And here we are... World 8.
This is pretty much nearing the end of this story.
Sure, this story wasn't that long but my other stories relating to this fandom will be a bit longer.
I hope you guys enjoyed this enough.
Now... let's get into the final world.
Aaron jumped out of the pipe with Mario & Luigi to see a giant castle in the distance, he stood on a nearby cliff with a serious look on his face.
They had covered a lot of ground... they fought many enemies to get here... and now... they'll have to steel themselves for this fight.
The people they care about are in there... waiting for them... they have to fight without hesitation.
This... was the final world.
"...Mario, Luigi... you've known Bowser long enough... not very many books detail his fighting style... tell me what you know about it?" Aaron asked
"Bowser is a bruiser, plain and simple... he-a knows a few techniques with his minions and has a few techniques of his-a own... he never-a uses them unless in a serious fight, we can't-a be too sure about what he has planned-a now." Mario explained
"He's a master at-a using his fire and will use a variety of-a techniques relating to it as-a mentioned before." Luigi then said
"...Well... before we go in, we're gonna have to make sure we're ready... so are you guys ready?" Aaron asked
"We'll go when-a you think we are ready... you've gotten us this-a far... you will-a make the decision here." Mario said
Aaron sighed and looked back at the castle in thought, he then looked at his sword and his reflection.
Did he have everything he needed here? Right now?
"...Mario... what does our power-up count look like?" He asked
"Take-a look." Mario said
They had a few Mushrooms on hand, some Fire-Flowers and Ice-Flowers, a few Hammer Suits, a Penguin Suit, and a Super Acorn.
They didn't have much... but they had enough.
"A Super Acorn... how does that react?" Aaron asked
He held it and suddenly it glowed, it disappeared and he felt something different about his clothes. He raised his arms and suddenly wing on them.
His hoodie turned into a wingsuit of some kind... strange.
"Well, we should head in there after a short rest... we've been running non-stop." Aaron said
They built a small fire and took a rest, he passed out with Mario & Luigi keeping watch.
He had fought a lot... the two plumbers would wake him up in an hour.
Aaron slowly woke up to find himself on a giant star platform, he got up and looked around confused... wasn't he just nearby Bowser's castle?
He looked forward and saw a giant star in front of him... they seemed very old and wise, as if they had seen a thousand lifetimes in front of them.
This... seemed to be a star of high power and respect, a leader, someone who knows the in's and out's of the universe itself among the stars.
Eldstar... he knew this name well.
"Young knight... you're journey has brought you far and wide... and you know this." He said
"Yes but... why do you want to speak to me?" Aaron asked confused
"...I wished to speak of you for you are a warrior of the Stars, a true Star Knight... I'd say you would have made a great Star Hero... sadly your Captain position was cut before its time." Eldstar explained
"I wouldn't have become a Star Hero... I'm not nearly heroic enough." Aaron said looking down
He looked up confused after he heard Eldstar chuckled amused.
"M'boy, you should know better... you went through army after army, castle after castle, world after world, to save the one you care about. You did not slay when not necessary, you ran when fighting wasn't needed, you knew what to do... m'boy... you truly are a Star Hero... may the Stars bless you on your final battle." He said
"...Is that all you wanted to say?" Aaron asked
"Ah yes, there is one more thing... that Star Mark... let us make it stronger, you may be able to minorly manipulate Star Energy alone and with that mark... but you have had yet to use your true strength... this enchantment will strengthen it." Eldstar said
Aaron's mark suddenly glowed and the green coloration grew stronger. He looked back at the Elder Star and bowed deeply.
He was grateful for this gift.
"I thank you." He said
"It is no problem... now... don't you have a Princess to save?" Eldstar asked
"Yeah... yeah I do... I'm gonna make sure that Bowser understands... you take my princess... and I will knock down your castle." Aaron said determined
"Now go m'boy... go and save her." Eldstar said
Aaron nodded and his body glowed as it began to disappear from the Star Realm.
The Star Rod protector had smiled to himself.
"What an honorable young man... was this fate too? Was this someone else's planning? I do hope so... for many had wished for his success." He said
Back at Earth
Aaron had woke back up and looked at the mark on his hand... it still held that brighter coloration, he got up and grabbed Fallen Star.
He looked over at Mario & Luigi whom noticed him getting up.
"Let's head out." He said
The two nodded and they got up, they ran over to the cliff and jumped off it.
Leaving their campsite behind with a small little glow over the put-out fire.
It seemed to be a Star... smiling slightly.
Two Koopa guards were standing in front of the castle, spears in their hands.
Aaron and the two Couriers of the kingdom were walking towards them.
"Hey stop right the-"
He was stopped a Star Shot hitting him in the face, defeating him. The other guard looked afraid before being jumped on by Mario, the two guards were placed at the edges of the door.
They opened it and walked in with stoic looks on their faces.
This... was the end.
They had began walking through the seemingly empty castle before guards appeared, they fought them off with relative ease. They kept moving forward regardless, a few Dry Bones threw bones at them but they were frozen soon after.
Boomerang Bros had tried to attack them but were taken down by a few fireballs courtesy of Aaron.
They rode on a platform across the lava, a few Mages appeared and fired off spells. They were stopped and some were even sent back turning them into blocks, some were turned into ice and fell into the lava.
They kept riding along before arriving at the other side, more enemies showed up but they were Goomba's and Koopa's.
They were dispatched quickly and without problem.
The three kept going onward, they then saw a room marked with a Yoshi symbol, Aaron walked in and saw that Yoshi was in there... he was still an egg, he grabbed it and it broke open allowing the dinosaur to go free.
He smiled as he looked at the night.
"Thanks for finding me." He said happily
"No problem... now let's go kick the king's butt... together." Aaron said with a grin
He walked out of the room with Yoshi, they kept walking through the halls of the castle as they fought more enemies. A few Boo's appeared, they scared Luigi while Mario looked at them angry with Yoshi being prepared.
Aaron meanwhile stuck his arm forth.
"STAR FLASH!" He yelled
Stars appeared behind them and launched forth, hitting all of the Boo's and thus destroying them. He lowered his arm and looked at the others, he knew he was gonna have to explain and just told them this.
"I can do this since the Mark grew stronger... now let's keep going."
They then continued on without another word or question.
They leaped over pits, ducked under thrown attacks, found paths to go through, and kept going onward through the castle with determination.
After a while of walking and fighting, they found themselves in front of Bowser's throne room... this was their final fight now... this was where the Princesses were.
Aaron kicked open the door and stormed in, clenching the blade till his knuckles were white. He saw the king on his throne and the hopeful looks of the princesses, Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi stood beside him.
The king glared at the four.
"...You've found your way here... you've fought through every castle... you even defeated my son... congratulations... you're just making me angrier knight... you are a pain in my side... just like Mario... honestly, had I not done this, I would have expected you to storm into my castle to defeat me... that kind of bravery is enraging." Bowser said
"...Let my princess go... let her Majesty go... and stop this... this is your only warning." Aaron said
"And why should I? You've fought every other monster in this kingdom and all the other worlds, you've faced off against me once when I wasn't on guard... I didn't take you seriously enough... well I did now... Kamek may have been defeated and you may have defeated my son... you've been determined to come here, rescue these two, defeat me... and save the day... it's time I ended this... your life ends here today Aaron... mark my words." Bowser said
"...I see... you've chosen to fight rather then just stop this right here and now... you know... initially, you annoyed me. Thinking you're just this hot-shot who can take over a kingdom by marrying someone, then you've decided to just... spy on me and find a weakness using your court mage... then you made me angry by kidnapping my girlfriend... and now you're standing in my way... I gave you a warning and you have disregarded, now... you will feel my wrath King Bowser... mark MY words." Aaron said
Bowser got up from his throne, flames dancing upon his breath, claws gleaming in the glow of the lava, his eyes sharpened and angry.
Aaron held his sword in front of him, Star Energy crackling around his mark, sword glowing in the dark of the room, eyes glowing and determined.
The two then ran at each other fighting with blows being exchanged from each side, sparks clashing in the area before Aaron jumped away to get some breathing room.
Mario then jumped on him but was stopped after Bowser spat fire on him, sending him flying towards the throne and thus was knocked out.
Luigi tried to throw a weak punch but it was blocked and he was thrown away onto his brother, Yoshi tried a ground pound but was launched upward by his Crusher technique which sent him near the two brothers.
Aaron attacked again which was met with a slash by Bowser.
He rolled backward as he tried to punch him again, he then threw a Chain Chomp at the knight which was blocked and sent away with some trouble.
He jumped forward with a slash and a war cry, it was blocked by the Koopa King. He launched a fireball that sent Aaron flying partially, he rolled across the ground before recovering and getting to a knee.
He cast his arm forth and a ball of energy built up in his hand.
"Star Blast." Aaron said
It was launched forth but it was cut through, Bowser snapped his finger causing Goomba's to appear. Aaron growled before getting up and sheathing his sword, the Koopa King set a few on fire while others charged at him.
He stopped the attacks from the Goombas by either jumping on them or blocking them with his sheath.
After it was done, Bowser then punched Aaron again which sent him sliding slightly.
The knight was breathing heavy as he felt his stamina start to run out, these blows were starting to take a toll on his body.
"I told you... you would fall here by my claws you puny knight." Bowser said
Aaron growled before launching a Star Shot, it was deflected soon after.
Bowser then began to stomp forward.
Rosalina looked onward worried, she then remembered something... something she had forgotten she could do but it would take a lot of energy hence she wouldn't do it very often, she lifted up her hand.
"Spirit of the Stars... grant me this, give me the power of the Super Star!" She said
A golden star appeared in her hand, she was a lot more tired but she had something to give him a fighting chance. She looked forward and yelled out this.
"AARON!" She said
Aaron looked at her and she threw the star with all of her might, it flew across the air and seemed to slow down as it descended upon him. He looked at it and recognized it.
This star... it grants one powerful strength for a few moments, his mark reacted to this and now it glowed brighter.
Aaron knew what he had to do next, he crushed it.
Star power went over him, he looked at Bowser with a glare and held his sword tightly.
Princess Peach looked onward with amazement, Rosalina looked on with a tired smile, the unconscious people looked over and saw him glowing with awe.
In Star Haven, everyone was watching the fight cheering him on.
Toadsworth had a feeling the fight was going on, he looked out a window and nodded.
Bowser growled.
Aaron then began to charge forward slowly, holding the sword up as he got faster.
Bowser then ran forward with a roar, readying a heavy slash angrily.
Don't worry, I won't leave you with a cliffhanger for too long.
Next chapter will be up soon.