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

[center][hider=For Bowser]
You have Acquired:
[url=https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/9/94/MushroomMarioKart8.png/1200px-MushroomMarioKart8.png][b]Super Mushroom[/b][/url]
A consumable that increases the size and physical strength, of its consumer by 50%. This effect reverts if the consumer takes a hit[/hider][/center]

Like a feeding frenzy of sharks, the heroes made their enemy pay dearly for his foolishness. Their pesky projectile weapons hammered him, whether with a spread of buckshot to the throat, an explosive mine in his eyes, energy beams, or a volley of automated fire from Blazermate's sentry. Everyone took potshots at the king, even the least offensive among them like Tora, whacking away with his shield, and Hat Kid with her homing attack. Mario executed a hefty ground-pound to crack his adversary's armor, and Spyro's head-bash worsened the damage. The Centurion, with courage and tenacity the wings on his sandals, threw himself upon his reptilian foe and wedged his gladius into the cracks his allies made, again and again. When the tyrant's inner heat started to damage the blade, he ceased his assault, and just in time too—all the pain cut through Megadragonbowser's daze and turned his focus razor-sharp. Still, even roused into action he found rising more difficult than he anticipated, for Din's ice stuck his spikes into the floor and kept him from finding a handhold. 

[color=orange][b]”ENOUGH!”[/b][/color] A fiery orange glow consumed the tyrant, and from beneath him his wings of terror unfolded. Flame surged in every direction, annihilating the ice cast by Din, as he exploded, throwing his foes off him. Sent into the air by the blast, Megadragonbowser flipped onto his feet. So bright were his cruel eyes that looking at them hurt, just like looking into the sun. Searing light poured from his wounds as well; anyone in proximity could feel the heat pouring from them. [color=orange][b]”YOU'VE HAD YOUR FUN, BUT I'M DONE PLAYING GAMES! COME HERE AND DIE!”[/b][/color]

Undeterred, a few of the heroes took his challenge. Bowser, and Donkey Kong atop him, approached from behind, but they were not first to the party. Deathtrap shot straight toward him at Gaige's command, its metal claws primed and ready to tear Megadragonbowser a new one for burning it earlier.  Before it could even draw close enough to strike, the tyrant reached out and snatched Deathtrap in his claw. This time, he brought the machine to his maw, opened wide, and chomped its upper half clean off.

“WHAT!?” Came its master's cry, more furious than scared. Gaige took a step forward, her pistol already up and firing. Megadragonbowser turned about toward his lesser doppelganger and his passenger and spat a special fireball that exploded midair. Somehow, the spiked colossus slid backward across the tile from the force, shooting toward the throne with surprising speed back-first. The Mechromancer tightened her fist and held down the trigger, firing round after round into the indomitable incoming shell. She didn't stop laughing except to say, “You want some!?”

When he struck, he did not even slow down—like a flyswapper destroying a gnat. Megadragonbowser continued to slide until his shell hit his own throne, wrecking its front and bringing him to a step. With a smirk he stepped away from the rubble; nothing he left behind could be remotely recognized as human. Blazerate's turret started pelting him once more, and the tyrant inhaled to release another explosive fireball its way. If it wasn't moved lickety-split, it would be obliterated in one shot, along with anyone within a fifteen foot radius. [color=orange][b]”BAHAHA! WHO'S NEXT?”[/b][/color]

For a moment, all was still. Then, from nowhere in particular, came a cold voice.

[i][b]”A friend extinguished
Her name will be remembered
I'll wipe yours away.[/b][/i]

A barely-distinguishable blur, scarcely there at all, descended from above the tyrant. The wind screamed and lightning sparked as Zer0 descended, landing invisibly upon Megadragonbowser's head. With a guttural cry, he plunged his blade into his enemy's eye, sinking it up to the hilt. Brilliant orange ichor splashed from the wound. Megadragonbowser jolted, then remained stock-still.

Another moment of silence passed.

Then, a horrible sound echoed through the throne room: a deep, grating chuckle. Megadragonbowser laughed, his entire body shaking. Zer0 withdrew his weapon and found his blade completely melted. When he forced himself to look at the tyrant's eye, he found no scar. [color=orange][b]”OH HEY, DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE.”[/b][/color] Before the assassin could come to his senses, the tyrant's claw closed around him. [color=orange][b]”WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE AN ASSASSINATION? HAH! NO, THIS IS HOW YOU KILL SOMEONE!”[/b][/color]

Clutching Zer0 tight, he brought up his other hand and extended a single finger. With terrifying swiftness and nonchalance the deed was done; the tyrant stabbed his claw clean through Zer0's head and then drew a line downward, carving the ninja in half. The others couldn't quite see what happened, only that a moment later, Megadragonbowser tossed two limp, indistinct bits to the side. Once again, despite the numerous wounds leaking ichor even now, the king smiled. The damage done to his face made his grin even more terrible. [color=orange][b]”WHY THE LONG FACES? DON'T YOU KNOW...”[/b][/color] He flapped his wings and jumped into the air, raising his fists above his head. [color=orange][b]”...WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH!?”[/b][/color] He landed with a tremendous tremor, his fists hammering the ground to send a wave through the earth at his enemies.

[center][h3]Tora and Poppi[/h3]
[b]Level 3 Tora[/b] - (19/30) EXP and [b]Level 1 Poppi[/b] - (8/10) EXP
[b]Location:[/b] Peach's Castle – Throne Room
[b]Word Count:[/b] 582[/center]

Having guessed both that and when it would be coming, Tora and Poppi prepared for Megadragonbowser's resurgence and took no damage when he regained his feet in a fiery burst. The shockwave pushed them back a bit, but instead of continuing to retreat to a safe distance, the pair readied themselves to go in once more. Working in tandem, the two embodied their role; they belonged between their friends and their enemies, tirelessly shielding the go-getters from whatever punishment they were due. Yet, even their shared heroic resolve found a might foe in the furious tyrant's blazing eyes. For a moment they shared one thought: could they really stand against such strength? But then again, they knew the answer, and it wasn't 'yes' or 'no'. They would take it whether they could stand against it or not.

Though they leaped to action, neither Tora nor Poppi could save Deathtrap, who practically threw himself to his own death at Gaige's command. When Megadragonbowser started to move, however, they moved to intercept. Tora sprinted in the way of the unstoppable force, lifted his shield, and planted it in the ground before him. Standing out of the way, Poppi sent as much power as she could into her masterpon's weapon, but the link remained blue; her output wasn't enough. Her eyebrows shot up, and her mouth flew open to cry out in alarm. Their action was heroic and full of determination, but it was stupid, and it was time to pay the price.

“Tora!”

“Rigid Shield!”

Koopa shell met shield, and the shield's holder gave way. He tumbled over onto his back, and thanks to his small stature, Megadragonbowser passed right overhead; the Nopon slipped between his legs. Tora breathed a sigh of relief, only to seize up in fear once again. “Oh no!” Rattled but mostly unharmed, he jumped to his feet just in time to see Gaige erased from existence. A moment later Zer0 struck in retaliation, and for a moment it looked as though he'd assassinated the boss. But his efforts proved to be for naught. So hot were Megadragonbowser's insides that his weapon melted before it could do any damage, and the tyrant plucked him from his head. Another second later Zer0 was no more.

The shock made Tora's mouth hang agape. He was no stranger to fighting for his life, and seeing allies like Fan la Norne killed in the heat of battle, but the sight of two companions killed just like that stunned him for a moment. Then, as Megadragonbowser began to taunt, Tora closed his trap. This was what it meant to fight against Galeem. To be a hero. This was the job. Poppi knew it too, and she composed herself as well, extending her arm once again. They would not stop fighting.

The bond between them turned gold, energy radiating from their bodies. Tora lifted his shield once again as Megadragonbowser came crashing down, standing tall as the wave of earth and tile approached. It broke against his shield, which created a conical safe haven for any allies who got behind him. 

As the rubble subsided, Poppi glared at Megadragonbowser, adjusting the zoom of her eyes on his various wounds. “Baddypon insides reddy-hot. But still seems to feel pain, and looks like power flowing out through wounds. More, bigger wounds, especially slashy or puncturey, should worsen loss.”

Tora nodded. “So then, blunt force not viable. Explosions less good too. Will need to get close and use drill.”