Chapter 157: The Last Star Piece
The trip to the mountains was rather uneventful, much to everyone’s relief. The group made their way to one of the mountains under Ai's guidance who led them to a seemingly dead end, a big boulder sitting in front of a wall.
"Mmh, let me guess: the entrance is blocked by the boulder, isn’t it?" Apple Death asked.
"Right on it!" Ai confirmed.
Apple Death then turned into a ghost and made a big skeleton hand sprout out of the ground and push the rock aside before returning to normal, letting everyone enter a cave that went inside the mountain.
The group walked through the tunnel until they reached the very heart of the mountain where the Felinois' hideout was.
Upon arriving, a town inside the very mountain extended before them, the houses and establishments all resembling that of a town from China. There were even some suspended and built into the walls, connected between them and to the ground by bridges, elevators, and ladders. And in the town, other Felinois of various ages, sizes, and shapes could be seen from afar, going on with their day.
"Wow, this is amazing! A whole Felinoi town hidden in the mountains!? The historical research that can be done here is…!" Goombella couldn’t help but squeal upon seeing everything with sparks in her eyes.
"Now now, don’t get too caught up on the sights, this still is enemy territory. No doubt they will be ready for our arrival, mew." Ai reminded her, making Goombella calm down, though she was still visibly excited.
"Mmm, still, maybe after all it’s said and done it wouldn't be so bad to look around this place. It looks nice," Kooper said.
The group descended upon the town, first encountering a Felinoi kit playing outside with a ball.
Upon seeing them, he stopped and looked at the group with curiosity.
That’s it, until he was promptly swept away by a female, older looking Felinoi who held him between her arms, looking back at them with fear before she ran away in the opposite direction.
This action repeated more times as the group made their way across the town. People running away, locking themselves in their houses and shops all the while looking terrified of them.
"Sheesh, so much for a welcome…" Apple Death said.
"Don’t hold it against them, they probably were told beforehand that we were coming and were 'dangerous'," Ai said, even though she herself looked saddened by it.
"Hopefully, it will change once they know what we really are gonna do!" Kooper said.
"Indeed, it would be difficult to learn about this place if everyone ran at our mere sight," Goombella agreed.
Everyone made their way across the town to the center where an imposing palace stood before them, its design and structure once again reminiscent of those from ancient China.
"So this is it. Looks like we reached the end of our journey," Mario commented while looking at the palace. Ai nodded, before turning around and facing everyone.
"I just…wanted to thank you everyone, before going in. Truth to be told, I honestly didn’t expect you to actually help me when we first met, much less that you would stick around to support me on this, and even less that even after knowing that I kept important details and information from you all you still want to be on my side. It… it means a lot. I haven’t trusted this much on anyone else since… s-since…"
"Hey, it’s okay. We get it. wherever this takes us, we choose to trust you will do the right thing. We're friends after all!" Apple Death said.
Ai was surprised a little, but then she gave a fond, sincere smile. "Friends… Yes, thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
However, the moment didn’t last long, because as they were about to move inside, the doors of the palace swung open, multiple Felinoi soldiers spilling out in formation and quickly surrounding everyone. They had a variety of weapons like swords,Lances,Axes,Clubs and so on.
Then from the palace came Qiang Claws, though this time without the armor from last time.
"So, even knowing the truth of who she is and her actions, you still choose to be by her side…" he said solemnly.
"Yeah, and if you would just let us, we promise we can solve everything! Just give us the chance!" Apple Death said, hoping that maybe he would listen.
Qiang Claws just scowled in return. "A chance at what? At her to once again destroy everything we hold dear? That we fought so hard to recover? Not a chance! I'm done trying to reason with you outsiders! If you won’t stay put, I will not hold anything back! Men, give your all! We are not letting them reach the throne room until the last of us fall!"
The soldiers all roared, motivated, and the fight started.
Immediately a lancer stepped in and tried to attack Mario but he jumped in the air and countered by stomping him on the head.
Two more approached with axes intent in beheading him as he landed before they were intercepted by Goombella and Kooper who headbutted one and charged at the other while spinning in his shell respectively.
Apple Death, meanwhile, kept the actual bulk of the soldiers away, sweeping their ranks with wide attacks and gathering most of their attention.
This left Ai With a mostly free path towards the palace, defeating any guard on her way until Qiang Claws intercepted her, making her pause in her advance. Ai barely had time to generate a darkness sword to intercept him and the two started to clash.
"Witch! In the name of his majesty Bao Leo, I will not let you in even if I have to give my life! You will not steal the Felinois’ future again!"
Ai gritted her teeth. "I will not let you gather the pieces of the Demon Star and conquer the world! So I will defeat Bao and destroy the star for good!"
Qiang Claws just tsked in response. "You fool, there's no destroying the Demon Star for good, you will only resurrect that abomination and destroy us all again! And why should we even believe those are your intentions in the first place!? You already used this star once to destroy our ancestors! You could very well do it again!"
Sadly for him, he not only didn’t possess the Lìliàn Armor that previously granted him strength, but Ai had grown much more powerful with all the additional Demon Star pieces she and the group collected by now.
Ai's vision darkened, and a saddened sight left her lips.
"You are right. I caused so much suffering…" Channeling more power from the pieces of the Demon Star, Ai quickly overpowered Qiang Claws, making his weapon fly out of his hands.
"...This is why I must end this, once and for all," she said before she blasted Qiang Claws with a ray of darkness that launched him towards the wall of the Palace, cracking it before he fell to the ground, still conscious.
Ai approached him and released a weak blast to his face, rendering him unconscious without giving him time to say anything more.
Meanwhile, multiple guards realized she had defeated Qiang Claws and rushed towards her.
With a single swipe of her paw however, a wave of darkness pushed all of them back in the fray with Apple Death, Mario, Kooper, and Goombella.
"GUYS!" Ai shouted over the battle. "I will go ahead to confront Bao Leo myself! Don't worry, I got this! You all focus on finishing and then catching up! Mew!" she said.
"Will do!" Apple Death shouted back before blasting away another group of guards, the rest of the heroes all giving each their signals of agreement
With that, Ai ventured into the palace ready to face whatever was to come.
She found the big, majestic doors of the Throne Room…
With a little smirk, she blasted them open with a ball of darkness, making a lot of noise. She then quietly entered the Throne Room.
The place looked sophisticated, with opulent tapestries hanging from the ceiling and vibrant colors all around. Then there was the throne itself, elevated high at the other side of the room with stone steps leading to it. It was a fine thing, made out of pure gold. Perfect for any monarch.
Sitting on it, with one paw clenched in a furred fist he was resting his head on and a leg crossed over the other was none other than Bao Leo himself wearing the Lìliàn Armor. He had his eyes closed, seemingly unperturbed by Ai's entrance.
Ai regardless stepped forward, looking at him for a moment before deciding on how to go about this.
Striking a dramatic pose, she raises her voice. "Bao Leo! Your reign of terror has ended! I, Ai the Felinoi, will strike you down and stop your evil plans of world domination! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you! Mew!" she said, a fairly dramatic tone all the while.
For a moment, the room was in complete silence. Then, Bao Leo finally opened his eyes and looked down at Ai, his stare giving nothing away.
Then he curled up a single eyebrow. "....Have you seriously been acting like that this whole time to keep up appearances to your allies?"
"Pfff, of course not! But, you know, given our positions right now, I couldn't resist."
"Mmph, you really haven’t changed…Ai."
"Oh believe me, I am certainly not the same Ai you knew. I just have an immaculate sense of humor! "
Bao Leo snorted. "Sure, sure… and… could these changes include the possibility that you stop this foolishness?"
And just like that, the confusingly pleasant ambience was gone in an instant, replaced by a tension so thick it could be cut by a knife.
"I have all the other pieces of the Demon Star, only yours is missing. I will not back down now."
"Ai please, you have to learn to forgive. The future of our people is-"
"Shut up, Bao." Ai said with an edge. "Nothing you say now is changing what is about to happen. I made my decision. I will see this path to its very end."
Bao Leo simply stayed still, not saying anything. He then stood up and sighed.
"...Qiang Claws told me a bit about your allies. Right now they must be outside dealing with the town's forces aren’t they? Tell me, do they mean anything at all? What are they gonna think of you after this? Or do you simply not care what even becomes of them?" Bao Leo asked, searching for anything on Ai.
Ai didn't even respond, instead she just fiercely glared at him.
For a moment, her fists were shaking, yet just as quickly, she tightened them, making her resolution clear and absolute.
Bao Leo saw this, and simply exhaled tiredly. "So that’s how it is…"
Without much warning, he gave a mighty jump, landing in front of the foot of the stairs and a few meters in front of Ai. His form towering a bit over hers.
"Ai, you leave me no choice now. I can't let you go through this, and so I will strike you down. Prepare yourself for I, Bao Leo, shall put your hurting soul to eternal rest!"
Bao took a sword and charged darkness into it before he released it in the form of a wave with a vertical swing. Ai jumped aside to avoid it, the darkness wave continuing its path through the Throne Room’s entrance and cutting through a wall further behind. She then materialized a sword of darkness of her own.
Bao followed it with an horizontal swing that sent two waves this time, one above the other, and Ai used her sword to slice them apart before she jumped to avoid a third wave. Once at the top of her jump, Ai charged darkness into a large ball that she fired at Bao who cut it in two with his sword still enveloped in black energy, destroying it.
Ai landed and sent right away a giant black fist to punch Bao who countered it with his own punch. However, he couldn’t stop a second fist, followed by several others very rapidly. Bao eventually countered by raising his sword, charging more energy into it, before releasing it to create a large black tornado that successfully swept Ai, sending her flying and crashing into the ceiling.
She quickly recovered however and propelled herself from the ceiling with a small shockwave, crashing right into Bao. The two found themselves punching each other on the ground, against the stairs to the throne, Ai on top of Bao. Ai attempted to use the occasion to take Bao’s star piece, which was part of a pendant around his neck hidden under his armor, but Bao pushed her back with two black beams from his eyes.
The lion quickly got up and repeatedly swung his sword to send many waves of darkness. Ai avoided them or sliced them as best as she could while firing her own projectiles. Eventually, she began to approach to start another attempt at the pendant, but she couldn’t get too close.
Bao had the same regeneration as her, so hurting him until he falls unconscious won’t work. She had to find an opening to get the star piece and end the fight while making sure that Bao didn’t get her pieces.
Bao suddenly charged toward her, ready to cut her in half. Ai ducked and blasted Bao toward the throne. He crashed into it hard, destroying it. However, he quickly got up and jumped before he sent dozens of energy balls toward Ai who ran to avoid them, Bao remaining in the air. All the while, she charged energy before she sent it in the form of a huge and powerful wave that destroyed the energy balls and hit Bao, making him crash into the wall behind the throne, near the ceiling.
Ai propelled herself toward Bao right away, hoping to get the pendant before he could recover, but Bao recovered too fast and caught her arm before he jumped from the wall, put Ai under him, and fell on her with all his weight. With Ai pinned down under him, back up, Bao began to search her for the pieces and almost managed to find them in one of her pockets, but Ai then blasted the ground under her, sending herself and Bao in the air, freeing herself.
While in the air, she turned around and sent a black spike from her hand toward Bao’s head. Bao put his sword in the way however, resulting in him simply being pushed back by the spike before they both landed back on ground.
Ai slammed a foot on the floor, sprouting black spikes that Bao avoided with a jump before he sent a horizontal wave with his sword. Ai jumped too to avoid it, then sent powerful black winds that Bao countered with his own wind, the strong currents pushing each other. Ai’s gained the upper hand and reached Bao, cutting him several times, though the Armor protected him well.
Bao decided to stop defending himself and charged into the wind, toward Ai. She barely reacted in time to avoid being sliced in half by his sword, jumping away at the last moment. The weapon still left a big cut on her. But then, the lion breathed darkness right into her, the darkness engulfing half of her body while she was mid-jump. Ai screamed in pain and crashed on the floor, badly injured.
Bao approached and was about to take Ai’s star pieces when she put her hands before his face and blasted him, sending him on his back. She then ran after him before he could get up, moved over him, and blasted his face again, and again, and again. She then charged energy for several seconds and gave one last, giant blast that made the whole palace shake.
Part of the floor of the throne room collapsed, and both Bao and Ai fell into the castle’s basement. Ai fell on Bao who groaned. Breathing heavily, she quickly grabbed the pendant around his neck and pulled until it broke, allowing her to get the last star piece.
“No…” Bao said weakly.
“Sorry Bao,” Ai sighed before she got up and looked down at the last star piece. “Finally, I have all the pieces. Now, I can-”
Suddenly, there was a shadow, a gust of wind, and right under her nose, the star piece was snatched.
“Wh-? Hey!” She looked toward where the figure that took the piece went, recognising Kammy on her broom. “Give it back!”
Then, something crashed through the ceiling of the Throne Room and almost fell on Ai who quickly jumped away. Instead, Bowser crushed Bao.
“BWAHAHAHA!!! Good job Kammy! Now, give me!” Bowser said in joy.
Kammy flew toward Bowser. Ai immediately fired at her, making her panic. She flew erratically to avoid the projectiles and managed to reach Bowser who took the star piece from her.
“YES!” Bowser shouted, only to be hit by a powerful ball of darkness that sent him crashing into the debris of the Throne Room’s floor. Thankfully for him, he didn’t let go of the star piece. “I still have it!”
“Give me the star piece!” Ai shouted.
Bowser got up. “No can do, girly. Give me your pieces instead.”
“No way!”
At this, Bowser breathed in, then released a powerful stream of darkness that Ai barely avoided by jumping aside. She returned fire with projectiles of darkness that Bowser tanked before she had to avoid a magical beam from Kammy. The Magikoopa readied another beam, only for Mario to suddenly stomp her, followed by Goombella, then Kooper, then Apple Death. Kammy fell from her broom as a result. Apple Death then turned into a ghost and grabbed the broom before she smashed it on Kammy’s head, knocking her out.
“One down,” she said. “One to go.” She turned to look at Bowser. “Of course we’ve to fight ya again. Most stubborn bad guy ever. Never know when to quit.”
“But this time, I have an advantage!” Bowser said before he showed the star piece. “Now, darkness is mine to use as I wish!”
“Power ups never worked for you. This one won’t be different,” Kooper said. “This one doesn’t even turn you invincible.”
Bowser winced. “It gives me regeneration!”
“Not the same,” Goombella said. “Punching you still works.”
“They say that folly is doing the same thing again and again and hoping for a different result,” Mario said. “It’s even worse when your current attempt is not as good as previous ones.”
“Hey! Give me a break! It’s not my fault if I haven’t yet found an artifact that will turn me invincible! Maybe if you let me have the full Demon Star…”
“In your dreams!” Ai shouted.
Bowser groaned. “Let’s just start the fight…”
Apple Death shrugged. “Ok. But ya already know how this will end.”
“But first, let’s move this guy out of the way,” Kooper said, pointing at Bao who was still on the ground where Bowser crushed him earlier.
“Fine,” Bowser said. He and Mario then both grabbed Bao, by the head and the feet, and transported him to the nearest corner of the room they were in. Bao was so weakened that he didn’t protest.
He actually looked… older. His face had wrinkles that weren’t present before.
Meanwhile, Kooper did the same with Kammy.
They then returned to their previous positions and readied themselves.
Bowser started by breathing darkness into the group, making everyone scatter. Bowser then began to throw darkness balls from his hands, targeting the heroes randomly, but mostly Mario.
Apple Death and Ai both sent projectiles, respectively ice and darkness, which stopped Bowser, allowing the others to approach him. Kooper rammed him inside his shell, Mario jumped and bonked him on the head with his hammer, and Goombella headbutted him.
Bowser entered his shell and began to spin while darkness surrounded him like a tornado, forcing everyone to get away. He then charged toward Mario and rammed him, sending him flying and crashing into a wall. Mario quickly ate a Mushroom, then returned in the battle.
The star piece’s regenerative effect was already working on Bowser. No matter how many times he was hit, his wounds healed. Like against Bao, the fight could only be won by taking the piece from Bowser’s hand.
A giant black fist punched Bowser hard and sent him flying, but he didn’t let go of the piece. He quickly got up and jumped repeatedly, sending black shockwaves upon landing, forcing everyone who wasn’t flying to jump.
Apple Death flew directly to Bowser’s hand holding the piece and tried to pry it off forcefully.
“Hey! Hands off! Uh… Hooves off!” Bowser shouted, moving his hand away from her.
Mario then came and hit Bowser’s hand with his hammer, almost making him open it. Almost.
Bowser breathed darkness at him. Mario was too close to dodge. Thankfully, Apple Death levitated him away. In return, Bowser breathed darkness at her, and she was briefly engulfed before she flew away in pain. While she flew away, she sent big bones at Bowser to make him regret hurting her.
Ai charged toward Bowser and cut him with her black sword. While he recovered from that, Goombella headbutted his hand, failing to open it. She had to jump away to avoid a kick from Bowser. Mario used the diversion to grab him by the tail before he spun and threw him, sending him crashing into a wall where Apple Death zapped him with purple electricity.
Despite that, Bowser got up only to be blasted by Ai. This time, Bowser flew toward Kooper’s position who used the occasion to try to open his hand, but he firmly kept it closed. Bowser got up again, covered his claws in darkness, and slashed Kooper before he fired black lasers from his eyes at Ai, hitting her.
A giant bone suddenly sprouted right from under Bowser and sent him crashing through the ceiling back to the Throne Room, only for him to be caught in Apple Death’s telekinetic hold. She then pulled him back and slammed him hard on the floor back in the basement. Ai finally sent a giant stream of darkness that engulfed Bowser.
When the darkness disappeared, Mario hit Bowser’s hand with his hammer, finally opening it and getting the star piece away. Ai immediately went to grab it.
“No…!” a much older, white-maned Bao weakly said from his corner. “Don’t let her…”
But it was too late. Ai took the piece, finally getting in possession of the full Demon Star.
"Yes, finally!" she exclaimed with utter glee. "After all this time, I have it all back… And it’s all thanks to you guys!"
Apple Death smiled at her. "Great! Now we can destroy it, right? What's next?"
At that, Ai looked at her for a moment. She was still smiling brightly at her.
…Yet her smile didn’t seem to reach her eyes as she spoke next. "Mmm… What’s next indeed… Let me see…" she said, putting one claw to her chin as she seemed to think about it with a clueless expression.
Then, she suddenly snapped her fingers as if she had gotten an idea. "Oh! I think this is just the part where we say farewell. Forever."
"....What?" was all Apple Death said back.
"Oh don’t be like that, truly! We had such a fun time together! But well, everything has to come to an end and-"
"SHE'S LYING! She never planned to destroy the Demon Star! She’s gonna revive Pazall and destroy the world! Cough cough…" Bao Leo said, as patches of his white mane started to fall off.
Visibly angry, Ai snapped her fingers and a hand of pure, solid darkness grasped and lifted the now frail-looking lion. Ai turned to look at him as the hand squeezed him, making him cry out in pain.
"Oh for the love of-damnit Bao! You ruined my great villain plot-twist! Why couldn’t you ever play by a single one of my antics to the very end!? You absolute joykiller! Meow!"
"Hol' up! Hol' up! what is the meaning of all this!?" Kooper said, completely lost and slightly panicking.
Ai then slowly turned around, hunching slightly making her face and expression be covered up by her hair.
Then she straightened up, and what everyone saw left them shocked.
Gone was any trace of her bubbly joy or the spark in her eyes. Instead, she looked dead serious, and her eyes were sharp as those of a beast even glowing a bright yellow.
"Mph, so… It seems cat's out of the bag~. That’s right. Sorry for this but well…I sorta used y'all~" she said in a melodic, eerie tone.
"So it was all a lie? Those words you said back at the camp at Peach…!" Mario said, getting visibly angry by the second. "How could you take advantage of the Princess like that!"
"Oh?" Ai inquired, twisting her head to the side in quite an unnerving manner, her bright eyes concentrated on Mario with great intensity with her mouth slightly agape. "But whatever could you mean, dear friend?"
Then in an instant, her whole mannerism changed, and suddenly, she was back to what everyone was familiar with. "I'm just Ai, your sweet, poor wittle Felinoi ,don't you see, meow?"
Then she got back to her true self. "But alright, I do guess I owe you the truth, which is that yes and no. Yes, I mostly acted my entire personality with you. But no, it wasn't all made up, I did share genuine parts of my true self. Yes, what I said to the Princess was true… mostly-but no, I didn’t tell the whole thing."
Apple Death interrupted her at this point. "So you were only on half-truths and withholding key information to make everything fall into place, basically," she said with a neutral expression.
Ai nodded. "I honestly half expected someone to catch me sooner than later, and I really started sweating bullets the moment that Qiang Claws let out the fact that I don't die. But hey, if it’s any consolation to any of you, as short as it was I… I really…"
For a moment, something seemed to shift, but as quickly as it was, it was gone.
"UGH! No, that’s enough chit-chat. I can’t afford to lose any more time now that y'all are aware! I'll tell you all what's gonna happen next: I’ll use the Demon Star, I'm gonna bring back Pazall and finish what I started. And nothing will stop me. You, Apple Death, right? Anyone can tell you really aren’t from around here, so if you appreciate your own life, you will do well in returning from whence you came from! I’ll even let you take your friends here. Ain’t I generous~?"
Apple Death just looked at her unimpressed, sighing and shaking her head.
"...Well, this was rather disappointing. Guess that next time Ah’ll think it over before helping strangers running from a group of armed people. Lesson learned! Now…" she said, a scythe appearing between her hooves, purple fire coming out of its blade.
"Can you please tell me what it is that makes you think you’re leaving?” Apple Death said, her voice as if she was coming from beyond the grave for Ai's soul.
Ai, however, simply crossed her arms, a downright smug smile adorning her face.
She did a peace sign, and in a flash of darkness, she was gone.
".... Oh for-DID SHE REALLY JUST TELEPORT!?" Apple Death shouted angrily as she threw the scythe to the side, where it promptly dug into the wall.
"Damn, this is bringing back bad memories of that guy…" she said as she rubbed her temple with a hoof.
"COUGH COUGH! Uuugghh…." Bao Leo cried out, laying on the ground now that the hand that had him suspended in the air disappeared.
"Oh shoot! the King!" Apple Death realized, rushing to him alongside the other heroes.
Bao Leo laid on the ground, the top of his head now bald, with a few spots on it. His breath was labored.
"W-wow, he aged incredibly quickly! But how…?" Goombella wondered.
"Coff coff…T-the Demon Star… Without its shard, I am immortal no longer… No longer… immune to the hands of time who rush at me…" Bao Leo spoke in a soft voice.
"Uhh, yeah about that, for all that matters, we're sorry for that. We trusted Ai but then it ended like this and…" Apple Death said uncertain, rubbing the back of her head.
To her surprise however, Bao Leo just lightly chuckled. "Oh, Ai… Always the cunning, brilliant one… Rest easy, for I hold no ill will against thy, outsiders. I know-cough cough-that you were only doing what you believed to be right in your hearts… Ai… She too… b-believes this is what she must do… My only regret is that I never… n-never managed to convince her otherwise, never managed to teach… to forgive…"
A single tear rolled from his now graying eyes. "I failed her… as her friend…"
Suffice to say, the mood around the heroes was at an ever declining low.
"H-heroes… Now you must find strength… Ai is about to unleash an untold calamity upon this world. You must stop it, not only for the future of my people, but for our whole world. Please…if it is your wish to make amends… you must do this…!" Bao leo managed to say with a surprising amount of force, though his voice still was rather soft.
At that moment, someone else entered the room, jumping down from the Throne Room above.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" a loud voice all but howled out, immediately running towards them.
It was none other than Qiang Claws, who immediately put himself on his knees beside the dying lion.
"No, no no no… I woke up too late… Your piece of the Demon Star was taken! Damn it! I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH! This is all my-" Qiang was saying, getting more and more agitated, but suddenly stopped.
Bao Leo lifted his claw, now frail and skeletic, and put it on Qiang Claws.
He smiled softly at him. "Qiang, do not blame yourself for this no longer… You did what you could… None could predict the intervention… of these travelers, but we must not focus on that. Right now, Ai is on her way… to awaken Pazall, and with that, doom the Felinoi race and the world with it… So, with what’s left of my strength, I give you one final command as your King. Guid these outsiders to Ai… Aid them in stopping this accursed Evil that has stolen so much from us… Can you do it?" Bao Leo said.
His mane had completely fallen out, his skin was full of spots, his face looked skeletal and heavy bags decorated his eyes.
"... Yes, I promise- I swear I will do as you command, my liege," Qiang Claws said, his face completely serious.
"Then…take this armor out of my remains when I am gone… It shall aid them in the final battle… Don't worry, I insist you do…" Bao Leo said, his voice barely a whisper now.
He took his hand out of Qiang Claws's head and laid it out on the ground.
He closed his eyes.
He inhaled, then exhaled.
Thus, King Bao Leo of the Felinoi drew his last breath.
At once, time fully seemed to engulf his being, as in front of everyone present, his body immediately crumbled to dust.
Everyone looked down at Bao Leo’s remains.
Everyone except for Apple Death, who looked up instead.
For in front of her, invisible to everybody else, Bao Leo stood floating, his form ethereal, resembling his young self.
He nodded at Apple Bloom."I leave everything else to you now, young one. May you succeed where my ancestors failed and weave a brighter future to us all."
Apple Death nodded back."Leave it to us."
Without more, his spirit ascended, was covered in bright light, then faded away.
"... Wow, wasn't that something? Sheez…." a new voice said, making everyone jump a bit.
Looking back, everyone saw Bowser, still conscious, rise from where he was.
"Oh, right. He was here too," Kooper observed.
"Huh!? What gives with that reaction!? Surely I am not that forgettable!" Bowser huffed, offended. "But anyways, that crazy cat lady sure pulled a fast one on ya, right? Oh yeah, I heard all that! Honestly, It’s hilarious how you goody-two-shoes fall for that kinda stuff. Even I would have noticed something wasn't right with how much of a cuckoo she was hiding behind all that glitter and rainbows! Bwahahahaha!"
Everyone just looked at Bowser with an annoyed look ,and a bitter one from Qiang Claws.
"You, can't you see how disrespectful you’re being…!? You’re sulling the memory of my King with your insipid words! Why, I should-"
"HOOOWEVER…!" Bowser suddenly said really loudly, silencing him. "I have to ask: is sulking around all y'all gonna do? If I understood that right, Cat Lady is about to let out some Big Bad out there. BAH, this world only got space for ONE guy like that, and you’re staring right at him! So, I don't know about ya, but personally I am gonna march right up to her and whoever this guy is and give them both a piece of my mind of their whole world-ending business! You may stay where you are, it just makes it all the easier for me when I go on to dominate the world I'm gonna take from those two! Bwahahahaha!"
Everyone looked at him but this time with looks of surprise and mouths slightly agape.
"... Uhh, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked,a bit unsettled by their stares.
Finally, Apple Death was the one to talk first. "Huh, so ya really DO have a nicer side. Or at least the Paper you does. Peach sure knows you well…"
"… Huh?" Bowser said, confused.
"Woah, that got to be the nicest thing you ever said aimed in my general direction, Bowser." Mario said next.
"Huh!? Now wait a moment-" Bowser was trying to say.
"Awww, that’s so surprisingly sweet of you!" Goombella said.
"Wut- huh- but- how- I- me- WHAT!? S-SWEET!?" he said, now really scandalized.
"Yeah! Didn’t know even you could be cool like that!" Kooper agreed.
"OK, THAT’S IT, ENOUGH THE LOT OF YOU! I have NO IDEA what even is what y'all are hinting at, but I definitely am not NICE, I definitely am not SWEET, and I definitely am… Ok I am cool but for some reason I don't like the way YOU said it! Ugh, I'm outta here!" Bowser said, stomping his way out of the room.
However, just when he was about to leave he suddenly noticed that instead of actually advancing forwards he was going… upwards.
"What the…!?" He said, panicking a bit.
"Do ya even know WHERE is the place ya want ta go to?" Apple Death said while lifting Bowser with telekinesis, and promptly put him back to where he was before.
"Of course I… Uhhh… Ok I do not," he grumpily admitted.
"Thought so," she said flatly.
"Mmm, do you all recall the basement of the mansion?" Kooper asked and all the heroes nodded.
"That's where Ai is. We better hurry now, I don't know how much time there's left before she does it. Ah'll make a portal to go straight there," Apple death said.
"Then do, there's no time to waste," Qiang Claws said as he turned to what was now the dust of Bao Leo and the Lìliàn Armor.
Careful to take the armor and taking out the dust he made the mental note of finding where to put the dust later and looked around with the armor in his claws.
His eyes finally settled on Mario.
"You. Yes, you. You must put this on," Qiang Claws offered the armor to Mario.
"Eh? Why me? Wouldn’t it be better if you do so?" he asked Qiang Claws.
He shook his head. "As she is now, I am no rival to that dark sorceress Ai, and much less I stand any chance against the Great Demon Pazall. With this legendary armor, you will have greater chances than I in bringing down the beast," Qiang Claws spoke with conviction.
"... Still, I don't know…" Mario said, clearly a bit uncomfortable about wearing the armor after Bao's death.
"Nonsense! His Majesty ordered me with his last strength to assist you!" Qiang said as he quickly shot out a claw to Mario's arm who didn’t expect it and pulled him closer as he started to put the armor on him with refined speed and precision. "And I, Qiang Claws, shall honor him to the last! Done!" he said as he put in place the last part of the armor on Mario, who looked perplexed at it.
"Well, that was fast," Bowser commented, mildly impressed.
"This is sadly all I am able to do for you, other than wish you all good fortune. King Bao Leo decided to trust you, so I'm sure you will be victorious," Qiang Claws said and saluted them.
Everyone nodded at him, then looked back as Apple Death opened a portal.
"Alright everyone, this is it. Be ready," she said as she was the first one to cross. The rest followed her in.
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It's alive! It's alive! It's alive!
It's alive! It's alive! It's alive!
Great chapter! A good christmas present for everyone waiting... May you have happy holydays and enjoy them
Oh no, the calamity is very told indeed. Fortunately, this won't be the first time these heroes defeated a demon god and it probably won't be the last.
Knew it. I knew it. I knew that story was fishy. I knew it would only work to revive the demon. Shocked that ai was actually a villain.
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It would be a nice twist in a Paper Mario to have the compagnon turning out to be the real villain.