Episode One: The Big Star Versus the Tyrant Lord?!

[the_nether_mods]

Who: Master Big Star, Usagi, Pleinair, Same, and Overlord Baal.
What: Meeting between Master Big Star and Overlord Baal.
When: Saturday evening.
Where: Overlord Baal's Attendance Haal. Yes, 'Haal' like 'Baal'.

Comments

[the_nether_mods]

"Thank you, Usagi!" The stuffed shark replies once the television cuts from the bunny to him. The attendance hall is enormous and every inch is furnished with the most expensive-looking and Gothic-like (as in the art style, not the modern day social group) decorations possible. Same is alone in the enormous room, save for the zombie holding the video camera.

"Neither party has arrived yet, but I can add to what we know about both. As for Overlord Baal, we all know he is the greatest and the best Overlord possible, also known as the Lord of Terror, the Tyrant Lord of All Overlords, the King of Kings, and various other wonderful titles that can't come close to capturing his awesomeness. Of course, as far as we know, no one in the Netherworld--besides the Dark Assembly and Scrooge McDood and a few others--has actually laid eyes on our Overlord. Well, at least done so and lived to tell the tale. Or lived with enough sanity to be capable of speech."

He pauses for a moment, as though he is done talking. "Oh, right, the other guy! After talking to a few of the Senators in attendance for the bill, I've got a bit more information on this Big Star guy. It seems like the general consensus is that he's sparkly and generous with his bribes. Senator Sexy went in particular depth and detail about the guy, but none of it is appropriate for our time-slot. Guess we're just going to have to wait for him to show up, hahaha!"

Usagi's voice cuts over, "Same, you're a horrible reporter."

Same shrugs and is about to retort, but he sees something in the distance of the attendance hall. I told you, it's a pretty damn big room. "Oh, sparkles! I think one of them is arriving right now!"

[bigstebowski]

From the far end of the attendance hall comes a golden and purple blur of sparkles and speed; the cameraman attempts to focus, but it's not for a while until Master Big Star's figure is clearly visible. He is riding the back of a once feral Mystic Beat he had tamed days prior, like a general riding a horse into battle.

Once Master Big Star and his steed reach the center of the hall, they stop. The man is smiling, as always; he shows nor feels any surprise or disappointment by arriving before the Overlord. With his free hand (meaning the one not chronically holding a rose), he smooths the tassels of his shoulder-pads, ensures his cravat is proper, and comforts the obviously nervous Mystic Beast.

"Do not worry," he whispers to the monster, "a steady hand is more important in battle than even the greatest weapon. Losing one's nerves means losing the battle before it begins."

A few minutes pass and there is a crackle of purple lightning near the top of the attendance hall. "Ah, good. Be sure to look your most attractive. We do not want our host to think us inelegant, now do we?"

[the_nether_mods]

The camera shifts away from Master Big Star and to the activity near the ceiling. Purple thunder and energy crackles and with an enormous bolt crashing into the floor of the hall, the infamous Overlord appears.

The horns on his head and shoulders nearly reach the ceiling of the attendance hall, which is well more than several stories tall. His right hand is wrapped in his heavy cape, which is so long that it pools on the floor. The demon of demons stands silently; were it not for the slight movements suggesting breathing and the flexing of muscles, viewers may mistake him for a statue.

The burning red eyes behind a veil of darkness target his guest, waiting.

[bigstebowski]

Master Big Star is silent as well. He keeps his composure, making it seem as though he is simply waiting for his host to say the first word; however, he is momentarily taken aback by the reality of the situation. Baal aura--his mere presence--added hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of weight to the air. Surges of fear, reluctance, and regret hit him; the thought of retreat passes through his mind fleetingly.

The greatest mark of a leader is to make the hopes and dreams of others a reality. A leader's roll is to make zero percent into one-hundred percent. A leader's roll is to face down cold, harsh reality with an unwavering eye!

"My, my, my." Master Big Star smiles wider, looking Baal right in the eyes. "You are even larger than the dearly departed dean. Quite impressive, Tyrant Lord."

Baal responds in silence; all that can be heard in the hall is the breathing of the Overlord and the Class Leader; Same's chattering teeth can probably be picked up by the camera, as well.

"Please, allow me to reach the heart of the matter immediately: why have you kidnapped us?"

[the_nether_mods]

Baal says nothing; not a word. All that could be taken as a response to the question is the Overlord cracking the joints in his neck, which resemble the sounds of boulders being crushed beneath larger boulders with a splash of fingernails-across-a-chalkboard.

Same shrieks and the muffled cursing of Usagi can be heard; the camera wavers a bit, but keeps Master Big Star and Overlord Baal in sight.

[bigstebowski]

Master Big Star's left eye twitches ever so slightly at the excruciating sound made by Baal, but beyond that his composure does not falter. His steed whimpers and whines, but does not attempt to run away.

"I see. Between two demons, that is answer enough. I know what I must do and what you expect me to do. Let us not waste any more our time, shall we?"

From his inventory, Master Big Star equips his Luminous Bow; keeping a distance from the Lord of Terror would be best to judge his power.

"Tyrant Overlord Baal! En garde!"

He jabs his steed with the golden spurs on his boots and the beast takes off. Despite not holding onto the monster with either hand, Master Big Star stays firmly atop it. The beast does not ride towards Baal, but rather runs a wide, wide circle around the Overlord, climbing the walls, running across the ceiling, and coming down the other side.

While the beast runs, Master Big Star fires volley after volley of arrows at his target. Not noticing any apparent effect, he shouts "Psycho Mirage!" Each of the following bolts break into twenty separate shots of energy, all flying around and targeting Baal from different directions.

Within moments, Master Big Star has hit Overlord Baal from every possible angle with several hundred blasts, each one individually capable of razing entire buildings.

[the_nether_mods]

Same runs around the camera man frantically, expecting to be hit by one of the arrows at any moment. The cameraman, having no fear of losing his life (not because he was brave, but because he was a zombie and had no life to lose), continues to film.

Baal does not react to the hundreds of bolts slamming into his body. One after another they hit, but he continues to stand completely and entirely unaffected.

The reporter shouts frantically, "Usagi, an actual fight has broken out! I didn't expect anyone to be this stupid, but you were right!"

Usagi snorts. "We'll be sure to plan your wake around noon this Sunday; just like usual, Same."

[bigstebowski]

Not surprising. All is going as expected.

"Come! It has only begun." While Master Big Star and the Mystic Beast were running across the ceiling once again, he jumps off the monster; in mid-air, he returns his bow to his inventory and equips his Golden Fists. He spreads his wings and using all the energy he can muster, flies towards the back of Baal's head as fast as possible; the camera is incapable of keeping up and, as far as the viewer is concerned, Master Big Star teleported from one point to another.

"Overlord Baal! It is showtime!"

Gilded hand clenched, Master Big Star slams his glowing fist into the back of the Tyrant Lord's head, causing an enormous explosion that obscures both figures from the camera's view.

[the_nether_mods]

"Same, what's going on?! We can't see crap! Not being able to see the fight is bad for ratings, you know!" Usagi shouts. The sounds of smashing, punching, and exploding can be heard from the enormous cloud.

The reporter is frantically flailing. "Sorry, Usagi! That last attack kinda left everything dusty and is inconveniently blocking all the action! I--whoa, wait! It seems like Big Star has come out of the dust cloud! For some reason, he's red-tinted now. He's going right back in while another figure is coming out from the other si--WHAT? It's Big Star again! And he's green-tinted this time!"

"You're talking nonsense, Same! How could--what the HELL are those?!"

Out of the dust cloud come two figures, moving in perfect coordination with one another. From the other side of the dust cloud comes a third figure.

"Explain what's going on, Same!"

"I would if I had half a clue, Usagi! All I can say for sure is that there are three Master Big Stars now!"

[bigstebowski]

Three Master Big Stars indeed, each tinted a different color: red, green, and blue. He only had a few more seconds before the technique came to an end, but he intends to make full use of them.

All three of him--in perfect coordination--wave their rose-less hands and push all the smoke and dust clear, making Baal--still completely unharmed and still standing like a sentinel--visible to the camera.

Again in perfect coordination, the three Master Big Stars launch towards the Overlord, targeting different portions of the body: one targeting the head, another the small of his back, and another focusing on the chest.

Kick, kick, punch, chop, punch, kick, punch, punch, roundhouse kick, and punch; second after second of this pummeling goes by. The floor and walls of the attendance hall warp, crack, and cave in from the shockwaves of the attacks, but still Baal stands.

No time left for this.

The three Master Big Stars fly away from Baal, back-flipping together quite elegantly, and each stretches one hand in the air; in their palms, balls of energy begin to form and the trio eventually shouts in unison, "SPLITTING SHOT!"

[the_nether_mods]

The three energy balls rocket toward Baal; finally, the Overlord makes a move. With the slightest movement of his cape, he reflects the three blasts away. One slams into the ceiling, taking out an enormous chunk of the hall. The second hits the ground, leaving a large opening to the room below.

The third flies off, slamming into the ground immediately in front of Same. The connection between the camera and the station gets interrupted, leaving viewers with nothing but static for several moments.

Static along with Usagi's frantic shouting, of course. "Damn it, Same! You should have at least waited until after the fight ended to die! Ratings are going to be horrible if--oh."

The connection came back, showing Master Big Star--only one now--standing some distance in front of Overlord Baal, who was naturally unharmed by the previous onslaught. By Master Big Star's side was the Mystic Beast.

[bigstebowski]

"Overlord Baal." Master Big Star smells his rose; he was not equipped with any weapon now. "I appreciate this time you and I have spent together and I thank you for being such a gracious host. However!"

He points a finger at the towering figure of the Overlord. "As a leader to another, there is something I cannot forgive! Something I cannot condone!"

Master Big Star reaches his free hand out to the Mystic Beast. With a howl and a flash accompanied by the shout of "MAGICHANGE!", the monster transforms into a sword and lands in the offered hand. He holds the sword parallel to his body, an elegant stance taken before a duel.

"Regardless of your power, there is something I fully intend teach you, using my own special brand of power. Power derived from the love of my friends and comrades, both here and at home!" He holds his rose out towards Baal. "Not until this rose falls to the ground shall I admit defeat!"

[the_nether_mods]

"Wow!" Same says, genuinely impressed. "That's probably the best speech from a dead man I've heard in a while! Haha!"

A glow emits from Master Big Star, one far stronger and brighter than his typical shimmer and sparkle. His glowing, golden battle aura--mixed with a bit of purple from the Mystic Beast's own--grows and grows, pushing back some of the dark shadow emitted by Overlord Baal's own aura. The glow is intense and likely too bright for some viewers to look directly into.

"Do you see this?" Master Big Star's voice can be heard. "This is my own special brand of power, given to me by the ones I cherish the most. Everyone watching!" He turns his attention to the camera. "Watch this. Regardless of the outcome, remember! The power of our friendships, our pooled resources, and our cooperation! These together can defeat anything, even the Tyrant Lord!"

He pauses and smells his rose. "To all of you, if I do not return: do not mourn, but look to the future. You will all defeat the Tyrant Lord in due time. Now." He tosses his sword into the air; the camera follows it up and up and up, until two words are heard:

[bigstebowski]

"INFINITE GRAVES!" The camera pans back down to Master Big Star; the audience may notice that the audience hall is now absolutely littered from one end to the other with swords identical to the one he is wielding.

In flashes of illuminating gold, Master Big Star takes one sword and plunges it into Baal, following this by another and another; the speed is likely too fast for many viewers to follow.

However, the blades slamming into Baal are easily visible and Master Big Star's voice is easily audible.

"Do you feel each blade, Baal? Each of these blades represent the hopes you have crushed!" A blade pierces Baal. "Represents each of the tears you have caused to be shed!" Another strike. "Embodies each of my friends you have harmed and toyed with, both here and home!"

One after another, a sword strikes the Tyrant Lord. "Do you feel each and every one, Baal? Each and every individual anguish you have caused?!" With all fifty-something blades stuck in Baal, Master Big Star stands below the towering figure with the last sword in hand.

"This power is not mine, but rather it is the power of those you should be serving! Those you should be leading! Instead, you fail as a leader. Your very silence condemns you!"

Gripping the sword, readying to strike, Master Big Star speaks once more: "This is the end!"

Leaping upwards, Master Big Star strikes Baal from the hip and--putting all the energy he can accumulate into the strike--tears upwards, across the abdomen, across the chest, and finally across the face, ending with an enormous explosion from each and every blade.

Attack finished, he back flips and lands several hundred yards away from his target.

[the_nether_mods]

Once the dust settled, it was obvious that the attack had no effect on the Overlord, despite being by far the most powerful thus far.

Not a single wound was to be seen.

Baal stretches one hand out in the direction of Master Big Star; he clasps his hand like a fist and, after all this time, finally speaks:

"Fall."

[bigstebowski]

To the viewers, it looks as though a sword made of shadows appears above Master Big Star, falls atop him, and then immediately disappears.

However, from Master Big Star's position, it is hours upon hours of anguish; in blackness that even his glow could not pierce, blow after blow strikes his body. His clothing tears, his flesh is cut, his bones break, his wings are crumpled, and his mind is assaulted with nightmare after nightmare, each one far more painful than any of the physical anguish he was given.

Once the darkness leaves, Master Big Star is still standing, his hand still outstretched and holding his rose.

"Tyrant Lord."

The Mr. Gency's Exit he had stashed in his sleeve falls out and lands on the floor, creating a portal in front of him. Master Big Star's glow disappears entirely; all the wounds he received during Baal's attack appear all at once to the viewers: wings crumpled, clothing torn, lacerations across his body.

"We...shall meet again." His eyes roll upwards into his head and blood spurts out of his mouth; now unconscious, he falls forward and lands in the portal.