Chapter 17: When Nazo Strikes

(Star Haven)

Star Haven, ordinarily one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the Mushroom Kingdom. It is a huge city high in the sky that it's always night time there. It's almost as if everything in Star Haven is made out of solid and beautiful lights with how everything sparkles. And there are the Seven Star Spirits who are the leaders of Star Haven. They live in a huge temple where they not only run the city of Star Haven, but guard their most precious treasure, the Star Rod. However, today it's now all in ruins. A bright green light appeared in Star Haven and Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Silver, and Twink appeared when it faded.

Luigi- Holly shit! What happened here?!

Almost every building was either on fire or blown to pieces. The bodies of wounded Star people and their blood were lying all over the place. And countless creators in the ground as if something smashed right through the place.

Luigi- I've never seen so much destruction in one setting in my life!

Silver- I agree. This almost makes the future I came from look welcoming!

Then Mario saw one of the Seven Star Spirits, Eldstar, lying on the ground nearby.

Mario- Eldstar!

Mario rushed over to Eldstar and held him up a bit.

Eldstar- Mario…he's going after the Star Rod…you must stop him…

Eldstar passes out.

Mario- Twink, you better stay here and help the injured Star people. It's too dangerous for you. Let us handle it.

(At the Star Spirits' Temple)

Sonic, Mario, Luigi, and Silver were rushing in as fast as they could. Surprisingly, the temple was the only building left unscathed. Mario looked behind him for a moment to look at Luigi and Silver.

Mario- We're almost there! Keep your eyes out for…

Suddenly, Mario ran into Sonic and fell to the ground a bit.

Mario- Sonic, why did you stop all of a sudden?!

Mario looked up at Sonic and saw something in Sonic's eyes. The expression in Sonic's eyes filled Mario with fear as he slowly moved his eyes to look at what Sonic was looking at.

Sonic- YOU!

Standing on the roof of the temple was Nazo holding the Star Rod and repeatedly tossing the Star Rod in his hand while "boss music 4" from Sonic Adventure 2 played in the background.

Nazo- Long time no see, Sonic. What's it been? Eight year? Goodness! It's been much too long.

Sonic- Not long enough I would say, you basturd!

Nazo- Come now, Sonic. Is that any way to talk to someone you haven't seen ages? You need to learn better manners. But how rude of me. It's also a pleasure to meet you as well, Mario and Luigi.

Mario- You…know our names…?

Sonic- Quit the games, Nazo! How is it you're still alive?! Hyper Shadic turned you into dust eight years ago!

Nazo- I guess you can say there was someone looking out for me that day. And now I have a debt to pay off.

Then Sonic noticed something strange about Nazo.

Mario- Sonic, do you see it too?

Sonic- Yeah, on Nazo's left palm. There's a strange marking imprinted there.

Each time Nazo tossed the Star Rod in the air, Mario and Sonic caught a glimpse a bazar mark on the left palm. It looked like a set of rainbow colored wing and the mark was even glowing a bit.

Sonic- Look Nazo, just hand over the Star Rod and no one gets hurt.

Nazo- A little late for that, Sonic. Haven't you seen what I did to this place when these Star people refused to hand over the Star Rod?

Luigi- But how did he even know about the Star Rod?

Mario- Good question. Only you, me, and a few of our friend know about the Star Rod and…(Gasp)…

Nazo- That's right! That ugly freak who's constantly mistaking us hedgehogs for rats told me all about it!

Nazo stopped tossing the Star Rod over and over and jumped off the roof of the temple. Then Nazo walked up to Mario, Sonic, Luigi, and Silver.

Nazo- I will ask, did Mario tell you what's so special about this Star Rod or should I have the honors?

Mario and Luigi just growled a bit at Nazo.

Nazo- Alright then. Allow me to shed some light on what your plumber friends have been hiding from you. This little rod right here actually has the power to grant the one who wields it any wish they desire. Including for what I need it for. Now because you know very well of what I'm capable of and because I'm in a hurry, I'll give you this one warning. Move out of the way! Fighting me is futile. And you can't summon Hyper Shadic, because Shadow's not here.

Mario- And let you make off with the Star Rod? I don't think so!

The Chaos Emerald appeared and rotated around Sonic and Silver as they transformed into Super Sonic and Super Silver. Nazo looked around and saw Mario, Super Sonic, Luigi, and Super Silver were surrounding him. Nazo chuckled and placed the Star Rod on his back like a sheathed sword.

Nazo- So you want to do this the hard way? Fine. I can afford to play with you for old time sakes.

Mysterious voice- (In Nazo's mind) Remember…I want them alive…

Nazo- (Thinks) Yes, I know.

Super Sonic charged for Nazo and tried to punch him, but Nazo block it. Then Nazo noticed Luigi behind him as Luigi hit Nazo with a perfectly timed Super Jump Punch and made a mini explosion and knocked Nazo into the air a bit.

Nazo- I can't believe you managed to hurt me like that! Guess I underestimated you Mario Brothers.

Then Nazo created a large ball of energy and fired it at them.

Mario- Luigi, take this!

Mario pulled out two stars and Mario and Luigi each ate one. That turned them into Invincible Mario and Invincible Luigi as they knocked the energy blast away. Invincible Mario and Invincible Luigi tried to charge for Nazo, but Nazo flew a few feet into the air.

Invincible Luigi- What's wrong? To scared to fight us? Come down here you chicken!

Nazo- And fight you while you're immune to my attacks? I think I'll stay up here until the star invincibility expires.

Invincible Mario- He knows about the star invincibility?!

Nazo- I know much more about you Mario Brothers than you realize. Your fire flowers, the flying raccoon power, the magic cape, and even your special red star power up. However, it was not Bowser who told me. I know someone who hates you Mario Brothers just as much. Maybe even more so. But really, I'm just stalling you.

Suddenly, the invincibility wore off and Mario and Luigi were back to normal.

Nazo- And now that you're no longer invincible…

Nazo vanishes with Chaos Control. Mario and Luigi tried to figure out where he was gonna appear, but then they each felt a hand grab hold of their heads. Nazo appeared behind them and slammed Mario and Luigi's heads together like a head-butt.

Nazo- Now that's using your heads.

Mario rubbed the red mark on his forehead for a minute. Luigi charged for Nazo and tried to do the Super Jump Punch again, but Nazo stepped to the right and tripped Luigi. Before Luigi could hit the ground, Nazo reached into Luigi's pants and gave him an atomic wedgie. Luigi was wearing white underwear with patterns of pink bunnies.

Nazo- Nice undies, greenie weenie.

Then Nazo literally kicked Luigi's butt and knocked him a few feet away. Luigi laid on the ground with tears in his eyes and his underwear hanging out.

Luigi- (Moan) The…pain…

Then Nazo's body got covered with a glowing aura and Nazo couldn't move.

Super Silver- It's no use! I've got you in my psychic grip!

Nazo- You must be Silver. The hedgehog who came from the damned future where the world was destroyed by the Flames of Disaster and traveled back in time to prevent such flames from spreading. You should've stayed in your future, but then again…there won't be a future for you to return to!

Suddenly, Super Silver noticed that Nazo was actually starting to move a little, even though he had already used his powers to pin him. Then the aura surrounding Nazo faded and Nazo could move again.

Super Silver- Impossible! He broke free from my power!

Nazo charged for Super Silver and punched him in the chest and knocked him to the ground. Nazo noticed the ground beneath him was starting to crack a bit, but before he could react, Super Sonic popped out of the ground and hit Nazo with an uppercut.

Super Sonic- Hope Knuckles won't mind if I borrowed a move from his playbook.

Nazo whipped some blood off the side of his face and put a determined look on his face. Nazo fired an energy blast at Super Sonic, but Super Sonic dodged and kicked Nazo in the face. Super Sonic made a couple of punches to Nazo, but then Nazo put his hand together over his head and slammed them into the top of Super Sonic's head and knocked him to the ground. Suddenly, Nazo felt someone tapping on his shoulder from behind.

Cat Mario- Meow, Nazo!

As soon as Nazo turned around, Cat Mario used his claws the scratch Nazo's face. Nazo cupped his face with both hands and took a few steps backwards.

Super Sonic- A cat power up? That's a new one, Mario.

Cat Mario- Oh, I've got a bunch of different power up abilities you haven't seen yet.

Nazo took his hands off of his face and there were three large scratch marks covering most of his face. Nazo also looked like he was fighting back tears in his eyes and wanted to wring Cat Mario's neck.

Nazo- I can see why he wants you dead! You're just as annoying and hard to kill as Sonic is! You're just lucky I was ordered to keep the two of you alive at all cost!

Cat Mario- You were ordered?!

Super Sonic- You're taking orders from someone else?!

Nazo- Shit! I've said too much!

Super Sonic- So who's pulling your stings, Nazo?

Nazo- Try and make me.

Super Sonic tried his spin dash attack, but Nazo caught him and punched Super Sonic in the face a few times. Then Nazo grabbed hold of Super Sonic and threw him against the Star Spirits' Temple. Then Cat Mario tried to scratch him from behind again, but Nazo blocked Cat Mario's claws and kicked him on the side of his face. This not only knocked Cat Mario a few feet away from Nazo, but also changed Cat Mario back into regular Mario. Just as Nazo thought it was over, a fireball hit the left side of Nazo's face. Nazo held his face and saw Fire Luigi, still with his underwear handing out. Then Super Silver appeared from behind and hit Nazo with a beam of psychic energy. Then Super Sonic and Mario got back up and were still ready to fight.

Nazo- Damn it! This is becoming more trouble than it's worth! Let's see if you can still stand after this!

Suddenly, Nazo's body was being covered by his own energy as it burst from all around, creating one huge explosion on the entire area. After the explosion, Nazo looked around and all four of his opponents were down. Luigi was out cold under some of the debris from the temple while most of his outfit was torn to pieces and he had open wounds on parts of his body. Silver was lying a few feet away and was also covered in open wounds. Mario and Sonic were lying directly in front of where Nazo was standing and they too were knocked out and covered in open wounds.

Nazo- Damn it! They made me waste too much of my time. At least I got the Star Rod. Now I can make it before my deadline.

Nazo began walking away until he heard something.

Sonic- Not yet…

Nazo turned around and saw Sonic getting back up and barely standing.

Nazo- You know you can't win.

Sonic- Maybe so…but I'm too stubborn to know when I'm beat!

Nazo- A trait will have to break.

Then Sonic and Nazo swung a punch with their left fists. When the two fists collided, Sonic's head began to get filled with strange visions.

(In the vision)

A wounded Nazo was sealed in a small ring and was lying somewhere while it was raining and thunder and lightning was striking. Nazo barely had the strength to peek out of the ring he put himself in and saw through the flash of lightning that someone was approaching him.

Mysterious monster- You look like you could use some help.

Nazo- Who…are…you…

Mysterious monster- Someone who wants revenge just as much as you.

(In another vision)

Nazo was placed in a life tube as his body was regenerating.

Mysterious monster- Once your body had been fully restored, I will need you to help me.

Nazo- If you're so powerful…why do you need my help…

Mysterious monster- There is a curse placed on my body, preventing me from leaving this hellhole. That's why I need someone like you to help free me from this prison.

(In another vision)

The mysterious monster placed a mark on Nazo's left palm.

Mysterious monster- This mark will give you a small dose of my power. You'll need them for your mission. I require you to find two items of great power. The Master Emerald from Mobius and the Star Rod from the Mushroom Kingdom. With both of those items, I will finally be free from this place.

Nazo- Just remember to hold your end of our deal.

Mysterious monster- Of course. You free me from this prison and I return what you have lost during your fight with Hyper Shadic.

(Back in Star Haven when the visions ended)

Sonic- Who was that…?

Nazo- Hmm?

Sonic- The one who gave you that!

Nazo- Oh. You want to know about this.

Nazo showed Sonic the mark on his left palm.

Nazo- Like I said before, I know someone who want you dead. More than Bowser and more than Eggman. But there isn't time to explain now. If you want the answers…come to Grand Metropolis three days from now at midnight. All of your questions about the world merge, about me, and…about him…will be answered there. I'll be waiting.

Nazo turned around and began walking away. Sonic fell back to the ground and Nazo began fading from Sonic's vision as he lost consciousness.