Chapter 74: Against Evil Itself

"This is it." Mario said, ready to fight. "All we have-a worked for comes down to this final battle. Winner take all."

The others nodded.

'But how will we fight without the power of the Medallion or Eye?' Rolf thought.

The possessed Peach rushed towards them, with hands glowing with darkness.

Mario closed his eyes. "I hate to-a do this."

Holding his hammer, he gave it a mighty swing. Its head smashed right on Peach's body. Her figure trusted into the air, spiraling.

Her body crashed back on the coffin side. She lay there silently.

"Oh no. I just hit the princess." Mario said softly.

"Oh?" The demonic voice asked.

They looked up and saw Peach simply standing there with an evil smile.

"She wasn't even phased!" Koops shouted.

Rolf decided he would stand no more. He held his weapon in hand, charging at the possessed maiden. Peach laughed a demonic laughter and jumped as Rolf soared past. She held out a hand towards him.

Rolf gasped, knowing she was going to cast a spell.

Though she was so powerful, she didn't even need to say anything. Like lightning, dark energy zapped from her hand.

Rolf shouted as the hit caused him to come falling towards the ground. His body was still smoking from the hit, as he lay groaning on the ground.

"Rolf!" The group shouted.

They all gave a battle cry (minus Goombella and Vivian) and rushed into the battle.

"Koops!" Ms. Mowz shouted.

Koops nodded. He retreated into his shell. Ms. Mowz picked it up with her small hands. She smiled as she looked at her target.

Her high-heeled foot made contact with the shell, causing it to fly in the air like a football.

Peach turned her head to look straight at the incoming object. With no time to shout or even react, she was struck clear in the face. Her body flew backwards and hit the walls.

Koops gasped and popped back from the safety of his shell to see what had occurred.

Peach was on the ground for a moment before getting up.

As she whipped off her dress, she growled. "You have made me upset now."

Peach then turned her head and saw two more running at her.

"Ready?" Jimmy asked.

"Let's get her!" Sarah responded.

The two of them ran, hand in hand towards Peach. As they ran, Jimmy unveiled his hammer.

Jimmy took the hammer and held it in his hands. Sarah grabbed him with both hands. She gave a battle cry, as she swung Jimmy in the air. Jimmy joined in the battle cry as the hammer made contact with Peach.

She said nothing but flew backwards. As Peach flew, her body came into contact with another attack. She was struck by a huge fist, the cause of which was Flurrie. Being unable to withstand the combo, the possessed maiden crashed into the wall.

As the battle continued, May and Lee ran to where Marie was chained to the wall. "Marie!"

"Lee, May!" She shouted. "Untie me!"

"Don't get yourself in a fit, we're commin'!" Lee gave the chains a simple twist, and Marie flew from her imprisonment.

The three sisters gave each other a quick hug.

"Finally, eh girls?" Lee asked.

"Sorry to break up the heartwarming reunion…" Kevin shouted and they looked to him. "But we kind of have a battle here!"

"…right." Lee said.

"Hang on! I need to see Double D!" Marie shouted.

"Fine, but it ain't pretty." Lee motioned to her other sister. "C'mon May!"

With that, the two Kanker sisters ran into the battle while Marie rushed towards where Double D was. Vivian still held his limp body in her arms. On the ground beside them, Goombella stood near Eddy's body that still was left out cold on the floor.

"Double D?" Marie asked, running towards them. "Is he…"

"I don't know." Vivian said.

"And… Eddy?' She asked.

"We know he's alive, but we can't wake him up." Goombella said. "He's been seriously hurt."

"Is there something I can do? I hate to see them like this." Marie said.

"Marie?" Double D's voice rung out.

It was like hearing it in their minds, because they didn't hear it audibly.

Marie, Vivian, and Goombella all gasped. They turned their heads to look at the fallen boy.

"Double D?" Vivian asked. "Are you still with us?"

"I… can't be clear… but I seem to be in communication by telepathy…" His voice said.

It was a strange situation. He wasn't moving, his eyes where closed… he wasn't even breathing. Though he was talking to them?

"Double D, how are you talking to us. Are you even alive?" Marie asked.

His voice faltered for a moment. "I feel like I'm in another dimension… but I still can feel things… I think I'm still alive, but without any energy."

Vivian suddenly gasped, as she heard him say. "I think the Eye of Wisdom is keeping me alive."

"What's up?" Goombella asked.

Vivian realized Double D had only sent that last sentence to her.

What about Eddy?" Goombella asked. "What are we going to do about him?"

"I… can talk to him. In his own mind. I think we are communicating through the relics." Double D's voice told them. "He told me he's trying to wake up. He also wants to say something. Something about… getting cash from the reward money for defeating the demon or something… he never changes. Don't worry about me. I just need to regain strength. Wake Eddy. It should take that much."

"I tried everything." Goombella said.

"I have to break contact so I can regain my energy." Double D's voice said. "I believe you can do it. I will come as soon as I can…"

They felt themselves loosing Double D, until his connection died.

"I know." Marie said, with a smile forming on her face.

She motioned for Goombella to step aside. She reached into a pocket and held out a dollar bill.

"Oh geez." Goombella said, blushing a little. "Would he really?"

Marie began to wave the dollar in front of his face.

Suddenly, Eddy's eyes snapped open. Goombella and Vivian gasped.

Marie held out a peace sign, with a content look. "Told ya."

Eddy groaned and slowly got to his feet. As he got up, he reached for dollar. Marie, in a swift movement, snatched back the dollar and put it away. Eddy gave another groan as he stood up.

"Eddy!" Goombella said. "You're up! I'd hug you if I could!"

Eddy blushed. "Yeah…"

"Okay, now that he's up, can we get back to fighting before the others get killed?" Marie asked.

"Oh, right!" Eddy reached down and picked up the Medallion of Life.

"Vivian. I'll stay with Double D." Marie said. "Your battle skills are better than mine. The others need you."

'The others need me…' Like a loyal soldier, Vivian stood tall. "Right!"

"C'mon!" Eddy shouted, waving towards the battle after securing the medallion.

He led Vivian and Goombella into the battle. Marie ran over to Double D and kneeled beside him. "Come on…"

"This is for dad!" Eduardo Jr. threw a punch right into Peach's face.

POW!

"And this is for Eddy!"

POW!

"And this, for Rolf!"

POW!

Rolf slowly got to his feet and gave a chuckle. "Eduardo Jr.'s distracting her. Good. Though demon-girl hasn't put up much of a fight yet…"

Bobbery suddenly fell from the ceiling with a scream.

BOOM!

The explosion that followed filled up the chamber.

From the dust and such that filled the air, Peach walked out.

"I am-a telling you for the-a last time, demon." Mario said, gripping his hammer. "Leave Princess Peach alone!"

"I have neglected my abilities. I am too unfamiliar with this form. I shall resume my true form…"

"Oh great." Nazz said.

"What do we do now?" Johnny asked. "Plank says this is a terrible situation."

As he spoke, the wooden board's face was in a different expression, one a hero would have while fighting valiantly. Though no one had considered it yet. Suddenly, Peach's body began to float in the air. Her new piercing red eyes illuminated in the darkness.

Dark clouds began to swirl around the demonic looking princess. As she continued to rise, the clouds were quickly making a form. First, a cage-looking torso that concealed Peach's body. The two large purple claws formed next.

Finally, the head appeared with the long strands of hair. The crown of strength appeared last, forming at the top of her head.

Every bit of the Shadow Queen terrifying, the true demon towered over the group.

Jimmy and Sarah let out a loud shriek. The others all either gasped or said nothing.

"The demon lives!" Ed shouted. Without the relics working, it was hard to tell which personality of his said that.

"Oh no." Kevin and Nazz said in unison.

"I don't believe this." Koops said.

"Well, ya didn't expect it to be a piece of cake, did ya?" Eddy asked, as he, Goombella and Vivian joined the fight.

"How do we fight that?" May asked.

"Fire with fire." Nazz said.

Vivian stepped ahead. The Shadow Queen looked surprised to see her.

"FIRE!"

Fire shot from her hands, directed right at the Shadow Queen's head. The flames suddenly vanished however. The thunderous sound of the fire faded away as quickly as it had come. The queen was left completely unscathed.

"What?" The group asked.

"Fools. Your attacks are like those of a child." The Shadow Queen said. "Useless."

"Plank says he's got a plan!" Jonny blurted out. "Distract her for a sec!"

"No prob!" Eduardo Jr. rushed towards the demon head on.

"No chance." The demon lifted her arms and landed them right on Eduardo Jr.

"OH, DUDE!" He began to scream in pain.

It's as if though the life was being sucked out of him.

"STOP!" Vivian cried out.

"Vivian… why do you not attack?" The Shadow Queen asked.

Vivian gasped. "How do you know me?"

"Guys, clear a path!" Jonny shouted.

Jonny looked at the others, holding Plank before the queen.

"Jonny?" Kevin asked. "What are you-"

"Deciderate!" Jonny and another voice shouted.

From where Plank was, a huge twister of twigs, leaves and accords shot. It fired at the Shadow Queen. She remained still, not budging from the attack. It, of course, vanished the second it hit the queen.

Suddenly, Jonny gasped. His eyes were glowing a bright green. Plank's drawn eyes were also doing the same. There was a sudden flash.

"What the heck-" Eduardo Jr, asked.

Where Jonny was once, a shadow had taken his place. It was nothing more than a silhouette, though this figure looked taller.

"Who the heck are you?" Jimmy asked.

The shadow turned his head towards Jimmy.

"I am not your enemy. Jonny has summoned me." Its voice sounded benevolent enough.

"And who are you?" Nazz asked.

"My name does not need to be known." The shadow said.

"And… just where did Jonny go?" Nazz asked.

"You don't need to know the details, because that would take too long to explain. Rest assured, he is safe." The shadow said.

"That's what you think!" The Shadow Queen shouted, her massive arms flying at the group.

Eddy and Vivian gasped and acted in unison. "Flame/Volt Shield!"

A shield of both fire and electricity formed inform of them. Both of them watched as the others began to retreat. They remained firm, holding up the shields as long as they could. Just like nothing, the shields faded into the air as the Shadow Queen came into contact with them.

Nothing stood to protect them against the attack.

Both of them were grabbed and held up in the air. They gave combine shouts as dark energy began to burn them.

"Leave Eddy be!" Goombella shouted.

She suddenly turned her head, revealing she had Double D's rod in her mouth. She spun around and let it fly through the air. It hit the arm containing Eddy. He was released and fell from the queen. As he fell, he kicked the other arm, which released Vivian.

Both landed on the ground.

"Try as you will…" The Shadow Queen laughed. "Nothing can save you from my wrath. Even now the world is being consumed by darkness…"

Things in Rogueport were worsening. The citizens were forced on the rooftops.

Suddenly, thousands of small purple hands arose from the shaking grounds. They all latched onto buildings and rooftops. Each one pulling on the edges, they began to tug everything in sight below the ground.

"OH MERCY!" Podley shouted.

Flavio looked and saw a hand latched to Podley's foot.

"My dear lord!" Flavio shouted.

Podley began to sink into the ground. Flavio reached for Podley's old hand, trying to keep him up.

"Flavio! Tell my customers I'm sorry!" He shouted, before sinking into the ground.

Flavio, who had refused to release his hand, began to be dragged under the ground as well.

"Oh no! Have mercy! Don't take me!" That's all he had time to say before he got pulled under the surface.

Citizens all over the falling city were being dragged under the ground. Men, women, and children vanishing. The surviving others weeping or desperate to keep themselves away from the ground. It was pure chaos. History was repeating itself…

The Shadow Queen gave a wicked laugh. "All of this time, my power has been wreaking on the world above. I have been destroying places the world over and have already taken souls to increase my power!"

"What?" Rolf asked with a horrified face. "NO!"

"I've never felt more alive than now… for you see…" The Queen said. "Every time you have hurt me, I have recovered by stealing a soul from the world above. Every time you attack, another becomes lost to my power. You cannot win!"

The group gasped.

"…what do we do?" Ed asked.

"There's nothing…" Eduardo Jr. continued.

"Double D is still down…" Vivian gasped.

"The world is ending." Rolf said.

"There is no way we can win…" The mysterious shadow added in.

The demon gave a laugh.

"No. We can-a not give up!" Mario shouted.

"He's… right." Jimmy said.

"Yeah… we have to stop this madness now." Koops said. "For everyone on the world!"

"You are all foolhardy. What can you do now?" The demon asked. "I have you trapped. Nothing or nobody can save you now…"