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[img]https://i.imgur.com/O6MhssR.png[/img]

[b][color=6ecff6]Level 3[/color][/b] - (2/30) EXP
[b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] Peach's Castle, Sewer Dungeon ---> Outside
[b][color=6ecff6]Word Count:[/color][/b] 792

[sub][b][color=6ecff6]"[u]It's On Like 1981! - Pt 4[/u]"[/color][/b][/sub][/center]
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Geno rushed out of the laboratory and issued a hard left in an attempt to lead the confused dragon to the enemy. Unfortunately, his prayers to Star Road remained bleak as the purple creature's noise resonated away from him. He went right instead of left - an unfortunate oversight. The doll believed that the blade he forcedly inserted into him had caused him to become extremely hostile and would allow him to become an ally in this fight. Turns out he was misfortunately incorrect in this assumption. 

Once again, Geno was completely on his lonesome. He only hoped that the dragon could cause a distraction towards one of the veterans, preferably Donkey Kong as he was the heavy hitter, and perhaps that he'll find his way out of this dungeon in the end. Indeed the dragon's presence, along with his intense fire, began to fill the entire maze in a thick blanket of blackish smoke. To the inhabitants with functionable noses, they'd begin to panic as they desperately try to find their way out of the dungeon and towards the exit. Thankfully, the wooden doll need not to worry in dying of asphyxiation...

He'll just have to make sure he can avoid the fires if they come his way.

But Geno wasn't going to leave this place yet. He's already committed to getting his friend out of here - even in the corrupted state that he's in. Mario never left him in their ventures, so its only fitting that he does so now and repay the favor. He began to zip around the dungeon in all directions, paving through the smoke as he hastily searched for him. He looked everywhere, searching for clues such as open doors, footsteps, or his iconic italian voice, but there seemed to be no sign of him. Perhaps Mario had already made his escape and has fled the scene? It was definitely a possibility. But something within him believed that he wouldn't simply shrink out like a coward. 

So once Geno began to approach the exit, there his old friend stood. The Star Warrior halted dead in his tracks upon seeing Mario blocking his entrance outwards. He was heavily battered and bruised from their initial confrontation, yet still had just a bit of energy left to spare. His determination undoubtedly over-shadowed his current condition. The plumber readied himself for their final confrontation, glaring down the doll while he rose his fists up.

[i]“...Time-a to finish this.”[/i] Mario announced ominously.

For a brief second, the Star Warrior seemed to go back on his initial plan as he rose his arm cannon towards the plumber's face. From the sounds of things, Geno feared that Mario might be a lost cause after all. There seemed to be no other way in bringing him back to his old self, and even if there is indeed one way, he had no idea who to turn to. Yet that's when his conscious reminded him of the choice he took when he stabbed the helpless dragon in the lab. He was reminded of those helpless screams of pure terror and agony, as it became subjected to the power of the blade as a mindless monster. While he also sported those same glowing scarlet eyes, it seemed like he still held onto parts of his own mind. Could it be that Mario is in a similar predicament?  And then he remembered the rag-tag group of freed souls that he found himself allying with - even consisting of the plumber's own nemesis no doubt! Maybe they found someone that knows how to revive these corrupted souls back into their own selves?

There must be other alternate options in how this could end.

Geno's arm cannon ceased as he looked straight into the eyes of his old friend. 

[b][color=6ecff6]"No."[/color][/b], he said confidently, [b][color=6ecff6]"It will not end this way, Mario. I promised myself to get you out of here - no matter what happens. And I'll be sure to see it through till the end!"[/color][/b]

Suddenly, Geno's power spiked by a significant margin. He could feel his inner joints and parts working faster than usual, giving him a boost in power. His thrusters gave one final push - utilizing all of the remaining fuel in his thrusters - as the star warrior rushed towards the plumber and colliding with his chest. As soon as he collided, Geno grabbed ahold of Mario's waist as they swiftly left the dungeon and ascended towards the ground floor of the castle. But at the speed and power that he was going, it seemed apparent that he'd crash through the castle roof and find himself soaring into the sky before all of his energy ran out and descend back to the ground below.