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While on his off-day around a week after Shybert had narrated his tale of Sarasaland, Roy went to check up on Koopin and James at their house hearing the sounds of a groggy raptor one mild morning.

"I don' wanniiiiit."

"You have to put it on when you're outside James."

"Uuuugh it smells."

"That's the disinfectant, come on we can't be late."

"They take like freakin' ages to see you anyway!"

"Well it'll be their fault and not ours, now come on."

"Mmmmmmnnnngh."

He gently knocked on the door when there was a lull in conversation as Koopin opened the door.

"OH, morning Roy, we're just heading down to the hospital to get James his shots."

"Awwww no he got rabies again?"

"Fuck youuuu!" shouted James from inside.

"You doin' alright man?!"

"Noooo!"

"He's had a small relapse," said Koopin bashfully, "poor raptor just can't take the booboos."

"Awhawhawwww...alrigh', mind if ah join you? Ah wanna ask you sumthin' anyways."

"Oh, sure let's all go! Charlie come on, time for walkies!"

"Waaaaah walksh with daddiesh yay!"

James soon stumbled out of the house wearing a jacket and a surgical facemask to cover his snout, followed by Charlie whom Koopin grabbed his chain like a lead as they walked down towards Toad Town. The utahraptor did his best not to smirk despite warning eyes slitting towards him.

"S'not funny."

"Ah know, ahm not laughin' here!"

"You want to. Don't."

"So Koopin said you had a bit of a relapse?"

"It was just dizziness, god Koopin I'm not a baby."

"Right now you're as weak as one," said Koopin, "we have to take precautions, that's why we need to get you booster shots, you're not used to diseases in my world."

"Hope you not afraid of needles," asked Roy.

"Seriously?" replied James. "You're asking me that?"

"Just checkin'. Ah can hold your hand if you want, don't wan' you to get scared."

"Only thing I'm scared of is missing my shows."

"I taped them don't worry," said Koopin.

James soon was admitted to the hospital, situated in the north of Toad Town not too far from the royal castle's entrance to the point they could see the grand estate from the hospital windows. Smooth white, pink and green in soothing colours like fresh mint and bubblegum with comfortable chairs and sofas, the raptor was taken through to the immunology ward with instructions given to Koopin that it would take a good two hours to monitor his progress. With that in mind, Koopin and Roy took Charlie off to the nearby park to busy themselves as the little black chomp went dashing back and forth to chase sticks his uncle and daddy threw him.

"You know Shybert wuz just tellin' me the other day about you two goin' to Sarasaland."

"Ohh?"

"Yeah, it wuz um...after Charlie uh...disappeared?"

"Oh. Oh yeah that...that was a real rough time."

"Whut happened?"

"You really wanna know? I mean it-"

"Sure, ah wanna know. Shybert told me sumthin' happened and uh, hope you don't mind me asking you."

"Ohhh he...told you about the KIB?"

"Your first meeting with them yes, but me an' FG already know about 'em so-"

"I figured, that's why I told Shybert it's okay to tell you two."

"Hah, nice, that wuz good thinkin'."

"Mmhmm. So, you really wanna know what I'd been up to?"

"Well now that ahm curious about it yeah, ah mean ah don't wanna just hear maybe half thuh story man come on, spill. You also never told me about your uh DJ days, there's a lot ah wanna know about you."

"Like what?"

"Like how a tour guide gets involved with criminals lahk D-Mob an' his cronies, for starters."

"Heh...alright then I'll tell you, we got time so let's see...how much did Shybert tell you?"

"Just you went to Sarasaland and talked with Kolorado about things, saying sumthin' about puttin' on a new hat."

"Ohohhh yeah, I know what that means. Alright, here it goes. I got back after my trip, it was a long two weeks, almost three of long walks, big excursions out towards all the four kingdoms, did some diplomatic stuff, some good shopping, tried to relax despite all that was going in my head about Charlie. When I came back, I wanted to get a grip on my own identity, needing something to vent more properly. Like before I went on this trip, I was just making music to make me feel better, but I realised it soon wasn't enough. I had to invent a whole new identity, beyond just the music, someone I could be without worrying what other people would think of me. Someone that wasn't Koopin."

---

The Rising Fallen Star

Chapter 5: Koopa-Bloopa

"Are you ready dear?"

"Yep, got it all set up?"

"I'm ready when you are."

"...hit it."

A gentle piano melody danced with a simple beat of synth, as four hands playing side by side along two different keyboards. The classical keys took centre stage at first, ringing out their soft cries from the heart as the dub beat followed on in its ivory shadow. A chirruping flute mimicked it slightly, but slowly the piano faded as the techno deck took over, raising its pitch to a bubbling pragmatic crescendo, the first zenith of their play. Faster and higher, hammering to a T until the dubstep dipped and so the piano followed, hand in hand together in slow sombre symphony. Klair continued the song flawlessly, her left hand trapped within a constant rhythm between six keys back and forth, her right hand occasionally crying out with piercing minor pitch. In turn Koopin sent out a shimmering wave of electronic fizz, jutting beneath the piano's voice like a bassline accompaniment. All throughout the song there was a beating pulse, a heartbeat at a constant pace as mother and son played together. Klair closed her eyes, her fingers playing on with instinctive precision whilst Koopin bowed his head thinking about those he had lost. One who cast himself across the stars wandering eternal for redemption, and the other who was innocent. The sinner who strived to find the secret to his sanity, a chance to purify himself of his sins collected from those wicked blades, and the sacred pure-hearted beast whose love was unconditional, forever trying to find his way back home from some dark forsaken corner of the world trapped by malevolent spirits. It was a soulful piece, summing up their feelings of longful yearning, empty houses and warm unwelcome sheets upon beds left half-full. Koopin had written the undertone of the song, the shuddering tremors and reverberations that slithered through the performance until Klair gave it a heart, a soul she unlocked from her keys as they played together in perfect harmony.

She understood. That much he knew, for when he showed her the first pieces of it she started to connect things together and allowed his grief in mourning to flow like a river. A slow waltzing torment as his breath became stifled, laboured, almost plaintive. But Klair was calm, composed and eloquent despite her emotional timbre, the range of her keys fluttering back and forth in 6/8 time signature. A more guilty part of her somewhat enjoyed the fact that this strange circumstance had not only brought the two closer together, but also encouraged Koopin to pursue some artistic venture particularly along the lines of music. Something she understood, something she would know how to solve and soothe his weary heart. The song then ended, the beat faded away as her piano finished upon three notes repeated twice as she leaned back towards her son. He pushed stop on the recorder between them as she asked:

"So, how was that dear?"

"...that was perfect. Thank you."

"Hmhmhm, playing that for a show I hope you give me credit."

"Uh yeah, um do you want me to use your real name or some kind of...internet name?"

"Oh you can say it's me, don't you worry. I just happened to meet a charming young DJ who was a great admirer of my work, nothing else."

The sweet pianist smiled wholeheartedly as Koopin walked over to hug her, the two squeezing tightly before a knock at the door came.

"Who is it?"

"H-helloooo, it's um Shybert, Bobunov?"

"OH, um...oh-kayyy be right there!"

Koopin quickly stuffed his synthesiser deck into his backpack whilst Klair went to the door slowly to buy him some time, hiding his DJ clothing along with it into the closet.

"Hellooooo there mister Bobunov, how are you?"

"Oh, bearing hwoh. I just wanted to come and see if Koopin was alright."

"Oh he's here, Koopin!"

Sliding out from the living room entrance he waved sheepishly at the shy guy who wore a small backpack himself.

"Heeeey there, what's up?"

"WELL, I don't want to be a fussy guy but I am simply having QUITE some trouble navigating this town and I was hoping you might help me find what I'm looking for."

"What's wrong?"

"I need new printer parts, the ruddy thing at our office is on the fritz and I need some DY243 dampers along with some ink pumps."

"You can't get those in Toad Town?"

"No, would you believe it. Traipsing across the flippin' desert just to reach the nearest branch of the printer brand, which just so happens to be here! I have a right mind to complain, you'd think the electronics store with all the newfangled 3DS and whatnot would have a simple part for a printer but no, evidently that's just a bit TOO much for our society today to even have the most basic amenities, hwoh! ...sorry, you don't need to hear me moaning about the do-long-day."

"Heheh, it's fine. Hey why don't I help you find that place, mom you wanna join us?"

"I'd love to dear," said Klair, "but I really need to get on with making lunch. You're free to join us too mister Bobunov."

"Oh, really?" asked Shybert. "Hwell, that's um...very kind of you thank you I am rather peckish. I would love to, thank you Mrs. Kennidon."

"Hmhmhm please call me Klair. Alright I'll see you later then Koopin."

"Alright see you mom."

The two boys headed out into the town as Koopin tried to remember where the printer shop was, winding his way through the marketplace keeping a slow pace for Shybert to keep up with him. The balmy desert sun kept a constant pressure of heat that the shy guy was not used to, drinking from his bottle whilst occasionally writing down notes in his daily planner, with a pencil topped by a small turnip-shaped rubber.

"You really putting that planner to good use," said Koopin gladly.

"Oh yes, it's quite a good replacement for my old one, looks very exotic. Makes me stand out during the board meetings hwoh. Phew...goodness me, I don't know how you can stand this heat, it's making me feel like I'm wearing a frying pan hwohoh."

"You get used to it, after a long nineteen years growing up in this town."

"I've only been here the once or twice, didn't you once tell me your father owns a grocery here?"

"Yeah it's just up there. Need any vegetables maybe?"

"Oh no, not right now thanks."

"What does your family do?"

Shybert did not respond as his scribbling slowed down. He almost tripped when coming to a stop as Koopin looked down on him curiously.

"....hmm OH, sorry I was just trying to remember something what was that Koopin?"

"I asked what your family do."

"OH, my uncle's retired now, he used to be an accountant actually, taught me everything I know."

"Awww that's neat. What about your mom and dad?"

"You know I WOULD like to see your family grocery actually, I'm quite partial to a bit of turnip myself as you can see, hehehoh."

He wiggled his pencil cutely as Koopin realised what he was doing, deciding not to push further on it as he took Shybert down to the Kennidon grocery store. The rows upon rows of fresh vegetables from turnips to pumpkins to cucumbers to even the strange Sarasalese produce was being proudly displayed, with Shelldon in the midst of it all like a jungle explorer.

"Hey dad."

"Oh, hello son," said Kennidon senior, "need something?"

"No I was um...showing my friend the family store, this is Shybert, he's my supervisor at work."

"Very nice to meet you sir," said Bobunov, "those are some smashing turnips you've got there."

"Thank you," replied Shelldon, "were you looking for something?"

"Ummmm rather just browsing. I would also like to ask what sort of growing conditions you put your vegetables in, that is if you grow any yourself?"

"I do actually. For turnips you want a place with full sun, soil well-drained and loose at a depth of about fourteen inches approximately, then around two to four inches of compost before you plant the seeds but not more than half an inch of soil over them."

"Oh, that's wonderful, I always think I'm putting too much soil over them I'll have to jot that down. I also have some friends who might appreciate some vegetables for future arrangements, do you perhaps have a business card?"

"We have, certainly."

The koopa handed over a spare business card from a small deck beneath the counter which Shybert pocketed as Koopin decided to ask:

"Hey dad, you know that old printing shop?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember where that is exactly? We need some printer parts for the office."

"Ah, yes you just head down the street, take the second left into Potters' Lane and at the very end you'll find it."

"Okay thanks. See you at lunch okay dad?"

"I will, see you soon."

Soon Koopin and Shybert found the printer's shop as expected at the end of Potters' Lane getting the parts that Shybert needed. He carefully wrapped them before putting into his bag as they decided to kill some time with a little sightseeing until lunch. Wandering through the smaller bazaars along the back streets gave a curious sight for plenty of odd little knick-knacks as the supervisor asked:

"Sooooo have you heard any hot new tunes lately?"

"Uhhh just some of the usual ones, like uhhh Koopa-Bloopa?"

"Ohhh yes he's doing QUITE well for a new starter!"

"What do you uh, like about him?"

"I really like his subtle aggressiveness, it's not ferocious but it's...threatening, in a subtle way."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Oh yes certainly! Least I think so, actually do you know if he's playing anywhere soon?"

"Not yet, but I can always look up, I subscribe to him so I always get the latest info."

"I should do that too! Booris said he was quite the life of the party down at Boo's Mansion."

"Yeah I was there! It was pretty good but I wish they let Charlie in with me so I coul-...well......actually...I'm not sure if..."

Memories of that last day came hitting hard once again.

"If he, even would have liked that...sorta music."

"I see. Are you alright Koopin?"

"Mmm?"

"Just that, if you ever worry about something you can always tell me hwoh."

"I...I know Shybert. Thanks. I'm just trying to keep myself busy until...until news comes back."

"That's the best thing you can do. Charlie will come back, I know he will."

"You think so?"

"Oh yes, the few times I came to your house he clearly loves you, absolutely besotted! People who love you always...come back to you someday. If they love you."

His hands gently grasped his tie as Koopin felt an ache throb beneath his mask. He placed a hand around his red-suited shoulders.

"I'm sorry about Yorick. You deserve better than him."

"N-no. I wasn't...thinking about him, I was-...never mind you don't want to hear about me, you've got plenty of problems to worry about."

"Doesn't mean I can't listen. I know you really liked him, and the way he treated you without even caring was just awful."

"W-well, nobody forced him to like me. I don't ask people to like me Koopin, I'm a supervisor, it's not my job to be liked. It's my job to make people likeable, to make the company likeable, I just wish he SAID something. Would that have been too much to ask? To just tell me 'no thanks I'm not really friends with you', instead of just...making me think I was, by suffering in silence?"

He slumped heavily with a deep sigh and arms sagging forwards.

"Can I ask you something? As a favour."

"S-sure."

"If you ever don't want to be friends with me...just tell me, please."

"Wh-what? Why would I-"

"No, please. I'm sick of this politeness that people have to muster because they can't tolerate me, but don't have the courage to say it to my face. I'm not a child, he thinks he could just WALK OUT on me without at least telling me what he felt, instead of just wasting my time, did he think it was funny to make a fool out of me?! For what, that didn't make either of us feel better!"

"I agree, he should have just told you that he never clicked, not like we do."

"You are being honest...aren't you Koopin?"

"Of course I am!"

"Because I don't want you to be another Yorick. I want you to be honest with me, I'm not asking as your supervisor, I'm asking as someone who believes that he's your friend."

"You are my friend! We get along great, I love how passionate you are about electronic music, you really opened my eyes to these really old styles I never heard of. That and you keep me distracted away from things like Charlie and James so trust me you have given me a lot more than you think."

"Really?" asked Shybert.

"Yeah!" added Koopin. "Like you make me feel more confident about myself, and what I can do, my talents and really inspiring me to create-I-i mean, in, the, workplace that is."

"Well, you are a very talented worker, in fact dare I say you're probably the most competent worker in the entire office, at least concerning Room 5B."

"R-r-right. Listen, I know...Yorick really knocked you down but I am here and trust me, I will completely be honest with you about anything that happens between us. Alright?"

"...right. That's all I ask for, complete honesty. Mot so hard is it? I only ask so I don't have to feel like......a fool the third time."

"Wait...third?"

"U-UH I mean, you know, that old saying, 'fool me once, shame on you' that sort of thing, heh...hehoh."

"Right. Well, we best get back, don't wanna miss our lunch."

"Yes quite, lead the way Koopin!"

Lunch at the Kennidons was a quiet affair, with Shelldon and Shybert talking mainly about business projections and accounting techniques whilst Klair and Koopin debated on music. Shybert also enjoyed the musical discussion despite not being especially fluent in classical works which Klair decided to instantly rectify with listings of famous musicians. In turn Shybert lauded his favourites from the old days of electronic whilst Koopin would turn to his father to break down the statistics of the current wrestling season. It would be at least an hour after starting lunch that Shybert would take his leave, whilst Koopin made the excuse of staying behind to help his mother in order to sneak back into Toad Town with his new identity intact. Feeling Shybert's loneliness and fearful apprehensions gave him new ideas for future songs, building a concept in his head that became marred by his guilt of dishonesty towards his friend for not telling him everything. He would plan to tell him one day who Koopa-Bloopa really was, but his friendship to Shybert was genuine. He hoped Shybert believed that at least.

The moment he put on that strange brown neckerchief, masking his beak as the fierce-looking blooper scowled against the world, Koopin would disappear for the night remaining. He stared at himself in the mirror, watching his expression change by force as his gentle blue eyes turned vicious. A different kind of strength was needed, not the firm-hearted determination he had always exhibited, that people knew him for. But an almost physical force of presence, one that intimidated people. It was hard to believe he could intimidate anyone, but he willed himself to as he spoke words he would never say in his life again. Not to anyone, but his reflection.

"...who...the f-fuh...nnngh. Who...are you lookin-agh...who the f-f-fuck are you looking at?"

That wasn't good, he had to not flinch. He needed to make others flinch, not himself.

"Who...the f-fuck are you looking at?!"

His throat wobbled. He steeled his nerve and clenched his fists.

"WHO...the FUCK are you looking at?!"

Shaking less, he started to relax his fists and shouted with one breath:

"THE FUCK YOU LOOKING AT, HUH?! YEAH you, I'm talking to you! You little punk, you know who I am?! I'm gonna MAKE you listen to what I say or else I'll bury your ears in the FUCKING sea!"

And there it was. That brief look of aggression he had once seen in James, that forceful presence which bellowed out underneath his mask causing the blooper to flap wildly in ferocity. He smiled gladly as he smacked his fist into his hand. Right after he washed his tongue with some koopa tea to calm him down feeling awful for what he said to his reflection.

"Alright. Let's do this."

Every time he walked up to the DJ's podium, watching over the crowd of excited young creatures ready to get down and dance the night away, Koopa-Bloopa came free on his own. The first few nights he started, he was cool and silent to not betray his panicky emotions.

It's just another tour, he would think to himself, just another pack of tourists who need to be educated. Just another mob who need to learn how to step it up.

And so he did. He would send out his songs in various mixing ebbs and flows churning into one long melody through careful blending of beginnings and endings, making certain that nobody ever knew when one song finished and the next one would start. He would become a siren, trapping the people in technicolor lights and pumping synthetic waves that shrieked fiercely across the floor as he danced the night away with them. He would forget everything about himself, what he was, who he loved, all in those precious long moments that became like a dream to him. A dream he created for himself to let Koopin sleep peacefully. No monsters, no nightmares he would tolerate with his new aggressive persona.

He studied the people around him, keeping his eyes and ears open for their vices, their problems, wanting to steal their negative energy and transfer it into himself, to vent outwards as his songs of rage and vexation. Soon everyone in his office was listening to Koopa-Bloopa, finding a song that somehow fit their needs and torments by what appeared to be some strange coincidence, of needful symphonies and subconscious resonations. Slow but steady he built a reputation, reading through various pages of old musical styles and instruments as he started building new designs. His synthesiser deck remained always at the centre, but sometimes he needed something extra, so he bought a music programming software on his 3DS, as well as recruiting his mother's talents for that extra authentic taste from a pure traditional instrument. He studied music. He became music or at least tried to.

"I wasn't famous by a long shot," said Koopin humbly, "but I was certainly making a name for myself in the underground scene as an up-and-comer. People would send me requests, sometimes emailing me to do a gig here and there especially because I was cheap, and it went on for three years just slowly going up and up and getting some sort of street cred which was real rad."

"Wha-...three years?!" stammered Roy. "Damn that's pretty good, whut made you stop?"

"James returning back to me. I only did this just to keep myself busy, plus with Charlie gone as well I had double reason to keep occupied and away from my house as often as possible."

"...wait...Charlie wuz missin' for three...years?"

"Well, technically yes."

"...man. Ahm so sorry."

Roy gently put his arm around Koopin to pull him against his waist.

"That musta been sum real hell for you."

"Yeah. But it's okay now, we got him back, you already know there's a happy ending so don't get too upset about it. Anyways, the first two years I worked myself up towards being a DJ anyone could hire, long as they want the music and it fit the right situation. It wasn't about the money for me, I had my job for that, so it was pretty easy to hire me...for the right situation."

"Whut kinda situation?" asked Roy.

"Well," stated Koopin, "not some kid's party for starters or some old people's home, but I did once do a boo mitzvah which is totally different because that's like a proper big event, I mean boos LOVE some good techno and they really enjoyed me being there."

"Wuz that thuh party when...Charlie disappeared?"

"No, no that was just some party. They invited me back afterwards, they were pretty generous especially when they gave me my first gig, that was when Charlie got taken."

"Ahhh righ'...so when did Shybert find out about you, ah mean ah assume only your parents knew at thuh start."

"We'll get to that but, this was just the start, building up this new identity for myself to try and become more uh...controlled about my emotions."

"By venting them out in music?"

"Not just that, but also to be more confident in myself, stand up more. That sort of thing."

"And did it work?"

"Well, it did! I was able to work independent, some people approached me wanting to be my agent to manage my time and work out schedules and even one time I got an offer to be part of a record label! I never took it cuz I knew that publicity wasn't going to work out with me, and I told all of them that 'thanks but no thanks, I'm my own koopa'. I've even had guys and girls propose to me wanting to be my date but I turned them all down too. Koopa-Bloopa don't dance with anybody except for music. Plus it'd get complicated, so I had to apart from everyone. That suit me fine."

"So you managed yourself, lahk gigs an' such?"

"Yep, completely by myself which was pretty easy using my Mailbox 3DS and constant feedback from my Bandkoop. But I only used my 3DS when I was Koopa-Bloopa, not for anything else. Whereas I, that is myself, was just using the same old TGA pager that everybody else got."

"So whut you do with thuh money you got?"

"Paid off the mortgage, bought food, then I got presents for my parents cuz I knew they'd never tell anybody. Nothing extravagant because that raises flags."

"Righ' righ', so you did all this for lahk two years until whut?"

"The first two years there was nothing from Kammy, or Gadd about anything. Sometimes they would give me check-ins asking how I was, how I was coping...they had this big hammer guy called fifty-seven, someone who essentially acted like my bodyguard but I almost never see him. It's like he was hiding or maybe spying on me to make sure I was okay."

"He musta known about your DJ thing."

"Yeah but he wouldn't tell anyone, I mean it'd be stupid for a KIB agent to go blabbing stuff now wouldn't it?"

"Heheh, righ'. So whut happened after two years?"

"...well...the news came."

"We've found the anomaly."

Koopin had dreamt hearing this sentence so many times in his sleep he almost did not acknowledge it. Then he realised he wasn't sleeping as he shot up to his feet staring across the underground laboratory where Kammy and Gadd stood next to his bewildering machinery.

"Wh-wh-wh-what?"

"The anomaly," replied Kammy, "it has stabilised itself in an old mansion in the northwest section of the Mushroom Kingdom. The former home of Lord Nohboo-Nahga."

"Who?"

"I can answer that!"

Fluttering from the side of the room was Boona, proudly smiling from his burnt face.

"I did a report on him back in school, he was an ancient warlord who tried to conquer the Koopa Kingdom hundreds of years ago!"

"A terrifying conquest, and it was in that time that our kind first learnt how to wield magic as a result to combat him."

"His mansion's still standing?" asked Koopin. "I thought it was laid to ruins?"

"It was, and so remains such which is why I find it odd that our chompnapping fiend has made its home within it."

"So...wh-what are we gonna, is...i-is Charlie okay?!"

"We have detected his presence within the zone and he appears to be unharmed."

"Oh...ohhh thank...goodness."

Koopin sat back down onto his seat feeling shock settle in to his body in cautious acceptance. He had been trying not to forget, while at the same time trying not to obsess over where Charlie could have gone but hearing the first sign of good news in what felt like an eternity was near-mentally exhausting. 57 stood beside him with a firm meaty hand on his shoulder asking:

"Are you okay, Koopin?"

"Yeah...I-i-i'm fine. I just...hohhh stars I-i I just want Charlie back I can't believe-are you sure?!"

"Yes we are certain," said Kammy, "we shall mobilise a team and bring you with us."

"Let me come too!" cried Boona. "I...I know about Nohboo-Nahga's home and history, I could help you scout the place! Plus I...I-i-i mean I can sense spirits better than any of you guys, I mean I am one myself!"

"Ah yes," said Gadd chiming in, "your species are sensitive to the wrought emotions of spirits after all."

"Right!"

"Hmmm," murmured Kammy, "do you think that's wise little dear? We are chasing a most dangerous creature and you are a civilian."

"Yeah but I-...I want to help. I know everything about Nohboo-Nahga, I studied him, I-i-i even made him my specialist subject during quiz night with not a single pass!"

"Hmhmhmhm...well...so long as you do EXACTLY what I say, and because you already signed the official secrets act, you may come with us."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Right! Well then, I shall prep our ship, all of you stay here until I return."

"Yes your majesty," murmured E. Gadd.

"WHAT was that?!"

"Just wishing you luck on your inevitable promotion my dear."

"Don't act the goat with me, Elvin, you shall enjoy the front SEAT of your great folly so help me Bowser."

With a huff she walked out as several of her suited guards followed her, whilst Gadd walked off simply rolling his eyes.

"I'm going to lie down, feel a most strange headache come from this constant shrill in my ear all of a sudden. Boona, could you categorise my reports for me?"

"Yes sir professor Gadd!"

"Good lad, thank you! Well, wake me up when the old hag gets back then, fwahaha."

The professor went off to his bedroom as Koopin looked over towards Boona carefully compiling reports into a shelf nearby. Only half the size of an average boo, he flickered his tail like a candlelit flame as the koopa asked:

"Are you sure you want to come with us Boona?"

"Totally! I mean...I kinda have to, being Gadd's assistant now and all."

"Wait...you are?! I thought you were just delivering some books I didn't realise you were his assistant!"

"Yeah! What you been coming back and forth the past two years and you never noticed?!"

"Wh-when?! You never said anything at the party."

"Well nooo, course not, the other boos HATE Gadd remember they got a restraining order on him? But that only keeps him away from the mansion, doesn't stop me visiting him...unofficially."

"Sooooo why'd you become his assistant?"

"Cuz we were both friends of James...we kinda talked about things and, after we both owe a lot to James back in Himuro Mansion I guess we just sorta clicked! I mean he's not such a bad guy, just enthusiastic!"

"Uhh, yeah," mumbled Koopin. "I'll take your word for it so-"

"S-sorry," stammered the boo. "But like I said, we were talking about James and he showed me some neat stuff and I wanted to help so he said sure! That was about at least two-and-a-half years ago."

"Ahhh. Right, well uh...long as you two are having fun I guess. You know, James never told me what he did or how he became your friend."

"Well...see this?"

Boona pointed to the darkened burn over half his face.

"He beat up the guy that did this to me. Someone very dangerous, ghost from another world with this WICKED lantern spewing out flames that were...really......a-a-anyways Gadd told me that James got all of his data and prototype machine back from Himuro Mansion."

"What's this mansion, from another world?"

"Yeah. It's just some old abandoned place, nobody inhabits it anymore so spirits always come through like a training ground. Least it was for me when I started out my Home Booconomics. I learnt some pretty neat tricks, I got one I call 'the blind lady', wanna see?!"

"N-no that's...fine thanks, wanna save up your strength for the big trip."

"Heh, you're right. Listen, I'll do everything I can to help okay? I got your back."

"Thanks...Boona."

The little boo smiled proudly as they waited for Kammy to return with ship preparations complete. Half of the KIB regiment stayed at the professor's lab to keep track on their readings, whilst the other half joined to their destination. The professor himself had brought along a communications set, as well as several weapons modified to face spirits pertaining to various elements of nature. The mansion was unexpectedly fearsome for everyone who approached.

"Well," said Gadd, "that's...different."

The towering mansion rose like a strange pagoda of red and green twisting colours, the structure spiralling like the helix of DNA to contort bizarrely at its base, at the middle and at the very top in ways that no architect could ever possibly create. The sky was dark with bitterest burnt shades, as clouds the colour of rotting flesh gently skimmed over the seamless barren plains that the tower stood in. Koopin was reminded instantly of the anatomy chart he had seen in doctor's offices detailing the twisting muscles inside his arm, watching the tower gently breathe with a creaking sinuous sound that made his skin crawl.

"This...th-this isn't right," mumbled Boona. "The tower was destroyed m-many years ago!"

"Indeed," said Kammy softly. "This building is much too inordinate to have been left like this, the spectre must have rebuilt it. But for what purpose?"

"Everybody needs a home, even the ones that are dead."

"That is true. Now, let's see."

The great magikoopa stepped forwards to reach the giant blood-red dual set of doors which had a strange murmuring aura upon it. A deep black-and-white miasma constantly shifting across the door like liquid static, her hand reached out to feel a vicious repulse pulling her back, like muscular spasms from an electric shock. But this startling pain came much deeper from inside, a soul-rending pain that caused her to shudder as the guards rushed to her aid to pick her up softly. The magikoopa simply brushed her cloak and fixed her spectacles with unwavering finger trying not to acknowledge what felt like a stroke quivering in every muscle of her fibre.

"Well...n-nnnngh this door is locked...and it's much too powerful for me to take."

"What's this?!" replied Gadd mockingly. "Could it be that the grand vizier of Bowser's kingdom has finally met her match?! OH, to think you could have earned more use as a locksmith!"

"Still your tongue you blithering catheter, I am FAR more versed in magic than you ever will be!"

"I don't NEED magic, I have SCIENCE!"

"You know what a scientist is?! An alchemist without any TALENT!"

"How do we break this down then?!" asked Koopin distracting them. "We can't just turn back, not when we're so close after two damn years!"

"Well...let's see."

The aged sorceress carefully put her hand in front of the door a good distance away from touching it, mentally summoning gentle ball of light from her fingers as she scanned the aura itself. Flickering spirals whirled round the door giving her a readout inside her head as she nodded with understanding.

"This barrier has a resonance that requires someone much more versed in dark magic than me."

"W-wait...more than you? I thought you knew every kind of magic!"

"I do. I am a jill of all trades but master of few. This barrier is much too complicated in its dark intricacies for me to understand it."

"But...you're one of the king's highest mages!"

"Let me put it this way. Imagine this is a lock, and I have many lockpicks. But every lock in the world is different, and whilst I can unlock eighty-seven percent of all the locks that are out there, there is a specialised thirteen percent that requires someone who understands that ONE specific lock type. I know dark magic Koopin, but not enough to understand how to break down this barrier, this requires someone so immersed within darkness they cannot do anything else BUT open this lock!"

"I...I'm surprised you don't-"

"It is VERY difficult to learn even one form of magic competently. To be a master of simply one art, you must comprehend every single facet of that art without forgetting a single step, every burst of magic from my fingertips is like reciting an entire thesis in my mind! Fire, wind, gravity, those are my masters. Dark magic is but simply one of my moderates, we have to bring someone who understands it to such a fine art that they can take this barrier apart at the seams!"

"And may I ask why?" said Gadd simpering with a grin. "After all, you are supposedly one of the king's greatest sorcerers."

"More than YOU ever will be. And the reason I am not the head of dark magic studies is because we already have such in our Necromancy division."

"Woah woah woah wait wait h-hold up!"

Koopin looked at Roy curiously as he stuttered:

"Wh-whut...did you just say necromancy?! You tellin' me thuh king of thuh koopas summons ZOMBIES?!"

"Well yeah," said Koopin nonchalant, "they got dry bones and bone goombas in his army also keep your voice down please, we're in a public place"

"WHUH-...you...are you serious righ' now?! We talkin' about thuh undead, in his castle?!"

"Yes."

"Bu-thuh-how, Koopin this...that's gotta violate a law or sumthin'!"

"Nope, it's clearly stated when you sign up to be part of his army and there's a whole section on it during the enlistment such as 'do you wish to donate your body and soul to the king as part of his army even after death?'. It's like...donating your body to science or being an organ donor!"

"Thuh hell it is, donatin' your body is one thing but this is crazy, you can't own sumbody's soul!"

"Well that's how it works in our world, I mean it's not like they're unwilling, every dry bone and bone goomba consented to sign their body and soul to the king, none of them are forced. If you don't wanna be part of his army after death, you can always say no, I mean you can call Bowser a lot of things but he always cares about his troops, so long as they give him a hundred-and-ten-percent."

"Um...o-okay, just kinda odd that...you guys don't seem to think that death is sum great unknown darkness."

"Well, there IS an afterlife. I mean obviously, once we die our spirits just pass over into the next world. I bet even you and James once we all get really old and pass on your souls will pass on too, after all you're part of our world now."

"That...is...kinda reassuring, but whut about boos?"

"THAT is kinda complicated and I don't want to get sidetracked so let's get back to the story."

"You're not involved in that group?" asked Boona.

"No," said Kammy, "I'm assigned only to the Offensive Magic division as well as scouting on the field. We'll need one of our necromancers to come round and possibly...ohhh, dear I was hoping not to have any of them involved."

"Why?"

"Because this group of mine here technically does not exist, in fact nobody at the castle even knows about us and I want to keep it that way."

"You don't have anybody in your group? I mean come on all these guys and girls at least ONE of them must know-"

"We specialise in the abnormalities of time and space, not the boundary between life and death! Plus I do so hate being with the necromancers, they have such cold clammy hands just-UGH!"

"I know someone."

They all turned towards Koopin curiously as a slow realisation had come to him.

"I...I know someone who might be able to help."

"Really? Who, is it someone from the castle?!"

"No. Someone else. Someone who...knows all about this kinda thing."

"An independent necromancer?! Huh...first an interdimensional traveller and now this, you are most certainly making yourself a very odd clique of associates mister Kennidon!"

"We're not...friends, more like acquaintances. But I think I can convince them to come if I just explain this to them, if...that's okay. It might be a while until I can get some time off to head to Rogueport so I...hope that's okay."

"The spirit is not leaving this place, we shall have it monitored constantly until you can bring your friend so we can dare to venture this. Fifty-seven, please escort mister Kennidon and explain to his friend the situation, you have authority."

"Yes ma'am, thank you."

A week after their failed visit to the strange tower, Koopin found himself stepping onto the docks at Rogueport, hoisting his backpack behind him with his brown facial rage covering his beak. The city remained as shabby as always with the gentrified west side of the city desperately urging to thrive with gardens and the dominating Pianta Parlour that loomed over everything like a golden palm tree. To the east was urban decay, a rotting landscape of brown shades like the hills of a barren farm. The blooper on his cloth glared at everyone that passed him, mirroring his expression as he strutted up towards the central square with its noose and gallows straight in the middle of the plaza. It was a strange thing to see for all newcomers to Rogueport, speaking of dark secrets and a brazen acceptance of "live fast, die young". At least that's what Koopa-Bloopa saw swaying in the breeze of the dire ocean as he headed towards the square. But then he heard something going on towards the west, behind a wall crack wide enough for him to slip through into the garden area.

"Give it!"

"N-NO!"

"GIVE IT YOU LI'L PUNK!"

"NO, GO AWAY!"

Walking around the corner behind one of the gardens, he saw three young koopas in various shell colours ganging up on a smaller toad with green spots. The meanest of the group shoved the toad against the wall snarling:

"You know the deal fungus-breath, give us the money an' we leave you alone."

"No, it's not yours!"

"SO?! You don' deserve it you li'l wuss, you gonna fight me!?"

The toad tried to put up his fists with wilting fleshy arms as the koopas chuckled. Two of them started jeering as their leader stepped forwards ready to deliver a beatdown. The toad was sluggish yet frantic, swinging his fists with eyes closed as the koopa dodged him easily before he let the boy try again. The toad did manage to charge forwards in a surprise attack and smack the bully right in the beak. This only angered the koopa who just smacked the toad's fists out of the way before he threw a lunging punch straight into his jaw, smacking him down to the floor as his cohorts laughed behind him.

"Good thing that fungus broke yer fall, li'l dough boy. Now, pay up."

"N-...n-n-no."

"Whut?! Fine, you wanna get put in the hospital, that's your problem."

"Hey."

Hearing an adult's voice they turned to see Koopa-Bloopa staring down at them a few feet away.

"Get lost, all of you."

"Why don't YOU bite on your beak old timer?!"

"Can always bite on yours...all of yous if you don't leave that kid alone."

"Whut are you a cop?! Hehyeah right!"

"So you a tough guy eh? Fine."

He stepped forwards with focused gait and instantly grabbed the leader of the group by his throat, pulling him painfully close to press against the young koopa's cheek.

"You call me an old timer again, an' I will break your face right here so all you ever have is soup fed to yous through a straw, you got it?"

"WH-WHUT?! Who the heck are you, don't touch me you freak!"

"Yeah leggo of him!" shouted one of his goons. "You wanna get dunked cuz we'll put ya down hard!"

"A-AAAAAGH, AAAAGH!"

Bloopa suddenly swung his elbow with blinding speed, pushing the young koopa's beak against the wall to grind his face hard between sheer stone and rigid bone.

"Get out of here. NOW."

The DJ threw the boy down nonchalant as if tossing a soda can to the street. He didn't say a word except crack his knuckles slightly to intimidate them. They couldn't even do that as they slowly backed off making finger gestures to the toad behind him. Once they were gone, he turned to the bullied kid picked him up.

"You alright kid?"

"A-ah huh...th-thanks, sir."

"S'alright. That was nice work takin' them on, it's good you stand up for yourself."

"I-i-i don't wanna fight, I just want 'em to leave me alone."

"Why they pickin' on you anyway?"

"I dunno! They keep wantin' my money, like they don't got any already, they pick on all the kids."

"You can't talk to the teacher?"

"They don't go to my school."

The toad sat down against the wall sinking into a soft depression.

"Maybe they'd stop if I just don't do anythin', like just let 'em do what they want. Maybe they'll get bored."

"That's not a good idea, let me tell you. You know whut a bully enjoys?"

Koopa-Bloopa sat next to him.

"Stompin' on the weak. An' if you just give up, then they win, they know they've won an' then they always gonna come back takin' everything from ya."

"But I dunno HOW to beat them, they're all bigger than me!"

"You don't have to beat them. You just don't stop fightin'. Stand up fer yourself, keep makin' that stand like you just did. Show them you're not afraid cuz that's what they're after. They enjoy seein' you afraid, so you gotta prove that you ain't."

"How?! Yer a grown-up, whut are YOU afraid of?!"

"Lots of things. You don't think there aren't grown-ups who bully other grown-ups too?"

"R-really?"

"Yeah, totally! But listen, you don't gotta take my advice, this is just me. You don't know me, an' I'm pretty sure your mom probably told you not to talk to strangers."

"She kinda did."

"Then I'll only tell ya one thing an' then I'll go. It's not how much you hit, but how much you endure that matters. Don't take it lying down, cuz there ain't never been a hero that did that>"

"Um...o-okay. I have to go, th-thanks fer savin' me mister."

"No prob. Stay safe."

The toad walked off with wounded head but bearing himself as he made his way home whilst Koopa-Bloopa headed back towards the square. He leaned against the wall of a street entrance next to the local bar when he heard the deranged mumbling of someone round the corner.

"Ey brutha, spare a few coins?"

"Huh?"

A homeless hammer brother bereft and ragged with a filthy-looking sheet sat on the street corner, his eyes glazed over as he held an empty cup in his shaking hand.

"Jus' need sumthin' in mah belly, s'all ah need brutha."

"Sure, here."

The DJ bent down to drop a few coins into the cup, leaning close enough to hear him mumble:

"He'll meet you in the cafe across the street, he'll be here in an hour. Thanks brutha, peace be with ya."

"No prob."

Heading into the cafe, he found it strangely quiet for a normal day, with several tables dotted across an open brown-tiled floor with a long glass-guarded counter, opposite a large window that allowed him to see the open street. The benefit of having a beak meant that his neckerchief didn't end up dipping into his drink, as he ordered a toasted sandwich and some tea taking his time to savour it as he waited. He was afraid of this meeting, but he was more afraid of the waiting. He hated waiting. The past three years had taught him there was no greater agony in his life than the soul-withering respite of nothingness.

"Need anything else sir?"

A voice interrupted his thoughts as he looked over towards the waitress, a goomba in a frilly orange skirt and an odd Y-shaped hat.

"Uh...yeah, can I get another leaf tea and uh one'a those toast sandwiches? Actually make it two."

"Alrighty."

She gently clasped his tray with the cup on it with the Y-hat, magnetising the base of it as she walked away to get his order. Around six minutes later she came back with a tray holding another full cup and two sandwiches on a plate.

"There you are."

"Thanks a lot. This tea's real good by the way, you make this?"

"Hehe, yeah I...did, thanks! You like it?"

"Yeah it's totally chill."

"You...waiting for someone? Sorry couldn't notice you kept looking out the window."

"Yeah uh...you haven't seen a Twilighter come in the past half hour right?"

"Nope, sorry. Want me to leave a message?"

"Nah, I'll wait. Thanks for the tea."

The goomba smiled and walked off as he kept on drinking. Forty-six minutes passed as he pecked away at his cheese toastie until the stranger he waited for came at last. A short-looking doll-shaped character with green skin and a cloth covering his entire head shading the upper half of it in perpetual darkness, leaving only his eyes shining yellow from underneath. The stranger came towards Koopa-Bloopa who nodded humbly towards him.

"Sorry for the wait," mumbled the Twilighter, "the city underground's become a lot more dangerous lately."

"It's fine. So what's the news?"

"She says she will meet you. In the town square, you remember how to get to it?"

"I do."

"You have something to sign?" asked the shady contact.

"I got an armband," he murmured, "just write on that."

"Alright. Sixty coins?"

"Yeah, sixty like we agreed. You should be careful heading down yourself, this city's gotten worse than usual."

"How bad we talking here?"

"D-Mob's punks run the underground now, basically if you're not one of them you don't want to go down there. Which give us Twilighters a real headache when there's no other way but the pipes to our hometown."

"That sucks. The Pianta Syndicate aren't doing anything about this?"

"D-Mob has the numbers, AND he's got the social media wrapped round his thick fuzzy fingers, the pianta mafia are too traditional, they can't keep up with him. If they tried to do anything, D-Mob can ruin their reputation with a flick of his finger."

"Surely the mafia got some kind of uh...secret means to handle people muscling in on their turf."

"Except everything D-Mob does is splattered all over the net, everything he does!"

"So...wait, if he's extorting people how come-"

"BAM, it's D-Mob!"

The door opened as the Twilighter flinched. Two yellow-spotted toads along with a potted piranha plant on wheels shuffled into the cafe, all of them wearing extremely gaudy jewellery as they sat down and ordered.

"That's whut he said, fer real! Guy wet his pants, it wuz hilarious! Yeah gimme a coffee, two braus an' the sausage special fer each of us."

The waitress walked off as Koopa-Bloopa resumed his conversation.

"How come he hasn't been arrested?"

"You ask a question like THAT, you must be new to Rogueport, there's no such thing as cops, heck the police station here is practically a daycare center, except all the babies in there are just people too stupid to not get caught. Or were set up."

"Right. Alright, let's do this."

The Twilighter who gingerly pulled out the special marking pens of his hometown, before scribbling the DJ's real name onto the armband he gave him. He paid him 60 coins as promised and let him leave before putting his armband neatly tucked into his shell to hide it from people. He didn't leave just yet, deciding to check on local events with his 3DS for future jobs as well as to finish up the rest of his food. He gently moved to a different seat at the same table indicating to 57 that it was all clear, but soon the gangsters started to clamour with fiendish cackling as the piranha plant finished:

"So, then I said 'looks like he's gonna have to buy a new BAG of ice'!"

"PFFFFFTHAHAHAHA, OHOHO JEEZ DUDE that is SICK!"

"Yeah, so wuz he! HEY, we're dying of thirst over here cummon! If I wuz in yer garden I'd be rotting by now JEEZ!"

The goomba waitress came running out of the kitchen behind the counter, desperately balancing the tray on her head as she served them their meal. She was about to walk away when the piranha plant spat out his coffee.

"HEY! MUGFACE!"

"H-h-huh?!"

"I said I asked fer CREAM, whutchoo call THIS?!"

"Th-th-that is...I'm sorry, you didn't ask for cream."

"You callin' me a liar?!"

"I...I-i-i'm sorry, I-AAIGH!"

"IDIOT!"

He threw his cup at her face, hard enough to cause it to shatter as she fell back in flinching fright.

"I...I-i-i swear you never said, I-i'm sorry! You should have said!"

"You better unblock whut excuse you have for ears you little TURD cuz I said cream, didn't I guys?!"

"Y-yeah!" stammered a toad. "Yeah totally!"

"See?! So get back in the kitchen and GET ME SOME COFFEE!"

The goomba staggered off whimpering as the piranha plant puffed out his lips with derision.

"Tch, only reason I come to this place is cheap. Heh, might as well just replace her with a cheep-cheep, those bottomsuckers got a better memory than her, haHAH!"

"Hhhahahahahaa!"

The three of them cackled with mean spirits not even noticing the sound of footsteps walking over towards their table. They only got a look at the koopa for a second before his hands grabbed the rim of the table and slammed it upwards hard enough to knock the piranha plant off his seat, clattering on his wheel-clad pot like a single rollerskate. Food went flying all over their faces, along with one of the toads yelping from the coffee splashing on his crotch. Koopa-Bloopa simply glared at them as the plant hopped back onto his wheels.

"You better apologise fer that."

"Only if you apologise to that waitress," snarled the DJ.

"Pfft. She can't remember an order, that's her problem. But you...you just made us your problem."

They all stood up fully, the toads cracking their knuckles as Bloopa simply spread his arms open.

"I don't see no problem here, except you douches not learning any manners."

"Take a look in the mirror shell-head. Now you better pay fer this, or else I'm gonna bury you under my pot."

"If that waitress doesn't get an apology in the next thirty seconds, I'm going to make you. Starting...now."

"You little FREAK!"

As soon as the toad grabbed his tray and tried to swing at the DJ, he slammed his right arm against it in a block before crushing the left elbow into the toad's face. The second toad tried to attack but failed to notice that Koopa-Bloopa was holding a salt shaker in one of his hands, popping it open to strike at the punk's eyes with a blinding sodium dust. The plant kick-hopped his pot against the wall to send himself flying into the koopa's face, lunging with vicious teeth to bite down on his shoulder as he yelled and spun wildly, the pot flying behind him like a flail until he grabbed a plastic fork to stab into the plant's head.

The sudden sharp pain made the piranha release clattering to the floor as Koopa-Bloopa stopped spinning just in time to see one of the toads come barging towards him. He stopped his charge with a snap kick causing him to flinch, followed by a brutal thrust kick hard into his face which sent him flying out the window. The shattering sound of glass signalled everyone in the street that a fight was breaking out, as locals stopped curious to see the gaudy toad crumpling on top of broken fragments with cuts all over his body. Koopa-Bloopa leapt out the window to escape the confines of the cafe, as both the second toad and the piranha plant jumped after him with furious insult.

"YOU SNOT-BEAKED PUNK!"

"I'M GONNA BITE YOUR STUPID BIB OFF YOUR FACE!"

"Try me."

The koopa gestured with taunting hand as the second toad bullrushed him. Koopa-Bloopa dodged him easily to one side whilst throwing out a clothesline to crack into his jaw, followed by a sweeping kick to the back of the toad's knees that sent him down hard onto his back. The plant however was surprisingly difficult, pushing his wheeled pot around with long vines and stopping just short of the koopa's feet, planting his leafy tendrils into the ground, he vaulted his pot forwards into a spinning kick to crack the hard ceramic across the koopa's beak. Staggering from the stunning blow, he almost did not see one of the toads swing his fist towards him ready to sock it to him, but the koopa's duck and sweeping leg struck him hard against his shin sending his balance all over the place to eventually crash into the pavement.

The other toad grabbed a wooden plank from a pile of crates nearby and tried to crack it over Koopa-Bloopa's head, who responded by a turning double kick to send both the wood flying out of the toad's hands and send his head following after it, one foot after the other hitting both targets. The piranha plant was surprisingly quick on his wheels, rushing along the ground like a deranged shopping cart to somersault himself forwards, pot and board to uppercut against the koopa's chin. He dodged back but the plant lunged with snapping jaws for his throat in mid-air as Koopa-Bloopa slammed his fist hard into the toothy maw. It hurt like hell, but not as much as it hurt the piranha plant who felt a throbbing ache that sent his canines howling with painful vibrations. Both toads were now trying to pincer the koopa in, but he soon had an idea seeing the plant try to bite him again, grabbing the stalk-like neck and swinging him like a hammer to crack both toads' heads with the plant's pot.

Releasing the plant in mid-swing, the pot cracked with a shattering crumple against a brick wall, rendering its user practically legless as he grappled for his still-working rollerboard to push along the ground with. Koopa-Bloopa didn't notice the ankle-biter coming up behind him, the one toad in front of him managing to recover quickly enough to get into a boxing match with him. The spot-fungal head was an obvious target, soft and spongy enough to resist any punches as he shielded himself from the koopa's blows with his cap before barging forwards in a charging rush. The DJ pushed back against and slammed his elbow downwards into the back of the toad's head before slamming his boot into the punk's face. The piranha chose the right moment when Bloopa was on one leg to suddenly bite, planting his teeth fiercely like a dog into the koopa's thigh as he went down hard yelling with fury.

The plant wrapped his stalk vine body round the DJ's leg, coiling like a snake to push the last of his strength upwards to try and lunge for the koopa's neck.

He covered his throat with one arm before slamming his other fist across the piranha's head knocking him sideways to the ground beside him. But just as he managed to stagger onto his feet, he felt a thick wall of muscle from behind him suddenly grab his arm with one hand, whilst wrapping a thick block of wood around his throat in a crossbar hold that suffocated him.

"You made a BIG mistake," snarled the voice in his ear.

"H-HHHHHHRRGHK!"

"If you think you can just walk out town after beating up my boys, then I'll break your shell before I _break your skull. _"

"HRRHHHKGH!"

"DAT'S ENOUGH!"

A voice roared from the side of the street as the toad looked up, seeing a rather intimidating sight of four piantas wearing suits and sunglasses, all indistinguishable apart from odd shades of orange, yellow, brown and blue. Bloopa shoved the menacing creature from his body the moment he felt his arms relax, seeing a pink one-armed yoshi wearing dark slacks and a pulley-hook for a prosthetic. He recognised the sneering yoshi as the piranha plant crawled on his leafy fronds towards the shattered earthy remnants of his pot, just in time to try and defend himself from the pianta screeching a demanding question.

"WHUT in da name o' Rosalina's goin' on here?!"

"THIS GUY!" shouted the plant. "He beat us up fer no reason, right boys?!"

"Yeah!" cried one of the toads. "Stupid shell-head thinks he's all that!"

"No reason?!" argued Koopa-Bloopa. "YOU punks treated that waitress like she was nuthin' an' smashed her face with a mug, you call that no reason?!"

"What the scrap you talkin' about, you fuzz-head, don' listen to this guy he's messin' with ya!"

"Zat so?" muttered the pianta. "Well dat's interestin'. Cuz I got's a witness who says sumfin' else, two even."

"What?!"

"They started it man!"

Staggering from behind the piantas was a filthy-looking hammer brother in the most ragged coat, the smell of two days unwashed attracting more than a stink-eye towards him.

"I-i-i wuz jus' outside, across thuh street, an' them guys, they attacked one o' thuh waitresses! That koopa wuz stickin' up fer her!"

"WHUT?!" snarled the piranha plant. "Oh, OH that's typical, course another shell-head would say sumthin' like that!"

"Which table you sit at?" asked the pianta.

"Uh, t-table five, why?!"

The piantas looked at each other before one of them pulled out a receipt, clearing his throat.

"One coffee, plain. Served to table five, which wuz where you boys sat. Same coffee that went right on that goomba's face."

"THAT WUZ HIS, THAT STUPID KOOPA!"

"Which table were you at?" they asked the koopa.

"Seven," replied the koopa smugly, "I had tea."

"...that you did. Got the receipt right here. So guess whut."

The four piantas started to crowd in a half-circle round the toads and plant, pulling out fire flowers discreetly from their suits as the head of them snarled:

"You come round dis joint ever again, then we gonna make a vegetarian dish outta you three, got it dirtsucker-breath?"

"You got sumthin' to say to us?"

The yoshi stepped up, a full head taller than the rest of the piantas with thick wiry muscle to spare as the pianta suit responded fearlessly.

"I just said it, Yoshua. Whut, you got wooden ears as well as dat arm?"

"You think you can scare me with them little peashooters? I've eaten hotter stuff in Fahr Outpost than the pieces you're packin'."

"You were warned, so's da rest of yer little entourage, you start trouble on da west side an' we gonna have a problem."

"Really? Well make it my problem then."

He wasn't intimidated. Neither was the pianta as they stared each other down with such fury restrained that the world turned briefly silent, almost holding its breath in fearful anticipation. Koopa-Bloopa however felt a vigorous voice jump through him as he stepped towards the yoshi snarling beneath his neckerchief.

"YOU already made it their problem, fruitsucker."

"...the fuzz did you call me?"

"You heard me. Your boys learnt their lesson, and that lesson is that if you go around slapping waitresses like some punk then you're gonna get your face kicked in. So why don't you take your boys back home an' teach 'em some manners or else I will."

"Hhhhhehehehehe...manners? You even know where we are, kid? You seen them gallows in the town square? Let me tell you sumthin'."

Yoshua bent down with a dark cruel glimmer almost gleeful in his eyes.

"That shell gets real heavy when a koopa starts swingin' from that noose."

With that barely-veiled threat, he took his leave as the piranha plant was picked up by his toad minions.

"Food tastes like scrap anyway, I been to sewers that got better food than this. Don't expect D-Mob to pay the bill, pretty boys."

The three gangsters walked off, as the pianta mobsters put their weapons away before heading towards the cafe but not before paying the homeless hammer brother.

"Here's fer yer good service, citizen."

"Awhawhaw thanks man, awww ahm gonna be feastin' tonight!"

"Jus' git outta here, an' take a damn bath you smell worse den Ricco Harbour, sheesh."

The hobo walked off towards an alleyway but not before giving the koopa a small surreptitious wink, making him smile as he walked back to the cafe to check on the goomba waitress. She had a black eye and a small burn on her cheek being treated with cold water by one of the piantas.

"Don' worry about it," he said to her, "we gots insurance for dis kinda thing."

"I-i'm sorry, I...I swear he never s-said cream."

"He didn't," said Koopa-Bloopa, "I was there, the guy was just a jerkwad."

"You...th-th-thank you for...standing up for me."

"It's fine. Hey."

Koopa-Bloopa offered some coins much to her surprise.

"Forgot to pay my tab, thanks for the tea."

"Oh...th-thank you."

"Yeah thanks a lot," said the pianta, "woulda preferred da window didn' get smashed up but hey, can't calm da crowd."

"You guys need any help?" asked the DJ. "I mean I got time an' a pair of hands."

"Heh...sure, but we're not payin' ya."

"So...do you like own this place?"

"It's one of our businesses yeah. The Syndicate's all about givin' back to da community see, gotta make sure places like this are all nice an' clean, people gotta eat, gotta play, gotta sleep, know whut I'm sayin'?"

"Oh yeah totally. Heh, not gonna lie, it's kinda the best place to eat around here."

"Good...glad to hear."

Cleaning up the remains of the fight inside the cafe, Bloopa made sure everything was back in its proper place, setting tables and chairs back along with picking up every piece of broken glass. Once he was done, he left Rogueport heading through the tunnels of the old city. A sanctum of sorts for the more undesirable elements, the forgotten people who could not live within the world above. Some were convicts, others were refugees, others still were saving other people from themselves by hiding within the darkness, amongst crumbling old pillars and marble sculptures of an ancient ruined civilisation. Once it had been a home of great archaeological finds whereas now it simply found a new life as a den of thieves, a haven of outcasts. But to those like Koopin it made a most unfortunate highway through all of the major parts of this new continent. One such path that he needed to take was that of Twilight Town, far to the west within a perpetual nocturne.

The pipe that lead to it was a specially-modified entrance requiring that only those who had their names written upon themselves by special marking pens could enter. It was surprisingly effective in keeping those unwanted out, as Koopin pulled himself out of the pipe, pulling his blooper neckerchief away to tuck safely into his pockets. Having only come here once or twice within his life, Koopin always felt disturbed by such a dark and nefarious-looking place. The sun never showed itself in this region, always beneath the eve of the twilit moon amidst stark and deadened trees, bony fingers of wood creaking up towards the bitter light of the fading cosmos. The steeple could be seen beyond the Twilight Trail towards the north, but soon he heard the sound of the pipe behind him going PRRN-PRRN-PRRN, signalling one's arrival.

"Hnnngh-UH!"

A large stocky hammer brother appeared in a different-looking set of clothes, not ragged but somewhat shabby like a suit that an accused defendant would wear. The agent known only as 57 simply stared all around the strange forsaken place, oddly quiet with everyone still in their houses as he heard the soft creaks of subtle footsteps, locked behind wooden doors.

"You...seem to lead rather an adventurous life Koopin."

"It's not one that I chose."

"Your current occupation says otherwise."

"Yeah but I don't cover this region. And frankly I wouldn't want to."

"I understand. So who is this contact of yours?"

"She'll be here soon. Told me to meet right here."

"That I did."

A voice came chillingly cool from behind them, the darkness between the houses of eternal night showing a slender ebony cloak. The hood flipped off from its head, showing a koopa female with dark brown hair in a ponytail whilst wielding a crooked staff that curled into a hook at the top. Her eyes glinted with a bitterness like coffee grounds, but not aimed towards Koopin specifically. More like a constant aura that surrounded her brimming with enmity.

"It's been a long time, Koopin Kennidon. Not as long as I expected it to be."

"Uhm...h-hello, Shellina."

"I was told that you needed my help. To ask such a thing to me of all people, it must be unavoidable."

"Yes. Are you um...d-doing well-"

"Don't sully me with pleasantries. You came to me with a purpose, ask."

"I may have come here for a reason, but that doesn't mean I can't treat you like a person. I came here because I respected you well enough to know that only you have the power to help me with this."

"Flattering. But I like to be blunt, with every second that passes my body inches closer to death. Not any faster than anyone else's but still, please do not waste my time."

"...alright...okay. I...someone was taken from me, someone very important-"

"James?"

"No, someone else. This spirit took them, k-kidnapped them and sailed off to some ancient tower that's locked up tight with real strong dark magic. I don't know anyone but you who's good enough to deal with such stuff."

"Locked with dark magic? Interesting. And who are you?"

"I am a representative," said 57, "of those who have been tracking down this spirit."

"What interest do you have?"

"Purely professional, we are here to keep the world safe from anomalies that so disturb the very fabric of our reality."

"...hmm. I see."

She stepped closer whilst twirling her staff neatly within her fingers, a tenebrous essence softly flickering from within tracing a circular pattern between them.

"Tell me, was I the last resort of whatever desperate options you had concerning such an anomaly?"

"No," said 57, "Koopin suggested you almost instantly before any other action could be taken."

"Really?"

"I know the last time we met wasn't on good terms," said Koopin softly, "but I have no reason to hold a grudge against you. But I know you also have no reason to help me, so I just want to ask and then you can say no if you want. Please. Help me find someone, help me f-fight this monster that's taken someone away from me-"

"Who has he taken, this...spirit?"

"My...m-my chomp. My chain chomp Charlie. Something happened in Professor Gadd's lab, he was looking after-"

"Wait...did you say Professor E. Gadd? Elvin Gadd?"

"Yeah...he was...well he was friends with James so he owed me one and was looking after my chomp...but it was during this experiment that something got brought from the other side and it just kidnapped him."

"......I thought he was dead."

"Huh?"

"Prof-...Professor Gadd was my father's mentor, I did not think even...well, that's interesting."

She hid her surprise poorly whilst making a firm stance with her cane planted on the soil.

"Is he involved in this too, the professor?"

"Yes, he's heading up the investigation to try and get this spirit back, to where it came from."

"I see. I...must admit I would be very honoured to work alongside him, if I ever had the chance."

"So, will you help me?"

"...I will. If only because it would be what my father wanted. Show me."

Shellina reached her hand out towards him in a humble accepting gesture. Koopin took it gladly and so walked her down through the passages of Rogueport's subterrane and back towards the Mushroom Kingdom around a week later. Introductions were made, and a plan was soon set as they tried once again to reach the long-forsaken manor of Nohboo-Nahga, standing in front of its doors with Gadd's boxful of ghost-searching paraphernalia along with Shellina's dark wizardry ready to force open the door. The female koopa carefully investigated the strange static barrier whilst ruminating to herself, carefully memorising what was needed in order to unlock its complex machinations. Whilst Shellina carefully studied the barrier Koopin felt compelled to ask the vizier of the Koopa Kingdom:

"Did...did James know about you?"

"Oh indeed," replied Kammy, "we monitored him. We were not able to approach him when he first landed since we did not even discover he had snuck into our world by using his own rather odd mechanisms. Why else would I have had him enrol personally in my school of magic, if not to keep tabs on him?"

"Why not tell me? Why did you not come to me before with this secret acts stuff, after he told us I mean?"

"Because I saw how well you kept James' secret and I knew that you could be trusted. No one else but a select few ever knew about James' true origins, and for that I commend you. I had no reason to spy on you or consider you untrustworthy. You are commendable for such diligence."

"Um...th-...thank you, miss."

"Right, now do you have everything?"

"Absolutely," replied Gadd, "I have checked and quadruple-checked everything, I have a set of spectral repellents, an ecto-resistant set of transceivers to communicate with and finally a phantasonar to help you navigate the place, patent pending."

"Well, nice to see you actually had foresight for once."

"I take my work seriously, unlike some people I can't afford to miss opportunities to test new ideas when I'm not on a royal budget. Or live in a castle with insulation."

"It's called effort my dear Elvin, and don't think I'm afraid to call you out with your new fangirl."

"I merely respect his work," said Shellina promptly, "my father was taught the very foundations of what would become his research because of this man."

"Please dearest, let's not give his head anymore resemblance to the melon it already is."

"Now now madam," retorted Gadd, "there's no need to be jealous. Now I do remember your father, Mortimer was a VERY promising student when I still taught at university."

"What was he like?" asked Shellina.

"Stern but soft-spoken. Quite an endeavouring student, stayed behind in class to help me with a few experiments here and there fwahaha."

"Hmhmm, that sounds like him, something of a teacher's pet. I hope to follow the same path as him."

"Well, you know I am always in search of another assistant."

"Yeah you totally should!" replied Boona. "We really need the extra help, IF we don't get arrested after this."

"I'm not arresting you Boona," said Kammy, "only your esteemed professor, possibly."

"Either way I'd love to have somebody help me in the lab, Shellina."

"Just call me Shellina little boo...Boona."

"So, are we ready?" asked Koopin.

"Yes. Everyone please step back, this might cause a fractured disturbance."

They all took steps back away watching the koopa ready herself. She cracked her knuckles and raised her staff in the air murmuring something strange that sent dark tremors throughout each of their souls. Boona was both entranced and terrified by her words, shuddering in awe as she channelled her magic from the deep nether of the world they lived in. The dark paling skies turned into a monochrome wasteland, the ground started to crack with seething ripples as there came a voice beyond anything they had heard. It was a voice they all knew, and yet none of them had met. A voice of nightmares. The first voice they heard within their dreams as children. The ancient all-knowing ether of the dark that felt every scream and mourning ache of sorrow in their existences. Koopin resisted the urge to cry, having already done so long enough. Gadd struggled to blink through his spectacles whilst Kammy clenched her fingers together in a gentle shiver. Boona however was weeping, hearing old far-off things of familiar past lives that Shellina's song of darkness was invoking, along with half the KIB that were struggling not to scream with tears as she planted her hands against the screeching static barrier and roared back with the sound of sufferance. A sound so pure of almost primal strength, that the portal shattered apart into a million pieces of spectral wisps, filtering out into the sky which began to rumble with the coming thunder. Not the usual sort of thunder, but one almost invoked by torment as the tower almost breathed with an exhale of invitation for all of them. The doors opened wide welcoming them in with strange reluctance despite their mission. Shellina stood gently turning towards the group behind her with tears streaking down her cheeks. She wiped them away without a word and gestured towards the entrance.

"Well...shall we?"

"A-are you okay?" asked Koopin.

"Just simply effort, part of the invocation. Don't worry about me, now let's find your lost chomp."

"Yes."

"That was MOST impressive," clamoured Kammy honestly, "I tip my hat to you good madam, your father taught you well."

"I hope I honour him."

"Believe me," said Professor Gadd, "you do greatly. Now, everyone take your receivers and each of you carry one weapon."

Among the various tools of E. Gadd's inventory was a crossbow with black wings that Boona took, a clump of icicles welded to a handle that 57 holstered, and lastly a lantern with also a handle as well as a gun barrel attached to the side of it which Koopin now wielded. A few of the other KIB agents, all wearing suits, came with whilst also taking some of Gadd's modified weaponry, as they readied themselves to enter the forbidden mansion.

The interior was a disturbingly jagged array of decor that assaulted their senses from the moment they walked in. A grand square-shaped foyer of solid wood, with a second floor above consisting of a walkway that circled around the room. Everything was angled just slightly off, the stairs, the railings on the upper floor, the wooden planks underneath their feet always slanted at an odd angle that even the most skilled of carpenters could not put their finger on. There was a light emanating from some strange area beyond their field of vision giving everything a sickly green and black glow that would bleed into everything, like watching radioactive poisoning seep into a person's body through the lens of some medical apparatus. Koopin, Shellina, Boona and 57 stayed in one group whilst another group of four KIB agents came from behind them.

"Alright," said 57, "this place is in the grip of a class-three entity, remain in contact with Mother every five minutes, both teams. Team Sherbet you take the west wing. Donut, you're with me along the east. Boona, you know how many floors there are?"

"If I remember rightly," said the boo, "there should be about thirty-seven floors in this place. The entity's at the top, but I remember this place originally had trap rooms to protect himself against assassins, like yanno ninjis and such. Some rooms were designed that, if you're not a regular visitor or someone who lives here often, you won't know the right places to avoid and end up getting caught in a trapped room."

"It's just wood," said Shellina, "I can punch my way out of a coffin if I have to."

"Uhhh right."

"You heard him," ordered 57, "stay alert for traps, take every room with caution, no rushing in. You get all that Mother?"

"Loud and clear," said Kammy over communique, "Gadd will be manning most of the radio with his radar."

"Sonar," corrected Gadd, "I'm not picking anything up on this floor, it should be safe. I'm scanning the floors ahead of you but you should be careful regardless, Boona is right in that the entity is on the highest floor but it's quite hard to get a power reading from this far below. Please, be careful everyone."

"Affirmative."

57 commanded team Sherbet to head off towards the west, whilst his own team Donut headed off to the east. Shellina stayed out on point, her wrought sensitivity to the dark infernal tower's construct instrumental in their safe passage whilst the hammer brother agent kept an eye out for any suspicious traps. The first floor was surprisingly safe, with sharp turning halls and odd janky layouts that went in a strangely half-crippling spiral pattern. Eventually they found the stairs and soon headed upwards, weapons out and aimed except Shellina, who had no need for such with her powers. Through a combination of sharp eyes, historical knowledge and dark tense perception, they navigated floor after floor with very little incident. At least one trap had been found every four floors they went up through, the first one being a simple affair of shutting both sides of a hallway to keep intruders locked in forever, like a mouse in a pipe. The doors were impervious against their weaponry despite being made of wood, as Shellina broke through by a rather frightening process of becoming shadows, almost melting into darkness itself, her head unwrapping its flesh to become a skull pooling within the bottom of a black abyss that crawled beneath the doorjamb. She unlocked it neatly from the other side much to the shock of her companions, as Boona chirped:

"W-wow...that was amazing h-how'd you DO that?!"

"Years of study...plenty of father's tuition."

"How is your father?" asked Koopin. "I haven't seen...him, around in a while."

"He finally passed on, releasing himself from this world once he was happy with me...that was your doing."

"M-me?"

"If you had not come to release me from my vengeance ill I would not have been able to let my father rest in peace. He stayed with me the past few years until I could show him how much I had matured since then. I want to thank you on his behalf."

"Oh...um...I-i'm glad everything turned out okay."

"What sorta stuff you do?" asked the boo.

"Studying the other side, peering into the void between life and death trying to understand the finer pieces of it."

"You mean like what you just did?"

"Hmm?"

"That thing, when you shadowed into a pool, you just b-basically died, right?!"

"Hmhm...technically, it's...difficult to explain."

"Lady I'm a boo, there's plenty about me I find difficult to explain to fleshy people."

"Hahaha, that's true. Let me put it this way, remember the story of Shroomdinger's Hat?"

"Oh yeah obviously, that's like the first book a boo ever reads! He closed his eyes, his hat was both there and not there at the same time, and that is how a boo works!"

"Well, imagine if instead of a hat, it is a skull, and that skull is both the ancestor and the descendant when I embrace the shadows upon me."

"OooooOOOOOH, ohhh I see, like the allegory of the cave?!"

"YES exactly, you know about this!?"

"Pfft please, when you're a boo just starting out, you gotta learn a whole lotta stuff about how not to exist and yet also exist at the same time, that's what every boo does it's practically second nature to us! Like how a blooper makes ink or a koopa can just pop into his shell and make it spin even with all their arms and legs. Yanno it's really rare to see somebody not a boo to really get what we kinda feel...but not as rare as somebody who actually DOES it."

"I guess the closest others can feel is when you say, hold somebody whilst you hide?"

"Yeaaaaah but they don't really feel the same kinda sensation, like somebody we hide it just feels like they turned invisible, but when we cover our eyes we're just GONE from existing yanno?"

"More like existing while not existing, right?"

"Right!"

"Do you understand any of this?" murmured Koopin.

"Nope," said 57, "I never studied physics."

"What DID you study then?"

"Literature, chemistry, gym."

"Cool, geography, music, languages."

"Very good. Your mother must be proud Koopin, despite everything that's been happening."

"I know she is, but she's always been. Dad too of course."

"What does your father do?" asked the agent.

"He runs a grocery," said the young Kennidon, "been in the family a few generations."

"You didn't want to take up the trade?"

"Nah, I wanted to do my own thing. He was really happy about it though, like he was proud I was choosing my own means, living independent...working as a tour guide."

"Must be quite a glamorous life."

"It...used to be."

Koopin felt his shoulders sink, sighing heavily until 57 placed his hands upon the smaller koopa's waist to reassure him.

"We're almost there Koopin. You'll have your life back soon."

"I...I hope so."

"I know you will. I'll make sure of it."

The two smiled at each other warmly before turning back towards Shellina and Boona, having found themselves distracted with a rather excitable conversation that made not a lick of sense. Boos were a mystery to themselves simply because they existed in another level of existence, one that those outside their race just could not comprehend for the lack of mutual insight. The other team kept contact with them and Kammy outside, hearing Gadd's instructions over the radio for certain areas with spectral anomalies they would soon encounter. The first area they saw was a terrifying hall that twisted like a bowel movement, slanting walls causing them to try and walk upon the walls and ceiling until it suddenly pulsed, causing one of the walls to drop beneath Shellina's body like a trapdoor.

"W-WOAH!"

"LOOK OUT!"

Boona was the only one not affected by this, floating harmlessly over the pit whilst 57 kept a grip on Koopin's arm to prevent him from falling. The koopa sorceress was now hanging for life with her cane straddled across the hole as Koopin and 57 pulled her up.

"Jeez," murmured Kennidon, "did Nohboo-Nahga not have any boos as enemies?"

"Nope," replied Boona, "all these traps were specifically for non-boos, since he was once the ruler of our race until the Koopa Kingdom defeated him. Though that one twisting hall is definitely new, that was not his."

"The entity must be altering things," said Shellina, "but what reason did it have to reconstruct this tower?"

"We can ask them that at the top...if we can ask them."

"What I care about," stated Koopin, "is getting Charlie back."

"We will, I know we will! Just hope this guy is willing to hear us out."

"It barely gave us a chance to listen when it broke out of Gadd's portal thing."

Keeping their backs against each other, they moved and jumped over the pitfalls as best they could, which seemed to open out towards an infinite darkness that did not resemble anything outside. Further up were spike traps from the original mansion's design, floors with nails that squeaked when stepped on which in turn triggered a mechanism for spikes to shoot out of the walls and impale unfortunate visitors. Boona and 57 dealt with these, the boo activating the traps by pressing his semi-permeable body against the floor and vanishing to let the sharp piercing metal plunge through his currently non-existing body. It was then 57's job to use his hammering strength to bash and crumple the spiked lengths rendering them useless, forced to bend outwards like a twisted steel gate. Beyond that was a hall filled with water, shallow around their ankles making ripples each time they walked. Koopin however noticed something odd when the ripples hit specific sections of the floor when they suddenly stopped, bending in unusual ways. Boona floated around it, seeing it was a disguised well painted n such a way to resemble the floor in front of them, which would shut itself closed and keep its prisoner trapped within a drowning casket. Thankfully being a spectral creature this did not deter the boo from simply leaving as they progressed onwards. It was while they were on the last flight of stairs that Gadd came crackling through on the radio.

"I'm sensing a disturbance from the floor above you. It's the entity, certainly."

"We're really at the top?" asked 57.

"Yes indeed. That thing is powerful so you must be cautious, your weapons shall find its weakness as one of those three elements, so whoever fires the most effective shot, you must protect them whilst the entity starts attacking."

"What if none of the weapons work?"

"No spirit in this world is immune to all three of them! If all else fails then miss Shellina could do some damage with her powers."

"Do you know where team Sherbet is?"

"They're still nine floors below you, somehow."

"We'll wait, let's not go barging in until we have our whole squad ready."

"Agreed, the more firepower the better in this case."

"Uhh guys," murmured Boona.

"Now, when dealing with a class-three entity you must-"

"G-guys listen!"

"Avoid its spectral sight, once it makes a trailing path towards you it might-"

"GUYS THE STAIRS ARE MOVING!"

"What?!"

Unbeknownst to them, the staircase turned into an escalator, slowly moving them up towards the door with rotating steps that twisted and turned subconsciously. Before they could run back down to escape, the stairs suddenly revved into high speed and sent all of them shunting upwards into the domain of the fiendish creature that ruled this necrotic mansion. The doors of the final floor opened welcoming them before shutting fast behind to lock them in place with no option but to go forwards.

"Donut, DONUT WHAT HAPPENED?!"

"We're in the top floor," said 57, "the stairs shot us forwards without warning, we can't get out!"

"DAMN! Blast it, that thing knows and is trying to separate you both, you'll have to deal with it face-to-face!"

"Is that advisable?"

"No," said Kammy, "we don't know what it's capable of, but you'll have to try."

"The door's locked completely, even if we wait for team Sherbet they're not coming in unless it wants them to."

"Then I hope you're well-trained fifty-seven. You have civilians in your care, even if one of them is skilled in the dark arts."

"Understood, Mother."

At the top of the tower, which was in fact the rooftop itself being a large circular room without a ceiling, there lied a twisted fractured landscape. A burning red sky set to a dull bleeding crimson floor of black pointed squares and circles, they saw bare cages lie scattered and broken around crumpled furniture, empty televisions and shattered windows that stared out into nothingness. There was no wind, not a single sound could be heard beyond the perimeter of the strange room. The strange diffusion of spheres and cubes half-buried into the room's floor gave a treacherous geometry, but what drew their attention most was the very centre where there stood the largest black sphere, and the only one that was fully formed with a chain link dragging behind it. Koopin's heart felt tight, his hands becoming numb as his breath caught short in his throat fearing that it was all a dream. A mocking horrid dream that taunted him with a face that he saw only in pictures for the last two years. He felt his legs willing him to move forwards, but was afraid that the moment he did he would fall onto his knees and start sobbing.

"Ch-...Ch-ch-hhhhh...Ch-charlie? Is that you?"

"Be careful," said Shellina, "I sense its presence from it."

"Ch-charlie! Charlie, it's me! C-come on, come on boy, d-daddy's here, it's okay! IT'S OKAY CHARLIE!"

"Koopin wait!"

He stepped forwards with frantic feet, the tears blurring his eyes as he sped up with every pace towards the chain chomp whose back was turned to him.

"CHARLIE! CHARLIE I'M HERE!"

"KOOPIN STOP!"

"I'M HERE CHARLIE, D-DADDY'S HERE!"

Daddy

"Y-YES, YES I'M HERE IT'S OKAY BOY!"

_Daddy's come bAcK _

"Ch-...Charlie?"

...daddy's not coming BACK[/n]

The voice crept out of the creature's throat, and before Koopin even realised what had come upon him, there came a slow rising shriek that almost blew out the sky with its deafening cry that threw him back against his group.

Struggling to recover as he tried to control himself, Koopin began shaking with horror at the sight of his beloved chomp slowly twisting his chained self towards him. His eyes had been pierced from the inside by long blades of purest steel jutting out of his sockets, a trail of thickening ooze leaking from his chained links as he opened his mouth where there lied another separate mouth inside of his. A twisted jagged toothless maw that screeched its infernal cry of incessant anguish leaving the group shocked at such twisted aberration. All except Koopin, who fell onto his knees with sharp piercing horror to his very heart.

"CHARLIE! N-NO, NOOOOOO CHARLIIIIIIE!"

"KOOPIN!" shouted 57.

"WH-WHAT IS...WH-WHAT HAS IT DONE TO HIIIIM?!"

"IT'S JUST POSSESSION, DON'T WORRY!"

"_HE'S SUFFERING , THAT MONSTER IS HURTING HIIIIM! _"

"LISTEN TO ME!"

He grabbed Koopin hard by the shoulders and forced his tear-stricken face to stare upon him.

"We WILL fix him, that thing whatever that entity is, it's just trying to vent its fury, it's all a supernatural trick!"

"YOU CALL THAT A TRICK?!"

"What's happening?!" cried out the radio. "What's your status?!"

"Mother, this is fifty-seven, we've found the target, it's a class-three possessor currently active! What are your orders?"

"Aim for the largest concentration of ether, see if you can break the possessor's link or at least drive it towards another object."

"Understood."

"CHARLIE!" shouted Koopin. "CHARLIE CAN YOU HEAR ME?! I'M HERE CHARLIE!"

"Koopin, calm down!" shouted Boona. "You won't be able to help him if you don't keep it cool!"

"B-BUT, HE'S THERE THAT MONSTER IS HURTING HIM!"

"Then we'll stop it! Just, remember it's just a trick, it's nothing more tha-tha-than a bad haunting, Shellina can you find where his ether is?"

"Got it," said the sorceress, "it's currently inside the chomp's mouth, everyone aim there."

"D-DON'T!" cried Koopin. "DON'T YOU'LL HURT HIM!"

"Then I'll aim carefully!"

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS, I WON'T!"

"IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THEN YOUR PET WILL SUFFER EVEN MORE, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! Then follow our lead!"

"She's right," said the KIB agent, "I'll lead, I've been trained in flower-arms before, I'll make sure that we don't hurt Charlie. Promise."

The firm look in 57's eyes spoke a deep truth that made him softly nod in realisation. He struggled to look at what became of Charlie, the wretched chomp whimpering with two voices merged inside his throat. Koopin reluctantly gripped his paraffin-charged pistol alongside Boona and 57, whilst Shellina readied her darkness by a sweeping bitter aura that drifted off her cloak. Charlie lunged forwards with dagger-eyes as they dodged to different sides, the dripping tail slathering a thick toxic drool that burned with sizzling hatred. The closest one was Shellina, who leapt back swiftly from the gnashing jaws that shrieked such offensive force it almost pushed her straight into the wall.

Staggering from the furious roar, she stood her ground and fought back with a screeching horror as Shellina's body was cloaked in a fiery darkness. The chomp rushed her as she melted into darkness, pooling beneath him before she grabbed his tail and swung him towards the wall to try and stun the beast. The sound of metal throbbed through the room like a gong as Charlie turned with a sudden cry of anguish, plunging forwards with his spear-tipped eyes to try and stab the sorceress. She stood her ground and thrust her hands forwards to grab at the blades, cutting her palms deep as a strange dark liquid bled out of body. To the shock of her party she snapped the blades apart with a mighty roar before grabbing at Charlie's jaws, forcing them wide open to turn his gaping maw towards 57.

"DO IT, NOW!"

The agent fired a clean shot, burning lance of paraffin shot straight into Charlie's throat hitting the source of the creature's essence. The spirit screeched with a howling frenzy that shockwaved across the room, sending Shellina flying along with her group as the chomp possessed began hovering above the floor.

"Did it work?!" cried Koopin.

"Not yet!" said Boona. "It's trying to hide inside Charlie keep a lookout for anything weird!"

"WHAT ISN'T WEIRD ABOUT THIS?!"

"JUST PAY ATTENTION OKAY?!"

Charlie soon began to twist his tail into a violent spasm of steel links, before they started to creak and scream with a thousand voices. Soon they saw tiny faces within the chain links, stretched and tightening like the skin of bubbles formed of pure ectoplasm. Then they started to grow, more and more they mutated into gnarled roots of a thickening trunk until Charlie became suspended on a withering tree like black fruit. Every root ended in hands with each finger covered in teeth.

Shuddering through the floor came a root that assaulted the entire group, thick monstrous swings with jagged broken teeth that caught on their flesh like rusty nails. Koopin gasped and staggered with desperate firing shots, trying to wound the abomination without hurting Charlie. Not even Boona was safe from the wretched rotting limbs swiping to keep every one of them away from each other. The roots even shot out with piercing strength, plunging into the walls to try and fiercely impale the group. Koopin ducked into his shell by instinct to spin frantically away for speed, whilst the boo couldn't even hide himself knowing the spectral monstrosity could still wound him even when invisible. Shellina tried to merge into the floor with darkness, slithering between the twisting roots until the spirit realised what she was up to. The monstrous oak plunged deeper into the floor to intercept her easily, striking through her tenebrous form to rip her almost asunder. Screams of frenzied agony came vibrating from the floor as Shellina was suddenly impaled, the root plunged deep through her stomach and shell as she was hoisted aloft like a swinging noose.

"SHELLINA!"

" GHHHRRRUUH! NNNNGH...not...yet."

"H-HANG ON!" shouted Boona. "GUYS, IT'S THE CHAIN, SH-SHOOT THE CHAIN!"

Watching in horror as the koopa sorceress coughed up a thick bilious fluid from her throat, Boona signalled towards the creature's weak spot as Charlie hung flaccidly from the gnarled spectral aberration. He fired off his nimble crossbow, shooting a highly-powered gust of wind piercing like an arrow through one of the screeching tiny faces within the links. Four more could be seen as Boona tried to line up the next shot until another root swung with horrifying strength, crushing the wall behind Boona into a crumpled catastrophe that started to destabilise the tower room. Koopin pulled back out of his shell as 57 pulled him away to the other side of the tree, aiming towards Charlie's link.

"You aim for the high bit, I'll aim low, ready?!"

"Y-y-yeah, go!"

"Alright then, FIRE!"

Both koopas shot off almost in unison, severing straight through the ectoplasmic goo infesting inside Charlie's chain, sending the wretched tree into a sudden meltdown with another howling scream.

The ball dropped from the tree and gently rolled towards the group. Koopin did not dare approach it this time, watching the tree mulch violently fast with a toxic melting quality, dropping Shellina as Boona rushed in desperately to catch her. She was struggling to breathe, shivering cold gasps across the boo's face as she slowly stumbled over to the wall nearby to try and heal herself. Dark swirling energies managed to close up her deepening wounds as she waved Boona away.

" I'm f-fine...please, s-stop that thing."

"GET READY!" shouted 57. "IT'S CHANGING AGAIN!"

Seeing Charlie's chain whip violently back and forth, the spiritual essence flowed thickly around the chomp before seeping into his eyes. Slowly there came another length of steel chains from each eye socket, whilst his tail suddenly began to split in two with thickening steel malice, bulbous almost to the point of mimicking leg muscle as the creature stood upon its twin split chains. The eyes bearing chains became its arms with Charlie now the body. The head poured from his mouth as a pale white shroud, showing two sunken eyes and a long gaping jaw beneath a fractured twisted beak, standing at a grotesque thirteen feet height.

Shrieking with an unholy rage, the monstrous possessor swung its chain-linked arms with the force of a reaper's scythe, striking across the walls and scarring deep grooves within the wood and plaster. The tower started crumbling all around them as they frantically circled around Charlie's mutated form to dodge its vicious attacks. Sometimes it spun flailing wildly in psychotic fury, a constant assault that made it impossible for them to start shooting back at its mournful essence above. Each time they thought they could stand and fire, the sweep of the chain encompassed the whole length of the room forcing them to either duck or jump over to avoid being struck. One blow was hard enough to even crack Koopin's shell as he went skidding across the room, with 57 following after to guard him. The beast stalked after Koopin once it struck him, swinging down both of its arms to try and crush him flat, but the KIB agent stood in front of him wielding two hammers from his suit. With sudden desperation, he struck back with hammers clanging against the pure wrought steel almost reflecting them like swords in a duel. One chain swooped down, his hammer came to strike it back, forcing it to recoil almost in pain from such shuddering deep vibrations along its length. Left and right they came, but 57 did not flinch, protecting Koopin until he managed to stagger up.

"GO, NOW, FIND HIS WEAK POINT!"

"WHAT?!"

"_I'LL HANDLE HIM, JUST SHOOT HIM WHERE IT HURTS KOOPIN! DO IT! _"

With Kennidon stumbling away to try and circle round the back of the ruthless spirit, the hammer brother clashed violently with hard black hammer heads cracking against the lashing whip that almost deafened with shattering booms everytime they struck. He ducked beneath the whirling flail, hammered against the second strike and dodged hard to his left when both whips came crashing down upon where he stood. He saw Koopin ready his position behind the beast, as he readied his throwing arm.

"EEEEYAH!"

One toss of the hammer from his thick muscular arm pummelled against Charlie's body, ricocheting hard enough to force the monster to step back in a shudder from the impact. That one moment was all Koopin needed as he fired through the back of the creature's head. With one shot, the paraffin burst a shrieking spark of flames almost pinpointed like a laser, right through the horrors of its face as it cried in loathsome agony. Slowly the chains began to melt away, curling against itself as the possessive spirit shrieked and howled with pain and sufferance. Soon there was a light slowly enveloping Charlie, a pinpoint of blistering white like the first second before a great explosion would make the sky burn itself.

And then there was silence. Pure white silence.

"Koopin?"

Struggling to blink, he felt his eyes open as if from the inside of his retinas.

"Koopin wake up!"

Staring down upon him was Kammy, Boona, Gadd and 57 beneath a clear starlit night. It was eerie how quiet everything became, almost allowing him to hear everyone breathing on his skin. He felt his arms try to lift him up as 57 and Gadd pulled him back onto his feet, finding themselves standing in the midst of an open crumbling ruin which he knew to be the remains of the tower. What they had originally been.

"Wh-what...happened?" he asked.

"We stopped the spirit," said Gadd, "or rather well, YOU did."

"I-i-i did? I mean, we...we all did-wait, where um...Sh-shellina?"

"She's resting at the moment...she took quite a hard blow in the fight, but she will be fine thanks to her rather um 'special' magic."

"Wh-where is Charlie? Charlie, is Charlie alright?!"

"He's...we recovered him."

The tentative pause in Kammy's voice made his heart stop beating for a second.

"What?"

"We managed to recover Charlie. The problem now is how to bring him back."

"Wha-...wh-wh-what do you mean?"

They brought him over to where Charlie now laid. The chain chomp looked like he was sleeping but Koopin knew something was wrong moreso. He wasn't breathing.

"He...h-h-h-he, is he-"

"No," said Kammy firmly, "he's simply a hostage now of whatever is currently possessing him. The spirit has retreated back down to inside his soul."

"His...h-his soul?"

"Yes. Now come with me Koopin, we need to make sure you're alright-"

"No."

Koopin pushed her hand away when offered.

"I...want Charlie to be safe and happy with me again, we are GOING to get rid of this monster what EVER it is."

"I know we will but-"

"NO! YOU LISTEN TO ME, I JUST WATCHED THIS THING DO HORRIBLE STUFF TO MY CHARLIE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS AND MAKE HIM LEAVE SO HE NEVER COMES BACK!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH KENNIDON!"

Her voice imbibed a particularly dominant tone that stifled any rebellion in him.

"We will discover the source of this, rest assured, but you will do better than to raise your tone with me, or so help me Bowser you shall find yourself at a loss without your precious chomp through your own foolishness, is that clear?!"

"...yes."

"Good. Now, let's go."

---

"We brought Charlie back to Gadd's place," ended Koopin, "and then we began phase two of the whole operation. How to fix him, or rather how to fix this spirit that was now inhabiting him."

"How did this even happen?!" stammered Roy. "Lahk seriously, whut thuh hell does anybody want with a cute li'l chain chomp?!"

"That part will have to wait. I'm pretty tired honestly and I wanna go see James."

"WHUT, but I-...oh...r-righ', course I uh, guess we should."

"Yeah, I mean he is my husband and your best friend."

"Well ah wouldn't say BEST friend," said Roy teasingly.

"What?! Oh come on don't be mean!"

"Ahm just sayin' he at least in mah top three!"

"You two really are like brothers, you know that? Charlie, come on boy!"

"W-waaaah, daddy kaysh!"

Both raptor and koopa headed back towards the hospital with Charlie in tow as Roy continued to ponder for better or worse the entire mystery surrounding Charlie's possession. He wondered if James perhaps knew enough to not pester Koopin with it next time, feeling rather like he was taking liberty of his time in doing so. He made a note next time he was alone with James to try and ask further on the story.