss.  I will now create a portal from which my soldiers can enter Terranea and stand at my side.  And with my army, my Grimnexes, and -before long- my original body, I will launch one final assault upon the Nexus.  I must congratulate the band of rebels that have defended the Nexus up to this point, but it is time to admit defeat.  Very shortly, even your precious Universe will become a part of my new empire."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 22: The Demon Citadel)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on May 31, 2011, 08:32:57 PM
Chapter 22: The Demon Citadel

Looking Forward (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bde19c62-2c18-4063-aa77-ad539f9ca4c0/Looking-Forward)

"I see...  So Dante and Slade are both...?" Mario inquired glumly upon hearing the bad news from Lorne.  After briefly bandaging their wounds, the Mushroom Hero and his comrades had traveled to the Nexus Access Point, where they were granted entry by the group that Mario had placed in charge of periodically opening the gate.  Once inside, they met up with Mark, Luke, Lorne, and Bowser, as well as the Toad that had unlocked the entrance.  Soon after, the Toad had reported back to the Mushroom Kingdom while Mario discussed the current situation with his allies.

"They're gone," Lorne assured him.  "I know it may sound strange, but... it seemed as though they were both satisfied with their deaths.  Slade had obtained his vengeance, and my father finally had the chance to apologize to me."

"I'm glad," Mario whispered.  "After he banished Crimson from his mind, I could tell that Dante felt an overwhelming amount of remorse for his crimes.  If he found a way to atone for his sins before his death, then I'm sure that he'll be able to rest in peace.  And Slade... he spent most of his life seeking revenge.  It relieves me to know that he managed to end his search before passing away."

"Wait, aren't they just going to end up in the Underwhere?" Luigi inquired.  "And if the Underwhere gateway has been destroyed, shouldn't they be somewhere in Terranea?"

"If only that were true," an elderly voice sighed from nearby.  The gateway to the Mushroom Kingdom opened, and Grambi stepped forward.  Behind him was the group that Mario had requested to watch over the Nexus Access Point in the Mushroom Kingdom.  "I'm afraid that Slade and Crimson perished after the gate to the Underwhere was destroyed.  By sending his minions to attack the Nexus, Kronos has merged the Underwhere and Overthere with Mt. Olympus, and in doing so, he has eliminated the afterlife in its entirety."

"I don't understand...  What will happen to Slade and Dante?  And what if we die...?" Ace asked, stroking his chin in confusion.

"Allow me to explain.  The cycle of reincarnation has maintained a balance in population between the 'living world' and the 'afterlife' for centuries. Previously, when a being in the Overthere or Underwhere died, he would be reincarnated into a living creature with no memories of his previous life.  At the same time, if an individual from the living world died, he would be brought to the Underwhere.  However, now that Kronos has taken his first steps toward reuniting Terranea, a person will be reincarnated the moment he or she dies.  The 'living world' and 'afterlife' are now one in the same."

"In other words, Dante and Slade have already been reborn as entirely new people," Glaive concluded.

Grambi nodded.  "Exactly.  If any of you die from here on out, your existence as you know it will be entirely erased."

"So what?  I only need one life to bash that demon king's skull in," Wario cackled, flexing his muscles.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," Grambi informed him sternly.  "None of you are permitted to enter Terranea.  Did you already forget that Mt. Olympus is the home of Zeus?  Terranea is a sacred land in which commoners may not tread.  And besides, it isn't your place to interfere in Zeus' affairs.  This is his problem, now.  You've already disobeyed his orders once by entering the Nightmare Abyss.  If you go against him again, the consequences will be severe."

Resolution (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f0b6f2a7-389d-4483-9dd6-f55a39913483/Resolution)

"So be it," Mario stated firmly.  "If Zeus wants to execute me after this is all over, that's fine.  No one's gonna stop me from going to Terranea."

"Think rationally!  This is a job for the Olympian army, not a single man!" Grambi exclaimed angrily.

"You don't understand one bit, do you?  And you're supposed to be the king of the Overthere," Mario replied through gritted teeth.  "We are the Olympian army.  You said it yourself.  Grambi has lived alone atop Mt. Olympus for centuries, silently watching over the other realms in existence.  If this so-called "army" isn't on Mt. Olympus, or in the Mushroom Kingdom, where is it?  In the Nightmare Vault?  Terranea has been divided up into several different realms, including the one that we call home.  We are the descendants of the soldiers that fought under Zeus in the Terranean War."

Grambi's eyes widened.  "Mario..."

"I know what you're thinking.  I'm only the Mushroom Hero.  I should just worry about my own kingdom, right?  But if we stand by and do nothing, Kronos will unite the Mushroom Kingdom with Terranea.  And if that's the case, it'll become my job to protect not only the Mushroom Kingdom, but all of Terranea as well.  I'm begging you... Please, open the gateway to Terranea."

Grambi remained silent as Toadsworth came barreling forward.  "Master Mario, I demand to know where the princess is!"

Mario hung his head.  "I'm sorry... She's in Terranea."

Toadsworth turned to Grambi.  "Sir... You must permit Mario to enter Terranea this instant!"

"You'd better do what he says, or he'll nag you to death," Mario warned him with a sarcastic grin.

"Hmm...  If you really wanted to, you could simply take the Nexus Pass away from me with brute force.  However..." Grambi smiled sadly.  "You'll need to save your strength for Kronos.  Good luck, my son."

As the doorway leading to Terranea slowly opened, Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Glaive, and Ace stepped forward.  "Thank you, Father."

"Mario, do you want us to come with you?" Bowser inquired.

"Nah, you should all stay here and defend the Nexus.  It won't be long before Kronos sends more of his troops to destroy the gate to the Mushroom Kingdom," Mario informed him.  "See you guys later!  And this time, we'll be sure to come back with Princess Peach!"  He paused as his two sons stepped forward from the crowd.  "Mark, Luke...  You both have made me so proud.  Do your best to keep our home safe, okay?"

The two brothers nodded in unison.

"Alright, let's go," Mario whispered with a firm nod.  Having said their final goodbyes, the Mushroom Hero and his five comrades stepped forward through the gateway to Terranea.




Phoenix Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5aff4ce1-711a-4ae5-88c5-507bd64448c7/Phoenix-Theme)

"Ugh...  How much farther are we gonna walk?" Gaea groaned, trailing sluggishly behind his comrades.

"Quit complaining," Jack hissed.

"You haven't changed one bit," Kronos chuckled.  "Gaea, do you realize that out of my entire army, you are the only remaining one who was among the original 24 Grimnexes?  And yet these rookies seem even more disciplined than you are.  Sara hasn't uttered a single word since we left." 

Walking through an immaculate meadow of green, they finally stopped at a colossal, out-of-place field of soil.  "Here we are," Kronos declared.  "This is the site from which I will govern all of Terranea."  Peering into the horizon, he saw thousands of demon soldiers marching toward them.  "Ah, it seems that my underlings made it to Terranea safely.  Good."

"Pardon my stupidity, but what's so special about a field of dirt?" Gaea grumbled.

An evil smirk spread across the demon king's face.  "Thousands of years ago, at the Terranean War's conclusion, Zeus decided that he would confine the demons to the Nightmare Vault.  However, before this could occur, my faithful underlings returned my corpse to the Demon Citadel, my primary base of operations during the war.  They then buried the stronghold beneath the earth, where no one would ever find it.  By resurfacing the Demon Citadel, I can at last reclaim my body- and my throne."

He placed his right palm against the ground and began to glow with a violet light.  The light gradually moved from Kronos' body to the soil below him, ultimately resulting in a massive earthquake.  "Everyone, stand back," the Phoenix commanded, stepping off of the enormous patch of soil.  The rumbling grew more intense, and before everyone's astonished eyes, a palace began to rise from beneath the ground.  Though it had been buried for centuries, the Demon Citadel was a sight to behold, towering several stories high with its flawless marble design.  "...It feels so good to be home."  Kronos turned to the thousands of soldiers that now stood before him, eagerly awaiting his next order.  "Now, before I can secure my position as king, you must destroy the gateway to the Mushroom Kingdom from within the Nexus!  Cut down all who stand in your path!"




"So, this is Terranea..." Mario whispered as he and his allies emerged from a swirling purple portal.  "It's beautiful...  This doesn't look like anything I've ever seen in the Overthere or Underwhere.  We must be in the Mt. Olympus section of Terranea."

"I don't see a mountain anywhere," Wario mumbled skeptically.

"You oaf...  Remember that this land belongs to Zeus, which means that it most likely spans for thousands of miles.  We'd probably have to walk through these meadows for days to even catch a glimpse of Mt. Olympus along the horizon," Glaive explained gruffly.

"What about that?" Waluigi inquired, pointing toward a colossal tower that had just appeared in the distance.  A few miles in front of it was a mob of what appeared to be demon soldiers.

"Are those... Kronos' men?!" Luigi shrieked.  "There are way too many of them...  We'd be massacred before we got even close to Kronos..."

"Luigi's right.  We can't fend off an entire army," Ace agreed.  "But how are we supposed to bypass them?"

Battlefield (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmxtMyGsSPM)

Before they could ponder this issue any further, Mark, Luke, Bowser, Lorne, and Grambi emerged from behind them and stood firmly in the distant soldiers' path.  In mere seconds, they were joined by hundreds of armored Toads, Goombas, Koopas, along with several other species native to the Mushroom Kingdom.

"Don't worry about them.  Their target is the Nexus," Mark informed them sternly.  "You six go on ahead.  We'll defend our kingdom, just like you asked us to."

"The Mushroom Kingdom Armed Forces have teamed up with my Koopa Troop.  Together, we'll be unstoppable!" Bowser cackled with pride.

"I also requested for Jaydes to send some of the Underwhere's finest warriors to aid us," Grambi added.  "And I have called for my army of Nimbis to lend us a hand.  With all of these forces combined, we'll have no problem standing up to the might of Kronos' demon army.  Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Glaive, Ace...  I leave the rest to you."

Mario nodded.  "Of course.  Let's go!"  Without hesitation, the Mushroom Kingdom's defenders charged forward at the demon army.  Meanwhile, Mario's group veered to the left and curved around the demons, who were primarily concerned with the Nexus- and those that stood before it.

"Don't stop until you reach that fortress," Glaive commanded as they bypassed Kronos' soldiers.  "Whenever I look at it... there's this strange, sinking feeling in my gut...  With each passing second, Kronos is one step closer to his goal.  We can't afford to hesitate."

"Wait, stop!" Luigi shrieked, skidding to a halt.  Mario, the Wario Brothers, Ace, and Glaive stopped and whirled around, their irritated expressions showing that they demanded an explanation.  Only moments later, a bolt of lightning struck the area that they would have occupied.

"A coward's intuition never fails," Kronos chuckled as he appeared in a puff of purple smoke.

"Kronos!" Mario growled, angrily stepping forward with his fists clenched.

"Your instincts have been rather accurate as well, Glaive.  You were right to worry about the fortress that now towers above us," the Phoenix sneered, ignoring the Mushroom Hero.  "You see, nested within the Demon Citadel is my original body."

"Thanks for the info.  Hey guys, why don't you go ahead and destroy Kronos' body?  I'll catch up with you," Mario suggested.

"Feel free to pay my new fortress a visit.  However, you should know that Gaea, Venus, and Jack will be waiting for you inside.  And if Mario was planning on defeating me, he wouldn't need you to eradicate my original body in the first place.  In other words, even Mario understands that he will die if you attempt to execute this plan.  Isn't that right, my ancestral son?"

"I never- said that..." Mario hissed, struggling to hold back his rage.

"Why don't you just let me take my former body back?  That way, I can finally leave this fragile human vessel.  I can already feel her life energy beginning to dwindle.  If I don't reach the Demon Citadel soon, your wife's body may actually begin to disintegrate."

Ferocious Clash (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5ce657a3-0590-4f80-943e-4c7b6560ee45/Ferocious-Clash)

For Mario, this was the final straw.  Between his humiliation at not challenging Kronos during their first encounter and the casual mentioning of the possibility of Peach's death, the Mushroom hero could no longer contain his anger.  He sprinted at his ancestor, both fists now ablaze with supercharged Fireballs, and assaulted him with a barrage of flaming punches.  With one arm behind his back, Kronos effortlessly caught each of the enraged hero's blows in the princess' gloved palm.

"I'm surprised that you were so willing to unleash such powerful attacks upon this body," Kronos sneered, his opponent struggling to land even a single hit.  "You should be thankful that I'm able to keep up, or you might seriously injure your own wife."

"You aren't Peach," Mario insisted, retreating several steps before cupping his hands together.  "And I know that she would rather die than be used as a tool to help you destroy millions of lives!"  To the amazement of Luigi, the Wario Brothers, Glaive, Ace, and even Kronos, Mario launched a fully-powered Ultra Fireball at his ancestor.  "I can't afford to hold back...  I can't be selfish.  This isn't just about Peach and me... it's about the people of the Terranea."

"Interesting...  You are far more spirited than I previously thought," Kronos observed as a violet portal opened in front of him and engulfed Mario's Fireball in its entirety.  A second portal appeared far off in the distance, from which the flaming projectile emerged and set the nearby field ablaze.

"What just happened...?" Mario wondered aloud, his breathing beginning to grow heavy as thunderclouds gathered overhead.

"He opened up a pair of portals and transported Mario's attack somewhere else..." Ace whispered in disbelief.  "It was almost instantaneous... I never thought that even the demon king would possess such an astounding ability."

"That's pretty cool..." Mario admitted with a sardonic grin.  "You've caught my interest... Would you mind demonstrating that trick of yours again?"  He aimed his right palm at the Phoenix and shot a normal-sized Fireball.

"You are only wasting Elemental Energy," Kronos sighed, creating yet another vortex in front of his body.  However, his eyes widened in surprise as the Mushroom Hero did something entirely unexpected: he fired a second shot!  The first Fireball entered the portal and was transported to an entirely different location, but instead of devouring the second one, the vortex closed, and Kronos hastily leapt to the side.  He glared at his ancestral son with contempt.  Brilliant... He deduced the technique's weakness after seeing it just once.

"As I suspected," Mario chuckled, forming a Thunderball in his right hand and a Fireball in his left.  Once again, he rushed at the Phoenix with his elementally charged fists- only this time, he hurled the Fireball at his ancestor before he could reach him.  As expected, a portal opened and inhaled the projectile.  But much to Mario's chagrin, a second vortex opened directly above it and sent the Fireball bounding back in the plumber's direction.  He ducked beneath the Fireball and prepared to toss his Thunderball, but the Phoenix seized his right arm before he could do so.

"I know what you were planning," Kronos whispered with a menacing smirk.  "You knew that my portals could only engulf one object before closing, leaving me exposed for split second.  However, I am more than capable of defending myself without the use of that petty trick."  He looked down at Mario's right arm, which was still wrapped in his icy grip.  "This feels like... a Demon Exoskeleton.  Ah, that's right.  Before he died, Ipos used the last of his power to heal your arm.  That Demon Exoskeleton is meant to serve as a prosthetic arm until the real one has been completely restored."

"Do not shatter the skeleton that I just created...  In time, it will fade away on its own... and beneath it... will be a brand new arm..."

Fearsome Enemy (http://www.esnips.com/doc/782da4e2-67d1-4914-8605-8512a066b627/Fearsome-Enemy)

The sun was now entirely blotted out by dark rainclouds, and a light drizzle began to fall.  Mario's eyes widened.  He's right...  But what does that mean for me...?

"Mario...  Even though I now exist within the same physical realm as you, you have not been freed from my internal influence," Kronos informed him grimly.  "You can never change the fact that my blood courses through your veins.  A piece of me will perpetually live on within you as an internal manifestation of your demon instincts.  And if you ever attempt to wield my demonic powers, I can still seize control.  Take your right arm for example.  Because it is covered in a Demon Exoskeleton, I have even more control over it than you do.  Go ahead.  Try to move it."

Kronos released the plumber's arm, which then fell limp at his side.  Mario attempted to raise it, but found that his entire arm had become numb.  "What did you... do to me...?"

"I simply told your arm not to move, and it obeyed," Kronos stated with a shrug.  "You've already lost an arm.  Which limb should I disable next?"  He pointed his index finger at the Mushroom Hero's leg and fired a ray of red light.  Mario cried out in agony as the beam severely bruised his left leg.  He glared defiantly at his ancestor and remained standing, despite the sharp pains that resulted from doing so.  "How noble... Your eyes are burning with passion.  I can see that you aren't going to stay down unless I deal a fatal blow."

As Kronos wrapped his left hand around Mario's throat, the Mushroom Hero's comrades prepared to spring into action.  "Glaive!  You've gotta help him!" Luigi pleaded.

Glaive nodded, silently grasping the hilt of his katana.

"Stay... back..." Mario demanded as Kronos lifted him from the ground.

"A wise order.  Had they assaulted me while my back was turned, I would have killed each and every one of them.  Even while being suffocated by your own wife, you still prioritize your friend's lives above your own.  If only Zeus and the Olympians had demonstrated such magnanimity," Kronos hissed bitterly.  "Mario, it's time for you to be put to rest.  How long did you think it would be before your body gave out?  After your battle with Ipos, a fight filled with hopelessness and depression, you faced off against Glaive in an emotional struggle to return him to his former self.  You've had almost no time to rest.  Your body has reached its limit.  With all of your physical and emotional wounds in addition to the burden of the Olympians' past sins, you can never hope to stand against me.  Even in this weakened state, I am still far superior."
In a splash of blood, Kronos impaled the Mushroom Hero with his right hand. "Farewell, old friend."  He tore his hand from the plumber's chest and released his grip on his throat, allowing his body to lifelessly fall to the ground.

"What horrid power..." Ace whispered.  "And he isn't even at full strength.  If he manages to return to his former body, there'll be no stopping him."

"Mario!" Luigi shrieked, rushing to his brother's aid.  He knelt beside his brother's lifeless body.  "Bro...  Get up... You've got to stand up..."

"Be quiet," Glaive ordered gruffly.  He stood at Mario's side, ready to draw his blade at any moment.  "Luigi...  Think about what Kronos said.  Mario is in no condition to fight.  It is because of people like you, who constantly plead him to continue fighting, that he is even in this state."

Luigi gasped.  "Bro... I... is that true...?"

"Kronos... tell me..." Mario mumbled, his voice barely audible.  He coughed up a mouthful of blood.  "You called me... old friend...  Why...?"

"You mean you don't know?  I suppose that isn't very surprising, considering the circumstances.  Few individuals know the full truth behind your origin...  Mario, you are the Mushroom Hero, a descendant from the Hero Bloodline.  You are also a demon.  Would you believe that your demon blood and your Hero blood originate from a single being?"

Mario's face grew pale.  "No... it couldn't be..."

"Yes.  Mario, you are a direct descendant of the Alpha Grimnex."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 23: The Alpha Grimnex)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on June 04, 2011, 10:08:22 PM
Chapter 23: The Alpha Grimnex

The Past (http://www.esnips.com/doc/9728c97b-59c8-44c2-b447-a5b9be6ad24e/The-Past)

"You... You're lying!" Luigi snapped at the Phoenix, kneeling at his fatally wounded brother's side.  "There's no way that Bro could be a Grimnex..."

"Not just a Grimnex...  He's inherited the title of Alpha Grimnex," Kronos informed them with a wicked grin.  "Mario... as a reward for coming this far, I will tell you everything.  Now you can at least spend your last few moments learning the secrets of your origin.  Just try to stay alive until my story has concluded, or you'll never know the truth.

"Centuries ago, before Terranea had been split apart by hatred and warfare, the Olympians and demons lived together as the Titans, and I was their king.  Our way of life was very different from yours.  There were no rules, no laws to hold us back.  It was a grand time to be alive.  That is, until my son, Zeus, betrayed me.  He gathered up his own army, and before long, there were two distinct forces: the Olympians, and the demons.  And thus, the Terranean War began.  Do not confuse this with one of your juvenile human wars.  We were fighting to decide which force was meant to rule.  Good and evil...  Had the demons triumphed in this war, the very meanings of those two words would have been switched.

"The war raged on for years, with neither side gaining the upper hand.  That is, until the Olympians created the prototype for the ultimate warrior: Prototype Hero.  It was a radical development, and focused the fighting power of an entire army into a single being.  On the outside, he was no different from any other Olympian.  He had an unbelievably strong sense of justice, and with him at the Olympians' side, the outcome of the war was obvious.  Luckily, before he could be activated, Hero was captured by a group of demon spies working undercover on the enemy lines.  With Hero in my possession, I ordered my top scientists to reprogram him into a killing machine.  The resulting warrior was then cloned into 23 additional soldiers.  These 24 fighters were entitled Grimnexes, and they were each assigned a rank based on their power.  Hero, being the original and thus the strongest of them all, became known as the Alpha Grimnex.  With the Grimnexes under my control, the demons began to overpower the Olympians.

"As he worked closely at my side, Hero began to establish a close relationship with my sister, Rhea.  When Zeus and I had declared war, she had been torn over whom she should side with.  She ultimately chose to fight for the demons, but she felt great remorse for abandoning her own nephew.  Although he had been reprogrammed to fight for the demons, Hero was still instinctively kindhearted.  Rhea confided her sorrows in Hero day after day, until they gradually fell in love.  Hero's love for Rhea brought out his good nature even further, and they ultimately decided to form an alliance and side with the Olympians.  This alliance later became known as the Royal Guardians.  Although they fought for the Olympians, they did not reveal their true identities to Zeus, fearing that their past relationships with me would prevent him from trusting them fully.  As if this did not weaken me enough, Gaea decided to leave my army and create his own.  It wasn't long before Ipos followed in his footsteps.  Zeus, Ipos, Gaea, and myself...  That is how the four Terranean Angels came to be... 

"One day, during an invasion, Ipos encountered and fell in love with my granddaughter- and Zeus' daughter- Athena.  Athena explained to him how she lived in isolation because of her father's orders.  Above all else, Zeus feared that his daughter would meet another man and have a child with him.  You see, the more descendants I have, the greater the possibility of one of them being used to revive me.  Zeus was aware of this, and as such, he kept Athena in seclusion.  To make matters worse, Athena was an Olympian, and Ipos was a Grimnex.  Their love would never be accepted.  However, their love for each other overcame all logic, and the two of them had a child together, an Olympian-demon hybrid that contained my genes.  All was well, until Ipos visited Athena one day to find that she had been slaughtered by demons that refused to accept their love.  At least, that's what he was led to believe.  In truth, Zeus was behind his own daughter's death.  He had many reasons for doing so.  One was to prevent her from having any more children with Ipos.  But his primary motive for killing her is even more sickening.  Zeus blamed her death on the demons, causing Ipos to turn against his own kind and effectively limit their numbers.  Surely you have not forgotten about Ipos' rampage that earned him the title of 'he who slaughtered a thousand angels'?  It was all a cruel military strategy by Zeus.

"At this point, Zeus assumed that he was my only remaining relative.  Unfortunately, he foolishly forgot about two important people.  Unbeknownst to him, Athena had sent her and Ipos' son away before her execution.  Their son lived on and was eventually sealed within the Nightmare Vault.  He later married and had a child, and thus, Glaive's bloodline- as well as Princess Peach's- was born.  The second person that Zeus forgot about was his own aunt, Rhea.  This is to be expected, as Rhea never informed him of her true identity after founding the Royal Guardians.  At any rate, the demons had been severely weakened at this point in the war.  The Alpha Grimnex had returned to fight for the Olympians, Ipos had gone on a rampage, and Gaea was nowhere to be found.  Fighting alongside Zeus, Hero and Rhea were ultimately able to defeat me.  The demons were sealed away within the Nightmare Vault, and Zeus believed that the demon threat was finally over.

"Little did he know, I lived on within my sister, Rhea.  After the Terranean War, Hero and Rhea married and had a child together, a child that would become the descendant of both the Alpha Grimnex and the demon king.  This was the birth of the Hero Bloodline.  Unfortunately, before Rhea and Hero could celebrate this new era of peace, Zeus discovered their true identities.  The Royal Guardians that remained were exiled to the Nightmare Vault- all except for Hero, who was confined and ultimately sent to the Universe.  His punishment would be to protect the inhabitants of this realm from evil.  This sentence was to be inherited by all of Hero's descendants.  Although this task was viewed by Zeus as a punishment, Hero and his heirs came to view it as an honor.  Mario, you were born from this bloodline."

Mario coughed up a mouthful of blood, speechless at the entire revelation of his family history.

"You...  Do you expect us to believe all of that?  Calling Bro's duty as the Mushroom Hero a punishment from Zeus...  You think I'd forgive an insult like that?!" Luigi exploded, angrily rising to his feet.

"My, my...  I've never seen you act so brave," Kronos chuckled.  "Regardless, it really doesn't matter what I say to him.  He has entirely outlived his usefulness, both to me, and to Zeus.  Now that I have been resurrected, I could care less whether Mario lives or dies.  And Zeus views you as nothing more than a traitor, whose punishment is to protect the Mushroom Kingdom until the day you die.  Quite soon, the Mushroom Kingdom will be nothing more than a miniscule village within my grand empire.  If you really think about it, there's nothing left for you to live for."

"Kronos...  Do you honestly think we'll allow you to simply walk away like before...?" Glaive hissed.  "By heartlessly cutting Mario down and insulting his heritage, you've sealed your fate.  Not one of us could possibly back down after witnessing something so unforgiveable."

"I understand if you wish to seek vengeance for your comrade's demise.  However, I do not have time for such a meaningless squabble.  If you truly wish to avenge the Mushroom Hero, come to the Demon Citadel.  My Grimnex underlings and I will be waiting for you," Kronos declared.  "Until then... farewell."  There was another flash of lighting, and Kronos vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.

Mario's Plight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4wSW7SNLo)

"He's gone..." Waluigi groaned.  "Now what are we supposed to do?"

"Mario is in no condition to fight, but we can't just leave him here," Ace observed glumly.  "We don't have a lot of time to think this over..."

"...Glaive..." Mario murmured, his voice raspy and hoarse.  "Please... bring me... to Swift..."

"Swift?" Glaive parroted.  "You mean... the Royal Guardian who attempted to train you four months ago?  How am I supposed to know where he is?"

"At... base... of Mt. Olympus..." the Mushroom Hero whispered, quickly losing consciousness.

"It doesn't look like we're gonna get much more information out of him right now," Glaive sighed, noting the plumber's condition.  "But I really don't have any other choice.  For now, I'll just have to trust in his judgment and head for the base of Mt. Olympus."  With some assistance from Luigi, he slung the Mushroom Hero over his right shoulder.  "After all, none of us have any reason to doubt him.  I just hope the four of you can hold out while we're gone."

"We'll be fine," Luigi affirmed.  "Kronos won't get away with this."

"Heh, you're feeling unusually brave," Glaive chuckled.  "Good.  You'll need to be if you want to stand a chance against the remaining Grimnexes."

Ace nodded.  "Stay safe."

"Hurry back, even though it'll probably all be over by the time you get there," Wario snickered.

"Wait, didn't you say that it could take days to reach Mt. Olympus from here?" Waluigi inquired.  "It'll all be over by then!"

"I have no idea how far away Mt. Olympus is, but since Mario and I will be traveling alone, I won't have to worry about whether or not anyone else can keep up.  I'm sure that Mario asked me to bring him because I am easily the fastest among us, especially without my armor on," Glaive responded.  "If all goes well, I should be there within a few hours."




Kronos' Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

"I can't believe it...  To think that it would really be so simple..." Kronos whispered in awe as he reached the bottom of a marble spiral staircase, leading him into a dim, torch-lit tomb.  Unlike the posh, luxurious upper floors of the Demon Citadel, the crypt was decrepit and smelled of death.  Kronos approached a coffin in the center of the room, which was surrounded with torches.  The moment he laid his hand on the coffin, its stone lid slid open, and the nearby torches blew out before lighting up again with dark purple flames.  "At last...  Gaea, Venus...  Consider yourselves fortunate to witness the true rebirth of Terranea's king."

"Poor Jack...  I feel bad for putting him in charge of guarding the citadel's entrance, but I'd rather it be him than me..." Gaea muttered.

Kronos reached into the coffin, placing his palm upon his original body.  Princess Peach's body began to glow with a violet light, which then transferred through her hand to Kronos' corpse.  After several bright flashes, Princess Peach's features returned to normal as she fell to her knees and looked around with confused, sapphire eyes.  Moments later, Kronos rose from his sarcophagus.  The Phoenix had been born anew.

"My former strength has returned to me..." Kronos whispered, staring at his palms.  "At last...  I have returned."

"My lord... what shall we do with the princess?" Venus inquired, bowing before her renewed master.

Kronos turned his gaze to Princess Peach, and his eyes suddenly widened with shock.  "Rhea..."  He closed his eyes and shook his head, as if to rid himself from his cursed memories.  "Gaea...  Get rid of her.  She is no longer of any use to us."

"I will not," Gaea refused firmly.  "I'm not in the mood."

Kronos looked at the Epsilon Grimnex and then back at Peach.  "...Very well...  Gaea, I want you to defend the citadel's interior.  Venus, grab the princess and come with me.  She can be our special guest, for the time being."

What is so special about this woman? Venus wondered.  Kronos does not receive insubordination well.  Now that he has returned to his former body, I expected his reaction to Gaea's refusal to be far more... violent.  Yet he ignored Gaea's disobedience entirely, as if he was using it as an excuse to avoid Peach's death.  There's something about this princess...  Does he actually value her life?




Demon Citadel (http://www.esnips.com/doc/50377c8b-cc3b-4b65-8b0d-258f4688c74e/Demon-Citadel)

"We're almost there," Ace announced, breathing heavily.  "Does everyone remember the plan?"

"Yeah, this might be a good time for us to separate," Luigi replied, slowing his pace to match that of the Wario Brothers while Ace sprinted ahead.  "For this to work, we're gonna have to join hands."

Wario rolled his eyes.  "Ugh... Do we have to...?"

As the front gates of the Demon Citadel came into view, Luigi forcibly grabbed the Wario Brothers' hands and activated his Final Smash, causing the three of them to become transparent.  "I need both of you to stay quiet.  You won't be seen as long as you are touching me, but if either of you make even a peep, our cover will be blown."

Meanwhile, Ace entered through the front gates, which had been left wide open.  His desperate sprint now slowing to a cautious walk, the former leader of Poker Face scanned his surroundings in an attempt to locate his enemy.  Standing in the palace's courtyard, he could not help but admire the glimmering green grass and flawlessly trimmed hedges.  At the center was an awe-inspiring marble fountain, and to the far north was a set of colossal double doors that led to the palace's interior.  The only obstacle that stood in his way was Jack.

"Jack!  I'm here to settle our dispute once and for all," Ace declared.  "This is what you wanted, isn't it?"  He felt a gentle breeze blow past him.  Alright... it looks like they've made it inside.  Now if they can just pass Jack undetected...

"Ace...  I'm relieved that you have finally come to terms with your fate.  But just one question... where are your other friends?" Jack inquired with a grin.

"They went to search for another entrance, but I insisted on facing you," Ace replied firmly.

Jack threw his head back and laughed.  "You don't have to lie to me, Ace.  I heard their heartbeats as they walked past me a few seconds ago.  What a shame.  I can tell that they were using some sort of special technique to try and sneak past me.  It almost worked, too.  Somehow, they managed to make themselves transparent so that the wind would pass right through them.  And they also somehow concealed the sounds of their footsteps.  But that technique could not mask their fear.  Their increased heart rates could never have escaped my unparalleled hearing."

"Damn, they couldn't even slip past a blind man," Ace cursed.

"You're lucky, Ace.  I did not join the Grimnexes to help Kronos reclaim his throne.  I did it so that I could oppose everything you stand for.  This battle is more important to me than anything else in the world.  I have no intentions of standing in your comrades' way," Jack explained.  "Besides, splitting your group apart will only lessen your chances of victory.  Against someone like Gaea or Venus, those three will be annihilated."

"Their opponents may be tough, but I still have faith in them," Ace retorted.

"I wonder how much faith they have in you," Jack sneered.  "You know as well as I do that you could never defeat me.  You've already nearly killed me once.  Can you even look at me without feeling remorse?  Are you truly ruthless enough to slaughter your younger brother a second time?"

Vengeful Showdown (http://www.esnips.com/doc/92929005-840a-4cce-be46-21346feefc19/Vengeful-Showdown)

"Watch me," Ace hissed as he hurled a handful of explosive cards at his brother.  Jack firmly stood his ground, waving his arms at the oncoming cards.  As if by some magic force, the cards stopped in midair, and with another sudden gesture, Jack sent them flying in all different directions.  The majority of the cards detonated after making contact with the ground, all except for a single ace, which began to emit a slight bluish glow.  Ace reached for another handful of cards.  I have to learn the secret behind that technique of his.  Until I do, engaging him up-close would be far too dangerous.

"You are already quite familiar with my abilities.  You should know better than to attack me with projectiles," Jack chuckled.

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me," Ace replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.  He tossed another handful of cards at his brother.  Jack shrugged and performed the same gestures as before; only this time, he flung the explosives back toward Ace.  The former commander of Poker Face dove to the side but could not avoid getting caught in the explosion.  Just like before, one of the cards did not detonate.  It was an ace.  That's two.  Only two more.  He rose to his feet and attempted to draw another set of cards, but found that his right arm had been paralyzed.

"Gotcha," Jack snickered.  "You thought you were so clever.  By analyzing how I stopped your explosive cards and directed them away from me, you hoped to learn the secrets behind my technique.  But now it's too late.  I've already gained complete control over your right arm.  How long will it be before I control the rest of your limbs?"

Ace glared at his right arm, scanning for any foreign objects.  After tilting his head slightly, he found what he was looking for.  Under the right light, he had managed to detect a paper-thin string running from his right arm all the way back to Jack.  "So that's how you do it...  This string..."

"Precisely.  You probably couldn't detect them back in Grimnex Palace because it was so dark.  Now that we're in a brighter environment, you can just barely see them if you look from the right angle.  They're my puppet strings, and with them, I can manipulate anything I so choose.  And the best part is, they're my Chosen Conjuration.  I can create as many as I desire."

"I see...  That must be how you deflected my cards.  You attached a string to each individual card while they were still airborne and then flung them in all different directions," Ace concluded.

A wicked grin spread across Jack's face.  "Even with this knowledge, there's nothing you can do to stop me from turning you into a puppet."

"Heh, all a sensible person has to do is sever the cords with which he is being controlled," Ace stated, drawing a card with his left hand before crushing it.  A blue beam saber materialized in his hand, but as he prepared to slice the puppet string attached to him, his right arm grabbed his left wrist.

"Did you already forget that I can control your right arm?  You're fighting a war with your own body, now."  With another flourish, Jack attached a puppet string to Ace's left arm.  "And just like that, both of your arms are now useless.  Now, how should I punish you for your past cruelty?  Perhaps I'll start by forcing you to beat yourself to a pulp!"

"Damn... you..." Ace grumbled, unwillingly raising his fists before unleashing a series of ferocious blows upon his own torso and face.

"Does it hurt?  To be mercilessly assaulted by something you've trusted for your entire life?!" Jack screamed bitterly.  "Now maybe you can understand... how it felt to be massacred by my own older brother!"  He squinted at Ace.  "Wait... what are you chewing on?"

Suddenly, a blue barrier materialized in front of Ace, shielding him from his own punches.  "Jack... Don't you know anything about Chosen Conjurations?  I can generate these cards anywhere on or around me: even inside of my own mouth."

"You... And then you crushed the card by chewing it, activating a force field that would prevent you from harming yourself," Jack observed, his eyes bulging in shock.

"Just because I can't use my own arms doesn't mean that I can't wield my cards," Ace declared, sprinting toward his younger brother.  Jack attempted to attach puppet strings to his legs, but the barrier placed in front of him prevented the cords from reaching him.  When he was only a few feet away from Jack, Ace conjured a ring of explosive cards around them, resulting in a blast that severely injured them both.  Among these cards, a single ace did not detonate.

As the smoke from the explosion cleared, Jack and Ace rose to their feet.  "You're crazy...  To trap both of us in such a dangerous explosion..."  His frustrated frown curled into a menacing smirk.  "You studied under King...  You should know that the farther away from your body you summon a Chosen Conjuration, the more energy is consumed.  After that stunt, you must be feeling pretty fatigued.  Furthermore, your barrier was destroyed in the explosion.  Whether you realize it or not, puppet strings have now been attached to each of your legs."

Ace, breathing heavily from exhaustion, calmly thought his situation over.  He's right...  Damn, and I only needed one more ace...  I don't have enough strength to conjure any more cards...  The only way I could pull this off is if I drew one from my deck, but without the use of my arms or legs, that would be impossible...

"I could have you beat yourself to death," Jack stated, interrupting Ace's thoughts, "but it would be far more satisfying to kill you with my own hands.  Or better yet, I could cut you down with your own weapons."  He latched a string onto Ace's deck of cards before pulling it back to him.  He searched through the deck, shuffling the cards as he did so.  "Now you truly are powerless.  Even if you somehow broke free, you wouldn't have the strength to conjure anymore cards.  And if you managed to retrieve these cards, they would be entirely out of order!"  He chose a pair of cards and crushed them, causing dual beam sabers to materialize in his hands.

Things aren't looking too good for me...  But in the end... perhaps this is what I deserve... Ace thought, hanging his head in shame.

"Now... come here, Ace.  Walk right into your own demise," Jack commanded.

Ace, helplessly complying with Jack's demands, was overcome with sorrow and guilt.  I really am heartless...  As a member of the Assassination Force, killing the innocent was my job.  I even attempted to kill my own brother...  But somehow, he survived.  He lived on, feeling alone and betrayed... while I changed my ways, finding friends like Mario and Glaive along the way...  But now, I've come here in an attempt to assassinate my brother yet again...  I suppose it's fitting that I die by his hands...

Comrades (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5e7f0987-b085-4cfd-a2f4-f605681da3f6/Comrades)

Ace's eyes widened as Mario's voice echoed in the back of his mind.  As clear as day, he remembered the aftermath of the battle with Velno.

Slade drew his Nightmare Blade and held the point to his throat.  "What do I have left to live for...?  I've killed so many people... I don't deserve to live anymore..."

Mario grabbed the blade with his bare hands, causing blood to trickle down his palms.  "No... Slade, you cannot use suicide as a way to escape your crimes...  Instead, you have to stand up to the wrongdoings you have committed and find a way to atone for them...  That's why I decided to take on the responsibility of protecting this kingdom.  I feel that somewhere, up in the depths of the Overthere, Pauline smiles each time I manage to save this kingdom from distress."  He put a hand on Slade's shoulder.  "Now it's time for you to find a way to repent.  Otherwise, you'll never be able to lift the burden of your sins from your shoulders...  If you were to kill yourself right now, it wouldn't bring back all of the people that you murdered, nor would it make the world a better place.  The only thing you can do now is find a way to make up for your past crimes..."


Ace grinned.  Heh, Mario... Why is it that your words can reach anyone, no matter how insane or miserable they may be?  He now stood before Jack, bold and defiant.

"You miserable bastard...  Now you can understand the horror of being cut down by your own brother!" Jack cried, spilling Ace's blood onto the courtyard floor.  Even so, Ace refused to cry out in pain.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 24: Brotherhood)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on June 19, 2011, 01:26:20 PM
Chapter 24: Brotherhood

"I wonder how Ace is doing," Luigi sighed as he, Wario, and Waluigi reached the top of a tall, winding marble staircase.  "His younger brother gives me the creeps."

Waluigi shrugged.  "I don't understand why he didn't just sneak by Jack with the rest of us."

"He had a personal score to settle," Luigi explained.  "Besides, I get the feeling that Jack let us pass him."

"You know that you're pathetic when your Final Smash can't even fool a blind man," Wario chuckled.  "Is that why you made us visible again?"

"No, it's just that my Final Smash isn't the type of technique that can be used for prolonged periods of time.  It'll be a while before I can use it again, so we're probably gonna have to face any Grimnexes that we encounter head-on from here on out," Luigi informed them.  The three heroes stopped at a fork in their path.  "Umm...  I vote that we don't-"

"Let's split up!" Wario suggested eagerly.  "Luigi, you go that way!  We'll go this way!"

"Why do I have to be by myself?!" Luigi whined.

"Think of it this way: do you really want to be with this oaf?" Waluigi inquired.  "This loudmouth is itching for a fight...  If you stay with us, you'll be far more likely to get dragged into an unnecessary battle."

"True..." Luigi whispered, considering his options.  "In that case, I'll see you two at the top!"

"That was easy..." Waluigi muttered as he and Wario parted ways with the green plumber.  Splitting up probably wasn't the best idea...  But when Wario gets like this, it's best not to argue...




Calm Heart II (http://www.esnips.com/doc/67fbe7a2-2014-4c24-bafa-f5295b8c387d/Calm-Heart-II)

"This must be the place," Glaive whispered, breathing heavily as he approached a small log cabin at the base of a gargantuan mountain.  The area was enclosed in a forest of pine trees, and the hut was situated near a vast, shimmering lake in which the mountain's reflection could be seen.  Far off from the ongoing war, the peaceful sounds of nature were all that Glaive could hear.  Stepping up to the cabin's front door, he knocked three times and waited patiently for a response.

Several minutes passed, and the door finally creaked open.  Standing in the doorway was a tall, muscular man with short, shaggy brown hair and deep, sapphire eyes.  He wore a cerulean tunic and silver boots, and a katana was sheathed readily at his waist.  "What business do you have with me?"  The man spoke softly, but with absolute firmness and confidence.

"None," Glaive replied simply.  He tilted his head toward the plumber slung over his right shoulder.  "But I can't say the same for this man.  Is he a friend of yours?  Before he collapsed from his injuries, he asked me to take him to a man named Swift."

"That would be me," Swift responded.  "I don't know why that fool would bother to try and seek me out after abandoning my training program."

"He had his reasons," Glaive insisted firmly.  "Thanks in no part to me, this man has struggled through far too many battles.  If he doesn't receive proper treatment, he will die.  I don't know much about who you are or what your past relationship with Mario is, but he specifically requested me to bring him here.  I trust in his judgment, and therefore, I am putting my faith in you to see to it that he receives full treatment."

The two swordsmen locked eyes and stared each other down for what seemed like an eternity.  Finally, as if he had confirmed Glaive's trustworthiness, Swift held out his arms.  "Give him to me.  I will tend to his wounds."

Glaive turned around and began to walk away.  "Thank you.  When Mario awakens, tell him that his comrades have infiltrated the Demon Citadel.  He'll undoubtedly want to join us the moment he can stand, but...  Just understand that our chances of survival are nonexistent.  To be sure, even I am about to stare death in the face.  Kronos has been revived, and somehow... I can feel that his powers have been restored.  By the time Mario is ready for battle, we'll all most likely be dead.  In other words... Mario is our last hope.  When he arrives on the battlefield, he shouldn't expect us to be there."

Swift nodded.  "This man...  You really do trust him, don't you?"

"Even more than I trust myself," Glaive replied.  "Take care of him, alright?"

"Before you go, I want you to have this."  Swift tossed Glaive a sheathed blade.  "Take it as a gift from the man with whom you have entrusted your dear comrade's life."

Glaive strapped the sheath onto his back.  "Again, thank you.  And farewell."

"Farewell, brave warrior," Swift whispered as the speedy Glaive vanished into the nearby forest.




Comrades (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5e7f0987-b085-4cfd-a2f4-f605681da3f6/Comrades)

"Looking back, I'm not sure if it was such a good idea to leave Luigi on his own," Waluigi confessed as they jogged down a narrow corridor lined with glass windows through which the courtyard could be seen.

"Scared?" Wario inquired in mock sympathy.

"No, I-" Waluigi stopped midsentence after noticing that his brother was no longer running alongside him.  He whirled around to see Wario standing beside one of the nearby glass windows, silently gazing at the courtyard below them.  "What is it...?"  He jogged over to the window next to his brother to see what had captivated his attention.  Waluigi gasped.  The fight between Ace and Jack had taken a brutal turn.  "Ace...  He isn't even fighting back..."

Ace, entirely under Jack's control, could not move a single muscle as his merciless younger brother hacked away at him with his own weapons.

"It's pathetic..." Wario whispered at last, struggling to hold back a sniffle.  "I can't stomach all of this brotherly bickering.  First Slade and Lucifer... and now Ace and Jack...  For brothers to turn against each other and fight to the death... what has this war come to?"

"Wario..."

Teardrops formed in the corners of Wario's eyes.  "Sure, most brothers argue all the time...  But they should never hate each other enough to want to kill one another.  When the two of us were children, we had no parents, no money... nothing.  Every day was a struggle for survival...  And if we hadn't been there for each other, neither of us would have survived."  He turned and began to walk back the way they came.  "This can't go on...  If there's one thing that I can't stand, it's watching two brothers stab each other in the back."

"Go...  Luigi and I will handle the rest," Waluigi vowed.  "Hurry.  Ace won't be able to last much longer."

Wario nodded.  "Give those Grimnexes a few good whacks for me."  And with that, the greedy plumber vanished at the other end of the corridor.

Wario...  You're not the brightest man out there.  And although you're always putting up a tough front and always acting superior to everyone else... you do hold certain values, as much as you may refuse to admit it.  You rarely speak with such emotion...  In fact, the only other time I can remember you doing so is during our battle with Poseidon.  Waluigi smiled sadly.  Despite your shortcomings, I know that you value brotherhood among all else.  And although we may sometimes regret it, neither of us can change the fact that we're brothers.  We're here for each other.  So when I'm standing face-to-face with Kronos, I expect you to be fighting right alongside me.




"You've been rather quiet, Ace.  Why is that?" Jack sneered, spilling his elder brother's blood onto the ground with another slash.  "Have you finally come to terms with your fate?"

Ace glared at his brother with bold, defiant eyes.

"Hmm... I'm not particularly fond of that look you're giving me.  Perhaps it's time for me to finish the job and slice your head clean off your shoulders."  Jack raised one of the beam sabers that he had created with Ace's cards and pressed the tip to his throat.  "Not so tough now, are you?"

Ace remained silent.

With a hateful shriek, Jack prepared to deliver the final blow.  However, before the blade could make contact with Ace's neck, a fierce right hook from behind sent the Grimnex crashing into a nearby wall.  Standing before the astonished Ace was Wario, his right fist encased in metal armor.

Grimnex Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/39e6b1bd-2d6a-402d-8bce-46576777ce3b/Grimnex-Battle)

"Wario... What are you doing here?"

"I was watching your fight from the second floor, and all I can say is... What the hell are you thinking?  Are you just gonna let yourself get torn to ribbons by your baby brother?!" Wario exclaimed in disgust.  "How could I not come back after witnessing such a one-sided beating?"

"In case you didn't notice... I can't move," Ace informed him gruffly.  "That's why I haven't been able to put up much of a fight."  He spotted his energy saber on the ground nearby.  "Wario, grab that blade...  Jack must've dropped it when you struck him from behind.  Use it to cut the puppet strings that are restraining my movements."

Wario hesitantly complied.  "Puppet strings, huh?  So that's how he was controlling us."

"Yeah, watch out...  Once he attaches a string to one of your limbs, it'll be under his control," Ace explained.  "Oh, and... can I have my sword?  Jack has my deck of cards, and I won't be able to conjure up a new one until I've had a chance to catch my breath.  It's the only weapon I've got."  Wario handed him the blade.

A thread extended from nearby and clung to Wario's leg.  "Too late..." Jack chuckled, grinning wickedly.

"Not quite," Ace replied, slicing the cord with his beam saber.  "With the two of us fighting side-by-side, you won't be able to immobilize us so easily."  He sprinted toward his brother, who extended his palms toward him in preparation for conjuring more puppet strings.  Before he could do so, Wario began hurling yellow Fireballs at the Grimnex.  Jack instantly went on the defensive, diving to the side to avoid being incinerated, but the smoke created by the resulting explosion obscured his vision.  At the same time, Ace had reached his brother, and without holding back, he dealt a violent slash to the Grimnex's chest.

Jack quickly retaliated by attaching a puppet string to each of his brother's limbs.  However, he did not see Wario rush into the fray.  His entire body covered in a metallic coating, the greedy plumber struck Jack with a bone-breaking kick, sending him tumbling onto the ground yet again.  Wario then grabbed each of the threads that held Ace captive and tore them from his body.

"Gwahaha!  You think you can control us with these fragile strings?" Wario cackled.

"Face it, Jack.  As long as Wario and I have each other's backs, you won't be able to stop us.  That gash on your chest is far too deep.  You won't be able to fend us off for much longer," Ace admonished.

"Take a look in the mirror," Jack grumbled, angrily rising to his feet.  "Before that overweight plumber arrived to help you, I landed several slashes across your upper torso.  It's a miracle that you can even stand.  And besides, it doesn't matter how injured I am.  If I can't capture you two separately, I'll simply have to seize the both of you simultaneously.  Conjuring eight puppet strings is no trouble for someone like me."  He began to glow with a black aura.  "However... I can no longer let you off with such an easy death...  Allow me to show you the Final Smash that I have spent years developing, all in preparation for this glorious day."

"What's... going on...?" Wario gasped.  "Is it just me... or is it getting darker?"  Jack's dark aura began to expand, eventually covering the entire courtyard.

Suddenly, Ace began to desperately wave his hand in front of his face.  He grew pale.  He saw nothing but black.  "Wario... Can you... see...?"

Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

"What's the matter?  Having trouble seeing?" Jack snickered, throwing his head back with maniacal laughter.  "Welcome to my world... Now you can finally understand how it feels to have your light taken away.  But it doesn't end there.  My Final Smash allows me to temporarily regain my eyesight at the cost of my opponents'.  While you have been thrown into a world of darkness, I am about to step into the light for the first time in years!"  His eyes slowly fluttered open, and he marveled at his surroundings.  "This is too good to be true!  At last, my eyesight has returned to me!  And here, standing helplessly before me, is my wretched older brother.  It couldn't be more perfect!  Now, as I cut you down, you will understand the loneliness that I felt as a result of your actions!"

"You may have regained your eyesight, but you're still just as blind as before," Wario growled.  "If you can't even bring yourself to forgive your own brother... you're no better than he is.  You hate your sibling for attempting to kill you, and yet here you are, attempting to do the same to him...  You're just an immature crybaby who holds a sickening amount of jealousy toward his older brother."

"Wario..." Ace muttered, astounded by Wario's passionate words.

"Stay out of this!" Jack screamed, sending four threads at the plumber.

In a flash, Ace tackled Wario to the ground, causing the Grimnex's puppet strings to miss.  "We may be new to being blind, but you're also new to the world of light.  Now that you can see, you shouldn't forget about the advantages that blindness can offer a person.  Our bodies have compensated by drastically enhancing our hearing.  We aren't as vulnerable as you think."

"Yeah, I can still hear your annoying voice!" Wario thundered, rising to his feet before charging directly toward the source of Jack's voice.

"Wario, wait!" Ace called out into the abyss of darkness.

"You shouldn't be so cocky," Jack hissed, attaching cords to each of Wario's limbs before he could even reach his target.  "Your hearing may have been slightly augmented, but you're the only one intelligent enough to make use of this.  And as long as the both of you are blind, I only need to capture each of you once.  After all, it's impossible for you to free Wario when you can't even see him.  I've even attached a fifth puppet string to his head, so he won't be able to call out and let you know where he is.  His entire body has been paralyzed."

Ace frantically attempted to think up a plan.  Wario... Why'd you have to rush at him like that?  Now I'm all alone, and the only way I can damage him is with a slash of my blade.  But there's no way I can get close enough without him connecting puppet strings to my body...  His thought processes were interrupted as Jack hurled several puppet strings in his direction.  The former leader of Poker Face swiftly leapt to the side, but Jack was not finished yet.  He continued to conjure more puppet strings, knowing that Ace would not be able to dodge them forever.  His theory proved to be correct, as it wasn't long before each of the exhausted Ace's limbs were struck with one of Jack's threads.

"And just like that, both of you are helpless," Jack sneered.  "Now what will you do, Ace?  Killing you would be as simple as having you impale yourself with your own blade."

Damn...  What can I possibly do now...?  I can't see... I can't move...  Three of the four aces are in place, but Jack has my deck of cards...  I've probably recovered enough energy to conjure a few more, but summoning a card as powerful as an ace would be impossible until I'm back at full strength.  Somehow, I need to find a way to attack him, even in this paralyzed state...  Think, Ace...  His eyes widened.

"Goodbye, Ace.  Now you can experience the horror of being blinded and killed by your own brother."  His eyes narrowed.  "Wait... what are you-"

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

The courtyard was lit with a fierce explosion that originated from Ace's right arm, which had instantly caught fire.  Jack gasped.  "You crazy bastard...  You conjured an explosive card onto your own arm, setting it ablaze the moment it made contact with your skin...  And then, after you set your own arm on fire..."

"I knew that the fire would spread to the puppet string attached to my arm, freeing it from your control," Ace replied with a pained grin.  "If an arm is all that I need to sacrifice to beat you, then so be it."  Now able to freely control his right arm, he used his beam saber to slice the other threads connected to his body.  After smothering the flames on his arm, he grabbed the end of one of the severed strings and used it to pull Jack toward him.  "Your puppet strings...  They have a few flaws.  Weakness number one: They only work when they're connecting you to your opponent, and therefore, they'll always lead me straight to you- even when I can't see."

By this point, the flames had already reached Jack via his own cords.  Preoccupied with the inferno, the Grimnex was unable to defend himself as Ace used his own severed thread to yank him closer.  "Weakness number two: You may have taken away my sight, which prevents me from finding Wario, but even so, if I want to slice the puppet strings with which you are controlling him, all I need to do is cut them at the source- you."  Once he had pulled his brother close enough, Ace lunged forward and groped through the air for a few moments until he found the strings that were attached to Wario.  He sliced the cords, but as he turned his attention to attacking Jack, he found that his younger brother had regained his composure.  His mind racing, Ace circled around the Grimnex and hooked his arms underneath Jack's shoulders, restraining his arms.

"Wario!  Can you hear me?  We're over here!  I want you to hit Jack as hard as you can!" Ace exclaimed, grinning.  "And there's nothing you can do about it, 'Bro'...  If I had attacked you directly, you would've simply attached more puppet strings to my body.  So instead, I figured I'd restrain you so that Wario could get a clear shot without having to worry about your threads."

"Roger that!" Wario cackled, encasing his body in metallic armor.  With an animalistic roar, the plumber dashed toward the vulnerable Grimnex and put all of his might into a single, rib-shattering punch.  In too much agony to even scream, Jack merely fell to his knees, his eyes bulging and his mouth agape.  Ace reached down and retrieved his deck of cards from his younger brother's pocket.

"And by the way... Did you really think you could confuse me just by shuffling my deck?" Ace inquired, rifling through his cards in search of the final ace.  At last, he removed it from the deck and held it high above his head.  "Cards have served as my weapons for my entire life...  Just by watching you shuffle them, I was instantly able to memorize the new card arrangement.  Even without my sight, I know exactly where to find each card."  He dropped the ace onto the ground, and in seconds, the four aces began to emit a brilliant blue glow.

"Heh... that was your... strongest punch...?" Jack laughed weakly.  He slowly rose to his feet and extended his palms toward Ace, but before he could act, dozens of blue electrical sparks launched out of the four aces and struck the Grimnex, severely electrocuting him.

"At last, the four aces have been laid out...  The Tetra Ace Seal has been activated," Ace declared.  "And now that you can no longer move..."  He reached into his deck and drew two more cards: a Joker and a Jack.  Ace heaved a deep sigh, remembering the warning that King had given him about these cards.

Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fhxZdraiDY)

"It's been nearly four months... and while I admit that I've gotten stronger, I'll never be of any use to Mario like this.  Isn't there any way we can speed this up?"

"Ace, I understand your impatience, but Conjuration is not an art that can be rushed.  Doing so would result in...'unfavorable' consequences.  Your rate of progression is far above that of an ordinary member of the Zepar tribe.  You should be proud."

"Wait...  Do you mean that it's possible for me to speed my training along?  I'll accept whatever consequences there may be...  Please, tell me...  I have to be strong.  When Mario asks me to fight alongside him, I have to be ready."

"Very well... There is one method.  But it comes at a severe price...  If you were to compress your total remaining life energy into the span of these next few months, many advanced Conjurations would become available to you.  However, as a result, your life span will be drastically shortened.  By the time the war ends, you would wither away and die.  Ace, are you willing to sacrifice your life for the power to assist your friends?  Will you fight for peace even with the knowledge that you will not survive to enjoy it?"

"...I'll do it."

"I see...  Then for your next lesson, we'll try combining two higher-level cards.  Which two would you like to use?"


His entire body now emanating a blinding blue light, Ace held his Jack and Joker cards to the sky before crushing them in his palm.  The light radiating from the four aces and from Ace began to combine into the shape of a colossal blade.  The mammoth sword, about as long as Ace, Wario, and Jack combined, began to emit blue electrical sparks similar to those given off by the four aces, and with a gesture from Ace, it plunged into the immobile Jack's heart before bursting into several high-voltage shocks.

Jack thrashed wildly about, shrieking in anguish as he was stabbed and electrocuted simultaneously.  When the shocks finally died down, Jack stared up at his brother with bloodshot eyes.  "Ace..."

Ace hung his head.  "Jack...  I- I'm so sorry..."

Jack smiled sadly.  "Heh... you said... the same thing... all those years ago... as I was dying at your feet..."

"Now do you understand?" Wario inquired, struggling to hold back his tears.  "Brothers must always be able to forgive each other.  Despite what may have happened between you two in the past, Ace has proved himself on many occasions to be a decent guy.  He did his part by apologizing and attempting to repent for his misdeeds, so why couldn't you do yours and offer your forgiveness?  Isn't that the least you could do?"

"You know... you're a lot wiser than you look..." Jack chuckled, coughing up a mouthful of blood.  "Maybe... Maybe my obsession with revenge... is what truly led to my downfall...  Heh, it all makes sense now...  Ace wasn't the one who blinded me...  I was blinded... by my own hatred..."  The Grimnex fell silent.  As his vision slowly faded away, Wario and Ace's eyesight returned.  And when their light was finally restored, they saw Jack lying dead before them, a single teardrop running down his pale face.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 25: Luigi's Resolve)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on June 25, 2011, 06:52:02 PM
Chapter 25: Luigi's Resolve

Jogging down a wide, parchment-colored corridor, Luigi spotted a spiral staircase leading upward.  He breathed a sigh of relief.  "Wow... By parting ways with the Wario Brothers, I actually managed to avoid getting dragged into a fight.  I hope they'll be alright without me."  As he approached the stairwell, however, he heard footsteps coming from an adjacent staircase leading to the floor below.  Luigi froze.  Somehow, these sluggish, plodding footsteps seemed familiar.

"Ugh...  Why do I have to guard the second floor?  Venus may be ranked higher, but I still hold seniority over her.  You'd think that the last remaining member of the original 24 Grimnexes would be treated with a little more respect," the muscular, middle-aged demon grumbled as he ascended the stairway.  His onyx, uncombed, shoulder-length hair and five o'clock shadow contributed largely to his unkempt appearance, as did his tattered black sweatpants and bloodstained, sleeveless white shirt.  When he reached the top, his eyes, which were never more than halfway open, widened ever so slightly.  "Luigi...  What are you doing here?"

Luigi gulped and took a step backward.  He glanced over his shoulder, but his comrades were nowhere to be found.  He was alone.  "I- I'm here to save Peach."

"Still obsessing over that princess?" Gaea sighed.  "I thought you were smarter than that."

"Gaea... why can't you understand that what Kronos is doing is wrong?" Luigi inquired.  "I can tell that you're different from the others...  You don't thirst for bloodshed and chaos like so many other demons do.  Please, just hear me out..."

"I've never been one to question things," Gaea responded with a helpless shrug.  "To me, thinking is just a waste of time and effort.  I was created by the Phoenix to fight against the Olympians.  And for all this time, that's exactly what I've been doing.  You can argue about good and evil all you want... I simply accept my place in the world."  His eyes narrowed.  "And besides... your words have already lost their credibility.  Now that I know you're an enemy, I have to kill you.  That's just the way things are."

"Just step aside, Gaea, and then-"

The Grimnex firmly shook his head.  "I really don't feel like fighting you right now.  But if I don't, Kronos will simply give me more work to do as punishment.  You aren't going to talk your way around this fight.  The only way for you to escape is to turn around and leave peacefully."

Fated Clash (http://www.esnips.com/doc/59a87aa5-69c3-43a4-a5a4-ca121255ccab/Fated-Clash)

"That's not gonna happen!" Luigi refused angrily.  He charged directly at his former mentor and threw several punches, all of which Gaea effortlessly blocked with a single hand.

"Luigi... I'm surprised that you would attack me head on despite knowing about my abilities," Gaea stated, grasping the plumber's right arm.  "My aura is my weapon...  The possibilities are endless.  I could channel it into your own arm, shattering your bones from the inside."  His grip on Luigi's arm tightened, and his palm began to emit a greenish glow.  "I told you that you'd regret fighting me...  You still have much to learn about the art of aura manipulation."

"I've learned plenty already," Luigi snapped, striking the Grimnex in the face with his free hand.  He wrenched his right arm free from Gaea's grip and leapt backwards, putting several feet between the two warriors.  "You of all people should know that I have a natural talent for this.  When you channeled your aura into my arm, all I had to do was focus my own aura into the same spot."

"So, you have learned something after all.  You defended against my aura with your own," Gaea observed, wiping the blood from his chin.  "I'm impressed, but you still have a long way to go.  You managed to get a single hit in, but you were unable to augment the blow with your aura because it was already concentrated into your other arm.  Your Elemental Energy could not move quickly enough.  That is because you lack the training and experience that I have spent decades acquiring."

"If you wanted me to hit you with my aura, all you had to do was ask," Luigi chuckled, his right fist beginning to burn brightly with a green flame.  He lunged forward at his opponent and struck at his face, but Gaea caught the blow in his left palm.  The Grimnex then focused his power into his right fist and dealt a devastating blow to his former pupil's gut, sending him soaring into a nearby wall.  Coughing up blood onto the marble floor, Luigi gradually rose to his feet.

"That was only at half strength...  And by the way that you're clutching your wounds, I can tell that you weren't able to move your aura from your fist to your stomach in time.  Once again, I have proven my point.  Your training is insufficient," Gaea lectured him.  "That was your last chance to strike me.  This time, I'm coming to you."

"Damn," Luigi cursed, taking a fighting stance as Gaea rushed toward him.  Fast as lightning, the Grimnex seized his left wrist.  He's gonna break my arm!  The plumber quickly focused his Elemental Energy into his left arm to counter Gaea's Iniquity.

"Who said that I was planning on doing anything to your arm?" Gaea sneered, delivering a fierce, aura-enhanced punch to Luigi's ribs.  Once again, his student toppled onto the floor in agony.  "You fell for it.  The moment I grabbed your wrist, you assumed that I'd try to channel my aura into your arm like before.  In response, you focused your own aura into your arm, while in reality, I had no intentions of harming it.  This left the rest of your body entirely vulnerable, allowing me to deal a critical blow."

"That was... a dirty trick..." Luigi muttered, struggling to his feet.

"It only seemed that way because of your inexperience," Gaea responded.  "You can hardly understand your own aura, let alone someone else's.  With my experience, I can see the exact flow of your aura and adjust accordingly."  He raised both of his palms.  "To make matters worse... you are only able to focus your aura into a single spot."  A green glow began to emanate from each of his fists.  "Let's make this a bit more interesting...  Tell me, if you could only keep one arm, which would you choose?"

"What?!" Luigi thundered, his eyes widening with fear.

"I'm going to channel my Iniquity into both of your arms, tearing each of them apart from the inside.  By focusing your Elemental Energy into one of them, you can shield it from damage.  However, your other arm will be lost...  You'd better decide which one you'd like to keep."

Luigi gulped.  He's not bluffing... and there's nothing else I can do.  Trying to run away would be pointless.  He's too fast... He bit his lip.  And besides, I can't afford to let Bro down...  This time, I have to pull my own weight.

"I hope that you've made your decision," Gaea declared, rushing at the green plumber.  In a flash, he grasped each of Luigi's wrists.  "Now, let's see which arm you decided to sacrifice."  Time seemed to move in slow motion as blood spurted out from each of Luigi's arms.  Even so, he firmly stood his ground and refused to scream.  Gaea's eyes bulged.  "...Neither of them?!"  The Grimnex looked down to see that Luigi's leg was now gleaming with green flames.  Before he could react, the plumber delivered a bone-breaking, aura-augmented kick to the defenseless Grimnex's jaw.  Howling in anguish, Gaea tumbled onto his back.  "You... You're insane!"

"Heh, you never even saw that one coming," Luigi chuckled weakly.  The blow he had landed had come at a severe price.  Both of his arms were now broken and covered in gashes, all as a result of Gaea's Iniquity.

Gaea's eyes were still wide with disbelief.  "Instead of saving one of your arms... You decided to sacrifice them both in exchange for the opportunity to strike me with your aura at a moment in which I was completely exposed.  That was a foolish act... but I must commend you for your resolve."  Blood still dripping from his chin, a weakened Gaea rose to his feet.  "However... It wasn't nearly enough to finish me.  And with your arms in that condition, you might as well give up."




Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA69nqt_uJ8&feature=related)

"Where are you taking me?" Peach inquired, struggling against Venus' firm grasp as they reached the top of yet another marble staircase.  A warm breeze rushed past them, and Peach gasped.

"Welcome, Princess Peach, to my throne," Kronos declared proudly.  "Perfect... Even after all this time, it has remained unchanged."  He thrust his arms into the air and marveled at his surroundings.  The three of them now stood outside on the roof of the citadel, several thousand feet above ground.  A dozen marble columns lined the floor's circumference, and a posh red carpet led from the stairway to a lavish throne of gold. 

Now standing in broad daylight, Peach was able to get her first good look at Kronos.  Standing at about six feet tall, the demon king was thin but by no means scrawny.  He had a mop of sea green hair, and his hazel eyes reflected a deep, unrivaled sorrow.  Over a plain blue undershirt, he wore an unzipped black trench coat with stripes of gold running along its flaps, and the ends of his wrinkled white pants were tucked into his black, ankle length boots.  With a deep, exaggerated sigh, the Phoenix yawned and stretched before taking a seat.  "Tell me, Princess...  How does my throne compare to yours?"

Peach did not respond.

"Lord Kronos asked you a question," Venus growled, tightening her grip on the princess' arm.

"Now, now," Kronos gently scolded the Grimnex.  "The princess is our special guest."

"Forgive me, my lord."

"Perhaps I'll let it slide if you fetch the princess a seat," Kronos replied with a hint of impatience.  After Venus left to fulfill his request, the demon king turned to Peach.  "Now, Rh-  excuse me- Princess Peach...  How do you like the view from up here?  If you look over there, you can even see my demons waging war against your own subjects.  Would you care to watch with me?"

"No.  Unlike you, I do not consider watching the deaths of my own people to be entertaining," she refused sharply.

There was a long silence, until Venus finally returned with a slightly less elegant chair than the one Kronos had seated himself in.  Gingerly placing it beside her king, she watched in disgust as Peach hesitantly sat down.  "Lord Kronos, I have bad news...  It seems that Jack has been defeated by the intruders."

"I see.  Well, some casualties are to be expected," Kronos answered with a helpless shrug.  "I suppose Gaea will have to take care of them."

"How can you treat your own men that way?!" Peach exploded.  "Don't you care at all about what happens to your soldiers?  One of your Grimnexes just died... and even as we speak, thousands of your demon comrades are down there fighting against the Olympians!  Doesn't that mean anything to you?  Are these people nothing more than mere pawns?"

Kronos began to stroke his chin, clearly deep in thought.  "Pawns... as in the game of chess?  That certainly brings back memories...  Rhea and I used to play chess for hours during the Terranean War.  It would keep us sharp and alert during the long, restless nights..."  There was another long pause.  Kronos closed his eyes and shook his head.  "Venus...  Bring us a chessboard."




"Should you ever find the need to meet with me again...  Seek me out at the base of Mt. Olympus."

The Mushroom Hero yawned and stretched as his eyes slowly fluttered open.  He sat up with great caution, expecting sharp pains to erupt throughout his body.  Instead, he found that his wounds had been almost entirely healed.  Still groggy from many hours of sleep, he scanned his surroundings and realized immediately where he was.

"Once again, you are in my debt," Swift grumbled, standing at the plumber's bedside.  "I was able to mend all of your injuries, with one exception.  Your right arm is still covered in a Demon Exoskeleton, and as such, I have no control over its healing process.  You'll just have to be patient."

"Of course...  Thank you."

"You should be equally grateful to your friend for bringing you here...  As usual, you're nothing but a burden to others," Swift mumbled.

"I see... So Glaive understood my request," Mario sighed with relief.

Swift nodded.  "Yes.  He brought you to my doorstep and entrusted me with your life.  You and your comrades must share a close bond for him to so readily trust in your judgment.  As of right now, they are waging war against Kronos and his remaining Grimnexes.  If you wish to assist them, you'd better be on your way."

"Not yet," Mario replied, shaking his head.  "As I am now, Kronos would probably mop the floor with me."

"What are you implying...?"

"You must have realized by now that recovering wasn't the only reason I came here...  Please, allow me to continue your training program," Mario pleaded.  "It's the only way-"

"Absolutely not," Swift refused, emphatically shaking his head.  "When I said that you could find me here if you ever needed to meet with me again, I didn't mean that you could come crawling back to complete your training.  It was your decision to abandon my program prior to its completion.  Now you must live with the consequences."

"Sorry, but I can't accept that.  The moment I faced off against Kronos, I realized that my inner demon and I are still far too out of sync.  To battle Kronos on the outside is one thing, but to struggle with him on the inside at the very same time is too much for me to handle.  The only person that can help me cope with this internal struggle is y-"

"Yourself," Swift interrupted.  "Four months ago, I attempted to train you to be one with your internal demon.  But when your friends came to the Nightmare Vault with news of Crimson's attack, you rushed back to your kingdom without completing your training.  As a result, you never learned to exist in harmony with the soul of your ancestor, and even though the Phoenix has been reborn, his blood and his instincts continue to live on inside of you.  I could push you in the right direction, but at this stage, the only person that can drive the demon from your heart is you."

"If you can provide me with some sort of guidance, no matter how small, I'll take it."

"Why should I?  Your friends are in danger.  How do I know that you won't abandon my training again to help them?"

Comrades (http://www.esnips.com/doc/5e7f0987-b085-4cfd-a2f4-f605681da3f6/Comrades)

"Because this time, I trust my friends to keep on fighting while I prepare for battle," Mario answered firmly.  "Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Glaive, and Ace...  They'll be fine.  When I arrive, I just know that they'll all be there waiting for me."

"Your words...  Your confidence in your friends...  Everything about you reminds me of Hero..." Swift whispered.

"Hero...?" Mario parroted.  "Are you talking about... my ancestor, the Alpha Grimnex?"

"You mean... You are related to Hero?" Swift inquired, his eyes bulging in disbelief.  "How... How did I not see it?  You have the same eyes...  He would always look at me with those bold, determined eyes, and pledge to me that the conflict between the demons and the Olympians would someday come to an end.  Even when he had been captured by Zeus and accused of treason, he never lost faith...  After being sent to the Universe with the eternal punishment of enforcing Zeus' will, I am relieved to see that his spirit continues to burn brightly in the hearts of his descendants."

"Does that mean...?"

Swift nodded.  "Descendant of Hero...  May your training commence."




"...Give up...?" Luigi parroted, breathing heavily.  "Not this time...  This is my one and only chance... to fight a battle that my brother has entrusted me with..."  Both of his arms began to burn brightly with the flames of his resolve.  "Each and every time I've gotten into trouble, Bro has had to bail me out...  But this time, he's depending on me to fight on without him while he recovers!"  He clenched his fists and sprinted toward the Grimnex.

"Incredible...  He's learned to channel his Elemental Energy into both of his arms, and by manipulating his aura, he can actually control his broken arms as if he was a puppet," Gaea murmured in astonishment.  "Even if his body is in no condition to fight... his willpower continues to drive him forward..."

Casting all of his fears aside, Luigi began to recklessly throw punches and kicks at his former master.  Holding his ground, Gaea swatted aside each of his foe's attacks, and when he saw an opening, he lunged forward with a right hook of his own.  The blow struck Luigi in the chest, bringing his assault to an instant stop.  The plumber hung his head in defeat as his blood spilled onto the floor.

"What a waste...  It is regrettable to have to kill a man who could master the basics of aura manipulation in only four days," Gaea sighed.

At that moment, Luigi raised his head and drove forward, striking the Grimnex across the face with a brutal, flame-augmented right hook.

Resolve (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c00cfaed-8d74-470f-bc84-5e13bc4def84/Resolve)

"Heh... you let your guard down again..." Luigi snickered, clutching his severely wounded chest.  "Your face is looking pretty bruised right now... If I were you, I'd take this a bit more seriously..."

"If you have to take a critical hit from me just to land a single blow, you aren't going to last much longer," Gaea retorted.

"Don't worry, I think I've found another way to hit you," Luigi declared, forming a Fireball in his palm.  "You see, even before you taught me about aura manipulation, I was still able to use my Elemental Energy as a projectile.  In all of your years of training and experience, have you ever tried something like this?"  He hurled the Fireball at Gaea, who firmly maintained his position.

"You poor, naĂŻve child," Gaea sighed, aiming his opened palm at the approaching Fireball.  With a single, sweeping gesture of his arm, he sent the Fireball careening into a nearby wall.  "Though I'll admit I was not aware that you possessed this ability, it is nothing I haven't encountered before.  Using one's aura as a projectile is an advanced tactic, but it has a critical weakness.  The moment your Elemental Energy leaves your body, it is no longer under your influence.  If your opponent is also a skilled aura manipulator, he can effortlessly take control of the projectile with his own aura and send it in the opposite direction."  He grinned.  "Hmm... but I doubt that you're at that level yet."  He extended his palms toward the plumber and launched a green energy sphere at him.

Luigi frantically waved his arms at the oncoming blast, desperately attempting to take control of it and change its course.  However, just as Gaea had predicted, he was not yet adept enough for such a maneuver.  The sphere collided with his upper torso, exploding upon contact and knocking him onto his back.

"Luigi...  You really should accept your defeat.  It's going to be far more painful from here on out.  I'm beginning to feel less lethargic... and for you, that will only lead to suffering and misery."

"There's no doubt that you're superior to me in practically every respect..." Luigi admitted, his right fist gleaming brightly as he gradually rose to his feet and limped toward his foe.  "But there's still one category in which you could never top me... and that's motivation.  You have no drive to beat me.  You're just following orders.  Me, on the other hand...  I'm fighting for my brother's faith, and for Peach's life!"  He rushed forward and, with his supercharged fist, dealt an earthshaking blow to the floor, causing it to partially collapse.

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"What are you doing?!" Gaea thundered as the two of them plummeted downward into a colossal crater.  Now surrounded by a circular wall of debris, neither of them could escape the other.  "You've just sealed your fate...  You'll never climb out of this crater alive."

"Actually, I was just restricting your movement," Luigi replied, forming a gigantic Ultra Fireball in his palms.  "You said that my Fireballs are useless against you the moment they leave my body...  At the same time, if I attack you at close range, I only end up taking a beating...  I've done some thinking, and I've finally found a way to attack you!"

"You aren't really going to...?  Hey, how much Elemental Energy are you channeling into that Fireball?!" Gaea shrieked, staggering backward in fear.

"I'd say... pretty much all of it," Luigi retorted, his Fireball growing large enough to cover almost the entire crater.  "You've got nowhere to run, Gaea...  My Fireballs can hurt you as long as I don't let go of them...  All I had to do was trap you in this crater and make a Fireball big enough to cover the entire area, so that I wouldn't even have to throw it in order to scorch you!"

"You Mario Brothers really are insane..." Gaea grumbled as the entire crater was lit with a burst of green flames.

"Hah... and I didn't even need Bro's help..." Luigi whispered triumphantly as he lifted himself over the edge of the gap he had created in the floor.  Breathing heavily, he turned around and gazed into the pit, which was now smoldering with green flames.  Although he had succeeded, the battle had come at a heavy price.  He had sustained heavy damage, and both of his arms were useless unless he manipulated them with his aura.

"Luigi... I'm disappointed in you," a menacing voice echoed from within the crater.  "The Epsilon Grimnex would never be defeated by such an attack.  I thought you knew better than that."  Out from the pit emerged Gaea, whose body was covered in ash and severe burns.  "I'll admit... that really hurt.  You've successfully irritated me.  Congratulations.  But now...  I won't be held back by my indolence any longer."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 25: Luigi's Resolve)
Post by: DededeCloneChris on June 25, 2011, 07:32:53 PM
I haven't read the story at all but have you tried going to fanfiction.net to publish your stories?
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 25: Luigi's Resolve)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on July 12, 2011, 09:52:27 PM
Quote from: MooglePlayerChris on June 25, 2011, 07:32:53 PM
I haven't read the story at all but have you tried going to fanfiction.net to publish your stories?
I haven't actually, but maybe I'll try it out.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 26: Hero's Wish)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on July 12, 2011, 10:00:04 PM
Chapter 26: Hero's Wish

"Mario, as the descendant of Hero, you just may have what it takes to bring this war to an end," Swift informed the Mushroom Hero.  The two now stood outside at the base of Mt. Olympus, enclosed in a forest of pine trees with a vast, shimmering lake nearby.  "Your father has passed the Nova Strike on to you, correct?"

Mario nodded.

"Good.  I want you to use it on me," Swift demanded.  "Do not hesitate.  I will be fine.  But you must make sure that you do not hold back.  If you do, I cannot train you properly."

"As you wish..." Mario muttered, forming an Ultra Fireball in his right fist.  With Swift firmly standing his ground, the Mushroom Hero charged at his opponent, his speed augmented by his thunder element.

"Hmm, let's see how well Anthony taught you," Swift mumbled, drawing his blade as Mario approached him.  When the plumber was within reach, the Royal Guardian slashed at his neck with his blade.  As expected, a shield of ice materialized just in time to block the attack, and Mario continued to charge forward.  He lunged at Swift and threw a Fireball-enhanced right hook at his face, but the Royal Guardian blocked it with the flat end of his sword.  The Mushroom Hero leapt backward and grinned.  The assault wasn't over yet.  The wind displaced by Mario's flaming punch caused thousands of wind bullets to head directly toward Swift.  However, with a fierce battle cry and countless lightning-fast slashes, the swordsman batted away each and every blast of wind that approached him.  He had escaped the Nova Strike entirely unscathed.

Mario's eyes bulged.  "Unbelievable..."

"And if I could do that, just imagine what Kronos would do," Swift sighed.  "But it's not your fault.  I didn't expect you to be able to hit me.  I was merely assessing your grasp of the technique.  You used all three elements in perfect sync: you used thunder to increase your speed, ice to defend yourself, and fire to enhance your power.  That is what the Nova Strike is all about.  Yours was almost as powerful as Hero's."

"You mean... Hero used the Nova Strike on you?" Mario inquired.

"Hah, of course!  I was the one who helped him develop the technique!" Swift chuckled.  "Back in the days of the Terranean War, we were comrades as well as sparring partners.  That's why I know more about the Nova Strike than anyone... even your father.  For example, did you know that the Nova Strike is an incomplete technique?"

Mario shook his head.  "Really...?  It seems pretty powerful as it is..."

"Yes, but when used for its intended purpose, it becomes several times more potent.  Unfortunately, the only man who fully understood the Nova Strike's intended use... was your ancestor, Hero.  This technique isn't as simple as you may think.  The Nova Strike is an attack that is empowered by the wielder's feelings."  He and Mario locked eyes.  "Mario... the task of completing this technique has fallen to you.  You must wield the Nova Strike's true form, something that not even Hero could accomplish in his lifetime."

"How...?  I mean, where do I even start?"

Hero (http://www.esnips.com/doc/c63a554f-1295-46cc-9fe0-4ee6b2033749/Hero)

"If you wish to even attempt to understand the Nova Strike, you must first understand its creator: your ancestor.  Listen carefully, Mario.  I will tell you all that you need to know:

"Hero was a deeply conflicted man.  He was created to fight for the Olympians, but was captured and reprogrammed to serve the Phoenix.  Even so, his inherent kindheartedness could never be extinguished.  Each day, he listened as Rhea confided her feelings of sorrow and despair.  You see, Rhea cared about Kronos more than anything else in the world.  She would always talk about how he had been driven insane by his thirst for power and how she deeply regretted abandoning Zeus, her nephew, to join the Phoenix.  Ultimately, Hero vowed to her that he would save Kronos from his madness, and together, they left the Phoenix to anonymously join the Olympians as the Royal Guardians.  That was when we first met.

"As comrades, Hero and I fought many battles together.  The more I got to know him, the more skeptical I became.  To me, he seemed like a naĂŻve, overly optimistic child.  I tried to warn him...  I always told him that he was far too ambitious.  Yet he would always respond to my skepticism by staring me down with his bold, sapphire eyes and insisting that he would someday put an end to the hatred between the Olympians and the demons.  And above all else, he swore that he would cure Kronos of his insanity.  But I knew better.  His childish aspirations were impossible to accomplish.  In the end, I was certain that he would only become a hindrance.  Zeus agreed.  Before the final confrontation with Kronos, Zeus and I collaborated in an attempt to attack the Phoenix without informing Hero of the assault.  We felt that if he were to fight alongside us, his vow to Rhea would take priority over the downfall of the Phoenix.  Together, Zeus, Rhea, the other Royal Guardians, and I fought with everything we had.  Despite our efforts, we were all tossed aside by the mighty Kronos. 

"Just as it seemed as though the Olympians would fall, Hero arrived on the scene and began to battle Kronos alone.  None of us had ever seen anything so incredible.  Somehow, Hero was actually holding his own.  But as we predicted, he continually tried to convince Kronos to change his ways, and as such, he refused to deliver the final blow.  As Hero pleaded with the Phoenix to return to his former self, Zeus approached the demon king from behind and ended his life with a single, vicious stab.

"Rhea was crushed by her brother's death, and Hero was devastated because he was unable to fulfill his promise.  Even so, he continued to move forward, aspiring to end the hatred that continued to pervade this new, 'peaceful' world.  But before long, Rhea and Hero's true identities were found out.  Fearing that Hero's hesitance to kill Kronos stemmed from his loyalty to the demons, Zeus imprisoned the Royal Guardians- myself included- in the Nightmare Vault.  Hero, however, was confined within Terranea and interrogated for several decades.  My sentence was comparatively lenient.  Although I was detained within the Nightmare Vault, I was permitted to return to Terranea once every ten years.  Hero was always the first person I would visit.  Even as the years passed by, his optimism never faded.

"After the Lord Shade incident, Terranea was split into the Overthere, the Underwhere, and the Universe.  When Shade escaped into the Universe, Zeus decided to send Hero, who had remained imprisoned up to that point, to deal with him.  And from that day forward, Hero's bloodline was sentenced to protect the Universe from people like Lord Shade for all of eternity.  But before he departed, Rhea and I paid him one final visit.  I warned Hero that his lifespan would be severely shortened once he entered the Universe.  But nothing ever kept that man down for long.  He simply smiled and requested that I train his successor if the Phoenix ever were to return.  Hero and Rhea then embraced for the final time, and she entrusted him with their newborn baby.  She hoped that this child would help keep Hero company in the new, lonely world in which he would spend the rest of his life.  And after that... he told me that he was entrusting his vows and aspirations to his descendants.  Even after departing with his only child wrapped in his arms, he never gave up on his dreams.  More than anything, he believed that his descendants would someday accomplish what he could not. 

"The Nova Strike was then passed down from generation to generation, along with the words 'only he who is one may truly wield this technique.'  Do these words sound familiar?"

Mario nodded.  "Yeah...  I think my father said something along those lines after he finished teaching me the Nova Strike."

"Good.  Now, Mario, it is up to you to discover the true meaning behind this statement, to understand the will of your ancestor, and to somehow end your internal struggle.  The single answer to these three conundrums will enable you to wield the complete Nova Strike and defeat the Phoenix."  Swift drew his blade.  "And if you cannot discover this answer within the next hour, you will die."




Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA69nqt_uJ8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)

"Checkmate, Princess," the Phoenix declared softly after sliding his rook across the board until it was parallel with Peach's king.  "Surely you aren't playing seriously?  You haven't won a single game."

"Pardon my incompetence," Peach replied dryly.

"There's no need to be a sore loser," Kronos chuckled, moving the pieces back to their original positions.  "The trick is to be willing to sacrifice the lesser pieces in exchange for the king's safety.  The pawns are mere fodder to keep the enemy distracted, while the more powerful pieces are used to mount an assault on the opposing king.  And in the midst of all this chaos, the two kings remain in the back, as far away from battle as possible.  Once the king is defeated, the game is over.  You see, chess is no different from war."

"How can you say that?  Do your demon comrades truly mean so little to you?!" Peach exploded.

"Is your strategy really all that different?  Near the entrance to the Nexus, our pawns are facing off.  It's an all-out war between my demons and a combination of the Mushroom Hero's citizens, some of the Underwhere's finest warriors, and Grambi's army of Nimbis.  In this battle, who lives or dies is irrelevant.  All that matters is victory.  Now, moving on to this citadel... the rooks and knights are at each other's throats.  The Mushroom Hero's allies are battling desperately against my Grimnexes in an attempt to reach me, the king.  If they can kill me, the Olympians win."

"You're wrong," Princess Peach hissed.  "Every life is equally important.  Each soldier is like a child to me."

"Stop this, Kronos.  How can you battle so ruthlessly against your very own son?!  And this war... It's taking its toll on our soldiers as well..."

"If their lives must be sacrificed in order to achieve victory, then so be it.  What are a few thousand lives among Terranea's entire population?  They're pawns, Rhea.  Let them throw away their lives for what they believe in."

"No...  Each and every soldier's life is precious to me.  I won't stand by and watch you send them all to their deaths!"


"I see..." Kronos murmured, rubbing his throbbing forehead.  "...Princess, how about another game?"

There was a long pause.  "If you are the demons' 'king', then what does that make me?  Am I the Olympians' 'king'?  Or do you expect me believe that I'm your queen?" Peach inquired at last.

"Ahaha, no," Kronos responded, laughing gently.  "You are neither a king nor a pawn."

Venus angrily clenched her fists.  I don't understand... Why does Lord Kronos value that princess' life to such a degree?  Why not kill her now, like all of the others who oppose us?  Her role as Kronos' vessel has ended... what other purpose could she possibly serve?  If anything, she seems to be distracting him.  She watched in disgust as Kronos and Peach began yet another round of chess.  If this goes on any longer...  I may have to take matters into my own hands.




Fearsome Enemy (http://www.esnips.com/doc/782da4e2-67d1-4914-8605-8512a066b627/Fearsome-Enemy)

Luigi staggered backward, his body trembling with fear as a severely scalded Gaea climbed out of the burning crater.  "H- How did you- survive?"

"I am the Epsilon Grimnex, Luigi.  In every warrior's career, there comes a time when cheap parlor tricks cease to be effective.  For you... this is that time," Gaea declared, smoke still emitting from his burning flesh.  "Though you should be proud for making it this far.  I am rarely forced to resort to unveiling my Final Smash."  The green flames that covered his skin began to expand, ultimately engulfing his entire body.  It was then that Luigi realized that these flames were not from his attack.  They were Gaea's aura.

"W- What are you doing?"

As the inferno died down, Luigi was horrified to see that all of Gaea's flesh had burned off, leaving nothing more than a skeleton.  And from within the two black eye sockets on his skull, Luigi spotted a menacing red glow.

"Are you impressed?" Gaea sneered, his bones rattling as he approached the revolted Luigi.  The walking skeleton was lit with an aura of green flames.  "You would be wise to flee.  Once I have entered this form, I cannot be harmed."

"We'll see about that..."  Gritting his teeth, Luigi channeled his aura into both of his arms and charged at the Grimnex.  His fists augmented by his Elemental Energy, the plumber dealt several blows to his opponent's chest.  Not once did Gaea attempt to defend himself.  Luigi gasped as the aura drained from his fists and entered Gaea's body, further empowering him.

"Not only is my solid bone structure invulnerable to physical attacks... but it can absorb the aura of my opponents and convert into Iniquity for my own personal usage," Gaea explained with a cruel smirk.  "Whether you use your Elemental Energy or just plain old punches and kicks... you cannot harm this body."

"What body...?" Luigi snapped defiantly as he fell to his knees from exhaustion.  "All I see... is a walking pile of bones..."

"You won't be so rebellious once I've used my Iniquity to snap your neck," Gaea replied, wrapping his cold, bony fingers around Luigi's throat.  Sighing regretfully, he lifted the plumber by his neck.  "It's a shame.  If the circumstances were different, I could picture us being... friends..."  Suddenly, his grip on Luigi's throat loosened, and the plumber fell lifelessly to the floor.

Strength (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f96f3aac-6827-4209-a54c-f5287551e1a0/Strength)

Lying face-down on the floor and gasping for air, Luigi turned his head to face the nearby doorway.  "Waluigi..."

Smoke emanating from his fingertips, Waluigi stood firmly at the other end of the corridor.  "I couldn't help but notice you were having some trouble."

"No thanks to your brother's brilliant plan to split up..." Luigi retorted wearily.  "Where is he, anyway?"

"He went back to lend Ace a hand," Waluigi replied.  "And it looks like I'm here to do the same for you.  What would you guys ever do without us?"

"Great.  Having to deal with one of you was bad enough," Gaea groaned, cracking his knuckles.  "But you'll probably regret shooting me in the back...  After all, projectile attacks fueled by Elemental Energy will only strengthen me."

"Is that so?" Waluigi inquired wryly as he delivered a roundhouse kick to the Grimnex's face.  However, the skull slowly rotated back into place, and its eye sockets began to gleam forebodingly.

"Heh, you're just as feeble as your friend," Gaea remarked, placing his palm on Waluigi's chest.  In the blink of an eye, the greedy plumber was sent flying across the corridor onto his back by a shockwave of the Grimnex's Iniquity.  "No matter which way you choose to attack me, you will not be able to inflict any damage."

Clutching his midsection and coughing up blood, Waluigi forced himself into a sitting position.  "...My kick didn't even faze him...  How the hell are we supposed to attack him...?"  He smiled wearily.  "Ah, it's not like I have a choice...  If I'm not there to fight Kronos alongside Wario, I'll never hear the end of it...  I can't die yet, not in a place like this..."

His body bruised and battered, Luigi also struggled onto his feet.  "Bro... I'm not giving up yet..."

"First Luigi, and now Waluigi..." Gaea whispered.

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

"Teach you...?  Eh, I doubt I'd be a very good instructor...  Besides, not just anyone can learn to wield this technique..."

"Please...  Unless I find some way to become useful during these next four days... my brother... and all of my comrades are going to have to pull my weight...  I don't want to be a burden to them...  I want to be on the front lines, fighting side-by-side with them in what may be the most crucial battle in history."

"You...  You have a brother?"

"An older brother...  He's always two steps ahead of me, taking on greater challenges and facing off against tougher opponents...  It's almost as if I'm constantly being left behind...  I just can't keep up..."


Gaea smiled sadly.  "Even though we're on opposing sides... I respect your determination to fight on your brothers' behalf.  Seeing how much you both look up to them... makes me regret how I treated my younger brother."

"A younger brother?" Luigi parroted in confusion.  "Can Grimnexes even have siblings...?"

Gaea nodded.  "My younger brother was the Eta Grimnex, and as such, I was two ranks above him.  Just as you two look up to your brothers, he held an undying admiration for me.  However, there was a key difference.  I can see that both of you have grown up under the guidance of fine elder siblings, but one could not say the same for my younger brother.  He yearned to gain my attention and approval, but I turned a blind eye to him.  This lack of acknowledgement did not spawn from jealousy or spite, but rather because I simply didn't care.  Why should I concern myself with my inferior younger brother's accomplishments?  That mindset led to many years of regret.  My brother's desire to earn my approval led him to recklessly throw away his life in battle.  And then, before Lucifer was created in one of Crocell and Leviathan's experiments, they asked for permission to use my brother's corpse. Back then, I couldn't think of a reason to turn them down.  If only I hadn't been so foolish...  And now, seeing you two boldly stand before me...  I can only think of my brother."

"You know, Gaea... you really are a lazy bastard..."  Luigi smiled sadly.  "But I think I finally understand what you meant before... when you said that if things were different, we could have been friends.  I wish there was some other way we could settle this, but... Waluigi and I each have elder siblings that are depending on us.  We won't let anyone hinder us, not even you. "

"It's not like you to talk so tough," Waluigi whispered.

"Waluigi... If this keeps up, we'll die.  That's why I need you to channel all of your Elemental Energy into a single blast... and fire it at me," Luigi told him sternly.

"And how is that supposed to help us against him?" Waluigi inquired, shocked at his rival's request.  "Do you have a death wish or something?"

"Trust me."

Waluigi sighed and began gathering energy for a colossal purple Fireball.

Gaea rolled his eyes.  "Haven't you been paying attention?  No matter how big the blast gets, it won't hurt me.  But I suppose you don't have many other options.  For the sake of my deceased brother, I'll end this quickly."

"This isn't for you, pal," Waluigi snickered, aiming the enormous Ultra Fireball at his own comrade.  "I hope you know what you're doing," he muttered before hurling the blast in Luigi's direction.

Burning Willpower (http://www.esnips.com/doc/b78aeb7a-7803-40d0-a058-d5e746820b11/Burning-Willpower)

His eyes gleaming with determination, Luigi's entire body was encased in a green aura of flames.  As his rival's Fireball collided with his aura, it began to expand and change to a greenish purple gradient.  "If Gaea can absorb other people's Elemental Energy, then so can I!"

"That was your big plan?!" Gaea thundered.  "Do you really believe that you can incorporate an entirely different source of Elemental Energy into your own body?  Such naivety...  Even for me, such a feat would be impossible were it not for this transformation!"

Now coughing up blood, Luigi screamed in agony as he fell to his knees and thrashed wildly about.  His entire body was now engulfed in purple flames.  Waluigi rushed to his comrade's side, but was sent staggering backward by a sudden shockwave.

"You've been crushed by your own stupidity," Gaea declared.  "I did not intend for it to end this way, but I'll admit that I'm somewhat relieved.  Killing you with my own hands would have been far more painful."

"I'm sorry to hear that..." Luigi muttered, slowly rising to his feet.  His eyes widened, and the purple aura surrounding him changed to a dark green shade.  "I'm not dead yet... so it looks like you'll have to get your hands bloody after all..."

"That aura... It's neither Elemental Energy nor Iniquity..." Gaea gasped, his eyes bulging.  "How is it possible for a mere human to imitate my Final Smash?  And how did absorbing his Elemental Energy create this new aura?"

"This... is the Emerald Flame," Luigi declared, slowly approaching Gaea.  "It's something that only the younger sibling of a Hero possesses...  I absorb all of the negative energy around me like a sponge.  This energy is stored deep within my body, never to be released unless I embrace the darkness...  However, there is one another way to unleash it...  I just needed a burst of Elemental Energy to trigger it."

"So he used my Fireball to break the dam that was restraining his Emerald Flame..." Waluigi whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"How reckless... that Fireball could have killed you!" Gaea howled.

"But I'm still here..." Luigi retorted, his Emerald Flame burning brighter than ever.  He sprinted toward the Grimnex and delivered a bone-breaking right hook to his jaw.  As Gaea stood up once again, he began to shriek as sharp pains began to erupt throughout his body.  "And just as I thought, your body doesn't know how to convert the Emerald Flame into Iniquity.  You've never encountered something like this before, have you?  You can absorb my Emerald Flame all you want, but it'll only cause you more harm."

"The Emerald Flame...?  Only possessed by the Hero's younger brother...?"  He dropped his fists and smiled ever so slightly.  I see...  This must be fate...  The spirit of my younger brother truly does live on within these two...  And now it is time for me to pay for neglecting him...

"Mario... Wario..." Luigi whispered, gathering all of the Emerald Flame into his right fist.  "I'm sorry Gaea... but our brothers are waiting for us!"  With a cry of determination, Luigi charged forward one last time and plowed directly through the Grimnex with a flaming right hook.

His entire skeleton now set ablaze, the disintegrating Grimnex collapsed lifelessly onto the floor.  "I see... so this is how it all ends...  For once, I'm glad that I'm a demon...  I won't have to endure an entire afterlife of regret...  Perhaps I can be reincarnated as a human... and someday have another chance at being an older brother...  I'd like that..."

His aura fading away, Luigi knelt beside his dying mentor.  "Gaea..."

"Don't waste your pity on me...  After all... you both have elder siblings waiting for you...  Luigi, even if trash like me doesn't deserve a last request, please... don't ever stop fighting alongside your older brother.  I never really got to know him, but... I can tell that he'll be proud of you..."  As he uttered these final few words, the remainder of his skull turned to ash and scattered into the wind.  The Epsilon Grimnex was no more.

Exhausted, Luigi collapsed onto the floor.  Standing above his unconscious rival, Waluigi grinned faintly.  "You know, Gaea...  You're not alone...  This coward and I have been enemies for years... but I never realized how much we had in common."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 27: Checkmate)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on July 21, 2011, 03:51:02 PM
Chapter 27: Checkmate

Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA69nqt_uJ8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)

"You're getting better," Kronos commented softly, pondering his next move as Peach slid her bishop diagonally across the board.  "Yet your strategy hasn't changed.  Even after all that I've said, you continue to insist on preserving as many pieces as possible.  At the end of a game, the number of remaining pieces you have is irrelevant.  All that matters is whether or not you've captured your opponent's king."  He smiled sadly. "...Your naĂŻve ideals remind me of my sister, Rh-"

"Rhea?" Peach interrupted, before placing her hands over her mouth.  "Sorry...  It's just that you've mentioned her name several times already.  If you don't mind my asking... what was this Rhea like?  She must have been very special to you."

Kronos nodded longingly.  "She was.  Even after I went to war with Zeus, she stood by my side and lent me all of her support.  Rhea was perhaps the most caring woman to ever live... that is, until Hero took her away from me.  They joined up with the Olympians and left me to die all alone.  And after the Terranean War, they had a child that would become the first of many heirs to the Hero Bloodline..."

"I see...  It must have been very hard for you to lose the support of Hero, Rhea, and even your own son..."

"The worst was when they teamed up against me during our final confrontation.  I was all alone..."

This continued for several minutes, with Venus looking on in disgust.  How can those two sit and play chess as if they were old friends?  And all the while, Kronos is actually opening up to her...  Throughout all of my interactions with the other Grimnexes, not once have I met a person who could talk with Lord Kronos on such a personal level.  I don't know what Kronos sees in this woman, but it is evident that her presence is weakening him.  If he develops a soft spot for the princess, the Olympians could use it to their advantage.  For the sake of the Phoenix, this woman must be eradicated.

Kronos... I always thought that he would be a ruthless, coldhearted tyrant, and to an extent, he is.  But deep down, at the core of his being, he's just a lonely man, Peach thought, sighing glumly.  That still doesn't excuse his crimes, though.  It's fortunate that I remind him of his sister...  I suspect that his memories of Rhea are preventing him from harming me.  For the time being, I am Kronos' only known weakness.  I have to find a way to use his vulnerability to escape.  I can't just sit around playing chess while my loved ones are dying.  At last, she moved her queen forward.

Kronos gasped.

The princess lifted her head and gazed triumphantly into the demon king's melancholy, hazel eyes.  "Checkmate."

There was a long silence.  Venus reached into a pouch strapped to her waist and pulled out a dagger, intending to end the princess' life.  Kronos stared at the chessboard in confusion, unsure if his outpouring of emotions had led to his defeat.  Peach, entirely unaware of Venus' murderous intentions, contemplated possible moves that her opponent could make.  But no matter what move Kronos made, his king would be left vulnerable.  He had lost.

And at that very moment, before Venus could strike, Peach noticed a bright yellow flash along the horizon.  In the blink of an eye, a bolt of lightning struck the floor only a few feet away from Kronos' throne.  The three of them whirled around and gasped.  Standing where the bolt had struck was an elderly man wearing a baggy golden robe.  His long, flowing silver hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his wrinkled face and rounded eyes were the clear result of many years of depression.  In his right hand, he held a staff with a blue gem at its tip.

Kronos immediately snapped back to reality.  "Zeus...  Is that really you?"

"So then, it's true after all.  You have been resurrected.  And you've even regained your youthful appearance," Zeus sighed regretfully.

"I can't say the same for you," Kronos retorted bitterly, rising to his feet.  "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?  I'm here to defend my throne.  You may have been revived, but I'm still the king of Terranea.  You haven't succeeded yet."

Kronos turned to Venus.  "Take Princess Peach downstairs.  Keep her safe at all costs.  I can tell that Gaea's presence has faded away, which makes you my last remaining Grimnex.  If Mario's friends arrive, strike them down without hesitation."

Venus bowed before her king, seized Peach by the wrist, and raced down the nearby staircase.

"Father...  You've been dead for thousands of years, and yet your hatred still burns just as strong...  Why can't you just accept that your beliefs are wrong?"

"My views are only 'wrong' by Olympian definition," Kronos retorted icily.  "If I had successfully crushed your rebellion during the Terranean War, it is likely that all Olympian values would be frowned upon.  The very meanings of right and wrong would have been switched."

"How can you view the world with such nihilistic eyes?" Zeus demanded, angrily slamming the tip of his staff against the floor.

Kronos sighed helplessly.  "Can such an old fool truly be my son?"

"I've changed... It's been several thousand years since we last saw each other.  Since then, I have taken your place as the king of Terranea.  If you disagree with the way that I run this kingdom... you have no other choice but to overthrow me and reclaim your throne," Zeus declared boldly.




"Come with me, Princess," Venus barked, tightening her grip on Peach's wrist as she dragged her down the winding stone stairway.  They emerged on a marble balcony in a colossal, two-story room that was about the length of a football field.  This balcony ran around the room's perimeter, with iron bars acting as its fence.  In stark contrast to the bright, outdoor throne room, this floor's stone architecture and lack of windows gave it a dull and gothic appearance.

This is it...  I finally have a chance to escape, Peach thought, hardly able to contain her excitement.  But as she felt Venus' icy fingers wrap around her arm like five vicious boa constrictors, her heart sank.  Except... this Grimnex is still guarding me.  There's no doubt that she would overpower me in an instant if I attempted to flee.  Still, my chances of escape are far greater than if Kronos was also watching over me.  As she mulled over possible methods of escape, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

This is the opportunity I have been waiting for...  But do I dare risk it? Venus pondered as she continued to drag the princess toward an undetermined destination.  This princess is Lord Kronos' only weakness...  She has to die.  The Gamma Grimnex came to an abrupt halt and released Peach's arm.

Is she letting me go...? Peach wondered, turning to face Venus in confusion.  However, the murderous gleam in the Grimnex's eyes told her otherwise.  She attempted to scream, but she had been paralyzed by fear.  The princess fell to her knees, narrowly dodging a slash of Venus' dagger.  She scrambled onto her feet and scurried in the opposite direction but tripped over her dress before getting very far.  Her eyes widening with terror, Peach gazed up in awe at the Grimnex that now towered menacingly above her.  "...Why...?"

"It seems that Lord Kronos has developed a soft spot for you.  As his loyal subordinate, it is my obligation to eliminate any potential threats- even if it means killing someone that he cares for."  She raised her dagger and prepared to strike, but a second blade appeared from out of seemingly nowhere to parry her stab.  Flustered by this last-second intervention, Venus turned to face her opponent.

"That's your reason for wanting to kill her?" Glaive inquired, sighing in disgust.  "I never thought you'd sink this low, Sara."

Glaive's Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kFYvSrxSGw)

"Glaive!" Peach cried excitedly.  "You... and the others... all came for me...?"

"Yeah, what did you expect?  Your husband's too stubborn for his own good.  He'll chase you down no matter how many castles he has to storm through."  With a swing of his blade, he forced Venus to take a defensive leap backward.  Glaive then stood in front of the princess and pointed his sword at the Grimnex.  "Sorry, but I'm not about to let anything happen to this woman."  He turned to face the princess.  "Go on, get out of here.  I passed the others on the way here, and as soon as they catch their breath, they'll probably head in this direction.  They've taken care of the other Grimnexes, so you'll be safe on your way out."

"Thank you, Glaive... Does this mean that you and Mario...?"

Glaive grinned.  "Yeah, we're a team again."

"What a relief," Peach sighed, scurrying away from the battle.

"Now that that's over with..."  Glaive glared at his childhood friend.  "Sara...  How could you let them do this to you?  You said that you were against war... and yet you were ready to kill this perfectly innocent woman, just because your leader showed an inkling of compassion toward her.  Isn't there even a tiny sliver of your old self left?"

"Do not try to talk to me on a personal level, former Beta Grimnex.  I will not be swayed by the words of a traitor," Venus replied icily.  "My past life is of no concern to you.  I have been reborn.  I have devoted this new life to the demons' cause, and to Lord Kronos."

It's no use...  The Beta Grimnex before me must've done something to her.  Botis, even in death you continue to haunt me, Glaive thought.  "Alright then, if you insist.  It's too bad that I'm not as soft as Mario.  I came here... with every intention of killing you."  Although these bold words had been intended as a threat, they sounded more like an attempt to assure himself of the gruesome deed that needed to be done.




Kronos Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/93588942-117c-44ab-ac5d-95ec2daf30b5/Kronos-Battle)

"To think that you have taken on such an elderly appearance, whereas I have regained my youth...  Referring to you as my son is almost comical," Kronos snickered, rolling up the sleeves of his jacket.

Without hesitation, Zeus pointed his staff at his father and fired a lightning bolt from its tip.  "It seems that our roles have been reversed."

Kronos leapt to the side, and the bolt struck the exact spot in which he had just stood.  Zeus followed up with several more lightning strikes, all of which the demon king dodged with expert speed and agility.  Now switching to the offensive, Kronos weaved past his son's oncoming attacks and lunged forward with a right hook, but Zeus parried the strike with a wave of his staff.  Skillfully twirling the rod between his thumb and forefinger, it morphed into the shape of a mighty sword.  He sunk the blade into the Phoenix's flesh with a single stabbing motion, but upon reexamination, he realized that his sword had plunged into some sort of portal that Kronos had created on his body.

"You've underestimated your old man," Kronos sneered as a second portal opened up nearby.  Zeus' blade extended from this portal and stabbed into the Terranean king's right arm.

"It seems that you've become even more proficient with that spatial distortion technique of yours," Zeus remarked, pulling his sword out of his flesh and back through the twin vortexes before retreating a few steps.

"How kind of you to notice.  And it seems to me that your lightning strikes are just as precise as ever.  Personally, I've always preferred the element of fire."  Kronos raised his arms to the sky, and dozens of flaming spheres began to rain down upon the roof of the citadel.

Now on the defensive, Zeus scrambled to and fro in a desperate attempt to dodge the oncoming meteors.  Those that he could not evade were blown to bits with a well-timed thunder bolt.  Unfortunately, the Terranean king's age quickly caught up with him, and his movements began to grow sluggish.  After being struck with the first meteor, it wasn't long before his ability to dodge was lost entirely.  The meteor shower soon came to a halt, but not without dealing severe damage to Zeus.

"These old bones... cannot move the way they used to..." Zeus groaned, using the tip of his staff to help him rise to his feet.  "I cannot keep up..."

"What did you expect?" Kronos spat, approaching his weakened son.  "You've spent all these years sitting atop your throne, watching over the actions of your 'subjects'.  I bet you haven't even fought a single battle since my defeat thousands of years ago.  Foolish child.  Have I taught you nothing?"  He knocked Zeus onto his back with a single kick.

"I... never looked up to you... in the first place..." Zeus retorted, coughing up blood.  "For as long as I remember... your heart has been filled... with nothing but darkness...  Under your rule...Terranea was lawless and chaotic...  The people were suffering... which is why I had to-"

"Overthrow me?" Kronos finished bitterly.  "The Terranea you speak of is how the world was meant to be.  Back then, this kingdom was in its natural, untainted state.  That was before you came along with your violent rebellion.  You started a war to overthrow me, all in the name of peace.  You limited the people's freedom by creating 'laws' and confined those who disagreed with you to the Nightmare Vault.  Are you the kind of father that Athena would have looked up to?  Wait a second... I forgot, you ordered her execution and used the demons as scapegoats as a military strategy to turn Ipos against us.  You've grown into nothing but a spoiled hypocrite..."

"I was doing... what was best... for the people..." Zeus insisted, raising his staff to the sky as a colossal storm cloud drifted overhead.  "I always have... I always will..."

Now engulfed in the looming cloud's shadow, Kronos gazed upward in shock.  "That cloud...  You've been channeling your lightning into that cloud since the very beginning!  But if you release such an enormous lightning bolt... this entire citadel- and everyone in it- will be torn apart!  No one will survive, not even you!"

Zeus smiled sadly.  "Maybe you have taught me something after all... Some sacrifices are necessary in war..."    A single teardrop trickled down the king's cheek, and then the entire Demon Citadel was engulfed in a ray of light.  "Even if the king sacrifices his life to take out the opposing king... at least the remaining pieces will be able to live on in peace..."

There was a long silence, and as the light faded away, the Demon Citadel remained entirely unscathed.  "You suicidal fool..." Kronos muttered, completely unharmed.  "You really intended to sacrifice yourself to be rid of me...  If I had allowed you to do so, the Mushroom Hero's comrades would have also been casualties."

"The friends of that traitor's descendant... are of no concern to me... but how... did you deflect my attack...?" Zeus inquired, having been the only person electrocuted by the lightning strike.

"I simply opened a wide vortex above the citadel to absorb your lightning, and then I created another, smaller one above your head.  All of the lightning was concentrated directly into your body.  You shouldn't be alive, but considering you're practically a god, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you survived.  However, after such a violent shock, it would be impossible for even you to stand.  Our struggle for power is over, Zeus.  The throne is mine."




Tainted Soul (http://www.esnips.com/doc/45206862-2ef6-41c4-b1ee-ef7515f18df0/Tainted-Soul)

On the floor below, a violent swordfight between two childhood friends was well underway.  Sparks flew in all directions as Glaive and Venus skillfully parried each other's sword strikes.  Neither had landed a single slash thus far.  "I never knew that you had such talent with a blade," Glaive commented.

"The same goes for you," Venus replied nonchalantly.

"Have you ever wished that all of this fighting would someday end?  I just wish we could all live without having to worry about war...  Don't you agree, Glaive?"

"Sometimes.  Other times, I wish I could be a part of it all.  I just wish there was something I could do...  I feel so useless...  We're always being attacked by the Phoenix's men... And I'm just not strong enough to protect you, Sara."

"So, you want to protect me?  I'm flattered, but there are plenty of other people out there that need protection.  Won't you help them too?"

"I will.  Someday, I'll end this war with my own two hands."


Glaive smiled sadly.  We were both so... innocent back then.  Neither of us had once even held a sword.  We were blissfully unaware of the horrors of war...  Yet here we are now, years later... I went to great lengths to fulfill my naĂŻve vow, even joining up with the Phoenix just to bring the war to a quick conclusion... He thrust his blade forward, but his opponent effortlessly parried it and countered with a swift but powerful slash, knocking Glaive several steps backward.  As he staggered back and tightened his grip on his katana, he could not chase his childhood memories of Sara from his mind.  The Grimnex dashed forward at him, but all he saw was his dear friend rushing to embrace him.

"One day, you'll find a way to lift the curse on our realm, and you'll end this war once and for all.  I just know you will, Glaive."

Now on the defensive, Glaive could scarcely block Venus' pinpoint sword strikes, let alone muster up enough willpower for a counterattack.  Damn it... What's wrong with me?  Every time I raise my sword to attack her, I remember how she was before all of this happened...

"What's the matter?  At this moment, the only thing that is emanating from your blade... is fear," Venus sighed.  "If you cannot separate yourself from the past, then you'll die by my hands, miserable and alone."  She gripped her dagger with two hands and lunged at Glaive with a downward slash.

Glaive instinctively raised his blade to parry the attack, but the Grimnex had put far more force behind her swing than he had anticipated.  Venus' dagger cut clean through Glaive's katana, shattering it to miniscule fragments and slicing a vertical gash along his torso.  Blood spilling from his wound, the demon fell face-first onto the stone floor.

"Pathetic," Venus spat.  "Is this really the same man who declared that he would kill me only minutes ago?  Past friendships mean nothing.  When two soldiers on opposing sides meet each other in war, they fight with the intent to kill.  If you cannot even bring yourself to kill your only childhood friend, then you're clearly just as naĂŻve as you were all of those years ago."  The Grimnex sheathed her sword and vanished into the darkness of the corridor.

She's right... but of all people... I cannot bring myself to kill this woman... Glaive thought, slowly bleeding to death.  Sara... you were the world to me... and after witnessing your death once already... how could I possibly watch you die a second time...?

"That's where you're wrong, Glaive.  I do understand.  Not only have I suffered the nightmare of struggling to maintain control of your own body...  But I also know what it's like to see a loved one die before your very eyes.  That vow you made... to your significant other...  You may think that nothing is more important to her than the fulfillment of this oath, but you're wrong.  By forcing yourself along this path of self-destruction, by throwing everything else away...  You've only caused more suffering for the woman who means more to you than anything else in the whole world!  You've done nothing but wallow in your own regret since Sara's death, all the while trying to escape from the pain by allowing the Phoenix to take control and use you as his puppet!"

"Mario..." Glaive whispered, recalling his friend's words when they fought atop Grimnex Palace.

"You already know about the tragedy behind Pauline, my late fiancĂ©e...  Not a day went by in which I did not mourn her death.  I blamed myself for her demise, and I knew that she would never be able to rest in peace unless I learned more about what happened that dreadful night.  After the Velno incident, I was finally able to put her death behind me.  Now it's time for you to do the same.  As things stand now, Sara will never rest in peace.  You said that Botis turned her into a Grimnex all of those years ago...  To this very day, she is still trapped within the cold, heartless body of a Grimnex, and it's your duty to end her suffering...  Do you honestly think that all of this has made her happy?  She's trapped, Glaive.  Sara would never want to live on if it meant that she had to remain brainwashed inside of a killing machine's body, nor would she want you to end the war in the Nightmare Vault if it meant bringing about the world's destruction."

Tears streamed down the demons cheeks.  Just then, he was awoken from his flashback by a shriek.  He lifted his head to see Princess Peach rushing toward him, only for her to fall to the floor moments later.  Standing emotionlessly behind her was Venus, and in her hand, she held a bloody dagger.  The princess did not stir.

"All who oppose the Phoenix will die."  Venus glared at her childhood friend.  "How useless...  Back then, you couldn't protect me, and now... you couldn't even protect your comrade's wife."

Chills ran down Glaive's spine as his words to Sara came rushing back to him.  "This war- I swear I'll protect you to the very end."  Blood still pouring from the gash on his chest, he slowly struggled to his feet and drew the blade that Swift had entrusted him with.

"You can still stand?  Your wounds appear fatal," Venus noted.

"...What wounds?" Glaive replied, his eyes gleaming with determination.  He raised his blade and took a step toward the Grimnex.  "This time... I won't go so easy on you."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 28: Eternal Parting)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on August 05, 2011, 10:06:25 PM
Chapter 28: Eternal Parting

Glaive vs. Venus (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f5f630c3-f372-4454-a393-a0e3d398a2a4/Glaive-vs.-Venus)

"Before you go, I want you to have this.  Take it as a gift from the man with whom you have entrusted your dear comrade's life."

"This blade... I won't let you shatter it like the last one," Glaive declared, his eyes glistening with resolve.  In one swift blur, he dashed forward at his opponent and attacked with a diagonal slash.  Scarcely able to parry it in time, Venus staggered backward in astonishment.  Her childhood friend charged forward again with another strike, and she regained her balance just in time to guard herself.  But there was no time for a counterattack.  Their roles had been reversed.

He's gotten faster... much faster, Venus noted, her calm, stoic demeanor gradually slipping away.  She lunged forward in retaliation, but her dagger only struck an afterimage.  By the time she had realized this, Glaive was already behind her with his blade in mid-swing.  The Grimnex whirled around, taking a step back as she did so, but was unable to fully evade her foe's slash.  Glaive's sword skimmed the tip of her waist, drawing blood for the first time since the battle had begun.  "You actually cut me...  It seems that you've taken my advice and put the past behind you- a wise decision."

Glaive shook his head.  "Not at all.  In fact, the past is all I can think about."  He smiled regretfully.  "You mean far too much to me...  I can't forget about the friendship we once shared.  But there's something an equally dear friend of mine once said to me.  Right now, the Sara that I once knew is suffering deep down inside.  I'm fighting for her freedom.  If I disregarded our past and treated you like the countless other foes I've slain, my victory would be meaningless.  So I will fight you... not for the purpose of killing you, but to free Sara."  He rushed at the Grimnex once again, assaulting her with a relentless combination of pinpoint sword strikes.

I don't know where this sudden burst of energy came from, but he's become an entirely new opponent.  Now that he's found an incentive to kill me... he won't fall as easily as before, Venus thought, sparks flying as she narrowly blocked another one of her opponent's slashes.  This isn't good...  I was hoping to return to Kronos' side before his battle with Zeus ended.  If he wanders down here and sees the princess in this condition...

With a thunderous cry, Glaive knocked Venus' blade from her hand, sending it clattering onto the stone floor.  He pointed his sword's tip at her throat.  "Sara... You may be the Gamma Grimnex, but that's only because I wanted to keep you close to me.  With you as my second in command, I was always able to watch over you.  If it weren't for that fact, you would be ranked-" He paused, noticing that Venus had begun to chuckle to herself.

"Is that what you thought?  How naĂŻve..." Venus sneered.  "I'm afraid that you're the only Grimnex who did not properly earn his title.  Did you really think Ipos would permit someone weaker than him to be ranked above him?  The only reason you got away with it was because you were the descendant of the Phoenix."

"What are you saying...?"

"As fate would have it, I am the original Gamma Grimnex's descendant.  When Botis resurrected me... he awakened the demonic powers that had been lying dormant within my body.  That was Botis' Final Smash, the ability that made him dangerous enough to earn the title of Beta Grimnex.  He had the power to elicit the soul of my Grimnex ancestor and grant me all of her power.  It took many years of practice to fully learn to control this new strength, but before long, Botis decided to promote me to the rank of Gamma Grimnex.  Only days before my promotion became official, you used your ancestor's powers to assassinate him and take his place as the Beta Grimnex.  You thought that it was your decision to raise my rank, while in reality the verdict had been made before you even claimed leadership."

"No...  It can't be..." Glaive gasped.

"I'm afraid so.  And I cannot afford to let this battle drag out any longer.  If Kronos were to find Princess Peach like this, he would be most displeased..." Venus informed him.  "Therefore, even though this situation would not ordinarily call for such drastic measures... I will use my Final Smash to utilize the original Gamma Grimnex's full power."  Her entire body was consumed by an aura of darkness, and she began to emit shadows that darkened the room around her. 

Glaive peered across the poorly lit balcony at Venus, only able to faintly make out her silhouette.  Still, this was enough to cause his face to contort in horror at the sight of his childhood friend's metamorphosis.  In mere seconds, the Grimnex had lost nearly all semblance of her former appearance.  Instead, Glaive now stead before a colossal black widow spider.  The only feature she had somewhat maintained was her face, which was now a ghostly white.  Her eyes gleamed red with bloodlust, and her teeth had grown into sharp, venomous fangs.

"Sara... How could you let them do this to you...?" Glaive inquired, the color draining from his face.

"I hope you aren't afraid of spiders," Venus sneered, menacingly crawling toward her prey.

"Not me.  But I do know a certain plumber that'd probably be pissing himself if he was in my shoes," Glaive retorted, taking a few steps back.  A giant spider with the strength of the original Gamma Grimnex...  Things suddenly got a lot more complicated.  Even so, she's still just a bug... right?  In one swift blur, one of Venus' eight legs extended outward and slashed across his cheek as if it were a blade.

"I know what you must be thinking.  'She's lost her weapon.  Now she's just an oversized spider.  Why can't I squash her just like any other bug?'  You would do well to remember that I am far from unarmed.  My eight legs are as sharp as knives," Venus informed him.

"My mistake," Glaive muttered, wiping the thin stream of blood from his cheek.  With his blade locked tightly in his grasp, the demon swordsman dashed forward and directed an upward slash at the Grimnex's head.  To his chagrin, Venus' four front-most legs parried his sword with ease.  He engaged in a brief swordfight with his opponent's four razor-sharp limbs, but soon found that her defenses were all but impenetrable.  With only a single blade, he could not hope to match the pinpoint strikes of four daggers, let alone eight.  Realizing this, Glaive distanced himself from Venus once again.  He looked down at his chest and noticed several tiny scratches from their short exchange only moments ago.  Not only does she have eight blades to fight with... she's no amateur when the time comes to use them.  And no matter what side I approach her from, she'll always have four legs to guard her.  Unless... 

His thoughts were interrupted as the monstrous spider that stood before him began to lay hundreds of eggs the size of basketballs.  These eggs hatched only moments later, and before long, Glaive found himself being pursued by a swarm of miniature spiders.  "Those aren't any ordinary spiders.  I wouldn't take them too lightly; a horde that large can devour a human-sized prey in less than a minute," she informed Glaive with a complacent leer.

After hearing this, Glaive lowered his blade and sprinted in the opposite direction.  He stopped for a moment to look back, and his eyes bulged in absolute terror.  Thousands of the tiny spiders were now scurrying in his direction, devouring everything in their path.  This included the iron railing as well as the multitude of stone pillars that lined the balcony.  This was all he needed to see before turning and continuing his flight.  However, to his dismay, a second swarm of spiders came crawling up from the underside of the balcony to block his path.  Now surrounded by a mass of man-eating spiders, the demon took a deep breath and remained levelheaded.

"I hate being forced to do this," he grumbled, sheathing his sword.  He closed his eyes, entering a deep meditative state.  Even as the bloodthirsty arachnids began to crawl up his legs, the demon remained cool as steel.  At last, a purple, phoenix-shaped flame engulfed his body, scorching any nearby spiders.  The blazing warrior let out a fierce battle cry, and the violet flames expanded across the balcony, incinerating any arachnids that they came in contact with.  He then raised his palm and launched a column of fire toward the remaining spiders.  One last bug crawled toward him, which he crushed beneath his feet before grimacing in disgust.  "Borrowing Kronos' power, the Phoenix Flames...  It's shameful."  He directed his opened palm toward Venus and sent a blast of inferno in her direction.  Without waiting for the flames to die down, he unsheathed his sword and leapt high into the air, intending to strike his foe from above.  "Although those legs defend your front, back, and sides, they're hardly useful when faced with an aerial attack!"

Fearsome Enemy (http://www.esnips.com/doc/782da4e2-67d1-4914-8605-8512a066b627/Fearsome-Enemy)

"I thought you might try something like that," Venus sneered as her opponent's flames dissolved before they could reach her.  A spider web stood firmly in front of her, which had acted as a shield from the inferno.  She then looked up and saw that Glaive had stopped in midair while directly above her.  "I'm the Gamma Grimnex.  I'm well aware of my most glaring weak point.  That's why I always take steps to guard it before a battle.  I'm willing to bet that you didn't notice the web that I wove above me while you were busy fleeing from my children."

Half of his body trapped in Venus' web, Glaive struggled to break free.  "Damn...  I can't-"

"Your efforts are in vain," Venus informed him.  "Your resistance will only further entangle you.  And don't bother trying to use your ancestor's flames.  Not only are my webs are fire-resistant, but they will also prevent anything that they've ensnared from producing fire."

"No big deal," Glaive sighed.  "I've still got a free arm and leg."  Holding his sword with his free hand, he sliced away the web that was holding him hostage and plummeted downward toward Venus.  Though he hoped to continue his aerial assault from earlier, the nimble spider was able to scurry out of the way in the nick of time.  Much to his disappointment, Glaive's blade sank into solid stone as opposed to his opponent's flesh.  As he attempted to yank his dagger from the ground, he gasped, realizing that he had landed on yet another spider web.  His feet were now glued to the floor.

"You've fallen into yet another one of my traps.  I must say, I'm rather disappointed," Venus snickered, firing silk from her spinneret at her enemy's weapon.  The silk wrapped around Glaive's sword, rendering it useless.  "And this time, you've lost your only method of escape."  She began to creep toward her prey.

Glaive tossed his weapon to the floor and cracked his knuckles.  Despite his obvious disadvantage, he refused to show even a trace of fear.  "Who said anything about escaping?  I was getting tired of running back and forth anyway."

"You put up a brave front, but you cannot fool me," Venus replied with a wicked smirk.  As she drew closer, Glaive attempted to fend her off with his bare fists- rather unsuccessfully at that.  The Gamma Grimnex seized his arms with her two front-most legs and, in the blink of an eye, wrapped them together with her unbreakable silk.  Her foe now defenseless, she proceeded to do the same to Glaive's entire body until he was covered from the shoulders down.  Still, even as Venus sunk her fangs into his left shoulder, the demon swordsman continued to struggle to the very end.  His resistance dwindled only after the venom began to take effect.

"How should I end this?  Shall I devour you whole?" Venus inquired with a sadistic grin, knowing all too well that her paralyzed opponent was incapable of answering.

How pathetic...  To be eaten by the very woman I came here to save... Glaive thought, his vision beginning to blur.

Strength (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f96f3aac-6827-4209-a54c-f5287551e1a0/Strength)

As the Grimnex prepared to feast on her prey, a tall, lanky plumber emerged from the shadows and delivered a dropkick to her face.  She stumbled backward in a daze, completely taken aback by the surprise assault.  Waluigi stepped forward and clenched his fists.  "Back off."  He turned around and glared at a nearby pillar.  "What are you waiting for?  Get Glaive outta here!"

"I- I'm- n-not g-g-going anyw-where n-near t-t-that thing!" Luigi shrieked, his head emerging from behind a stone column.

"Idiot!  This isn't the time!  Just grab Glaive and run!  Close your eyes if you have to!" Waluigi snapped.  "See if you can untangle him!"

Luigi gulped.  Okay Luigi... You can do this...  After all, you did beat a Grimnex...   With his eyes shut tightly, the plumber bolted toward Glaive, wrapped his arms around him, and unsuccessfully attempted to lift him.  He struggled to pull his comrade from the floor, but Venus' web was far too strong.  "M-my h-hands are stuck!"  Screaming hysterically, the plumber frantically tried to detach his hands from the silk that had entangled Glaive.  He took a few deep breaths and decided to release his Emerald Flame.  Although his power was dwindling due to his earlier confrontation with Gaea, Luigi was still able to generate enough fire to incinerate all of Venus' silk.

Taking this scene in, Waluigi was caught completely off guard by Venus, who had at last recovered from his surprise attack.  With a single slash of one of her razor-sharp legs, the Grimnex sent the weary plumber tumbling onto the floor.  She then gasped at the sight of Luigi's Emerald Flame burning away her web.  "How is that possible...?  My silk is resistant to fire!"

"T-this i-isn't j-just any k-kind of f-fire," Luigi replied frightfully.  "There isn't a-anything that m-my Emerald F-Flames can't b-burn..."

"No matter.  You are the ones who dealt with Gaea, correct?  If that's the case, you cannot be too far away from death," Venus concluded, laying several dozen more eggs.  "My children will devour you in seconds."

"Luigi... how much Elemental Energy do you have left?" Waluigi inquired, gazing fearfully at the army of miniature spiders that was now crawling toward them.

"Just about enough to exterminate that horde of spiders... but after that, I doubt I'll have anything left to use against their ringleader..." Luigi sighed, breathing heavily.

"Save it for later," Glaive grumbled, slowly rising to his feet.  "You'll need it if you're going to be facing off against Kronos..."  Once again, his body was surrounded in a mammoth aura of purple flames.  With a single sweeping gesture, he unleashed a blaze that exterminated all of the oncoming arachnids.

"What do you mean?" Luigi inquired, puzzled.  "Kronos can wait.  Right now, we need to focus on the task at hand."

Glaive shook his head.  "No.  I'll handle this battle alone.  Both of you need to head upstairs to the throne room.  Please... you have to hold off Kronos for as long possible.  If you cannot last until Mario arrives, then at least try to stay alive until I finish things here...  Ever since I watched Sara die at the hands of the Phoenix's soldiers... ever since I saw her reborn as his slave... deep down, I've been waiting for this fight....  At all costs, please... do not allow anyone to interfere with this battle."

After a long pause, Luigi nodded.  "I understand.  Your pride's at stake."

"One more thing before you go...  Would you be able to burn the cobwebs off of my blade?" Glaive requested, pointing to his sword on the ground nearby.

With a single, dark green Fireball, Luigi incinerated the silk that had previously rendered Glaive's dagger powerless.  The demon swordsman reclaimed his weapon and turned to face Venus.  "Thank you.  Good luck to the both of you."

"Let's go," Waluigi urged him, and the two former rivals vanished into the darkness of the stairwell leading upward.

"Sorry for the interruption," Glaive apologized with a wry grin.  "I was hoping to keep this battle between us...  You understand."

Venus frowned.  "How are you even able to move?  My venom should have paralyzed you."

"If I were just some ordinary demon, that'd most likely be the case.  But I suppose being a descendant of the demon king has its benefits," Glaive responded.  "Though I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm completely unaffected.  I'm still feeling dizzy as hell."

"Yes...  You've pushed your body to its limits.  Your wounds are beginning to accumulate, and my venom has had somewhat of an effect," Venus agreed.  "I'll end this quickly and put you out of your misery."

Empowered by his determination, Glaive engaged his foe in yet another short-lived swordfight.  This encounter yielded similar results to their previous one, as he was unable to land a single hit.  "Heh, just as I expected."

"We've been through this.  A single sword cannot pierce my eight-pronged defense," Venus boasted.

Glaive's Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kFYvSrxSGw)

"Hmph.  You may have inherited the immense powers of the Gamma Grimnex, but you lack one crucial element: experience.  All too often, people like you and I make the mistake of relying too heavily on their ancestors' strength.  Unless we become tough enough to fight independently, we will become nothing but slaves to the will of our ancestors."  He scooped up the hilt of his previous blade, the one that Venus had shattered during their initial encounter.  "Even so...  If you're going to rely solely on the former Gamma Grimnex's abilities... you should at least take the time to understand all of her weaknesses."  Channeling the Phoenix Flames through the hilt of his broken sword, he forged a blade made purely out of fire.  "I now know your greatest weakness... one even more glaring than your vulnerability to aerial attacks."

"Really?  Would you care to show me?" Venus inquired with a smug grin.

"Gladly," her foe replied, dashing forward with both of his swords raised.  This time, instead of aiming at Venus' head, he focused all of his attacks on her right frontal leg.  With proper timing and two swift upward slashes, he sliced the leg clean off of the Grimnex's body, causing her to nearly topple over in agony.  "If I wanted to... I could do the same for each of your legs."

"Just try it... you traitorous scum!" Venus spat, blood pouring from her wound.

"That won't be necessary," Glaive declared, taking a few steps back.  "This time, I have every intention of striking your body."  He sheathed each of his blades and slowly walked toward the Grimnex.  As she angrily lunged at him with her three front-most legs, he dashed forward with two lethal, sword-drawing slashes.  In the blink of an eye, their exchange was over.  They now stood with their backs facing each other.  Only moments later, an enormous gash opened on the Grimnex's back.  The victor had been decided.

"In a battle between two swordsmen, the number of blades they wield is not nearly as important as their level of skill.  But since we're practically at the same level, as much as I hate to admit it, the number of weapons we have has become a pivotal factor.  Knowing that, I was able to decipher your most fatal weak point: your legs.  Not only do they defend your body, but they also balance all of your weight.  By amputating one of your legs, I offset your center of balance and created an opening all in one shot.  That left you with seven more, but even so... if I attack you from the front, I am well out of the reach of your four rearmost legs.  Taking all of this into consideration, it was a simple matter of three wavering swords versus two resolute ones... The result should be obvious."

Broken Vows (http://www.esnips.com/doc/18503070-421c-4750-bd6e-649230caec4f/Broken-Vows)

"I see...  Perhaps I did not earn my title as the Gamma Grimnex after all..." Venus admitted, coughing up a mouthful of blood as she reverted to her original form.  "But before you finish me off, tell me... why have you betrayed the Phoenix...?"

Sighing wearily, the demon swordsman sheathed his blades.  "Part of it was because of Mario, one of my closest friends...  And part of it was because I wanted to help free you from your miserable life as a Grimnex...  I realized that as long as I served under the Phoenix, I was only betraying myself and my closest friends...  I was leading a life that I had no desire to live...  Thanks to Mario, I was able to resist my ancestor's influence and find the will to fight against the path of despair that I seemed destined to follow."

"A life... you had no desire... to live...?"  For what seemed like an eternity, Venus laid face-down in a pool of her own blood, trembling at the words that her childhood friend had just uttered.  At last, she lifted her head.  Her eyes had changed slightly, and her tone of voice seemed softer.  "Moron... you went through all of that misery because of me... didn't you...?"

"Sara...?" Glaive whispered, his eyes bulging in disbelief.  He rushed to his friend's side at once and knelt beside her.  "Sara...  I... I wanted to fulfill my promise to you... to bring this war to an end..."

"I know... but I never would have wanted you to sacrifice your own happiness..." Sara replied, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.  "Glaive...  I'm so sorry...  How can I ever thank you...?  All of these years... you've dedicated your life to my happiness..."

"I have no right to accept an apology...  I was the one who couldn't protect you all of those years ago...  And just being able to talk with you for these final few moments... this miracle is more than enough thanks."

"Go... Glaive..." she whispered, her life slowly fading away.  "You're not finished yet... this war still hasn't ended...  Go and bring this conflict to a close... the right way, this time..."

Glaive nodded.  "I will."

"And above all else... do not let Kronos see the condition that Princess Peach is in...  She isn't dead... but if he sees her like this... there's no telling how he'll react..."  Sara's eyelids gradually began to shut.  "She'll survive... she's a strong woman... and the wife of your dear friend, Mario...  Go... and do not regret my passing... You have precious, new friends that you must protect... and you still have a chance... to fulfill your promise to me..."  Her head fell lifelessly to the floor.  Though she had led a miserable life, Sara had managed to die with a smile on her face.

Struggling to hold back his tears, Glaive swallowed his pain and stood up once more.  The Grimnexes had fallen, and the final confrontation with Kronos was now at hand.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 29: The Answer)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on August 23, 2011, 08:19:44 PM
Chapter 29: The Answer

Kronos' Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

Panting heavily as they came barreling up the stairway that led to the demon king's throne, Luigi and Waluigi emerged atop the roof of the Demon Citadel.  Sitting nonchalantly upon his throne, with his right cheek resting lazily in his palm, was none other than Kronos.  He shook his head in disgust at the elderly man who lay dying at his feet.  Taking notice to their presence, the Phoenix silently locked eyes first with Luigi, then his purple counterpart.  "It would seem that all of my pawns have been defeated."

"Are you... Kronos...?" Luigi whispered, trembling in fear.

"You've forgotten me already?  That is understandable.  After all, I have regained my original body, as well as my youthful appearance," Kronos explained.  Though he spoke softly, his voice held an inexplicable malice.  "You'll have to excuse my rudeness, but why are you here?  If you've come to recapture your princess, she should be on the floor below us."

"Glaive wanted to face Venus alone," Waluigi replied.  "We went on ahead to deal with you."

"Interesting.  I still cannot think of a reason that you two would come here to face me all by yourselves.  Would it not have been easier to grab the princess and make your escape while Glaive handled Venus?" Kronos inquired, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.  "I will admit that Glaive knows me all too well.  He likely understood that I would simply catch up to you in an instant if you attempted to escape.  However, the fact that you did not even attempt to flee and instead chose to face me head-on tells me that you do not want me to go near the princess.  What is it that you are hiding from me?"

"Nothing," Waluigi insisted, beads of sweat dripping down the back of his neck.  "Why run... from someone that you have no reason to be afraid of...?"

A wicked smirk spread across Kronos' face.  "How amusing.  After exhausting yourselves against my Grimnexes, you've come here with the sole intention of killing me."  He gestured toward the severely injured man at his feet.  "Are you aware of this man's identity?  This is Zeus, the former king of Terranea.  I bested him with ease."

"H-h-he b-b-beat Z-Z-Zeus?" Luigi stammered, his face turning pale.  "W-w-what does G-G-Glaive expect us to b-b-be able to d-d-do?"

"Even the slightest notion that my elite force of Grimnexes could be defeated by such pitiful men... is laughable, at best," Kronos stated, taking his first steps toward the frightened pair.

"S-s-stay back," Luigi admonished through chattering teeth as he aimed his opened palms at the demon king.  "I'll s-s-shoot."

"Go ahead," the Phoenix replied smugly, ignoring the plumber's warning.

As Luigi's hands began to glow with the power of the Emerald Flame, Waluigi extended his left arm so that it blocked his comrade's shot.  "Hold on, Luigi.  We can't let him intimidate us.  Right now, we're up against the Phoenix, the king of all demons.  In a fight like this, we can't afford to waste a single drop of Elemental Energy.  Think back to your brother's recent battle with Kronos.  If you were to fire your Emerald Flame at him, he would open up one of those portals and send it hurling in another direction."

"I see," Luigi sighed, lowering his hands.  "But what other options do we have?"

"Weren't you paying attention at all?  Mario was able to find a critical weakness: he can only summon one pair of portals at a time."

"I love secrets.  Would you care to inform me as to what you are whispering about?" Kronos inquired, his tone thick with sarcasm.

Kronos Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/93588942-117c-44ab-ac5d-95ec2daf30b5/Kronos-Battle)

"You heard him," Waluigi chuckled.  "Let's show him."  The two former rivals rushed forward at the Phoenix, with Luigi quickly taking the lead.  He leapt high above Kronos' head and spiked a dark green Fireball downward at his foe, but the blast was devoured by one of the demon king's vortexes.  A second vortex then opened up in front of Waluigi and spat out Luigi's Fireball.  Luckily, the lanky plumber was able to sidestep the blast and race forward to continue his assault.  He attempted to strike Kronos with a powerful roundhouse kick, but the Phoenix caught his foot in his palm.

"Mario made the same mistake.  I am still capable of fighting even without my ability to warp time and space," Kronos informed him grimly.

"Don't look at me.  I'm just a decoy," Waluigi snickered.

Meanwhile, Luigi had channeled most of his Emerald Flame into a colossal Fireball and was now charging at Kronos from behind.  He was convinced that their ploy had worked until a portal opened up beneath him and swallowed him whole.  Another vortex appeared nearby- only this one was several feet above the ground!

"Too late," the demon king whispered.  "Attacking me during the brief period in which I cannot create any portals is a decent strategy, but you'll have to be much quicker in order for it to be effective."  He swept his fingertips across Waluigi's chest, and as if the plumber had been slashed by a dagger, a horizontal gash appeared on his torso.  Kronos then turned his attention to the rapidly descending Luigi.  He extended his palm toward the plumber, and in the blink of an eye, he sent a violent shockwave through the air at his target.  The blast struck Luigi dead-on, and with a shriek of agony, he fell lifelessly onto the stone floor.  Just like that, the two plumbers had been brought to their knees.

"What... just happened...?" Waluigi muttered, clutching the wound on his chest.  "One minute we were attacking... the next, we're both on the ground..."

"Your childish tricks will not work on me."  Kronos began to approach the fallen Luigi.  "The younger sibling of the Mushroom Hero...  Yes, I will start with him."  He knelt down and reached out toward the plumber, but he quickly withdrew his hand as a fierce breeze rolled by.  Less than a second later, a blade had stabbed through the floor between Kronos and Luigi.  Had the demon king not pulled his hand back, it would have been impaled.  "Ah, you've arrived..."

"So this is your true face," Glaive observed, removing his sword from the floor with a single tug.  "I've always wondered what you would look like.  For all of those years, I could only hear your voice in the back of my head."

"My former Beta Grimnex...  Why have you betrayed your brethren?" Kronos inquired, shifting his attention from Luigi to Glaive.  "Why not fulfill your true purpose and eliminate these rebellious intruders?"

"I'm through with being your slave," Glaive refused bitterly.

"Such a hateful presence...  Tell me, why do you blame me for Sara's death?"

Glaive's eyes widened.  "How did you-"

"My blood courses through your veins.  It is through your existence that I was even able to be reborn.  Under the proper conditions, I can read your thoughts with ease.  The same goes for Mario," Kronos explained.  "You wish to avenge Sara's death by killing me.  You're no different than I am: a revenge-driven demon."

In the blink of an eye, Glaive lunged forward and sliced his dagger at the demon's throat, but Kronos caught the blade between his right thumb and forefinger.  He then pressed his left palm to Glaive's chest before unleashing a blast of wind that sent him soaring in the opposite direction.  The nimble demon regained his momentum by performing several midair back-flips, landing on his feet and dashing forward to continue his assault.  Glaive slashed at him yet again, but this time, Kronos parried the sword with nothing but his index finger.  Enraged, Glaive continued to assault his ancestor with dozens of pinpoint sword strikes.  The result was always the same.  His blade, which had been crafted by Swift of the Royal Guardians, was being matched by a single finger.

"Forgive me if I am embarrassing you," Kronos teased.  "Unfortunately for you, my entire body can be used as a weapon."

Thrusting his arms forward at his ancestor, Glaive released a blaze of blue flames at pointblank range.  Kronos was engulfed by the inferno, but before his descendant could celebrate, the demon king's silhouette appeared within the flames.  As the fire died down, Glaive was horrified to see that there was not a single burn on his ancestor's entire body.

"Using your Phoenix Flames against me was a foolish choice," Kronos scolded him.  "They are my flames, after all.  You're going to have to rely on your own power if you want a chance at defeating me.  But it's too late for that.  You're exhausted, Glaive.  How much longer do you really think you can keep going?"

Glaive retreated backward a few steps, breathing heavily and clutching the gash on his chest that he received during his conflict with Venus.  All of these wounds are starting to catch up with me...  Even so, I cannot allow Kronos to lay a hand on Mario's friends...  I owe him at least that much after all the trouble that I've caused him...  He turned to Luigi, who had begun to come to his senses.  "Luigi... listen carefully.  Above all else, we cannot let Kronos find the princess in her current condition.  She should still be unconscious on the floor below us.  Take her and get out of here as quickly as possible.  Her wounds need to be treated..."

"But Glaive..."

"Quiet.  Our mission is to rescue the princess, not to defeat Kronos.  If we can just keep her safe and put our faith in Mario's return... we still might have a chance."

After a long pause, Luigi nodded and began to jog toward the stairway that led below.

"What was all of that whispering about?" Kronos wondered aloud.  "Whatever it was, if you think that you can just leave, you are sadly mistaken." 

Glaive stepped between his ancestor and the fleeing Luigi.  "Don't worry about him.  I'm sure that Waluigi and I will provide you with more than enough entertainment."

"Like I said before, I can read your innermost feelings with ease.  I can feel your heart rate increase at the mere mentioning of the princess' name.  What is it that you are trying to hide from me?  Whatever it is, it seems that you are willing to sacrifice your own life to prevent me from learning your secret."

"Sounds about right," Glaive replied defiantly.

"I see...  But this mystery intrigues me.  If put through enough torture, perhaps I could force you to talk."




Soul Searching (http://www.esnips.com/doc/bd7acdbb-5798-4d8f-8883-7aa13096ae2c/Soul-Searching)

Meanwhile, at the base of Mt. Olympus, Mario continued to search for the answer to his internal strife- the answer that would enable him to wield the Nova Strike's full potential.  With Swift supervising him and counting the minutes down, the Mushroom Hero sat cross-legged in a field of grass that danced with the breeze.

"How long has it been...?  There's hardly any time left...  Swift said that if I couldn't find the answer in less than an hour, he'd have no choice but to end my life.  My time's almost up, and I still haven't gotten any closer..."  Having been in a deep meditative state for the past forty five minutes, memories continually flooded his mind.

"Mario, I know what you've been thinking.  You are starting to wonder if the conflict between the Olympians and the demons is truly black and white.  Let me answer your questions by saying that the world has done some terrible things in order to maintain peace.  All is not as it seems, and you will one day face against many of your own kind..." -Hero, the Alpha Grimnex

"You were wise to have killed me, but it's too late for you now.  You and your people are the ones that truly plague this universe!  You were too busy fighting amongst each other to be prepared to face me.  If it wasn't for you, your people would have met a cruel fate.  However, someday, I know that someone who shares my beliefs will bring your world to an end!" -Lord Shade

"You're always so merciful.  You never want to kill anyone if you don't have to.  But on that rare occasion that you do resort to murder, it darkens your soul and sends you into a state of confusion.  The evil within you begins to grow, and you start to question who you are.  Remember your fight with Lord Shade?  You tried so hard to spare him, but he refused to change his ways and left you with no choice but to kill him.  Think back to a more recent battle.  Your fight with Hunter ultimately led to his suicide.  What about all the demons you've slaughtered?  Did you even once consider their feelings?  They used to be just like you, until they were sealed away in the Nightmare Vault.  You can slay a demon without a second thought, but the moment you learned that Slade was a human you refused to kill him.  And why should that matter?  It's been that way for thousands of years.  The Olympians sealed the demons away forever in the Nightmare Vault, leaving them to die in a brutal civil war." -Velno

"Don't you see?  You may think that you're different, that refusing to kill humans sets you apart from everyone else, but you're just like all the others.  If you can demonize someone, it instantly becomes okay to kill him.  Your definition of a 'demon' is simply a bit more literal than that of most other humans."-Velno

"Even among a race that is renowned for its cruelty, we are two of the most despicable demons that have ever lived.  However, deep down, every living creature is just as wicked as we are.  The only difference between demons and humans is the fact that we do not try to hide our true evil nature, while humans do.  The life of an Olympian is filled with nothing but lies.  That's why my wife and I abandoned our lives as deplorable humans." -Crocell

"Mario has entirely outlived his usefulness, both to me, and to Zeus.  Now that I have been resurrected, I could care less whether he lives or dies.  And Zeus views him as nothing more than a traitor, whose punishment is to protect the Mushroom Kingdom until the day he dies.  Quite soon, the Mushroom Kingdom will be nothing more than a miniscule village within my grand empire.  If you really think about it, there's nothing left for him to live for." –Kronos

"Stand up, Mario.  Your time has expired," Swift declared.  "One hour has passed.  You may not have noticed while in your meditative state, but during this time, your Demon Exoskeleton has begun to regenerate.  If I were to give you any more time, you would be completely overtaken by your demon instincts and become nothing more than a mindless killing machine.  So... have you found your answer?"

There was a long pause.  Swallowing hard to hold back his internal suffering, Mario lifted his head and looked his mentor in the eyes.  "No.  Even now... I still can't find my answer."

"I see," Swift sighed, drawing his blade.  "It's a shame.  And I thought that you would be the one to finally accomplish Hero's impossible dream.  Instead, you will die at the hands of the very technique that you could not perfect.  My Nova Strike is the most powerful in existence.  I have had centuries to perfect it.  Unless you can wield the Nova Strike's true form, you will not be able to parry this attack.  Try as you may, without your answer, you will not succeed."  He began to approach the plumber.

He's coming... Mario thought, his eyes widening in fear.  This is really it...  Maybe I haven't found my answer, but still...  I have no choice but to bet my life on one final Nova Strike.  I can't be afraid to die...  If I can't complete my training, I'll die against Kronos anyway.  Whether I live or die... it doesn't matter...  He created a Fireball in his palm and dashed forward to meet Swift's attack.  As he blindly sprinted ahead, a familiar scene flashed in his mind.  With the full moon at its back, the fiery silhouette of a phoenix spoke softly to him:

"Mario, do you want to live?"

"It makes no difference to me.  I'll do whatever it takes to protect my friends and family.  If that means that I have to die, then so be it.  If I could just eliminate the threat of the Grimnexes... my duty would be fulfilled, and I would accept death if need be."

"You wish to protect those who are dear to you...  But who will protect you?"

"I don't-"

"I will.  It may be your duty to protect the Mushroom Kingdom, but it is my job to protect you.  Stand up once more, Mario.  You are not yet ready to search for death."

"But... who are you?!"


This was where the vision had initially ended.  Only now, as the Mushroom Hero raced toward his own demise, the hallucination continued.  Mario's eyes widened as he finally received the answer to his question.

"I am you.  I am your other half, the side that you refuse to embrace.  I am the culmination of your demon instincts.  I am the part of the Phoenix that lives on within you."

"Tell me, Mario!  What is your answer?" Swift demanded, bringing his flaming dagger forward as he executed his Nova Strike.

The Answer (http://www.esnips.com/doc/328976be-3a65-4a0d-9fc2-ac3a464feba2/The-Answer)

"I... want to... live!" Mario cried, his speed suddenly tripling as his body was surrounded in a yellow aura of electricity.  His entire right arm was encased in flames, and Swift's blade was frozen in a thin sheet of ice the minute it made contact with Mario's skin.  In the blink of an eye, the Mushroom Hero brought his fist forward, sinking it into Swift's chest.  The Royal Guardian staggered backward from the impact, but he quickly regained his balance.  However, the wind that had been displaced by Mario's blazing fast punch gathered into the shape of a flaming dragon and launched itself at the swordsman.  The plumber took a knee, shielding his ears from the wind's intense howling.  The sound produced by the struggle between the two warriors' Nova Strikes was similar to the fierce roaring of a dragon.

In the end, Mario's Nova Strike was triumphant.  After slashing through Swift's Final Smash, the dragon bared its fangs at the Royal Guardian.  Utterly defeated and left entirely vulnerable, Swift was struck full force by the Nova Strike's true form.  Blood splattered onto the grassy field, and the Royal Guardian fell to his knees.

Breathing heavily, Mario rushed to his mentor's aid.  "Swift!  I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Swift grinned dryly.  "Heh... what the hell are you apologizing for...?  You just mastered the Nova Strike, a feat that not even Hero could accomplish...  My Nova Strike cancelled out a lot of the attack's power, so I won't die.  I'll be back on my feet in no time...  But Mario... I can't believe you did it... How do you feel?"

Mario stood up and gazed upward at the clouds above.  "I... I've never felt like this before..."  He closed his eyes and grinned as a gentle breeze rushed past him.  After years of suffering, the burden of his demon ancestor had finally been lifted.  "This freedom... This burden that's been lifted...  It's incredible...  I feel so light..."  He took a deep breath and realized that he was no longer fatigued from his short bout with Swift.  "I feel completely at ease.  It's.... it's as if I'm whole again."

"Now I understand.  This entire time, I've been such a fool..." Swift chuckled to himself.  "I've always believed optimistic youths such as you and Hero were blind to the way that the world really was...  Now I see that it's the opposite.  Thank you for helping me understand, Mario.  Your answer has shown me the error of my ways.  This entire time, you never once feared death.  You believed that it was your job to defend your kingdom or die trying.  However, as you've now learned, fearing death is not always a hindrance.  Deep within you, your demon half follows his two primary instincts: to survive, and to kill.  Your answer was to find a narrow path between you and your inner demon, a small walkway that allows you to take the best of both sides- the instinct to live at all costs, and the courage and morals of a hero.  This, Mario, is the Alpha Grimnex's true Final Smash: the ability to walk on a path between Olympian and demon.  It all makes sense to me now.  Hero always dreamed of unity between the two groups... and when the Nova Strike is performed in this perfectly balanced state of being, the Supernova Blitz is the result."

Mario closed his eyes, listening to the words of his demon side.  "I had always wanted to protect you.  Only just a few moments ago did you finally attempt to understand my desires.  Your answer was right in front of you the entire time, once you were willing to listen."

The Mushroom Hero grinned.  "Thank you for everything, Swift.  I'm ready now.  Can you take me to Kronos?"

"It'll be faster if you use this," Swift replied, removing a red box with a white exclamation point from his pocket.  "I assume you know how to use this?"

Mario smashed the block, revealing a winged cap that was otherwise identical to his own.  "Man, I haven't seen one of these in forever!  Seeing this sure takes me back to the good old days.  Thanks again."

"As soon as I feel well enough to stand, I'll join your friends in defending the Nexus.  You should hurry.  Your comrades are likely still battling atop the Demon Citadel.  Good luck."

Mario gave him a thumbs up before placing the Wing Cap on his head.  His eyes locked on the gloomy fortress that loomed forebodingly in the distance, the Mushroom Hero dashed forward and performed three consecutive jumps.  After the third leap, he executed a flawless front flip and soared into the sky.  Flying carelessly among the clouds, Terranea's last hope braced himself for the final battle.




On the second highest floor of the Demon Citadel, Luigi jogged through the darkness in search of Princess Peach.  Weaving past leftover cobwebs from Glaive's confrontation with Venus, the plumber spotted her lying on the cold stone floor in a puddle of blood.  He knelt down beside her and gently placed his hand on her forehead.  "She's in bad shape... but she's definitely still alive," he whispered.  "You've been through a lot, Peach.  But now, you're finally safe.  I'll get you out of here."  He cautiously lifted the princess and slung her over his shoulder.

This whole ordeal has been nothing but a nightmare.  Still, as hard as we all fought to get this far, I never realized how difficult it must have been for her.  She was forced to abandon her husband on her wedding day and watch him nearly die in an attempt to rescue her.  She was imprisoned within the dark, melancholy homeland of the demons and forced to give up on any hopes of escape.  She was practically brainwashed, and after a brief moment of victory, she was used as a vessel to resurrect Kronos.  And now, as if all that weren't enough, she's nearly bled to death.  All this time that we've been struggling to rescue her... she's been struggling just to stay alive.  Please...  Hold on just a little longer, Peach...
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 02, 2011, 02:28:54 PM
Chapter 30: The Margin

His head spinning, Waluigi clutched his throbbing forehead as his eyelids fluttered open.  Though groggy from his former state of unconsciousness, he quickly came to his senses as Glaive tumbled onto the floor beside him.  He then heard slow, menacing footsteps approaching from nearby.   Turning his head toward the source of the footsteps, Waluigi gasped as he saw Kronos towering forebodingly above them.

"Still not ready to talk?" Kronos inquired, looking down upon Glaive with a cold, icy glare.  "This ceases to be entertaining, though I do commend your fortitude."  He reached down and wrapped his fingers around the demon's neck.  Raising his descendant by the throat, Glaive now dangled lifelessly within the Phoenix's grasp.

How long have I been out...?  And how long has Glaive been fighting by himself...? Waluigi wondered, gazing upward in awe at the demon king.

"Don't worry.  You'll have your turn as soon as I'm finished with Glaive," Kronos assured him with a sadistic smirk.

His entire body trembling, Waluigi carefully weighed his options.  As desperately as he wanted to rescue Glaive, he knew what the outcome would be if he recklessly jumped into the fight.  He had been paralyzed by fear.

"What are ya doin?!" a familiar voice cried as he drove his fist into the back of Kronos' head.  The Phoenix, caught completely off guard, staggered forward in shock and released his grip on Glaive, who fell lifelessly to the ground.  Noticing an opportunity to strike, Waluigi lunged forward at Kronos with a powerful kick.  However, the Phoenix managed to create a portal that shielded his entire body in the nick of time, causing Waluigi to harmlessly vanish into the abyss.  A second vortex appeared nearby and spat him onto the stone floor.

Waluigi rubbed his head and beamed at the man who had come to his aid.  "Bro!  You made it!"

"Heh, of course," Wario replied, cracking his knuckles.  "So this is the king of all demons, huh?  He does seem a bit tougher than the others.  I might actually need you to lend me a hand, just to be safe."

Waluigi grinned.  "No problem.  What happened with Ace, anyway?"

"I took care of his nutcase brother," Wario boasted with a triumphant grin.  "Ace suffered a lot more damage from the fight than I did, so I went on ahead while he stayed behind to rest.  I did also bump into Luigi on the way here.  He was escaping with the princess."

Waluigi cupped his hands over Wario's mouth.  "Shh!"

"How did I let such a boisterous fool sneak up on me?" Kronos wondered aloud, interrupting their conversation.  "More importantly, what was that about the princess?  You wouldn't be trying to escape with her, would you?"  Seeing Waluigi's reaction was the only conformation that the demon king needed.  "Hmm.  In that case, why don't we play a little game?  As of right now, Luigi is still within my reach.  I could bring him back here in an instant if I so choose.  But that's no fun.  I promise that I will not make any attempt to recapture the princess until I have dealt with the both of you.  If they manage to escape this citadel before I have done so, I will let them go.  Yet if you both fall before they can leave, I will pursue them with a heated vengeance.  Does that sound agreeable?"

Waluigi nodded hesitantly.  "We should at least be able to pull that off... right?"

"Psh.  You can play his little game if you want.  I came here with every intention of beating this chump into the ground," Wario declared.




"Almost home free," Luigi muttered, dashing through the citadel's courtyard with the unconscious princess tucked safely in his arms.  "Wario said that Ace should be resting somewhere around here..."  Slowing his pace to a jog, he scanned the area for his demon comrade.  At last, he found Ace lying face-down on a bloodied patch of grass.  He appeared to have sustained heavy damage, likely from his battle with Jack.

"Ace...  Can you hear me...?  Ace..." Luigi whispered, kneeling beside the unresponsive demon.  "Please, get up...  I can't carry you and Peach..."  As he attempted to awaken Ace, a purple vortex appeared nearby and began to draw Luigi in with a forceful gust of wind.  Though the plumber tried with all his might to resist the suction, he, Peach, and Ace were ultimately devoured by the portal.

Kronos' Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

The next few seconds were a blur.  By the time he regained his senses, Luigi found himself tumbling through a second portal onto the throne room's floor.  Frantically scanning his surroundings, he discovered that he was back on the roof of the citadel.  Lying on the floor beside him were Peach and Ace.

"H-how did I g-g-get b-b-back here?" Luigi inquired, fearfully looking up at Kronos.  "I was... so close..."

"Allow me to explain.  Your friends, the Wario Brothers, wagered that they could last in a fight with me until you escaped the citadel.  If they failed to do so, you would be brought back to this throne room," Kronos informed him.  "And I would finally discover what you've been hiding from me."  He gestured toward the unconscious Wario Brothers.  Both of their bodies were covered in severe gashes and bruises.  "I must commend their efforts.  They lasted an admirable 35 seconds."

"T-t-that's.... i-i-it...?" Luigi gasped, shuddering at the thought of his allies being cut down by the demon king.

"Now, stand aside so that I may see the other two guests that you've brought with you."

With a frightened yelp, Luigi complied immediately.  Staggering backward in sheer terror, he felt the back of his foot hit something.  He turned around to see Wario lying utterly defeated.  The fallen plumber's eyes opened slightly, and he extended a trembling arm toward Luigi's foot.  "Luigi... get away... from here...  This guy... ain't normal..."

"Wario..."  Luigi gulped, deeply impacted by these words.  Wario would never acknowledge someone else's superiority...  For him to break Wario's spirit in a matter of 35 seconds...  Beads of sweat trickled down his face as he realized that he had turned his back to Kronos for nearly a minute.  Such a careless action would typically result in death.  However, Kronos' attention was focused on an entirely different matter.  Returning his attention to the Phoenix, Luigi saw that Kronos was standing completely still, his eyes fixed on a single point.  He traced the demon king's line of sight to the princess' lifeless body.  Each second seemed like an eternity as Luigi held his breath, waiting for Kronos to stir.

An aura of flames began to burn around the demon king's body.  He slowly turned his head toward Luigi.  They locked eyes for only a moment.  Yet it was within this moment that Luigi felt a thousand knives plunge through his flesh.  Chills ran down his spine as he gazed into the cold, malevolent eyes of the Phoenix.  Utterly defeated, the plumber immediately broke his stare and fixed his gaze on the stone floor.  What... what was that...?  Never before have I seen such terrifying eyes...  It was like I was staring at death itself...

Wordlessly, the Phoenix began to approach Luigi.  The sight of the fatally injured Princess Peach was too much for him to bear.  He was now overcome with rage and malice.

Luigi fell to his knees.  I can't move...  I can't even breathe...  This is it...  Kronos now towering above him with his hand raised, the plumber could only hang his head in defeat.  Kronos had snapped.  And through his insanity, he became an entirely new, even more formidable force than before.  At last, Luigi understood why Glaive had ordered him to escape with the princess.  But now it was too late.  Now they were all doomed to wither away before the Phoenix's insurmountable wrath.

At that moment, a fierce breeze knocked Kronos off balance.  Lowering his hand, he turned his head to the east.

The violent winds had also blown Luigi's cap off.  He turned and lunged toward it, but it was already well beyond his reach.  He followed the cap with his eyes, believing it to be the last sight that he would ever see.  However, a gloved hand seized the cap and firmly placed it back on Luigi's head.  His eyes widened in disbelief.  Looking up at the man that stood before him, teardrops rolled down the plumber's cheeks.  "You're... You're alive..."

Calm Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzDS9C2yV5w)

"Of course I am.  I said that I'd come back, didn't I?" Mario replied with a warm smile.  "Looks like I got here just in time, too.  I'm glad to see that you're all still alive.  But..."  He turned toward Princess Peach.  "Peach isn't looking too good.  She needs immediate medical attention."

Feeling Kronos' stare, Luigi felt the color drain from his face.  "Bro...  Aren't you forgetting about someone...?"

Mario turned toward Kronos.  The two locked eyes.  "Kronos can wait.  Right now, Peach dying."

How can he say something so bold to Kronos' face?  Isn't he afraid...? Luigi wondered.  His thoughts were interrupted as the Mushroom Hero began to walk toward Kronos at a casual pace.  The cowardly plumber gasped.  What is he doing?!  Doesn't he understand that Kronos is different from before?  He'll be slaughtered!

Standing only a few feet away from Kronos, Mario stopped.  He stared directly into the demon king's eyes without showing a trace of fear or hesitation.  "Help her."

There was a long pause.  Neither Mario nor Kronos budged an inch.

"Help her," Mario repeated firmly.  "I know that saving her life is well within your power.  You can manipulate matter and space.  You've reclaimed your original body in its prime after being dead for thousands of years.  To say that you are powerless to save the life of the only human you've ever cared for would be absurd.  Instead of throwing a childish tantrum, why don't you do something useful?"

Watching the scene in stunned silence, Glaive was awestruck by Mario's audacity.  He walked right up to the king without a second thought.  Mario... there's something different about him...  There is no longer any uncertainty in his eyes.

Time seemed to stand still as the two stared each other down.  After what felt like an eternity, the flames that engulfed Kronos began to die down.  The demon king smirked, and the hatred faded from his eyes.  "Forgive me.  When I lose my temper, my sense of reasoning goes with it.  If you'll excuse me, I will do all that I can for Peach."

"I appreciate it," Mario replied with a grin.

To everyone's absolute shock, Kronos graciously complied with Mario's demands.  He approached the princess and extended his palms toward her severely wounded body.  She was surrounded with a purple barrier, and one by one, her injuries began to fade away.  Once the majority of her wounds had been healed, the barrier vanished, and Kronos turned to face Mario once again.  "I have mended her most fatal injuries.  With enough rest, she will live."

So... this is Hero's descendant, Zeus observed, having only recently regained consciousness.  Mario... the troublemaker that stormed into the Nightmare Abyss against my orders...  He certainly inherited Hero's fierce willpower.  Not once have I ever seen someone live after standing up to Kronos during one of his fits of insanity.  During those moments... he loses all control, showing no regard for no one... not even Rhea.  Yet this Mario was somehow able to bring him back to his senses...  But can I truly rely on that traitor's descendant?  No... surely I cannot allow Terranea's fate to rest on the shoulders of such a man...  But for the time being, he's all that we have left.

"He actually healed Peach... but why?" Luigi wondered aloud.

"Never mind that," Kronos snapped.  "She is an exception.  Do not think that I will be so merciful with the remainder of your friends.  Now that the princess' life is no longer in jeopardy, what will you do, Mushroom Hero?"

A wry smirk spread across the plumber's face.  "Actually, I was planning on ripping you off of your newly reclaimed throne."  He shifted his attention to his comrades.  "You all fought so hard while I've been gone...  Thank you.  Now leave the rest to me.  This is something that I have to handle alone."

"It's been so long... since I've heard him say something like that," Luigi sighed with relief.  "We believe in you, Bro..."

"How... amusing," Kronos chuckled.  "Even while I was using the princess as a vessel, you were no match for me.  What could have possibly changed since then?  As long as you are covered by the Demon Exoskeleton, I can render your entire body useless."

Mario grinned from ear to ear.

"...Unless you've already forgotten.  In that case, allow me refresh your memory."  Kronos extended his palms toward the Mushroom Hero.  "You may be in control of your human half, but your demon side will always prioritize my orders above yours.  And I just ordered any part of your body covered by the Demon Exoskeleton to remain absolutely still."  The demon king rushed toward his opponent, who made no attempt to ready himself for close combat.  Standing like a stone statue, the Mushroom Hero did not budge an inch.  "I see.  Your entire body is under my control now, isn't it?"  Unable to control his wicked laughter, Kronos sent a bone-shattering right hook directly toward Mario's face.

Triumph (http://www.esnips.com/doc/dc1a7c6e-7f5d-48a9-b57f-ff9d2c1d16b2/Triumph)

"...No," Mario replied, catching the demon king's punch in his palm.  "No part of my body is covered by the Demon Exoskeleton."  With a chilling battle cry, Mario delivered a devastating blow to his ancestor's face.  "That one... was for Glaive.  All of my friends... all of the misery that they've been through these past few years... You were the one behind it all.  Do you have any idea how much suffering you've caused?"

"What... what happened to your Demon Exoskeleton?" Kronos demanded, staggering backward in pain.

Instead of answering, Mario rushed forward at his ancestor and unleashed three flame-augmented punches.  He then grabbed the Phoenix by the shoulders and kneed him the in the chest, causing him to crumple onto his knees in agony.  To end his vengeful assault, the Mushroom Hero raised his arm above his head before bringing his elbow down upon the back of Kronos' head.  Taking a few steps back, he heaved a deep sigh.  "Six hits in all... Glaive, Ace, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and Peach...  Those were for you."  He cupped his hands together and aimed them at the Phoenix, who was still on his hands and knees from his descendants' previous barrage of attacks.  "And this one... is for all of my other friends who are risking their lives to protect the Nexus.  Mark, Luke, Lorne, Bowser, Grambi, Swift...  I haven't forgotten about you."  With that being said, he launched a blazing Ultra Fireball at his opponent, lighting the entire throne room with a fiery explosion.

I don't believe my eyes...  Is this the same Mario that I brought to see Swift? Glaive wondered, his eyes bulging in shock.

"That guy... Always showing off..." Wario muttered, barely conscious.

As the flames died down, Kronos emerged relatively unscathed.  His trench coat had been burned to ashes, revealing his sleeveless blue undershirt, and a thin stream of blood ran down his chin.  "Mario...  Please don't tell me that was the best you could do.  Do you honestly intend to use your hatred toward me as a weapon?  Are you going to fight for the sake of revenge?  If so, you really aren't any different from me."

Mario smirked and shook his head.  "Nah, I was just venting some of my anger before I decided to take this seriously.  For what I'm here to do, revenge won't get me anywhere."

"I see...  But if you give in to your hatred, it will make you stronger.  I have no interest in fighting a hypocritical fool such as yourself.  I want to face my true reincarnation, the demon that lives on inside of you.  Go ahead.  Let it all go.  Give in to my influence and allow yourself to be overcome by your demon instincts."

"Not possible," Mario replied firmly.  "And even if I could, it would only weaken me.  As I am now, I have surpassed even my demon side.  I've changed.  My demon half and I aren't two opposing forces competing for the same body anymore.  I've learned to take the strength and the desire to live from my demon side without reverting to an immoral, berserk state.  I'm free from your influence, Kronos.  My demon half has finally chosen to side with me.  I can walk on the thin margin between human and demon, just as Hero would have wanted."

"So that's what happened..." Glaive whispered, watching in awe as the Mushroom Hero engaged in fierce hand to hand combat with their mutual ancestor.  "Unreal...  He's like a completely different person.  That look of purity in his eyes... I haven't seen it since his battle with Lord Shade all of those years ago...  At last, he can fight without his inner demon holding him back!"

After being struck in the face with one of the Phoenix's punches, Mario performed a backward handspring and landed nimbly on his feet.  He then formed a Fireball in his right palm and used an Iceball to freeze his left arm.  Dashing toward Kronos, the Mushroom Hero hurled the Fireball in his adversary's direction, but the flaming projectile was promptly swallowed by a purple vortex.  An identical portal opened up beside Mario and spat out the Fireball, and without batting an eyelid, the plumber swatted the blast away with his frozen arm.  As both portals closed in unison, Mario lunged forward and struck his vulnerable enemy in the face.   The plumber grinned triumphantly.  "Gotcha."

Teetering backwards from the impact of Mario's punch, Kronos quickly regained his balance and wiped the blood from his chin.  A faint, irritated smirk appeared on the demon king's face.  "So it would seem...  You are the first warrior since my resurrection to find a way around my spatial distortions."

"I already knew about that technique's weakness.  But for some reason, I wasn't fast enough to make use of that knowledge during our first encounter," Mario recalled.  "But now...  It was almost as if I could see everything in slow motion.  The timing just came to me... I didn't even have to think."

"How unfortunate.  It would seem that you are in an entirely different league than your feeble comrades.  I can't rely on basic tricks to eradicate you," Kronos sighed, cracking his knuckles.  "In truth, I can do far more than create pairs of portals to repel attacks."  He extended his palms toward a nearby marble column.  It was surrounded with what appeared to be a violet barrier, and in a matter of seconds, it crumbled apart until it was nothing more than a pile of dust.

Mario, Glaive, Luigi, and the Wario Brothers gasped in unison.  "W-w-what d-d-did he j-j-just d-d-do?" Luigi stammered in horror.

Kronos' Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

Zeus closed his eyes, turning away in disgust.  "You fool..."

"What's wrong, my son?" Kronos sneered.  He kneeled beside Zeus, grabbed him by the chin, and forcefully twisted his son's head toward him.  "Why do you look away?  Aren't you proud of your old man?"

"You went too far, Kronos!" Zeus exploded, his wrinkled face growing red with rage.  "You were this land's king, not it's-"

"Enough," Kronos demanded, his eyes flashing red with rage.  "Say one more word, and I'll take away what little time you have left in this world."  Regaining his cool, wicked demeanor, the demon king stood up and returned his attention to Mario.  "Forgive my son for the interruption.  He can never seem to control his excitement when I show off my powers.  So what do you think?  Can you guess what my ability is?"

Mario thought for a moment, beads of sweat trickling down his face.  At last, he made a dreadful realization.  "There's only one thing that it could be... but that's just..."

Kronos grinned from ear to ear.  "My true strength... is the ability to manipulate time, matter, and space: things that only God himself can control.  In developing this power...  I can transcend my role as a mere king.  Think about it.  By distorting space, I am able to create two vortexes that connect to one another.  I can sharpen the air around my arm to make it as deadly as a blade.  I can even cause things to age and crumble away beneath my feet.  As the only being alive to possess such an ability... I am the only one fit to be Terranea's god!"

"You're no god!" Zeus spat.  "Even as a child, I sensed the wickedness in your heart...  I could feel your constant thirst for power.  And someday...  I knew it would bring nothing but ruin to Terranea.  When I finally grew old enough to become a competent king, you clung to the throne and refused to relinquish your crown.  I was content to allow you to rule until you passed away... but even then, you were still not satisfied.  You sought out the ability to manipulate time and space, things that no living creature has the right to control!  That's why you had to be eliminated... before you could master such a deadly skill!"

"So that's why..." Mario whispered.  "As if it wasn't already enough to rule over every realm in existence... how can you expect so much from the world?!"

"Didn't you say that you had already vented all of your hatred towards me?  Even after hearing all of this, are you sure that you won't fight for the sake of revenge?"

"I'm not here for revenge," Mario replied immediately.  "I didn't even come here to kill you."

"Really?  Then why did you come here?"

"To help you realize how stupid you've been," the Mushroom Hero responded, grinning.  "And it certainly looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: Custom on September 05, 2011, 09:16:58 AM
why is this floated in the gaming section and not in the arts section I DON'T UNDERSTAND
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: DededeCloneChris on September 05, 2011, 09:37:45 AM
Quote from: Custom on September 05, 2011, 09:16:58 AM
why is this floated in the gaming section and not in the arts section I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I've been wondering the same thing. I think it's because the Written section was terminated.

But that's no reason enough to keep this up...
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: Ravioli on September 06, 2011, 08:35:18 PM
Terrible.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: Flying Chickens on September 07, 2011, 07:26:04 PM
Quote from: Ravioli on September 06, 2011, 08:35:18 PM
Terrible.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 30: The Margin)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 09, 2011, 09:13:28 PM
Quote from: NotAsagiChris on September 05, 2011, 09:37:45 AM
I've been wondering the same thing. I think it's because the Written section was terminated.

But that's no reason enough to keep this up...
Yeah, that's what originally happened.  And it's out of my control whether the thread is floated or not.  It was actually Mack's decision.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 11, 2011, 02:35:24 PM
Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope

Kronos Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

"You came here to help me?" Kronos inquired, throwing his head back with uncontrollable laughter.  "Thousands of years have passed since my battle with Hero, the original Alpha Grimnex... and after all of this... after all that you and your friends have been through... you plan to take the exact same approach that Hero did?"

I should have known that he would turn out to be a traitor, just like Hero, Zeus thought, angrily clenching his fists.  It seems that Mario will have to be eliminated in the very same way... but only after Kronos has been properly dealt with.

"Even after discovering the truth about my abilities, you still wish to face me?  Do you, a mere human with a few drops of demon blood in his veins, honestly expect to succeed where even Zeus has failed?"

Mario nodded.  "The power to manipulate matter, space, and even time is nothing to laugh about.  But it clearly has limitations."

"What makes you say that?"

"If you could use such a divine ability without restraint, then we would all be dead by now.  It wouldn't take long for you to turn us into dust like you did with that pillar only minutes ago," Mario explained.  "There has to be some sort of limit to what you can control."

"How very perceptive," Kronos chuckled.  "Truth be told, I still have plenty of room for improvement.  I have to picture an imaginary sphere around whatever it is I want to control.  This sphere's size is limited depending on what property it is that I wish to alter.  In addition, it is far beyond my power to travel back in time to, for example, the Terranean War in order to modify its outcome in my favor.  I cannot move events forward or back in time.  Rather, I have the ability to change an object's age.  That column rotted away because I caused it to age several thousand years.  To a lesser extreme, I healed most of the princess' wounds by decreasing her age by a few hours.  This brought her body to the state that it was in before she sustained those fatal injuries."

Kronos Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/93588942-117c-44ab-ac5d-95ec2daf30b5/Kronos-Battle)

"I see...  That makes more sense," Mario affirmed, stepping forward to challenge Kronos.  The demon king extended his arms toward the plumber, who immediately leapt to the left.  Only seconds later, the spot that he had just occupied was now encircled by a golden sphere.  The Phoenix raised his right arm, and a chunk of the stone floor dislodged itself and began to levitate.  "That could've been me..."

"Precisely.  I now have complete control over this slab of rock."  Several more golden orbs began to appear along the floor.  Kronos lifted his arms once again, and in the blink of an eye, dozens of boulders now hovered ominously above the citadel.  "Controlling inanimate objects requires little energy, so I can easily manipulate dozens of them at a time.  See if you can dodge them all."  With a downward thrust of his arms, the boulders began to rain down on the roof of the fortress.

"You're bringing back memories of Ipos," Mario stated dryly as he dashed, leapt, and weaved across the throne room.  "Except that hundreds of swords are a bit more intimidating than a couple dozen rocks."  Reaching a dead end, he whirled around and shattered an oncoming boulder with a flaming punch.  But as the rock crumbled apart from the impact, the plumber's eyes bulged as he saw Kronos standing behind it with his palms aimed at him.  It was too late to dodge.

A wicked grin spread across the demon king's face.  "Now I've got you."

Before he could react, Mario was encased in a golden bubble.  He furiously pummeled the sphere from the inside in a desperate attempt to break free, but to no avail.  "Damn it...  Those boulders were only a distraction..."

"Yes, and now you are under my control," Kronos sneered, thrusting his arms to the left.  Against his will, the bubble that contained Mario launched itself into a nearby stone pillar.  Striking the column at breakneck speed, the Mushroom Hero cried out in agony as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.  With another swift gesture, the demon king sent Mario on a collision course with the marble floor.

"We've got to help him!" Luigi shrieked.  "Bro's in trouble!"  He scurried over to the fallen Wario Brothers.  Shaking their lifeless bodies, he pleaded with them to rise to their feet.  "C'mon, guys!  Get up!"

"They're barely conscious, Luigi," Glaive informed him gravely.  "Zeus appears to be in the same condition, and both Peach and Ace are out cold.  We're the only ones left who can do anything, and even then... he has a hostage.  Unless Mario can find a way out of this mess on his own... it'll be up to us to take over where he left off."

"Don't be ridiculous..." Wario grumbled, slowly rising to his feet.  "It would be disgraceful for the great Wario Brothers to cower in the sidelines..."  He forcefully pulled Waluigi off of the ground.  "Stand up!  You're making us look pathetic!"

After slamming Mario into yet another stone pillar, Kronos heaved an exaggerated sigh.  "I'm afraid this is growing tiresome.  It's time to end this."  With one final gesture, the sphere that had ensnared Mario hovered over the edge of the citadel.  Now floating thousands of feet above the ground, the plumber's life was in Kronos' hands.  "Goodbye, Mario."  He snapped his fingers, and the golden bubble popped, sending Mario plummeting to his doom.

"BRO!" Luigi cried, the color draining from his face.

Plunging downward at high speeds, Mario desperately reached out for something to break his fall.  Nothing.  He took a deep breath, struggling to maintain his cool.  The ground was growing steadily closer.  In a matter of seconds, it would all be over.  At last, an idea came to him.  Cupping his hands together, he launched an Ultra Fireball away from the Demon Citadel, propelling him backward and through the fortress' stone wall.

Meanwhile, Luigi, Glaive, and the Wario Brothers rushed to the edge of the roof to see if their comrade had survived.  Mario was nowhere to be found.

Now several stories below Kronos, Mario pondered his next move.  I'm sure Kronos has figured out that I'm down here by now.  Now what...?  I can't afford to let myself get caught in one of his attacks again.  If he manages to alter my age, I'm done for.

"W-where'd he go?" Luigi inquired, shuddering.  "Did he... f-f-fall...?"

"No, he's alive," Glaive snickered.  "That guy...  He's too much."

To Luigi's immense relief, Mario climbed over the edge and back onto the roof of the citadel.  Without another word, he charged at Kronos with his fists raised.  As if his arm was a blade, the demon king slashed horizontally across the plumber's waist, slicing him in two.  But instead of screaming or even bleeding, the Mushroom Hero burst into flames.  "What?!" Kronos thundered.

A second Mario appeared and assaulted Kronos in the same way.  Only moments later, a third and fourth plumber emerged to join the attack.  Before the demon king knew it, he was being swarmed by dozens of Mario clones.  Unable to combat them all, Kronos was mercilessly pummeled by the horde of plumbers.

"What's... going on...?" Luigi gasped.

"Unbelievable...  He created doppelgangers of himself out of pure Elemental Energy," Glaive explained.  "I've never seen anything like it...  To do something like that, he must have mastered the manipulation of his Elemental Energy to an insane degree!  He was probably inspired by Ipos, but even so... how did he have enough energy to create so many of them?"

"My demon half and I aren't two opposing forces competing for the same body anymore.  I've learned to take the strength and the desire to live from my demon side without reverting to an immoral, berserk state.  My demon half has finally chosen to side with me.  I can walk on the thin margin between human and demon, just as Hero would have wanted."

"That's it...  Not only does he have his Elemental Energy, but he can now also draw power from his inner demon's Iniquity!  In other words, after his training with Swift, he has effectively doubled his supply of Elemental Energy!" Glaive exclaimed.  "Still...  The thought of taking a Fireball and shaping it into a mobile replica of yourself...  It's mindboggling..."

Kronos Theme (http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d92f8c3-a32f-4b1f-a6bc-0931579740f0/Kronos-Theme)

Just then, a hateful, bloodcurdling cry silenced the delighted applause of Mario's comrades.  A fierce whirlwind erupted from Kronos' body, sending the Mario clones scattering in all directions.  The duplicates disintegrated into their respective elements, leaving the original Mario lying on the ground from the impact of the demon king's attack.  "I've had enough of these childish games," the Phoenix hissed.  "No more...  I will crush each and every one of your pathetic ideals.  Your friends, your family, your peaceful way of life...  I'll annihilate it all and build a new world from the ground up!"  He raised his arms, and a violent torrent of wind surrounded him.

"What is he doing...?" Mario wondered aloud, breathing heavily.  "Looks like I really ticked him off..."

"He can't be..." Zeus gasped, his eyes widening.  "Does he really plan to end it this way...?"

"What do you mean?!" Luigi inquired frightfully.

"The Odium Tremor...  By compressing a vast amount of air into a tiny space and then allowing it to suddenly expand... he can create a violent explosion that eradicates everything in its path.  He devised this technique specifically for the purpose of wiping out everything in existence so that he could create a new beginning.  It is perhaps his most devastating ability..." Zeus explained.  "If he unleashes that attack... not only will we all die... but this very tower will crumble to the ground.  It seems that Kronos is bent on killing us all, even if he has to destroy his own throne."

"Then why don't you do something?  You're freaking Zeus!" Luigi screamed, shaking him by the shoulders.

Zeus shook his head.  "It's too late...  The wind has already been compressed...  It's already powerful enough to eliminate as all...  The only way to survive this attack would be to prevent Kronos from using it altogether..."

Luigi fell to his knees.  "So that's it... We're... done for...?"

"Yeah right," Mario chuckled weakly.  "I don't buy it..."  He struggled to his feet and prepared to challenge Kronos again.  "I still haven't given up on you, Kronos..."

"I wish you could understand how ridiculous you sound!" Kronos cackled.  "It's easy for someone like you to undermine my beliefs...  Those who have never experienced peace have far different values than those who have never experienced war.  People can talk about right and wrong all they want...  But only the Terranean king, the one who stands at the top, can decide what the definition of evil is.  You humans have a saying, 'Justice will always prevail.'  I couldn't agree more.  The victor of this battle...  His ideals will become justice."  Holding up a sphere of compressed air the size of a basketball, Kronos burst into a fit of maniacal laughter.  "And the victor... is me!"  Aiming the Odium Tremor at Mario and his friends, he prepared to unleash a torrent of wind that would annihilate them all.

Without a second thought, the Mushroom Hero rushed forward and lunged at Kronos, throwing his body directly in front of the ball of compacted wind.  At that moment, time seemed to freeze.  Tears rolled down Luigi's cheeks.  He called out for his brother, but no sound came out.  One moment, he saw the image of Mario standing boldly before the demon king, and the next, there was nothing but white.  There was the sound of an earsplitting explosion.  Then everything faded to black.




Approaching Destruction (http://www.esnips.com/doc/4d020885-419b-43da-90de-189528bddee9/Approaching-Destruction)

"BRO!" Luigi cried, forcing himself into a sitting position.  He gasped at what he saw.  The sky was black.  A light drizzle had begun to fall, and a chilling breeze swept over the land.  Most shocking of all, however, was the landscape that lay before him.  Where the Demon Citadel had once stood, there was nothing but rubble.  His body trembling feverishly, he frantically scanned the ruins for any survivors.  He found Zeus standing nearby, surrounded by a divine barrier.  Suddenly overflowing with rage, he rushed over to the Terranean king and grabbed him by the shoulders.  "You...  You lied to me!" Luigi shrieked, furiously shaking him.  "You said that we were all doomed, but you had a barrier for yourself the entire time! What about us?!  What about Mario, the descendent of the bloodline that has fought in your name for generations?!"

"I have no obligation to protect a traitor or his allies," Zeus answered firmly, shoving Luigi to the ground.  "Kronos must be eradicated.  Those who think otherwise are nothing more than treacherous scum."

"But then... How did I...?" Luigi wondered aloud.  He whirled around and saw a woman with wavy, violet, shoulder-length hair.  She wore a sleeveless indigo tunic and baggy silver pants, and a sword and shield were strapped to her back.  Tucked safely beneath her arms were both Ace and Peach.  "R-Rhea!  Did you...?"

Rhea nodded.  "Seems that I arrived just in time.  That old grouch may have not been willing to shield you from the Odium Tremor, but I was.  That being said, my force fields aren't nearly as effective as Zeus'.  Had Mario not diminished the impact by throwing himself in front of the attack, you might have all died anyway."

Perking up at the mentioning of her husband's name, Princess Peach's eyes fluttered open.  "Mario... where's Mario?  What's... going on...?"

"Yeah...  Where's my bro?  And for that matter, where's Kronos?" Luigi asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

Rhea hung her head.  "You don't remember, do you?  You were probably unconscious by the time it happened..."

Luigi's heart sank.  "...Remember what?"

"As I said before, I shielded everyone with a barrier, including Mario.  The citadel was beginning to crumble, and it seemed as though Kronos' attack might actually work against him.  The falling debris nearly crushed him, when suddenly..."  She paused for a moment, holding back her tears.  "Mario, even after taking the blunt of the Odium Tremor... stood up and pushed Kronos out of the way, probably saving his life...  He then went so far as to transfer the barrier that I gave him to Kronos...  Luigi, I don't know how to say this...  Your brother... he's..."

"A complete and utter FOOL!" Kronos screeched, rising from beneath a large chunk of debris.  "It was foolish enough to sacrifice himself to protect his worthless friends, but then he took his idiocy a step further and rescued his enemy!  That man... was nothing but trash, just like Hero was."

Last Stand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVZiZ79jF9M)

"Take that back..." Luigi muttered, his body quivering with rage.

"Now what?  Are you going to follow in your idiot brother's footsteps?" Kronos sneered.  "And Rhea...  I see that even you have come to betray me!  It comes as no surprise... no matter what happens, I've always been alone."

Driven by his fury, Luigi hurled himself at Kronos, tossing an endless barrage of punches and kicks.  The demon king effortlessly sidestepped each of the blows before batting the plumber away with the back of his fist.  Within seconds, two more opponents entered the fray.  Waluigi emerged from beneath the rubble and hooked his arms underneath Kronos' shoulders, and Wario charged forward at his immobilized foe with his metallic fists raised.  However, a portal materialized on Kronos' back, inhaling Waluigi and freeing the Phoenix.  A second vortex then opened in front of Kronos and launched Waluigi at his shorter, bulkier brother.  The two collided and tumbled lifelessly onto the ground.

"I don't understand... What's going on...?" Peach whispered in confusion, tears welling up in her sapphire eyes.  "Where's Mario...?"

"Stand up!" Glaive barked, lifting a large chunk of debris from his body.  "All of you... stand up!  In Mario's honor... I will not rest until I'm dead!"  Drawing his katana, the demon gathered his strength and charged at the demon king.

One by one, Mario's comrades rose from beneath the rubble to continue where their dear friend had left off, and one by one, they all fell victim to Kronos' insurmountable might.  "I don't understand...  Why do they insist on fighting...?  How can this 'Mario' truly mean so much to them?"

"You'd never understand," Rhea spat, her tone overflowing with bitterness.  "Kronos is certainly wrong, but a heartless old fool like yourself is hardly an improvement."  Drawing her blade, the Royal Guardian stepped forward to face her brother.  "Kronos!  Please, stop this!  If you wish to continue this course of action, you'll have no choice but to kill your own sister."

"Rhea...  You used to be the only person I had left, the only one who kept me from being alone.  I was so naive... to think that someone in this world could show me compassion and kindness."

Coming to his senses at last, Ace sat up and gasped.  "What... what happened...?  It's gone... it's all gone...  There's nothing left..."  He scanned the area for his comrades.  Not one of them remained standing.  Only Rhea and Kronos remained, with Zeus and Peach on the sidelines. 

"Rhea..." Peach whispered, her eyes widening as she recalled the feelings that Kronos had confided in her.  "She's the person he mistook me for... his sister...  How awful...  Those two can't possibly mean to kill each other!"  Grabbing Ace by the shoulders, she pleaded with him to step in.  "Ace, please... you've got to do something!  You're the only one left!"

Sacrifice (http://www.esnips.com/doc/491565f2-1095-4ff8-8899-8cea2786c1e4/Sacrifice)

"This entire time...  I've been completely useless..." Ace whispered, gradually limping towards the king.  Mario, Luigi, Glaive...  Come to think of it...  I'm the only one who hasn't made a true sacrifice for my teammates.  Mario... during our battle with Velno, you were ready to give your own life to save us...  Glaive... when Mario's inner demon took over, you sacrificed yourself without hesitation to bring him back to his senses...  And Luigi...  When Mario reached his limit during his battle with Crimson, you set aside your fear and put your life at stake to help him.  What have I done...?  How many times have I been willing to sacrifice my life...?  This time... it's my turn...  This time, I'll devote what little life I have left to continuing where Mario and his comrades left off...

"Another one..." Kronos muttered, turning his attention to Ace.  "Seeing one of my own kind side with such a worthless species... it's sickening."

As Ace and the Phoenix stared each other down, Princess Peach scurried toward Rhea and firmly stood in her path.  "You're Rhea, Kronos' sister..."

The Royal Guardian hung her head.  "I am... but even so..."

"Please, hear me out!" the princess pleaded.  "Once Kronos regained his original, youthful body, he had no more use for me.  He could have disposed of me at any time.  But instead, he chose to spare me!  He showed me something that I never would have expected from such a coldhearted monster: kindness.  And do you know why?  Because I reminded him of you!  No matter how far Kronos has descended into madness, he is still capable of showing compassion!  Can't you talk to him...?  Please... If there's anyone that can stop all of this fighting, it's you!"

Meanwhile, Ace desperately slashed at Kronos with a pair of energy sabers, but the demon king effortlessly parried each strike with his bare hands.  "Hmm, you are a member of the Zepar tribe, aren't you?  Yes... one of the only survivors..."

Coughing up blood, Ace knew that his time was running out.  Most of the color had drained from his skin, and his every movement required nearly triple the effort that it normally would.  His body was growing frail.  The power he had attained by training with King had come at a high price.  He had compressed most of his remaining life energy into a time span of only a few months.  His time had nearly expired.  Still, he insisted on dedicating every last drop of his remaining life to furthering Mario's cause.

"It seems as though you've aged quite a bit in an awfully short amount of time," Kronos observed.  "You don't have much time left.  If you have any last words, you'd better speak while you still have the chance."

"Mario's spirit will never die," Ace replied, lunging at Kronos with one final slash.  "That man's character will never cease to inspire the countless others that surround him!"

"How dull," Kronos muttered, piercing the demon's chest with his bare hand.  "I thought that a demon would be able to come up with something a bit more creative."  He removed his fingers from Ace's torso, spilling his blood onto the ground.  His skin now a ghostly white, Ace collapsed lifelessly at the Phoenix's feet.

Tightening her grip on her sword, Rhea swallowed hard.  "I...  I can see how you reminded Kronos of me...  Such naivety...  Forgive me, but words alone will not end this war."  She turned away from the princess and, holding back her tears, marched bravely toward her sibling.

Time stood still as Peach digested the scene before her.  Glaive, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi lied utterly defeated amongst the ruins of the Demon Citadel.  Ace had just collapsed into a puddle of his own blood.  Zeus stood silently nearby, refusing to lend his assistance.  The rumbling of thunder echoed in her ears, but it was not enough to drown out the battle cries of the nearby war to defend the Nexus.  Kronos towered above his fallen victims, now overcome with bloodlust and insanity.  And marching bravely toward him was Rhea, his beloved sister.  Desperate to prevent such a heartbreaking scene from occurring- and to discover a ray of hope during Terranea's darkest hour- she cried out for the only person who could help in such a situation.

Final Plight (http://www.esnips.com/doc/1132ea25-871c-4ba5-ae56-7ecb869ff2eb/Final-Plight)

"MARIOOO!!"

Rhea stopped dead in her tracks.  Kronos could scarcely contain his laughter.  "Mario?  Hah!  Perhaps you weren't aware, but your precious Mario died to protect me!"

Princess Peach fell to her knees, tears flowing down her cheeks. The Royal Guardian hung her head and forged onward.  She raised her dagger, pointing it toward her brother for the first time in generations, when suddenly, a gentle breeze rolled past.  Kronos' eyes bulged.  Chills ran down Rhea's spine, and she whirled around to face the direction that the wind had blown in.  She gasped.

The princess felt a hand on her shoulder.  She raised her head, and her tears stopped flowing immediately.  In that instant, a wave of relief ran through her body.

"Heh...  You don't have to be so loud..." the Mushroom Hero chuckled, his body trembling as he used the princess' shoulder to maintain his balance.  His clothes were rugged and torn.  His body was covered in scrapes and bruises.  Yet his face was still as bright and cheerful as ever.  A single glimpse of his smile was enough to put Peach back at ease.  "Like I said before... I'll handle the rest."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope)
Post by: Zero on September 11, 2011, 03:42:18 PM
If I eat Mushroom Hero will I trip out?
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope)
Post by: Custom on September 11, 2011, 04:05:39 PM
Quote from: Zero on September 11, 2011, 03:42:18 PM
If I eat Mushroom Hero will I trip out?

you're already playing mushroom hero, zero
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope)
Post by: Ravioli on September 19, 2011, 08:16:31 PM
if I smoke a fat bowl will this story get better
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32: Dragon vs. Phoenix)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 20, 2011, 07:36:31 PM
Chapter 32: Dragon vs. Phoenix

Final Plight (http://www.esnips.com/doc/1132ea25-871c-4ba5-ae56-7ecb869ff2eb/Final-Plight)

The battered plumber staggered forward, his eyes gleaming with resolve.  A blue aura emanated from his body, and a fierce whirlwind surrounded him.  Even in Terranea's darkest hour, Mario stood firm.

"You are a very lucky man to have survived," Kronos hissed.

"Luck had nothing to do with it.  I heard Peach call for help, so my body forced itself up.  As the Mushroom Hero, I possess the instinct to protect," Mario explained with a grin.

"Whatever you may call it, I hope you've come to understand your stupidity.  By protecting me, you nearly got yourself killed.  And for what?  I haven't changed.  I feel neither grateful nor indebted to you."

"It really wasn't as complicated as you're making it out to be.  I saw that you were about to be crushed, so I pushed you out of the way.  I didn't take the time to think about it.  I just acted according to my instincts," Mario recalled.  "I wasn't expecting anything out of it.  And even if we ran through that scenario again a thousand times, nothing would change."

"Don't make me laugh.  An Olympian's way of life is filled with nothing but falsehood and lies.  Morals and heroics are nothing more than masks to conceal your inner darkness.  Once I become king, I will show the world how fragile your society truly is, and Terranea will be restored to the chaotic state that it was always meant to be in.  Try as hard as you like. You cannot convince me otherwise!"

"We'll see about that...  I still haven't shown you my answer," Mario replied, his entire right arm engulfed in flames.  "The technique that not even Hero could master... the Supernova Blitz."  Electrical sparks emitting from his body, he sprinted toward Kronos at three times his normal speed.  Quick to react, the demon king extended his right arm toward Mario in an attempt to trap him within one of his manipulative spheres.  However, the Mushroom Hero weaved back and forth at a speed that made it impossible to aim accurately.  Kronos slashed at him with his razor-sharp arm in a last-ditch effort to defend himself, but his arm was frozen instantly upon contact with Mario's body.  His eyes widened.  Mario brought his blazing fist forward, sinking it into the Phoenix's chest.  Coughing up blood, Kronos clutched his wound as he recoiled in agony.  But the attack had not yet ended.  The wind that had been displaced by Mario's punch quickly combined with the leftover flames and formed into the shape of a scorching dragon.  With an earsplitting howl, this dragon launched itself at the demon king, spilling his blood in all directions.

Heavily scalded, Kronos collapsed onto his knees as the attack finally died down.  His body quivering in anguish, the demon king struggled to maintain consciousness.  "What... was that...?"

"That was... my answer..." Mario responded, out of breath.  He too fell to the ground, completely exhausted.  "Now do you see...?  You said that the life of an Olympian is filled with nothing but falsehood and lies, and that we try to cover up our wicked nature with laws and morals.  But I could say the same for demons...  What if demons try to hide their inherently good nature by acting out of hatred and malice?"

Kronos' eyes bulged. 

"I saw that you were about to be crushed, so I pushed you out of the way.  I didn't take the time to think about it.  I just acted according to my instincts."

The demon king shook his head.  "No...  That's not how people really are..."

This scene looks eerily familiar, Zeus noted, changing his staff into a blade.  Hero, and now Mario...  Why can't they understand?

"Kronos... you and I both know the truth.  And even if we wanted to, neither of us have the strength to keep this up.  Let's end this now, before we both die," Mario pleaded.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," Zeus stated, approaching Kronos from behind with his dagger raised.  "This man is beyond help.  The only choice we have is to eliminate him, and this time, for good."

"Killing him won't accomplish anything!" Mario cried, desperately attempting to intervene.  Try as he might, he could not find the strength to stand.  His body had grown completely numb from exhaustion.  He watched in horror as Zeus' blade came crashing down toward the defenseless Phoenix's neck.  As the sword was only centimeters away from bringing the war to an end, a second blade parried the swing.

"Please...  It's enough that you've incapacitated him," Rhea pleaded, her cheeks damp with tears.  "There's no need to kill him...  He's your son... and my brother...  Please... haven't enough people died already?"

Sin (http://www.esnips.com/doc/e97a43ba-51e9-41b6-9b60-8350dd117531/Sin)

"It will never be enough.  Not until Kronos has been eradicated!" Zeus thundered.  "And once I've executed him, you and Mario will suffer the same fate!  Showing mercy to the demon king... only a traitor who bows down to the devil could do such a thing."

Standing firmly between Kronos and Zeus, Rhea would not budge an inch.  "Please... I beg of-" The Royal Guardian felt a sharp pain in her chest.  Coughing up blood, Rhea and Zeus exchanged horrified grimaces.  After altering his hand to the sharpness of a blade, Kronos had stabbed through his own sister and into Zeus.  Cackling madly, he withdrew his hand, spilling blood onto the ground.  Rhea whirled around, tears streaming down her cheeks.  She reached for her dear brother, who could only laugh maniacally as she collapsed at his feet.  Just like that, Kronos' son and sister had fallen.

Twitching with insanity, Kronos threw his head back with laughter.  "You should've listened to Zeus... and finished me off when you had the chance!  But I suppose that's what you get for turning your backs on me...  You deserted me, just like everyone else!  I was left all alone with nothing to do but spread my loneliness!"

"Shut up..." Mario growled, his body trembling furiously.  "You know that isn't true."

"What could you possibly understand?" Kronos hissed, his eyes glowing red with hatred.  "You don't know anything about me."

"It's painfully obvious... to me, and to everyone else here... that your sister loved you dearly!" Mario cried, grabbing the demon king by the collar.  "Your sister never truly abandoned you...  Even now, she still loves you with all of her heart!  Think back... she has never stopped caring about you, even after all of the appalling crimes you've committed.  You've got to remember... Rhea, your sister...  She had always been willing to shoulder some of the burden, and so am I!  You just have to let us help you!  You can't keep pushing everyone away!"

"I... no...  Silence!" Kronos roared, clutching his head.  "I- I don't...  You... Rhea... Zeus..."  Dozens of conflicting emotions rushing through him, the demon king cried out in agony and confusion.  An aura of flames began to surround his body, and his eyes flashed red with pure malice.  He had finally snapped.

"Bro... he finally got to him..." Luigi muttered.  "Now what...?"

"Not good," Glaive whispered.  "The shock of seeing his son and sister lying in a pool of blood...  The mixed feelings of despair and remorse...  It's too much for him to bear.  Mario... was this really a good idea?  He was already mentally unstable, but now... anything could happen."

Wrath of the Phoenix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbf-O08-Hak)

"...Do you hate me?  From hatred, a thirst for vengeance is born.  Once retribution has been attained, the hatred of others is fueled.  It is a vicious cycle that neither the demons nor the Olympians can escape.  That is why we are the same.  That is why we all must perish." Now entirely engulfed by a colossal aura of flames, the inferno gradually took on the shape of an enormous phoenix.  Kronos was now a slave to his hatred and insanity.  Now easily as tall as a skyscraper, the Phoenix lit Terranea's sky with the flames of his malice.  After uttering a bloodcurdling shriek, he began to exhale columns of fire in all directions.  In no time, the kingdom would burn to the ground.




Meanwhile, the war to protect the Nexus raged on.  After a break in the action, Mark gazed upward at the sky and gasped.  "What... what is that?!"

Grambi's jaw dropped.  "That bird...  It couldn't be...  The beast of legend, the Phoenix!  It is said that when Kronos' insanity escalates beyond a level that he can consciously control, he is surrounded in flames and takes on the shape of a phoenix!  That's how he originally received his nickname."

"Correct," Swift affirmed after cutting down a dozen demon soldiers with a single swing of his blade.  "To be honest, I expected something like this to happen.  Mario won't be satisfied with just killing Kronos.  He needs to challenge his beliefs and prove to him that his way is wrong.  This is the result of pushing Kronos too far."

"Are you saying that we're doomed?!" Luke shrieked.

"Not necessarily.  If Kronos was forced to bring out this form, it means that he must be facing some sort of internal conflict.  Mario's words may finally be sinking in, but who knows what will happen now that Kronos has taken the form of a flaming beast.  In the past, Kronos has only transformed back to his normal state after causing immense destruction and satisfying his wicked impulses.  But if there is anyone that can defeat Kronos in his current state, it is Mario."

"Since Swift has arrived to back me- errr, us up, we've been doing just fine.  Why don't a few of you lend Mario a hand?" Bowser suggested.  "I can handle this on my own.  But knowing him, he'll probably screw this up unless he has someone else's hand to hold."

Grambi nodded.  "Very well.  Mark, Luke, and Lorne, see if there's anything you can do to help Mario."




"Now you've done it..." Glaive grumbled.  "He's completely lost it...  If this keeps up, Terranea will be nothing more than a pile of ashes."

Fire now raining from the sky, the once immaculate grassland was now scorched with flames.  The horizon was a gradient of orange and red, and the bloodcurdling screeches of the Phoenix were the only sounds that could be heard over the blazing inferno.  His body numb from exhaustion, Mario gradually forced himself onto his feet.  "Somehow... I have to get up there."

"What?!" Luigi thundered, gazing in awe at the Phoenix.  "It's over...  There's nothing we can do to stop him now...  Zeus and Rhea are fatally wounded.  There isn't anyone left.  None of us have the strength to fight anymore."

Mario nodded.  "Separately.  But if we combined our efforts, I could definitely reach Kronos."

"Father!" Mark called, emerging over a nearby hilltop alongside Luke and Lorne.  "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Your timing couldn't be more perfect," Mario answered with a sigh of relief.  "One more Supernova Blitz should do the trick.  The only problem is, I've used up almost all of my Elemental Energy.  That's why I need all of you.  Mark, Luke, and the Wario Brothers should lend me as much of their fire element as they can.  Lorne will lend me some of his ice element, and-"

"That's crazy," Luigi interrupted.  "I borrowed some of Waluigi's flames during a fight with a Grimnex, and let me tell you, it was painful.  If you were to take in such a vast amount of Elemental Energy from so many different sources... it could kill you.  To make matters worse, you're in no condition to be moving around."

"I won't die," Mario replied, his eyes gleaming with resolve.  The Mushroom Hero surrounded himself in a flaming aura, and after gathering their fire element into their palms, Mark, Luke, and the Wario Brothers transferred as much as they could offer.  The plumber crumpled onto his knees in agony, but insisted that they continue.  "Next, Lorne..."  His body began to emit a frigid blue glow, and Lorne repeated the process.

"And where are you gonna get electricity?" Glaive inquired skeptically.

"Forget it," Zeus hissed, barely conscious.  "I will not... lend my assistance... to a traitor..."

"Don't worry, you don't have to get up on my account," Mario chuckled, kneeling beside the Terranean king.  He placed his palms Zeus' back, and his body began to emit electrical sparks as he siphoned the Elemental Energy from the king's body.

"You will pay dearly for this treason..." Zeus vowed, his voice low and hoarse.  "Your crimes will not be forgiven..."

But Mario was in far too much anguish to care.  Sharp pains reverberating throughout his body, the plumber collapsed onto his hands and knees.  He rolled around, howling in agony, until the aching finally began to die down.  Still trembling from the shock, he struggled onto his feet and stared upward at his destination.  "...Luigi, Glaive...  This is where you guys come in.  I'm sure you know what to do."

Glaive grinned.  "How fitting."  With a dry chuckle, Mario hopped onto Luigi's shoulders, who in turn climbed onto Glaive's back.  As absurd as they may have appeared, the fate of Terranea now rested on the backs of these three men.  Dashing at full speed up a nearby hill in the Phoenix's direction, Glaive leapt upward with all of his might the moment he reached the summit.  "Good luck, you two."

Gathering all of his remaining strength into his legs, Luigi propelled himself off of Glaive's shoulders with a Super Jump.  Soaring upward at an incredible speed, the brothers could feel the temperature rise as they drew nearer to Kronos.  Time seemed to move in slow motion as Mario prepared to make the mightiest leap of his life.  Executing a record-breaking Super Jump that would have dazzled even his worst enemies, Mario augmented the speed of his ascent with his thunder element.  He then shielded most of his body with a sheet of ice and gathered the remainder of his fire element into his right arm.  Surrounded by the flaming embodiment of a dragon, the Mushroom Hero drove his blazing fist upward into the Phoenix's jaw.

"The talons of the phoenix versus the fangs of the dragon..." Glaive whispered, covering his ears as the howls of the flaming beasts sent shockwaves throughout the entire kingdom.

At last, his enemy uttered a defeated roar, and Mario pierced through the phoenix-shaped inferno that encased his ancestor.  As the flames of the Phoenix's hatred danced around him, his vision began to fade.

Salvation (http://www.esnips.com/doc/ad663e72-8334-4bf9-87cc-9d254aef5cb6/Salvation)

As soon as he regained his senses, he found himself standing on a floor of solidified magma.  All around him, he saw nothing but fire.  It was as if he had stepped into Hell itself.  Sprinting desperately through the inferno, he searched frantically for the source of the fire- Kronos.  At last, he found his ancestor wrapped in chains of flames, his head hung low.  "Kronos..."

"Leave me be...  Is this really where you want to spend your final few minutes...?  Go to your loved ones, your friends, your family members...  Cherish them while you still can," Kronos whispered bitterly.  "This flaming embodiment of my hatred... soon it will crash into Terranea, obliterating everything in existence."

"That's just it...  These flames...  They aren't a manifestation of your hatred at all.  In fact, the only thing that I can feel emanating from this fire... is loneliness."

"Of course...  For as long as I can remember, I've always been alone.  My sister, my son, my subordinates...  They all abandoned me and conspired to eliminate me.  There was a time when I still believed that Rhea stood by me... but now that I have shattered that fragile bond, I have nothing left to live for.  Both of us will die in this burning mass, and in the flaming explosion, all of Terranea will be annihilated."

"Damn it, Kronos!  You've got to stop placing all of the blame on the people you care about!  Rhea and Zeus never abandoned you!  You were the one who pushed them away with your thirst for power!" Mario cried.  "Stop mourning over the past and move forward!"

"No... the past is all that I have left...  Leave me be...  Let me die!" the Phoenix howled in misery.

"Living in the past isn't gonna get you anywhere.  Stop focusing on what you've lost and think about what you still have left!"  The plumber dashed over to the flaming chains that held Kronos captive.  Furiously tugging at them in an attempt to break the demon king free, Mario cried out in anguish as his hands were severely scalded.

"I told you to leave me alone!  I just want to die!"

"You expect me to believe that?" the plumber asked, a fiery glow beginning to emit from his body.  "If you'd only stop pushing away the people that matter most to you...  If you'd just accept someone else's help and embrace the ones who still care about you..."  The chains slowly faded away as the fire was absorbed into the Mushroom Hero's body.  "These flames of loneliness... if you'd just let someone else shoulder some of the burden, then maybe you'll change your mind!"

"What are you doing...?" Kronos gasped, his eyes widening.  "In just a few more moments... we'll collide with Terranea and burn everything to the ground...  You couldn't possibly intend to...?"

Crying out in misery as he absorbed the flames that surrounded them, Mario managed to muster a slight grin.  "Heh...  I'm gonna get us out of here...  You've still got a sister and a son to take care of...  They've been worried sick about you...  Live, Kronos..."

"No... It's too late for me!  Can't you understand...?  You'll die if you continue this course of action!"

"This is nothing... compared to the pain of watching others suffer," Mario retorted, gritting his teeth.  "You're not ready to die..."

"I... I don't... want...  I don't want... to die," Kronos muttered, shocked at the words he had just uttered.  "I... want to live...  I want to live!"  As the demon king's resolve to live shone through, the flames that encircled them began to fade away.  In turn, the flaming aura that had enclosed Mario was now more violent than ever.  His body temperature rising to a critical level, the Mushroom Hero let out a bone-chilling cry as the floor crumbled beneath them.




Directly below, everyone in Terranea had put the war on hold to gaze upward at the rapidly descending Phoenix.  Suddenly, the sky was lit with a blinding explosion of fire, and the impending cataclysm that had loomed above their heads only moments ago was nowhere to be found.  In its place, two distant figures tumbled into the fields over a nearby hilltop.  And just like that, the black rainclouds that had hovered above the kingdom vanished without a trace, allowing the sun's brilliant rays to shine through.  For nearly a minute, Terranea was silent.  Not a single word was spoken.  All eyes were on the clear, blue sky. 

Tears rolling down his cheeks, Luigi was the first to speak.  "Bro... he did it, after all..."  Brimming with joy, the plumber made a dash for the nearby hill over which Mario had landed.  Breaking the silence with their joyful cheers, Peach, Mark, Luke, Lorne, Wario, Waluigi, and Glaive sprinted after him.  As he emerged over the hill's summit and scanned the slope for his brother, his triumphant smile quickly curled into a horrified frown.  "It's... you..."

To everyone's shock, Kronos stood on the opposite side of the hill with an unconscious Mario in his arms.  The demon king was covered in scrapes and bruises, but the Mushroom Hero's condition was far more severe.

"You...  How are you still alive?!" Luigi thundered, angrily clenching his fists.

"Calm down," Glaive urged them, stepping ahead of the group.  "Take a closer look at him, and you'll see who the true victor of this battle was."

"This man has shown me... that perhaps there may be some hope for us after all," Kronos murmured, gently setting Mario down on the grass.  "He saved my life yet again.  He absorbed the flames of my despair into his own body.  Mario... allow me to repay my debts."  He extended his palms toward the plumber, intending to heal his injuries.

"I cannot allow you to do that," an elderly voice growled from nearby.  Blood still dripping from his wounds, Zeus emerged from behind Mario's comrades.  Despite his injuries, his movements were swift and his grip on his blade was firm.  The Olympian king would not fall so easily.  "Mario has committed several grave offenses.  First and foremost, he willfully stormed into the Nightmare Abyss against my orders.  He then sided with Terranea's worst enemy, the demon king.  And to top it all off, he stole the Terranean king's Elemental Energy without permission!  Even one of these violations is enough to warrant a death penalty."

"I understand if you wish to eliminate me, but Mario is this kingdom's savior..." Kronos whispered, watching in horror as Zeus prepared to end the plumber's life.  He raised his hand to parry his son's stab, but could not bring himself to strike his son a second time.  As the dagger was only inches away from Mario's throat, the slash was deflected by another blade.

Strength (http://www.esnips.com/doc/f96f3aac-6827-4209-a54c-f5287551e1a0/Strength)

"Sorry, but I disagree with your methods," Glaive declared, standing defiantly between Mario and the king of Terranea.  "Back off."

"Does he realize who he just clashed swords with?!" Luigi shrieked, falling to his knees.  "Do you want to get us all in trouble?!"

"I don't care who you are," Glaive spat.  "I will not allow you to take this man's life.  Instead..."  He stabbed his sword into the ground and kneeled before Zeus.  "I offer you my life in his place."

"You what?!" Zeus exploded.  "Do you realize what that would mean for you?  You would be instantly reincarnated.  No afterlife to speak of.  After all of those years of suffering, you've finally found freedom.  You would throw the peace that you've strived so hard to obtain just for the sake of this one man?"

"I owe him far too much," Glaive replied.  "Besides, this whole ordeal was my fault in the first place.  I was too weak.  I allowed myself to be controlled by the Phoenix.  I'm the one to blame for Mario's invasion of the Nightmare Vault, which was what ultimately led to Kronos' resurrection!  Please, allow me to lay down my life for the sake of my comrade."

"You idiot... haven't you already suffered enough?" Ace inquired, gradually limping over to the two of them.  Zeus watched in utter astonishment as Ace shoved Glaive to the side and kneeled before him, leaving a trail of blood behind him.  "Forget about everything he just said...  I was the one who gave Mario the Nexus Pass.  Without it, he would have never been able to enter the Nightmare Vault.  The only one who is fit to take responsibility for this mess... is me."

One by one, each of Mario's friends and family members stepped forward to lay down their lives.  There was a long, tense silence as Zeus and Mario's comrades stared each other down.  "This is... unprecedented.  It's one thing for his family and friends from the human realm to offer their lives... but for two demons to bow down before me, the Olympian king, just for the sake of a single human..."

"Make that three," Kronos affirmed, stepping forward at last.  "You can keep your throne, Zeus.  But if you lay a single hand on this man, I will go to war with you again.  And as you can plainly see, so would each of these beings that stand before you."

After what seemed like an eternity, Zeus heaved a deep, frustrated sigh.  "Very well... For the time being, I will spare Mario.  However, his actions will not go unnoticed.  I will offer him a single chance to do things his way.  If he does not wish to execute Kronos, then it will be his responsibility alone to devise an alternative plan to restore peace.  If he can bring this war to an end and return Terranea to its former glory, I will gladly spare all of your lives."
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Epilogue)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 20, 2011, 07:55:57 PM
Epilogue: The Legend

With a lazy, carefree yawn, Mario gradually rose to a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.  He groggily scanned his environment.  To his immense relief, he was surrounded by the beaming faces of his friends and family.  At the head of the group, Kronos extended his hand toward the plumber.  Grinning triumphantly, the Mushroom Hero gladly accepted it.  "Man, that was the best nap I've had in a while...  How long was I out?"

"Not long.  You probably feel that way because I healed most of your wounds," Kronos explained.  "However, you haven't finished recovering yet.  If you'll allow me to finish-"

"I'm fine," Mario insisted.  "I doubt that you have much strength left.  Save it for the people that really need it."

"There is some truth to that...  My power is beginning to dwindle.  No one has ever forced me to fight as hard as I have today," Kronos chuckled.  "You certainly are persistent.  But in the end, it was your persistence that saved us all."

"Ahem," Zeus coughed, making his way past all of Mario's other friends.  "You aren't off the hook yet.  Kronos may have decided to call a ceasefire, but the war between the demons and Olympians hasn't ended.  At this very moment, they are struggling for control over the Nexus.  If you insist on sparing Kronos' life, then it will be your responsibility to restore peace."

"Is that all?" Mario inquired, sighing with relief.  "In that case, take me to the Nexus Access Point."




"This is it," Zeus declared with a heavy sigh.  Horrified at the scene before them, Mario and his comrades could only shudder in revulsion.  The once beautiful, heavenly grassland had been reduced to a burning wasteland littered with bloodied corpses.  Though the number of soldiers on each side had dropped significantly, the war continued to rage on.

"Are you sure that you're ready for this?" Kronos whispered to Mario.  "You do have a plan, right?"

Mario nodded.

"Then I have no reason to doubt you," Kronos replied, grinning.  "Listen to me, my loyal subjects!  This is a direct order from your king!  Cease this pointless squabble and give the Mushroom Hero your undivided attention!"  The demon king's thunderous voice echoed throughout the land, reverberating in the ears of all living creatures in Terranea.

Almost instantaneously, the warriors- both demon and Olympian- turned to face the Phoenix.  Firm and resolute, Mario stepped forward.  The soldiers froze, intently watching his every movement.  Without a single word, the plumber walked past the dozens of Mushroom Kingdom soldiers that guarded the entrance to the Nexus.  "Open it."

"What are you up to...?" Grambi whispered, hesitantly complying with his son's demands.  With a nod of approbation, the plumber stepped into the Nexus and approached the gateway to the Mushroom Kingdom.  The countless demon warriors stared intently at their target.  This gate was the very thing that they had been ordered to destroy.

All eyes were on Mario as he formed a Fireball in his right palm.  Without even a moment of hesitation, he aimed the blast at the gateway and shattered it to pieces.  Just like that, the gate that the demons and Olympians had fought so ferociously over was gone.  Reluctant whispers began to emerge amongst the crowd, but they were quickly silenced as the Mushroom Hero approached the gateway to the Nightmare Vault and repeated the same process.

"What is he thinking?!" Waluigi exploded.  "Isn't this what we were fighting so hard to prevent?!"

"Have faith in his judgment.  He must have had a good reason to do what he did," Luigi assured him.  "He always does."

A wide smirk spread across Glaive's face.  This guy never ceases to amaze me.

I see...  The more I watch these descendants of the Hero bloodline, the more intrigued I become... Zeus thought.  Perhaps he isn't such a fool after all.

Ceasefire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyzQBexQxX4)

"With this, the war for Terranea is over!" Mario declared as he exited the Nexus.  He and Grambi exchanged glances, and the king of the Overthere crushed the Nexus Pass in his palm.  "The Nexus is gone.  Everything has now been combined into a single dimension.  Terranea has been restored to its former glory." 

"The war can't be over!"

"Who won?!"

"You expect us to live peacefully with the same people that stabbed us in the back?!"

Militant heckles began to erupt from the demons in the audience, but they were quickly hushed by Kronos.  "Quiet!  I told you to give Mario your undivided attention."

"Just to be clear, I've decided not to side with either the demons or the Olympians.  I've given the matter some thought, and I came to the conclusion that neither side is truly right.  And that's okay.  When was it decided that there had to be a dominant force at all?  Why did it suddenly become necessary for "good" and "evil" to wage war?  All of these years, you've both been in the wrong.  For thousands of years, both sides have done nothing but breed hatred towards each other.  Time and time again, this hatred has exploded into war.  For this reason, both Olympians and demons are at fault."

"But only the demons were punished!  We were sealed away for thousands of years while the Olympians were free to bask in the sunlight!"  The demons began to grow rowdy yet again, but this time, it was Mario who quieted them.

"There's something that Kronos once said to me.  'From hatred, a thirst for vengeance is born.  Once retribution has been attained, the hatred of others is fueled.  It is a vicious cycle that neither the demons nor the Olympians can escape.'  This statement, more than anything else, helped lead me to this conclusion.  A military victory isn't what we need.  If the demons achieved their goals of revenge and sealed the Olympians away, the roles would be reversed and another war just like this one would break out in a few thousand years.  If the Olympians killed Kronos and confined the demons once again, the cycle of revenge would only repeat itself.  In this war, victory will only lead to more hatred and warfare."  He took a long pause.  Not a single word was uttered.  No one dared to stir.  At last, Mario continued.  "I know that up until now, most demons have lived in the past and focused on nothing but revenge.  And while the present may be nothing without the past, it's impossible to enjoy the present without being able to look forward to the future."

"So instead of continuing the cycle of hatred and warfare... you chose to break the cycle and unify Terranea," Zeus muttered, gradually approaching the Mushroom Hero.  The two locked eyes, and there was a long silence.  "Your words... they are the words of a true leader.  If only I could have spoken with such wisdom and charisma all of those years ago...  But my time has passed.  Mario, seeing as how this was your idea to begin with... it seems to me that you would be the man most fit to become the new Terranean king."

Silence.  Not once in the history of Terranea had an individual been offered the throne in such a simple, straightforward manner.  No one dared to speak in anticipation of Mario's answer.

The Mushroom Hero's face contorted in shock.  He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.  "I-I uh... I... Well... I..."  Stammering uncontrollably, he searched frantically for the words that he wished to utter.  "To be blunt...  I'll have to decline your generous offer.  A decade or two ago, I never would have thought that I'd refuse the opportunity to become king of everything in existence.  But to be completely honest, I'm not fit to rule this kingdom.  And to be honest, no one is.  If we put one man in charge of all of Terranea, it wouldn't be long before a tyrant emerged and triggered another full scale war.  Instead, I suggest a balance of power."

"A balance?" Zeus parroted in confusion.

"Before I arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom, I grew up in a place called Brooklyn.  The city resided in a country with a form of government entirely unlike anything I've ever seen in either the Mushroom Kingdom or Terranea.  Instead of granting a single man with the power to govern the country, my homeland divided leadership amongst several branches.  While this system definitely had its flaws, if we take the basic principle of it and elect a representative for both the Olympians and the demons, neither side should be able to complain.  And what better men are there to share the throne than Terranea's two greatest leaders, you and your son?"

"Sharing kingship... cooperating and compromising...  Perhaps this is the best path to peace," Zeus mumbled.

"And to aid you, there should be a team of personal advisors consisting of an equal number of Olympians and demons.  If you're going to offer me a position, that's the only one that I'll take."

Peace (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IBvOnTsE5w&feature=related)

"Interesting...  It may take some time to get such a system going, but it may be just what this kingdom needs," Zeus stated.  "Are there any objections?"  The spectators, who had remained silent up until now, did not say a word.  After what seemed like an eternity of tension-filled stillness, the horde of demon and Olympian soldiers swarmed Mario with cheers and applause.

"It seems that we were right to put our faith in Mario," Kronos sighed with relief.

"Somehow, he managed to assuage thousands of years of pent up abhorrence with nothing but sheer determination and a heart of gold," Swift sighed in admiration.  "Hero...  If only you could be here to witness this.  Not only has he achieved your goal of restoring peace between demons and Olympians... but he's also the happiest I've seen him since I first met him over half a decade ago."

"My son...  You've finally driven the demon from your heart," Grambi whispered, holding back his tears.  "At last, you can finally enjoy the peace that you so rightfully deserve."

"It really has been a long ride.  I can't believe that it's finally over," Glaive sighed, standing beside Ace.  "Look at him.  He's come such a long way since we first met him.  I've known him for almost nine years now, but it feels like we've been comrades for our entire lives.  Back when we first met, Mario was weak.  The Mushroom Kingdom was still scrambling to find a way to fend off Lord Shade.  Yet here we are now, looking back on those days as if they were a blessing.  Mario has grown so much stronger, both physically and mentally.  I think I just might have to challenge him to a rematch someday, just for old time's sake."

"I'm gonna miss those days," Ace admitted.  "Now that it's all over... we have nothing to do but live the rest of our lives in happiness."

"But before we celebrate, there's still something that we have to attend to," Mario declared, leading the group over a nearby hilltop.  "Kronos, you come too."  With thousands of demons and Olympians of various races and origins trailing behind him, Mario marched toward an unknown destination.  Pushing his way to the head of the crowd, Kronos' eyes widened as he realized what the Mushroom Hero had led them too.

"Go ahead," Mario urged him.  "Don't worry; she'll forgive you."

Nodding hesitantly, Kronos stepped forward and extended his palms toward Rhea's unconscious body.  The Royal Guardian was encased in a violet bubble, and one by one, her wounds began to vanish into thin air.  The barrier faded away, and the demon king sighed with exhaustion.  Rhea's eyes slowly fluttered open.  She gazed up at Kronos, who smiled warmly and held out his hand toward her.  Just by looking into her dear brother's eyes, she understood immediately what had happened.  With a squeal of happiness, she gave Kronos an asphyxiating bear hug that sent him tumbling painfully onto the ground.  Tears streamed down her cheeks.  At last, her brother had returned to her.  She looked up at Mario, who was grinning from ear to ear.  "Mario... How can I ever thank you...?"

"It was nothing," Mario chuckled, modestly scratching the back of his head.

"Nothing, huh?" Princess Peach parroted with a wry grin as she rushed to embrace her husband.  She too tackled her loved one onto the ground and burst into tears.  "Mario...  I was so worried about you...  I really thought that you were gonna die..."

"Me too," the plumber admitted lightheartedly.  "But it's all over, now.  I'm here to stay."

Everyone exploded with cheers of happiness and joy.  At last, the war had come to an end.  This was a day that no one would ever forget, the day on which a single man vanquished the animosity that had built up between the demons and the Olympians for thousands of years.  Though this new peace meant that the coming days would bring happiness and relaxation, many of Mario's comrades would soon come to miss their adventurous lifestyles.  And although it was a difficult adjustment for some to make, even the most rugged demons eventually decided to settle down and enjoy the tranquility.




Moving On (http://www.esnips.com/doc/6f6db0a0-72b1-442f-a1f7-96b89fcf9aac/Moving-On)

One month later, the residents of Terranea had finally begun to adjust to their new life.  The newly unified kingdom had been mapped out, and the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom had found their way back to their home.  Former prisoners of the Underwhere took refuge in Terranea's vast grasslands to enjoy a life of solitude.  Terranea had no form of currency, and there was far too much open space for a territorial conflict.  As such, crime was not only practically unheard of, it was downright unnecessary.  People were free to live their lives without the stresses of everyday life, and it was this freedom that maintained the peace.  All that Terranea lacked was its greatest hero.  For the past four weeks, Mario had been working tirelessly alongside Zeus and Kronos to help rebuild Terranea.  However, he had promised that a celebration would be held in one month to compensate for the wedding ceremony that had been interrupted by Ipos.  The day of the party had arrived, and yet Mario was still nowhere to be found.

Mario's closest friends and family members filed into Mushroom Castle's dining hall, eagerly awaiting the feast that was to be held in the newlywed couple's honor.  "You're looking a lot better, Ace," Luigi observed.  "To be honest, I didn't think you were going to make it.  You must have aged at least fifty years during the battle with Kronos, but now you look completely healthy."

"After tending to Rhea's wounds, Kronos reverted my body to the condition it was in before I decided to sacrifice my life energy," Ace explained.  "Thanks to him, I've been given back the many years of my life that I intended to throw away."

"It was nothing, really," Kronos insisted sheepishly.  "I was just doing a favor for one of Mario's most loyal friends.  Your readiness to sacrifice yourself in his place was truly astounding."

"Speaking of Mario, shouldn't he be here with us?" Glaive inquired.  "After all, you are one of Terranea's new kings.  If you have the time to be here, why doesn't Mario?"

"I think Mario and Zeus had some paperwork to finish up," Swift recalled.  "That Zeus is as demanding as ever.  I was lucky to get out of there when I did."

"That reminds me...  I think something was mentioned about you becoming one of Terranea's new kings, Wario," Rhea chuckled.  "So, how about it?  You could have all the wealth and fame that your heart desired."

"Quiet, lady," Wario snapped, aggressively cramming a handful of shroom steaks into his mouth.  "I'm eating."  After swallowing his food and gulping down an entire can of super soda, the plumber heaved an exaggerated sigh.  "Being a king would be too much work.  Besides, in a place like Terranea, there's no need for money.  I don't need another cent.  Money only leads to corruption, anyway."

Waluigi nearly choked on his jelly shroom.  "Bro... are you sure that you're feeling alright?"

Elsewhere, Grambi was in for a shock of his own.  "Did he really?"

Mark and Luke nodded emphatically.  "Lorne was there!"

"He gave up his life to protect me.  He was trying to atone for all of the misery that he had caused me," Lorne explained.  "Without him, I would have never beaten that Grimnex.  He saved my life."

Dante...  I'm glad that you managed to find peace before your death.

"And now he's gone," Luke sighed.  "The Underwhere was gone by the time he had died, so there was no place for his soul to go..."

Mark placed a hand on his brother's shoulders.  "He wouldn't have wanted us to mourn his death.  He was related to our dad, after all.  He sacrificed himself so that we could be happy."

"And we can't forget about Slade," Lorne reminded them.  "We never would have survived without him.  He may have been obsessed with revenge, but he didn't let that obsession take priority over the lives of his friends.  Even someone as miserable and lonely as him had a soft side, all thanks to Mario."

Grambi smiled.  Mario...  You've raised these boys into strong young men.  Even Lorne, who suffered from an abusive childhood, has taken a turn for the better thanks in part to your guidance.  In the end, how many people's lives have you changed...?

Though the feast was initially lively and cheerful, the banquet began to grow quiet and somber.  Even amongst all of this happiness, something was missing.  Within an hour, the dining hall was silent.  "It's good to see everyone in high spirits again," Peach sighed at last.  "But even so... it just doesn't feel the same without Mario."

"It doesn't feel right to celebrate without the man who made all of this possible," Kronos agreed.  "What could be taking him so long?"

As the celebration began to wind down, the princess sighed with loneliness.  She had finally given up hope.  He's not showing up, she thought.  He's already forgotten about us.  He has too many responsibilities.  Even after all that he's been through, he still won't be able to spend time with his family and friends.

A sense of depression looming throughout the dining hall, the Mushroom-capped butlers began to carry away the plates and leftovers.  Princess Peach slowly rose from her chair and approached the exit.  "Well, I suppose it's getting late.  I think I'll be retiring for the night."  Her head hung low, she pressed open the double doors that led outside.  However, as she trudged gloomily out of the dining hall, she bumped into a firm yet familiar figure.  Her eyes welling up with tears, she lifted her head and gaped at the man in disbelief.

Reunion (http://www.esnips.com/doc/ebdf63a1-7949-491c-8938-38dfdfe61d0d/Reunion) 

"Am I late?" Mario inquired with a nervous chuckle.  "Where are you going?  Wasn't there supposed to be a feast?"

"You idiot!" Princess Peach cried with joy, rushing to embrace her husband.  "We just finished cleaning up!"

And just like that, the dining hall was brimming with life.  Mario took his seat at the head of the table, and the butlers returned with several more platefuls of dishes.  As the plumber stuffed his face with as much pasta as he could find, his surrounding friends and family were now laughing and sharing memories of their past adventures.

"To this day, I think Lord Shade may have been one of the most fearsome threats we've ever faced," Luigi recalled with a shudder.  "Glaive, Wario, Waluigi, and I teamed up to try and stop him, but he tossed us aside like we were nothing.  After he effortlessly slaughtered the Wario Brothers and pummeled Glaive and I to a pulp, he revealed that he was still only toying with us.  That was when I thought that my life was over.  But not Bro.  I still remember how he showed up to the Dark Castle after his training with Grambi and walked straight up to Shade like it was nothing.  To this day, all I have to do is picture Bro walking forward, and it gives me strength."

"In awh muh life, that wuz one of tuh-" Mario agreed, his mouth filled to the brim with Italian dishes.

"Swallow your food, first!" Glaive growled, sighing helplessly.  "You've become strong enough to stand up to the king of all demons, yet you still have yet to develop some table manners.  I only lived amongst humans for the two year period you went missing after you defeated Shade, and even I have better manners."

"Sorry," Mario apologized, blushing.  "Anyway, like I said, that was probably one of the toughest battles of my life.  I wonder where he is now.  He should still be somewhere in Terranea."

"WHAT?!" Luigi exploded, coughing up bits of food onto his plate.

"I doubt he's interested in revenge anymore," Mario assured him.  "All he really wanted was to see his friend Inoni again.  I'm sure they're both searching for each other as we speak.  And even if Shade did decide to go on a rampage again, most of us are tough enough to handle him on our own by now.  The same goes for pretty much any other past villain that might come back to haunt us."

"Is that so?!" a familiar voice roared from outside.  With a furious howl, Bowser burned the double doors that led inside with his flame breath and stormed into the dining hall.  "Does that include me?"

The dining hall was thrown into a panic, but Mario quickly eased everyone's fear by rising to his feet.  "It's okay, everyone.  Bowser only wanted to join us for the feast."

"But who invited him?" Luigi inquired.

"I did," Mario answered with a wry grin.  "That's part of the reason why I was so late."

Bowser took a seat and grabbed a plate of the spiciest drumsticks he could find.  "But just so you know, I still haven't given up on kidnapping the princess.  I don't want you to start getting all friendly with me just because I let you help me defeat Kronos."  He paused to chew his food before speaking again.  "But...  I have gained some respect for you."

"Heh, I wouldn't have it any other way," Mario snickered.  "Things are already weird enough now that the Mushroom Kingdom is a part of Terranea.  If you stopped trying to capture Peach, I think we'd all die of boredom.  Go ahead and kidnap her anytime you want, as long as you're ready for another beating."

The rivals grinned at each other and continued eating.

"Mario...  In one sense, he's just a meagerly plumber.  He showed up late to a royal banquet in jeans and a pair of overalls.  He lacks manners and sophistication, and he does not command even a single subordinate.  And yet... he has something far more valuable.  Though he lacks underlings, he possesses countless trustworthy friends and loved ones.  Perhaps that was our greatest mistake," Zeus reflected with Kronos.  "After countless generations of foolishness, this mere human has revealed to us our own stupidity."  He smiled from ear to ear.  "It relieves me greatly to know that after I pass, the kingdom of Terranea will continue to thrive under the guidance of good men."

The celebration lasted for several hours, extending late into the night.  Mario had brought new life to the party.  Surrounded by his family and friends, the plumber was finally at ease.  Even as the rest of Terranea slept, Mario and his loved ones remained awake and giddy with happiness.  Most of all, they felt a sense of safeness and security, knowing that they were under the watchful eye of their beloved hero.  And if an embodiment of evil or hatred were to ever rear its ugly head to throw Terranea into turmoil, a single, courageous man, originating from a tiny kingdom at the edge of the land, would rise to defend his home and his loved ones: the Mushroom Hero.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Custom on September 20, 2011, 08:06:53 PM
that ending was br00tal

good story
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: shadowmarioguy on September 20, 2011, 08:36:45 PM
I'm glad that I only started getting trolled when I was on the last few chapters.  Having to scroll through all that bullpoop between chapters would've been a pain.

For people who actually enjoyed this (Mack and J off the top of my head), thanks for reading.  Sorry about the trolls, but it's the freaking internet, so whatever.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Bearissoslow on September 26, 2011, 01:00:25 AM
fanfiction is like the largest waste of time anyone could conceivably have

if you write something good, you lose all credibility since the characters are not original and you did nothing but work with someone else's toys. you've done nothing but color with the lines a different picture to the same coloring book.


if you like writing poop this much, make a fantasy novel or something. fanfiction has no point and is a waste of time.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Ravioli on September 27, 2011, 07:37:52 PM
i rate this story one sandy old blue vagina out of ten playboy mansions
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Custom on September 28, 2011, 08:09:19 AM
Wii U
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Bearissoslow on September 29, 2011, 05:57:06 PM
Quote from: Ravioli on September 27, 2011, 07:37:52 PM
i rate this story one sandy old blue vagina out of ten playboy mansions


it's more like a withered cock from playgirl
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: CoasterKid93 on October 05, 2011, 09:20:17 AM
Quote from: Bearissoslow on September 29, 2011, 05:57:06 PM

it's more like a withered cock from playgirl

Wow shut up nerd I bet you cried like a ninny when your mother said you couldn't suck her breasts anymore any you were like 15 when this happened making it even more pathetic intercourse  you kid you don't know me.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Bearissoslow on October 05, 2011, 11:19:39 PM
yeah your'e right the only thing i know is that he's a shadow mario male of some variety

epistemology has changed my life
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Tupin on March 05, 2014, 10:11:18 PM
What was this even, seriously?
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Flying Chickens on March 05, 2014, 10:28:47 PM
Quote from: Tupin on March 05, 2014, 10:11:18 PM
What was this even, seriously?
I don't know, but it's sticky'd.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Custom on March 06, 2014, 11:14:11 AM
Quote from: Tupin on March 05, 2014, 10:11:18 PM
What was this even, seriously?

no idea but that dude worked hard on it
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 32 + Epilogue)
Post by: Flying Chickens on March 08, 2014, 09:22:40 PM
"His real name is Dante, and he is both Anthony's brother and Mario's uncle."

Yeah, intercourse  it, why not.
Title: Re: Super Mario Bros. 9: The Phoenix Salvation (Chapter 31: Dwindling Hope)
Post by: whatwewishfor on March 09, 2014, 08:44:32 AM
Quote from: Ravioli on September 19, 2011, 08:16:31 PM
if I smoke a fat bowl will this story get better