Chapter 3: Memories of the Egg
(1,000 years ago)
A flying airship known as the Shooting Star was flying in the skies above Sequin Land and heading towards Scuttle Town. At the wheel of the Shooting Star was a knight of the Mushroom Kingdom who resembled Mario. Standing behind this knight was a white hedgehog with a cyan blue scarf around his neck.
Marco- Almost to Scuttle Town. I was thinking we could head for Mobius after we drop Azra off.
Chaos- …
Marco- Come on, Chaos! Don't tell me your still mad?
Chaos- Me and the rest of your team spent a week trying to figure out what happened to you and Loewy after the entire Mushroom Kingdom vanished without a trace. Then you all suddenly reappear from a book Kyrin tells us to place out power into and you refuse to tell us anything about what happened.
Marco- I told you already, we went into the future and I promised I wouldn't reveal anything under the risk of changing the timeline leading up to that future. Besides, I'm giving you all a ride back home to make up for it.
Eventually, a Yoshi that looked similar to Yoshi, a young angel that looked similar to Pit, and a genie girl who looked similar to Shantae walked up to where the wheel was.
Icarus- Maybe that is for the best. News of the future can cause unforeseen circumstances in both time periods.
Azra- And you're also telling us there are some pieces of knowledge that you can't share with us, because you claim us mortals aren't ready to know it yet. As a former god yourself, Chaos, you should know better than any of us about that.
Ihsoy- Ihsoy no care about that. Ihosy just happy Marco return from future!
Marco- And you all were actually most helpful while Loewy and I were in the future. When you send your power into the book in our time…
Marco closed his eyes for a moment and envisioned Mario and Luigi in that instant before opening his eyes again.
Marco- Me, Loewy…and them…were able to prevail and return all of us back to the correct time. In short, you and the rest of the team played a vital role in helping us return home.
Chaos- I know…but this is still gonna take some time for me to get over. And believe me, I am trying.
Palutena (telepathically to Chaos)- Maybe some quality time with Rainbow and Kyuubi will cheer you up, sensei Chaos?
Chaos- Maybe. Getting my mind off of wondering where in the future the Mushroom Kingdom was sent to this past week might be best.
Marco- But right now, we're approaching Scuttle Town. After we drop Azra off, we can head for Mobius, Yoshi Island, and Skyworld next.
Then Azra sees smoke coming from the woods below and rushes to the edge of the ship to get a better look.
Icarus- Something wrong, Azra?
Azra- That's where the Zombie Caravan is! Marco, land the Shooting Star!
(At the Zombie Caravan)
Marco, Ihsoy, Chaos, Icarus, and Azra arrived in the Zombie Caravan, only to see most of it wrecked apart.
Ihsoy- What happened here?!
Icarus- I know this is where zombies live, but this place looks like a bomb blew up most of the place!
Then a zombie girl who looked similar to Rottytops limped over to them.
Goreytops- Uh…Az…ra…
Azra- Gorey!
Azra caught Goreytops before she hit the ground.
Icarus- I know she's a zombie, but she still doesn't look like she's doing too good.
Marco- All joking aside…what the hell happened here?!
Goreytops- Greasy…while you were gone…the Tinkerbats…took advantage to loot all the towns…
Azra- Greasy Boots! She's gonna pay for this!
Marco- Azra, think she could use your healing magic?
Chaos- Bad idea, Marco…"REALLY" bad idea?
Marco- Huh…?
Palutena (telepathically to Marco)- It's hard to fully explain, but healing spells and other methods used to treat wounds of the living have a reverse effect on the undead, like zombies.
Goreytops- Azra…the Devil's Egg…she took it…
Azra- Devil's Egg?
Despite Palutena not physically being there, Icarus still managed to hear her gasp through the telepathic link.
Icarus- Lady Palutena…is something wrong?
Palutena (telepathically to Icarus)- Guess I can't hide anything from you, Icarus. The Devil's Egg is actually a powerful dark magic artifact that is actually a backdoor out of Hell itself. But it someone were to crack that egg open, it would free a soul trapped in Hell. Namely Lucifer, the son of Satan the Devil himself, my ex-husband. And no, I left Satan before Lucifer was born! And I don't want to talk about my relationship with the devil! It was a long time ago and I made some foolish mistakes as a child.
Chaos- Oh, I remember now! Back when you were still a student of mine…
Palutena (telepathically to Chaos)- Sensei Chaos…please…I said I don't want to share about my relationship with Satan…
Marco- Back on topic, what would Greasy Boots want with that? Is there someone in Hell she wants to release?
Goreytops- Actually…she just thought…it was an ordinary ruby…but Lucifer was slowly making his way…into Greasy Boots' mind…might eventually…influence her…to releasing him from Hell…
Azra- Marco, I know you just returned from the future as you put it, but I might need your help finding Greasy Boots before she does something that could put us all in danger.
Marco- Of course, Azra! I'm always happy to help.
Ihsoy- Ihsoy help too!
Icarus- Count me in too! This sounds serious if this Lucifer enters our world from Hell.
Chaos- Agreed, it would be bad for us.
Palutena (telepathically to Icarus, Marco, Ihsoy, Chaos, and Azra)- I'll begin my search for where Greasy Boots is currently hiding.
(At Greasy Boots' hideout)
Marco and Azra were fighting Greasy Boots. Greasy Boots swung her sword at Marco, but Marco blocked with his sword. Azra took the opportunity to kick Greasy in the chest and knock her to the ground. As Greasy Boots was trying to get back up, Azra tried to use another high kick. However, Greasy Boots blocked with her sword. Greasy Boots tried to reach for her pistol, but a light arrow shot the pistol out of her hand. When Greasy Boots looked towards where the arrow was shot from, she saw Icarus, Chaos, and Ihsoy standing on a high ledge. Then she noticed Marco pointing his sword at her neck when she returned her attention to Marco and Azra.
Marco- I would stay still if I were you…
Azra- Don't make this worse, Greasy. Hand over that curse artifact you stole from the Zombie Caravan!
Suddenly, a dark aura surrounded Greasy Boots' body and her eyes turned black as the night.
Greasy Boots (in a demonic voice)- The Greasy Boots of which you speak of…is no longer here…
Marco- What the hell?!
Greasy Boots (in a demonic voice)- I actually should be thanking you. She was rather difficult to take control of. But you distracting her with that fight made it a little easy to push through her resisting my control.
Azra- If you're not Greasy Boots, then what should we call you…
Greasy Boots (in a demonic voice)- I am Lucifer…son of the devil…but you will be calling me master very soon…hehehehe…
Then a burst of dark energy was launched from Greasy Boots' body and knocked both Marco and Azra to the ground.
Greasy Boots (in a demonic voice)- And don't think that just because you defeated Tabuu means you amount to me. That's right…I know all about you, Marco Mario. I know all about how you and your friends fought Tabuu and banished him to Subspace. I might not be as strong as Tabuu or my father, Satan, but you'll need more than your friends and that sword crafted by Lord Arkness once I cross to your world!
Greasy Boots pulled out a strange looking ruby and was about to break it. However, Ihsoy's tongue grabbed the Devil's Egg and pulled it into Ihsoy's mouth. The dark aura faded from Greasy Boots, but Ihsoy's eyes began flashing red and yellow, black smoke erupted from his ears, and the sound of a steam boat whistle could be heard in the background. Ihsoy quickly spat out the Devil's Egg, but it was still launched in the air. Chaos used his energy to get a psychic grip on the Devil's Egg and make it levitate above the ground before it could hit the ground and break.
Chaos- That was close…
Demonic voice- I wouldn't bet on that…
Then Chaos noticed that a black energy from the Devil's Egg was following Chaos' energy and trying to reach his body. Luckily, Marco used his sword to cut the line of Chaos's energy holding the Devil's Egg before that dark power could reach Chaos and attempt to possess his body like it did with Greasy Boots. The Devil's Egg hit the floor, but it didn't break. The dark energy attempted to burst out of the Devil's Egg, but Icarus jumped on the Devil's Egg and smothered it with his body.
Demonic voice- What are you doing?! Why can't my power extend passed you?! How are you not being corrupted by my control?!
Icarus- Because I'm a holy angel of Skyworld! My body is immune to dark magic and I'm also under the protection of the Goddess of Light's magic! Lady Palutena! Your powers won't do much good on my body while you're still trapped in Hell!
Demonic voice- Then I'll enter your world once the Devil's Egg breaks and see if my powers can work on you in person!
Palutena (telepathically to the demonic voice)- Not if I drive your power back!
Then a bright light burst from the Devil's Egg Icarus was still smothering with his body. Eventually, Icarus was blown across the room and against the wall.
Marco- Icarus!
Chaos- Is he ok?
Then they noticed Greasy Boots getting back up while rubbing her head.
Greasy Boots- Uh…my head…what happened…
Azra- Looks like Greasy Boots is back to normal.
Greasy Boots- Azra…what are you doing here? YIKES! And why the **** is the angel naked!
Marco and the others quickly returned their attention to Icarus who was just getting himself back up. However, it appeared his white angel robe had completely disintegrated. There was also black smoke coming from his body, but no one was paying any attention to that. Once Icarus snapped out of that daze he was in, he too noticed what happened and quickly moved his arms to cover his lower body.
Icarus- My clothes are gone! Lady Palutena, what happened?!
Palutena (telepathically to Icarus)- Uh…well…it appears your clothes got incinerated when I suppressed Lucifer's influence from the Devi's Egg.
Icarus- Lady Palutena…some clothes, please?
Then one of Palutena's nightgowns appeared on Icarus.
Icarus- (Sigh)…it will do…
Azra- Just one more thing…
Then Azra punched Greasy Boots in the face and gave her a black eye.
Greasy Boots- Hey! What was that for?!
Azra- That was what you did to Goreytops!
(At Azra's house in Scuttle Town)
Marco, Ihsoy, Chaos, and Icarus (who was back wearing an angel robe) were standing next to the Shooting Star as it was parked next to Azra's house.
Icarus- Really wish I could forget that…
Then Chaos hands Icarus a chilidog.
Chaos- Would this help you feel a little better?
Icarus- Might do for a start.
While Icarus was eating the chilidog, Azra eventually arrived and approached Marco.
Marco- I see you're back, Azra.
Azra- I hid the Devil's Egg like you asked me. It's in…
Marco quickly placed one finger over Azra's mouth and cut her off.
Marco- Sorry, but I think it's best if you don't tell anyone. Not even us. Don't want anyone overhearing where that damned artifact is and being tempted to cause this nightmare to happen again.
Azra- You sure, Marco?
Marco- We're not as lucky as Icarus is with his immunity to dark magic. Anyone goes near the Devil's Egg and easily be possessed by that demon and used to free him from Hell. That's why I ask you take that secret to your grave, Azra.
Chaos- Except genies are just as much immortal as gods are, Marco. Azra can still remain the same and not age from how she is 1,000 years from now.
Marco- The point is, you can't tell anyone about where it's hidden to anyone. Understand?
Azra- Yes, I understand, Marco.
Icarus- Let's hope that it really does remain undiscovered.
(1,000 years later at Palutena's Skypalace)
Palutena holds her head after remembering that event from so long ago.
Palutena- I'm surprised I almost forgot about that incident. Guess I didn't want to remember Icarus losing his robe like that. Still, it will mean trouble for Pit and Shantae if the Devil's Egg is discovered again.
Pit (telepathically to Palutena)- Lady Palutena!
Palutena- Oh! What is it, Pit?
(Scuttle Town)
Pit was using the Power of Flight to fly up in the sky just above Mimic's workshop. Pit was holding a pair of binoculars as he was using the altitude to see more.
Pit- I think I might have spotted Risky's pirate ship. It looks like it's parked on a shady looking island northeast of Scuttle Town.
Palutena (telepathically to Pit)- What can you tell me about the island?
Pit- Well, it looks like a stone face of a horned monster that looks like its head is cracking open down the middle. But what' makes it creepy is it looks like there's something glowing from inside that rock formation.
Palutena (telepathically to Pit)- Hang on…found it. That island is named Mud Bog Island.
Pit- Thanks! I'll tell Shantae right away.
Pit flies back down to Mimic's workshop where Shantae, Bolo, Sky, and Mimic waiting.
Pit- I saw a pirate ship that looks like Risky's. It was on an island that Lady Palutena identified as Mud Bog Island.
Shantae- I know that place!
Pit- You do?
Shantae- During that incident with the Pirate Master…before Tabuu turned him into one of his followers…Risky and I went there at one point.
Mimic- Not much is known about that island. Not many people return after visiting Mud Bog Island.
Shantae- Hang on…I didn't see any Devil's Egg while I was there, but I do remember…
Then Shantae briefly remembers there was gate that lead to somewhere on that island.
Sky- Shantae…you feeling alright?
Shantae- If Risky Boots is looking for the Devil's Egg…I think I know where on Mud Bog Island she'll go to…