Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to characters from the Mario or ROTSH franchises.
Review responses:
Redburndragon: Yep, traveling to different universes/worlds to save the world/universe is nothing Mario and his friends haven't been through before. Heck, in Mario Party 5, they had to save the Dream Depot. A realm with infinite dreams and dreams are stated to be entire universes in the Marioverse. So, it makes sense that their experiences carry over since they've done this before.
OBgaming: Thanks for the love. I'm working to get more chapters out quickly for all my stories.
Eternal4Ever: Yes, the King and Princess will pay for their crimes.
TyTylerBarela100: Yes, it is.
blueassassin996: Yes, seeing Motoyasu get beaten, especially when he's in simp mode, is fun.
SailorPopstar: It is a bad idea indeed. Of course, the trash king isn't known for making good decisions. As for others coming in, if they do, they will be from the Marioverse. As stated in the first chapter, I'm trying to stay with these two franchises for this story. At most, other franchises will get a mention.
Aerodactyl999: Maybe I'll write one chapter where Luigi wins like that, or maybe the duel? We'll see.
Chapter 2: Grudges, Schemes, and Rescues
After leaving the castle, Luigi's team walked the kingdom's streets, wondering what their next move should be.
"So, what now? Do we head out and start beating monsters?" Daisy asked.
"It's best we buy equipment first. We can't go into battle unprepared." Myne answered.
"Sounds like a good idea. Do you know of a shop we could visit?" Peach asked.
"Yes, I know the perfect one!"
Myne then led the group to a blacksmith deep into town. They went in and saw an assortment of weapons and armor on display.
"Welcome," a buff, bald man said from behind the counter. "How can I help you?"
"We're here to buy some equipment," Luigi said.
"Well, you've come to the right shop. I'm Erhard. Just let me know if you need anything."
The group began to look around the shop for equipment. Mario was looking at the hammers Erhard had on display. He grabbed one and compared it to his hammer.
"Have a preference for hammers, huh?" Erhard asked.
"Yeah. They've been my preferred weapon for a long time now." Mario replied.
"That's nice to know. Most adventurers that come through here prefer swords, daggers, or spears. Anything with a sharp end. They often forget how devastating hammers can be."
"Well, not me."
"That's an interesting hammer you got, by the way. It's a simple design, but it's well-made. Mind if I take a look?"
"Not at all."
Mario handed his hammer to Erhard, who almost fell when he grabbed it.
"Whoa! It's much heavier than it looks."
Erhard began examining the hammer with a monocle on the counter.
"I see. This is a good hammer, but it can be improved. Tell you what, for the right price, I can work on the hammer to make it better."
"How much?"
"We'll discuss that once your friends finish picking out their gear. And while I'm working on it, you can take one of my hammers on display as a loaner."
"Sounds good."
Mario returned to looking at the hammers while Erhard took Mario's hammer to the back. After a while, everyone approached the counter with the gear they wished to purchase.
"Okay, let's see here. One iron sword, one crystalline shield, and one brass shield. One steel war hammer loaner, four daggers, and two steel rapiers. Is that it? You don't want any armor?" Erhard asked.
"It's fine, Erhard. I believe what we're wearing is better than any armor here, no offense." Peach answered.
"Really? I'll make sure to check that claim then.
Erhard grabbed the monocle from the counter and examined Peach's clothes.
"What the!?" He balked.
He then checked Mario's, Luigi's, and Daisy's clothes and was shocked by what he saw.
"How!? Your clothing has high defense and offense attributes. It also has complete protection from all status ailments and a high defense against elemental attacks. How and where did you get them!?"
Peach just chuckled, glad that her hunch was correct. Before they left for Rogueport, Peach suspected they might be thrown in for another adventure. In preparation, she had the Chow in Monstro Town make four copies of the Super Suit for her and her friends. Two in the style of Mario and Luigi's overalls and two in the style of Peach and Daisy's dresses. She also had him make four pairs of gloves with the same attributes as the Attack Scarf Mario used to wear. This order cost many coins, but it was worth it.
"Back in our world, I know someone who can make powerful sets of clothing. It cost a lot of money, but as you can see, the results were worth it." Peach answered.
"Yes, it was. I'd like to know what material he used for those pieces of clothing. I would love to get my hands on some of it."
"Would you now?"
Peach pulled out a roll of fabric from her item space. Erhard's eyes widened when he saw it.
"Is that?"
"Yep, it's leftover material from our gear. I can give it to you in exchange for waiving our fee."
"Ha! You're a shrewd haggler, miss. Tell you what, not only will I waive the fee, but I'll even throw in one of my best shields."
Erhard went to the back and brought out another shield.
"This is a meteorite shield—one of my strongest shields. This should help the Shield Hero out a bunch."
"Oh, you knew I was the Shield Hero?" Luigi asked.
"Wasn't hard to piece together once I saw your shield, mister. So, do we have a deal?"
"Deal!"
Peach handed the roll of fabric to Erhard as they collected their purchases. Erhard had a wide grin as he examined the fabric.
"Oh, yeah. I can make some excellent pieces of gear with this. I will be busy with this new treasure for the next few weeks."
"Glad to hear it, Erhard."
"Thanks. By the way, I didn't get your names."
"Oh, I'm Peach, this is Daisy, Mario, and the Shield Hero is Luigi."
"Glad to make your acquaintances. I hope you come back for your future purchases."
"We will!"
Peach said as they left. With their new gear, the group left for the fields outside of Melromarc. Meanwhile, Myne was eyeing them from the back.
"If their clothes are as powerful as that blacksmith said, they should be worth a fortune. I would be set for life if I could get my hands on them!" She thought with a grin.
Soon, the group made it to the fields, where they fought their first monster from this world: balloons. They were small, basketball-shaped creatures with teeth. Luigi, Daisy, and Myne stayed to slay the beasts while Mario and Peach stayed in town. They said they would gather information while Luigi, Daisy, and Myne gained experience. Myne worried about this but assumed they couldn't gather much information.
With Peach, she was in the market area of the town. She looked at what food items were sold there to ensure her friends were well-fed. An old lady came out to greet her as she was examining a stall.
"Hello there, young lady. Are you interested in some produce?"
"Yes, I am. I see that these vegetables are of great quality." Peach said.
"Yes, my husband and I pour our blood and sweat into our crops. Makes them come out better."
"I see. I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Have you heard of an adventurer named Myne Sophia?"
The old lady looked serious upon hearing this. She looked around before beckoning Peach to come closer.
"I would be careful around her if I were you. It would be best if you stayed far away from that witch." She said in a hushed tone.
"Really? Why?"
"You didn't hear this from me. But she's a sadistic, petty, and greedy woman who has no qualms about using others for her needs and then throwing them away once they're of no use to her. Myne isn't even her real name. Her real name is Malty Melromarc, the first princess to the king and queen."
Peach was shocked to learn this.
"Her actions are infamous around here. But the king forces everyone to shut up about it when the queen isn't around."
"Does he fear his wife?"
"Yes, for good reason. Melromarc is a matriarchy. The queen has more power, both politically and literally. Since she's left for her diplomatic mission, the king has allowed that bratty princess to do whatever she wants. If you get approached by her, refuse any offer she makes. She can't be trusted."
"I see."
The old lady was about to continue but saw some guards watching them. Peach noticed this as well and backed up.
"Well, thank you for sharing some tips on proper crop care," Peach said with a smile.
"Of course, dear. It is always a pleasure to talk about agriculture. Now, are you interested in buying anything?"
"Yes, I'll take some of this and some of that."
After purchasing some produce, Peach continued to browse the market area while gathering information on their supposed ally. Mario, on the other hand, could have done better. And it was because of this kingdom's religion. Mario discovered that the main religion of the kingdom was the Three Heroes Faith- a religion where the Spear, Bow, and Sword Heroes are worshipped while the Shield Hero is shunned. It's already spread how the Shield Hero looks, and thanks to their close relationship, most people around the church recognize Mario as Luigi's brother and avoid him.
"Mamamia. This is going to be tougher than I thought."
Mario was thinking about where to gather information when it hit him. He left the church area and went back to Erhard's shop. Erhard seemed more receptive to them. He hoped Erhard wasn't as engrossed in the religion as those he had encountered.
"Hello, welcome to my, oh, it's you again." Erhard was surprised to see Mario back in his shop. "Is there a problem with the hammer?"
"No, I haven't tried it yet. I'm here for information."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, I need to know more about this kingdom. Especially after learning about its main religion."
"I see. It makes sense that you want to protect your friends. I'll tell all I can."
"That's much appreciated."
Erhard began to tell Mario about the religion and the king's hatred for the Shield Hero. Mario spent the next hour or so listening and discussing the topic with Erhard. Later, when the night was about to fall, Luigi, Daisy, and Myne returned to the castle town. Mario and Peach were at the entrance to greet them.
"Hey there. How did leveling up go?" Peach asked.
"It went great!" Daisy replied.
"That's good. Did you get any new shields, Luigi?"
"Just one, Mario. A small orange shield." Luigi said as he showed off the new shield
Mario just nodded before Myne spoke up.
"Well, now that we're all reunited, how about we get something to eat? I know a local tavern that sells good food at a reasonable price."
"Sounds great, Myne. Lead the way."
The group followed Myne to the tavern. After they finished their meals, Myne pulled out a map.
"So, we could go to these caves tomorrow. It's a popular spot for adventurers to gain levels as there are plenty of monsters to slay."
As Luigi and the others listened, a waitress placed five cups of wine on the table.
"By the way, this tavern has some of the best wine in the kingdom. You should really try it." Myne said as she drank her glass.
Mario and Peach were suspicious of this, wondering if she had asked the waitress to drug their cups. But, with their gear, they should be fine. Plus, Mario had prepared some medicine beforehand, just in case. So, to avoid arousing suspicion, they all drank the wine.
"Hmm, that was good. Thanks, Myne." Luigi said with a smile.
Myne just smiled back. She was glad that her plan was proceeding smoothly.
"Well, it's-a been a long night. I'm-a going to finish my wine in our room. Good night." Mario said as he grabbed his cup of wine.
"Yes, good night then," Myne responded.
The four rented a room big enough for them. Once they were inside, Mario locked the door and turned to Luigi.
"Hey, bro. Could you please absorb the rest of this wine into your shield?
"Huh? Why?"
"Myne isn't as trustworthy as she lets on. I believe she tried to drug us with this wine."
Luigi and Daisy were shocked by this. Trusting his brother, Luigi took the wine and poured what was left into his shield.
"What? Two shields unlocked?" Luigi said aloud.
[Wine Shield unlocked. Plus five alcohol resistance for each level gained.]
[Drug Shield unlocked. Plus five resistance to all forms of drugs for each level gained. Can induce a state of drowsiness or stupor within a target. Must have made physical contact for at least five seconds. Longer contact will prolong and/or strengthen the induced state.]
Luigi looked disheartened, while Daisy was pissed.
"That lying little bitch! When I get my hands on her!" Daisy was about to rush out to confront Myne, but Peach stopped her.
"You can't do that, Daisy."
"Why not!?"
"Because Myne is not just some adventurer. She's the first princess of Melromarc."
Luigi and Daisy were shocked by this. Mario and Peach spent the next hour explaining everything they learned. They talked about Myne's true identity, the religion of the kingdom, how they shunned the shield, and the king's hatred for the shield since the shield is seen as a god by demi-humans—a race of people with animalistic traits that the king despises due to a past incident.
"Mamamia." Luigi sighed, with Daisy mirroring his sentiments.
"I think it's safe to say that the king and his daughter have plans for us. That's why she tried to drug us. Luckily, our Super Suits protected us from the spiked wine." Peach explained.
"So what now?" Daisy asked.
"Now, we sleep and prepare for what may come. We need to be careful of the people we trust around here. Who knows what the king, the princess, or the church have planned for us." Mario answered.
The group was about to head to bed when the door shook. They all turned to see it creak open. Peach walked up and pulled the door open to see who it was. A surprised Myne was there to greet her.
"Lady Peach! You're awake!?" She gasped.
"Yes, Myne. Why are you surprised?"
"Um, because I, I, um. Oh, I just discovered that someone had drugged your wine. So I came to see if you and your friends were all right."
"Oh, I see. Well, Myne, as you can see, my friends and I are fine."
"I do see. But how?"
"Strong drug resistance? We've been through this kind of thing before back home. I am a princess, and Mario is my kingdom's greatest hero. We've had enemies try all sorts of ways to hurt us." Peach answered. She did not mention their gear as she did not want to remind Myne of their Super Suits since she seemed to have forgotten about their unique properties.
"I see. That's good, then. I seem to have been worried for nothing." Myne said with a fake smile.
"Well, it's good you cared. Now, we're about to head to sleep. Good night."
"Yes, good night, Lady Peach."
With that, Myne left, and Peach closed and locked the door. But she also placed a chair against it to make sure no one could sneak in through the door.
"Lying bitch." Peach said to herself.
Mario and Luigi were surprised by Peach's and Daisy's language today. It takes a lot to get them to curse. Not even Bowser and his antics made them curse. Luigi wondered how Myne was able to open the door. Mario told the group that Myne likely got a spare key from the tavern owner. Everyone agreed with Mario's assumption and planned to take shifts, watching for other attempts at break-ins. Mario took the first shift while the other went to sleep.
The morning had come, and luckily, no other attempted break-ins occurred. As the four were about to discuss what to do about Myne, there was a loud knock at the door.
"This is the Knights of Melromarc! Open up!" a loud voice yelled from behind the door.
Daisy was irritated by this interruption and threw the door open.
"What do you want!?" She yelled.
All the knights were frightened by her outburst and backed up in fear. One of the braver knights then stepped forward.
"Pardon for the intrusion, miss, but the king has summoned the Shield Hero."
"Alright then, just give us a minute to get ready," Peach said.
"I'm sorry, but we must leave right-"
"I said, GIVE US A MINUTE!" Peach reiterated in a calm but firm tone.
The knights seemed to have gotten the message and backed off. Peach closed the door, and the knights heard clattering from inside. Peach then opened the door, and the knights straightened up.
"Alright then, we're ready."
"Yes, follow us."
The group was led through the streets to the castle. While walking there, Daisy noticed the glares the townspeople were giving them, specifically to Luigi. Soon, she began to hear whispers from them.
"So that's the Shield Demon?"
"Just look at him. Anyone with a mustache like that can commit such a heinous crime."
"I don't know. I actually like the stache. Plus, he doesn't look at all like he could do that. He looks rather timid."
"Oh, come on. Just look at his clothes. They're green! Only bastards wear green."
"That explains your shirt."
The man looked at his shirt and turned away from the women laughing at him. Daisy was curious about what these people were talking about, and so were Mario and Peach. Mario assumed this was part of a plot by the princess and the king. He mentally prepared himself to do whatever it took to protect his brother and his friends. The group arrived at the castle and was led into the throne room. There, they saw the other three heroes, with Myne cowering behind Motoyasu, the king looking furious, knights lined up on both sides of the room, and nobles on the balcony watching what was about to happen. They also noticed mages with crystal balls watching over the event. Mario and Peach wondered what the crystal balls were for. Before they could ponder on this anymore, the king spoke up.
"So you are here. I knew it was a matter of time before you revealed your true colors." Autcray said, his gaze never leaving Luigi.
Peach decided to speak, knowing her words would carry more weight since this was a matriarchy.
"Excuse me, King Aultcray, but why have you summoned us?"
"We have you summoned for the trial, Lady Peach."
"Trial?"
"Yes. The Shield is suspected of committing one of the most heinous crimes in the kingdom. He has been accused of sexual assault!" Aultcray boomed.
The four were shocked by this revelation.
"Huh? Me? I didn't assault anyone. Especially not like that!" Luigi said in his defense.
"Hey! Don't lie, you bastard!" Motoyasu yelled.
He would have approached Luigi to yell at him again, but he was too terrified of Mario to do so. All Mario needed was a glare to put him in his place.
"And who is the accuser?" Peach asked.
"It is none other than your teammate, Myne Sophia. My dear, I'm sorry to ask, but can you recount what happened last night?"
Myne timidly walked up to speak. The four were impressed by her ability to put on an act, but they knew she was faking it.
"Y-Y-Yes. Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, the Shield Hero barged into my room, reeking of wine. He grabbed me and said, 'The night is young, and we should enjoy ourselves,' and then he began to rip off my clothes. I was so scared, but I pushed him off and escaped. That is when I ran into Sir Motoyasu." Myne finished before she broke down crying. But Peach and Daisy could see it as fake as she shed no tears.
"I would have speared you last night if it wasn't for Myne telling me to wait. Peach, Daisy, you must get away from those two bastards and join me. I promise that I will protect you both." Motoyasu pleaded, but Peach and Daisy ignored him.
"Wow, he decides to lump me into the crime as well? He must still hold a grudge for that beating." Mario thought.
"And is that it? Just her word? How do we know she isn't lying? She's not even crying real tears." Peach said.
Motoyasu couldn't believe this. How could Peach defend a rapist? He walked up to her to convince her Myne was telling the truth.
"How could you say that? Just look at Myne. No woman would fake her tears."
"She's faking it. Look, she's not even crying real tears."
"That's because she spent all night crying, so now her tear ducts are dry. Come on, Peach. You can't honestly believe that rapist and his fat brother over Myne."
"I've known Luigi and Mario for years and Myne only about a day and a half. Who do you think I believe?"
"No, this isn't right! Come on, Peach! You need to see reason!"
Motoyasu tried to grab Peach's hand, but she pulled it back instantly.
"Don't touch me!"
Peach's actions shocked Motoyasu. But then Peach had an idea.
"So, according to you, a woman should always be believed because she is crying?"
"Yes! I'm glad you're starting to understand."
Motoyasu believed Peach was coming around, but then she broke down crying. She was faking it, but she did produce actual tears.
"Waahh! Motoyasu raped me!" She screamed.
"What!? No, I didn't! When?"
"Right now! He did it so fast that no one could see him, but I felt it!"
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"But according to you, we must believe her because she's crying, right?" Mario said.
"Yeah, a woman would never fake her tears, right?" Luigi added.
"So, by your logic, you should be punished, and Peach should be believed, right?" Daisy added as well.
"But, but, I, I mean, she, I, uh," Motoyasu was stumped. Unable to think of a way out of this mess.
"Now, do you see the flaw in your logic? How stupid it is. And how foolish you've been acting?" Peach asked as she stopped crying. "I hope this has taught you how easy it is for women to fake their tears and that they could lie as well. Now, go back before you make a bigger fool of yourself, you gullible little boy."
Motoyasu wanted to say something but didn't have a reply to Peach's questions. He just slumped his shoulders and went back to his spot. Peach then faced Aultcray.
"Now that that's been taken care of, the evidence? I assume you have more than just her word to suspect Luigi of a heinous crime."
"Yes, of course! Bring forth the evidence!"
A knight came forward with a damaged nightgown.
"This nightgown was found on the Shield Hero's bed. With this evidence, there can be no doubt that the Shield is guilty!" Aultcray boomed.
Peach and Daisy examined the nightgown. It looked brand new, and the tears appeared to have been made with a knife, not as though it had been torn off someone. Plus, there's no way this was found on Luigi's bed, as nothing was there when they left this morning. The two princesses just shook their heads at this fake piece of evidence. Meanwhile, Mario was watching Ren and Itsuki. Initially, the two seemed sold on Luigi's guilt, but the longer the trial went on, the more their expressions changed. Now, they didn't seem so sure Luigi did the crime.
"That evidence is faked and was planted!" Daisy shouted.
"What!? How could you be so sure!?" Autcray asked.
"One: the nightgown looks brand new as if it had just been bought off the store shelves. Two: the tears. Those look more like stab marks rather than the nightgown being torn off a person. If it was the nightgown Myne was wearing when she supposedly was assaulted, why are the straps not torn? Why does the dress appear to be in reasonably good condition? There's no way that dress was torn off someone. And three: that nightgown was supposedly found on Luigi's bed, but that's impossible as Luigi and I slept in the same bed. And I don't remember seeing that nightgown anywhere. With that said, it's obvious that nightgown is fake evidence, made in an attempt to frame Luigi, the Shield Hero." Daisy explained.
Aultcray and Myne were furious. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It should've been simple: accuse the shield of a crime, and hopefully, his companions would abandon him. Keep him weak so that he would die in the waves, absolving them of any guilt in his death. But now that plan is fast falling apart thanks to the Shield's companions poking holes in their evidence. Aultcray was trying to think of something when Myne spoke up.
"Lady Peach, Lady Daisy, surely you're both mistaken. I heard the shield planned to take you two as his next victims after he was done with me," Myne said, desperately trying to convince them of Luigi's guilt.
Peach and Daisy just rolled their eyes. But before any of them could speak.
"You monster!" Motoyasu had gone berserk hearing this, forgetting everything that was said earlier. "Planning to take your friends after Myne? Is there no end to your depravity? Worry not, Peach and Daisy, I will save you two from those brutes!"
Motoyasu rushed forward to attack Luigi, but he and the others just moved out of the way. And, thanks to their long dresses, no one noticed Peach and Daisy stick out their feet to trip Motoyasu. Motoyasu fell and crashed face-first into a pillar.
"Ouch! Be careful there, Mr. Gullible. Your face is about the only good asset you have." Mario commented.
Motoyasu got up furiously while holding a hand up to his face. His nose was broken and bleeding, and he had some cuts now on his pretty face.
"Shut up, you damn fatty! I'm going to save Peach and Daisy from,"
"Motoyasu!" Peach yelled, getting his attention. "I don't need saving, and didn't I tell you earlier not to make a fool of yourself?"
"But, but!"
"But nothing! Now go away!"
Motoyasu, being yelled at like a toddler, just stomped away while clutching his damaged face. Peach then turned back to Aultcray.
"Now then, I believe it's time we get to the heart of the matter."
"What do you mean?" Aultcray asked in fear.
"The real reason behind this sham of a trial. This whole thing was nothing more than a sham that you, Myne, or should I say your daughter, the first princess, Malty S. Melromarc, and the church concocted to criminalize Luigi, the Shield Hero, to spite your enemies in Siltvelt!" Peach shouted.
"Huh? What do you mean, Peach?" Itsuki asked. Ren listened as well, curious about this new information.
"It's simple: Melromarc isn't the only kingdom in this world. There are many others, three, in fact, that rival Melromarc in terms of power. These kingdoms are Faubrey, Zeltobe, and Siltvelt. Melromarc and Siltvelt have been at war for many years, but this only recently stopped when the queen signed a peace treaty with Siltvelt's rulers."
"But, how? How do you know this!?" Aultcray demanded.
"Oh, it's pretty easy to find out—some reading in the library, talking with townsfolk. You're, and your daughter's actions and grudges are well-known throughout the kingdom." Peach answered.
"But what does that have to do with the trial?" Ren asked.
"Simple, the Shield Hero is revered as a god in Siltvelt. What better way to spite your enemies than to label their god a criminal?"
"I see, but wait, what does the church have to do with this?" Itsuki asked.
"The current pope is good friends with Aultcray. By labeling Luigi, the current Shield Hero, a criminal, they get a scapegoat to prove their religion as truth and spite Siltvelt, the kingdom they despise."
"Then, this trial was a political stunt and rigged from the start!" Ren said, realizing this.
"I can't agree with that. You're majesty; you can't condemn Luigi based on your personal biases. You have to judge him fairly." Itsuki said to Aultcray.
Aultcray was furious about what was happening. Not only did he fail to condemn the shield, but now, two of the other three heroes were siding with him. Not only that, he could hear the whispers of the nobles up above, and most of them were convinced of the shield's innocence. Was this his defeat? No! He would not let that happen. He would not let disaster come to his family once again.
"Enough!" Aultcray yelled. "It does not matter what you believe. The sentence has already been carried out. Since you are a Cardinal Hero, I cannot execute you, but your crime has already been spread far and wide throughout the kingdom. Wherever you go, you will be known as a criminal. And if you three choose to follow him still, you will share his fate!"
Itsuki and Ren couldn't believe what was happening. Peach was right; no matter what, the king would find Luigi guilty because of his biased hatred. The nobles in attendance, and thanks to the crystal balls, the townsfolk watching, were disappointed by the king's actions.
"I can't believe this."
"I know, right."
"He was proven innocent, but the king still judges him guilty?"
"Now I see why the queen didn't leave him in charge during her absence."
"It's a shame Lord Seaetto died during the wave. Now we have this fool leading us."
"And what about the Spear Hero? He still believed them."
"Well, at least we have three competent heroes to compensate for that fool."
The public opinion was swaying to Luigi's side and against Aultcray and his daughter. In the throne room, Aultcray hoped his declaration would sway the shield's companions to leave him, but that was not the case.
"Hmph, so what!?" Daisy said in defiance. "You think that scares us? We've faced stronger kings who are ten times the leader you are." Daisy couldn't believe she was complimenting Bowser. But this idiot made him look like a genius by comparison.
"You, damn you! Get out of my sight! Guards! Remove them at once!"
Many knights moved to remove Luigi and his allies from the throne room.
"Want some? Then bring it!"
Daisy was getting ready for a fight, but Peach stopped her.
"Forget about it, Daisy. We're leaving. No need to stick around this foolish king."
"What was that!? What do you mean, you wench!?"
"I mean what I said, foolish king. Your actions have proven why the queen holds more power and didn't choose you as her regent when she left. By the way, I wonder what punishment you will face when she returns."
"Huh? What do you mean by that? Why would the king be punished? Because of the trial?" Itsuki asked.
"Oh, that's just one more sin added to his grievances. We weren't supposed to be summoned here, at least not all four of us. There was an international agreement between the four great kingdoms that one hero would be summoned to each kingdom." Peach explained.
"What!? Are you serious?" Ren asked.
"Yes. But the king went behind the queen's back as soon as she left and summoned all four heroes to Melromarc. I can only assume she's doing her best to make sure the three kingdoms don't wage war against Melromarc and is apologizing to their rulers on her knees right about now."
"Don't you dare speak ill of my wife!" Aultcray shouted.
"I'm not speaking ill of her, just facts. If this makes her look bad, then you only have yourself to blame for putting her in that position with your stupid actions."
Aultcray just gritted his teeth and Peach's statement.
"And tell me, if all three kingdoms were to wage war on Melromarc right now, would she survive? The war with Siltvelt nearly destroyed the kingdom, and that was just one of the major kingdoms fighting against Melromarc."
"But we have the four heroes now."
"That's assuming they would fight for you. I know we wouldn't. We would protect the innocent town folks, but we're not stopping soldiers rushing into the castle to punish the guilty party." Peach said, with Daisy, Luigi, and Mario mirroring her sentiments.
The king looked to Ren and Itsuki, but they turned away.
"Damn traitors!" Aultcray thought.
"Not only that, but I do not believe they would be strong enough to fight off three armies, no offense."
"None taken, I guess? But why do you believe that, Peach?" Itsuki asked.
"Think of it like this. You just started the adventure game and are expected to fight a mid-game boss. That's the simplest way I can explain it. You haven't had time to get used to your weapons or master their abilities."
"Ah, I see. In that case, then, you're right. We couldn't face off against one army, let alone three." Ren said, with Itsuki nodding in agreement.
"And there you have it. But I wonder if any envoys from the other kingdoms have been trying to retrieve their heroes. I would expect the rulers to attempt to reclaim their heroes diplomatically if the queen prevents them from launching an all-out war. Has anyone liked that approached you three?" Peach asked.
"Now that you mention it, this cloaked person was trying to approach me the other day, but my team said to steer clear of him since he was a beggar. But now that I think about it, he didn't look like a beggar. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now, do you, King Aultcray?" Ren asked.
Aultcray was nervously fidgeting in his seat now that he was put on the spot. He couldn't reveal that he told the adventurers he recruited to stay silent about the other kingdoms and keep the heroes in Melromarc at all costs.
"I can't believe it. You do have something to do about, don't you? Now, I wonder if I can trust my own team." Itsuki said.
"Maybe you can. Try talking to them. The king might have some chokehold on them or their families. As a hero and their leader, it's up to you to save them."
"You're right, Peach. Thanks for the tip." Itsuki said, with Ren nodding in agreement.
Motoyasu, meanwhile, was glaring at them all while medics were tending to his face.
"And with that, we're gone. Don't worry, we'll still fight the Waves. But we'll do it for the Melromarc and her people, not for you, foolish king. And we will do it our way. Farewell, and good luck."
Peach said as she and her friends left the throne room. Ren and Itsuki followed soon after, no longer wanting to be a part of this farce. Aultcray just sat on his throne, livid at the events that had transpired. With the Shield group, they were walking down the streets and listening to the gossip around them. While there was an occasional judgmental glare, most townsfolk just went about their day and even waved at them occasionally. It was good to see that Peach's and Daisy's efforts to clear Luigi's name were successful.
"So, what do we do about party members now?" Luigi asked.
"What do you mean, Luigi? You don't need more members with us around." Daisy said reassuringly.
"We're all strong but know nothing about this new world. Myne or Malty was right about needing someone who knows more about this place."
The group thought about this for a moment.
"Well, we could learn more about the world ourselves. But having a local join our group wouldn't hurt." Peach said.
"The problem is knowing who to trust. We don't know if any around here adventurers aren't in the king's pocket or part of that crazy religion." Mario commented.
"Perhaps I could help."
The group turned to an alley where a small man came out wearing all purple.
"Who are you?" Mario asked as he got in front of the group.
"Now, now, no need to be so defensive. I'm but a simple businessman who can help you with your problems.
"Okay, how so?" Peach asked.
"Just follow me to my shop, and I'll show you my wares."
The group followed him but was wary and watched for any ambushes. Soon, they arrived at a purple circus tent. Once inside, they saw cages with various animals in them. They also noticed some cages had people with animalistic traits.
"Slavery? You deal in slavery?" Peach asked.
"Yes, as well as information, mounts and monsters, and gear for them." The man said while twiddling his mustache.
"This isn't right. Surely, this is against the law!" Daisy said.
"Unfortunately not, dear miss. Here in Melromarc, slavery of demi-humans is legal. I'm sure you've seen it yourself out there. Children in rags lifting heavy boxes, perhaps?"
Daisy thought about it, and the man was right. She had seen something like that earlier while walking down the street. She didn't think much about it then, assuming they were just poor kids doing anything they could to earn some money. But to learn that they were slaves, it was disturbing that this was allowed.
"But, still, there has to be something we could do."
"I'm sorry, but with the queen gone, the king is in full support of allowing the slavery of demi-humans. It's of no surprise, knowing his hatred of them. The best you could do is to buy a slave yourself and treat them well."
Daisy didn't like it, but the man was right. It was the law of the land, even if she disagreed. The group continued until Luigi saw a small girl in a cage. She had raccoon ears and a tail and was very sickly.
"Oh, I recommend ignoring that one, Sir Shield. She won't last much longer."
Luigi ignored the man and continued to examine the girl. Daisy then placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look. Luigi nodded back, knowing what he had to do.
"How much?" Luigi asked.
"Excuse me?"
"How much for her?"
"Well, since you're set on this one, thirty silver for her condition."
Luigi agreed to the man's price and paid him. The man snapped his fingers, and two big men came and carried the girl out.
"Come along now, Sir Hero. We need to proceed with the ritual to mark her as your slave."
"What if I want the slave mark removed?" Luigi asked.
"That costs extra. Two hundred silver."
The group was shocked by that outlandish price.
"Wow. The ink must be expensive." Mario surmised.
"Not at all, good sir. It's only forty silver a bottle."
"I see. Hmm, then we'll take one bottle of ink."
"Good purchase, sir."
The three asked Mario why he wanted the bottle of ink, and Mario explained that Luigi could absorb it and get a new shield with new abilities. The three nodded in understanding and continued to the ritual spot.
"Good, now I'll need a sample of your blood, sir Hero."
Luigi took off his glove so the man could get a drop of blood from his finger. But something strange happened. When Luigi's blood entered the bowl of ink, its color changed from black to gold.
"That's interesting. Is there anything special about you, sir?"
Luigi was unsure how to answer that question, but Peach decided it was best to tell the truth instead of making up a lie.
"Yes, there is. Back in our world, we're part of a group known as the Seven Star Children." Peach explained.
"I see. And what's so special about Star Children?"
"Many things, most notably, that each Star Child is born with immense power. Enough power to destroy, conquer, or save a universe."
"Ah, I see. That might explain the change with the ink. Well, let's see how it affects the ritual."
The man proceeded to paint the slave mark on the girl. But he was surprised that she was not writhing in pain. Instead, it seemed to be healing her. Luigi then got a notification on his screen.
[Partner added. New partner, Raphtalia, has now joined the group.]
Luigi was glad that it said partner, not slave. Once the ritual was over, the man handed over Raphtalia and an ink bottle.
"Thank you for your business. Please come by again soon. I get new stock every month or so."
"Okay. Thanks, mister?"
"Beloukas, Sir Hero."
After saying goodbye, the group left for a tavern to rent a room for the night. Once inside, Raphtalia was placed on a bed while Mario made medicine for her. Luckily, he had purchased some herbs during his information gathering. But now they ran into another problem: funds. With the king not supporting them, they needed a new way to earn cash. That's when Luigi had an idea. Along with the bottle of ink, he had the shield absorb one silver coin he had.
[New shield unlocked: Ink Shield. Plus five resistance to binding for each level gained. Can now place or remove slave seals from person or animal touched. Must have maintained physical contact for at least five seconds to place or remove slave seal.]
[New shield unlocked: Silver Shield. Plus five defense for each level gained, plus five resistance to attacks from supernatural enemies for each level gained. Special ability unlocked: When an enemy attack is blocked with this shield, the enemy will be surrounded by a silver aura for three minutes, plus one minute for each level gained. Enemies defeated while surrounded by the silver aura will be turned into silver coins. The amount is based on the power of the enemy when killed.]
Luigi looked at his new shield with satisfaction. Now, they didn't have to worry about money.
"Okay, what do we do now?" Daisy asked.
"Well, someone needs to stay and look after Raphtalia. I suggest you two go out and kill monsters with that new shield to get some more silver while Mario and I watch her." Peach suggested.
"Actually, I think 'we' should watch over Raphtalia while you and Mario kill monsters." Luigi rebutted.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because Daisy and I have already gained some new world levels while you two were gathering information. We want you two to be included. Besides, we have enough silver for one or two more days. And if push comes to shove, we'll try to sell one of our gold coins. I mean, gold should still be valuable, right?"
Mario and Peach thought about this and decided that Luigi was right.
"Okay then. Stay safe while we're out."
"You too, bro."
Mario and Peach left to kill monsters while Luigi and Daisy would watch over Raphtalia. Mario had left behind the medicine he had made just in case Raphtalia needed another dose. Soon, Raphtalia began to toss and turn and cry in her sleep.
"No... NO!" She cried.
"Oh, poor girl must be having a nightmare," Daisy said as she picked up Raphtalia. She then held her in a soft embrace while patting her back. "There, there. Everything is going to be okay now. You're safe."
This worked as Raphtalia calmed down.
A few hours passed, and Mario and Peach had ventured far into the wilds. They were so busy killing monsters that they lost track of time and where they were going.
"Think we're lost?" Mario asked.
"Maybe, but it doesn't matter. We could easily find our way back. All these monster parts we've collected should greatly help us." Peach said as she placed some monster pieces into her magic bag.
Luckily, carrying a magic bag was common in the Mushroom Kingdom and surrounding territories. Magic bags had large storage capacities, making carrying stuff much more manageable. Mario's, Peach's, Luigi's, and Daisy's were specially created to have an almost infinite storage space since they were celebrities. Mario and Peach were about to head back when they noticed something.
"Hey, what's-a that?" Mario asked, pointing to a nearby river.
Peach looked to where Mario was pointing and saw something lying by the side of the river.
"It looks like a person. And they're not moving."
"Mamamia! They might be hurt!"
Mario and Peach rushed over to the person. They found a small weasel girl, and she looked severely malnourished, beaten, and on the verge of death.
"Are you okay?" Mario asked as she turned her around.
She didn't have the strength to talk and was barely breathing.
"Mario, do you have anything to help her?"
"I left all the herbs I bought back in the room with Luigi and Daisy."
The two were panicking as the girl was about to die. Mario was thinking when he had an idea. He reached into his magic bag and pulled out a one-up mushroom.
"A one-up?" Peach asked.
"Yep, always carry a few just in case the worst happens. Now, timing is everything. At the moment of her passing, I will use the mushroom. Afterward, can you use your healing magic on her?"
"Yes, of course, Mario."
"Okay, here we go."
Mario and Peach waited for the girl to take her final breath. It happened, and the next moment, Mario shoved the one-up mushroom into her mouth. The mushroom appeared to have worked as they heard the extra-life jingle and saw the sparkles surrounding her body. The two waited in anticipation, and she suddenly took a deep breath and started to cough violently.
"There! Use your magic!" Mario said.
Peach did just that and used her healing magic on the girl. Soon, her wounds vanished, and she looked to be much healthier.
"I'm, I'm alive? But how?" The girl asked in bewilderment.
"Thank goodness the one-up mushroom worked," Mario said.
The girl turned to the two and was shocked to see them.
"Did you two save me?"
"Yep," Mario answered.
"But why?"
"Because it was the right thing to do," Peach answered.
The girl was about to ask more questions, but her stomach began to rumble. Mario and Peach just chuckled as Peach reached into her magic bag and pulled out a loaf of bread.
"Here. It's not much, but better than nothing."
The girl looked shocked by Peach's kindness. She seemed hesitant but took the bread and started to eat it.
"So, where do you live? We can take you home now," Mario asked.
The girl stopped eating, and tears began to form in her eyes.
"I don't have a home. It was destroyed. My parents were killed in the Wave."
The girl began to cry loudly, much to Mario and Peach's dismay.
"Mamamia! I'm sorry for asking. But it's-a alright! Everything is going to be okay now, I promise!" Mario said, trying to calm the girl down.
This seemed to work as she stopped crying and wiped away her tears.
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"It's just who we are. Since you don't have a home, do you want to stay with us?" Peach asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, we already have one girl we saved from slavery. One more won't hurt."
The weasel girl looked between Mario and Peach, smiling brightly at them, which filled her with a sense of safety and comfort.
"Okay. Thank you."
"It's-a no problem. Do you have a name?" Mario asked.
"It's Rifana."
"Welcome to the team, Rifana. Now let's-a go. My brother and his girlfriend are waiting for us. And I'm sure you're still hungry."
Rifana shyly nodded. Mario and Peach then took her hand and began to walk back to the castle town.
That's the end of the chapter. Thank you so much for reading it. I hope you enjoyed my story so far. Feel free to leave a review, and have a nice day.