The story begins with our antihero taking it easy from her previous endeavors, most of which had been successful from the day she reformed herself...
DISCLAIMER: Bomberman is owned by Hudson Soft despite the company being absorbed unto Konami as of March 2012; WarioWare and Mario are properties of Nintendo. Contra belongs to Konami; Final Fantasy is a property of Square-Enix; Double Dragon was formerly owned by Technos Japan but nowadays is in Million's hands. Wreck-It Ralph, though referenced near the end of this chapter, belongs to Disney.
Chapter 1: One odd morning
[Opening BGM: Main Menu (Wario: Master of Disguise)]
April 9, 20XX...
A whole month had passed since Arctic Bomber helped Cheerful White and Cute Pink restore world history back to its former glory, not to mention return their friends along with 9-Volt, Phoebe, and his mom back to normal in the process. Even Blaze Bomber and the Four Contras were alive and well as if the disruption in the space-time continuum never erased any one of us from existence. Feeling relieved for real that she made up for her bullying antics, she no longer had anything to regret. Today - and out of sheer boredom - she's watching TV in her apartment, looking for ways to get rich and restore her winter-themed castle that was destroyed during World War III, unaware that she's about to be struck by inspiration from TV. On second thought, make that struck by UN-inspiration. Poor Bomber-girl...she still ain't rich, even when she's got everything a princess could ever have at the moment (treasures, and the Glacier Bowling Ball).
Just then, the news report ended, and a TV show came on in its place. "A reality show?" said Arctic Bomber, not caring what its title read. "Pshhh. Sorry, not my type. Next!" She changed the channel to something else, which showed a baseball game going on in the Mushroom Kingdom between the Mario Fireballs and the Wario Muscles.
"So that's what's Wario has been up to recently, huh? I guess it won't be boring to watch, as long as a bit of action's involved." Just then, a telepathic voice interrupted her moment by calling out, The secret to ultimate power lies within Sarasaland...
"Eh? Who's there?"
An old lady appeared from out of nowhere, her appearance bearing that of an elderly Toad. "I am Misu, a travelling fortune teller from the Mushroom Kingdom. I came to Diamond City to look for someone worthy of seeking out the five Mushroom Stones, but luckily I found you. I've heard many stories about you."
"How do you know about this city?" asked Arctic Bomber.
"Where I come from, people talk. You could say I'm from Toad Town."
"Hmm...I see. So, tell me about these Mushroom Stones, and why I should help you. You're not aiming for power like Hiruko once did at the cost of her own life, are you? Billy and Jimmy Lee almost died trying to save Marian that time."
"No no no, I'm not here to gain power. I am far much different from this Hiruko person you're talking about. Now, legend has it that the five Stones: Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond, held the key to the ultimate power sealed deep within a pyramid in Sarasaland. Many denizens feared it would fall into the wrong hands, so they scattered the Mushroom Stones out of the Mushroom World, and into the real world - your home planet, Earth, I presume."
"I see...hey, wait a minute. Are you the one who called out to me about where this ultimate power is located?"
Misu nodded. "Yes, but only because I got word of it as I can feel its telepathic voice. We must hurry and get all the Mushroom Stones, for only by acquiring the ultimate power can we guarantee unlimited protection on Princess Peach's castle from Bowser and his minions. Mario and Luigi do need a vacation, y'know."
"Can it also restore a building, like say, a castle? I used to have one...until it was destroyed by an enemy attack."
"In a sense, yes. Anyway, we have a long journey ahead of us. I have been told that the Amethyst Stone is hidden within Chichen Itza, an ancient city built in Mexico by the Maya civilization."
[End BGM]
[Interlude BGM: Wishstone Scene (Wario: Master of Disguise)]
Little did Arctic Bomber know that she wasn't the only one searching for the five Mushroom Stones. Elsewhere, around the planet, some of the best treasure hunters heard the telepathic message, though not accompanied by a fortune teller. First up, was King Billy Bling and the Rich Bombers at his Money Dynasty. Billy was a rich African American whose source of power came from money. He used to have an intention to make the dynasty one of the richest in lieu of other billionaires in the United States, let alone the famed Bill Gates, but since the day Arctic Bomber encountered and defeated him over nine months ago at his castle during her quest to riches - which resulted in having her own crystal castle magically built on the outskirts of Hollywood, CA, before it was destroyed during World War III - he had learned his lesson and thus admitted that all he wanted was to be rich like the other billionaires, not dominate the world. Apparently, being an all-time dictator of Earth is extremely boring and unjust to his lifestyle.
King Billy usually wasn't alone in his so-called dynasty, for he had three of his personal Bomberman-esque bodyguards to aid him in any way possible, each built by a group of scientists he paid. The first in line was a goldenrod-armored "Money Lover" named Bling Bomber, whose motives are to attack only those who would dare try and cheat his master out of his riches with an unlimited supply of "Money Bombs" which looked like balled-up counterfeit bills. The other was a heavyset, red-armored "Master of Heavy-Artillery" known as Heavy Bomber, whom King Billy had based off a certain minigun-toting Russian character from one of the most popular first-person shooter games in the PC gaming community. He would often have a sudden urge to blow things up and will not let go until he gets it done right, preferring to let his weapons do the talking for him. Last, but not least, was a female bombshell-lookalike in the form of a Bomber-woman, clad in an American Rose-colored dress and helmet. Known only as Fashion Bomber, the "Celebrity Bombshell" of the Rich Bombers, she had an affinity for things that a real-life Las Vegas bombshell loved: fashion, jewels, makeup, pink, and even muscular guys - just the way Billy Bling pictured when he had her built. Unsurprisingly, she hated getting dirty and smoke.
"Ahhh," said King Billy, his voice sounding almost like Disco Kid from Punch-Out! on the Wii, "secret to ultimate power, huh? I think I read a story about Sarasaland. These Mushroom Stones were scattered across our home planet in case an evil being would come and steal them. Well, not when I'm around! Fashion! Heavy! Bling! Come with me - we have our dynasty to expand all across good ol' Hollywood!"
Bling Bomber added, "Heh. At least you're not power-crazy like some greedy treasure hunters."
"Are you kidding me? Being a dictator of Earth with an army of mindless followers just ain't in my character; it's boring and dull as heck!"
"Da," Heavy Bomber spoke with a Russian accent. "I knew you'd say that. Not big surprise."
"At least Arctic Bomber turned over a new leaf and became a good guy, or so I've read in the news over the months. She was freakin' scary when we first met in combat!"
Fashion Bomber shrugged. "Ugh, don't remind me. I'm just glad to hear she chilled way down on her greedy attitude after she helped save the world."
Meanwhile at an abandoned wrestling stadium in Metro City, where Sodom used to be in charge of before his eventual loss to Guy, Poison and Hugo Andore also heard the telepathic message, though it's clearly obvious they've never visited the Mushroom Kingdom before. They were too busy managing Hugo's wrestling career ever since they got out of jail, apparently no longer affiliated with the Mad Gear gang after countless defeats (or so it goes).
"Mushroom Stones?" wondered Andore.
"An article once said that they've been placed all over the world..." said Poison. "Well, just for us to pilfer! With this ultimate power, we'll form an invincible H.W.A. - the Huge Wrestling Army! Effective immediately, those who dare challenge you will belong to us!"
"I like the sound of that! Let's go!"
And last, but not least, the message got out to an artificial island, located off the coast of Bangkok, Thailand. This island was once built and intended for use as Purple Basilisk's base of operations during the aftermath of the Alien Wars, but due to Bill Rizer and Lance Bean's intervention at his other base in Vietnam, the island became decommissioned and shut down. Rumor had it that its automated defense system was powered by the Diamond Stone nowadays.
The only occupant on this island was none other than a humanoid alien soldier, who called himself Yellow Cobra. Although not much is known about him, he worked for Red Falcon during World War III. He led his men during the assault which Arctic Bomber herself unleashed against them in her blind rage (as a reaction to the US soldiers getting killed while assisting the Four Contras) on Galuga Island. Only Yellow Cobra survived, but was left for dead. A few of his surviving comrades evacuated him to the decommissioned island base off the coast of Thailand. Now reborn as a cyborg, he takes it upon himself to exact vengeance upon Arctic Bomber. As soon as he heard about the ultimate power, he would eventually come out of hiding to hunt down the five Mushroom Stones, while killing anyone who got in his way. His name is based on the actual highly-venomous cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa (including aria savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert regions).
"Soon, I'll have this ultimate power...and Arctic Bomber's head in the end! Lords Red Falcon, Sniper Bomber, and Axe Bomber may be dead, but I shall live to this day!"
In spite of Yellow Cobra's return from the dead, he wasn't aware that Purple Basilisk and the Chaotic Bombers were still alive even when they were banished to the underworld and later defeated in their attempt to conquer the arcade realm within Blaze Bomber's Diamond Arcade World in Diamond City. It didn't take much for the Basilisk Dynasty to escape from prison due to Warlock Bomber having "bribed" the guards with his Black Magic, let alone revive Siren Bomber. Though their underworld hideout was deep beneath the surface, they could still pick up the telepathic message about the secret to ultimate power.
"Warlock Bomber," Purple Basilisk announced, "get the other Chaotic Bombers over here at once! I've finally discovered the answer to all our problems at hand."
"Let me guess: another attempt to force the six Contras and their friends into submission, so we can have an easier time rebuilding the Basilisk Dynasty?"
"Oh, but not just any attempt, my loyal second-in-command. There's this ultimate power hidden somewhere in a desert region called Sarasaland. We could become rich and invincible; thus, we don't have to take over the United States anymore just to show the world our godly power...We can buy its capital to run the country without relying on Red Falcon, Sniper Bomber, and Axe Bomber to hold our hands! Besides, a whole bunch of wannabe treasure hunters will be after the same artifact in the desert pyramid, therefore we must get to it first! By the way, I've just resurrected Siren back to life with a one-time-only warning that she's not to commit mutiny upon me again."
"Eh, what she sees in that blue-clothed short-stack, I'll never understand. But nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Arctic Bomber again, given her taste in shiny treasures and all that crap."
Boxer Bomber pounded his metallic boxing glove-like fists against each other. "Yeah! We owe her and Blaze Bomber a complimentary face-beating for what they did to us when we tried conquering his arcade center from inside its pathetic excuse for a virtual world! Nobody defeats this reigning champ of the Underworld Boxing Association - nobody!"
[End BGM]
From around the world, the hunt for the Mushroom Stones and the secret to ultimate power begins. Arctic Bomber, intent to embark on her quest without letting anyone of her friends find out, drove off to Diamond City on her moped. Upon her arrival a few hours later, she drove by some of its well-known locations, firstly being Diamond Dojo where she noticed 9-Volt in the middle of a meditation lesson with Yuffie Kisaragi - apparently to help him relax so that next time there's a predicament, he and Phoebe wouldn't be scared as long as his guardian angel's around. Assuming the teen ninja didn't hear the telepathic message at all, Arctic felt relieved and drove on to a few other locations before stopping by Blaze Bomber's Diamond Arcade World to find Dribble and Spitz, knowing they sometimes come here whenever they're off their taxi duty.
"Blaze, have you seen Dribble and Spitz?" she asked.
"Not since they finished playing Daytona USA and Cruis'n World over half an hour ago and left," answered Blaze Bomber. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing, really. I just wanted to know, that's all. Thanks."
"You're welcome. I think they left for Crygor Labs to have their taxi cab checked before heading back to Diamond Taxi."
Without revealing her real reason for wanting to see them, Arctic Bomber simply nodded gratefully and left for Crygor Labs with Misu at her side. It wasn't that she didn't feel confident going solo; she actually wanted a couple others to keep her company during the trip.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The hunt begins, with every would-be treasure hunters having their own goals for wanting the Mushroom Stones. It's up to our antihero to make sure she gets them first.