Chapter 7: Setting the Stage

(Back at the Lost Hex)

Ty and Eggman were glaring strongly against each other.

Eggman- You think you're smarter than me?!

Ty- Tails admitted I'm better than him and we all know he's way better than you, egg belly! Me Bunyip machines are all at least 20 times more advanced than any crap you've made!

Eggman- Really? Then why did you leave them behind?

Ty- Because Sonic warned me about how the Deadly Six hijacked your mechs. But I still have plenty of me tools to shut down the machine, and I can do it on me own, mate!

Mario- Will you two stop arguing over which one's smarter!

Orbot- Mario does have a point, doctor. Can't we save this for after we stop the Deadly Six?

Ty and Eggman folded their arms and turned their heads.

Ty- Fine, mate.

Sonic put his hand on his forehead.

Sonic- Sheesh! I expected this shit from Eggman, but not from you Ty!

Bowser- I figured the orange fuzzball would be more concerned about his son like I am with Jr.

Donkey Kong- If the Deadly Six are working with Tabuu, does that mean they are his followers too?

Sonic- I doubt it, DK. I might've beaten the Deadly Six's asses, but I didn't kill them. Besides, Zavok prefers to the be guy in charge.

Luigi- Besides, if they were, the radar on Ty's computer would've notified us if anything using Tabuu's power came close to any of our homes.

Cubot- You have a radar that detect Tabuu?

Sonic- Sort of. There are some complications, like if Tabuu's follower turn off Tabuu's power, they can roam undetected. But none of Tabuu's followers can do that for long, because they'll die if they do since his power is what's keeping them alive. We learned that after how Nazo almost dropped dead when Tabuu disconnected him from that sample of his power.

Ty- Really wish I could've saved more data before Tabuu crashed the event in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Bowser- Right, your silly event in the Mushroom Kingdom you held a few weeks ago.

Cubot- What a coincidence. That's the same time Sonic told Orbot and me it was the boss' birthday.

Eggman- Wait?! You?! So that's why Orbot and Cubot were pestering me that day thinking it was my birthday! I should've known you had something to do with that, Sonic!

Sonic- Not my fault you never told tweedled dee and tweedled dumb when your real birthday is. I just needed to make sure you didn't cause trouble…not that it mattered, because Bowser here crashed the event. And then Tabuu did later that night.

Mario- If we keep arguing like this, we're doomed already.

Then Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Sonic, Ty, Bowser, Eggman, Orbot, and Cubot continued their way to the Deadly Six's hideout.

(At the Deadly Six's hideout)

Zavok and the rest of the Deadly Six were watching Sonic and the others on a computer monitor. Tabuu was also there, but on a videophone.

Master Zik- Well, now we know which members of the team are up here and which ones are down below fighting Tabuu's troops.

Zavok- And both Mario and Sonic are coming to us. Perfect.

Zomom took a big bite out a huge sandwich he was eating before talking with half his mouth full.

Zomom- But that stupid Doctor Eggman is with them.

Zazz- Still, it should be easy pickings with the team divided.

Tabuu- I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you, Zazz. Although they are slightly divided, they are still a force to be recon with. After all, Sonic took you guys down pretty much single handed last time.

Zavok- Don't remind me!

Tabuu- Besides, even individually, they won't go down so easily. See that gorilla there? That's Donkey Kong, the muscle of the team. He might be as intelligent as an ameba, but he's also strong enough to lift Zomom with his left pinky and perfectly keep him balanced on it while his right paw is tied behind his back at just a fraction of his strength.

Zazz- WOW! That is pretty strong.

Zomom- Hey! I'm not that fat! (BELCH)

Tabuu- That little green dinosaur, Yoshi, he has just as much of an appetite as Zomom. If not, more so. In fact, eating just about anything he wraps his tongue around is one of his main strengths. And trust me, he's swallowed many things bigger than his own body.

Zeena- Shit! That is worse than Zomom. I'd hate to invite him over for dinner.

Tabuu- And then there's that Tasmanian tiger, Ty. A brilliant strategist, gifted mechanic, and considered to be one of the greatest geniuses of our time.

Zeena- Hold on a second…he looks familiar…

Master Zik- Probably because you kidnapped his son, Zeena. You did say the parents of that little Tasmanian tiger cub came in before you got away.

Zor- That would explain why the Tasmanian Tiger is here.

Tabuu- And let's not forget the Super Mario Brothers…who I hate the most! Honestly, I don't know what he saw his ancestor!

Zavok- Who saw something in Mario's ancestor?

Tabuu- Right, you don't know. Believe it or not, I once had a twin brother. And he was the only one who was able to match my power one on one. As much as I hate to admit it, me and my brother were equals. But then he paid the Mushroom Kingdom a visit and made a new friend. And when the Mushroom Kingdom was being attacked by the Koopas, my brother granted his new friend the power to fight back. Where do you think all of those power-up items in the Mushroom Kingdom came from?

Master Zik- And what happened to your brother?

Tabuu- Let's just say I removed him from the family tree before he could warn the original Super Mario Brothers.

Then Zavok noticed Bowser in the group.

Zavok- But who is that?

Tabuu- That is Bowser. However, he is not a member of the Super Mario Brothers' Team. In fact, he's Mario's nemesis just as Doctor Eggman is Sonic's.

Zavok- Strange. I can understand Eggman working with Sonic to stop us…but why Bowser?

Tabuu- Maybe is has something to do with Bowser Jr. being placed in one of those capsules. I recognize several of the children your group has kidnapped and I see Bowser's son in that one.

Zavok looks at the capsule with Bowser Jr. inside of it.

Zazz- Boss, isn't that the little guy you grabbed from Dark Land before Zomom and I foolishly brought back a talking Poke'mon?

Master Zik- Perhaps we should call in for some reinforcements?

Tabuu- I'm afraid my hands are tied right now. You see, I have to coordinate my own troops who are about to attack the Mushroom Kingdom to help speed up the machine's job. And I've already gotten every single one of them that I was able to completely reviving down there, except for Dimentio who's acting as your bodyguard. I'm afraid I can't offer you any more than Dimentio's service and that sample of my power I lent to Zavok. But I'm sure you'll do just fine even without the things I've already offered. But now I must go and turn my attention to the Mushroom Kingdom and keep everything in order. Even with Palutena and Viridi trying to prevent the good guys from losing too much energy from the fighting and with Princess Peach and Starlow trying to hold the machine back with the power of wishing. Good luck to you though.

Tabuu hangs up the videophone and Dimentio suddenly appears in the room.

Dimentio- Isn't this lovely. Enjoying your chat with Master Tabuu?

Zazz- GAHH! Don't sneak up on us like that!

Master Zik- Agreed! You want to give this old man a heart attack?!

Dimentio- Forgive me, Master Zik. I just thought I'd let you know, the trap for the Mario Brothers and their friends is ready and waiting for them. All that's left is for those ****ers to show. It's going to be one magic show they'll never forget.

Zavok- Then don't just stand there like a lamppost. Get to your station and be ready to greet them when they arrive.

Dimentio- As you wish. Ciao.