Hello, everyone!
If you clicked on this, that must mean you're interested in this story!
The following story tells the tale of the four brave heroes who, when darkness veiled the sky, found a way to put an end to it.
Based on the lore from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
There are plenty of original characters in this, but there are several that I do not own. Those characters, the world it takes place in, and the lore that inspired this story, are owned by Nintendo.
So!
Please enjoy "The Four Heroes: How Darkness Met its End"
Shadow-38
Prologue: The Great Cataclysm
Many years ago, in a faraway Kingdom, a big, bustling town thrived. A place where citizens of all sorts, Toads, Koopas, Goombas, Boos, and other peaceful creatures lived very happy lives. The town was a central location for the surrounding lands. Tourists came and went, and travelers met from all over the world, allowing the town to flourish with the abundance of goods they brought. The Town was very prosperous, and its wealth spread to the neighboring lands.
But one day… tragedy befell this blessed place.
The ground split open, and darkness poured from within. The sun was blocked by a veil of darkness as the shadows spewed from the ground, and the land roared and shook. Screams of horror echoed through the city. What was happening to this beautiful town? No one knew.
Some gathered near the crack in the earth to try and make sense of what was happening, and before their eyes a being of great darkness arose. A terrifying woman with pale, purple skin and hollow, black eyes ascended from the ground and cast her gaze upon on the citizens below.
"Bow before me," were the demon's first words. "Bow before me, or you shall meet your end. I am your Shadow Queen and you will obey me."
The Shadow Queen raced through the city at blinding speeds. Her might was nothing of this world. She stood before a large building, and extended her arms. Her eyes flashed red, and a nearby building was engulfed in flames. Families trembled in fear and held their loved ones close as the Shadow Queen destroyed everything they had once held dear. It was as if the very world had come to a violent end.
As the townsfolk watched their homes burn to the ground, many fearsome and terrible creatures began to crawl out from the crack in the earth. Three dragons flew out into the sky. Each of them so enormous that their bodies blocked out the sun. The first to emerge was a red dragon, with a yellow underside. The creature had three hook-like tails attached to it. The second was a dragon with purple scales, that almost matched the darkness around it. The final dragon was the most fearsome of all, it was made entirely of bone, it's eyes were black, unending voids of darkness. The dragons soared through the skies and spread terror and darkness across the land.
In a single night, the Shadow Queen had reduced the town into ashes, and had erected a palace, which earned the name The Palace of Shadows, for herself to reside in as self proclaimed ruler of all the land.
The darkness in the skies grew darker and darker as the Shadow Queen grew more powerful. The citizens of the land fell into despair and their hope had been snuffed out before it even began to burn. Was this truly the end of the world?
As time passed the Shadow Queen's kingdom expanded. Monsters invaded the surrounding areas. Her fearsome dragon, Hooktail, was a beast that terrorized many of the denizens of the land. It could swallow anyone in a single gulp.
The other dragon, Gloomtail, stayed by the Shadow Queen's side. Gloomtail was used as a means of torture and execution to anyone who repeatedly defied the Shadow Queen. Gloomtail was the fiercest of punishments the Shadow Queen had to offer. This dark-colored dragon was feared by all.
Some began to believe that Bonetail was nothing but a legend. The Shadow Queen created a dungeon. A seemingly bottomless pit. Those who think they are strong enough to defy the Shadow Queen were tossed into it. Anyone who is able to escape the pit is allowed to go free, but the Queen had placed her most powerful, and most fearsome dragon, Bonetail, at the very bottom. No one had ever reached the dragon, and so the fearsome dragon lay, waiting for a someone unlucky enough to face it.
As the Shadow Queen's kingdom expanded, she found it harder to exert her dark presence over the lands. She required assistance.
The Shadow Queen sunk back to deepest part of her palace. She descended the stairs and arrived in a room with candles circled around it.
"I call upon the darkness to bring forth new life," the Shadow Queen shouted to the skies. "Come to me, my loyal servant!"
A bright flash of light filled the room, the candles began to burn with a black flame. Shadows filled the room, covered the ground, and began to group together into the form of a small creature. The creature was pure shadow, and had a blue pointed hat placed upon its head. It had long gray hair that poked from beneath its hood.
"Rise," the Shadow Queen commanded. "Come to life, Beldam!" The dark shadows came to life and the creature bowed before the Shadow Queen.
"Your Highness," Beldam said as she bowed before the Queen.
"Your purpose is simple," stated the Shadow Queen. "You are to spread my darkness to the far reaches of the land. Take the lives of those who defy us. Let your presence bring nothing but fear and despair."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Beldam said. She sunk into the shadows and disappeared.
As she stood in the silence of the summoning room, the Shadow Queen smiled to herself. She could bring to life as many creatures as she desired, and two deadly creatures were certainly better than one.
The Shadow Queen repeated her summoning ritual, and once again light filled the room and shadows covered the floor. These took form of a much larger shadow figure in comparison to Beldam. The creature stood tall and bulky. It had a green, pointed hat upon its head, and short green hair could be seen from underneath.
"Rise," the Shadow Queen shouted. "Come to life, Skadus!"
Life seized the creature and he bowed before his creator.
"Your Majesty," Skadus said with force.
"You were created to balance Beldam. Her magic can help you, and your powerful strength can aid her," The Shadow Queen said. "Your presence will make all who see you tremble. You have the strength to rip your foes into pieces. Let all who defy us meet their end."
"Yes, Your Highness," Skadus said as he disappeared into the shadows.
And even still, the Shadow Queen's power spread across the land. Darkness continued to grow, and the Queen decided she desired more servants to do her bidding.
In the summoning room, she brought to life two more creatures of darkness.
"Come to me my loyal servants!"
Light flashed and black flames burned. Shadows covered the floor. First a large bulky, shadow creature emerged from the darkness. The creature was domineering, similar to Skadus. Upon its head sat a yellow pointed hat, and yellow bangs protruded from the front of the hat.
"Rise, Come to life, Marilyn!" The Shadow Queen commanded.
Another mob of shadows began to form next to Marilyn. The shadow creature was smaller in stature than Marilyn, the gut was skinnier and its face more circular whereas Marilyn was more oval. Upon this creature's head was a red pointed hat, and bright, fire like hair flowed from underneath.
"Rise, Come to life, Shade!"
Marilyn and Shade bowed before the Shadow Queen.
"Marilyn and Shade. You both were created to expand darkness beyond the horizons. Marilyn, with your strength you can crush any enemy that stands before you. Shade has a strong control over fire magic, he can assist you with his talents. Shade rely on Marilyn for assistance. Her great strength is invaluable."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Marilyn said firmly, before quickly disappearing into the shadows.
Shade stood before the Shadow Queen in silence.
"Do you understand, Shade?" The Shadow Queen asked.
"Yes," Shade responded quietly.
The Shadow Queen was taken aback by Shade's lack of acknowledgement to her title.
"You will know me as your Queen," The Shadow Queen commanded. "I expect you to address me as such." Shade kept his head lowered
"Yes, Your Majesty," Shade said with his voice shaking.
"Now go. Spread my darkness across the land," the Shadow Queen demanded. Without a word, Shade disappeared into the shadows.
Shade reemerged from the shadows in the middle of a small village. The moment he made himself visible, a shriek rang out.
"It's one of them! Another shadow creature!" A villager yelled.
"The Queen's sent another shadow!" Another voice yelled.
Shade could hardly understand the jumble of panicked words. "Run!" "Hide!" "Destroy it!" "Protect your kids!"
As panic consumed the village, rocks were thrown at Shade, but he stood unaffected by the violence. Shade watched the fear and panic happening around him, he stayed still and soon the village streets were empty. Shade raised his hand and examined himself. What was so terrifying about him?
He began walking towards a small house where he had seen a family of turtle-like creatures through the window. As he approached, he heard voices from within. He was unable to understand, but he could sense the fear in their voices.
Shade pushed against the door, but it was locked. He submerged himself into the shadows and appeared on the other side.
When he made himself visible, he heard a surprised gasp, but to his surprise no screams of terror.
"Please don't hurt us," a weak voice said.
Shade turned around and his eyes fell onto two turtle-like creatures. A female and male Koopa held each other in their arms.
"I…" Shade couldn't seem to find the words he wanted to say.
There was a silence. The Koopas exchanged glances and then the male Koopa approached Shade.
"You're not like the others," he asked calmly. "Are you?"
Shade stood in silence.
"Be careful," the female Koopa said softly.
"I'm not afraid," the male Koopa responded. "This guy won't hurt me? Will you?"
Shade remained motionless as the Koopa inched closer.
"And I won't hurt you," he said as he finally reached Shade. "I. Promise."
"I am supposed to destroy you," Shade said quietly.
"We know. We've seen what the others have done," the Koopa said. He turned back to his wife. She stood up and approached Shade. She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Shade," he replied.
"I like that name," she said. "Reminds me of sitting under the apple tree on a hot summer day."
Shade felt his hands shaking. There was something wrong with him. His brother and sisters had brought so much terror to the land, but he was unable to harm these people. Shade stared into the eyes of the female Koopa, then turned to look at her husband. He lowered his head, and without a word, sunk into the shadows and left the house.
Many moons rose and set, and stories of the fearsome Beldam and her ice magic, which could freeze entire villages and destroy plants started to scatter the land. Tales of the powerful Skadus, who was seen to have beheaded a young man with his own hands had reached all parts of the globe. Rumors claimed that Marilyn not only was powerful, but had learned to master electric magic in just a few days.
Despite all the terror the other creatures had created, there were whispers of a young shadow creature named Shade, who refused to hurt or harm. This shadow creature had ignited a small ember of hope in the hearts of the citizens of the land.
These rumors had gotten back to the Shadow Queen. Fury burned within her.
"Shade!" The Shadow Queen shouted. "I summon you!"
Suddenly Shade was pulled from the village he was overlooking, and into the throne room of the Shadow Queen.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty?" Shade said with slight terror in his voice.
"Is it true you have spared these worthless mortals?" the Queen roared.
Shade lowered his head, but stayed silent.
"SPEAK TO ME!" The Queen shouted, causing the palace to shake.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Shade said quietly.
"Tell me why I should not rip the life from your body and condemn you back to Hell?"
Shade kept his head lowered, but suddenly he had an idea.
"Your Majesty… I didn't kill them because I had a better idea," Shade said his voice still trembling.
"Speak,"
"There… there is something you lack… You-your Majesty," Shade said hesitantly.
"I lack nothing! I am all powerful,"
"You—you lack the essence of… of the heavens," Shade continued.
The Shadow Queen fixed her eyes on Shade. "What do you mean?"
"The Heavens can collect the souls of those who have died. The only energy you can absorb is darkness and shadows. What do you gain from killing all these people? N-nothing… Y-yet…"
"What are you suggesting?"
"I was waiting to k-kill these creatures until you found a way to create something that could absorb the souls of those you destroy, then you can use that energy to make yourself even more powerful … Y-your Majesty."
The Shadow Queen was silent for a few moments. Shade stared at the Shadow Queen. Silence filled the throne room and Shade felt nervous ripples race through his dark form.
"That is a brilliant idea," The Shadow Queen said finally. Shade took a breath of relief. "In order to increase my strength, I'll create something that contains the essence of the heavens. Something that will allow me to grow ever stronger."
The Shadow Queen threw her arms out to her sides in a T-shaped post. Darkness and Shadows began to seep from the floor. The shadows gathered around the Queen, and soon she was completely consumed. There was a brilliant flash of light, and then the Shadow Queen erupted from her Palace of Shadows and rocketed towards the sky. She flew higher and higher. She ascended passed her own veil of darkness that covered the land. She soared passed the moon, and climbed above the sun. She rose ever higher until she was resting among the cosmos.
Silence echoed all around her. She collected the stardust from the skies, and generated her dark power. She used her immense darkness to infuse the stardust, and mold it into a weapon of her own creation. Soon seven star-shaped gems floated before her. The seven stars shone with a brilliant, white, light, and pulsated an immense power from within. She laughed, for she knew that with these gems she would become unstoppable.
The Shadow Queen had created the Seven Crystal Stars.