Part 5:
Chapter 2: Meet the Parents
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Mario had everything that he needed packed up for a week. He couldn’t believe that he didn’t come up with the idea, nor did it dawn on him about visiting the city. The shock gripped his mind and body when Maria had announced she was going to take them to see her parents, their parents.
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“Mom and dad,” Luigi had gasped when Maria revealed her intentions the previous day.
“You want to see them, don’t you?” Maria asked.
“Yes” Mario nodded. “Of course we do. I mean yes. I mean-“ he was tripping over his own words. This wasn’t something that should have taken a lot of thought. He had said yes.
“I have to figure out how to explain it to them,” Maria rubbed the top of her head. “They have no idea I have ever been to the mushroom kingdom. They don’t even know that I’m here in the hospital.”
“Didn’t Pauline tell them?” Luigi asked.
Maria shook her head. “She didn’t know what had happened until after I came out of surgery. I asked her not to tell them.”
“Why wouldn’t you tell them?” Wendy asked.
“I don’t want to give them any heart attacks,” Maria had explained. “They worry about me too much. You are going to love them. Mom is a great cook and dad has a lot of stories about some of the cases on the force.”
“Huh?” Mario and Luigi asked.
“He’s a detective with the NYPD. He’s close to retirement though. We also have aunts and uncle and several cousins. We may end up seeing everyone and we also got to visit Coney Island. It’s a theme park, but there are also other places we have to visit. There is the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, the Bronx zoo and-“
“Whoa,” Luigi held up his hands. “That is a lot.”
“New York City is pretty famous for its landmarks,” Maria grinned. “I haven’t even gotten to China Town and Central Park.”
“There may be a problem,” Wendy frowned. “This world you are from. It’s full of humans right?”
“Yeah,” Maria lost her smile. “Oh crap. Even New Yorkers would notice you guys.”
“Unless we weren’t Koopas,” Luigi said. “Our permanent form is being a Koopa, but no one said anything about a temporary form.”
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Mario was still thinking about yesterday’s conversation. He hadn’t noticed Luigi was poking him in the shoulder. “What?”
“We are here,” Luigi pointed at the castle.
“I already brought my stuff from the pipe house over here,” Mario explained as he nodded at the guards.
“Bowser is going to be cool with you guys gone for a week?” Maria asked.
“I’m not exactly with the troop,” Mario said. The majority of the troop still addresses him as general and he was still friendly with the royal children, but his heart was no longer in it.
“Wendy explained to her father that I hadn’t had a vacation in a long time,” Luigi explained. “One week is not going to hurt.”
Mario swallowed as they approached mom’s room. He apologized for what he had said yesterday, but he still felt like one of the biggest jerks in the world. He reacted without thinking and he wanted to make up for it someway, maybe he would find something she might like while in the large city.
Their mother had stepped out of her room when they arrived. “Hello boys,” she smiled. Her smile faded when she saw Maria. “Hello there.”
“We need to ask a favor,” Luigi said.
“Two favors,” Maria added.
“What are they?” mother asked.
“We want to see our biological parents,” Luigi said. “Maria has the DNA test results with her. The only problem is that we can’t walk around a human city that has never seen or heard of Koopas before.”
“I know you need two powerful magikoopas for a permanent transformation,” Mario said. “How many do you need for a temporary one?”
“How temporary?” Their mother asked.
“For one week,” Luigi said. “And then we will come back.”
“And can I have the temporary transformation?” Maria pressed her fingers together. “Just for one week can I be a Koopa?”
“What?” Mario turned to her. “You want to be like us?”
“You are going to be a human for a week. It would only be fair for me to live as a Koopa for a week, besides I am kind of curious.”
“Interesting,” mother rubbed the bottom of her chin. “I think I can arrange for a spell to last about eight days. The extra day is so that you can enjoy seven full days as humans.”
“Thank you,” Mario hugged her. “And I’m sorry.”
“You have already apologized,” mother gave him a pat on the back of his head. “Now step inside.”
The four of them entered the room. Their mother closed the door behind them. “Maria, could you turn around, or better yet you sit at that table we’ll do this in the bedroom.” She guided Mario and Luigi into the sleeping quarters of her room. “A bit less space but there is a bit more privacy.”
“Why would we need the privacy?” Luigi asked.
“Because when you are human you will not have shells. You will be showing everything.”
“I’m wearing underwear under this,” Mario tapped his stomach.
“So am I,” Luigi said.
“Its still not something you want your little sister to see,” their mother raised her wand “Koopa sons you shall take on a different form, return to the what you were when you were born. You will remain in this human state, for days lasting in the number eight.”
Mario held out his hands when he felt the energy rain down on him. He felt itchy, tingly and ticklish until he had stopped glowing.
“I thought it was going to hurt,” Luigi said.
“Permanent transformations hurt,” their mother said.
“I’m glad it didn’t,” Mario stared at his hands. They were an odd color, a combination of pink and beige. He had five slender fingers that ended in weak short and flat claws. He stared at his arms and nearly jumped at the sight of the hair. He reached behind his back and felt smooth skin, no shell and when he grabbed his backside there was no tail. He ran his fingers through his hair and felt the lack of horns. He stared down. He had a patch of hair on his chest. His stomach still bulged out and there was a small and shallow hole above the hem of his boxers. His legs were even hairier than his arms and his feet ended in five rounded toes.
“You should see your nose,” Luigi said. He was still taller in human form and had acquired the same amount of body hair as Mario had. It was odd staring at his human brother, and he should talk. His nose was huge.
“My nose?” Mario poked his finger at Luigi’s nose. “Have you looked at yourself.”
“There is a mirror on the door,” Kammy said.
Mario turned around and jumped back. His nose was just as big and just as round as Luigi’s. He looked odd with such a flat face and large nose, at least his ears looked normal sized for a human. He grabbed them and opened his mouth. Instead of fangs his mouth was filled with weak flat teeth, only four seemed to have a form of sharpness to them and when he stuck out his tongue it was shorter and wider than what he was used to.
“Now for some clothes,” Mother waved her wand again. Both Mario and Luigi were clothed in t-shirts, a pair of blue jeans with a belt and pair of brown leather shoes. “You did pack some actual clothes?”
“We packed a few shirts, pants and shorts,” Mario explained. “Swim trunks, overalls, underwear, and something nice to wear in case we go anywhere fancy.”
“Good,” mother opened the door. “Now show your sister how you look.”
Maria was standing when they left the sleeping quarters. “Oh my god,” her jaw dropped. “You guys look just like dad, except for your moustaches and your eyes.”
“So we can thank our father for these?” Mario grabbed his nose.
“You can thank him for your physique,” Maria added. “And Luigi can thank him for his height.”
“Wonderful,” Mario rubbed his stomach. “I get his gut and Luigi gets his height.”
“I think you both are handsome.”
“We’re better looking as Koopas,” Mario pouted.
“We were less hairy,” Luigi chuckled.
“Not all humans are as hairy,” Maria said. “Some are about as smooth and hairless as Koopas. It’s just your Italian heritage.”
“Italian?” Mario scratched his head. “What is that? It sounded like a fancy type of letter font.”
“People who come from Italy, or their ancestors came from Italy. Do you like pizza and spaghetti?”
“Those are our favorite foods,” Luigi said.
“In my world they were originally Italian food, well pasta was originally from China and the Italian explorer Marco Polo brought it to Italy, but dishes like Spaghetti, Ziti, lasagna, tortellini, and fettuccini alfrado was developed by Italian cooks. We just didn’t create delicious food. We invented opera. The great renaissance artists were Italian, one of the greatest directors of all time is Italian.”
“I do feel a little proud of being Italian,” Luigi said.
“Be proud of what and who you are,” their mother said. “No matter what form you take. Now remember to mind your manners. Listen and respect your parents and obey the laws of this foreign land.”
“The laws are no sweat,” Maria said. “Grab your stuff and follow me to the warp. Once we get out I’ll call Pauline, her boyfriend has a car.”
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Maria didn’t want to let her brothers know that her stomach was full of butterflies that had decided to perform several acts from Circe Du Solei. She was excited about telling her parents that she had found her brothers and they were alive and well. Although she was going to have a bit of a rough time trying to explain that they have been living as Koopas and that she had several adventures in the Mushroom World.
“It might be easier if you two wait outside,” Maria said once they reached her parents apartment. “After I explain everything I’ll let you in.”
“I have one question,” Luigi raised his shirt until his naval was revealed. “Why do we have these holes in our stomachs.”
“Uh, those are your bellybuttons.” She couldn’t fault them with asking since reptiles don’t have them. “Most mammals have them. When a baby is in the womb there is this tube that connects them to the mother’s stomach so that what she eats and drinks becomes nutrients for the baby and after the baby is born they are cut of. The cut off bit eventually dries up and falls off and what is left is the naval or the belly button. On some people they stick out.”
“So this isn’t the first time we had them,” Mario said.
“Nope.” She knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Her mother called out.
“Its me mom.”
“And you have brought your guests?”
“Yes, but before you meet them I need to tell you about them.”
“What are you talking about?” Her father asked. “They should be let in and offered something to drink.”
“Let me explain,” Maria stepped in and closed the door behind her.
“Maria Segali,” her father waved his finger at her. He did look like an older version of Luigi with Mario’s build. His hair near the temples have turned gray along with some of the hairs in his beard. “We have a raised you a better than this. You never leave a your guests outside.”
“I’ve been to the Mushroom Kingdom.” Maria closed her eyes. She opened them when she heard a clatter from the kitchen. “Mom?”
“No,” her mother ran out into the living room. Her beautiful blue eyes were the same as her brothers and she was just as short as Mario was in his human form. “Tell me this Mushroom Kingdom is a name of a store or a restaurant.”
“It’s in a whole new world. There are people that have evolved from fungus called toads. I’ve been to some of the other kingdoms. I’ve even been to Dinosaur Land and I’ve seen Yoshis.”
“No,” mother shook her head. All the color had faded from her face and she was wringing her hands.
“Sit down Angela,” father guided her to the loveseat. “How?”
“At first it was an accident.” She couldn’t stare at her parents. She just looked at the blood chart in her hands. “After I removed the clog in the bathtub drain it sucked both Pauline and me down into this world. There was this Koopa Troop and they kidnapped the princess and turned everyone else into rocks, bricks and weeds. Pauline and I rescued her.”
“Pauline too?” her mother blinked. “After what that poor girl had been through?”
“She was amazing. It was dangerous with giant bullets and carnivorous plants, but we grew into giants with these mushrooms. We were able to throw fireballs and we even became invincible with the stars. The second time Peach contacted us through the mirror and we discovered a warp at the playground near our apartment.”
“And you went back,” her father narrowed his eyes. “After the first set a dangers you went a back?”
“I had to. There were seven kings who were transformed into animals by Bowsers children and the third time it was just going to be for fun. We were going on a picnic but the Koopa Troop was at Dinosaur Land and Bowser tried to take over and he kidnapped the princess again.”
“And you felt like you had to be the hero again?” Father pointed at her.
“I had to. It was the right thing to do.”
“I remember King Rover of Dark Land. He was a sensible ruler, but what I remember of his son was that he was a spoiled brat.”
“He grew up to be an arrogant bully and a perverted pig,” Maria kept her fists clenched. This was the same reptile who kept staring at her backside and made perverted remarks involving both her and Peach, and yet this was the same guy who held her after she was shot while Mario destroyed Smithy. The same guy who was fast asleep in a chair next to her bed not long after she came out of survey. The nurses told her he staid awake for nearly thirty two hours watching over her before he had collapsed in the chair. Mario had told her that had also offered to donate some of his blood for the transfusion. He also brought her sports magazines to read while she recovered, and well, he was a good kisser.
“You are aware of what happened there?”
“You and mom met and fell in love?”
“We did, but something a else happened there.”
“Lucio please,” mother grabbed his hand. “We don’t want to bring up those memories.”
“That was where you believe my brothers were killed?”
“We don’t want to believe it. It did happen.”
“Because a stork told you, and he was told by a crazy old Magikoopa who lied to him.”
“It wasn’t a lie,” her father closed his eyes. “I wish it were a lie.”
“Neither you or the stork were shown any evidence.”
“Maria, you are upsetting your mother.” He brushed his hand across mother’s shoulders while she fought back the tears.
“Then this will bring forth tears of joy. Pauline and I faced off against two generals named Mario and Luigi. They weren’t killed they were permanently transformed into Koopas and were raised by a Koopa witch, or sorceress. I’m not clear on that part.” She held up the chart. “DNA evidence shows that Mario Koopa and I are brother and sister, and they have been given temporary human forms. They look just like you dad and they have mom’s eyes.”
“It can’t be,” mother shook her head and clutched onto her rosaries while father read the chart. “Lucio, is it true?”
Father had his lips pursed and brow furrowed as he read the chart. After a few minutes his hands shook, his eyes widened and tears developed. “It is.”
“W-where are they?”
“Who do you think the guests are?” Maria smiled.
“Let a them in,” Father dropped the charts. “Let my sons in.”
Maria opened the door. “Come on in guys.”
Mario was the first to enter. He stared at their parents for a few seconds before he held up his hand. “Hi.”
“Mario?” Mom rose to her feet.
“Hi,” Luigi appeared behind his brother.
Their mother stared at them and looked at their father and then stared at them again. “My boys,” she grabbed onto Mario and pulled him into an embrace.
“It’s a like looking at a old photo of myself,” father said before he hugged Luigi. “My sons.”
“Dad,” Luigi squeezed back.
“It’s a miracle,” mom said as she and dad exchanged sons to embrace. “You are just as tall as your father.”
“How come I didn’t get his height?” Mario asked.
“I needed one of you to hug and kiss on the cheek without standing on my toes,” Mom said before she gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Your uncle Tony has a moustache just like yours.”
“Maria told me,” Mario rubbed his moustache.
“Luigi has one just like his grandfather,” mother said.
“Maria,” father gave her a hug. “I wish a you had told us sooner a that you went to the mushroom a kingdom, but I am more than pleased that you found your brothers and brought them here.”
“Something smells good,” Mario licked his lips. “Maria has been bragging about your cooking mom.”
“I hope you brought your appetites,” mom gave them pecks on their cheeks. “Maria, could you help set the table?”
“Sure, but what about their luggage?”
“Their father can help them with it.”
“Weegie, help our sister with the table,” Mario said. “I’ll help dad.”
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