Chapter 27: Imposter from Reality
"You're…" Vivian was incapable of speech.
"…what's wrong?" Double D asked. He felt the top of his head, and screamed at himself the second he realized his hat was missing. "OH NO!"
He covered his head with both hands. He had long black hair that looked messy (because it was constantly underneath his hat), though as a shadow, it didn't matter what color his hair was.
Though the most odd and notable feature seemed to be hiding behind shady hair. On a high point of his forehead, there was a metallic-like circular object. It was no larger than a quarter in size. On this object seemingly imbedded on Double D's forehead, was a carved symbol of an eye.
Double D shouted, taking back his slightly torn hat and placing it on his head. He had no die what would happen next.
Vivian looked to be in disbelief. "…I know who you are."
"WHAT!" Double D asked. "If she knows I'm Double D, we may have to fight… and neither of us are in condition for that."
"How long have you been in this dimension?" She asked.
"How did you know about-"
The bell tolled again. Double D panicked. Even though the curse was already free, the bell still told him something important.
"We're late! We should already be in the belfry!" Double D said to Vivian.
She still seemed out of it.
"Please…I can't do this alone. Help, please!"
Vivian only nodded.
"So, what are we doing here?" Koops asked Mario.
"I got a message from-a someone claiming to be Double D."
The 'Double D' with them took a step backwards.
"The person said there's been a mix-up." Mario continued.
The doors burst open revealing two shadows behind them.
"Are you the one who contacted me?" Mario asked.
"Listen, all of you!" The real Double D ran into the room. "He's an imposter!"
Nazz looked over to both Double Ds. She let out a chuckle. "Yeah, sure."
"No, I am!" The real one said.
"I hate liars more then I hate dorks!" Kevin shouted, charging up to the shadow.
"Fire Shield!" Double D exclaimed and a shield of fire caused Kevin to freeze in his tracks.
"Fire…" Vivian thought. She gasped. "Aside from the shadow sirens, there is only one person I know who can do that. Double D. This means you're…"
Double D looked confused. "But didn't you say you already knew?"
Vivian was crying. "One who I have sworn to destroy by my sister. I helped you."
"Vivian…"
"This was all just a scheme to get what you wanted?" She asked. "So, giving me this cast and bandage was only a tactical move to get what you wanted?"
"It wasn't like that."
"Shut up!" Vivian growled. Double D retaliated. "I should have known better then to trust anyone!" Vivian cried, going over to the door.
"WAIT!" Double D shouted.
But it was by now too late. The doors opened and slammed shut revealing she had gone.
"Now that you are finished fighting with your girlfriend…" the fake Double D said. "I do believe we have a battle to start."
"No, I don't want to fight you." Double D said.
"Because you're too chicken to face us 1 vs. 11!" The fake one said.
"Because I don't want to hurt any of you." Double D said to the group.
His mimic laughed.
Double D looked up and growled. "Except you!"
Double D pointed at his imposter and ran at him as fast as he could.
But Nazz intercepted the attack. She punched him right across the face. Double D only shielded himself from her following blows.
"Nazz, get back here!" his imposter demanded. She returned.
Double D made another attempt to attack his mimic, but Goombella and Koops swarmed around him and pinned him right onto the floor.
Double D had to fight back, otherwise he'd be killed.
He jumped and forced the others off of his back. He tried to point to his fake. His fingertip started glowing, just like it would for any other type of fire spell.
"Fire!"
The fake one beat him to it. Double D flew against the wall. The crash was unbearable for him.
"That aught to do it." Nazz said, pleased.
"No!" The mimic ordered. "Keep attacking him!"
"But he's down, let's just go!" Jimmy said.
"No, kill him!" The imposter demanded.
Kevin ran ahead again. He revealed a large wrench, another one. As if in a sword fight, they used their rod/wrench in combat. Fierce clanging and sparks flew from every connection of the two weapons.
Jimmy ran ahead and slammed his hammer onto Double D. He struck the wall again. He groaned in pain and pleaded for it to stop.
Flurrie slammed into him with a hard, terrible force.
"Good, now hurry!" The mimic ordered.
Rolf ran ahead and whacked him with the rock-hard bag of his.
"Now, if Slick here can finish this off." his mimic said, gesturing over to Eduardo jr.
Eduardo Jr. nodded. "Nobody tries to mimic dad." he said. He attempted to land right on Double D, but missed. Double D rolled away before he could do any damage.
The little Yoshi ran back over to the mimic.
"Sorry, dad. I'm hit 'im next time!" he said, partially smiling.
His mimic yelled in frustration and hit Eduardo jr down onto the floor. "Everyone else could do it, why not you, slick?"
"Dad, how could you?"
"Get a grip, infant! I'm not you're daddy! Get a brain, slick!"
"Double D, that's horrible!" Goombella shouted in disgust.
"I used to like you." Nazz said, looking as equally disgusted.
"Now, go attack! Make sure this time he's done in!" Double D's mimic ordered.
"No." the little yoshi ran over to the real one and helped him up.
"What are you doing, traitor!" his mimic asked.
"Ya think I don't know my own dad?" The little Yoshi asked angrily.
"AHHHH!" His mimic ran up to them both.
With a series of hits, he continued until he fell on the floor.
"Stop!" Vivian shouted, randomly running into the fight.
"Vivian?" Double D asked.
"Fire Ball!" she shouted, pointing with her unbroken arm.
Fire shot from her finger and crashed right into the mimic.
"And who are you to do that?" The mimic sounded very annoyed.
"Vivian, the shadow siren." Vivian answered with her eyes narrowed. "Nice to meet you, Doopliss."
"How did you learn my name?" The mimic shouted with a shocked face.
"A little birdie told me."
"Doopliss? So, you are an imposter!" Rolf shouted.
"No!" Doopliss shouted.
"I should have known Double D would never act like that." Goombella said.
"Now…" Double D said. "I think it unwise to fight 1 vs. 12."
"I won't forget this, slick!" Dooplis quickly ran up towards Double D.
As he passed by, there was a sudden flash. When it cleared, Doopliss returned to his original form underneath his white sheet and Double D became normal again. Doopliss continued running until he was no longer visible.
"I can't believe we were-a tricked like that. We all owe you apologies." Mario said.
"What did you mean, 1 vs. 12?" Eddy asked with a raised eyebrow.
Vivian showed herself to the group.
"YOU!" Rolf shouted suddenly, running towards her. It took about half of the group to hold him back.
"It's one of those creeps we met at Boggly Woods!" Nazz shouted.
"Rolf shall never forgive you for attempting to take over the tree!" Rolf was growling like a monster.
"Yeah, take a hike!" Goombella said with an equally angered look.
Vivian didn't say anything.
"Do us a favor and just return to the shadows where you belong!" Rolf snapped.
Vivian looked back at Double D, crying.
"Listen to yourselves." he said. "Vivian saved me!"
She gasped.
"If it hadn't been for her, you would have all gone along with the real monster. I owe my life to her."
"But she's evil! Even a dork like you isn't that dumb!" Kevin shouted.
"She's no-were near evil! In fact, quite the opposite! She's one of the greatest people I have ever known!" Double D said.
"…fine. If you trust her, then we all do." Mario said.
They all nodded, except for Rolf who growled quietly.
"Thank you for sticking up for me." Vivian said timidly. "I don't deserve to be treated this nicely."
"Yes, you do." Double D smiled and she smiled back.
"By the way." She held out a red star. "You were here for a crystal star? This is what you want?"
"Where did you-"
"Found it when I left the fight." she said.
"Thank you." Double D said, gratefully accepting the star.
