Chapter 49
The Confrontation
Forgeron stood on the top of his stone castle, which was situated in a caldera of the extinct volcano Iron Mountain for protection and concealment. Hundreds of years ago it was a temple to worship the Star Spirits, but Forgeron had taken it over and slowly transformed it into a fortress for him and his creations. Round towers were located at the corner of each thick wall, 50 meters apart from each other, surrounded by battlements to shield his servants if they were ever attacked.
This was the perfect battlefield to destroy those meddlesome fools.
He grasped the orange Star Piece in his robotic hand and muttered quickly. The fragment glowed in reply, and the Lord smiled wickedly.
I'll kill them all…
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"Mallow! Where's the Princess?"
The Prince turned to greet Luigi, followed by the rest of his companions. Mallow shook his head sadly.
"Luigi, I'm so sorry! I tried to stop Mario… but he snatched the Star Piece and vanished, along with Princess Toadstool," he explained frantically, ashamed of his blunder.
"No need to apologize," assured Geno. "We all failed our duties… Did you happen to catch what Mario said before he disappeared?"
"He mumbled something about…" Mallow paused. "I didn't hear all of it, but I did catch 'mountain.'"
"Iron Mountain," Bowser and Toad blurted in unison.
"Peach is where Forgeron is," said the retainer, trembling. "I… just hope she's all right."
A tangerine mist seeped from the ground, alarming the group. They tried to move away from the advancing fog, but they realized their feet were frozen in position, refusing to budge.
"What's happening?" Mallow quivered, as the mist solidified into a barrier. "Is this the boos' doing?"
"No," said Bowser grimly. "I think we're being –"
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"- Transported."
The barrier dissolved as Bowser finished his sentence. The sky, thick with gray clouds, was visible. Four towers made of impregnable stone were stationed in each corner, and Bowser knew they were on top of a fortress.
"So, you're the ones who are trying to stop my plans," a raspy voice cackled behind them. "Not much to look at. I'm surprised a group of misfits made it this far."
The repulsive hooded figure stepped forward – a horrifying mix of machinery and rotting flesh.
"Impossible," whispered Luigi. "How can he be living?"
"He's kept alive by a combination of machinery and magic," Geno speculated. "Machinery can't perform magic, but a body made of flesh can and Forgeron has balanced both."
"I don't care how he's kept alive," roared Bowser, and pointed a sharpened claw at Forgeron. "Where is Peach? What have you done with her?"
"Temper, temper," mocked Forgeron. "Why should you worry? She'll be dead soon, but I think you should concerned for your own lives!"
Foul fingers flew over a miniature keyboard implanted in his arm. At first nothing happened then Luigi and the others heard soft clicking – metal against stone. The sound grew louder.
Artificial beings dropped from the windows of the tall towers, each landing with a noisy 'clank'. Some were only in the skeletal stage – a bare frame of steel limb, while others were a mass of writhing circuits underneath robes. There were robotic replicas of shy guys, goombas, Koopa troopas, and unfinished versions of Smithy's previous army. Dull, uncoloured, Axem Ranger clones bearing axes approached the new opponents. Bowser and Toad noted that none of King Koopa's minions were among the ambush. Where were they?
"Quick, cover each other's backs," Luigi commanded. They formed a tight circle, facing outward, their shoulders nearly touching.
"This is not good," mumbled Toad. "There are at least a hundred machines…"
"They're probably easy to take down," said Geno. "Forgeron wasn't expecting a strong resistance."
"I don't see Mario," Mallow spoke quietly. "I thought Forgeron would order him to attack us, too."
A cold chill ran down Luigi's spine.
Brother… Will you be the one responsible for Peach's death?
"Attack," Forgeron whispered to his minions.
