MISTAKE!!! The final chapter is NOT up next....but after this one, it will be, though. Sorry!
Continuing with our story...
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Chapter Eleven: Showdown
Luigi lay next to Mario in their cozy bed inside their house. Everything was quiet, only the sound of Mario’s snoring filling the house.
It was then that he felt an odd tingling feeling in his chest. Then next was the sound of pencil writing on paper. Luigi looked at his chest pocket to find that something was moving in there. He pulled out a square object…
The diary that he found in King Bowser’s Airship…
He hopped out of bed and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the light and opened the book. There was writing in it all of a sudden...writing that wasn't there before.
Luigi began to read a page that seemed to be stained with tear drops, making it tough to read the writing.
*October 10, 1987
My father’s funeral was held as of today. He was buried near the Mushroom Sea, atop a large hill.
He died about two weeks ago when our house was broken into by some koopas…Bowser’s filthy army.
As tragic as his death may be, I must continue with my life, as I am a princess. I’m a very important person. And now that my father is gone, I know have control over his old castle.
Well, it’s time for me to go to sleep. Good night,
Angelina Toadstool*
Luigi was amazed. He was looking at past writings of Angelina.
What was it doing in Bowser’s Aircraft?
What other things could this journal hold?
He couldn’t wait to find out…
* * * * * * *
The next day the sun was shining brightly in the sky, and Luigi was sitting under the large tree in him and Mario’s front yard. Luigi stared out into the Mushroom Sea, thinking about the journal, which now lay open in his lap.
Luigi looked over to his brother who was working in the yard.
*Should I tell him? I mean, Angelina IS his girlfriend…he has a right to know. Luigi thought. I’ll just look around a bit more…*
Luigi flipped through many pages of the book until he came to one that seemed to stick out although it looked like all the others.
*June 17, 1997
King Bowser has locked me away in an airship and took of to some place he called Dinosaur Island. I sure hope Mario comes soon, or who knows what could happen. I’m sure we’ve already left the Mushroom Kingdom.
Angelina Toadstool*
That happened only a few weeks ago. Apparently Bowser had taken the journal away from her and stored it in that room he had found it in.
How careless…
*December 25, 1987
It is now Christmas time all over the Mushroom Kingdom, and my father had bought me a locket as a gift. It must have cost him a fortune; it looks like it was carved from solid gold…
It even has my name engraved on the front. And inside it is the last picture that was taken of me and my father, the very night he died.
I miss him so…*
Luigi closed the diary, placed it in his pocket, and walked over to his brother to help him with the yard.
Bowser looked out onto the Mushroom Kingdom. He was standing atop his castle, which gave him a very good view of the things below.
He looked off in the direction of Mario’s house.
“I don’t know how you escape from me every time, Mario. But I can assure you that this time will be different…KAMEK!â€
The elderly magikoopa waddled over to Bowser from the other side of the building.
“Yes, master?†he asked, pushing his glasses up his beak with his claw.
“Send some troops to search the kingdom, bring Mario to me.â€
“Yes, master,†Kamek waddled off down the staircase leading to the lower sections of the castle.
Bowser looked now at the large volcano that made its home in a far corner of the Mushroom Kingdom.
“I’ve got a plan to rid Mario and Luigi from this world for good…†Bowser then took the same staircase to the downstairs portion of the castle that Kamek took. He followed a pathway that lead to the backyard of the castle. He exited a large door and walked onto a large landing pad where his new Aircraft was being built.
It was almost identical to the last one: two large wings on both sides, cannons, masts, and the lower deck where Bowser would stay. He estimated it should be done in a few hours. King Bowser walked past this and exited through a wooden door that would lead to the training grounds of his castle.
He cackled when he saw thousands of koopas training for the war that was sure to outbreak soon.
“The Mushroom Kingdom won’t stand a chance…â€
* * * * * * *
Super Mario couldn’t sleep that night. The feeling of being watched was flooding his mind, and just about any noise would make the hair on the back of his neck stand up straight.
He dearly wanted to wake up Luigi, but he felt that would be silly. He knew that there was nothing there, and he also felt that it was his duties as the older brother (although he was only a few minutes older,) to face his fears without making the other brother scared.
CRASH!
A rock came hurdling through the window.
“What was that?†Mario was now awake.
“Come with me…†The twins got out of their bed and walked outside.
Eyes open wide, mouth agate; the brothers had no idea what had hit them. They were surrounded by Bowser’s henchmen.
The news spread fast: the Mario brothers were nowhere to be found. The Chancellor had sent out many mushroom men and women to look for them, but had unluckily found nobody. The Chancellor was continuously trying to comfort Angelina who was now sickly worried.
It was now obvious that Bowser had captured them both, yet there was nobody brave enough to travel into Bowser’s castle, or anywhere near there. Victoria was the only one who wasn’t afraid. She knew well that Luigi had saved her life and that she should do so for them. They were her friends and she couldn’t let anything happen to them.
She then set off towards the Chancellor’s castle in Toadtown.
* * * * * * *
“Victoria, what are you want to do is suicide. I’m afraid that I cannot let you do something that dangerous.†The Chancellor frowned.
“He’s right, you are my top servant, and I can’t afford to lose you.†Angelina spoke from behind her. “And besides, Mario and Luigi can handle themselves, they have always managed to escape from Bowser all the times he captured them.â€
“But Mario and Luigi are my friends…I can’t let them down…â€
Angelina kneeled down next to her. “They are my friends too, but I know that can make it out.â€
“Listen to me! Bowser very well could kill the both of them, and I can’t let that happen!†Victoria was now shouting. “You have the remaining mushroom people from your castle here to take care of you until your castle is rebuilt. If you lost me, then couldn’t you just make Toad your top servant?â€
“Victoria,â€
“I’m going whether any of you like it or not!†Victoria ran out of the room.
“I’m going with her, she’ll need my help.†Toad was apparently listening in on the conversation. He followed her out of the building. “Victoria!†Toad shouted out. He then spotted her when she was just about to exit the castle grounds. He caught up with her and said: “Hi,â€
She jumped. “Toad? What are you doing here?†She asked.
“I can’t let you go to rescue Mario and Luigi by yourself,â€
“NO! Toad I forbid you to go. I can’t be risking another life…â€
“So you’re saying that you’d rather face the Koopa King by yourself?†Toad asked. Victoria said nothing and continued on her way out of Toadtown. Toad smiled as he followed her. “So you have any idea on where King Koopa took them?†Toad asked.
“Well,-â€
“GOOD MORNING, MUSHROOM KINGDOM. AS OF TODAY, THE EXXECUTION OF THE MARIO BROTHERS SHALL TAKE PLACE AT THE VOLCANO NEAR THE MUSHROOM SEA IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO.
SO IF ANYBODY WISHES TO TRY AND STOP ME…
BRING IT ON!â€
A voice that was all too familiar rang throughout every one of the Mushroom people’s ears then. Victoria looked to the sky to find a large ship flying through the sky…
Bowser was flying overhead.
“Mario and Luigi are on that ship!†Toad exclaimed.
“Come on Toad, let’s follow it!â€
The two ran from the spot they were at and soon broke into a sprint. They could tell that they had no chance of catching up with the ship, but at least Bowser told everybody where he was taking the heroes…
Or was it a threat?
Everybody knew that Bowser was no dummy. It was sad that such an intelligent mind belonged to such a foul being…
It was obvious to Victoria and Toad that Bowser was only formulating a trap to capture anybody who was dumb enough to actually come after them. And besides, the Brothers had escaped from Bowser countless times before…
Victoria was arguing with her self the whole way there.
If she were to go after them, there was about a ninety five percent chance that she would be seriously injured.
And it was true; the Mario Brothers could handle themselves perfectly fine without two mushroom people barging in…
But she wondered what could happen if she and Toad didn’t help…
It was a tough choice to make.
It was then that the thought entered her mind: The fate of the Mushroom Kingdom was in their hands, and they must stop at nothing until the Mario Brothers were saved and Bowser was defeated.
The Airship had landed on the volcano about and hour ago, and the mouth of the volcano was surrounded by koopa troops. There was a very unsteady wooden bridge in the middle, where Super Mario and Luigi were now at.
“It is only a matter of time before sparks will start to erupt from the volcano, easily catching the bridge on fire. I was thinking of just pushing you two in, but I decided that you two must feel all of the pain you have caused my in the past years…†King Bowser looked at the two twins with his icy stare. Both brothers were tied onto the bridge, completely unable to move. “I’d say you only have a few minutes until this volcano will surely start to spark, and then my troops and I shall leave you two to burn.â€
“You won’t get away with this, Bowser. I’m sure the Mushroom Army is already scaling this volcano.†Super Mario spat.
“I like a challenge,†King Bowser cackled. He turned to face the Mushroom Kingdom. You received an amazing view from top of the volcano. He stared into the moon. “It’ll be somewhat sad to see you two go, but you are just obstacles that need to be removed. Yet when you two are dead, this will be the first step in my plans to rule the Mushroom Kingdom. I shall force the princess to marry me, making me an honorary king. From there I shall make all of the puny mushroom people my slaves, while my army gains power. I will own the Mushroom Kingdom completely, giving me power to do whatever I please with it.â€
“The princess would never marry you,†Super Mario replied.
“Is that so? You haven’t even got a taste of my army’s power. I can force her to do anything. And the Chancellor shall face the same fate as you two.â€
Silence…
The two brothers faced each other. Super Mario looked into his brother’s eyes, which were bulging. His face was beat red and he was saturated with sweat.
“I don’t want to die, Mario,†Luigi said.
“We won’t, Luigi, we won’t.†Super Mario looked deeper into his brother’s eyes. “I won’t let that happen.â€
Edited by - GenocideGtarist on 1/11/2005 1:51:53 PM