Prologue: Just Another Day
Mario woke up lazily, rubbing his sky blue eyes and sprawling out in an unnatural position atop the bunk bed he and Luigi slept in. He had been on the top bunk since he could remember, using the excuse that he "needed the exercise" in order to claim it for himself. But in actuality, he had often liked to pretend that he was laying on a cloud, the ground (and all the cares and worries any ground-laden bed might bring) far away from him.
Mario climbed down lazily, seeing the Luigi was already up (and had probably already gotten dressed, brushed his teeth, made AND eaten breakfast, etc, etc). After a quick (and obviously uneventful shower), Mario pulled on his usual red shirt, denim overalls, and lucky cap, feeling much more awake than he had beforehand. The sun shone in brightly through his bedroom window; it was then that Mario realized (to his delight) that he, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, and Daisy were scheduled to go on a camping trip that day.
Sliding his worn feet into even more worn shoes, the little plumber headed out of his house (affectionately dubbed the 'Pipe House' by many passers-by and sightseers) to find Luigi already out front on the porch, checking a list of items and placing them, meticulously, into an already overstuffed backpack.
"Mornin', bro." The slightly taller, slightly thinner Mario brother said, not looking up from his list.
"Mornin'. What's all that?" Mario was referencing Luigi's big bag of supplies.
Luigi adjusted his old green cap and grinned beneath his perfectly symmetrical moustache, "Camping supplies." After a few moments, the backpack was closed and the list was put away. It might be assumed that Luigi was all done packing.
After a few more moments of checking things and getting supplies for the trip, the Brothers Mario headed away from their home and hopped into the Toad Town warp pipe: they had a train to catch!
***
Yoshi was early, as he had planned, wanting time to look around the area before anyone got there, and to sample any exotic fruits that might be found along the edge of the thick forest. The plan was to hike partway up the mountain (Shroomipuff Mountain, to be exact), and find an old lagoon that set nestled beneath a higher, jagged peak that capped off into snow. The mountainside was not unassailable, but it would be a rough climb. Many plants and bizarre trees dotted the mountain, which rose like a slumbering green giant about fifty miles north of Toad Town, and could be seen from any surrounding flatlands.
Yoshi looked up, squinting towards the sun. It was a beautiful day to start their camping trip. As he was thinking upon whether or not there would be fruit trees growing around the lagoon (which was fabled to be at least 80 degrees at all times!), he noticed a train puffing along around the smaller mountain range which lead to Shroomipuff Mountain; the train that Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Daisy should have boarded.
***
Luigi sat staring out the window at the passing mountainsides, listening to the rhythmic chugging of the train as it billowed clean gray smoke out into the blue sky overhead. He stared down at the blank pad on his lap. He had been meaning to start a journal record of the trip, but it was hard to do considering Daisy had a firm, affectionate grip on his writing hand. He swallowed nervously at her advance, glancing to Mario who sat across from him with pleading eyes; but the older brother was fast asleep, leaning up against the window of the train. Peach and Daisy were carrying on in excited tones about the events planned out for the camping trip (it had been their idea, after all), even going so far as to attempt to sketch a rough map on one of the napkins left over from their earlier meal. Luigi huffed and slid his notebad back into his backpack, which was on the floor before him. They had been on the train for about two and a half hours, and knew they'd be reaching their destination soon. Giving Mario a firm nudge with his foot, he brought his older brother back to reality.
Mario blinked lazily as he awoke, the sun hitting his eyes and causing him to wince. "We're almost there," he heard Luigi whisper, and nodded groggily. He hadn't slept very well the night before, and the nap on the train had done him so good. He could remember waking two or three times from bad dreams, but couldn't remember anything about them. Just then, an announcement came over the intercom...
[bzzkt] "We will be arriving at Shroomipuff Mountain shortly."
Excitement buzzed amongst the four as the train began to slow, excited for the trip, for the sunshine, for the camping food, and excited to see Yoshi after a long absence from him.
***
OOC: That's all for now. I haven't written one of these in a long time, but if anybody is around who remembers my old stories, they were usually well received, so I thought I'd try my hand at another. Please give me a little feedback (and inspiration) so that the next chapter can be even better. It'll get more interesting/conflict-worthy soon. Stay tuned!
