[center][h1][color=orange]Megadragonbowser[/color][/h1]
[b]Location:[/b] Peach’s Castle – Throne Room[/center]

The heroes launched into action, scattering to the left and right to avoid the falling flame and ready themselves to attack. Megadragonbowser's former adversary threw open the valves of his F.L.U.D.D., dousing flame as he ascended toward he dangling cages. As much as the tyrant reviled him, he had beaten the red-capped menace once before and could do it again, so he paid Mario no special attention. The plumber received aid in fire-management from Din, whose rod rolled out a chilling carpet of cold to quench the flame blanketing the floor, and Blazermate, who somehow managed to delete a few fireballs before they splattered on the tile. Not really caring about his hazards, he ignored them in favor of his more direct assailants..

Jetting through the vast throne room's open air, Geno let loose beam after beam at Megadragonbowser, none particularly powerful or targeted. In a very literal fashion the tyrant shrugged them off, his searing shell unfazed. He cast an irritated glance as the Courier spoke to him, wondering why 6 bothered talking when his team was already attacking him. To the tyrant's surprise, however, the drug-addled blowhard proceeded to open fire on a few of his teammates, landing direct shots as they went about their business not threatening him. [b][color=orange]”WHATEVER, PIPSQUEAK. STAY OUT OF MY WAY AND DON'T BOTHER CRYIN' TO ME IF YA GET PULVER-UGH!”[/color][/b]

The distraction had allowed Henry free rein to dial in his aim and unleash a torrent of dark magic upon him. Ruin after Ruin burst against his face, the one part of his body his stance left exposed. Though more irritated than truly hurt, he lifted his head out of the noxious cloud far enough to leave the slimmest of openings, and the team's emote-happy sharpshooter took advantage of the fleeting chance. Zer0 plugged the Courier with as many bullets as his rifle's fire rate would allow, each shot increasing in strength as it non-lethally penetrated him, then striking Megadragonbowser in the upper chest. [b][color=orange]”BAH!”[/color][/b] he bellowed at the lances of pain, but the bullets did not trouble him for long. While B0re made them bypass his tough scales, which even for normal Bowser did well enough against gunfire, the rounds themselves were destroyed a moment after entering his blazing-hot insides.

Still, the attack hurt, and the tyrant's temper flared. Behind him, thanks to Din's magic, a number of Piranha plants burst through the tile as they grew, but Megadragonbowser didn't give them the chance to nip at his exposed tail. With a wordless bellow, the tyrant reeled back before launching himself forward, retreating into his shell as he did. Like a giant, killer hockey puck, he whirled down middle of the grand throne room, smashing anyone foolish enough to remain in his way. He continued to spin blindly until he struck the hall's great doors, blowing them apart in a shower of timber and coming to an abrupt stop. For a second or two the whole castle seemed to rattle, except for the four super solid-looking black stone pillars holding the ceiling up. Then, the Tyrant popped from his shell once again.

[center][h3]Tora and Poppi[/h3]
[b]Level 3 Tora[/b] - (15/30) EXP and [b]Level 1 Poppi[/b] - (4/10) EXP
[b]Location:[/b] Peach's Castle – Throne Room
[b]Word Count:[/b] 579[/center]

When battle erupted, Tora knew where to go. Whatever her misgivings from before, Poppi followed right on his heels as the Nopon rushed straight through the flame toward Megadragonbowser, shield at the ready. This brought the pair alongside the Courier, though despite his proximity 6 opted not to select Tora for his display of betrayal. While Tora knew that the teamshooting was for the sake of some gambit, like that failed attempt on the bridge, the knowledge did not render 6's lead harmless. “What is druggipon doing!?” he exclaimed, appalled. “How can possibly hurt those supposed to be friends!?”

Full of anger and dismay, he missed the clear signs that Megadragonbowser was just about to turn him and the Courier into a couple of stains. Saying, “Masterpon, pay attention! Banter come after victory,” she reached forward, grabbed Tora in both hands, and blasted off. The pair soared above the tyrant as he careened across the floor; the Courier, no doubt, eluded an unceremonious death as well.

Tora grumbled to himself, but he knew Poppi was right. He needed to focus on what lay ahead of him. If he'd been ready, he reasoned, he might have been able to block the attack and keep his allies from having to spend time dodging they'd otherwise be able to use attacking. Still held aloft like a fuzzy exercise ball, Tora waited for Megadragonbowser to hit the wall and open himself up for attack once again, since it looked pretty impossible to hurt him while withdrawn into his shell. While biding in time, he was surprised to see a couple cages hurl down around him, and looked up. Mario, Ratchet, Gaige's Deathtrap, Hat Kid and Blazermate were working to finish what Bowser's rabbid striker started before the tyrant's fireball put a temporary end to him. Their collective efforts, particularly the surprise laser blast from the little girl's umbrella, sent the cages plunging to the floor one after another, their captives healed enough to survive the impact. Donkey Kong, Banjo & Kazooie, and Fancy Pants were the first freed, leaving the Kid and Spyro still held on high. However, none were fit to fight. If these heroes were to battle alongside the heroes, more recovery and persuasion would be needed—or, to solve the problem outright, a Friend Heart apiece.

“Distraction needed,” Tora remarked, noting that the former captives would be sitting ducks until brought to their senses. At the front of the throne room, Megadragonbowser had come to a stop, so it was time to act. Craning his non-neck as best he could, he called, “Poppi, it showtime! Super big throw!”

The artificial blade nodded. “Roger, roger!” Shifting her grip, she grasped Tora by his free wing and began to spin. After a couple whirls she let him loose and started channeling energy into his drill shield. From the three nodes on its back-outer edge, miniature boosters popped out, and the drill extended from its front. For the first time, the oversized bit began to spin, and its rotation plus the boosters' thrust sent Tora flying even faster. Megadragonbowser lifted his hand to intercept, and the weaponized Nopon struck his hand dead-on, the drill causing sparks to fly as attempted to pierce the tough scales. After a second the lumbering tyrant closed his claws, grasped the edges of the shield, and threw his assailant off. Tora hurtled through the air and bounced when he hit the ground, landing on his feet after the second bounce. After shaking his head to clear the stars from his eyes, Tora reset his shield and prepared to defend.