Chapter 21

"Pain Is... A Pain"

Lady Lisa's lightning blue eyes absently watched the ground as it passed underneath her feet. She didn't have to look forward to know where she was going, and there was no need to worry about hitting a random tree. The conifer trees have begun to spread farther apart, making enough way for the Alphazard to drop her caution. Besides, all she had to do was follow the direction of the looming mountains ahead.

With the unapparent necessity to concentrate on where she was going for the moment, only roving absently past the crowds of tall trees, she allowed her mind to wander, sifting through memories of her time from when she was still a little hatchling...

The first time she saw the world, it was all black and white. No, not literally; she could see vividly in color, though her vision had a tint of blue or red at certain perspectives. She saw the world as simple as a curious and innocent hatchling could ever think of. Everything was either good or bad, boring or exciting, or sad or happy. Polar opposites of each other that never exactly mattered to her, yet made her see the world as a playground. Some place to fool around without any worry.

For that reason, she never understood why she woke up all alone one day. She couldn't remember if she had any siblings, but from what she could recall from so many years ago, she was the only one her parents raised. And her parents... She couldn't remember much about them either. All she could remember was warmth, green scales, and safety... She lost them, too.

For weeks, she pushed her young and underdeveloped body to look for them. But she failed miserably. She began to lose hope after the fourth week calling and crying for them to return, and by then, she came to the conclusion that her parents left her to fend for herself... or maybe they just couldn't stay for understandable reasons.

Like death.

She didn't know what happened to them, but the lingering feeling in her chest suggested that her parents were truly gone. Up until now, every time she let her mind wander like this, she still wondered where they went. But it was nothing important to her now. She grew up mostly alone, and she learned early to act independently. Yet, as she spotted families of random creatures in her forest from time to time, she found herself yearning for the familiar comfort of being nourished and protected...

She missed them.

Lady Lisa shook her head lightly, knowing that delving deeper into the thought would make more questions surface. And she didn't like annoying questions she couldn't answer.

Moving on to her time as an adolescent, when she was just as large as the trunks of young trees, she developed her own rules. It was the general kill or be killed rule that the wilderness set in stone. She fended for herself, competing with predators much like herself, and sometimes, larger than she was back then. The scars that ran through her body were the marks of time and experiences with life as a fierce hunter. She fought occasionally, and most of the time, she lost. But that didn't stop her. She was still alive, and that meant there was still room for improvement. In order to survive in this unfair world, she had to get back up as a stronger hunter.

It paid off well, of course. Now, she was the queen. No one in their right mind dared defy her. The underdeveloped, inexperienced, and generally weak youngling she once was grew up into a huge, strong, hardened, and fierce ruler. She was the alpha, and her rules were now that of the forest.

One of her rules is that no one kills each other without respect. Hunters hunting down prey that they think are worthless are monsters. Preying on the weak is comparable to killing without honor. No one is weak. They have their own strengths, and they are powerful in their own right. Disrespecting such power is a shame, and Lady Lisa swore to never sink her teeth into live flesh without taking that rule into consideration.

Another is to protect the forest. Her home and everyone's home. The forest did her well, and it served as her home from when she was still a small and fragile egg. The forest was a kingdom to a queen. No one must destroy the forest or its inhabitants, and no one must set foot into the forest with ill will. She despised the Macabres for that. The small packs that roam the forest only caused chaos. She once believed they were beings like her: living animals that could live in harmony with everyone else. But no. They were just mindless demons that hunted the inhabitants of her home for sport.

They should be exterminated.

Her tongue absentmindedly grazed the Dark Star's broken hull, feeling the small bumps and scratches from the battle with the Macabre Alphazard yesterday. She slightly narrowed her eyes as she tasted bitter and earthy soil here and there. A slight spike of cold nervousness shot through her as she felt a small crack on Scuro's side.

With the Dark Star slowly taking over her thoughts, she decided to ponder about him for a little while. She was curious about the strange relic, and as much as she despised unanswerable questions, the Dark Star's enigmatic characteristics couldn't be helped but be thought about.

Around a week ago, when she was hunting for food, a dark and cold aura washed upon her. It was a small feeling, like an puny ice cube being traced down her back, but it was there. And she felt it.

The first time she set sight on Scuro, she sensed the familiar dark and cold aura that also came from the Macabres. She knew he wasn't something to simply ignore. She wanted him out of her forest, considering to kill if it came to that. But the Dark Star did little to no damage to her home. At least, not intentionally. He acted rather... neutrally, much to her pleasant surprise.

Everything about him seemed evil... From his glowing red eyes, dark and malignant colors, and his uncomfortably cold aura... He was just menacing, he seemed. She never expected him to have more colors than just red, purple, and black.

Sharper vision was a perk when you have the eye of an Alphazard. Having enhanced vision meant that Alphazards are more aware, furthermore making them more efficient as predators— be more calculating. As for Lady Lisa, she knew how to use it, especially when reading people. She once gazed into the Dark Star's seemingly sinister and fiery eyes, and after doing so, she realized he was holding in something more than just malevolence.

He was angry. He was sad. He was tired. He was miserable. He was hurt.

She even caught some traces of joy, although barely noticeable.

So much went on inside of him, yet he did not seem aware of such things. Was he hiding something? No, she didn't think so... Why would he anyway? Did something happen to him in the past? Did something from his young days turn him into this bitter relic he is now?

As far as she knew, the Dark Star wasn't normal. He was not a living being. He does not posses biologic organs. But that does not mean he wasn't alive. He may not have an organic heart or a material brain, but Lady Lisa knew he had an existent mind...

And a kind soul.

She was sure of it.

...(3rd POV)...

"How was it, Captain? Did you get them safely to New Land?"

"It was a fine and dandy trip, lassy. Teh young ones made it to teh island without a single scratch on 'em."

"Young? But Mario and Luigi should be above 28..."

"Aye. And I'm above 55."

Princess Peach, for the past few weeks, had been anxious. She wondered how Mario, Luigi, Starlow, and Scuro were doing. She believed they would be fine... She was talking about the Mario brothers for goodness! And a star sprite! Not to mention, the Dark Star himself.

But why was she nervous?

It's a natural thing to feel. She felt worried for her friends, and she wanted them to be safe. The mission seemed easy enough, at least... Just find this so-called relic that's causing the problem, destroy it, go back home safely, and continue on with their lives. Easy enough, right? Somehow, Princess Peach wasn't convinced...

The princess could not contact them, so she couldn't get to ask if the team really was alright. Mario and Luigi had phones with them, but there was no reception on the remote island they were in. She knew about Dr. Toadley's crystal ball, how it could check on the team wherever and whenever. But when she had visited the clinic, Dr. Toadley wasn't there. His intern said he was off on vacation since last week, which was a little odd, since he rarely took any vacations that lasted more than 5 days. The intern had suggested she set an appointment in advance, but somehow, the doctor has yet to return.

It was a week later when Princess Peach had news of Phil's return.

Eager to quench her curiosity and ease her angst, she requested the old captain to visit her and have a talk over tea.

In the castle grounds, on a grandly-decorated garden, sat the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom and the captain of a fishing vessel.

Princess Peach took a sip from her tea. "Captain?"

Phil grunted in question.

Princess Peach, looked at the captain with worried eyes. "Was... Mario okay?"

Phil nodded. "Aye, he's okay. He's teh hero of multiple worlds and numerous kingdoms, of course he'll be okay!"

"Luigi?"

"Ah, he's fine too. And teh star sprite, too, in case ye were wonderin'."

Princess Peach twiddled her fingers. "Did the Dark Sta- Scuro cause any trouble?"

The captain's bushy eyebrows raised in recognition. "Ah, tat round and... dark lad?

Aye, he was no trouble. He was behavin' well actually. Stayin' in teh corner, just watchin' teh others talk and mingle with each other..."

"I pity the lad," Phil added.

Princess Peach scrunched her thin and delicate eyebrows when she realized Phil did not ever call or refer to Scuro as the Dark Star. Did he even know what- no. Who the Dark Star was? She shook her head and cast the question aside for later. Instead, she nodded in understanding, sympathizing with her guest.

She pitied the Dark Star too, despite the wrongs he had done and the destruction he wrought upon her precious kingdom. Anyone would hate Scuro for the deaths and destruction he caused, and Peach would admit, she hates the Dark Star. Somehow, she saw through that hate, and what she saw through the Dark Star's cold and hard exterior was the possibility of a warm light and a child-like innocence.

It was dumb, she knew. How could someone as destructive, dark, and menacing as him be warm and mellow? In a sense, he wasn't. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings either. He had more to him than just anger and hate.

Princess Peach cleared her throat, and the captain attentively snapped his gaze to her. "Captain... Do you know who Dr. Windwaker Toadley is?"

Phil scratched his beard, careful not to get his fingers tangled in the white mass of hair. "He's too famous fer me to not know, lassy. A lot of teh kingdom knows him almost like everyone knows Mario and Luigi. Also heard he hasn't been seen fer two weeks, now."

Princess Peach nodded. "Alright... Do you have any idea where he might be?"

Phil's bushy brows scrunched in thought. "Nay... No, I have no idea..."

Princess Peach rubbed her chin in thought, her gloved hand tracing her pale skin.

There was this... relic that Dr. Toadley had. One that Mario, Luigi, and Starlow helped in finding. How did she know? Well, Birdley was never one to stay quiet.

"What about..." she tapped her chin as she dug up names from the back of her mind. "The Miracle Cure? Do you know anything about it?"

Phil leaned back on his chair. "Well... I might've heard somethin' about it. Heard it could cure anything, no matter teh disease... Why?"

The princess lazily tapped her hand on the table. "It is just... Dr. Toadley once had the Miracle Cure. He lost it one day... And I'm guessing he may be looking for it. With Mario and Luigi gone, he might have gotten impatient with the Toads he asked to help with the search, and decided to get things done himself."

"I dunno, lassy," the captain scratched his ear in thought. "I don't know where this Miracle Cure is, or teh doctor neither... But... I have a question."

"Yes?"

"Why would teh doctor be searching for the Miracle Cure? I know it would really help him in his work as a doctor and healer, but... I have a feelin' it's not just for tat."

Princess Peach looked up at the sky, and she was reminded of what was really going on.

The cheery blue skies had somehow tinted into a more somber gray. "Something evil is rising... Out there... Somewhere... It's not just your typical baddie, anymore..."

The princess looked back at Phil, her eyes growing dismal. "Something is haunting my dreams, Captain. It's telling me that no one would be safe... Anyone aware of it is starting to prepare..."

"Are yer people aware?" Phil asked carefully.

Peach sighed sadly. "It is a princess's duty to keep her people happy and content. If I told them, the Mushroom Kingdom would fall into mass panic, and that would be terrible...

"So far, my people are not aware of this. However, I have convinced the Toads to later clean the underground facilities, including the Toad Town Caves, the bunkers, and the basement facilities. The project would start next week, so that they would hunker down in the underground..."

Wet tears began to stream the princess cheek, dropping soundlessly on her pink dress and the cobbled stone below. "I-I don't know if everyone w-will survive this." She sniffed. "I-I'm afraid, captain... I'm afraid for all the families that live peacefully unknowing of the harsh world they live in... I don't want them to die, captain... I don't want darkness to take us."

The captain was at a loss. The princess was crying, and the world was, somehow...

Ending...

He stood up, walked to princess, and patted her back. "There, there, lassy... I wouldn't say everythin' will be fine. The world may be endin', but tat doesn't mean we've already lost. Remember... You sent those plumbers, teh star sprite, and teh dark lad to get teh job done, no? And how many time have they failed, hm?"

"N-not," princess swallowed a lump in her throat. "N-not once..."

The captain smiled. "Then believe in them... They're going te set things, right. And before ye know it, everything will return back te normal..."

The princess chuckled between sobs. The sound was rather cute for the old captain's ears, but he didn't want the princess to cry anymore. "Ye know? Ye remind me of a young girl... She was so beautiful..."

Peach's glassy eyes stared at the captain's wise, conifer-green ones. Phil smiled when he noticed Peach starting to stop sobbing. "She had teh most golden hair I've ever seen... Her eyes... They were so blue, it looked like I was staring at teh sky..." He chuckled sadly. "I never got te see her again..."

Princess Peach sniffled one last time. Phil snorted at the Princess's non princess-like way of keeping snot from rolling down her nose. But he drained instantly when he remembered the small girl from his past. "I... used to live in Seadeck Town, a decently-sized fishin' village in teh southeast. There was storm... and teh town was ruined. Many people were swept away into teh ocean... I survived... But that little girl... She didn't make it... She was with her mother, and I last saw them running to teh mountains..."

"I made it... But teh mother and child were swept away before they could get to safety... They were so close, too... If I were actually with them, I could've..."

Peach laid a hand on Phil's head, telling him to stop. Her blue eyes met green, and she saw how much it pained him to lose someone he knew too well. "I'm sure she survived. She's somewhere out there. Maybe she's even right here..."

Phil stared at Peach for a moment before giving a grateful smile. He chuckled. "Aye... Ya know? She would be yer age if she was still alive..."

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

"GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

I'm screaming so hard, yet my booming roars never seem to drown out the grinding and horrified screams of the demons that lurk here...

I feel agonizing pain. Everything... all of me... every fiber of my being feels like being ripped apart by fire... My eyes feel like they are squeezed while being rubbed on glass shards... And my hull feels like tearing itself apart... I could almost hear my own body screeching in protest...

I want to end this pain... End this misery... End all of it...

Every second ticking by feels like so many hours have passed... Exaggerated, yes... But no... Pain slows down time... And awareness only makes it all the more painful...

The beast wants to kill me... Death, I do not fear, for I am immortal... But right now... feeling my very existence being sickeningly torn apart... I begin to doubt I would return to see another day...

Perhaps the beast never lied... It was a god, after all... And it can do whatever it wants...

The beast chants something... I do not understand it... But it affects me somehow... I feel the darkness wrapping around me... The orange orb that was the beast's eye faded into black... I find myself lost once again... Dark...

Dark, dark, dark, dark...

My domain slowly destroys me... The cold... it burns... It freezes my very soul and burns my entire being... A cold flame... Cruel fire...

The pain intensifies... The demons scream louder... and so do I...

I want to cry... But my eyes only ache to do so... I want all of this to end right now... I-I... I w-want... to end... myself... P-please... Just kill me n-

Suddenly... There was light.

It wasn't much... It was all but a small magenta candle. It barely gave off any warmth...

But it felt so much brighter and mellower. I realized the silence, and the dream-like serenity from the candle's dim magenta glow.

It took all the pain away... My entire being warped back into its original form, and I felt myself being hugged by the familiar hardness of my hull...

It felt so good.

...

The candle vanished, leaving me alone once again.

There was no more screaming, and no more chaos. Everything felt better...

There was a tug at the back of my consciousness, and...

Somehow...

Glowing red eyes flashed to life.

...