Eye of the Storm
The moonlight filtering through the grate on the ceiling was all the brilliant gold star had to work with as he desperately searched for a way out of his prison. The rain was pouring in through the grate, and it splashed onto the ground, causing the star to grumble in frustration. Floating slowly to the top of the ceiling to peer out of the grate, the star Searched for a break or crack in the metal grate, but found nothing. Suddenly two stars came in the door; the gold star failed to hear from the rain, and settled themselves near the entrance. The gold star moved down from the ceiling quickly. Unlike the gold star, these two stars were pitch black with shining white eyes.
"Well, well, trying to escape, are we?" The first one asked.
"Why are you doing this?" The gold star yelled.
"Now, no need for a temper tantrum," The First star laughed, pulling out a Glowing green Gem from seemingly thin air, "Look! We already found one of the Gemereld's! Those half-wits are bringing them right to us! Ha!"
"Noooooo!" The gold star screamed, lunging at the black star, only to be smacked aside by the other black star.
"I don't need your help!" The first star Growled turning around.
"Looked like you did to me…" The other star smirked.
"Ha ha… We'll be going now." The black star said, leaving trough the door.
"Errgh!" The gold star moaned, moving up to the grate again, "Help…"
The streets of Toad Town were hectic, Toad's were running from streets to homes and only the brave were left on the road.
Mario was walking down the streets of Toad Town, Yoshi and Clyde following behind, and he turned off at a street leading up to the castle, stopping to talk to a toad.
"What happened here?" Mario asked.
"Bowser came through, he demanded a boat and drove off into the sea!" The Toad said, "Hmph, I wasn't scared…I could've taken him."
"Thanks…here." Mario said, tossing a coin to the toad, who caught and pocketed it, "I'm going up to the castle, come on Yoshi, don't do anything stupid Clyde." Mario warned, walking up the castle steps.
"Ok!" Clyde said brightly, before running down the street.
-----Inside of the Castle-----
"Hello? Helloooo?" Mario called opening the doors to the castle.
"Mario! Your alive!" A toad yelled running up to Mario.
"Well, yeah, I am Mario after all…where's the king?" Mario asked, looking at the empty throne.
"Oh…the guardian of some temple came and invited him to stay at yoshi's island." The toad explained.
"Really? Why would Raz want the King?" Mario wondered, "Oh well, listen could I use the Mushroom Yacht?" Mario asked.
"Sure, just have to ask the princess…wait…she's kidnapped. Um…you could ask…me." The toad said.
"Ok…can I." Mario asked.
"No!" The toad forcefully said.
"…" Mario stared hard at the toad, "How about for a blue coin?" Mario inquired, with Yoshi watching carefully.
"I think we have a deal." The toad said greedily grabbing the coin.
"Wow…and after all he's done for you…" Yoshi said sadly, shaking his head in dismay.
"Hey, a toad's gotta make a living, right? Am I right?" The toad smiled, nudging Mario, who glared back.
"…Fine! For star's sake, what do you want from me?" The toad grumbled, giving the coin back to Mario.
"Thanks." Mario said, walking out the door to the docks, " Hey, Yoshi, go fetch Clyde, will ya?"
-----While this was happening, in the streets-----
Clyde was walking artfully towards an unsuspecting female Toad who had a relatively hefty purse. Slowly sneaking up he swiftly cut the strings of the purse and stalked off.
"Ah…another success for me. So...what did I pilfer today?" Clyde smirked, looking in the purse.
Clyde noticeably frowned, as all he saw was a brick and two coins.
"What! I got gipped!" Clyde growled, tossing the purse behind him.
CLUNK "OW!" Someone yelled.
"Huh?" Clyde wondered turning around to see an Aqua Co. member rubbing his head furiously.
"What's your problem huh?" The Guy yelled, pushing Clyde.
"What? Don't get grouchy, I'm sorry." Clyde muttered, turning towards mushroom castle.
"Don't take that tone with me boy!" The member yelled, pushing Clyde to the ground.
"Hey stop it!" Clyde yelled, getting up and running past the menacing member in front of him.
"Get back here!" the Aqua Co. member yelled, speeding after Clyde.
As Clyde was running from the Aqua Co. member, Yoshi was searching for him. Unfortunately Yoshi was looking down an alleyway, when Clyde flew headfirst into him, pushing both of them into the dank back alley. The Aqua Co. member pounced in front of them, blocking their escape.
"OW! What's wrong with you?" Yoshi scolded.
"Sorry, but this guy is – Ah! There he is!" Clyde yelped, scooting against the wall.
"Ahaha! I have you now!" The member yelled, stepping closer.
"Get away! Yeah! Away with you!" Yoshi yelled, throwing an egg at the member's feet.
"Huh? You sticking up for that runt!" The member growled.
"Well…yeah I guess." Yoshi said, aiming an egg.
"Ha! Good, more fun for me!" And with that the Member tossed a bubble at the egg.
"Hey! Ah!" Yoshi yelled, floating into the air as the bubble trapped itself around the egg and yoshi's arm.
"Eep! Yoshi!" Clyde yelled,
"Hey, what's taking you guys so…what the?" A voice asked, as Mario stepped into the entrance of the alley.
"Ah! What the! Three against one is…totally unfair!" The member yelled, jumping from wall to wall and landing on the rooftops.
"Hey!" Mario exclaimed looking above him, "Nobody steals my wall jump!"
"Can someone help me now?" Yoshi called.
"Yeah, later!" Mario said, jumping after the member.
Up one the roofs the member was casually walking towards a domed building, when he noticed, or rather, heard, footsteps behind him. Spinning around, he found himself face to face with a wooden hammer, which smashed itself into his face.
"Owwww!" The member yelled, falling off the roof, his arms flailing.
"Ha! Don't think of trying that wall jump move again!" Mario yelled, pointing down at the Member.
Back in the alleyway, Mario popped the bubble holding Yoshi and led him and Clyde towards the docks.
"Hey Mario?" Clyde asked, sidling up to Mario, "Why do you think Aqua Co. members are here?"
"I don't know, think we should have interrogated that guy?" Mario said.
"Oh really? Maybe we should go back and catch him!" Clyde said, rubbing his hands gleefully together.
"Eh, I don't know, the state that that guy's in right now, I doubt he could even speak." Mario said smiling evilly.
"Wow…what did you do to him?" Clyde asked.
"Well first I…" Mario started but before he could finish Yoshi interrupted.
"Hey, people, we're here." Yoshi said, pointing out to the docks, and the Yacht.
"Ah! Excellent, I'll go and get the Yacht ready, hurry along!" Mario explained, walking over to the yacht, leaving Clyde with a disappointed look on his face.
-----Inside the Yacht-----
"Ok, got the engine working, radar on screen, and auto-guidance system set for Yoshi's island, everything's perfect." Mario said, sitting back in the captain's chair.
"Oh yeah, hey Mario," "Ahem" "Ugh…Captain Mario, why do you think Raz took the king to Yoshi's island?" Yoshi asked, sitting down on the ground.
"I dunno." Mario replied, looking over at Clyde who was spinning around on his chair, "First mate Clyde! Knock it off before you puke!"
"Aw, Yes Captain." Clyde mumbled in a monotone.
"Ugh…you're getting way to into this Mario." Yoshi sighed.
"Your just jealous I'm the first mate!" Clyde teased, sticking his tongue out.
"Why, oh why, would I be jealous of something that stupid?" Yoshi inquired, glaring at Clyde.
Suddenly the boat lurched to a stop, causing Mario to fly into the windshield. There was a loud screeching noise, then all the power in the yacht went out, sending all three of our heroes into darkness.
"Ow!" Mario Shouted, "What in the – Swabbie Yoshi, check what the problem is!"
"Fine…But I still don't get why I'm not first mate." Yoshi grumbled, walking out of the bridge and heading down into engine room. A few minutes later Yoshi came back, crashing into a chair.
"Mario, The engine is completely overrun, looks beat down, plus it was smoking!" Yoshi explained.
Suddenly, a glowing orange light appeared in the hallway from Yoshi just came from. The light was slowly moving towards the bridge, and the distinct smell of charcoal was in the air.
"Uh… that wasn't there when I went." Yoshi said, looking at Mario.
"Hey…uh Mario, I don't think we're alone on the ship." Clyde stuttered, gulping loudly.
"Duh..." Mario said, "But that smell…it's…familiar."
"Good familiar or bad?" Yoshi asked, dreading the answer.
"Definitely bad." Mario said, his eyes narrowing.
The orange light stepped into the doorway, bathing the room in an orangish glow. The figure in front of them was bathed completely in flames, which flickered continuously, and in between the flames were patches of molten black skin with glowed with an eerie red light. In the middle of the Goomba shaped-body was the only feature that had not changed, the two soulless black eyes, which were narrowed threateningly.
"Moltar!" Mario growled.
"Moltar!" Yoshi yelled.
"Who?" Clyde asked.
"Yesssss, it'sssss about time you realized I'll never die!" Moltar hissed, stepping towards them, brushing by a chair, which started aflame.
"Man, you look like crap!" Mario smirked, looking at Yoshi, who nodded.
"Hey, letsssss sssssee you look good after getting beat up twice! You'll pay!" Moltar shouted, hurling a fireball at Mario.
Mario jumped out of the way, and the fireball flew harmlessly threw the window. Mario reacted quickly, jumping at Moltar, his blue fireproof boots gleaming off the firelight.
Before Mario could reach Moltar, A barrier of flames rose in front of him and Maerio rebounded off of it, bumping into the ceiling.
"Gah! I can't fight like this!" Mario yelled, running out to the front of the boat, on the deck. Moltar, Yoshi and Clyde quickly followed.
"Die Mario, Raz will promote me!" Moltar Screamed, hurling another fireball at Mario, who dodged.
"Wait what? Raz?" Mario asked, " What about Raz?"
"Ha! Fool! Your freaking denssssse! Yessss, Raz wasssss the one who made me! He made me to hunt you down! I WILL NOT FAIL THISSSSS TIME!" Moltar raged, hurling fireball after fireball at Mario, who barely dodged them.
"Mario!" Yoshi yelled, fling an egg at Moltar, who turned and expelled a torrent of flames at the egg, causing it to become aflame, and bounce back at Yoshi, who scurried out of the way.
Mario took this as his opportunity to attack, bounding at Moltar. Moltar Spun around rolled under Mario and then back flipped back towards Mario, nailing him on he head.
" Eiiyah! My hat!" Mario yelled, patting his aflame hat, putting the fire out.
"I don't get it! How is the rain not destroying him?" Clyde asked.
"Well look, " Yoshi said, pointing at Moltar, " His flames are so hot, the droplets evaporate before hitting it!"
"Ah…" Clyde said, edging behind Moltar.
Moltar jumped at Mario, attempting a fatal Headbonk, but Mario jumped out of the way, jumping at Moltar.
Moltar watched Mario approaching then hurled a fireball, striking Mario right in the face the momentum carrying Mario straight into the ocean around them.
"HAHAHA! I did it! Mario hasssss sssssuccumbed to my power!" Moltar then turned towards Yoshi, "Now for – hey! Where'sssss that other guy?"
"Nowhere…" Yoshi said, preparing himself.
"Don't lie to me! Fool!" Moltar yelled, charging at Yoshi.
Yoshi jumped out of the way; flutter jumping over to where Clyde was. Moltar turned and charged back at Yoshi, but just as he was about to attack, Clyde whipped out a fire extinguisher and sprayed Moltar, cooling the flames on him down. Suddenly, Moltar began screaming as the raindrops started to hurt him, because his flames weren't hot.
While Moltar was running around, Yoshi stuck out his foot and tripping him, causing him to plummet into the water.
Just then there was a footstep, and Mario emerged from the side of the boat, completely drenched.
"Where is that Flaming retard?" Mario growled, shaking with suppressed rage.
"Well actually, Clyde already finished him off." Yoshi explained.
"Oh…ok…so…Swabbie Yoshi! Go fix the engine." Mario ordered, Walking in to the bridge and sitting back on his chair.
-----Two hours later, at Yoshi's Island-----
"Thank god, home!" Yoshi yelled, jumping off the yacht, which was parked at shore.
"Well, let's go take care of that back stabbing Raz!" Mario growled, stepping into the forest, but was quickly pulled back by Clyde.
"Wait, Mario think, maybe we should wait for the others, I mean, so we can warn them?" Clyde suggested, sitting down on the sand.
"Hmm…good idea, just one problem! What if they're all already here?" Mario interjected, pointing into the woods, "Yoshi, you know these woods better then anyone, go check and see if anyone else arrived.
"Fine…" Yoshi turned to enter the woods but a voice stopped them.
"Gahaha! Don't have to!" A hoarse voice said, then Bowser emerged from the woods and smiled, "Well, it seems the great Mario can't even beat me here! Victory is sweet."
"Shut it Bowser." Mario sighed.
Just then three figures emerged behind Bowser, Koopa Kamek and Roshi.
"Brother!" Yoshi yelled, jumping by Roshi and the two instantly engaged in deep conversation.
"Mario, it's you, remember me?" Koopa smiled, walking up to Mario.
"Uh…" Mario thought, scratching his head.
"Oh come on…here!" Koopa stepped backwards, and did an imitation of him falling.
"Oh! Koopa the quick, I thought you were dead!" Mario said, pulling Koopa off the ground, out of the rain soaked mud.
"Yeah, I get that a lot." Koopa laughed.
"Uh…what's with the raven?" Clyde asked.
"Ya know, it was a toad that was turned into a raven from Bowser's gemereld." Dave explained.
"Ah! That's right, Bowser, Listen, Raz is a fake, he's evil." Mario said.
"What? No, you heard his story, that's legit!" Bowser argued.
"Bowser, for once think outside the shell, seriously get over yourself!" Mario insulted.
"What! Gah! H-how dare you!" Bowser growled.
"Mario! Don't ever insult your great Ugliness!" Kamek shouted.
"Hello, people, can we get back to the subject, we have-" But before Clyde could finish, There was a huge explosion of water and from behind them a humongous Blooper surfaced, followed by a bubble, with a toad, a Yoshi, a boo and Luigi.
"Luigi!" Mario yelled.
"Mario, You're here!" Luigi yelled, landing the bubble on the ground.
"Where's Yoshi?" Gilbert asked, running to where Mario pointed.
"Uh…who's those three?" Clyde asked.
-----After all of the introductions-----
"So…uh…Mario, where is Bloomba?" Luigi asked.
"I can answer that!" Bowser laughed, pulling an unconscious Light blue Yoshi and a Goomba out of his shell, tossing them on the ground.
"BLUBBBB!" The Blooper yelled, swooping down upon Bloomba.
"Huh…wha…AHHHHHH!" Bloomba yelled, waking up.
"Bloomba! It's ok, that's your mother…" Luigi explained.
"What…it is…MOM!" Bloomba yelled, jumping on the Bloopers tentacle.
"What a happy freaking reunion, Can we get to work?" Bowser growled.
"Man, way to ruin the moment." Clyde commented.
"You wanna rumble little man?" Bowser asked, standing at his full height.
"Yeah, maybe I do…you can't breathe fire cause of the rain, so why should I listen to your ugly butt?" Clyde insulted.
"Um…Clyde…" Mario urgently whispered.
"WHAT? I don't need fire to eat you!" Bowser yelled, grabbing Clyde.
"Ahhhh! Help Help!" Clyde yelled as Bowser tried to eat him.
"Ok enough!" Mario yelled, as the yoshi's returned, waving them over, he settled himself on the wet beach.
"Aw…spoilsport…" Bowser whined setting down Clyde a sitting down.
"Totally." Clyde agreed.
After everyone was settled down and huddled in a circle, Mario began.
"Ok…first off, has anyone seen Dave, Boshi, Toad, or Fade?" Mario asked.
"Um...no…" Luigi said.
"No." Bowser sighed.
"Sorry." Bloomba apologized.
"Well, not good, does everyone here have their respectable Gemereld's?" Mario inquired, pulling out his own, which was glowing dully.
"Yeah." Replied Luigi, pulling out a green gemereld, which flickered with a dreary light.
"Uh-huh!" Bowser said, showing a glowing purple gem.
"I do!" Bloomba said, pushing a blue crystal in front of him.
Instantly after all the Gemereld's were in the same area they started glowing brighter, reacting to each other.
"Whoa!" Bowser yelled, falling back.
"Ah!" Bloomba cried, hiding under his spiked cap.
"Eep!" Luigi yelped, jumping back.
"Gah!" Mario squealed, grabbing his gemereld, but quickly dropping it, "Ahhhh! It burns!"
"What could it be?" Yoshi wondered.
Suddenly the Gemereld's stopped glowing and went back to normal.
"Uh…" Bowser cautiously poking his gemereld with his claw, "Oh good, it's not burning any more."
"…Anyhoo…I received information that Raz is an imposter, trying to rule the world, and since this is our fight," Mario said, looking over at the Yoshis, " I think you all should just go back to your tribe."
"What! Are you crazy!" Yoshi yelled, " First of all, you think we're gonna quit now?"
"Second of all, we're already to far in this now!" Roshi stated.
"Third of all, even if we did go back now, we'd probably get caught up in this anyway." Xoshi explained.
"Wait…what? Why can't we go home?" Gilbert asked.
"Ok, fine, I see I'm not going to change your minds." Mario sighed.
"Oh, let's just storm in by force!" Bowser growled.
"Psshaw! That won't work…" Luigi laughed.
"Actually, the might just work! No, think about it!" Mario said, looking around at everyone's faces, "Raz obviously expects us to walk in peacefully, if we just storm in, then we might stand a chance!"
"Hmm…he's right!" Koopa exclaimed.
"Of course he's right, it was lord bowser's idea!" Kamek praised.
"Ok let's, hey! Who's that?" Bowser said, pointing into the bushes where a small dark shadow was lurking, before it quickly ducked away, into the forest.
"Ah! That was an aqua Co member!" Clyde yelled, "He must have been spying! Our plan is ruined!"
"Well crap…" Mario said, obviously deflated.
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound as Lorvicious roared and attempted to squash the aqua co. member, but before her tentacle could hit the ground the member threw another bubble grenade, which popped on her tentacle, causing her to float up and out of sight.
"Mom!" Bloomba yelled.
Once again there was a rumbling sound, except this time the entire island was shaking. Suddenly from up ahead of our heroes a huge castle burst from the Sand, spraying all of them. On front of the big doors that appeared was a carving of a black star. The doors slowly opened up, showing an eerie red light.
"This...isn't good." Mario said. And then all of our heroes went black, falling to the ground one by one.
-----At the Koopa bro's fortress-----
Toad was peering out the window as he watched wave of bomb-ombs attack the Tsunami Squad.
"We aren't getting anywhere!" Toad growled, frustrated.
"Uh…what's that?" Jozzo asked, looking out the window at a bill blaster that was being placed by Dwop.
"Ah! Uh…my Gemereld can take care of this!" Toad said, reaching in his pocket, "Gah! I-its gone!"
"What how?" Jozzo exclaimed just as both of them saw Gost approach Dwop, handing him a glowing crystal.
"That traitor!" Toad yelled, turning to Jozzo, "Listen, can you blow up yet?"
"Uh…no…I'm too young…" Jozzo sighed.
Suddenly outside there was an explosion, as a bullet bill rocketed towards the tower.
"Ahhh! We're doomed! Ahhh!" Toad yelled running around in circles!
"Wahhh! I wanna blow up just once!" Jozzo cried.
"Why me!"
"Why me!"
"Why us!" They both yelled.
"Uh…what are you doing?" a hoarse voice asked from the window.
"Huh?" Toad asked
"What the…" Jozzo asked, turning towards the window, "Ah!"
Right outside the window was a bullet bill, which was grinning the usual grin, looking at toad with a look of pity in his eyes.
"Geeze, I'm not gonna blow you up if you really don't want it, especially since I've heard all about your situation, and I'm not one promote some big evil doer." The bullet bill said.
"But, you, wha?" Toad stammered, "You're a bullet bill!"
"Obviously, but ya know what? I've taken a liking to you guys." The bullet bill laughed.
"But…you're a bullet bill…"
"Yeah, we kind of established that already." The bullet bill sighed, "Look, obviously I want to join you in your quest, so take the hint and invite me!" The bullet bill growled.
"But…your…"
"A bullet bill, yes!"
"Oh…okay…um…wanna join us?" Toad asked.
"I don't know…ok." The bullet bill grinned, " I'm Bill…"
"Hi Bill!" Jozzo said.
"Hi, anyway, I've got to pretend to blow this tower up so, run downstairs." Bill explained.
"But, wait won't you kill yourself." Toad asked.
"Nah…now go!" Bill shouted, flying backwards, and preparing to ram the tower.
-----At Dwop's position-----
"What is taking that bullet bill so long?" Dwop asked, looking at the glowing jewel in his hands, "This thing sure is a beut…meh, let's go Gost." Dwop said, leading the way into Zander's tent.
"Yeah…" Gost said, shooting a resentful look at the tower, "I'm…sorry toad…"
-----After the tower was destroyed-----
"Wow…that was quick…" Jozzo admired, "Man, you can really blow up, can't you?"
"Yeah, and some day you will too, someday…" Bill said, "So…uh…Toad, let's go already…"
"No, we're waiting for a friend." Toad stated, just as Fade ran inside the room they were in.
"Toad, Jozzo, we have a bi- AHHHH! Who are you?" Fade cried out.
"Hi, I'm bill…" Bill said.
"Uh...hi…Man, toad you really have a knack for hanging out with things that explode, don't ya?" Fade whispered, "Anyway, Zander has the gemereld and he's retreating his troops."
"Yeah…I know…" Toad sighed.
"You mean this gemereld." Bill grinned, spitting out a glowing white crystal, which reacted violently when toad picked up.
"What? How did you?" Toad stammered.
"I switched with a fake before, when Dwop was loading me into the cannon." Bill explained.
"But why were you carrying a fake…ya know what? Never mind!" Toad sighed, "Thanks."
"Oh I could explain-" Bill started.
"Never…mind…" Toad growled, "We have to get out of here before Zander finds out."
"Yeah, you guys could ride on me!" Bill said, "We'd be moving so fast."
"But…can you carry all that?" Jozzo asked.
"Come now…have I ever let you down?" Bill grinned.
"We've only known you for a few minutes…" Jozzo said.
"Jozzo, this is too dangerous, you're not coming." Toad said.
"But I-" Jozzo began.
"No you're not, end of the line!" Toad scolded.
"But I WANNA!" Jozzo screamed, his fuse igniting.
"Well you…AH!" Toad yelped as Jozzo exploded in a small puff of smoke.
"Did he just…?" Fade asked, as Jozzo fell back to the ground.
"Ohmygodididitcanyoubelieveitaiactuallyblewupimthekingofallthingsandicantbebeat!" Jozzo yelled excitedly.
"Whoa, calm down!" Bill said.
"Stop! Let's just get going already!" Toad yelled, scooping up Jozzo and tossing him on Bill's back.
"Alright!" Bill yelled, as toad and Fade jumped on his back too, "Hold on to your hats, next stop, Yoshi's island."
"What hats?" Fade asked, before Bill blasted off into the sky, bursting out of the rain, above the storm clouds.
-----In Zander's tent-----
"Finally…using this Gemereld's pure light, I shall heal the burns that great brute Bowser inflicted upon me!" Zander laughed maniacally, holding the gemereld up, but instead of it glowing it exploded into smoke, which unfurled itself into the words "Loser" then dissipated.
-----Outside the tent-----
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"What the?" Dwop asked.
Ah, this one was surprisingly short…oh well, thanks to the people who review my stories…sort of…sigh…oh well, I try…
Sparky J.
