Chapter 33
The Separation
A violent rumble suddenly shook the entire airship, knocking Peach off her feet, but she kept a deadlock grip on the Star Piece.
"Peach!" Luigi called, preparing to leap off the transporter, however Mallow grabbed him roughly, pulling him back onto the platform.
"The ship's breaking!" exclaimed Mallow. "You'll only endanger your life!"
"Princess! Get out of here, quickly!" the retainer shouted, fumbling with the cord that connected the transporter to the Ax-Blade. "We can't stay here any longer!"
Peach stood up, but the trembling made her stagger, and she could not keep her balance. Blasts and explosions rocked the airship and the smoke and flames surrounded her. Her golden crown tumbled off her head, clanking against the hard surface.
"W-what… How…" the Princess started, then saw a yellow metal limb slither across the fortress, thrashing uncontrollably as sparks flew from it.
The Axem Rangers… They must have triggered a self-destruct system or something!
The smoke blocked her vision, but she sprinted toward the shouts and screams of her partners, brushing by flames that threatened to burn her. She coughed, her eyes stung, and it was hard to breath. She had to use the Star Piece!
"I wish –" she spoke, but a blue hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her sentence.
They're preventing me from leaving! She tried to cry out, as another limb dug into her ankle, almost tripping her.
A large groan echoed inside the hovering fortress and she knew the Ax-Blade was crumbling apart.
Please Star, she wept silently, find the way to the others… Mario… I'm so sorry.
She threw the Star upward, watching it ascend and vanish in the dark smoke that covered the sky as more crawling limbs continued to clutch and swarm over her.
Heavily necrotic hands held the glimmering crimson Star Piece. The figure's face twisted into an unrecognizable smile.
"You did well, Mario."
The slave bowed and departed, his footsteps softly treading on the stone floor.
"Wish upon a star," Lord Forgeron cackled. "I wish…"
"Oh, God…" Luigi gasped in disbelief, as he watched the Ax-Blade deteriorate and collapse in the sky and plunge into the ocean beside Lavalava Island. Tsunamis slammed into the coast from the aftermath. He felt weak, his eyes moist, like the others.
"No… Princess…" Toad cried, which turned into a wail, his stubby arm wiping his eyes. "PRINCESS!"
"The Star Piece! Look at that!" Geno awed, as the Star rose from the rubble. The blue streak flew toward the group and hovered in front of Luigi, as if waiting to be in his position. Quivering gloved hands gripped the star, the bright luster indicating that its power was not used. Tears trickled down Bowser's scaly face, as he clutched his teeth firmly to suppress a roar.
It started to rain.
Kittykatstar: Phew! Another chapter done. Actually, chapter 30 was where I left the story three years ago, and I'm picking it up again. My writing might be rusty, and not as details as the previous chapters, but I'll probably get back into the swing after a few chapters. I was happy with the Axem Ranger battle scene though. And um, sorry for any errors - my errors are mostly words i.e. back was supposed to be bask, etc, and I always miss a few errors even after reviewing and checking the story over and over. Lol. >>; Thanks for all the reviews! After all, this is my first real story I've written...
