7:00 A.M. The Next Morning, Bianco Hills Outskirts, Abandoned Warehouse
"They weren't bluffing? The… The real, actual Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom is here?" The one and only Paeter Deltazar said incredulously. Even though his anger wasn't directed at any of his subordinates, all of the larger Pianta Mafiosos gulped either way. Mr. Deltazar stood just 5'8" at the tallest; while he was certainly taller than Mario and Il Nokioso, he was far below the average of 6'2" for most male Piantas. With that said, Mr. Deltazar was by no means lacking in the musculature department even with the paunchiness that came with being in his mid 50s.
"Sir… Um…" Il Nokioso found his voice squeaking with fear; he didn't want to know what would happen once he delivered the rest of this news. However, Il Manutako and Il Piantissimo pulling up behind him and giving their unspoken support was just what Il Nokioso needed to keep his courage. "There's also the issue of Shadow Mario. Whoever he is, he seems bent on leading that rampaging animal to us." He said, producing the video evidence of Shadow Mario displaying the Delfino Mafia and Deltazar Corporation insignias to Princess Peach. At this point, Deltazar was quite sure that Mario was far scarier than any mob boss walking the Earth; his men might just cut and run and deal with the consequences of failing him before they took their chances with an enraged Mario with no checks or balances. Or, worse, they could decide dying to Mario was preferable to being punished by the godfather of the Pianta Mafia. Either way, he was going to lose a majority of his men in the coming battle.
"But, Mr. Deltazar, we can still ask King Pintar-" Il Piantissimo attempted, before Deltazar beat him to it. "To do what? Officially turn on us outright? Do you understand what we've just fucked with? We directly assaulted royalty. And not just any royalty, either. King Pintar is going to have our heads for no other reason than to get Peach to call off her rabid rottweiler." Deltazar said, his eyes dimming as he spoke of their predicament aloud. "We've nowhere to go, and no allies that are willing to stand against an entire Kingdom, let alone the entire Spore Alliance. Only one thing to do at this point…" He said solemnly, as he turned to the three Virtuosos in turn.
"You three have been like sons to me. Moreso than even my own son…" Everyone present could practically hear Mr. Deltazar's heart breaking as he spoke. "If all else fails… You three do what needs to be done to ensure your own survival."
10:00 A.M., Bianco Hills Village Area
Peach was happy that she brought her parasol with her. Yes, she truly did enjoy this kind of weather, especially as it gave her more excuse to show off more skin and wear her dresses and skirts just below the upper thighs to show off her long, toned legs. However, it was for this exact reason that the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair skinned Princess envied the olive skin of her gal pal and especially the darker skin tones of her gentleman friends.
"And that's really all there is to Universal Energy mastery." Imara concluded, drawing Peach's attention back to the impromptu lecture. "So you can use Universal Energy to do pretty much anything?" Peach said, having heard what she needed to hear before losing herself in marvelling at Vituo and Azuro's physiques that were proudly displayed in their vacation outfits. "Well, in so many ways, yes. However, you could just as easily say that about Troll Energy." Imara conceded, as she raised both hands. A smooth, round ball of rainbow energy formed in Imara's right hand, while a chaotic oval of pink energy eventually rounded itself in Imara's left. When they fully took shape and 'hardened', Imara was holding two miniature planets in her hand.
"Yes, what Universal Energy is capable of, so to is Troll Energy. However, to understand why mastering Troll energy is so difficult, you have to understand the secrets of mastering the Five Elemental Evolutions." Imara said, as she dissipated the mini-planets she held in her hands. Vituo was as quick as his Affinitive Chi on explaining at least the first of the Elemental Conversions.
"I know that to use Lightning Conversion, you must vibrate your Chi at the frequency of electric current and be willing to allow whatever you've gathered to burst forward all at once as it shall." Vituo said. The 6'0", 210 pound Masai crown prince was the sturdier-built of the two princes, and his well-trained muscles indicated that he was definitely capable of explosive, surprising power. However, Azuro was about 25 pounds lighter, and that much faster.
And that was what gave his explanation on Wind Conversion more merit. "To use Wind Conversion, you have to lighten and thin your chi so that you can shape and control it with your breath." Azuro explained. The Elven crown prince had mastered Temporal Evolution, so it made sense that he knew how to master the most basic form. Vituo wondered if Azuro could use the Seven Heavenly Breaths technique to the level Jicho could, as well as wondered if the Elven crown prince could also fly. Peach herself couldn't help but think of Luigi at this moment, given how often he used Wind, Water, and Lightning Conversions. In fact, many of his power-ups involved improving upon his three favored Chi types.
"According to Luigi, mastering Water Conversion is done by allowing your Chi to move freely and as it will, and simply guiding it in the general direction you want it to flow." Peach said, and as she says this she realizes just why Luigi let Mario accompany her and her top retainers on this vacation without him or the other two Bros. In fact, as Peach was saying this she also realized that Luigi had to have figured that other, perhaps better-looking males in her social class would be vacationing here around this same time. And Luigi knows his older twin brother only too well.
"As for Earth, you have to stabilize and tense up your Chi until it is as solid as stone, at least according to what Imani always says." Vituo continued where Peach left off. Imara remembered how difficult Imani was to budge, at times much more so than even Nguvu was despite the younger of the Jubei brothers outweighing Imani by a solid 60 pounds at the least. She also remembered how often Ron augmented his own already immense strength with Earth Chi, and later learned to totally command a battlefield using Spatial Evolution.
Not one to be outshone in the knowledge department, Azuro promptly explained the final basic Elemental Conversion. "And for Fire Conversion, you have to simmer, fester and 'anger' your Chi to simulate the heartbeat of actual fire." He quickly blurted out before Vituo could say anything else. He was right, but it wasn't lost on Peach or Imara that the rivalry was still clearly there, if toned down. However, the more pertinent thought was the fact that Mario's affinitve Chi was Fire, and just like Kasi, the oldest of Jumpman's sons was most charitably described as 'hot-blooded'.
"Yes, and the five ultimate evolutions are simply the natural conclusions to mastering their base elements. Hydrogen Chi is simply Water Chi that is truly uninhibited by mental restraints, Nuclear Chi is Fire Chi that allowed to go beyond fear, Time Chi is Wind Chi that behaves the way a life force would, Space Chi is Earth Chi that can't be compromised or eroded, and finally Plasma Chi is Lightning that has both become predictable and spontaneous at once. As such, you can see why Universal Chi requires a balance that only Sage level beings and beyond can attain, at least under normal circumstances. In fact, even the exceptions just reinforce the rule. Isn't that right, Vituo?" She was referencing Nguvu, and the beautiful prince didn't appreciate the insinuation the Elven Grand Priestess was making towards the tragedy of his friend.
"You… Of all the…" Vituo was at a loss for words at the low blow Imara just pulled. "She's not wrong, Vituo. In fact, I think this explains some things about Mario." Peach said before things could develop further. The mood shook immediately; Vituo and Azuro seemed to tense at the mention of Mario, mostly because they expected him to appear at this moment. However, Peach quickly salvages the situation. "And also explains why Luigi is such a stickler for knowledge, training and mental acuity and balance even at the worst of times. I think he might actually be the most experienced at accessing his Inner Star." Peach said, and they remembered that she was in fact a Star Child.
"And tell me, what usually happens when someone accesses Universal Chi or even just the ultimate evolutions without all of the necessary prerequisites?" Imara asked. She didn't even need to hear the answer.
Bianco Hills, Windmill Area, this same time
The real Mario could see Shadow Mario in his sights, standing just in front of the bridge leading to the source of power for the Bianco Hills area. "I've got you now. Just you wait right there…" Mario said, his anger seething at the mystery doppelganger who had laid his filthy hands on his princess. Almost as if the doppelganger could hear him, his eyes met Mario's in a very defiant, taunting manner as he promptly set off for the windmill in the distance. As he did, it was here that Mario finally noticed the mess that his doppelganger left behind.
And Mario tapped Fludd's emblem upon this realization. "Automaton Mode, fully activated." She said, as she formed into her hominid form. "Clean up this mess." Mario ordered, as he cracked his knuckles and popped his neck. "I'm going to handle another issue…" He said viciously, his eyes firmly trained on the escaping form of Shadow Mario ascending to the top of the windmill.
He did not wait for FLUDD to give her affirmative as he dashed after his doppleganger.