[center][img]https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Koopa_Troop_artwork.png/658px-Koopa_Troop_artwork.png[/img] [h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2] [b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 2,151 (+6) [b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 10 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (143/100) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (156/80) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]///(87/90) [b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] Bottomless Sea – Carcass Isle Feat: Rika [/center] Rika watched in slight horror as Link ate the lollipop in the most inhuman way imaginable, namely by biting the head clean off. She was 99% sure that was not how you were supposed to do that, and more importantly, fairly sure that teeth shouldn't snip through the stick material like that either. What in the world of light did that boy normally eat? Bizarre eating habits aside, Link had more than just words to try and convince the princess. He had images of pretty landscapes that Rika had never seen to back up his pitch. Sakura, who had come with her, also had something to say, pouring out her endless well of enthusiasm in support of the notion that life was still worth living despite the horror that had been their former existence. Nothing any of them said helped however. Maybe they just made things worse. New Southern launched into a tirade of bitterness in response to their good natured attempt of cheer. Much of the specifics of her grievances went over Rika’s head but the barbs directed at her specifically, that spiteful sympathy hailing down from on high, hit hard enough that the ship-girl had to take a step back. Her jaw worked, but she found no retort to come out with, even as Sakrua had to be held back from just punching the princess. In the end her friend’s guiding away ended up being more of a drag away, Rika finding it difficult to just walk away from this battle of words. She might not be able to think of a retort now, but it was safe to say that this was going to stick with her till she did, a stubbornness in her mind refusing to be beaten and unable to simply dismiss New Southern’s words like Sakura. Despite her friend's efforts, the poison was already inside her mind. Sakura’s words or reassurance were a comfort, and Rika returned them in kind, but in the end she needed another, more grumpy, fool to help start to set thing’s straight. [hr] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”That… makes sense I suppose…”[/color] Kamek was a touch embarrassed to have the nature of spirit’s exposited to him by peach, but then he snapped his fingers when he thought he had a counterpoint [color=DeepSkyBlue]”ah, but, you see, I did get magic from that Cia woman when I used it on my head”[/color] he flicked a hand and summoned a shadow clone of bowser from a portal [color=DeepSkyBlue]”see? How do you explain that?”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”I mean I guess it just modified the clone spell you already had to be better? It’s not like you can bring back the dead… properly… on your own so there was nothing to latch onto and give you more, ah, knowledge about how to do it better?”[/color] Jr suggested, from where he, having finished stretching, was taking a moment to fiddle with his gear, namly filling up his clown car’s splatter shot’s empty ink tank with goop from his magic paintbrush. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I. Well. Perhaps? But then should this one have not also… well I suppose it was just down to luck of the draw, same as the items,”[/color] Kamek sighed, defeated and before complaining more generally [color=DeepSkyBlue]”It would be nice if Galeem didn't have such a human bias however. Where are all the other universes worth of Koopas? That’s what I want to know.”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Well dad got his first set of cannons from a big turtle zombie, right? So that’s one. Maybe just keep an eye out for more?”[/color] Jr suggested as he slapped shut the splatter shot, which was now filled and ready for mess making once more. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I suppose I must, I suppose I must”[/color] Kamek replied with another sigh. [hr] Of course, it was one thing to find a creature who mostly fit your desired form, it was quite another to go about acquiring that spirit in a justifiable manner. Case and point the short, cute, scaled and robed Tonberries they found after everyone packed up and headed out would have been a fine counter to Kamek’s humanization. Unfortunately for him, attacking them and taking their spirits was somewhat out of the question, what with them being found among the vast congregation they found stretched out along the path towards the boss. While they might have been passive now, most of everyone saw it best to leave them well alone for both safety and ethics reasons. Kamek might be a villain, but he was no Sephiroth, that was for sure, and so murdering the non-aggressive creatures wouldn’t have been on the table anyway, even if Galeem’s influence didn’t all but guarantee them getting absolutely mobbed by the others if they did do anything to provoke them. In theory anyway. Perhaps whatever enthrallment led them to bow down would make them obvious to each other's plight, but it wasn't like anyone was in a rush to test that hypothesis. While Jr and Kamek hovered cautiously over the masses, Rika stuck very, very close to Bowser, as if getting separated even slightly from the troop would result in her bowing down like the other abyssals. It was a blessing that there were none of her specific kind among them. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she’d seen copies of herself among them. The only one who wasn’t freaked out by all this was Bowser, who took one look at it all, said [color=FD0000]”Huh. Weird.”[/color] and then promptly got over the strange sight and asked his mage [color=FD0000]”Hey. Kamek. So do you know all about these plants now then?”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”uhhhh”[/color] [color=FD0000]”Can I eat any of them? Because I could do with a snack after my nap.”[/color] Bowser clarified. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I, ah, suppose the red looking ones”[/color] Kamek pointed at the bloopy fruits [color=DeepSkyBlue]”are probably edible”[/color] he suggested, an assessment mainly based on the fact that the worshipers’ mouths were sometimes smeared with the same cyan juice that several of the group, including Bowser, where trekking along the floor as they trampled the odd fruit on their way through. That and the fact that they looked like fruits, didn’t give off any “don't eat me” warnings as far as he could see and, after being prompted to take a sniff, didn't seem to have mind altering properties or poisonous stench [color=DeepSkyBlue]”hmm, yes. Fairly sure they aren't to blame for these one’s condition. So you could eat them if you feel like you must.”[/color] [color=FD0000]”Great!”[/color] Bowser declared, before picking up the pace a bit to get to the head of the pack so he could get some untrampled ones, causing Rika to shout-whisper “Hey wait up!” and hurry after him. [color=FD0000]”Hmm? Oh, sorry”[/color] Bowser apologized as he stood back up with a cluster of fruits held in one claw, before offering one to her as she rejoined his side, an offer to which she shook her head. She was pretty sure she’d be sick if she tried to eat anything right now. [color=FD0000]”Suit yourself, more for me”[/color] He replied to her dismissal, before plopping the fruit into his mouth chewing it a few times and then swallowing and reporting that it was [color=FD0000]”Pretty good. You sure you don't want one”[/color] “No no I’m fine” Rika insisted [color=FD0000]”You sure? I gotta say, you don't look fine”[/color] he asked, to which Rika responded by generally gesturing to everything they were passing by, but Bowser saw past that and pointed out that [color=FD0000]”I mean even before that you looked a little upset.”[/color] Rika sighed and, then after a moment, explained about New Southern’s whole deal. [color=FD0000]”Huh. Yeah that sounds like some hyperfocusing right there. Real bad way of doing things, focusing on being a bad guy 24/7. I mean I am a bad guy 24/7, but you gotta take breaks and stuff. Even villains gotta go out shopping you know? or go karting. Go karting is great. Remind me to take you some time.”[/color] Bowser said, which got him a little nod but mostly confusion from Rika [color=FD0000]”Look. That whole, made to be destroyed thing? I get that. Coz when it comes down to it, the good guys always win in the end. But you can't let that get to you, you know. You gotta keep on kicking no matter how many of your castles they blow up, because when you give up, that’s when you actually lose for real. Long as you keep fighting you still got a chance to come out on top. You feel me?”[/color] “I. uh. Maybe? I guess I get not wanting to lose?” Rika replied hesitantly. [color=FD0000]”And if you let that mopey crab get to you, that’s losing. So don’t. Live and be happy out of spite if you have to. Spite her and spite that princess you fought too, for having bad working conditions. I’d tell you to go kick her butt for putting you all through that, but hey, you already did!”[/color] “Yeah, I guess did … but all these people are still being controlled by something, even if it’s just making them bow down and eat fruit all day. Shouldn't they be free now?” she asked. [color=FD0000]”I mean the fruit ain't bad”[/color] Bowser told her, the king having already helped himself to seconds at this point. Him pausing his speech to eat while doing so had kind of put a damper on things. Or maybe it was just all part of an attempt at disarming charm. [color=FD0000]”But anyway, pretty sure we know why this is happening. Big boss is that way, so this is all it’s fault and now we’re gonna deal with it”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”And then when we do you’ll be like, Rika: Liberator of the Abyss or something. And won't that be cool?”[/color] Jr chipped in. “Huh. I. yeah that could work.” Rika said, getting a bit onboard with this. The title was a bit pretentious, but they had beaten the leader of the Abyssal fleet, something she had not been expecting to do at all, so maybe there was a future for all of them she hadn't even considered till now “I just hope they won't all be grumpy like New Southern” she added, mostly as an attempt at a joke. [color=FD0000]”You might even say she was crabby, yeah! Yeah? Never mind. Look that's like, ⅓ of ya who were all gloomy and stuff… Or ok ⅔ but Bella came round, right? So uh, those are decent odds that they’ll be fine. Probably”[/color] Bowser said unconvincingly before looking up and asking his advisor [color=FD0000]”Hey Kamek, those are good odds right”[/color] Rather than answer, Kamek pointed out that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Ah, sire, I think we’re here?”[/color] [color=FD0000]”We are? Wait no we aren't, that's just a dirt wall you idiot”[/color] Bowser retorted, before glancing to and fro and seeing they were at a dead end. [color=FD0000]”Hey, what’s the big idea huh?”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Well this was the way they all are looking, and where the hand pointed. So. uh... I guess we get digging?”[/color] Jr suggested, before deploying a large drill from his clown car to do just that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Maybe don't do that. I’d rather not disturb the, ah,”[/color] Kamek vaguely gestured to the enthralled worshipers [color=DeepSkyBlue]”let me do our part. Or. well. Let these ones do it”[/color] he said as he summoned a pair of shadow Bowsers, who quickly got to work with zero concern about getting unnecessarily dirty or tired, big clawed hands scratching through the dirt like mole paws. Soon enough they broke through, out and into the strange otherworldly beach that had no right to be where it was, so far below where they knew sea level was. [color=FD0000]”Eh it’s probably portals, or weird geometry or other dumb magic junk. Who cares. Where’s the Boss”[/color] Bowser said dismissively as he dumped the shrunken airship, which he had been carrying lashed to his back via tentacles, to one side of the entrance and prepared for a tussle. As if stirred by their arrival, the Boss showed itself, via being expelled from the carcass of some great eldritch beast. Most of the metaphor/literal occurrence was lost on the Troop, none of whom had been born or even really knew what that meant. So instead it was just kinda gross. That kinda applied to everything going on here, showing that ignorance really was the best shield against eldritch unearthly horror. At least until it started trying to murder you. Case and point, while the rest of the troop fanned out to one side, heading towards the water, and using the sobbing as an opportunity to prepare and position themselves Bowser matched right down the beach towards the thing (which he was somewhat insulted was considered to be on the same tier as him and the ender dragon) to go tap it on the shoulder and ask [color=FD0000]”HEY, ARE WE DOING THIS OR WHAT?”[/color] if no-one stopped him and suggested an even slightly more intelligent idea of how to go about this.