Chapter 6: The Sword in The Knight's Grave
(Mushroom King's Forest)
Outside of Smash City, not just including the Mushroom King's Forest, the sky was completely covered in reddish black clouds and it seemed like all manner of sunlight was gone from the world. This was all caused by Tabuu's dark powers corrupting everything it could reach. Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Ash and Pikachu, Sonic, Ty, Pit, and Shantae exited a portal that Palutena created. However, it immediately closed behind them after they exited.
Luigi- That was fast. Almost cut off the rear end of my overalls.
Palutena (telepathically to Luigi)- Sorry Luigi, but we're trying not to leave a noticeable trace for Tabuu to pick up. Last thing we need is for Tabuu to trace our signal back to Smash City.
Viridi (telepathically to everyone)- Not to mention Palutena and I are already using all the power we can spare to keep Smash City out of Tabuu's sights for as long as we can. And believe me when I tell you, this is no easy task. But hang on, because here come the goon squad.
Then another portal opens up and out of it came Bowser, King K. Rool, King DeDeDe, Ganondorf, Giovanni, Jessie, James, Meowth, Eggman, Boss Cass, Medusa, and Risky Boots. Like before, it closed immediately behind them.
Ganondorf- Goddess or not, that was very rude of you calling us goons like that.
Pit- Get used to it. Viridi is like this with just about everybody that doesn't work under her.
Kirby- You sure? Viridi never talked that way to me.
King DeDeDe- Can we just find this weapon that's hidden here and save the chitchat for…
Before DeDeDe could finish, Risky Boots immediately grabbed hold of his beak and squeezed it shut.
Risky Boots- SHHHH! Everyone, stop talking and find cover, now!
Everyone quickly moved under trees and out of sight right before a large swarm of Subspace creatures called Auroros flew right past the area.
Donkey Kong- Shit! That was close!
Meowth- Hold me…
Ash looked at Pikachu and noticed he was trembling while clinging to Ash's shoulder.
Ash- There, there, Pikachu. They're gone. At least, I hope…
Ganondorf- Tabuu is obviously still looking for you heroes and knows you're still out there.
Boss Cass- And this will make maneuvering through this darkened forest all the harder since we don't want Tabuu to know we're here.
Giovanni- Well…any suggestions?
Suddenly, Link's Master Sword lit up and transformed into a crystal blue spirit.
Yoshi- Where she come from?!
Link- Relax Yoshi. This is Fi, a servant of the Goddess Hylia and the spirit who resides in the Master Sword.
Sonic- That's right. I remember you and Ty mentioning her earlier.
Then Sonic noticed Fi sticking her face directly in front of his own.
Sonic- Uh…
Fi- Error. Sensers indicate the power of my creator's teacher, the God of Chaos, is in the area, but all I see is a blue hedgehog.
Sonic- Maybe you're referring to the Chaos Emeralds. I have them in my pockets and…
Fi- Negative. The source I detected is coming from inside your body, not the emeralds that contain Chaos' god energy.
Link- Is that why you came out of the Master Sword, Fi? Just to examine Sonic?
Fi- Negative, master. Before I caught sight of Chaos' power inside your friend, I also detected something else in this forest. A sword hidden deep within this place. Not magically enchanted like the Master Sword, but a unique weapon none the less. Forged by the Lord of the Universe, Arkness himself and a blade sharper than any weapon I've ever encountered. Even sharper than sword my creator forged that I inhabit.
Link- Sharper than the Master Sword?
Luigi- Mario…are you thinking what I'm thinking?
King K. Rool- What? Are you saying you know this weapon she's talking about?
Mario- I might. In those dreams of the past we keep having, I've always seen Marco carrying a large broadsword with him. In fact, he had it with him when everyone from the past jumped into our time through that magic time book Luigi opened.
Luigi- Does everyone have to blame me for causing that incident?!
Mario- Sorry Luigi, I didn't mean it like that.
Medusa- Oh…yes…I remember that sword.
James- You do?
Medusa shows Jessie and James a scar on the palm of her hand.
Medusa- Yes. In fact, Marco cut me right here.
Jessie- I didn't know you fought the original Mario Brothers?
Medusa- I'm a goddess and I'm much older than you think. And before Tabuu attacked the Mushroom Kingdom, I was actually part of another team of villains led by a previous Koopa King, Slicor. Now that I think of it, both Mario's team and Bowser's team strongly resemble the heroes of Marco's team and the villains of Slicor's team.
Fi- But to the point, I can use the dowsing feature of the Master Sword to locate this weapon.
Link- That's great, Fi!
Fi- But we still must take great care, because Tabuu's minions are still all over the place.
Luigi- Don't need to remind us about that either…
(Tabuu's palace)
Fawful and Infinite were moving around the crystal statue that was once Princess Peach around Tabuu's throne room, but they seemed to be having trouble carrying it.
Tabuu- A little to the left…I said the left…a little more…a bit more to the right…
Then Fawful and Infinite drop the statue on the floor and try to catch their breath.
Infinite- How about a break?!
Tabuu- No. I want Princess Peach to be displayed at just the right angle.
Fawful- But Master Tabuu…princess as crystal is so damn heavy…
Tabuu- Fredrick…
Tabuu snapped his fingers and Lord Fredrick walked over to them. Then Fredrick managed to lift up the crystal statue with one hand like it was only a single pound.
Lord Fredrick- Doesn't appear to be that heavy to me.
Infinite- Well you are just as strong as Donkey Kong.
Then Fredrick placed Princess Peach in the spot he believed Tabuu wanted her at.
Lord Fredrick- Here?
Tabuu- Almost. Turn her so that her face is facing the entrance of the room and we're good. But don't break her. I want Peach to remain in perfect condition before the Mario's attempt to rescue her.
Lord Fredrick- Ok.
Then Fredrick grabbed hold of Peach's shoulders and gently turned her so she was facing the entrance of the throne room.
Tabuu- Perfect! That will be perfect for when Mario and Luigi arrive.
Fawful- You sure Mario's will come?
Tabuu- I know the Mario's better than you think. After all, they're not my first pair of Mario Brothers.
Then Black Doom emerged from a shadow in the floor.
Black Doom- Forgive me, Tabuu. But still no sign of the Mario Brothers.
Fawful- Master Tabuu, if Fawful could suggest, the Mario team probably hiding out in Smash City.
Tabuu- I'm already ahead of you on that, Fawful. I have a shadow of my power searching for that hidden base as we speak. However, I also sense the combine might of Palutena and Viridi attempting to lead my shadow away from its location. But that won't last for long. I'd give it a day.
Infinite- Then does that mean that is where the Super Mario Brothers' Team are hiding?
Tabuu- Nah, I doubt it. But it is likely where they've brought the survivors of our onslaught. I know Mario is somewhere out there.
Fawful was moving in closer to try and look at Peach's crystal statue from a lower perspective while Tabuu was in his thoughts.
Tabuu- Fawful, please! I know she's currently turned to crystal, but show some decency.
Lord Fredrick- I doubt you'd be able to do that either since even her dress is crystal and would be rather difficult to move unless you were able to lift the entire statue up like I did.
Infinite- You already said Mario will eventually come to you as long as we have Peach. So then why are we bothering to look for the Super Mario Brothers' Team?
Tabuu- Because my biggest mistake was underestimating my enemies…
Tabuu walks to the window while holding a glass of red wine in his hand. Tabuu swirls the glass a bit while looking at Shooting Star Summit from the window.
Tabuu- That day…1,000 years ago…on Shooting Star Summit…I fought Marco and the original Super Mario Brothers' Team. Even though it was one against ten, not including Prince Calmly's Poke'mon of course, I was wiping the floor with all of them. They didn't stand a chance, even when they all rushed me at once. Nothing they tried could make me back off…but I foolishly toyed with them instead of striking them down at the start when I had the chance. This somehow gave them enough time to find a way to turn the whole fight around in their favor. And it appears I've made the same mistake twice. I allowed Mario to live by fooling around with him when I should've severed his neck before Peach used the power of wishes to trap me.
Then Tabuu stopped swirling the wine glass and looked into his refection in the red wine.
Tabuu- And to make matters worse…the power she mustered from the wishes of others was so great…I was forced to take my perfect form just to break free…
Tabuu tightened his grip.
Tabuu- To think…mere mortals could make me…use 100% of my full power…my brother when he's at 100% I can understand…and there were those times I fought my father during our training sessions…but the only mortal who has ever forced me to take that form before today…was Marco Mario…(Grunts)…and now Peach had force me to take that form just to break out of her spell…inconceivable…
Black Doom- Other form…?
Infinite- What do you…
Before Infinite could finish that sentence, Hades rushed in at Sonic's speed, placed both his hands over Infinite and Black Doom's mouths, and gave them a nervous smile.
Hades- No! You do not want to ask that question! Trust me! It's the worst side of Tabuu…and something you don't want to witness!
Tabuu turns around to face his followers.
Tabuu- But to the point, the longer we wait for Mario to come to us…more chance we give them to formulate a plan that could somehow turn the situation in their favor. Like figuring out how to trap me back in Subspace, or freeing Kyrin from Subspace after we left him there…or worse…finding a certain sword is hidden…
Lord Fredrick- A sword…Master Tabuu…?
Tabuu- There was a sword that was made by my father. He gave it to a knight from the Mushroom Kingdom…what was his name…Mariano Mario I think…but then it got passed down to his sons, Marco and Loewy Mario.
Hades- That's right! Marco Mario wielded a large sword.
Infinite- But you're telling me that sword was crafted by Lord Arkness himself?!
Tabuu- It was. And it is one of the few weapons in this world that can actually hurt me. But worse…if Mario somehow manages to impale me in the heart with that sword…I'll die…
Hades, Fawful, Infinite, Fredrick, and Black Doom were speechless by what Tabuu just said.
Black Doom- Woah…
Infinite- No way!
Fawful- So what Master Tabuu say is sword made by Lord of the Universe Tabuu's kryptonite?
Tabuu- I guess that's one way of putting it.
Lord Fredrick- Did Marco know that?
Tabuu- Of course not! If he did, he would've done it right after him and his friends defeated me! But let's keep this to ourselves, gentlemen. Now that we've finished setting up Princes Peach's placement, I'd like you all to get back out there and continue the search for the Super Mario Brothers' Team! And don't disturb me unless you have positive results!
Fawful- Yes, Master Tabuu!
After all of his followers left the room, Tabuu moved in closer to the crystal statue of Princess Peach.
Tabuu- Now that I look at it, your features to closely resemble that of Princess Amethyst, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom during Mario's time. And your power to draw from other people's wishes seems to rival that of hers. I'll be keeping a close eye on you, princess…
(Back at the Mushroom King's Forest)
Mario and the others continued moving through the forest while trying to slip past all of Tabuu's minions. However, they arrived at a part of the forest that felt different from the rest of the areas surrounded by Tabuu's power.
Meowth- How much longer? My feet are killing me!
Link- Fi's dowsing signal is getting stronger. This must be the place.
Shantae- Now that you mention it…does this spot seem different to you?
Kirby- Yeah. Unlike everywhere else, this place feels like it's been untouched by Tabuu's power. Almost welcoming for some reason.
Sonic- Ok, but why is that?
Yoshi- Mario's!
Mario looks and saw Yoshi pointing at a large rock that was sticking out of the ground. It appeared to be a headstone for a grave maybe, but it definitely looked like time had made it lose it luster.
Luigi- What is that?
Mario- Not sure…but it feels familiar for some reason…
Mario took a closer look and saw two things. The letter "M" was seen carved into the headstone and there was a large sword sticking out of the grave.
Mario- Is this what I think it is?
Mario quickly wiped the dirt of the headstone with his hand and saw the name "Marco Mario" carved into the stone.
Mario- Marco Mario?!
Donkey Kong- Your ancestor?!
Ty- The tool we need is in the forest…and in the knight's grave…that's what Kyrin said…
Ash- And Marco was hailed as a knight of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario- And if this really is my ancestor's grave…then that would mean…
Then Mario and Luigi got a closer look at the sword sticking out of the grave.
Luigi- Mario, is that…
Mario- No mistake about it. It's the same sword he wielded.
Giovanni- Really? All this just to find a sword?
Medusa- That ain't no ordinary sword. Tabuu's father made it himself. Also, it's capable of cutting through Tabuu.
Boss Cass- You serious?!
King DeDeDe- This means we now have a weapon that can hurt him!
Then Sonic rushes up to Mario from behind and nudges him in the shoulder.
Sonic- Hey Mario, what are you waiting for?
Mario- Huh…?
Sonic- That's Marco Mario's sword. If anyone of us should claim it…it might as well be you.
Mario- Me?
Ty- Why not, mate?
Donkey Kong- He is your ancestor after all.
Ash- And the leader of the original team like how you are the leader of this team.
Pikachu- Pika.
Mario looked around and saw this entire team was surrounding him they were encouraging him claim Marco's sword.
Mario- I guess you're right. Like Marco before me, it's my responsibility to stop Tabuu.
Mario approached the grave and grabbed hold of the sword's handle.
Mario- But I hope this will be enough to defeat Tabuu and save our world…
Then Mario began to pull. The sword was wedged in tight, but eventually, the sword began to come lose and Mario had pulled the sword out of Marco's grave. Once the sword was free, a bright rainbow-colored light was admitted from the blade's reflection and it was as if Tabuu's power was weakening over the entire forest. With this light, both Mario's team and Bowser's team were suddenly feeling a burst of hope.
Mario- This feeling…could this really be what we need to defeat Tabuu?
Bowser- Not sure, but right now…I feel like I have the confidence to clobber anyone that comes my way! GWHAHAHAHAHA!
Marx's voice- Oh really? Want to put that to the test?
Mario and everyone immediately turned around and saw Marx, Vaati, the Pirate Master, and a few of Tabuu's Primids behind them.
