Chapter Four: Fawful

"What did you do to my mom?!" Lucinda exclaimed, running over to her mother, only to be knocked away by the strange device on the Beanish one's head shooting her in the gut.

Lucinda crashed into the wall behind her, Shroob barely avoiding being struck by the princess' body.

"You have a lot to learn, fink rat," The Beanish one chortled, the device on his head becoming like a jetpack as he began to fly away. Lucinda leapt up after him, trying to catch him.

"You foolish fool!" A blast struck her in the chest again as she was sent backward. "You still misunderstand what you are up against. I know no how you survived that blast, but the mustard of my fury is boiling hot. You will regret this."

The strange headgear began to fire a multitude of blasts at Lucinda, razing the ground around her. Shroob leapt for her with what strength she had, attempting to shield her with her body. Several shots struck her, causing her body to liquefy in places as she cried in pain during the healing of her body.

"Resilient," The Beanish mused. "That means I have more chance to bean you with Headgear's powers!"

The intensity of the blasts increased, Lucinda and Shroob being bombarded with attacks from the strange device. Both were near unconscious, but Lucinda crossed her arm over her face, managing to brace herself against the attacks long enough to reach into her pocket. Suddenly, her outfit began to blaze with her fire as she summoned her fire to her hand. The green of her dress became white as her hair began to burn with the magic fire she had gained.

A spray of fire blocked the shots from hitting them, but just barely. The princess forced them back slowly, her body still weakened from the attacks she had taken. Slowly, she stood up as she began to use more and more fire.

"Fink rat!" The Beanish shouted, an incredible multitude of blasts coming. Lucinda stood in front of Shroob, doing as best as she could to shield her from the blasts. Her fire could only block so many, however, as she began to take hits. Slowly, the color reverted back in her dress, forcing her to rely on her own power.

"And, now that you do not have a power, hero, I shall defeat you for the will of my master!" The Beanish cackled, landing as he stalked closer to the two.

Meanwhile, Pink, who had heard the commotion, rushed to Lucinda's room to get Lucinda an item. She knew that Lucinda didn't have much room in her dress to carry many, but she always had a fire flower on her.

Pink arrived at the throne room to see the fight. She gasped, covering her mouth as she saw her close friend on the ropes and powerless to fight this creature. But, that new girl was there. Would it be smart to let Lucinda's identity be found out by her?

"She needs speed to stop him," Pink deduced, carefully slipping around where she couldn't be seen. She made her way to Lucinda's room, making sure she wasn't followed. She had to help Lucinda or she, the new girl, and the queen would be dead.

She opened Lucinda's door, which had been shut, stepping into the closet. She opened the secret chest, a voice whispering to her. The Toadette tried to push it out of her mind as the whispering continued. She glanced at the crown as she looked for the Tanooki leaf. She also looked for the case holding the magic feather. She considered bringing that, but decided against it; Lucinda had said she needed to keep that as secret as possible.

Glancing at the crown startled her as it seemed to glow. The crown seemed to be looking at her. She shook her head as she found the Tanooki leaf, stuffing it in her pocket. However, she seemed even more drawn to the crown than before. It seemed… off somehow; like she couldn't explain the reason.

She looked at the crown, sighing as she left the darkness of Lucinda's closet, hoping that the Tanooki Leaf would work for Lucinda and help her stop this creature.

Rushing back out to the throne room, she stopped to see Lucinda and Shroob dodging the damaging attacks from the Beanish monster. She gasped as one came dangerously close to hitting Lucinda. Both seemed to be tired, unable to hit the creature and slowly becoming tired.

"Stay close, Shroob," Lucinda panted. "He's got to be running out of ammo eventually. That's when we'll get him."

"I… don't think… so," Shroob was sweating purple as she looked up at the Beanish creature. He chortled as his headgear seemed to take a deep breath, spitting another volley of attacks at them.

The two could barely dodge, being affected by the debris of the attack. Both were flung in opposite directions, being unable to stop themselves from hitting the ground. Because they'd been caught by such surprise, neither had the capability to defend themselves.

Both girls were knocked out from the onslaught. Pink gasped, running into the throne room.

"Another little fungus come to snack on the sandwich of her defeat?" The creature shot at her. Pink jumped to avoid it, but she tripped, falling on her face and behind a large plant. She quickly got up to run toward the guards. One of them had to be able to help her. She ran into Coco, colliding with the older princess.

The crown tumbled out of her pocket, landing with a small clatter in front of her, seemingly staring her straight in the face. Pink looked up to see where to go. Coming face to face with the crown, she gasped, knowing that she didn't put it in her pocket; where had it come from?

"What are you doing?" Coco asked. "Where are Lucinda and my mother?"

"A-A monster from BeanBean Kingdom is attacking them," Pink said. "I'm looking for someone who can help."

"I'll run and get Kamek, you go and find the royal guard."

"Y-Yes ma'am."

Pink looked down at the crown as Coco ran off the other way. She quickly made a decision right there. The creature loomed over the two unconscious girls, chortling as he began his little action of preparing to pepper them with blasts.

"It seems this mustard is sweet rather than spicy. My fury is burning hot so as to take the rage away from the defeat you will suffer at my hands. I must pepper you with my headgear so as to spice up my sandwich."

However before he could do anything to them, a foot collided with his face, knocking him to the ground.

"You won't be hurting anyone else," The attacker stood before him, getting into a fighting position. The Beanish stood up, his headgear causing him to rise into the air. He looked at this new challenger with surprise on his face.

Standing there was a new warrior, this particular warrior resembling the unconscious queen. Dressed in a pink dress that resembled the queen's, though only reaching just above her knees to allow her more movement, she had on white boots that a soldier would wear, rising to her knees, pink stockings under that. Her dress was sleeveless, a dark blue brooch in the middle, allowing her white gloves to reach her shoulders almost. Her orange hair was in two pigtails, silvery blue eyes staring at the creature. On her head sat a crown that seemed to blink. She clenched her fists, preparing to attack again.

"It seems a new condiment must be brought about for my revenge," The Beanish chortled, his headgear shooting a fireball at the new challenger.

The new challenger, however, swatted it away, rushing for him and kicking him. He flew backwards, slamming into the wall. He stood up, cracking his neck, catching the foot of the challenger as she levelled another kick.

"If that one couldn't put up a fight against me, what makes you think you could?" The Beanish nodded toward Lucinda.

"Because I'm more powerful than she is," The new challenger swung her other leg around, freeing herself as she grabbed the headgear, swinging the Beanish around by it. She released him as he rocketed into the wall, colliding hard with it. He stood up, growling with fury.

"I am Fawful!" He shouted. "I have fury!"

His headgear began to suck in, pulling what seemed like power from the unconscious queen. The queen lookalike kicked the headgear, stopping it in its tracks. She then slammed her fist into Fawful's face.

"You fink rat!" Fawful shouted, shooting a fireball at her. She blocked it, a strange magic coming from her fingers as she began to heal her minor injuries. Nearby, the queen and unconscious girls began to heal as well.

"I won't let you hurt them anymore!" The lookalike punched Fawful, grabbing him and throwing him out the window. She leapt after him, seeming to float through the air. Swinging her leg around, she kicked him to the ground.

"It seems I must get serious here," Fawful chortled. "Headgear!"

The headgear began to suck in a lot of air, spewing a huge volley of fireballs out. Some headed straight for the lookalike and some headed for the castle town. The lookalike shot magic of her own to hit the fireballs, some of them still raining down on the town. She looked up to see Fawful flying away.

"Get back here!" She shouted, jumping after him.

"I have what I needed," Fawful chortled. "I shall return to hurt you again next time."

The lookalike leapt after him again, missing as he shot a fireball that hit her straight in the chest. She fell to the ground, landing hard as she cratered the ground. He laughed, shooting more fireballs into the air. When she stood, the Beanish was gone, but she saw the shards of his headgear on the ground around her. She ran to where Lucinda, Shroob and the queen were lying unconscious.

She held her hands out to them, magic flowing from her hands as she began to heal them. She panted as she felt her power reach its limits. She was tired from the fight, however brief. She had managed to get the jump on that Fawful character, but it probably wouldn't happen again. She felt her power fully exhaust, making her exit.

The three woke up, the queen waking first. She looked at her daughter, clenching her fist as she saw Shroob there.

She opened her mouth to speak, an explosion appearing in front of her. She was unfazed by it, but clenched her teeth as she realized that her voice was swapped with an explosive spell.

She looked down at Lucinda, who stirred awake. She could sense a familiar magic on her, but ignored that.

"Mom?" She asked, waking up fully. "What happened? That guy's gone, but where did he go?"

The queen looked out the window as Pink ran in, the captain of the royal guard behind her. He looked at the queen, bowing as Coco ran in with Kamek the magician, a strange satchel by her side.

"Your majesty," Kamek bowed low to the queen. "I am sorry I was unable to aid you in your trouble. I discovered an odd spell. What shall we do?"

The queen opened her mouth, an explosion blowing him back as he stood.

"I see," The old wizard held up his wand, looking carefully at her. "I do not know how to fix that. Perhaps we should give you a temporary voice so that you do not hurt anyone else with your explosive vocabulary."

He cast a spell by waving his wand, the queen feeling an odd sensation in her throat. The voice that came from her throat was raspy, almost evil sounding, but it was a voice all the same. She took a deep breath as she spoke.

"We will take my voice back from BeanBean Kingdom," She said. "I won't let this go. This Fawful and his mistress are going to fail. They tried to take my life, but failed. She will come here soon to take it with some odd power. That is when we will strike."

"I'll go to BeanBean Kingdom," Lucinda stood. "I'll see if I can get Queen Bean to help."

"I'll go with you," Coco piped up. "I'll just need to pack a little first."

"I-I'll help," Shroob raised her hand, Pink clenching a fist as well.

"I'll go too," The Toadette spoke up. "Whatever that guy was, we need to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone else."

"I suppose it will be alright," Kamek sighed. "Lucinda, I believe you have some, er, packing to do as well. Make sure you take a 'cloak' for protection."

Lucinda's gaze whipped to the aged sorcerer, wide eyed as she felt the gasp. The turtle like man gave a knowing smirk. Lucinda gulped, watching as he nodded toward her room.

"I'll assist you." He spoke. "Your taste in dressing is horrible."

"Aren't you going to wait for my decision?" The queen crossed her arms.

"You'd lose your temper too easily. I know how you are; I've known you since you were a child."

"You don't know that much. And, Coco needs to stay here."

"I know how you reacted to those crystal stars."

"Wait," Coco piped in. "Is it a good idea to take your… best gear, Kamek?"

"No one better to wield them than you. Now, I will help your sister pack. Be ready."

Kamek grabbed Lucinda's arm, pulling her to her room and to her closet. He opened the door, grabbing the chest.

"How did you—"

"Know about this? I'm the one that discovered them in the first place. I know all about your little escapades. Now, your mother will only detain for a week before coming after you, so be ready. Take that feather. You will have need of it."

"Wait, where's the crown?" Lucinda gasped, looking at it.

"I can't sense it, so it must have chosen its bearer. But, we don't have time for that anyway. It wasn't for you. That crown is of much too much importance for you."

"What do you mean? Is this about me being too irresponsible again?"

"Surprisingly no. The crown has already found its bearer. It wasn't for you in the first place, I'm guessing. Now, take everything. I'm close to discovering something else for you to use. Now, get going to BeanBean Kingdom so that you can save your mother's voice. That spell won't last long."

Lucinda sighed, nodding as she grabbed her powerups, stuffing them and her outfit in a bag and leaving the feather in its case in the bag. Pink had grabbed her own bag as Coco walked by with her bag.

"I'm ready, Kamek. Are you accompanying us?"

"Only to the door. I must tend to the queen. But, she wishes you stay here. You understand why."

"I do. I will until I am needed over there."

The group headed to the door, preparing to head to the BeanBean Kingdom.

Meanwhile, in the BeanBean Kingdom, a sorceress watched the castle from her crystal ball.

"My lady, I have returned. My revenge sandwich will soon be finished.

"Good, Fawful. And, why are you so damaged?"

"I managed to catch the princess by surprise, but someone else attacked me. Someone with a good deal of power."

"How much?"

"More than the princess has, but it's more unfocused my lady."

"I see. Well, she'll be no trouble. I'll handle her well. Now, explain the other one."

"She seemed to be purple, my lady."

"A Shroob, eh? No matter. I will be able to defeat one as weak as that."

"And, then BeanBean Kingdom and the Mushroom Kingdom will be ours as well."

"Correct. And, now they plan to come here to battle me. At least some of them."

"We shall be waiting, my lady."

"Correct, Fawful. Now, prepare to attack the queen. It's for the best we get her out of the way."

"My lady? We stole her voice. How much of a threat can she be?"

"Fool!" The sorceress' voice boomed through the halls. "You do not understand the depth of that woman's powers! Her voice is only the key to aiding me in my conquest, not defeating her! I'll need more power to defeat such a warrior as she! I'll need the Beanstar!"

"Perfect, my lady."

"Yes, and we shall have our glorious battle with her."

Back in the Mushroom Kingdom

"You keep an eye on her," The queen spoke to Lucinda, looking at Shroob.

"Why are you so bigoted against her?" Lucinda demanded.

"You would never understand. Now, be safe."

Lucinda gave her mother a hug. Normally, the queen would have done nothing, simply letting it happen, but she now hugged her.

"Be good." She told Lucinda. "You are there for political reasons, not to play around. Do not misbehave. Prince Peasley will accompany you because he has healed enough to travel."

"Understood." Lucinda said.

The next day

"This is a bad sign," Prince Peasley sat next to Lucinda. "You brought it, didn't you?"

"For the last time, yes," Lucinda said. "I know what I'm getting into. Fortunately, Kamek gave us an easy trip back with a little magic so we don't get hurt."

"I don't like this," Shroob looked out the window. "I just have a bad feeling."

"Me too. But, we're flying into danger."

"I just hope we'll be alright," Pink sighed. "I don't like the feelings I have either. But, we can't just let them control us. We have to help the queen."

"Your mother will be able to hold the fort in your absence. I've heard stories."

"None of them are true. My mother isn't like that."

"So you say. However, stories are quite prevalent of her power and it's quite obvious where she gets it."

"Where?"

"Read the stories. Now, we must be careful."

"Of course. Now, let's enjoy the flight while we can."

Well, it seems like the group must head to Beanbean Kingdom to solve this. What could happen? And, what will happen to the queen while they're gone? I know the Fawful fight was short, but I plan to have a longer one. This is clearly part of a bigger plan.