A/N: Once again, more reviews! Not many, but still, I feel loved! Thus, I have decided to as update quickly as possible. But enough, we must move on. So here we go!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Belladonna and the story.
Chapter 3: The Legendary Sorceresses of Destruction
"HOW CAN YOU NOT FIND HER! IF SHE IS SUCH A POWERFUL SORCERESS, SHOULDN'T SHE BE EASY TO LOCATE!" yelled Wario, going red with fury. He was frustrated by the fact that Merlon could not seem to find Belladonna.
Merlon remained calm, despite the flares of temper. He looked at the three who stood before him, studying them each intently. He said gravely, "There is only one way I could not be able to locate her. Belladonna must have cast a spell that prevents people from finding her by magical means. I am afraid that I cannot help you any further."
"WHAT?" exploded Mario, Wario, and Waluigi in unison.
Realizing that anger wasn't going to get them anywhere, Mario forced himself to be calm. "Is there any possible way to find her? Any way at all?" he asked, hoping that Merlon might be able to think of something.
Merlon sighed. "Not with my magic. But then again, Belladonna kidnapped the princess did she not?" he asked thoughtfully, scratching his chin.
Waluigi snorted in annoyance. "Yes she did! What does that have to do with anything old man!" he said rudely, giving Merlon the dirtiest look he could muster.
Once again, Merlon was calm. "Because maybe instead of trying to search for the sorceress, we should try to locate the princess."
"That's a great idea!" Mario exclaimed. 'Perhaps we can finally find that evil, murdering, insane sorceress,' he thought excitedly.
"Don't go jumping to conclusions Mario," warned the old psychic. "It might not work."
"Well it's worth a shot, so hurry up and try to find the princess!" said Wario, flaring up again. He just wanted to exact revenge, and get over it.
Merlon glared at the offending Wicked Brother, then stared at his crystal ball. Chanting ancient words of magic, he waved his arms around. The room went dark and all of a sudden...
The light came back on. Nothing happened.
"WHAT!" screeched Waluigi. "What went wrong! Why can't we see the princess!"
Merlon sat down, weariness taking over him. "I told you it might not work. But still, it was worth a try. Belladonna is a smart one, and she definitely would not overlook the tiny details."
Mario looked at Merlon suspiciously. "You talk as if you know her. What are you trying to hide Merlon?" The Wicked Brothers turned to him also, and glowered suspiciously at him.
Merlon sighed and leaned back. "I haven't met Belladonna personally. But I have heard of her."
Waluigi glared. "Tell us everything you know old man or else!"
Merlon looked Waluigi straight in the eye, not at all intimidated by him. "I'll tell you, but I don't think what I know will be of much use to you." Merlon scrunched up his eyes in concentration. "Now let's see here. Ah yes. Belladonna, from what I heard, is one of the four Legendary Sorceresses of Destruction. She is also known as Belladonna the Baneful."
Mario looked shocked. "That doesn't sound good. What about those other three you mentioned?"
"The other three? Let me think. I think that the other three sorceresses are Cassandra the Catastrophic, Samantha the Sly, and Hollie the Harsh. All are extremely dangerous. But what puzzles me is how they escaped."
"What do you mean escaped?" asked Wario.
"A great many years ago, the four Sorceresses of Destruction were imprisoned after trying to bring their chaos upon the world. They had managed to conjure a demon of great power and were using it to bring about destruction, hence their titles. However, a young priest managed to destroy this demon and seal the four into separate parts of the world. The seals were guarded by many dangers, and of course, a bit of pure white magic."
"Any idea as to how he sealed away the sorceresses?" asked Mario.
"No," said Merlon sadly. "That knowledge died with the young priest. All that I know is that he could not kill them, for their power makes them impossible to kill. And that he sealed them in different coloured gems. That's all I can tell you."
"That's a fat lot of help!" snarled Waluigi.
"But it gives us something to work on," said Mario, surprisingly calm. "What do you think her plans are Merlon?"
"That is hard to say. Out of all of them, Belladonna was the most power hungry...and the most vengeful. I would think that her goal would be to locate and release the other three sorceresses from their prisons. And that together, they might resurrect that demon that caused so much pain. But I cannot say for sure that that is her aim. For all we know, the other sorceresses are working with her. But, I don't think they're free yet."
"What makes you think that?" asked Mario, knowing that Merlon's hunches were usually correct.
"The four sorceresses were inseparable when they wreaked chaos. The fact that she alone appeared says to me that she is the only one wandering about."
"You don't seem sure of much!" sneered Wario. Merlon just sighed in reply.
"But once again, it gives us something to work on," said Mario. "Perhaps we can get to the other sorceresses before Belladonna?"
"That could work," said Merlon. "But it would be extremely dangerous. And they would be difficult to locate."
"I'm a natural treasure hunter!" boasted Wario. "I won't have much trouble finding the jewels they're sealed in! And danger is only to be expected!"
"I am good at seeking out hidden traps," said Waluigi smirking. "We won't be taken out by surprise."
"And I have determination to avenge my brother!" said Mario defiantly. "Let's find those sorceresses before Belladonna can!"
Merlon smiled. "Then perhaps we can locate Belladonna with those gems. The sorceresses had a major connection to each other. Maybe with their power we can seek Belladonna's lair."
"Then it's settled!" said Mario jumping up, fire in his eyes. "We'll get the sorceresses, locate Belladonna, and avenge Luigi!"
"Finally!" said Wario. "We actually have a plan!"
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" said Waluigi.
The others didn't need any encouragement. They ran out the door, to get ready for their journey.
"Hurry my friends," said Merlon softly. "Your time is running out."
"As is yours old man! You really shouldn't learn too much, because it only means trouble." said a voice from behind him. Merlon spun around, only to have his throat slashed. His final sight, before he blacked out, was that of Belladonna's triumphant gaze as she killed Mario and the Wicked Brothers only hope of locating the sorceresses' prisons. He let out a gurgle, and she sneered at him. "It's your own fault you became too knowledgable for your own good." He drew in one last breath, then was still.
Belladonna kicked his still form. She spoke softly. "Soon, I will locate my allies. Then the world will belong to us again. No one will stand in our way. I will not be imprisoned once more."
Well, yet another chapter. I'm surprised I've actually lasted this long. Oh well, you know the drill. Review, flamers will be ignored, blah, blah, blah.