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Chapter Nine: Updating Information
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While Wario made a detour to Thwomp Volcano, Waluigi was busying himself at Wario's Castle on Wario Land with Omega constructing numerous Chaos Emerald radars for their own search. They had already made one in the form of a gold coin emblazoned with the "W" initial and named it the Chaos Coin before hooking it to the castle's central computer to maximize its power radius over the entire Mushroom Kingdom as a test of its capabilities. Therefore, the two cousins and their new robot servant learned that there was a Chaos Emerald on Thwomp Volcano ripe for plundering. Wasting no time, Wario took his TELMET, a helmeted device of his own creation that teleports the wearer through television waves into the given origin of the waves, to teleport himself from his castle to the volcano through the electric systems stationed at both the castle and the former laboratory of E. Gadd's.
It hadn't been half an hour after Wario left that Waluigi and Omega saw the nearby television turn on in a emanating bright light with Wario himself materializing from the screen.
"Lo behold, my lanky partner in crime!" Exclaimed Wario with a green emerald in his left hand. "The first Chaos Emerald goes to the Purple Wind, who is silent, but deadly!"
"Congratulations, Mr. Wario." Commented Omega.
Waluigi scoffed, but smiled all the same.
"Yes, yes, that's grand, Wario, but I'm darn well sure I could've done it better."
Wario laughed as he removed his TELMET and placed his remote and Emerald on the nearby table.
"That will be the day, my local beanpole!" He then cast a serious look and walked towards his cousin. "But seriously, when I was at the volcano, I found out we weren't the only ones who knew about the Emeralds."
Waluigi facepalmed in exasperation.
"Those glory hogging cousins of ours just don't stop looking for adventures, don't they?"
Wario nodded agreeably.
"I saw Greenie, some of their pets, a few faces I recognized from checking Omega's visual memories, two Kremlings, and that so-called composer, Ludwig, in and around the volcano, but don't worry. When I detected that one of the treasure hunters was a robot through the TELMET, I then used the TELMET to travel electrically through E. Gadd's lab tech, out of the robot's systems, and grabbed the Emerald with only Ludwig and the she Kremling seeing me. Good thing you suggested we use a Super Star to supercharge the TELMET."
Waluigi thought over it before replying.
"Perhaps the robot can give us some weak points on his friends, so we know best how to cheat them out of the race?"
Wario thought about it himself before shaking his head.
"We don't have time to go all strategic. Unfortunately, this isn't some competitive sport where we see how the others are doing at the same arena. No, Waluigi, this is a race for limitless glory, treasure, and power where we have to rely on our eyes and ears. Some preparation is good, but if we over think ourselves, we'll never get the prize."
Waluigi gave a pout, but only relented.
"You're right, of course. If we have all that Chaos Power ripe for selling as energy, then everyone would bring WarioWare, Inc. all of their money."
"Attaboy!" Wario exclaimed with a quick clapping of hands. Stopping, he turned to Omega. "How many Chaos Coins have you two made?"
"Plus the original, twelve to be exact." Informed Omega without emotion.
"It was about as much we could build with what we have around the place." Explained Waluigi.
"Once you give the Coins a taste of Chaos Energy, their processing power and functionality will be more lasting." Omega informed once more.
"How are we on buying the local, geothermal power plant of Goldbobbington's?" Asked Wario.
"He was hard to get through, but eventually Goldbob gave us some papers." Replied Waluigi after a theatric sigh of exasperation which Wario followed suit.
"What kind?"
"Oh, the usual, you know? Warranties about treating the workers non-harshly, not shutting down the plant without good reason, a few pieces of company stock, a Gold Coin payment amounting to two million..."
"Two million Gold Coins?!" Wario blurted in angry disbelief. "Out of all the cheating, possessive, no good rip-offs, that absentminded fool of a Bob-omb big wig had to do this to us?!"
Panting from his outburst, Wario saw Waluigi's annoyed face.
"It's his power plant, Cousin, and it's served him quite nicely in the past. I had to try to be nice telling him that we would be very considerate and all that stupid junk to the employees working there and that our new source of energy would be much more workable and beneficial to us and society as a whole."
Calming down, Wario let loose his breath.
"Alright, what else is there to do?"
"Goldbob said that if we give a demonstration of our new power source by thirty days, then the plant and it's workers are ours."
"You kept said power source on the low-low, right?"
"Of course, I'm not stupid. Although, your own blunder at Thwomp Volcano probably blew our cover already."
Wario scoffed, indifferent to Waluigi's penetrating gaze.
"Look, despite this setback, we can still continue searching the Earth for the remaining Emeralds and our automated defense system will keep any unwanted pests out of the castle."
"You may also have to consider that the disruption scattered some of the Chaos Emeralds to other parts of your universe, if not your multiverse as a whole." Offered Omega before pointing out. "I was teleported to Wario Land while a Chaos Emerald was later shown on your Earth."
Wario and Waluigi exchanged uncomfortable looks at the prospect of that possibility.
"Uh, it's probably best that we focus on what's at hand with those chumps on Earth before we focus on anything else." Said Waluigi. "With any luck, they can show us where the other Chaos Emeralds are on the planet which we can swipe at anytime."
"Good point!" Sang Wario, who then gestured broadly. "Imagine the limitless mother lode of cash that this and any other universe will pay for all that delicious Chaos Energy to power their lives! Waluigi, who else can pull it off, but you and me?! We'll be rich!"
"We'll be rich!" Repeated Waluigi in breakdance and song.
"We'll be out!" Wario versed with a flex of his muscles.
"We'll be out!" Waluigi repeated with a right hand grabbing of his partner's right hand, prepared to sing at once.
"And all worlds will have some more to talk about!"
Their joint singing at a close, the two cousins then let go, and laughed maniacally.
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Above the Mushroom Kingdom, accessible though the captivating road of sparkling stars known as Star Way, floated the small city of the Starlings, Star Haven. While not nearly as expansive as Neo Bowser City and even less modern than Toad Town, Star Haven carried a sense of beauty that wasn't unnoticeable to either occupant or visitor. Consisting of moats, white trees that had stars for leaves, ancient forts that served as homes and shops, and a celestial blue temple that served as the Star Spirits' place of council. Outside of the temple, Mario and Sonic waited fifty minutes for an audience with the Spirits and decided to pass their time of waiting by exchanging information on their separate friends, adventures, and worlds while sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"So the Star people live here, but aren't born here?" Sonic asked curiously.
"They're formed from the magic surrounding the Earth which connects with the magic in the neighboring stars to give raise to Star Kids who are born in Starborn Valley and raised by the locals until they are old enough to ascend to Star Haven." Explained Mario. "The scope of their powers in granting wishes depends on how old they are and how well-intentioned the wish is. Aside from the Spirits, there is an object called the Star Rod which embodies all their powers combined to make any wish. Once they see a wish worth granting, the Star Road that serves as vanguard between Star Haven and Earth shoots a star down to the planet below where the person who made the wish must then collect."
"Do all these wishes even work?"
"There are some limitations. In fact, it's more like the scales of karma than simply asking an omnipotent dragon to bring your loved ones back to life from the dead."
After processing it all, Sonic decided to change the topic to something more related to their eventual obstacles.
"So what's Bozo like?"
"Uh, I think you mean Bowser, and man you shouldn't take him lightly. That guy nearly sent me to the grave after he took the Star Rod."
Sonic scoffed lightheartedly.
"Can't resist mocking him with a name like that. Besides, how tough can he be?"
"He breathes fire, he's super strong, he knows dark magic, and he's nearly immune to anything life throws at him." Counted Mario for good measure. "So yes, he's tough."
"He's bad, Mario. I get it, but I'm sure he doesn't lack some weaknesses."
"Of course not. He's quick to anger and miss some important details, but that doesn't mean we should ignore him unless we know for certain he isn't going to be a really big problem."
After considering it with a nod, Sonic then asked something else.
"What about your cousins?"
"Quick to anger as well, but their focuses are more about getting rich and famous whether than powerful most of the time. They're pretty much sore losers in their own strong armed or strong legged sort of way."
"Strong legged?"
"Waluigi's power is in his feet. You should've seen the day that he defeats Bowser with one kick. Wario owns a castle on a nearby planetoid which he also owns, but getting through his defenses will be tricky. He's been seriously paranoid about someone stealing his treasure ever since the Black Sugar Gang pirates of Captain Maple Syrup will able to get to Wario Land through a Warp Pipe."
"Wait a minute." Sonic stated confused. "He owns his own planetoid?"
"In all, but name. After he first fought Syrup, Wario traded all the treasure he collected on Kitchen Island to a genie in exchange for his own private kingdom."
"Sounds like a guy after Rouge's own heart."
Before they could go over something else, the temple doors opened to show the Toad merchants leaving with satisfied faces after concluding successful business dealings with Spirits followed by the hovering elder of Star Haven, Eldstar, who was yellow, had dark green eyes, white eyebrows, and a white mustache.
"Alright, boys, it's your turn." He told Mario and Sonic, who quickly got back on their feet and entered the temple ecstatically.
Inside, the moat from outside entrenched nearly the entire room save for seven crystal pillars where each Star Spirit hovered and surrounded the lone octagon floor where the orange and green Star Rod hovered over a smaller octagon in the middle.
Upon seeing his surroundings, Sonic sighed in mild contempt as Mario finished explaining their request.
"Why did it have to be water?"
"You okay, Sonic?" Mario asked in concern.
"Oh, I'm fine, but back in my dimension, I'm notorious for being one of the few hedgehogs who can't swim. It's a nightmare."
"Fear can be quite complexing." Said the greenish-yellow Star Spirit with a brown mustache and dark blue eyes named Kalmar.
"I didn't say I was scared." Said Sonic in defense. "I just feel uncomfortable that I have to use floats or something all the time."
"Let's not get feisty, my young friend." Advised the rosy-cheeked, pink bowtied, dark-eyed, book carrying Klevar. "You came to us for help and we are willing to offer it."
"Unfortunately, the omniversial collision was so wide, that not even we can pinpoint the locations of where your friends, foes, and Chaos Emeralds can be." Informed the pink bow equipped Mamar.
"However, we are willing to send our people to keep close eyes on what goes on Earth." Said Misstar, who was purple in color and wore a yellow ribbon on her head.
"And we'll cooperate with our Luma buddies to see what Rosalina and Lubba know about this." Offered the blue, sailor hatted Muskular.
"We won't let either of you down." Said the light purple, brown moustached, blue glasses wearing Skolar with brown eyebrows in an attempt for encouragement.
"That sounds good, guys." Complimented Sonic with a slight bow as he and Mario started to take their leave.
"Thank you so much for your help." Said Mario with a tip of his hat.
As the two heroes left to go back to the Star Cruiser, Mario heard a cackling noise emanating from his MSP. Checking it out, he and Sonic started hearing something like a robotic voice.
"I failed to get the Chaos Emerald, but I am approaching the Death Egg in the southwestern continent as quickly as possible, Dr. Eggman, sir." Said the voice.
"That sounds like Metal Sonic!" Exclaimed Sonic in astonishment. "But how are we getting his reception?"
"Yes, Doctor, I will continue to hurry and minimize communication attempt until I arrive." Continued the supposed Metal, unaware that he was being eavesdropped. "Yes, I know that my transmissions are likely being received by unwanted, third parties. Which is why I am hurrying."
The transmission ended abruptly, leaving Mario and Sonic staring at each other dumbfounded.
"This obviously sounds like a trap." Said Sonic after a short silence elapsed.
"Clearly, but this could be a good chance to get Eggman." Replied Mario. "And if my longitude is correct, the continent he's talking about is Dinosaur Land."
"Then let's go get the others and scramble that egg!" Sonic ordered as he and Mario ran to the Star Cruiser.
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Raucous laughter took hold of the Koopa Crusier's command center as Junior and the Koopalings finished listening to Mario and Sonic unknowingly following into their trap.
"Oh, what a bunch of dumbbells!" Morton chortled.
"I know, right?!" Commented Roy.
"How stupid can those losers get?!" Iggy yelled.
"And all we had to do was copy that metal rodent's voice and hack into Mario's MSP!" Laughed Ludwig.
"Alright, settle down, people!" Barked Larry. "Although my plan is starting without a hitch, we still need to be prepared to come to "Yolk Breath's" rescue." He allowed his arrogance to show soon after. "After all, it would seem quite embarrassing if the leader out of the Koopalings messed up his own plan, not like that will ever happen, of course."
"Then let's be good children of evil and bring Papa the Eggman!" Ordered Junior enthusiastically with his left fist up high in the air.
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To be continued
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Behind the scenes
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I based Wario and Waluigi's song from the one in Anastasia, made a reference to Dragon Ball, and copied BJ's line from Mojo's in his debut appearance in Avengers Assemble. Please continue to provide aid in whatever way.