Note: Didn't really like how this chapter turned out, lol, writers block when writing this one, I remember. I shortened it up to we'll get straight to the action, which should commence in chapter 33.
Chapter 31
Venture into the Volcano
"It is oppressively hot in here," remarked Peach, already wiping incipient perspiration from her forehead. Inside the entrance of the volcano was a long tunnel leading toward the core of the mountain. At the end of the passageway was a pool of magma, flat rocks served as island stepping stones, making a path guiding to the other side. Luigi jumped onto the nearest stone and it seemed sturdy enough…
"Luigi!" the Prince shouted. "It's sinking!"
The plumber suddenly felt the trembling of the rock and quickly leaped to the next one. The stone he was previously on had submerged, but it reappeared again.
"Mamma mia! Don't stay on that for too long – ah! This one's sinking too!"
He sprung to another adjacent flat rock and he was relieved to find this one not descending.
"This one is safe," he advised. "Be careful."
Geno went first, leaping across the stones with confidence while Mallow seemed hesitant, but he bounded after the doll. Toad, Peach and Bowser came subsequently. The group had safely passed the first section of the fire pit, and Luigi continued, entering a tunnel that led downwards. They barely entered when something crashed unexpectedly behind them. They spun around as a giant roughly orbicular object with spikes blocked their way out. Slowly it started to roll toward them and began to accelerate.
"Run!"
They raced down the tunnel in jumbled commotion, desperately trying to keep distance between them and the speeding thwomp. Luckily the opening of the tunnel was not far away. Luigi skid, and turned the corner, out of the path of the thwomp. Peach and Mallow imitated his example, colliding with him, followed by Toad, Geno and lastly Bowser while the thwomp passed by harmlessly. The group exhaled loudly.
"That was an extremely unpleasant experience," said Geno, as they walked by the unconscious thwomp. "There won't be any more surprises," he turned to Bowser, "right?"
The Koopa King grumbled, "I don't know much about Mt. Lavalava, except for the Lava Piranha that I had chosen to guard a Star Spirit. And stop provoking me with accusing comments and questions!"
There was little said after that, and the party continued down the declining path, crossing lava pits and gaps but there was so sign of the Star Piece.
"It's probably in the heart of the volcano," suggested Mallow, but no one replied and his attempt to produce a conversation failed. Everyone was tired, even Bowser, who was used to the lava and heat, was getting weary.
"Hey, hey! Look at that!" Toad shouted, pointing eagerly up ahead, drawing attention of the exhausted group. On an isolated rock surrounded by lava was a deep hole, as if something crashed there.
"Just like before!" exclaimed Peach excitedly, referring to the disturbance in Daisy's garden. "Oh! That means the Star Piece must be there!"
The vociferous cheering transformed into disappointed gasps and moans as they realized there was no Star Piece. Toad knelt down, examining the gash in the rock.
"Sorry guys," he said sheepishly. "I thought a Star Piece would be here."
"No, you're right, it's fresh," said Geno. "But… don't tell me someone got here before us!"
"That's right you meddlesome fools!" a voice boomed around them. "We got the Star, and – by orders of our Lord Forgeron – we're here to destroy you for sticking your noses into our Master's plan!"
"W-who… Who's there?" whimpered Mallow, shifting his eyes nervously. A wicked laugh answered and the group whirled around toward the source.
"I'm glad you asked," a red figure said, standing on a protruding ledge from the volcanic walls. His metallic oval body was completely crimson, save for a silver torso and arms and a protruding mouth that resembled Birdo's. Everyone, excluding Luigi and Toad, gasped.
"The Axem Rangers," they blurted in unison, which surprised the Red Ranger.
"Not exactly…" the leader said, posing with his axe. "We fight for evil!"
"We live for perniciousness," jet-black jumped in, striking a static position beside the leader.
"We endeavor for destruction," boosted a blue Ranger.
"We don't believe in righteousness," a chubby yellow flunky shouted, twirling his matching battle-axe.
"We're splendid," uttered a pink Ranger, who winked while blowing a kiss.
"We are…" the leader trailed of, then all of them shouted together, "The Axem Rangers: Untamed Strength!"
"It's an incarnation of the original Axem Rangers! But… only Smithy created them! Can Forgeron be Smithy?" piped up Peach.
"Maybe," hissed Bowser, crackling his knuckles and exposing his sharp claws. "But they're still as annoying as the first and probably as weak, too!"
"If you want the Star," the crimson leader challenged smugly, "you'll have to battle us on our Ax-Blade! However, we will not fail, for we are..."
"THE AXEM –"
"SHUT UP!" the heroes bellowed at the windy villains. The black Ranger snorted and adjusted his cheap shades.
"We'll be waiting at the top of the volcano," he said, obviously infuriated by the curt interruption.
"Tootles!" the pink one giggled, waving childishly. The red leader rounded up his flunkies to return to the ship. They disappeared as quickly as they came.
"So…" said Mallow, breaking the uneasy silence, "how exactly are we going to get up there? The ledges are too far apart; only Luigi is able to jump that far, and backtracking would take far too long."
Suddenly, a circular springboard with a clown face crashed behind them, answering Mallow's question.
"How thoughtful of them," commented Geno dryly.
