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[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2]
[b][color=SpringGreen]wordcount:[/color][/b] 260 (+1 (for Kamek))
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]/// (67/70)
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]///// (65/70) 
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Location:[/color][/b] Edge of the Blue – Open Ocean
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As the fighter and the princess duked it out, Kamek’s toadies snuck around them both and found the sleeping[url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kancolle/images/a/af/Heavy_Cruiser_Ri-Class_Full.png/revision/latest?cb=20180818161048]abyssal ship[/url] who had been knocked out by The End’s tranquilizer dart. The lightly clad ship lay on her back, drifting across the waves and snoring up a storm. The constructs glanced at each other and then carefully grabbed her by her metal parts. With one toady carrying each massive shield gauntlet and the third gripping the metal components grafted into her spine the abyssal ship girl was ungracefully hauled skywards and then back towards the Blue Team’s ship and the toadie's awaiting master.

Kamek himself had swung back to the deck of the Atomos after strafing the princess with pig iron fire. The peeved pig themselves had been set down, because Sakura had once again gotten into close quarters, and who could blame her, she was tearing it up there. Kamek had initially been sure she’d reengaged because the sight of the ‘sinking’ ship girl had drawn her back in to end the battle in a victory rather than a tactical retreat, but as he watched, he saw that she might not be willing to do what needed to be done. Indeed, she even seemed to try and walk away at one point, as if the monster’s wounded and dilapidated state meant that she’d won, only for the ship-girl to attack and draw her back in, the abyssal vessel unwilling, indeed unable, to surrender or retreat.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Stop holding back and finish this,”[/color] the old mage called out to her [color=DeepSkyBlue]”because she won’t surrender! She won’t retreat! She can’t! That is Galeem’s curse!”[/color]

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[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa King[/color][/h2]
[b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 728 (+1)
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 8[/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]///// (75/80)
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] The Dead Zone - Hell-bent City
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[color=FD0000]”Ate, what do you mean ate...”[/color] Bowser asked Blazermate when she suggested that the skull heart had devoured Marie’s spirit. Then, thinking about how the thing’s voice sounded like a multitude of woman all speaking as one, the king thought he got it and demanded that [color=FD0000]”YOU BETTER COUGH HER UP RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME I’LL HAVE PEACH RIP MARIE OUT OF YOU”[/color] or perhaps it would be accurate to say he'd thought of a more optimistic idea of what she meant. Sadly, he wouldn't have the opportunity to find out if his idea would have worked.

The Skullheart wasn’t the only they had on their issue either. Blazermate reminded them that they were on a timer till an antimatter blast ripped the city apart, and she clearly wanted to skip town and let the countdown roll by from a safe distance. The king wasn't inclined to disagree with this plan, as far as he knew there wasn't any reason to risk racing that clock, so her constructing of the teleporter back out of this wretched place and back to safety was more than welcome and got a nod of approval from him.

The third thing on their plate was the arrival of Sephiroth, the dead zone once again proving itself to be full mostly of horrifying monsters and anime pretty boys, though the latest arrival spice things up by being both at the same time. He also made Bowser comment about villainous team ups extra timely, though neither of these facts were immediately clear.

Not that Sephiroth made any attempts to hide them, casually strolling in and among the group without a hint of courtesy or concern about his own safety among strangers to get a look at the skull heart. Even Bowser could read the “evil dangerous creep alert” written all over his actions and words.

[color=FD0000]”WOW, HEY, BACK OFF BUDDY. MAJOR CURSE ON THAT THING YOU DO NOT WANT TO- WAIT LINKLE NO!”[/color] Bowser tried to reach out and take the heart before anyone, especially their new guest could, but disastrously Linkle naively thought she knew what she was doing and snatched it up for herself.

[color=FD0000]”I AM SERIOUS, IT’LL EAT YOU UP, DON’T DO IT!”[/color] Bowser added his booming voice to the others, trying to grab the heart again only for the nimble hylian to dodge away from them all and make her wish. It went about as well as everyone expected.

Exactly as Bowser had predicted, the Skull heart took all of a single heartbeat to stab the hopeful hero in the back, finding a tiny selfish chink in her noble wish and using it as an excuse to inflict its corruption. The king tried to force himself forward all the same, not actually knowing what he’d do if he did manage to reach Linkle, only for another hooded figure to step out of the shadows and freeze Linkle right before the transformation could finish. 

The member of Organization XIII, not that Bowser actually remembered the name of the hooded meddlers he had Kamek for that kind of thing, stole the limelight of the dramatic event, freezing everyone just long enough for him to dictate what they should be doing next before stealing Linkle away into one of his ilks now quintessential portals. Time returned, but the shock of everything that had just happened wasn't something Bowser could unpack in an instant, leaving the newly arrived Sephiroth plenty of time to be a smug snake about what had just occurred.

Bowser ground his teeth, his claws bared, his brow shaking and his eyelid twitching before he turned all of his built up ire about the current situation on Sephiroth. 

[color=FD0000]”WE GET IT. YOU’RE EVIL, YOU DON’T NEED TO LAY IT ON SO THICK! WHO. EVEN. ARE. YOU?”[/color] Bowser  stomped right up to the man and then jabbed a blunt edge of a claw into Setheroth’s chest to punctuate his question before telling him that [color=FD0000]”YOU KNOW WHAT, IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER WHO YOU ARE, IN GALEEM’S WORLD YOUR JUST SOME TWO BIT DIME A DOZEN FAILURE WHO CAN'T EVEN-”[/color] the koopa king faltered [color=FD0000]”Who can’t even… GRAAAAAAAH!”[/color]

Bowser’s rage echoed across the desolate city as he roared at the sky. Then, as was his want, he did something incredibly stupid. He tried to punch Sephiroth right in his beautiful smug face.