Chapter 6: Wedding day miss
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“So this is Booster’s Tower,” Mario tilted his head back. He couldn’t see the top, nor could he see if the princess was in any of the windows. He couldn’t hear her crying out for Maria.
“It’s huge,” Mallow gaped at it. “I wonder what it’s used for?”
“Maybe for apartments,” Maria pulled out more pamphlets. “I can’t find any information about it here.”
“The mole people have given us adequate information,” Geno said.
“Yeah,” Mario nodded, but it wasn’t by much. They said that Booster was an odd human who’s family owned the tower and he lives there with his Snifits.”
“Snifits,” Maria scratched her head. “We came across them in Subcon. They were like Shyguys but also spat out bullets.”
“Those are the ones,” Mario plowed through the shrubs. “Lets see if we can find an entrance.”He found an entrance and right in front of it stood King Bowser Koopa. The large Koopa was glaring a the door “Bowser.” Mario ran up to him.
“Mario?” Bowser did a double take. “Where have you been? The last I saw , you were flying out of the window with Maria.”
Mario bowed before him. “It’s been a long story. I still haven’t remembered everything, although Luigi has filled me on some of it. He’s at Kero pond with-“
“Wendy and Lemmy,” Bowser nodded. “I know. I’ve already been there. I have also visited Iggy, Roy and Junior at Yo’ster island and Ludwig, Morton and Kammy are at Monstro town. Everyone is safe.”
“Where is Kamek?” Maria said in a voice so cold it sent a shiver down Mario’s shell. “Where is that bastard?”
“Maria,” Mallow stared at her with his jaw hanging.
“What is she doing with you?” Bowser pointed at her.
“The four of us are working together,” Mallow said. “We are searching for the seven pieces of the star road and fighting against Smithy’s gang.”
“Who is this?” Bowser stared at him. “Wait a minute, you are battling against the son of a bitch who took my castle?”
“That is correct,” Geno said.
“Why didn’t you say so, buddy,” Bowser gave Mario a friendly slap on the shoulder. “I’ve also been trying to fight these guys. I lost a bunch of troops when I took that giant sword head on. Then I lost a bunch more when we came across this spear that was heading towards some place called Sea Side town, after that I told the rest to stay with my children until I get a better plan. That’s when I heard rumors that Peach was here. One of my Lakitus told me she is at the top of the tower.”
“Why didn’t you go inside?” Mario asked.
Bowser pulled on the door. It wouldn’t budge. “That’s the problem.”
“It’s locked?” Mallow asked.
“No,” Bowser shook his head. “Just stuck.”
“Maybe if I pulled along with you,” Mario grabbed Bowser’s shell by the sides. “Now try.”
Bowser turned the knob and they both pulled. Mario felt his muscles strain until the door flew open and sent both of them rolling backwards.
“Are you guys all right?” Mallow asked.
“I’m good,” Mario stood up. “This beats being put to sleep by an arrow, falling out of the sky and getting concussions and losing part of my memories.”
“Okay everyone,” Bowser snapped his fingers. “We do not know what we are about to face inside. We need to stay close and be on guard.”
“Bowser,” Mario tapped his king on the shoulder. “The others are not part of the troop.”
“Whoops,” Bowser chuckled. “That is my mistake. Let me fix that. You three,” he pointed at Maria, Mallow and Geno. “You are all now part of the Koopa Troop. Welcome to the family.”
“Wow,” Mallow puffed himself up. “Should I be proud?”
“Good,” Maria cracked her knuckles. “Does this mean that after this is over I can come to Bowser’s castle and snap Kamek’s neck?”
“First you are scaring me,” Bowser frowned at her. “Second, I would love for you to come by any time.”
“You would just love that,” Maria was not thrilled.
“Actually,” Bowser grabbed her hand. “I would.” He bent down to kiss it, but she wrenched it away. “You are right, now is not the time. Koopa Troop, follow me.”
-
The inside of the tower was surprisingly cheerful. The walls were painted bright colors and the floor was made out of tiles in a checkerboard style. There were pictures and paintings of clowns, roller coasters, hot air balloons, cowboys, robots, tigers, trains and airplanes. There were all seven portraits of very ugly humans dressed in odd clothing.
“Ugh,” Mario stared at the portraits. “Humans can be hideous.” He read the inscription under each portrait. “Lets see there is a Booster the first, Booster the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh.”
“More like seven pukes,” Bowser said.
“Yeah,” Mario nodded.
“I wonder what those train tracks are for,” Mallow pointed at the small railroad up on the ledge above them.
As if by answer a train whistle was heard. A large children’s riding train came around the corner and at the helm was the most hideous face Mario has ever seen. The man was short and plump with hairy arms, a bushy black beard, large gaping mouth and a large red nose. He had thick bushy eyebrows and the hair on his head was just as wild. He wore an odd red hat with white horns and goggles.
“Isn’t that the seventh Booster?” Bowser asked.
“He looks like a totem pole,” Mallow said.
The train came to a stop and Booster waved at them. “Hello everyone.”
“Hi Dr. Nick,” Maria waved back. “I mean hello Mr. Booster.”
“There is no Mister,” Booster boomed. “I’m just Booster.” He stared at Maria. “Is it that time again? I’ll take a couple boxes of choco minty wafers, two boxes of choco pb’s, two boxes of caramel coconuts and one box of lemon witches. I have to ask my Snifits what they want.”
“Huh?” Mario’s reaction was echoed by the others.
“I’m not a scout,” Maria explained.
“Oh,” Booster frowned. “Ah pooh pooh, I was craving those cookies. Are you here to play?”
“Actually we are looking for a missing girl,” Bowser said. “She is about as tall as my girlfriend here.” He pat Maria on the top of her head. “Except she’s blond, wears pink and has smaller breasts.”
“Nope,” Booster shook his head. “I haven’t seen her. I’d help you look but my Snifts and I have to prepare for my wedding. Bye-bye.” The train kept chugging until it turned another corner.
“What a weirdo,” Mallow said.
“Your girlfriend?” Maria stepped away from Bowser.
“He said he’s getting married,” Mario chewed his bottom lip. “He probably means the princess.”
“I hope everyone is in good shape,” Bowser said “We have a lot of stairs to climb.”
-
Mario was gasping by the time they reached the top of the tower. The room connecting to the balcony was filled with toys and there were several red curtains.
“Mario,” Peach cried out from behind the door of the balcony. “Please help me. Maria, help me.”
“Don’t worry princess,” Bowser inhaled. “Your favorite reptile is here.”
“Bowser?” Peach pressed her face against the barred window. “Oh yuck.”
“We are all here,” Maria assured her.
“You have to be careful,” Peach said.
“Are you sure you have this wedding thing down?” Booster was just outside the room.
“Everyone hide,” Bowser said and pulled Mario behind the curtains.
“Hey,” Mario peered out of the corner. He watched as Mallow hid in one of the toy chests, and Geno squatted down behind another. “Maria, over here.”
Maria was running towards the curtains when the door opened.
“I eat get to eat cake and drink punch?” Booster was staring at three Snifits as they entered.
“That comes after you exchange vows,” one of the Snifits said.
“Hey who is this?” Another pointed at Maria.
“Um,” Maria swallowed. “I’m the maid of honor.”
“Maid of honor?” Booster scratched his head. “What’s that?”
“The bride’s best friend,” the first Snifit said. “She stands next to the minister during the wedding. Sniffle, you be the minister and Snuffy, you can be the princess.”
“Okay,” the third Snifit placed the princess doll on top of his head while the second one stood next to Maria. “Now what do I do?”
“You both walk up to the minister and the maid of honor.” The first Snifit said. “And Snuffy it’s your wedding day, try to smile.”
“Wait,” Sniffle waved his arms. “Doesn’t someone or something try to stop a wedding like this?”
“Right,” the first Snifit said. “Where is that Bowser doll?”
“Crap,” Bowser looked straight up. Above him was the doll of his likeness on a small shelf. He snatched it and tossed it over the curtains.
“Here it is,” Booster picked it up. “Except I’m tired of playing. Lets go get married and eat cake.” The two Snifits opened the door to the balcony and pulled out Peach. Booster grabbed her hand. “Come on maid of honor.”
“I have to get my dress first,” Maria said weakly.
“Oh,” Booster blinked. “Remember the password. Its toenail.”
“Let me go,” Peach cried. “Maria do something.”
“I’m thinking of a plan,” Maria said as Booster ran out with his Snifits and Peach. “I’m not thinking fast enough.”
“Forget the plan,” Bowser ripped off one of the curtains. “We are going to go crash a wedding.”
-
The large chapel in the center of the town was the most likely place Booster had taken the princess to get married
“I do have one question,” Geno asked as they had entered the village. “Why didn’t we stop Booster at his tower?”
“Mallow was right about him not being right in the head,” Maria said. “He’s like a child trapped in an adult’s body. He isn’t serious about the wedding. He just wants the cake.”
“He makes my son, Lemmy appear ten times more mature,” Bowser said.
“It looked like he had only taken about three of his men with him,” Mario observed. “We don’t know how many we might have to face back there if he had called his guards. This way it will be much easier.”
“It sure seems that a lot of people want to get married here,” Mallow pointed at the large church. Right in front of the doors was another wedding party.
“I’ve seen those two,” Mario pointed at the couple getting married. “They were chased by Shysters back in the kingdom.”
“Raz,” Maria ran up to the couple. “Raini, what is going on?”
“Maria,” the toad bride hugged her. “It’s just awful. This was our wedding day, we are about to exchange our vows when this awful man stormed in and said it was his turn.”
“He has the princess with him.” Raz added.
“Don’t worry folks,” Bowser cracked his knuckles. “You have two strong Koopas who are going to take care of this for you. Come on Mario.”
Mario grinned and lined himself right next to Bowser. “On three?”
“Yep,” his king nodded.
“Three,” they shouted at once and ran backwards towards the door. The combination of their strength and their shells was enough force to break through the doors, except they didn’t stop and kept running right all the way up to the alter podium.
“Mario?” Peach stared at him. “Did you come to rescue me, or are you still working for Bowser?”
“Both,” Bowser said before grabbing Booster by the scruff of the neck. “All right, Booster. The party is over. Either you scram or I’m going to drop kick you like a football.”
“Wah,” Booster cried. “No fair. I want cake.”
“Peach,” Mario turned to the princess. “Maria told me that I rescued you before and Luigi told me about my betrayal to Bowser and what Kamek did to Maria’s brothers. I just wish I could remember.”
“What happened?” Peach grabbed his hands. “Why can’t you remember?”
“I think Kamek may have used a spell on me, except I can’t remember. He made me forget you. He made me forget Maria and Pauline. He made the memories of our friendship disappear.”
“I’m sorry,” Peach removed his hat. “I’ll help you find your memories, but until then we can make new ones. Every time you helped me I gave you a kiss.”
“Wait a second,” Bowser dropped Booster. “I came to rescue you. Where is my kiss?”
“Me too,” Booster stood up. “I want a kiss.”
“Sorry guys,” Maria stood in between them and Mario and Peach. “This private moment isn’t for you.”
Everything turned dark. Someone had turned off the lights and the only light came in from the windows. Mario heard shuffling around when he felt two soft hands grab him by the shoulders and felt the softest pair of lips on his. He knew he felt them before, and then he remembered the other times he was kissed by her. He remembered their conversations. He remembered fighting against Maria and Pauline. He remembered freeing Peach when Maria kissed Bowser. He remembered the dream of Subcon. He remembered living in the Pipe House and spending time with Peach and her family and the times Maria and Pauline visited, and he remembered being shot by a tranquilizer dart and waking up with his wrists in chains in front of Kamek and Kamella carrying an odd steaming pot towards him.
“Peach,” Mario breathed. “I remember. I remember it all.”
“Mario,” Peach kissed him again.
The lights turned back on. Bowser as in a deep embrace with Maria and the two were kissing each other. Bowser was even stroking the back of Maria’s head until she opened her eyes.
“The hell?” Maria blinked and jumped back.
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it,” Bowser chuckled.
“You are a pig, Bowser,” Maria glared at him. “For all I know you probably thought you were kissing Peach.”
“Mario,” Peach grabbed his hand. “I want to go home.”
“He it is,” a white terrapin Troopa wearing a chef’s hat announced as he and another chef wheeled in a large cake. “We have been slaving over the oven for hours with this baby.”
“You have slaved?” the other terrapin slapped him. “I ave worked for owas to bake zis. You merely got in ze way.”
“That looks delicious,” Mallow smacked his lips.
“Zank you,” the chef nodded at him.
“kinda too bad we have to take the bride home,” Mario told him.
“Wot? Ze Bride, she is leaving?” The chef shook his head. “Zis cannot be.” He slapped Mario across the face.
“Uh chef Torte?” the apprentice was pointing at the cake.
“And you,” Chef Torte slapped Bowser. He did not see the cake jiggle.
“Chef Torte, the cake is moving,” the apprentice said.
“Don’t be a fool,” Chef Torte shook his head. “The cake is not alive.” As he said this the top of the cake turned and blinked its candy eyes. “Sacre Bleu.”
“What do we do?” the apprentice asked.
“Run away,” the chef ran off followed by his apprentice.
“Uh guys?” Mallow pointed at the cake. The cake blew a cold freezing chill at them.
“Attack,” Geno fired bullets from his wrist at the cake, blowing out a single candle.
Mario growled and jumped on the cake as the same times as Mallow struck it with his face. A second candle went out. Maria pulled out a tennis ball and a racket and launched the ball at the cake, causing the third candle to go out. Bowser roared and slashed at the cake with his claws, making the fourth candle go out.
The cake shook and roared. Several sharp edged snowflakes were summoned and they whirled and struck at both Bowser and Geno.
The giant doll stood up. “Geno Whirl.” He sent a glowing disk at the cake, blowing out the fifth candle and destroying the top half.
The cake was still alive. It sent a sand filled blast at them. Mario covered his eyes with his paws.
“Shocker,” Mallow cried and the cake was fried by his electricity.
“This cake is under done,” Mario breathed fire on it. His fire breath was joined by Bowser’s.
“Don’t destroy my cake,” Booster ran up to it. “I still want to eat it.”
“Ew,” Mario shuddered.
“Now how should I do this?” Booster asked.
“Just pick it up and eat it,” his Snifits suggested.
“Okay,” Booster licked his lips. “Down the hatch.” He picked up the cake and ate it one bite. “That was good. Lets go home and wait for another bride to fall from the sky. Then we can do this again.”
“Wow,” Bowser blinked. “This guys cake faster than Morton.”
-
Everyone was pleased the princess had been returned and Toad was equally pleased that Mario had regained his memories. What had shocked everyone was the fact that Bowser was not a prisoner.
“He’s helping us,” Maria explained.
“He’s helping you?” Toadsworth blinked. “I find that highly unlikely.”
“But its true,” Mallow said. “He helped save the princess from Booster.”
“And I’m willing to do anything to get that sword out of my castle,” Bowser shook his fist. “This is important. The same guys want to take over this world.”
“It’s true,” Peach said. “He did help me and there is a bigger threat.”
They tried to explain the situation as best as they could. They started with the mention of the invasion from another dimension and how the sword destroyed the star road and how they were searching for the seven different star pieces.
“I see,” Toadsworth rubbed his moustache. “How many pieces have you found?”
“Three so far,” Geno said. “And after the others have rested we will search for the others in the morning.”
“I’m going to help them look,” Peach said.
“No,” Toadsworth shook his head.
“But Toadsworth this is important.”
“I believe Maria can do this,” Toadsworth said. “She has the help of the star agent and this brave young lad, Mallow. She even has the help of a couple of Koopas. She does not need you.”
“But I want to help.”
“No,” Toadsworth slammed the bottom of his cane on the floor. “And that is final.”
“Fine,” Peach turned one her heel and left in a huff.
“Peach?” Mario started after her.
“Leave her be,” Toadsworth said. “She will be fine in the morning.”
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