Chapter 3: The Pied Prince Returns
-
Mario was looking forward to the tea, coffee and cakes that Peach was going to serve at the castle. He had spent most of the week helping his sister move into Bowser’s castle with assistance from Pauline, Darien, and his cousins. His sister had a lot of stuff. There was a futon that she slept on, a few bookshelves, a computer desk, along with a computer, boxes of books and plenty of sports equipment. He wondered what Pauline was going to do with a half empty apartment, but the actress told him the lease was up and she was going to move in with Darien.
“What am I more in the mood for?” Mario asked. “Coffee or tea?” He liked both and during certain times of the day he was more interested in the other, but right now he couldn’t decide he wanted the rich and robust flavor of coffee, or the soothing and smooth flavor of tea. He also didn’t know what kind of coffees and teas were stocked in the royal kitchen. He had tried several different roasts from around the world and served in different fashions, from lattes to iced creamy drinks that were topped with whip cream and drizzled with caramel. He also had different kinds of teas. He had traditional dark teas, flowering teas, green teas, herbal teas and he had them both hot and iced.
“Hey Mario,” Toad greeted him in the hallway on the way to the dining hall. There was something wrong. The usual cheerful retainer had a weak look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Mario asked. He wondered if some other dark force was causing a threat to the kingdom, perhaps even kidnapped Peach. If that were the case Toad would have already informed him, and he would have appeared even more frightened than before.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Toad try to smile, but he still looked like he was about to throw up.
“You have this look on your face,” Mario tried to fathom what was going on. “Is Peach not feeling well?”
“She’s fine.”
“Did she bake an experimental cake that went wrong?”
“Nope, she baked a pie instead and it smells wonderful.”
“The tea is not fit for Koopa consumption and it might turn me into a tea plant?” He already went through that once after he ate that strange mushroom and started to turn into a bean.
“None of the above,” Toad pressed his fingers together. “Just that tea has been cancelled and instead we are going to have an early dinner.”
“There is something else.”
“Okay,” Toad swallowed. “We have another guest who will be joining us.”
“Oh,” Mario had no idea that would cause Toad such discomfort. “Who is it?”
“Your castle is quiet exquisite,” the rich and polished voice of Prince Peter came from the dining hall. “You have embellished your home with some of the most finest tapestries. The material shines like silk and I fight to keep my hands from caressing the soft material. The paintings have been created by the most skilled artists through out the lands over the centuries. I can easily see with my well trained sharp eyes that you have some of the actual classics, the originals as it were, instead of replicas. I know of a few kings and queens who don’t even posses those.”
Mario peered into the dining hall and saw the prince and Peach. Peter still had his perfect hair that brushed against his shoulders that was pale blond on one side and dark brown on the other. He wore a button down tunic with puffed up sleeves that was purple and yellow checkerboard. His trousers was black on one half and white on the other. His red and gold split cloak was pinned to his shoulders. Only his crown was a solid color.
“What is he doing here?” Mario whispered to Toad.
“The royal council is being held in Pipe Land this year,” Toad explained. “My guess is that when Peter knew the king was away he tried to make his play.” He paused to gag. “To bad he hadn’t realized she has already fallen for a much better guy.”
Mario felt his cheeks blush. “Thanks Toad.”
“I mean that,” Toad nodded.
“Outside is just as lavishly decorated with such lovely beauty as well,” Peter continued to prattle on. “Your flower garden is a botanical rainbow of rich beauty and the statues have been crafted by the finest hands. My two favorites are the beautiful heroines who have saved our kingdoms. My father has built two as well, but they are not as beautiful as yours, you have captured the fair and brave Maria and Pauline well. I could gaze at them all day.”
“When he is not staring in the mirror,” Mario whispered, causing Toad to giggle. Peter can say all the flattering words he wanted about Maria. She will never forget how he had referred to her as a common girl.
“I am afraid to say that you have one small blemish in what would be a garden of pristine perfection,” the prince placed a hand over his chest and sighed. “I can not quite fathom why your talented sculptors would create a statue of one of those foul beasts.”
“What are you talking about?” Peach asked.
“I am referring to that statue of the rotten, repulsive reptile.” He pointed out the window. “How could your people put up a statue of that Koopa General?”
“Easy,” Toad whispered and placed his hand on Mario’s shoulder.
Mario nodded. He had heard such insults before, and those from the prince had just rolled off the back of his shell.
“He is no longer their general,” Peach said. If she had felt irritated or not, Mario couldn’t tell. “He lives in the Mushroom Kingdom now. He is a good friend and a hero.”
“Oh,” Peter blinked. “I see. He is your guard dog. He does wear that collar. Do you also take him out for walks on a leash? Does he sit when you ask him too? I can understand the appeal of having a powerful creature such as he as a guardian pet, no matter how repulsive he may be.”
This time Mario growled. He was not anyone’s pet, and he was not some trained beast.
“How dare you,” Peach’s voice grew louder. “Mario is a good friend of mine and a hero. He is more than a friend of mine, an if you cannot treat him with the same amount of respect that I give him, then you can leave.”
“I am sorry,” Peter lowered his head.” I am still sour from when his former kingdom has attacked my land. My judgment is still clouded by such an experience and it made me speak without think. I will keep a civil tongue when he is here.”
“Thank you,” Peach said.
“I’ll go an announced you,” Toad said.
“Thanks,” Mario placed his hand over his stomach. He was starting to feel hungry and an early dinner would be a good idea.
-
The aroma of tomatoes, onions, celery, and cilantro infiltrated Mario’s nostrils when the serving staff came out with the soups. The ladled a rich red soup into each of their bowls and gave them a piece of crust bread on the side with a small cup of butter and one of cream cheese for a choice to spread it on.
“Such an aroma,” Peter said as he inhaled the steam wafting from his soup. “If my nose could talk it would surely express its deepest and upmost gratitude of being able to smell such a fragrance.”
“Thank god his nose can’t talk,” Toad whispered to Mario. “His mouth already does enough talking for about ten people.”
Mario suppressed a chuckled as he stirred the soup around. He had to agree with the prince, the aroma from the soup was heavenly and he had hoped it would taste as delicious as it smelled.
“Thank you,” Peach sprinkled something into her soup with a porcelain shaker. “My Grandmother made it.” She slid the shaker towards Toadette. “She says this spice mix adds a bit of a kick to it. She also made it.”
“Why didn’t she add it in?” Toadette asked and sprinkled a few shakes herself.
“It contains some lava pepper shakes as well as regular pepper and few others,” Peach explained. “She wants people to add as much as they want to their bowls, that way it won’t be too spicy or not spicy enough for her guests.”
“I’m also allergic to lava pepper,” Peter said as he stirred around his soup. “My face brakes out in horrible red blotches and my tongue swells up and feels itchy. I haven’t gone through such a retched reaction in years.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Peach slid a different shaker down to him. “This has pepper grass flakes instead. Grandma says it’s a good substitute.”
“I must give you, and your grandmother every bit of gratitude to accommodate me,” Peter gave the shaker several generous shakes over his bowl before he took a taste. “Blessed pipes of Pipe Land this soup is as savory and exquisite as it tastes.” He took another taste. “Oh wondrous rapture on my taste buds.”
“Is he going to be like this through the rest of the meal?” Mario whispered to Toad before he took a taste of his own soup. It was delicious. “Wow, this is one of the best soups I have had, sorry I can’t express myself like the prince.”
“It’s all right, Mario,” Peach smiled at him. “I appreciate your compliment.”
The rest of the meal was just as delicious. There was chicken in a lemon herb sauce, wild rice, broccoli covered in melted cheese, sliced carrots with butter and almonds, mashed potatoes, three bean salad, and peas with pearl onions. Dessert was chocolate cake and Mario decided to have it with a cup of coffee.
Through out the entire meal Peter did not shut up for once. He kept talking about the beauty of Peach and was admiring Maria and Pauline. When he found out that Maria had married Bowser and was pregnant with his child he had nearly gagged. Mario was waiting to see if Peter would bad mouth his species again. The prince had skated close to that edge, but dared not cross that line.
“I have an idea,” Toad said when he, Mario and Toadette had finished their desserts. “How about we go for a few kart races? Peach and Peter would want to discuss diplomacy and other stuff like that.”
“Are you sure we should leave Peach alone with this guy?” Mario asked. Leaving her with the prince might be considered a form of torture.
“She can handle him,” Toad grabbed him by the arm. “Lets go.”
“We can show him the surprise,” Toadette said.
“What kind of surprise?” Mario asked.
“You will see,” Toadette winked.
The surprise turned out to be work that was done on Mario’s kart. It had been waxed and polished. The upholstery had been treated and there were new tires. It was even given the new kart smell.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Mario smiled as he walked around his kart. “When did you get this done?”
“While you were helping Maria move,” Toadette said.
“Thanks,” Mario said. He couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel.
“Wait guys,” Peach ran towards them. “You got room for a fourth racer?”
“Sure,” Mario smiled. “What about the Prince?”
“Prince Peter said he wasn’t feeling well and went to bed,” Peach said. “I have a few servants to wait by his room in case he needs anything. Who is ready to race?”
“I know I am,” Mario said.
-
The one thing about Kart racings was that it was easy to loose track of time. Mario and the others didn’t even notice the last bit of sunlight as it had disappeared from the sky and the stars came out. They continued to race until they were exhausted and Peach had asked Mario to spend the night in one of the castle’s guest rooms.
Mario’s blissful night’s rest was interrupted from a scream that was too high to be a man’s and yet too low to be a woman’s. He figured it had belong to the prince. “Did he see a spider?” Mario sat up.
“What in the name of the deepest blazes of hell has happened to me?” Prince Peter shouted in the hallway. “Where is that beast? He is to blame for this mockery.”
“What is he bitching about?” Mario rolled out of bed and rubbed his eyes. “Pretty boy must have gotten a zit on his forehead or something.” He opened the door and came face to face with a pissed off Koopa with shoulder length hair that was pale on one side and dark on the other.
“You,” the other Koopa said with the prince’s voice and grabbed Mario by the shoulders. “You did this to me.” His head was bright green on one half and pink on the other. His shell that had ripped through the white and purple pied pajamas was golden on the other. “You have infected me with your disease and transformed me into this creature. You have enchanted those in the castle to believe that you are on their side, but I have seen through your deception and you knew that I knew.”
“Whoa,” Mario pushed him off. “I don’t even know how this happened.”
“What is going on?” Peach had approached them. She gasped when she gotten a good look of the prince. “Peter is that you?”
“Alas it is I,” the former human sighed. “I have been transformed in my sleep into this wretched state.” He turned to Mario and pointed at him. “By him, as you can see their kind is nothing but the purest evil that has been spewed out of that dark land that is their home.”
“Don’t you dare blame Mario,” Peach had wagged her finger at him. “He had nothing to do with this.”
“Yeah,” Toad had caught up to them. “Mario can’t do magic, and it’s not because of his kind. Man I get believe I used to believe the same crap you still do, and your from a place that is even more tolerant of Koopas.”
“What am I going to do?” Peter grabbed onto the collar of his pajamas. “I cannot return home like this. I can’t be the future ruler like this. How do I turn back? How am I going to turn back, am I stuck.” He was starting to shake.
“Easy buddy,” Mario grabbed onto him.
“How can I take it easy?” Peter asked. He stared at his hands. “I’m a Koopa.”
“I’ll have my guards explore the castle and figure out what had happened.,” Peach said and turned to Toad. “Toad, I want you and Toadette to do some research. Maybe you can find a cure. Mario, you should take him to see your mother. Kammy might be able to change him back.”
“Take me to Dark Land?” Peter gulped. He must be scared if he had lost his verbosity.
“They won’t attack you,” Mario said. “They won’t even know who you are. If you think your people won’t recognize you then neither can your enemies,” he put his hand on Peter’s shoulder. “But I don’t want to be your enemy. I want to be your friend.” He closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe he just said that, maybe Peach’s diplomacy was rubbing off on him.
“Yes, they will think I’m one of them,” Peter nodded. “It would be like wearing a disguise.”
“And after we get a good breakfast,” Mario confirmed. It was a bit of a walk to Bowser’s castle.
-
Mario wished there was a faster way through Dark Land to Vista Hill and the bridge to the home he grew up in. Even when he wasn’t talking Peter was getting on his nerves, sometimes the newly formed Koopa would duck and or hide behind a rock whenever he heard a strange sound, or he would be too close to Mario’s back to the point where Mario had wondered if Peter had decided to try and take a chance with the spikes and hug him.
“Your highness stop it,” Mario said when he could feel Peter’s breath against the back of his head.
“Stop what?” Peter asked. A screech of what sounded like tires skidding was heard and Peter withdrew his arms, legs and head into his shell and started to tremble.
“My sister told me you were much braver the last time you were here,” Mario placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot against the ground. “Are you telling me you were only brave because you were in the accompany of two women?” He decided to go straight for the crotch. “I’m not surprised since you let two common women do all the hard and brave work,” He made quotation marks at common.”
“You take such vile likes back,” Peter popped out of his shell and ran up to him. “I am the fearless Prince Peter of Pipe Land, son of King Wally the Wondrous. I protect my kingdom with my very life. I stare into the dark abyss of evil and destroy it.” He pulled his lips back, revealing his perfectly pearly white fangs and growled.
“Nice growl,” Mario said once he pushed Peter off him. “And if you can growl you can roar, if anything comes near you then you roar at them. It will frighten them away.”
“Are you serious?” Peter asked. “I guess you would be, you have been a Koopa far longer than I have. I am usually much braver. I’m just not feeling like I’m in my own skin. This feeling has left me vulnerable.” He stretched out his limbs. “Not just because I am without my clothes.” He had agreed to remove his torn pajamas and not wear his usual clothes out of fear of ripping those, but he still wanted to wear his cloak, crown and scabbard. “Are you sure it was a good idea to leave my sword behind?”
“You don’t need it,” Mario grabbed his wrist and tapped his claws with his own “You see these? It’s like your striking at the enemy with several knives. These are much sharper and better than human claws-“
“We call them fingernails,” Peter pulled away and stared at his claws.
“The ones on your toes are just as sharp,” Mario sank his lower claws into the dirt and pulled his foot back, leaving three long slashes.
“Hmmm,” Peter stared at his own foot and dug in his claws into the dirt.
“You are also stronger than you were when you were human. Your eyesight is better in the dark and your sense of smell is enhanced.”
Peter closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose. “I can smell the rocks, and I can smell cabbages, and-“ he coughed and gagged.
Mario inhaled and also nearly gagged when he smelled the foul stench of rotting meat and stagnant water mixed together. “Fresh Bones,” he frowned. The scent was coming from his west. “Follow me.”
The scent was coming from a scene of a car accident. A small sedan had skidded off road and blew one of its tires. There was also a delivery pick up truck with a wooden railing behind it. The tail gate was down, causing it to spill several cabbages onto the ground. That would explain the cabbage scent.
The other scent was explained by the creatures circling around the vehicles. They were similar to Dry bones, as they were skeletal turtles that walked around on all ours. The main difference was they still had sinews of flesh on different parts of their body, as well as mud and other muck.
“Are those Dry Bones?” Prince Peter asked.
“No,” Mario shook his head. “Much worse. Fresh bones are not completely rotted away and that makes them dangerous.”
The door to the drivers side of the truck opened and a Troopa dressed in green with gray hair, a gray goatee and wearing a green turban like hat stepped out and stared at the cabbages. “My cabbages,” he cried out.
“Stay in the truck,” Mario commanded and the Troopa closed the door just as a couple of Fresh Bones ran up to him.
“Do we scare them away with our roars?” Peter asked.
“No,” Mario braced himself as three of the beasts ran towards them. “We have to turn them into Dry Bones with our fire.” He waited until the beasts were close enough before he breathed out a large flame out that over took them. Once the smoke had settled three Dry Bones stood in place where the Fresh Bones were. “Then jump on them.” Mario jumped on all three skeletal creatures.
“Don’t they reform?” Peter asked.
“Yes, but they won’t attack.” Mario singed two more Fresh Bones. As he jumped on them he realized one small flaw to his plan. Peter doesn’t know how to breath fire, and Mario doubted he would even try. He hoped the prince would stay out of the way.
A blast of lightening shot past him and singed two more of the Fresh Bones while fire balls rained down on a third one. Mario looked up to the see a young Koopa with a black shell and head and a Mohawk of blond hair along with a Toad girl standing on top of the sedan. The toad had flowing chestnut colored hair peeping from under her blue cap with white spots and freckles on her face.
“Look out,” the girl cried and pointed behind Mario.
Mario turned around to see two Fresh Bones as they were about to pounce on. They were engulfed in flames. Peter was standing behind them.
“I believe I those were the last?” The Prince said with a look of triumph on his face.
“Good shot,” Mario said before he jumped on the bones. He turned around the couple. “Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” the Koopa said as he slid off his car. “How is the other guy?”
Mario turned where the cabbage truck was. The troopa had loaded up the vegetables and drove away. “I think he will be fine. What about you two?”
“None of us is hurt, General,” The Koopa said.
“Good,” Mario nodded until he realized how he was addressed. “Wait, you know who I am?”
“Of course,” The Koopa smiled. He had a single buck fang like Ludwig. “My name is Jolt. I’m a student of the King’s brother, Fido.” He pointed to his friend. “This is my fiancée, Amanita Truffleton.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mario shook their hands. “This is Peter. I never met a lighting Koopa before.”
“I have never seen a Koopa with coloring like Peter before,” Amanita said. “Is he from around here?”
“I happen to be a Pipe Land Koopa,” Peter explained.
“Looks like you are going to need some help with your car,” Mario pointed at their vehicle. “And I know just the mechanic to help.” It was going to be awkward to help her, but he knew she can give them assistance in a pinch.
-
“Thanks for the tow,” Mario squeezed and twisted his tail. “Thanks for helping these guys.”
“No need to thank me,” Ashley said as she cranked the jack. She was still as lovely as Mario had remembered her, even when she was dressed in her sleeveless zip up overalls, had her pearly white hair was tied back and stuffed under a backwards cap, and there was a smudge of grease on her left cheek. “So who are your friends?” She placed her self on the dolly and pushed herself under the car.
“I just met Jolt and Amanita,” Mario said and summarized his miniature adventure he shared with Peter.
“Good thing you called,” Ashley said and wheeled herself out. “They need knew brakes.”
“That sudden stop must of sheered them,” Amanita grabbed Jolt’s hand. “It was a good thing that Mario and Peter showed up.”
“See,” Mario rubbed his arm against Peter’s. “You are still a hero.”
“Yes,” Peter sniffed. The prince hadn’t stop sniffing since he had entered the auto shop. “I have to say Miss Ashley that is quite the luscious perfume you are wearing.”
“You can just call me Ashley,” She smiled back at him. “And I’m not wearing any perfume.”
“That’s her natural scent,” Mario whispered to the transformed prince.
“Oh,” Peter blushed and smiled sheepishly.
“Wow,” Ashley blinked. “You have a great smile, Peter, and hair. I wish I could get mine like yours.”
“Really?” Peter ran to the mirror hanging over the sink. “I have never realized, but even as a Koopa I am handsome. I have such pearly fangs and perfect horns and my shell shines like jewels.”
Ashley giggled. “He’s cute and funny.”
“Uh yeah,” Mario coughed into his fist. “What brings you in town Jolt?”
“I wanted to study the history of Dark Land,” the lightening Koopa said. “Fido, Kolarado, his assistance Goombario and I are going to start exploring a temple, basically it is described as an ancient library. I was on my way to drop Amanita in the Mushroom Kingdom.”
“Oh,” Mario had never heard of the others, he was a bit shocked that a Toad from the Mushroom Kingdom had actually fallen in love with a Koopa. He wanted to ask how she got past the racism and fallen in love, but decided that is not his place.
“Could we turn up the radio?” Amanita asked. “I think I hear some trouble brewing in the my hometown.”
“Sure,” Ashley turned up the volume.
“By strange little men with large goggles,” the news reporter said. “That is right, Princess Peach has been kidnapped by several strange little men with large goggles.”
“Peach,” Mario clenched his hands. He had thought that with his sister married to Bowser that would end the constant kidnappings of Peach. He should have known there would be others.
“You are going to rescue her?” Amanita asked. “They say you are a hero.”
“I would, but,” he turned to the prince.
“He can stay here,” Ashley said. “Go save that princess.”
“Right,” Mario took Peter aside. “I’m sorry about this.”
“You can help change me back after you save her,” Peter told her.
“Just don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone,” Mario said he ran out.