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« on: August 29, 2006, 08:04:10 PM »
Haha. I figure every big city has a little bit of a seedy side. This is actually going to re-adjust itself to a more normal Mario scenario in a little while... well, you'll have to keep reading and see.
***
Mario was rushed hastily inside the pub, with hardly any time to look around as he was rushed past packed tables of jovial patrons, who played games or took bets or drank their fill of 'Shroom Shakes. The interior of the pub was well-lit by hanging lanterns, and was mostly of a finished wooden decor, giving it an old-timey appeal. Mario figured that the night-shift working Toads must have come here to take things easy after their long day's work... hence the name of the pub itself, ToadzEze.
After a bit of confused stumbling and tripping over his slippers, Mario was rushed into a well-furnished back room: plushy red carpet, leather chairs, decorative plants, even a water cooler. There sat Don Pianta, hands folded upon his desk, two big Pianta goons on either side of him. Mario could tell they were sizing him up, which felt a little awkward considering he was in a nightgown. He was lucky everything was as dark as it was--no one had recognized his signature moustache yet.
After a moment, Don Pianta spoke up, "You the new muscle?" Mario didn't respond, knowing his cheesy italian accent would give him away. The Don laughed a bit, "Kinda' dumb, but we don't need your brains, eh? Not very big for what we was expecting." The Don and his goons chuckled a bit. Mario felt himself redden nervously beneath the shadow of the blue-hued cap.
Just then, a crash was heard, as a small, black-cloaked figure leapt from the Don's closet, throwing out a violet wand which cast an arc of lightning into the Don, sparking off of him and cracking through the air and wood of the walls. Mario whirled to face the figure, and suddenly was struck with a pain in the back of his mind... this was the figure he had been dreaming about before his alarm clock awoke him! As the creature disappeared into wisps of dark smoke, Mario stumbled and fell down, blacking out.
** A few hours later **
Mario stirred and awoke... he was still in his nightgown and slippers, and the flipped-out hat lay a few feet from him. He was sprawled on a mat of straw. A little bit of light from the rising sun poured through a window. A barred window. Mario was in the Toad Town jail!
He groggily rubbed his eyes and stumbled over to the bars, holding them. He called out to a tired-looking guard who stood a few feet away, "What's going on here!? Why am I in jail!?" The guard blinked a few times, watching him...
"Oh! Mario... right, um. What was I supposed to say... er..." The guard then recited some lines robotically. "You are being held as a suspect to the murder of the illustrious Don Pianta, until the true murderer is found or until you confess. You will be issued two meals a day, um, you have a lovely view of the eastern parlor..." The Hammer Bro. snapped out of his routine after a moment.
"Honestly, Mario, I don't know what the town officials are thinking! You're a hero! But we have to hold you until we know you didn't do it. The Don's men said you were the last one in or out of the Don's room, and while they may have seen... something... there isn't enough evidence to let you go just let. Unfortunately... bail's pretty high, considering."
Mario shook his head, "Mama mia... I should have just gone back to sleep." He twisted, stretching, sore from laying on a lumpy pile of straw. Mario nodded to the guard, "Well, thank you. Have you notified my brother? The Princess?"
The guard stammered, "Uh, erm... the Princess is at an important meeting with delegates from all over the Mushroom Kingdom... but she'll be here as soon as she can. Your brother didn't answer the phone, and we haven't been able to get ahold of him just yet."
Mario sighed, exasperated. He nodded wearily and walked over beneath the barred window, peering out of it. The view wasn't too bad. But Mario's biggest concern was getting out of jail, finding out what really happened, finding out the mystery of the cloaked figure, and *gurgle* ... getting some food! Mario's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in quite some time. He slumped down against the wall, sighing again and staring blankly at the bars opposite him.
After a moment, he heard some rustling. A leathery old Toad sat in the corner, leisurely holding a knotted old walking stick. A ridiculous gray beard covered most of his body--you might think he was wearing some kind of fur cloak in a darker room. The old timer nodded towards Mario, "Mornin', cellmate."
Mario almost laughed at the little Toad's appearance, but then thought better of it, and smiled a response, though his words frowned, "Morning..." Mario's mind was cluttered with questions, especially as to the whereabouts of his brother Luigi.
The old Toad nudged him with the end of his stick, "You want some 'a these here spicy anchovies, youngin'?" The old fellow laughed, as it knowing no one in their right mind would want spicy anchovies--at least not for breakfast.
Mario shook his head, a little irritated at the nudging. He turned his attention back to the bars of the cell, settling in where he sat and waiting...
--Meanwhile--
Luigi stammered in fear at the monster rising up before him, falling onto his behind and quaking as he beheld it...
***
Haha! Stopping there. Is Mario going to be set free? What's happening with Luigi? Will the Princess ever get out of her meeting!? Stay tuned for the next installment!