Geno extended his hands and prepared to take his first piece out of Sir Grodus. In one fluid motion, Grodus swung his staff, tearing it out of the brick wall and ending it an arch at Geno's head. Clearly Grodus was surprised, nobody could have ducked out the way with the staff going at the speed it was. Trying to go on the attack, Geno realized very quickly that Sir Grodus was fast and calm. The few times in the brief scuffle Geno did manage to hit the leader of the X-Nauts, it seemed like it did nothing. Grodus kicked Geno back, with him landing on the ground hard. This was what he had been waiting for, Geno knew: defeating Sir Grodus. Yet, he had to consider his options with Lady Timpani.
Smashing the manhole beneath him open, Geno quickly grabbed Timpani and sent them landing knee deep in a torrent of rushing water. Timpani hesitated for a second to follow a running Geno, but when she looked up and noticed the menacing Sir Grodus above them, she too gave pursuit. Together, they were swept away by the water, hoping that it would get them to safety.
As the sun began to fall, it took a moment in its descent to glow on sweating, cocked back head of Mario as through a small oval window. He leaned on a chair situated before the gurneys carrying the wounded and securing the D-Men. Flicking away his attempts at understanding why these purple men had caused the chaos they did the last few weeks, Mario decided to concentrate on the more troubling matter. Civilians were reporting a shootout between the X-Nauts and the police not too far away from the auditorium.
What were the X-Nauts doing in the Toadstool Kingdom? From what he had been able to gather, after Lord Crump's humiliating defeat and death when King K. Rool turned on him, the X-Nauts had lost power. Their tyranny was ironically ended by Bowser, who used Delfino Isle to open fire and destroy an entire nation. There had been rumors Sir Grodus had been running the X-Nauts as a terrorist force and that clearly seemed to be the case. If Sir Grodus consolidated enough power, he could take back everything the X-Nauts lost, maybe more.
Princess Peach was on the far end of the room, attending to her cousin, Prince Pine. She gave an annoying look at the radio. There was Shake, getting ready to make a huge broadcast and only moments ago, they were all attacked. Only moments ago, Lady Timpani was kidnapped. She knew Shake and Timpani could care less for each other, but Shake should have cancelled his appearance. Choosing to take it, especially after the second attack on her family in such a short time just seemed suspicious.
Mario wandered onto Peach's side, punching notes on his iPhone - or at least the Toadstool equivalent of one. Surprisingly, the Toadstool Kingdom did get Internet and while their versions of Google and Facebook were, well, different, it was a good substitute. Already everyone was clamoring about the huge showdown between the cops and the X-Nauts. Good, with focus off the D-Men it would give Mario time to find out where these purple people were coming from without interruption. He had left his home, his Earth for this place - these monsters would not ruin that.
"Everyone, it's me, King Shake," crackled the lean king's voice through the radio. Huddling around the radio with Peach and Pine, Mario listened in to the broadcast. He found it odd, how Merelda, despite being Peach's younger sister, inherited the throne because she lived in the Toadstool her whole life. Just because Peach grew up with him in Brooklyn, Mario thought it was wrong to deny her, well her birthright. Then again, according to Peach, she and the Mushroom King had a slew of arguments. Merelda was always quieter and more willing. It was why she married Shake. Peach, on the other hand, was always angry that Kamek had whisked her away from Mario. "Today I have a special announcement to make with a very special guest to our nation. He is young, yes, but he is ideal."
The words that came next were the most shocking and frustrating that he had heard since his arrival in the Toadstool Kingdom. They also confirmed all his suspicions about the mysterious King Shake.
"My name, is Bowser Jr," said the voice of a young boy. Mario nearly fell over. "I am not the man my father was. Genocide occurs, and our names are linked by blood. D-Men attack the Toadstool Kingdom and I am nearly killed in the assault. A Toad is murdered and a Kremling tortured, all done under the order of my father. I tell you, I am a child who wholeheartedly rejects everything my father stood for." Suddenly, the broadcast began to play over the PA and Pine quickly turned off the radio. This was broadcasting out to the whole city, the attack on the auditorium must have damaged some audio systems. That must've been why it took so long for the broadcast to play. "The closest I ever came to happiness was listening to the cheers of the Kremlings after the death of my father was announced. The closest I ever came to joy, was the cheering of the world as they rejoiced over the fall of Delfino Isle. And I? I'm happy my father is dead."
The tension in the auditorium was palpable. They clearly did not know what to expect. The royals seemed confused as to what the point was, of this broadcast, but clearly most people were feeling for Bowser Jr. He had lost everything, but was glad for it. Mario looked at Peach, but was unable to read her face. He looked at Pine, he seemed... happy? Happy for the kid. Mario himself was conflicted. He wanted to give Jr the benefit of the doubt, but there was too much bad blood between their family.
"I lived in the ruins of Wario's land, scared to come out to you. Scared because I did not believe any of you would accept me. Yet after the D-Men nearly killed me, I can tell you, it is the worst of times. I have a terrible feeling that they will cause a major crimewave and will try and topple the Toadstool Kingdom! Already, Lady Timpani has fled in fear of the X-Nauts. With people like her in charge, the D-Men will destroy Toad Town! Shake, I don't mean any offense here. Why should they listen to me? My father's name has damned me. I know Toads are the most accepting people in the Koopahari, but I would not be hardpressed to understand why they reject me if they do. Just as the Toads whom I have revealed myself to, I want to give love. I want to teach this city how to love again, so that we can beat the D-Men. Someone to remind you of how far you can fall if you don't have love. Someone like me."
There was a pause.
Then somebody outside the auditorium started cheering. Soon the royals and nobles inside started cheering. Mario felt uncomfortable but Bowser Jr felt on top of the world.