Paper Shadow : The Thousand Year Door

Here it is! It's really long, though. Like... seven pages on word or something. Also, no smut. Anyway, I've got a lot to say, and it's just annoying for everyone if I say it here. So, from now on, I'm going to edit the FIRST CHAPTER to be my sort of blog page. I'll post all my review responses and personal feelings and such there. K?


“Well, here we are.” Goombella stated cheerfully, considering she had just been attacked by a giant squid. “The Petal Meadows, where the first Crystal Star sleeps. Woo HOO!” She cried happily, twirling in place. “Here we go, Shadow! The start of our adventure! This is completely AWESOME!”

Shadow stepped away from the pipe and used his hands as a visor. The sun was shining so brightly here, it was making his head spin. He made a face at Goombella and her enthusiasm. She didn’t notice. She was far too busy hopping about in the grass and flowers.

He put his hand down and smiled. A cloud had blown overhead, and its shadow blotted out the evil sun. Or so he thought.

“GRAAWWWWK!” A loud shriek came from overhead, unlike anything the boy had ever come across. He covered his ears, but Goombella was busy staring with wide eyes at the sky. “What was that?!” She exclaimed with what sounded like excitement.

She grabbed Shadow by the arm and forced him to look up. “Totally incredible! I think it’s… a dragon!” She squealed exuberantly, clutching Shadow’s arm too tightly for comfort.

He shrugged her off and looked at the silhouette rising to the top of a near-by mountain. “It could’ve been a really big bird.” He stated quickly. It took a moment for him to realize exactly what he was looking at. The top of the mountain had been carved away to resemble a gigantic castle. One that looked eerily familiar…

Goombella started down a little dirt path. “Whatever, spoilsport. Look over there. I think it’s a town! We should totally go see if they have any info on the Crystal Stars.”

“Yeah.” Shadow took a final, long glance at the regal mountaintop. “There’s no way to get way up there, anyway.” He mumbled, but Goombella took no notice.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Petalburg~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Goombella and Shadow stepped warily through the large archway leading towards a peaceful looking town. Just from a glance, the place looked like Peach had put it together. The houses were colored bright hues of yellow and orange, and a small river wound its way around and through them. Small bridges dotted the road, and there were more flowers around than there were back at Mario’s house.

As Shadow was surveying his surroundings with a disgusted grimace, Goombella’s face was alight with childlike wonderment. “Oh, wow!” She laughed. “It’s like a page from a story-book!”

“We get that a lot.” A young koopa sporting bright green shoes and a shining green shell held his hand out towards the pair. “Welcome to Petalburg! Wow, you’re the sixth people we’ve had visit this week! That’s a lot out here. We’re kind of remote.” He spoke quickly, but enunciated well.

Goombella seemed skeptical. “A place this beautiful? Why don’t you make it a tourism spot?”

The koopa winced and looked at her sheepishly. “Well, it used to be one. But then the dragon Hooktail decided to start hunting in the area…”

The kids’ eyes narrowed, and they caught each other’s glance for half a moment. “Dragon? Hooktail?” Goombella spoke thoughtfully. “That must’ve been that huge thing we saw earlier.”

Shadow was immensely grateful that she didn’t take the time to say “I told you so”. Before she could continue, however, another koopa had approached and joined the conversation. This one’s shell was a light yellow, with dark orange shoes and a dark expression.

“You saw Hooktail? Really? Big old dragon, tail like a hook?” He asked doubtfully. “He must not have seen you. You lucked out. If he’d seen you, he’d have gobbled you up like an after-dinner mint. I’m not even joking with you. Maybe he thought you looked gross or something…”

At this point, Goombella shot him a glare that would freeze oceans. He caught the hint and backed away. “Anyway.” She spoke curtly. “You guys ever heard of these things called Crystal Stars? We’re on this quest for ‘em. Uber-important.”

The green-shelled koopa answered first. “Crystal Stars? Nope. Haven’t heard of those before.” The orange shell quickly nodded in agreement. “You might want to ask the mayor, though. He’s old. Really, really, REALLY old. Koopas his age are um… really smart.” He hesitated for a moment, as if he didn’t believe what he was saying. “He lives in the pink house up ahead. You should go talk to him. Really.” The look on his face said he wanted the pair to go away, and they were more than happy to oblige.

“A pink house?” Goombella whispered to Shadow as they moved down the way. “Sounds hideous.” Shadow snickered in agreement, casting a wary eye around. The people here must not have been used to visitors, because every single one was staring right at th-

“Ah, bonjour, mademoiselle.” Shadow turned towards the new voice and found himself staring at a purple dinosaur with a round belly and a rainbow afro. “Eet eez a beautiful day, non?” He asked in a low, sensual voice.

Shadow backed up nervously, but the man simply laughed. “No, no, no, no, no. Not you, Monsieur. I am speaking to zee lovely leetle cabbage behind you. What do you say, my pretty? Abandon this dullard and come away wit’ moi!” He reached out to Goombella with a (what he must have thought was a) sexy smirk.

Shadow turned to Goombella and was delighted to see her retching and coughing. “Ew!” She hollered loudly enough to catch the attention of anyone not already staring at the disturbing man. “Are you kidding me? I mean, EW! Nice wig, you disco wannabe! Take a hike, Bozo the Dork!” She cried angrily.

He took a step back and clutched his chest playfully. “Oh, Oh, Oh! Sacre bleu! Such brutal ‘onesty! Such a sharp tongue!” He lowered his hands and raised an eyebrow as he looked upon her for a final moment. “Well, I retreat for now. If you change your mind, cheri, come find me.” He blew her a kiss and sauntered away with swaying hips.

The moment he was out of earshot, the two teens were clutching at each other to remain standing. Shadow had never laughed so hard in his life, and Goombella was holding at her side with tears spilling down her face. “That!” She exclaimed. “Was the funniest god-damn thing I’ve seen in my LIFE!”

“Like, ohmigod, I know!” A girl’s voice spoke up from nearby. The two looked up to see three toad girls sitting around a little table set up on the grass. One, dressed all in purple, waved happily at the pair. “Hey hey hey! We’re the happy wanderers: The Traveling Sisters Three!”

The second, clad in varying hues of green, took over. “Like, wow. This village is famous for its clear water, it’s… like, clean air, and like, one more thing.” She hinted with a smile and a sickly hills-girl accent.

The third, bearing bright pink curls and clothing to match squealed excitedly. “The big, bad Hooktail! Oooh, we can’t wait to see him!” They sang out the final line in unison, making loud, obnoxious squealing sounds.

Goombella was already halfway down the road, and Shadow rushed to catch up. “Stupid bimbos.” She spat. “I hope they get eaten by the dragon.”

Shadow merely rolled his eyes at her petty jealousy and looked up ahead. The largest home in the entire town was straight ahead. And it was the ugliest shade of hot pink a house could ever hope to achieve.

The teens stepped slowly up the little patio stairs and walked through the open front door, wondering what threats could await them here.

“Hmph? Whuzzat? Someone there? Who is it? WHO?!” An ancient-looking koopa bolted upright from a sitting position on his couch and groped for a beaten walking stick. His eyebrows were each larger than a young piranha plant, and they were dulled grey with age. He probably had other features, too, but the kids were too busy staring at his eyebrows to really notice.

“What do you want from me?” He demanded, swinging his walking stick angrily. “I know! You’re thieves! Here to rob a defenseless old Koopa! Despicable!” He hollered so loudly, it was a wonder the whole town didn’t hear.

“We’re not thieves, you batty old loon!” Goombella bellowed even louder. Shadow covered his ears and winced at the sound.

“Go on, do what you will…” The mayor grumbled, sounding defeated. “But as you can plainly see, there’s nothing to steal here.”

“We’re not going to rob you, so would you please shut up about it?” Goombella tried again.

She was ignored. “Well, I guess I have a little money. Take it, you fiends! And my antique shell, too. Just leave the photos of me and the missus.” His voice broke with sadness at the mentioning of his wife. “Can’t do without those memories…” He trailed off and was silent a good while before Goombella tried again.

“We’re not thieves. We’re looking for the Crystal Stars. Now would you-“

“What?” The man interrupted. “Not thieves, you say? Well, why didn’t you say so earlier? We’re just wasting time, here! Now then, those Crystal Stars… what did I hear about those things again? Errr….” He trailed off, ignoring Goombella’s fuming, rage-filled face.

His face lit up… or so it looked, through the eyebrows. “Hooktail! That’s it! Hooktail’s got what you need! He’s this enormous, ornery dragon. Eats folks, they say. Heard of him?”

Goombella rolled her eyes with obvious annoyance. “You geezer. You’d have to be deaf and blind not to know about him in this town. Then again, you are kind of-“

The mayor cut her off again with nothing to suggest he had even heard her. “Well, this Hooktail’s brutal fly-by snackings have got us all on pins and needles. So, are you reckless fools… I mean, gallant heroes enough to rough him up?”

At this, Goombella merely snorted a laugh. “Subtle.”

“This DOES sound promising!” The mayor laughed with glee, assuming they had said yes. “Why, if you can rid us of Hooktail, we’ll shower you with gratitude and rewards!” He threw his arms into the air, wildly, nearly losing balance in the process. “Wait, what’s that I hear? You’ll accept no reward?”

“Hey, now!” Goombella whined. “Now you’re just putting words in our mouth!”

“What an unselfish pair. You’re noble indeed. Yup. Good eggs. Now, what did you say your names were again?”

“Shadow and Goombella.” She tried one last time to get through to the senile crackpot, motioning briefly to her companion and herself in order.

“Murphy and Donna?” He crooned, cupping his ear towards them. “Fine names. Fine names, indeed.”

Goombella’s face turned red with anger. “That’s not what I said, you crazy jack-ass!” She clenched her fists and ground her teeth.

The mayor smiled and nodded. “Why thank you Donna. They ARE nice eyebrows, aren’t they?” His face took a more serious expression. “Now, listen up. If you want to go to Hooktail’s castle, you should look for the secret pipe near the village. I don’t know where it is, but it leads right to the front gates.”

He took a quick breath, then continued hastily. “Unfortunately, to use the pipe, you’ll need to find the Stone Keys. The keys are somewhere in Shhwonk Fortress, right over there.” He motioned vaguely to his left. “Get them first. Well, what’re you still doing here? Get going and take care of that Hooktail monster, Murphy, Donna!”

With this, he shooed them from his house with his walking stick and slammed the door shut behind them. Goombella stared at the closed door for a long time with a spiteful expression. “I swear to God.” She finally spoke in a quiet voice. “I’m going to kill that man.”

“He’s not all that bad, really. Just a little deaf.” A teen koopa girl with a dark pink shell hopped forward. She smiled brightly and mock bowed. “My name’s Koopie Koo. It’s nice to meet you. Shadow and Goombella, was it?”

Shadow nodded and Goombella smiled and shook the girl’s hand. “Yeah. It is SO nice to meet someone normal! You have no idea!”

Koopie rolled her eyes in a manner similar to Goombella’s. “Yes. Yes I do. Anyway, you guys are here to whoop on Hooktail?” She asked bluntly. “You must be really strong. If only Koops were as strong as you…” She trailed off, looking unhappy.

Shadow shrugged, but Goombella simply asked. “Yeah. Where the hell is this Shhwonky place?”

Koopie pointed towards an ornamental little gate with a scrawny-looking guard at its post. “Back there. Good luck, guys!”

She waved enthusiastically at the pair as they made a beeline for the gate. “She’s nice.” Shadow mumbled.

Goombella nodded in agreement and opened her mouth to respond.

“Umm… Excuse me! Er… I beg your pardon! Wait a moment? PLEASE!” A voice cried tentatively behind them. A koopa about the age of Koopie came running down the road after them, stopping a fair distance away to catch his breath.

“P-Pardon me for yelling like that.” He spoke nervously. “I was panicking.” He looked kind of confused, and kept his head bowed down. “Uhh… where to start? M-My name’s Koops. I head you’re traveling to Hooktail’s castle. So… anyway… I have a favor to ask.”

He spoke slowly as it was, but at this point he fell entirely silent. He opened his mouth a few times as if to speak, but then thought better of it and turned away. “Well… Oh, just forget it. Never mind. Ignore me. Good… Good-bye!” He ran away and turned a corner, passing out of sight.

“Wow.” Goombella said softly. “Talk about issues.” Shadow merely stared at the ground. He couldn’t be sure because of the distance, but that boy Koops had felt… special. He shook his head and chased after Goombella, who was already at the gate.

The guard smiled and opened the gate for them, closing it firmly after they passed through. “You’re both going to die!” He called cheerfully.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shhwonk Fortress~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow smiled as the final couple of members of the gang went running back to the town. “What a bunch of losers.”

Goombella snickered and waved at their fleeing forms. “Seriously. A bunch of koopa dorks? Was that supposed to be an ambush? That was just lame.”

“More sad, really.” Shadow stepped towards the large stone archway that led into the Shhwonk Fortress. “Once more, into the breach dear friends.”

The pair moved slowly into the dark room, side by side. They couldn’t see very well, but as their eyes adjusted, they could see that the arch on the other side of the room was barred. “What now?” Goombella asked curiously.

Shadow shrugged and leaned against a pillar. There was a loud groaning sound that made them both jump. A pair of loud clunks rang out. Suddenly, there were two little rock people charging straight at Goombella.

She gasped and ducked swiftly out of the way. The men skidded to a stop and turned to rush her again. Shadow swung out with his hammer, and it collided with one with a dull thud. The little man seemed entirely unaffected, and went on running at the goomba girl.

Goombella swerved around a pillar and attempted to ambush the little sucker by grabbing it. It was really no surprise when she was flung across the room and into the far wall. “Shadow!” She gasped. “Help!”

The two little men charged at her again and she closed her eyes. There was a loud crash and a couple of sounds that sounded like moans, then she opened her eyes again. “Shadow?” She called hesitantly.

Shadow grinned and looked down at the pile of rubble, holding his hammer and looking triumphant. “I knocked a pillar on ‘em. Worked on the squid, right?”

She laughed, mostly out of relief. “Yeah, right. So… what now?” As if to answer her question, the gate pulled open with a loud screech.

“Now we hit the next room.” He sighed in a monotone. She groaned and picked herself up.

As they stepped into the next room, they noticed immediately that it looked exactly like the first. “Another gate?” Goombella asked with an annoyed voice.

“Yup.” Shadow responded, equally annoyed. He turned and pushed against one of the pillars, trying to activate the trap that would allow them to proceed.

It worked. Before they had time to react, two spinning balls of spiky death were rolling around the room and laughing at them. Goombella dove between the pillars, but Shadow pulled out his hammer and swung with all of his might.

As he swung, the ball’s spikes elongated and cut through his arm. As he cried out and moved away, they retracted again. ‘That’s an ugly trick.’ He thought to himself, and he found himself looking around for Goombella.

Goombella had fallen back to the first room, ducking around the single remaining pillar in order to evade the evil ball whipping at her. She tripped over the fallen pillar and swore loudly.

Shadow looked towards the arch and saw Goombella sprawled out on the ground. Suddenly, he had an idea. Goombella lifted herself slightly and caught his gaze, and they traded evil smirks.

With a quick movement, he dove to the left and let the ball follow him. He ran around the room in perfect circles until the ball couldn’t accelerate any more. “Now!” Goombella’s voice echoed through the stone halls, and he leapt straight for the archway.

He nearly ran headlong into Goombella as she ducked through the arch from the other side. He dived over the ball that had been following Goombella and cursed internally as the spikes grew out and licked his chest.

He heard Goombella grunt as well, but it was soon drowned out by the noise of scrunching metal. He rolled onto his back and laughed with a feeling of schadenfreude as the balls tore each other apart.

He picked himself up from the ground and dusted himself off, breathing heavily. Goombella limped her way to the well-ground bodies of the Bristles and laughed. “Think that counts?”

With its guardians gone, the gate creaked and scrunched into an open position. They took one final look around and moved on ahead.