Authoress' Notes: Meant to start working on this earlier, but there's been a slight technical problem. Please excuse last chapter and maybe this one if I don't get it right. Someone in the reviews pointed out that I have a spelling problem. Well, that's because my documents are screwing up and I can't seem to get the spell check to work, while the online ones spell check everything. One of them even told me "Vivian" was spelled wrong. WTF? Oh, well. I'll try to do better and get this problem fixed ASAP. 99 percent of you probably don't care/didn't know about this anyway. :P
EDIT: Mario the Great Wobbuffet and I went back to make any corrections after finally finding a suitable spell check website. In other words, it's better now, all you perfectionist fans!
Better Off Alone
Chapter 14: Revelation (Part II)
Explosions, fires, madness, and wreckage was all she saw...
The silhouettes of the dead and dying were scattered across the barren battlefield... The countless cries of innocent victims echoed across the wasteland. They called for their loved ones... They screamed for assistance with dying breaths... They bawled from the fact they were slowly going insane from isolation... Amid the suffering and the hopelesssness at hand, four figures stood bravely near the outskirts of the devastation.
"...This devastation... it's insane... It needs to be stopped."
"...Her presence is very strong, so we must be getting close to the Palace of Shadow. We'll get to the bottom of this... Don't you worry about it. "
"He's right, though. We must do what we can to stop this slaughter... Even if it costs our own lives."
"Well... I'm willing to... if you guys are... you know... up for it..."
Those voices...
They sounded so familiar...
Two females...? Two males...? Their vague silhouettes against a raging inferno didn't help much, either...
She couldn't put her finger on it...
Who were these people?
"We got in this mess together and we're gonna come out even better than before! Right?"
"Of course... I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Yes, I do agree in that sense."
"...I guess so..."
...So long ago... She'd heard these voices so long ago... But why was she hearing them here and now? Who did they belong to? ...And who were they talking about?
It was like a lost memory floating around in her head. The answers were so close, yet so far away... These four different voices, expressions, attitudes, and minds... Bonding together as one ultimate force to snatch victory from the gaping jaws of darkness.
Vivian slowly opened her eyes to regain the familiar senses of her surroundings. Once her vision became clear, it deciphered Mario, Waffles, Goombella, and Koops' faces hovering over her in circle.
"...Is she okay? She looks hurt..." Koops waved a hand back and forth to check for any reflexes. Through her hat and bangs, the Shadow Siren followed it with sluggish eyes.
"I think she's coming to..." said Goombella.
Waffles snorted. "How can you tell? That's hat's almost covering her entire face! I bet you ten to one she's sleeping!"
Goombella was about to retort when Vivian rose with a soft grunt and rubbed her sore spot. Despite the devastating blow to her temples, she didn't find herself suffering too much. It was more like a quick flash of lightheadedness, rather than a thick, diamond-studded orb slammed into her head.
"See?" boasted the Goomba.
"...I bet your loud mouth woke her..."
"What--"
Not wanting to see an argument, Vivian quickly asked, "Where's Peach?"
"Why, that scoundrel Grodus just took her away!" replied the admiral. "It's a good thing you came to so quickly. We just got done with Bowser and we must make haste on the princess' rescue!"
"Okay...Well... I'm fine now. He didn't hit me as hard as I thought..."
She tried not to sound so submissive about the injury, as it usually led to the asking of, "Are you okay?" and "Do you need any help?" or anything of that sort. It must've worked, since everyone made their way down the hidden staircase the second she steadied herself. Then again, it could've been because she was actually telling the truth for once...
Vivian couldn't think of a logical reason as to why her injuries weren't severe enough to cause fatality. That blow could've easily killed her, or at least sent her into a coma. The only reasonable explanation she could conjure up was that Grodus may've unintentionally snagged the staff's handle on her hat's rim, which resulted in less force applied to her head when struck. The banded hat itself was meant to serve as a form of protection, but this brought a whole new meaning its significance. Nevertheless, she was fine and reluctantly followed the fleeting line of companions down the aphotic stairway. But the further they continued... the more she kept recalling that same memory... and the clearer it became...
The scenery had changed... Instead of their shadows flickering amid an inferno, their images were passing the very pillars of the evil dungeon...
"Heh, I bet bringing her down will be a piece of cake. You know how people can exaggerate things," said a male voice.
"And how would you know that? Tundra and Lightning were no walk in the park..." commented a sassy female.
"I'm glad we took care of them. They were total bitches," muttered another feminine voice.
"...Don't you think...um...you know, Flora and Ember would be threats, too?" whispered a second, obviously younger male.
"Don't be silly; Ember's just a baby and you know Flora's dead."
"Yeah, I heard Tundra did her in."
"Hogwash-- I bet someone just made that up for attention."
"Eh, I dunno. Tundra's not the type of person to care about family matters..."
...Her thoughts shattered like glass at the sound of Peach's earsplitting scream and the large thump of doors being shoved open. Snapping back to reality, she realized they'd reached the deepest chamber in the entire palace, where Grodus was also making a last stand with the princess. The room was relatively small, encircled with about 600 burning candles, or so. The odd coincidence of the number seemed alarmingly prophetical...
Grodus lowered his staff to Peach's level, preventing her from escaping. "You're too late Mario!" He directed attention to the large chest behind him. "Here in this coffin lies the legendary treasure I've been searching for... the very one that's been festering here for over a millennia just waiting for me to find and claim it!"
"Treasure?" Goombella blinked in disbelief. "You mean... that's the legendary treasure all those ancient legends were talking about?"
"I guess all those legends weren't so wacked out after all, huh?" voiced Koops.
"Wow... that's... that's actually it!" the young student could barely contain herself. "This is... amazing! I mean, I really kinda didn't think we'd find anything worthwhile, but there it is, right there! Just think of the secrets that thing could unravel when Prof..."
"I think you should be more worried about what's in the thing rather than what you can do with it," advised Bobbery.
Peach slowly lifted her head, her face was fraught with worry. "Oh... Mario... I... I'm so sorry... It was all my fault... sending you that map... caused all this... It was... an accident... I didn't mean for this... to happen..."
"That's the least of your worries, Peach! If there's anyone to blame here, it's Grodus!" Waffles pointed at the fiend.
"Your words are nothing but drivel to me now! Nobody can possibly stop me from resurrecting one of the greatest powers in the known universe! Mario, watch as the tables turn... and finally you will know how it feels to be on the lowly side of defeat!"
Flurrie fixed her hair in a confident manner. "Why don't you spare us your trifling prattle and hand over Her Highness and the treasure before we're forced to trounce you once more!"
"Let's see how you'll feel about challenging me once I awaken the great power sleeping within... and invoke its wrath upon every last one of you... I shall call upon the demon's spirit, it will possess Princess Peach's body, and ravage the world under my control!"
"Possess Peach?"
"You're mad!"
"So, that's what you wanted with Peach! To fulfill your own sick and twisted plans!" the young Goomba sneered. "That's just plain disgusting!"
"No, you can't do that!"
Everyone looked at Vivian, startled by her outburst. Even Koops did a double take.
"An inferior like you will only be more vulnerable to my power if you should resist!" Grodus declared, refusing to face her.
"If you plan on going through with this, you'll get us all killed, including yourself!"
"You bluffing does nothing to provoke me, young siren, for I know your game well..."
...There was collective round of shock, dismay, and confusion amongst the Possess Peach? Surely, he was bluffing or stalling for time...
Grodus responded with a haughty cackle. " The time has come at last... With this demon, I shall rule the land with all my power and glory! The fate of this pathetic planet will be in my grasp! ...And now you shall pay homage to the great ruler with your life! Arise, my Shadow Queen! ARISE!"
He held the staff close, the orb flashing as he performed to accomplish what he set out to do. The candles located throughout the chamber began to dim and subsequently burn out... only to rekindle with the cold, life-deprived flames of purple and black...
She could hear it... feel it... smell it... and practically taste it... The dark aura slowly began filling the inclosed room, squeezing the warm breath from each of its victims and replacing it with a cold, intoxicating air that made them nauseated. It started seeping up the walls as if it were some sort of unstoppable virus. The coffin's dense lid pushed itself off the concrete casket, hitting the floor with the sickening thud of stone against stone. Vivian felt her stomach twist and turn at the scene unfolding before her.
This couldn't be happening... It was impossible... She never thought they'd get this far... and it never once crossed her mind the ancient demon would be set free to roam the world once again. She always assumed it was merely big talk, rubbish, and nonsense... How could such a disgraceful plan come together the way Grodus wanted it to? They were the protagonists, the ones expected to stop this from happening... and yet, it was occurring as they stood in awe... horror... despair... frustration... and disappointment...
So many crushed dreams... So many broken promises... So much hatred...Vivian felt she couldn't take much more...
Her dark secret would be out; the one she wanted to keep locked away in the deep recesses of her mind forever. The one that'd probably destroy any and every passionate connection to her only friends... The memory resurfaced again...
Against an even darker background than before, one figure clenched his fist. "There has to be something we can do! I refuse to believe she is THIS strong!"
Another appeared next to him. "Now... let's not get too hasty..."
"Hasty's our middle name," muttered a third. "Besides, we have to act now, or all is lost... For us and the world..."
The fourth figure faced the third and threw her arms up in frustration. "Can't you come up with some kind of crazy, complicated plan, or something? You always seem to do that when we're in a tight spot!"
"Algebraic calculations don't just pop out of thin air! They take time and effort and that's something we don't have right now!"
Grodus stood near the coffin's edge, laughing triumphantly at his plan's success. The surge of dark energy in the room was so strong, so forceful, his maniacal cackling could hardly be heard.
"What's that freak doing? He'll get us all killed!" growled Waffles, straining against the evil force's power.
"I'm pretty sure that's what he's trying to do!" shouted a frustrated Goombella, also trying to stand her ground.
...It seemed so awkward and out of place... Vivian didn't seem affected by the cyclone of darkness taking place before her, as she was one with it, being of and from the shadows. She stood there like a statue, her vision blurred with tears beginning to build up and dot her eyelashes as she blinked to hold them back. Was is really fair? Should she be happy? She'd been locked away for centuries and it seemed like she was the only one who ever really took care of her... But was an affection of love... or an affection of power? She couldn't remember... It was all too long ago...
...It was at that moment she remember the battle between her and the Four Heroes...
The final battle... The fighting... the suffering... the carnage... That's what her senses had been trying to tell her all this time. ...Why didn't she piece it all together earlier? She saw every blow... every splash of blood... every incantation... Everything...
Out from the swirling vortex of darkness and opacity, rose the dreaded terror Grodus was talking about and the revealed ancient "treasure" Goombella had been so interested in. Slowly, but surely, her wicked, phantasmic form gradually ascended from her prison of condemnation. Free of her earthly imprisonment, she towered over Grodus and the princess, her ghostly fingers wavering in anticipation to start corrupting life as they knew it. Blood made from a thousand different kinds of poisons and toxins continuously pumped throungh her body, clearly visible through her transparent layers. Her old, matted hair was colored a sickly lavender as it reeked of venom, infection, and disease for all to loathe. It lay menacing behind her in all its wiry glory... like limber vipers ready to strike. Atop her filthy tresses, sat a golden crown adorned with several jewels of sapphire, ruby, and amethyst. Despite their rarity, they boasted grime and muck from many years of deterioration. Unlike a crown of a good-hearted ruler, hers was impure and tainted with the foul depths of her malicious nature. It was like watching the beginning of the end of the world unfold in all its horror...
"Who has called me back?" came her ugly, hollow whisper of voice that reeked of perversity and sin. It sent shivers up and down everyone's spine with the cold sensation of animosity it left drifting around in the atmosphere. ...Expect Vivian, of course; for it was this vile disposition that fueled her entire race...
"It is I, my Shadow Queen!" Grodus answered proudly. "I am the one responsible for your freedom!"
The monstrous demon surveyed the scenery. It was normal for the others to be in shock and fear.
"What...? What..." Goombella was at a lost for words. "What... is that... that thing?"
Flurrie was aghast. "My goodness! It's absolutely horrendous!"
"What is this poppycock?" questioned Bobbery.
"It's like some kind of ancient, evil demon, come back from the dead to do away with us all and take over the world!"
"Uh, Waffles... That's exactly what it is..." Koops indicated.
"Really?" After a brief moment of thought, he resumed his panicking. "...Oh, snap!"
Vivian suddenly began to feel ashamed. ...Was this what they really thought of her kind? Sure, they didn't say it in public, but they sure were expressing their true colors now. But they were right... She glanced down at blood-stained gloves and noticed how odd she looked without any legs or feet... She hated the way she looked...
"...Yes... I see you have done well... Where is the vessel?"
"She is here! The girl that lies before you is more than ready to become a sacrifice, for she is the who acquired the map leading to the Crystal Stars!"
"Very well... I shall accept your offer..."
She lowered her gigantic, hands of darkness and toxins to grace Peach's body with their evil vibes. A dark aura overtook both her and the princess as the impossible became believable... The musty air of her essence hung around like unwanted smog as the transformation took place. Although the process didn't take long, the act of watching seemed to reside in everyone's minds for much longer...
Eventually, the purple clouds faded away, revealing the newly bedevilled Peach. Her face lacked its usual warm, blush, replaced with a cold, pasty look. The pink dress in which she wouldn't be seen without now donned the colors of black and gray, with her hair trimmed in a sinister style. Her soft blue earring had turned a blood red, while the crown was that of her controller.
"Yes... This will do nicely... I am not quite accustomed to this new body yet, but I assume feelings of cognition will come in time..."
"Now, my Queen," he pointed at Mario with his staff. "Attack these ingrates! Send them to their graves!"
Coming closer to observe the evil leader, she sneered. "...Who are you that would command me? Exactly... what kind of being are you?"
"W-what?" Grodus seemed taken aback by her response. "What do you mean? You're supposed to obey every word of the one who releases you! That would be me, your superior! Now cease this foolishness and..."
In a flash of lightning almost too dark to see, Grodus was gone. All that remained was his barely-functioning, computerized globe, smoldering and smoking where he once stood.
"It seems you are the foolish one," she replied, a disturbing hint of tranquility in her voice. "Either that or you were misinformed... No one commands me."
Mouth agape, Goombella was in utter shock. "Did you... did you see what she just... just...?"
"Uh... G-gonzales... I'm really starting to get freaked out here..."
Koops raised an eyebrow, more concerned than distraught. "Well, what are we supposed to do? We can't fight her now... It'll be like fighting Peach... won't it?"
"Doesn't look like we have too many other options..." answered Bobbery, somewhat still in shock.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Ms. Mowz appeared. "I won't say who, but I'm pretty sure most of you have no idea what you're up against..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Flurrie.
"What your eyes see aren't always what your bodies feel."
The Yoshi pouted. "Can you translate that into English?"
"I'm sorry, but I just can't explain it any clearer than that. It's basic, really..."
"My queen!" called a distant, yet familiar voice from the shadows.
Vivian was ready to snap... All this and Beldam, too? When would it end? Why wouldn't it stop? Did fate just hate her enough to make things keep getting worse?
As anticipated, Beldam and Marilyn appeared from the shadows, with Doopliss trailing behind through the entrance. Strangely, they didn't even look remotely bruised from their last encounter with Mario.
"Oh, come on!" Waffles slapped his forehead. "Don't you guys know when to quit?"
"Ah, yes... Beldam... it's been ages, hasn't it? I assume it is you who is responsible for bringing me back, yesss?"
"Yes, it took a long time, but we were finally able to find a suitable soul of purity who could open that accursed box for us. I devised the plan of bringing you back to this world so you could rightfully claim it as yours once again... and it worked to perfection, as you can see. We spread rumors of a legendary treasure across the Mushroom Kingdom and the plan was finally taken to its highest level... with the help of those X-Naut fools and their simple-minded leader."
The queen nodded with her approval. "Yes, yes. Excellent... Your efforts will be greatly rewarded..." Peering forward, she then asked, "And who are these... beings that stand before me?"
"They're the enemy!" Beldam pointed at the group with a tattling finger. "All throughout our efforts to bring you back to this world, they've always gotten in the way and have tried to stop us!"
"I don't see the conflict at all. Are you trying to tell me you were bested by these peasants?"
She moved eerily across the floor as if she were standing on a conveyor belt. Not one appendage moved with her body's motion, giving her the appearance of some kind of unholy, dead creature from the bowels of a darkness that didn't seem to exist. Needless to say, her pale, shady complexion was nothing short of frightening. Steadily, the queen inched closer and closer, scoping out the features of her so-called "enemies". Finished with her observation, she couldn't help but leer.
Seeing her displeasure, Beldam quickly added, "They're much more than you may think. I wouldn't underestimate them if I were you..."
"They don't appear to possess much power, therefore... resistance will be minimal. Perhaps..." she stepped closer, as if inviting them to join her alliance. "If you're willing to obey me and become my servants... I will not harm you. Refusal should not be an option..."
Goombella tugged on the plumber's pant leg, desperate for attention. "Mario, we can't join her! You're... you're not gonna say yes... are you?"
Flurrie was also starting to look worried, along with the others. "Mario, darling, we've got to refuse this... right?"
Mario didn't seem at all worried about the consequences of not agreeing to the Shadow Queen's terms. He bluntly shook his head "no", tightly gripping his Hammer.
"Hmm... So, you do refuse. How... interesting... Must be either very brave or very foolish in order to make such a fatal decision."
She backed away, a smug look upon her pale face. Eyeing each one of Mario and his crew with interest and determined aspirations, she spotted a familiar figure; one she hadn't seen for over a thousand years...
"Vivian?"
The youngest siren quickly perked up at the sound of her name, then shrank down in shame. The rest were stupefied.
Goombella whipped around. "What the...?"
"Vivian... how did she know your name?" Koops seemed almost afraid to ask.
"Why, Vivian," the queen spoke to her in more of a nostalgic tone than one of malicious intent. "It's been so long... What are you doing over there? Why are you with these strangers and not your sisters?"
All eyes on her, she backed away until she found herself stopped by the wall's icy surface.
"...No..." she started shaking her head. "...please, no..."
"What are you talking about?" she looked at Beldam, then back at Vivian. "What's going on here? Why are you with these commoners? I demand answers!"
"They've tricked her into thinking they're the ones she should she should side with," calmly lied the elder. "By promising Vivian to return things to the way they once were, they've taken advantage of her innocence and have persuaded her join their side. Trust me, she doesn't have a clue what she's doing."
Vivian gave her oldest sister an ugly glare, just wanting to beat the crap out of her for interfering.
"My daughter, do you not see they're simply using you? Come here and join your sisters so I can deal with these perpetrators."
...daughter?
Did they hear her correctly? Did she just call Vivian her... daughter?
It was as clear as a bell, yet difficult to understand...
Everyone but Ms. Mowz looked at Vivian in shock, in surprise, in an unbelievable realization...
Why didn't they see it earlier? The resemblance... It was almost uncanny...
She was always the odd one, but no one ever thought her past contained such a disturbing secret. Not only did they now know she wasn't as young and innocent as assumed, but now they knew she wasn't all that delicate, either. If there was anything Vivian wanted to forget about the past, it was that horrible title of hers. Being a Shadow Siren was disgraceful enough, but being the child of a demon responsible for nearly destroying the world a thousand years ago was nothing short of awkward...
To Koops, it felt like a slap in the face... Little, misunderstood Vivian? The ancient demon's daughter? He didn't want to believe it... He really wished and hoped it wasn't true, but... from what he was able to judge from the Shadow Queen's once apocalyptic form, there was no denying it; Vivian looked almost like her...
She avoided looking at her companions. "Please... Please, Mother... You have to stop this..."
The dark ruler continued advancing to her distraught offspring. "Vivian... Come here... and away from those lowlives. You don't belong with them."
Dying to know her answer, everybody turned to face her again. At this point, Vivian was starting to yield, leaving the wall and advancing. She began walking forward, then suddenly stopped.
"...No, Mother..." she squeezed her arm so hard, it was starting to cut off circulation. "I-I can't do this..."
"What?"
"I can't... I left Marilyn and Beldam for a good reason. I... I can't do this anymore..."
"What exactly are you saying?"
"...I don't want to hurt people anymore... It's... it's wrong and shameful... These... are my friends... And... if fighting with you means harming others, then maybe I..."
"You dare disobey my commands?" She backed away in a disturbing manner, not even bothering to have Peach's body change direction. "...I see what you mean, Beldam. These cretins have gone so far as to deceiving Vivian and for obvious reasons..."
Vivian started to panic for the others' safety. "No, Mother. Don't take it out on them... It's not their fault..."
"From your disgusting behavior, I can clearly see it's their doing," her tone began to darken with her face. "They've influenced you to change your ways through means of trickery..."
"No, they..."
"Is it me, or are you trying to make up a good excuse to avoid fighting us?" randomly acknowledged Waffles.
Her eyes glowing a blood red, she summoned a black lightning bolt to strike the Yoshi. Fortunately, he saw it coming and was able to dodge it. "This nonsense ends now! Whether or not Vivian knows she's been corrupted, I will put an end to your interference by any means necessary!"
Mario decided that was another way of starting the battle, as he swung his Hammer with all speed at the queen's head. She showed her pain with a disgruntled snarl.
"Can we really fight her like this? She's in Peach's body... Won't we hurt her in the process?" asked a reluctant Bobbery.
"Whether or not you decide to fight is up to you, but heed my words; she may be in Peach's body but that doesn't mean she is the princess!" advised Ms. Mowz, in a running start towards her target. In a skillful display of flips and twits, she delivered several slaps to the demon in disguise.
"Your inexperience of the matter is beginning to annoy me!"
She responded with several dark thunderbolts, all of them missing their marks. Mario tried to hammer her again, but was stopped as hundreds of shadowy hands appeared from the darkness and grabbed the end of his mallet.
"Ms. Mowz is right! We can't just stand by and let Gonzales lose to this freak show!"
Waffles showed his efforts by planting himself into her head, causing her evil hands to let go of Mario and descend back into the darkness from whence they came.
"I see you aren't the kind who will go down easily... It's a real shame you wouldn't join me before. You'd all make excellent servants..."
"Why would we want to be your caterers anyhow?" sarcastically asked Bobbery, as he exploded near her feet.
"We want Peach back, not you! So, why don't you just crawl back into that grave where you came from?"
"Such big words from such a small Goomba. I admire your willpower, but I'm afraid that they don't do you a bit of good. You shall all become my subjects or you will perish knowing the true depths of my power..."
In the blink of an eye, a mass of dark hands rose from the darkness and seized Goombella. In a dire attempt to pull her away, Koops and Flurrie rushed over to help pry her loose. Unfortunately, the evil appendages grabbed hold of them, threatening to pull them into certain doom.
"As I admire your determination, I will ask you once more to join me; if you concede, I will forget your earlier resistance and spare your lives."
Amongst her disgust at their captors, the Goomba scoffed. "Yeah, right! You're gonna have to do a lot more than that to make us join!"
Koops was starting to panic. Neither he, Goombella, or Flurrie could get loose, while Mario and company were forced to watch. If anyone else dared to even get near the hands would only pull in them. Maybe charging in like that wasn't the best idea...
In a flash of fire, he suddenly realized the hands retreating into the darkness, letting go of his arms and legs. Free from captivity, the three captives ran back to join Mario. Annoyed, the queen turned to Vivian, her hand still in its position of casting Fiery Jinx.
"...So... you were telling the truth, I assume?"
"I tried of being blamed for all the things you did... I may not be able to change my reputation, but at least I can make it better by defeating you..."
"Nonsense. You should proud of you heritage. Maybe you're just blinded by frustration and can't think clearly..."
"The only thing that's frustrating me is you!"
Without warning, she cast another, more ferocious Fiery Jinx upon her adversary, singeing her dress in the process.
"...You do not know what you have done..." she growled, her illusory hands tightening in anger. "I swear I will show you no mercy!"
As a bit of added insurance, Beldam decided to intrude. "They aren't ones to be taken likely. We'd be happy to fight along with you and even out the score..."
"That won't be needed... I think I'd rather deal with these fools myself..."
Everyone braced themselves as the enemy called forth more power in the form of ghostly appearance and structure.
"Now, come... If you truly think you have the mettle to deal with me... then by all means, let's see it..."
So this was it... It was all for one and the future of the Mushroom Kingdom hung in the balance. No stupid mistakes could be made and everyone had to think on their feet, fighting every way they knew how. Vivian felt she was ready, but were the others? Were they ready to fight for thousands of people around the world they didn't even know?
The demented queen threw all she had at her adversaries. The battle was brutal and rough; intense, physically and emotionally. Her thunderbolts stung like searing spears and occasionally penetrated the skin. Her huge, ghostly hands would pound anyone they could catch or suck energy from them to replenish her own. It felt like their very souls were being drained... If the hands were attacked or defeated, they would disperse into a horde of smaller Dark Hands and trample anyone in their way. They also grabbed and pull anyone unlucky enough to get caught into the darkness where they were brutally pounded and hit with horrible, unspeakable things.
Everyone was counting on them... The Stars were indebted to them...
While the assault was tough, their wills were tougher. Despite the damage they sustained, they all kept fighting and pummeling her. They already made the mistake of letting her come back into the world and it was time to fix it... She continued dishing out her fiercest attacks, while Mario and the others did the same.
She had to be stopped at all costs... The world couldn't fall into darkness once more.
It was all like a quick flash of her past coming back to haunt her... the Shadow Queen's attacks were the same way 1,000 years ago. Vivian knew what to expect, when to expect it, and how get away... But the sight of everyone else trying, getting struck down, then trying again filled her with new hope and confidence. She may've regretted her mistakes and wasn't proud of how she handled everything in life, but would she really be happier if things went back to the way they were?
...A Koopa brushed away some blood steadily flowing from his broken nose. "She can't stop us, guys! We just have to keep trying! We'll keep trying and she'll... she'll fall eventually! She's not invincible!"
"But neither are we! Look, if we keep going like this, we'll all die and I don't think we can make the world a better place as ghosts!" A Boo grabbed him and glared into his eyes. "This is it... It's all or nothing from now on, Kevin. ...Do you think you can handle that responsibility? Are you really ready to risk it all?"
He looked back into her pearl black eyes, somewhat puzzled by her strict words. Then, a familiar smirk made its way onto his face. "Haven't I always been?"
"Just be careful, now. We don't want anything to happen to our 'star player'," sarcastically muttered a Goomba.
"...Star...?" he looked up with new hope. "Guys, that's it!"
"...What's it?" timidly inquired a Toad.
"Her powers lie in the Crystal Stars themselves. Get rid of them and she'll be defenseless!"
Adjusting her glasses, the Goomba scoffed. "I don't think that's such a..."
"That's the plan and we're sticking to it! Don't get mad at me because I had a good idea for once!"
"That's not what I..."
"...Well... It may be a bad idea, but..." the Toad paused before continuing. "Maybe you could steal the stars... you know? ...You are the fastest runner..."
"That's madness! You can't do that! You'll be killed!"
"That's a chance I'll have to take..."
...Attacking with a Fiery Jinx,Vivian quickly decided she'd be more content if things actually stayed the same. Even if that meant leaving behind some her most cherished things... She needed to grow up and get on with her life. That was one of the reasons she was so miserable.
She never meant for any of this to happen...
But they'd turn out for the best, like always... right?
That's what Goombella used to say. She was the optimism Vivian lost a long, long time ago... She knew how to bring her up when she felt depressed.
Flurrie never failed to compliment on her hair and how she thought it matched her attire. It made Vivian feel her visage wasn't nearly as bad as Beldam said it was...
Waffles may've been a little too independent, but he meant well and was good for comedy relief. He brought the most laughter to the group in terms of his own fooling around which, like Goombella, brought her up when she felt down.
Bobbery was so noble and a great role model, despite the loss of his beloved one. If Mario weren't the leader, he sure would've made a great follow-up. Smart and skilled, he always seemed to know what made Vivian feel secure when something bad transpired.
Ms. Mowz, though mysterious and vague, proved to be a true counselor in her own right. She was always there to help others find their way while they also found their inner strength by doing so.
And what about Koops? What did he do to make her feel welcome? And why did she see him in a different light than the others?...Why did she love him? Did he feel the same way for her? Were their emotions only exhibited by the constant stress they faced? Either way, they still had a lot in common...
...They were her best friends in the world. She loved them like her own family... The one she never had...
The Koopa smiled. "So, this is it, then? We harness the power of these Crystal Stars and attack her when she's distracted?"
"Yes. I say we've really outdone ourselves this time," added the Goomba, as she squinted through her cracked frames.
The Boo sighed happily. "We may not be able to enjoy our freedom for long... but at least the world can..."
"...Yeah..." was the Toad's soft response.
"Do you think we'll be remembered for this?" asked the feminine ghost.
"I don't know for sure. And even if we weren't... at least we know what we did."
...Everything seemed to be happening so fast... Fighting, struggling, and fighting again. This was the final battle for peace amongst the Mushroom Kingdom... and she was going to fight it to the end... Vivian was finding it difficult to tell fiction from reality... The more she fought, the more she seemed to fade away...
One minute, she was dodging the Shadow Queen's dark thunderbolts... The next, she was remembering something from her past, or in the middle of an abyss, listening voices she couldn't make out. Finally, she was snapped her out of the endless hallucination...
"No! How can this be? I-I can't have been... How could I have been... defeated by these lesser beings... than I?" she growled, her essence already beginning to fade away. "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!"
...She thought this fight would take days to win...
Then again... Her attacks may've been strong, but didn't mean anything if the target moved around too much. Surveying the scene, she noticed more had gone on that first thought. Remnants of the huge battle were spewed all over the floor. Exactly what some of it was, Vivian wasn't interested to know, but the others seemed very tired, worn out, and dirty from fighting. Oddly enough, Ms. Mowz only suffered from unkempt fur...
The queen's spirit slowly disintegrated as clouds of repugnant poison exited Peach's body. Vivian could still hear her faint growling of defeat receding into the depths of nothingness. The black haze lingered about, creating a feel of panic it was another one of her deceitful attacks. That fear soon faded away like demon's ghost herself as they came to the realization they were victorious. Not only that, but Beldam, Marilyn, and Doopliss were nowhere to be found. After seeing the final blow, they most likely made their getaway while the others were distracted by their leader's decomposition.
...And just as quickly as she'd appeared, the Shadow Queen was gone, back to the purgatory from whence she came. It was so strangely quiet; Vivian could hear the soft burning of warm candles on their bases as they regained their natural colors of red and orange. The room gradually became and soon, a feeling of calm resided amongst the heroes.
Making sure the sure the coast was clear, Bobbery took the liberty to check on Peach. He, like everybody else, was naturally worried about how badly damaged she was by the ordeal. After a few observations, he asked for everyone else to come over, claiming the princess was fine.
"Are you sure she's okay?" Koops stooped down to get a closer look. "...Doesn't look like she's moving..."
At that moment, Peach murmured incoherently. Raising her head, she blinked a few times to regain her senses. "...Mario?"
"Hey, she's all right! She doesn't even look hurt!" exclaimed Waffles.
She lifted her head and sighed. "So... It's over then...?"
Ms. Mowz helped her up. "Trust us, you're not the only one who's happy."
"Mario, I feel like I should take the blame for this. It was that weird map I sent you... If I hadn't found that thing, none of this would've ever happened."
"Like we said earlier, it's not your fault," consoled Flurrie. "You didn't mean for it to happen on purpose, so it's not your fault."
"Hmm... Well, thank you, nonetheless..." she paused to rephrase herself. "...I thank all of you for saving me."
"Mario! Over here!" someone shouted. Everyone turned to see the voice belonged to Professor Frankly, who'd just entered the room.
"Professor? What're are you doing here?" Koops asked.
"Agh, would you believe I was attacked by some shady sorts that just appeared out of nowhere? I say, kids these days! ...Regardless, I followed you all down here to warn you, but..." he looked around. "It looks like you handled the situation yourself, and very well I might add!"
"Aw, it wasn't something that couldn't be done," bragged Waffles.
Bobbery eyed him. Oh, really now?"
"Oh, speaking of which..." he turned to reveal a rather large, opulent-looking chest. "Look what I found on the way here!"
"Hey, that must be the real treasure!" Goombella noted.
"Well, I should say so! That thing was murder on my back! ...But I don't think here is either the time or place for this. It might be best if we left."
"I couldn't agree more," said Flurrie. "The sooner I forget about this, the better."
Peach nodded. "Yes, let's all go home... I know Mario can lead the way out of here, right?"
"Why, for the Princess' sake, of course," the rodent curstied. "Looking back is always easier than trudging ahead in uncertainty."
"Yeah, yeah... We get it. Spare us the dramatic dialogue until we get outta here," Waffles pushed her through the door as Mario held it open for everyone to walk out.
"I don't think I've ever been so happy retracing my steps..." sighed Bobbery.
As usual, Vivian was the last one out, Mario letting the door slam behind him. They all walked away, survivors of the horrid Shadow Queen's terror, but bearers of her returning assult on the world. Hopefully, that would be enough to aid them in their life experiences... As they exited the dark staircase and mad their way out the main chamber, one last memory revealed itself in Vivian's mind...
She felt a sense of pride, yet a tug of guilt after what she did that night. It was wrong, but in such a good way... A crescent moon shone brightly in the sky, showering the forest in a coat of pure silver. The night was warm, the breeze was cool, and Boos were out and about. Their occasional giggling and cackling made the woods seem full of life, much like the crickets who threw in a few chirps every now and again.
"Mother won't be happy about this..." said an unknown female. "What if we get caught? You know she'll kill you..."
"She'll punish you, as well... But you don't seem too worried..." said a familiar male voice.
"Mother is hostile, but she could never come to kill someone as vital as a princess."
"Your mom's a bitch... She killed several of my closest friends. What's another one down the drain?"
She scoffed. "And you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"My mom's been dead for over 15 years; I kiss no one."
"...Except me?"
"If I feel like it..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I dunno..." he said, in a taunting manner.
"Loser..."
"Whore..."
"Freak..."
"Pansy..."
"What's wrong with being a pansy? They're flowers and flowers are beautiful, therefore, you're saying I'm beautiful."
"Flowers are stupid. They have the stupidest names. I mean, Snapdragon, Crysanthum...whatever, and Jacob's Ladder? ...What the hell's up with that?"
"Shut up..." her discerning playfully pushed him to the ground. "You're being dominated by one..."
"Like I'd let myself lose to a stupid flower..."
The night went on and on, Boos and Dark Boos alike searching for their runaway princess amid the brush of the woods. ...Nothing would disturb them on that night. Not his friends, not her family, no one. But eyes were watching their every movement, ready to put it to good use, ruining their names... and their lives... forever.
...Later that evening, everyone stood at the docks, ready to see Mario and the princess off. The situation seemed heartfelt, yet rewarding at the same time. Peach had apologized multiple times for leaving so abruptly, but explained how she was sick of the whole Shadow Queen ordeal and wanted to spend what was left of her vacation relaxing at home. His job done, Mario decided it was time to go back with her. Vivian found herself still a little shaken up from their encounter with the evil demon, but wanted to see her happy for once. At least no one was asking her questions about her relation to the Shadow Queen... that was a relief...
"So, you're leaving us already? ...Well, that's really a shame. I feel you being around would do wonders for my studies, with your traveling prowess and all..." sighed Frankly.
"Don't say that, Professor! Mario might think you're using him an errand boy!" Goombella laughed .
"Are you guys sure you have to go so soon?" asked a disappointed Waffles.
"I'm so sorry..." Peach gently patted his head. "I really would like to say and I've been delighted to know you, but I really must get back to the Mushroom Kingdom. I think I've had enough adventure for a while..."
"But... you'll come back a visit us, right?"
"Oh," the princess seemed shocked by his question, but smiled. "Of course I'll come back. From what I've seen of this place, it's very colorful and exotic. And there's so much of it I haven't seen! Mario already told me about all the wonderful places you went and I don't think his stories are enough to satisfy me. Toadsworth, you'd come back with me would you?"
The mushroom retainer nodded. "Why, er... yes! I wouldn't miss it for the world! ...But may I advise we stick to the map and not take any 'shortcuts' next time?"
Peach giggled. "I guess that could be arranged. Anyway, I'm so glad to have met you all. Not only did you risk your lives for my sake, you did it for our entire nation. The world is forever in your debt."
"Oh, don't flatter them like that. They'll get swelled heads," joked Frankly.
The princess grinned. "You all deserve praise for what you did. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Mario's heroic nature rubbed off on you."
"You can say that again!" beamed Goombella. "Mario, you taught me how to never give on the situation, even when it seems hopeless! I guess you can say you really furthered my interest for what happened a thousand years ago. Let's keep in touch so when I find out more, I can mail it to you!"
Bobbery nodded. "And I think I speak for everyone when I say your time here won't ever be forgotten."
"Old Man Bomb is right. I probably never would've been born if it weren't for Gonzales-- I mean, Mario... I gotta stop calling you that. But yeah, you're my hero, man! When you come back, let's team up and fight in the Glitz Pit again, just you and me!"
"Yeah..." Koops blushed. "Uh, I guess we got so caught up in looking for Peach I never really got to thank you... You know, with Hooktail and all... I was in a slump when Dad disappeared, but now's he back and I can't wait to get back home and catch up on my time with him..."
Flurrie clasped her hands together in a hopeful fashion."And my experience on the field has persuaded me to end my hiatus on the stage. There are so many conflicts and struggles we've gone through that I may only express there. Thank you, Mario, for renewing my love for the spotlight once more!"
"Well, well, well... I never thought our little rendezvous would come to end and yet here you are, trying to leave us! I must say, I refuse to bid you farewell, because as long as you live, your presence is always welcome. I will simply leave you with the hope for good things to happen in your near future," the mouse quickly flashed a Heart Finder badge to emphasize her point.
Looking down, Vivian tried to think of something to say. "Mario, I think you... I think you really turned my life around for what you did for me. I appreciate your efforts to make me part of the group and I... hope to see you again sometime..."
Frankly continued talking about how significant their presence was as Vivian let out a sigh and raised her head, only to notice Peach looking at something behind her... Or was she looking at her? It was hard to tell... Not wanting to stare if she was wrong, she just stood still, keeping her gaze on the plumber. It wasn't long before until the princess got her attention by mouthing 'Thanks for being there' with a slight nod. The siren blushed and sheepishly mouthed back 'You're welcome', with which Peach smiled.
Toadsworth peered over the horizon. "Ah, I think I see our ride coming, princess. Make sure you and Master Mario are ready to go once it docks."
No sooner had he acknowledged it, the boat arrived, coming to a sudden stop. Peach and Toadsworth boarded with Mario close behind as he waved once more to his friends. At that point, everyone started calling out different variations of goodbye to him, along with some saying 'Come back soon!' and 'Don't forget to write!'. As much as she wanted to shout one last farewell, Vivian found herself too shy and only waved, not wanting to seem rude or uncaring.
The boat changed its course and began sailing back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach and Mario stood on the rear still waving and calling out the their friends left on the port. The scene was sad, yet showed how much everybody was attached to Mario. Deep down, they probably weren't happy with his decision to leave, but were hopeful in their wishes he'd return one day and make up for lost time. Their respect for him was deep and not once did they ever stray from following him up on his choices, whether good or bad in their opinion...
That was it...
The Shadow Queen had been vanquished, the world was saved, Princess Peach was back in the Mushroom Kingdom, and Mario... the glue that held everybody together... the reason the team of friends had banded together through good and bad times... the idol of everyone's affection... was gone. He promised he would one day come back and visit all his friends and... maybe even go on another thrilling adventure in search of treasure and discovery... That promise... It was all they had left of him...
After all the searching, fighting, and bonding, their adventure was over. It seemed like it had just began...
Since Mario was gone, nobody really had a decent excuse as to why their own life should be on hold. Goombella still had to finish college, Koops needed to return to Petalburg, Flurrie was planning a trip around the world with her new play, Waffles wanted to return to the Glitz Pit, Bobbery felt the seas were calling to him again, and Ms. Mowz went back to selling and searching for badges.
...But what did she have to go back to? Her empty, abusive life with Beldam and Marilyn? ...No one even know where they were...
Before they broke up, the Shadow Siren felt secure as long as she was with her friends. That was the problem; she was too dependant on the group... She should've known they'd disperse eventually. One by one, each partner bid their farewell to one another until only she, Flurrie, and Koops were left.
After saying her goodbye, Flurrie was about to leave when she remembered something. "...Oh, yes! I almost forgot! Vivian, seeing Peach leave made me think about giving you this... I should've done it earlier, but I wanted to wait until the whole Crystal Stars thing was out of the way."
"What?"
"Here," she removed her necklace and handed it to the Shadow Siren. "This now belongs to you."
Taking the coveted jewelry, Vivian gave her a plaintive look. "...Flurrie... I can't accept this..."
"Of course you can; I giving it to you. I've realized how much there is to be thankful for. Also, I feel a bit ashamed of how much complaining I did just because I couldn't find this stupid thing."
"Really?"
"As a returning star, I plan on starting over, while getting back to my roots. I remember seeing how much you liked it, so why not give it to you?"
"...Are you sure? Can I actually have this?"
"Yes, yes, you can really have it! Stop being so modest!" she chuckled. "It was the first thing I bought with my first salary as a beginning actress. I do hope you'll treasure it like I did."
"Oh..." she blushed. "Thank you... I'll always keep it with me..."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to Boggly Woods and start the preparations for my comeback. Oh, the Punis will be ecstatic! Au revoir, you two!"
They both waved to her, saying their goodbyes until she disappeared from sight.
Once she was gone, Koops turned to the other remaining partner. "Hey, Vivian?"
"Yes?"
"Where're you planning to go now that Mario's gone?"
"...Nowhere..."
"Nowhere? But... don't you have a home to go back to? Do you think you're sisters have learned their lesson?"
Beldam had always been a stubborn person; the only way she'd be taught a lesson was if it killed her... There was no way she'd let Vivian slide so easily.
Regardless, she faked a smile and lied, "I think they know to respect me now."
Koops didn't seem convinced. "You sure? 'Cause if you need somewhere to stay..."
"I'm fine. Really. She just needed some sense knocked into her... Beldam knows to quit when she's ahead."
"Not from what I've seen..."
"I'll make up with them, I promise..." she smiled, flattered by his concern.
"Then... maybe I can come visit you someday... maybe?" he shrugged. "Where do you live?"
She didn't really know how to answer his question; the whereabouts of their home was so secret, even she didn't know where it was anymore. Too many years had passed and the clear path to their abandoned shed of a house no longer existed. All she knew was they resided in the deep forest of Twilight Trail...
"Twilight Town, we have a house there."
"Ah... great..." Koops didn't seem too happy knowing one of his best friends lived in such a desolate place, but smiled for Vivian's sake. "I'll be sure to drop by soon. Maybe we can have a get together with the others right here in Rogueport."
"Maybe..."
Silence...
"...Well... I guess that's that..." he paused and coughed awkwardly. "I've gotta go home, so... I'll be seeing you, Vivian..." he faintly waved and turned to leave.
She didn't even make an effort to wave back. "Bye..."
The siren watched him walk away towards Rogueport's East Side and into the sunset... She wasn't sure if she'd ever see him again, or where exactly Petalburg was... But did it really matter? Koops was a perfect Koopa with a bright future and good fortune. Who was she to mess that up by being affiliated with him? He'd be praised and respected... and she'd resume the lowly outcast, condemned to the shadows forever... That's how it was and, while she hated it, she understood to let sleeping dogs lie. She looked down at Flurrie's necklace... They could still be friends and have gatherings like he said. At least she had that to look forward to.
...Keeping her focus on the disappearing Koops, she backed into a nearby alley and faded into the shadows... Possibly to never return...
And never to know happiness again...
Authoress' Notes: Whew! I worked really hard this chapter and that's another reason why it took so long to get up. I hope my efforts weren't in vain! I decided to skip the whole dramatic scene with Peach and the Crystal Stars bringing power from the other places they visited because it seemed really tedious and overblown after the 153rd time fighting her.
...And yes. That's the end. :(
Maybe. XD
...I dunno... You'll have to stay tuned and review lots if you wanna find out!
IMPORTANT NOTE! I am 100 percent sure there aren't around 600 candles in the SQ's chamber, so don't think I can't count. I only threw that in as a little joke, since 666 is the number of evil and all...