Chapter 35:

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The medical wing of the castle was small, making it easy for Larry and Kamron to locate Kammy. The fact that here name was posted on a small sign outside her door made it even more easier than they had suspected.

Kammy was sleeping in her bed, wires connected to various machines surrounded her and she had an IV drip. She did not look ill. Her sin was a healthy golden yellow color and did not appear dry, or waxy and when Larry grabbed her hand it did not feel waxy. He placed the back of his hand against her forehead and she felt cool.

“She doesn’t look ill,” Larry said. “She looks like she is just sleeping.”

“Iggy explained what happened,” Kamron pressed the crystal clear orb of his wand against Kammy’s forehead. “Whatever this is, it is caused by magic.”

“Are you certain?”

Kamron nodded. He muttered a few strange words and after a minute he removed his wand. “It is defiantly caused by magic.”

“Can you cure her?” Larry asked. If her coma were caused by magic then Kamron would be the only one who could wake her.

“I’m not certain,” the young magikoopa removed his hat and scratched the top of his head.

“She told me you were one of her best students.”

“Yeah, but I only recently started by fourth year of study. Proper studies last from eight to ten years, and after you can go on a program where you travel around the world and perfect your skills.”

“Are you saying we need someone with her level?” The only one it knew who was as skilled as Kammy was Kamek.

“No,” Kamron shook his head. “Maybe one of the adult Magikoopas.” He noticed the intent look in Larry’s eyes. “I’ll try something. I know a handful of wake up spells and if that doesn’t work I will do an energy transfer.”

“Try everything that you know,” Larry rung his hands.

Kamron waved his wand. “It’s a brand new day, time to wake up and say hey.” A small beam of white light struck Kammy, but nothing happened.

“What was that?”

“The wake up spell for those who refuse to get up for school, one of the first we learned. The next one is for waking people from natural concussions. I used it on a few troopas once after Mario came for the princess.” He held up his wand. “The light shall remove the pain, your body will become the same, time for you to rise again, return once more to the game.” That one sounded a bit more plausible, and a bit more complicated, but once again it had no effect on Kammy.

“How many more do you know?”

“Just one more,” Kamron inhaled deeply. He placed one palm on top of his wand and held it high. “Awaken ye from this dark sleep, step back from the slumbering abyss, into the world of light ye shall slip and awaken with a single kiss.” More light rained down from his wand and settled on Kammy. “One more thing.” He kissed his teacher on her forehead.

Kammy snorted in her sleep. Her eyelids fluttered before she opened them. “Step away.” Her voice was a dry whisper.

“Kammy?” Larry stared into her eyes. “Kamron, you did it.”

“Larry?” Kammy’s focus settled on him. “Kamron? Where are Iggy, and Luigi?”

“Standing outside the medical wing,” Kamron explained.

“There is a gate,” Kammy tried to sit up, but collapsed back in the bed. “A gate to something sinister…in the dungeon…we have to…go in…and stop it.” She closed her eyes.

“Yeah, we figured it was a gate to a pocket dimension.”

“So tired,” Kammy opened her eyes. “Kamron, you have to open it.”

Kamron shook his head. “I don’t think I know how.”

“You thought you couldn’t wake Kammy,” Larry poked him in the shoulder. “Quit doubting yourself.”

“I’m not, but if you going to face against someone like Nosferus, then you are going to need a powerful witch, like Kammy.” He raised his wand again. “I’m going to do the energy transfer.”

“Nosferus,” Kammy pursed her lips. “I heard that name somewhere.” She opened her eyes and tried to smack the wand out from Kamron. “No. I will not allow you to take my place in this bed.” A beam of light connected between her and Kamron. “What did I just say?” She sat up.

“I did not give you all of it,” Kamron yawned. “Just about half and there are energy shakes in the vending machine in the lobby.”

“Those weren’t energy shakes,” Larry said. “Those are cans of that chocolate milk stuff with all the vitamins. They also have the strawberry and banana flavors as well.”

“Well I feel energized after I drink one.”

Larry shrugged. “We’ll you both some of those drinks, maybe see if there are any power bars, find the other and open that doorway.”

-

Luigi’s chest hurt from running. Mario didn’t wait for him again, and it was difficult for him to try and keep up with Yoshi. He had also told Iggy to find Larry’s friends and tell them what was going on.

He didn’t make it to the boardroom before he ran into dozens of Beezos; all of them were fighting against shuffling corpses, several ghosts and the bird women from the vision he saw in Kammy’s crystal ball.

“Mama Mia,” he ducked when he saw a harpy nose-diving straight for him. A long pink tongue wrapped around the monster and pulled it back into the open mouth of Yoshi. “Thanks.”

“They are not tasty,” Yoshi shuddered after he had swallowed the creature and turned to launch one of his eggs straight at one of the zombies. The egg struck the corpse in the head before the zombie fell into a pile of decomposing body parts. “You have to hit the zombies in the head.”

“In the head,” Luigi turned to the nearest zombie as it lumbered towards him. He waited to the last minute and jumped as high as he possibly could before he spun around and landed straight on the zombie’s head. “Where is Mario?”

“He has already gone ahead,” Yoshi said before he ate another harpy.

Luigi ran straight for the doors of the boardroom. Three more zombies were shuffling towards him. He jumped again and spun around before landing on one of their heads and launched himself once more. He repeated the spin jump attack on the second one, nearly struck the ceiling and came down with enough force to ground pound the third one.

There was another battle going on in side. Several unconscious humans, beezos and toads were lying unconscious on the floor, amongst the dead harpies and piles of zombies. The other Beezos were flying around, striking their spears against the claws of the harpies, plunging their weapons down onto the skulls of the zombies and splashing pure water on the spirits.

Peach was standing on the table, wielding a chair and striking it on top of every zombie that dared to try and climb onto the surface to reach her.

Mario was flying around as a half human half bee. He had already used his only bee mushroom, but he was using it quite well. He was using the stinger to strike on the zombies and was not even breaking a sweat during the battle.

“Not much left,” Luigi said before he jumped on a few more zombies, using both spin jumps and ground pounds until he launch jumped off of one and landed on the table next to Peach. “Where is Daisy?”

“They took her,” Peach pointed to the glowing white ceiling. Several crackles of purple lighting flashed across the surface.

“How?” Luigi asked when another zombie started to climb the table. Two Beezos struck it on its head. It was the last zombie. There were still several harpies and spirits left.

“They grabbed her and Nougat and flew through the ceiling,” Peach said.

“I thought the gate way was in the dungeon.”

The boardroom doors slammed open. Yoshi and the rest of the Beezos stormed in. Yoshi jumped and gobbled up another Harpy in midair.

“Sisters,” one the harpies screeched. “Retreat at once.” She flew into the ceiling and disappeared followed by the remaining harpies and ghosts. Once the last spirit had followed the glow and lightening had ceased and color of the ceiling had changed to the pale mustard color that had matched the walls.

“Daisy,” Luigi shouted along with Peach.

“Don’t just hover,” Mario shouted at the group of Beezos that were closest to him. “Follow me.” He flew into the ceiling, and his head struck against the surface.

“Mario,” Luigi jumped up to catch his brother, but several of the Beezos had beat him to it and carried him to the ground.

“Ouch,” Mario massaged his head. “Good thing this hat is almost like a helmet.” He stared up. “What is with that ceiling?”

“I think it’s a gate to a pocket dimension,” Luigi said. “But Larry’s friends thinks it is that one spot on the dungeon walls.”

“Larry?” Peach looked at him. “Larry Koopa is here?”

Luigi nodded. “He brought several vampire hunters with him. One is a young magikoopa. They are trying to wake Kammy up.”

“How did they-“ She shook her head. “Never mind. We have to find Daisy and Nougat.”

“Where is Gingerbread?” Luigi had a feeling that Gingerbread had ordered the attack and had gone along with the kidnappers. Either revealing his true colors, or pretending to be a victim as well.

“Over there,” Peach pointed to a group of injured men who were propped up by Beezos. One of them was Gingerbread. He had a bleeding cut on his head.

“How are we going to get through that?” Mario asked. “Kammy is the only one who could open it. That kid that came with Larry might be able to, but he is pretty young.”

Luigi tried to think. There was possibly two gates to this pocket dimension, this one and the one in the dungeon. They could run back to the medical wing to see if Kammy has woken up. “Wait, if Kammy were awake where would she go?”

“I dunno,” Mario shrugged. “We should see if she is awake.”

“Unless she had already left the medical wing,” Peach had caught on. “She is probably looking for us before she tires to open the other gate.”

One of the doors to the room opened again and Iggy stuck his head inside. “Everyone, Kammy is awake.” He managed to get out between pants. “She, Larry and the others are on their way-“

“To the dungeon,” Mario finished for him.

“Right,” he took another gasp of air. “Where is Daisy?”

“They took her,” Luigi pointed to the ceiling. “To this pocket dimension.”

“No,” Iggy shook his head.

“We are going to get her back,” Luigi promised.

-

Only half the elite Beezo forces had aided in the battle within the boardroom because the other half were guarding the dungeon. Several had circled around Larry, Kamron, the cat girl, Howls and several other humans and toads, including the tall one Iggy described. Iggy had neglected to mention that an ice flower also powered this particular toad up.

The guards were also holding Kammy back, but they had not encircled her like the others. “You do not understand,” she snapped at them.

“Stand down,” Gingerbread said. He had gauze wrapped around the top of his head. He was still weak and woozy from the head wound, but he insisted on coming with them and was carried by several more Beezos.

“Sir,” one of the Beezos near Kammy said. “We have captured several trespassers.” He pointed to Larry and the others.

“One of those you have captured is my best student,” Kammy said. “And another is Iggy’s brother. He is also a prince of Dark Land.”

“We will deal with that later,” Gingerbread pointed at them. “I have instructed that this dungeon be sealed off and not allow anyone to enter. I am now revoking that order.”

“Sir?”

“The enemy is within,” Peach said. “They have captured both Princess Daisy and King Nougat.”

“Open the doors,” the beezos shouted and pulled the heavy doors apart.

“Every one who is a capable fighter shall go through the gate,” Gingerbread instructed before he paused and caught his breath. “I’m not a capable fighter. My work here is done.” He turned to the Beezos who carried him. “You may now take me to the medical wing.”

Luigi silently thanked the man. It seemed that he was wrong about him, and he truly was doing what he felt was best for his king and nation. He smiled when he felt Mario’s hand grab his.

“Ready little bro?”

“Always,” Luigi nodded.

The doors were opened and everyone, Beezos, vampire hunters, and Luigi’s group poured in.

“Flare,” Kamron raised his wand and created a glowing sphere that lit up the entire dungeon and was reflected on the fog that gathered on the floor, and made it easy for everyone to see the large furry monster guarding the gate. It was the same creature from Kammy’s crystal. The bulk of its body was as tall as a house and it had four long necks and heads like wolfs. It lashes its spine-covered tail around.

“What the hell is that?” Mario asked.

“A Fafenrir,” Kammy answered.

“A Hell Beast,” the old toad, Howls corrected her. “That is what it is called.”

Kammy gave him a look. “There are several monsters that are called hell beasts. This is one of them, but their proper name is Fafenrir.”

“I kept trying to tell him,” one human woman said. She wore flowing blue robes and a veiled hood. Her voice sounded quite pleasant. “I gave up after a while.”

“How do we stop it?” Yoshi asked.

“You have to cut off all four of its heads,” Larry cocked his gun and aimed for the beast.

“I got something that will cut it,” the tall toad held up a chainsaw.

“Ready?” One of the Beezo’s shouted. “Attack.” The several flew towards the monster, aiming their spears at the creature’s necks. Many were thrown and truck the flesh before the soldiers flew away. Some were not so lucky. Each of the four heads had snapped up one of the Beezos and held them in the jaws, skewering them with their fangs before spitting out their bloodied corpses.

“That isn’t going to work,” Luigi said. At this rate most of the soldiers would be killed even before the gate was open.

“They are providing a distraction for us,” Howls raised a long blade.” Cut of those heads.”

“That is one crazy old man,” Mario said.

“You have no idea,” the cat girl said before she jumped, or would it be pounced in her case, ahead of the others.

An explosion came from Larry’s direction. He had fired his gun at the monster and his shot left a smoking and bleeding hole in one of the necks. “I can take a head off with about three shots.”

“Now we are getting somewhere,” Luigi said as a chakram whirled through the air, left two nicks in the necks of the monster and returned to its owner. “Anyone have a fire flower?”

“I do,” the veiled woman tossed him a bright red flower before she pulled out a super leaf for herself.

Luigi caught the flower and felt the firepower surge through his veins.

The chainsaw was cutting through something and four bleeding black hooks flew through the air.

“You want the heads, Squishy, not the claws,” Howls shouted before the beast spun around and lashed around its tail.

Mario ground pounded, stinger first onto the monster’s tail, causing all four necks to flail about and the monster to roar.

“Mario move,” Luigi threw several fireballs at the head that was about to strike his brother. The spears in its neck immediately caught on fire. Another blast from Larry’s rocket launcher stuck the burnt head, destroying it. That was one down.

“I figured it would be better if it didn’t try to claw at us while we cut off its heads,” Squishy explained before he threw an icy blast at one of the heads.

“He has a point,” Kammy said before she sent a power blast at the other front paw and removed three more of its claws.

The veiled woman, the cat girl, and two toads jumped onto the furry body. The cat girl leapt when one head came close and she grabbed onto the neck, while the veiled woman and the toads attacked the third head.

Yoshi leaped up with Peach on his back. Peach struck the frozen head with her umbrella, shattering it into several pieces.

“One more to go,” Howls climbed onto the body. “Give me a hand, Silhouette.” The cat girl grabbed onto Howls’s head when the neck she was riding had dipped low enough. She pulled him on in front of her. “You might want to jump off.” He plunged his blade into the neck.

Another blast and Larry had taken care of the head the veiled woman and the toads had sliced at.

“Hah,” Howls shouted as he cut away the last sinew connecting the final head to the neck. The neck fell to the ground and the two of them jumped off.

“Kammy?” Luigi turned to the Koopa Witch. “Can you open the gate, or do you need to rest?”

“Kamron and I both can open the gate together,” Kammy said.

“We can?” Kamron asked.

“Stop selling yourself so short,” Kammy said. “Just repeat what I say.” She pointed her wand at the dull spot on the wall and started to chant. After a few minutes Kamron joined her. Both their wands glowed, as the unpainted space grew lighter. It almost seemed like it had turned to the color of mist, until tendrils of fog curled out.

The gate was opened.

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