CHAPTER 20
"Split up! Take two of Peach's entourage each!" Dark Mario yells to Phantom Ganon and Captain Burnscar.
"How's about I take Peach and her green pal here, Slick?" says Phantom Ganon.
"Sure" says Dark Mario. "Make sure you kill both of them!"
"Of course! Slick!" He encircles Peach and Yashil in a circle of flames.
"I'm sorry I came along" Yashil whispers to Peach. "I wish I hadn't..."
"Don't worry," she says. "I'll protect you!"
"You'd better!" declares Phantom Ganon!
"Yar!" declares Burnscar. "I be taking on the Orange Toad and the Giant Fish!". He casts a ring of fire around him, Naranjo, and Azura."
"That just leaves me with you two." Dark Mario sadistically grins to Link and Zelda.
"Why don't you go fight the Redeads?" suggests the Princess.
"Good call!" says Dark Mario. "I'll get the Redeads!"
Dark Mario pulls out a dark warp whistle. It summons Three ReDeads.
The ReDead emerges alongside Phantom Ganon.
"Take this! Slick!" As he launches a magical fire ball at Peach and Yashil.
"No!" screams Yashil. "Not again!"
"What is it?" asks Peach.
"I'm afraid he's gone beyond our reach," he says. "He's more powerful than we thought. I didn't want to do this, but..."
Yashil encircles the fireball with his tongue and launches it back at Phantom Ganon. Who dodges out of the way.
"Swell, slick" he says. "That was weak."
"When I'm done with ye, girlie. I'll have you mounted to the front of me ship!" Declares Captain Burnscar as he pulls out his Firesword.
"Wait a minute! No!" cries Azura.
Captain Burnscar swings his sword down on Azura with a single swing. In most instances she could be able to fight back, but the heat of the battle is taking a toll on her Zora body. The princess cries out in pain as Captain Burnscar brings his blade down on her again. Each of her cries ring in Naranjo's ears. The cry of the ReDead. Azura's cry. Everything. It just makes him snap.
"SHUT UP! ALL OF IT! WE'RE IN A WARZONE" Naranjo yells.
He takes a step forward and swings his machete at Captain Burnscar, blocking Azura as he shoots a death glare into Burnscar's eyes.
"You can't kill me!" cries Captain Burnscar. "I am part of a legendary band of pirates! The Dread Pirate Burnscar! You're nothin' but a lowly slave!"
"T-that's General to you! Captain!" Naranjo grunts. "Which...means...I...out rank you!" He manages to overpower Burnscar and force him to the ground!
Dark Mario launches several Dark Fireballs to Link and Zelda. "I have unfinished business with you two!"
"Not a chance" replies Zelda. "We've already beaten you once. We'll do it again!"
Dark Mario laughs. "You're funny!" He says. "I'll show you just how funny I can be!".
The ReDead jumps upon Zelda as Dark Mario laughs maniacally!
"Taste this, Slick!" says Phantom Ganon as he shoves his spear into the circle with Peach and Yashil.
"No!" cries Yashil.
The Dark Fireballs come flying out of his spear.
"No!" cries Peach.
Yashil swallows them all and spits them all out at Phantom Ganon and the ReDead.
"Ugh!" says Phantom Ganon, looking weaker and his ReDead burns to the ground.
"You can't hurt me," says Yashil. "Just like you couldn't hurt those others."
Peach grabs Yashil by the shoulder and pulls him close.
Naranjo is going to strike Burnscar while he's down, but Burnscar throws dirt in his eyes!
"That's cheap!" Naranjo curses.
It takes him a moment to get his vision back.
"Why don't ye pick on someone your own size?" Burnscar sneers."Like a little bunny rabbit!"
Naranjo shakes off the dust in his eyes, only to come face to face with a ReDead! It paralyzes him!
Link stabs the ReDead in the back, killing it! Though Dark Mario clonks him on the back of the head with his hammer!
"You're nothin'! Just an average peon!" Dark Mario laughs. "There's nothing you can do! Your puny weapons won't work on me!"
"I-I can't believe this!" Zelda says. She blasts Dark Mario with a magical beam as he tries to strike the downed Link.
"Wha-what was that!?" asks Dark Mario.
"Your Dark Magic is useless against me!" replies Zelda. She fires another blast from her fingertips, sending Dark Mario flying across the field.
"You can't defeat me! You can't defeat Link! You can't defeat any of us!"
Phantom Ganon huffs after taking that hit from Yashil's fireballs. "I will return to my master! He will teach me how to defeat you!"
"I know you'll return to your master soon enough," says Yashil. "I'm hoping that you won't come back for a long time."
"Oh I can do you one better, Slick!" Phantom Ganon says as he transforms into Bowser!
The ReDead begins biting at Naranjo, Burnscar watches laughing. Azura comes to Naranjo's rescue. She begins to sing a spell that sends the ReDead back into its coffin.
"Eh?! Ye be a bad fishie!" Yells Burnscar. "En garde!"
Azura summons a spear and begins to duel with Burnscar
"I'm not...through yet!" says Dark Mario as he dons a Metal Cap and runs toward Zelda!
"That's right," says Zelda. "You're not through yet!"
She blasts Dark Mario with a magic beam, sending him flying across the field again.
"Blech!" Dark Mario says. "Tha-That was solid metal!" He yells in disbelief.
"You really didn't think we didn't have ways to defeat Mario if he ever turned on us" declares Zelda.
"Well. Try THIS on for size!" says Dark Mario as he reveals a Ztar!
"GRA HA HA! Dis is Bowser here!" Declares Doopliss in his Bowser form to Peach and Yashil.
"I knew it!" Peach says. "It's just Doopliss! Stand your ground Yashil! He's just a pushover!"
"Bowser" moves closer to Peach and Yashil.
"I'm gonna hurt you, Princess!" he growls.
"You can try," Peach laughs.
"Bwahahahaha!" as he lets out a wave of fire breath.
"Yikes!" Peach cries, putting out a fire on her boot.
"That wasn't so bad," says Doopliss. "It only hurt a bit."
"Oh no!" screams Peach. "He's getting stronger!
Azura continues to duel with Burnscar in a sword fight, but the heat of his blade is slowly wearing her down. She notices that she isn't moving as quickly as before.
"Aw, What's wrong?" asks Burnscar. "Does fishie need some water?"
"N-no...I'm fine...It's just..." her spear is knocked out of her hand by Burnscar.
"Time to turn up the heat!" yells Burnscar approaching Azura. Naranjo is still paralyzed, unable to move.
"I'm sorry Naranjo," says Azura. "I can't keep fighting".
"I can't keep fighting" echoes in Naranjo's ears..."Can't keep fighting...Keep Fighting...Keep fighting!"
Naranjo snaps out of his paralysis and launches himself at Burnscar! He slashes his machete down into Burnscar's back. Burnscar roars in pain!
"Let's see what this can do, Link, Zelda" Dark Mario says as he absorbs the Ztar.
"You won't take me alive!" Zelda shouts as she blasts Dark Mario with a magic beam...It does nothing!
"Wha? That wasn't so bad!" Dark Mario laughs. "I'm stronger than you now!"
He charges towards Zelda, but Link jumps in the way and tries to push him back with his shield and Master Sword.
"Your turn, Big Guy!" "Bowser" says turning from Peach to Yashil.
"No!" Yashil cries. "No! I'll never let you win!"
"Bowser" lets out another wave of fire breath at Yashil!
"No!" Yashil cries. "I'll never let you beat me!"
"How about this!" Bowser laughs. "I'll go easy on ya this time!"
He puts on his Metal Cap and transforms into Metal King Koopa!
Yashil hesitates, but then charges at King Koopa! Who throws him into a building!
Burnscar sets his shell on fire, setting fire to Naranjo. He then throws him off his back and picks up his flaming sword!
"Yar! I've played enough games with ye!" He prepares to strike at the downed Naranjo. Azura steps in front of him and begins to sing…
The Song of Healing!
The flames begin to die down and Naranjo stands before them! He blocks Burnscar's blade with his machete!
Link is holding back the Ztar Powered Dark Mario with his Master Sword and Shield.
"I! Hate! You!" yells Dark Mario as his Ztar power begins to fade. "I'll kill you, Link!"
"No you won't!" yells Zelda. "I'll finish this myself!" She blasts Dark Mario in the back with her magic beam.
Dark Mario flies forward and lands on his back.
"Bowser" approaches Peach who is stuck trapped at a wall.
"I'm going to end your life!" Bowser laughs. He takes his claws and begins to cut away at Peach's clothes.
"No!" cries Peach. "You can't do this to me!"
Bowser grabs Peach, but then feels a lurch behind him.
"What the?" "Bowser" says.
Behind him is Yashil holding onto his tail!
Bowser is stunned!
"Wha?" "Bowser" says.
"You're mine!" yells Yashil. "Now give me Peach!" He pulls again, "Bowser" drops Peach and loses his footing.
"Let's go for a ride" Yashil says. As he spins Bowser around and around and launches him into the Sea of Trees!
Naranjo, fully healed, has overpowered Burnscar's Blade with his Machete!
"N-no!" cries Burnscar. He attempts to grab Naranjo's arm.
Naranjo begins to slash Burnscar! Soon Burnscar drops his fireblade!
"Goodbye, Burnscar," Naranjo says.
"No! No! Parlay! Parlay!" Burnscar cries..
Naranjo doesn't want to listen, he only wants Burnscar to suffer! He's about to finish him off, but Azura grabs his hand.
"He said''Parlay ``!" She tells Naranjo. "Let him speak."
Burnscar falls to his knees.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." he whimpers. "Please don't kill me."
Naranjo looks over at Azura.
"We must forgive him," says Azura.
"No," Naranjo says. "There's no excuse for what he did!"
"Is there any excuse for what you did in the past?" Azura asks Naranjo.
"...No," Naranjo says softly.
"Then you must forgive him too, Naranjo. We've all made mistakes."
"But-" Naranjo begins.
"If you will not forgive him, then I shall do so on your behalf!" She approaches Burnscar.
"No one tells me what to do!" Naranjo says. "...Alright Burnscar...you're forgiven...on one condition"
"Name it!" Burnscar says.
"I hope that you will join us...in our struggle against King Koopa"
"I don't know if I can trust ye," Burnscar admits. "I'm not sure if I can believe you."
"Ok, then I'll just-"
"No no no! I'll join ye! I'll join ye!" he waves his hands. He gets up. "That scallywag Bowser fed me crew to King Dodongo anyway!"
Dark Mario struggles to get up.
"Come on, Big guy!" says Zelda putting her boot on Dark Mario's back. "We're waiting!"
"I can't take much more of this!" he says. "I'll never make it!"
"You're right. You won't...Link?"
Link raises his Master Sword up and plunges it into Dark Mario.
Dark Mario disappears into a small splattering of shadows.
The battle has concluded. Dark Mario is defeated, Doopliss has been thrown into the forest, and Burnscar has surrendered and joined the Party.
As they approach the castle, Zelda and the others hear the voice of someone calling them.
"Peach! Over here!"
They turn to see a large group of Toads running toward them. They begin bowing to all of the party as thanks for getting rid of their invaders.
"That was quite a battle! You took quite a few punches for the Toads'' Queen Lavender says.
"Thank you." Peach replies. "What's with all these Toads? Did something happen?"
"They bow to you in a show of a newly found alliance." Princess Violet explains. "If that is suitable of course!"
"Of course!" exclaims Peach. "It is."
A Toad approaches Peach and bows. "Princess Peach, we wish to join you!"
"You may call me Peach," she says. She takes a few steps forwards, calling her loyal generals to her side.
"Alright everyone! Let's go save Mario and Luigi!
They all raise their fists in the air in unison!