Chapter 16 Darkness Is Spreading

Sunrays were sent falling down onto Pom Pom's face. The sting her skin like little wasps, bite at her cheeks like hungry ants. She opened her eyes and was entirely shocked by the sight. The sun was high in the sky, but it was not a glowing white like it usually was at noon time. Instead, it was a boiling, blazing red. The sun glared down upon the Mushroom World, angry and malicious in its intent.

Pom Pom sat up with a start. She looked around and saw that all of the members of her party were starting to wake up as well. They each rubbed their eyes and rubbed their faces, which all looked like they had been cooked on a grill. Mario shielded his eyes and looked up at the scarlet sun.

"Mama Mia!" he exclaimed. "What's up with the sun?"

Iggy looked up as well. His face contorted into an expression of misery.

"It must be getting affected by the magic." He got up and screamed when his feet touched the clouds. "Holy cow, that is some smoking stratus!"

Pom Pom, curious, got up. Once her feet touched the ground, she let out a shriek. Her feet felt like they were touching the scorching hot sand of a sunny beach. She whimpered and held up the bottom of her foot. It was black.

"Do you think these clouds have gotten affected by the magic too?"

"Most likely," Ludwig said. In the glowing red atmosphere, his hair and cloak looked purple. "This world can't handle the magic of the Shadow Queen."

"It's like it is protesting," Wendy said. "The world is in pain, and it is trying to compensate by having the forces of nature protest for its sake."

"Uh, guys?" Lemmy said. Pom Pom saw that he was coming their way. Like the rest of them, his skin was as pink as a salmon. "I think you might want to see this!"

The others exchanged worried looks before all getting up. As they followed Lemmy, Pom Pom thought that the clouds looked pinkish. The sky, which would normally be blue, was a blazing yellow. Pom Pom felt her exothermic blood scream out in agony, for the temperature was blazing. She saw that Peach and Mario were wiping their forehead and panting like dogs. Pom Pom became jealous of their ability to sweat. It would be really helpful for her right now.

Lemmy continued to lead them along. Each step that they talk made Pom Pom question all life decisions that lead her to this moment. She was melting, broiling in the harmful air. She looked down at her hands and saw that her palms were a bright red.

Finally, Lemmy stopped. It was a good thing too, because they had reached the edge of Meringue Clouds. Lemmy leaned over the edge and pointed down toward the ground below.

"Look!"

Pom Pom did. Everyone collectively let out a gasp at the sight that they saw. There was no land to speak of. The darkness had smothered it, taken it prisoner. The thick, smog like fog laid like a vicious monster, ready to fill its belly.

"My kingdom!" Peach exclaimed as she put her hands to her mouth. "It's gone!"

Pom Pom stared down at the inky blackness. She swore that she heard some eerie whispers coming from it, whispers that were being uttered in a completely alien language. Pom Pom felt a chill drip like liquid down her spine.

"We need to pick up the pace," she told the others.

"You're right," Morton said with no sense of hesitation. He turned toward the Princess and the plumber. "Mario, Peach,can you continue taking us to Soda Jungle?"

Peach nodded, a fresh sense of urgency present on her face.

"Of course. Come with me."

…

Pom Pom gulped as she stared down at the Jungle below. The northern and southern halves were luscious and green, filled to the brim with trees and thick purple sludge. The middle part, the part that the beanstalk was going to take them down into, was dead and gray. Purple fog rested above the wood, giving the place an eerie mood. The trees swayed in the wind, sounding creaky and miserable. She noticed the others staring down with sickly expressions on their faces.

"I don't think it is too much of a stretch to make the assumption that Vivian is hiding in the dead area of trees?" Iggy asked.

"No sirree," Mario said. He grabbed onto the beanstalk. "Which means that we had better make our way down there."

With that, Mario started to climb his way down the vine. Pom Pom watched as he descended lower and lower until he was completely hidden by the trees. She exchanged a look with Peach and the Koopalings before deciding for herself what to do. She grabbed onto the beanstalk and followed the portly red plumber. She could feel her heart beating, her hands shaking, but she did not care. She was not a coward.

When Pom Pom reached the bottom, she let go of the stalk and hopped onto the ground. She took in her surroundings with her brave face on. The trees creaked and swayed like barren skeletons. The fog was thick, purple, and sickly. The grass was as dead as everything else, as it was as dry and as crunchy as a fresh pair of femurs. Pom Pom thought she saw white wisps flitting about through the trees, and she also heard spooky laughter. When Peach and the Koopalings got to the bottom of the beanstalk, they all looked deathly pale.

"So," Wendy said solemnly. "This is the place."

A high, blood curdling shriek bounced off the trees and straight to Pom Poms ears. She saw the others grow even paler.

"What was that?!" Lemmy asked as he started to quiver.

"It is most likely a boo," Iggy said. "While they can be dangerous, they are also quite shy. We will be fine as long as we stay together."

Mario nodded.

"Come on, everyone," he said. "Let's go find Vivian."

The crew started to make their way through the forest. The trees seemed to bend down, eager to touch and assault Pom Pom. She stayed in the middle of the path, not daring to go up to them. She heard mousers and other rodents sitting about in the brush. Pom Pom closed her eyes.

"I am not afraid, I am not afraid," she said. She gripped her ninja star. Her mother wouldn't want to see her in this state. Neither would her father, for that matter. He would say her behavior is shameful.

The deeper that they got into the forest, the darker that it got. Ludwig held up a blazing blue flame in his hands to light up the forest. The blue light, while it did help light the way, made the forest appear even more spooky. Pom Pom started taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"How are we going to find Vivian in this place?" Peach asked.

"Like this," Lemmy said. He cupped his hands around his mouth and started to shout. "Vivian! VIVIAN!"

Mario turned back to the little Koopa with a grumpy, frightened look.

"Stop that! We don't want to attract any ghosts!"

Suddenly, the bushes started to rustle. Pom Pom felt her heart start to race. Perhaps it was a ghost. Nice going Lemmy, now they were all good as gone. Pom Pom felt her heart beat grow faster and faster. She displayed her ninja star.

"Who are you?" She shouted. "Show yourself! We are not afraid!"

In that instant, the bushes parted. Pom Pom stared at the figure before them. It resembled the Shadow Sirens in the sense that it had purple skin. Shadows seemed to curl around the figure, even making it so that she floated on them. However, what separated her from the other Shadow Sirens was the fact that her face appeared friendly and kind. Her hair was cotton candy pink, and she wore a pink and white striped hat. She stared at the group in front of her.

"I heard someone call my name."