The first interlude is here. Let's see who else adds more fun to this.
With Count Bleck
"Yeah, so... I guess the heroes went ahead and stomped you and sent you back here?" Nastasia asked.
"Yeah gotta forgive me, Count. I've failed you! I've never felt less chunky in my life" O'Chunks bowed.
"Bleh heh. So our heroes are real… Yes… A force to be reckoned with…" Bleck mused. He then turned to right hand, "Nastasia, the prophecy. Consult it and learn where the heroes will go next…"
"We will lay a devious trap for them and bring them to their knees!" Bleck laughed.
"Yeah, um, I already sent Mimi to a site picked for that purpose…" Nastasia said. Count Bleck was pleased and thanked Nastasia.
"I have granted Mimi powers potent enough to ensure that she will obliterate these heroes. Yes, they will be helpless against her. I depart. Alert Count Bleck when these heroes are no more!" the count said before disappearing.
"Yeah, I'll fire off a memo on that...but for now, we have another item on the agenda...
O'Chunks, you got a sec? Yeah, so some minions in the Bowser organization are still resisting assimilation. So I'm heading out to squash the resistance...and while I'm gone I want you to stay here" Nastasia left.
Meanwhile in a dark place
Two people were unconscious on the floor. One was none other than Princess Peach, while the other is a teenager with several piercings on his face, green hair and several piercings on his face.
Peach suddenly woke up "What? How did I end up napping here?" she wonders. "Wait... Didn't that nasty Count Bleck try to make me marry...BOWSER?! And then those teens and Luigi, they..." she realized something.
"LUIIIIIGI? BOOOOOWSER? YOOOUNG ONES? ANYBODY THERE?" she screams at the top of her lungs, which was enough to wake up the boy near her.
"No, Gwen, I'll protect you!" he woke up and got on his feet. "Oh, my apologies!" Peach said. "Hey, you're the chick who was forced to marry that weird creature, aren't you?" asked the boy. "I think I know you from somewhere but nothing comes to my mind" he says.
"Yeah, and you were one of the three teenagers who were forced to attend that event, right?" Peach wondered. "The name's Duncan. Now, where did my girlfriend and my friend go?" he questions when a Hammer Bro and a Koopa approached them.
"Uh… no. You're the only ones of the wedding party left standing, it looks like." The hammer bro said.
"Oh you guys!" Duncan said, "Are you all right?" Peach asks.
"Yeah, but who knows what happened. That was CRAZY wedding! We can't even find his nastiness… King Bowser" the koopa sighs.
"Oh and that fat boy and girl with green hair along with a dude with fine mustache, he had a green tux or something. I think the guy's name is Luigi" the hammer bro said.
"Thing is, most of us minions got brainwashed by that Bleck guy's assistant" explained the koopa.
"Well, I'm not staying here waiting for that crazy girl to catch me!" Duncan said as he walked towards a door. "I'd suggest we go together, that way we can help each other if necessary" Peach declared.
The three nodded and explored what appeared to be a dark castle.
They went through several halls and stairs until they crossed with Nastasia. She brainwashed the hammer bro with her hypnotic powers and he began to worship Count Bleck.
The remaining three were terrified by this and fled. Eventually, they came to a dead end where Nastasia hypnotized the koopa.
"Wow, Princess and Delinquent, you sure are lucky. I thought the wedding explosion finished you... Yeah, but this is the end of the road...and your luck runs out...right here.
It's time you came on over and got with the program... Come and serve the count!" Nastasia commanded.
"Never!" Peach yelled and Duncan pulled out his knife.
"Yeah, that's great and all, but my hypno-powers kinda say otherwise. Just sit tight a sec, 'K? 'Cause I've just got to brainwash you real quick" the girl was about to get the two when a barrier warped them out of there.
"What?! That wasn't on my schedule! Where'd they go?" Nastasia lost her cool but quickly regained it. "Well, that's really not a deal breaker... Our prophecy fulfillment plan is running smoothly. We have no need for them. Yeah, and it doesn't matter where they run, since all worlds are about to fall..." she calmly said.
Flashback
I remember that day well…
The room was warm. The whole place was at peace.
Ugh... Uuuugh...
"You are awake at last?"
"Where...am I? Is this... a human's home? Bleccch!"
"Don't wiggle like that. I found you at the cliff base. You took quite a fall"
"You're a human, correct? I don't...repulse you? I am of the Tribe of Darkness..."
"Why would that matter? Anyone with a heart would not ignore an injured soul!"
That was the day our paths crossed... That day... That was the day our tragedy was set in motion.
End Flashback
Back with Mario and Heather
The duo arrived by the same red door they entered. Mario had a comprehensive look on his face while Heather had a faint smile. During their journey back, the queen bee told Mario and Tippi everything she did in the past seasons of Total Drama.
"Well, at least they can't focus on hating you now" Mario said. "I don't care for them, but I have to admit I'm surprised that you don't hate me" Heather replied.
"For what you told me, I'd say you had your comeuppance and learned your lesson. And besides, things are different. Your prize is guaranteed for you and the stakes are higher for us if we don't stop this threat. And most importantly, I know there's good inside you, otherwise you wouldn't have said that to O'Chunks when he launched me" Mario smiled.
Heather just rolled her eyes and Tippi told them to go with Merlon.
When they arrived, two of the contestants, Eva and Ezekiel pushed them aside as they took an elevator and went down, "Move it or lose it, heroes" she said as Ezekiel followed her.
"What the hell was that?!" Heather yelled. "Ah. You're back" Merlon said, "Please come over to my house so you can tell me everything" he requested. Mario, Heather and Tippi followed him. "Hey, why did the walking rage and homeschool were… wait, Ezekiel is HUMAN again!?" Heather dropped her haw.
"Oh, that I'll tell you soon" Merlon answered.
"Did you find the Pure Heart?" he asked, the trio held out the Pure Heart and the wizard's eyes widened.
"Oh ho, such pure brilliance... This is a true piece of the one true Purity Heart!" he happily exclaimed.
"Yes, we met Merlumina... She gave it to us..." Tippi said.
"WH-What?! Lady Merlumina?! You were well met. She is an ancestor of mine. She was a great leader and was revered as the wisest of ancient sages. Merlumina and those who followed her built this town. They are why we are here" Merlon explained.
"Master Merlon! Bad news!" a young boy entered in panic. "What is it?! Get a hold of yourself, lad..." the wizard told the teen.
"A girl and a boy fell outta the sky!" the teen said after recovering from the shock.
"What? A girl and a boy fell out of the sky? What in the worlds?" Merlon questioned. "Just please come and see them, the teenagers are already there. Apparently, they know the boy" the kid said.
"So it shall be! Mario, Heather, please come along. We may need your assistance!" Merlon left the house, with Mario and an annoyed Heather after him.
The heroes saw all the Total Drama cast looking at the boy and the girl when they arrived.
"I was looking up at the tower and they fell out of nowhere!" said
Those two were none other than Princess Peach and Duncan.
Mario widened his eyes and Heather rolled hers. "What's the matter?" Tippi asked.
"That's Princess Peach!" Mario replied, "And that's Duncan, woohoo" Heather sarcastically said.
"Princess Peach and Duncan?! So this is the princess and one of the teens that Count Bleck kidnapped? Well, the poor souls seem to have had a rough time, of that we can be sure. And they are shivering uncontrollably... What could the problem be?" Merlon contemplated
"We've got to do something!" Leshawna shouted. Heather sighed as she still remembered when the sassy girl beat her up.
"Mario and Heather. You must go to the chef named Saffron on the first floor of Flipside. I am sure she knows a warming and revitalizing recipe for these poor souls... Once they revive, we will be able to ask Princess Peach and Duncan exactly what happened. " Merlon requested.
"Why do I have to go?" Heather complained, "The faster we do this the sooner you'll get your money back, please Heather, let's-a go" Mario said. The queen bee sighed and followed Mario.
15 minutes later
Mario and Heather came back with two items known as Spicy Soups. The two then gave the food to the unconscious ones. Peach and Duncan groaned before getting up.
"Mmmm... I feel like I just ate the most delicious thing... I haven't had a dream about such tasty food in ages..." Peach smiled, "Now that was some kickass food! Nothing like Chef's food!" Duncan smirked.
"Peach!" Mario ran to her. Everyone sighed of relief since Duncan was safe, except Courtney.
"Mario!" Peach shouted, "You're ok!" she adds. "But where are we exactly?" Duncan wondered. "Oh, Duncan, you're ok as well" the princess noticed the teen.
"C'mon, let's regroup in my house. It'd be wonderful if you tell us more" Merlon declared and the four and Tippi followed him while the teens went their separate ways.
20 minutes later
"...And then before I knew it, I awoke and saw Mario, Heather, you and Tippi" Peach finished her explanation. "Same for me" Duncan added.
"Oh, Mario... What do you suppose happened to those two teens, Luigi and Bowser?" Peach wondered. "Yeah, that's how things went down. Man, that Count sure is crazy. I'm worried for Gwen" Duncan said.
"What should we do now, Merlon?" Tippi asked. "And one Pure Heart shall lead the way to the next...' So it is written" the mage replies, "You must touch the Pure Heart you got and it will automatically be set on a heart pillar".
Mario and Heather pulled out the item, touched it and it reacted strongly. It then went to the outskirts of Flipside and set inside of the second pillar.
The pillar emitted a glow and an orange door appeared next to the red one.
"My intuition tells me the next door may lead you to the mysterious Merlee. Like Bestovious and I, Merlee is one of the Ancients... We are like long-lost cousins" the mage said. "I must tell you, the Light Prognosticus also speaks of her magical powers... and something you might want to hear, Peach and Duncan…"
The two looked at Merlon with confusion as he explained them something that left them shocked.
"The Light Prognosticus has written that when the first two Heroes of Light obtained the second Pure Heart, the third and fourth heroes shall make their appearance… The book referred to these heroes as the Princess and the Delinquent… Adding to this, the Prognosticus marked the heroes will have the help of partners, and these ones are… the rest of your cast mates… Certain partners will go with you to help you get the Pure Heart, who they'll be is yet unknown, except for the first one. " Merlon finished his explanations.
"What? Are you expecting me to believe that I'm a hero and everything you said?! That's just some crazy crap!" Duncan blunted, "Believe me, Duncan, I've also said the same thing but here I am with a gun and with Mario as a team to save our worlds" Heather sighed, "Still, I'm just doing this for my money" she says.
"Duncan and I… Heroes?" Peach mused. "Awesome! The more the merrier!" Mario jumped of joy.
"Indeed. And speaking of your cast mates, the ones named Eva and Ezekiel became town defenders. Bleck's forces have been rampaging town and the two were chosen as the first two who'll defend town while you seek for the Pure Hearts. Eva was fit to fight in the style of the Pokemon Incineroar while Ezekiel was fit for Olimar" Merlon said.
"So that's why that Eva girl shoved us when we arrived?" Mario asked, "Correct. Forces of Darkness began appearing beneath town so they were sent to deal with them" the wizard answers.
"Before you go to look for the third heart… Peach, Duncan, there's something I need to give you" Merlon pulled out two Smash Balls and a fighter orb.
Peach knew instantly what this meant and gently took a Smash ball, it infused on herself. "Very well. I'm ready to be third hero!" Peach pulled out her parasol.
"Duncan, you were fit to fight in the style of… Snake" Merlon said as the orb and the smash ball infused into Duncan's body. "Who?" the boy asked, "A friend of mine, he's a soldier with skills at close quarters and weaponry" Mario replied
The delinquent felt surprised when he received several weapons explosives, "Now this what I'm talking about! All right, I'm in to be the fourth hero! Gwen, I swear I'll find you!" he grinned.
"Let's go to the platform, the first partner is already waiting there" Merlon says after giving Peach and Duncan their three recallers explaining them what they were for..
The four look and each other and follow him.
Once they've arrived, the partner greeted them with a grin. Said partner was none other than Leshawna.
"What?! How is this possible?!" Heather worriedly asked, "It is foretold in the Prognosticus that the first partner will be the "Sister with ´tude". I also know your past conflicts, so please do your best to avoid those for the sake of our worlds" Merlon explained.
Heather flinched a bit, Mario recalled the conflict she and Leshawna have. "Took you long enough!" the girl grins, "Well, our worlds ain't gonna save themselves so let's go!" she shouts.
"Better not make me angry, because I can bring you double pain, Heather!" Leshawna glared at her as the queen bee noted the four guns attached to Leshawna's hands and feet. "Not so fast, I can defend and paralyze you if necessary!" Heather glared.
"Just letting you know, Leshawna has Bayonetta's powers. But unlike the witch, her clothes won't disappear" Merlon said.
"Oh…" Mario replied
Confessional: Mario
"Mamma mia! I guess I'll step in every time Heather and Leshawna argue, or things will get ugly!" the hero had a nervous looks on his face.
End Confessional
"Hmm, I wonder why she's so eager in saving the world" Mario wonders.
"Just one last thing before you go: Anyone can use the confessional if you like, just ask Tippi" Merlon told the three new members of the group. Duncan then asked Tippi to turn into the confessional.
Confessional: Duncan
"I didn't want to say this in front of them but… Are you kidding me?! We were ambushed by a crazy guy, attended a wedding with that princess and that turtle freak! And next thing I know is that Mario and the others are real!
This looks like one of Harold's dreams just came true! Man, this is just too much" the delinquent bonks his head on the confessional
End Confessional
Peach, Duncan and Leshawna nodded and the now five-member team entered the door.
With new members at their side, the heroes set out once again, bound for adventure.
This time, our heroes were tasked with finding the mysterious charmer, Merlee. If Merlon was right, then Merlee is the key to finding the next Pure Heart.
Never to flinch from danger, Mario, Heather, Peach, Duncan and Leshawna set out to find Merlee's mysterious mansion. Mario also became worried when the conflict between Heather and Leshawna showed signs of returning.
But little did they know, the evil works of dastardly Count Bleck awaited every turn…
Peach and Duncan are the next heroes! Leshawna is the first partner?! I just hope things between her and Heather don't get ugly. For the sake of the team and their worlds!
Let me know what you think of the story so far.
