Paper Shadow : The Thousand Year Door

Okay... this chapter has some... pseudo-smut in it. It's way at the bottom, for you horn-dogs that're skipping right to it!











“Right here, then.” Goombella whispered, running her finger over the magical map. It had changed. Where there was once only a flat, green plain, there was now a large, stone palace casting a great shadow. “So, you understand it, Professor?”



She cast a glance back at Shadow, who was lying with a damp rag over his eyes. Professor Frankly had cleared off the bed, just for him. “Of course I do. The map’s magic actually allows it to change the way it looks.” He walked back to the bed and lifted the rag to check Shadow’s eyes.



Shadow squinted at the still-blotty shape of the Professor. “And the first one is in a castle?” He asked weakly. The map’s transformation had taken a great deal of energy, and the only available source was the holder.



The Professor helped him up and checked his eyes again. “Yes. In Petal Meadows, it looks like. It’s a plain that lies far to the east of Rogueport. Honestly, I’ve always thought the place was suspicious. Too… quiet… and happy.” The Professor grumbled off to himself.



“Alright, then!” Goombella cried happily. “We’ll go there. How can we get there?” She helped Shadow to his feet and smiled.



The Professor caught him as he stumbled and sighed. “I’m pretty sure that there’s a warp pipe leading there somewhere below the city. You can leave as soon as Shadow regains all of his vision. The map’s lights did a number to them, I’m afraid…” His voice cracked with genuine concern, and Shadow smiled at the old-timer. “By the way, Shadow… Where exactly did you find this map?”



Shadow blinked a few more times, watching the shapes getting clearer around the room. “Princess… Peach gave it to me.” He mumbled.



The Professor thought to himself for a second, then opened a drawer in his desk. “Princess Peach.” He mused to himself, then brought out a C-FANG of his own. After typing a few keys, a picture blipped on-screen. “Would this be her, by any chance?”



Shadow attempted to focus on the screen, and found that it was much easier than before. The golden hair… the pink dress… the blue gemstones… “That’s her.” He nodded.



“So it IS her!” The Professor exclaimed. “Your princess came to see me the other day. She wanted to learn about the treasure.” He flipped through another book on Petal Meadows. Shadow focused and attempted to read the title. ‘Petalburg Legends’. “I told her about the Crystal Stars and my suspicions about Petal Meadows…” He trailed off slightly. “Perhaps… she went to Petal Meadows on her own? No, that’s impossible. She’s not that stupid, I’m sure.”



“No. That actually sounds just like her.” Shadow sniped with a concealed laugh.



Goombella spoke up, relieved at Shadow’s improving condition. “What about Crump? Is it possible that she met up with him?”



“He’s not her type.” Shadow sighed. “Although…” He mused aloud. “She does have a tendency to get herself kidnapped…”



“Alright!” The Professor exclaimed. “It’s settled. Off to Petal Meadows with you. It’s the only lead we have on the princess, and if you pick up a Crystal Star while you’re there, all the better!”



Shadow nodded and pulled the large tome from the shelf, able to read each of the titles now. Goombella hesitated for only a moment. “Are you coming, Professor?”



The Professor shook his head. “No. I’ll stay here and try to learn about Peach and Crump for you. You know, research and the like. Besides, I doubt an old goomba like me could handle the trials of the road.” He admitted mournfully. “Of course, I’ll be right here if you need help or advice!” He piped up quickly. “Don’t be hesitant, kids, okay?”



Goombella nodded and stepped over to the pipe where Shadow was waiting. “You got it, Prof! Well, Shadow, we’re off!” She squeaked excitedly.



They stepped onto the pipe and- “Wait!” The professor hopped over and handed a small metal item to Shadow. “I found this in a shop the other day. That hammer and those shoes of yours are plenty high-tech. Maybe you can find a use for this as well.” He shrugged and backed off, closing the secret door and leaving the children to descend into the sewers.



Examining it, Shadow murmured, “It’s a battery pack. A good one, though. Maybe I CAN find a use for this.” He shrugged and set it in his pocket.



“Hey, look.” Goombella laughed. “Another airplane panel.” She smirked deviously at Shadow, who merely groaned and stepped forward.









“Yeah.” Shadow said, nodding. “That’s a lot easier with only one person to drag along.” Goombella just rolled her eyes and kept going.



The room opened up not far in, and seemed to be full of deep water. “Damn.” Goombella grumbled. “How’re we gonna get across this.” She motioned to the warp pipe on the far end of the room. “That’s got to be where we need to go.”



Shadow pointed at a platform, hiding in the shadows and bobbing up and down. “Maybe we can use that?” He walked towards it, but stopped when he heard a disgusting sound. It was sort of like the sound of a hard-boiled egg being smashed in a hand, but much, much louder. Looking down, he found he had stepped on something.



There was only a quick flash of white as it pulled out from under him and into the water, tossing him off of his feet. As Goombella came rushing over to him, a giant squid emerged from the water, screaming in pain. “Bloo-OOOOP!”



Another tentacle lashed out and caught Shadow around the waist. It started to lift him up, but Goombella hurled herself into it, jarring him free. A third tentacle came whipping back around and threw her back over its head. She landed in the water with a loud crash and surfaced moments later, sputtering and thrashing in the water. The first tentacle went splashing towards her, and she struggled to keep it off and stay afloat.



Meanwhile, Shadow was being thrown left and right by the two free tentacles. He swung his hammer and kicked with his shoes, but nothing seemed to connect. ‘Damn thing’s too slippery!’ He coughed out all of his breath as a tentacle lifted him into the air again.



After a quick struggle, Shadow managed to dislodge himself from the slimy grip. Unfortunately, he ended up landing on the tentacle itself, and he slipped straight down until he connected with the giant Blooper’s main body. He tried to pull back and sputtered for breath around the inky stench of the Blooper, but he couldn’t find enough friction to get himself moving.



Goombella had failed and was being pulled underwater by the aggressive tentacle. She blubbed out her breath as it doubled back and pressed deep into her stomach. Suddenly, it pulled away, and a loud screech reverberated through the water. She pulled herself up to the surface and gasped for breath, sputtering and coughing as the Blooper thrashed around the aquatic cavern.



Shadow raised his hammer and beat it into the Blooper again. He was really just trying to remove himself from the horrible, salty stench of the aquatic creature, but it seemed to hurt it, and that was also nice. The Blooper screeched again and hurled itself from the water, beaching itself and barreling into a wall. The force threw Shadow out and into the water, and he was mildly aware of loud crashing sounds all around him.



Goombella watched in awe as the Blooper’s thrashing caved in an entire wall on top of it. She waited until it finally stopped thrashing, then pulled herself onto the shore. Shadow was also struggling to get to the stone-worked shoreline, and both of them just sat there for a while, sputtering and gagging.



“That…” Goombella wheezed. “Was less than glamorous.” She lied down and tried to regain control of her breathing.



Shadow struggled into a standing position and smiled with a cough. “Guess what? It worked.” He motioned over to the rocks that now covered the Blooper. They had fallen all throughout the room, and a small path of rubble led to the opposite side of the room.



He helped Goombella to her feet, and they crossed the salty pit of water without any further trouble. He motioned down into the warp pipe and laughed. “Ladies first.”











~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Koops~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



“Oh, Koops…” A girl’s voice moaned and echoed slightly. The house was empty, save for the two bodies pressed together on the bed.



They pulled apart for a moment, then moved right back together, kissing with passionate fury.



Koops gasped for breath and pulled away from a passionate kiss, then immediately went to his partner’s neck. “Koopie…” He mumbled, biting and licking at the sensitive tissue. “I love you.” He moaned into her hot flesh.



Koopie cried in frustration and ran her hands down the boy’s green shell. “Oh, Koops, Koops, I love you, too! God, I love you.” She babbled, lost in sexual frenzy.



The boy ran his hands through her hair and across the back of her glimmering pink shell. “I know you do.” He kissed her on the mouth again and pressed on her little blouse.



His actions elicited a small moan from his female companion, and she leaned over and returned the brutal bites he had just serviced her with.



He groaned right back at her and pressed closer, shells making a dull thunk as they collided. The girl growled and pulled away, unhinging her own shell with masterful expertise and pulling it away, clothing and all. She reached behind Koops and attempted to make the same motions, but he resisted dully.



Panting in lust and frustration, she pulled the boy closer, but her flesh met only cool shell. “Koops, take it off!” She cried in ecstasy.



He hesitated, and his hands wavered and started to pull away. “B-But K-Koopie… I-I mean... uh… I’m just not…”



Koopie shoved him down and pressed her hand at the tail-hole of his shell, attempting to reach inside- “NO! KOOPIE, PLEASE!” He screamed and trembled, tears starting to roll down his face. His arms and legs had almost pulled entirely into his shell, and he was crying shamelessly. “I-I-I don’t think I-I-I’m-“



“Can it.” She blurted curtly. She leapt to her feet and pulled her shell back on, anger gleaming in her eyes.



“K-Koopie…” Koops reached out for her tentatively.



“Don’t you Koopie me!” She yelled, pulling away and starting down the stairs. “God! You’re… such a crybaby. A wimp. Just leave me alone.” She pulled the door open and slammed it shut behind her, the sound echoing in the empty house.



There was just silence, for a while.



Then there was weeping.