-Chapter 52-

Redemption in Bloom

Flashback... About a year or two ago

"Uuuuuuuuuuugh…good Grambi!" Daisy groaned as she leaned against her castle wall, slowly sliding down until she sat on the floor. "I thought that meeting was never gonna end."

"Indeed…" replied a familiar voice, prompting the princess to perk up. "One of the many advantages of being undead and not needing to breathe; you can fall asleep in the middle of a conversation and nobody notices."

"Oh, hey Madame Hua!" Daisy greeted happily. "Did you need something?"

"Just wanted to check up on you, Baobei (1)." She gave a sympathetic wince. "You look half ready to drop dead yourself."

Daisy sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I feel like I'm ready to drop dead. I knew Dad said being a princess wouldn't be easy, but I never knew it'd be so boring! All it is is sitting around listening to people yammer on for hours, doing mountains of paperwork! I have no idea how Peach handles it."

"Yes," Hua nodded as she leaned closer. "Want to know my secret?" She smiled a sneaky smile. "It's called 'Delegation of Labor.' Just gather all the stuff you don't want to do and dump it all on some other Shǎzǐ. (2)"

"Eh, seriously?" Daisy replied, a little taken aback at the sheer level of nonchalance she'd just heard from the Council's oldest member.

"Quite," Hua continued. "A ruler can't be expected to handle every single little thing. Especially if it's an area they... aren't as proficient in, if you'll pardon my bluntness."

"Yeah, good point," Daisy chuckled.

"And if it helps, you can always turn to me if things get to be too overwhelming. Despite my... somewhat youthful appearance, I've had decades of experience."

Daisy grunted appreciatively. "Thank you, Madame Hua."

"Of course my dear." Her business concluded, Hua was just about to leave… "Oh, that reminds me!"

The Jyamp-Shi empress reached into her sleeves, pulling out an old, weathered-looking ringed booklet.

"Here, a collection of old Chainese recipes. I've little use for it now, but this should wow the guests at the next Crown Banquet."

"Really!? I can have this!?" Daisy asked, looking over the book with starry-eyed wonder. She'd always had a thing for Eastern cuisine, so this was a godsend. "Thank you so much!"

"Believe me, it's my pleasure," Hua replied, bowing deeply. "Anyway, I'd best be off. Don't work yourself too hard, alright, baobei?"

"Sure thing! See you at the next meeting!"

Hua smiled, nodding once more before heading off, Daisy watching her go

"Well, at least I know someone here has my back."

Flashback Over

Chai Kingdom, Present Day

Daisy looked over Hua's imperial palace, lit ominously by the light of the blood moon.

"I can't believe I let you play me for a fool," she spat in discontent, clenching her fists. "I swear, I'm gonna get you for this, Madame Hua. No matter what it takes."

"Oi! Princess Buttercup!"

Daisy perked, turning to see Bowser waving at her, irritably. He and MP had settled down with the rest of the Koopa Army around a portable table.

"If you're done brooding, the war council's over here!"

"Right, sorry, coming!" she replied before going to join the others.

"Alright, what'd I miss?"

"Practically everything, big surprise," the Koopa King deadpanned.

"Well excuse me for having some emotional baggage over having to face someone I thought was my friend!"

"So is Mary Pat and you don't see her whining about it. "

"Bowser… this is serious," MP warned. "Save the hate for when this is over."

Bowser sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Fine."

"Thanks, Mi–er, Mary Pat…" Daisy corrected, tugging at her collar from MP's glare. "So! What's the plan?"

"Ludwig, the map," Bowser ordered.

"Yes, father." Ludwig walked over to the table, carrying a large, rolled-up sheet of parchment. Upon arriving, he rolled it out, revealing a detailed map.

"Alright, here we have a full layout of Chai Castle and the surrounding grounds," he explained. "According to our scouts, they just saw a small, unidentified aircraft leave the inner grounds and head west."

"That's gotta be Tatanga," Daisy pointed out. "The two must've been meeting. But... Daoshi said that the Pagosu was up in the mountains. How did he get here?"

"He could have a smaller ship to move around without drawing attention," Iggy speculated. "Most personal flying vehicles have one of those, 'specially military ones."

"Did anyone manage to find out what they were discussing?" MP asked.

Ludwig shook his head. " Nein . But…"

"Lord Bowser! Captain Blue Hood!"

Everyone turned to see a Koopa Troopa rushing toward them. From his heavy breathing, he must have been running for dear life.

"What is it, Troopa?" Bowser asked.

"Sirs!" The Troopa stood at attention. "The castle gates! You're not gonna believe this, but... they're open!"

That gave everyone pause.

"Say what?"

"The castle gates are wide open! The drawbridge is down and everything! There aren't even any guards!"

"Trap…" Daisy said, her eyes narrowing. "This has to be a trap. She knows we're coming."

"So what!?" the Troopa demanded. "They've still got our fellow Koopas prisoners in there! We gotta save them!"

"Dolt!" shouted another. "If we do that, we'll be walking right into her grimy, undead claws! Then we'll all get Bombshelled!"

"Your Rottenness, what are your orders?" a third one asked.

Bowser had his arms crossed in thought.

"Daisy's right, this screams trap," MP pointed out. "But... it also means she'll be focused on whoever springs it."

Daisy perked. "Focused?"

"Her loathing is the Koopas, right? Specifically…"

"My family," Bowser finished with a grimace, one shared by the rest of the camp.

"And if my knowledge of undead and war movies has taught me anything, she's likely moved all her forces deep into the castle," MP continued. "And her opening the gate? Well, she's the BBEG inviting in her mortal nemesis. She wants us to take the bait. She wants you to take the bait."

Bowser slowly smirked… "Then I guess I shouldn't disappoint her." …then turned to his troops. "Alright, Koopa Troop! Here's the plan! We're going with a full frontal assault! Morton, you and Roy will be in the Vanguard. Iggy, Lemmy, you run interference. Blue Hood, you take Daisy and… wait… where's Daisy!?"

Daisy was nowhere to be seen. MP perked before facepalming

"Oh, that idiot…" she grumbled. "She didn't…"

She glanced over, seeing the Fry Guy Gun gone.

"Oh F-"

BONG!

-X-

Daisy hurried into the castle, staring down the foreboding gate. She gulped nervously.

"Well, Daisy, this is it. You're walking into the face of death." She took a breath. "It's for the best. This is my mess. I started it… I'll end it."

She cocked the Fry Guy Flamethrower before running in, prepared for the fight of her life.

Boneyard

Mario, Luigi, and E. Gadd arrived at the Boneyard. As the name suggested, it was a graveyard, with tombstones, mausoleums, and similar memorial structures stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see. An owl hooted ominously in the distance. Luigi rubbed his arms nervously.

"Hold yourself together, Weegee," he muttered to himself. "It's just a dank, spooky cemetery... filled with graves and dead things... in a kingdom run by a zombie witch… full of zombies… That can turn you into zombies..." A group of bats flew overhead, shrieking and squealing all the while.

"Oh, who am I kidding?! GANGWAY!"

He spun around, trying to run, but Mario grabbed him by the back of his shirt.

"Oh, no you don't! You're gonna be brave, no matter how chicken you are!"

Luigi whimpered and cried, clucking like a chicken as his brother dragged him into the Boneyard.

"We have people counting on us. Daisy's counting on us."

At that, Luigi suddenly stopped clucking.

"Indeed!" E. Gadd declared. "And think of all the paranormal data we can gather! This could lead to all kinds of breakthroughs in the field of ecto and phasmological science!"

Realizing he had no excuse, Luigi sighed in resignation. "Right... I'll do it for Daisy."

Mario nodded, satisfied. "So... where would these Crucial Parts be?"

"Let's see..." E. Gadd held up a kooky-looking device that could only be described as the love child of an info pad in a steering wheel peripheral, a satellite dish, and a selfie stick. "According to the Locatoscopic Gaddometer's Technowhatsit Tracer Module - invented by one Prof. MacGuffin of Woohoo Hooniversity - the Crucial Parts are somewhere...THERE!"

Gadd pointed ahead toward a deep ravine several feet from where they were. They headed to the edge, looking down to see a mass grave filled with Koopa skeletons.

"Ohhhhhh…" Luigi whimpered. "That's... noooo…"

"Oh my... it would appear we've stumbled upon an early attempt at Madame Hua's vengeance," E. Gadd noted, looking visibly ill at ease. "Quite the ghastly sight, no? All those poor Koopas..."

"Eep…"

"Brutally and horrifically tortured to Game Over in the cruelest, most inhumane ways imaginable..." E. Gadd continued. "Bashed and smashed and mashed into putty... sliced and diced to little pieces... Battered, pressure-fried with eleven herbs and spices, and served in a big bucket with a side of mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese with barbecue and honey mustard dipping sauces that get in your fingers along with all the little crumbs so you have to lick them until..."

"Okay, we get it!" Mario cried out. "Jeez…" He shook his head. "On the bright side, Mips isn't here to see this, she'd probably…" Next to him, there was a horrible wet noise as Luigi doubled over, retching. "...do that."

"Let's see…" E. Gadd turned a knob, looking around before the scanner pointed him to a largely intact Koopa skeleton, the parts in his lap. "Aha! There they are!"

"Alright…" Mario turned to Luigi. "Rock-paper-scissors to see who goes?"

Luigi nodded. "Best two out of three."

Holding out their hands, they began playing rock-paper-scissors.

"Rock...paper...scissors...lizard...errrr... other thing!" E. Gadd stammered out. "GO!"

The trio played their signs. Once, then twice. And the result…

"Eh!?" Luigi yelped, having foolishly played paper against scissors and lizard.

"Well, good luck bro," Mario offered.

"Oh, come on! Why do I have to go all by myself!?"

"Because Mario needs to stay behind and pull you out once you get the Parts," E. Gadd explained as he produced a grappling hook and a mechanical winch. "Behold! The Gadd Science Inc. Porto-Winch! The perfect friend for the intrepid, young spelunker or grave robber!"

"Is this anything like the People-Pulter?" Mario asked, eyeing the device suspiciously.

"Oh no no no, it's just a winch and grappling hook... that happens to be portable!"

"Now why isn't that reassuring?"

"Oh fuff!" the Professor snapped, hooking the winch to Luigi's belt. "Now Luigi, once you retrieve the parts, there is a 67.54% chance that all the Dry Bones in the pit will come to life and attempt to rip you limb from limb. So, it is of utmost importance that you do not under any circumstances spend any more time than you need to down there."

"Wh-Why would I spend any more time there than I need to?" the younger Mario asked.

"Search me," E. Gadd shrugged. "Well, off you go!"

The green plumber took a deep breath before descending into the ravine. He walked slowly and carefully through the Koopa skeletons, careful not to make any sudden moves before finally reaching the Dry Bones with the Crucial Parts. He slowly reached forward with the care of a specialist defusing a live bomb.

"Please don't come alive…" he pleaded softly.

The Dry Bones' eyes suddenly lit up, the body straightening up as it looked him in the eyes.

"Okay, I won't," it said calmly before its eyes dimmed, going limp as if nothing had happened. Luigi froze stiff, but when it didn't make any moves, he grabbed the Parts and slowly walked away, still keeping his eyes on it. As soon as Luigi was out of earshot, another Dry Bones lifted his head, giving him a deadpan look.

"Seriously, man?"

"He did ask nicely. And he's our best shot at making Hua pay."

"Fair enough."

Both Dry Bones went completely limp after that.

-X-

Once he'd put some distance between himself and the Dry Bones that had the Crucial Parts, Luigi stopped to catch his breath before looking back up.

"Hey guys! I got it!"

"Way to go, bro!" Mario cheered.

"Now pull me up!"

"On it!" E. Gadd declared. "Mario, start turning the crank!"

Mario immediately got to work doing so.

"Good! Good! Keep turning! Little more… and stop! It's ready!"

Mario blinked. "What's ready?"

"The built-in People-Ploinker."

At that, E. Gadd opened a hatch, revealing a big, red button labeled.

"Ready…"

"Wait, what!?"

"PLOINK!"

Just then, the Porto-Winch's engines began to go into overdrive, the machine letting a high-pitched VROOOOM! as it started reeling in the rope of the grappling hook at ridiculous speeds.

"H-Hey, guys, what's going on up there?" Luigi asked worriedly. "Why's it sound like someone's going go-kar TING!"

Luigi was suddenly yoinked into the air by the machine. So fast was his ascent, that he was launched high into the air. At the zenith of his ascent (which was well above the Boneyard), the machine cut the cord, sending him flying, as if he'd been launched from a catapult.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"There he gooooooes…" E. Gadd replied as he watched Luigi soar.

"I thought you said it wasn't like the People-Pulter!" Mario screamed in fury.

"It isn't! The People-Pulter pults people, the Porto-Winch's People-Ploinker ploinks people. There's a marked difference."

CRASH!

"Luigi!" Mario cried out as he ran to help his brother. Fortunately, Luigi had hit some of the willow trees on the way down, breaking his fall considerably.

"You alright, Lu?" Mario asked.

Luigi looked up at him, a dazed expression on his face. "What brings you to the Throat of the World, Dovahkiin? (3)" he let out dizzily, his eyes spinning in his head.

"Oh dear!" E. Gadd cried out. "He's peering into other universes! Snap out of it!"

Gadd pulled out a white, cartoony glove on a fly-swatter stick and immediately began slapping Luigi silly…or rather, out of silly.

"Ow! Ow! QUIT IT!" he shouted, shoving the glove away.

"Huzzah! He's alright!" E. Gadd cheered.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Luigi roared, grabbing the Professor by his lab coat. "Do all of your inventions just launch people into the sky like a crazy human rocketship or something!?"

"I take it you didn't care for being ploinked, my boy?" E. Gadd asked worriedly.

Luigi's eyebrow twitched, the green plumber looking moments away from throttling the old man. Instead, he simply let him go and rubbed his face with his hand.

"I'll have Mario kill you later. In the meantime…" He reached into the pocket of his overalls, producing… "I got the Parts."

"Oh goody!" E. Gadd cheered as he grabbed them. "Oh, I'm so excited! With these Crucial Parts, I can finally complete my fifth lifelong dream of building my very own transformable flying machine!"

"Uh-huh…" Mario nodded. "So, just what exactly do these parts do?"

"Oh, they're the key to making the Pop's Sky Mode function!" E. Gadd explained. "Without it, it won't be able to properly calibrate itself. In fact, it would fall to the ground as soon as it took off. Truly, the most Crucial Parts in the machine."

Mario blinked, puzzled. "So, they're like a flight stabilizer...?"

"No."

"Do they power the propulsion system?"

"No."

"Do they filter out engine crud?"

"No."

"... do they charge the batteries?"

"They allow the Sky Pop to fly, Mario," the Professor explained, slightly annoyed. "I don't know how much simpler I can make this."

"Yes, but how does it let it fly?" Luigi asked, exasperated.

"Does it matter?" E. Gadd replied. "We have the Crucial Parts. Now, we can build the Sky Pop and stop that evil brute Tatanga. And best of all, nothing bad happened!"

"Yeah, pretty anticlimactic, if you ask me."

"Yes, well, that's how life is," E. Gadd chuckled. "Not every major step of the adventure is going to end in a confrontation with the big villain. This isn't some silly video gaaaaaame?"

Gadd's eyes widened as he realized neither of the Mario Bros. said that. All eyes looked up to see Tatanga hovering overhead in the Pagosu.

"Hello, puny Mushroom Worlders," he greeted mockingly.

"Tatanga!" Mario shouted.

"Oh no... not now!" Luigi moaned.

"Mario Brothers," Tatanga glared at them. "I must say, you've proven quite an... irritating presence in my plans."

"Thanks," Mario mockingly tipped his cap. "We aim to please."

"Or your money back," Luigi hesitated. "Wait a minute…"

Tatanga scowled, bearing his fangs. "But it ends here. I am the great General Tatanga of the Kaiuchuu Empire, and you will not defeat me! "

"Great general, huh?" Mario raised an eyebrow. "Y'know, something's been bugging me for a while now. Mind if I ask you a quick question?"

"I suppose I could humor you for a moment before your annihilation," Tatanga replied.

"You're supposed to be a mighty, highly decorated officer, right?"

Tatanga grinned arrogantly. "The mightiest in the Kaiuchuu Galaxy! I have led my army to victory in countless battles! Conquered and destroyed countless worlds! Unleashed destruction the likes of which your tiny, feeble Earther brain couldn't even begin to conceive of…!"

"So, where are they?"

That threw Tatanga for a loop. "Say wha?"

"Your army, your soldiers," Mario repeated. "You claim to be this mighty general on conquest, but so far, we've only seen you and your one ship. You've brainwashed most of Sarasaland to fight for you."

"And come to think of it, you've hardly shown up in this little adventure since you attacked the Council about twelve chapters ago!" E. Gadd chimed in.

"I-I've been busy!" Tatanga defended.

"Doing what?" Luigi asked.

"Y'know...uhhhh… Completing my evil plan to... conquer your world!"

"Oh that's original," Mario remarked. "Seems like the monarchs are the ones doing all the real work."

"Oh!" Luigi threw his hand up like a kid trying to get his teacher's attention. "Lemme guess.. You screwed up big time, so your superiors assigned you to this little hunk of nowhere space! So you're trying to get back into their good graces by taking over the Mushroom World, so you can be welcomed back into their army. How's that? Am I in the ballpark?"

Tatanga stiffened, sweating; it was clear Luigi wasn't far off the mark.

"Uhhh... n-no! Th-That's ridiculous! Absurd! Lunacy!"

"I think we touched a nerve," Mario noted.

Tatanga glared at them. "Oh, what does it matter?! You'll be dead in a few moments anyway! And I have just the thing to do it!"

He slammed his fist down on a button on his ship.

"Delivering payload! Bombshells, attack!"

"Bombshells attack?!" the heroes repeated.

"... well, I'm out of here!" Luigi let out before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

As the smoke cleared, however, Luigi was still standing where he was before, much to the surprise of the others.

"How did you do that?" Mario asked.

Luigi looked down at himself in surprise. "... I don't know."

A hatch opened on Tatanga's ship, dropping several Bombshell Koopas.

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" E. Gadd screeched.

"Bombshells!" Tatanga declared. "Get the Mario Bros., and their little old man too! Blast them from here to the Lylat System!"

"GAME OVEEEEER!" the Bombshells all shouted as they gave chase to the Bros. and professor.

"Oh my!" E. Gadd cried.

"Waaah!" Mario yelled.

"Noooohooohohoohoohoooo!" Luigi screamed.

Outside Chai Palace

BOOOM!

Everyone jumped, looking to see a mushroom cloud rising from the direction Minmei had sent Mario, Luigi, and E. Gadd. MP gaped, the blood draining from her face.

"What the whattin' what was that!?" Morton exclaimed.

"From the sound, I'd say about several tons of TNT going off at once," Iggy mused.

"Bombs…" MP perked. "Oh God, Mario and Lu went that way!" She dropped to her knees, pale and shaky. "No, no, no..."

"I wouldn't worry," Bowser told her. "Your bros are very difficult to kill. Take it from me."

MP put her head between her knees, taking slow, deep breaths.

"C'mon, Mips... keep it together. Mario and Luigi are fine. They got away.,. They wouldn't go down that easy. They're fine…" Her breathing settled. "They're fine…"

"Yeah... but uhhh... we're not!" Larry pointed ahead, several figures rushing toward them.

"Bogies, dead ahead!" Ludwig cried. "Iggy, Lemmy, get a visual!"

"On it!" the two Koopalings shouted.

Iggy was quick to produce a spyglass, one that Lemmy quickly snatched up to look through.

"Okay, bad news, good news! There's a whole lot of them! BUT! They're tiny and really far away, so we got some time!"

He was looking through the wrong end. Iggy sighed before flipping it around so he was looking through correctly.

"AAAAH! THEY'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF US!"

"And worst of all…" Iggy grimaced. "They're BOMBSHELLS!"

MP's head shot up at that.

"Game Over... Game Over... Game Over... Game Over…"

"Oh yeah, definitely Bombshells." Wendy gulped.

"There's so many…" MP managed. "It's... oh geez..."

"Hey uhhh... guys?" Morton piped up. "One of them looks a little funny. Like, the shell looks kinda...weird."

"Weird?"

"Looks a little flatter."

MP looked up, her jaw becoming unhinged as she saw the more streamlined, hydrodynamic design. There was no doubt in her mind who this Bombshell was.

"Kerry...no…"

"Game Over…" Kerry let out. "Game Over..."

-X-

Chai Palace

Daisy perked, hearing the explosion.

"Luigi... Mario…" She steeled herself, continuing forward. "This ends now …"

She took off running, arriving at Hua's throne room door and kicking the door in. The room was shrouded in darkness, the throne empty as Hua's mocking voice echoed.

"Ah, Princess. I must say I'm disappointed in your progress. I imagined you'd be here sooner."

"Show yourself, you monster!" Daisy shouted.

"I see you've discovered the bill I had you sign the morning of the attack. I thought you'd be happy I was making the vile Koopa scum pay for what they've done to us. To your mother."

"Even if it was what we thought, Mom would never want this. You used me... you tricked me... you lied to me."

"Oh, you poor naïve child," Hua purred mockingly. "It's not your fault. A more experienced, patient mind would have seen this coming from a mile away. Something in short supply in your family."

"My patience is sure spent by this point," Daisy spat, angry, bitter tears in her eyes. "How could you, Madame Hua?! I trusted you! You were my FRIEND!"

"Was I really? Do you know my favorite color? The name of my cat? Anything outside of the basics in my file? For that matter, do you know any of the monarchs? Have you ever bothered to talk to us, or read what we give you?"

Daisy stammered, unable to respond.

"Precisely. Friends are open, honest, and vulnerable with each other, Princess. They communicate. And cooperate. You, my dear, I doubt you could even count your sisters as friends. You don't have friends, Daisy. You have tools." Hua's dark chuckle echoed through the room. "And you ... were MINE."

Daisy's temper finally snapped. She raised the gun, readying a flame blast.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!"

At that moment, two hands grabbed her shoulders from behind. She stiffened as she felt someone lean toward her ear.

"Here."

Daisy jumped, stumbling forward before spinning around to face Hua as she emerged from the shadows. Her head was slightly lowered, and she had an unnerving grin on her face. She laughed evilly as she gave a far-too-wide grin, revealing her grotesque, blackened, razor-sharp, blighted teeth.

"A puppet that can no longer be used is mere garbage," she hissed. "And your role as my puppet has ended, Princess."

Daisy raised her gun, ready to fire. "Eat flame, you zombie hag!"

As fire burst forth from her weapon, Hua just flicked her wrist, summoning her Biokinton. She almost yawned as the shield of mist blocked the blast.

"Oh, that must be embarrassing if that was your best shot. You're fighting a losing battle, Daisy! You can't kill what doesn't live!"

"Maybe not… but I can make you wish you were dead."

Daisy tried to shoot again, but Hua swatted away the shots with her cloud.

"Funny, I was thinking the same about you. A quick death would be preferable to living with the shame of dooming the entire Koopa race to slaughter."

Daisy got within striking distance, swinging, only for Hua to casually duck and weave around her while insulting her for each miss.

"Slow. Sloppy. Sad."

Hua caught one of Daisy's strikes, sending her flying. Then she launched a tendril straight up, grabbing the princess in mid-air. She then began to sing a taunting song to the tune of Nat King Cole's "On a Bicycle Built For Two," while playfully brutalizing her prey.

"Daaaaaisy, Daaaaaaisy/ Look what you put us through. / World's half-craaaazy/ And it's all 'cuz of yooooou."

She flung Daisy around, slamming her against the walls and ceiling.

"You've let down your mummy and father.../ You're a fool... a twit... and a bother… / But you'll look sweet / Once you will sleep… / In your family's royal tomb!"

She drew Daisy in. As soon as she was close enough, Daisy whipped up the gun and pulled the trigger. The fireball was a glancing shot, skimming by and burning the left side of Hua's face. However, that was enough.

"GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Hua dropped Daisy, recoiling from the pain as Daisy let out a weak laugh.

"What's the matter? Can't take the heat?

Hua's hands left her face, revealing the entire left side had been charred red and black. She grabbed Daisy with her Biokinton once more, resuming her earlier brutal beating. However, there was no more playfulness, just sheer rage. Her rantings came out in a mixture of Common and Chainese.

"YOU MISERABLE, LITTLE MUGOU! (4) HOW DARE YOU STRIKE AN EMPRESS?! I WILL BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY! PEEL THE SKIN LIKE A PEACH! SUCK YOUR BLOOD FROM YOUR VEINS AND THE MARROW FROM YOUR BONES! THEN GRIND WHAT'S LEFT OF YOU INTO PASTE!"

Hua continued smashing Daisy around, beating and battering her like a ragdoll. Finally, with a hefty scream, she tossed her into the air.

"But first…" Several more misty tendrils sprouted from the Biokinton and flew toward Daisy. As they did, the ends started growing more narrow and pointed until they'd formed into arrow-headed tips, gleaming with a sharpness that promised nothing but pain.

"I'm going to skewer you!"

Time seemed to slow down for Daisy. The gaseous spears of Madame Hua's hung in mid-air, inching closer and closer as the undead Empress' face froze in a cruel, wicked cackle.

"So… this is how it…" she thought. "This is how my game ends? Impaled by an evil, old, undead hag… alone… with nothing to show for it…

She closed her eyes, tears trickling down…

"Nothing, but a ruined kingdom, and Grambi knows how many people dead…"

Her thoughts turned to everything that happened…

"Tatanga and Bowser were right… I am a lousy princess…"

And the ones she would be leaving behind…

"Mom… Dad… Peach… forgive me… I failed…"

Family…

"Sebas… I'm sorry, I should've listened to you more instead of bucking all my responsibilities to you…"

By blood and not…

"Mario… Mary Pat… please, save Sarasaland… for everyone else, if not me."

Friends…

"Luigi… thank you for being there for me… I know it was scary, and I didn't deserve it, but…"

And more than friends…

"This never would've happened if I'd been better… if I'd been stronger… if I'd been smarter… if I'd been more like Mom or Peach…"

The tendrils had almost reached their mark, ready to turn Daisy into the Mushroom World's yellowest pin cushion…

CLANG!

"Huh?" Daisy let out, opening her eyes. "What was… ahhh!"

She had been expecting a last-minute rescue from MP or Bowser, or even Luigi (however unlikely as it was). Instead, Daisy found herself floating in the air, surrounded by several, large magic circles, each blocking the spiked mist tendrils.

"Wha… What is this… Heart Power?" Daisy whispered. Indeed, the circles were similar to the ones her sister summoned when she used her Heart Power. But where Peach's was pink and emblazoned with hearts, these circles were bright orange and bore flowers… little, round flowers with five petals… daisies.

"No… Not Heart Power… Flower Power!"

Just then, multiple massive flowers burst from the ground, clamping onto the Biokinton and blocking the spikes, causing the mist to violently dissipate, while she gently floated down to the ground.

"I-Impossible…" Hua uttered in disbelief. "Since when do you possess that ability!? Just what is going on here!?"

"I have no idea!" Still, Daisy slammed her foot down and threw her hands forward. "But I'm not complaining!"

At her command, the flowers surged forward toward Madame Hua…

"Gah! Biokinton!"

…but Hua managed to summon a Biokinton barrier just in the nick of time. The ballistic plants pressed against them, mystical sparky and pollen falling about as they pushed against the cloudy wall.

"Fool! You think this paltry power can stop me!?" Hua boasted as she smirked. "I've spent years mastering the might of my Biokinton, before and after my game ended! Did you seriously think you could beat me with something you've only had for less than a…"

Fsssssh…

"...minute?"

Hua's eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed upon something she had never seen before in her Biokinton shields: a hole. One of several holes that were forming all around her barrier. Or rather, being burned into it, as though someone had taken a lighter to a silken sheet. They were even glowing with warm, orange light along the edges… until, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the glow was actually from the pollen released by Daisy's flowers.

"A power that dispels dark magic…" Hua whispered as she remembered the effects of the eldest Mushroom Princess' power. "No… NOOOO!"

"Yes!" Daisy shouted. "It's all over Mada… no… Hua! I won't let you hurt anyone else ever again! This is for the Koopas you killed! For all the living people you've oppressed and left cowering in their homes in Chai! And this... this is for ME."

The flowers broke through the barrier and hit Hua head-on, sending her flying toward the throne and shattering it.

"Ugh! I...Impossible…" The undead empress picked herself up, shakily trying to stand. "You... shouldn't be this strong… You're just a stupid... weak... foolish...little girl..."

Daisy stepped forward, striking Hua with the butt of the Fry Gun and sending her tumbling back into the rubble of the throne.

"I know I am. And guess what? I just beat you."

Hua coughed slightly, then let out a vicious chuckle.

"You... You think you've won? That everything will end happily ever after?" She sat up as best she could against the ruins of her throne, giving a bloody grin. "You fool. Sarasaland is in anarchy because of you, girl. The world will know what you did, and how you helped and enabled me. You will never know peace… or happiness… or love. After everything you've done… All that awaits you... is a spot next to me in Jaydes' dungeons."

Daisy took a deep breath.

"I know... I've made so many mistakes. This was the biggest. I'll be honest... I don't think I can ever make up for what I did to the Koopas. But I'm gonna try." She leveled the Fry Gun, aiming right at Hua's face. "Starting right now."

It began to glow…

"Goodbye, Hua. See you in the Underwhere."

"DAAAAAAAISSYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

A large stream of fire erupted from the barrel of the gun, bathing Hua in its searing heat and light. The Chai Empress let out an inhuman screech as the dragon fire engulfed her body, consuming her entire physical form, piece by charred piece. But, even as she burned, through all the agonizing pain, Hua rose to her feet, making one last grab at Daisy as her flesh and bone crinkled and blackened. Daisy screamed, backing away from the burning Empress out for her head.

"I... will... not... go... ALONE!"

She lunged at Daisy, her body little more than a black, emaciated husk, eyes, nose, and mouth empty save for the light of the fire immolating her inside and out. Her cruel, wicked talons outstretched, fangs bared and ready to bite. It truly looked like the end this time…

BLAM!

Until a single blaster shot echoed through the wrecked throne room, knocking her back. Daisy blinked, taking a moment to register what she'd just heard and witnessed.

"Nice job, Daisy," MP greeted as she walked in the doorway, Bowser behind her as she lowered the Super Scope.

"M…Mary Pat!" Daisy got up, dusting herself off. "Uh... thanks for the save! Sorry for rushing off, I just… It was something I needed to do. Trusting Hua and signing the bill was my mistake. I wasn't gonna let anybody risk their lives cleaning up my mess." She held out the flamethrower. "So... you can have this back now, Mary Pat."

The Mario Sister looked at the gun for a moment, then slowly reclaimed it.

"MP."

Daisy blinked. "Eh?"

"Mips is still off the table, but you can call me MP."

"You... you're sure?"

"Yeah." Mary Pat took a deep breath. "I haven't forgiven you yet, Daisy. Not even close. But... I can see you're trying. And that's good enough for now."

Daisy smiled.

"Thank you." She perked. "Oh! Did you find Kerry and the other Koopas?"

MP's mood grew more somber.

"Yeah..." She needn't have said more.

"Oh, Grambi... did they...?"

"Yeah, they were Bombshelled... but thankfully, I took care of that." Bowser held out his hand, revealing multiple fuses. "My old man made the Bombshells. One of the few good things he ever did for me was teach me how to defuse them."

"Seriously!?" Daisy let out. "It's that easy?"

MP nodded. "Defusing them, sure. But getting them back to normal…"

"Let's...put a pin in that," Bowser cut in. "We still got eviler scumbag number 2 to worry about

"Right… Tatanga." Daisy grimaced. "I heard the explosion earlier. It was where the Daoshi sent your brothers. You... you think they made it?"

"Why don't we ask them?"

BOOM!

"Ahh!"

"What the…!?"

"Get down!" Bowser cried out as he shielded MP from the falling debris; Daisy being protected by a Flower Power shield.

"Princess Daisy…" Tatanga began as the Pagosu lowered into the throne room from the hole he'd blown in the ceiling. "I see you've defeated Hua."

"That's right!" the princess shouted. "And you're next, Purple-Puss!"

"How scathing," the general deadpanned with a scowl, which grew deeper as he looked toward Hua's burnt-out husk. "Tch! Worthless bag of rotten meat... never send a zombie to do the work of a Kaiuchuuan general." His gaze returned to the heroes. "Well, this has been an amusing little diversion, Daisy, but the game is over. This is where you die."

"Sorry to disappoint, Tatanga, but you're the one going down tonight!" she declared.

"You and your brainwashed flunkies aren't hurting anymore Koopas on my watch!" Bowser chimed in.

"So, unless you want to get a taste of what we did to the Empress…" MP began, cocking her Fry Guy Gun. "You'll surrender now."

Tatanga smirked, completely unfazed. "You're gonna take me down? Ha! You and what army?"

This time, MP smirked, actually lowering her gun. "Oh man… that was the wrong thing to say."

She grabbed her bag and then promptly turned it upside down. From it poured every single Koopa she'd been collecting this entire time. First one, then two, then ten, then dozens! Soon, the trio had an entire battalion of Koopas, all armed to the teeth with Zappers and Super Scopes, and out for blood.

"Ahhh…" Tatanga swallowed nervously, sweat trickling down his face. "That army…"

"How long have you been holding that one in?" Bowser asked.

"Long enough."

"Alright then…" Bowser cleared his throat. "Koopa Troops, attack!"

The assembled Koopas let out a warcry as they charged forward, readying their weapons. As soon as they were in position, they fired at Tatanga.

"Gah!" Tatanga swerved out of the way just in time to avoid a barrage of shots, only to jerk back to avoid another. "Crud! Dangit! Blast it!"

BOOM!

"BLARK!" he cursed, a large flower stalk clipping the side of his ship.

"Game over, Tatanga!" Daisy shouted. "The monarchs are freed! Hua is dust! You're the only one left! If you surrender, we'll let you off with just a no-holds-barred beatdown!"

Tatanga growled. "Kriff… I gotta get outta here… get back to the main Pagosu…"

He flipped a few switches on the ship's console…

"Sorry, Shroomers! Have to call a rain check! Tell ya what though…"

…then slammed his fist on a big, red button.

"Lemme give you a little parting gift!"

Just then, a hatch opened, causing several Bombshell Koopas to fly out, their shells flashing rapidly, showing that they'd already been activated.

"Oh no!" Daisy cried out.

"NO!" MP screamed in horror.

"Dagnabbit!" Bowser cursed.

"So long suckers!" Tatanga called out. "Say hi to Hua for me!"

With that, he flew off into the distance.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" the Bombshells cried out in union.

"Damn you, Tataga!" Daisy shouted. "DAMN YOU!"

The Bombshells drew closer, their shells blinking faster. But right as they were about to make contact…

BOOM!

They exploded mid-drop, the blast not even touching Daisy and the others.

"What the…?"

Just then, the air shimmered, revealing the Bombshells had struck a large dome of shimmering, pink energy—a dome with familiar-looking hearts on it. A sight that immediately made Daisy smile.

"That shield! Peach!"

Just then, the Road Pop burst through the palace wall, swerving around a bit before coming to a stop.

"Whew!" Peach cried out. "See? I told you I could get us here in under five minutes."

"Hooraaaaay…"

"There goes what's left of my lunch…"

"Mario! Luigi!" MP cried out, practically in tears.

"See? I toldja they'd be fine!" Bowser chimed in.

"I-I can't believe it!" Daisy exclaimed. "How did you…?"

"Peach drove right into the Boneyard just before we got blown up," Mario explained. "She kinda cut it close though…"

"Tell me about it…" Luigi added.

"Sorry…" Peach grinned sheepishly. "I would've arrived earlier, but I haven't been to the Chai Kingdom in years."

"Princess Daisy!"

Daisy perked to see a familiar face scrambling out of the car.

"Sebas!" She ran over to her butler, hugging him tightly in relief.

"Oh, Princess… thank the Stars you're safe!" Sebas let out.

"I'm sorry…" Daisy sobbed, clinging to the Toad. "Sebas, I'm so sorry…"

Sebas rubbed her back as best he could. "You have nothing to-"

"Don't." Daisy shook her head. "I screwed up so bad... I should've listened to you and done a better job. I failed all of Sarasaland, and Grambi knows how many Koopas paid the price for my negligence."

"Daisy..." Peach whispered.

"Peach…" Daisy stood up as she turned to her sister, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "I-I… You… This…"

"I know…" Peach cut in, knowing what she was trying to say. "But that's going to have to wait. Right now, we have to stop Tatanga before he causes even more trouble."

Daisy nodded, wiping her eyes as she regained her composure. "Please tell me the nutty professor installed those Parts."

"I'm so glad you asked!" E. Gadd shouted as he popped out of the Pop. "ROB! Initiate Sky Pop transformation sequence!"

"Beginning sequence…"

Just then, the Road Pop begins to morph and shift, its frame surging with energy. Hatches opened up on the side, allowing segmented wings to slide out. The back shifted and reformed into a rudder and elevator. A set of landing gear emerged from where the wheels were, the tires connected to them. Finally, the front reformed into a conical tip, several propeller blades emerging from the sides. The Road Pop was gone, and in its place stood a brilliant red and yellow flying machine that looked like a cross between a biplane and a fighter jet.

"Behold! The third and final form of my All Terrain-All Environs Super Vehicle! The Sky Pop!"

"Whoa!" Daisy let out.

"Okay, no cap, that's kinda cool," MP admitted.

"Well, don't just stand there gawking! Get in!" E. Gadd ordered.

"We've got an evil alien overlord to stop!" Mario declared.

"Right!" Daisy replied, pumping her fist.

"I'll leave Tatanga to you, Mario," Bowser declared, glancing back at all of the diffused Bombshells that littered the ground. "I need to tend to my people."

"Do what you have to, Bowser," Mario said with a nod. "Mips, you staying too?"

She nodded, kneeling at the side of the unconscious Kerry. "Yeah. I got my pound of flesh. You guys just make sure Tatanga pays for this."

"As for you." Bowser looked directly at Daisy. "We still have unfinished business when this is over."

"I know." Reaching up, Daisy removed her crown from her head. She looked at it for a brief moment, then held it out for Bowser. "Here. Call it insurance."

Bowser took the crown from her, holding it between two claws like it repulsed him. Still, he tucked it into his shell with a huff, nodding as the Princess climbed onto the Sky Pop.

"Alright, let's take off!" she declared.

"Indeed!" declared, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "Bitronic batteries to power! Turbines to speed! Beginning epic anime battle and chase music!"

An epic rock theme began to play as ROB pulled back on the wheel.

"Engaging takeoff," ROB declared.

"Sky Pop, go!" E. Gadd shouted as the Sky Pop took off into the air.

"Look out Tatanga…" Mario whispered. "Here-a we come!"

Author's Note:

(1) It's a Chinese form of endearment. In this case, it means Darling.

(2) Chinese for fool

(3) Yes, a reference to Skyrim. Charles Martinet voiced the dragon Paarthurnax in it.

(4) Chinese for Bitch

Hua is defeated. The Koopas are saved. All that remains is Tatanga. Tune in next time for the epic final battle! Until then, don't forget to R&R!