Chapter 3: Rogues in Rougeport
-
Maria felt like she was the type to be easy to adapt to changes. When she moved out on her own she adapted to living in her own apartment, or rather an apartment she shared with a roommate. She adapted to the fact her father was from another world and her brothers are reptiles. She had adapted to the fact that the wishing well in a children’s playground was a gate way to this other world, and she had adapted to living in such world, as well as getting married to a former enemy and being pregnant. She wasn’t sure if she was going to adapt to being a queen. She never did adjust to being an idolized as a hero.
Her living conditions wasn’t the problem. She loved sleeping in the large bed and waking up next to Bowser. She loved the grand breakfasts in the dinning hall. She loved the fact there was a private tennis court and a swimming pool. Her youngest stepson, Bowser Junior, was eager to give her a tour around the castle. She loved the layout.
She loved her stepchildren, even though she was real close in age to Ludwig. She enjoyed listening to his organ music and to Dru’s violin music. She promised she would ask Pauline to stop by so she could sing, and she promised Dru to invite Beth. Lemmy loved showing tricks to her and she played a few video games with him. She was impressed by Iggy’s intellect. She got along with Wendy and they painted each other’s toenails and she let Wendy brush and style her hair. She had hit it off with Larry. He was the most impressed with her dream and wants to work with her. She still had to win over Roy and Morton. They still hadn’t forgiven her for the times she had fought against them.
What got to her was the way everyone addressed her as royalty. They kept calling her majesty, highness and my queen. She didn’t feel like a queen. She didn’t wear any regal gowns, not that she wanted to wear any dresses, nor any flowing cloaks or a crown. Bowser had offered to have one made for her, but she declined. She might want a tiara for ceremonies and fancy events though.
She also didn’t like just sitting on her throne, even if it was comfortable. At least she had a large screen television to watch.
“Hello my fellow spirits,” the female Boo on the screen said. She had a greenish tint to her and she wore two red bows. “Are you feeling pale and transparent?” She fanned herself with the fancy fan she carried. “Just because you are dead doesn’t mean you have to look it.” She held up a bottle of what appeared to be pink powder. “You can look alive again with Resurgence, the new line of beauty products by me, Lady Bow. You will once again regain your mortal glow, and if you are still alive you will also love my beauty products too.”
“Boring,” Maria turned the TV off. She stood up in time and turned to face her brother. “Hey Luigi.” She noticed the large backpack on his shoulders. “Going on a trip?”
Luigi nodded. “That time in the Bean kingdom has given me the taste of being a hero.”
“So who are you going to rescue?” She had head about Peach being kidnapped again, but when she called she was assured that Mario was already on the case. “Are you going to help Mario?”
Luigi shook his head. “It’s a different princess. Her name is Éclair of the Waffle kingdom. I heard she got taken by some monster. I’m going to rescue her.”
“Wow,” Maria had never heard of this other kingdom. “You be careful.”
“I will,” Luigi hugged her and then pointed at her stomach. “Don’t worry little one, your uncle Luigi will be back soon. Don’t give your mother too much of a hard time.”
“I’m just a little more than two months along,” Maria ran her fingers over her stomach. It did feel more solid and harder than before, but there still wasn’t a bump. “I’m not even showing.”
“You take care,” Luigi said and headed out of the room.
“How is Wendy taking it?” Maria followed him.
“She is surprisingly fine with it,” Luigi said. “I think she is more anxious with the baby coming.”
“I’ll ask her to come with me to do some baby shopping,” Maria had a feeling that would make the Koopa princess happy. “I am going to need some maternity clothes.”
“Good idea,” Luigi nodded. They heard voices and turned to see Bowser and Kammy heading their way. Both Maria’s husband and Luigi’s adoptive mother were in a deep conversation. “I haven’t told my mother, and now is a good time to slip away.” He gave Maria a small kiss on her cheek. Stay safe.”
“I will,” she turned to face the approaching Koopas. “What’s wrong?”
“Kammy has informed me about Peach and Mario,” Bowser turned away from his advisor. “And about who is behind it.”
“I saw it in my crystal ball,” Kammy adjusted her glasses. “They are an alien race called the X-nauts. They wish to open the Thousand Year Door to get to the treasure, but opening the door will release the threat that is the Shadow Queen.”
“Why would they want Peach?” Maria asked.
“They want to use her as an offering,” Kammy said in a solemn tone.
“Over my dead body,” Maria clenched her hands. “We are going to Rogueport.”
“I don’t think it is wise considering your condition,” Kammy held up a finger.
“I am not that far along,” Maria glared at the witch. She was sick of people treating her as if she were helpless and her pregnancy has already started. “I don’t even look pregnant.”
“It is still dangerous,” Kammy frowned. “You don’t even know what kind of damage this queen could cause.”
“No but you do,” Bowser said and placed a hand against Maria’s hip. “I believe the three of us can handle this.”
“Thank you,” Maria kissed her husband on the chest.
-
“Talk about your major case of déjà vu,” Maria said from her place behind Kammy on the broom. She watched as Bowser was walking along beneath brick platforms with question blocks.
They were already a day late behind her brother. After they had reached Rougeport they have learned that Mario and a female Goomba have gone after something called the crystal stars. They were needed to open the Thousand Year Door. The three of them hoped to help Mario by finding some of the crystal stars
“This does seem very familiar for you,” Kammy said as she lowered the broom until the were a foot above the tallest platform, does it?”
“Yeah, although it does seem odd watching Bowser in this action,” she had watched her husband run and jump. He roared at the odd Goombas that caused them to run away. “Hit one of the question blocks,” Maria shouted.
“He can’t use power ups like you can,” Kammy reminded her.
Bowser leapt up and punched one of the question blocks. A large piece of meat fell out and landed in Bowser’s open mouth. After he swallowed it he doubled in size.
“I have never seen that before,” Maria blinked. She had seen her husband eat plenty of meat before and he had never grown.
“I think I may have read something about enchanted meat,” Kammy placed a finger against her mouth.
“Get out of my way,” Bowser roared and flailed his arms about. The Goombas had run off but there were strange creatures dressed in robes and goggles that were running straight for them. He jumped on them and squashed them, while he broke several bricks. “This is kind of fun.”
Maria sighed. Seeing her husband run and jump and smile like that made her want to be by his side and enjoy the fun, but Kammy had insisted that she stay on the broom and fly around with her.
“We are almost to Petalburg,” Kammy said and pointed to the outskirts of the town.
“Good,” Maria felt her stomach lurch. “Kammy could you set me down next to that warp pipe?”
“Why?” Kammy turned and saw how green Maria’s face was before she set the broom down.
Maria ran to the pipe and leaned over. Everything she had eaten that day. She didn’t move until she felt her stomach was empty, even when she felt Bowser’s claws in her hair and he held her hair back.
“Are you going to be okay?” Bowser asked.
“I’m good,” Maria stepped back. “Are we almost there?”
“Less than a mile to go,” Kammy said.
She was right. It was only a few more minutes before they reached Petalburg. The one thing that had caught their eyes was a series of posters. There was one with Peach and another featuring a creature that was like a giant hawk.
“See Rawk Hawk at the Glitz Pit in Glitzville,” Bowser scratched his head. “Try to defeat him and you can win the belt. This wrestler doesn’t seem so tough. I can have him pinned in less than five minutes.”
“Hmmm,” Kammy was staring intently at the belt. “What is this?” She pointed at what looked like a star.
“Is that a crystal star?” Maria asked. The star looked like it was carved out of a jewel.
“It is,” Kammy nodded. “We know where are next stop will be.”
-
Maria forced herself to refrain from making a joke and comparing the floating town to Bespin. It was more like Atlantic City, but it was in the sky. The sights were amazing and there was plenty to eat.
“So what is the plan?” Kammy asked as they had reached the Glitz Pit.
“We see if we can speak with Rawk Hawk,” Maria said. She was ready to opt for the most painless route, and sometimes talking and using powers of negotiation can get one what they want.
“Where would a guy like this be?” Bowser asked as he looked around. “Probably promoting something, maybe he is handing out autographs.” He blocked the path of one of the pit workers. “Who do we need to see about speaking with Rawk Hawk.”
“You will have to speak to Grubba,” the worker pointed to the door marked with a sing that spelled out Grubba. “He owns the pit.”
“He isn’t in a meeting is he?” Bowser asked and waited for the worker to nod. “Good that is what I want to hear.” He got out of the way of the worker and barged into Grubba’s office.
“Wait,” Maria ran after him.
“My queen, you shouldn’t run like that,” Kammy shouted after her “Your majesties wait for me.”
Maria entered in time to see her husband glaring at blue Clubba with a purple shell and dressed like an old time Mafia gangster. “What’s wrong?”
“He says we can’t see this Rawk Hawk,” Bowser frowned. “Does he not realize who we are? We are King Bowser and Queen Maria of Dark Land.”
“Honey,” Maria placed her hand on Bowser’s arm. “Is Rawk busy?”
“The champ is always busy,” Grubba placed his hands behind his head. “The only guarantee I can give you of seeing him is to watch him compete at the pit.”
“Well we are not really interested in seeing him,” Maria said. “It’s more about his belt. There is small decoration on that we need for a quest.”
“You and everybody else,” Grubba said. “The only way you are getting it is if you win it.”
“You don’t understand,” Kammy gasped. “We are trying to help a hero and stop a threat.”
“I have heard it all before. You want the belt, then you will have to defeat the champ.”
“I’ll do it,” Bowser flexed.
-
“Hmmm,” Maria closed her eyes as she took another bite out of her hot dog. In all of the mushroom world Glitzville was the only place that cooked hot dogs just as good as they did back in New York. She hated to admit I but once they return home she might have to make a few royal requests to have some hot dogs from Glitzville be sent to Dark Land. The food was one of the few things she enjoyed about being in the town. She also bought a few souvenirs and of course watch her husband compete. Bowser had been doing well. He had defeated all of his opponents and rose quickly in rank.
“Whoops,” A Troopa had nearly fun into Maria. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” He was wearing a light blue hoodie, blue shorts and white sneakers. He had a bandaid across he top of my beak. “I wouldn’t want you to lose your hot dog.”
“It’s also my fault,” Maria said. “I was indulging in it, and I didn’t see where I was going.”
“I don’t blame you,” the troopa smiled. “Those are the best hot dogs I ever had. I was on my way to buy some for a friend. He’s competing in the pit and reached the fifth rank.”
“Oh,” Maria blinked. “He’s at the same rank as my husband. They may have to fight each other to reach the fourth.”
“Hey Koops,” a pink Goomba girl with a blond ponytail and wearing an explorer’s helmet walked up to them. “Who are you talking to?”
“We just met,” Koops said. “This is-“
“Maria,” Mario had cut him off. He ran up to them followed by a large blue woman that appeared to be made out of a cloud like matter. She had wild hair that was styled like Ludwig’s and full lips, and a young green Yoshi with a red spines on the top of his head resembling hair and wearing what resembled an orange diaper with white spots.
“Mario?” Maria couldn’t believe her brother was there, though it did make sense. If Mario was after the crystal stars then he would come here. “I can explain. Kammy saw your mission in her crystal ball and she, Bowser and I came here to help find the crystal stars.”
“Mom’s here?” Mario blinked before he grew stern. “You shouldn’t be here in your condition.”
“I’m not going to break, and I’m just watching Bowser compete,” she rolled her eyes. “Who are your friends?”
“This is Goombella,” Mario introduced the Goomba girl. “You have met with Koops and this is Madame Flurry, and the little guy is Royster.”
“The Great Gonzales gave me my name,” the Yoshi kid said.
“Great Gonzales?” Maria raised an eyebrow.
“My wrestling name,” Mario shrugged. “Everyone this is my little sister Maria.”
“Maria?” Goombella blinked. “She’s one of the great heroines of the Mushroom Kingdom. She saved Princess Peach several times along with Pauline. She is now the wife of Bowser and the Queen of Dark Land.”
“Wow,” Maria stared that Goomba in admiration. “Word gets around fast.”
“She’s good at that,” Mario smiled at his friends.
“Ladies and gentleman,” the announcement boomed from the pit. “Get ready for the next event. The Great Gonzales verses The Koopa King.”
“I gotta get ready,” Mario said.
“We better find our seats,” Maria said to Mario’s friends.
It was what she had feared Her husband verses her brother. They were both surprised to see each other, but agreed whoever won would continue their way to the top while the other went after the next star.
“He better not hurt my boy,” Kammy had covered her eyes. Her robe was covered with all sorts of flair from her time in the town.
“Kammy is Mario’s adoptive mother,” Maria explained to her brother’s friends before the round started. While the two Koopas fought she continued to explain why she and Mario were two different species, despite being biological siblings.
The round was fierce. Both wrestlers slammed their shells into each other and attacked with their brute strength. They used their sonic roars and ground pounds and while the event was close Mario had won.
“Congratulations bro,” Maria said. She would console her husband before they moved on to find the next star.
-
The trip to the beach was a good idea and Maria was glad that Kammy had suggested it. It was better than racing around, looking for the next crystal star. She was glad she still could fit into her bathing suit as she stretched out on her towel and read the letter from Luigi.
This town is amazing. There is this great race track. In order to get another piece of the compass I had to win, guess what? Your brother won the race. I got the trophy and the piece of the compass that I needed. I also met this little spike back Buzzy by the name of Torque. He had removed the spike and holds tools in place. He is an amazing mechanic. I’ll send you another letter soon.
Love Luigi.
“Sounds like he is doing
well,” Maria said and put the letter down. “At least he didn’t wear a dress.”
That was one thing she didn’t need a mental image of. She was pleased that
there were no pictures.
“Sometimes you have to do
what it takes to be a hero,” Kammy said as she picked up the second letter on
her towel. “Although I hope he doesn’t do the same again.”
“Do you think he shaved
off his moustache?” Maria asked as she picked up her letter from Mario. After
leaving Glitzville they traveled back to Rogueport to pick up the letter from
Luigi. Mario must have told him about Maria’s adventure and once he knew he
sent additional letters to Maria.
“That would be a sight to
see,” Kammy chuckled as she read. “Oh dear.”
“What?” Maria read hers.
Hey sis, I doubt Luigi told you the truth. His new friend
told me exactly what had happened at the race. He won by default when he
accidentally had the car in reverse. He destroyed all the other cars. Torque
plans on staying with him until he has paid for the damage.
“He’s such a good Kart
racer,” Kammy clucked her tongue and shook her head. “How could this have
happened?”
“Accidents do happen,”
Maria set the envelope down. She heard a strange squishing sounds. She looked
up to see a pile of seaweed approach them.
The seaweed shook and
shed most of it’s outer layer, revealing Bowser underneath. He spat out a
stream of water and removed the rest of the plant matter. “No stars but I got
the clue on our next move. We head to Twilight Town.”
“Should we head to
Rogueport first?” Maria asked.
“No,” Bowser sat down
next to her and smiled. “But we are going to wait till tomorrow to move. I just
want to admire your beautiful body.”
“Oh really?” Maria
wiggled her eyebrows. “You know while
you are here I could use someone to rub some lotion onto my back.”
“I would be pleased,”
Bowser grinned as he picked up the bottle.
“I have heard of creepy
things in Twilight Town,” Kammy said.
“There should be nothing
to worry about,” Bowser said.
-
Twilight Town
Maria swallowed as she
stared at the group of X-Naughts that had faced off against them. “I don’t know
where you creeps come from, but you don’t frighten us.”
“Exactly,” Bowser snapped
his fingers. Several Troopas and Goombas lined up by their side. “Our forces
will crush you, now give us the crystal star.”
“You are too late,” the
leader said. “Some fat Koopa with a red hat and a moustache got here first, but
if you insist on fighting.” He pulled out a bomb.
“Kammy, get Maria out of
here,” Bowser commanded.
Maria did not have to be
told twice. She climbed onto the broom behind Kammy and held on as they rose
into the sky. She only looked to watch as Bowser used his flame to light the
bomb.
“He’s crazy,” Kammy said
as they flew away from the scene.
“I can’t look,” Maria
buried her face against Kammy’s back. She cringed when she heard the explosion.
“Bowser.”
“Look,” Kammy said.
Maria pulled her head
back and stared down at where Kammy was pointing. Right in front of the dust
cloud from the explosion was Bowser was running. He had made it.