Chapter 13: Rematch with Tabuu

(In Tabuu's throne room)

Tabuu- Don't get too cocky, Mario. Just because you have a weapon that can hurt me…doesn't mean you can beat me. Even Marco realized that, which is why he had him and his friends all gang up on me. And this time, I'm not going to be playing around at all! This time…you Mario's are dead…

Mario got himself back up and dusted himself off.

Luigi- You ok, Mario?

Mario- I'm fine. But Tabuu is right, Marco's sword alone won't bring him down. But it also means Tabuu can't afford to let his guard down knowing Marco's sword can cut through him.

Tabuu (thinks)- It's a little more than that…just as long as you don't get that sword near my heart…I should be fine…

Tabuu fired a laser from his eyes at Mario and Luigi, but they managed to dodge. After Mario dodge, he saw Tabuu launch a few more energy blasts at him. Luckily, Mario dodged them. But behind Tabuu, Luigi jumped up as high as he could and attempted to high jump attack on Tabuu from behind. However, Luigi's foot made a hollow sound as soon as it struck Tabuu in his right shoulder blade and Luigi felt like the bones in his leg were about to break. Tabuu had a slightly annoyed look on his face as he pointed his finger into the air.

Tabuu- Excuse me for a moment, Mario.

Then Tabuu completely spun his head to his backside so his face was facing Luigi. And Luigi was a little freaked out that Tabuu had spun his head 180 degrees like that.

Tabuu- You've really learned nothing, Luigi. You should've realized by now that all of your basic and standard attacks can't do anything to me since I've regained my full power. All you're doing is massacring yourself with every attack. The only things you have that give you some chance of harming me are Marco's sword and that combo fireball technique Marco and Loewy developed. Now, be smart and just give up now.

Then Tabuu rotated his head back to the right position and facing Mario.

Tabuu- Now…where were we?

Then Tabuu snapped his finger and a blue flame appeared in Tabuu's hand. When it faded, the flame was replaced with a scimitar sword.

Tabuu- I remember…I was just about to kill you two!

Tabuu dashed for Mario, but Mario blocked with Marco's sword.

Mario- Funny…I didn't take you for a sword fighter…

Tabuu- Oh, I'm well trained in several arts of combat thanks to all the training my father put me and Kyrin through. However, it doesn't seem you're as skilling in the art of swordplay as Marco was. Very sloppy so far.

Tabuu was about to break through Mario's guard, but Mario managed to roll underneath Tabuu and get a bit of distance from him. Then Mario reached into his pocket and pulled out a fire flower.

Mario- I remember Marco had another trick with this sword. Let's see if I can work just like he could.

Mario eats the fire flower and turns into Fire Mario. Tabuu rushed at Fire Mario again, but Fire Mario created a fully charged fireball and placed it on the blade of Marco's sword. Then Fire Mario struck Tabuu with a flaming sword swing. When the smoke cleared, the scimitar Tabuu was wielding was broken in half and there was a noticeable wound on Tabuu's left shoulder. Tabuu had clenched his shoulder with his right hand as blook continued to leak from that wound.

Tabuu- How…how did you learn that trick?! Marco and Loewy combining their fireballs I can understand, but none of your historical records tell that Marco could combine the projectiles of his powerup forms with that sword to enhance their power!

Mario- Actually…I learned that trick from Marco himself.

Tabuu- Huh…? That doesn't make sense. Marco's been dead for the past 1,000 years.

Luigi- Are you telling me you didn't know Marco, Loewy, and the entire Mushroom Kingdom got pulled into our time after I knocked over a magic book?

Tabuu- Marco and Loewy were…

Then Tabuu slaps his palm over his face.

Tabuu- Oh ****! I guess a time distortion parity would explain why I couldn't open portals out of Subspace for a week or why I couldn't see outside of Subspace. But Marco and Loewy in the present…if it wasn't for the fact that I'm immortal, I think I'd want to put a bullet through my head after hearing about that.

Then Tabuu heals the wound and his shoulder looked good as new. Then a set of rainbow-colored wings appeared on Tabuu as his body began building up energy.

Luigi- Oh ****! The Off-Wave!

Tabuu- Goodbye Mario! Time for you to be completely obliterated!

Then Tabuu fired the Off-Wave at Fire Mario. But Fire Mario actually managed to block and hold back the Off-Wave with Marco's sword. However, the force pushed Fire Mario to the wall. But that's when Luigi noticed Tabuu wasn't moving at all after launching the Off-Wave.

Luigi- That's right! The Off-Wave's flaw is Tabuu remains completely wide open for another opponent to land an attack! Alright, let's see if my attacks can hurt you now!

Suddenly, Tabuu felt a burst of pain coming from his chest causing him to also drop the Off-Wave. Then Tabuu saw Luigi had gotten in close for perfectly timed Super Jump Punch to Tabuu's chest.

Luigi- Looks like my attacks can hurt you when you leave yourself exposed after the Off-Wave…

Before Luigi could finish, Tabuu hammered his fist in the top of Luigi's head and make Luigi drop to the floor. Almost making Luigi fall through the floor at the same time. Then Tabuu kicked Luigi in the face like a soccer ball and knocked him into Fire Mario, causing them both to crash into the wall.

Tabuu- You're piss me off almost as much at Loewy did! You forget that I'm back to normal instantly when the Off-Wave wares off. And how dare use my strongest attack to humiliate me like that!

Fire Mario turned back normal Mario as him and Luigi were getting back up.

Palutena (telepathically to Mario and Luigi)- Thank goodness, you're both still in one piece!

Mario- Palutena?

Luigi- Please tell me you're here to help!

Viridi (telepathically to Luigi)- Nah…we're just here to take the measurements to fit your coffins!

Luigi- You know, I think I'm starting to see why Pit's always complaining about the way you talk to him.

Palutena (telepathically to Mario)- Tabuu set this whole thing as a means of luring you to him.

Mario- Already figured that out. But what about the others? How are Sonic and the rest of the team doing?

Tabuu- I'm about to destroy you and you're worried about them? Now that I've turned my power back on, my followers also have access to my power again. Increasing their strength beyond anything they could imagine. I'd say it won't be long before they meet their end.

Palutena (telepathically to Mario and Luigi)- No…Tabuu is wrong…yes, Tabuu's followers using Tabuu's power is making things harder for them, but they're all still fighting with all their might. And they are also giving Tabuu's minions a run for their money. And what's giving them the strength to fight back…is you, Mario.

Viridi (telepathically to Mario)- They all know you still believe in them and that's what's giving them the hope and courage fight back.

Mario- They…believe in me…

Tabuu- Hope? **** that trash! That will do those losers nothing!

Suddenly, Mario found a new strength within him as he rushed at Tabuu with Marco's sword. Tabuu dodged the swing of the sword, but Mario threw his left fist at Tabuu's chest. And to Tabuu's surprise, that attack hurt him and knocked him backwards a few steps.

Tabuu- What the…?! That actually hurt me?! But that's impossible! Mario and Luigi's ordinary attacks…even Bowser's attacks…just nearly broke their bones when they tried to hit me! How is it that Mario was able to hurt me with just an ordinary punch?!

Luigi- Mario…how did you do that?

Mario- I just thought about how our friends are fighting with everything they got…all to help us…and how they still believe in us…it was as if it made me believe I could fight back.

Marco's voice (in Mario's head)- 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- Hope! Marco…

Mario held Marco's sword up and looked at his refection in the blade.

Mario- I think I finally understand what you truly meant.

Mario swung the sword at Tabuu again, but Tabuu blocked by catching the sword in his hands. But then Luigi launched himself using his Green Missile and it hit Tabuu from the right side…and actually knocked him to the ground.

Luigi- It…worked…

Tabuu- This can't be happening! Luigi is somehow able to damage me now too!

Mario- Tabuu…you are the most powerful foe I've ever fought against…even before you regained your full power…but even the mightiest of foes can be defeat! After all, Marco already proved that even a god like you is not invincible! And as long as we hold on to our beliefs, even your dark power will be defeated!

Tabuu got back up, but he seemed very annoyed.

Tabuu- Ooohhh! Now you really are starting to sound just like Marco! And his pep talks about hope and that other crap was one of his most annoying traits! All you've done is made me want to shut that mouth of yours permanently even more now!

Then Tabuu spouted his rainbow-colored wings and began to build up power through his body.

Tabuu- Now…suck this!

Then Tabuu launched the Off-Wave and Mario and Luigi. Mario used Marco's sword to block, but both him and Luigi were knocked to the wall as the Off-Wave continued to push through.

Tabuu- HAHAHAHAHAHA! Where's that hope you and Marco always talk about now?!

Luigi- Mario…we need to do something! I don't know how much longer that sword can hold back the Off-Wave!

Mario- I know…but even if you defeat us here, Tabuu…my friends will take my place…I STILL BELIEVE IN MY TEAM!

(Outside of Tabuu's throne room)

As soon as Mario said that, a feeling sort of took over Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Ash, Super Sonic, Ty, Pit, and Shantae. It was as if they felt a mental signal that Mario needed their help.