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Chapter Thirty-Nine

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to

Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving

me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,

but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this

story to make it more interesting.

I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that, too

That pile of rubble at the top of the far hill was way farther than it'd previously looked; Iggy figured perspective was to blame. He silently trekked towards the hill for what felt like miles and miles. Along the way he noticed the landscape began to change. The grass and dirt grew sparse and then faded altogether, leaving a hard, lumpy black surface under his feet in an uneven spread around the land. Iggy had looked around a bit and noticed that the material was dried lava, black and long-smoldered from its original red-hot composition. There was dried lava everywhere, like a volcano had erupted or something. Instead of everything like the dwellings and buildings at the far base of the hill being covered in ash, everything just looked abandoned and empty. Accompanying the ghost town was an eerie silence. Not even the birds sang.

"Creepy." Iggy murmured only after he'd passed through the dead city.

He made his way up the long sloping path towards the big building and saw more of the hardened earth crusted onto the ground. He also saw that the building was far huger than it'd looked before; again, perspective. It utterly dwarfed the adolescent and he observed the full extent of its deterioration from up close. The left side was broken down, like he'd already seen, but only in the middle. There was a giant gap in the bricks as if someone had blasted a hole in the wall. He frowned.

Why would my mother be here?

Iggy was starting to think the nurse was a little bit loony herself. He walked right up to the front doors, hanging wide open. To get there he had to walk under a blinking neon sign that spelled out, 'Koopa' in bold, garish letters. He shook his head, piecing together the details.

This must have something to do with my father, he presumed. Perhaps my mom is here after all.

As soon as Iggy crossed the precipice between the outside and the inside, not that there was much difference between the equally dirt-caked grounds, he heard a growl. He frowned and stayed where he was. He couldn't see very well even with the doors wide open, but enough was visible to reveal that this was some kind of greeting room. The floor was, or used to be, made up of grey stone and there were many couches on the right side, settled around a fireplace. On the mantle, there was a painting of a great big hulking beast, slightly familiar to Iggy. He couldn't distinguish any features because, like the rest of the walls, the painting was chipped and ruined. The mantle below it was busted and the fireplace was more a pit of smelly ashes. All the couches were horribly stained and had the stuffing poking out of them. The left side was no better with its rickety tables and chairs that were missing some legs. More paintings were hanging crookedly on the walls but they, too, were marred beyond recognition. Iggy ducked under the chandelier that had more cobwebs than candles and went down the hall to the right. He heard that growling noise again and stilled.

The hallway was much darker than the entrance area so the adolescent had to pool magic behind his eyes to make out what was skulking his way. He heard the steady guttural noise but couldn't see what was making it, not at first.

Think invisible thoughts, he prompted himself when he caught sight of the ravenous black wolf at the end of the hall.

He was successful in rendering himself unseen to the animal, who began to get confused, sniffing the air left and right. Iggy swallowed and kept his eyes on the approaching animal. The wolf seemed to be a lone one and had a crazy look in its glossy black eyes, like it wasn't really hungry but still wanted to kill something just for the thrill. Iggy closed his eyes.

Okay focus. It can't see you.

His feet lifted by the heels and his toes were the last to leave the cracked stone floor as his body rose higher and higher, until he was about to touch the ceiling: he didn't want to take any chances, after all. Confident that he was out of the animal's reach, Iggy floated towards the far end of the hall. He saw a staircase with trash and sludge on every step and opted to continue traveling through the air. He touched down at the top of the stairs and lit a fire in his hand, a bright green light to illuminate the area in front of him. It was even darker than the previous hall, but not as dirty. The walls on this floor were red like velvet and just dusty, not torn or smattered. Two halls extended in either direction and Iggy chose to go to the left.

At least it's quiet up here, he noted, grateful for the lack of growling.

With his light in one hand he held his other at the ready in case he needed to defend himself. Though there wasn't as much dirt on this floor, there was still an uncomfortable squelching every now and again as his shoes landed in something he'd rather not see or try to name. He just kept moving forward.

Clinking and clanking noises made him stop.

He saw a pair of doors and beyond them was where he'd heard the noise. Carefully he stepped towards them, they were at the end of the hall. He looked over his shoulder and saw an abyss behind him, then swallowed and put his hand against one of the doors. They had no handles, so he had to push on it to get it to open. A bit of force was required because it seemed like something was blocking it on the other side.

"No!"

He'd cried out when he stepped into the kitchen and lost his fire; he wasn't afraid of the dark, he was much more creeped out at the fact that something had eaten the fireball right from his hand.

What in the world, he thought as he moved away from the door and into the room. He could hear something that sounded like smacking and chomping, and hurriedly he brought more fire to his palm, a bigger and brighter ball this time. He could see the entire room.

"It's a kitchen," He murmured, stating the obvious. Then he grimaced and said, "That's gross."

There were rats all over the counters, scuttling along the dishes and floors and cupboards, trying to escape the light. He brought a hand to his mouth and glanced down at his feet, wary of one of them running across them. He lamented the sight of his clean white cloak dragging the floor because there was powdery flour and other spilled contents on the tiled expanse. A hiss brought his attention back to the door.

"What the," He trailed, fear stealing his voice.

He swallowed again, seeing just what'd eaten his fire earlier. He'd seen the creature once or twice, back when he and his siblings were in the jungles in DarkLand. It was a Piranha Plant, but a very weak one. The brilliant red and white hues were all washed out and it didn't have a bulbous shape, more of a wilted, shriveled one. The pot it was nested in was cracked down the side and its roots looked brittle. The plant chomped at the air as Iggy began to walk closer, but its sorry state detracted from how menacing it was trying to be. Iggy couldn't help but feel sorry for the thing. Maybe that's why he was foolishly stalking closer and closer.

"Shh," He coaxed, holding his free hand up.

The plant just grew more excited, but Iggy had a feeling it was because of the fire in his palm and not because it wanted to attack.

He glanced at his hand and asked gently, "You hungry? You want this?"

The plant licked its, er, lips? Iggy shuddered but bravely offered the plant the fire, then quickly retracted his hand when the plant ate it.

"This place is weird," Iggy muttered, wiping his hands on his cloak. He'd clean it later.

He left the kitchen and continued searching the palace. Along the way he called out for someone, anyone, but he was starting to think he was alone in the giant palace. Well, not really. He'd run into more strange creatures in the many rooms and floors. Some of the rooms he had to be careful with, like with the one that was more of a trap; what else would you call a room that had a pit for a floor?

Gee, my dad seems like a wonderful person, Iggy wryly thought, having come to a stop atop the stairs on the fourth floor.

He glanced around him: it was brighter on this floor because of all the windows in the middle of the hall; they were set a few feet deeper into the wall than the rest of the rooms. Those rooms were on both sides of the tall windows, and Iggy had yet to explore them. He first let his eyes adjust, then stepped forward.

He nearly tripped.

Looking down, he saw nothing that would impede him. Coupled with the tugging sensation on his cloak, he knew he hadn't tripped, he'd been pulled by something. He looked behind him and saw the culprit, the amazingly small culprit.

"Oh," Iggy hummed, crouching down and inspecting the odd creature.

The thing was like a metal ball-and-chain, only its head was no bigger than a pocket-watch and it had two little eyes staring up at him. Actually it was glaring at the teenager as it gnawed 'ferociously' at the hem of his cloak. Iggy picked it up by its chain-link tail.

"Hey little guy," He whispered softly, holding it up to eye-level.

The creature sounded like a dog when it began barking and yipping like a puppy. Iggy tilted his head and smiled faintly. The 'pup' was swinging by the tail and it looked like that was vexing him, so Iggy his free hand up and cradled the pup's head. He let the tail dangle over the side of his palm, then brushed his finger against the creature's smooth head. The pup nipped at his finger but his teeth weren't so sharp as to make any real impact on Iggy's alabaster skin.

"I think I'll keep you." Iggy said, his scientific mind already coming up with dozens of questions and inquiries he had about the nature of this unusual being.

He put them aside for later and walked forward. He checked first in the bedroom right near the windows, to the right, directly across from the stairs. The door had a brass knob that was enamored with dust and spider webs. Iggy made a face. First he knocked, shifting the metal pup to one hand so that he could rap a fist gingerly against the old wood. When no one answered, he turned the brass knob and felt it come loose in his hand. He let it fall to the floor so that he could cover his nose.

"This place reeks," He immediately waved one hand across the bedroom, casting a nonverbal spell that would freshen the air temporarily.

The pup freaked out and leapt from his hand, bouncing off back into the hall. Iggy let him go, knowing he'd most likely see him again. He turned back to the bedroom and adjusted his cloak.

"Hello?" He called.

He didn't see anyone in the room, and a cursory check let him know his eyes hadn't deceived him. So he left that room and checked two more, coming up with similar results. He was starting to lose hope. He'd checked the entire castle, even the supply closets. This was the last floor. If his mother wasn't in this last room, it meant she wasn't here. He'd come all this way for nothing. He hesitated before opening the last door on the left side of the windows, the last door at the hall.

Turning the knob slowly, he braced himself for disappointment, still hoping for some sight of his mother.

If she's not here, I suppose I'll have to go back to my father, Iggy surmised bitterly. He didn't even know the man but he already despised him. He definitely did not want to go back to him for anything if he could help it, so he sent a silent desperate prayer up to the atmosphere and pushed the door open. It creaked loudly and exposed a much brighter room. It was practically blinding, the white light coming in from the billowing curtains, so sheer that their purpose was defeated in covering the wide open windows. He squinted and first noticed this room was covered in a huge white rug, faded beige with age, and its centerpiece was a large square bed with white sheets and a matching white canopy. It was made of the same sheer material and was also flowing and ebbing as if alive. He took one step onto the yielding rug and glanced around, looking for signs of anyone being there.

The open windows are a sign, I guess, he thought, somewhat in denial because he wasn't seeing anyone or anything moving besides the linen. He strode stiffly into the room, passing the long vanity dresser and meeting a corner there, then turning and walking along the wall with the windows. The curtains slapped lightly at his face and didn't smell as much like mildew as he would have expected. Still, he moved to the right to avoid them as he got to the door at the next corner. He peeked inside, noticing it was a small room with a fancy chamber pot. He also noticed it was empty. He then moved to the other side of the bed, panic and fear making him rush, and opened the door that was on that side. He saw it was a closet full of clothes, and as he yanked them to the side looking for possibly a hiding woman, he started to shake. She wasn't there. She wasn't there.

"No." Iggy felt like all the life in his body was expelled with that word, and he dropped to his knees in the dark closet.

Around himself he wrapped his arms underneath his cloak, his heart pounding and an exhausted feeling of despair washing over him.

"I'm never gonna' find her," He whispered hopelessly.

He knew he shouldn't give up and he knew he might get over these emotions later and try again, but for the moment he refused to let it go. He'd invested so much in this quest and now he felt like a failure. This was the end of the road, he had no more leads. He'd really have to go back to his father or, God forbid, his brother Ludwig. Iggy's throat tightened.

And then, a sound.

It could have been an animal or rodent, scurrying about. Or it could have been a person, moving something around, like clothes rustling. Holding fast to the last dredges of hope Iggy picked himself up and hurried from the closet. For once his gangly adolescent limbs slowed him down and he clumsily stopped in front of the bed. He pulled back the canopy and his heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't seen her before because her skin was so white, impossibly white, that it nearly matched the bedding, and it didn't help that her head was wedged between two pillows. But the rustling he'd heard had to be her shifting because now she was moving, sitting up and blinking in confusion at him. She sat with her torso swiveled towards him and the sheets pooled at her waist. She didn't have much of one. She was so very thin and her face looked to be beautiful at one point but was now gaunt, like skin and bird-like bones. Her eyes were brilliant and that same shade of viridian as her son's, so bright and bold. Limp but thick black curls projected in every direction, some strands sticking to her thin ruby lips.

Iggy stared at her, still shaking and in disbelief. He felt like he'd turned to stone. He didn't know what to make of her. Like a little girl she seemed, stranded in a sea of white as the sheets surrounded her and her gown engulfed her bony frame. She stared back at the boy and blinked. Then her eyes rolled back and she slumped onto her side, passed out.

Maybe Daisy and I were wrong, maybe the old general wasn't as nosy as we thought. I couldn't find him anywhere around the palace so maybe he was actually somewhere off minding his own business. That would mean I'd have to leave the castle and go look for him, though, so I was kinda' hoping to run into him this morning. I'd gotten dressed after Daisy left and figured my usual training garb was suitable for a meeting with the Council. I mean, it was breakfast. And we'd be talking about the most hated man in the universe. Well, that's why I was wearing black. This was a serious affair, after all.

"Excuse me," I flagged down a servant.

I was tired of running around in the halls and, by their disapproving looks, so were a lot of the other palace personnel. So I waved the woman over and gave her a smile.

"Have you seen General Zair around?" I asked her.

She had an armful of books and shifted them onto her hip before answering. I think she was smiling at me? She had that uptight look down-pat like the rest of the staff here.

"I just saw him in the library, Your Highness." She replied, her proper tone slipping at the same time my eyes met hers.

I felt compelled to ask, "You got that? I could help you if you—"

"Ah, no, that's not necessary," The woman, young woman, assured me a little nervously.

Behind the books she was trying to hide but I still saw some color rise in her cheeks. Did she…was she…attracted to me?

You're reading too much into it, I told myself. She's probably just worn out from carrying those massive books.

"Alright, if you're sure." I told her, giving her one last chance to accept help.

She shook her head and said, "That's kind of you, Highness, but I've got it. Good luck finding the General."

"Thanks," I called out to her as she left, shaking my head.

Should've asked her where the library is, I thought, wanting to face-palm. Oh well. I figured I couldn't go wrong if I headed in the direction she'd come from; after all, she had to have gotten those books from somewhere, right? And she said she saw Zair, meaning she'd already been to wherever he was.

The trip to the library was a short one, and I immediately started scanning the area for the tall man. I passed the tables at the front, the ones Daisy and I sat at when we were looking up stuff on mermaids. Nostalgically I reached under my collar and rubbed the scar, then smiled when it started tingling and warming almost instantly.

"Good…morning, Commander."

I looked up and snatched my hand from my shirt as if caught doing something bad, then groaned inside. It was the man in question, standing all strong and sturdy with his arms folded and an amused brow raised.

I felt the earlier young woman's pain as I flushed and claimed,"It's not what it…never mind," I sighed. "I was looking for you."

"Oh?" General Zair cocked his head to the side and asked, "Did you want to tell of your experiences with the—"

"No," I interrupted. "Sorry, but no. Not right now. It's not a good time. You heard what happened yesterday, right?"

General Zair frowned and said, "No."

"No?" I blinked, "You didn't?"

Zair shook his head. He was wearing it in a ponytail today, off-setting the formality of his white dress shirt and black slacks.

"What happened?"

"I think I'll let Daisy fill you in." I answered elusively. "She wants to meet with you and the Council this morning at breakfast so we should probably get going."

Nice, I praised myself, way to get back on track.

Zair nodded and followed me out of the library. Years of reading people told me he still had something he wanted to say and the fact that he was quiet all the way to the dining room only supported the fact. We were told that Daisy wanted to meet in a more private room and were thus led to one such place in the eastern wing. Zair and I were the last to arrive and bowed to the princess who sat in the middle of a round table. She nodded at Zair but rolled her eyes and smiled at me.

"Good morning," She was probably greeting Zair since we'd already seen each other.

I looked at the table and saw the fine china had been taken out today, or should I say the fine Chai-na…okay, that was bad. But at least it never left my head.

Daisy patted the seat next to her like we were in high school and I went to sit at her right, leaving Zair to sit across from me, to the right of the last Council member. Only five of them were here right now, including the one with the cat eyes who reminded me of a teacher. I should make an effort to learn her name.

"Would you like a moment to eat, Princess," Said woman asked, "or would you like to begin imparting the reason behind this unorthodox meeting?"

Daisy didn't flinch but I did, inside at least. It was something about the lady's tone; it made everything seem like a put-down or a criticism.

Daisy just did a great job at forcing a smile and said, "You all eat, I'll speak."

I didn't have to hear that twice to start piling my plate up with food. I couldn't help my appetite anymore, training troops took a lot out of me. I was starting to eat like my older brother.

Hopefully I won't start turning into him, I thought in jest.

Daisy said, "Yesterday, as you know, my friends went home. But before they did, we were attacked by the sorcerer Nikolai."

"Nikolai of the League of Immortals?" The head Councilwoman asked, her frown sharp.

She was buttering her toast with precise movements but now stopped and her gaze was hard, like her eyes had turned to quartz stones. Daisy merely nodded coolly, prompting another question from the Council.

A man asked, "What made him come here?"

"He was chasing my friend." Daisy replied, then added, "She…has a history with him."

"How can that be?" Another of the Council asked. "Is she not from the, ah, other world?"

"She's a very powerful witch." Daisy responded and let that suffice as an explanation.

General Zair wasn't eating. He had his arms folded and one leg bent over his knee. At this news he furrowed his brow dipped his head to the side.

"We also got a visit from King Boo." Daisy stated. "He had this to give us."

Here she pulled the map from her lap and set it on the table. I wanted to tell her something because as she sat back in her seat with one leg crossed over the other, she looked to be glaring at it.

"Is she a threat?" The head Councilwoman asked, not even glancing at the map.

I didn't know who she was talking about, sausage and eggs were clouding my brain, but Daisy responded immediately.

"If you're referring to my friend, then the answer is no."

"Are you sure?" The Councilwoman lifted a thin brow. "Do not let emotions perturb your better judgment, Highness. You did say she and the sorcerer have a past together."

Daisy inhaled and said calmly, "Yes but she's not on his side. She's not a threat to anyone, she's a good person."

"Undoubtedly." The Councilwoman remarked, and it was weird how her words agreed with the Princess but her tone and delivery did the opposite. "But it still stands to reason that she was the one to bring danger to this kingdom; the sorcerer came for her, did he not?"

Daisy said placidly, "While that is true, she brought no more danger than what is already coming due to my own…relationship with the sn—the Dark King."

Somewhat appeased with this rationale, the woman shared glances with the other members of the Council while Daisy evened her breathing. I touched a hand to her knee and she closed her own over it and gave it a squeeze. Her small smile was a gift to me.

The Councilwoman turned back to Daisy and asked, "Will the witch be returning?"

Daisy's lovely mouth twitched but she forced it and her face to conform to a more neutral expression.

She said slowly, "Her name is Alicia and I expect she'll be back and will continue to visit as much as she likes. She's my best friend."

Her tone made the Councilwoman say patronizingly, "Of course, Majesty. I only speak with the welfare of this nation at heart. I didn't mean to offend."

Daisy just nodded. She looked pissed. I rubbed the back of her hand and glanced at Zair. He was staring at the Councilwoman like, 'bitch stop lying', but maybe I was misplacing his emotions.

"As I was saying," Daisy spoke a tad louder, "King Boo also visited us. He gave us this device, which is capable of telling us where Bowser is at all times."

General Zair looked intrigued.

"Has this device been tested?" The Councilwoman wanted to know.

Daisy said, "Its reputable source lends to its credibility. We plan on testing it soon anyway."

"We?" The woman asked.

"I'll be joining my fiancé and his troops as they set out to do reconnaissance on the Dark King." Daisy said without wavering.

The woman frowned and asked, "Do you think it wise, Princess, to leave so soon after your return? Would not it distress the people of this nation to see their ruler flouncing off with nothing more than her…young man and his rag-tag squad of—"

"If I may, Councilwoman Strauss," General Zair interjected. "Our ruler has been more than judicious in her actions and behavior thus far, not only in officious dealings but in her personal affairs as well."

The woman looked over at Zair with the same expression I'd seen on people getting dissed at rap battles.

Zair maintained his casual tone as he asked, "Who are we to question Her Majesty's choices? I believe her 'young man' to be of firm caliber and, having selected them myself, I know his troops are more than capable of protecting themselves and their Princess."

"So you would advocate this suicide mission?" The Councilwoman narrowed her eyes at Zair. "General, be reasonable."

"I believe I'm being more than that." General Zair said in the tone-equivalent of a shrug. "I don't know much about the Dark King," here he threw shade my way, "but I know the sooner he is taken care of, the better off this nation will be."

I noticed he gave the woman a bit of her own medicine, pulling out the 'good of the nation' card. I smirked.

"Good point," Daisy nodded at him. To the Council she said, "I'll be instating the General to rule while I'm away."

"What?"

General Zair just rose a brow.

Strauss glanced at him and accused, "You would follow your father's precedent of abandoning your country in this time of crisis?"

"I would follow his precedent and risk my life to protect my country." Daisy replied with passion. She said strongly, "I worked hard to establish peace and order in the kingdoms of Sarasaland. I was under the impression that our diligent Council was competent enough to maintain that order, should an emergency arise."

The Councilwoman sat up in her seat like a duck with ruffled feathers. Her gold eyes remained narrowed and I knew she detected what Daisy was really saying since subtext was obviously her forte. Zair did, too, because he was looking over at the Councilwoman like, 'bitch you got told'. Again, I may have been taking liberties in interpreting his expression.

"So when do you plan on leaving?" Councilwoman Strauss asked, her voice carrying a hint of resignation.

"In ten days." Daisy replied.

Blinking, Strauss said, "Majesty, that's rather sudden."

"This device was suddenly given to us." Daisy countered. "But we have to act when opportunities present themselves."

Strauss looked down at the map for the first time and said, "You speak of it so highly, this device; is it infallible?"

"Nothing is," Daisy replied. "But it's the only lead we've got."

"Will you be in contact while you're away?"

This was Zair's concern, and mine as well.

Daisy shook her head and said, "It'd be too risky. This has to be an in and out operation."

"You do realize I'll have to be granted executive authority in your absence, then?" Zair asked her quietly. "Should this nation be attacked I wouldn't exactly be able to consult you before responding to the threat."

"Of course," Daisy nodded. "You can do whatever you feel is necessary."

Zair didn't look like he agreed with all this but he held his peace. The Council, too, stopped fighting her. It seemed like Daisy had gotten her way.

A/N: Hope you liked it, I'm working on the next bit. So stay tuned and keep those great reviews coming!

Love you guys 3

~DymondGold~