Part 4:
Chapter 2: Swords from the sky
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Maria woke up with her head swimming. She had no idea where she was, or what she had been doing. She opened her eyes and stared at the legs of a kitchen table. “How did I get on the floor?” She sat up and almost too fast. She recognized the table and the only two chairs. They belong to Mario. That’s right she was in the pipe house and she brought them some lunch from Silvio’s Bistro.
“Mario?” she waited until she had fully come too before she looked around. She was alone and there was something on the floor. It was a small tranquilizer dart. “That’s right. We were eating and I got shot with one of these.” She picked it up. “Did they get Mario?” She continued to search, and found a second dart on the ground. “They did, but where is he?” She stood up and leaned against the chair. Whoever shot the darts may have taken him, but who were they, and why Mario?
The sun was setting outside. She had to have been out for at least five hours, and that meant that whoever took Mario had him for that long.
“Gotta look for clues.” She stepped outside. There were small shoe prints and by the soles they could have belonged to anybody. They might have belonged to some Toads who couldn’t stand the fact that there was a Koopa in their kingdom.
“Help,” Princess Peach screamed.
Maria turned around. Mario was heading right for her and he was carrying Peach with him. “Mario what happened? Who took you and what are you doing with the Princess?”
“Step aside, human.” Mario ran past her and continued on his way towards Dark Land with Peach.
“What the hell?” Maria scratched her head. “I got hit with a tranq and I wake up to this.”
“Maria,” Toad cried out for her. “Maria, don’t just stand there.”
“Toad,” Maria saw how the retainer was gasping for breath. “What is going on?”
“Mario kidnapped the Princess,” Toad leaned against Mario’s mailbox. “You just saw them ran by. Mario took the Princess, and here I thought we were all wrong about Koopas.”
“This does not make any sense,” Maria couldn’t believe what was happening. “We were attacked earlier. We were both struck with darts and when I woke up Mario was gone.”
“You think they might have used some other drug in that tranquilizer?” Toad asked. “He was kinda acting funny, acting like he didn’t know us. I’m not going to repeat what he called Peach to her face.”
“They had to do something to him,” Maria didn’t want to hear the insults Mario had used. From the way Mario had looked at Peach, held her hand, and talked about her, she was certain the Koopa had a crush on her. “I’m going to see what’s going on.”
“You be careful,” Toad warned. “We don’t need something to happen to your head.”
“I won’t allow anything to happen.”
-
Maria avoided the clusters of soldiers and everything that looked like it might have been a trap until she made her way to the cliff point that had the bridge. “Okay so far and so good.” She heard something running and turned to see several pale Troopas had seen her and were rushing towards her. “Not so good.” She ran towards them and jumped. Each jump was well timed and she landed on each one. “You are going to have to do better than that.” She ran inside.
“Maria,” Peach called out. She was hanging from a chandelier along with Bowser.
“Don’t think I can’t get up there.” She smiled when she saw another pale Troopa followed by two paratroopas flying in at different heights. She jumped on the troopa then jumped on the lower of the winged troopas, then the one that was higher before she grabbed the bottom of a slightly lower chandlier.
“Nice to see that you never lose your determination,” Bowser was gloating. “Welcome back to Dark Land, Maria.”
“Aw Bowser did you kidnap Peach just to lure me here?” Maria teased as she climbed on top of the chandelier. “You didn’t have to. You could have sent me an invite and I would be here with bells on.” She felt like she was rising. “Hey what gives?”
“Take a good look at the chains,” Bowser pointed at them. The chandelier was held up by no ordinary chain but a small silver chain chomp. “They are being retracted by my order. Now it really is a long way down. Mario.”
“Yes Bowser,” Mario slid down the chain in front of Maria. “I saw her when I was bring you the princess. Is she one of the hired heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom?”
“What are you talking about? It’s me Maria.” She stared into his eyes, looking for some sign of recognition and found none. “We were in your house earlier today. I brought you a meatball sub.”
“What are you talking about?” Mario asked.
“She’s trying to fool you with her lies,” Bowser said.
“You are the only liar here,” Peach said.
“What did Bowser do to you?”
“Don’t dawdle, General,” Bowser instructed. “But don’t kill her either.”
Mario growled and lunged for Maria.
She jumped over his head. “I don’t want to hurt you.” She had to find someway to undo what had been done to him. “I have two brothers, older twin brothers named Mario and Luigi. I would have had them if they were not murdered when they were infants.”
Mario slowed down. “That’s not true.”
“Why would I lie about something like that?”
The whole castle shook. Mario slid off the edge of the chandelier. Maria grabbed his hands. “I got you.”
“What the hell was that?” Bowser asked.
Another crash followed the second shook the castle with enough force to cause several stones to fall. The chandeliers were swaying out of control. Maria continued to hold on even though she was losing her grip with her legs.
Maria felt the chain snap and she and Mario flew out the window. The force of the crash was enough to send both of them flying. She felt Mario slip from her hands as they flew over the pipe house and she continued to fly until she entered one of the windows of Peach’s castle. Darkness enveloped her mind.
-
Mario watches as the frightened girl kept flying while he plunged straight down. She tried to help him earlier. She wasn’t going to let him fall and that made no sense. People don’t help their enemies do they?
He braced himself as he fell right into the green pipe. It felt like plunging down a warp pipe, except that he entered the inside of the strangely familiar house and got hung up by his spines on the hooks for what might have been for clothes.
“Mario?” the same toad that tried to stop him earlier had entered. “I don’t know if you Koopas do things differently, but around here we use doors.” He laughed.
“I don’t need your attitude,” Mario growled as he dislodged himself. “I have to get back home.”
“You are home,” the toad said. “After you betrayed Bowser Peach and I bought this place for you.”
“What are you talking about?” Mario rubbed his head. “Quit trying to act like you know me.”
“But we do know you.”
“Leave me alone.” He ran out.
Mario didn’t stop running until he reached Vista hill. All thoughts about that mushroom retainer and the girl had vanished when he saw a giant sword sticking out of the top of the castle.
“What are you doing Koopa,” the sword said.
“What the hell?” Mario blinked. “Why is there a giant talking sword in my home?”
The sword laughed. “Silly Koopa, this is no longer your home. It now belongs to the Smithy Gang as will this whole world.”
“Who the hell is the Smithy gang?” Mario was getting pissed. He looses his memories thanks the to the people of the Mushroom kingdom, he has people act and think like he is a friend and now there is a sword with an attitude sticking out of his home. “Did you cause all those crashes? Where is Luigi? Where’s my mother, my king and his children.”
“They have all fled, now leave.” He vibrated. The power of his shaking caused the bridge connecting the hill to the castle to fall apart.
“No,” Mario clung to the ends and stared down. He watched helplessly as the parts of the bridge fell down into the lava below. That was his only way across. Now how was he going to be able to get across to the castle and help his brother, mother and king fighting against this new threat?
“What the hell is that?” the toad had caught up with him.
“I am Exor,” the sword shouted.
“He destroyed the bridge,” Mario explained.
“How are we going to rescue the princess?” the toad asked.
“Forget the princess. I need to find my brother and the rest of my family.”
“Sounds like you have already forgotten her.”
“Thanks to you. I have forgotten what evils your kind has bestowed on my recently. My uncle has tried to help me remember,” Mario turned around. “That Exor sword said the others fled. I have to find them.”
“What about Peach and Maria?”
“Maria?” That was the girl who tried to help him. “She was flying towards the castle. She kept me from falling. I have to at least make sure she is all right, it’s the least that I can do.”
-
It was dark when they had reached the Mushroom kingdom capitol, and it was very noisy. There strange bouncing sounds, as if hundreds of metal springs had been rained down on the city. There was also the shouts and screams over various toads.
“What is going on here?” Toad asked.
A toad dressed in blue and green with a blue spotted cap along with a girl wearing red and a pink spotted cap ran past them. Several Shyguys on sword shaped pogo sticks.
“So this is where everyone fled to?” Mario asked. “Halt troops.” He placed himself in between the toads and the Shyguys.
“Hey tubby,” one of the Shyguys said. “Get out of the way.”
“Tubby?” One of Mario’s eyelids twitched. “I don’ care if I hear that from strangers or our enemies. In fact I tend to expect that to come from our enemies, and I can expect to hear that come from Luigi, when he knows fully well that I can dish it out as well as I receive it, but I will not tolerate such insolence coming from my men.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“It seem I’m not the only one with memory problems,” Mario sighed. “It’s me, your general.”
“You’re not our general.”
“So you are one of Luigi’s? That still doesn’t change the fact that I am also one of Bowser’s best generals. I want to hear nothing but respect fall out of your mouth holes. Now the next thing I expect to hear from you will be sir, yes sir. Do you understand?”
The Shyguys looked at each other. “Yours, up yours.”
Mario snarled. “You will be scrubbing latrines with toothbrushes once we get that sword out of the castle.”
“We work for Smithy, dumbass.”
“Why are you wasting time talking with them?” Toad jumped on top of one of them.
“Hey,” the Shyguy jumped with Toad still on his head.” Get this fungus off of me.”
“Mario, does this look familiar.” Toad plucked the Shyguy off of his pogo stick and they both jumped down. He turned to one of the others and threw it at it. There was a metallic clang when the two Shyguys collided.
“That does seem familiar,” except he pictured Shyguys without their odd pogo sticks. He heard the crackles of sparks and saw wires poking out of the Shyguys. “These guys are made out of metal.”
“Uh oh,” the third one said. “I better warn Mack.” He bounced away towards the castle.
“Whoever this Mack is he’s in the castle with the king.”
“And Maria,” Mario added. “Let’s a go.”
They avoided more of the metal Shyguys as they made their way to the castle and through the tunnels towards the throne room. If any of the bouncing creatures attacked they would jump on them, and pick them up to throw at their brethren.
The throne room was dark as outside. All of the lights had been turned off. In the center of the room was a large broad sword that was as tall as king Bowser. It had a yellow cross-guard just over the blade with a green sphere on each end, eyes on the grip of the hilt and a large red pommel that seemed to have a creepy goblin like face painted on it.
“I may be wrong,” Toad said. “But I think that is Mack.”
The blade chuckled. “Right you are little shroom. I have taken over this castle and this land, soon the entirety of this land shall belong to the Smithy Gang.”
“You know, I’m starting to despise this Smithy Gang,” Mario said. “You maybe a big tough knife, but you haven’t tangled with one of Bowser’s elite.” He snapped his fingers.
“Those are bold words, reptile.” Mack said. “Lets see how you one of Smithy’s best. Shysters assist.” Four more of the mechanical Shyguys appeared. “Now attack.”
The metal Shyguys sprang forward but Mario and Toad dodged them and jumped on them, knocking them off of their pogo sticks.
Mack screamed and set out a strange wave of fiery heat at them.
Mario retracted himself into his shell to avoid being cooked. “So you like fire?” He breathed a blast of fire straight into the eyes of the mouth.
“Great shot,” Toad said. He picked up one of the Shyguys and threw it at Mack, striking him in the pommel.
“That’s also familiar?” Where had he seen someone throw small mechanical minions at a huge boss creature before?”
“Good,” Toad threw another one at Mack. “Just keep fighting him.”
“Brace yourself,” Mario said before he inhaled deep and roared. The sonic energy of his cry caused the large blade to shake. Mario picked up the last to the mechanical Shyguys and tossed it at Mack.
“This is almost too easy,” Toad said.
“More Shysters to me,” Mack shouted before he sent several fireballs towards them. Four more of the pogo riding terrors appeared around him. “The castle is filled with my minions.”
“Great,” Toad jumped on two of them. “That means more ammo for us.”
The two of them continued to throw the Shysters at Mack with Mario using his fire or sonic roars in between. Several times they had to duck to avoid being bounced on and braced themselves for one of Mack’s fire attacks.
“Shysters,” Mack called after Mario and Toad used the last group as his weapons. The knife was in bad shape. One of his eyes was closed and swollen. There were cracks all over his pommel and the rest of him was battered and twisted. “Shysters to me.” A few seconds went by. “Shysters?”
“Looks like it is just you,” Mario said before he jumped on the knife. He jumped on it repeatedly until the pommel was completely shattered.
“You may have defeated me,” Mack said as cracks formed across his body. “But you will have a long way to go before you can even thinking of facing against the enemy.” He crumbled into several pieces.
“Big talker until the end,” Toad said
“Oh goodness,” an elderly toad with a brown spotted cap stuck his head out from behind the column. He wore a small pair of glasses and had a large white moustache. He was dressed in mostly purple, save for a bright red bowtie.
“Toadsworth you can come out,” Toad said. “Mario and I defeated Mack.”
“Oh splendid,” Toadsworth stepped out from his hiding place. Several more retainers also emerged from where they hid. “Does this mean Mr. Mario will explain his earlier actions?”
“If you mean kidnapping the princess then it is simple,” Mario cleared his throat. “I was following orders from my-“ Toad had clamped his hand over his mouth.
“He’s not himself,” Toad said. “The Koopa Troop kidnapped him and did something funny with his mind.”
“Oh dear,” Toadsworth frowned. “We should have a doctor check him out, but we still have a problem rescuing the princess from Bowser and that sword.”
“That sword claimed that everyone fled the castle when he arrived” Mario said. “If that is true then my king took Princess Peach with him, but I don’t know where they went. After Exor, that is what the sword calls himself, landed, it sent Maria and—holy shit Maria. I nearly forgot about her. Is she okay?”
“She is fine,” Toadsworth said. “She landed right on Peach’s bed. When she got up she looked through the telescope observatory and pointed out the large sword to the rest of us. She also saw the bridge collapse.”
“Where is she?” Toad asked.
“She said she is going to try and find out what is happening.” Toadsworth said.
“Toadsworth,” one of the retainers shouted. “That Mack guy was storing something up here.”
“Well what is it?” Toadsworth stared up.
“This,” the toads shook something loose and the room lit up.
“Wow,” Mario had to shield his eyes as the object landed. Once the light had dimmed he could see that it was a large star shaped object. “What is it?”
“I have no idea,” Toad said.
“Mack must be in here,” a female voice echoed from the hall. “Brace yourself, Mallow. These big boss types are strong.” Maria ran into the throne room, followed by a small puffy white creature wearing blue and white striped pants, a brown belt and a pink pair of shoes. He had a curl of pink hair at the top of his head.
“Maria,” Mario embraced her. “You are all right.”
“Mario?” Maria stared at him. “Does this mean you remember?”
“Just that you kept me from falling and I owe you one for that.”
“Where is this Mack guy?” the strange puffball asked.
“Mario and I defeated him,” Toad said.
“Oh, what is that?” Maria pointed at the strange new object.
“We are not sure,” Toadsworth shrugged. “Perhaps we can discuss this over a small and quick dinner?”
“Sounds good,” Mario felt his stomach rumble. “At least they can get some questions answered.
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