Next chapter done!
Enjoy! ;)
Chapter 18: The third Star Cure
After the group went back to the Pipe Yard, they looked around and wondered which pipe could take them to Plack Beach. Then, something came on Yoshi's mind and he asked Melissa:
"Say, back at the fight with our memory clones, did you give your blessing to me so that my power of the Star Children could release?"
"I did. You're a Star Child as well, Yoshi. It seems like you were able to lay a giant egg instead of a regular one with the power of the Magical Star inside of you." Melissa answered.
"That leaves three more remaining…" Starlow stated.
"Well, how about we split up and head to one of those pipes?" Mario suggested. "It looks like only three are accessible right now."
"Good idea." Peach nodded. "I and Yoshi will take the blue pipe, Wario and DK will take the yellow one, and Mario, Luigi and Starlow will take the black one."
"Alright, I'll be staying here until you come back." Melissa said.
The group nodded and split up to head inside each chosen pipe.
The blue pipe took Yoshi and Peach at Blubble Lake while the yellow pipe took Wario and Donkey Kong at Cavi Cape. Both duos decided to explore their respective areas a bit to see if they could find anything interesting that Bowser missed.
For Mario, Luigi and Starlow, the black pipe took them…to Bowser's Castle.
"Great… Why did it have to take us to Bowser's Castle?" Luigi facepalmed.
"Hmm… Fawful really did such a remodel in here." Mario looked around.
"Hey, Mario!" Starlow called out. "That room over there… There's something there."
"And how do you know?"
"Call it Star Sprite sense. Something's just not right…"
The trio went into the room Starlow just pointed out and found three red buttons positioned in front of a door.
"Those sure are some giant buttons, huh…" Starlow inspected the three buttons. "You think the door in the back opens up if we press those things?"
"Strange… I've been exploring Bowser's Castle for so many years and I don't remember this room…" Mario puzzled.
"Maybe you missed some hints about this room in the castle or something…"
The trio went towards each button and pressed them at the same time. Once they did, Mario hammers the green button in the door to open it.
"It opened!" Luigi exclaimed.
"I wonder what's in the other side?" Mario wondered.
"Listen, Mario, I don't know what's in there, but I get a REALLY bad feeling about it…" Starlow warned.
They all took a deep breath and went in. On the other side, they found themselves in a cold room like a giant freezer. Up ahead above some metal platforms were very familiar beings frozen in the ice…
"Brr… It's quite chilly in here!" Luigi shivered.
"I can barely see something inside those ice cubes, but they're showing something that we've seen before…" Mario squints his eyes to try to see what's inside the cubes.
"I can also see it, but I'm not familiar with it at all." Starlow said.
"Say, what does this button do?"
Mario walks to the red button on the left and presses it with his hammer. Suddenly, the room began to shake as it became steamy, causing the first three ice cubes to melt…revealing three Shroobs! Both Mario Brothers gasped in shock as the Shroobs collapsed on the floor.
"What are they?" Starlow questioned.
"NO! NOT THEM AGAIN! ANYTHING BUT THEM!" Luigi went in utter panic as he covers his face with his cap.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I…can't believe it! I thought all of them were gone for good after two months!" Mario said in shock.
"What's with you two?!" Starlow wanted to know.
"Starlow… Me, Luigi, Sonic, Tails and our younger selves encountered these aliens called Shroobs that invaded the Mushroom Kingdom two months ago. We managed to defeat them, but I never knew that some of them survived and ended up in here at Bowser's Castle! Just why are they here?"
"I guess Bowser must have grabbed some of the survivors and cryogenically frozen them…" Starlow guessed. "As always, his hobbies are pretty much pure evil."
Just then, the Shroobs woke up and noticed the trio.
"%$*&#$!" the Shroob in the front spoke. "(&%#$*)!"
The three Shroobs then jumped off the platform and aimed their laser guns at the trio.
"OH GOD!" Luigi flinched.
"We have no choice but to take them down again…" Mario glares at the Shroobs as he stands in his fighting stance. "Even without Sonic and Tails or our younger selves, we can do this!"
The Shroobs fired their laser guns at Mario and Luigi, but they dodged them. The brothers quickly absorb their Fire Flower since they already knew that fire and ice are the Shroobs' weakness and started shooting fireballs at them. They managed to defeat one of them, probably because that one was the weakest.
The two Shroobs fired a quick laser at each Mario Bro, and they didn't had time to dodge, so they were hit by the lasers, causing the Fire Flower's effect on them to wear off.
"Ouch… That's a new one…" Luigi groaned.
"Hmm, in that case, let's try this Star Candy!" Mario pulled out the Star Candy from his pocket, and it split into two so that both brothers could eat it. After eating their Star Candies, some of their health was restored and their bruises were gone.
"Wow! This is actually very tasty!" Luigi exclaimed.
"Thanks for this item, Melissa." Mario thought with a smile.
The bros used the Spin Pipe in order to finish both Shroobs, and the latter were knocked on the ground before exploding.
"Golly, that was scary…" Luigi shuddered.
"Yeah… Alien invasions are no fun!" Starlow remarked. "What I can't believe is that you and your friends defeated those things as kids! Only you could do that, Mario!"
"Hey! What about me? I fought hard as well!" Luigi interfered.
"Oh, is that so?" Starlow asked. Luigi nodded. "Heehee! Did you attack them with some ferocious crying?" she mocked. This made Luigi very disappointed that he cresfalls.
"Actually, it was thanks to Luigi's younger self that we managed to find the weakness of the Shroobs, which were baby tears, as weird as that sounds." Mario explained. "And because they're the same person, you should be thankful for Luigi as well, Starlow."
"Really? Oh… Wow. I'm sorry, Luigi. You really are super." Starlow apologized.
"I am? Yay!" Luigi lifts his head in happiness before jumping in joy.
"Yes, you're both super."
"Wait… What's this?" Mario noticed something green sparkling on the floor. He leans close to it and saw what appears to be a key's pin with two bits. "I think this piece dropped by the Shroobs' remains!" he picks it up.
"This appears to be a piece of some sort of key…" Starlow pondered. "Maybe one of our friends might know about this piece. So let's quit dawdling and get back to work!"
"Yeah! Let's get the heck out of here!" Luigi said.
They exit Bowser's Castle through the same black pipe.
Later…
Everyone regrouped back inside the Pipe Yard and rejoined with Melissa.
"So, how did it went?" she asked.
"Well, we only found a couple of pieces belonging to some sort of puzzle at Blubble Lake." Peach told.
"We found a sack containing lots of puzzle pieces too at Cavi Cape." Wario added.
"And we found what appears to be a key piece at Bowser's Castle." Mario finished.
"Interesting. Could I see those puzzle pieces first?" Melissa requested. Peach, Yoshi, Wario and Donkey Kong showed her the puzzle pieces and she immediately recognized them: "Hey! Those are the puzzle pieces belonging to Kuzzle, the second sage!"
"Alright. What about this key piece?" Starlow asked as Mario shows the piece.
"Wait! That's a piece of one of my castle's keys!" Peach exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Yes! This key, the Green Key, unlocks the door leading to the pedestal that'll let us access a shortcut to Star Shrine! But how did it got broken into pieces?"
"We're not so sure, but we need to find the rest of the key pieces if we want to head to Star Shrine after breaking the barrier in Peach's Castle." Melissa said.
"But the problem is; none of the pipes led us to Plack Beach." Donkey Kong shook his head.
"Well, one of the pipes led you at Cavi Cape, right? If we go through there, we can access Plack Beach!" Melissa exclaimed.
"All right! Then let's go!" Mario fist pumps.
"Actually, would you mind sitting in here for a while, Mario?" Melissa spoke to him.
"What?"
"Since I'll be the one speaking to the sage, I'll have to disguise as someone since I'll be outside of Bowser's body again."
"Oh, right. So you'll disguise as me?"
"Mmhm."
"Okay, I'll wait here, then."
Melissa then takes out her Magical Rose and uses it to disguise herself as Mario, still keeping the rose brooch.
"I'll make sure to guide you all the best as I can!" *Melissa assured, speaking in Mario's voice.
"Good luck!" Mario waved as the group went in the yellow pipe.
Outside, once they exited Cavi Cape and reached Plack Beach, Yoshi asked *Melissa:
"So, where is the last sage located?"
"The last sage, Chakron, is located at the very top of those cliffs in the distance. We just have to head north to reach them." *Melissa pointed.
"We're going to climb all of that?!" Wario flinched.
"Yes. It's not that hard, actually."
The group walked all the way to the north and climbed the cliff of Plack Beach. After some minutes of climbing, they finally reached the top, where they found a purple octopus with a pink mouth and pink tentacles motionlessly meditating.
"The mists of consciousness part, and seven figures emerge. Why?" Chakron questioned. "Here, in this place, Chakron meditates on the nature of all. It is Chakron's special place. And outsiders who disturb the mental peace are not welcome."
"We didn't mean to disturb you, Chakron." *Melissa said. "You might not believe it at first, but I am Princess Melissa, and I came here with my friends to talk to you."
"Hmm? Melissa, the princess of the stars?" Chakron raised an eyebrow. That is, until he noticed the brooch on the overalls' right strap on *Melissa, and his eyes widened. "Oh! Chakron is very surprised! It's been a while, your highness. But why are you disguising as a different person?"
"I'm doing this because I'm hiding from a certain enemy that wants to break the seal on the Dark Star. I'm sure you know that I'm the only one who can break the seal."
"Yes, I do. And if you're doing this for your safety, I understand. Anyways, what do you want to talk about?"
"Melissa told us that you have a Star Cure, and we really need it!" Starlow interfered, flying next to Chakron.
"You are a very strange being. Popping out of nowhere. Odd." Chakron said. "Besides, I am very busy."
"And what are you busy with? You're just standing here doing absolutely nothing!" Wario scolded.
"Truly? Look up."
The group looked at the sky, seeing it filled with stars from the Star Realm, but were still confused.
"And…?" Wario questioned.
"You look at the sky and this pose and still do not know?" Chakron asked. The group nodded. "You are unenlightened. That is why you are in a cosmic pickle. This pose absorbs waves from the deep parts of outer space. The waves crash upon my mind's shore. I am a mental beach. With the power of outer space upon me, I can do anything. Of late, large waves have rolled in, and wisdom surfs upon them. My brain hangs ten. And how long have I surfed? A thousand years. A thousand."
"A thousand years?! Why don't you take a break already?! Everyone needs breaks!" Starlow stated.
"In truth…I would enjoy that. Meditation does grow tiresome. But breaking out of my state of perfect balance will be hard. A thousand-year balance… My body rhythm is like stone. I'll make a deal: If you somehow found a way to break such an impenetrable rhythm, the Star Cure…is yours."
Luigi then walks toward Chakron and does some poking and tickling on his tentacles. But Chakron scoffed:
"No. Do not be childish. Tickling and poking do nothing. This balance can only be upset by some sort of POW! Some sort of drastic event."
"Oh." Luigi stops poking and tickling. "If that's the case, we should use all of our strongest moves."
"Sounds like a good idea, mate." Donkey Kong agreed.
Yoshi then begins by throwing Egg Bombs at Chakron, but they did not make him budge.
"Nope." He shook his head.
"Yeah, that was too weak." Yoshi remarked.
Peach did a Peach Bomber at Chakron next, but nothing.
"Seriously?" Peach was surprised.
Wario went after him with his Wario Bike move, but not even that made him tilt.
"Oh come ON!" Wario growled.
Donkey Kong, being the strongest of the group, did a fully charged Giant Punch at Chakron, but like usual…nothing. He then attempts a Hand Slap instead, but once again…nothing. "This isn't working! Starlow! Could you give your blessing to me?"
"Sure!" Starlow nodded and concentrated, causing a golden aura to appear around Donkey Kong.
"Now we're talking, baby!" he smirked.
He grabs hold of Chakron's head and does his best to push him to the ground. However, despite being so strong, Donkey Kong wasn't even able to move Chakron an inch.
"WHAT?!" Donkey Kong didn't believe that. His aura disappears.
"Step out, ape! Let me try it again!" Wario shoved Donkey Kong out of the way and did his strongest shoulder tackle at Chakron, but he was still holding perfect balance.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Wario was losing his mind.
"Wow… He's really tough…" *Melissa murmured.
"Nothing! I feel nothing!" Chakron said. "Not even close. Not a wiggle. Not a single astral shimmy. Give it up."
"No… I'M NOT GIVING UP!" Wario yelled as he continues to use shoulder tackles at Chakron.
"Unless we find another way of knocking Chakron down, Wario's going to be doing this all day…" Yoshi sweatdropped.
"Hmm, hold on… 'Astral shimmy'? That's it!" *Melissa thought. She starts concentrating; who is she giving the blessing to?
"Eh?" suddenly, Wario stops doing shoulder tackles once a golden aura appears around his body. "Hey! Is that… Of course!" he cracks his knuckles while smirking. The rest of the group looked at him astonished.
"Wait, Wario is a Star Child?!" Yoshi wasn't expecting that.
"No way!" Luigi flinched.
"Melissa! Did you give him your blessing?" Peach asked.
"I did." *Melissa nodded. She then tells Wario: "Wario! Do an attack that makes you shake the ground!"
"An attack that shakes the ground? Got it!" Wario replied. "In that case… Time for my Butt Smash!"
He jumps into the air and slams his butt to the ground. All of a sudden, as soon as Wario's bottom touched the ground, a very strong and HUGE shockwave emerged in all sides, and miraculously, that shockwave was enough to knock down Chakron's meditating pose!
The rest of the shockwave also killed every single enemy Plack Beach has, blew the Chakron statues placed around and knocked down the rest of the heroes. Everyone were in utter shock after that.
"Oh…my…god." Peach was speechless.
"What did I just watch…?" Yoshi's eyes widened.
"I know Wario is nearly as powerful as I am, but DAMN!" Donkey Kong yelled in surprise.
"Okay… I'm officially scared of him more now…" Luigi gulped.
"THAT. WAS. AWESOME!" Wario yelled in excitement while fist pumping. "Thanks a lot for your help, Melissa!"
"Um, you're welcome…" *Melissa replied awkwardly.
The group on the floor got back up as Chakron speaks:
"This new pose displeases me… And gluing all those posts back together will be very tiresome. And now a thousand-year pose has fallen into the past's void. Outer space waves will crash now on an empty mental shore… I requested my balance upset, but did not believe. How sad. But I am already over my saddened state. I am at peace."
The group became speechless. That is, until Starlow broke the silence and demanded impatiently:
"Hey! Hand it over!"
"No, I do not feel like it now. Leave me at one with the sky." Chakron refused.
Starlow's eye began to twitch in anger, in which the group noticed.
"Uh oh, here it comes…" Luigi warned as the rest of the group covered their ears.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU'RE A SAGE! YOU MADE A DEAL WITH US! SO YOU MUST FULFILL IT!" Starlow yelled furiously.
"Yes… I made. Wait…a moment. I lack…energy…"
Chakron drags himself with his tentacles…and ends up falling down the cliff!
"W-Whoa! Hold up!" *Melissa called out as everyone panicked.
Just then, the green Star Cure flew up and slowly descended towards them. Chakron came back now doing an upside-down pose.
"I offer this!" he said.
With that, the group takes the last Star Cure. All three Star Cures were now in their possession!
"Oh. This new pose pleases me greatly. Waves of energy flow up from the earth to me. I shall now assume this pose for a hundred years. Well. If you would leave me to my meditations…"
"OK! We have all three of the Star Cures! Let's go back inside Bowser and let Mario know!" Starlow told.
"Thanks, Chakron. I hope you enjoy your new pose for as long as you can." *Melissa thanked.
"You're welcome, your highness. Let us hope that the bad guys won't ever find you."
The group waved to him and left Plack Beach.
To be continued…
Looks like I was able to add that optional part where the Mario Bros encounter the Shroobs! I had to add that so that they could explain more about that adventure to Starlow. And I also decided to add a new 'quest', which will be the hunt for the three Green Key pieces. The thing is, I'm going to be including all three keys from Peach's Castle: the Blue Key is the one recommended, the Red Key unlocks the door where the Magikoopas are imprisoned, while the Green Key just unlocks a door to get a piece of clothing. Because of that, I decided to give the Green Key a different role, which will be gaining access to the shortcut to Star Shrine. The hunt for the keys will begin at the next chapter.
Wow! Who would expect that Wario's Star Child power is the only one able to knock down Chakron's pose? I wanted to change the purpose so that I could reveal that Wario is a Star Child since I couldn't find another way for that. But don't worry! I WILL include the part where Mario gets kidnapped by the Sockops at Dimble Wood! This will show up at the next chapter when the group will search for the other two Green Key pieces.
All of the Star Cures are in our heroes' possession! Now the only things remaining are assemble them and to find the key pieces to access Star Shrine aka Melissa's Castle! Until the next chapter! Please review.
