Chapter 71: Walking into the Shadows
"…I can't believe what happened." Eddy said.
He and the others around him were slowly returning to their normal forms.
Double D sighed. He knew that despite the fact that they were stone, they were still completely aware of the entire scene that had occurred.
"…May!" Lee shouted and May's head turned towards her sister.
"Lee…" She responded silently.
She gave a look toward her sister, a sad one. She looked very guilty.
"…sister." Lee said.
May looked back up, her eyes watering. "Lee?"
"…We're back together." Lee said. "It's… good to see you again. The real you."
May began to sob, running towards Lee. She jumped into May's arms and let out all of her sadness. Lee, being sad herself, didn't fight back.
"…I'd never thought I'd say this, but isn't that hart-warming?" Kevin asked.
"It's a bond that can't be broken, a sibling's bond." Double D said.
"…yeah." Sarah said.
Double D realized Sarah still remembered nothing of her past, or anything about having a brother.
"Plank and I want to know…" Johnny said. "What happened to Beldam?"
Double D looked down to Vivian, who was still lying on the ground.
"Beldam… she did this too herself." Double D said.
"She was a terrible witch." Rolf said.
"…she has committed evils that were beyond redemption." Double D said.
Even though the chamber was underground, he could feel a slight breeze brushing the little hair that breached his hat.
"Spreading misery, kidnapping, torture… murder." Double D stated, putting a harsh tone to his last word.
"Murder?" Nazz asked. "…she was a murderer?"
Jimmy sighed, looking ready to faint. "Then I battled an assassin?"
He began to fall, but Sarah caught him.
"You were fighting to protect me." Sarah said. "…I don't know how I can ever repay you… my hero."
Jimmy blushed.
"Aw, ain't baby sister and her persnickety ally cute?" Ed asked, resuming his usual attitude.
Double D sighed. "Beldam may have been a powerful witch who used manipulation to do her work, but in the end, it was her own obsession to hurt others that led to her downfall."
Still, he hated to see someone come to an end like that. He took another look into the lava.
"…but of all the ways to go, that was-a extreme." Mario stated.
"It had to be done." Rolf said, holding his puni emblem. "There was no other choice. …at least now Rolf can bury the past for good."
"No, this isn't over. Not yet." Koops said.
"We still have to stop Grodus from awakening the demon." Bobbery added in.
"… then let's not waste time, let's go!" Goombella said.
"She's right. Like you said, Double D, time's running out." Eddy prompted.
"Oh dear!" Double D said, snapping back to the situation. "…right! We must press onwards!"
The gang began to group together, putting away their weapons.
Double D walked towards Vivian's body, which was still on the floor. "Can you move?"
Vivian groaned softly. "I'm… sorry. I can't walk."
Double D gave a smile. "You have done enough for now. Rest. I will take you."
He placed his hands gently underneath her body. He very carefully began to lift.
"Need assistance?" Double D looked up and saw Rolf extending his hand.
"…are you sure?" Double D asked.
"…yes, Rolf wants to repay Vivian, for her heroic efforts and for the bad way he treated her in the past. She and the others taught Rolf a valuable thing today." Rolf said. He reached for her tail and lifted her up. Now, both of them carrying her, began to walk.
"Hey, one more question?" Eddy asked.
Flurrie looked at him. She spotted Eddy holding the Medallion of life.
"Put that thing down!" Flurrie said.
"Wait." Goombella said. "It's better that we keep it. Something that powerful should stay in the right hands."
"Sweet!" Eddy shouted, placing the medallion around his own neck.
"Now that this is settled, shall we go?" Double D asked.
"…go where?" Ms. Mowz asked.
"When we activated the star chart, we opened something up." Double D said. "Perhaps a secret door."
Suddenly, he felt his head throbbing. He closed his eyes and groaned, as if in pain.
"…dude?" Eddy asked.
When his eyes opened again, they were suddenly glowing red. Double D gasped.
In a sort of flash, he spotted a staircase in a hallway. This strange staircase led down to the depths of the world, descending into darkness itself.
He gasped, blinking his eyes. When they opened again, the red glow was gone.
"Dude?" Eddy asked again. "Hello, Eddy to sock-head?"
"I…" Double D paused. "…know where to go. A staircase revealed itself in a corridor, in the second building."
"Huh?" Eddy asked. "Sure? We didn't see anything like that up there."
"…please trust me." Double D said.
Eddy gave a shrug. He followed after Double D, with all of the others in tow.
"…hey, this wasn't here before." Eddy said. They all stood in a hallway, only the floor had collapsed to form a staircase that led into a dark chamber below.
"Yeah, this place used to just have a door that led to the dragon's lair." Kevin said.
"Wait a sec… what?" Nazz asked.
"OH!" Kevin shouted. "Dragon! Uh… did I say that?"
Eddy gave him a stern expression. Kevin rubbed his head.
"There was a dragon? Did you fight one?" Double D asked.
"No! Kevin was talking about… uh… a statue, that's it!" Eddy said. "We found that gem in the statue!"
"Oh." Goombella said.
"Kind of a rip-off." Eduardo Jr. said. "We thought there was an actual dragon.
"We are-a becoming distracted again." Mario said. "The world's fate still-a rests at our-a hands."
"Agreed." Double D said. "We best press onward."
Eddy led first. He was followed by Goombella, who switched her helmet light on. Behind them was Double D and Rolf carrying Vivian, with Eduardo Jr. at their feet. Ed, holding Jimmy and Sarah, was behind them. The two Kanker sisters where after, with Koops and Bobbery next in line.
Mario, with Ms. Mowz were next. Kevin and Nazz, then Johnny holding his wooden friend. Flurrie kept in the rear, ending the line of 19 heroes.
The group found themselves in a pitch-black room, filled with moving gears and simplistic machines.
"…is this electronic?" Nazz asked.
"No… this is very advanced work that this civilization once had." Double D said, still marveling at the sight. "I think all of this is operated via the star chart. I wonder… if everything of this place once relied on the power of the stars."
"Stars do seem a big theme down here." Eddy walked proudly now, holding the Medallion of Life on his hand.
"You really like that thing." Goombella commented.
"I have lightning, ice, and transforming!" Eddy said. "Can't wait to test this baby out!"
"… I think we should destroy it." Nazz said.
"You can't destroy something that powerful." Vivian said shyly.
"I hate that thing… it freaks me out, especially after what it did to me." Nazz said.
"I just want to forget that." Kevin said.
"Anyway, we could use it in our impending battles ahead." Double D said. "Let's end this here and now."
"Agreed, dear boy." Bobbery stated.
The group fell silent after that statement. It would become a long journey into sheer darkness…
Marilynn slowly began to stir.
"Took you long enough." Doopliss said impatiently.
The large Shadow Siren slowly got up. Her hair in complete disorder, her hat tilted to one side.
"…what happened?" She suddenly asked.
Doopliss raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you talk?"
"…Beldam. Is she…?"
"Yeah. Vivian really gave it to her." Doopliss said.
Marilyn gave a sigh.
Doopliss's little red eyes widened. "…wha? You wanted her gone?"
"…Doopliss… you have to understand." Marilyn said.
"What's there to not get?" Doopliss asked. "Beldam's swimming in a pool of lava after the 4th betrayal she had, you're speaking for the very first time, and I'm stuck in a lost hidden palace miles from the surface."
"YOU!" A voice suddenly shouted.
Doopliss turned his head and gasped.
Though beaten up, there stood an old Goomba professor, fuming. Doopliss could see just how angry he was through the shattered glass of his spectacles.
"Uh… I can explain!" Doopliss shouted.
"You have the nerve to attack me, kidnap me, tie me up and knock me out!" Frankly shouted. "Then you stuff me in a closet! This is an outrage!"
"I swear, it was all Beldam's idea!" Doopliss shouted.
"Oh, and where is this 'Beldam'!?" Frankly asked.
"At the bottom of a pit of lava." Marilyn said.
"…oh." Frankly said. "You mean."
Marilyn nodded.
"This situation is out of control." Frankly said. "To think this entire thing started off as a simple treasure hunt. And now the world may be at the mercy of evil itself. …was treasure really worth all of this?"
"…man, when you put it that way…" Doopliss trailed off.
"Well, I think you two have caused enough damage. I am going to find this demon and stop it myself." Frankly said.
"Don't be a fool." Marilyn said. "Those heroes barely even beat us. How would you expect to destroy a demon alone?"
"I must try to reverse the damage that has been done!" Frankly said. "Even if I must do so myself!"
He began to walk, though slowly under his condition.
He didn't get too far. Doopliss and Marilynn suddenly ran in front of him and blocked the doorway.
"…what?" Frankly asked. "You still feel the need to cause more trouble?"
"We made a promise to follow Beldam's orders." Doopliss said. "And by my book… …rules are made to be broken."
Frankly raised an eyebrow.
Doopliss looked down, as if in shame. "I am a prankster. I was never into this evil thing. Now that that... That witch is gone, I'm gonna quit evil. It's not fun when stuff like this happens. I only joined because I needed a place to stay."
"…I'm glad to see your change of heart." Frankly said. "If only Beldam could have changed."
"I am done with evil as well." Marilynn said. "Now that Beldam possesses no more power over me, I can finally be free of her control."
"So, now what?" Frankly asked. "Why have you stopped me?"
"…because you shouldn't fight this demon alone." Marilynn said.
"Hm? Is this a truce?" Frankly asked.
Marilynn nodded.
"Yup!" Doopliss said.
"In that case, we better hurry. The others may need our help!" Frankly said.
Eddy turned the knob of a fancy-looking door.
"…awesome." Kevin said.
They found themselves in an enormous chamber. It must have been five stories tall, and with of the room extraordinary. It looked as large and majestic as a cathedral. At the end of the chamber was what looked like an altar. A very posh chair rested in the center, with ornaments on either of the sides.
"…what an amazing room." Goombella said. She may have been a warrior against evil, but she still had the heart of an archeologist.
"Judging from the size and decorative objects…" Double D stopped himself, eyes widening. "We are in the throne room."
"So, this is where the big guy of this old place stayed, huh?" Eddy asked.
"…I… don't know what to say. To think of all the things may have occurred where we stand." Double D said.
"Yes, a marvel indeed." Another voice said.
The entire group looked towards the throne. A figure stood, facing the opposite direction.
"Grodus!" Lee, May, and Vivian all shouted.
"Yes...correct! I am the supreme leader of the secret society of X–Nauts! I am Grodus!" The X-Naut Leader proclaimed. "But I am getting ahead of myself."
Double D, Rolf, and Ed all narrowed their eyes. Jimmy and Kevin both took a step backwards, and the others remained ready.
"…we meet at last, legendary hero." Grodus said. "I've been looking forward to this, I must admit."
Double D took a step forward. "What do you mean?"
"…hm… and to think you are supposed to be the intelligent one." Grodus said, turning around to face the heroes.
"…uh… I think I liked him better when I didn't have to see his face." Eddy said.
Eduardo Jr. nodded in agreement.
"I have long awaited this moment, hero." Groudus said. "…to think I underestimated you."
"Your plan is over. We have you drastically outnumbered, give in now." Double D said.
"Numbers aren't everything. …hm." Grodus began to step towards the group. "I see some familiar faces."
Lee, May, and Vivian all gave him serious looks.
"…it has been a long time, has it not?" The evil man asked. "…pity I have to see your faces again."
"Same to you, you freak!" Lee shouted.
"…you all annoy me. In my plans, I only wanted the hero to appear. I still don't understand how my plan to bring him here failed, and I brought the others here."
The group gasped.
"What do you mean, brought?" Double D asked, his hand pointed towards Grodus. "Explain yourself!"
"You mean you still fail to comprehend the power of the stars?" Grodus asked. "All of this time, you where brought to a world new to you, and you never questioned how or why?"
"What role did you have in this?" Double D asked, his hand now glowing, becoming ready to attack.
"Crystal stars are very powerful. They can rip and alter existence. For you see, you young fool…" Grodus trailed off. "I know full well of the legendary hero. It was his destiny to retrieve the stars and open the door. It was the one who had the eye, from another world."
"The eye?" Eduardo Jr. asked.
"The three relics of the Shadow Sirens. You mean he never told anyone else that he possessed it?" Grodus asked.
"We knew." Eddy, Vivian, Ed and Rolf all said at the same time.
"What's going on?" Nazz asked. "What secret?"
"Pity." Grodus said. "Anyhow, we managed to get a Crystal Star, as you know. Using our machines to enhance it great power, we were able to… summon the hero, if you will."
"Then the storm…" Double D said, coming to the realization. "The portal…"
"Yes!" Grodus shouted. "It was I! I brought you unto this world!"
"You fiend!" Jimmy shouted.
"Of course, an unfortunate side effect was that it brought all of you fools here as well. But now, I am closer to awakening the demon, and it is all thanks to you for gathering the stars and opening the door for me. All I had to do was entrust the last Crystal Star to my least competent underling. I don't suppose Crump had any idea of my plan, though!" Grodus chuckled. "So, whether he beat you or lost to you...The Crystal Stars would be together and mine either way! Pure genius! Now, I thought the Shadow Sirens would do a little more to slow your progress...But it appears they are so useless that even this small task was beyond them...No matter... Now I get the pleasure of sending you to oblivion! Once you fools are gone, no one will stand in my way! Grodus will rule the world!
Double D gasped. "Then from the very beginning, I've played into his hands… since the moment I awoke here on that first day."
Double D shouted in rage, realizing he had been fooled. He looked angry, both hands glowing brightly, as well as his eyes.
"You will pay for this!" Double D shouted. "FLARE!"
"Now, come!" Grodus said, not bother by the enraged boy and his flaming sword.