45. Sirens on the Train - Part 2.
With Exodus in charge of finding the Crystal Star in Poshley Heights Mario and the rest face a dangerous opponent, the only way to get to Poshley Heights is with the Excess Express, Exodus send the two Shadow Sirens and their new addition Doopliss after the heroes.
Marilyn and Doopliss already fought Mario's group but escaped, after that they found Beldam in the machine room, they managed to chase her off but she did something to the train.
The next day some passengers mentioned their stuff was stolen, Mario decided to help find the stolen stuff and it was then that the train slowed down for emergency repairs on the train.
Day 2: Unnamed station.
Mario, Luigi and Vivian stood outside the train, they stood on the platform of an abandoned train station, the concrete that formed the platform was dirty and cracked, their stood a single building on the station, the walls were cracked and on some places broken down, the roof was full of holes, most of the windows were broken the ones that remained were dirty, it was a two story building with offices on the top floor and traveler's support on the ground floor, under a small lean-to stood three benches one of which broke down.
'There is a reason Beldam wanted the train to stop here, we just need to find out what that is.' Mario stated.
'Ruby, Mallow, Goombella and Bow are searching for clues inside...' Mario continued but was interrupted by a gurgling sound, a few seconds later Marilyn appeared from out of the shadows, flanked by three Shadow Ghoul. (1600 ATK x3)
'Mario, Luigi you go on ahead I'll take her.' Vivian said.
(Marilyn: 3850) - (Vivian: 3600)
The two brothers didn't hesitate they started to run but Marilyn pointed at the two, two of her Shadow Ghoul wanted to disappear, a wall of flames suddenly wrapped around one of the two Shadow Ghoul burning it to a crisp, the Gorilla that had accompanied Vivian before reappeared on the platform. (1600 ATK)
The second Shadow Ghoul noticed it's partner bit the dust but before it could react a bear made of flames descended onto the creature. (1600 ATK)
Now Marilyn was surrounded by walls of fire, one in the shape of a gorilla the other in the shape of a bear, slowly the walls closed in on her.
'This time we'll settle the score sister.' Vivian growled, the third Shadow Ghoul tried to escape the flames but there were no shadows for it to hide in, it burned with a hellish shriek, Marilyn saw the walls of fire close in on her then all of a sudden a giant snake-like dragon made of water broke through the walls of flames, the two Monsters Vivian had cried in agony before they died out, the Water Dragon appeared circling around Marilyn. (2800 ATK)
(Marilyn: 3850) - (Vivian: 1200)
'Guh!' Marilyn grunted, happy that she got the upper hand on her sister.
The Water Dragon then stopped circling around Marilyn and rushed forward right at Vivian, quickly Vivian took a card. 'Come on out Horse Prince!' Vivian yelled, before her appeared appeared a man clad in fancy armor his hair made made of black flames the man was mounted on a horse with green eyes, the body of the horse was surrounded by black flames. (2200 ATK)
The Water Dragon came right for the Horse Prince however the man fired a stream of black flames from his hand, the dragon and the flames clashed, the dragon tried to push through slowly but surely the Water Dragon started to boil, with one final push from the Horse Prince the creature fell apart, hot water washed over Marilyn.
(Marilyn: 1050) - (Vivian: 1200)
Marilyn wanted to stand up but the Horse Prince's horse trampled all over her.
(Marilyn: 0) - (Vivian: 1200)
The moment Marilyn's Life Points hit zero she disappeared.
Vivian heard clapping behind her she turned around only to see her other sister Beldam. 'Don't think you've won Vivian, Marilyn's soul is safe, Exodus protects us.' Beldam spoke.
Slowly two huge eyes made of fire appeared behind Beldam. 'Do your thing.' Beldam spoke to the creature standing behind her, Vivian saw a long, shadowy arm with sharp claws at the end moving toward her, the Horse Prince leaped at the hidden monster, but the arm simply swapped the rider from the horse then it grabbed the horse and threw it at Vivian, the horse changed into black flames the flames quickly surrounded Vivian, she yelled and screamed then she fell silent.
(Beldam: 8000) - (Vivian: 0)
Vivian tried to stand up but she couldn't slowly she started to fade away an orb of light appeared in Beldam's hand. 'That is one soul for my collection.' Beldam laughed she then looked at the Monster behind her. 'I promise you Mario's soul is yours, we only need to win Exodus' game so we can keep the souls, now go, take out those who are still inside the train.' The eyes of the creature disappeared, Beldam turned around to face the building, she took a vial out of her pocket, it was filled with a black goo. 'Time to ensure my victory and face Mario.'
Mario looked back one more time to see if the Shadow Ghouls had disappeared, Mario touched the door handle as he felt it the door fell out of it's hinges. 'Well saves us looking for a key.' Luigi shrugged as he carefully walked inside, the space the brothers entered was in terrible shape, there was a ticket booth, the windows were smashed, next to the booth stood a wooden board with train information the board was rotten, a station clock laid on the ground, at the walls stood several chairs and benches all either broken or in very bad shape.
A low chuckle sounded through the room Mario looked around him.
'Mario.' Luigi said he pointed at the opposite end of the room, in the doorway stood Doopliss. 'You miss me slick?'
Mario took a step forward redying his Duel Disk.
'Come on slick, I will take you souls!' Doopliss started to glow, slowly he started to change into Exodus.
'Well, this is surprising.' Doopliss said: 'Changing into Exodus gave me his identity, for once I am exited.' Doopliss' Duel Disk activated. 'Well since I took on the form on Exodus this should also work slick.' Doopliss rose his hands. 'Come to me Dark Mist!' Next to Doopliss appeared two flaming eyes, then the rest of the demonic Monster appeared. (100 ATK)
'Mario, just go, Doopliss and I have a score to settle.' Luigi said with a determined look on his face.
(Doopliss: 3700) - (Luigi: 3700)
Mario knew he had to wait, Doopliss was blocking the door that lead deeper into the building.
Luigi stared at Dark Mist, Sparkman appeared next to him. (1600 ATK)
'Last time we clashed it was Sparkman who defeated you Doopliss.' Luigi said with a sneer, Doopliss growled something.
Both Duelists simply stood there looking at each other, quickly Luigi took three cards and played them in quick succession, first appeared the black-haired Burstinatrix holding a flame in each hand. (1000 ATK)
Next to her appeared Ice Edge, a smaller Hero clad in a blue bodysuit with an armor made of ice over it. (800 ATK)
Finally above the three heroes appeared the airborne Stratos. (1800 ATK)
Doopliss laughed: 'Summon as many Monsters as you want, you know that none can stop Dark Mist!'
Luigi chuckled. 'This game doesn't follow the standard rules of Duel Monsters, yes in the regular game my Monsters stand no chance, in this realm, they might have.'
Dark Mist took a fighting stance. 'Go Sparkman!' Luigi roared, the Hero leaped forward sending a jolt of lightning at Dark Mist. 'Just send it back to them would you slick.' Doopliss said, Dark Mist stretched his arm, caught the electric bolt and send it flying back at Sparkman.
'Now Stratos!' Luigi bellowed, the air-born Hero spread his arms, the lightning shot toward him, there it disappeared. 'Stratos is the master of the skies, lightning doesn't faze him, of course this attack was all a distraction, Dark Mist is now wide open!'
Luigi hadn't said it or Ice Edge leaped forward it fired three icicles at Dark Mist, the icicles disappeared into the demon's body then Dark Mist fell apart. 'Nice try slick, but Dark Mist is well... made of mist. It can reform whenever it wants slick!'
(Doopliss: 3000) - (Luigi: 3700)
Luigi chuckled: 'But that is why Stratos is here!' The master of the skies created a strong wind using his turbines, the black mist that remained of Dark Mist scattered.
Now that Dark Mist was gone Mario saw his chance, he rushed at Doopliss, pushing him aside as he rushed through the door.
'Rats, Mario broke through and I am stuck here, Dark Mist finish Luigi!'
The black mist slowly started to pack together. 'Got you now.' Luigi smirked. 'The icicles Ice Edge left are still here, now Burstinatrix!' The female Hero threw her fireballs at the icicles, the first one melted them the second one hit in the water, this created steam that mixed in with the black mist. 'Now that the mist I created is mixed in with Dark Mist it cannot reform.' Luigi said, Dark Mist's eyes however did appear. 'I have no time for this time to return to Exodus.' The demonic voice of Dark Mist spoke.
'Wait, that was the real one?' Luigi gasped as the black mist and the flaming eyes disappeared.
Doopliss took a step back now that Dark mist was gone. 'Sparkman.' Luigi said, another jolt of lightning struck Doopliss, the creature dropped his disguise of Exodus.
'Well nothing more I can do here slick.' With these words Doopliss ran away.
(Doopliss: 1400) - (Luigi: 3700)
Mario ran down a flight of stairs soon he reached what seemed to be the basement, Mario looked around there were wooden shelves lined up against the right wall, most of them were in terrible state, there were chairs stacked up against the left wall, the few shelves that were still hanging stood full with weathered, carton boxes filled with stuff passengers had lost, at the far side of the room stood the bend over figure that was Beldam, as soon as she heard Mario entering she turned around, she held the now empty vial in her hand.
'What did you do Beldam?' Mario snapped.
The Shadow Siren chuckled. 'I've just assured Exodus' victory.' She replied.
'Whatever you did my friends will have to deal with it, I'm gonna end your wicked games right now.' Next to Mario appeared Excalibur. (2000 ATK)
(Mario: 8000) - (Beldam: 8000)
'You think you stand a chance against me?' Beldam chuckled.
'What Doopliss showed you when he was impersonating me was only the beginning.' Beldam's eyes narrowed she cracked a smile, behind her rose one of the more famous Monsters in Duel Monster history, towering above her, it's purple skin surrounded by a powerful exoskeleton, lightning crackled around the demon. (2500 ATK)
'Summoned Skull?' Mario gasped.
The demon rose his arms immediately lightning struck all over the place, Excalibur got hit and fell down to the ground.
(Mario: 7500) - (Beldam: 8000)
Swordshield!' Mario roared, before him appeared the armor-clad warrior his gigantic shields forming a roof above Mario. (2000 DEF)
Lightning continued to strike Swordshield withstood all of it, slowly the lightning stopped, Swordshield fell down, with a thank you from Mario the warrior disappeared.
Summoned Skull looked tired, Mario knew this was his chance.
'Come forth War Hammer!' Mario shouted while playing his card, before him appeared the warrior holding his heavy hammer over his shoulder. (2100 ATK)
'Another weak lamb for the slaughter!' Beldam cackled, Summoned Skull rose his arms again to unleash another wave of electricity.
'War Hammer!' Mario yelled, the warrior leaped into the air then swung the hammer over his shoulder and crashed it onto the ground causing a huge tremor, part of the ceiling came down as well as most of the remaining shelves, Beldam and Summoned Skull lost their footing this resulted in it's own electricity coming down on itself and Beldam, Summoned Skull groaned and roared before it dissolved.
(Mario: 7500) - (Beldam: 5500)
'War Hammer, smash her into the ground.' Mario said, Beldam saw the huge hammer approaching fast. 'Dimension Wall!' Beldam quickly played the card a gap in space and time opened before her, the gigantic hammer disappeared through it hitting Mario in the back.
(Mario: 5400) - (Beldam: 5500)
'Enough for now, I can't afford to waste any more time on you.' Beldam scoffed as she stood up. 'Besides the train will depart soon.' Before Mario could do anything Beldam disappeared into the shadows.
Mario also started to run back upstairs.
Excess Express.
Mario, Luigi and Mallow gathered back in Mario and Goombella's room.
'Mario.' Luigi said an earnest look on his face.
'Remember when Doopliss used Dark Mist?' That was of course more of a rethorical question so Mario did not answer. 'That wasn't a copy, it was the real one.'
Mario sighted: 'As I feared, Dark Mist can think and act for itself.' He replied, then he looked at Mallow. 'Did you see Vivian or any of the others?'
Mallow shook his head: 'No I lost contact with the rest when we were patrolling, since Luigi said that Dark Mist is here I can't shake the feeling that it got to them.' Mallow replied.
'Last time I've seen Vivian she was fighting Marilyn, by that time Luigi faced Dark Mist, when Dark Mist retreated it could have gone after Vivian, then went inside the train and took down the others while I was facing Beldam.' Mario pondered.
Mallow stood up: 'We need to save them.'
Mario shook his head. 'We're all tired, the rules of this game states that when someone is defeated their souls are kept apart then the winner of the game decides what happens to those souls, the only way to save our friends now is to beat the Shadow Sirens, Dark Mist and whatever Beldam had in that vial.' Mario quickly explained to Mallow and Luigi what had happened in the basement.
'We need our rest.' Luigi stated, the others agreed.
'Before you go I need to know the status of our enemies, Beldam escaped and Dark Mist is still here.' Mario then looked at his brother.
'I managed to badly damage Doopliss, but he escaped.' Luigi said.
'And we must consider Marilyn also still alive, though I am sure Vivian took care of her we can't be sure.'
That night.
Mario opened his eyes he stared at the ceiling, after meeting back up with Luigi and Mallow they all went to their rooms to try and catch some sleep,
as Mario stood up he saw a piece of paper on the floor, he took it and started to read. 'Doopliss.' He groaned after he was done reading, it was a clear thread from Doopliss, he had used the kitchen tools and the papers from the stolen briefcase to actually make the bomb, now he threatened to blow up the train if Mario did not surrender within an hour, Mario wondered when the paper was shoved under his door and how Doopliss would know when Mario had read it, that is when Mario noticed a small camera hidden of the rail of the curtains.
As Mario opened the door Mallow and Luigi were sitting outside. 'We've been waiting for you Mario.' Mallow said.
Mario showed the letter from Doopliss.
'So no time to lose then, we need to get into the baggage car.' Mallow muttered.
'Well the time for subtlety is over, I'm gonna break that door down.' Mario growled.
'Mallow, Luigi you make another round through the train, see if you can find anything.'
All three went a different way.
Mario: baggage wagon.
Mario arrived at the baggage wagon, he tried the door which was of course locked, the conductor who was normally guarding the door was nowhere to be seen, next to Mario appeared War Hammer. (2100 ATK)
The muscular warrior readied his hammer, Mario nodded and with one blow the door splintered, the wagon was filled with suitcases and kitchen supplies, at the far end of the wagon was a small window in the back wall, a ladder lead to a hatch in the ceiling of the wagon, in the middle of the room stood Doopliss, a shocked look on his face, which disappeared the moment he saw Mario, in his hands Doopliss held a round object.
'I was waiting for you slick.'
'That the bomb?' Mario asked referring to the orb in Doopliss' hands, the latter threw the orb in the air then caught it and threw it against the wall where it scattered. 'There never was a bomb slick.' Slowly he started to change into the man who had his suitcase stolen. 'O no somebody took my suitcase.'
Slowly he changed back into his normal form. 'I send you all on a wild goose chase slick, I'd knew you would come for me if I threatened with a bomb, now Beldam is hunting your friends, while you are stuck with me!'
Doopliss started to change again this time into Mario.
(Doopliss: 1400) - (Mario: 5400)
Mario and Doopliss were waking circles around each other, Mario tried to red Doopliss but the only thing he saw was hatred, slowly Mario rose his hand, War Hammer leaped up from behind him and charged at Doopliss, the moment before impact a second War Hammer appeared next to Doopliss defending the fake Mario.
'You never learn do you slick?' Doopliss taunted, Mario got the uneasy feeling that something stood behind him, when he turned around there stood two Heroic Challenger - Spartan. (1600 ATK)
Mario rolled away, the spear of the first Spartan struck his shoulder, the shield of the second Spartan slammed full against his body knocking Mario on his back.
(Doopliss: 1400) - (Mario: 2200)
Doopliss stopped walking around the wagon, he stopped at Mario's feet, Doopliss stared Mario in his face. 'I've got you now slick.' The Ancient One gloated. The two War Hammers were still fighting.
'Oh for gods sake, War Hammer destroy it!' Doopliss snapped, he took a card. 'I activate Shrink!' Doopliss yelled, Mario's War Hammer became twice it's original size. (2100- 1050 ATK)
The huge hammer of the fake War Hammer crushed the now smaller one Mario had.
(Doopliss: 1400) - (Mario: 1150)
'Now what is the best way of killing you slick?' Doopliss pondered.
The two Spartan he had called took position next to him.
'I'll have this Spartan kill you slick.'
The warrior heaved his spear then brought it down on Mario, before the spear pierced Mario's stomach the Spartan shrunk to half his size. (1600- 800 ATK)
(Doopliss: 1400) - (Mario: 350)
'There is not much you can do here slick.' Doopliss chuckled.
'I did enough Doopliss, I needed to distract you, I'd figured taking your attack would do it.' Mario said with a grin, a shadow appeared behind Doopliss, slowly the Ancient One turned around gazing in the eyes of Excalibur. (2000 ATK)
'You've got to be...' Doopliss started but was quickly silenced when Excalibur smacked him across the room with his mighty sword.
Doopliss crashed into the pile of luggage, he changed back into his regular form and the Monsters he had summoned disappeared.
(Doopliss: 0) - (Mario: 350)
Mario watched as Doopliss stood up. 'You won't have my soul slick, I don't have one!' Doopliss looked around then he noticed the window, he leaped straight through it and Mario saw him quickly disappearing into the darkness.
Suddenly Mario felt really tired, he looked at the ceiling and saw some thin mist seeping through the hatch, immediately he fell asleep.
Luigi: Machine Room.
Luigi walked into the machine room there stood Beldam in the middle of the room, a Summoned Skull appeared behind her. (2500 ATK)
(Beldam: 5500) - (Luigi: 3700)
Next to Luigi appeared Burstinatrix, (1200 ATK) Ice Edge, (800 ATK) Stratos, (1800 ATK) and finally Sparkman. (1600 ATK)
'I was hoping to see Mario here.' Beldam spoke she sounded disappointed.
'You'd do well not to underestimate me.' Luigi growled.
'Summoned Skull!' Beldam yelled, lightning struck all around the room, Stratos protected himself, Sparkman absorbed the lightning, Ice Edge and Burstinatrix weren't lucky.
(Beldam: 5500) - (Luigi: 700)
'Gotcha.' Luigi said with a grin he pointed at Sparkman electricity was sparking around him. 'Sparkman, fire it at Stratos!' Beldam gasped as a jolt of lightning went up to Stratos. 'Stratos functions as an amplifier now.' Luigi explained, a field of electricity appeared around the Hero, slowly Stratos pointed his fingers at Summoned Skull. 'Your Summoned Skull is the biggest thing in this room so I don't need to tell you that Summoned Skull now serves as a lightning rod.'
Beldam's mouth fell open, then lightning struck Summoned Skull an explosion followed sending Beldam flying through the room, she landed on her back and Summoned Skull fell on top of her.
(Beldam: 3000) - (Luigi: 700)
'Sparkman, Stratos!' Luigi shouted, Sparkman send another lightning attack to Stratos the Hero fired it at Beldam, combining the attack points of both Monsters, the last scream of Beldam sounded throughout the wagon.
(Beldam: 0) - (Luigi: 700)
Beldam was laying on her back, her breathing was shallow.
'Bask in your victory while you can, in the end I still win.'
Beldam disappeared through the floor, Luigi wanted to stop her but suddenly a thick, tentacle-like thing grabbed him from behind.
A few wagons back Mallow was carefully checking the empty rooms to see if something was amiss, suddenly the hairs in his neck stood up, he got an ominous feeling in his stomach, before Mallow could turn around the same tentacle-like thing that grabbed Luigi grabbed him as well.
Next time:
With Beldam, Marilyn, Doopliss and Dark Mist gone all players Exodus placed on his board are gone, however Beldam unleashed some mysterious goo that now is on a rampage on the Excess Express, Mario is out cold will he wake up in time to stop this mysterious monster? Or will Exodus end up victorious? ''The Mask of Death.'' Coming next.
