Does swearing and violence of any kind in a Mario story bother you? If so then...you probably shouldn't read this. XD (It's not that bad I swear!) (Oops, unintentional pun.)

My first stab at the Marioverse. Let's see how it works out! First chapter is poo, but necessary to set up some important story elements. It will get better. :)

Disclaimer that seems unnecessary because it is quite obvious I've got diddly to do with Nintendo: I uh...don't own Nintendo?

Toad Town

Two hours after invasion

It is late afternoon. The sun is a mere half hour away from setting, though it is much darker than it should be. An eerie haze fills the sky, considerably dimming the already fading light. Dark, ominous clouds reach across the heavens, leading those unaware of their origin to believe it is nothing more than an approaching storm. No, foul weather would be welcome at this point, for this unnerving overcast isn't a promise of rain, but the evidence of a great tragedy.

If one was to look closely, they would see that these somber plumes are fed by billowing towers of smoke, snaking up from scattered fires engulfing the wreckage of a once bustling settlement. The numerous, winding streets are virtually decimated, the aftermath of various explosions turning many of the main roads into impassable scorched rubble. Surrounding homes and businesses fair far worse. Whatever structures were spared total annihilation are mere shadows of their former glory, weakened foundations from relentless detonations and unforgiving flames spreading from other buildings being the key to their deterioration.

With all the crippling destruction, one can only imagine what became of this borough's inhabitants. Could anything survive such an onslaught? Perhaps an evacuation had been issued before the worst came to pass, though whether anyone managed to evade capture or death remains a mystery.

The only visible life is that of the invaders. The sky is teaming with airships of just about every shape and size. A few lazily drift high above the burning wasteland, but most fly low in set courses, patrolling the newly claimed territory. Below the airborne fleet, squads of varying species from the Darkland army frantically sweep the rapidly decaying city. Their urgency seems unnecessary. There appear to be no opposing forces, no threats to this crushing take over, so why, when victory has been so firmly established, do the invaders behave as though all is not well?

Something is missing. Or, perhaps, someone.

"Fan out and find him!" A seething Koopatrol barks to his surrounding squad members, gesturing wildly in fit of rage. "We cannot afford to lose the only lead we have on the Princess's location!"

The soldiers immediately depart upon the order's completion, leaving their infuriated commander to attempt to reign in his unchecked temper.

"Incompetent inbreds." He mutters, fuming over his squad's failure. "How hard is it to keep one damn Toad contained?"

The Koopatrol sighs, calming himself only slightly as he joins in the search to locate their recently escaped captive. The building stress from such a crucial day had taken its toll on the Commander, that much was as obvious to him as it was his men. He rarely snapped like that, even under pressure of the most taxing battles. This situation, however, was far more costly than any fight. King Bowser was a ruthless leader, and though he treated his troops fairly in most situations, did not tolerate failure. Screwing up one of the Koopa King's tasks was bad enough on its own, but one that involved the Princess?

By the end of your punishment, you'll wish for death.

Senses clouded by a mind swirling with anxiety, the Koopatrol unknowingly passes by the very prisoner he seeks, barely concealed by the shadows and rubble of a fallen home. Heart beating fiercely, the Toad watches the Commander narrowly miss his hiding place. He holds his breath, refusing to take another until the threat is out of sight, lest he somehow be heard.

Unlikely, he was aware, but he wasn't about to take that chance.

When the Toad's enemy turns down one of the many decimated streets, he takes a cautious breath before allowing the slightest amount of relief to wash over him. He was far from safe, he knew that, but the constant tension made his battered body ache all the more painfully, and he needed alleviation, even if it was only slight. The Toad's imprisonment was very short lived, no more than forty-five minutes if he'd had to guess, but he been dealt a lot of physical punishment in that span of time. His vest had virtually been reduced to rags and his body bore cuts and bruises varying in severity.

Such abuse was not often dealt out to prisoners of the Darkland army, not unless they were causing trouble. In this case, the only thing this Toad was guilty of was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had been the last one seen with the Princess before she disappeared and, as such, made him the most likely to know where she was hiding. At least, that's how Bowser's soldiers saw it. When the Toad was captured, instead of being locked away with the other prisoners, he was taken by a squad under the order to pry information from him through any means.

Torture, obviously, fits into that category.

The squad currently combing the surrounding area, however, was wasting their time. No amount of physical or mental agony inflicted upon this Toad would force him to reveal the location of this Kingdom's beloved Princess. He wished he could say loyalty and sheer force of will was behind his silence, and he hoped that would be the case if the Darkland army's assumption had been correct. But in reality, the Toad hadn't told his captors where the Princess had gone because…

He didn't know.

The poor bastard never said anything that would imply he knew such valuable information and yet here he was, labeled as an important lead by unfortunate circumstances. The Toad tried to tell Bowser's men that they were mistaken, but they would have none of his 'lies'. Even so, it was only a matter of time before these troops would start to believe him. Though such an idea seemed welcome at first, the Toad began to grow anxious when a new thought entered his mind.

What would they do to him when he suddenly lost his value?

That's why he had to escape. That's why he was here, weaving his way through the wreckage of his once beautiful city as he tried to find a means of escape. Though with the roads and skies teaming with soldiers, this endeavor was beginning to look more and more futile.

"Wait…" The ragged Toad mutters quietly, thinking aloud. "If travel by land or air isn't viable then why not try…" He turns to the south, eyeing his final option spread across the horizon. "…the sea."

The docks. That's where he should go. The Toad knew this new plan was not without risk, but when weighing it against the alternatives, it holds up significantly better.

Checking to make sure there were no troops in sight, the weary Toad gently eases out of his flimsy hiding place. He takes a few cautious steps in the direction of the sea, clears himself, and breaks into the quickest run he can manage. Due to his weakened state, his pace is hardly more than a moderate jog, but is sufficient enough to cover a decent amount of ground.

The Toad makes frequent stops, both to catch his breath and to peer around obstacles, making sure he was clear before stepping out into the open. His method works fairly well, and after a short amount of time he is nearly at his destination. The Toad pauses at the remains of a super market, checking for passing soldiers for what he hopes is the final time. Satisfied, he leaps from his cover, dashing into the vast roadway separating him from his goal.

This is where the young Toad's luck is completely spent.

Just as the former prisoner takes to the streets, he detects movement in his peripheral. The Toad, still running, turns his head in the figure's direction and all but cries out in despair upon recognizing the soldier with horrid timing.

It was the Commander. The Koopatrol that was searching for him.

The squad leader's eyes widen at the sight of his elusive captive before he calls out to any of his squad members that may be within hearing range. Just as he finishes his alert, the Commander breaks into a full on sprint, making a mad dash for his prize. Soon after, several other soldiers emerge from connecting roadways and alleys, all moving just as quickly, all determined to re-capture the battered prisoner.

The moment the Toad's eyes had rested on that Koopatrol, he knew there was nothing more he could do. His aching body would not allow him to move any faster than his current pace, and it was only a matter of time before one of the soldiers caught him. Even though the Toad knows he is done, he keeps going, not stopping even when heavy, thunderous footsteps indicate his pursuers are mere feet behind him. He closes his eyes, bracing himself for the tackle that eventually ends his hopeless attempt to flee.

The Toad's body slams hard into the ground, effectively knocking the wind out of him as well as agitating his still fairly fresh wounds. He gasps painfully as his attacker uses his full body weight to keep the Toad pinned to the unforgiving jagged surface of the dismantled street. The Toad barely registers the murmur of voices echoing among the surrounding soldiers as he desperately tries to return his breathing to a comfortable stasis.

When the initial shock finally wears off, the newly re-obtained prisoner is able to make sense of the words being fervently passed around. They are discussing what to do with him, that much is a given, but they are also sharing theories as to where the young Toad was heading. Was he merely trying to escape and save his own skin? Or was he on his way to a rendezvous point to meet with the Princess herself?

'These morons still think I know where the Princess is?' The Toad internally growls. 'I believe I've had about enough of this shit.'

The captive's fear is slowly finding itself replaced by an odd mixture of anger and acceptance. Jeers and threats of further harm begin falling on deaf ears, as the Toad discovers he no longer cares. His future's outlook seemed far from good, no matter how you try and approach it, and he wasn't about to give these bastards the satisfaction of having him beg for mercy.

"T-to whoever is laying on top of me," The Toad begins, wheezing with the effort to speak. "I'm flattered, really, but I'd appreciate it if you got off. Or at least buy me dinner first."

The chattering suddenly stops.

The prisoner swears he hears a few of the troops snickering before one of them roughly pulls back his head while another points a sharpened spear menacingly at his stubby neck. He glares up at the weapon's wielder, and is unsurprised to see it is the commanding Koopatrol himself.

"So our guest of honor finally speaks." The Commander's voice rumbles, tone hinting at neither irritation nor amusement.

"And he appears to be quite the comedian." One of his soldiers practically spits. Judging by how close it sounds, the Toad believes the voice must belong to the very trooper keeping him pinned, though he notices the weight keeping him down isn't nearly as intense as before. He sneers, loving that his lame crack had earned such a frazzled reaction.

"That he does." The Koopatrol comments, narrowing his eyes at the Toad's fearless expression. "But we've had about all the jokes and games we can handle for one evening, am I right gentlemen?"

A rhetorical question, but the squad members all but growl in agreement with their leader's assessment. The Commander drops to a squat, keeping his weapon trained on the Toad as he meets the stubborn captive's gaze.

"Now, if you will please make this easier on yourself and the rest of us…" He presses the edge of the spear's tip to the Toad's throat. "…and tell us where the Princess is hiding."

The prisoner's shoulders shudder with suppressed laughter, until it reaches an audible level. It's a bitter chuckle, laced with sincere amusement. Such a reaction was unexpected, and the Koopatrol did not like it.

"How many times do I have to give you my answer?" The Toad chokes after his brief cachinnating. "Is it the language I'm using? What about my dialect, is it difficult to understand? I've studied many different tongues so please tell me if you have a preference."

A few of the soldiers murmur in confusion. It was so odd to see a Toad behave in such a way. These troops were used to observing cowardice when dealing with their kind, not defiance. Any other of their prisoners would be begging to be spared and offer whatever they could if it meant keeping out of harm's way. But this guy had the gall to not only laugh at his captors, but talk down to them?

Either that's the definition of bravery, or the definition of stupidity.

"Well? No one has an alternative language they'd rather me use?" The captive continues when no one responds. "I'll tell you the same thing I've been saying for nearly an hour in whatever tongue I can. English, French, German…hell, even a few native dialects of your own Kingdom! It doesn't matter how much you beat, cut, or threaten me, or even what language I use, my answer will be the same: I. Don't. KNOW."

Silence.

"I see…so you're sticking with that answer?" The Commander muses aloud, expression unreadable as he draws back his weapon and returns to a standing position.

The Toad realizes the Koopatrol isn't truly addressing him, but chooses to answer anyway.

"Yes, yes, a million times yes!" He growls with feigned impatience. Then, with an afterthought, adds: "Now would you be so kind as to have your creepy friend remove himself from my person? One of his hands is getting way too friendly for my comfort."

The 'creepy friend', as the Toad chooses to call him, reacts to the crude remark rather violently. He swiftly slams the prisoner's face down hard into the unforgiving pavement, sending a wave a near blinding pain through the Toad's already sore body. His attacker then seizes one of his wrists and roughly pulls him to his feet, holding the captive high enough that his toes barely touch the ground. The Toad has no choice but to try and shift his weight to the tips of his toes, lest all the strain be put on his arm.

"How dare you speak to our commander that way!" The offender hisses, his voice shaking with fury. He then dives into a short rant, something about showing respect, but the captive doesn't hear a word of it. The Toad would be lying if he said his complete disregard for the trooper's words wasn't partly because of the agony now gripping his features, but mostly, he was trying to resist plunging into another fit of laughter. It was obvious the Koopatrol didn't care about the prisoner's outbursts, so this lecture was unnecessary. The soldier currently keeping the Toad in an uncomfortable position, however, was clearly the one riled up. It amused the captive to no end that his tasteless jabs were having such an extreme effect.

After the string of threats and insults finally finish, the Toad decides to make it a point that he didn't give two shits about what had just been said. He weakly turns his head to look up at his captor, a common Koopa Troopa, before flashing the winning combo of an obnoxious smile and wink. Oh what he'd give to see the rage that undoubtedly flared in the eyes behind those dark, concealing sunglasses.

The Koopa looks like he is about to say something else, either that or lash out again, but before he can do either, the trooper is cut off with a wave of the Koopatrol's hand.

"Though you have good intentions soldier, further antagonizing is not needed." The Commander states evenly. "I will take matters from here."

The Toad waits expectantly, wondering what the Koopatrol could possibly do or say to try and sway his mind. Surprisingly, the squad's leader doesn't address the prisoner at all. Instead, he turns to speak quietly with a few of his men, two of which leave after a hushed order, while the rest listen intently. A pounding headache keeps the captive from effectively eaves dropping, so he decides to dully examine his surroundings while the soldiers continue their exchange.

The Toad immediately regrets doing so, as the burning ruins of his homeland and the sight of the docks, housing boats that could have been the key to his freedom, prove too much to bare. He averts his eyes over to a section of a nearby garden that somehow avoided the destructive hand of the prior raids, hoping to find some peace in doing so. The prisoner's gaze travels over a large cluster of bushes, and halts when it meets a pair of eyes.

Wait…eyes?

In this world, it wasn't unusual for plant life, landscapes, and even inanimate objects to have eyes. But that wasn't what got the young Toad's attention. The eyes didn't belong to the bush, but to a Toad. He couldn't believe it, another Toad had escaped imprisonment. Perhaps, even, managed to avoid capture altogether.

An irrational hope suddenly floods the captive.

'This guy could help me get free!' He mentally cheers.'There's still a chance I can get out of this alive!'

The Toad fights the urge to grin as he looks around the crowd of enemy soldiers, imagining himself taking a few out with his apparent savior and breaking free from their grasp. By the time he is done taking in just how many troops have him surrounded, the joyful fluttering in his chest has been harshly replaced by sinking dread. The realization comes as a devastating blow. There were far too many troops, too heavily armed, to be taken down by two Toads, one of which being practically crippled.

When the prisoner meets the hidden Toad's eyes once more, he concludes that expecting this stranger to risk his life for someone he didn't even know was not only unfair, but unrealistic. The Toad cools his rising anger of the cruel situation, deciding even if he could not make it, he would at least try to offer help to the stranger who had been dealt a better hand. Before he can think of what to do first, he finds himself locked in a nonverbal conversation.

Frustration, confusion, that's what the captive sees in the stranger's eyes.

'What do I do?' They seem to ask.

The Toad checks to make sure none of the soldiers are watching before giving his head a slight shake.

'Nothing.' He answers.

More confusion. Even more frustration. Eyes are now pleading.

'Nothing? But, there must be something I can do!' A rough translation.

Another gentle shake.

'No.'He responds.

The stranger looks as if he's about to leave his cover anyway, but a hard warning glance stops him.

'Don't.' The prisoner orders.

The hidden Toad's shoulder's slump and he briefly buries his face in his hands, hiding the agitation and helplessness etched into his features. When he regains composure, he returns his attention to the captive, expression asking another question.

'What now?'

The captured Toad isn't sure if he read that correctly, but it just seemed like the stranger was re-phrasing his initial inquiry. Instead of giving the same reply as before, the Toad thinks for a moment, deciding this may be the opportunity to offer help and make sure the determined youth didn't meet his fate.

He clears himself before mouthing his response.

'When it's safe, get to the docks.'

The stranger carefully observes the prisoner trying to convey his message. Though he seems to more or less get it the first run through, the captive repeats it a few more times just in case. The Toad may have been captured on his way to the docks, but that did not mean his original plan was no longer a good one. If the stranger waited until this squad parted, he could get to a boat and sail away. Destination: anywhere but this living hell.

If the hidden Toad visibly rejects the idea, the prisoner misses it, as the return of two soldiers redirect his attention. One carries what appears to be a camera, which he immediately begins setting up a few feet from their captive. The other soldier's possession remains a mystery, as he chooses to remain behind a cluster of troopers, effectively blocking the Toad's view.

Before the prisoner can even think to ask the Commander's motives, the Koopatrol moves to his side, angling himself so he may address both the Toad and the camera. The Koopa operating the camera directs a few soldiers out of the shot, then asks a few to stand behind the Commander and the trooper restraining their captive. When the camera operator is satisfied with the current frame, he signals the Koopatrol that he is ready. The Commander nods and offers a gesture of his own, indicating that he too was prepared to carry out their plan. Not a moment later, a red light on the camera blinks to life, and the Koopatrol takes a composing breath before turning his full attention to the recording device.

"Citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, now under the command of King Bowser, ruler of the Darklands," he begins in a loud, even voice. "To my right, you may notice one of your comrades. A…guest, in our newly acquired land."

The Toad narrows his eyes as the Koopatrol gestures to his battered form, furious at the way he is labeled.

"We offered him mercy in exchange for a little cooperation. A fair trade if I must say. Our guest, however, chose to spit in the face of our kind offer. And, as you can see," The Commander slightly inclines his head toward the prisoner. "we dealt the appropriate response to such a barbaric act."

The captive glares at the squad leader with unmatched hatred. It took him a moment, whether that was due to a mind clouded with fear or anger, he wasn't sure, but the Toad finally knew the reason behind the over-the-top theatrics.

An example. These bastards were going to make an example of him.

"Despite this unsavory lack of manners," The Koopatrol continues. "we gave our unruly companion the opportunity to change his mind. His response?" The Commander sighs, as if exasperated by the disobedience of a child. "More defiance."

The Toad fights the urge to roll his eyes.

"If you assholes are going to kill me," he groans, irritation apparent. "Can we please skip this crap and just get to it?"

The soldier holding the prisoner squeezes his wrist painfully, causing the Toad to involuntarily cry out. The Koopatrol studies the captive with a blank expression before turning back to the camera. He offers the future audience an apologetic shrug with a look that speaks a silent message.

Prisoners, am I right?

The Commander quickly returns to a neutral position, then turns to address the Toad.

"In light of your constant rejection of our kindness, harsh punishment seems to be the only option now." The Koopatrol states, as if observing something as trivial as the weather. "However, in the name of the great King Bowser, I'm generously offering you one, final chance. If you provide the answer we seek, your past resistance will be over looked and you shall be spared. Now tell me…" He meets the captor's gaze, eyes cold and unnerving. "Where is the Princess?"

A question, asked so many times that night. A question that got the same answer each time. Was the squad leader that unwilling to believe his prisoner didn't have the answer he sought after? No, he wasn't that dense. At this point, the Koopatrol truly believed in the Toad's honesty. The problem was, admitting that meant he and his squad had wasted precious time on a dead end. In other words, it meant failure.

Failure was not an option.

So, for the sake of himself and that of his men, the Commander conceived a last minute plan that may spare them from severe punishment. He would make an example of this Toad. It would be filmed and then widely distributed, so that all those whom apposed the ruler of the Darklands would see how they dealt with defiance. Countless spirits would be crushed, he was sure of it.

King Bowser would be pleased.

The slightest bit of pity was felt by this Koopatrol. This Toad had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and, because of unfortunate circumstances, he would have to pay with his life. For a moment, he re-thinks his current course of action, but selfish thoughts win out in the end.

Better him than us.

A long pause passes before another word is spoken. The prisoner knows that the Commander wasn't truly asking that question again; he made it damn clear what his answer was before. This time the inquiry was for show, well, for the camera more accurately. When the Toad gives his response, his fate will be sealed, and then broadcasted for all to see. For a moment, he considers creating a fabrication. The prisoner could 'break down' and give up the secrets he had been so loyally 'guarding', sending the troops on a wild goose chase and providing him more time among the living. Of course, this would only prolong the inevitable and, probably make it infinitely worse.

If that was even possible, anyways.

No, the Toad was going to stick with his answer. He takes a deep breath, hoping to calm himself so his response wouldn't sound as rattled as he felt. The prisoner faces the camera, readying himself for whatever happens next.

"My answer remains the same." The captive speaks slowly, an attempt to keep any and all waver from his voice. "I do not know the location of the Princess." He turns to reflect the Koopatrol's nerve shattering glare. "Even if I did, I wouldn't so much as hint it. Not to you, not to the Koopa King himself."

The Toad prays furiously that he sounded braver than he felt. Though when he sees no hint of amusement in the Commander's features, he takes it that his performance was a success. Then again, the Koopatrol's expression is surprisingly neutral, so who knows what thoughts are swirling within that head?

"I suppose…it doesn't matter anymore whether or not you're telling the truth." The squad leader eventually sighs.

He signals to the soldier still standing behind a group of his troops, gesturing for him to bring forth his concealed possession. The crowd parts slightly, allowing the apparent errand boy to pass. He appears to be carrying a lengthy chain, which he allows most of to drag carelessly behind him. The Toad quirks an eyebrow as the trooper passes the peculiar item to his commander, wondering exactly how this scrap metal was supposed to end his game. Strangulation? Death by flogging? The former doesn't seem brutal enough for what they were trying to achieve, and the latter, while definitely horrifying, would take far too long. Sick to think about, but all valid points.

"Chains? Really?" The prisoner asks no one in particular. "You guys are into some kinky stuff."

The captive's remark is ignored, though he never intended to get a response in the first place. His crude humor this time around was a defense mechanism, for in all honesty, the poor Toad was utterly terrified. Sure, the prisoner had been aware of his captor's intentions from the start of this unnecessary performance, but now that they had reached the moment of truth, the protective wall he had built was beginning to crumble.

"Coming up with the right execution is not as easy as you might think." The Koopatrol begins, tone eerily nonchalant. "You have to think of practicality, efficiency…"

The Toad's mind blanks for a moment, a sudden wave of nausea making him feel as though he may be ill. Though the term 'unpleasant' doesn't properly describe the sensation, he finds himself oddly thankful for its brief distraction from the words of the twisted commander. When the prisoner is able to focus on the squad leader's sick rambling again, he nearly misses the 'Big Climax' that the Koopatrol had been eagerly building toward.

"Fortunately for me, I thought of a way to accomplish two tasks at once!" he hears the Commander gloat, praising his own 'genius' in an exaggerated manner. "On one hand, I have an ungrateful guest in need of a deadly lesson, and on the other…" The Koopatrol nods to the trooper who had given him the chain. Understanding the gesture, the soldier swiftly steps to the side, revealing a horrifying sight. "I have a very…hungry pet."

The Toad's heart practically stops at the realization. How did he not figure it out sooner? Even though the troopers had effectively shielded this beast from sight, he should have figured that the chain was attached to something. Something like a weapon.

Something…like a Chain Chomp.

Being bitten by a Chomp is one of the most agonizing experiences imaginable. Though the Toad personally had never found himself locked in the jaws of one of those beasts, he had seen plenty of victims with terrible wounds, and even worse tales of the encounter. Being mauled by one of these creatures would be quick enough to make a point to the witnesses, yet slow enough to cause the victim excruciating pain before being taken by the swift hand of death. As disgusting as it is, the Commander's choice was perfect.

This execution will certainly leave an impression.

The prisoner is unable to hide the terror now gripping his entire being. Though his fear is plainly visible in his expression, to his credit, the Toad doesn't struggle, beg for mercy, or even weep. The captive desperately struggles to return to his former neutral, indifferent façade. He succeeds, though barely, before closing his eyes, unwilling to look at the Chain Chomp now salivating madly at the promise of a tasty meal.

The squad leader smirks slightly at the Toad's reaction and turns to the camera as he holds out the chain in his possession. His pet's 'leash' was very much slack, meaning the beast could have easily sprung on his prey at any given time. The Chain Chomp, however, was surprisingly well trained, and would never lunge from his master's side until given permission. This 'permission' was often in the form of a verbal command, but that wasn't always the case. Some situations called for nonverbal gestures, this being one of those situations, and the most common unspoken command was a simple release of the leash.

Taut or slack, it didn't matter, the beast would know.

"So, my dear Toad." The Commander purrs, sneering at his soon-to-be victim. "Is there anything you would like to say before we end your game? Final words perhaps?"

The prisoner lazily lifts an eyelid, trying his damnedest to appear bored.

"Yes, actually." He begins, slightly turning his head. "First, my name isn't Toad, like I'm sure your name isn't Koopatrol." A suppressed laugh from one of the Troops does not go unnoticed. "My name is Novel-T, though I go by Novel. Weird name, I'm aware, but I rather be called by my birth name than my species name in the face of death."

A few of the soldiers behind the squad leader allow their jaws to go slack. They still couldn't believe the captive was so eager to mouth off, even in his final moments.

"Secondly, or should I say lastly?…" The Toad asks no one in particular. He shakes his head before continuing. "Anyway, my last message is to both you and your…pet." The prisoner musters up his remaining courage as he locks eyes with the intimidating Chain Chomp. "I hope you choke on my flimsy, sharp, little Toad bones. But if that doesn't happen," He looks up at the Commander. "I hope I tear up his insides, and you get to clean up all the resulting shit."

More troops gawk at the Toad. His boldness continued to surprise them, even if his words were a bit weak. Though, in all fairness, your material would be lacking too if you were under such extreme stress.

The Koopatrol struggles to hide his irritation as he signals to the camera operator to edit that segment out later. Novel-T chuckles quietly as the squad leader furiously gestures to his men, ordering them to wipe away their gaping expressions. Once the Commander is satisfied, he composes himself and alerts the Koopa behind the camera that he is ready to continue.

"Let this example be a lesson to you all," The Koopatrol's voice booms, both powerful and ominous. "that resistance of any kind," He grins darkly, lifting his hand so the camera may clearly view the Chomp's metal leash. "will not be tolerated."

The chain is released.

Time seems to slow down. The Toad barely flinches when he hears the only thing keeping the Chomp in place clatter noisily to the pavement. He takes a deep breath as a vicious growl reaches his ears, bracing himself for the inevitable. Closing his eyes, the prisoner chooses to distract himself from the beast preparing to lunge with his final thoughts.

'Well, Novel. It's been a good run.'

This seemed like an appropriate time for Novel-T's mind to play a cheesy run through of his entire life up until that point. Bittersweet? Moving? Not the words he would use. If anything, the summary of his existence was…dull.

'Wow…that's more depressing than dy-AAARRRGHHH!'

The Toad's spirit crushing thought process is cut short when he feels what he can only assume is a truck smashing into his chest. Though the force is enough to wrench the prisoner from his captive's grasp, Novel is far from free, the weight pressing him to the unforgiving street making sure of that. Concentration broken, the prisoner's eyelids lift to reveal impossibly sharp teeth mere inches from his face. Poor Novel-T is unable to keep up the brave façade any longer, and immediately cries out in fear as the Chomp's mouth opens, ready to take its first taste of this unfortunate meal.

"STOP!"

Not a plea of mercy, but a command, has all at this horrific scene confused. It was not the Toad that shouted this word. This order came from someone else, outside of the squad. The Koopatrol shakes his head, cachinnating softly as he flicks a hand at his pet, telling it to hold off on its feast. Novel sighs audibly with relief, before sharing the baffled expressions of the surrounding Troops.

The Commander turns to face the direction the voice came from. "I'm sorry, what did you say stranger? I couldn't hear you over the scream of my cowardly friend."

The Toad glares daggers at the cruel squad leader. 'Let's see how brave you are when something tries to eat you alive!' He mentally spits.

"I said," The voice begins firmly, with a hint of hostility. "Stop."

The Koopatrol guffaws, truly amused by this unknown individual's daring words. A few of his men join in, though if they actually found it funny was another matter entirely. Novel-T rolls his eyes at their sheep like behavior, before turning his attention to something more important. Like, for example, mentally praising his apparent savior.

'Who could it be?' He wondered. 'Who else is out here but… ' His eyes widen with the realization. 'That other Toad!'

"Call back your Chain Chomp." The voice sounds again once the laughter dies down. "Such a barbaric punishment shouldn't be carried out on anyone, much less a Toad who has done no wrong. You will release him."

Novel quirks a brow at his savior's words. He agreed with what was being said, let that not be mistaken, but he found the phrasing…odd. That and the voice, though solid and commanding, sounded…surprisingly feminine. Not at all how he thought the Toad he discovered hiding in the bushes would sound.

While Novel-T's features convey befuddlement, The Commander's expression houses annoyance, as well as the beginnings of animosity. He narrows his eyes dangerously in the voice's direction, angered by the stranger's dauntless order.

"And who are you," The squad leader seethes, clearly agitated. "to command me or my men?"

The soldiers turn when the voice's source steps out of the shadows of a decimated building. A wave of gasps and murmurs quickly spread through the troops blocking the stranger from the sight of both Novel and the Koopatrol. The two share a puzzled look as the soldiers slowly begin parting to allow the newcomer's passage. When the stranger finally steps into view, the Commander and his prisoner near simultaneously rear back in surprise.

A tilt of the head. "I am the one you have been looking for am I not?" She curtsies, though it is obvious in her expression and exaggerated movements that it is a mocking, instead of polite, gesture. "I am the one and only, Princess Peach."

Author's Notes:

So...pretty dark first chapter. XD

You lied Snazzy! This is supposed to be Adventure/Humor! Where's teh funny?! D: Seriously, Novel-T *giggle* hardly quenched my thirst for amusement! D%

Sorry folks, got pretty carried away with the *gestures wildly* "example" scene. We were supposed to meet our heroes this chapter and hop on the morbid giggle train but then I did this. XD Fear not! The fun is on its way :3

This story will have an odd balance of adventure, humor, and even some dark themes. *points to the chapter you just read* After all, how can funsies exist without seriousness? You'll understand if you decide to continue this odd tale.

Reviews are always welcome, whether you want to tell me what you like/dislike about the story or critique me as a writer.