Chapter 20 Afraid of the Dark Part 2

Inky blackness shrouded every corner of the throne room. It was at demoralizing, detrimental darkness that filled Pom Pom's heart with a gnawing void. There was no possible hope. She couldn't even see where her opponents might be, let alone combat them. Her teeth chattered like hyperactive drum beats. Cold, sickly chills caressed her spine.

But then she looked over at Vivian. Fear was painted over the Shadow Girl's face. Her hands were shaking like a can of soda, and she looked ready to explode into tears. For some odd reason, this sight made Pom Pom's courage return. She had to be strong, strong enough for the both of them.

So, Pom Pom begrudgingly took hold of Vivian's hand. Together they stepped forward, darkness wrapping around them like hungry snakes. It gnawed at their insides like a parasite. It was overwhelming, but so was the idea of the whole world ending. Pom Pom looked around, squinting into the dark void for the appearances of the Shadow Sirens. She saw nothing.

"So what's the plan?" asked Vivian. "How are we going to defeat my sisters?" Pom Pom let in a breath of the darkness soaked atmosphere.

"I don't know."

Vivian began to tremble again. Pom Pom squeezed her hand, partly out of anger. This was no time to shrink back in fear.

"Where are we, anyway?" Vivian asked. "I can't really tell." Pom Pom looked down and noticed some red carpet underneath her feet, just barely visible amidst the gloom.

"I think we're in Bowser's Castle," she said. Vivian nodded as she too looked down at the floor.

"So there is no place for us to run."

"No. I'm afraid there's not."

"Guh!"

Pom Pom nearly jumped back as she saw a yellow electric bolt travelling toward her and Vivian. She just barely escaped her body getting fried. Vivian was now hyperventilating.

"Oh no. They found us!"

The silhouettes of the Shadow Sirens appeared in the darkness. The shorter, skinnier silhouette was coming closer and closer. When she was close enough, Pom Pom could see that it was a snarling Beldam.

"Vivian," she said. Vivian gulped down a very large, painful sounding lump.

"Beldam." Beldam's eyes morphed into slits.

"Traitor. Why would you want to show your hideous face to us now?"

Vivian whimpered, but she still managed to stand tall.

"We are here to defeat you. Again."

Beldam cackled, and Marilyn's loud, burly voice could be heard laughing too.

"Haha!" Then, Beldam sharpened her gaze. "You think you're funny."

With that, she sent a bolt of ice straight toward Vivian. Vivian was frozen in place. As she struggled against the ice surrounding her body, Marilyn came forward with her finger pointed out.

"Guh!"

She shot an electric bolt toward Vivian's face. Pom Pom watched as the Shadow Girl screamed in terror before she sprung into action. She threw her ninja star at Marilyn, knocking her to the ground. Beldam hissed and sent a bolt of ice straight toward Pom Pom, but she back flipped right over it. The chillness of the bolt grazed over Pom Pom's shell, causing frost to form. She shivered like a hairless cat in the snow.

"Impressive," said Beldam as Pom Pom still sailed through the air. "For a koopa."

She then shot a bolt of frost straight toward the ground. The floor was overtaken by a sheet of ice. When Pom Pom landed, she slipped and fell like a clumsy kid. This gave Beldam the opportunity to use her ice magic to freeze her in place. Pom Pom struggled, but couldn't get free.

"Let me go!" she demanded. Beldam laughed.

"Not a chance," she said. Marilyn got up with a wicked smile on her face.

"Guh!"

An electric bolt started to charge up around her fingers. Just as Pom Pom was thinking she was toast, Vivian teleported over and used fire magic to unfreeze Pom Pom. The cadet rolled out of the way just as Marilyn was about to shock her.

"Nice move, Vivian," Beldam sneered. "But not nice enough. You can't win this time."

"Sure I can," Vivian retorted. "I won against you before!"

"Guh ha ha!" Marilyn laughed. Beldam laughed right alongside her.

"Look around you, Vivian! You did not win; you just prolonged the inevitable!" She rubbed her finger together, causing the room to be covered in snow. "You don't have the mental capacity to defeat us. You're just a stupid little twit!"

Vivian shrieked back. Pom Pom stared at her in shock. No! She couldn't let fear win! She couldn't let her sister's words get the better of her! She was better than that! She was stronger than that!

"Vivian…"

Vivian curled up into a small, tight ball. Pom Pom could hear her sobbing as she held her head in her lap. Pom Pom turned toward the laughing Shadow Sirens with a heated, ugly scowl on her face.

"Funny. That 'stupid little twit' somehow managed to lock you up for a thousand years." Suddenly, an idea crossed Pom Pom's mind. "In fact…"

Using all the strength she had at her disposal, Pom Pom lifted the crying Vivian up onto her shoulders and started to carry her away. She zipped through the darkness, not even caring about the walls.

"Pom Pom! What are you doing?" Vivian screeched. Pom Pom just kept running as she looked down at the Shadow Girl.

"Vivian," she said as she ran across the room. "Can you use the fire magic you used before to light the way?"

"Well, sure, I suppose. But what good will that do; where are you taking me?"

"I'll explain later. Just trust me."

Vivian hesitated before lighting up the path. With the fire shredding the darkness to pieces, Pom Pom was able to see the hallway. She barreled toward the east wing, zipped up the stairs. She barely paid attention to the frozen Koopa troopa servants along the way. She just had to get to the lab.

As she ran, Pom Pom heard electricity crackle behind her, she could see frost overtaking the hallway. She didn't even stop. She just ran even faster. This had to work. This was the only way to save things, to end it all.

Finally, Pom Pom and Vivian got to the lab. Pom Pom bolted toward the door of the holding cell. She burst through, allowing her to see Roy, frozen like a statue in a panicked expression. She didn't care about him. What she cared about was the box.

"Vivian," she said as she set the Shadow Girl down on the ground. "Look. That's the same box; you can imprison your sisters again!" Vivian just stared down at the box.

"Are you sure? I mean, it's been so long; I don't even know if I remember the incantation." Her face was contorting into fear, all confidence was slipping away from her. Regardless, Pom Pom placed her hand on her shoulder.

"You can do this. I believe in you." Vivian's eyes grew wide.

"Really? Do you really mean that?"

"Yes. I do." Slowly, Vivian started to smile.

"She believes in me," she whispered to herself. Pom Pom smiled and pulled out her ninja star. It glittered like a beacon.

"But that is only half the battle. You also need to believe in yourself too. Don't listen to what your sisters say."

Vivian nodded and took the box. She let out a breath.

"I think I remember the incantation."

"Good. Cause now would be a good time to say it!"

The Shadow Sirens came into the room, baring their teeth like wild bears. However, when they saw Vivian with the box, fear entered their countenances.

"No! Not the box!" Beldam cried.

"Guh!" Marilyn shrieked.

Vivian smiled and faced her sisters.

"Sorry, guys. But the Shadow Queen won't reign today." With that, she held the open box in the direction of her sisters. She said the incantation, and suddenly a purple, swirling vortex appeared. Pom Pom got out of the way and watched as the Shadow Sirens got swallowed.

"This isn't the end!" Beldam cried. "The Shadow Queen will inherit this world! Her son will be revived!"

"Guhhh!"

With that, the Shadow Sirens were stuck in the box. Once Vivian closed it, an explosion occurred, pushing her and Pom Pom back. Pom Pom sat up and rubbed her head. To her delight, she saw that all of the darkness had vanished. She could see the white walls of the lab, illuminated by the light bulb shining overhead. She could see Roy, who was rubbing his head in confusion.

"Ugh. What happened?" he asked. Suddenly, he noticed Vivian. "Ahh! It's a Shadow Siren!"

Pom Pom shook her head.

"Close, but not quite knucklehead." She got up and helped Roy to his feet. "That's Vivian. You owe your life to her, BTW."

Roy still looked confused.

"You're the new recruit."

"Mmhm."

He looked around, unsure of what was going on.

"How long have I been in the lab?" he asked. Pom Pom snickered.

"Don't worry. Vivian and I will explain everything."