...
...Nah, I'm just trippin'.

The three continue walking.

The Goomba of the bunch stops.

Wait a minute... did anyone else hear somethin'?

The three walk past him.

Anyway, may as well check with the boss man himself. Call it intuition, but I think I'll prove myself more useful now than ever before. I'm just glad I get to move on with my life...

---

Y-you know that one *hic*... meme in the Simpsons, right? errybody knows it....

After take a swig of (use your imagination), the figure slams their mug back on the counter.

NO... n-not... the dummm... Singed Hams... thing. The one where... Bart's in class... and *BuUUurRRp* everyone's lookin' at him funny, and, and Milhouse tells him... "Saaay the line, Bart"!
The meem... guys joke about it and... and they laugh... but... they dunno how NOT FUNNY it is...!
They'unno how it feels... to... *hic*... be ONLY KNOWN... for ONE... STUPID... PHRASE!

The figure slams their arms on the counter, before shortly passing out.

---

!?
What? What's going on?
...A call, sire. For you.
...Answer.
As you wish.
Kamek answers.

---

The blue hedgehog then hears a couple of voices from behind.

You mean you think you're done with your training?
For now, anyway! His highness is getting ready to expand on his empire. If that's the case, I can't just get left behind in the dust. I'm sure Pom Pom feels the same way.
'Sides, I've gotten plenty stronger... I bet I'll be able to take any new runts on no problem!
You think you'll end up jinxing that?
What? Nah. That's a superstition, as well as a not very logical conclusion. I've worked hard on my own free will. I have the right to be confident in myself.

---

If you find it so concerning, you are welcome to do the same.

But... but......

The "ball" slams into a steel surface, recoiling the exact same amount of force it is using to travel forward backwards.

Bowser Jr. turns to his father.

Hey, dad, what happened to Boom Boom, Pom Pom, and the Koopalings?
Yeah. I've kinda been meaning to ask myself.
They've been relieved for the time being. I've decided it'd be better giving them actual breathing room. EXCEPT for Ludwig and Iggy... they're helping me with something... VERY special...
Gee, boss, what could be that important?
Shove your curiosity down a Warp Pipe! I'm not telling you classified information!

Bowser Jr. gives Bowser a 'Papas-LOOOVE-telling-their-sons-classified-information' Look

Sorry, champ, but that goes for you too.
What!? No fair! You let those two nerds in but can't even tell me!? Why do you even need them, can't Kamek just do his thing!?
I hate to inform you, but... the engineering they're working with is FAR from something I could conjure with a simple spell.
Also, you'd probably end up blabbing it to someone anyway.

Kamek flies over to Jr's side, placing a hand on the prince's shoulder.

Besides, I wouldn't fret, my lord. Judging by our recent success.. There is slim possibility it'll EVER be something which is worth revealing.

So... What do you'll happen in the latest episode?
I don't know. Is Slide REALLY going to escape from the Mortus Spacial? I'd watch out for a curveball or catch, if you ask me.

They then see the ball speed past them.

...What the heck wuzzat?

Nightopia is NOT in Subcon. So not only do they not encounter any "purple jesters", but they also end up doing everything that was mentioned last post.

You okay, young lord?
Quit being so condescending! I didn't need your help! The same goes for the two of you!
Well, either way, that lizard guy is gonezo.
Yeah! He honestly didn't stand a chance from the get-go!
(Shows what THEY know...)

---

---

Whatever! Now come on. Papa's probably waiting for you three.

Bowser Jr. and the three other figures walk away.

---

My lord... the copy was an astounding success.

The caged four are extremely disheartened by this news.

Mario...
Gahahahah! As expected from my genius plan! I can't believe they actually bought that "cycle" BS! You'd have to either be a pretentious idiot, or... actually, just an idiot.
I agree. Such philosophy is a very backwater mentality to embrace.
You.. bastaaahhhhhbababubuhbuhbuh bad! You bad, bad, people!

Bowser gets up close and personal to the cage.

You bet, runt. I'm the baddest son of a gun there is. And I will NEVER stop being the baddest... until the whole globe bows to my name.
...
Can we conquer Subcon now?
Not without my boy!
I'm right here, Papa. I've brought the Trio, too.
Reporting for duty, your wilyness!
Oh. Then... sure.
Cool!

---

A faint red can be seen in Peach's eyes.

There is nothing that needs further elaboration. You have our utmost gratitude for dealing with the invasion of the Koopalings. But. That. Will. Be. All.
In the time you all were gone, Bowser and his troops could have kidnapped me a hundred times.
W--well, I'm sure they were off for the greater good, by boogity... maybe you could be a little more... grateful?

Peach turns her head to Toadbert.

Grateful. Hilarious..
Well, you say hilarious, but no one (your majesty included) is laugh--

---

---

One way or another... I am through with the cycle. I do not care how it must end, but if it must result in my kidnapping... So it shall.

---

Boshi comes to a screeching halt as he glares across the area, staring at the cobalt sky, with swirls of white and red across the air.

Huh. Well, this looks like the place.

Boshi begins walking... before jumping aside, barely dodging a vending machine.

What in the...? WOAH!

Boshi barely has time to speak before he is trampled by a second one, with several dozens of others falling around the area. The vending machine that landed on Boshi, however, is promptly knocked off of him with casual force on Boshi's part.

Hnn. Now that's a first. Fortunately for me, I also plan on making it a last.

Boshi begins to swiftly dash across the area, dodging the falling objects... all the while catching wind of another presence in the area.

Hmm? What in the blazin' dickens is that dork doing?
HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP! HUP!

Gaining a surplus of speed, the figure begins to bolt out of view from Boshi.

So the guy thinks he's got speed, eh? Maybe I should show him a real thing or two about how fast I can get.

Boshi accelerates further, gaining a boost of speed as well.

Extremely worn down, Shadwari shoe-slides across the floor. Miner's limp body follows, being ragdolled next to him.

I'm not sure how much of an ass kicking from this guy I can take...
Get up. It's either fight, or let him get you himself.

Miner slowly rises.

Ugh... we can barely take him on. How are we supposed to win?
I might be able to take him out myself... but I'll need to have enough energy built up before I can do so.

Shake King immediately charges at the two, speedblitzing Crazy Miner before shoving powerful lariat into Shadwari's neck.

I'll commend you where credit is due. You put up a far better battle than I had anticipated.

Shhadwari charges up electric energy into his mouth....

...But not enough.

Shake King blasts Shadwari with a powerful Shake Beam, supercharging Shadwari and exploding him... if the blast had actually hit him. Seconds after this, Shake King has already realized both him and Miner are missing.

Clever.

Shake King jumps through the ceiling, easily destroying the ground beneath him with his velocity.

---

---

Shadwari warps (along with Crazy Miner) on top. A dark thunderstorm surrounds the area

If you can stall at him for long enough to keep him at bay, I can take him out along with the rest of this Cruiser.
Any rough estimate?
About a minute. But just in case, wait for my signal.
Gotcha.

Suddenly, Shake King crashes through the ceiling, landing ontop of the roof.

Why do you fight...? Can you not see it is this very same determination which is but prolonging your suffering?

While Shadwari charges up, Crazy Miner powers up once more!

I'd RATHER suffer than let you get away with your heinous plans!
....Your I | I i | I I | I _

As Miner pulls out his pickaxes, Shake King prepares a thunderbolt for Crazy Miner, charging... before releasing it directly at Miner's direction!

(It's now or never!)

Well, in that case... time for Wario and Waluigi to be on their way.
How?
Hmm?
How do you plan on getting to where you need to be?

Wario ponders for a second... before rearing his head to Waluigi.

Waluigi can't warp to a location he doesn't know of.
You're useless.
WALUIGI'S SAVED YOUR LIFE!
Congrats. You hit the bare minimum. Fortunately, a rreal genius always has a backup plan!

Wario pulls out a Jet Pot, hoisting it into the air! As he lifts it, he begins to transform...

This looks like a job for...

---

Did you hear that? It looks like Bowser and his forces are in for some trouble the next time he comes, by boogity! Him and his blasted army are--
Your obstinance to protect is much appreciated... but I'm afraid we will no longer be accepting your services.
w h a t

Look, I don't know the details, but-- I-- I'll figure somethin' out! I gotta!
Well, you'd better do it soon. I'd imagine your little friends would eventually cross paths with him. And when they do...
Hey... who in the heck is Vaati?

Ashley immediately turns around to Waluigi.

Where did you get that name?
Guest book. Waluigi wanted to write an entry before him and Wario forgot.
Why's some stranger's name such a big deal anyway?
YOU--...
...Are completely right. It doesn't matter.
(They'll find out soon enough. Hopefully nothing catastrophic is being done by him in the meantime.)

---

A figure glides through the air, riding a broom-like-stick...

So many specimen for analysis in this open world... I wonder what breakthroughs are awa--
SORRY KINDA NOT SORRY I NEED THIS
AAAAAAAAAAAA--

---

(Oh, who am I kidding. That menace is probably invading more people's houses.)
Alright... I think I'm ready.
Eh?
If you say so. But before you go...

Ashley whacks Wario over the head with her rod.

Did you really think I wouldn't notice you stole from me!?
Ow!
Stop pretending that like that hurt! That's even more insulting!

Heat Man immediately shuts himself into his zippo box in case of a detonation.

YAY! I'M THE 3000TH POST!

Heat Man just stops, completely confused.

...

Walter kicks Pooker in it's face before moving away, narrowly dodging a beam of light that suddenly fires from it's eyes.

Well, according to my calculations, the combined amount of attacks delivered has done a total of jack squat!
(Joking won't make it any less true, dumbass. It's sending all the damage you do to a barren dimension and storing it for energy.)
Uh huh... and how do you reckon?
(I can see everything you can and more. You're gonna have to trust me, bucko.)
Fine. Then in that case...

Walter's phone suddenly rings. Instinctively, he holds up a hand to Pooker.

Wait. Time out. This one's for me.

Walter answers the phone.

What's good, dawg?

---

Yeah, President Oliver, I--
DO. NOT. CALL ME OLIVER. NOT OLLIE, NOT OLIVE OIL, NONE! IT IS PRESIDENT WALTER! WALT. ER! SPREAD THE WORD!
My bad. Listen. There's unidentified activity going around in space, and if things continue to go on this long,... the entirety of the earth might be at risk.
DAMN IT! FU-HUGH!
President Walter?
...Look. We'll talk about this later, Scale. Right now I have... VERY... important business to intend to.
...
..I hope so.
Take it easy. I'll get back to you when I can, I swear.
*BEEP*

---

You did this to me. Nobody will stop calling me that! NO ONE! There are even people who know that's not it and do it to ANNOY me!
(Maybe if ya could get a job and STICK TO IT, I wouldn't 'a had the opportunity to do it!)
Why, you... I should kick---
!
uh oh--

Walter narrowly dodges Pooker.

...
...Heh. Hahah!
What the hell's funny at a time like this!?
It's nothing. Nevermind that.
Listen. I know I still have a lot to learn. And I know it's not easy watching a person fumble things all the time when you're meant to be their potential incarnate. But if I'm going to right as many wrongs as I can... I'm gonna need your help.

---

---

WOAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Walter begins to draw out power over the limit!!

Ryoga, Yoshles, Game & Watch and Pac-Man (the latter two still transformed) are all struck by the danmaku.

---

Toadbert opens the door.

Your highness, I've brought some familiar faces to greet you!
Oh. Hello, Mario. Good day, Green 'Stache. Good evening, two other people.
Uh...

See, look how not-scared you all are once you realize I'm not Shake King! It's a double standard, I'm telling you!

Black Jewel creates two Skull Barriers around him and Sciencestein. Petey Piranha attempts to spew fireballs at the two, only for them to be blocked off by...

Cheers, love! The calvary's here!
Oh my god. Are you guys trying to be as much as an embarrassment to my street cred as possible?