"No... No... NO... NO!" TMS cried, for he was the thin line between reality and the mask here.
"Oh, come now. You don't want to meet my cellmates? You try living with them for a hundred or so years and you might just get to thinking like me," Racku smiled.
"I said no!" TMS growled angrily.
"They only listen to me with one ear... so you're going to meet them anyways," The older guardian warned.
"Your lordship Racku," a dark shadowy figure crept over to him and began to whisper.
"What? You want to... No... We'll have to... Ah... yes..." Racku whispered back.
"Who?" TMS watched the shadow creep away questioningly.
"Oh, that's just one of the six deadly sins. They may call it seven, but I'm really not a sin," Racku brushed it off casually.
"He called you lordship..." TMS looked at him suspiciously.
"Well... yes... I'm the lord of the sins here," Racku fidgeted with his hair nervously. It looked oftly out of place for him to do.
"I think you're hiding something! I'm going to find it out!" TMS stood up and walked toward Racku.
Racku immediately brought his hand out, its palm filled with something, and blew it into TMS's face. He watched TMS faulter in his step.
"What..." TMS barely got that part of his question out.
"Always question what sin... That was the sin of sleep," Racku tsk-tsked. "Now it's beddy-bye time for a little boy who is far from what a king should be." As this was said, TMS fell to the floor dazed, drifting off to sleep. "Oh, I'm dreadfully clever sometimes. He really thought I would do something so foolish as to fidget with my hair when I'm nervous!"
"Your lordship," the half animal sin called in a gutteral voice, "we are ready."
"Oh good," Racku grinned. "Next time we must be trickier! This was an easy job!"
***
TMS's eyes fluttered open and he had to cover them, for it was a great contrast to the darkness he had been in meer moments ago it seemed. The sun was shining brightly on his face and he wondered if he was still dreaming.
"Oh, come now! Wake up!" Racku nudged him in the side with his boot. "Sleeping powder isn't going to make you sleep for all eternity!"
TMS was startled as this combination reached his brain. Sunlight? Racku? His eyes shot open to see that they were in the real world now. "Where are all your little cohorts?" he asked.
"Oh, I took care of them... sometimes I amaze myself... but that's hard to do. I told them that they could not kill you to set us free... so they sacrificed their lives to set me free. So here I am, minionless. Here you are, weak and sleepy."
"What are you going to do to me?"
"Nothing much right now. Just ensure that within a week I'll have my final battle. Look about you child. You're in the Starian Castle.
TMS looked about and didn't like what he saw. The main hall was crumbled and it looked nothing like what he had seen.
Racku saw the look on the boy's face and laughed, "Don't be ridiculous! This is the OLD Starian Castle, silly boy! The one I grew up in!"
"Oh..." TMS stood up and wondered how Racku could take any pride in this place. It was a mess. Burnt black and crumbling, it seemed no room was completely in tact save one.
"It's still here," Racku mused, laying his hand on the firm wall instead of opening the door. "Funny... It seems much smaller than I use to remember it."
"What? What is it?" TMS looked at him strangely, all the while pondering why Racku hadn't attacked and killed him yet.
"It's my room... amazing isn't it?" He opened the door and was shocked. "It's just as I left it!"
A pile of books were scattered across his bed, still semi neat though. A picture of a pretty young woman was atop a desk that seemed miraculous to still be there, let alone in perfect condition. A bookshelf that boasted many original volumes of what were considered rare and classic literature stood off in one corner. in the center an oaken chest, still glittering underneath the years of dust, sat, yearning to be opened.
Racku picked up the picture off the desk, looked at it a moment, and sighed, setting it down so he could not see it. "I suppose she's long gone now... Oh how I longed to be here, left and forgotten by time for all eternity instead of in my dark enprisonment cell..." He knelt before the chest and flung it open. It happily creaked, the lid giving way for its master's return. "Time to get rid of these dreadful clothing," Racku muttered about the green tunic he was wearing. "I'm tired of looking at it for the last century."
TMS frowned, wondering what this was all about. He had always imagined the boy in the legends of the mask to be tall, muscular with a deep voice, piercing eyes and no mercy. This Racku seemed rather friendly and inconspicuous. It was almost as if he were talking to a Racku that wouldn't hurt a thing, that the cold insensitive Racku was somewhere locked in the mask still and he looked just as TMS imagined.
"Ha ha! Oh how I missed this outfit!" Racku swirled about in the black tunic, blue turtle neck, and blue pants he had donned while TMS was lost in thought. "Oh right... I have to take care of you. Hm... She's in here somewhere..." He scavenged through the chest, spilling clothes out the sides as he looked for whatever this 'she' might be. "Ah ha! Oh Entel! Did you miss me?"
TMS backed up and gasped. "A female sword?!"
Racku shot him a glance as cold as ice. "Are you insulting me?"
"Uh... No... No..." TMS backed up, "I've just never seen a female sword..."
"That's 'cause Entel... she's the only one. Mother was so clever to give me a unique blade like Entel."
"YOUR MOTHER?!"
"Um..." Racku looked a little embarassed, "Rather unusual huh? My mother forged Entel for me. My father refused to even train me with a sword."
"Uh..." TMS backed up a little farther. "Who were your parents?"
"Odera Masus Kasara-Chiri of Aluca, the southern tip of Staria... Aratalen Kasara-Chiri of Balacu, former Star Guardian Capital."
"Aratelen? I read of him. He was the first to make movements toward peace... you defied him by battling King Nicholas Koopa and winning."
"I defied him in no way! I was obeying my mother!" Racku crossed his arms and turned his head.
TMS finally realized why Racku was nothing like he'd thought. He acted just like a child when he was fully himself. "Tell me Racku... when were you imprisoned?"
"Oh, you should know very well! It was the day of my 16th birthday! The day before the Winter Light Festival!"
"Ah..." TMS briefly recalled the Light Festival's legend. If a child was born the day before the festival, he was blessed with youth, and that child would bring peace to the warring nations of Plit. "So you are the chosen hero..."
"Hero?! Are you insane?! I just came here for revenge! That's all I want!" Racku, enraged with TMS, swung Entel for a clean cut. TMS closed his eyes, prepared for death, but it didn't come. Racku burst out laughing. "You thought I was gonna kill you, didn't you?!"
"Yes..." TMS sighed with relief, then realized what Racku had actually done. "ACK! You cut my hair!"
"I told you I was gonna make sure you'd battle me! If I don't kill you, time will! Bring friends! I enjoy a good battle!" Racku was gone in a flash of light.
Part 2: Embarking on an Adventure
Author's Note: Whenever someone joins TMS's party, I will put *(insert name) has joined TMS's Party! *
TMS looked down at the cobblestone floor. He felt melancholy, almost ready to give up and let Racku have his way. With his hair cut, he was a human. Even worse, a human with a lifespan of one week. He had been warned of such things long ago; now his worst fears were being played out in what seemed like a distorted blur of quickness. He fell to his knees.
He looked up only to see something that startled him, a blue blur with ears like triangles. Its tail seemed to whip about anxiously, its armor strangely echoed coldness. TMS could hardly understand all of this in his highly emotional state.
"I was told I'd find you here. It was whispered in the wind to me by a voice that was not of this world." The now clear cat creature held out one of its paw like hands, "Please... Come with me. I have been instructed to take you to the Mushroom Kingdom."
TMS wiped the tears that had blurred his vision from his cheeks and took the outstretched hand. "Thanks Mewd... I needed a familiar face about now."
"It's no problem, really. I am to journey with you to defeat the evil."
"Alright," TMS responded, using Mewd's hand to help himself up.
*Mewd has joined TMS's party!*
Beyond a few battles with small Koopa task forces, the journey to the Mushroom Kingdom was uneventful. TMS was dismayed by this, but Mewd continued to drag him along, no matter how much effort it took. So it was that they ended up before the Mushroom Kingdom item shop.
"We have to go in for items," Mewd warned.
"I don't want to." TMS leaned against the building and slowly sank down. "I feel like curling up in a corner and dying."
"If you do that, so will Plit."
"I'm not a war hero! Send someone like SS on this forsaken quest! I'm mortal as of now! I can die just like you! I tell you, if someone were to spill my blood across the pavement now, I would die just as you would." He put his arms around his knees and rested his head on his legs. Rocking back and fourth, he burst into tears.
"Listen to me, TMS. I know that you're upset, but you don't have to be. Look at your options... face Racku as I was told you must... or die worthless, pathetic and alone."
"I can't do this! I'm not a trained warrior like SS! I'm not an insane war hero like Racku! I'm not a dictator bent on world domination like Bowser! I can't do this! Mewd... help me."
As if someone had heard his plee, a boy walked out of the item shop and, for some unknown reason, turned to his right where Mewd and TMS were. He knelt down, feeling he should do something. "What's wrong?"
"In 7 days and 6 nights, I must gather a party of adventurers to battle a distant relative of mine who happens to be a war hero gone mad. The only skills I really have are diplomacy." TMS ran a hand over his face, wiping away the tears.
"Jon." The boy extended his hand in an offer of friendship.
"Chimu Kasara-Chiri... everyone calls me TMS." TMS took it.
"Alright then, TMS. I suppose since I have nothing better to do, I could help you. I have some skill."
"Thank you. But I don't know... I feel as if something is missing. Perhaps I should recruit SS instead? After all... he is a warrior by nature."
"No, heavens no!" Mewd insisted. "Do you remember what happened last time you went into battle with SS fighting under your command?"
TMS thought back. "I won?"
"Yes. More..."
"SS abandoned my party halfway through the journey to Arasantu?"
"Yes. More..."
"SS and I got into a huge fight and I ended up unconcious for a few hours, he ended up with a nice slice in his shoulder which later became a nifty new battle scar?"
"There ya go. Do you want a repeat of that now that you're mortal?"
"No! For Rarato's sake, no!" TMS's eyes widened as the realization hit him that SS would kill him before Racku had the chance. With SS, it would merely be the warrior forgetting who he was fighting and that it was a friendly challenge.
"I suggest you accept Jon's offer. Jon, I'm Mewd." He reached out a furry paw to Jon.
"Nice to meet you." Jon shook it.
"Alright then." TMS stood. "Thanks for the offer, Jon. I think I'll be taking you up on it."
"Good," Jon responded.
*Jon has joined TMS's party!*
"We're on our way to the Princess's Castle."
"Ah..."
Part 3: Two Plumbers and a Princess
After purchasing a few items at the store, they all three agreed upon heading out to the castle where they'd recruit the Mario Brothers. Little did they know that that wasn't how it was going to be.
"You're taking me. I've met Racku before," Peach announced.
"Peach... I don't know if it's a wise idea for you to come along," TMS responded.
"And why not? You're a Starian Prince, a higher rank in society than me, and you're going. I don't see what keeps me from going."
"Just let Mario and Luigi handle this."
"No." She looked him in the eyes, a rather serious expression on her face. "I know that if I don't go, something terrible will happen."
"Fine then." Then he muttered under his breath, "Stubborn Mushroomer Royalty..."
*Princess Peach Toadstool has joined TMS's party!*
"We're ready." Mario looked to his tall younger brother, and then back to TMS.
*The Mario Brothers have joined TMS's party!*
"Good. We're heading into Koopa territory now."
"OK. We're ready for that. What's Bowser up to this time?"
"We're recruiting him."
"Recruiting him?!"
"Yes."
"You can't recruit him! He won't work for any cause with you!" Mario argued.
"He will this one."
"It'll be your funeral, not mine."
TMS smiled. It was an almost underhanded secretive smile, the kind of of smile you used when you were a smuggler or a thief or something sneaky. Perhaps even a smile you used when you were a Koopa. Within minutes, the entire party was ready to journey. They set off and this time were met by something surprising.
"Well, well, what have we here?" it was a man never before seen in this world.
"Who are you?" Luigi stepped forward.
"I am the servant of Utuha."
TMS looked surprised. "Utuha?! That name has not been used for many, many years! It was..."
"It was my Lordship Racku's Battle Title... 'Demon of Torment', quite a good choice if you ask me."
"This is not possible! He has Plitian connections after only an hour?"
"Plitian? You think I come from this pitiful planet?" The young man laughed, brushed his black hair back, then continued. "I am of the planet Asoma. My name is Esuru. I was a student of the class that studied your little rock in space. Now I'll battle with that knowledge!"
TMS didn't draw his sword, but Esuru charged his powers. "Why do you want to fight us?"
"You are the infamous Chimu Kasara-Chiri, aren't you? Well, Chimu... I was a big fan of the Koopa Guardian war period... I'm bringing it back!" He then realeased the power.
TMS caught the blast sent at him. "Ah... a Level Five Dark Mana Blast? Very nicely done. You just forgot one thing, I'm of a highly magical nature, this wouldn't have hurt me." He threw it to the ground and the energy dispersed. "I suppose you want me to do something? Then I shall." With that he held his hand up and it seemed like orange light was collecting around him. Then it became clear what it was. He was being surrounded by fire.
Esuru's eyes widened as he realized he couldn't possibly guard the Koopa territory from them. If he was not killed by Magic, there were skilled warriors behind the child. "I'll be back! Just wait!" With that he vanished in a cloud of thick black smoke.
"Bluffing is good." TMS put his hand down and the fire subsided. "I probably wouldn't have hit him with my Level Ten Blazing Flame."
Mewd calmly took his hand from the hilt of his sword. "I thought for a moment we might have to battle him." Others nodded in agreement with the cat creature.
"Well, let's get going." Jon broke the silence, and so the trek continued as the day darkened, and soon they were camped out for the night.
TMS kept watch as the others slept, hopeful that should Esuru return now he could scare him off alone. After several hours had passed, a hand touched TMS's shoulder.
"Hey... I'll take over from here. You get some sleep, ok?" Jon seemed to be rather awake as he watched TMS wake up from his half slumber to realize what Jon had said. And so our 'Hero' finally nodded off for a restless night's dreams.
As the sun rose over the monstrous Castle Koopa, TMS woke up. He stood up, startled for a moment. He knew that by then he was completely human, that what little Guardian Powers he had left were weak versions of his fire powers. Most likely the best he could muster would be a Level Two Spark.
"So what's the plan, oh fearless leader?" Luigi cracked a smile, "I mean, Bowser's not just gonna welcome his greatest enemies and a Kasara-Chiri kid into his house with open arms."
"We know that," Mewd remarked, unpacking several of the items they had bought at the store.
"It's a simple fact that he won't recognize me." TMS grabbed one of the items, it happened to be red face paint. After sticking two fingers in it, he streaked lines out from the left corner of his left eye and the right corner of his right eye, giving him an effect similiar to a style he vaguely recalled having seen before.
Mewd instantly recognized it. "Isn't that the way that kid we saw at this year's Festival of Spores had his face painted?"
"Yeah. That kid with the cape." Mario nodded, agreeing.
"Nodin..." TMS thought back to the first time Racku had been set free. It felt as if a gash had been opened across his chest and lemon juice had been poured into it. In a great act of cowardice, he had drawn Nodin into this entire thing. It was his task to defeat Racku in battle. He walked towards the large castle and called over his shoulder, "Stay here... I'll be back."
"HALT! What business have you with the Koopa Klan?" a large Hammer Brother inquired.
"I am... Taron of Kohalint Island off the southern coast of the main continent of Hyrule. I hail from a parallel world and wish to speak to your leader, for a war has broken out between we, the humans of Hyrule, and the dominant species known as Hyrulian. The Hylians and Sheikah refuse to side with either as do the Gorons and Zora. We seek assistance in this battle. We reward our allies greatly," TMS lied.
"Uh... er... yeah. I'll let ya in ta see King Bowser." The Hammer Brother opened the door and let him inside.
The main entrance, an entrance he had not used since the peace talks when he was young, lead him directly to the main audience chamber, and there stood Bowser, not at all amused. "Who are you and what the heck are you doing in my castle?!"
"Well, well, King Koopa... you should train your guards better." He wiped away the paint.
Suddenly Bowser understood who it was. "GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! I've had enough of your curse-ed family!"
"No. It comes down to this. Give your kingdom to Racku, or fight beside me."
"Wonderful... family fight... I'm not getting involved in this... I've got family of my own to fight... Daren... Corola... Aden... their children... my children... my wife..."
"Well, you're in a terribly good mood. Any other day you'd have had me thrown out by now."
"A run in with the man who tried to exterminate my family and finding out that he's sentenced to imprisonment, that he's gonna die a horrible and drawling death... that puts me in a good mood."
"Your thirst for vengeance is great. Are you sure you don't want the honors yourself?"
"I do... but not for the price of joining you on a quest that's as hopeless as anything else." It was rather obvious Bowser was ready to cave in to his blood thirst for revenge on Racku.
"Nicholas Koopa... 23 at death... instant rival of Kasara-Chiri head prince Racku... beheaded in the Koopa Guardian war... Racku became a celebrated hero for his victory over Nicholas... Racku made the final cut... right below the jaw... Nicholas didn't even see it coming..."
"SHUT UP!"
"Nicholas's head was retrieved by a soldier and delivered by Racku himself to her Ladyship Olivia Koopa, widow of Nicholas... the three-month old child of Nicholas and Olivia, it was agreed by Olivia and Racku, would never fight a battle..."
"Fine! I'll go! Just stop!"
*King Bowser Koopa has joined TMS's party!*
"I'll need more help... the Koopalings?"
"They're out on business. But there is..."
"Who?"
"Blackbelt... the newest edition to my troops. He's got some skill... that's for sure. He's rather... disobediant... though."
"Don't worry... I have ways. Just take me too him."
Bowser gave him a questioning look, then grinned and led the way to this 'Blackbelt'.
Part 4: Third Daughter of the Second Wife
They didn't meet with who they expected as they passed through the halls, for unable to find the strange Koopa-like warrior they had decided to leave. At the door, talking to the guards, was a girl with purple hair and reptilian skin.
"I'm sorry... King Koopa is in a meeting," the Troopa told her. He turned around and his eyes got big as he saw his lord standing next to a now-hooded figure.
"I'm no longer in a meeting... but who is she?" Bowser inquired.
"I am the third daughter of the second wife of Daren Koopa. In other words, I'm your niece," she responded for herself.
"What are you? I know for a fact Daren never married a proper Koopa girl. His first wife was a nymph."
"I'm half-human."
"Disgusting."
"Who's that beside you, Uncle Bowser?"
A glint of blue eyes caught her attention as the hooded figure lifted it's gaze. "I am Chimu. What I am is of no concern to you."
"Don't mind him. He's a foreign warrior I hired to exterminate those pesky Marios," Bowser lied.
"Oh... may I accompany you?" she asked.
"No. You may not. What'd you say your name was?"
"Dinogirl... Dinogirl Koopa."
"This is not a job for girls."
"But I've heard-"
"Heard what?"
"You send your daughter on missions."
"She's not a girl... she's an abomination."
TMS laughed. "Abomination? No... she's more a..." he trailed off as he caught Dinogirl staring into the blackness, trying to distinguish his face. "Why do you stare at me so? There is nothing to see."
"Then why hide it?" she responded.
"That is for me to know and you not to find out."
"Little Chimu, we meet again... are you afraid of a girl? Tell me, can you really be afraid of such a thing?" Erusu laughed as he appeared. "Why do you hide your face from me, child? Afraid I should come to like it and decide to keep you alive to toy with?" The Asomian pushed back TMS's hood.
"Rr. Did you have to do that?!" TMS growled angrily.
Help me... Free me... For I am your final hope. It echoed around in a voice only TMS could hear and only he could recognize. He was startled as the blast came toward him and hardly had time to reflect it with his sword.
That was when something strange took place and Erusu became scared. In a sudden fury, the wind blew in, unleashing a power not even TMS knew he had. He didn't understand it, but in an instance, his hair was once again long, shining like a ray of sunlight, and he was in the ancient robes of a Starian Prince. Robes that had not been worn in over fifty generations, the robes of one of the first Kasara-Chiri.
"I am the future..." It was TMS, and yet it wasn't. For somehow it didn't seem to be the same voice though it came from his lips.
"No! This isn't possible!" Erusu cried out, having recognized this power from his studies.
"I am Chimu Kasara-Chiri, and he who dares challenge that fact shall die at the hand of a true prince."
"Uncle! You sided with a Kasara-Chiri?!" Dinogirl cried out over the howling wind.
Part 5: Return of the Starian Prince
**********************************************(Insert
racku.m
'He's powerful... but can he handle
it?' Racku watched from a distance. He was amused that the power had finally
been unlocked, that someone besides him could use it. It had been so long
since he had used it last, too long. A flood of painful memories washed
over him and he disappeared in a flash of light, tiring of watching the
boy fight.
***
"NO!" Erusu screamed as he watched the Kasara-Chiri prince draw magic from seemingly nowhere. He could not escape, he had already found that. "Please, no!"
TMS's unrestricted hair seemed to go white for a moment as power overcame him. It was the power that made the Kasara-Chiri the most powerful family in the universe. It was in fact a power that when used by the right person could destroy a universe, making it fold in on itself and become one giant black hole. "The Family shows no mercy upon those who attack the unprepared." With those words he sent an almost unrecognizable attack hurtling toward the cowardly Erusu.
'A Level Fifteen Fire Essence Attack...' That was Erusu's last thought before it hit and he was hurtled into another dimension to die.
"I am the Future. I am the prince." TMS bowed his head and clasped his hands together in honor of the defeated opponent. The robes faded away and once again his hair was short. The brown cloak he had been wearing had been torn to shreds and now he stood in what he had been wearing before, a grey tunic with white trim, black pants and shiny black boots. "Huh?" he blinked and looked down at himself. 'What was that? I could swear I had no power...'
"Uncle! How could you?!" Dinogirl ran to the Koopa Warlord and slapped him across the face. "Even I know the Kasara-Chiri are enemies of ours!"
"It'd be best for your own sake that you keep this to yourself, girl. You did not see me with him and you did not see him just do that. You came to visit me and found no one home." Bowser growled angrily.
"Only if you take me with you!"
'Why go with her enemy and her traitorous uncle if she has such a dislike for the Kasara-Chiri?' Bowser thought, suspicious of her. "Why should I bow to your blackmail? I could have you thrown in the dungeon and never let you come out again."
"Because I'm the heir to your brother's throne. I'm Papa's favorite. He'd be oftly angry if you don't make sure I return to him. He might even decide to kill you, Uncle."
A boiling rage built up in Bowser upon hearing the word papa. It was commonly used by Kasara-Chiri and the reason why he insisted upon being called King Dad by his children. Wendy had said that word once. Only once. He recalled it quite clearly, she had been a little girl, batting her pretty eyes at him and then she made the fatal mistake with that two word sentence. 'Please Papa?' He had smacked her so hard she landed twenty feet away, bawling her eyes out. That had been the last of that nonsense. She had asked for many things since then, but never used the word papa. "You ingrateful treacherous disgusting underhanded half-human nothing! You dare to use such a word as that before me?"
"What word?"
"Rr! That Kasara-Chiri word!"
"What Kasara-Chiri word?"
"Nevermind then! Stubborn child!"
"Bowser, don't be so harsh. Are you coming, girl? We must go now." TMS looked down, smiling for the first time since Racku had been unleashed by the Koopa Lord the first time. His step was light as he began to walk toward where he had left the rest of the party.
"Ha ha! I'm going with you two!" Dinogirl cried out.
*Dinogirl Koopa has joined TMS's party!*
Part 6: Venture To The Happy Island
"Chimu, Chimu, Chimu! I like that name." Dinogirl spun around as she walked, her eyes closed. When she opened them, her uncle was unhappy by far, for there standing in the party were two familiar humans, the Mario Brothers.
"It's similiar to an Earthen name, Chima meaning 'True Ground'. It's Starian however," TMS replied, stopping before the small gathering of people.
"Welcome back, TMS. Who's the girl?" Mewd asked, standing up.
"She's a relative of Bowser. We no longer have to worry about Erusu... I defeated him in battle." TMS sat down for a moment and rummaged through the food supply hungrily. He hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
"TMS... what was that power you used while facing that stranger?" Bowser asked, curious.
TMS took a big bite of the apple he found, chewed, swallowed and then began to answer. "To tell you the truth... I don't know. I think it was a Fire Essence attack but I can't be sure."
"That's not what I meant. I meant how you-"
"Managed to grow my hair back and obtain ancient starian robes? Don't know that either." He paused for a moment before taking another bite of the apple. "Perhaps it's a power of the Kasara-Chiri? I'm not sure."
"Did you guys see that man dissappear into thin air? The one with the red hair? I wonder who he was," Dinogirl asked.
TMS spit out a chunk of apple, his eyes wide in surprise. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Tell me. Did this man have his hair braided? This is very important."
Dinogirl thought back, "Yes... he did. He had red eyes too, I think."
TMS then said two words that were very unprincely and Peach gave him a scolding look. "That was Racku!" he sighed, then went back to eatting, realizing it wouldn't help to get all wound up over it.
"Where to next, my Sahid?" Mewd asked jokingly.
"Don't call me that. I'm neither an Arabian Sultan of Earth nor am I above you," TMS responded immediatly.
"I don't know about that second one." Mewd smiled.
"We're going to..." TMS paused a moment. "Someone's watching us." He turned around in time to see a pair of golden eyes gazing out from the brush and charged forth to bring the owner of them back. So he did. It was a child not much younger than he himself. The only visible part of it was a section of it's face where it's eyes, nose, and several strand of light blue bangs could be seen. "Who are you?"
****************************************************(ozoma.mid)
"I am Ozoma of the second house of Kasara-Chiri. I have come to avenge the death of the man who was head of the first house of Kasara-Chiri a few generations back," the young child, now easily recognized as male, replied.
"The second house... a boy child is a stranger there. How is it that you have come to be spying upon us? You should be at home, pampered as the lesser royalty of the Mushroom Kingdom are when they are male."
"I have a male cousin who sits upon the throne. I don't take well to pampering anyways. It only means I shall have to wed many girls, many of which related to me. I don't want that. I want to be free... to be settled before birth is the way they say, but I disagree that to be free from the day you can walk is how it should be. Thus I am known as the accursed Ozoma of the second house. I have come upon your encampment through hearing the despised name of that which I hunt, a man by name of Racku."
"You are after the eldest son of the honored Aratelen as well?"
"As well? Do you mean you too are after him? What reason have you?"
"I am Chimu of the first house of Kasara-Chiri. Alas I am the chosen royalty, but as you can see, I can't do anything in my current state as I am merely human and will be so until I face my distant uncle at the appointed time... the place I know not."
"I heard rumor that he could be found in a land not far from the island of Yoshis. Mind that my original goal was to destroy the wretched mask your family has carried proudly for years to that curse-ed Festival of Spores. Now I hear that some careless Prince has let the demons within it out."
"It would be dishonorable for me to lie to you... I released Racku... no other, merely Racku."
"Do you understand a word of what they're saying?" Bowser asked quietly of the group.
"No... not really," Mario replied.
"Leave them be... they seem to be of the same family," Peach scolded.
A few moments later, TMS announced, "Ozoma has agreed to join our party!"
*Ozoma Kasara-Chiri has joined TMS's party!*
"Why don't you get settled then?" Peach asked.
"No... I can't. We'll be leaving soon and I noticed someone else following you," Ozoma quickly responded.
"Someone... else?"
"Yes... I'm not sure if it's really there but-" Ozoma was interrupted as it walked into view, shimmering.
Carrying itself in a princely manner, it seemed far out of place. Its long blonde hair was fastened in a series of loops. TMS vaguely found it to be familiar, and then it became clear both that it was a he and who he was. It looked up, "Chimu..."
TMS looked surprised as the spectral figure held out its hand. "Why are you here?"
"You fight my brother, correct?"
"Yes..."
"Please... don't hurt him... for my sake." And with that the ghostly figure of Nathan Kasara-Chiri disappeared, casting his final glance at Ozoma, a smile upon his face.
"I... I'd better go," Ozoma paniced.
"No," TMS responded firmly. "You said you're coming with me, so you're coming with me."
"I don't wanna go anymore!"
"Tough."
"Chimu Zyphon 'TMS' Kasara-Chiri!" Peach scolded. "You will stop picking on that boy this instant."
TMS cringed at the use of his entire name. He disliked it and had only been called such once before by Peach. Once when he was very little. "Would you PLEASE not call me that?"
"So, your middle name is Zyphon?" Bowser grinned. "I shall have to remember that so that I may unmercifully tease you before the meeting of royal courts."
"You do and-" TMS started to threaten.
"We have a treaty Prince of Staria, remember that."
Meanwhile, the blue-haired prince had tightly fastened his arms around Peach's waist, tears streaming down his face. "Please... don't let him hurt me."
"You hear that TMS?" Bowser, going far too soft for his normal personality, asked. "You scared him... you happy?" With the care of a father, he picked Ozoma up into his bulky reptilian arms. He had to wonder why he felt this was right. "Don't let that fake prince of the lamians scare you."
"Lamians?!" TMS cried in outrage.
"Yeah. Lame Starians," Bowser chuckled.
"Rr. I swear upon the first of the Kasara-Chiri line that I shall have my vengeance as my ancestors before me have reeked vengance upon your scaley reptilian hides. Be weary Koopa. You have been warned."
"Yeah... whatever. Let's get going."
And that was how it was all the way to Yoshi's Island. Bowser and Peach defending Ozoma and TMS getting more and more furious. As they stepped foot on the island of Yoshis, one of them skipped its merry way over to Bowser.
"King Bowser," it whispered, "it's me... Aleth. I'm in disguise as a-"
"Why didn't you tell me you could do that?" Bowser grumbled angrily.
"I did but you ignored me sir." Aleth changed his form back to that of a Koopa. That was when he noticed TMS and Ozoma. TMS did not look at all amused. "Starians!" He made a move to charge at TMS.
Bowser grabbed him quickly, having given Ozoma to Peach a while back. "No. We are not to attack them. They are our allies."
"Allies with guardians? Are you insane, sir?!"
"No. He's very smart," TMS spoke up, his sword drawn. "I suggest you follow my orders now. As long as this temporary treaty is in effect, the Koopa armies are mine to command. You will accompany us until you are no longer needed."
*Aleth Yoshpan has joined TMS's party!*
The underbrush russeled in the distance and Blackbelt muttered to himself. "Starians... I hate them. I hate everyone here." He, the only one seated in the brush, had been planning to force Aleth to tell him how to change shape so he could return to his human form. This complicated the matter. However, if he were to join them on this quest he might have a shot at taking Aleth out of the crowd and interrogating him about the shape-changing powers.
"What was that?" Bowser asked.
"It was the brush rustling, sir. If I may add, someone has been following me, sir," Aleth piped up.
"Do you think it might be Racku?" Bowser inqcuired.
TMS shot a glance at Ozoma. "Not likely."
"What? What'd I do?" Ozoma whimpered.
"You know well."
"No I don't."
"It's just me, King Koopa, sir," Blackbelt stood up.
'I don't like him,' TMS thought immediatly. He turned around to see Ozoma had been set down even though he was obviously lighter than he looked. He decided that now was the time to test his theory. "Racku?"
"What is it now?" Ozoma immediately asked, then regreted doing so. He had given himself away. He pulled away the black clothing and immediatly transformed into the young firey haired man. "How?"
"Ha ha ha... I can see the future. Poor little Racku didn't know I was the fire brand glass master, did he?"
"I have what I want." Racku grabbed Peach's hand and then both of them disappeared.
"NO! NO! CURSES!" TMS shouted at the top of his lungs.
***
Peach lost all sense of what she had been as she was transported to a new dimension, Racku's Dimension. She lost the fact that she was supposed to be fighting him as his dimension rewrote her thoughts and feelings. She was falling, falling into a black void, and then suddenly, he caught her.
"Peach, you need to be more careful," he smiled.
"Yes... I do. I'm sorry, my love." It was raining light pink cherry blossom petals and Peach felt at home. 'This the yard of our house, my Darling Racku's and mine,' her mind told her. And so she walked with Racku inside.
"Mama! Papa!" The blue-haired boy, looking identical to Ozoma, ran to them and at the last moment skidded to a stop, embracing his supposed parents. "I missed you while you were away on business!"
"Were you a good boy for your sitter, Orasan?" Racku asked.
"Ali was such fun!"
'Ali? I didn't create a girl named Ali.' Racku was surprised. "That's good." As the sitter passed by without acknowledging him, as if she were incredibly mad with him, he felt a cold chill. She was something of neither world, he could tell, but she was real.
***
"What's he done with her?!" Bowser boomed.
"I don't know," TMS admitted.
"Why not?!"
"In order to know you must know your enemy. Racku seems to be rather... unpredictable."
"Well then figure him out!"
"You certainly don't have patience."
"Look. A great enemy of mine has now captured the second love in my life. Do you know what happens to a female Koopa when she's too old to be able to produce children?"
"Frankly, I don't care about your love life."
"Well, I'll tell you anyways. She's killed. Clawdia is on the fine line and if I don't find another wife, she's gonna die."
"So I care about this? I'm not out to save a single Koopa woman. I'm here to save the planet at this moment. You worry about her later."
Inwardly, Bowser fumed at the stubborn boy, his heart broken. "Fine... let's get going."
"W-wait!" Blackbelt chased after them. "I'm going with you!"
*Blackbelt Koopa has joined TMS's party!*
***
Racku looked up from his writing and smiled at Peach. She looked so pretty sitting there, yet he could tell something was troubling her. "What is it?"
"It's strange really." Peach laughed. "I keep fancying myself a princess with this enormous pink gown!"
Racku's face lost all color for a moment. "Really? Is that so?"
"Well, of course you are my handsome and heroic prince." She smiled sweetly, placing her hand over his, causing him to drop the pen.
He looked down at his hand, cupped in hers. "Really? That's hard to believe."
"Of course, really! Don't be silly... it's easy to believe." She looked at him closely, "But then... you're not being silly, are you? You're quite serious... Racku, what's wrong with you? You used to be a diamond among the coal of other men but now you've lost your sparkle."
"I'm just worried... worried that you'll decide you don't love me and go far away, never to return. I'm scared... don't let them take you away."
"Don't worry... I'll never stop loving you." With that she kissed him and they left his work for a later time.
***
"We have to find where he is hiding." Without warning, TMS dropped to his knees, his hands on his head, his voice raised in a high pitch cry. He regained control of himself and, careless of the pain it would bring to his hand, shattered a small nearby tree, dried and aged, with his fist. "Curses... he's not anywhere I know of. What place on Plit has cherry pe-" He stopped not completing the thought. "Of course! He's not on Plit!"
"He's not on Plit?! Then he could be anywhere in the universe!"
"No... he's here, just not as solidly here as I thought." TMS paced back and forth, ignorant of the fact that he was about to fall through the ground. And then he was plummeting downward. He landed on something scaly, yet warm. Something living.
"Rr... who dares to disturb me?" Its eyes glinted like silver in the darkness.
TMS tried to regain his senses and finally managed to speak. "Smash? What're you doing here?"
"Er..." the now obvious dragon paused a moment, then shrugged, sending TMS flying. Then he began to change form to the human shape TMS had seen him in most often.
"Ooh... did you have to send me flying?" TMS placed his hand over several cuts across the right side of his face. The rock face of the wall was dangerous. The warm blood made him sick. He had almost never bled in his entire life, but now it seemed he would do so more than a normal person. His lifestyle was dangerous, he now realized. It made him nausious.
"What? You're bleeding?"
"Yes. Long story."
Something else stirred in the cave. "Smash?"
"Gillian's here too?" TMS squinted.
"Yes... did you think I'd go anywhere without her?" Smash asked.
"I didn't see her... my night vision's awfully poor without my powers."
"No powers, eh? I would say someone doesn't like you."
"Yeah... someone REALLY doesn't like me. Happens to be related to me. Could I get some help out of here?"
"Oh, don't be a baby... you can scale that wall. I made sure anyone who fell in here could climb out.
Mewd, having keen ears, heard every word of what was said and was a little uneased. Smash and he had never quite been incredible friends, they were more friendly rivals than anything else. They were both formidable opponents and never had found a way to truly beat one another.