RECAP:
In her sleep, Peach experienced a strange, lucid dream of herself walking across a purple-tinted ocean. Guided by candles, she arrived at a cross-roads. Here, the princess found Mario, Bowser, Toadsworth, and Junior. However, she was awoken by Toad, Kooper, and Goombella before she could determine what her dream meant.
Through meditation, Junior managed to return to his mysterious dream world of his own accord. With a greater sense of control and awareness that was quickly diminishing, Junior rushed through the castle in search of his mother. He found her out in a vaguely familiar field of roses. But before Junior could connect with Celia, he was struck by a red lightning bolt and forced out of his meditative state
Roy confronted Larry, who had been acting uncharacteristically distant since the party the night before. The youngest Koopaling questioned his sibling about their time at the orphanage and their perceptions of family. Although Larry seemed to be deeply agitated with Roy, he ran off before the latter could learn why.
In a moment of solitude, Daisy lamented her last interactions with Luigi and the regret she felt over her own actions; desperate to change the past.
Iggy continued his interrogation of Hariet and learned that Contemno was planning to unveil Phase 2 of his master plan soon. But the Koopaling was frozen with fearful indecision over what to do next with this information.
Upon learning from Junior about their encounter with Essence, Merlon immediately called for a group meeting. Peach however, fell back into a deep, unnatural sleep before she could attend.
Finally, Bowser awakened to find himself in an unfamiliar dungeon room, though not restrained. Mario was with him, but something was immediately off. Not only had the plumber changed attire, he was no longer able to speak.
To Junior's annoyance, it took longer than he would've liked to assemble the crew in the foyer of Merlon's house that afternoon.
Larry and Roy seemed to be experiencing some kind of tension as Larry refused to even look at the latter. Iggy and Daisy both rocked restlessly in their chairs as if they each had somewhere far more pressing to be. Toad casually paged through a magazine with his feet propped up on the coffee table, and Goombella and Kooper were whispering and giggling to one another in the corner.
"Look, can we just get started already?" Junior asked impatiently as he threw his hands up in the air.
"Not yet. We're still missing someone," said Larry.
"Who?"
"Peach. She's still upstairs, I think," said Kooper.
"Seriously? What's taking her so long?"
"Go easy on her, chief. She's not feeling well so she's moving a bit slower today," said Toad.
"We can fill her in later. Most of us are already here. So can we just get on with this?" Iggy proposed.
Everyone – even Junior himself – was surprised to see even the usually most level-headed one in their group succumbing to impatience as well.
"Very well," Merlon agreed. "I understand you all may wish to relax after your most recent endeavors and ease yourselves slowly back into your affairs. However, I believe time may not be a luxury we will have for much longer."
The graveness behind Merlon's tone caught everyone off-guard. Something was certainly out of the ordinary if he was now going to speak to them in this unsettling manner.
"Now then," the mage continued. "It has come to my attention that this 'Midbus' creature you fought in Sarasaland was in leagues with Contemno and was utilizing a power known as Essence, correct?" Everyone in the group nodded. "If this is true, then Contemno may be far more dangerous of a threat than we initially anticipated."
"We already knew he was a bad dude. How could he get any worse?" Larry asked skeptically.
"Yeah, and what the heck is this Essence stuff anyway?" Roy added.
"Essence is an incredibly dangerous ancient magical substance that dates back hundreds of years," Merlon explained as he began to pace around the room. "Are any of you familiar with the Star keepers?" Silence filled the room.
"I…think I am," Junior answered, raising his hand awkwardly.
"You are?" Iggy probed. The Koopa Prince shrugged and scratched the back of his neck.
"Well…sorta. I mean, it sounds kinda familiar. When I was little, I think…Dad used to read me a bedtime story about some guys who 'kept stars' or something. But that was a long time ago so…I don't really remember much about it."
"Regardless, I will enlighten all of you now," Merlon declared as he drew his audience's attention back on himself and cleared his throat. "At the beginning of recorded history, there lived a group of four creatures who came into contact with Power Stars they discovered hidden on Earth. These stars granted them supernatural abilities, and the four individuals became the first known magic users."
"These creatures were the 'Star Keepers', I take it?" Goombella surmised. Merlon nodded.
"At first, the Star Keepers used their gifts to uphold peace and introduce progress to their humble village. It blossomed almost overnight into a magnificent kingdom; the first of its kind. This was the kingdom of Dammerel. Within its borders, the Star Keepers protected their friends, neighbors and families from any and all harm – be it man, beast, or nature. Some townspeople idolized the Star Keepers as heroes. Others reviled them as demons. Soon enough however, a series of unforeseen tragedies began to occur; each one more horrific than the last. The exact details of all that transpired and how are still unknown to this day. But what is known is that somewhere along the way, a being of pure evil infiltrated their peaceful home undetected and brought forth a terrible ruin to Dammerel and its people."
"Ruin?" Larry asked.
"The four Star Keepers encountered this intruder in combat, and one by one, they each lost their lives. To make matters worse, the menace took possession of their souls at the time of their deaths and - in doing so - gained all of the power and wisdom the Star Keepers once held as their own."
An audible gulp made its rounds across the room.
"Bah, this is startin' to sound like some cheap scary story!" Toad scoffed.
"If only it were so…," Merlon lamented.
"Stealing their souls? How the heck could anyone pull that off?" Goombella asked.
"With the power of Essence," the mage answered. "It is a terrible, parasitic substance that feeds on the natural energy within our bodies. Once it enters, it can remain in your system undetected for the remainder of your life. At the time of your death, the Essence departs from your body – fueled by the natural energy once belonging to its deceased host – and returns to its original host."
"Creepy stuff," said Roy. "But that don't exactly sound like the kind of Essence we've been seein'. I mean, it gave Midbus a new power. It didn't take much away from him."
"Oh, but it certainly did," Merlon argued. "If Midbus was infused with Essence, it is likely he was already well aware of the power dynamic that can exist."
"What power dynamic?" Junior probed.
"Through training and discipline, one can enhance the natural energy within one's body and achieve greater feats of magic. This is a universal truth that all of you already know. However, if you have Essence in your body, it feeds off of your natural energy. In doing so, the Essence also receives the benefit and grows stronger."
"It gets stronger as you do…," said Larry.
"Correct. If you are aware of the Essence within your body, you can tap into its true power and enhance your own potential even further beyond your natural limits, provided your heart and mind are open to the possibility."
"So what you're sayin' is…Midbus was already strong on his own cuz of his natural energy. But because he also had Essence inside of him and he knew about it, he was able to unlock a stronger power by tappin' into the stuff?" Roy summarized.
"Precisely," Merlon affirmed with a nod. "However, to surrender yourself to Essence is to play a dangerous game; the kind that no one can afford to lose."
"How so?" asked Iggy.
"Essence originates from and is controlled by an external source. While you can certainly gain immense power from relying on Essence after it has been enhanced by your natural energy, if you rely on it too much, you place your own life in the hands of the Essence's external source. Once a person becomes obsessed with power to the point that they are willing to relinquish their freewill to the originator of Essence, they become little more than a mindless puppet. While in such a state, they are extremely valuable to the external source; up to and even beyond the time of their death."
"That's what happened to Midbus then," Goombella concluded. "The power he had for merging with the castle was something he got from tapping into Essence. When he melted after the end of the fight, the Essence that was inside of him returned to its original host."
"You are correct, Goombella. But it is also worth noting that the Essence will return to its originator at the time of the victim's death – regardless of whether or not the victim ever used the Essence for power or even knew of it. When the victim dies, their souls are surrendered to the originator of the Essence. Souls are comprised of our power, knowledge, memories, and experience; everything we have learned and achieved in our lifetime. All of it is consumed by Essence and feeds a beast with insatiable hunger."
"Well that sucks!" Larry exclaimed. "As soon as you've got Essence in you, they basically put a noose around your neck. Once you're dead, the host guy gets to just sit back and feed off of all your power and hard work!"
"But…there's gotta be a way to get the Essence out, right?" Junior argued as his pupils vibrated slightly with fear. "I mean, just because you've got it in you…that doesn't mean you can't get it out, right Merlon?"
Merlon fell silent.
"Junior's right. There has to be some way to get it out of you," Iggy agreed.
"Unfortunately, there is still much about Essence that lies beyond my own understanding. To be frank, even I do not know if there is a way to expel Essence from the body prior to one's death."
Junior nervously placed his palm over his chest and examined it.
That means…the tea I drank that night might've been…, he recounted.
"Hold on, there's something else about all of this that doesn't quite add up to me," said Goombella. "If we're assuming that Contemno was the one who was controlling the Essence inside Midbus, how did he get his hands on Essence in the first place? I mean, the stuff must be centuries old if it was first used on the Star Keepers. So does that mean Contemno was that evil intruder to their kingdom you mentioned, Merlon?"
"I do not think it is likely that Contemno was the one to have brought forth ruin to the Star Keepers and Dammerel in ancient times. To have been alive to witness those events and still be alive today would require nothing short of immortality. However, I believe it is possible that Essence itself has survived the vast passage of time. Contemno must have connections to it today by whomever has preserved it all this time."
"But…how would anyone even know about this stuff if it all happened so long ago?" Kooper wondered.
"Who cares how he got it!" Junior exclaimed. "We just need to stop him from using it on anyone else!"
"We might already be too late on that front," Daisy argued. "Remember that inner circle Peach was talking about before? I'd bet that every guy Contemno has on his side probably already has Essence inside of them by now. Which means they might all have some kind of insane power when they tap into it – just like Midbus."
"And when those guys die…," Kooper began.
"All of their power and natural energy go straight back to Contemno and make him even stronger...," Larry finished.
"We're sure gonna be in for one helluva fight goin' forward…," said Roy as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Indeed. I urge all of you to proceed with the utmost caution from here on out," said Merlon. "If Contemno does in fact have Essence at his disposal, then while his numbers grow, there is no telling what he will be capable of accomplishing soon. You must remember that Essence does not discriminate between friend and foe. Contemno can use it to control anyone in any way he sees fit. And once he has secured Essence with a body, he will profit from their power at the time of their death. If you wish to avoid becoming fuel to Contemno's cause, you must avoid coming into contact with Essence at all costs."
Junior sat back in his chair as nausea washed over him.
"But, there's still so much we don't know about it. How can we fight against it or protect ourselves from something we don't fully understand?" Larry asked.
"Well, sitting here on our butts isn't gonna help," said Daisy as she sprung up from her chair and punched her hand with her fist. "I say we get back out there and start knockin' some heads. We've still got friends to save, and we can blow up whatever little factory Contemno's cooking this Essence stuff in along the way."
"But where the heck are you supposed to start looking?" asked Toad.
"I think Hariet will be able to help out with that," said Iggy. The whole room turned to him.
"You already got her talkin', Iggs?" Roy probed.
The Koopaling hesitated. Somehow, right now didn't feel like quite the right time to drop the bomb about Phase 2 on everyone just yet. Spilling the beans now when he knew so little was only going to incite an unnecessary panic in all of them. Iggy knew he would tell them soon enough. But not just yet. He needed more information first, and getting that was going to take time.
"Somewhat. Right now, her living conditions here aren't ideal-"
"So what?" Junior cut him off. "She's our prisoner, not a guest. We don't have to make her comfortable."
"No, but if we do make her at least a little more comfortable, then she might be willing to open up more and really start telling us what we want to know," Iggy proposed.
"Tch, screw that! She's an enemy, Iggs!" Roy objected. "We don't gotta show her mercy. Besides, if you start lettin' your guard down, she'll take advantage of that. You need to hold your ground and really start squeezin' her for information. She'll sing like a canary once you show her whose boss."
"Or she'll shut down entirely," Iggy countered. "Then she'd be useless to us. Look, just leave this to me, alright? I can handle it."
"But maybe one of us could-" Larry started.
"I SAID I CAN HANDLE IT!"
Everyone stared silently at Iggy's sudden outburst. The Koopaling sighed and massaged his temples.
"Look…I know what I'm doing here, alright? This is a tricky situation, and it's going to take some maneuvering. All I'm asking is that you all trust me on this, okay? I'll get us the information we need. I just need to do it on my own."
"But we're a team, Iggy," Goombella argued. "You can still take the lead. But you don't have to do it all by yourself. Just tell us what you need us to-"
"No. Thank you, but no. I just…I need to do this myself, okay?"
"Why?" Daisy probed. Iggy took a deep breath. He was hoping he wouldn't have to say it. But clearly, he didn't have a choice now.
"Because….it's the only way I can be useful to this team now," he confessed.
"Oh come on, Iggy. That's not-" Larry began.
"Yes, it is true, Larry. And it's okay. I'm fine with it. Look, I don't have magic powers like the rest of you. I can't do all the crazy tricks and flips and magic fighting stuff the rest of you can. All I have is my intellect. We may not have been doing this for very long, but I've already seen for myself how much the rest of you have grown."
The group listened intently even as their hearts were bruised by their comrade's words. Surely they all wished to object deep down. Yet no one did.
"We still have a long journey ahead of us to stop Contemno, but I can see just how much stronger you're all getting. We're going to become an extremely powerful team; the kind that just might be enough to stop Contemno and his goons. You don't always need me to be there to come up with a plan."
Iggy then turned to Junior.
"With a little practice, I'm sure Junior will be able to start giving out orders as our definitive leader pretty soon."
"Iggy…," the Koopa Prince started.
"My place isn't on the battlefield. That's not where my talents are best served. I'm still finding my place, and I think it starts here."
"Iggy, you know that none of us think you're useless," said Roy.
"I didn't say I was useless, Roy," Iggy corrected. "I know you want to be sympathetic and tell me I'm wrong, but that's not what I need. What I need is for you to trust me to handle Hariet. I'll get you the information you need so you can go on to fight the battles that I can't. But it'll take some time. So please just…be patient and let me handle this."
"That's so bull, Iggy," said Larry as he dismissively shook his head. "You're selling yourself way too short. You're way more useful to us than you say. I'm not gonna sit here and listen to you talk so low about yourself that you-"
"Larry, stop," Junior spoke up this time. Larry's disbelieving eyes met his own. "His mind's made up. Let's just believe in him." It took a few moments of visible frustration on Larry's part to accept this. But ultimately, he did.
"…Fine. We'll leave the girl to you, Iggs," the Koopaling conceded. Iggy nodded and gave a small smile.
"Thank you."
"Our offer still stands though," said Goombella. "If you decide later that you do need something from us, let us know, m'kay? We'll be right here to help."
"I appreciate that."
"Well, while Iggy's working on getting us some new intel, what are the rest of us supposed to do next?" Junior asked, turning back to Merlon.
"Keep training, I guess?" Roy guessed with a shrug.
"Actually, there is another pressing matter I wish to discuss with all of you," said Merlon.
"Really? What is it?" Larry asked.
"We have a guest joining us today with an important message that I'm sure you will all take great interest in hearing."
The gang turned their heads left and right, anxiously scanning the room. But there didn't appear to be anyone out of the ordinary standing around, waiting to be introduced.
"What guest? I sure don't see anybody else here," Toad denied skeptically.
Without warning, Merlon walked towards the center of the room. Everyone's eyes followed him suspiciously.
For the first time since Junior's group had met Merlon - and completely without warning - the mage removed his hood and the sleeves that usually covered his hands slid back.
The jaws of everyone in the audience dropped open almost simultaneously and violent waves of disbelief crashed through the room.
"N-No…no way…!" said Larry.
"What the…?!" said Toad.
"…How?! When?! What is…?!" said Iggy.
Standing before them now was Kammy Koopa dawning Merlon's robe.
She was noticeably different without her trademark purple witch hat. But her face was the same as they remembered it.
"K-Ka….Ka….Kammy?!" Junior stuttered. The elderly Koopa witch smiled warmly at each of them.
"Hello, dears," she greeted in her sweet, raspy, familiar voice. "It's so wonderful to see you all again."
That one sentence was enough to bring Junior and his three present siblings immediately to tears. They each leapt from their chairs and collectively embraced her, sobbing wildly.
"Is…is…is it really y-you, Kammy?" Larry asked between sobs.
"Will somebody tell me what the heck is goin' on here?!" Daisy demanded.
"Yeah, seriously! Are you telling me that Merlon is Kammy Koopa?!" Goombella added.
"No way!" Kooper denied. "I knew Merlon from way back in the day when I went on my adventure with Mario! There's no way it's actually been Kammy this whole time! No freakin' way!"
"You ever seen Merlon and Kammy in the same room together? It ain't that hard to imagine," Toad argued nonchalantly.
"But…Merlon told us before that Kammy was a friend of his," Iggy pointed out between sniffs. "Why would he lie about that if he and Kammy were the same person?"
"Now, now. Settle down, children," said Kammy. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I promise to help you make sense of it. I simply ask that you all take a seat and listen well as my time with you today is limited."
Between sobs and wiping away tears, Junior, Larry, Roy, and Iggy each returned to their seats and gave their late elder the floor to speak.
"Okay, granny. Start talking," Daisy ordered as she folded her arms and crossed one leg. Larry and Roy shot her a quick glare at such blatant disrespect being shown towards Kammy, but the witch began before either of them could say something.
"Why don't I start by addressing the obvious?" Kammy proposed. "No, Merlon and I are not one and the same. I assure you that you have not been deceived. We are in fact two individual people, just as you believed moments ago."
"Then…where's Merlon? Why are you wearing his clothes?" asked Larry.
"He is still with us. You see, Merlon is what is known in the magic world as a Channeler."
"What's that?" Junior probed as he wiped at his snout with his arm.
"It means he has mastered a very rare kind of magic spell. One that utilizes an unthinkable combination of physical, mental, and spiritual magic. Why, it is said that only one mage born every 100 years is truly capable of successfully performing a channeling."
"So…Merlon's just 'channeling' you right now, Kammy?" asked Iggy. "You're not actually here?" Kammy nodded.
"Precisely. When you channel someone, you temporarily surrender your physical consciousness and willingly allow a spirit to take possession of your physical body so that it may communicate with the living. When this happens, the channeler's body changes to match that of the spirit taking possession. I may look real, but I'm not."
"Well that's not terrifying at all," said Toad sarcastically.
"Your spirit, huh? So, that means…you're not actually alive after all. You…really are dead then…," Junior surmised as tears glistened in his eyes and he choked back another sob. Kammy frowned remorsefully.
"I'm afraid so, Junior. I'm so sorry you all had to bear witness to what Contemno did to me. I can't even begin to fathom how distraught you all must have been to have seen that."
"Well…it doesn't matter! We're gonna make that bastard pay for what he did!" Roy assured her. This brought back the witch's smile.
"I know you will. I've been keeping an eye on you since that night, you know. Even though I have long since been separated from my physical body, my soul has remained chained to this realm. You see, I am simply unable to leave just yet. I refuse to pass on."
"How come?" Larry asked.
"I have unfinished business. I contacted Merlon through the Realm of Refuge and he agreed to channel my spirit so I could use his body to speak with you today. My spirit stayed behind after my body perished because I have a message for you, Junior."
"Me?" the Koopa Prince repeated as his eyebrows rose.
"Yes. It is absolutely essential that you hear and understand what I have to tell you. The very future of the Koopa Kingdom depends on it. And since the rest of you are helping Junior, you will need to hear this as well so that you may best support him."
"Understood," Iggy affirmed, having fully regained his composure. "What's the message, Kammy?" The witch turned and her glasses faced Junior directly.
"Junior, do you remember the box Merlon instructed you to pick up from the castle?"
"Box?" The Koopa Prince pondered this for a moment. The realization struck him immediately.
Go to the master study room and find a small box lying abandoned on the emerald rug. It is addressed to you personally. The item inside is valuable, but dangerous. It is only to be used as a last resort; in a life-or-death situation.
"Ohhhh yeah, that!" he confirmed as his face lit up. Junior hopped out of his seat and raced across the room to retrieve a small, ordinary box resting on the floor near the wall. He sat back down and pulled back the flaps to look inside; ignoring all the curious eyes in the room that were now on him.
"What's that, Junior?" Larry asked.
"We left the castle in such a hurry that I completely forgot all about this."
From inside the box, Junior pulled out a large golden crown. It was rather bland in appearance; lacking any jewels, patterns, or embroideries of any kind. Not to mention the fact that it was scratched and scuffed in several places and covered in a thin layer of dust. Suffice to say, for being the physical symbol of a monarchy, this crown had seen better days.
"A crown?" Daisy observed aloud.
"Where'd you get that, squirt?" Roy probed.
"It was back when you guys went to the castle to get the airship while I stayed behind to train with Merlon. Before I left to catch up, Merlon told me to pick up a box in the master study. He said he was passing along a message from some voice. This is what I found," Junior explained. "I'm guessing now that you were that voice who talked to Merlon, weren't you, Kammy?" The witch nodded.
"Yes, it was of the utmost importance that you receive that crown."
"What for? Doesn't seem too special to me," said Larry.
"It may appear as such, but I assure you that is not the case. That is the royal crown of the Koopa Clan. It has been passed down from generation to generation and was worn by the 63 previous kings in the Koopa monarchy," Kammy explained.
"Wait, we actually have a crown? How come Bowser's never worn it then?" Roy asked.
"It was last worn by King Morton Koopa – Bowser's father. Unfortunately, Bowser did not have the…best relationship with him. So, in an effort to distance himself from the expectations and memory of King Morton, Bowser elected not to wear the crown while he served as king."
"Doesn't look all that impressive, if I'm being honest," said Daisy. "I mean, it doesn't have any jewels or anything."
"The Koopa Kingdom hasn't exactly been known for vanity, Daisy," said Iggy. "They've always cared much more about demonstrating their power through strength and military, rather than with any fancy jewelry or headpiece."
"Indeed," Kammy confirmed. "In fact, Lord Bowser has kept the crown locked in a chest in the castle storage room all this time."
"But why is it so important for me to have this now?" Junior asked. "From your message, you made it sound pretty dang important. You mentioned 'life-or-death.'"
"It was a direct order from your father, Junior. He entrusted me with the task of giving the crown to you once you became king." The Koopa Prince's eyes narrowed with skepticism.
"Well that sure didn't age well, did it? You were there, Kammy. You saw me flunk my magic test. Dad called off my whole coronation because of it! So why the hell would he want me to have the crown now? To mock me? Is this all some kind of sick joke to him?!"
"Please do not be rash, Junior," said Kammy. "It's true that things did not play out quite the way we all expected. I believe your father intended for you to receive this at a later date, given the outcome of the exam. But after Contemno made his presence known, I knew right away that his timing would only complicate matters further. Even so, you must understand that your father only has the best intentions for you."
"How could that be even remotely true?"
"I know you're still angry with him. But while you might believe that Lord Bowser doesn't think you're worthy of being king right now, realize that he knew you would be ready one day. Given the current state of the world however, I personally believe that day is coming much sooner than anyone could have anticipated."
"What're you getting at here, Kammy?" Larry asked.
"This is not an ordinary crown. At least, not anymore," said Kammy. "The day before your magic exam, your father asked me to cast a magic spell on it and present it to you as a gift. In its current state, the crown now possesses a great deal of raw magic energy. Junior, when you wear this crown upon your head, all of its secret power will be your's to command."
"He…wanted you to give it to me as a gift?" Junior repeated as he folded his arms in contemplation. Kammy nodded. "Well, even if that was true, I'm sure he changed his mind pretty quick after I flunked my test, right? There's no way he'd ever think I'm worthy of wearing the crown after that; whether it had any special power to it or not."
"You may not think yourself to be ready yet, but that will not always be true. In your father's eyes, what happened was a simple misstep. I'm sure Bowser regrets not getting a chance to clarify this with you. And for that, you have every right to still be angry with your father, Junior. Regardless, you are his flesh and blood, and it is your birthright to inherit the throne. The day when you accept this monumental responsibility has always been inevitable. Only now, the day has come much sooner than any of us could have expected."
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"Junior, Contemno is a threat to the world unlike any we've ever seen before. He possesses a dangerous power that grows stronger with every passing day. If he is not stopped, Contemno will soon plunge the world into a dark abyss of chaos and disorder; a state that it may never recover from. The Kingdom Council has been strategically dismantled piece by piece by forces under Contemno's instruction. The world has already entered into a state of imprisonment and unrest. To make matters worse, your father and even Mario have been unable to challenge him. Thus, the task now must fall to you."
"…Me? Why me?"
"The Koopa Kingdom needs you, Junior. As does the rest of the world. Only you remain to take up the mantle. You are the last hope not just for your kingdom, but also the world. Therefore, you must rise to the occasion and challenge Contemno. I know you're afraid, and it is such a terrible burden to place upon your shoulders. But you must not allow that to prevent you from taking action. If you learn how to harness the power within this crown and hone your own natural talents and intuition, I know that in time, you will become powerful enough to stop Contemno and save the world." Junior inspected the crown carefully.
"Do you…really think he can do it, Kammy?" Larry asked hesitantly. "Not that I don't believe in Junior but…is there really no one else left? It's all up to us now?"
"To be truthful, even I do not know for certain," Kammy admitted as her gaze fell. "But, what I do know is that inaction will lead to a much more predictable outcome. If Junior does not face Contemno, the world as we have come to know it will disappear entirely without question."
"Is there any chance you know exactly what Contemno is planning to do, or even who he really is?" Iggy inserted. "I mean, it seems like he targeted you specifically when he attacked our castle. There must be something you know that we don't; something that could really help us a lot."
"Unfortunately, I don't," said Kammy. "It's possible Contemno only attacked me because I stood as the last line of defense over the castle in Lord Bowser's absence. But it's also just as possible that Contemno knew me personally from somewhere and wanted to dispose of me in particular in order to get to Lord Bowser and Junior."
"But…how am I supposed to do something that my dad and even Mario couldn't?" Junior asked. "I mean, you're asking a lot of me right now, Kammy. To save the whole stinkin' world? Seriously? Me?"
"Believe me, Prince Junior. If there was anything more I could do to lessen the sheer weight of this responsibility placed upon you, I would. But all that remains of me now is my spirit, and my time here is expiring. Merlon will need to reclaim his body soon. Once more, I know you're afraid, Junior. So here is my wisdom for you: Master the crown's power and use it to enhance your own strength. Rely on your brothers and friends, and recruit as many more as you can. Only then will you amass a powerful and versatile enough army to challenge Contemno's forces. Take back each of the remaining kingdoms he has laid siege to. When the moment of truth arrives and you are forced to confront Contemno, you must believe with all your heart that you have what it takes to stop him."
A serious determination washed over Junior's face and he slowly nodded in acceptance of the task.
"Alright, I'll try. So, how does the crown's power work? I mean, was my dad some kind of psychic? Did he somehow know this was all going to happen? How did he know to ask you to work your magic on it?"
"His original intention was for the crown's power to protect you should you ever find yourself in a fatal situation where your life hangs in the balance. It was meant to be a means of a final act of desperation for survival. Before Contemno arrived, I believe Bowser feared the forces of darkness would seek to harm you, as the Kingdom Council had already been discussing rumblings of a terrible danger looming in the days beforehand. Your father wanted you to be protected in the event that he could not do so himself. At the time, I believed there was merit to his unspoken fears. However, seeing you as you are right now, I can sense that you have already made tremendous strides in mastering your own natural gifts. You are already far more capable of defending yourself from harm, and the crown can only serve to make you even stronger. That said, I recommend you seek out a master to aid you in properly utilizing its power."
"You mean like Merlon?"
"No, you should seek out someone from our own kingdom who is well-versed in the finer intricacies of Magikoopa magic. You should find Kamek."
"Kamek? But didn't he retire five years ago?" Roy asked.
"Yes, but his loyalty to the kingdom has never once been questionable. If you seek him out, he will surely be honored to help you."
"But why do I need Kamek's help? You just said I'm stronger as I am right now. So why don't I just put the crown on now and-"
"Stop!" Kammy exclaimed. Junior's arms froze in place as the crown dangled within his claws just inches over his head. "Junior, you must not take this task lightly. You see, I created a risk system that comes with using the crown in order to prevent its power from being abused."
"What do you mean?"
Kammy proceeded to recount Bowser's orders given to her about the exact alterations he wanted made to the crown.
I want you to make this a hail mary, got it? Something that Junior knows about, but won't use unless he absolutely has to. We're talking life-or-death here. Use your magic to put some kind of curse on it or give it some sort of cost for using it. I don't care what. Just make it as clear as day for Junior to understand that he can't use it lightly. Only unless he's 100% sure he needs it in order to survive.
"Why would Bowser want you to make something for Junior that could potentially hurt him?" Larry questioned. Kammy chuckled.
"I asked him the same thing. It was to teach Junior restraint and self-control," the witch explained. "If he is to become an effective king and leader, he will need to become strategic; to think critically and make difficult decisions." Kammy then turned back to Junior and pointed at the crown. "The crown's power is designed to help you in a pinch, but it is not meant to be a substitute for your own strength. Heed my words, Junior. Do not take the crown's power lightly. You must understand exactly what you're getting into before you put the crown on. Kamek will help you learn what that means. After all, he was an apprentice of mine long enough that he understands my handiwork even better than his own. Do you understand?"
Junior continued to stare at the crown; his expression a mixture of both curiosity and fear.
"Yeah, I get it. Don't let the crown fight my battles for me. There's no pride in that."
"It's not just about pride, Junior. If you misuse the crown's power, it could do irreparable harm to your body and your mind. I do not wish to scare you away from ever trying it on, so I'll leave it at that. Use its power sparingly and carefully. Now, can I count on the rest of you to hold Junior accountable to these terms as well?"
"Sure can," Roy agreed.
"Naturally," said Larry.
"Of course, Kammy," Iggy affirmed.
"Good. Now then, I believe the time has come for me to go. Merlon will be waking up shortly. I'm counting on all of you; especially you, Junior. I know you'll make us proud. You'll become a magnificent king, just like your father. I'll be watching."
The Koopa Prince stepped forward and hugged her one last time. Larry, Roy, and Iggy immediately followed his example.
"Thanks, Kammy. I won't let you down. But I won't become a king like Dad. I'll be better than him."
"Well put. I'm certain you will."
The witch pulled the hood of Merlon's cloak back over her head and her face disappeared within its shadows. Similarly, her wrinkled hands faded out of existence.
Minutes later, Merlon's yellow eyes and bushy white mustache returned. He stumbled slightly, but Goombella and Kooper stood immediately at the ready to help prop him up while he recovered.
"I can't believe Peach missed out on all this! I better make sure she's okay," said Toad as he scurried up the staircase.
Junior continued to stare at the crown as though he held the entire planet in the palm of his hands.
"What're you thinkin', small fry?" Larry asked as he rested an arm on Junior's shoulder.
"I have to save the whole world. Me…"
"Hey now, don't get greedy. Kammy said you're gonna need an army, didn't she? So we have to save the whole world. But after everything we've been through so far, if you ask me, it's nothing we can't handle."
"Yeah…I guess so. But still, what could this crown actually do that's so powerful and dangerous at the same time?"
"Guess we won't know until we find Kamek," Roy added. "That's our next move then, yeah? We're takin' you to Kamek so he can help you learn how to use the crown's power?"
"Sounds about right to me. But where is Kamek anyway? Didn't you say he retired years ago, Roy?" Junior inquired.
"He did," Iggy confirmed on his brother's behalf. "These days Kamek's staying in a private residential village with a personal aide back near Inferno Canyon. It's where most of the tenured soldiers in Bowser's army have gone to retire over the years. Just take the same road back to the castle from here, but go right instead of left at the fork in the road and you'll find it in no time."
"I…take it you're not coming with us then, Iggy?"
"No, Junior. As I said before, my place needs to be here; getting information from Hariet. You've got your own task now, so make sure to do your best, alright?"
"Right…"
"GUYS! GET UP HERE QUICK!" Toad exclaimed from upstairs.
Tatanga tapped his foot impatiently with his communication device glued to his hand; as it had been all day. The ringing tone had long since turned into white noise in his head as he channeled it out. At long last however, he immediately caught on to the subtle click as the other end finally picked up.
"What is it?" Eris's voice crackled through the muffled speaker.
Finally. It's about time you picked up! Where the hell have you been?"
"I had business to take care of. What do you want?"
"We've got a situation. I don't know what orders you or the boss gave to our little rabbit sideshow, but they went AWOL."
"What are you talking about?"
"The Broodals. Keep up. My boys spotted them picking a fight with Junior and his crew just outside of that mushroom town."
"…What? Are you serious?"
"Do I sound like I'm joking?"
"You do it so much that it's hard to tell anymore."
"Whatever. This time I'm dead serious. Naturally, the furballs got their tails handed to them by Junior's crew. But when they ran off, one of them got left behind and was taken prisoner. They could be leaking all kinds of information about us to the enemy as we speak!"
Those damn idiots…, Eris thought to herself.
"Hello? Did you hear what I just said?" Tatanga repeated.
"Yes. So why are you wasting time telling me all of this? Get the straggler out of there now!"
"I can't. Apparently they've got some kind of force field up. We can't see or track their base of operations, much less plan an infiltration route inside."
"What kind of force field?"
"I dunno, a magic one? But I don't know jack about magic! Hence why I'm calling you since you're the expert." Eris paused to ponder this for a moment. "Still there?" Tatanga probed impatiently.
"Yes, just chill out," Eris replied. "I'd have to see it to know for sure what we're dealing with here, but luckily there aren't a ton of magic barrier spells out there. A simple incantation alone will probably be enough to bring it down."
"A what?"
"An incantation, you dunce. Keep up. It's just a series of words to say when you're right outside the barrier. Combine that with a little mental magic and you should be golden."
"Okay, and what are the words?"
Eris instructed Tatanga to jot them down on a piece of paper for good measure. As she predicted, he was incapable of pronouncing a single word and made her repeat and spell each one multiple times.
"Alright, I'll pass this off to my men."
"Just be smarter than the Broodals, will you? Don't do the incantation until you've worked out a strategy for dealing with whomever you're likely to run into once you're inside. We don't need two screw-ups in one day."
"Relax, we'll get this done," Tatanga assured. "In the meantime, can I trust you to dish out the proper punishment to our three stooges?"
"I was planning to whether you asked or not. Those cowards will probably come running back to the base soon with their tails between their legs. When I get back, I'll make certain they never pull a stunt like that again."
"Hold on, when you get back? You mean you're not there now?"
"No, I told you I had business to take care of."
"And what business would that be?"
"How is that any of your business?"
"Sheesh, I was just asking! Y'know, it wouldn't kill you to be a little less cold to your comrades, toots."
"We might not be comrades for much longer. The meeting for Phase 2 is coming up pretty soon."
"There you go again with the stupid teasing! I'm getting sick of this whole act you and your boyfriend are putting on. It feels like this Phase 2 is just a myth! The wait is murder!"
"Careful what you wish for. As I told you before, the world is going to change forever once Phase 2 goes into play. Once it's here, you might find yourself wishing things could go back to the way they were."
"No chance. I'm all for whatever world Contemno's cooking up as long as it means wiping scum like Mario and Bowser Jr. off the face of the earth."
"Glad to hear it. Now, let's clean up this other little mess first. If we both do our parts, Contemno needn't ever know it happened."
"Affirmative, let's get to work." Tatanga punched the button on his device to end the call, then immediately began dialing Alpha's number. At the top of the hill, Eris looked back at the village below as a gust of wind blew through her long blonde hair.
No going back now...
"Okay…okay…okay…let's not panic!" said Bowser as he staved off evident hyperventilation. "We can figure out what's going on. Just need to stay cool, right?" Mario nodded.
"You lost your voice and…wait, you still remember who I am, right?" Again, Mario nodded confidently. Bowser sighed and wiped at his forehead with his hand.
"Well, that's a relief." The Koopa King began to pace slowly around the small room. "At least we don't have to go through that whole cliché a second time. Still, this doesn't make any sense! I thought Contemno said if you escaped the heart kingdom without his permission, you'd lose both your memory and your voice on account of that lock thing on your heart. But you had both when we were still inside the heart kingdom. So if we were just taken to some other place inside the heart kingdom, you'd still be able to talk to me right now. Not to mention your clothes wouldn't have changed."
Mario continued nodding in agreement of everything Bowser was saying. Even if he were able to talk, he wouldn't have much insight to offer aside from verbal affirmation of the logic. Still, knowing Bowser's temper and lack of patience, it surely wasn't going to be long before he grew sick of having to basically talk to himself in spite of Mario's physical presence. That aside, Mario wasn't at all fond of losing his ability to speak either after enjoying it for the short duration he had it.
There was no doubt about it. He needed to figure out how to get his voice back. The plumber placed his hand over his chest. To do that, Mario knew they'd first have to do something about his heart lock. But what?
"Only other explanation is that we got out of the heart kingdom somehow," Bowser theorized.
Mario removed his glove and inspected his palm. He still had the Kagi symbol. The plumber showed this to Bowser.
"Wait...you've still got…" Bowser examined his own palm and his eyes widened. "I've got it too! The symbol Leanna gave us! So maybe we did get out somehow then!"
"Hmmm," Mario muttered as he gripped his chin and pondered this.
"But I don't remember activating it. Do you?" Mario shook his head. "Didn't think so. We were knocked out cold. If we really are back in the real world, then we somehow did it without needing to use the symbol at all." Bowser ran his claws through his hair. "Gah, none of this makes any sense!"
Mario waved his hand in a suggestive manner.
"What, you thinkin' someone else got us out of there?" Mario shrugged.
He wasn't sure, but he was just glad that Bowser somehow managed to pick up on that exact sentiment from the plumber's vague gesture alone.
"I don't know how that could be the case either. The last person we saw when we were awake was Eris. There's no way in hell she would've let us out. She's in leagues with Contemno!"
Mario held up two fingers. Bowser pondered this for a moment.
"Someone else? Who? Who else would even know where we…?" The Koopa King trailed off. Mario nodded at Bowser's realization. "Leanna! She's the only person not on Contemno's side who knows we were in the heart kingdom! But…after the way she stormed off like that, why would she come back and help us after what I said to her?"
Mario's eyes surveyed the room. He looked back at Bowser and shook his head slowly.
"Yeah, if Leanna really did save us somehow, she would probably still be in the room with us right now. No point in hiding since I'm sure she'd want to rub it in about us needing her after all. But there's no one else here."
While Bowser was consumed with thought, Mario began to stroll around the room and investigate the objects around them. Perhaps there was something in here that would give them a clue as to what had happened. The plumber approached the purple trunk resting off to the side. He tugged at the lid, but it hardly budged. Locked. Bowser turned at the sound and digested what Mario was up to.
"That thing? What about it? Huh…well, it's as good a place to start as any, I guess," Bowser agreed as he cracked his knuckles. "Stand aside." Mario did as he was told. Bowser knelt down, sucked on his claw for a brief moment, inserted it into the golden lock, and began wiggling it around. It took a few minutes of maneuvering before the lock produced an audible "click."
"Bingo," said Bowser with a smile. Upon removing his claw, the lock mechanism disengaged and the Koopa King was able to flip open the chest's lid with ease. "Magic claw. Great for lock-picking."
Mario peered inside the trunk and reached inside to remove its contents.
"Well? What's in it?" Bowser asked impatiently. Mario turned back around to reveal a single sheet of paper. Its jagged side indicated it must have been violently ripped out of a book or journal. His eyes scanned it quickly, but his expression didn't change at first. Bowser glanced inside the trunk himself. Nothing. That paper was all that was inside the chest.
"A lousy piece of paper? That's it? You gotta be kiddin'! What a rip-off!" Mario didn't react to Bowser's complaints. He wasn't even fazed. Bowser took notice of his partner's focus. He placed his hands on his hips. "Well? What does it say? Anything useful?"
Since he was now physically incapable of explaining it to Bowser, Mario simply handed him the paper so the latter could read it himself.
Contemno's Report #23 - Mario/Maldeon
Mario is the beloved defender of the Mushroom Kingdom. Although, his escapades have taken him far beyond the boundaries of his home kingdom. He has gone on to protect not just the world, but also the galaxy, other worlds, and even other dimensions - all from the forces of evil.
Biologically, Mario appears to be nothing more than an ordinary human. However, his strength comes from an unorthodox ability both he and his brother possess for absorbing unique, mystical items they refer to as "power-ups." These power-ups temporarily grant Mario a wide assortment of supernatural powers and skills that he normally cannot perform on his own. The caveat is that Mario will lose these gifts either from experiencing direct physical contact with someone else, or automatically after a pre-determined amount of time. The condition depends on the specific power-up he obtains.
I am most curious to understand how Mario's power operates within the context of magic. Is it physical? Mental? Spiritual? Some combination of these three?
These are answers I simply must have if I am ever to satiate my curiosity. I believe Essence will be a valuable tool in solving such a mystery. Regardless, if I am to succeed in ridding this world of its distortion, Mario is a threat that must be neutralized as quickly as possible. It makes less sense to simply kill him, as he has unique characteristics that are worth re-purposing for my own means instead. Not to mention that attempting to kill him outright is something many people have attempted over the years and all have failed at.
Furthermore, I could think of no better candidate to become my successor than Mario. I plan to bestow upon him the name "Maldeon" for its similar ring, yet distinct contrast.
In spite of his friendly and protective nature, Mario is physically incapable of speaking full sentences for some reason. A biological defect or disability, perhaps? Whatever the cause, this creates a certain degree of distance between Mario and those whom he wishes to connect with. He will forever be one degree separated from his friends and family as long as he is incapable of adequately communicating with them.
Therefore, although Mario possesses a seemingly unwavering sense of justice and perseverance, I strongly believe his lack of a voice is his Achilles' heel. Under the right circumstances, offering Mario the opportunity to speak in exchange for his loyalty would be something too exceedingly difficult for even him to refuse.
I believe developing a heart lock for Mario will be crucial in manipulating him to my will. Of course, there is no guarantee that this alone will be enough to bring him to his knees.
This is why I will also be implementing an additional layer of control over his memories. Mario is an individual with extensive combat history and a strong sense of self. He has endured countless battles, so it will be imperative that I break his confidence and self-worth if I am to reshape him as I see fit. I do not intend to simply erase his memories as doing so may also risk losing valuable combat knowledge that can easily translate into powerful Enhanced Essence (EE).
Finally, I will observe how Mario responds to being trapped in my heart's kingdom. If the memory and voice manipulation go well, I should be able to successfully re-build Mario from the ground up as "Maldeon." He will become my most powerful ally who serves me without question of his own choosing and will go on to become my successor.
At that point, even if the heart lock were to be removed, it would change nothing about Maldeon's resolve to serve me.
With Maldeon at my side, there won't be a soul walking this earth who can challenge me.
"Wow…," Bowser muttered as he reached the paper's conclusion and chuckled. "This definitely sounds like it was written by Contemno alright. But now you're telling me he kept a diary too? What a nut job!" Bowser chortled. "I guess this means he wasn't bluffing about what he told us before about you though. The guy really did mean to make you his right-hand man and was willing to mess with your voice and memories to do it."
Mario nodded, but also pointed to the title at the top of the page.
"Yeah? What about it?" asked Bowser, confused. His puzzled eyes followed Mario's finger as it landed on the number.
"So…if this was just the 23rd one…then that means he must have at least 22 other papers too," Bowser deduced. Mario nodded. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's read the rest of 'em and see what else we can learn!"
The Koopa King shoved Mario aside slightly and examined the chest once more. Mario placed a hand on Bowser's shoulder and shook his head.
"Hold up, that's it? No way! You're joking! This was all that was in here? Then where's the rest of it?!"
Mario shrugged. Bowser slapped his palm to his face.
"Uggghh, well that's just great! Now you're tellin' me we gotta find all the other pages which are who-knows-where?" Mario nodded reluctantly. "Well that's just great! This stupid mystery never ends! Every time it feels like we're almost out of this hole, it goes even deeper!"
While Bowser was venting, Mario approached the door he suspected lead out of the room.
"Don't bother. We're still prisoners, remember? There's no way they'd just leave the door-"
Mario twisted the knob and pulled the door open with ease.
"…unlocked?!" Bowser finished.
Mario smiled confidently and waved for Bowser to follow him out into the hall.
The empty hallway stretched out in two directions to the left and right. With no windows in sight, the passage was completely devoid of light. Bowser retrieved the torch that had been situated in their room and took the lead down the path to the right.
The Feldgrau yellow brick walls and floors were covered with thick layers of dust, dirt, cobwebs, and debris. So much so that the place resembled a cave rather than a dungeon or some other man-made structure. Vines and weeds popped out sporadically as nature slowly reclaimed the foundation as its own.
Mario and Bowser nearly choked on the thick humidity that permeated the tunnel. This, mixed with the pungent odor of something rotting made for a truly noxious concoction. Though what exactly might have been decaying was not quite discernible. Turning a corner at the end of the hall revealed another hallway stretching out into utter black as far as the torch in Bowser's hand could illuminate.
"So, you think this could really be Castle Olympus?" Bowser wondered aloud.
Mario turned to him with a rather neutral expression.
"Duh, I'm not expecting you to answer. But this place seemed a lot nicer in the book. Now it just looks…abandoned."
From what Mario could tell, "abandoned" seemed to be putting it mildly. If this was in fact Castle Olympus, then this place had been devoid of life for centuries. The place was filthy with pieces of the structure actively falling apart all around them. Mario could only imagine the radiant golden glow this place would have surely cast back in its prime. Now, that shine had long since dimmed and faded into a dirty husk of a cave from all of the evident neglect.
"Guess it makes sense though," said Bowser. "If the Star Keepers really did exist hundreds of years ago, it's not a shock that their castle fell apart if no one was around to maintain it." Mario looked at Bowser curiously.
"Huh? What's wrong? Oh, didn't I mention that? Yeah, the Star Keepers used to live here at Castle Olympus. They built it after they taught themselves how to use magic. The townspeople adored them; treated 'em like gods, hence the name."
Mario continued to gaze around the cavern as he pondered this. It was then that he felt a shivering chill of eeriness descend over him. There was something creepy about this place. It wasn't just the abandoned state that unsettled him. It was the maze-like design. Mario and Bowser had been walking for what felt like an hour in this labyrinth. Yet this tunnel of a hallway seemed endless. It only ever forced them to turn in one direction – the same direction every time.
Were they lost? Should they have gone left from the door instead of right? Or were they going in circles right now, thus rendering their direction moot?
The walls were completely barren as well. There were no doors, no windows; no furniture, fixtures or landmarks to offer any clues as to where they were right now or how to get out of here.
"Wait," said Bowser. Mario stopped in his tracks. "Did you hear that?"
The plumber had been steadily consumed by paranoia, but was still somehow certain that he hadn't heard anything just now. Then, there was a small crackle. And another.
Bowser lowered the torch to examine the ground beneath his feet. His eyes stopped when they spotted a crack.
"Uh-oh…"
Without warning, the ground split and a large circular chunk of the ancient floor caved in.
Mario and Bowser fell deeper into the dark abyss. The drop ended as quickly as it had arrived. Fighting through sharp jolts of pain as a result of landing on nothing but solid ground, Mario and Bowser each sat up.
"You okay?" Bowser asked. Mario nodded once the room stopped spinning for him. The Koopa King felt around in the darkness for his dropped torch. The flame had gone out after being smothered by sand pouring in from the floor above. Luckily, it didn't seem they would need it anymore.
Straight ahead down a much shorter hallway was a light at the end of the tunnel: Sunlight; an exit leading to the outside. The duo climbed to their feet as they staggered on towards the finish line.
Mario and Bowser emerged from the dark passage and arrived in a massive, sprawling courtyard of some kind. In modern daylight, the weathered and aged golden bricks gave off the slightest shimmer beneath the blanket of dirt and decay. In its current, decrepit state, the castle was incapable of producing the same elegant shine it once could. But it was still admirably trying to underneath all the rough.
"Yep, there's no mistaking it now," said Bowser. "Look." The Koopa King pointed to a series of statues situated in the center of the courtyard. Mario followed Bowser as they approached the towering stone art. Though the figures were entangled in vines and had been scarred with many cracks and seams, their identities were not lost to the elements. There were four statues in total.
"No doubt about it. We're in Castle Olympus right now, and these are the Star Keepers."
The first statue was of a tall, muscular bipedal dragon wearing a collared shirt that appeared to be slightly too tight in fit, a choker around its neck, and a utility belt around its lean waist. The creature had horns even larger and more impressive than Bowser's. Its bulging, serpent-like tail curved outward and was punctuated with an arrowhead shape at the tip.
The dragon's majestic wings stretched out wide and looked to be in a perpetual state of being ready for take-off at a moments' notice. The dragon stood tall with its hands on its hips in a heroic pose; its eyes gazing up to the heavens with determination and its mouth stretched into a warm, friendly smile.
The second statue was a wolf with thick, slightly unkempt fur and was wearing a similar collared shirt to the dragon's. The wolf sat up straight in a composed and civil posture; propped up by its two front legs. It gave off an air of dignity, though the creature's blank expression made it difficult to determine what it might have been thinking at the time the statue was carved.
The third statue was a slender chameleon dressed in a shinobi's attire and standing on its hind legs. Its build made this creature the thinnest of the four by far. Had this statue been made of any other material than stone, it would surely be swept away by a gentle breeze.
Mario found the chameleon's eyes in particular to be oddly enchanting; as though anyone who met the creature's gaze would find themselves unable to look away. Yet, the chameleon's body language served as a direct contrast to its eyes. With arms folded across the chest and a guarded, dissuading hunch, the chameleon seemed equally capable of drawing in and repelling onlookers at the same time.
The final statue was of an eastern bluebird with neat feathers, a firm, pointed beak, and polished wings resting peacefully at its sides and underneath a simple sun dress. While the bird's head was angled up to the sky optimistically like the dragon's, its expression was more similar to the wolf's – neither cheerful nor troubled.
The plaques fastened underneath each statue respectively read: Roderick the Brave, Bastierge the Wise, Sia the Cunning, and Juniper the Nurturing.
"Magnificent, aren't they?" a voice spoke out from behind. Mario and Bowser both turned around in a panicked reflex and took a fighting stance. However, it wasn't Contemno whom had spotted them. In fact, it wasn't anyone they recognized.
Instead, approaching them was a rather ordinary man with black spiky hair drooping slightly over his left eye. He sported a midnight blue coat with its sleeves rolled up. Gold buttons decorated the coat's breaks and large collar. The man also wore beige dress pants and tall black boots. Atop his head sat a blue cowboy hat matching his coat.
"Who are you?" Bowser asked immediately.
"Apologies. Didn't mean to startle you," said the man. "But I didn't expect to find anyone else visiting the castle today." Bowser relaxed his guard slightly.
This wasn't anyone he knew, so maybe they weren't an immediate threat. Still, he refused to take his eyes off the man in case this was some sort of trick. After all, it was awfully convenient for someone to find them as soon as they woke up and began wandering around the castle.
"….And I guess we were expecting someone else just now," the Koopa King confessed. The man's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Really? Well, guess I should count myself lucky I'm not that person then since you both look like you're about ready to tackle me to the ground." Mario fully relaxed after hearing this and he looked at Bowser to do the same. Bowser shifted from a combative stance to a dismissive one; leaning back and folding his arms in a judgmental display.
"We won't if you're not here to attack us," said Bowser. The man chuckled at that.
"Even if I wanted to, you're three times my size, buddy," the man replied. "Don't worry. I know how to pick and choose my battles when I have to."
"That's great. But you didn't answer my question. Who are you?"
"Oh right, I suppose I didn't. The name's Damian."
Author's Note:
Hey all! Thanks for your patience. I'm so excited that we're finally at this part of the story as the upcoming arc(s) are ones I've been planning for a while. I can't wait for you to see the twists, turns, and revelations that are about to unfold! This chapter marked the introduction of Contemno's Reports, which I plan to include more of as the story progresses. They are meant to give additional lore, clarification, and insights into what Contemno is planning and his in-depth thoughts on specific characters and concepts. I hope you look forward to learning more just as the characters do!