17. Fall of the Boggly Tree?
While Mario and his friends are fighting Magnus Von Grapple Lord Crump is out to steal the Crystal Star from the secret room under the Great Boggly Tree. But will he be on time or will Mario catch up with him?
Lord Crump and his soldiers arrived at the wooden cabin, with a strong kick Crump kicked the door down, the cabin seemed to be empty, with hand-signs Crump gave commands his X-Naut Soldiers stormed inside they spread around the cabin. 'Clear!' It sounded from all sides then Crump entered. 'So here is the entrance supposed to be, but where?' Crump was pondering then one of his soldiers came out of the cellar. 'Found the entrance, I was ransacking the place when I stumbled on a hidden button.'
Crump followed the soldier to the cellar, the bottles of wine were spread all over the place, most of them broken the racks were pulled down from the wall, the hidden door was open. 'Interesting, let me go in first, see if it is safe.' Crump slowly walked down the hallway suddenly he stepped on a loose stone, quickly he rolled out of the way just in time as two blades shot from the walls. 'This place is rigged with traps... that could be a problem.' He muttered, then one of the soldiers stepped into the hallway with a bottle of wine in his hand. 'Lord Crump watch out!' The soldier shouted, Crump stepped to the side the soldier threw the bottle of wine in, halfway it got zapped by electricity.
'Good find soldier, seems there are some lasers on the ground, when triggered a strong jolt of electricity is shot from the floor.' The soldier then returned with a second bottle he threw it away near the end of the hallway it got zapped again. 'Let's go.' Crump said: 'But watch out for loose tiles.'
After a few minutes of careful walking they reached the other end of the hallway, Crump kicked against the wooden door it was thrown out of its hinges the door landed halfway the next hallway blades shot out of the walls again, then Crump noticed a small computer attached on the wall.
'Let's see what this terminal has to offer.' Lord Crump mumbled he took a small notebook from his pocked he typed in some commands, his screen turned on. 'A list of all traps.' Crump typed in some more commands.
'Traps deactivated.' He put the notebook back in his pocket.
Two hallways later Crump and two of his soldiers entered a huge open room, in the center of the room stood a huge machine, in the center of that machine in a glass tube was the Crystal Star attached to some wires.
'Buh buh buh huh huh, found it!' He laughed.
'Ehm Lord Crump, how do we get that Crystal Star out of there?' One of the soldiers asked. Crump put his glasses straight: 'Watch and learn.' He replied while he cracked his knuckles, Crump took a hammer out of his pocket he smashed the hammer against the glass tube there was no crack to be found.
'Reinforced glass, as to be expected...' Crump casually threw the hammer away then he inspected the generator there were many buttons. 'One of these buttons shuts down the generator but if I press the wrong button our exit might block or the shutters around the Crystal Star closes then all chances of us getting it are wasted.' Crump started to phase up and down the room. 'Got it!' He then suddenly bellowed, Crump took a gun out of his pocket he started to shoot at the glass.
After some time, patience and a lot of bullets the glass finally scattered, the shutters slowly started to close, Crump yanked the Crystal Star out of the generator then the door also started to close, Crump quickly started to run closely followed by the two soldiers.
After Lord Crump and the soldiers left the cabin he held the Crystal Star above his head. 'Soldiers!' He shouted: 'We survived that deathtrap! We have our prize! We shall make our...'
Lord Crump was stopped by a bright light in the sky, followed by a ball of fire and a very loud explosion, then pieces of The Blade rained down from above. '... Well...' Lord Crump stammered: '... there goes our ride...' He slowly continued, then he saw four figures descending with the lift. '... And Mario and his gang survived! Soldiers we run for the exit now! If Mario catches up with us...' Crump didn't have to finish his sentence all soldiers started to run like maniacs.
Then all of a sudden Crump saw Mario getting closer.
Mario used his shadow magic to leap over Lord Crump, blocking the path of the X-Naut Commander. 'Buh buh huh huh, so yet again you are a thorn in my side.' Lord Crump looked around him.
'There is no escape this time Lord Crump, you can run but I will be faster, you can Duel me but I will be stronger, why don't you hand me over the Crystal Star? It is over you can clearly see that.'
Crump chuckled: 'You think I would give up? I will not fail, no matter if it costs me my life!' Crump took a remote control from his pocket it had one huge red button on it. 'Mario, I had my soldiers place bombs all around the forest, when I press this button the timer will be set to five minutes.' Lord Crump's finger hanged above the button then slowly he pressed it.
'Buh buh buh huh huh, and with that POW... I'm gone!' Crump started to run two X-Nauts jumped out of the bushes.
'Mario, Goombella, Luigi you go I'll take these two.' Mallow said he activated his Duel Disk, the rest started to chase Crump.
Halfway the Boggly Woods Crump looked behind him, he saw Mario, Goombella and Luigi gaining on him. 'Rats, can't seem to lose them.' Crump gasped, he whistled a group of soldiers leaped from the bushes, Mario roared a black mist covered the area blinding the soldiers.
After one more minute running the exit came in sight. 'Buh huh huh, made it!' Crump gasped he was out of breath.
Suddenly someone leaped over Crump, it was Mario, he casted his magic a dark barrier erupted in front of the exit, Crump stopped running Luigi and Goombella also stopped, Mallow came running from the distance.
'It's over Crump, you can only escape if I remove the barrier, turn off the bomb or we all die.' Mario folded his arms.
Lord Crump started to laugh: 'I don't care Mario, Sir Grodus needs the Crystal Star, even if I die here I'm taking all of you with me, Azrael or Grave can come here after the explosion they can take my Crystal Star and the one you hold together with the Treasure Map! This time Mario! This time the X-Nauts win! In ten seconds!'
Mario closed his eyes he waited.
'Three.' Lord Crump counted down: 'Two, one.'
When nothing happened Lord Crump took the remote control, he pressed the button a few times. 'I don't understand, this was supposed to be my moment! How did this go wrong?' Crump panicked.
'I made it go wrong.' A female voice said, then Bow appeared from behind a tree. 'Mario you set this up?' Mallow asked.
'Yes I did, I suspected Lord Crump would do something like this, I saw a generator with many wires attached to it inside the Boggly Tree, I asked Bow to find out what to do with it.'
Bow unfolded her fan. 'I disabled the bomb, Lord Crump you have been a nuisance, I will be the one who deals with you.' She said.
'Everyone we can relax now.' Mario said: 'We all deserve our rest.'
Crump looked at the soldiers around him, Mario held up his hand and created black flames in them, the soldiers leaped away most of them were cowering behind trees and bushes. 'Damn you cowards!' Crump scoffed, then he activated his Duel Disk the left glass of his goggles started to glow yellow, Bow unfolded her fan it changed into a Duel Disk, she took her D-Gazer from under the Duel Disk. 'AR vision - link established.'
'Duel!' Both Crump and Bow shouted.
(Bow: 8000) - (Lord Crump: 8000)
'I shall open this Duel.' Bow said, she gracefully drew her opening hand.
'I Summon Gellenduo to aid me.' Before Bow two small, cute-looking Fairies appeared, one was green the other was pink. (1700 ATK)
'Next I set a card facedown.' She continued the card appeared behind Gellenduo. 'I end my turn.'
'A Fairy Deck? This could get interesting.' Mario mumbled.
'Buh buh buh huh huh, this is a Duel, not a cute monster contest.' Crump laughed, he drew his card. 'I shall show you a real monster! I summon X-Head Cannon!' A blue with yellow machine appeared in front of Crump, it had arms but no legs, two cannons stuck out of its shoulders. (1800 ATK)
'Next I Equip Z-Metal Tank from my hand to X-Head Cannon!' Crump continued, he played the monster card as a Spell card. 'This increases the attack power of my X-Head Cannon with 600.' Sparks appeared around X-Head Cannon. (1800- 2400 ATK)
'X-Head Cannon attacks!' Crump commanded, the two shoulder-cannons aimed at the Gellenduo. 'I activate my Spell card!' Bow shouted: 'Ego Boost!' Suddenly Gellenduo became stronger. (1700- 2700 ATK)
The two Fairies both leaped out of the way of the cannon-fire, then they crushed X-Head Cannon between their bodies. 'I use the Effect of Z-Metal Tank, I destroy it instead of X-Head Cannon.' Crump said, he removed the card from his Duel Disk, X-Head Cannon became weaker. (2400- 1800 ATK)
(Bow: 8000) - (Lord Crump: 7700)
'I set a facedown card and I end my turn.' Crump said, it appeared behind his monster.
Bow drew her card. 'Gellenduo attacks X-Head Cannon!' She commanded.
'Got you there!' Crump shouted. 'I activate my set Shrink!' The Spell card spun around, suddenly Gellenduo shrunk to twice its size. (1700- 850 ATK) 'In that case I send Honest from my Hand to the Graveyard which means my Gellenduo gains attack equal to your monster!' The double Fairy became stronger again. (850- 2650 ATK)
Again X-Head Cannon got crushed between the two Fairies.
(Bow: 8000) - (Lord Crump: 6850)
'Now in my Main Phase 2 I use Monster Reborn!' The holy Ankh appeared on the Field, a male Fairy with majestic white wings appeared a bright light shone behind him. (1000 ATK) 'I use the Effect of Honest during my Main Phase I can retrieve it.' Honest disappeared as Bow took the card from her Duel Disk she added it back to her hand. 'I end my turn.' She stated.
'You can't hide behind your Gellenduo forever! Won't be long before you lost your Honest forever.' Crump shouted he sounded irritated, he aggressively drew his card.
'I summon Y-Dragon Head!' Crump stated a mechanical red dragon swooped over the Field sparks of electricity came out of its mouth. (1500 ATK) 'Next I use Monster Reborn so I can summon Z-Metal Tank!' Next to the red dragon a yellow tank appeared it consisted out of a yellow orb attached to two huge caterpillars. (1500 ATK)
'Time for Contact Fusion!' Crump shouted he pointed his right hand in the air when he shouted it, the caterpillars of Z-Metal Tank opened up revealing two laser guns in them, the top of Z-Metal Tank shoved open, Y-Dragon head folded its wings, and its head retracted, Y-Dragon Head clicked onto Z-Metal Tank. (2100 ATK)
'This is YZ-Tank Dragon.' Crump said: 'Now I activate a Spell card from my hand, Book of Moon!' Honest disappeared and got replaced by a facedown card. 'Got you now little lady! I send one card from my hand to the Graveyard so that my Dragon Cannon can destroy a facedown monster on the Field!' The Dragon Cannon charged its laser cannons, the tank blew up the facedown card. 'Now direct attack!' The tank charged its lasers again, Bow covered her face with her arms then a barrage of lasers washed over her.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 6850)
'Buh buh buh huh huh, I shall end my turn here.'
Bow said nothing she quickly drew her card.
'I activate Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen.' Bow said a Spell card appeared on the Field, several pillars appeared besides Bow, red curtains hung between the pillars, at the end of the room stood a small stage with a throne flanked by two statues. 'When I control no monsters this card allows me to Special Summon a Fairy.' Bow took one card from her hand. 'I summon majestic Mech - Goryu!' In front of Bow a majestic creature appeared it was a dragon made of pure light covered in white armor, its had two mechanical wings on its chest segment that kept it in the air. (2900 ATK)
'Destroy YZ-Tank Dragon!' Bow commanded, the dragon roared then a beam of light blew up Crump's machine.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 6050)
I end my turn.' Bow stated.
Lord Crump drew his card. 'I activate Card of Demise to fill my hand.' Crump played the Spell card then he drew five cards.
'First I use Premature Burial.' Lord Crump started, X-Head Cannon reappeared on his side of the Field. (1800 ATK)
'I Summon Y-Dragon Head!' Crump continued, the red, mechanical dragon reappeared on the Field. (1500 ATK) 'Contact Fusion!' The back of Y-Dragon Head opened up, X-Head Cannon clicked into it. (2200 ATK)
'XY-Dragon Cannon, can destroy a face-up Spell or Trap card when I discard a card from my hand.' Crump took one card from his hand, the Dragon cannon charged its lasers and blew away Valhalla.
'I set a facedown card and end my turn.' Crump stated a facedown card appeared behind the Dragon Cannon.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 4150)
'My turn again.' Bow stated she drew her card.
'First I set a facedown card.' The card appeared behind Goryu.
'Next I summon Honest.' The Fairy appeared with a bright flash of light. (1100 ATK) 'Goryu destroy that Dragon Cannon!' The dragon fired its beam, Dragon Cannon was cut in half vertically the two halves exploded.
'Honest direct attack!' Bow shouted, a beam of light hit Lord Crump in his stomach, he took a few paces backwards.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 2650)
'I return Honest back to my hand.' Bow said, she removed the card from her Duel Disk Honest disappeared in a flash of light.
'I'll end my turn here.'
Crump drew his card. 'I activate Pot of Greed.' The happy pot appeared on the Field, Crump drew two cards.
'I activate my Trap card!' Crump shouted, his Call of The Haunted spun around. 'Last turn I discarded a Z-Metal Tank for the effect of Dragon Cannon.' In front of Crump the yellow tank reappeared. (1500 ATK)
'Next I summon from my hand X-Head Cannon!' The blue machine appeared next to the Z-Metal Tank. (1800 ATK)
'Contact Fusion!' Crump bellowed, the hatch on Z-Metal Tank opened up, the cannons appeared out of its caterpillars, X-Head Cannon clicked into the hatch. (2400 ATK) 'With XZ-Tank Cannon, I discard one card from my hand to destroy your facedown card.' Crump stated, he discarded the card then a barrage of lasers destroyed Bow's set Widespread Ruin.
'I set a facedown card and end my turn.' Crump played the card in his Disk it appeared facedown on the Field.
Bow slowly drew her card. 'I summon Honest!' She shouted the shining fairy reappeared on the Field. (1100 ATK)
'Goryu destroy the Tank Cannon!' The beam of light cut the machine in half. 'Honest direct attack!' Another beam of light struck Crump in his stomach.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 1050)
'Then I shall return Honest back to my hand and end my turn.' The Fairy disappeared as she retrieved the card.
Crump was smiling as he drew his card. 'Buh buh buh huh huh! This time I win! But first I activate my Trap card! Return from the Different Dimension!' The Trap card spun around. 'I pay half of my Life Points to activate this card.' Lord Crump said.
(Bow: 5900) - (Lord Crump: 525)
Then a huge void opened one Z-Metal Tank dropped out. (1500 ATK) Followed by two X-Head Cannons. (1800 ATK x2) And finally two Y-Dragon Heads. (1500 x2) 'Contact Fusion! Summon XYZ-Dragon Cannon!' First the hatch on Z-Metal Tank opened, the laser cannons came out of the caterpillars, then the bottom of Y-Dragon Head opened a metal ball came out it's head retracted then the hatch on its back opened and the red machine clicked onto Z-Metal Tank finally X-Head Cannon clicked onto Y-Dragon Head. (2800 ATK)
'Next I summon Z-Metal Tank!' The yellow tank appeared on the Field again. (1500 ATK) 'Why stop at one if you can have two?' Crump said. 'Contact Fusion!' The remaining X-Head Cannon, Y-Dragon head and Z-Metal Tank combined into a second XYZ-Dragon Cannon. (2800 ATK)
'I use the effect of Dragon Cannon by discarding one card I can destroy any card on the Field!' Crump put one of his card in the Graveyard, a barrage of lasers blew away Goryu. 'Double direct attack!' Both Dragon Cannons started to fire away their lasers, Bow held her Duel Disk in front of her face, she cringed when the lasers hit her.
(Bow: 300) - (Lord Crump: 525)
'Buh buh buh huh huh huh! I shall not lose to a wench like yourself!' Crump gloated. 'But before I end my turn I activate Card Destruction!' Crump activated the last card from his hand, Bow discarded four cards then drew four new cards. 'That gets rid of Honest, now I can end my turn.'
Bow looked at her hand, she had no monsters Bow drew her card. 'Still no monster, then I have to gamble everything on these two cards.' She thought. 'Alright I set two facedown cards and I end my turn.' The two cards appeared in her Spell/Trap Zone.
'Buh buh huh huh huh, and so it ends!' Crump laughed, he drew his card.
'I discard the card from my hand to destroy your left set card!' The lasers charged. 'Then I activate it!' Bow replied, the card spun around revealing a Spell card. 'The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh! With this card I summon Winged Kuriboh from my Deck!' One of the most famous monsters in existence appeared on the Field, it was a fuzz-ball with small hands and feet it had two wings growing out of its back. (200 DEF)
'Now you're just stalling, if I destroy that Winged Kuriboh you take no damage for the rest of this turn, but I still attack it! XYZ-Dragon Cannon attack!' Bow closed her eyes. 'I activate my second Spell card!' She shouted: 'Transcendent Wings! I send Winged Kuriboh to my Graveyard together with the last two cards from my hand!' Bow discarded her cards then Winged Kuriboh started to glow with a bright light.
When the light faded Winged Kuriboh was now held by a majestic-looking dragon it had a white body with golden armor around its neck and tail, two huge angel-like wings stuck out of its back. (300 ATK)
Crump narrowed his eyes. 'Meet my Winged Kuriboh LV10!' Bow shouted.
'You played it in attack mode? That thing must have some effect, you want me to attack it, but I won't I shall end my Battle Phase...' But Bow stopped Crump. 'Your fate is sealed already, I activate the effect of Winged Kuriboh LV10! Which I can do during your Battle Phase, and I activated it before you could end your Battle Phase!'
Lord Crump gasped as the dragon took flight a bright light blinded everyone, when the light faded the two XYZ-Dragon cannons were gone.
'Winged Kuriboh LV10 destroys all monsters on the Field by sacrificing itself, then you take damage equal to the original attack of all destroyed monsters.' Crump wanted to say some bad words but he was stopped by Winged Kuriboh who dive-bombed into him, Crump was blown away by sheer force.
(Bow: 300) - (Lord Crump: 0)
Meanwhile the residents of the Great Boggly Tree came looking where the ruckus came from when they saw Lord Crump on his back they started to murmur, Crump was helped up by his soldiers, Bow's Duel Disk changed back into a fan. 'So Lord Crump.' Mario said: 'Hand over the Crystal Star.'
Crump took a few steps back. 'I must take my losses here...' Crump took the Crystal Star and threw it on the ground, Mario snapped his fingers the barrier blocking the exit disappeared. 'There are more Crystal Stars Mario! Next time I shall win! And with that... POW I'm gone!'
Mario and the others watched as Lord Crump and the soldiers run out of the forest, the people of the Great Boggly Tree were watching and cheering. Mario picked up the emerald-green star from the ground: 'Finally we got the Emerald Star and all thanks to you Bow.'
Bow started to blush. 'Mario.' Mallow spoke: 'Now that Bow helped us, doesn't that mean she is a huge target?'
Mario put his hand on Mallow's shoulder. 'I have told her that...' Mario started but Bow interrupted him.
'I did it of my own free will, I knew the consequences but I had to protect the Boggly Woods and besides I can hold my own.' Bow was smiling.
'You have Numbers don't you?' Mario then asked.
'Wait what?' Mallow stammered. 'Numbers?' Luigi and Goombella shouted. Bow chuckled. 'Well you would have found out eventually.' She casually said. 'Bow I can sense your power how did you got so strong?' Mario asked.
'Have you heard of Twilight Town?' Bow asked, nobody answered: 'Twilight Town is a secret place hidden in Rogueport.' She continued: 'There is actually a cure for the Nephilim though only a Celestian can cure it and only when a person became one.' Bow paused for a second she saw the confused looks on their faces.
'Seems you didn't knew this, let me explain.' Bow said: 'The Nephilim know a few stages, the first is the normal Nephilim, they are born from other Nephilim these creatures cannot be cured, most of the Shroob Assassins you faced were normal Nephilim.'
Bow continued her explanation: 'Then there is the Parasite, you know what happens then the Nephilim becomes a mindless beast, finally we have the Shadows, these are a more evolved form of a Nephilim, they can become a Shadow if they are strong enough, there is no limit to a Shadow's power a Shadow can actually control their parasite if they choose so, when they control their parasite they split their power but a Shadow does not have to control their parasite if they do not a Shadow becomes ten times as strong.'
'So Princess Shroob was a Shadow then?' Mario asked.
'She was indeed.' Bow replied: 'But Princess Shroob is considered one of the weakest, to let you know the Shadow Queen is also a Shadow considered one of the strongest and Marilyn, Vivian and Beldam are Shadows as well.' Bow paused again. 'I see.' Mario replied.
'But now.' Bow continued: 'There is one more type of Nephilim, the turned Nephilim, these are originally human, those humans either accepted to become Nephilim or they were forced to become one.' Bow concluded.
'Bow you said humans who turned into Nephilim can be cured right?' Mario asked. 'Yes and that is what happened to me, as a child I was taken by a Nephilim, this Nephilim wanted a cure so he made me a Nephilim forcing me to find a cure to save myself. I looked for years the Nephilim who turned me eventually died to his parasite, then one day I found a wounded Celestian, the Celestian thought I would kill him, but I helped him, the Celestian wanted to thank me, he would give me anything I wanted, well I wanted to see the Celestian leader Minerva.' Bow turned around facing away from Mario.
'Minerva cured me, but I stayed a Nephilim an outcast, that is why I found Twilight Town where people like me could live in peace. After I established Twilight Town I worked with Star Heaven that is where I got the power to handle Numbers.' Bow started to walk toward the Great Boggly Tree: 'I will make sure all X-Naut Soldiers are gone then I will help with connecting the generator and after that I will return to Twilight Town I just got a message some Nephilim is raising trouble there.'
Mario nodded: 'Bow!' He shouted: 'When you need help, call us, we help where we can!'
Next time:
Mario and his allies once again return to the Thousand-Year Door, what will they find this time? It won't be Exodus that I can tell.
Rozalin and Grave meanwhile discover some rumors of Nephilim.
And Bowser once again follows the trail of a Crystal Star.
'A 'Fawful' Surprise.' Coming next.
