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Chapter Text

Bowser should be surprised that the Star Spirits didn't protect their precious Star Rod properly -- again. Then again, if they're anything like the Toads, it makes sense that he's able to steal it away, as he has Peach -- yet again.

Kammy is ecstatic. She's hovering around on her fancy broom, the vile, vicious, vexing witch cackling about what they'll do this time. How it will be different. Maybe they'll use the Star Rod to give Bowser infinite lives. Maybe they'll turn all the Mushrooms and power-ups in the magical blocks into Poison Shrooms. Or Piranha Plants. Or Fuzzies. Or maybe if Mario doesn't get poisoned, or bitten, or dizzied, they could just make the bricks invincible and watch the plumb crack his head up under solid floating concrete. 

The ancient Magikoopa just won't shut her trap as they float away in his ship from Star Haven about all the possibilities. But Bowser himself? What does he want?

The truth is, Bowser's tired. 

He had the Star Rod last time. He used its vast power to increase the abilities of his minions. He made himself stronger. He even made himself invincible. And, like every time, even with this advantage Mario beat him, took back the Rod, rescued the Princess, and everyone celebrated what a great guy he was while Bowser licked his wounds in his Castle, with his people watching him become a loser. Yet again. 

No. The truth is more than the fact that Bowser is exhausted. 

He's fed up. 

He's not the only one. He sees it in the eyes of his people. Of the Koopa people. Every time he captures Peach, and fails to keep her. Every moment Mario comes after them, and humiliates them. All the times he stomps on their shells. Every time he kicks them around. Beating their sovereign up. Beating his children. Sometimes blowing up his Castle entirely. 

No. Sailing through the night air in his ship, looking down at the Star Rod in his claws, Bowser knows that the Koopas are running low on morale. He is ... starting to lose his enthusiasm. Those smug Toads jeering at them. The Princess and her smug self-righteousness. And Mario. 

That darned plumber. 

Something has to be done. It's not just about the Mushroom Kingdom anymore, or Princess Peach, or even those idiot Mario Brothers, and their ridiculous friends. It's about reminding his people that there is something to believe in. Someone to look up to. And he, Bowser, will make that possible. And they will know it. 

So, the following day, the Princess safely locked in her usual room, Bowser calls an assembly. Every form of Koopa Troopa, Goomba, and minion at his disposal attends in the courtyard surrounded by grey walls and lava. He hefts the Star Rod into the air: this time not to give himself ultimate power, but to summon someone that will help him, that will help them. A hero. A true hero of the Koopa Kingdom to fight for all of their kind. 

And as he makes his wish, as he feels the rays of radiant energy shine forth from the Rod, with the neon rings of power surround the spot in front of him: materializing a form right in front of the entire Koopa Kingdom, it doesn't take Bowser long to realize that something is different this time around. That this time, things will be different. 

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Mario doesn't really know what to think as he enters the Glitzville Arena. 

He saw the Koopa Troops in the floating city, and they ... didn't do much. They didn't fight him. They didn't jeer, or badger him at all. They weren't even attacking the residents. Not that this is completely unusual. The last time he was here, there had been a few of them in the Arena, and Bowser as well -- challenging him -- but they had not been an issue then. But Mario knows the score. Twink, now a larger Star than the tiny glittering sprite he used to be -- a Star Spirit in his own right -- told him everything, mainly about the Star Rod, but the Star Spirits themselves aren't imprisoned or scattered. They were in Star Haven, watching over everything. 

Bowser's taken Peach again. But she's not at his Castle. Neither is Bowser. They're both here. In Glitzville. At the Arena. 

It looks like Bowser's whole army is here too. But they are just walking around, even buying souvenirs and candy from the stands. Everyone else seems to be ok. When they see Mario, they glare but they do nothing. Especially not when they see the piece of paper in his hands.

The Arena lets him in. He comes alone. Toads, and others alternatively call him by the Great Gonzales, or his own name as he passes through the corridors. There is a squad of Koopatrols, led by a Dark Koopatrol. He doesn't know why they ask him for his invitation. They know who he is. No. Mario sees their usual hostility, even a bit of grudging respect and fear. But there is a smugness there now as well. And something else. Something shines from their eyes, a light that wasn't quite there whenever they usually followed the orders of their King. Somehow, they all seem to be standing taller. Straighter. Even the Koopas outside had that look. 

The Dark Koopatrol nods at the paper, and lets Mario through. 

He finds the other champions and Jolene T. in the changing rooms. He isn't allowed into the Champion's Room. It's occupied by someone else. She assures Mario that she's all right. And that her brother, Mush, is ok as well. Apparently, the young Toad had met the Koopa Kingdom's champion. They'd had something of a private session. It hadn't taken long. And, sure enough, Mush wakes up on the bed. He looks a bit battered, but nothing serious. The bed itself helped him get back to where he was. He's smiling. It's not unlike how he smiled when they fought that last time he was here. He looks at his sister, and back at Mario, and tells him not to worry. That he enjoyed himself. 

And that Mario will have fun too. 

This would have taken Mario aback, completely. Once, he would have thought the Star Rod was mind-controlling Mush, or it was an overall trap. Jolene herself nods. She says that the Koopa Champion isn't like any she's encountered before. She and her brother agreed not to say anything more, that after his sparring session with Mush, it had been his only request -- that just as he would take Mario's measure, he would allow Mario to make his own opinion of him: on his own time. 

Mario takes the time to reread the invitation, which is also a letter. 

Dear Mario:

I write to you from Bowser's Castle, though not in his company at the moment. I'm enjoying something called Sea Tea with his new Champion. He's ... different. He has been told many different things about you, and I've told him more. He's encouraged me to send you this letter as an invitation to an event at the Glitzville Arena: to face him in single combat representing both of our kingdoms. He's requested that I not say more about him, but that you will find out more about each other soon. 

I am doing fine. Twink has been keeping me company, and Bowser is treating as well as can be expected. Even better. I look forward to seeing you soon. Take care, Mario.

Enclosed in the letter is the symbol of a Hammer. Mario wonders if this Champion is a new elite Hammer Brother, though it has a strange background of three upside down triangles, a dot and two wings. Come to think of it, he's seen some of the other Koopas carrying that symbol around as well on flags, and even T-shirts. The letter was definitely written by Peach, Mario long familiar with these packages by now, and he isn't as worried. But something, someone, is waiting for him. There is an anticipation, an expectation in the air, that the plumber can't quite name. Something is different, and he can't help but feel wary. 

Jolene tells him to rest up, that he has an hour. He tells him that his friends are here, all of them, from the Mushroom Kingdom to even Rogueport. Heck, even Luigi is in attendance. Apparently, they'd gotten invitations as well. Someone wants everyone in Mario's life to see this match. This duel. This single combat. Jolene shows him a piece of paper herself, with instructions for combat. There is a request for there not to be any Items used by either party. He sees the emblem of the winged triangles on the hammer again. Mario nods. He's fine with that. Just as he's fine with his companions waiting on the sidelines. 

Mario doesn't completely relax. The Koopas still hold Glitzville, however friendly or restrained they're acting at the moment. And even though she's being treated better than usual, Peach is still Bowser's prisoner. The Star Rod has still been stolen by him. And he has a new foe to face. Still, this enemy seems ... unusually polite by all accounts. Maybe even more. Mario doesn't know what to think as the doors finally open, and the familiar man in the black suit and shades comes to take him into the Arena proper. To the Pit. But he feels in his bones, with the certainty of his mother's lasagna, that it will be a match to remember. 

Chapter Text

Mario finds the cheers of the crowd to be less subdued than he thought they would be.

Of course, this is helped by the fact that a lot of the crowd are made up of Koopas of all kinds and ranks, Goombas, Drybones, Shyguys, and almost every foe under Bowser that he's ever confronted. But there are a fair amount of Toads, Piantas, and others. Some of them are even waiting Prince Mush shirts and facsimile Black Belts. The plumber supposes that they didn't see the spar between him and this new Koopa Champion, though if they had they would still support their favourite in the ring. 

Yet as he's escorted through the crowd and their seats, he sees his friends as well. Goombario, Koops, Bombette, Parakarry, Lady Bow, Watt, Sushie, and Lakilester. Then there's Goombella, Madame Flurrie, Vivian, Admiral Bobbery, Ms. Mowz, and even his young Yoshi friend. Bootler is next to Lady Bow, but both Goompa and Koopa Koot are sitting nearby. And then, there's The Master. And Jagger along with Jinx on his shoulder. Mario raises a hand at them. They nod knowingly. 

And then there are central balcony seats. Perhaps Jolene had added more to the Pit since he was last here. He sees Luigi. They call out to each other. Next to him, of all people, is Peach. That takes him aback. His brother and the Princess are allowed to sit together, even if there are two Dark Koopatrols on either side of them. But those guards aren't particularly paying attention to their wards, as they are looking down at the ring below. Above them, are two seats. Bowser and Kammy. Kammy is cackling as usual, laughing at Mario, telling him that he is going to lose. Bowser gives a booming chuckle as well, the Star Rod in one hand, but he doesn't say anything else. He's just as intent on the ring as his Troops seem to be. He almost seems ... subdued. 

It's when Mario finally comes to the edge of the ring that he sees him. His opponent.

He's fairly tall. Even large. His armour is reminiscent of a Koopatrol, but it's more stylized. His arms and legs are exposed not unlike O'Chunks' uniform. And he's old. His face is craggy, with spots on his face, and one yellow eye looking at him while the other remains closed. He has a scraggly pale violet beard, bushy eyebrows, and what Mario initially thinks is a long plume from his helmet turns out to be the other's hair. Behind him, carried almost casually under one arm is a massive arched mallet: a war hammer. 

Mario was expecting a lot of things in the ring, from who or what his opponent might be, but he wasn't expecting an elder Koopa dancing right in front of him. 

It's true. The elder is moving from one foot to another in a pattern not dissimilar to Prince Mush. This immediately puts Mario on guard. What takes him even more aback, however, is how when the old Koopa looks at him, he actually waves one gauntleted hand in his direction. And laughs.

It's not the aggressive percussion of Bowser's usual mockery, but a deep, scratchy, genuine belly laugh. 

Before Mario can say anything, Jolene comes to the side of the ring. She's surrounded by two Lakitus, who sail off with their own microphones, making him wonder if they were guarding her or just part of the acoustics. She introduces him. Mario Mario: The Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. 

There is a considerable amount of applause, even from the Mush fans. After all Mario, as far as he knows, is still the Champion of the Pit. And then, Jolene adjusts her glasses again and points to Mario's opponent. Because, in the other corner of the ring is none other than Gerson Boom: The Hammer of Justice. 

Mario had gotten a considerable amount of applause, being reigning Champ and everything else he's been through. He'd actually been surprised that, aside from Kammy, there'd been no boos beyond the Boos in the audience. No taunts. No threats. 

But the reaction of the Koopa Kingdom almost floors him when his opponent is introduced to the public. The roar of the crowd are deafening. Mario sees something in the eyes of the Koopas. It's not fear or intimidation. Not even anger or hatred. It's admiration.

It's hope.

Jolene tells the audience that in this Championship Bout, this Duel Between Kingdoms, only one will win the Championship Belt. Mario had kept it there, with Jolene and the Pit. And there it was. But he knows that the glittering ornamental Star trophy is isn't the real prize. This fight isn't the true game. It's more than Hearts and Flower Points, and Badges. Of course, he knows they will be involved, but there is something at stake that he's rarely ever felt. Not in all of his bouts in all the sports and fights in his time in this world. He can't quite name it. But when he looks at Gerson, at the way the old turtle, the strangest Koopa he's seen in a long time -- that he's seen ever -- he knows that he's going to have a challenge on his hands. 

Mario only glances up at Bowser one more time. All the boasting and swagger is gone. There is just intensity. Anticipation. It's as though the King of the Koopas, and his people, know something that he doesn't. Not yet. 

The two fighters meet in the centre of the ring. Gerson smiles. Mario can't help but return it. It feels genuine. Maybe he knows a little now about how Mush was feeling back in the changing room.

The turtle asks Mario if it's true what they say. 

Is he Human?

It really takes Mario aback. He doesn't think about it that much. Sometimes it feels like he and his brother came here from a pipe to this world. Other times, it's like he's gone to a few different lands before. And then, when he thinks about it, it's as though he's lived here forever. He's played this game from the beginning. He will keep on playing until the end of his game. He gesticulates all of this to Gerson, not knowing why he's been more flowery than the Fire Flowers he's mashed into him over the years. 

Gerson, for his part, laughs. Mario finds it fitting that the turtle's last name is Boom given how deep his chortle rattles the ring. His opponent tells him that he has no idea. He explains that the King of the Koopa Kingdom told him a lot about Mario, his brother, Princess Peach of the Toadstools. He's only been here, summoned by Bowser for a week's time. A week before he has to go home. Before Mario can ask where Gerson comes from, the turtle explains that he sent invitations to everyone that Mario knew. His friends and his foes. He wants to see if Bowser's stories are true. He wants to experience the tale for himself. To see how everyone reacts when their duel plays out. 

Then, Gerson asks Mario, hefting the hilt of his massive war hammer if he really does fancy himself a Hero. Mario's face looks a little red, to match his shirt and hat. He shrugs, meekly. This makes the turtle grin, revealing missing and crooked teeth. Gerson tells Mario he looks far too red. That he's green now. 

And, just like that, Mario is. 

Before the plumber can even take in that he didn't even see Gerson swing his hammer, or feel anything, or the fact that he himself didn't equip the L Emblem Badge despite hearing Luigi's startled -- even delighted -- cry, he finds his own wooden hammer out in front of him as the Hammer of Justice's attacks begin. 

Chapter Text

Gerson Boom knows that Bowser did tell him stories. 

He thinks about this as Mario, affected by his Magic, holds a hammer up and almost effortlessly begins to block every razor sharp arrow of air through his way from the corner of his own Hammer. Gerson squints at Mario's movements. At his reaction to each magical projectile coming towards him. He lets them fly at him slowly. Of course, he knows that others, including His Majesty -- and Bowser is King of the Koopas and deserves that moniker -- would wonder why he isn't immediately moving in for the kill so to speak. He's had discussions about that with Bowser and his captains. It's not the way of Monsterkind, generally, to lead with one's most powerful moves. To open up with one's Special Attack. Not only isn't it fair play, but it demeans both the opponent and defender both. Gerson taught his soldiers, and his students better than that. Of course he knows, as Mario's hammer handle circles around, the mallet negating each projectile shot as they become more rapid on each side, that he could have potentially taken Mario by surprise with this new attack: this Magic he's presumably never encountered, nor experienced before. 

But Gerson wants to give the Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom a chance to prove himself. More than that, however, and less altruistically he wants to gauge him. His power. His skill. His resolve.

Gerson can see that Bowser wasn't exaggerating Mario's agility and reaction time. He can see the plumber tapping right when the projectile hit his hammer, not letting many of them get through. He watches the other's footwork. A step one way minimized the damage he took at times. Another step, faster, protected him altogether. Gerson can see the words "Guard" and "Superguard" materialize over the plumber. He wonders if this is how Mario generally fights, if that is the basis of his combat, or if it is just his own Magic adapting to whatever the rules of this world might be. 

Oh yes. He knows Bowser's stories. Of a Human interloper and his brother, of a Human Princess dominating over a race of Mushroom Monsters, of Toads, and other Monster species besides as they controlled this world, and hunted down and subjugated the Koopa Kingdom and others that wanted change. Most of the story came from Kammy Koopa, who alternatively made venomous and moon-eyes at him while reciting her tales, with Bowser interjecting about how that plumber kept foiling his plans over and again. Gerson supposes Kammy is attractive enough, but her personality overrides any good looks and even the Magic she has. The elder Magikoopa was trying to butter him up, talking on about how he would be the Hero that would liberate the Koopa Kingdom and the world from the Human-dominated Mushroom Kingdom after he told them about his own origins which -- to be honest -- still somewhat confused Gerson. Maybe it was age. Perhaps it was how Bowser had summoned him in the first place. Sometimes he remembers a War, and then a Shop Underground. Other times, he's a blacksmith. Or a teacher. He does know he's married, or he was. It's hard to keep track of it, but he doesn't let that bother him so much. How many continuities contradicted each other, how many people had different stories over time that they told about other people? And truly paying attention, truly listening, to Mario's accounts he is no different. 

They're in the same boat, it seems, this plumber and he, to that regard. And that somehow makes Gerson feel even better about this. His hands feel stiff, have become harder, under his gauntlets this past week. He doesn't have much more time, but just enough after resting, after asking many questions, after knowing deep down about himself, to go all out now. His Majesty, of this world, might think he knows his story: of defeat, of failing to change his fate and those of his people, of entitlement, of resentment. But Gerson can, and will, write him another story. Another account. Another continuity. Just like everyone's. 

But it's Mario that almost changes the narrative right at this moment. 

The plumber is blocking all of his projectiles. He's stretching his back and legs, in a batter position. Suddenly, all of the arrows are flung right back at Gerson! 

Gerson blinks as a faint green outline forms around him, as he flings his own war hammer forward. He swings in an arc, hitting his own projectiles, blurring them together, turning them into waves of a layered emerald. A Green Buster. Gerson didn't think he'd have to use something like this, especially this soon. Mario, no longer green, moves his own hammer to catch the energy. It reminds Gerson of someone. The Green Buster is hit back and forth between them, increasing momentum and force. Gerson has to admit, his joints protesting a bit under the strain, that the plumber has a good arm. Someone is clearly very good at tennis. 

Then, the return blow comes too fast. 

Gerson draws on his strength, and dodges out of the way just in time as the Buster goes nowhere. 

That is when Mario jumps. 

It's fast. Faster than Gerson thought. He moves just out of the way as the plumber's shoes stomp down where he was. Gerson takes that time to try and hit Mario with his hammer ... only for the Human to take it head on. And receive some damage. Just some. The smile on Gerson's face somehow widens further. He unleashes another blow that the small man spins from ... and yet remains unwinded. He moves again with Gerson's blow, and again. Blocking him each time. Gerson is aware of Kammy shouting something at the referees. Bowser too is roaring after her, pointing at Mario. 

Gerson's already seen it. Something flashed on the plumber's overalls. A series of Badges. A few of them has been glowing every time Gerson's blows landed less damage on him. Ah yes. Kammy and Bowser are contending that this is a No Items match, that Mario is cheating, and should therefore be disqualified, letting Gerson win by default. Many of the Koopas are now starting to boo. Some are ready through garbage at the plumber.

No.

Gerson jumps back, and holds a hand out. Mario is green again, but the ring too is affected by his Magic. None of the debris hits Mario. And it gets the crowd's attention. Everyone is silent, completely taken aback. The turtle is glad it worked. He spent a decent amount of time seeing if his Magic worked the same way in this world as it might have in others. It helped, too, that there was some kind of ambient energy still left in this Pit: perhaps from the good will of so many bouts and crowd support, but there had been something magical here, perhaps built in at one time that amplifies his effect: focusing it. He knows all about Special Places. He had one, once. Maybe twice. 

In a loud voice, he tells everyone -- pointedly looking at Bowser -- that Mario's Badges are his Equipment. He earned them. They are a part of his form of combat. And that if Mario were forced to remove them, Gerson would stop using his own hammer and take off his armour. Fair's fair after all. On the side of the ring, a Toad appears. He has purple spots on his mushroom head, matching the colour of his tunic. He calls himself a Battle Master. He informs everyone that Mario has Points that power his Badges, limiting how much he can use, and also explaining the plumber had to learn how to utilize them and in proper combinations. Gerson nods, not at all surprised that this is a form of the Human's Magic at play. Gerson and Bowser stare at each other for a moment. Gerson had told him to let him fight his way, that this had been part of the conditions. Kammy looks like she's about to protest, but Bowser glares at her, and she stops talking, reverting to her back to her quiet sulking. Bowser nods at Gerson, reluctantly. 

Mario, for his part, bows his head to Gerson. Thanking him. Gerson laughs. He tells the plumber, honestly, that he shouldn't thank him yet. Because, now, he's definitely not going to go easy on the little fellow. Inwardly, Gerson is somewhat relieved. Mario has a fixed Badge Point system, but he has his own Tension Points to consider. In his spar with Prince Mush, he'd even lost some points simply by the former hitting him. He wonders if Mario has a similar technique. Whatever the case, Gerson luckily spent far less Points in this battle, and aside from the strain on his body, he is still raring to go. Heck, even their Buster exchange only increased his metre. He can do this. 

Still, as the two of them prepare to continue their bout, Gerson can't help but think that this is some of the most fun he's had in a long time. 

Chapter Text

Mario sighs for a second, catching his breath.

He's taken more than a few blows. The early onslaught hadn't hurt him as much as it could have, but quite a few of Gerson's attack had gone through his defenses. His opponent fights in a strange way, having used his power to lock him into just using his hammer. Also, the old turtle -- completely belying his size -- had just been a blur of motion when Mario reflected his own attack back at him, and then avoided his jump. 

Mario himself didn't dodge any of Gerson's attacks, despite his Dodge Master status back in the Mushroom Kingdom. Those blows landed, those that weren't blocked anyway. He was only able to shirk, and avoid a lot of the major blows. In other words, he didn't escape the blows but a lot of the damage with his Damage Dodge badges. And all the while, he saw the metre near Gerson, yellow and solid rise: especially when he turned his attacks against him. Mario isn't completely sure how he did it, how he was able to defend using his Spin Hammer, just that there are two different sets of rules at play against each other that somehow manage to be compatible. He doesn't know how long it's been that way, or how long it will even last. But he is aware that if he can see and anticipate Gerson's attacks, the old turtle can most likely do the same for him. 

Now, he sees the other's metre, with its own Points, diminish as Gerson jumps onto one of the steel posts and balances on one of the cables. He glows with green energy again. Mario braces for what is about to happen next. 

The next thing Mario knows, he's jumping over a shell. It's like a Big Troopa Shell. The green object flies towards him. He notices that it doesn't have wings. When he first got what he found out to be Gerson's invitation, with his emblem on the Princess' letter, he thought he'd be facing anything from an elite Hammer Brother to a Paratroopa. This was neither. And it isn't Gerson's shell either. Somehow, he's just made it appear. 

Mario jumps again as, in a blur, Gerson appears knocking the shell towards him with his hammer ... He dodges, only to get hit by something else. A series of things. Mario realizes that the Troopa Shell is streaming a path of stars against him. He immediately thinks about jumping on Gerson instead of the shell, but the warrior is moving fast -- too fast for an old man. He wonders, briefly, if somehow Gerson too has the power of the Stars on his side. But it isn't the first time Mario has had to deal with hostile stars themselves, or techniques based off of them. He leaps away from the sparkling trail the shell leaves as it zigzags all over the ring ... only to land right on top of it. 

The plumber uses his momentum to slam his feet down towards where he thinks Gerson will appear next. The next thing he knows, Gerson is there, a moment of shock on his face -- apparently not used to Mario's years of kicking and ricocheting Koopa shells into objects and enemies and each other. To the old warrior's credit, he recovers quickly, knocking it back at Mario. But now Mario has control over the trajectory and path of the large shell, and he can tell that even though Gerson's yellow metre is slowly filling back up from their back and forth, the fact that he didn't just dodge and let the shell go and summon another immediately spoke volumes. 

Mario ponders if he can wear Gerson down and break his guard this way, one shell knocking into yet another Koopa -- the Koopas in the audience hollering in dismay or empathy and warning the old man of what is to come -- when Gerson slams down his hammer ... and breaks the shell entirely. It's reminiscent, to Mario, of what happened to Koops' Shell Shield in their last adventure so long ago, but he's not sure if he's even seen a Koopa or another being destroy a shell like that. In fact, Mario's only ever seen shells fall off cliffs and surfaces, or get knocked into the air and down below by Stars or Fireballs -- from items he agreed not to use here -- to presumably find their fate in the Underwhere. 

But with that impact comes a massive cascade of stars rains down on Mario. He's dodging as many of them as possible, before another green wave surrounds him. Not the rough, violent waves from earlier, but a deceptively gentle glow. The one that turned him green again. 

As the starfall dissipates, he finds himself carrying up his hammer again, holding the handle out horizontally as another barrage continues. There are arrows again. This time, they come from all sides. All directions. Some of them are longer. Others arc around, circle and hit his handle. Mario winds himself around into another Spin Hammer, knocking the arrows around left, right and centre. Gerson continues to move in a razor ship, smooth, clean blur around the ring. 

That's when the shells start coming. 

They're smaller than the Rico-Shell from earlier. Mario notices, as he smashes them away, that they return. It isn't like using the Hammer Suit, where the thrown hammers knock the shells into digital oblivion, but they change colour. Blue. Green. Yellow. He knows he can jump them if not for being bound to Gerson's Magic again. As it is, as they change yellow they disappear. From the corner of his eye, Mario sees the Koopa Brothers, stacked all on each other, cheering Gerson's name from the stands. 

But Mario is watching the pattern. He's trying to build the momentum to use Gerson's own energy against him again. He knocks the shells, blue and green, into arrows -- negating them -- and preparing another wave ... 

Until a giant Hammer slams down on him. 

Mario only had a split second to see what happened. The crowd actually gasps as a sledgehammer, perhaps a work hammer the kind a blacksmith uses, smashes through the handle of Mario's hammer: shattering it. 

The force of it knocks Mario through the air, punching not only the air out of him, but shocking him completely. His green colour immediately vanishes, leaving him red again, like a power-up knocked off of him by an errant Koopa shell. 

Then, Mario sees the stars again. 

They trail behind Gerson himself as he lunges, slamming his own warhammer down on Mario. It hits him hard, as Gerson turns him green again ... just for the large square hammer in the air to knock into him ... right into a materializing Gerson's blow from another direction, his aura of stars burning through him. Gerson is basically blitzing him in midair, not letting him hit the ground. Mario hears Luigi wailing, the Toads screeching his name, and Peach -- Peach calling out to him. 

For a second of his failing consciousness, Mario wonders if this is what all of Bowser's minions felt when he got a Super Star. 

Then, Mario sees stars as he falls to the ground finally, flat and spent. His Game Over. 

Chapter Text

Gerson is breathing hard, sweating dripping from his exposed arms and legs, into his brow under his helmet, as Mario collapses to the ground -- a deflated, spent piece of paper. He didn't even flatten the poor lad. That's just how he fell down. 

But he hadn't been Captain of the Royal Guard ... in another life, or survived centuries of war and turmoil by underestimating his opponent. 

The crowd gasps again, but this time due to what they see from Mario's side of the ring. 

As Mario lies on the ground, something happens. Gerson remains on guard as a light green and white spotted mushroom materializes over the plumber's prone form. It sparkles, not unlike something distant and possibly remembered in Gerson's memory as Mario jumps back onto his feet. Hearts manifest over him, briefly, as Gerson can see -- only for a moment -- a number of hearts refills over him. Gerson's jaw sets. His opponent is a Human after all. He remembers, from the War, from other wars, that they could possess this ability. 

But there is something different about this. 

Bowser immediately roars. He calls out the unfairness of Mario's return. That the plumber broke the rules. No Items! 

Jolene T., Prince Mush's sister, and the Lakitus turn to the Battle Master. The Battle Master is less a judge or a referee, and more of an advisor. According to the Toad, Mario did not in fact use the Life Shroom. He had it on his person, in his inventory, but he didn't consciously utilize it in their battle. Instead, the Lifeshroom has a passive effect: in that when its owner was knocked out or unconsciousness, it would revive them automatically with at least 10 of their Health Points: the hearts that Gerson could see. Gerson nods: something about the revivification hadn't looked the same as Human Willpower. It wasn't Determination, not on its own. And he'd seen the object hover out of Mario's overalls.  

Mario, for his part, bows his head. He actually looks contrite. When the Battle Master looks confused about why the Lifeshroom's head looks green, instead of a light pink. He ponders if it is like the earlier kinds of 1-Up Mushrooms: the ones that grant Extra Lives. 

How had Mario even had one on his person?

Gerson holds up another hand. He knows exactly what happened. His Magic. When he turned the plumber green, somehow his Magic and the rules of this world had intermingled yet again. In many ways, he admits, their battle shouldn't even be taking place. They are two beings from different worlds, and in this arena awash with ambient Star energies, similar yet different to those in His Majesty's Rod, the passive item must have been altered in the process unwittingly by Gerson himself. He requests that Mario not be disqualified. Technically, in his invitation he never told Mario not to bring Items, only that he couldn't actively use them in battle. Semantics are certainly something Gerson can appreciate. Secretly, he's pleased that Mario wasn't immediately defeated, or merely healed up to 10 of his Health Points. He is fully here. Ready for another round. Gerson remembers, somewhere in his dusty brain, that a Green Soul for a Human was supposed to symbolize the aspect of Kindness. Whether it was inherent in a Human, or could be made to be that way, was another matter entirely. Somehow, though, strangely Gerson feels like he should recall that this trait wasn't mutually exclusive from some Humans.

Humans. Mario is still Human. He could do other things. How many times could he restart their duel until he wins? Until he knows how to beat Gerson? 

The truth is, as fun as Gerson is having, he can't take that risk. 

Gerson concentrates and moves fast. With lightning speed, the old turtle snatches a pouch from Mario's belt. Now there will be no further automatic revivals. Gerson had enough of those to last several lifetimes. He doesn't know if there are more Extra Life Mushrooms changed by him from Lifeshrooms in that bag, but now Mario won't have them. If Gerson can't heal or revive himself, neither will his opponent. Mario nods firmly, as Gerson tells him he will get his Items back when their battle is over, one way or another. He tells the plumber to show him his best, that he's impressed, but he knows the other can do more. 

And as Gerson readies his stance again, his war hammer clasped in both hands, he gets exactly what he wishes. 

*

Mario didn't even feel Gerson take his Items. In a flash of metal and shell, and a smooth move that would have made Ms. Mowz jealous, he simply felt his pockets get lighter. Honestly, the plumber couldn't have been fleeced more gracefully if he had encountered a Big Bandit -- who also happened to be green. 

His lips curl under his fine Italian mustache. He agreed to this duel, fair and square, and he also knew the rules. When he was here last, under Grubba and then Jolene, they might have disqualified him for not fulfilling that rule, even if the item had gone off on its own perhaps, but Gerson was a better sport about it. In a lot of ways, though they were both fighting, this was the old turtle's challenge. His fight. Mario had honestly not thought about emptying his inventory, or looking in it. It'd been a while after going to so many places before this point. He hadn't thought of revisiting the Pit, or even the Star Rod in a while. But he did not remember getting a 1-Up Mushroom. Gerson's explanation, about how his Magic affected the magic of his Lifeshrooms makes sense. 

And besides, if it had been over at that point, he'd have been disappointed. He knew the old turtle was strong, but that combo attack had been something else entirely. Mario has been on the defensive for too long, had been playing it as safe as he could. Gerson could see that. 

Mario hunkers down. He narrows his shoulders, and his neck. He tells Gerson that he fights more fair than the King he defends. How in the interest of fairness, Bowser stole something far greater than an Extra Life. He points to the Star Rod in the Koopa King's hand, and how it belonged to the Star Spirits and the Stars themselves, how they used it to grant wishes to everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom, not just the Koopa Kingdom and Bowser. How it wasn't Humans, he or his brother or Peach, that ever took the Rod but the Koopa King: who had done this before. It isn't about Humans verses Monsters, but Bowser verses everyone else. The two of them ignore Bowser suddenly losing further composure, already infuriated at not being able to win this fight by default, as Gerson strokes his chin thoughtfully. 

Gerson tells Mario he's heard differing accounts, even from the Stars. He makes it clear that if Mario wins this battle, somehow, his King will hand over the Rod peacefully. Kammy looks like she's about to blow a gasket, but strangely ... Bowser stops mid-rant. Maybe the Koopa King simply is so incredulous, he can't believe what his Champion is saying. Or maybe, Mario observes, King and Champion had discussed something about this before. Kammy manages to shout out, asking what will occur if Mario should lose. Gerson just shakes his head, and laughs that loud laugh again, telling her that if or when that happens, that will be between him and His Majesty. 

That will be a story for another possible time. This is the story they need to focus on right now.

Mario looks up at Peach, and she nods to him. She knows something too it seems. They can actually trust him. 

In his prepared stance, as Gerson returns back to hefting his war hammer, Mario makes a decision. He's not going to call on the power of the Stars here despite the fate of the Rod at stake. He could do it. There are no rules in place. But it has been a while since he's summoned the Spirits, or utilized what were once the Shadow Queen's artificial Crystal Stars. Certainly, his martial arts have been getting rusty he got beaten so quickly, though his opponent is also formidable. No. He will use his Badges, and his strengths. He will play along. 

Gerson has landed blows on him, while Mario hasn't connected a single hit on him so far. Mario is not going to hold back anymore. Mario feels for another part of his Equipment. Gerson must have broken his old Dusty Hammer. It's no wonder the turtle broke a few of them already. Instead, he takes out the Ultra Hammer. He suspects that even if Gerson's Special Attack doesn't break this one, it can still knock him out of that strange Green Power-Up state. But that's all right. Mario has some other tricks up his sleeve. He's going to drain this turtle's swamp. 

The old man chuckles as Mario locks in, and calls out his war cry. 

Let's a-go! 

*

Gerson calls on his Magic again, spending more of the Tension Points that he knows he will make back in no time. He saw the fire in the plumber's eyes. That is Human Determination right there, even without its other potential effects. Who knows what he is about to do.

This time he controls the entirety of the ring. It isn't like calling out a Human or a Monster Soul to do combat. Mario's heart, or hearts, remain where they are -- in him. But he can affect their surroundings. It is part of his own gift, as inherent now to him as it is to breathe or swim. He lunges towards Mario, turning him green again -- this time not having to worry about altering items to his detriment -- summoning the stars before him and after him. Another hammer appears behind Mario to knock him out of that Shield Mode and ...

It hits Mario. The green disappears. 

But Mario doesn't fall. 

Instead, he spins. He jumps. 

Gerson feels a foot bounce off his helmet as the two of them collide from his momentum. Shock crashes through the old turtle's senses. It hurts. 

Gerson summons his speed through the pain, and flashes down at Mario, trying to slam his hammer down. But Mario anticipates him and jumps on his head again. And again. He hears terror from the audience of Koopas. They're telling him not to let the plumber hit him. Not to let him get knocked down on his back. On his shell. He remembers talking the Koopa Troop about their experiences fighting Mario, and how once they were on their bellies, they were generally helpless. Even the most elite, if down for only a moment, could be defeated this way. One moment could make the all difference in the heat of battle. 

But Gerson doesn't fall. He keeps going. They keep dodging and hitting each other at first speeds, in different areas of the ground and in the air. Gerson summons more stars around him, trying to get at his opponent from different angles, from all around him, changing the plumber's colours. But that is when he realizes that there is no way the plumber should be hurting him through his armour. Not like this. Something, another Badge, is letting him hit him as though the armour doesn't exist -- or is minimal. In fact, if anything the armour should also be hurting the plumber. Gerson knows. He created and maintained it over time. The old turtle briefly wonders if this is the result of LOVE gained from Execution Points, but immediately dismisses the notion. Nah. The plumber doesn't seem the type to kill. 

But he can Fight. 

Gerson hopes that limiting the plumber to defending with his Hammer will keep these, frankly, debilitating Jump attacks to a minimum. Gerson has weathered worse. He feels a little like reeling, but he fights through it as he taught himself to do in the ... in the War. Yes. That War. Or were there others. There are always others. Certainly, the battles never end wherever one finds one's self. 

Gerson notices that there is something different about Mario's hammer. His Magic hadn't been making hammers for the plumber as he might have in training exercises, but they had been his own. The others had been wooden and ultimately fragile. This one has a sheen. It hasn't been breaking on impact at all. Someone, or something made it well: created it to last. Instead of avoiding another strike of his own summoned work hammer, Mario moves out of the way ... and slams his hammer into Gerson. 

The old turtle gasps. He's thrown a bit away into the narrow space he's made of the ring, that he was attempting to rock back and forth. That really hurt. That hammer blow went through him, almost through his shell, like there was nothing there. Gerson grunts, biting down on the pain, but still smiling. He knew the Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom had some tricks, and he's genuinely impressed. He compliments the plumber as he unleashes more of his own speed and continues his assault. 

The following that transpires is a series of patterns in the air and on the ground again. The hammer knocks Mario out of his green state into red as he manages to jump on Gerson's head again, but Gerson moves away and smashes the plumber with his own war hammer. They almost climb up and down an invisible level of stairs created by their mutual blows. From the audience, Gerson briefly makes out an old ape or monkey looking away from the spectacle, telling a larger, younger being of the same species in a grousing voice that it brings back too many memories -- and wanting a banana right now from concessions. 

Gerson doesn't have time for much more than that snippet as he and Mario continue to play their game of Ladders and Hammers. He winces through the pain, of not just the blows he's taking but the strain on his body. He feels it spreading through his hands and feet, covered as they are by his own equipment. He needs to change tactics. 

He needs distance again. 

Gerson blurs around Mario, seemingly surrounding him on all sides, trying to slam into him on each angle. But the plumber keeps jumping on him with eerie accuracy. But he gets in some blows as well. More importantly than Mario's Hearts, his Health Points as the Battle Master pointed out, are the Flower Points. Gerson can generate Tension Points again for his Magic, but Mario has a finite amount of Flower Points -- some that he is using considerably in his Jump and Hammer attacks. He needs items to replenish them, but he can't use items. Gerson just need to wear him down. 

So the old turtle speeds around him, surrounding Mario with his own after images, allowing him to retreat back to the posts and cables. Mario comes down, his stance ready, breathing heavily. Both of them are battered, and exhausted. 

Gerson commends Mario. He tells him that he is proving a worthy opponent, and this a great battle. But it is time that he shows him, truly, just why he is called the Hammer of Justice. 

Chapter Text

Mario already knows what's coming next. He braces for it.

So far, his Spike Shield and Piercing Blow Badges helped him out extremely well. He didn't know if his opponent's armour was anything like the Koopatrol's. It could have blocked any other blows, and there could have been spikes or indents that would hurt Mario just by trying to touch it. Damage Dodge and Dodge Master are protecting him too, it's true, but his Power Plus Badges are allowing him to hit Gerson, and hit him hard. His Power Bounce Badge also allowed him to keep up with Gerson's assaults, each jump repeating itself in a pattern that he won't let up. He knows he needs to be close, up-close, and personal enough for the turtle to smell the garlic on his breath. 

He almost gives a plumber's lament that he didn't end up wearing his Pretty Lucky and Lucky Day Badges. It would have, he believes, actually allowed him to dodge almost as -- if not just as -- fast as Gerson himself. He might have avoided all blows, and not just their damage, altogether. Mario hadn't had a lot to go on from Peach's invitation, or even Jolene and the others in the locker room. He'd suspected that Gerson was a Hammer Brother, or part of that Koopa Corp. Maybe even a Paratroopa. Mario hadn't engaged this form of combat in a while, his knowledge of A and B-Styles of defense needing a refresher all things considered. But even before this fight began, he knew what he had to do at his core. Over time, Mario had learned that the best way to defeat a powerful enemy -- from Bowser to so many others -- was to redirect and use their own force against them. B-Style, Superguarding, is definitely a part of that. But there are other methods, too. Other equipment. A plumber never just wields one tool. 

And now, as the torrent of filth is about to be unleashed out of the proverbial pipes with a large storm of tools about to be thrown his way, Mario knows that he made the right choice. That the way isn't away. 

It's through. 

It's through, and head on. 

He can almost see the nods from Jinx and Jagger, from The Master and his students. They'd called him their instructor, their sensei, after he'd won against them. But Mario learned so much more from them. And he is about to prove it as Gerson unleashes his attacks. 

Mario can hear the contingent of Hammer Brothers wildly screaming in solidarity and delight as Gerson throws his own hammers. They all vary in size. Mario draws on his inner strength, the content warmth of a full belly after some good linguini as he begins to follow the old turtle's patterns. There is no green magic this time, so Mario can jump and leap as much as he wants. He knows that he needs to close the distance, before the space traps him itself. He jumps over the smaller volley, each larger metal hammer ricocheting off the rails and wires back at him at awkward angles. Some of them actually hit, with him immediately falling back into A and B-Style. He Superguards many of them, and just barely Guards against the others. He's getting hurt again. This is especially true when Gerson rains down a shower of the things, each one increasing in size. But Mario is an old guard at this. He's weathered many streams of hammers before. Some of the Hammer Brothers begin to groan as he keeps making his way forward towards his opponent, probably remembering all the times he destroyed them. He can hear them shouting at Gerson. 

Don't let him jump you.

It's when Mario does, in fact, Spin Jump from the end of a massive hammer falling down -- his Spike Badge protecting him from any edges -- that Gerson sweeps his own war hammer ... and that green wave comes back. Mario finds him falling to the ground as Gerson jumps over him, sweeping arrows and shells his way. His own hammer comes out and begins blocking, and swatting the things away. Some of the shells actually collide with each other from Mario's hammer blows. Then, a red blur almost side-swipes Mario entirely. 

He barely dodges out of the way. It had been a smaller shell. Sleek. Red. More of them come his way. They are faster. They turn various shades of brown on impact with the hammer, and take longer to smash. 

Then Gerson alternates. He throws a smaller, sparkling, square hammer at Mario, knocking him out of his posture and the green state, as he lunges forward with his stream of stars. Mario jumps out of Gerson's way as the other then hits him with another green wave, sending more shells and arrows at various angles. First stars coming his way as he is his own colour again and allowed to jump, then shells and arrows as he's green and holding his hammer. Mario, for his part, keeps adapting. He jumps on the shells when he's his usual red and blue, and hits them and the arrows when he's green as Gerson jumps from post to post. 

Mario decides on another tactic. As he keeps dodging, feeling every hit when it comes through taking more and more of his Health Points again, he draws on another power. His Quake Hammer badge glows on his overalls as he targets the posts in the ring. The ground, even the whole arena shakes, not unlike how Gerson has been moving it with the impact of his Magic and personal strength as the posts shake. The shockwave actually hits Gerson, knocking him onto the ground. Mario strides towards him with his own hammer. If this had been the Mushroom Kingdom, and if he had been allowed, he could take a Fire Flower or utilize his Fireorb Special Attack. But now that Gerson is grounded, he can do something else. 

He draws on the power of the Fire Drive Badges. Mario suspects that Gerson's will is weathered and honed, heavily disciplined enough, to resist any conditions from his other Badges, and his armour might resist residual burning. But he wants to show him that he can use his own projectile attacks, even if he doesn't currently have his Hammer Throw in play. 

It goes as much as Mario expects. He smashes his hammer to the ground, pounding fire towards his opponent. Gerson see's the burning flame coming towards him, and swings his hammer. It becomes an arc of flame, swinging back towards Mario. Mario swings his own hammer in response, knocking it back. Eventually, the red and orange of the attack becomes waves of green as they exchange blows back and forth. Each time, Mario gets closer to the turtle. Gerson could dodge it again, letting the wave go elsewhere, but Mario sees the other's yellow metre being replenished. He wants this Tension. That means he's up to something.

Gerson laughs again. He's saying that every story thrives on a good conflict. A momentum. The climax is coming. Mario is proving every inch the Champion that he's heard of, and more. But now, soon, as they exchange this Buster between them -- this collaboration he calls it -- it will be time to see it. Every Hero, Gerson says, needs to face a Shadow, the Darkness, to prove exactly who they are. That you learn a lot about someone and their character -- about what kind of Hero they are -- when they're with you in the dark.

Mario grits his teeth and perseveres, and the Buster wave finally gets through. It doesn't collide with Gerson, but he moves with it, spinning around. He is glittering with stars, and a green aura as his Tension Points disappear ... along with the entire ring itself.  

*

Gerson's hot. Those blasts of fire were really doing a number on him in this armour. He remembers someone else, who grinned about as much as he did, having difficulty with heat like. Water-based creatures like them did. But he's fought through worse. 

It's not Mario's flames, and the Buster he made of it, that's the issue. In fact, it reminds him -- rather fondly -- of someone else's Red Buster. No. It's the feeling in his arms and legs. It's spreading. It was inevitable, he supposes. This is just as much for the morale of the Koopa Kingdom on whose behalf he'd been summoned as it is for survival. Mario's probably noticed he isn't dancing around as much now, though maybe he thinks it's because he can see his Tension Points. The plumber himself doesn't have as many Flower Points left, but there is still enough to do some damage. 

This is the moment. The crucible. He remembers a conversation he had with Bowser, the day before this battle. They sat in his throne room, enjoying a tea party. Gerson had made himself more comfortable in his suit and scarf, with his beret. It'd been how he came into this world, which really through all of the Koopa Kingdom for a loop when Bowser first got him here. He knows they'd been expecting a hulking, massive Koopa Champion, and not a tea-drinking old man with a green cane. Maybe once, he'd looked a little more like what they expected -- and in his armour he probably resembled something like how he presented himself in his heyday. 

That's how Bowser presented it. They'd talked about a lot of things. Most of the time, Gerson had spent time with the Troops. He'd watched them train. He gave them pointers. He annoyed Kammy and most of the Magikoopas with too many questions, curious as to how their Magic functioned compared to those of his own people. How were Magikoopas different from other Koopas if they were all Monsters? Gerson knew enough about fiction to know about multiple worlds, and realities. About idealized characters and embodiments of said ideas. He knew enough about Magic itself and the rules of world-building to know he shouldn't be here, how laws and rules existed for a reason. How everything has its price. 

So after a few other adventures, and time in Bowser's forge, they were in that throne room. Bowser himself had been dressed in a fine white suit. Apparently it was the only formal wear he had, something related to a wedding that he didn't particularly want to talk about. 

Bowser told Gerson that he could help him with the Star Rod. He explained the reason he and Kammy chose the Glitzville Pit to present to their challenge to his arch-nemesis was that the place had been originally managed by a greedy fellow named Grubba. Grubba had been a champion once himself, and stole an artifact called a Crystal Star to augment his own power. He couldn't use it naturally, though, so he created a machine linked to the arena -- to the ring -- to take the energy of others to help himself. It infuriated Bowser to no end, because aside from the fact that at the time he missed out on retrieving a Crystal Star, apparently Grubba had plagiarized a page from his own book. Although Kammy had built the device herself and also, apparently was grumpy as all get out at Grubba for stealing the idea from her own hard work, His Majesty told Gerson that he'd had his own floating arena that vastly increased the powers of himself and the Star Rod. He skipped over a few details that, later, Princess Peach filled him in about -- such as Bowser having stolen and taken her Castle into the sky, though Gerson would have seen through some of that description himself as His Majesty was a terrible liar -- but his point was that he could use the Star Rod to increase Gerson's powers. He knew for a fact that not all of the machinery in that Star-infused arena was gone. In fact, Bowser could use any wish on the Rod. He could even more Gerson young again if he wanted. 

This amused Gerson greatly. Seriously, for all of his fearsome nature, Bowser is fairly transparent. Even not always as ... apt. At least ... Fluffybuns, was it? King Fluffybuns was honest about his shortcomings, though Bowser wasn't too terrible a sort. His people loved him. Just as his people loved, in another life or in another's life, their King. 

In some ways, the Koopa was like a child. Maybe, in another life, another son to Gerson, though he did remind him of a Dragon. Another Dragon. 

Gerson declined the Koopa King's offer. He tells him that he wants to win with his own abilities. And as for getting his youth back? Well, he compared it to forging. It'd be like undoing the shape that his weapon had gained through years of combat. It'd be like reversing several of the blows that honed and shaped it in the first place. Or, as the blacksmith talk might be too specific for His Majesty, it would be like being used to a tool you've used your whole life, only to attempt to replace it with something new and flashier. Perhaps with time he could get used to it, but it wouldn't be the same as utilizing his familiar implement. It would take longer. And besides, his kind aren't at their full potential when they are young -- but when they have some years in them. Gerson's body is his tool, and not only would he not be as used to fighting younger, the reflexes and even mentality might not be the same. No. The Star Rod summoned him like this for a reason, made him who he is -- as he knows he is a composite of at least two others that called themselves Gerson -- and he would not interfere with that. Then he told His Majesty to finish his Sea Tea.

But Bowser's insight into the arena, and why they chose it for his battle with Mario stays with him. It makes sense. It allows Gerson to manipulate the surroundings in a more dynamic way than his own passive aura generally allows. 

And now, he draws on the power around them. He remember his own training exercises. There is a memory of him sparring with ... statues, in the darkness. To see what he is made of. He told Bowser, that day, that just as soldiers are made by drills and survival, warriors by battle, that Heroes are made by stories. And stories are forged on anvils of darkness and strikes of light. 

And as Gerson summons his power to turn off all the lights in the Glitzville Pit, drawing on most of his reserves to do it, he plans to finally test what Mario's mettle is truly made. 

Chapter Text

As shocking as it is to have the entire Glitzville ring shrouded in darkness, there is one obvious drawback. 

The spectators can see nothing. At least, most of them. 

The undead contingent, the Drybones and Boos, and the like seem to looking on at the battle without flinching. They seem intent on it. If someone were to ask them why, aside from the fact that most of them sided with the Koopa Kingdom, they would be hard pressed to say. Perhaps it is the power or the aura of Gerson. Or maybe, somewhere deep down, they feel like they are almost watching someone fight their enemy who is not unlike one of their own. Others seem to be able to sense Flower Points, or ki, and can follow current events well enough. But this no good for publicity. Both the audiences from the Koopa and Mushroom Kingdoms, even other places, are aggrieved. They can't see a thing. 

That's when the Shamans come into play. Jolene apologizes for the sudden obscuration of the match, but that the Shamans -- led by the Merlons of the Mushroom Kingdom, Rogueport, and Flipside-Flopside, along with other members of their Tribe are ready to help everyone out. The Shamans pool their magic together. A giant crystal ball materializes over the ring. It doesn't banish the darkness spell, or whatever power Gerson has summoned, but it does give everyone a view of what is going on inside of the ring.

This, of course, has a side effect. One the demands that the Koopa Kingdom made while occupying Glitzville, but also sponsoring this entire event, was that the battle would be televised everywhere. On one hand, this would give Glitzville and the Pit much more coin revenue. The problem is that it also allowed for not only ticket scalpers, but gamblers to try to make their cut. Not long before, both Koopas and Glitzville security had to break up an entire ring of scammers utilizing Shamans and pseudo-shamans to make "predictions" of who the winner would be. This was especially egregious for the Merluvlees: two of whom were being impersonated by Doopliss of Rogueport and Mimi of Flipside-Flopside. Given that the Merluvlees helped the Merlons and the reputable Shamans to set up magical aids for the bout in the first place, they took a dim view of the situation. Luckily, the whole scam of pretending to know the winner before the battle was over was foiled mostly by the scammers themselves as both Croco's Crooks -- the former being the businessman behind this improvised venture -- and the Rogueport Bandits were fighting over the spoils, allowing Bowser's minions and the authorities to find them. Ms. Mows might have also been involved, putting the syrup into surreptitiously or placed some bets, but if she had no one apprehends her -- even if the news of this at the arena makes her companions give her the stink eye.  But Badge collecting, such as those that Mario is currently using, does not come cheap. 

That this is how invested everyone is in the outcome of this match, especially now that it's harder to see its latter stages. 

As it is, the image isn't perfect. Both Mario and Gerson are illuminated dimly, Gerson outlined by green and Mario so far red. But everyone can see the stances of both opponents. They are tense. Prepared. Gerson isn't moving around anymore, but has both of his hands on his hammer. The way he holds it to the side, it almost looks like a scythe, the long plum of his hair from his helmet like the end of a hood of the Reaper. Or Father Time. Mario is squatting, with his own weapon in both sides. 

This is it. Everyone knows it. Right now, what the audience of the Glitzville Pit is watching, is the final round of the bout. The Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom verses The Hammer of Justice. 

Winner take all.

*

Mario can't see a thing. 

He wishes, obliquely, that that Watt could help him. He recalls the Li'l Sparky being able to illuminate the dark, even from being trapped by the Big Lantern Ghost of Shy Guy's Toy Box. He thinks he can almost make her out in the distance, in the crowd that he can still hear. But she can't aid him here, in this battle. He knows enough about turtles, as a plumber, to understand the situation. Gerson must have low light vision, and see in this dark much more efficiently than him. It's definitely one of the few other traits he shares with the Koopas, if not much else beyond fighting with a shell. 

It's so strange to Mario. Gerson doesn't fight like the other Koopas at all. He doesn't retreat into his shell and assault him. He doesn't try to bite or claw him as some have done. He doesn't keep his distance all the time like the Hammer Brothers. And he doesn't possess Bowser's poison or fire breath. Even his magic is more limited than the Magikoopas. But what he has, and what he uses, he undertakes carefully, methodically. And now he has Mario at a disadvantage again. He knows that it might be time for some desperate tactics to survive this. 

First, he feels himself turning green again. Then, there is a flash of white light as a volley of magical arrows comes towards him. He raises the mallet up and blocks them. Then there is another bar of the same light as he blocks from the other side. Then above. Then below. They all make different noises. They're slow in the darkness, but they are increasing in power. Then there is that hearty, rough chuckling as Gerson is a green outline leaping down and bring his war hammer to bear. 

Mario blocks most of the attacks, and then dodges most of Gerson's blows. But some get through ... and Gerson smashes him to the side. It makes him skid across the mats, and he can feel the pain. But Mario did manage to see him for a little bit. He doesn't know if there are more tricks involved. He needs to get his bearings. He needs to plan this out.

That's when he draws on another power.

Mario concentrates, and activates his Charge Badges. He keeps in defense as the arrows appear just inches away from his position, in different places. The white bars on all sides indicating where the arrows are coming from fade, and then disappear altogether. He feels the ring being rocked back and forth, disorienting him as Gerson swings down on all sides, a green blur of focused demolition. Mario finds himself closing his eyes more often than not, just listening to the sounds near him, and reacting. He remembers his training at the dojos. Each sound is a position where the arrow is coming, and the laugh is the harbinger of Gerson's hammer slams. All the while, he remains in place as much as he can, feeling his Health Points whittle down. But now he can pinpoint what directions the turtle is coming from when he attacks directly. His defenses are mostly holding up. He continues to activate his Charge. 

All he needs to do is land a blow, not unlike a timed hit. 

Mario knows he's using a lot of power to maintain this stance. To find his moment. His Flower Points are getting low. But he can actually see the pattern now. He can hear it too. If he can only ...

Then, the laugh. 

As Mario takes several more hits, deflecting more, he winds up his hammer right where Gerson lands ...

And his blow connects. 

He can see a momentary green outline flinch, thrown back into the darkness, and the sound of something hard hitting a pole. Mario could hear his own blow when it hit. That had to have hurt. He even hears the other coughing. Mario winces, almost feeling bad, but knowing that the other wouldn't have it any other way. He can't see the other's Health Points, if he has any, but it was a substantial blow. Mario knows he's been worn down to 5 HP a while back in this phase. Power Rush already activated, making his wallop even greater. Now he resists the need to pat the Mega Rush on his suspender. Last Stand had already divided most of the damage he would have taken in half before this, and one more volley if needed. His last other important Badge, Close Call, emanates its warmth. 

Mario hunkers down. This is it. This is where it ends.

He listens, his eyes closed in the darkness, as he hears the arrows swiftly approaching him. He saw the other's yellow bar. It was low, but now coming to maximum with each hit that Mario is now blocking. Most of the arrows, even shells glittering in the dark, miss him completely. The Close Call Badge is serving him well. He's spent. He has no further Flower Points now. He spent all of his Charges on that one blow. But ... 

But if he can land one more, as he's breathing hard, barely conscious, he knows he can do it. He knows with the power of Power and Mega Rush he can finish this. 

*

It's really down to it, ain't it?

At first, Gerson thought he had the plumber on the ropes. Humans can't usually see well in the dark, even with the cues from his Magic. Gerson is used to it well enough. He remembers a Kingdom Underground, and a Dark Sanctuary around a study. That aside, he admits to himself that Mario defended well, though, but Gerson could see the others Points disappearing fast. But then he saw the other glowing. Another Badge or two. He recognized that glow. He'd spent a lot of time with the Koopa Troops and their Goomba allies. He knew what a Charge was. Some Monsters, in the Underground ... or beings elsewhere, could do something similar. 

Gerson also had the advantage of sparring with Prince Mush earlier. When his green Magic hadn't trapped the Toad fighter -- that excellent young warrior and Champion -- into various kinds of defense and evasion from his projectiles, he saw a different aura around him. It'd been flashier, even more colourful than Mario's from his Badges, but he saw the increases in power. Gerson's magic, and his resilience, as well as a good healing from His Majesty's acquired Star Rod after the battle was over left him ready for this. He doesn't know if it had been too much, given his summoning condition, but it had been an excellent warm up. 

He knew he should have been more careful. Just because Mario didn't use his power like a conventional Human, didn't mean that he lacked it -- especially given how Gerson knew what those Charges meant. He wonders if, in this world, a Human's Magic was reliant on Items instead of their own will. Perhaps that is one other way Mario differed from the magicians that the old turtle barely recalled, the ones that exiled his people Underground in another life. But Mario has a lot of power. 

He's still wheezing from that one perfectly timed blow. Any other Monster might have been dust, though Gerson doesn't sense intent to kill from the plumber. Not that it mattered as he found, in his own experiences in other lifetimes that some Humans didn't know their own strength, and how fragile most Monsters actually were. And Gerson is old, that's true. But there's more. There isn't much more time. 

In some ways, he's underestimated this plumber. He sees why Bowser and his Kingdom have been so frustrated for so many years in their ambitions. Mario just keeps adapting. And as he starts to feel cold, he knows. 

It's time. 

Gerson has his Tension Points completely filled. He spends all of it one more Special Attack. If he can hit Mario once, he could end this. 

He flings a series of arrows and shells. Most of them are parried by the plumber, but some ... miss him entirely. It must be another kind of Magic, though Gerson didn't sense it earlier in their fight. It's only at the end, close to peril, that these attacks are simply missing the mark, colliding with each other or dissipating on the posts. But those are distractions. Ignoring the pain inside of him from Mario's brutal blow earlier, Gerson runs forward, and flings a glittering orange hammer. 

It connects. He sees the plumber's startled look as his own silvery hammer is flung out of his hands. It knocks him back. He is barely standing now. 

That hadn't been enough for the KO, but Mario only has moments. He's red again. Gerson draws on his strength and tries to directly hammer him from all sides. He is just green after-images in the darkness. He moves in for one final hammer blow ....

*

Mario groans, exhaling out softly, as Gerson's hammer slams his own tool out of his hands. His Badges glow warmly against him again. Mega Rush. He is out of Flower Points, and down to 1 HP. Gerson's rapid attacks remind him so much of the Crystal King's ... Even Mush's technique. But they are all him. All real. Each blow could end him right now. 

His eyes narrow as Gerson lands one blow ...

Mario calls on his inner strength, breathing in and out, coming into B-Style and Superguarding the attack.

Gerson is knocked back. Some of the damage that would have taken Mario is redirected back into him, stunning him.

Mario's power is through the roof. Gerson is inches away. Mario doesn't have his hammer anymore, and it would take time to jump. Instead, his fist flies out -- forgetting that he isn't in the Mushroom Kingdom or Monstro Town as he is about to follow through to land one punch, and an upper cut ...

Then Mario stops it. 

Suddenly, the darkness around them dissipates. The audience gasps. Then there is silence. Mario stands in front of Gerson, his fist frozen in mid-punch. He doesn't know if using this move, a basic attack from another land and time from dealing with another Seven Stars, might disqualify him -- though not done in Rogueport and its area, there seemed to be no rules against it. That had been pure instinct. Two timed hits that he almost unleashed. But that is small compared why he really stopped. He sees that the old turtle's colour has changed. It's mostly grey. 

Gerson chuckles, warm, but weaker now. The grey is expanding. He tells Mario this was a good fight. 

And that he concedes. 

Chapter Text

Some time before his match with Mario, Gerson had requested that Bowser assemble the Koopa Troops in all the Kingdom so that he could talk to them. The Magikoopas and Lakitus had been instructed, by Bowser, to broadcast Gerson's words throughout the rest of the land as well. 

The old turtle didn't want to waste more time. 

He told them that he'd been among them for a while, after His Majesty had brought him here to battle their enemy, the Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario. Gerson explained that he knew they already were aware of, and would attend, the bout between them, but he wanted to tell them why it was so important. He understood that they wanted to see their long time enemy defeated, their Kingdom avenged against the Mushroom Kingdom, and to be able to change their world. As they all knew, he had been surveying all of them. Spending time with them. He'd trained with the Troopas. He'd flown on one of His Majesty's Koopa Clown Cars, he'd smiled with fondness at the quaint name of the vehicle, to keep up with the Paratroopas. That he visited the resting places of the Drybones and Boos and listened to their tales of how they got there, and their undying loyalty to their King. How the Magikoopas tolerated him, he recalled saying with a smile, and even taught him another spell or two for their troubles. He got to swim with the Cheep Cheeps, and he hadn't got to really do something like that in ages. 

That among so many others, including his time with His Majesty and his own family, that being with the Hammer Brothers and their kin, training and giving some pointers, made him miss the days when he was a Captain of the Royal Guard in another place, and another time, as well as his own family. 

He reminded them of the day he had been summoned, and how he told Bowser the story of his people -- what he could remember of them. That it related to the duel he would have with their foe. 

In another time, and another life, Monsterkind had lived side by side with Humans before the latter grew terrified of them. There was a War, and Monsters were banished deep underground, sealed away for what seemed to be like eternity. He mentioned how he had a King. How even after that banishment and so much loss, for a long time his King had wanted to go back to the Surface, to be free, to coexist with the people that misunderstood them. But tragedy had changed that, and that suffice to say they had prepared for war and did things they regretted. He recalled seeing Kammy's face, and some others tense up. Even Bowser hadn't been sure where he was going with this.

Gerson said that from he recalled of his former Kingdom that on the Surface and below in the Underground, his people always fought the same. They always interacted the same. They built puzzles to challenge each other, and the outsiders that would come in. That by solving those puzzles, they could not only improve themselves but understand the builders. It wasn't unlike the places that the Koopa Kingdom built, or guarded. But that in terms of combat, his own people had been unique. 

The old turtle described it to them as best he could muster. That when a Monster battled, they bared their Soul, their true self to their opponent -- be it another Monster, or Human, or anyone really. Sometimes battles were duels, or misunderstandings, or quite the opposite: just ways for one Monster to communicate and interact with someone else. It was one thing to Fight, and Gerson admitted that sometimes that was your only option given the circumstances, but you could also Act. Acting was more than just pretending, or going through motions. Acting covered so many things. Performance was important. Duels and single combat have aspects of performance and exhibitionism, of course -- especially with how one represented another. Gerson told the assembled Koopa Kingdom that when you talked to someone else, had any interaction with them, you not only represented yourself but where you came from. 

He admitted that he traveled a bit since he got here, even a bit under the cover of night to other parts of this world. He even helped scout out Rogueport and Glitzville for the upcoming match. Gerson made a point of looking at each and everyone of the Koopa Troops as he made it clear that what they would see in his battle with Mario would, hopefully, reveal what his Soul was made of -- and that of their foe's. That whatever happened at the end of the duel, they would judge what they saw accordingly, and make their own decisions. They would see the measure of their enemy. And they would also see who they truly are. Battle is, sometimes, the best way to gauge that line of identity. Gerson told them that he would Fight for them. But he would also Act. Acting covered performance but also Magic, and words. He wanted them to remember that. That the time would come, would always come, where no matter what world they are in, just as much as they could Fight, they could also Act. And he would, ultimately, do his best to do both on their behalf. 

That was his vow as whoever or whatever he was now, as Gerson Boom -- blacksmith, scholar, former Captain of the Royal Guard, friend and father. That is what he would do for them as the Hammer of Justice.

*

Bowser jumps off the balcony to the ring below. 

Mario feels him push him aside, but the Koopa King's movement is less violent than it is just urgent. Kammy hovers down on her broom. The plumber sees Peach. She's floating down from her own balcony seat on her parasol, which of course the Koopas forgot to take from her -- or were so used to their back and forth of kidnapping and return that they just didn't bother. She goes up to Mario's side, about to put her hand on him, to heal him. 

But Mario shakes his head. He gestures at Peach to help him. To help Gerson instead. 

There is a crew of Magikoopas, Shamans and Merlons, and even the Princess herself. But their healing magic isn't helping the greying turtle. Bowser even calls on the power of the Star Rod. A gentle glow surrounds Gerson's form, still standing up in the ring. Even rings of neon stars surround him. Nothing changes. Gerson himself manages to shake his head. He tells them that what's happening to him is related to his summoning. This isn't his world. His reality. The old turtle seems to get confused for a few moments, talking about Dark Fountains, timelines, different continuities, even crossovers. That Magic always has a price. Bowser is actually looking downcast. The plumber almost thought he heard ... an apology. It's something Gerson laughs off. He says that, in a lot of ways, he shouldn't even be be here. That if the King hadn't used the Star Rod, not only wouldn't he have existed here, he might not exist -- live -- in general. That if anything, he should be thanking Bowser for this opportunity. That he is, in fact, thanking him -- him and the Koopa Kingdom. But it's just one of those things. 

Mario doesn't completely understand, but he remembers their first talk before the match. Sometimes Mario himself has different memories of how he got to the Mushroom Kingdom, he and his brother, and how at the same time it felt like they had always been here. 

After all, how could Mario remember exploring the sewers, and before that tall buildings and rafters with a giant ape but also the Yoshis that he recalled since childhood? Gerson actually chuckles at Mario absently gesturing to himself, despite his condition, telling him not to worry about it. A lot of the time, as with myths and legends, it doesn't matter how the story started or even if it's always the same one. The fact that a story even is is enough. And Gerson, well, he figures that he was the cameo. He mentions something about Dragon Blazers doing something like that at one point, angering some fans because it was even less canon than the source material, and exciting most of the others because it combined the things that together that they love. Gerson is mumbling more nonsensical things. 

Gerson looks to Mario, who comes over to his side. The old turtle is smiling broadly. He tells him that he can see the plumber is a good sort. The quiet type. He says he thinks he met someone like him before, and maybe another besides. It's getting harder to remember. He tells him, shaking his head, as though trying to clear his thoughts, that he enjoyed this battle. That he got see who Mario really was. And he raises his voice more loudly, when he says that hopes that everyone else did too. 

Mario indicates the same. Gerson holds out one hand. Mario takes it. They shake hands. Mario feels that despite the other's weakening condition, his grip is still very firm. Gerson tells him that there a lot of things he likes about stories. There are twists, but there are also little things. Easter eggs. Little gifts. Gerson tells Mario he'd been under Rogueport, in the old city. That he left him something there. He had a feeling that Mario would earn it. 

Then he turns to Jolene, who is there in the ring as well, and tells her to do it. To call the match. To award the victor. 

Prince Mush is there as well. There is sadness on the young fighter's face, but he helps his sister give the Championship Belt to Mario. Mario takes a moment, and then picks up the belt. The Toads and everyone else in the audience cheers. The Koopa Kingdom spectators look more subdued, but they actually clap. 

Gerson is even more grey now. He thanks them, everyone, again for this opportunity. He looks to Mario, but the plumber wonders if he's actually talking to him. 

Can you hear it? Can you hear its song, singing from the deep...? Somewhere, out there, that... is the ringing...

Then, Gerson closes his eyes, completely grey. More of a statue than any Tanooki Suit could ever create. Then, as though the universe itself blinked, he disappears. Entirely. 

As he does so, everyone from the Koopa Kingdom in the audience seems to glow. They glow green. All of them, living or undead. Then, the words, Recruited by Old Man appear above every single one of them. And there is silence. 

Everyone in the ring stands where Gerson used to be. Bowser just looks down. His face is completely downcast. It is the most quiet he has quite possibly been in his entire life. 

Mario comes up to him. He taps the Koopa King's shoulder. It actually startles the other. There is no hostility though. No anger. He's wrestling with more emotions now, beyond hunger, or greed, or envy. Mario hands him the Championship Belt. Bowser doesn't seem to register it for a few moments. He doesn't completely seem to understand. But then, some spark comes back into his eyes, just for a moment. He takes the Belt from Mario. 

There is no boasting. No gloating. No ranting. Then, he takes the Star Rod, and hands it to Mario. 

For a few seconds, Mario thinks he sees the same green words hovering over Bowser's head before, without another word, Bowser clicks his clawed index and thumb together ... and leaves the arena. Not long after that, Kammy flies after him, and every member of the Koopa Kingdom follows. 

Mario and the others watch on. Later, they find out the Koopa Kingdom has completely withdrawn from Glitzville. Mario doesn't know what to say, really. He knows, deep down, that this isn't over. Bowser will be back. The Koopa Kingdom will continue its antics. Peach herself knows she will be in Bowser's Castle again. Mario will have to get her. But something has changed too. Maybe it won't take. Maybe it will all just reset again. But for today, just for today, the story got to change for a while. And sometimes, that is enough.

Chapter Text

Mario had searched far and wide in the Rogueport Underground. 

The Deepdown Depo did not have what he was looking for, nor was whatever it was in any nook and cranny of the Ruins. Ms. Mowz herself couldn't help him sniff it out. It wasn't until he runs into another figure by chance that he got the answers that he sought.

It's Dazzle. The Underground denizen doesn't seem surprised to see Mario back in the Underground. When Mario explains that he's looking for something, and he's not sure if it is a Badge or an Item, Dazzle tells him that he knows precisely what he's talking about. Apparently, a little while back, an old Koopa had come to him. Dazzle explains how he's traveled the whole Underground himself and beyond -- to find artifacts of immense worth, Badges, to trade for his favourite Star Pieces. He and Merlow of the Mushroom Kingdom, for example often meet up and compare notes. But everyone once and a while, Dazzle will meet someone else with something to give him, though it is a rare occurrence these days.

This old Koopa, as he calls him, had given him something that was neither an Item nor a Badge -- the latter being his stock in trade as Mario knows. He said that at some point, Mario would be searching for it. Mario looks a bit sheepish. He doesn't have any Star Pieces on him, but Dazzle waves him off. Apparently, Mario doesn't have to pay him a thing. The old Koopa had given him something called Glowshards, which truly intrigues the strange being, hoping to find more of these luminous items somewhere else. 

Dazzle presents Mario with the object from his wares. It is a pair of boots. They are sleek. Metallic. Gerson's emblem of three triangles underneath a winged circle emblazons the pair. Dazzle hands them to him, with a note. Mario looks down at the piece of paper, and reads it.

I have a mighty suspicion, after everything I've heard of ya, ya might like these. Made them at the forge. For a Jumpman of Justice. 

And when Mario leaves, putting on the Boots of Justice, he sees the trail of stars following him as he moves. He smiles, using them to obliterate foes in his way in one shot, knowing they will help him with more powerful opponents.