Authoress' Notes: ...Okay, I'm pretty sure 99.9 percent of you will hate me for the outcome of the chapter, but that's just the way I wanted things to happen. Keep any complaints to a minimum, as it is not easy cracking out a chapter with almost 14,000 words. I poured my heart and soul into making this, so be nice. ...And don't worry if this takes you several days to read. :) Only the epilogue is after this, but what's in it shall be shrouded in mystery until posted.
Better Off Alone
Chapter 30: Finality
Vivian stood, puzzled and frightened before the Thousand-Year Door. While it still retained the cracks from Mario using the force of the Crystal Stars to open it, she was quick to notice to ugly truth about its darkened exterior... Each one of the Stars was missing... She did a double take.
...And snow?
As impossible as it seemed, snow was actually overflowing from the palace's inside. The door looked like whoever last entered didn't close it. Even more shocking, the door itself and everything surrounding it was covered in a thick sheet of ice.
Vivian felt a chill run down her spine at the sheer power put into this... monstrosity. It was almost as if she were facing the Shadow Queen herself. She cautiously approached and, after a lot of effort, managed to push the stubborn door open enough to where she could squeeze in.
Once inside, a piercing cold breeze made her shiver; cold stung her face life knives. She was about to wonder how everything had become so chilly when her eyes quelled her curiosity.
From the icicle-filled ceiling to the snowy floor, everything in the palace now looked as if a blizzard had hit it. The outside should've given it away, but Vivian didn't think it was this bad. The snow was almost up to her waist, making her cringe as she slowly pushed through. She made faces, twitched, and occasionally yelped at the combination of freezing wet snow against certain vulnerable spots. The dry, cold wind made her eyes tear and she could feel the fire inside her suddenly weaken. Ms. Mowz was right; this wasn't the Palace of Shadow, not anymore...
As she carefully navigated pushed open the first door and descended the first staircase, Vivian noticed it was littered with various Swoopulas frozen in blocks of ice. Each one had a look of horror and pain contorted on its face. ...At least they weren't trying to attack her.
She continued on down the stairs when something white gently floated down. Although it was fleet, she could've sworn it was a snowflake... Before she had a chance to coax herself out of it, another fell... Then another, and another. She looked up at the pitch-black ceiling, confused. More snowflakes slowly began falling, soon making the scenery identical to Fahr Outpost. There was no telling how much worse this would get in a short amount of time, so she went on. Her breath formed in huffs and puffs as she quickened her pace, getting the sinking feeling that whatever she was looking for had become too big of a problem for her to handle alone...
Koops ran as fast as he could through the knee-deep snow, which seemed to be steadily getting deeper the further he went. He jumped over hurdles, climbed over things like mad, and avoided every single trap with ease, all while blindly following Vivian deeper into the palace. He was doing things he never thought he could do, making him wonder how he suddenly became so... dynamic. It all seemed to come natural to him... The swift running, the stronger senses, the power...
It must've been what Ms. Mowz said...
"Koops, the Stalwart Koopa was your ancestor... Your father has great strength just like him, as does every male from his side of the family. You've also inherited this power."
...That had to be reason for this new feeling he felt burning inside him. The frigid climate did little to slow the determined Koopa down. If anything, it only pushed him even harder. He really had stop doubting the little mouse...
He uttered a soft grunt as he suddenly found himself crouching down and jumping over a small chasm. Much to his surprise, he made a flawless landing on the other side. He took a quick glance down at the dimly-lit spikes protruding from the ground below, remembering how horrified he was the last time he saw them. He'd made a lot of progress, all right. That alone told him he could make it all the way...
As she entered the last chamber before the throne room, Vivian suddenly lost her balance and collapsed onto a nearby pillar. Using it to support herself, she tended to a sudden headache and groaned. She could feel all the symptoms hit at once; her head was beginning to hurt, she'd started to feel dizzy and weak, and rough waves of nausea made her want to vomit. ...It must've been the Amethyst Star's doing. She looked up at the door leading to the Shadow Queen's former quarters, thinking long and hard.
Once she went through those doors, there was no turning back. Whatever was waiting for her was big, powerful, and most likely lethal. If she stepped through those doors, something told her she'd never come out...
But she'd come too far to just give up now. She approached and nervously placed her hands on the cold door, sighing. She looked back one last time at the previous doors and frowned. A small part of her conscious sort of hoped her friends would come busting through at any minute, ready to help her cause... Too bad that was only wishful thinking.
Pushing the doors open, Vivian prepared herself for the worst of the worst. Nervously looking around, everything seemed normal from where she was standing... other than the snow. Ascending the first step on the small staircase before her, a voice rang out near the other end of the room that made her stop dead in her tracks, filled with fear.
"...Well, well, well. If it isn't the little traitor."
Vivian scowled, knowing that tone from anywhere. "...What're you doing down here?"
Just as she'd guessed, Beldam idly sat in what was once her mother's throne. But something about her seemed... different. She was usually angry and edgy at the very sight of her youngest sibling, but was instead calm and collected, almost to the point where it was scary.
She shook her head. "Tsk tsk. You poor, deluded little fool. You still don't see what's going on, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"This was all my doing." She raised her hands, causing each of the Crystal Stars to appear from nowhere. "For years, I've been seeking the power of the Stars so that I may actually put them to some use, unlike Mother..."
Intimidated, Vivian recoiled at the sight. "But how? You can't control the Crystal Stars; only Mother had the power to do that!"
"Ah, but she also failed to see the true power of my spells." The Sapphire Star hovered beside her. "It may not be the strongest, but my Star is the third most powerful of the seven. That alone was enough to gain control of the weaker ones. Then all I had to do was force the stronger ones to obey them, therefore, making them obey me. Having five against two obviously tipped the power struggle in my favor."
The younger glared. "And now you're going to pick up where Mother left off?"
"Exactly." Her evil grin grew wider. "I'm going to do what she never could and take over this world in style. I'll be the new Shadow Queen, and now that Mario's gone, there'll be no one to stand in my way this time!"
"Beldam, I know you think you've got everything under control... but you're nowhere as strong as Mother was. You may have stronger spells, but there's a reason she never used them; they always backfire at one point..."
"Like you're one to talk. How dare you desert your own family for that worthless band of failures you call your friends? Some heir to the throne you are. You're lucky Mother's gone, or else she would've done away with you a long time ago."
Vivian lowered her head. "If being Shadow Queen means I have to hurt nice people and take innocent lives, I'd rather be an outcast. At least I'm not a heartless, overbearing sneak like you..."
Beldam frowned. "Name-calling is so childish, but I wouldn't expect any better from you. You could never make it as anything in this world, so keep hold of what little dignity you have left and just give up now. We both know you're not leaving this place alive. ...I'll make sure of that."
Vivian swallowed. So it was Beldam who was the Great Enemy? ...That was no surprise. She'd been a constant threat all her life, and she now planned to kill her and go on to rule the world... That was just the kind of thing expected of her. She should've known better; something like this was bound to happen.
"But before I do away with you..." came Beldam's voice, snapping her from her thoughts, "you have something I want."
Nervously, she backed up. "...W-what's that?"
Beldam stood, the seven Stars following her. "Don't play dumb with me. You've got the missing piece, the final part of the puzzle, the one last thing I need to achieve ultimate power over this pathetic world... The Amethyst Crystal Star."
Gasping, she backed away further from the staircase as Beldam advanced, the power of all the Crystal Stars at her disposal. Closer and closer she came until she was standing on the top of the stairs, as Vivian continued backing up until she could almost feel the frozen door sting her back.
"What a shame your friends aren't here with you now. I wonder what could've driven them off..." With a malicious smirk, she pulled out an old cloak, one that looked very familiar. "Could it be they finally wised up and realized you didn't belong? ...No, that bunch of bumbling idiots would never think of that..."
At the sight of the cloak, Vivian began to piece it all together. "It... it was you... You did this! You're the one who drove me away from all my friends!"
"You say that as if were a bad thing..."
Seething, Vivian clenched her fists. "Y-you're... you're a horrible person! Only a slimy, spineless coward would do all of this! I... I can't believe I'm related to someone as disgusting as you!"
"Well, you won't have to worry about that much longer!" retorted the older, summoning the Sapphire Star. "Personally, you've been a pain in my side since you were born, and I've always wanted to do away you. But because of the Amethyst Star, I had to hold off killing you until I gained control of the other Crystal Stars."
She lifted a hand, ready to do the unthinkable when the doors slammed open. Both Shadow Sirens looked up at the sudden disturbance as they heard a powerful voice shout...
"Leave her alone!"
"...The Stalwart Koopa?" Beldam frowned, the voice stirring up bad memories of her inability to defeat him. "But it can't be... You're dead!"
Vivian eyed the unknown Koopa warily. He was wearing the Stalwart Koopa's attire, had has sword, and made a very dynamic entrance... It being him was impossible, but there was no one else who could've looked so much like such an amazing hero.
Could it've been his... ghost?
She was ready to believe her own ridiculous claims when he stepped forward, and it was as if a mirage had been lifted from her eyes.
...Her face soured as the valiant image of the Stalwart Koopa shattered in a heartbeat. She couldn't help but notice his lazy eye, lack of scars, and the ever-present bandage on his nose. No, that wasn't the Stalwart Koopa at all. If anything, it was only his shadow...
Seeing Vivian, Koops sighed, thankful that he'd found her in the nick of time. But his relief soon turned into worry, as he noticed her bitter expression. Completely disregarding Beldam, he humbly approached.
"Vivian... I've been looking all over for you..."
"Don't bother..." In a huff, she turned her head, walking away from him.
He crept closer, trying to appease her. "Listen, I know you're mad, but... I'm sorry. It meant nothing to me, I swear."
"How am I supposed to know that?"
"Because I love you. Do you think I'd come all the way down here, trudging through snow in the freezing cold for nothing? I was worried something might've happened. Please... give me another chance..."
"..." She shot him an angry glare that made him cringe, then returned to hating the wall.
Koops hung his head, feeling the hostility emanate from her cold shoulder. "...It was a moment of weakness... And for that, I'm sorry. I may not be the best guy ever, but I'll do my best to make up for it. And... even if you don't forgive me, I won't hold it against you... I just want you to be happy..."
"..." She crossed her arms, still averting his gaze.
He continued, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "...I-it was my fault for not telling you in the first place. If only I hadn't been such a coward about it, none of this would've ever happened... No matter hard I try, I always seem to mess everything up... Just like with Mom..."
Despite his heartfelt apology, Vivian still kept her back turned.
He grimaced. Koops promised himself he wasn't going to cry, but he was too overwhelmed by his own words. And it was all true, every single bit of it; he had been a coward, he had messed up, and it really was all his fault. Vivian didn't deserve a loser like him, and he didn't deserve a prize like her...
A small tear managed to escape his tightly-squeezed eyes, dotting the ground. Another was about to follow when he felt a soft tickle on his cheek. He looked up from the floor to see none other than Vivian gently caressing his face and drying his tears. She no longer looked angry, but she didn't look happy, either.
Embarrassed, he turned away. "...No, I get it. Everything was my fault, and I have to live with--"
He didn't get the chance to finish before she pulled him into a warm, passionate kiss. ...And he was wrong about Koopie Koo... in so many ways he couldn't even begin to imagine. Their kisses were nothing alike. Vivian's lips were so sweet and inviting, just wanting to give pleasure to those who met them, whereas Koopie Koo's were just... there. He wasn't sure if it had anything to do with her being a Shadow Siren, but he didn't care; her charisma mesmerized him all the same. The only thing he hated about this kiss was that it ended too soon. Just as he'd been pulled into a state of euphoria by such a wonderful feeling of love, she stopped, looking at him endearingly.
"...I'm sorry for being so stubborn. I didn't think you really meant it." She rested her head against his chest. "How could I not forgive you after all that?"
"I'm glad... And I promise I'll make it up to you. Really, I will..." He pulled out Flurrie's necklace, placing it around her neck. "Starting now."
Beldam groaned. "Ugh, get a room."
Koops glared daggers at her. "And you! You're the one who caused all of this! I didn't think you could get any lower!"
"Flattery will get you nowhere," she scoffed. "I don't have time to deal with the likes of you, so get out of my way!"
As she pointed at them, the Gold Crystal Star floated forward shot out a streak of lightning, tearing them apart. Koops got the worst of it by being flung into the wall, knocking him unconscious.
"Koops!" Worried, Vivian tried to make her way over to him, but was stopped by the Gold Star. It hovered threateningly near her, almost as if it were poised to strike. It was soon joined by Garnet, which did the same.
"Now, to finally get what I've wanted for so long..." said Beldam, magic collecting on her fingers.
Backing away from her evil sibling, Vivian frantically looked for a way out, but as each of the Crystal Stars began to gather and force her into the wall, she soon found it impossible. Beldam loomed over the edge of the staircase and grinned at her horrified expression. She was going to die, right then and there. Not even a miracle could save her now...
"Don't look so worried," teased Beldam. "I'll try and make this as painful as I can!"
Vivian barely had time to flinch before she reappeared right in front of her and outstretched her hand as if to grab her very heart. She didn't know what it was; it was so sudden, so fast, yet so painful all at once. She only had enough time to let out a shrill scream at the pain of having her chest penetrated and her hidden treasure yanked out. ...Drained of her power, she collapsed, feeling empty and hollow.
Koops stirred and groaned at the sound of someone screaming. It was a horrible cry, full of pain and anguish... His head snapped up in time to see Vivian fall to the ground, Beldam holding something in her clutches. He didn't have time to see what it was, but that didn't matter. Grabbing his sword, he attacked her in a swift show of swordsmanship he never knew he had. Amid the blurs of blades, he managed to score a deep cut in her arm. He would've done much more than that if she hadn't disappeared into the shadows, cursing at her fresh wound.
Angry, he threw the bloodstained sword into the snow and ran to Vivian's side. He carefully picked her up, anxiously checking for any signs of life.
"Vivian, are you okay?" He gently shook her. "Can you hear me? Are you all right? Please! Answer me!"
But it was all for naught, as Vivian remained limp and lifeless in his arms. He wasn't even sure if she was still breathing... Koops felt his anger rise again.
"What'd you do to her?!" he demanded of Beldam, who'd reappeared back near the throne.
She sneered back. "Only take what rightfully belongs to me..."
"What are you...?" His rage suddenly subsided as shock took its place.
Up above Beldam's head hovered the infamous Amethyst Star. Something about seemed so... otherworldly. Try as he might, he just could take his eyes off such a splendid and deadly treasure. It looked like a regular Crystal Star in every way, but he could feel the power surging from it. It glowed more prominently than the other seven, making him shudder at the sudden radiance of purple that filled the room. The Star practically commanded respect, and he, despite being horrified, was also humbled by its brilliance. He was stuck in a mental turmoil of shame, fear, and awe all at once.
At that moment, Vivian chose to awake. "...Ow..."
"Vivian?" Koops' face brightened as she came to.
Her eyes lazily gazed upon the pulsating purple Star. "So, that's it... The Amethyst Star...?"
"Yeah... Yeah, it is..." he answered, still overwhelmed.
Fearing for his safety, she tried to get up and protect Koops from the imminent danger, but the energy needed wasn't there and she fell. Again, she attempted to try and at least support him, but it only resulted in another failure. Dispirited and powerless, she could glare at Beldam in disgust. There was no escaping this time.
Finished with its display of power, the Amethyst Star obediently floated in Beldam's reach. In response to their long-lost member, the other seven Stars circled around it in the utmost respect.
"At last, I have it!" she laughed, almost maniacally. "I've been dreaming of this moment for years! Now I can finally get rid of you once and for all! It's all downhill from here, Vivian, starting with your demise!"
Koops jumped up and stood in the way. "You're even more twisted than I thought! If anyone here has to die today, it should be you for being such a demented, old hag!"
Not at all threatened, Beldam simply pointed at him, causing the Amethyst Star to use its otherworldly powers and hurl him back into the wall, succeeding in cracking it. He cried out in agony and crumpled to the floor, cringing. The same attack with the Gold Star earlier was a tap on the shell compared to this one. He was almost certain he'd broken something.
Vivian was still unable to do anything, incapacitated herself. She could only continue glaring at Beldam with as much hate as she could muster, which, given her circumstances, was enough to make nearly anyone cower. This wasn't the case with the older siren, whose focus was on the suffering Koops.
"I never had the privilege of killing the Stalwart Koopa, but I guess you'll have to do," she said, sounding sickeningly indifferent. The Amethyst Star was gearing up for another attack when...
"Hold it right there!"
"What?" Beldam looked up, her control over the Star momentarily broken.
Koops groggily looked up to see a white blur rush by him, hopping up the stairs in two jumps and ramming into Beldam. It backflipped away from her and landed near the edge of the stairs. Finally able to get a good look, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Waffles?!"
The Yoshi smirked and struck a silly pose. "Who else were you expecting? Gonzales?"
"What're you doing here?"
"He's here because we're here, and we're here because friends always stick together!"
That voice was unmistakable. Koops didn't even have to turn to know it was Goombella's. Regardless, out of sheer excitement, he whipped around to see not only the spunky Goomba, but Bobbery, Flurrie, and even Ms. Mowz.
"You guys came all the way down here... to help me?"
"Of course," said Ms. Mowz. "You don't think we'd let you risk life and limb without doing something about it, do you?"
"She's right," added Bobbery. "Let's give her the old one-two and make it something she'll never forget!"
"Mario may not be here, but we shall carry on nevertheless!" proclaimed Flurrie.
"Yeah!" laughed Waffles, pointing at Beldam. "You might as well just give up now! We already beat you like a million times! What makes you think you'll do any better this time?"
Furious, Beldam got up and quickly grabbed the Amethyst Star. "That may've been true before, but now that I have this, you'll wish you'd never interfered!"
She didn't hesitate to call upon its power, as its force knocked every one of her enemies back several feet. The other Crystal Stars soon joined in, ready to support her any way they could. After a few more threats and snide remarks, it wasn't long before an all-out brawl broke out.
As the battle raged on above the stairs, Koops placed Vivian on the floor and gently shook her. "Vivian, please wake up... Come on... You're okay, I know you are..."
In the midst of his pleading, he heard her groan and cough. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she began to feel the painful aftermath of Star's removal. It was an awful, searing pain that rivaled no other, and she could tell it would only get worse. She just wanted grab onto something as hard as she could and scream as loud as she could until it went away...!
"I know it hurts, but I'm here," he soothed. "I'm here..."
Her writhing went on a little longer before she stopped, going limp again. After a brief pause, she raised her head, shuddering. Seeing Koops, her pained expression seemed to relax.
"Think you can stand?"
"...I don't know..." Her voice was faint and weary. She managed to weakly sit up, hugging her stomach and doubling over in pain. "...It's like she took away a part of me..."
"It's okay," Koops whispered, pulling her close. "Don't worry. I'm right here."
Vivian took his offer and let herself fall into his strong arms. She sat dormant against him, wanting to get up, but unable to do so. She never knew how much she really depended on that Star, despite not even believing it existed. Now that it was gone, she could barely keep her eyes open... All she wanted to do was sleep... And sleep... And sleep...
Koops could tell she was taking the separation harder than he thought. Beforehand, she was her old, usual self. But now, she seemed to lose her glow, and he no longer felt that comforting, fervent warmth inside her... Just cold, barren emptiness...
"AAAAAAGGH!" howled Waffles, as he thrown against the door, painfully falling to the ground.
"Waffles!" he called. "You okay?"
"Uh... Can I get back to you on that...?" he groggily responded.
"You guys need any help? I--"
"No, no. We got it," he stood, shaking it off. "You just look after Rip Van Winkle over here while we take care of business."
Koops helplessly watched the Yoshi make his way back to the fray, albeit with a slight limp. There had to be something he could do... Just then, an idea popped into his head.
"...The Crystal Stars..."
"Huh?"
"...Could they...?"
"What about them?"
"..."
Waffles frowned. "Dude, you're starting to freak me out..."
That was it! It was all coming back to him now! What Ms. Mowz said earlier...!
"According the scroll, 'Only when the time comes may the Holders raise their heads up high with the power of the Crystal Stars'..."
Koops snapped out of his trance. "Waffles, listen to me! You have to get the Crystal Stars from Beldam!"
"What?! What good'll that do us?"
"Remember what I told you guys last night? About how we're each connected to a Crystal Star? If you can get your hands on them, maybe you can take her power source away!"
"That's crazy!" Waffles fingered his nose in thought. "...Just crazy enough to work..."
"Then go tell the others! And hurry!" He worriedly looked at a comatose Vivian. "...I'll catch up later."
Waffles shrugged. "I still think it's crazy... but I guess we all gotta push the envelope sometimes!"
Scrambling over to the staircase, he sped past a bewildered Goombella, who was in the midst of fighting off the Emerald Star.
"Waffles! What the heck are you doing?!" she spat, just in time to get zapped by the green-colored Star.
His little boots a blur of pink, he zipped by a puzzled Flurrie and Bobbery, aiming for the Gold Star near the throne. Koops, you better be right about this... he nervously thought.
Beldam laughed. "He's sees he can't win, so he's throwing in the towel! A smart choice! Maybe you pea-brains aren't as dumb as I thought..."
"Not hardly!" retorted Waffles, as he made a running jump over her. While in the air, he managed to grab onto the Gold Star. Landing, he let it go, allowing it hover mindlessly beside him.
"Lad, have you lost it?!" shouted Bobbery.
"Oh, Waffles, you scoundrel! Get away from there before you get hurt!" added Flurrie.
Ms. Mowz's eye twinkled as she nodded in approval. So Koops remembered after all...
"You've got some nerve trying to take away my Crystal Stars," mocked Beldam. "And here I thought you had more sense..."
With a flick of her wrist, she haughtily motioned for the Crystal Star to come back. Unfortunately, it refused to obey and stayed with Waffles.
"What?!" She angrily summoned it again. "Come here! I'm your master! You're supposed to obey only me!"
"Not anymore!" proclaimed Waffles. "This baby's on my side now, lady!"
"Hey, I think he's on to something!" said Goombella. "Didn't Koops say something earlier about us and the Crystal Stars being bonded?"
"Why, Goombella, that idea is just splendid," said Ms. Mowz. "Why don't we try it?"
"That must be her weakness! Quick, get them!" shouted Bobbery.
"Weaklings! You're not even worth my time!" Beldam glowered, calling for the Garnet Star. "I was going to finish you off quick, but you've gone and changed my mind. Now I think I prefer a nice slow, painful--"
She stopped mid-sentence at the absence of the Star and gawked at its empty space, realizing it was missing. She whipped around in time to see Ms. Mowz take off with it.
"You really shouldn't take what's not yours, you know. The results can be catastrophic."
"Well then, allow me to take back what is mine!" cackled Beldam, ordering the Crystal Star to attack. Unfortunately, Goombella made contact with a surprise Headbonk at that moment, breaking her concentration and causing it to fly off.
"I'll take this, if you don't mind!" she laughed, getting ahold of the unattended Crystal Star and taking refuge on the other side of the room.
Seeing Goombella near the stairs with the strongest Crystal Star floating above, Koops smiled, glad to see his plan had worked. He looked back at Vivian who was unconscious and sighed. She probably wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, but the others needed all the help they could get.
"I'll be back soon..." he assured. Gently placing her down and grabbing his sword, he ran to join up with his friends. He barely dodged a beam of ice from Beldam upon his arrival.
"So, you've finally left her for dead, huh?" She grinned evilly, ready to fade into nothingness. "Allow me to finish her off!"
"Don't you dare lay a hand on her!"
Sword raised, Koops attacked, stopping her descent into the shadows. He swiped and slashed and swung it about, driven by anger and hate. Each attempt somehow missed, but that only made him madder. Seeing Beldam was distracted, Flurrie and Bobbery took the liberty of grabbing both of their respective Stars.
"You're... you're just an ugly... evil... corrupted... witch!" Koops growled, repeatedly swinging the sword, only for Beldam to repeatedly dodge him. "You don't... even deserve... to live...!"
She scowled. "The title of Shadow Queen has belonged to me long before any of you were even born! Mother may've failed to see that, but now that she's out of the way, it belongs to ME!"
In a burst of power, the Amethyst Star hovering around Beldam shocked Koops, making him lose his footing and drop the sword. Buckling over in pain, he found himself at the mercy of its power. Beldam eerily backed away, snickering.
"Your efforts are futile and your skills are deplorable! Being his descendant, you don't do the Stalwart Koopa justice! I bet he's turning in his grave as we speak! And I thought Vivian was pathetic!"
"SHUT UP!" His strength suddenly returned and all pain gone, Koops grabbed his sword again and executed several perfect swipes, cutting Beldam's hat to shreds. She managed to get in a quick freezing spell before disappearing, but he sliced it into shards of ice mid-air. Panting, he snorted, his adrenaline pumping and confidence at its highest in years. It was so strong, in fact, the Diamond Star actually found its way to him.
"I am the Stalwart Koopa's descendant and I'm gonna to pick up where he left off!" he shouted. "And I won't stop until I've wiped that stupid grin off your ugly face! I swear, this'll be the LAST time you ever hurt Vivian! Do you hear me?!"
"Ha!" Waffles laughed, bouncing up and down. "Now, that's what I'm talkin' about! Show that witch who's boss, just like Gonzales did!"
Everyone else blinked, stunned from seeing such ferocity from shy, little Koopa they thought they once knew. Ms. Mowz's tail twitched, seeing the very force of the Stalwart Koopa rekindled right before her eyes. It was almost as if Koops wasn't even in control of himself anymore, like he'd somehow been possessed by Kevin's spirit...
But he had yet to pass the final test... She narrowed her eyes, knowing there was more to come. All this time, they'd been fighting the wrong adversary. The Great Enemy was about to make her grand appearance...
Reappearing a few feet away, a hatless, messy-haired Beldam glared at her opponents.
They'd done it again! She didn't know how, but they'd manage to strip her of her pride, power, and prowess before she barely had a chance to conquer anything! Those meddling idiots had only left her with one Crystal Star, and it was the one she despised the most... The Ruby Star. What a piece of junk! She'd accomplish nothing with Vivian's retched Star!
In only a few short minutes, they'd ruined her plans of world domination! All those years of plotting and planning... Wasted! She... she couldn't go out like this... There had to be a way to defeat them! A way to become all-powerful, just like the Shadow Queen was before...
...She noticed the Amethyst Star still lingering beside her and formed an idea.
Of course! That was it! Using the Star increased her power, but it didn't make her invincible... The only way for that work was through the power of absorbing it... Mother was too much of a coward to ever try it, but doing so would allow her to achieve ultimate power, the likes of which no one has ever seen! And the risk was no longer of her concern...
"Ha! That that, why don'tcha?!" jeered Waffles. "Now what are ya gonna do, since the table's been turned?!"
"Yeah! We're gonna stop you right here and now! We've got almost all the Crystal Stars!" Goombella added.
"And since we're their rightful Holders, they'll all listen to us!" added Bobbery.
"Yes, there'll be no escaping this time! This'll be you last stand!" finished Flurrie.
Ms. Mowz and Koops remained silent, the latter's expression more intimidating than anything he could've said at that point.
"So what?!" spat Beldam. She brushed off the Ruby Star, allowing it to float away mindlessly. "I don't need this worthless trash! You may've gotten your grubby, little hands on those other rejects, but you failed to grab the last one! The best one! The ultimate one!"
Goombella braced herself as she grabbed the Amethyst Star and held it up triumphantly. "Okay, guys! This is it! That thing's her last line of defense, so if we take it down, she's finished!"
"If that's what you think, then I'm afraid you're dead wrong..."
"...Huh?"
"Aw, forget her! She's only bluffing! We've got the power now, so let's stop yakking and use it!" urged Waffles, raring to go.
Everyone agreed he had a point and prepared themselves and their Stars for the finishing blow. But before anyone had a chance to attack, the Amethyst Star began to glow a deep, deadly purple. Dark, ominous smoke billowed from it, soon filling the entire room in its cloudy darkness.
Bobbery coughed. "W-what's all this then?!"
"Be careful!" warned Goombella. "It might be poisonous!"
"Yeah, right! Like a bunch of stupid smoke is gonna stop us from kicking your butt!" gloated the Yoshi. "Let's go!"
"Perhaps we should hold off on that until we can actually see what's going on..." Flurrie began to tremble. "And is it me, or did it get a lot colder in here?"
"..." Ms. Mowz stood motionless in the darkness, eyeing Koops' silhouette through the smoke.
Waffles rolled his eyes. "Man, forget this! No one else is doing anything, so I guess I've gotta lead you guys into battle, just like Gonzales used to!" He charged blindly into the smoke, the Gold Star following. "Come on! We'll take it to her!"
"No, Waffles!" called Goombella. "You idiot! You can't even see where you're going!"
But it was too late; Waffles plowed through the obscurity until he bumped into something. Something big...
"What the...?"
A sharp hissing then sounded, followed by the sound of Waffles' cries of pain.
"Waffles! Waffles! Waffles, can you hear me?!" Goombella called. When no one answered, she got an idea. "Flurrie, this smoke is way too thick too see through! Do you think you could blow it away, or something?!"
"...I suppose I could give it a try!" came her muffled response.
A stream of her Gale Force cut through the smoke, causing it to disperse so everyone could see. Koops was the first one to notice something was wrong... Very wrong.
Beldam was no longer there... or at least that's what he thought. Koops' eyes widened, as he was hit by a wrenching feeling of déjà vu...
...He remembered a dream... An awful, horrible dream he had months ago. In a demonic cobra was trying to devour him whole... He once thought it was an exaggerated paranoia of Vivian's mysterious species, but it was...
It was her... The similarities were unmistakable; it had been an omen all along... And the excerpt from the scroll Ms. Mowz showed him...
"...Like the poison of a venomous cobra, it shall spread and destroy the weak and helpless."
He knew there had to be a reason why it caught his eye! It was talking about this! Beldam herself wasn't the Great Enemy; she would become it! He should've known! Why didn't he see it sooner?!
Before him was a lethal black cobra with piercing sapphire eyes, the narrow, black slits of her pupils boring into his very soul. Her lavender underbelly heaved with each huge intake of breath, and dark purple diamonds littered her back in a disgustingly precise pattern. Her her hood of blue flared, along with snout, creating another sharp hissing like before; a black forked tongue licking hungrily out of her maw. Every single detail from the snake in his dream was now staring Koops in the face.
"...Ow..." groaned Waffles, lying before her in defeat. "You cheater..."
"Koops..."
He turned to see Vivian groggily approach with her Star. "What... What happened?" Seeing the black-and-blue cobra hovering overhead, she blanched. "Y-you didn't...!"
"I did..." answered a conceited Beldam. "I've done the unbelievable and the Amethysssst Star and I are now one! And I sssswear it'll be your downfall! There will only be one true Shadow Queen, and it will be me!"
"But the Amethyst Star isn't supposed to be used this way! If you stay like that, you'll end up destroying yourself!" said Vivian, unsure of why she was bothering to try and reason with her; doing something so outrageous proved she'd gone off the deep end.
But Beldam obviously didn't care, as she snapped at Koops, barely missing, but knocking down Vivian in the process. She opened her jaws and fired a devastating surge of ice at her, missing only because she'd disappeared into the shadows.
Enraged, Waffles sprung from the foot-deep snow. "All right, that's it! You've done it now! You've gone and made me mad!" He held up the glowing Gold Star. "Go and show that nobody what happens when you mess with The Great Gonzales Jr.!"
The Gold Star fired at Beldam with a streak of its golden power, but the beam bounced off, making her snicker.
"It didn't work!"
"Let me try! Mine's the strongest!" said Goombella. Her Star attacked with a more powerful light-bluish beam, but it also proved ineffective.
"It still didn't do anything?!"
"Let's us combine and try a more frontal assault," suggested Bobbery. "It's what we're supposed to be doing, right?!"
They all agreed and attacked with their respective Crystal Stars, but try as they might, nothing happened. Each attempt only resulted in it being countered by the power of the Amethyst Star.
Vivian reappeared behind a segment of Beldam's tail and flinched, seeing Ms. Mowz appear out of nowhere. In the midst of the confusion, the others didn't even notice she and her Star had suddenly up and disappeared.
"What you said a moment ago..." She narrowed her eyes. "Care to elaborate on that?"
Eyeing her friends unsuccessfully fight Beldam, she sighed. "...Well... The Amethyst Star can grant unlimited power, but it was made to be controlled mentally, not physically. There's a reason Mother never used it on herself, and this is why..."
"Exactly, but there's another reason why..."
"Huh?"
"The Amethyst Star is so powerful, it tends to spiritually affect those who've come in contact with it. Too close of said contact can permanently merge itself with a soul forever. Beldam may have it now, but you've been in its possession for over a thousand years. It is a part of you and you are a part of it."
"...I'm a part of it?"
That was new to her. Since it'd been removed, she didn't think they were still connected. But she'd said it herself; it was made to be affiliated with the mind, not the body. And apparently, the two had merged to the point where one couldn't be itself with the other. ...Ms. Mowz may've been in-the-know, but no amount of research or speculation could've led her to that... It was impossible; she would've had to be around over a thousand years ago to even begin to assume it. She stared at her long and hard, confused.
"Ms. Mowz, you seem like you know a lot of things..."
"...I suppose I do."
"Then answer me this... How can we defeat Beldam?" At this question, Ms. Mowz looked surprised. "Ever since I can remember, you've always been there to help me make the right choices, but you're always so seclusive... I just thought you were well-informed at first, but what you just told me says otherwise. If you do know something, please... tell me."
The rodent's face saddened. "...I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
"...Why?"
"It'll be clear soon..."
"But how soon?"
She looked over her head and narrowed her eyes at the danger lurking behind her. "Soon enough..."
"There you are!"
Vivian only saw a blur of black before she felt herself caught in a bind. With flick of her massive tail, Beldam wrapped her in a tight hold.
"Koops!" she squealed. "D-don't...! Don't let her... take me...!"
Koops grabbed onto to her hand at the last second, trying to pull her away, with Goombella latching onto his shirt in a desperate attempt to help.
"You're getting annoying!" she growled. With a snarl, she yanked Vivian away and into the air, coiling her tail around her more. "Did you really think I'd let you'd get away sssso eassssily?!" she hissed, her black forked tongue flickering in her face. Vivian grimaced from the sight of it tickling the air before her. It disgusted her to no end.
"The only thing keeping me from becoming queen issss your little love intressst here." She continued, turning her attention to Koops, enjoying him squirm."Sssso, I'll make sure her death issss painfully sssslow..."
"Let her go!" threatened Koops, clothing the sword. "Do it, or I'll make you!"
She laughed. "You're in no possssession to threaten me! But maybe... if you give yoursssself up, I might reconssssider..."
He frowned. "You mean... if I take her place?"
"No, Koops! Don't try to--" Vivian was cut off as Beldam squeezed the air out of her.
"Yessss..." She tilted her head, smirking devilishly. "I supposssse that would make a fair trade... You'll all perish eventually, but if you just can't wait to die, you'll be the firsssst to go..."
"No, dude! Don't do it!" exclaimed Waffles. "Can you at least give us a vote of confidence?!"
"Koops, I don't think that's the wisest thing to do..." said Flurrie.
"Yeah! Don't give in to that sleaze's demands!" added Goombella. "You're better than that!"
But Koops ignored them, despite his sixth sense telling him otherwise. He knew bargaining with the enemy was just asking for trouble, but Vivian's life hung in the balance. Watching her fade away in Beldam's grasp seemed to block out any bit of common sense he had left.
"Sssso? What'ssss your decision?"
He wasn't sure if he was desperate to be a hero or urged on by Vivian being in danger, but something made him throw his sword aside in frustration.
"...Fine! I'm defenseless now, so let her go!" he spat, much to the dismay of his friends.
"Ah, perfect..."
Instead of holding up her end of the bargain, Beldam hissed and stuck with lightning speed reflexes, scooping him up in her jaws. Her tail on Vivian refused to loosen, only getting tighter.
"What?!" Koops growled, managing to grab the roof of her mouth, struggling to keep it from closing. "You... you liar! We had a deal!"
Beldam frowned. "Queenssss don't make dealssss with peasantssss!"
Koops grimaced, cursing himself for being such an idiot. He didn't know why or how he'd allowed himself to be tricked so easily... His mortified eyes met with Vivian's frantic ones for a split second. Somehow, she seemed to know and understand he was sorry, more concerned of his predicament than of his foolish deed.
The others began attacking Beldam again, but nothing was working. The way things were going, they were all pretty much done for. Koops tried his best to recreate the dream; almost everything in it was happening here, but it ended on a sour note, with no indication as to how or if he got out of her mouth.
Meanwhile, Vivian twitched in her grasp, air getting harder to come by. Her lungs racked her with a horrible, aching desire to breathe, causing her to squirm, scratch, and bite her way out, but it was useless. The tighter her tail got, the more apparent it was that she was slowly squeezing the life out of her. She desperately gasped for air, the pressure keeping her poor, compressed lungs from getting the precious breath they urgently needed. Squirming some more, she managed to get her hands free, magic collecting on her fingers. She could only hoped it'd work...
His strength fleeting, Koops was ready to give up and accept defeat when Beldam suddenly let him go, roaring in pain. Flailing about, he plummeted to the frozen ground below, then quickly retracted into his shell. He waited for a shattering impact, but only felt... someone catch him and place him on the floor.
Confused, he eased out of his shell, he saw it was who've saved him.
"W-What just happened?" He asked, afraid to turn around. "...Why'd she let me go?"
She handed him his sword. "Apparently, Vivian managed to unleash one of her fiery spells and got both of you out of that bind. Well-played on her part..."
He looked up to see she was right; Beldam shook her head around in pain, a severe burn on the side of her face. Almost on cue, Vivian appeared from the shadows nearby, gasping for air.
"Sorry..." she wheezed. "...I... I kinda missed..."
"Well, that doesn't cut it!" said Waffles. "Why didn't you go for the eyes? You could've at least blinded her!"
For once, it was Koops who was about to retort, but Beldam recovered and slammed her tail between them, enraged.
"Inssssolence! You actually think you sssstand a chance at defeating me?! The great Sssshadow Queen?!" she hissed, diving into the floor.
Everyone scattered and made their way to the door, hoping she wouldn't be able to follow. Unfortunately, she smashed through it, the wall, and almost the ceiling as if they were nothing. She crashed through pillars and broke down even doors in her pursuit. They finally managed to escape into a large chamber, as she was stalled by her hood being lodged between a pair of stubborn pillars.
Panting, Waffles fell over. "Man! She's... She's way too powerful for us to fight now!"
"He's got a point," voiced an exhausted Bobbery. "Even with the Crystal Stars, nothing's happening!"
Flurrie scratched her head. "Are we perhaps we're doing something wrong?"
"No, that's not it," voiced an emotionless Ms. Mowz. "By absorbing the Amethyst Star, she now is the Amethyst Star. The only way to defeat her now is to defeat that."
"But how?" asked Goombella. "You said it yourself; all seven of the other Crystal Stars are nowhere near as powerful! And even though we're all together, we still can't seem to do anything! What gives?"
"Yes, taking the Crystal Stars is how you defeated Beldam. In case you haven't noticed, she's in a whole new form now, and requires a new strategy to defeat. Unfortunately, nothing was ever said about that in the scroll..."
Waffles frowned, grabbing his Star. "What a load of bunk! Can't we, like... absorb these things like she did and become super awesome ultimate invincible superheroes, or something?"
"We don't have the spells, expertise, or containment for that. The results would be disastrous."
"Aw, come on! That's what always happens in the movies!"
Vivian lowered her head. If what Ms. Mowz said earlier was true, there was only one true way to defeat Beldam. And it would require a grim sacrifice...
"But... but we can't give up now! We're so close to getting rid of her once and for all! We've just got to think of a way to beat this psycho--"
Goombella didn't have time to finish before Beldam crashed through the wall, her hissing filling the room. Seeing a woozy Vivian trying to flee, she shot out a beam of ice, just missing her.
"You can't esssscape me!" she roared, firing more ice, only for it to be intercepted by a large chunk of stone falling from the ceiling.
"This... isn't... working...!" panted Goombella, running for cover.
Beldam whipped herself around and slammed her gigantic tail into the floor, causing a huge fissure that nearly tore the room apart. The chamber exploded into fury of chaos, with debris flying everywhere, walls caving in, and a catastrophic rumble that could've rivaled the one the Shadow Queen used to destroy Central Harbor a millennium ago. The rumbling seemed to go on forever, sending everyone in the room either into a cracked wall or the jagged, upturned floor.
The disastrous crash was followed by a deathly silence; the scene was similar to a battlefield racked with lifeless soldiers. Koops groggily stood up from rubble, dizzy from the assault. The Diamond Star hung around him hesitantly, mirroring his cautious actions.
He looked around the area for any movement, but was frightened when nothing emerged. The room was dark and dreary from the remains caused by her rampage. Pillars had been uprooted, huge holes were in the ceiling, and seemingly bottomless cracks filled the floor. Realizing Vivian was no longer with him, he began to scour the area.
"Vivian? Vivian, where are you?" he called, starting to panic. "Can you hear me?"
His calls were soon answered by the Shadow Siren appearing from the shadows nearby, her Ruby Star floating around her loyally. She clutched her head in pain, but was otherwise fine. He approached, securing his arm around her and hiding behind a broken pillar.
"...There you are. You had me worried there for a second," he sighed. When she didn't say anything, he frowned. "...What's wrong?"
"We can't win..." she muttered, a tear falling from her hidden eyes. "W-we just can't... not like this..."
"Just stay with me. I promise we'll beat her... somehow."
He looked up at the sounds of rubble moving and people groaning. Peeking over the pillar, he saw Goombella, Flurrie, Waffles, and Bobbery surface, their respective Stars hovering beside them. Not surprisingly, Ms. Mowz and her Star sat off to the side, perfectly unscathed.
He smiled. "There, see? Everyone's all right. All we have to do now is come up with a plan. And we'll do it together."
She looked up at him, her doubts melting away at his words. And he had such a warm and certain face, so full of confidence and love. She smiled sadly, wishing his way was true.
"Hey, I don't see Beldam anywhere. Do you?" Waffles asked Goombella, staring into a bottomless pit.
"Uh! Waffles, haven't you learned anything about expecting the unexpected? Get away from there before you fall in!" she scolded.
"Aw, don't worry about me. I can--"
He was cut off as the floor began to rumble, a huge tremor ravaging the room. No sooner had it started, Beldam blasted out of the hole Waffles was looking down, throwing him back into the others, who collapsed in a heap behind a pillar.
Everyone glared at him and he shrugged. "Uh, like I was saying... Maybe we should stay low for now?"
On the other side of the room, Koops ducked behind a pillar. Beldam hissed, her forked tongue whipping about in an effort to track down her prey. It wasn't long before she caught wind of Vivian's disgustingly sweet smell and jerked her hood around to the source.
"Pathetic!" she mocked, slamming her tail down in their direction.
Koops pushed Vivian down and out of the way, Beldam's tail shattering their refuge. She raised it and was ready to try again when an egg splattered across her snout.
"Nyeh!" Waffles stuck his tongue out. "Looks like you've got egg on your face! Ha ha!"
"You!" Fuming, she turned and gave chase.
Seeing this as a distraction, Koops grabbed Vivian again and dove behind the new rubble caused by her attack. He made sure to keep the Shadow Siren by his side, quietly shushing her.
"We've got to get back to the others, and fast... Maybe then we can figure out a way to stop her."
Vivian squirmed uncomfortably in his arm and sighed. The truth churned within her, wanting to be let loose before it was too late... but it would break poor Koops' little heart. She couldn't bear to see him sad after all he went through to try and save her... But it was for the best...
Irritated, she roughly pushed herself away, getting a confused look from hm. "I-I... I know how to stop her..."
"Really?" Koops smiled, despite being a little skeptical. "How? What do we have to do?"
Sighing, she approached and squeezed his hands tight. "Koops... you have to kill me."
"...W-what?!" He shook his head, thinking what he heard was a result of the battle going to his head. "What'd you... just say?"
She took a deep breath, letting out a shaky exhale. "...I may not have the Amethyst Star's power anymore, but... it's still a part of me, and I'm a part of it. If I die... it will, too."
"Vivian, I'm not doing that... I can't..."
"Please... You have to... It's the only way."
"No... There has to be another way. There's got to be... We've gone through too much already! We can't give up now!"
He tried to hug her, but she remained distant, not wanting to be embraced. Her expression struck fear into his heart. It was strangely calm, accompanied with a sad smile. Her eyes were dull and unfocused, making him wonder if she even knew what she was talking about anymore. She suddenly found it difficult to look at him face-to-face, feeling her throat tighten at the disappointment in his hopeful, green eyes.
"I know we've been through a lot lately, and we haven't known each other for too long, but... I have to do this." A tear trickled down her face.
"It's just doubt, that all." He smiled, rubbing it away. "I'll make sure we get through this, okay?"
"No... Beldam's tapped into the Amethyst Star, and she can do anything she wants to now. Even with the other Crystal Stars, we can't put a dent in her defenses. And it's useless to fight her hand-to-hand..."
Koops shook his head. "But if Mario could use the Crystal Stars to defeat the Shadow Queen, we can use them to beat Beldam! If they worked one way for him, they'll work another way for us!"
She sniffled, causing more tears to flow. "Why do you choose now of all times to stop listening to me? Just take this..." She grabbed Koops' sword, putting the blade's tip on her stomach. "...and stab it here, as hard as you can..."
"N-no, I-I can't... I can't do it..." He dropped the sword and grabbed her as tight as he could. "I-I can't lose you again... I just can't!"
The sword's loud clang against some debris caught Beldam's attention. Waffles threw another egg, but it did nothing to deter her. "Thought you could try and trick me?! The Sssshadow Queen?! You won't esssscape me thissss time!"
"There's no way around it..." Vivian lowered her head. "Either you kill me now, or Beldam will take control of this land and soon, the world. ...I couldn't live with myself if that happened and I did nothing to stop it."
"B-but..! The legend! ...It said...!"
"...Please, Koops... This madness has got to stop, and the Crystal Stars need to be sealed back into the Thousand-Year Door so nothing like this will ever happen again." She caressed her Ruby Star, then let it go. "I know it's hard... but do it for me..."
At this point, Koops could feel the tears burning in his eyes. "I... c-can't..."
"Yes, you can..." She handed him the sword and smiled. "Think of the Four Heroes. They gave their lives just so the Crystal Stars would be safe. You can't let their efforts be in vain..."
Beldam was fast approaching, her hissing getting louder, along with the cries of the others to get out of the way. Somehow, Koops seemed to block of all this out of his mind, totally focused on Vivian. She stood there before him, a look of forlorn hope darkening her face. He wasn't sure if he could take losing her again... Life just wasn't worth living without her charm... her essence... her grace... He squeezed his eyes tight in frustration, torn between what he wanted and what was right.
He grimaced as he felt Vivian's warm arms wrap around him, squeezing hard. She knew he would do the right thing, even if it meant killing the one nearest to his heart. He balled up his fists.
"I love you..." she whispered, closing her eyes and nuzzling his cheek.
Koops nodded, a pair of tears falling. "...I love you, too..."
...Slowly raising his sword, he let one more tear drop as he blindly stabbed it forward as fast as he could. Part of him hoped he'd missed, but he was sorely mistaken as Vivian threw back her head with a wail, her fingers clawing his shell. He nearly had to bite through his own tongue as he felt it pierce through her body, practically slicing her in half. She jerked sharply in pain, making pained gasps and groans as she began to fully realize the severity of her wound. He could feel her warm, innocent blood trickle down his wrist, guilt stinging his hand like acid. The hardest part over, she gritted her teeth and whimpered, breathing erratically from the blow.
Time seemed to stop as the reality of his deed began to sink in. Koops could only stare off into nothingness, pained by the sound of her raspy breathing. Instinctively, he glanced at Vivian, frightened and upset at what he'd done... Her expression was dull and lifeless with a pained smile that tore at his very being. Her head fell against his shoulder with a calm sigh, face wincing.
He could tell she was in unspeakable pain, but she refused to admit it, only letting out a few more groans. Her chest huffed and puffed frantically, quivering in pain of his strength; he'd stabbed her hard enough to kill, and she mentally thanked him for making it so swift. She then moved her hand between them and gripped the hilt of the sword, pulling it out fast and hard. Without the blade to support her body, she fell with dead thump to the ground, a pool of red oozing out from underneath her.
Collapsing, Vivian's hat fell from her head, letting her hair spill out across the floor with her blood. Her revealed eyes weakly looked upon Koops, and she smiled again, retaining a peaceful gaze of requited love.
...How Koops longed to turn the sword on himself. He'd done a horrible, horrible thing... It should've been a crime to kill someone so pure and innocent. Vivian lay before him, her majestic beauty reduced to nothing but a lifeless slump... Her blood was all over his hands, arms, and shirt, torturing him with the truth...
He didn't care if she wanted him to do it! He loved her and she loved him! ...And he... he killed her! He killed her! What was he thinking?!
"Koops! Whaddya doing?! Get outta there!" someone screamed.
Snapping himself out of it, he darted out of the charging Beldam's path, who slammed her head into the wall. She shook it off angrily, mad that she'd missed such an easy target.
"You'll pay for that, you--!" Then, for seemingly no reason, she faltered and let out of a terrible screech of pain, proving Vivian's theory had come true. Just as she'd been fatally wounded, so had the Amethyst Star.
Koops gave her the coldest stare he possibly could. Just then, right there, a new thought struck him; one born out of pure hate and sorrow. Vivian's death wasn't his fault after all, none of this madness was... It was Beldam's fault.
Vivian's tattered self-esteem was because of her! The Shadow Queen was reborn because of her! The only reason they were all down here was because of her! The only reason he had kill his one true love was HER!
"You're nothing more than horrible monster!" he barked at the seething snake. "And I'm not gonna let some gutless snake control my life! You don't deserve to live!"
Koops ran for her with all his might, driven by the pain of Vivian's sacrifice. Seeing him coming, Beldam dove into the ground to kill him once and for all, but he avoided her at the last moment and made a blind slash, hoping to at least hit something.
And he did.
He suddenly found his arms drenched in what looked like black blood, accompanied by another one of Beldam's earsplitting yowls. Gazing up at her thrashing head, he noticed a deep gash in her left eye, with more black blood streaming from it. From what he could see, he'd sliced her entire eyeball in half, rendering her blind.
Seeing an open opportunity, Waffles hurled an egg at her, getting several questionable glances from everyone expect Ms. Mowz.
"What?!" he shrugged. "At least I'm trying to help!"
Goombella jumped on top of the fallen pillar they'd hid behind. "Waffles' right! We can't just sit here and do nothing! I say we give her all got while we have the chance!"
She bounded over and rammed into Beldam, inching her toward a particularly deep crevasse. The impact made her recoil, but she shook it off and did it again. Koops was shocked, to say the least.
It wasn't long before the others came to back her up, the Crystal Stars unknowingly fueling them with newfound power. Waffles Ground Pounded her tail, Bobbery joined Goombella in ramming into her, and Flurrie released strong winds, gradually pushing her closer to the crevasse. Surprisingly, their attacks seemed to be having an affect this time, pushing Beldam closer and closer to the crevasse until a section of her hung over it. Feeling this, she quickly realized what they were trying to do and retaliated.
She snapped, spouted ice, and thrashed about, trying to hit everyone at once, but for every attacker she smacked away, two more harassed her from behind. In a last-ditch attempt to save herself, she launched a surprise snap on Koops, who was the furthest away. He managed to get out of range, but one of her fangs sliced through an arm, dowsing it with deadly, black poison. Letting out an anguished scream, he clutched his poisoned arm, tearing up at the burning acid ravaging his wound.
Taking advantage of this, Beldam knocked him off his feet with her tail, sending him tumbling down it and almost into hole behind her. Fortunately, Koops avoided it by turning on his shell and slid down to the midsection of her body, using his good arm to stab her with enough force to split a concrete floor in two.
With one last shriek, Beldam lost her balance and fell into the hole. She whipped the tip of her tail around to grab onto the ledge, but it was too weak to support her and broke apart as her tail grabbed it. Then, she spotted Koops barely hanging from the edge, his sword in his mouth.
"If I'm doing down, I'll take you with me!" she hissed, wrapping her tail around him. "You will never again ssssee the light of day!"
With his bad arm, Koops was powerless to stop her, but the Diamond Star came to his rescue by delivering a final blow to her bad eye, causing her to let go and plunge into the darkness with an echoing roar of defeat that seemed to go on forever...
Above the crevasse, everyone waited and listened for an impact at the bottom, but were startled to hear nothing... No crash, no voices, no sign of her return... Just a slight breeze blowing up from the bottom, probably the result of her falling into it. Glances of confusion and shock were endlessly exchanged.
"Do you think we...?" whispered Goombella.
Bobbery peered into the hole. "I'm not quite sure..."
Flurrie made a face. "Maybe..."
Waffles jumped into the air. "YES! We did it! We actually did it! She's not coming back this time!"
Although reluctant at first, everyone soon joined in on his celebrating by shaking hands, giving congratulatory pats on backs, and breathing a much-needed sigh of relief. The darkness of several millennia had finally passed, and they were privileged to know they were responsible for its eradication. They'd done themselves and billions of people a favor by purging the world of the Shadow Queen's reign; Mario couldn't have done better himself.
Goombella abruptly stopped rejoicing and looked around. "...Wait, where's Koops? Did anyone see where he went?"
She was answered with several shrugs and questionable glances from the group until Waffles pointed at the crevasse.
"Look! Over there!"
Koops had managed to keep hold onto the ledge, despite being a little shaken up at his death-defying escape. Unfortunately, he wasn't out of the woods yet; he could feel his weakened grip slowly slipping, his blood-drenched hands making it difficult to hold on. He tried pulling himself up with one hand, but such a feat proved impossible. And with a poisoned arm hanging useless by his side, it was only a matter of time before he joined Beldam in her demise. His feet scrambled against the ledge he hung from, trying to give him the boost he needed, but without the momentum of a pair of arms, he couldn't hoist himself up... He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt his fingers separate from the ledge when a pair of small hands grabbed his wrist.
Reluctantly, he looked up to see it was Waffles, his diaper in Goombella's teeth, who was being held by Ms. Mowz, who was holding onto Bobbery, who was being held by Flurrie. He couldn't believe it; they were all working together to save him...?
"Dude!" grunted Waffles, the blood also making his grip slippery. "You... gotta try to... hang on! You can't... just die on us! Not after... all that!"
"Mmmphmmmmphpphmh!" shouted Goombella, Waffles' diaper clouding her dialogue.
"Yes, Koops!" added Ms. Mowz. "Please hang on dear life!"
"I should say, old boy! Keep a stiff upper lip there!" called out Bobbery.
"They're right, dearie!" said Flurrie. "Come now, just a little further..."
After a few more tense seconds, they all managed to pull Koops back to safety of the narrow ledge. Afterwards, everybody other than the rodent and Koopa fell over from exhaustion. It'd been a long fight, and it was safe to say that all had given some, while some had given all...
Despite his terrible condition, Koops weakly stood and managed to quickly limp over to Vivian's body, falling to his knees once he reached her. He panted, lungs burning and heart still racing from the ordeal. His body ached, he was bleeding badly and moments away from passing out, but he didn't care. The only thing that could ease his pain was to have her nearby... But he knew she wouldn't be around much longer... His friends could only glance sadly at one another, also knowing this.
Swallowing hard, he carefully turned her over. She had a hand clutching her stab wound, which was oozing blood. Both her gloved hands were completely covered in it. She was still suffering from the earlier blow, her breath coming in short, trembling gasps.
Seeing his arm, her face saddened. "...Koops...? Y-your arm..."
He shook his head, disregarding his wound. "That doesn't matter... I'm... just so... sorry... for all of this..."
"...Don't be. You had no choice..."
"But... I could've done something to prevent this!" He pounded his good arm into the floor. "...This wasn't supposed to happen...!"
She closed her eyes. "...If anyone should be sorry... it should be me..."
"Don't say that. None of this was your fault..." He forced a smile, tearing up at her apology. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."
She tried to say something else, but choked. Her eyes fought to stay open, but all they wanted to do was close... She was so tired, mentally and physically... She could feel herself slowly fading away as her vision began to blur.
Koops pulled her close, holding onto her as hard as he could. It was almost as if he were trying to hold onto to dying soul... But that wasn't the case, for he knew what happened was meant to happen. Just like his mother before, he knew he had to let her go...
Regardless, he wanted her to know that he was still there... He'd always be there, for nothing would ever keep him from her again, not even death... He wanted her to know how sorry he was for everything she went through, whether it was his fault or not.
...And he could tell she thanked him for that in every way possible. She'd made peace with herself and could go on without suffering. Her friends had survived and she had no regrets, knowing she'd given herself up for a good cause. If she had to, she would've done it again in a heartbeat.
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Vivian shuddered, sneering at the resulting sting. Koops cringed as he felt her hand pulling against his shirt in pain.
"No, no. Just lie still. We'll get you some help and... you'll be fine. It's just a small wound... We can fix this..."
She smiled sadly, knowing he was in denial. She was too far gone, and no amount of treatment and care could bring her back. Already, she could hear the faint beating of her heart becoming more evident in her head. In such a short amount of time, it'd gone from a strong, healthy pulse to a frail, sickly one, racked with skips and sputters. She winced and gasped at every incomplete beat it struggled to spurt. ...She felt it could stop any minute.
"...I-it'll be okay. You can rest now... Everything's going to be fine, I promise." Koops soothed. He could tell by her distant gaze it wouldn't be long.
"...Rest..." she repeated, still smiling. "...Lillian's resting, isn't she...? In the good place...?"
He nodded, more tears coming at the remembrance of what he told her. "That's right. She's with my mom, remember...?"
"...Yes..." She placed her head on his good arm, drifting off. "...And... happy..."
"Yeah, they both are. That's why they call the 'good place'... You know that, right?"
"..."
"...Vivian?" he asked, hoping she'd respond with a sigh, a whisper, a shudder--anything that showed she was still alive.
...But she didn't answer, didn't move... He felt her go limp, her hand slowly losing its grip.
He grabbed her hand and held it tight. "Vivian, wake up. I'm right here... I'm here! Wake up...!"
Horrified, he held her bloody hand to his cheek, hoping to feel its warmth. But there was nothing, no feeling at all. It was then he noticed she was no longer breathing, her body still and heavy... He stared at her a moment longer, then dropped his head, sobbing. He let go of her hand and hugged her body tight, cradling it longingly. The smile on her face remained, happy to've died while listening to his words become faded, intelligible language, then... silence.
He buried his head into her lifeless chest, torn at not being able to hear her gentle, beating heart. Her body was once so warm, so soft and full of life. Instead, all he felt was cold; harsh, brutal cold like the snow all around them. There was little difference between the two now...
The others had finally realized that Vivian had passed on and lowered their heads in remorse, either crying or on the verge of it. Goombella seemed to be taking it the hardest. Despite this, Ms. Mowz remained unaffected, her focus on the Crystal Stars. The crystalline objects had begun to glow and were acting very strangely.
Sniffling, his head still buried in her chest, Koops noticed something odd about Vivian's body, like it was somehow slipping away from him... Looking up, he saw he was right; in a dazzling array of red sparkles, she dissipated, the particles gracefully dispersing across the area... As the rest of her body disappeared, the only thing left behind was Flurrie's necklace, which fell to the ground where she once was. Needless to say, everyone else was just as shocked.
"Wh... W-what's going on...? W-where's she...?" asked a tearful Goombella.
Ms. Mowz nodded. "I assume Koops already told you, but I'll reiterate; Vivian wasn't born a Shadow Siren, only made as one and claimed as a Stellar Being. Therefore, if she's ever killed, she will simply revert back into what she came from: the power the Ruby Star."
Koops looked on in confusion, unsure of what to feel. Shame, anger, sadness, aggravation, and shock all churned within him, as he watched her vanish before his very eyes. Frustrated, he looked up, only to be greeted by his own reflection the glowing Diamond Star. It was then everyone noticed their Stars were doing the same.
Each one shimmered rhythmically before their Holder as if thanking them for banishing the evil and setting them free once again. Then, just as Vivian had departed, each Star flew up and away, disappearing near the ceiling, their destination unknown. The only that remained was the Ruby Star, staying by Koops. Judging from it actions, it didn't want to follow the others. Was it...?
"V-Vivian...?"
The Star did nothing, but something about its soft, warm glow mesmerized him. Curious and distraught, he placed a hand on it, hoping for it to somehow ease his pain. Closing his eyes, he almost thought he could see her, hear her, feel her from within... He wasn't sure if it was the Star's doing, or wishful thinking, but he had a vision; a quick, fleeting one, but a vision, nonetheless...
In it, he saw himself and Vivian standing before each other, their surroundings bathed in a light of dazzling red. She was wearing a beautiful dress of a pink similar to her hair. The waist and collar were covered with rubies and amethysts, while fancy designs of roses graced her delicate outfit. Her hair was done up in a ponytail of curls, blowing gently in the warm air that wafted by. And a golden tiara adorned with more rubies replaced her hat, highlighting the beauty of her revealed eyes.
If Koops didn't know any better, he would've thought she looked just like... a princess...
She held out a transparent hand to him and he looked it, confused. Carefully, he extended his hand as well, and she took it, overlapping her fingers with his. They touched palms and squeezed tightly for a brief moment, then Vivian let go. With one last smile, she turned and began walking away into the glistening background of red, not once looking back...
...In a flash, everything had reverted back to normal, and Koops was no closer to accepting the fact that she was gone. The Ruby Star left his reach, reluctantly flying away before disappearing, taking a part of him with it...
The area soon fell into a solemn silence at the departure of the last Star, their friend, ally, and companion. The still air of the room was filled with emotion, regret, and unsaid things the Shadow Siren would've loved to hear. Koops picked up Flurrie's necklace, cradling it just as he had her. He shook his head in disgust at what he'd grown accustomed to calling it. The necklace no longer belonged to Flurrie; it was Vivian's now, whether she was there to wear it or not.
...Shuddering, he coughed up blood. Unable to take her the pain of Vivian's passing any longer, Koops suddenly lost the will to stay conscious and collapsed. The poison in his arm had been ravaging his body for a good while, finally forcing him to succumb to it. It'd been residing in him too long, and he was beginning to feel its fatal pangs.
But maybe it was for the best... Maybe he was destined to follow Vivian no matter where she went, even if it was to the afterlife. Because he'd go to the "good place", and finally have the one thing that'd the two most longed for...
Happiness.
It was like a dream she couldn't remember... Everything seemed to be there one minute, then gone the next... She could feel her pain melting away and being replaced with warmth and happiness... Her surroundings were bright and she thought she heard voices... They were coming from all over the place, all garbled and unintelligible. She was eager to find out what was going on, and what had happened... Did they truly defeat Beldam? Was she back home with Koops and the others? Had the whole thing been just a dream...?
Vivian pondered this as she stood on the brink of nowhere, staring off into a dark area of nothingness. Thick, white fog blew from her behind her, beckoning her with its warmth. Despite this, she was reluctant to enter it, unsure if it held any promise...
Another puff brushed by, revealing Lillian to her side. Her appearance seemed transparent and ghostlike, wearing the exact dress she had on when she died.
"It's been a long time coming, hasn't it?" she asked.
Vivian hung her head. "I know... It all just happened so fast..."
Lillian nodded. "They usually do..."
"But it's not fair..." she responded, wiping her damp face. Seeing this, Lillian placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It never was. But I'm sure things'll be different from now on..."
That wasn't what she wanted to hear, as she didn't care whether it applied there or not. Nothing ever seemed to go right for her; what sorrow that pursued her in life even followed her beyond. It was all so dispiriting, knowing she was close to happiness, only to be torn away at the last second. She'd rather be alive and content than dead and longing... She looked into the bleak view before her and sighed, thinking of what could've been.
Teary-eyed, she looked to her sibling. "Will I really be... happy here...?"
"Sure you will. It might hurt now, but give it time..." Lillian took her hand, leading her away from the abyss and into the fog. "C'mon, it's time to go home..."
Authoress' Notes: Wanna chase me down with pitchforks and torches for the "Romeo & Juliet"–esque ending? Go ahead; you're supposed to! Plus, didn't I say there was gonna be an epilogue? And, as you can probably see, Koops' dream in Chapter 8 had a purpose after all, huh?
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It didn't seem right; it didn't seem fair. He wasn't a bad person... He didn't deserve this, and neither did she.
Was this supposed to happen? And if not, then why did it? His head hurt from the earlier trauma, but he'd survive the night; the same could be said for her...
The danger was gone now, up and left like a storm that served no purpose but to dismantle and destroy. She was gone now, too, an undeserving victim of said storm. He knew he couldn't survive long without her, but what was he supposed to do? Where was he supposed to go? There was no one he could go to for help... and the night was fast approaching.
He continued to wander around aimlessly, wanting to live, waiting to die, and hoping... for an answer.