Chapter 9: Conversation with A Hero of The Past
(Subspace)
The wreckage from the clash between Tabuu and Kyrin was still covering most of the ground even though that fight happened several chapters ago. Kyrin had crawled back to his feel, but was still looking a little rough. He had recovered from most of his injuries, but his mechanical left arm was still damaged, but Kyrin was still holding on to it. Kyrin had made a small campfire and was resting next to it as he attempted to recover his strength.
Kyrin- Come on, Mario…don't fall on me yet…not until I can get back there…
Kyrin cringed in pain and held his side with his good arm.
Kyrin- Shit…haven't been in this bad shape since the time Tabuu almost killed me while I was trying to protect Marco.
Suddenly, a small glowing red sphere near Kyrin.
Kyin- Speak of the devil…can't believe I'd find you of all people here in Subspace…but it looks like I've failed to keep my promise…
Red glowing sphere- Don't say that! You did what you could to save them. And besides…they now have it…
Kyrin- They found it…in the Mushroom King's Forest?
Red glowing sphere- They did. But there's a little more. There are two things I need to ask of you. First, you remember that vision of the future I received after I foiled the Immortal Wedding Ritual?
Kyrin- I remember when Slicor attempted it. That was one Odyssey to behold.
Red glowing sphere- Uh…Kyrin…That vision I had after the Immortal Wedding Ritual was stopped…
Kyrin- Oh right! You're saying you want to use that now? I warned you already when we began setting it up…it will not last for very long…30 minutes at most…and it will only be able to work once. You sure you want to use it now?
Red glowing sphere- If we want to stop Tabuu…I say it's now or never. The second thing I require from you…do you remember that item you gave me before that final showdown with Tabuu…
(Smash City)
Mario and Luigi were sleeping in a set of bunkbeds somewhere in Smash City, obviously trying to rest up before the assault on Tabuu's palace begins. Luigi was sleeping normally, but Mario turning over and over in his sleep. Eventually, Mario stopped moving around, but there was a small faint red light that looked like it was entering his head.
(Mario's dream)
Mario looked around and saw he was in an area that looked like the stary sky of outer space everywhere he looked.
Mario- This place…I feel like I've been here before…
Then a bright light appeared behind Mario. Mario quickly turned around, but when the light faded, a man who looked very similar to Mario stood before him. He was wearing a red shirt like Mario and had a mustache like Mario, but he was dressed as a knight from the old times instead of a plumber and he had no hat on.
Man who looked like Mario- Maybe you have…I trust that you know who I am…
Mario- Of course. You're my ancestor, Marco Mario. I still haven't forgotten the time you and the entire Mushroom Kingdom of the past appeared in our time through that magic book and we worked together to put everything back.
Marco- I'm happy that you remember me. Because even though I kept my promise to not reveal what I saw during my trip to the future, I never got about you, Mario. My decedent who Kyrin chose as my successor to fight Tabuu. Even as I drew my last breath, I still thought of you.
Mario- Drew your last breath…?
Marco- Oh! It wasn't anything like that. I was in my late eighties and my body eventually gave out to old age. But back to you. You seem to be trouble. I know.
Mario- Tabuu had regained his full power and imprisoned Kyrin in Subspace. Princess Peach was turned to crystal and our worlds have been taken over by Tabuu and his forces. However, I did find this.
Mario shows Marco his old sword.
Marco- My father's sword. That's good. I was hoping you would find it someday. I actually had my sword place at my grave so that you could claim it in your time.
Mario- But I know this alone is not enough to keep the promise I made to you before you returned to the past. You promised me you wouldn't reveal anything from the future to anyone in the past…but I promised you I would put Tabuu down for good one day. How did you handle this when you and your team fought Tabuu?
Marco- You think me and my team had it easy? Let me tell you something…things were just as bad for us as they currently are for you right now. Many had died during that onslaught…and…there was a moment where I was at the edge of death. I jumped in front of Tabuu's Off-Wave trying to protect Loewy and the others. Some probably would say it was luck we survived…but it was not that. It was no power, no special technique, and not even my father's sword that defeated Tabuu that day. What really defeated Tabuu was something that you and everyone else who believes in you already have.
Mario- And what is that?
Marco- Hope. All I did was remind everyone that they already have what they need to win against this threat. And I know things seem impossible now, but you've prevailed when things seemed hopeless many times before.
Mario- I know. Right now, we're planning on attacking Tabuu's palace while he's away and rescuing Princess Peach. But we intend to finish this before Tabuu get's back from wherever he left.
Marco- Tabuu has left? Where did you hear that?
Mario- From Palutena and Viridi. The signal from his power vanished from our radar. The rest of his minions are still on the radar, but with Tabuu gone, we might be able to strike when he least expects it. But it's clear that this opportunity won't remain. Which is why we're attacking first thing in the morning.
Marco- Hmmm…actually…I think Tabuu might return sooner than you think…
Mario- Huh…
Marco- Listen well, Mario. If things really are that bad…I have been saving something special for just the occasion. My final trump card against Tabuu. It will be the last thing he'll expect…but it will only be able to happen once…
Mario- What the?! What are you talking about, Marco? Make sense?
Marco- When you need it the most…help will come…from a distant past…But promise me you won't forget that's it's the hope you bring to everyone that fights for you that is your real strength!
Mario- Very well. I won't forget.
Marco- Good…and good luck to you, Mario…and until we meet again soon…
Mario- Meet again soon? What do you…
Then Marco vanished into a burst of bright light.
(Back in Mario and Luigi's room)
Mario and Luigi woke up after the door was opened and the light from the hallway shined on their faces. Mario sat up from his bed, but Luigi put his pillow over his face.
Luigi- Just five more minutes…
Pit- No can do, Luigi. It's an hour away before we begin our assault on Tabuu's palace.
Mario- It's that time already? The morning came too soon.
Link- Agreed.
Shantae- Most of us feel the same way.
Ty- Tabuu is still off the radar thankfully. But that could still change at any time, mates.
Mario and Luigi both jump out of the bed to see Yoshi Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Ash with Pikachu on his shoulder, Sonic, Ty, Pit with the Three Neo Sacred Treasures equipped, and Shantae in the room with them.
Luigi- Wow, Pit! Where'd you get that fancy gear?
Pit- Kyrin actually had the Three Sacred Treasures and the Great Sacred Treasure rebuilt by Dyntos before Tabuu freed Kronos from Tartarus. I've got the Three Neo Sacred Treasures while Pittoo is equipped with the Great Neo Sacred Treasure.
Then a rock with a note tied to it was hurled at Pit's head from behind and almost knocked Pit to the floor.
Pit- Where the hell did that come from?!
Then Ash picked up the note and read it.
Ash- It says… "Call me Pittoo one more time and I'll throw another rock towards your lower region…"
Pikachu chuckled a bit after hearing that.
Pit- Maybe I should tell Palutena and Viridi to let someone else use the Great Neo Sacred Treasure instead…
Mario- Save it for later. After all, we have a job to do!
Sonic- Mario's right. And I know this is a tight squeeze we're in, but we've pulled though before. Hopefully this won't be any different.
Yoshi- Author always saves epic parts for finale.
Mario- Thank you…all of you!
Donkey Kong- For what, Mario?
Mario- For being my team and sticking with me through everything no matter how bad things got. I don't know if I hold up to the standards of Marco Mario, but I will do my best to see to it that every one of us will live to see our homes returned to us and Tabuu defeated!
Then Mario holds his hand out in front of everyone.
Mario- Are you all still with me on this?
Luigi places his hand on top of Mario's.
Luigi- Of course, bro! I'm with you until the end!
Yoshi places his tail over Luigi's hand.
Yoshi- Yoshi always fight with Mario's. Even before team formed. That something will never change!
Donkey Kong placed his paw over Yoshi's tail.
Donkey Kong- My strength is yours, my friends.
Link placed his hand on Donkey Kong's paw.
Link- You've gotten us this far and I know you can see us through to the end with a bright future.
Kirby places his hand over Link's hand.
Kirby- Scared as my might hide it, we all still believe in you!
Ash and Pikachu place their hands over Kirby's.
Ash- My dream is to be a Poke'mon Master. And dreams don't come true if I don't work hard at it. And you've showed us that we can work hard to beat even Tabuu!
Sonic places his hand on top of Ash's hand.
Sonic- And we also wouldn't be here to take our stand against Tabuu if you hadn't united us to begin with.
Ty places his paw over Sonic's hand.
Ty- And what friends would we be if we just left after all we've been through together, mate?
Pit placed his hand over Ty's paw.
Pit- And as an angel of Skyworld, I can't just let Tabuu and his goons cause this destruction! Even they must face the light!
Then Shantae placed her hand over Pit's.
Shantae- And my duty as a Guardian Genie to protect those in need. Just like my mother before me.
It was a happy moment seeing entire Super Mario Brothers' Team huddled together in a bonding moment like that. They all quickly threw their aims into the air and moved out to begin this attack on Tabuu's palace.
