Chapter 4: Into the fire
For three hours, the rocks and dust that had crushed and destroyed an army of monsters, creatures and such, did not budge. Was Mario alive? Of course he was, don't be stupid! But he was far from making his way out of the rubble that had him pinned to the floor. Not even aware of his surroundings, for the moment, he was in a state of subconscious. Dreaming of mushrooms and a beautiful Princess, oddly enough. Then....an intense pain hit the poor plumber like a load of bricks. His head throbbed with the force of a million fires from hell (Pardon my french, if you will.) And on top of this, Mario could not seem to force his way out of the pit. It felt like his leg was smashed to bits, but he wasn't 100% sure. Most of all, however, he was worried that Luigi had not made it out of this fiasco. Mario had witnessed his brother's head being crushed by a thousand rocks above.
"What-a was that box? I think it might have caused the Earth quake, but........."
He paused, but only for a moment.
"It was only a box..........."
He then noticed a small opening within the rocks.
"Light," he said with a heavy sigh.
He was on his back, so getting into a crawling stance would be difficult. Pushing with all his weight againts the rocks, he managed to get on his stomach. Crawling and groaning at the same time, he finally made it out. Unfortunatley, he did not see Luigi at the top.
"No....why didn't he just listen to me? He's gotten himself killed, and....I couldn't.......do anything! I just stood there like a-"
"GAGHHH!!!! UGHHHH!!!!"
Mario looked around.
"Luigi?"
Mario looked in the rocks, but he was no where to be found.
"Luigi? Where are you?"
"Mario, I'm right here! I'm takin' a-"
"LUIGI! I'm so angry at you right now, I can't even see clear! You just had to unclog the toilet, and now, I almost witness your destruction at the hands of this stupid cave! Where the heck are you?! Answer me, now!"
"Mario........I'm over here, takin' a........well....you know.......a dump."
Mario walked over, and was knocked flat on his back by the putrid smell of his brother's poop.
"MAMAMIA! What did you eat?"
"Errr...some roast beef, some chicken, a pizza......"
"Okay, enough. From now on, no more meat before or after lunch brake! That smells rotten!"
"Well, sorry! It's not like yours are the spring fling of the bling bling bling!"
Mario looked at his brother in hysterics.
"That didn't make any sence, ya knuckle head!"
Mario and Luigi joked for a while, as they didn't have a care in the world. Both had made it out with minor injury: Mario recieved a huge headache, while Luigi's neck had been cut open on the back side, with a large gash, however not strong enough to cut open vital tissue. It was strange, that they had survived that horrible earthquake. No one else did. Not one monster. It was if it had happened for a reason. Guess what? It did. As soon as they were done talking to one another about good old times, a booming voice rang out.
"Ahhh, it seems as if you have lived through my first and easiest test, mortals! Now, try this on for size!"
"Good one Luigi, but you can't trick me with your Booming God-like voice from beyond trick again!"
"Errr....Mario? I don't have a Booming God-like voice from beyond trick!"
"Wha...wha? Y-Y-Y-You.......don't?"
Mario stuttered, and fell to his feet. The voice came back.
"Try this on for size!"
The room began to shift, and oddly enough, the temperature rose.
"Hey......is it gettin' hot in here, Mario?"
"I...I....dunno. At least I'm not crazy."
Just then, a huge burst of flame came out from the floor. "Whoosh!" It nicked Mario's leg, but had not damaged him critically.
"Mamamia! What is-a all this?"
The voice rang out, yet again.
"Muwahahahah! This is my second test, or as I like to call it: The underground fire level!"
Mario laughed at the name's absurdity, but he wasn't doin' it for long. Both he and his brother were in a deep dodo, and if they didn't do something fast, they'd be El Mondo Plumber Spicy Special for dinner! As the ground beneath them fell to the great fire, the two found themselves hanging onto a ledge for dear life! Luigi was grabing Mario's legs, but was loosing his grip! And fast, no less!
"Hang on, little bro! I'll get us out....somehow!"
What is this...voice? And what about the Underground Fire Level? Will it be the last of our hero's? Of course not, but you knew that already! Keep reading to find out all the answers!
Is someone reading this? I even think it's better then Mario's Sacrifice. Please respond!
I have the body of a God! Unfortunately, it''s Buddah.
Edited by - PaperLuigi on 8/31/2005 5:54:33 PM