--Our story continues!--
Tayce T. was happily cooking up a wonderful eclare dessert for Mario and Luigi made from all sorts of ingredients from around the Mushroom Kingdom, when she heard commotion outside her little home. "I wonder what's going on?" she spoke outloud to herself peeking out her window.
She saw crowds of Mushroom People from all around town flocking toward Mushroom Palace not far off. Curious, she approached her friends Harry, the shopkeeper, and Russ T., the librarian.
"The Chancellor has called the entire town to a secret announcement at the castle," Harry explained. Russ T. adjusted his glasses and read from a piece of paper, "'All citizens of Toad Town are to report to the Palace immediately. Chancellor Toadstool.' You probably received one as well."
Tayce T. had been so preoccupied with her cooking, she must have missed the message delivery, for on her door was posted the announcement. She joined Russ and Harry on their way.
A huge crowd of Mushroom People were gathered in front of the castle. Tayce observed the wonderful waterfall to the left and was staring at it's beauty, when the balcony window opened and Chancellor and Princess Toadstool emerged. A camera-carrying Lakitu was recording the event for those people in Rose Town or Marrymore or any other town.
"Citizens of...Toad Town...and people of...the Mushrrom Kingdom..." the Chancellor spoke, "I have a great and...glorious...announcement."
All present hushed to hear. Tayce looked around, though, and noticed that neither Mario nor Luigi were present. Toad, who usually accompanied the Chancellor and the Princess, was also missing.
"I have decided to...hand over my thrown...to the great...and powerful...Tatanga!" Chancellor Toadstool spoke.
The whole crowd gasped and errupted in a slew of commotion. "What did he say?" "Is this a joke?" "Who's Tatanga?" "He can't be serious?!" etc.
The Chancellor raised his hands and silenced the crowd. "It is done...All hail...Tatanga the Conqueror!"
"Hail Tatanga!" Peach echoed.
The crowd was silent.
Tatanga, who had ditched the cheap Mario costume, strode forth. He wore his black and red space outfit and his cape flowed behind him. Toad, also in a trance, came behind him and set down a box for him to stand on and address the crowd, since the alien was just as short as any average Mushroom Person.
"People of the Mushroom Kingdom!" he said, "Be honored! Your's is to be the first kingdom of many to be under my control as I rebuild my fallen empire!"
As he spoke, many of Tatanga's troops had encircled the crowd. Stone Warriors, Fighter Flies, Spiders, and others, lead by the huge Sphynx, all surrounded the crowd.
"From here, I shall advance on the rest of your planet, then, once I have repaired my ship, I shall re-conquer the rest of the galaxy!!"
"Shut up, you purple joke-of-a-ruler!" a harsh voice yelled from above.
Tatanga was shocked at this interuption. "Who DARES to speak out of turn?!!" he demanded to know.
"ME!" the voice shouted again.
Tatanga looked up. Hovering above him in the Koopa Clown Copter was King Bowser Koopa. Paratroopas, Fire Chomps, ParaGoombas, and other Koopas flew around him at attention. General Guy also hovered nearby in a Shy Copter, with several Fly Guys at his side.
"The Mushroom Kingdom is mine, runt!" Bowser said to Tatanga, "How dare you try to take what's mine!"
"Why you overgrown turtle!" Tatanga yelled at his adversary, "Can't you see I've already taken it?"
"Well, I was just about to exchange this tart," Bowser held up Daisy, bound and gagged, "for Princess Peach! From there, the Mushroom Kindom would have no choice but surrender to me!"
"THAT'S your plan?!" Tatanga said in astonishment. "I spend the time to come up with a well thought out, orangized plan that infiltrates the Palace, get's rid of Mario, and results in my ruling the Kingdom, and you were just going to come in, swap princesses, and demand to rule?! Like that would ever work!!"
"Didn't I tell you to SHUT UP!!" Bowser yelled, a little fire escaping from his mouth.
"That's it," Tatanga said, outraged, "I'm going to defeat you and take your Kingdom next!!"
"I'd like to see you try!" Bowser retorted, "KOOPA PACK, ATTACK!"
"ALIENS ADVANCE!!" Tatanga ordered.
At once the Koopas and Tatanga's troops engaged in battle. Most Mushroom People scattered and ran back to there homes, but Tayce T. hid behind a hill and observed to action. She was intrigued. The Lakitu reporter was giving live play by play as he flew around the scene.
"What a fight! The ParaGoombas seem to be no match for Tatanga's Spider troops, but the Fire Chomps are quickly chasing them away! The Stone Warriors and Shy Guys are duking it out. While the Stones have them in strength, the Shy Guy's sheer numbers are overwhelming! General Guy is bombing Sphynx, but Sphynx is attacking with his own fire breath. And speaking of fire breath, King Bowser and Tatanga are going toe to toe themselves!! For those of you just tuning in, this is Ace Lakitu, WTMK news reporting live from Mushroom Palace where a fierce melee has just erupted!"
Tayce looked on in frighted curiousity, when she was tapped on the shoulder from behind.
"EEP!" she yelped flipping over to see her 'attacker.'
"Shh! Tayce! It's just me!" Luigi said, calming her down.
"Luigi! Oh my, do you see what's happening?"
"Yeah," Luigi responded, "but I can't do anything now without Mario. Where is he?"
"Tatanga said he caught him," Tayce said, "He's probably in the Palace basement! You've got to save him, Luigi. The Princesses, the Chancellor, and the Kingdom are all in peril!"
"Don't worry, Tayce, we'll save everybody," Luigi said to boost her confidence. "Everything will be fine. Get back home and stay inside until this blows over."
"O-okay, Luigi," Tayce said, "Good luck!" She gave him a little peck on the cheek then hurried off.
Wario watched her leave and then turned to Luigi. "You sounded pretty sure we can pull this off." he said with one eyebrow raised.
"I'm a good actor," Luigi said looking at the fight before them. "I'm actually terrified."
Wario gave a little smile. "That sounds more like you. Come on, let's save our brothers."
Wario and Luigi made there way around the fight, through the palace tennis courts, and to the back entrance, where they entered undetected.
--to be continued!--