Chapter 6: Water
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Mario paced around in the throne room. Wally was asleep on his old throne and Ludwig was playing his organ. It helped the eldest son of Bowser think. Mario would either pace or remove his wrist bands and put them on again. He hadn’t heard anything from Morton recently. After Larry was defeated he had offered to assist Morton when the girls came, but Morton insisted that he did not need any help save for the Boom’s and the Sledge brothers that he has employed.
“Greetings General,” Iggy appeared on the screen.
“Iggy,” Mario ran up to the screen. “Have you heard anything from Morton?”
“That is a negative,” Iggy sighed. “I have to let you know I have been having some nice chats with Prince Hugo, the son of Grant the Giant.”
“Prince Hugo the Huge?” Mario scratched his head. “Isn’t he a toad?”
“He’s actually half toad, gets his shroom cap from his mother. Now the thing is he has disagreed with his father’s bullying in the past but was too afraid to stand up to him. We are sort of working together to build a utopia.”
“You and Ludwig both have achieved that, but isn’t Hugo in prison?”
“No,” Iggy shook his head. “While he is not pleased with the fact that I have turned his father into a dinosaur he feels that is because his father brought it down on himself.”
“So this prince Hugo fellow is going to protect you from Pauline and Maria?” Mario asked.
“He won’t assist,” Iggy shrugged. “But you don’t have to worry. I have a few ideas on how to provide some extra protection from these gals. I have created some tall robots. I’ll use the wand to bring them to life.”
“Good work,” Mario said. “Have you talked to Roy or Lemmy?” He didn’t have to worry about Wendy with his brother protecting her.
“You know Roy is as stubborn and proud about his brawn as much as Morton,” Iggy sighed. “As for Lemmy? I can’t reach him.”
“You can’t?” Mario grew even more concerned.
“I’m always told he is to busy building snow men, or ice skating, or skiing, or having a snowball fight, or drinking cocoa.”
Mario laughed. Due to Lemmy’s size and immature attitude, many have assumed he was closer to Larry’s age instead of being the second oldest. “Good to hear.” He turned off the screen.
The image of his mother instantly appeared. “I have band news son.”
“Morton,” Mario knew. “How is he?”
“They have burned his feet,” his mother explained. “and while he was dancing and dodging fireballs he lost his wand. The girls created a small prison out of rocks before they left the air ship.” Larry was behind her with a bandaged head and seemed to be trying to sneak past her.
“So now they are headed to Water Land?” Mario guessed.
“That is where they have been spotted.” She turned around. “What do you think you are doing?”
“I just wanted some ice cream,” Larry pointed towards the kitchen.
“You are to stay in bed until the doctor says you can move freely about, now get back to bed, and I will get you’re your ice cream.”
“We are all on our toes,” Mario said.
“Stay safe, my son.”
“I will, mom.” Mario waited until the screen turned blank before he removed his wristbands. At least he knew Larry had pretty much recovered.
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Maria stood at the sandy beach and stared at the waves below. She shifted her focus across the waves and even when she shielded her eyes she still could not see land.
“These are very water proof,” Pauline read off the tag on the slick green material. “They will keep everything dry, including our back packs and the cameras.”
“I think you nearly wasted the entire camera on that last place.” Maria continued to stare at the sea, watching as the waves crashed into each other. “My name means the sea.”
“My name means small,” Pauline set the costume down. “I don’t think I’m small, but only when compared with you.”
“Very funny,” Maria picked up the other green suit. “I wonder how everything, including my pack and my breasts could fit inside.”
“Magic,” Pauline held up a finger.
“That is the answer to everything it seems,” Maria stepped into one of the legs and pulled the material until the flipper covered her show before she put the other leg in. “What did that Toad say about these suits again?”
“That we can swim faster than usual and we hop like a frog while on land.”
“Lovely,” Maria put her arms into the sleeves and zipped up the front before she put on the hood, which fit nicely over her cap. As soon as she was completely in the costume she felt the urge to be on all fours. “Ribbit.”
“Wait,” Pauline clenched her teeth. “Do you think you are a frog?”
“No,” Maria shook her head. “Just joking, but lets get this over with before we do find out there is a side effect like craving flies.”
“Just let me get one shot.” Pauline held up the camera. “Say cheese.”
“Ricotta,” Maria stuck out her tongue. “Now will you put that thing away?”
“Sure, keep your frog butt on.” Pauline slipped into her own frog suit. “Last one in is a French hors d'oeuvre.” She hopped past Maria.
“I don’t think so,” Maria leapt into the water.
It was a bit different than last time. There were certainly more kinds of fish swimming back. Maria has spotted several of the same fish that leapt out of the water to attack them as the last time, but there were also bigger fish. The squids were back. No one seemed to have noticed them yet, maybe it was because of the frog suits.
Pauline seemed to be enjoying herself. She was singing “Part of that World,” as she swam. She didn’t seem to notice that several of the fish were swimming after her.
“Pauline,” Maria said. “We have to swim faster, we have been spotted.”
“Aw crap,” Pauline increased her speed.
Maria turned around and nearly swam into one of the squids, followed by several of her children. “Dive.” She instructed, and swam down.
“I don’t think we want to touch that,” Pauline pointed towards the several jelly fish things that were lining the ocean floor. Small bolts of electricity sparked off their bodies.
“We just dive and skim,” Maria pulled up when she was several inches above the jellyfish she shifted courses and continued to swim.
“I wonder if it would have been better if we had flowers instead,” Pauline said.
“What I want to know is what is the deal with brining in the second generation.”
“Huh?”
“Goombas dropping their little spores, Blooper squids with their little bloops, Bowser’s kids at each of the castles.”
“Sure beasts me,” Pauline kept glancing around, looking for new enemies to avoid.
“Did you say beats or beasts?” Maria stared ahead and could see a large structure.
“In their case, it is the same.”
“I see land.” Maria swam with all her might. “To the surface.” She swam up until she was about to reach the surface and leaped out, followed by Pauline. “That was a good swim.”
“Yeah, I’m ready to see what is next.” Pauline hopped ahead.
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Luigi could not believe how calm Wendy was as she sipped her drink. It was some concoction made out of fruit juice and mineral water and topped with a cherry, one of those virgin cocktails that had heard about. She was sipping it slowly while helping herself to the several chocolate truffles that were in the box next to her as she stretched out on the large pink cushion in the middle of the throne room.
“Wendy, how do you do it?”
“How do I do what?” Wendy set her glass down.
“Stay calm like that.”
“I am not afraid of Maria or Pauline,” Wendy yawned. “I already know that you and I can both take care of those two. After all I am my father’s daughter, and you are one of the best two generals in all of Dark Land.”
“Great,” Luigi stared at his claws. He could slash at them, or breath fire on them, but it would seem wrong to harm them. Especially after the several times they risked their own necks to save him and Mario, but that was only in a dream.
“I have an idea,” Wendy smiled. “We trap them, and then use the wand on them.”
“That does sound like a good idea, but how are we going to trap them?”
“I just need some of my fruit ring candy.”
“You mean these?” Luigi held up one of the tube shaped pack of candies. “How are they going to help?”
“You will see,” Wendy took another sip from her drink. “Are you thirsty? I could ask them to make you an adult one.”
“I’m not thirsty and I shouldn’t have anything with alcohol in it,” Luigi stood up and stretched. “I have to stay sober.” He had to be in his best condition, if he wanted to take on those girls. “Speaking of adult, I keep by my promise that when you are eighteen we can begin dating.”
“Begin dating?” Wendy got up off of her cushion. “When I’m eighteen I want to get married to you.” She brushed the end of her tail against his thigh.
“Uh Wendy?” Luigi gulped.
“I’m sure daddy won’t mind if I asked.”
“You are going to ask?” Luigi couldn’t move.
“I’ve already talked to my brothers and they seem fine with it, all except for Morton, Roy and Junior. They think I should be dating Mario.”
“Heh,” Luigi laughed weakly. “What do they know?”
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“Do you feel like you are going to throw up again?” Maria sat down between two knights in the Water Land Castle. All that swimming and hopping and eating did a number on Pauline’s stomach, even when they relaxed for a whole day at a nice toad hotel Pauline still felt ill.
“I’m not sure,” Pauline stood up and tilted her head. “I think I will be okay.”
“I just want to make sure.” Maria rummaged through her pack. She only had a flower. “Do you have anything?”
“I have a leaf and a star.”
“It would be easier if you used the star,” Maria squeezed the blossom and felt the heated effects of the flower.
“The kids are easy. I want to save the star for something hard.” She grabbed onto the leaf and gained the ears and raccoon tail.
“If you insist,” Maria shrugged. “Lets see what kind of creature this king has been turned into.” She kicked open the doors. “Hello, your majest…tee?” There was no animal with a crown sitting on the throne. There were two Koopas, one was female and wore a bow on her head, and the other was Luigi.”
“It is nice to see that they know how to address me,” the female Koopa opened up a pack of what looked like lifesavers. “My name is Wendy. O. Koopa, the only daughter of Bowser Koopa.” She waved her wand over the handful of candy. “And this is General-“
“Luigi,” Pauline finished for her. “We met in a dream.”
“What?” the green Koopa asked.
“Luigi did you happen to share a dream with Mario?” Maria asked. “Pauline and I were there, and so was Peach and Toad. We pulled up turnips and threw them at these little odd guys in masks, and at the end I told you I hated turnips.”
“I remember,” Luigi didn’t appear to be as determined as before.
“Remember the plan,” Wendy had use the wand to make the candy grow into giant rings. “Take some of these.” She tossed about half of them to Luigi. “Now as for you.” She tossed a ring at Pauline and followed with several light rings from her wand.
“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Maria said.
“Yes it does,” Luigi threw a ring at her.
Maria blasted a fireball at the ring. The heat from the fireball caused it to melt into a sugary blob. “Remember how you said I was like a little sister.” She threw fire balls and jumped.
“I do,” Luigi jumped. “Wendy.” He came down with enough force to cause the whole room to shake.
Wendy had jumped at the last second and threw another ring, striking Pauline on the knee and making her lose her raccoon power.
Maria quickly stood up but didn’t have enough time to duck. One ring struck her in the side of the head.
“I’m sorry,” Luigi said before Maria blacked out.
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“Wake up,” Wendy’s screech grated on Maria’s ears. “The fun is about to begin.”
Maria opened her eyes. She was seated on the ground and felt her wrists bound by something hard and smooth, and just a little bit sticky. She stared at her ankles and saw the same rings the Koopas were using as weapons to keep her ankles bound.
“Hey girly,” Pauline was bound right next to her. “How is your head?”
“It’s been better,” she turned back to the Koopas. “Go on. I’ve seen enough cartoons to know you are about to gloat.”
“I’m not gonna gloat,” Wendy smiled. “We are gonna have some fun with you.”
“I have an idea,” Luigi took her hand into his. “Let me be the one to transform them, and then I will take them to your father.”
“Will you come back?” Wendy asked.
“Always for you.” He turned to the girls. “Now I never had this done to me, so I wouldn’t know if it will hurt or not.” He aimed the wand at them. A glowing beam of light fired out and struck Maria head on.
Maria closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. She couldn’t hear anything except for Pauline’s screams. She wasn’t sure if she was being transformed or not, she couldn’t feel anything. Her whole body felt numb.
Pauline continued to scream even after the numbness had left. Maria felt cool air on her toes and the familiar sensation of having a raccoon tail.
“Maria,” Pauline gasped.
“Pauline?” Maria opened her eyes and felt her jaw drop. Her roommate had been turned into a female Koopa with a light red shell and head. She swallowed and stared at her own feet. Bright yellowish orange Koopa claws had shredded her sneaker. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a turquoise shell on her back with several white spikes.
“Why did you turn them into Koopas?” Wendy scratched the top of her head.
“Well for starters, they smell better.” Luigi smiled.
“Excuse me?” Maria growled and froze when she realized that she actually had growled.
“I…have a…tail,” Pauline gasped.
“Sorry sweetie but humans aren’t the best smelling to us, and our noses are stronger than yours,” Wendy gloated. “Or actually what your noses used to be.”
“I’ll call some troops to help carry them to the air ship,” Luigi said. “You might want to call your father.”
“I…have…a…shell,” Pauline barely spoke between the long and ragged breaths.
“Daddy is going to be so pleased with us,” Wendy giggled and clapped. “We stopped Pauline and Maria.”
“Good for you,” Maria said through clenched teeth. She glanced over at Pauline. Her roommate was lying on her side, eyes wide and unblinking. Her whole body was shaking as she tried to gasp for breath. “Pauline? Oh shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Luigi turned to them. His eyes widened in fear. “Wendy, I think she is going into shock.”
“She hasn’t had an attack in years.”
“She’s prone to attacks?” Luigi asked as he checked to see if there were any tight clothing around her neck.
“She used to get them, after she was abducted by a large ape, but not anymore. The transformation must have triggered something.” She stared into Luigi’s eyes. “Please you have to turn her back. Change her back and have an escort take her back to the Mushroom Kingdom. I’ll go with you. I’ll even join your troop, marry your king, whatever you want, just please end this nightmare for her.”
“Daddy will be happy with just the one,” Wendy waved the wand over Pauline, more light rained down and the red Koopa girl was returned back to normal. “We need to elevate her feet.”
“Keep breathing, Pauline,” Maria said as Luigi removed the shackles from Pauline’s ankles and wrists. “Nice and slow breaths. Breath in, hold it and then out., in and out.” She watched as Wendy slipped a pink cushion under Pauline’s feet and hadn’t noticed that Luigi had removed her own shackles.
“We have already paged a medical team,” Luigi said as he helped Maria to her feet. “I believe King Bowser will want to see you.”
“Okay,” Maria kicked off the remains of her shoes. “Can you help me out of my clothes? I guess now that I am going to be like this forever, then I don’t need to wear anything.”
“I still wear nice dresses on occasion,” Wendy handed her a mirror. “We can go shopping.”
“I have a new shopping buddy,” Maria chuckled. She had to look on the bright side of things. She had agreed to join their side for Pauline’s safety. “Lets see how I look” She stared at her reflection. She had a turquoise head like her shell. A small pair of horns were poking through her cap. She had two protruding fangs. “I guess I’m cute for a Koopa.” She slid off her pants and gave her tail a twitch. “That does feel better.” She removed her hat long enough for her to pull off her shirt.
“Wendy dear,” A gruff voice came from the direction of the screen. “You have told me that you and Luigi have stopped Maria and Pauline. I don’t see their corpses, or them rotting in prison. I do see a lovely Koopa girl, care to explain.
“You must be King Bowser,” Maria placed her cap on her head. “I’m Maria.”
“What?” Bowser was tall, taller than Luigi, but not quite as big as the fake ones Maria had fought in the past. His body was bulky but by looking at his arms Maria figured it was mostly muscle.
“She said in exchange for her friend’s life she is willing to join the Koopa Troop,” Luigi said. “She also wants to stay a Koopa.”
“Lets see,” Bowser rubbed his chin. “One enemy is willing switch sides and I end up with a beautiful Koopa on my team. What about the other one.”
“She will return to our world and never return.”
“Heh heh,” Bowser laughed. “I like this arrangement. Luigi arrange for travel for the newest member to our family. I’m going to let the others know about the good news.” The screen went dark.
“And that is that,” Wendy smiled. “Now you know why I was calm?”
“Wheee,” Pauline squealed and ran past them, covered in flashing glitter. She smacked both Wendy and Luigi in the face, rendering them unconscious.
“What the hell?”
“What do you mean what the hell?” Pauline grabbed the discarded rings and used them to bind Wendy and Luigi. “I just saved you from being the bride of Bowser.”
“But you were having an attack.”
“I’m an actress, remember?”
“Give that girl a golden statuette,” Maria laughed.
“Okay medical team is going to be here to treat these two and take them back to their ship, because that will be King Scamander’s order once he is back to normal,” Pauline picked up the wand. “Now to turn you back to normal.”
“Good, I hate to say this, but they were kind of right,” Maria twitched her nose. “Humans aren’t the best smelling to Koopas.” She could smell the cherry scent from the rings and some fruity drink, and chocolate for some strange reason. Wendy had a decent scent and Luigi smelled familiar, but she couldn’t put a finger on it. “Let me be as stinky as you.”
“Maybe you might want to put on your clothes first. The magic can heal the material when I change you back.”
Maria stared down at her naked self. “Good point.”
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