Chapter 18: Ghost of An Old Friend

(Unknown area)

In this place that resembled a dark limbo, there appeared to be two figures in this dark place with nothing but black nothing as far as the eye can see. One of them was beginning to stir. Then it's revealed to be Olivia. Olivia attempted to pull herself together, but Olivia felt very weak.

Olivia- What just…happened…I feel so…faint…

Then Olivia looked over and saw Olly lying down as well.

Olivia- Olly…? Olly…wake up!

Even though Olivia felt drained of her strength, she mustered what energy she could to move to Olly and attempt to shake him awake.

Olivia- Olly…brother, please…wake up…

Then Olly managed to open his eyes and slowly lift his head.

Olly- Olivia…(moan)…what happened…?

Olivia- Not sure…but I feel so…

Olivia almost fainted, but Olly managed to get up and catch Olivia before she hit the ground.

Olly- Easy, Olivia…(pant)…wait…that ritual…Tabuu…

Olivia- Are we…dead again…?

Olly- No…I don't think so…but this doesn't feel right…

Olivia- So sleepy…

Olly- Olivia! Don't!

Olly slapped Olivia in the face and stopped Olivia from falling asleep.

Olly- Sorry about that, Olivia, but I feel like if we fall asleep…we won't be able to wake up again!

Olivia- Easier said than done…so weak…

Olly- That must be it…the Origami Empress is draining the life from our souls. Which means the longer we waste time in here, the more the Origami Empress drains the life out of us!

Olivia- But what can we do, Olly?

Olly- I don't know…but we can't just let Tabuu get the last laugh on us! I won't let your game end this way, Olivia!

Then Olly noticed Tabuu's mark wasn't on Olivia's left palm.

Olly- Huh…?

Olivia- What is it, Olly?

Olly- How did you remove Tabuu's mark from your body?

Olivia- Oh, that's right! Mario removed it!

Olly- Mario…removed it?

Olivia- Mario has this sword that belonged to his ancestor, Marco Mario, which has the power to destroy Tabuu's power. I'll admit, touching that sword with Tabuu's mark was as painful as touching an iron, but it removed Tabuu's mark from me like that.

Olly- That's it!

Olivia- What is?

Olly- That means the Origami Empress has a weak spot! Like an Achilles' heel! Since she was remade from our paper, Tabuu's power was what allowed her to maintain our bodies like it was her own. But since Tabuu's mark was removed from you before Tabuu realized it, there is a part of her body that be harmed by that sword Tabuu fears so much!

Olivia- But…which part?

Olly- I don't know…in fact, I don't even know how to tell Mario. We're still trapped in here.

Olivia- Then…it's hopeless? Are you saying…we should just give up?

Mysterious voice- Giving in to darkness and disperse? That's not like you, Olivia.

Olivia- Hang on…that voice…can it be…

Then Olivia and Olly looked behind them and saw what appeared to be the ghost of a Bob-bomb standing right behind them. Olivia seemed to recognize this Bob-bomb and tears formed in her eyes at the sight of him.

Olivia- BOBBY!

Olivia rushed to hug Bobby, but her body just went through him.

Bobby- Sorry Olivia, but I'm still a ghost. You can't physically touch me.

Olivia- Sorry, forgot.

Olly- What are you even doing here?

Bobby- I'm here to help Olivia like how she helped me while I traveled with her and Mario for parts of Paper Mario: The Origami King. Like Olly said, there is now a spot that Marco Mario's sword can affect. The Achilles's heel at Olly stated. On the Origami Empress' chest is a large purple heart. That's the spot! That's the Achilles heel!

Olly- Seriously!

Bobby- Seriously. And that means there is a chance Mario and his team can stop this madness and free you from this dark prison.

Olivia- You're right! Thanks Bobby! You always know what to say to make me feel better!

Olly- But how are we going to inform Mario? We're still trapped in this void.

Bobby- Actually…I brought along someone who might be able to help you with that problem.

Olly and Olivia (at the same time)- Huh…?

Bobby- I didn't come here by myself. Actually, he was the one who dragged me from the Overthere so I could speak to you. You might find him…familiar…

Then Olly and Olivia saw someone else moving in the darkness of this black limbo. When he moved closer to them, Olly and Olivia got a faint glimpse at this stranger. But he appeared to have a similar build to Mario and even had a mustache like Mario's. But unlike Mario, this mysterious person wasn't wearing a hat. In fact, he wasn't dressed like a plumber. And he had what appeared to be a sheathed sword strapped to his left him.

Olivia- You look just like…

Olly- Hang on…I know who you are! You're…

Mysterious figure- No time for chat. I can grant you a chance to speak with Mario, but it will not last for very long. So, I need to make this quick.

Then the mysterious figure drew his sword and sliced open a rift in this void of darkness, filling it with light.

(Back in the Origami Empress' Temple)

The Origami Empress Dragon grabbed Donkey Kong and Ho-Oh and pinned them both to the ground with her claws. Donkey Kong tried to punch at the arm grabbing him while Ho-Oh tried to blast her in the face with sacred fire. However, neither was doing much to damage her. As she began to crush DK and Ho-Oh in her grip, Super Sonic rammed into her from her left with a spin dash and knocked her to the wall. However, the Origami Empress Dragon knocked Super Sonic to the ground with a swipe of her tail and left a large creator in the ground.

Fire Luigi- This is insane! Nothing we try seems to work!

Ultra Mario- I know! Even Marco's sword won't scratch her!

Bowser- Well, I'm not quitting! I have to get the origami girl out of that Empress!

Fire Luigi- But how?

Suddenly, Ultra Mario, Fire Luigi, and Bowser heard a voice speaking to them.

Olivia's voice- …r…io…Ma…io…Mar…io

Ultra Mario- Wait…Olivia?!

Then Olivia's image suddenly appeared in the large purple heart on the chest of Origami Empress Dragon.

Bowser- Olivia?!

Olivia- Please…help me…