Chapter 75: Cheers From Around the World

A twisted smirk appeared on the demon's face. "…I shall give you but one more chance. If you agree to all become my servants, I shall forgive you for this and spare your lives."

"No means no!" Sarah said. "Take a hint!"

"I'd rather die before servin' a witch like you!" Eddy shouted.

"That's right. You will pay for this." Vivian said.

"Persistent. If only I could have persuaded you otherwise, fools!" The Shadow Queen shouted. "This is the end, fools. My patience has been worn out!"

The evil demon raised a mighty claw into the air, ready to strike once more.

"STOOOOOOPPP!" A voice shouted suddenly.

Everyone turned their heads to face the doors. Frankly, Doopliss and Marilynn all stood there, panting heavily from their run.

"Professor?" Goombella asked.

"What is this?" The shadow demon questioned.

Suddenly Eduardo Jr. gasped. "Frankly! Look out behind you, it's the Shadow Sirens!"

Frankly gave a smile. "They won't hurt anyone."

"Mean it?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, we're sorry." Doopliss said.

Marilynn nodded in agreement,

"Shadow Sirens, hm?" The Shadow Queen asked. "I see Vivian and Marilyn. Where is Beldam?"

"That witch is gone, dead, resting at the bottom of a pool of volcanic emission!" Rolf shouted. "Shadow Demon will soon fall to the same fate!"

"Is this true?" The shadow demon asked, looking at Vivian and Marilyn.

"Yes. I defeated her." Vivian said boldly.

"I would never have thought it, one sister betraying another. And now the remaining Shadow Sirens betray me, ME!"

"I never worked for you." Vivian said.

"Of course, you have." The Shadow Queen retorted. "You have been for over 1,000 years!"

"What?" Vivian asked.

"How can you not know. You destroyed worlds, eradicated homes… all at my side."

"I… would never…" Vivian trailed off, quaking now, scared, not understanding.

The others all watched her with worry. Both for her sake and for theirs.

"But… Vivian-girl has." Rolf said, though with a bit of compassion.

Vivian gasped, thinking back to the day when Rolf told them his story. "…why?"

"You don't remember? The thrill of the kill… you used to love that." The Shadow Queen said. "I remember those days 1,000 years ago."

"Okay, hold the phone." Eddy said. "How old are you?"

"I… don't know. I lost my memories about the past." Vivian sighed.

Sarah looked down, sympathizing for her.

"Beldam nor Marilynn never told you either? Pathetic. Beldam did deserve to die and rot in the next life." The demon laughed evilly. "The Shadow Sirens are the last of their kind… there where once millions of them. They all served me back in the day when I was queen of the world."

Rolf sighed. He knew all about it.

"Then, when I was defied and sealed away, those wicked assassins killed all but three sirens… those sirens where you three. The Royal Shadow Sirens."

Vivian gasped. She looked down on the floor, letting a teardrop escape her eyes. "I am over one thousand years old…"

"Wait… Royal?" Nazz asked.

"Then that means…" Jimmy started but cut himself off.

Bobbery finished his statement. "Vivian, Marilyn and Beldam where-"

"My daughters… the heirs to my throne, should I ever be destroyed."

"NO!" Vivian shouted and fell to the floor. "No…I never knew my origin… though I know I'm the daughter of a demon… then I am a demon… no…"

"Vivian…" Rolf gasped.

"All along…" Vivian cried. "I was just a demon… I'm a monster… a horrible beast."

The group didn't say anything.

Marilynn seemed to be sad too, rubbing her face. Doopliss tried to comfort her, but to no avail.

'I… wish Double D was here with me…' Vivian thought.

"But I never would have expected my own daughters to turn on me. You are all rotten defiant SCUM!"

Vivian cried out again.

"And pathetic. Nothing will satisfy me more then to rid the world of you all."

The demon resumed raising her hand.

"NO!" Eddy shouted.

Vivian, who was the closest didn't try to run at all. The demon seemed to be targeting her. There was a moment of silence, everyone in the room with their hearts beating rapidly, fearing doom was upon them. Suddenly, there was the sound of something whooshing through the air.

The claw was coming down on Vivian, ready to strike her, ready to kill.

"NO!" A voice shouted behind her. "VOLT SHIELD!"

Suddenly, an electrical shield appeared before Vivian. She looked up and saw the shield simply vanish as the demon made contact. But the shield was just to add protection. The real shield was Marilynn, who had intercepted the attack.

Her large body was instantly crushed by the Shadow Queen.

Vivian looked up and screamed. "Marilynn!" Vivian crawled over and cried upon seeing her trampled sister. "…she saved me."

Marilynn was completely motionless. No breathing or anything.

"…Marilynn."

Jimmy cried and turned away.

"No…" Doopliss said, crying.

"She was a true sister." Ed said, looking ready to cry. "She protected her younger sibling to the very end…"

Vivian cried out. "MARILYNN!"

Rolf even began to cry. "How terrible… now she has no sisters… Vivian is alone…she doesn't deserve this kind of burden…"

Eddy closed his eyes, clutched his fists, and growled. "You are an evil, ROTTEN TO-A THE CORE WITCH!"

"Why do you even care for this traitor? She has betrayed everyone in this room. Vivian deserves to be punished." The demon dragged her claw with Marilyn away into her dark form until she was gone.

Then, she raised a claw again.

"That does it…" Rolf said with an infuriated look on his face. "You have exhausted your welcome into this world. Rolf swears not to banish you, but to destroy you."

Suddenly, there was a glowing. A light coming from the group.

"What is this?!" The demon shouted suddenly.

There were seven glowing orbs rising from the group. They all gasped as the lights began to spin around them.

"What's going on?" Eduardo Jr. asked.

"I think those are the Crystal Stars." Nazz said.

They began to rise.

"…I forgot about them." Kevin said.

"We all did." Ms. Mowz added in.

Suddenly, they all shot up towards the ceiling.

"What is this?" Frankly asked.

"Dunno." Doopliss said. "They never did this when I had one."

There was suddenly silence. The earthquakes had stopped in the city of Rogueport.

The survivors all looked around from the rooftops.

"Frankie. What's that?" The wife of the Pinta Syndicate asked.

She was directing her husband to a beam of light shooting from the center of town.

"Dunno, Francesca."

From the beam of light that shot into the dark sky, seven stars arose from the surface. Each of them flying, taking their own paths. Streaking through the skies like shooting stars, beacons of hope…

"Hey... Look at that!" Koopie Koo shouted, pointing into the sky.

A big diamond crystal star was descending upon Petalburg. Its radiance was quite a sight against the darkness that was consuming their lands.

Koopley looked distressed. "This is the same star I gave to my son."

Koopie Koo covered her mouth in an equal amount of distress. "Do you think… he's okay?"

"I have a feeling something's happening. That's why the star has come here." The town elder spoke. "A bit of a dangerous predicament, otherwise this little star wouldn't have come to tell us."

"You really think so?" Koopie asked.

"Of course. What, with this darkness and all around us, I'm assuming we're all in danger. He must be in quite a tough spot. Him and the other adventurers who he went with.

"I hope they're alright." Koopley said.

"C'mon, Koops!" Koopie shouted into the star. "I believe in ya, you can do it!"

"I'm here for you, son. Be strong." Koopley said.

The Punnies found themselves gather at the entrance to their tree. Though it was being swallowed by the shadows, their attention was diverted to a glowing star that had just descended upon them.

"Look, that's so pretty. It's the emerald star, isn't it?" Petuni asked, trying to make things seem better.

"It is." the elder said. "It's strange. In fact, such this occurrence is quite mystifying-"

"We don't have time for a lecture!" Puniper shouted. "Something's going on. Those guys who saved the tree had this before, remember?"

"Oh… you're right!" Punio said. "Mario, and Flurrie…"

"Not to mention our hero." Petuni said.

"Yes… the hero of the Punies." the elder said. "Something must be occurring to them."

"Oh no!" Do you think they will be alright?" Petunia asked. "I'm worried about them. Especially the small boy named Jimmy. I remember him, being so scared. He must be terrified right now."

"They also have our hero!" Punio said. "They will be fine. I'll bet their also trying to save the world now, like they saved ours! The star's come to tell us." his antenna wove in the air. "So maybe that means we can tell them back through the star!"

"That's a good idea. I think you're right!" Petuni said. "C'mon, Flurrie, c'mon Jimmy!"

The punies gathered around the star in a circle.

"Come on, hero of the punies!" They chanted.

By now the back-up engines of Glitzville were failing. Slowly but surely, the battle area was falling back to the ground. The fighters and the staff of the place had all gathered around at the center of the city. A strange star had landed there, which they had all come to see.

"It's the Gold Star. The champ's award, remember?" Jolene asked. "It's come to us to tell us that the champ's in grave danger."

"They can do it." Rawk commented, staring at the star. "I know you can! They're Eduardo and Gonzales, after all! They rose higher than anyone else! And nobody who beat me can lose at anything." Rawk turned to face the star. "Don't you dare loose that battle!"

"We know you can do it. Gonzales and Eduardo… no, it's Mario and Double D, isn't it?"

"C'mon, don't give up, dudes!" King K exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Master Crash and Bandy Andy added in.

"Eddy, are you still with them?" One of the Armored Harriers asked. "Because you owe me a 10 coins, you jerk!"

Jolene elbowed the massive one. She then looked back at the star. "We believe that you can save us, like you did before. Just like you freed my dear brother, I know you can free the world."

In all of Twilight Town, there was only one light. A great and glowing light. Seeing the crystal star in this dead environment was like a ray of hope.

"Oh dear… the Crystal Star." The mayor sighed.

"This was with the heroes who saved our land, correct?" Dim asked.

"Yes, it was. I am worried about them." Eve said, grasping her three children. "I'm worried."

"I recall that girl named Vivian. She was so innocent. Now, she's in extreme danger." The mayor said.

"Don't worry." Dim said. "Fear is the sign of a weak person. Be brave, all of you."

"Yes, we must hope they succeed, lest we all be cast in eternal darkness." the mayor sighed.

"…yes. I think we may be able to talk to them through the stone." Dim stated.

He turned to the crystal star. "Heroes, do not give in. Even when it seems all hope is lost, fight until the end. Look into the face of evil with bravery."

The sailors had found themselves surrounding a glowing star while running for high shelter to avoid the rapid flooding.

"What's this thingy again?" Pa-Patch asked.

"Why, isn't this Cortez's treasure? Y'know, that star?" A sailor asked.

"Yeah, that's it!" Ralph T said, observing the star carefully. The caption took it before leaving!"

"…so how'd it get back here?" a Bomb-omb sailor asked.

"Know what I think?" Pa-patch asked. "I think it's come to warn us they are in danger. I mean, the world's endin' and all."

"But what can we do?" Ralph T asked.

"We can cheer, and hope they make it through. I know they can save the island again." Pa-Patch said.

The group began to arouse in cheers.

"How's about a sea shanty to lighten their spirits?" A sailor asked.

"Yeah!" They all said.

The ground huddled around the star, all the while the raging waters rising ever closer. Dark flashes of lighting and evil gales of wind brushing against them, they began a pirate's song.

During their song, Ralph blurted out: "You saved my brother, I know you can save us! Go Bobbery, Go Kevin, Go Ed!"

They all looked down and gasped. The cold sea water was already at their feet, and still rising. Holding onto a tree to keep themselves from getting swept away, they remained faithful with the star. As the water continued to rise around them, slowly reaching their knees, they continued to sing…

The Excess Express was also in a dire spot. Along the path to Rogueport, they had encountered an earthquake that had forced the train to jump the rail. Now at a halt, though still upright, the staff and passengers found themselves outside the train to meet a floating garnet star.

"…this is an odd situation." Pennington said. "I deduce that this star has come to warn us of danger."

"It's a little late for that, isn't it?" Chef Shimi asked.

"No… I think this belonged to those heroes who were in cabin 5, right?" The conductor asked.

"Yes. I do believe I gave it to them." Pennington said, eying the star with his magnifying glass, as if it were a clue to a crime of some sort.

"It must have come to tell us they are in danger." Shimi suggested.

"I can relate." The waitress added in.

"They are trying so hard… bless them, they are trying to save the world from this peril." The conductor said.

Unknown to them another presence was with them.

Ghost T, though invisible, was also observing the stone. "…I recall a little nervous boy… and his little friend, the red head…"

His form hovered over the others, though none had seen it. "Yes… Sarah, the one I saved, and Jimmy, the one who rescued her from those witches… what an unbreakable pair… I hope they succeed."

"I suggest we route them on. I mean, a fellow staff member is with them!" Shimi said.

"Capital idea!" Pennington said.

The Bomb-omb troops of Fhar Outpost where all gathered near the star, the darkness and snow no problem for these hardy soldiers.

"Troops, ready?" General White asked.

"Yes, sir!" They all shouted.

White looked ready. He stood in the stance to begin a cadence. "…I don't know what I've been told!"

"I don't know what I've been told!" The troops repeated, continuing the cadence.

"Private Jonny's freeing the world!"

"Private Jonny's freeing the world!"

"Sound off!"

"PRIVATE!"

"Sound off!"

"JONNY!"

Their cadence continued, in spite of the increasing blizzards ahead…

The heroes in the chamber below the world were suddenly greeted by the sound of cheering that filled the chamber.

"…whoa! Where's that coming from?" Kevin asked.

Random cheers could be heard circulating around the room.

"Go Mario, Go!"

"You go, Goombella!"

"Come on, Gonzales, go Eduardo!"

"Eddy, you owe me 10 coins, you jerk!"

Eddy gave an awkward face and shrugged.

"C'mon, Kevin! GO!"

Kevin looked up when he heard his name. He recognized it belonging to Ralph T. and gave a smile and nodded.

"What's this?" The Shadow Queen asked irritated by whatever was happening. "These infernal voices!"

"Nazz, you're the bomb! You go, girl!"

Nazz gave a blush.

Somewhere in the group came the sound of a happy pirate song.

"Koops! My love, you can do it!"

Koops blushed when he realized it was Koopie. This was all he needed to regain his will.

"Ahoy Admiral! Show them what a Navy Bomb can do!"

Bobbery gave a chuckle as if they could hear him. "Aye-Aye."

"Jimmy, you can make it! You're a brave kid!"

Jimmy realized Pentuni's voice anywhere and smiled.

"Go, great hero of the Punies, vanquish this mighty evil!"

Rolf heard the chanting of a bunch of punies.

He laughed and held his pennant. "Rolf shall not fail!

"Sarah, give 'em a beaten'!"

Sarah laughed when he realized it was the conductor.

More and more cheers filled the room.

"I… can' take…" the shadow queen stuttered, bringing her hands to where her ears should be.

"Look, she's losing power!" Lee shouted.

Suddenly, the Shadow Queen began to glow. It was an odd radiance, coming from the floating body of Peach imprisoned with the queen.

"Look!" Goombella shouted.

Suddenly, it looked like a smile, a warm smile had formed on Peach's face. The real Peach.

"Peach! Are you with us?" Mario asked.

Peach's voice was quiet and weak, but clear. "…all of you… here. Take the last of my power…"

Suddenly, the entire group gasped. They felt like they were coming back to life. Wounds and bruises suddenly healing, scratches fading away slowly.

Marie gasped as well. The others looked towards her.

She still held Double D's unconscious form in her arms. They could all see his body was now glowing a bright red, with a beam of red light from his forehead.

"…what's happening?" May asked.

"…he's healing too.." Vivian said, warm smile appearing on her face.

His form slowly began to rise from Marie's hands and float above the group.

The red glow was suddenly turning into magic flames.

"He's on fire!" Jimmy shouted.

"Someone do something!" Kevin shouted.

"No, wait." Vivian said. "Look."

He seemed to be undergoing a strange transformation. His entire body was rapidly becoming ablaze. Huge wings of fire appeared behind him.

The others watched him continue to transform, amazed.

As Double D's eyes slowly opened up, revealing a white glow. In one didn't know better, he would look just like an angel of fire. The radiance and glow from his awoken form was a sight to behold.

"…I believe in you all." Peach said.

With that, her eyes closed, and her expression vanished.

"Peach!" Mario shouted.

When her eyes opened up again, they were glowing red again. She had become a puppet for the queen again.

"I have had enough of her meddling!" The Shadow Queen shouted, her evil purple head turning to face Double D's angelic form, suddenly looking afraid. "What is this? That fire… that form… how?"

The group was surprised to see the queen looking fearful.

"…I am Eddward, Double D to my friends. You shall know me as your slayer!"

"How… where do you get this power?"

"Though the Eye of Wisdom gives me fire, I am getting this extra power from my friend's encouragement. Our collective will to protect has revived me… and that will in stronger then you."

"You jest!" The queen shouted. "I will destroy you all, now!"

Double D's flying form landed in the group of heroes. "I think we all agree it's time to end this madness, once and for all!"