A Lost Kingdom
Chapter 1: Bowser's Castle
It was a cold evening. Wind blew over the Mushroom Kingdom, causing anybody to shiver at its touch. Everybody had thought it would of been a sunny, picnic worthy day. But they were mistaken. On one note, the sun WAS present, but it lit a corner of Toad Town, due to being covered by clouds. The Lakitus had been ordered to clear the weather, but all of them had gotten a cold, which caused every one of their clouds to turn sad. When Lakitu Clouds aren't happy, they are practically unrideable. If they are sad, they would cry, causing it to rain. If they were angry, thunder and lightning. If they were scared, it would snow.
Most of the Toads were indoors, nice and warm, snug in their blanket with their loved ones. The only few Toads that were seen outside were the ones rushing to get home. The fountain of the kingdom's beloved princess that stood in the centre of the town was falling apart. It was 20 years old now, and the last couple of years you could see the cracks. Foreman Spike would have to rebuild it. The guy wasn't so grumpy and mean when you were on his good. A couple of blocks away from Peach's Castle, stood a red mushroom house with green spots.
It was home to none other than the famed heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom; the Mario brothers. Luigi, the taller, younger, not so brave brother, was in his chair in the living room, sipping his hot cup of coffee. Mario, the shorter, braver one, was staring at a letter the Mailtoad had given him. It was from Pauline, his ex-girlfriend. Mario was panicking.
"Mario, it'll be fine. Pauline's only inviting you over for a little talk. It's not a date." Luigi said, breaking the silence in the room.
"But Luigi, what if Peach finds out? She'd give me a good slap with her frying pan. I'd be toast!" Mario said, not bothering to give his brother eye contact. "Besides, Pauline is probably faking this! She's most likely planning to murder me after breaking up with her!"
Luigi sighed. "You've saved her from Donkey Kong, what, about three times now? The only thing she'll be planning would be a celebration party for the kingdoms hero."
Mario returned the sigh, his one filled with more sadness. "I guess." he said, before continuing. "But can you come with me?"
Luigi smiled. It made a change for Mario to be the stressing one. "Bro, I don't see my name any where on the letter. It's you and you only, Mario. You better hurry before that ape thinks of kidnapping her again." he chuckled.
The big brother got up, his confident grin plastered on his face. "You're right! I'm just overreacting! Everything'll be fine." he said, putting the letter in one of his pockets. "I'll be back soon, Luigi. If you need me, go through Warp Pipe #109." he said, before heading to the door. "Be sure to give Peach a visit if the weather gets any better."
"Will do." Luigi replied, "have a nice time, bro."
Mario smiled, turning the door knob and walking outside, carefully closing the door behind him. The plumber leaped towards the Warp Zone, his smile growing bigger.
"Hey, Mario!" a female voice called as the hero reached the zone.
"Hey, Toadette. What's shaking?" he replied, still wearing his smile.
"The usual, just keeping an eye on customers. I haven't had any lately, due to the weather and all. I was just about to head home, actually, before you came."
"Shame, really. It seemed like it would be a good day according to the weather forecast. I wonder how the Lakitus all got ill. I mean, it's cold, but not cold enough for catching one." Mario said, a questioning face replacing his cheerful one.
Toadette nodded. "Yeah. So, what'll it be? Warp Pipe #116? I see Luigi heading there all the time, as it leads to Sarasaland."
Mario shook his head. "Actully, I'll take Warp Pipe #109. Y'know, the one back to Brooklyn."
Toadette was surprised. "Mario, you know that Warp Pipes leading to the real world are prohibited. We don't want any danger from outside walking in on us, eh? You and Luigi are lucky to be nice after stumbling here by accident. It wouldn't even of happened if we weren't cleaning all of the pipes."
Mario reached his pocket. "I know, I know. But somebody I know there wants to see me." he added, getting out his coins. Yellow coins were 1, Blue coins were 3, Green coins were 5, and Red coins were 8. There were also Purple coins, which were 100, but they were extremely rare, only being found in space.
"Alright, if you say so." Toadette said. "That will be 50 coins, then."
Mario gave the gal the odd amount of coins to her. It didn't really surprise him, though. This WAS a pipe to the real world. Once Toadette put the coins in her bag, she pulled a lever that turned a Warp Pipe from black to green. "There you go. Have a good time, Mario!" she sang.
"Thanks, Toadette." he said, before jumping into the pipe.
Bowser's Castle, DarkLand
"Sire, our 'beloved' friend Mario has left the kingdom!" an elderly voice said. "It was Warp Pipe #109, if I remember correctly." he said. It was a Magikoopa, Kamek.
The Koopa King smirked. "Excellent. With that mushroom-consuming fool out the way, my plan will go perfectly." he said, chuckling.
"But your Grouchiness," Boom Boom said, "Even without Mario, you have still been defeated before! What about his brother? Or those two Toads? And the green lizard? Or the-"
"SILENCE, BEFORE I FEED YOU TO THE CHAIN-CHOMPS!" Bowser shouted, his head boiling. The whole Koopa Troop heard him. Boom Boom cowered to a corner. "S-Sorry, your Magesty!"
"If you bothered to listen to me insetad of interrupting," Bowser said, eyeing Boom Boom. "you wouldn't of asked such a pathetic question." he crossed his arms. "My young Koopalings will invade each part of the kingdom, and-"
"Haven't you already done that?" Boom Boom asked.
"WHAT DID I SAY EARLIER ABOUT THE CHAIN-CHOMPS?!" The King snapped, as Kamek signaled Boom Boom to stay quiet behind him.
Bowser pinched the bridge of his nose. "Anyway, my Koopalings will invade every part of the kingdom. If Ludwig manages to finish his potion, then we will succesfully cover Toad Town in a shadowy darkness. With the main source of life throughout the kingdom gone, the rest of the kingdom is useless. We have gotten away with kidnapping the Mario brothers before, but the tables turned as the princess saved them." he said, turning to the Magikoopa. "Kamek, I task you in kidnapping Peach. That will lead Green-Stache and any other loser to go save her. With an enhancement potion Junior stole from a nutty proffessor, we will feed it to Petey Piranha, who would be able to cover the castle in vines, blocking any escape routes. I have ordered King Boo to capture each Toad, and bring them to me. A king DOES need serveants, after all."
Bowser Jr. ran in, obviously hearing the conversation. "Pom Pom and I will block off the Warp Pipe Mario went through, which means he won't have permission to come back." the young Koopa grinned. His dad nodded.
"Exactly, son. And if things get out of hand, I still have Plan B."
"And what's that?" Boom Boom asked.
"You'll find out, if the time comes." the Koopa King laughed. "Gwahahahaha!" Boom Boom rolled his eyes.
Kamek noticed a Goomba and a Koopa Paratroopa walking in the hallway. "Hey, slackers! Get back to work!" he shouted.
The Paratroopa nodded, afraid to be sacked, as he took off. The Goomba sprinted off towards the exit of Bowser's Castle. Hip-hopping across the bridge above lava carefully, he succesfully managed to get to the othe side. He shook his head, the Goomba head coming off. It was Blue Toad.
"I need to tell the princess this! Ooh, once the kingdom hears about this, Bowser's in for a big butt-kicking!" he said outloud, before running towards Toad Town.
To be continued...