Chapter 8

"Darkness is Everywhere"

Mario couldn't believe that the Dark Star returned only yesterday. Not just that, but some weird things have been happening more often, lately.

Mario and Luigi have gone their way home after discussing some things with the Dark Star. They headed towards Dimble wood where the pipes that led to their abode lay. It wasn't a far walk for them. If they could jump way up in the air without a problem then walking miles around a lake full of monsters wasn't hard.

At least the monsters knew better than to face the dynamic duo. The monsters picked on Luigi yesterday morning and they regretted that. They believed that the brothers' power relied on their teamwork. They didn't know they could be independent; much less walk into their territory alone. But now the two brothers were together, and the monsters new better than to fight them.

The brothers passed Dimble wood while monsters watched them carefully behind the thick shrubbery. It was early afternoon and the monsters weren't feeling brave. Nighttime was a better time to attack where ambushes could be executed better. Even though the thick shrubbery would have done enough to hide them, something else felt wrong to them.

They felt a cold presence the two oblivious plumbers couldn't sense.

The leaves waved in the soft breeze. Bushes would rustle occasionally because of the prowling monsters. The Mario brothers' feet made crunches as they stepped on dry leaves that have fallen to the ground.

They were getting deeper into the woods where the forest thickened. It was dimmer there since the overgrowth allowed only a little amount of sunlight. Light would filter through the break in the leaves. To the brothers, it felt relaxing to be here. The cool shade, soft breeze, and rhythmic rustle of the leaves soothed the mind and body.

The two brothers decided to take a break and enjoy the tranquility. They found a good spot under a large tree and they eased themselves into the soft dips of the tree's roots. It was a relatively soft tree that had leathery bark. It wasn't twisted and withered like most old trees. It stood tall and majestic with its wide and straight form.

They crossed their arms behind their heads and leaned on the trunk. They lay at an angle where they could stare up at the dancing leaves above them. They closed their eyes and sighed in satisfaction at the comforting environment.

The monsters had left them alone and gone about their daily activities in favor of experiencing the tranquility without a problem. The brothers weren't a nuisance to them for now. They were in their territory, but the brothers didn't even bother them. Ignoring them was the better idea.

A young Wiggler emerged from the shrubbery. It approached the two relaxing brothers curious about what the two strange creatures were. But it stopped in its tracks when it felt a sudden cold. In its eyes, it saw the world darken and the soothing shade of the trees turned into a haunting shadow that consumed everything within its reach. It shivered fearfully before retreating back into the bushes.

Other creatures and monsters with heightened senses also noticed the strange cold. Out of fear of the unknown and the cold feeling, they fled from their spots. This caused the undergrowth to rustle wildly and abruptly interrupt the two brothers' rest.

Mario simply ignored it thinking that it was just the forest creatures playing or fighting. Luigi sat up and surveyed the surroundings irritatingly. He had just found a spot where the roots hugged his back comfortably, and lost it because of the disturbance. When he confirmed that the area was clear, he laid down and tried to find his comfy spot again.

A light breeze blew past and Mario and Luigi shivered. It suddenly fell cold and the once calming tranquility turned into a heavy tension. Small plants and grasses withered and the bright green leaves of trees turned brownish. The brothers heard a sickening crack behind them and they stood up in surprise. They turned back to the source of the noise and stared in horror at the tree they relaxed on. The tall and majestic tree grayed and twisted turning lifeless and grotesque.

The brothers looked around and saw the other trees close to them die. Creaks and snaps could be heard as the trees twisted. They looked shocked and bewildered at the scene before them. Trees and surrounding plants withered. It wasn't much considering it was only a patch of the forest that grayed, but it was still a good fifty meters of dead vegetation.

The brothers stared at each other in disbelief at what just happened. Luigi looked very nervous and was visibly sweating. Mario had the same reaction, but it was soon replaced by a thoughtful expression... What could've done this?

"Um... Mario? C-can we go home now?" Luigi asked uneasily

"Y-yeah... C'mon. Let's go." Mario shook the thoughts off before leading themselves back to their home.

...(Scuro's POV)...

"Are you sure they didn't bother you too much?" Princess Peach asked me with both concern and unease.

"Everyone does." I answer dryly out of irritation.

The princess had entered the chamber earlier to check on me. She believed that the star sprite and the red and green ones pushed me to answer their questions. I have to admit, I was gratified for her concern. But she showed too much concern and that irritated me. She had been pestering me with questions if I was okay or not. She hid them in light conversations but I always managed to know what she truly meant.

I wasn't stupid.

She was being too motherly and I hate being pampered. I am a dark being capable of choking and destroying the world with the power of darkness. I am independent. I don't need a mother to care for me. I could destroy her if it wasn't for the dark power's misbehaviour!

"Oh... Am I bothering you?" She asked me.

"Yes!" My eyes glowed brighter with irritation. I growled, warning her to shut up for the last time.

"Sorry..." She looked at me apologetically. She turned away and faced the chamber exit. I hoped she would walk towards the exit, leave the chamber, and spare me from any more questions. I was disappointed when she turned back to face me with an even more concerned look.

"You know, Scuro, I think something's bothering you. I can't see how, but I just feel it."

I glared at her and my eyes glowed brighter demanding an explanation.

"Um... How do I say this..." She thought her words out and began to explain. "I could just sense your distress. It doesn't show physically, I just get the feeling that you're hiding something. It bothers you... I think."

She was being a mother hen, now she is becoming a psychiatrist... Even her diagnosis was false. I felt perfectly fine; nothing bothers me... at least that is what I think. The nightmare and the realization of the possibility of another catastrophe left me uneasy. The future has something in store, and it seems threatening.

"Am I right about that? You look bothered by it." She smiled coyly at me.

"I... Don't want to discuss it."

"Ok... I guess I'll just go then..." She turned around and finally exited the chamber.

I heaved a sigh of relief. She was being too caring... it sickened me. What was it that made her see me as something to be cared for? I understand that she cares for every living being regardless of their alignment, but I have done things that would immediately make me deserve punishment. I cannot be forgiven for my actions, but I would never feel regret for what I have done.

I only know one purpose in life: destroy. I live my life to destroy and to consume. I know I don't have a very good reason, but I don't see anything else I could possibly do. I believe my mission in this world is to restore balance. The world is too peaceful and it felt like my duty to restore it through chaos. It seems fitting keeping in mind that everything should be fair, but the questions that have recently surfaced from my mind made me think again. Was chaos something that caused more imbalance?

For some reason, people believe peace is a balance in itself. They believe that it must be kept that way in order for everything to be fair. It made sense, but my arrogance refused to believe something so different from my perspective. Yet I had considered it and now I was slowly understanding it. I was beginning to doubt my reasons...

Maybe the princess saw this beforehand. She explained to me how everyone has a good side. She believes I have one and that it still needed to be uncovered. Within my millennia of existence, I have never shown a shred of kindness. I highly doubt I would ever change nor would I be trying to. But somehow, the princess refused to believe that and she pushed onwards.

I soon decided that thinking too much wouldn't do me any good. I tried to find a way to entertain myself, but I couldn't move so I opted to watch the guards instead. I could see two guards flanking the chamber exit. They were shivering and hugging their arms fiercely. It was odd for them to do that even if it was cold down here in the caves. It wasn't chilly enough to make anyone feel too bothered about it. Yet the guards don't seem very comfortable with it now...

Just as I was about to wave it off as something to be ignored, I felt unbearably cold.

It was bad enough that I couldn't shiver because of my immobility. Shivering is my only way to warm myself up and now that the involuntary movement was irresponsive, I felt worse. I don't have anything else to help keep myself warm and that just made things more frustrating. I closed my eyes tightly in an attempt to spare them from the cold. The discomfort was unbearable and I growled unable to endure it silently.

"W-will you s-stop it?!"

I crack open an eye to see who dares to snap at me like that. The guards were facing me and they looked irritated. They were still shivering as they glared daggers at me. Are they accusing me for releasing this cold aura on them? I am clearly feeling discomfort from this cold, and they think I would also release this on myself? With their cavemen minds, perhaps so.

"If y-you think th-that I'm doing th-this, then- GAH!"

I was cut off when I felt a strong pulse that emanated from within me. It felt like an imaginary explosion that forced itself through my insides. It hurt badly. I groaned as the pain slowly eased away. But before it could completely disappear, I felt another strong pulse. It was more powerful and I forced myself not to roar in pain.

The guards at the entrance looked at me questioningly. They knew something wasn't right. They couldn't move from their post so they grabbed the attention of a nearby guard, who was also shivering from the cold. The guard was directed towards me and he approached with caution. I groaned again as I felt another strong pulse. The guard paused and decided that he needed to keep his distance.

The pulsing stopped and so did the cold. I heaved a sigh of relief as the pain finally eased away. The guard before me took this as a chance to finally talk.

"Hey, um... Are you okay?"

I glare at him incredulously. Hadn't he also felt the cold? Does anyone feel alright about that? Most probably not and it should be the same for me. I felt worse when the bouts of pain hit. Of course I wasn't okay! But then I wouldn't want to be bothered too much. If I only made it clear I wasn't feeling fine, they would bother me with trying to make me feel better.

"Yes... I'm fine..."

"Well... Okay then..." The guard was torn between making sure that I was fine or getting away from me. He decided that leaving was better. He saw that I was fine, now, and that didn't need to be clarified. He turned and left the chamber.

...(3rd POV)...

Bowser lay sprawled on his bed with a cast on his left arm and bandages around his head.

The other day, he tried to kidnap Princess Peach in the middle of the night. It was something he would do often ever since he was a little kid. Kidnapping the princess wasn't very hard; he could just smash through her defenses. The only thing that stood between him and victory were the Mario bros. who always managed to defeat him.

He would've succeeded in his latest attempt if it weren't from the bros' untimely arrival. He hated those pesky plumbers for getting in his way.

They defeated him in his latest attempt, leaving the koopa king beaten and exhausted. He felt pathetic being beaten by two puny plumbers for the millionth time. He should've been used to it by now, but being reminded of his countless failures made his hate for the brothers grow. It didn't help when his doctors insisted he stay in bed for a while. He felt even weaker when he was laying down helplessly like some sick person... all because someone jumped on his thick skull.

He stared at the stone brick ceiling without blinking in an attempt to tire his eyes. He wanted to fall asleep, but he just couldn't. His latest and most humiliating defeat yet made him unable to rest. He wanted revenge badly, even if it was just smashing one of the brothers' faces.

"Your Badliness... May I have a word with you."

Bowser sat up to see who was talking to him. He wasn't in the mood for talking just yet and he wanted to send whoever it was out of his room. He saw Kamek who was standing just before his bed. Upon noticing his right-hand Magikoopa, he mellowed slightly and gave him his full attention.

"What do you want, Kamek? Make it quick so we can get this over with." Bowser asked with annoyance.

Kamek nodded before talking. "Your Irateness, I have some news that you might want to hear." Bowser motioned with his good arm for him to continue. "We have gained word of the Dark Star's return. One of our Goombas scouting Blubble Lake spotted the two plumbers carrying the Dark Star towards Toad Town. We think this may be of interest to you."

Bowser wore a thoughtful expression as he scratched his head. "Dark Star... Isn't that the dumb thing that went in my mouth and copied me? The guy that I fought up at Peach's tower?"

Kamek nodded as he confirmed the king's question. Bowser scratched his the back of his head again; he didn't know what to make of this. He stared at his casted arm as he fumbled with it, deep in his thoughts.

"Um... Your Thoughtfulness?" Kamek asked worriedly.

The Koopa king looked back at the waiting Magikoopa. "Leave me alone for a while, Kamek... I need some time alone." Bowser fumbled again with his casted arm as he dismissed the Magikoopa. Kamek nodded and left without a word.

He wondered what it was still doing here. He landed the KO punched and watched the Dark Star explode in the sky himself. He was pretty sure he had destroyed it back then. Sure, weird things happen all the time in the Mushroom kingdom, but the return of the ancient relic sounded preposterous. It just didn't make sense to him.

The lights flickered, interrupting Bowser's thoughts. He glared at the torches on the stone brick walls that provided light in the room for disturbing him. "Stupid torches..." He muttered under his breath.

Bowser shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew into the room. There was a window facing his bed and he assumed the cold breeze came from there. "Hey! Can anyone close that window?!" He shouted to grab the attention of any of his minions passing his room. "Did anyone even hear me?! I said close the... window..." Bowser trailed off as he sat up when he saw the window closed.

He looked utterly confused. He didn't know where the breeze was coming from. The window and door were closed; there was no way even the room would be drafty. He decided to ignore it, thinking that he was just lacking rest. He lay back down and resumed staring at the ceiling. He was alone here, and he hoped the peace would last. Minutes later, he fell asleep.

Unbeknownst to him, something was with him in his room. In fact, it was everywhere where shadows are cast and light was absent. It wasn't going to leave... It didn't want to be anywhere else. It missed the world, and now it's one step closer to finally be free to explore it. It would enjoy it's release, and it would want it to be grand... The world needs to know its presence and it will make sure that it would never be forgotten. Not anymore would it be cast away as a legend... a myth. It will prove everyone that they were wrong for forgetting it and they will pay... They cannot contain it... darkness can never be contained.