Kittykatstar: Yay, chapter up, and I'm working on chapter 41, so updates will be slower. Enjoy, and yea there's a Star Fox reference in there somewhere. Can you find it? Winners get cookies. Sorry if this chapter isn't the best. Laters!
Chapter 40
The Battle of Raven Forest
The swarm of fuzzies invaded, their tiny bodies bouncing like tennis balls off the ground and trees. Laughing, they spent no time in causing trouble for the ravens. The birds cawed in anger and dived, hoping to strike them. The fuzzies heavily outnumbered them.
"Meok! What's this?" a black fuzzy taunted, surveying Luigi and his partners. "Backup? Meok!"
The challenger launched himself at Luigi, who sidestepped, and the fuzzy slammed into a tree trunk. It slid to the ground, dizzy and distorted, then fainted. Luigi smiled.
"These guys are a piece of cake!" the plumber shouted. "Take out as many as you can!"
Geno straightened his arms, his hands disappearing into the wooden limbs as hollow metal tubs emerged. He pointed his star gun toward a group of fuzzies closing in on him, and fired.
Multiple stellate yellow bullets shot out of the barrels, pelting the fuzzies repeatedly. They screamed and scattered, hiding behind bushes and trees, trying to avoid the starry fire. Geno ceased his assail, his arms returned to normal, and he chased after them.
However, Mallow wasn't doing so well. Three fuzzies clung to him by their teeth, and he swatted them frantically. Two retreated but the third wouldn't loosen his grip on Mallow's leg.
"Luigi!" Mallow pleaded. "Get this guy off me!"
A graceful kick answered him, sending the leech-like creature flying. Mallow thanked the plumber quickly, before battling more advancing fuzzies.
Snarling, Bowser stomped the ground, causing the forest to tremble, frightening the fuzzies before him. He stuck them hard with his razor claws. Smoke poured out of his open flared nostrils as he prepared to blast him with hot flames. A rock hit his head, interrupting his attack. He glanced up, glaring at Toad, who balanced on a wide tree branch.
"Don't cause a forest fire, pyromaniac," reminded Toad, coughing from the smoke. Bowser hurled a shrieking fuzzy at him in frustration, but he knew the annoying fungus had a point. The Koopa King growled, revealing his sharp teeth, scaring the remaining challengers off.
Sweat beaded Luigi's face as he placed another strong kick, sending a fuzzy flying. Many retreated after one hit, more kept coming and Luigi was beginning to tire. Their numbers were endless!
"Geno Boost!" the wooden doll commanded, and a sudden flood of energy entered Luigi's body. "It temporarily raises your strength!"
"Thank you!" Luigi called back, then focused on the advancing foes that jumped around him. His punch was surprisingly effortless, striking a fuzzy in the jaw, and it stumbled back. Crackles of blue lightning shot out from the sky, electrocuting the fuzzies haphazardly. Mallow appeared beside him, grinning proudly, while Bowser cornered a frightened opponent.
"Leave our homes alone!" a black raven cawed above the battle, perched on Toad's stubby arm. Ravens swooped out of hiding, filling the sky, and dived toward the unharmed fuzzies. Talons met tooth, which sent many rolling in tangled combat.
Toad had organized an attack!
"Meeeeoook Retreat! Retreat!" the opponents chanted, and hopped away, while the injured ones stumbled behind, deserting the unconscious allies.
The cheering was loud and echoed through the woods as the ravens cawed in triumph. The birds clutched the downed fuzzies and flew off – probably to drop them off far away from their nests.
Luigi collapsed as the Geno Boost faded, but he was content. A raven fluttered down, struggling to hold a navy-coloured Star Piece in its beak.
"This is for helping us," it said gratefully, before flying off. "We hid this on the highest branch of the tallest three. Not even our enemies could reach it."
Luigi smiled and touched the shimmering fragment. "It was no problem."
"I don't think we should wish on it yet," suggested Toad. "It's already evening."
Luigi's eyes grew wide and glanced upward. Toad was right. The sun was already dipping in the horizon, staining the sky with shades of crimson and apricot.
"We'll start first thing in the morning after a rest," said Luigi. His stomach growled and he blushed in embarrassment. "And we haven't eaten since this morning. Toad, is there a town nearby…?"
The retainer shook his head. "Not here."
"And," Geno said quickly, "we're not wasting this Star Piece on food. We have no idea where the rest of the Star Pieces are."
"Does that mean we're staying here for the night?" Mallow inquired Geno, disappointed.
"Unless you want to spend the night searching for civilization, yes."
Bowser grunted in disapproval, unhappy with the plan. He trod off until he found a suitable place to rest, away from the group. He sat down, hunched over slightly, and took out Peach's crown from under his shell. His claws quivered as he held it, tears swelling beneath his eyes. He hugged the golden diadem close, repressing a sob, muttering low apologies to the deceased Princess. Bowser rotated the crown in his hands, his eyes examining every angle of it, then noticed something odd.
The sapphires and rubies embedded in the gold were dull. No light reflected off the gems despite the sinking sun radiating behind him. Bowser shrugged the observation away, stiffening a yawn and laid on his stomach.
"Damn Forgeron," he cursed softly, and drifted off to sleep, his right hand still clutching the tiny crown. "I'll avenge you, Peach…"
