Oz: Crossroad of Legends

"Necromancy," Alvis said. "A corpse reanimated through forbidden magics by a necromancer somewhere. Such magic is one of the most sinful and heinous acts against the laws of nature in Oz, valued by most Yuleians. Usually, such corpses tend to be more resilient than the living, as they do not feel pain and are single-minded in their effort to perform their master's desires, although... I have never seen anything quite like this one. It is undoubtedly the same kind of magic, but the reanimated usually aren't stronger than they were in life, and yet from what I have been told, this one was able to survive constant assault from Leonard, and even decapitation. Furthermore, it was capable of performing magic strikes, despite the Legion outside Alexus being poor mages, at best. This truly is a grave situation... Pun not intended."

"Are zombie attacks common around here?" John Doe asked.

"We haven't had any signs or even suspicions of necromancy reported in decades," Alvis answered. "...Come to think of it. Leonard. Isn't this the first necromancy incident during your active service?"

"That's right," Leonard said. "Had I realized it earlier, I would have aimed to destroy the head from the start. Looks like I have some notes from our predecessors to review."

"Indeed. Consider it your homework while you lay recovering in bed tonight," Alvis said.

Leonard scoffed. "Bah! I ain't got time for rest! I have to reorganize our troops, review our armaments, reinforce security here, eat dinner, and etcetera, etcetera!"

"Hmm... I understand," Alvis said. "Plan B it is," he muttered.

"Do... Necromancers... Come from anywhere in particular?" Yancy asked. The way she hesitated to say that word made it sound like even she couldn't believe what she was asking.

"I have a few theories," Alvis said, "but... it's complicated, and the place I think of is not one I would advise venturing through without a plan of action. It shall be discussed later.

Was there anything else?"

"...Similarly, provided that one is not a ghost of their own volition, and even that is a divisive occasion," Alvis answered. "As outsiders to this world, I would hope that most would look past your, er... form, and understand that cultures and viewpoints may differ from theirs, but to be safe, I would recommend that you claim to merely have a ghost-like biology."

"Pleasure doing business with you. Hee hee."

"No... Thank you"[/i], Kyurem replied. "...That said, scram! Your colors are clashing with the decor!"

The weird stranger smiled, bowed, and turned away, leaving Kyurem with his at-times insufferable company of Cryogonal cohorts.

Kyurem chuckled. "This day just keeps getting interesting."

"Sir, if I may, that lady looked, as they say, 'weird as f***'. Were we right in bargaining with her?"

"Hell if I know. Don't care, either." Kyurem looked over to the item he 'purchased', frozen into the side of his right wing. "I got all that I am capable of wanting. All I gotta do is..."

Kyurem looked back to see another Cryogonal scurrying to him from the direction the merchant wandered off to. Kyurem groaned. "Get rid of some distractions." Kyurem turned back around. "WHAT IS IT THIS TIME?!"

"Orange you glad I was able to survive and tell you that the outsider wants an audience with you about how you killed her citizens?"

"Her citizens?" Kyurem mused. "So she must have a position of power. And yet... I still don't care. If she can't make it on her own, just let her die of hypothermia or whatever it is the humans call it."

Off in the distance, the sound of an Ice Beam followed by a Cryogonal's cry of pain could be heard. It was slightly too close.

"...You allowed them to follow you here, didn't you?"

"...Orange you glad I--"

Two walls of ice with large, sharp spikes rose from the frozen ground and slammed together from opposite sides of the Cryogonal. The slabs fell backward back to the ground, the minion's crushed corpse falling to the ground in pieces.

"Damn idiots! What do I make you people for?! Fine. Whatever. Let 'em come. I'll drain some amusement from whatever I get."

---

"Very well," Alvis said. "Let's get back outside. The Angelos are doubtlessly upset at how we've been using them as a glorified taxi service lately, so I've commissioned the next caravan to drive you all back to the capital, so feel free to rest as you please. Unless of course, you prefer to use your own mode of transport. Or walk. We're not particularly far."

Alvis and Leonard led the party out the room and began their route back outside. Baruch and the escort that brought Alvis joined them.

"...Baruch," Leonard said.

"Sir," the private said.

"Back then, I seem to recall that you reacted as if you believed the devil arm was the genuine article," the general said.

"...Yes sir," Baruch admitted.

"...And you recall how that suggests a low opinion of the queen's intelligence," Leonard said.

"I... did not mean it like that, sir," Baruch replied. "My apologies."

"Your head will not be acquainted with any stone walls," Leonard assured him. "Nonetheless, I expect you in my office tomorrow."

"I understand, sir," Baruch stated. "...Please be gentle."

Kyurem scoffed. "Get up!" he ordered telepathically. "And drop the formalities. I have no need for an ass-kisser. Hell if I know what an 'Eh-festus' is, but you may speak regardless. But make it quick; I have low tolerence for boring subjects."

"Why am I here?" Kyurem replied. "Hell if I know. One second I was minding my own business. The next, some kind of wizard was rambling something about bringing me from another world for whatever reason. He's a bloodstain now, so I wouldn't worry about him. Anyway, I just want to enjoy my little vacation, and that means looking to do battle with warriors of an unfamiliar land." He gave a sinister chuckle. "Even if that means terrorizing the local populace to ah... 'encourage' folks to come throw themselves against the big scary evil monster."

Location: Outside the World Tree


"Grrr who are you and why are you stalking around this tree late at night?" Wario growled towards the intruder.

"Yeah what the Pika are you chuing here?". "Are you an Outlander or one of those people from the Pika kingdoms?" Pixy squeaked towards the stranger.

"I was dreaming most pleasant yet I was woken,". "Speak your business or feel the fury," Fawful added.

Fen Fen closed her eyes to get a quick reading on the person. Fen Fen then opened her eyes and was confused. "Hmm that'sssss odd, I can't get anything from him," Fen Fen said.

The four people present and Chlortles the Ggggggeeeeennnggggaaarrrr were staring at him expecting an answer.

---

Location

Mario, Rosalina, Starlow, and Aylasa began to explore the area.

"Can't hurt to get a look around the area," Ayalsa commented.

"Yeah who knows what type of items are around here," Starlow added.

"(Hmm I wonder if we can find anything to heal Peach while we are here)," Mario added.

"Well she is in good hands with our guest, and Ann watching over her," Rosalina added.

Unbeknownst to the four a figure from one of the booths already had eyes on them. The figure just stared at them, like a predator does when they spot there prey. "Oh goody looks like I found my next targets," the figure said.

---

Location: Unknown

An all to familiar scene was playing out in front of Princess Peach's eyes. Peach was helplessly locked up while Mario and Bowser were locked in battle. Peach was trying her best to break free her cage but the bars and doors wouldn't even budge an inch.

"Marioooo," Peach cried out. Peach was reaching her hands then arm through the bar. Peach thought if only she could reach out and touch Mario that would give him the strength he needed to prevail

Yet this dream or more accurately nightmare was going much differently. First off Mario remained just barley out of reach. No matter how hard Peach reached out he remained just out of reach. Second, Bowser was soundly just beating up Mario despite everything thrown his way. All of Mario's attack were harmlessly bouncing off of Bowser. Mario was losing and he was losing badly.

"Mario, Mario please you can't give up," Peach pleaded with Mario.

Unfortunately, for Mario and Peach, Bowser was about to land the finishing blow then suddenly, the area went Black.

"Pitiful isn't it," a voice called out to Peach. The voice was kinda of hard to make out it wasn't right be Peach but it felt like it was every wheres. Also the voice it sounded familiar but foreign at the same time.

"Who? Who are you?" Peach called out.

"Truly pitiful, how many times have you found yourself in this situation?". "How many entities, rulers, aliens have held you hostage?". "How many times must you be saved?" the voice asks Peach.

"How? H-How do you know of such things?" Peach asked.

"Ohh looks like I touched upon a sore spot,". "I only ask the questions you ask yourself many times over,". "Like how many times must you rely on other's strength to save you?". "Surely these are some of the same questions you ask yourself over and over again," the voice asked.

"Well its kinda of true," Peach said in a more solemn tone.

"I have often sat there asking myself those questions,". "I have asked and thought about how many times must Mario save me,". "How many times must I be on the sidelines?". "Unable to do anything while others decide my fate,". "Even now I lay helplessly asleep in a foreign bed unable to do anything,". Peach said.

"Now dear child what if I told you there is a way,". "I never meant to cause you such harm, but no worries my dear,". "Your just a bit exhausted from the travel and well the gift," the voice told Peach.

"Yeah I remember some people were talking about how we were taken to a new land,". "Wait what do you mean gift,". "Besides you never even told me who pr what you are,". Peach called out to the voice concerned.

"Oh right sorry about that, where are my manners tee hee," the voice said. The way voice sounded caught Peach's attention. Peach's eyes began to widen in realization just who this voice was.

"You your," Peach stammered out.

"Yes, my dear I am you after all," the voice said as she revealed herself to be a shadowy version of Peach.

The Galahad points out the yellow mouse.

"Pika Kingdom. I am - totally - from the Pika kingdom. That's right!"

He pulls the arm in and makes a dragon's horn sign with his hand, lightning sparking from his outstretched index and pinky finger as he walked forward

"So, I'm gonna guess since you know about Outlanders, you're one of those heretical happenstances yourselves? Cool cool. I just caught wind of a kerfuffle down by ol' Yggy here and thought I'd take a peek to see what's going on. What's up with all you?"

---

Esdeath took a ready stance at the dragon's remark, her ice shell becoming slightly more prismatic as it flexed and tightened.

"Well, if you're that eager for a fight, allow me to stop you there. I'd be honored to fight a dragon's likeness, even one from another world."

Black latices that evoked ice crystals and snow flakes began to materialize in the air and spiral around her. Various arcane weapon designs flashed rapidly among their patterns. She brought her hand to her ear, and a more mundane magical sigil appeared for her to speak into.

"Bogey in sight. Prepare a gate ritual for my signal."

"Yiggy?" Wario grunted.

"Pikaaaaaa Pikachu, okay where are you from there is no Pikachu kingdom?" Pixy squeaked.

"Hmm I wonder is he from one of the kingdoms that thing was talking about back there," Fen Fen said.

"First off where is here anyways?". "Last I remember I was at a party at a castle,". "Then I am by this mouse, fox, and boo saying that me and this bean freak are friends and that we were involved in many adventures together," Wario growled.

"I was in a plane with others when it began to crash,". "I was going to attack Peach's castle when some wormhole, opened up and swallowed me,". "If anything I just a simple Fawful looking to spread the fury where I please,". "Also apparently this mouse is my trusted advisor but all it does is the bossing and the shocking," Fawful said.

"We were traveling when a new tombstone opened up in our home world,". "Fawful went to touch it and nothing happened,". "We touched it and ended up here," Fen Fen added.

"So do you mind telling us where your really from?" Fen Fen added while her eyes narrowed.

"We know the Pika kingdom is a lie, and I rather not resort to it,". "Yet I can sense lies and I can tell what your thinking,". "So either be straight with us," Fen Fen said looking at him.

"Or he shall feel the weight of the fury," Fawful added.

Pixy just looked over and face palmed. Chlortles decided to do the ever lasting dance of friendship which consists of spinning in a circle.

"...I suppose? There are things out of people's control," June says. "And yes, the gods act in our world. What are you saying?"