Chapter 13: Swords and Shields
slowly opened his eyes to see the sun shining in the beautiful blue sky. The breeze felt good on his face as he slowly sat up. He was now in a world more 'realistic' than his and Kirby's but not nearly as dark as Samus'. He glanced around the area and saw thousands of trees in the distance. He then spotted his fellow comrades. Kirby had woken up and walked next to Mario while Samus and Kari were slowly getting up. " It'sa wonderful sight." Mario said to Kari. " Whya don't you take thata helmet off and feel the breeze." Mario said as he lied down and let the sun beat down on him.
" I prefer taking off my helmet in my own home." Kari said as she looked around. " So... this is where our next hero lies?" Kari asked as Samus got up. " Wow... I never saw the sun so beautiful before." Samus said blocking it out of her visor. " Come on Mario. We have to find the hero, the portal, then get out of here." Kari said as she walked away from the group. " Aw.. what's the hurry?" Mario said as he frowned. He was just getting comfortable. Mario got up then heard a loud yell not too far behind. " GET THAT BOY!" Mairo turned around to see where the voice came from. It was from a soldier in blue armor. There were two of them chasing a boy clad in green with a green cap, the boy was running pretty fast but the guards were catching up.
The boy ran behind Mario as the guards approached the plumber, swords drawn. " Hand over the boy and you won't suffer his same fate." the soldier said his sword next to Mario's throat. " What do you want him for? He looks like he did nothing wrong." Kari said as she stepped forth. " Ah, so there's a whole lot of you. Where did you all come from? I've never seen anything like you in my life." the other soldier said as he pointer his blade toward Kari. " I don't think that's any of your business. " Kari said as she took out the V-Saber's handle. " Strangers are not welcomed here by order of Lord Agahnim." the guard said. " Hey, leave them out of this. It's me you want." the boy said stepping in front of Mario. " No, they'll pay for sticking their nose into our work." the guard said.
" I suppose the penalty is death then?" Kari said as she fingered the handle. " I guess you'll have to see for yourself!" the soldier swung his sword at Kari who ignited the V-Saber and thrust it through the soldiers chest after chopping off the blade. " We need reinforcements!" the other soldier called. Soon eight more soldiers appeared from town, swords drawn. " Kill them! They're here to assassinate Agahnim!" the guard said as he rushed at Mario. Mario did a backflip then kicked the soldier to the dirt, the guard cursed. One of the green soldiers had an arrow and shot one at Kirby. Kirby swallowed it and turned into Arrow Kirby. Kirby turned into a bow then shot an arrow back at the soldier, killing it.
The boy drew his sword and shield and started fighting the guards. Samus shot blasts at a guard since the swords did minimal damage to her. One of the guards thrust it's sword at the boy but the boy put up his shield just in time and blocked the blow. He then took his sword and hacked the soldier's head off. The boy then took out a Boomerang and flung it at three guards. The guards started staggering from the powerful blow. Kirby shot an arrow at another archer and nailed it right in the back. Mario got sliced across the arm but soon kicked the soldier in the gut then flung him into the air. When the guard fell from the air Mario kicked it into a nearby boulder, smashing it's skull. The four other guards began to back away. " We'll tell Agahnim about you! You'll regret ever messing with us!" one of the soldiers said as the four ran away like cowards.
The heroes examined the field now filled with blood and bodies. Kari put her saber back in then turned to the boy. " Why did they chase you?" Kari asked. " I freed the princess. She was locked in a cell, the ruler killed her father and is now turning Hyrule into chaos. " the boy said. " Hyrule?... I heard Hyrule was much more lush and living. This place is horrible." Kari said. " Ever since Agahnim became the ruler Hyrule is nothing but a Dark World." the boy said. " By the way, what's your name?" Samus asked as she observed the boy. " Link.. I'm Link, and you all are?" Link asked as he saw all the odd creatures. " I'ma Mario and this isa Kirby!" Mario said pointing to the pink puff. " I'm Kari." Kari said as she held out a hand. " Samus." Samus held out her hand too. Mario and Kirby held out their hands. Link placed his hand over all of theirs. Suddenly his hand began to glow a golden light. It revealed the symbol of three triangles connected together, The Triforce. " Your the fourth hero!" Kari said noticing the symbol. " The what?" Link said with a puzzled look on his face.
The image disappeared from Link's hand. " We'll talk about it later. I'm sure more of those goons will be here." Kari said. " Follow me. There's a village not far north from here." Link said as he walked north. " Let'sa go!" Mario said as he and the others followed Link to the village.
felt the wind beat against his face as he swung his sword at the giant bird. The bird simply floated away about an inch then came back. Peasley swung his sword again but the bird did the same thing again, it was almost like the bird wasn't even trying to dodge it. The bird then pecked at Peasley, but Peasley rolled out of the way as the bird's beak hit the solid ground. Peasley used this opportunity and sliced the bird's eye. The bird screeched in pain as it slapped Peasley into one of the lanterns with it's wing. It then yanked it's beak out of the ground. It spotted Peasley and flew towards him. Peasley's sword was at the ready as the monster came closer.
Meanwhile the general was holding back as many monsters as he could. He gouged a Beanie's eye then slit a Shyguy's throat. He started fighting on the stairs as Chibobos stabbed him with their spears. The General fought with all his might to hold them back as he cut one in half and started hacking at the other five, blocking their swings in the process. Peach was still healing Luigi who slowly got up. " Peach?" Luigi asked. Peach smiled then nodded her head. He shot a fireball at a Beanie that was about to stab her then slowly sat up. " Go back intoa the castle Peach. It's not safe outa here. Theya want you." Peach agreed as Toadette led the princess inside while Luigi, the guard, and Geno held off as many monsters as they could.
Luigi swung his hammer at a Chibobo's head, crushing it's skull then turned around and shot a fireball at a Shyguy. Geno turned his hand into a mallet and started smashing at a Beanie. The Beanie started tearing at Geno's clothing with it's knife as Geno smashed it's chest. The guard had just been smacked in the shoulder by a mace but he still held his ground. " Believe it or not, this army can't go on forever! Just fight a little bit longer!" the guard said as he gashed a Chibobo's stomach open. Luigi nodded in agreement as he kicked a Beanie in the face, knocking it into a good number of monsters.
Alblacktross started beating it's wings together as it created a powerful gust of wind. Peasley held his ground as he was slowly being pushed off the edge. The monster then flapped it's winds so hard, a powerful gust blew Peasley off the castletop. Peasley grabbed onto a side of a brick with all his might. He gripped his sword, trying not to drop it as he slowly pushed himself back up. He panted then dashed at the monster. The bird saw this and swung one of it's talons at Peasley. Peasley sliced one talon but another talon grabbed hold of him. The Alblacktross pinned Peasley to the ground as it tried crushing him under it's weight. Peasley struggled to lift his blade but the monster was incredibly heavy.
The general called out a command as a cutlass sunk into his hip. " Leave the bird to Peasley, take out any other monster that threatens the prince!!!" with that he sliced a Shyguy in half then turned around and stabbed a Beanie. More Bean Bean soldiers threw bombs at the ladders and catapaults being set up below. One soldier was tripped by a Beanie, he was stabbed multiple times in the back as he cried for help. One of the archers attempted to shoot an arrow at Alblacktross but he was spiked in the back by a Chibobo's spear. It was hard to tell who was winning. So many monsters hadn't even climbed the ladders yet and since Peasley brought some Bean Beans to help, Peach's Castle wasn't going to fall easily either. Lighning struck one of the lanterns as a large fire ignited all around the ground. Though many fighters on each side perished in the flames, the fight still waged on.
The general ignited his other sword as he started spinning madly wiht his two flaming swords. He burned many but soon was stalled. He started gasping for breath as blood ran down his lips. " NOOOOOO!!! General Shromnick!" one of the guards said. An arrow had flung into the general's back. He strained to get up then continued to cut down more monsters. He had just finished slicing a Chibobo when a spear flung into his chest, he gasped some more as he coughed blood out of his leaking lungs. Peasley was furious when he saw this and with all his strength, took his blade and sliced the Alblacktross' talon. The mosnter screeched as it floated away. It cawed in anger as it flew back towards Peasley. Peasley flipped over the monster and landed on it's black feathered back. He then drove his sword into the bird's back. In fury the bird flew away, Peasley still on it.
The monster span and flipped, hoping Peasley would fall off. Peasley gripped onto the handle with all his might as he closed his eyes from all the spinning. Luigi saw the enormous bird fly away then saw the general collapse to the ground. " Oura leader has fallen!" Luigi cried. What could they do now without a general. Rage over took him as he started bashing incoming monsters like a madman. He almost suffered a stab to the heart but blocked the Beanie's blow and smashed it's side. He then shot a fireball and watched as it writhed in pain. Cackletta in the mean time, noticed her pet coming closer with Peasley tight on it's back. " Alblacktross, you have done well. May you rest in peace." She spoke. The pain in Alblacktross' back was too much for him. It headed towards it's master but crashed into the ground. Peasley drew his sword then flipped off it's back, unharmed. When the dust cleared he saw the monster, straining to live. He walked up to the monster and looked into it's eyes.
Peasley then lifted his sword and drove it through the beast's skull. As he drew his sword from the dead bird he sat on the ground and panted. He tried to give up but was soon shocked immensely. He collapsed on the ground as Cackletta pointed her staff towards him. She then lifted him off the ground and turned him towards her. " Cack.. letta... your...a..li..ve?" Peasley said weakley. " Yes, thanks to this staff. Now prince, if you do not call off your troops I won't destroy that castle in a matter of seconds with my staff." she said as her staff glowed. " Why did you sick that army on us in the first place?" Peasley said as he breathed heavy. " To give you some hope.. and to exhaust you of course." Cackletta said with a grin. Peasley knew she would do it too. He took a deep breath then yelled.
" SURRENDERRRRR!!!!" with the last of his energy his mind went black as he passed out.