CHAPTER 6

Back with Clare and her party, Caineghis was discussing what had happened to the Star of Truth that was supposed to be kept in the World of Gaming's central plaza. When Clare had learned that the Star of Truth, as well as the other stars of the Golden, were scattered across their respective representational lands, she then asked who was holding the stars. Caineghis answered, saying that the Star of Truth was being held by Red Velvet Cookie and the Cake Monsters as well as a few of Bowser's henchmen.

"Bowser's henchmen are the Koopas, right?" asked Jonathan.

"There's more to this serious issue." said Caineghis' nephew Skrimir.

"Skrimir?" asked Caineghis. "What do you mean?"

"I have come to tell you all that Bowser has been working with a renowned prosecutor named Manfred von Karma." Skrimir mentioned. "Unfortunately, it does not end there."

"So what has it come to, now?" asked Caineghis.

"See, there were other people here too that Bowser sent out. There's also two mean and insane people, one of whom is a member of an organization known as the Four Hounds." Skrimir explained.

"No…Griss…" said Ranulf. "How could it have come to this…"

"Zephia leads the Four Hounds under Bowser's direction." said Skrimir. "However, the Wyvern Lord Narcian has also agreed to join forces with the Four Hounds."

Caineghis later stood up after turning his seat around.

"Please, excuse my nephew Skrimir, everyone." said Caineghis. "I think we're about to face a bigger battle here."

"Oh, drat." said Tatiana.

"Actually, it doesn't end right there, King Caineghis." said the laguz Hawk King Tibarn.

"Ah, King Tibarn, king of the bird tribe's hawk laguz." said Madeleine Cookie.

"Great to see you, Madeleine Cookie." said Tibarn. "Not getting into any shenanigans with Espresso Cookie, are we?"

"He's always getting into shenanigans with me, Your Majesty of Hawks." said Espresso Cookie in a complained manner.

Tibarn did nothing but laugh it off. Then, he went to address concerns regarding the Four Hounds and Narcian, saying that they have waged war on the Land of Truth.

"DId they?" asked Lethe. "Filthy vermin."

"Lethe!" yelled Mordecai.

"Sorry, Mordecai, but we are against them." said Lethe.

"...I guess you are on par…" said Mordecai.

"So, I am kindly asking that we head out to find these filthy vermin right now." said Tibarn.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, King Tibarn, can you please–" said Clare as she was interrupted by Tibarn. Tibarn then told her to speak her name.

"My apologies go to you, KIng Tibarn." said Caineghis.

"Clare Hutchinson, as well as her friends Jonathan Arlidge and Tatiana Daymond, are here to help us resolve this conflict." said Red XIII.

"Yes." said Cloud Strife. "These kids hail from the real world."

"So these are presumably the children Mario has told me about, huh?" asked Tibarn.

"We ran into Mario and Luigi after we were all banished from Riverton Public School for 'behind-the-locker' traveling." said Jonathan.

"And it clearly is not my fault. I'm blaming the principal for all of this mess! I think she's the one responsible for all of this, TIbarn!" Clare hollered.

Tibarn was confused. As he wanted Clare to explain more, she did just that. She told her entire story. It was at that point Tibarn understood the gist of her tale.

"So Tibarn actually understands you, Clare?" asked Jonathan.

"It kind of looks like it." said Clare as she answered Jonathan.

"And it kinda looks like I am going to clear my conscience with you three." said a male voice. It turned out that the voice was Clare's teacher, Mr. Stark.

"Mr. Stark?!" asked Clare.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" asked Tibarn.

"I have come to clear my conscience about Principal Hampshire." said Mr. Stark.

"What?" asked Clare. "Was I right all along about her being in control of this?"

"It kinda looks like she's in control of the worlds hidden behind the lockers, Clare." said Mr. Stark. "I found this note in your locker with Mrs. Hampshire's handwriting on it."

"OK, you need to stop this nonsense." said Caineghis. "We've pressing matters to attend to regarding the Star Crystal."

"The hell are you on about?!" asked Mr. Stark in exclamation.

"The Star Crystal and its Five Stars of the Golden are missing!" yelled Red XIII.

"And if you know these three students, you're not taking them. They are helping us at the moment with the World of Gaming's most serious crime of this generation." said Caineghis.

"Actually, I came here to seek out the truth about my boss. Principal Hampshire, that is." said Mr. Stark.

"I see." said Caineghis. "Perhaps you would like to join us on this mission, then?"

"With my own students?!" asked Mr. Stark in exclamation. "But I—"

Caineghis later shushed him.

"You can learn more as you progress with your students." said Tibarn.

"Mr. Stark, Tibarn has a point." said Clare.

"So why don't you join us then?" asked Jonathan. "I mean, we've been the ones talking about the principal for quite some time now, and we think it's time to find out what her motives are and if she was the one behind the 'worlds behind the lockers'. Come on, Mr. Stark."

"Yeah! You are our teacher, so why don't you do it?" said Tatiana.

Mr. Stark obviously was suspicious about Caineghis and Tibarn's request. However, he knew he had to seek out the truth about Mrs. Hampshire, the school principal.

"I'll do it." said Mr. Stark.

"Yes!" shouted Clare.

"Ha ha!" laughed Madeleine Cookie. "I can see we have more people joining our cause now."

"Where exactly are we going? And what are we going to do?" asked Mr. Stark.

"The Five Stars of the Golden and the Star Crystal are missing." said Red XIII.

"Usually they would be locked inside of a giant cookie jar, but the jar itself was shattered into pieces." said Pure Vanilla Cookie.

"Yes, and it's our job to catch the culprits." said Caineghis. "But we can't do this without your help."

"Then as a teacher of Riverton Public School, it's my job to help out people." said Mr. Stark. "I, Theo Stark, will be happy to comply with all requests and orders, mighty one."

"Thanks, Theo." said Caineghis.

Clare led her teacher through the World of Gaming's Land of Truth. The journey for the first star was continuing on.

Back with Pitaya Dragon Cookie, he was busy talking with the mysterious lady Devin. However, as they spoke, Bowser looked at his crystal ball. It turned out that Clare had a bigger set of characters on her side now.

"Grrr…." growled Pitaya Dragon Cookie. "She dares to defy us?"

"What do you mean?" asked Dark Enchantress Cookie.

"It turns out that this Clare girl has new people by her side now." said Manfred von Karma.

"Let me see." said Devin.

Devin walked over to Bowser's crystal ball, and saw that a man familiar to her was traveling in Clare's stead. She knew exactly who it was. As Bowser questioned Devin, Devin answered saying that the man was someone she works with.

"I see." said Bowser.

"Does this mean I have a job?" asked Manfred.

"Manfred," spoke Bowser, "Please, go to the Land of Truth, track down this Clare girl, and then we can see what her motives are."

"Yes, sir." answered Manfred von Karma.

Before he left, Bowser suggested that he take Pitaya Dragon Cookie with him. Then, Manfred asked if anyone else should go.

"Petrine! Sephiroth!" yelled Bowser. Petrine, one of the Four Riders, and Sephiroth, the One-Winged Angel, later showed up before Bowser after he had called both of them into the room. That was when Bowser ordered both of the villains to go with Manfred and Pitaya Dragon Cookie.

"I'll do anything for you, King Bowser." said Petrine.

"I'm at your side, Petrine." said Sephiroth. "But if I see Cloud…I'm…giving him despair."

"That's the spirit!" proclaimed Bowser. "Now all of you, go off to the Land of Truth."

Everyone later left. However, Bowser was still wondering about Clare. He kept thinking, thinking, and thinking about how Clare would behave towards them if she had seen them with the cursed Star Crystal. One…could only tell.