Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to characters from the Mario or ROTSH franchises.
Review responses:
Captain Imaginat: Yes, flawed monarchs can make good leaders. That's what makes characters like Mirellia good characters. But I value your insights on Aultcray's character development. As for Eclair, she'll be making an appearance very soon.
Perseus12: Your support means a lot to me. Thank you.
OBgaming: Thank you. It's Mario and Luigi SuperStar Saga, the one that started it all for me.
Jujugol: Are you clairevoyant? I was planning for Mario's enemies to appear in the future. But which ones, I wonder? By the way, thanks for the suggestions.
blueassassin996: It will be interesting to see their reactions to Mario and Luigi's strengths.
Chapter 4: Reports and Restorations
The demi-humans rescued by the Shield team continued their trek back to Lurolona, their home that the Wave attacked before Aultcray's knights enslaved them. While traveling, Mario and Luigi vividly recounted their adventures to the group's children. The journey seemed shorter, and the children's eyes sparkled with wonder. They reached their destination, and the SuperStars stepped out to see the ruins of what used to be Lurolona.
"Mamamia. The Wave really did a number on this place." Mario commented.
"This wasn't the Wave's doing." The goat man said, his voice laced with anger. "Yes, the monsters did significant damage, but most of the village's destruction came from the knights who came afterward. We thought they were sent to aid in the rebuilding, but they began to capture and enslave us. They destroyed any buildings we tried to hide in."
"Didn't anyone try to protect you?" Peach asked.
"Yes, Seaetto Eclair tried to protect us. But she was one against many. Soon, she was overwhelmed, and the knights continued to hunt us down."
Many of the villagers were either crying or seething with anger at the memories of that horrible night.
"Who is that?" Daisy asked.
"She is the daughter of the late Lord Seaetto, the lord who ruled this territory. He was a kind man who treated everyone equally, regardless of race, and built this village at the queen's request to help mend bridges with Siltvelt and demi-humans. He was also the queen's chosen reagent, left in charge of significant affairs during her absence. But he sadly perished during the first wave. The king and his supporters took advantage of this to seize power and destroy Lurolona." The goat man explained.
"Once again, Aultcray proves himself to be a terrible king. I'm sure the queen will punish him as soon as she returns. How does he expect to get away with destroying the village?" Peach commented.
"He and Rabier planned to blame its destruction on the Waves. That's why we were captured, to be silenced."
Mario and Daisy looked angry, while Luigi and Peach were shocked by this revelation.
"What an awful man. Why did the queen marry that jerk!?" Daisy asked.
"It's because of his past accomplishments. Melromarc was at war with Siltvelt many years ago, and she was losing. But then a warrior appeared whose skills and tactics turned the tide of the war. Due to his prowess in battle and keen mind, Melromarc was saved, and that warrior earned the privilege of marrying the queen. That warrior is now King Aultcray XXXII." The goat man explained.
"I see. That explains how he got his position. But if it's true he earned his title as king, he could also lose it. He will no longer be king once the queen learns what he has done." Peach said.
"True, and that is why he sent his knights to enslave us and locked away Eclair. So that the truth may never be exposed."
"Where would Eclair be?" Mario asked.
"I remember the knights saying something about treason. If that's the case, she would be locked up in the castle's dungeons." An ox demi-human said.
"That's good to know. We'll save her if we can, but for now, we must rest. It's been a long night, and we have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
Everyone agreed with Mario and returned to the carriages to rest for the night. Once the morning came, Mario and Luigi woke up earlier than the rest of the group to hunt for food. By the time everyone else woke up, they had returned with two giant boars.
"You two are genuinely kind. Not only do you aid us in rebuilding, but you also provide food?" The goat man said.
"Hey, it's what we do. Now let's start cooking." Luigi responded.
The demi-humans prepared and cooked the boar so Mario and Luigi could rest. After breakfast, everyone stood in front of the ruins of Lurolona.
"Well, shall we get started? It won't fix itself." A wolfman said.
"Hold on," Mario said as he and Luigi pulled out their hammers. "We got this."
"No, you've done so much already. Let us handle rebuilding our home." The goat man said.
"It's-a fine. We do this all the time back home. Just watch." Mario said.
[Hammer theme starts playing]
Mario and Luigi rush in and start rebuilding the village. All the villagers can see is a giant dust cloud, and they hear hammers banging. In a few minutes, the sounds stop, and the dust cloud dissipates.
[Hammer theme stops playing]
The villagers' eyes grew wide at what they saw. In just a few minutes, the village of Lurolona was rebuilt. All the destroyed houses looked as good as new, and a wall had been built around it.
"Unbelievable. How were you able to finish this in a few minutes?" The goat man asked.
"Like I said, we do this a lot back home. Now, we need to,"
Mario didn't finish as he saw something approaching the town. Everyone looked to where Mario was looking and saw a small platoon of knights marching towards the village. All the villagers ran inside in fear of the knights while Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy stepped in front to confront them.
"Can we help you?" Mario asked.
The lead knight stepped forward with a document in his hand.
"King Aultcray XXXII has ordered the Shield Hero and his brother to appear before him. You are suspected of involvement in the recent events surrounding Idol Rabier's territory."
Mario and Luigi sighed in annoyance. It seemed the king would attempt to charge them with yet another crime. They decided to go along so as not to cause more trouble for the villagers.
"Very well, let's-a go," Luigi said.
"Follow us."
The knights are about to leave with Mario and Luigi, but they stop when they notice Peach and Daisy are not coming.
"And you're female companions? They have to come as well."
"No, they don't," Mario responded. "The order was for the Shield Hero and his brother, not the Shield's companions."
"Well, yes, but"
"But nothing! We're following the order so our friends can stay in the village."
The lead knight was about to demand Peach and Daisy come with them, but Mario stopped him, seeing that he was about to become aggressive.
"If you have a problem with that, we will simply ignore the order."
"You would defy the king!?"
"Yes. And if you try to force us to follow you, then we'll make 'you' leave."
Mario and Luigi are ready to fight the knights if they turn violent. The lead knight was now in a precarious situation. He heard the reports of what Mario and Luigi did, how they defeated the Tyrant Dragon, a beast the Cardinal Heroes of the past couldn't beat. He didn't want to believe it, but Aultcray's tone and warning of not antagonizing the Shield and his brother made him wary of them. He sighed as he had to relent in his position.
"Very well. Please, follow us."
Mario and Luigi followed the knights to Melromarc.
"I hope Papa will be okay," Rifana said, with Raphtalia mirroring her sentiments.
"Those bastards," Keel growled out. He did not doubt that Aultcray would try to find Mario and Luigi guilty of Idol Rabier's murder. "That bastard got himself killed by summoning that monster. Plus, he deserved it! We can't let that racist king get away with this! We need to!"
"It's okay, Keel," Peach said, stopping his rant.
"But!"
"Keel, do you honestly believe Mario and Luigi would let themselves be locked up? And you saw them in action, right? What does the king have that would be a threat to them?"
"I, you're right. But still!"
"It's okay. Trust me, they'll be back before you know it. Now, let's get to work! Mario and Luigi may have fixed the buildings, but we must still plant new crops and fix the water wells. There's still plenty of work to do, people!"
The crowd cheered and got to work repairing their village. Meanwhile, a group of knights and shadows hid in the woods, watching them. The shadow leading them was gritting his teeth in anger. The Shield and his companions were supposed to follow the knights, leaving Lurolona defenseless again. Then they would attack and silence all the villagers, but now two of the Shield's companions were protecting the village.
"Should we attack now?" A knight asked.
"You fool! Two of the Shield's companions are still there. We would stand no chance against them." The leader answered.
"But, sir. They're only two women. What threat could they pose to us? We can even have some fun with them afterward."
Many other knights joined him in agreement, imagining a fun night with Peach and Daisy.
"Idiots! Didn't you read the report on them? Their levels far exceed our own and match the Shield's and his brother's. You saw the recording; you know what the Shield and his brother are capable of. What makes you think they are incapable of the same feats of power?"
The knights began to question their decision to attack Lurolona. They were terrified when they saw how the Shield Devil and his brother easily bested the Tyrant Dragon.
"But, but."
"No buts! The fact that the Shield and his brother trust those two with the village's protection shows they are not to be underestimated. We may have to retreat."
Many of the men were shocked by this. They knew Aultcray would not be pleased with this decision.
"Are you saying we are to run in fear from these beasts?"
"Do you have any plans or weapons that could best the levels of power shown by the Shield Devil?"
The knight backed down and stayed silent after being asked this.
"That's what I thought. Damn it, let's leave already. I don't want to risk those monsters seeing us."
The group left, not wanting to confront Peach and Daisy. In Melromarc, Mario and Luigi were escorted into the throne room where Aultcray was waiting. At the side were Motoyasu, Itsuki, and Ren. Mario also noticed that there were mages on the balcony instead of nobles. This caused Mario some concern, but he didn't show it so as not to arouse suspicion.
"So, you have finally arrived. I hope you don't expect to escape punishment for your crimes." Aultcray said in an authoritative tone. That's when he noticed Peach and Daisy weren't with them. "Where are your other two companions?"
"Oh, they're back at the village," Mario answered.
"What!? I asked for all four of you to be here!" Aultcray shouted.
"No, your decree asked for the Shield and his brother, not the other two."
Aultcray was seething at this. He motioned for the lead knight to bring the decree to him. He snatched it out of his hands and read through it. He gritted his teeth as Mario was right.
"Even so, they are obligated to come as well."
"No, they are not!"
The king glared at Mario in anger.
"How dare you!? I am the king! That means my word is law! And you and your companions will obey me while in my country!"
"Wrong, idiot! It's not your kingdom. It's the queen's. And it's her word that is law, not yours. And aren't you defying her orders with your actions? I'm sure she didn't ask you to summon all four heroes, not with that international treaty. And what about Lurolona? She asked for it to be built, but the second she's gone, you send a platoon of knights to destroy it. I wonder how she will react once she finds out about it."
"Ha! Who do you think she will believe? Me, her loving husband and hero to the kingdom? Or you and those filthy beasts?"
"Let's-a find out. Let's wait for her to come back from her mission and explain the situation to her. If you're so sure she will believe you, there's no problem waiting for her to question us."
Aultcray balked at this. He didn't want to believe it but knew his wife wouldn't take his word. There would be investigations, questionings, and examinations of any orders given to the knights while she was away from Melromarc. It was tough to hide the truth from her, and if she found out he ordered the destruction of Lurolona, his head would indeed roll. He had to silence those filthy beasts, or it was the end of him. But first, he had to deal with the Shield Devil and his brother.
"You expect me to wait, no! You will face punishment now!" Aultcray boomed.
"Just try it," Mario said as he and Luigi prepared for battle.
Aultcray smirked and snapped his fingers. The mages above cast a spell, and Luigi and Mario were now encased in a blue field of light.
"What the heck is this?" Luigi asked.
"Did you think I was not prepared for you? I had mages ready to cast mana-siphoning and weakening spells ahead of time. Now, you will find it impossible to use your overwhelming strength." Aultcray said in confidence.
"Really? Because I don't feel any different." Mario said.
"What!? You lie!"
"Let's-a find out."
Mario decided to test out Aultcray's trap and created two fireballs in his hands. Everyone was shocked at this.
"No! It should be impossible for you to activate any spells!" Aultcray said in fear.
Mario just shook his head but had to admit, this was a good trap. He would be at Aultcray's mercy now if he were a regular person. Luckily, it seems the experience and power he and his brother have gained over the years was more than enough to overpower Aultcray's trap. He launched fireballs at all the mages casting the spell. They didn't have time to react before they were blown away. Mario decided to spare them, believing they were following orders and not evil. So, he didn't use full-powered fireballs. Once the mages were knocked out, the blue field disappeared.
"No, it's impossible!" Aultcray said as he cowered in fear.
"I'll give it to you; that was a good plan. But if you wanted to make a dent in our strength, then you would need one thousand, no, two thousand more mages casting that same spell. Or, one mage who can cast that spell with the power of two thousand mages." Mario said. He may have been bragging a bit, but he wasn't wrong.
Aultcray was terrified by the position he found himself in. Not only had his plan failed, but he was now at the mercy of the Shield Devil and his damn brother. He needed help.
"Wait! The other heroes!" He thought. "Don't be so cocky! We still have the other three heroes. They will surely be more than a match for you and your damned brother." Aultcray said with a smirk.
Motoyasu was grinning as he prepared for battle. Eager to punish the rapist who hurt Myne and get some payback on Mario. But Ren and Itsuki did not ready their weapons and just stood there. Aultcray saw this and was angered by their actions.
"What are you two doing? Ready your weapons! We must punish these two criminals!" Aultcray shouted.
"No." Itsuki calmly said, with Ren not moving in agreement.
"What!? Why!?"
"Because I don't believe they're guilty of anything, Sir. You haven't even charged them with a crime yet. You just yelled at them for stating facts and sicked your mages on them. As far as I see, they're innocent." Itsuki explained.
"True. We were summoned to act as witnesses to a trial. So far, all I've seen is a king treating one of the heroes and his companions unfairly because of his anger." Rne added.
Aultcray was furious. He was reaching his wit's end with these defiant heroes.
"What!? You guys can't honestly believe those two bastards over Myne and her father." Motoyasu said in disbelief.
"Just think with your head for once, Motoyasu. None of the evidence from the previous trial made any sense. And the king has yet to explain what crime Mario and Luigi are charged with now." Itsuki explained.
"No! That's not true! Myne would never lie!"
"Oh, so Peach and Daisy are lying then? They gave the perfect alibi for Luigi and even showed how the one piece of evidence Aultcray had was faked." Ren tried to explain.
"No, that can't be right! They're obviously being misled. That's right! They're being tricked! Those bastards must be tricking Peach and Daisy somehow!" Motoyasu exclaimed.
"How?" Itsuki asked.
Ren was also curious about how Mario and Luigi were tricking Peach and Daisy and glared at Motoyasu for an explanation.
"Um, well, it could be his shield. Yeah, he has a brainwashing shield and is using it to control Peach and Daisy."
"And what proof do you have of that, Motoyasu?" Ren asked.
"Um, well, just look at them! Can you honestly believe that beautiful ladies like Peach and Daisy would date a fat loser like Mario and a skinny weakling like Luigi!? It has to be mind control!"
"Yes, of course! That's the only explanation. The Shield Devil and his evil brother are manipulating the fair maidens Peach and Daisy. They must be brought here to be freed of his vile control." Aultcray said, but Itsuki and Ren were not moved.
"Again, what proof do you have? Just because you think Mario and Luigi are ugly isn't proof. If you try to force Peach and Daisy here for whatever you plan to do to them, then I want no part of it." Ituki said.
Aultcray's anger grew as nothing he did could sway the other heroes to his side. But before he could say anything else, Ren spoke up.
"If you're done spouting nonsense, what is the crime Mario and Luigi are being charged with? If you're going to continue to spew hateful comments and unfounded accusations at them, then I'm leaving. I have far more important things to do than watch a man-child and a bitter old man spout out hateful words."
Aultcray did not like how Ren spoke to him, but he decided to continue with the trial.
"Very well, if you're that eager to begin the trial. The Shield Devil and his brother are accused of murdering Idol Rabier. My good friend and war hero of Melromarc!" Aultcray shouted.
"You bastards," Motoyasu growled out. "To get back at Myne and her father, you kill his good friend? Do you have no shame!?"
"Hold up, Motoyasu. Let's hear the whole story before you make a fool of yourself again." Ren said, with Itsuki nodding in agreement. "Why do you believe Mario and Luigi murdered Idol Rabier?" Ren asked Aultcray.
"I'm glad you asked. We have eyewitnesses and a recording showing the crime. Bring forth the evidence!"
A knight and a crystal ball were then brought before Aultcray.
"Sir knight, tell me what happened during the night Idol Rabier was killed."
"Well, I was patrolling the grounds as I always do. Then, there was a large explosion in the sky. As I was staring at it, I smelled the scent of peaches and fell asleep. Then, I was awoken by an enormous roar. And that's when I saw it: the Tyrant Dragon had been freed from its prison."
"The Tyrant Dragon?" Ren asked.
"Yes, a powerful and evil creature that was sealed away by the four Cardinal Heroes of the past. Idol Rabier bought the land where its prison lay to stand guard over it. It was a noble deed performed by a true hero of Melromarc. But now he is dead, and the Tyrant Dragon freed from its prison." Aultcray explained.
"If that is true, then where is the dragon? I haven't seen nor heard of it until now." Itsuki said.
"Yes, that is strange. Could you tell me, sir knight, what did you do next?
"Well, King Aultcray, I was so terrified. I heard the legends of what the Tyrant Dragon was capable of, so I ran. I ran as fast and far as my legs could take me."
"Understandable. Did you happen to see anything while you ran for your life?"
"Yes, I did, your majesty. I saw all the slaves Rabier owned outside. They were standing next to two women—one in a pink dress and one in an orange dress. Then I looked back to where the mansion was and saw the Shield Devil and his brother running towards the Tyrant Dragon."
"And there you have it. With what we've just seen of your abilities, the explosion in the sky must've been your doing!" Aultcray said as he pointed to Mario. "Then, while all the knights were distracted, you used Lady Peach's magic to put the men to sleep. We have reports that she and her friend, Lady Daisy, can create an area where their targets are put under a sleep spell. With all this evidence, there can be no doubt that you two are guilty of murder in the first degree!" Aultcray boomed.
"Now, hold on!" Itsuki yelled.
"What is it, Sir Itsuki?" Aultcray growled out.
"You say that as fact, but we don't know if Mario and Luigi killed Rabier. All the knight saw was Mario and Luigi charging at the dragon while their team and some slaves watched on." Itsuki explained.
"True. Tell me, knight, did you see Mario and Luigi kill Idol Rabier?" Ren asked.
"Um, no, I did not."
"Did you see anything else after you saw Mario and Luigi charging at the dragon?"
"No, Sir Sword. I didn't look back afterward and continued to run for my life."
"I see. All his testimony proves is that Mario and Luigi happened to be there during the night of the dragon's escape. Perhaps they just found the dragon by chance and decided to fight it to save all the citizens nearby. Like a hero would do." Ren explained.
"That does bring up the question, what happened to the dragon?" Itsuki asked.
Everyone was curious about this except for Aultcray. He already knew what had happened.
"Hey, Mario, what happened after you fought the dragon?"
"Oh, we beat it, Itsuki," Mario answered.
The three heroes were shocked by his answer.
"Wait, you two beat it?"
"Yep," Luigi answered Ren.
"Beat it, as in you knocked it out and ran? Or beat it, as in it's dead?" Itsuki asked.
"We killed it. Blew it up with a fire and lightning-infused attack." Mario answered.
"What!? No way! There's no way you two could do what four heroes of the past couldn't!" Motoyasu argued.
"Well, we did! And Luigi's new shield is proof."
On cue, Luigi showed off his new shield. It was a black shield that appeared to be made of dragon scales with a burning red jewel in the center.
"Whoa."
"What kind of bonuses does that have?"
Ren asked as Itsuki stared in awe. Motoyasu, meanwhile, was simmering in his anger and jealousy. Once he heard about it, he wanted to kill that dragon and prove himself a better man than Mario.
"It gives me a base plus seventy-five defense bonus, fifty magic defense bonus, forty slashing resistance, sixty dark resistance, and one hundred fire resistance. And it gives me 'intimidating presence'. A passive skill that will scare off low-level monsters and have higher or equal-level monsters focus their attention on me. Oh, and I can also command dragon creatures with a weaker will than me." Luigi explained.
"Awesome."
"Do you have any leftover materials you'd like to share?"
Ren asked, and Itsuki also wondered the same thing.
"Sure. We'd be willing to help you out." Mario said, with Luigi nodding in agreement.
"Hold on! We're still in the middle of a trial!" Aultcray shouted. "Just because they killed the beast doesn't mean they're innocent. There's still the issue of why they were at Rabier's estate in the first place."
"Yeah, that is strange. Why was your team there, Luigi?" Itsuki asked.
"Two slaves we rescued told us Rabier was torturing their friends to death. We went to Rabier's estate to save them." Luigi answered.
"And there you,"
"Hold up! What did you do to Rabier?"
Ren interrupted Aultcray, much to his annoyance.
"We beat him up," Mario answered.
"Aha! A confession!" Aultcray said.
"No, he said they beat him up, not killed him. Was Rabier still alive after you beat him up?" Ren asked.
"Yes. He was unconscious but alive."
"And what happened next?"
"We freed his slaves and exited the estate after Peach and Daisy knocked out all the knights."
"So he was still alive then?"
"Yes."
"And there you have it, King Aultcray. Mario and Luigi may have attacked Rabier but didn't kill him."
"No! I do not believe them!" Aultcray shouted.
"Well, we do. And speaking of Rabier, did you find his body? Was an autopsy performed?" Itsuki asked.
"Um, well, we couldn't find his body, but with the condition of his mansion, it's obvious he was killed." Aultcray lied. The truth was they did find Rabier's body, or what was left of it. But he didn't reveal it to the other heroes because it would prove the Tyrant Dragon Rex killed Rabier.
"So you haven't even found a body? Rabier could be alive and struggling for all you know. You should be sending out search parties to find him. If he's dead, then you need to find his body to give him a proper burial. He deserves it for being a war hero." Itsuki said, with Ren nodding in agreement.
"No! Rabier is dead, and his murderers are here before us! I don't care if you agree with me or not. His sentence shall be carried out. For the crime of murdering Idol Rabier, Mario is to be executed!" Aultcray boomed.
Ren and Itsuki were stunned by Aultcray's actions, while Motoyasu grinned with glee. Mario and Luigi seemed unaffected, though.
"Try it," Mario said as he got into a fighting stance. "Let's-a see if any of your knights can take me, one of the fighters who beat the Tyrant Dragon Rex, a monster even four Cardinal Heroes couldn't kill, in."
Aultcray looked around to see his knights cowering in fear. He grits his teeth in anger before turning to the other three heroes.
"Sir Motoyasu, Sir Ren, and Sir Itsuki, it is your duty to serve justice. Apprehend the criminal!" Aultcray ordered.
Motoyasu got ready to attack, but Ren and Itsuki just stood still.
"No, I refuse," Ren said.
"What!?" Motoyasu and Aultcray said in shock.
"You are abusing your power to force Mario to pay for a crime he did not commit. That is not justice, and I refuse to be a part of it." Ren explained.
"Same here. I cannot abide by your selfish actions, King Aultcray. You are trying to punish Luigi and Mario because of your biases and hatred towards demi-humans and the Shield Hero. I will not be a part of any injustices you try to force onto them."
Aultcray could not believe what he was hearing. Three of the four heroes were turning on him.
"You traitors. If that's how you will be, then so be it! You are cut off from the crown! You shall receive no aid from us: no monthly funds, free equipment, mounts, or work animals. You shall be completely on your own. Do you understand?"
Aultcray hoped this would force the other heroes to his side, but it didn't.
"Hmph! So be it. I can get by on my own anyway."
"Same here. I will not accept aid from a crooked king."
Ren and Itsuki answered.
"You, damn you!" Aultcray shouted.
While this was going on, Motoyasu was also seething with rage.
"How? Why? Why is everyone so blind to their crimes!?" He screamed. "What did you two do!? You should have been punished the second you tried to rape Myne, but somehow you evaded justice. Not only that, but Peach, Daisy, and even Ren and Itsuki side with you when it's obvious you are guilty! What the hell are you doing to cheat the game!?"
"Huh? Game? Cheat? Motoyasu, this isn't a game." Mario tried to explain.
"Shut up! I won't let you get away. I'll make sure you face justice. I'll punish you myself!" Motoyasu shouted as he charged forward, intent on spearing Mario.
Mario just shook his head and grabbed the spear before it could hit him. Motoyasu tried to free his weapon from Mario's grip, but Mario was too strong. Mario then pulled Motoyasu closer and grabbed him by his collar. He then lifted him into the air as Motoyasu dropped his spear.
"Okay, listen here, punk. I'm getting tired of your antics. Luigi isn't a rapist, Peach and Daisy aren't mind controlled, we didn't kill Rabier, and this isn't a game! Just think with your head for once, and you will see the truth that even a child can see."
"Shut up! I won't listen to the words of a murdering rapist like you! I will free Peach and Daisy from your vile control and avenge Myne!" Motoyasu yelled as he punched Mario's nose.
Mario just stared at him in silence while everyone was shocked by what happened.
"He's dead." Itsuki blurted out. Ren just nodded in agreement.
"Okay then," Mario said before headbutting Motoyasu.
Motoyasu fell, clutching his face in pain. Before he could react, Mario was upon him and proceeded to beat him down. Everyone just watched as Mario wailed on Motoyasu. After a minute of relentless punches, Mario got up, and Motoyasu was motionless. He was still alive, as evident by his groaning, but he couldn't move. As Mario got off Motoyasu, he noticed the spear absorbing more energy from him. He wanted to know why it did that but had other matters to deal with.
"No! Sir Motoyasu! I need healers helping him now! And you! How dare you attack a Cardinal Hero!? Guards! Arrest him at once!" Aultcray shouted, but the guards were too scared to do anything against Mario.
"Looks like your men are too scared of me to do anything," Mario said with a smirk.
Aultcray gritted his teeth in anger as Mario made a mockery of him and his men.
"Now listen here, you racist jerk. Me and my bro, Luigi, are strong enough to beat you and your whole army by ourselves. So it's-a in your best interest to leave us alone, or else the queen might not have a husband to return to." Mario threatened.
"You, you dare threaten me!?"
"Yes, because you keep badgering me, my brother, and our friends due to your hatred of the Shield Hero. We won't put up with this from some racist jerk who can't let go of past grudges. So this is-a your last chance. LEAVE. US. ALONE." Mario said in a threatening tone.
Aultcray just sat on his throne, his anger threatening to boil over and make him do something he would regret. As Mario turned to leave, he remembered something.
"Oh, yeah. I'm going to search your dungeons for Eclair Seaetto." Mario said as he made his way deeper into the castle.
"What!? How did you know she was here!?" Aultcray asked in shock and horror.
"I didn't, but I had a hunch. Thank you for confirming I was right." Mario answered as he left to find Eclair.
"Who's Eclair?" Itsuki asked.
"She was a knight who protected the village, Lurolona—a village filled with free demi-humans the queen made to make peace with Siltvelt. The king ordered when the first wave struck and planned to blame its destruction on the Wave monsters so he could get away with destroying it Scott-free. He had Eclair imprisoned and charged with treason for protecting the people under her care." Luigi explained.
"Man. The king sounds worse and worse the more I learn about him."
"Yes. I hope the queen returns soon so he can be punished for his crimes."
Itsuki and Ren said.
"Well, all we can do is wait for now. Now, I have discovered a shield that helps make money. I think your weapons have a similar form that can help you."
"The help would be appreciated, Luigi."
"Yeah, thanks."
The three continued their conversation as they left the throne room. Motoyasu had to be taken to the infirmary to be healed. Now, it was just Aultcray, left alone in the throne room. He buried his face in his hands as he was now lost. Mario and Luigi's strength far surpassed anything he could plan for. He had no idea how to counter their power. He could gather all the mages in the kingdom to cast debuffing magic, but it would not be enough. He needed to find a way to steal or seal away their power, but how?
As he contemplated this problem, Mario walked through the dungeons searching for Eclair. Many knights tried to stop him, but Mario dispatched them with ease. Mario continued his search until he found a woman with long pink hair in a cell.
"Excuse me, but are you Eclair Seaetto?" Mario asked.
The woman looked up and was surprised to see Mario.
"Yes. Who are you?" Eclair asked.
"I'm-a Mario, and I am here to save you."
"Save me? Did the queen send you?"
"No. The villagers of Lurolona sent me."
"Lurolona? Are they safe?"
"Yes. My brother and I saved them from Rabier. Now, I'm here to save you."
"I see, that's good to hear. One of the guards should have the keys. You need to find them."
"No need."
Mario grabbed the cell bars and pulled the whole frontal section off. Eclair just watched in awe of Mario's strength. Mario then ripped the cuffs off of her.
"Here, I believe this is-a yours. It's full of female knight gear," Mario said as he gave Eclair a bag he had found.
Eclair checked it and nodded.
"Yes, it is. Now, do you have a plan to escape?
"Simple. We walk out the front door."
"What!? But that's suicide! The guards will stop us. The king would never allow,"
"The king won't do anything. Not after the show I just put on."
"What do you mean?"
"Just follow me. You'll soon see."
Eclair followed Mario and was impressed by the number of beaten knights filling the dungeons.
Meanwhile, at the Church of the Three Heroes
Pope Balmus, the current head of the church, was beside himself. He had been in his study ever since his shadow reported on the Shield Devil's strength. Pope Balmus did not believe it initially, but the recording did not lie. The shadow had recorded the whole event on a crystal ball. From when Mario and Luigi infiltrated Rabier's home to when the Tyrant Dragon Rex was released, and finally, its defeat at the hands of Mario and Luigi.
"This can't be happening! How does the Shield Devil possess such strength!?"
Balmus repeatedly watched the recording, trying to find the secret to Mario and Luigi's strength. But he couldn't see it. One second, Mario and Luigi were crushed by the Tyrant Dragon Rex; the next, they were glowing and lifted the tyrant's foot before defeating it in a one-sided battle.
"What is it!? Why are they glowing!? What did they do!?"
As Balmus pondered these questions, a knock was heard at the door.
"Pope Balmus, I have a report on the king's trial of the Shield Devil and his brother." The person on the other side said.
"Then come in and report your findings," Balmus ordered.
A shadow came in and kneeled before the pope.
"I'm sorry to say, but the king's attempt to arrest and execute the Shield's brother entirely and utterly failed, your holiness." The shadow reported.
"Damn it! Aultcray, you fool! It should have been simple. Praise the Spear, Bow, and Sword heroes, and shun the Shield! They should have been mere puppets dancing to our tune. But now, not only is the Shield still free, but the Sword and Bow are turning away from the crown and the church. This has already caused some of our flock to question the faith. We need to deal with this immediately!"
Balmus sat back down and thought about what he had to do.
"I need shadows watching the Shield Devil's and his companions' every movement. I want to be informed if they so much as sneeze strangely! We need to discover the secrets to their strength!"
"Yes, your holiness!"
"And bring me all the documents regarding our sacred treasure. I must study them and learn all of their secrets. It's our only hope of defeating the Shield Devil!"
"Yes. I'll bring them right away, your holiness!"
The shadow then left to complete his tasks. Balmus pondered on what to do next.
"Perhaps it is time we get rid of the royal family? Aultcray appears to have outlived his usefulness." Balmus said to himself.
Meanwhile, in Faubrey
A female shadow reports to a beautiful woman wearing a royal purple dress with long purple hair.
"Do you have something to report?" The woman asked.
"Yes, my Queen. King Aultcray has indeed summoned all four heroes to Melromarc."
This was Queen Mirellia, Matriarch of Melromarc. She was in Faubrey to discuss the summoning of the four Cardinal Heroes. Unfortunately, her husband's foolish actions have turned the other three great kingdoms against Melromarc. Ever since it was discovered that her husband summoned all four heroes without permission, she has been dissuading them from pursuing war against Melromarc.
"I can't believe that fool went through with the summoning. He has no idea what trouble he has caused Melromarc. What is the status of the Shield Hero and his companions?"
"Currently, they are in the rebuilt village of Lurolona with the slaves rescued from Rabier's territory."
"So it's true then? My husband sent a platoon of knights to destroy Lurolona and enslave its citizens?"
"Unfortunately, my Queen."
"Unbelievable. After all these years of mending relations with Siltvelt, he undoes it in a few days."
"I'm afraid it gets worse, my Queen."
"How so?"
"On his second day in this world, the first princess accused the Shield Hero of rape. King Aultcray went through with the accusations and did his best to find the Shield Hero guilty."
"That fool. Just how low is he willing to sink for his petty grudge?"
"Fortunately, the Shield's companions were able to prove his innocence. The king still spread the word of his crime, but many citizens and nobles did not believe him or the first princess. They are starting to think he has either gone senile or has been driven mad by hatred."
"I see. The fool does not understand he is destroying his credibility by chasing his grudge against the Shield Hero. What of Idol Rabier? How did the Shield and his companions save the citizens under his rule?"
"The Shield and his brother have shown extraordinary abilities, my Queen. They shrunk themselves to sneak into Rabier's mansion."
"What? They shrunk themselves?"
"Yes. Because of this, they could easily sneak past the guards."
"Amazing."
"There is more, my Queen. In desperation or madness, Idol Rabier undid the seal on the Tyrant Dragon and released the beast."
"What!? What on earth was that fool thinking? Even the four heroes who sealed away the beast couldn't kill it. That's why it was sealed away! Where is it now? What damage has it done?"
"Do not fret, my Queen. The tyrant is dead."
Mirellia was stunned by these words.
"Excuse me? It's dead?"
"Yes, killed by the Shield and his brother."
"This is, quite frankly, unbelievable. Do you have evidence of this feat?"
"Yes."
The shadow pulled out a crystal ball and played the recording of the fight between the Mario Bros. and the Tyrant Dragon. Queen Mirellia was too stunned to speak. The legends told of the tyrant's overwhelming power. But the Shield and his brother defeated it with no trouble.
"Oh my. Just how strong are they? Where are they now? What is their status?" Mirellia asked in concern.
"They are returning to Lurolona after another attempt by the king to charge them with a crime."
"Damn that fool! What crime did he attempt to charge them with this time?"
"The murder of Idol Rabier. The king attempted to execute the Shield's brother, despite all evidence pointing towards his innocence."
Queen Mirellia crushed the fan in her hand at hearing this. She pointed two fingers towards a portrait of her family, and many icicles pierced Aultcray's and Malty's faces.
"That damn fool. Forget the other kingdoms. The Shield and his brother will destroy Melromarc in retaliation for Aultcray's actions."
"I wouldn't be so sure, my Queen. The Shield and his allies know that Aultcray alone is to blame. They have shown this by merely disabling knights and mages sent to attack them, believing they have no choice but to follow the orders of a madman."
"I see. Knowing they will not turn their wrath towards Melromarc or her people is good. What of the church? What are they doing during all these false trials?"
"So far, they have remained silent. No doubt watching and waiting, my Queen."
"Hmm, this worries me. Keep an eye on them and the Shield Hero. If possible, contact the Shield Hero and explain that King Aultcray is to blame for all these wrongdoings, and he alone shoulders the blame. Also, let them know that I will significantly compensate them for all the trouble they have suffered through."
"Yes, my Queen."
"And what of the other heroes?"
"The Spear follows the first princess and the king blindly, but the Sword and Bow have seen through his lies thanks to the Shield. They have turned their backs on him and are trying to learn more about the world. They have even spoken with some of the envoys from the other kingdoms."
"I see. So that's why King Faubrey and Zalibe haven't been as pushy for war or reparations. The Bow and Sword may have aided me in a small way. Trinock is still pushing for war or the return of the Shield Hero to Siltvelt, though. And Chieko has also been pushing for the Shield Hero to be returned to Shieldfreeden. Has any envoy from Siltvelt or Shieldfreeden been in contact with the Shield Hero?"
"No, my Queen. Both Aultcray and the church are doing their best to keep the envoys from Shieldfreeden and Siltvelt away from the Shield Hero. There's also the fact that the Shield and his brother have been constantly summoned to the throne room by Aultcray to answer for 'crimes' they have committed."
"Damn it! Does he want another war with Siltvelt? Especially now that he cannot hold the Cane any longer? That fool!" Mirellia then had an idea. She took out a piece of paper and wrote down a decree. "Here, give this to the Shield Hero or one of his companions. I'll send other copies to be read to everyone in the kingdom."
"What is it, my Queen?"
"It's a decree that gives the Shield and his companions immunity to Aultcray's summons. Now, they can ignore any summons by the crown, the knights, and the church unless I have also signed them."
"I see. Then it will be done, my Queen."
"Good, now go. I need the Shield to receive that letter as soon as possible."
The shadow bowed and left to complete her task. There was a knock at the door before a little girl came in.
"Mother, King Faubrey wishes to speak to you."
"Thank you, Melty. Let us go meet him."
That's the end of the chapter. Thank you for reading it. I hope you enjoyed it.
Now, I have some bad news. Don't worry—I'm not quitting writing or ending any stories. But my family and I have been hit with hard times and could use some help. I will be creating a P-A-T-R-E-O-N and posting the link in the next chapter or an update to this one. Again, don't worry; I won't hold future chapters behind a paywall. But if you enjoy my work and would like to support me, please donate. Any little bit helps. I appreciate your consideration.
Now, onto a lighter note. I'm working on two new stories and would like to know which one you are more interested in reading. One story is a Smash Bros. MHA crossover in which Master Hand reincarnates many Smash characters into the bodies of U.A. students and teachers. The second one is similar to my Mario One Piece crossover, but instead of Mario, Sonic is sent to the One Piece world. Let me know which one sounds more interesting to you all.
Once again, thank you for reading my story. Please feel free to leave a review, and have a nice day.