Chapter One: The Heroine
"Oh boy, those lazy, good fer nothin' mooks ain't gonna know what hit 'em, see." The Beanish thief grinned wide as he kicked the door to the Toad Town house open, waltzing in as if he owned the place. He pulled open drawers and took what he thought would look good and make lots of loot. He opened the safe he found on the floor, grinning wider as he saw all the gold coins inside. This was his lucky day.
"Jackpot!" He exclaimed. "I'm rich, see! No good fer nothin' guards are gonna ruin my day today! No one!"
"How about a plumber?" A voice came from behind him, making him freeze in his tracks. He began to gulp as he looked behind him. Standing in the open door was the one person he'd wanted to avoid. The one person who could stop him.
Dressed in what one would call a plumber's outfit, she sported blue overalls that went down into her brown boots. A green, long sleeved shirt went under them, going to her wrists. Covering her hands were white gloves that looked natural on her. Covering her face was a mask that resembled that of a Shy Guy's. A small trace of two blue eyes could be seen behind it, however. Her hair was long and orange, flowing to her waist and brilliant. She also wore a cap that was green with an L on it.
"You!" The thief exclaimed, almost hissing at his missed chance. She'd take him to jail for sure. Wait, no she couldn't! He still had a trick up his sleeve!
"Give up, Popple," The heroine said, stepping closer. "You'd do good to just surrender."
"You'll never take me, see!" Popple shouted, jumping out a window and breaking it. "In fact, you'll never see me!"
"Get back here!" The heroine shouted, jumping after him with skill and agility. She landed on the ground, running after the thief, trying to keep up.
"I made sure to take a Speed Shroom, see?" Popple grinned, pulling out a mushroom like those used in Kart racing and tossing it into his mouth. "Sayonara, mook!"
The Beanish thief became a blur, the heroine following him quickly losing ground. She grumbled to herself.
"Didn't want to have to pull this out this early," She said. "But, I have no choice."
She reached into the pocket of her overalls and pulled out a small, brown leaf that she then crushed in her hand. Magic power flower through her as two tanooki ears emerged from her hat and a tanooki tail emerged from behind her. She thrust her arms and head back with the power as she began to run faster as the tail began to wag up and down.
She eventually took off the ground, the tail wagging behind her to give her lift as she sped forward, fist extended in front of her so she could collide with Popple, overtaking him.
"Hey, what's the big idea, you palooka!?" He exclaimed, slamming into the wall in front of him before turning around. When he saw who had punched him, he gulped.
"Starchild!" He chuckled nervously. "Uh, can't we talk about this, see?"
"After you're behind bars," The heroine said, stepping closer.
"Uh, I don't think so." Popple said. "ROOKIE!"
"Rookie?" Starchild asked with confusion as she looked behind him. She gasped and jumped back as an egg exploded where she'd been standing.
"That's as far as you go!" A voice shouted as what could be described as a pink dinosaur with a mouth like a Snifit and a pink bow on her head jumped down. She stood on two legs and had a reptilian tail.
"Get the palooka, rookie!" Popple shouted, pointing at the costumed heroine.
"You got it, baby," The dinosaur said, winking. "I'll do it post haste and then we can go on with our love."
"Stop callin' me baby and fight!" Popple shouted. The dinosaur huffed and turned to the heroine.
"I am Birdo and you're not gonna take my man in," She pointed.
"We'll see about that," The heroine said. "I won't let either of you steal from the toads anymore."
"You won't win!" Birdo shouted, rushing for Starchild. The heroine stood her ground, leaning back and delivering a powerful blow to the dinosaur's face and knocking her back.
"Ow!" Birdo rubbed her snout. "That hurt! You'll pay for that!"
She rushed for Starchild, the heroine planning to dodge again. However, this time, Birdo shot an egg that collided with the heroine, exploding and knocking her back.
The heroine hit the ground, feeling the pain of the egg and of her impact. She stood up, panting as she felt her ears and tail disappear.
"Looks like we weakened her!" Popple shouted. "Take her out, Rookie! Do it with extreme malice!"
"With pleasure, baby!" Birdo said, taking a deep breath, her snout folding inwards a little as if she was charging up a blast meant to level a building. She took aim at Starchild and unleashed her blast. The heroine couldn't dodge because the speed increase from the tail had left her. She reached for her pocket as the blast hit. An explosion rocked the city.
All around, Toads looked out to see Popple, gasping as they saw their heroine get caught in the explosion. They all gasped as they saw that their heroine had fallen. The smoke poured out from the explosion, clouding everyone's vision of the place of impact.
"Mommy," A Toad child asked his mother. "Is… is Starchild okay?"
"I… I don't know," The mother said. "I don't know. I hope that she's okay."
"Looks like I beat that mook of a superhero!" Popple laughed as he began to look around. Toads all began to scurry away.
"You mooks better be ready to hand over all your loot!" He shouted. "I just beat the only one who could have stopped me! What will protect all your precious little treasures from me now that she's gone?"
"You monster!" A Toad woman called out.
"Hey, can it, lady!" Popple shouted towards her, turning to face her. "I'm abut ta come over there and—"
However, before the thief could get any more words out, a fireball struck Birdo in the face. She was blown back a little, but not by much.
"Huh?" Popple asked, turning, his face turning to one of horror as he saw the smoke clearing from the explosion.
Standing in the smoke, wind blowing around her, Starchild stood, a fiery aura surrounding her. Her overalls had turned white as well, her hat having turned the same color.
"It's time for you to go behind bars, Popple," She said as she stepped closer to the two.
"Rookie, stop her!" Popple shouted. Birdo rushed for Starchild, but the heroine ducked, punching her in the gut. A fireball shot out from her hand and blew Birdo back.
"Come along quietly and you won't be harmed, Popple," Starchild said. "Last chance."
"You ain't got nothin' on me!" Popple shouted. "Let's go, you palooka!"
Popple began to throw bombs at Starchild as Birdo shot eggs. Starchild weaved and dodged, ducking and jumping. She ran forward, fireballs forming in her hands as she closed the gap between the two. Birdo threw a right hook at her, the heroine meeting it with a fireball, slamming her foot into Birdo's face.
Birdo and Starchild began to trade blows at that point, fireballs and eggs being thrown in as well. Birdo shot a volley of eggs at Starchild, Starchild shooting a plethora of fireballs at them to destroy them.
"You're pretty good, sweetie," Birdo said. "But, I think I'd like you better inside of me."
"Uh, what?" Starchild asked, confused. Birdo took this opportunity to inhale in like a vacuum and manage to suck Starchild inside of her. She started to hack and snorted out an egg that sat there, shaking a little.
"Time to make a getaway!" Popple took off running.
The egg cracked a little and jumped to the side. Popple saw this and began running faster. Birdo began to follow, running as fast as her legs would carry her. The egg cracked further, flames leaking out of it as it exploded and the heroine stood there, glaring through the mask at the two. Popple almost shrieked, taking off as she ran for him, pulling her fist back for a huge fireball.
She threw her punch, the punch colliding with Popple and sending him flying into a building. Birdo became angry and turned to her.
"How DARE you hit my man?!" She exclaimed as Starchild levelled her with a punch to her snout, sending a huge fireball down it. Birdo flew backwards, spitting flames as she also collided with a building.
Starchild walked over to where they were imbedded into a building, grabbing the two of them.
"Time for you to head back to your cells." She said dragging them to the guard house for the castle.
"Halt," The Toad guard said. "You may be the self-proclaimed protector of Toad Town and the Mushroom Kingdom, but you aren't allowed here."
"Brought ya something," Starchild said behind her mask. "Enjoy."
She tossed the two at the guard, who looked shocked at them. When he looked up at Starchild, she was gone. He didn't look behind him, however, or he would have seen her sneaking into a window on the upper floors of the castle.
Inside the room, Starchild landed with nary a sound. She reached behind her and took off her mask, revealing her face to her mirror. She looked quite similar to a certain monarch of the kingdom, but not quite the same.
She walked into the large closet and opened the floorboards to reveal a chest. Opening the chest, she took off her uniform, placing it and her mask into it, but not before looking at the glass case within the chest. Inside was a feather that basically radiated magic power. She closed the chest, hoping the day would never come that she had to rely on the feather.
Closing up and hiding the chest, she pulled a dress from those hanging in her closet. It was a green color, long and flowing. She tied her hair in a ponytail and managed to fit the earrings in her ears. Shaped like crescent moons, they glinted slightly. She liked them as they were a gift from a friend of her mother's, but she couldn't care less about the dress.
She opened her door, slipping into the heels she desperately hated and hearing the clacking on the floor with every footstep. She hastily pulled on some green gloves as well. She hated long gloves, much preferring short ones that covered her hands for the sake of her outfit. As she walked by, her sister stepped out of her room, dressed in purple and wearing simple sphere earrings that were blue in color.
Her sister's red colored eyes trained on her, scanning her attire.
"You smell," She said. "Like, terrible."
The princess sniffed her hair, sighing internally as she hadn't quite noticed the smell… though, her sister did have an accelerated sense of smell. She needed to make sure that she didn't alert her to anything off.
She walked down the hall with her, trying her best to keep her posture steady and her hands clasped in front of her. Her sister didn't walk like that, but she also didn't have to wear heels. She stared at her sister's long hair, noting the red color. It had almost been a scandal, but it certainly hadn't detracted from any sort of beauty she held.
"Mother was wondering when you'd rouse your sleepy head," Her sister chuckled. "She almost had me go to wake you."
"Well, I suppose it is a bit late." The princess said quietly.
"Did you hear that plumber fought a Beanish thief earlier today?" Her sister asked.
"Oh?" The princess asked, turning her gaze to her sister and feigning ignorance. "What happened?"
"She apparently defeated a thief from the Beanbean Kingdom and another thief and dragged them off to the guards to arrest." Her sister said. "I'm really surprised that the guards didn't try to defeat her."
"Perhaps they don't wish to try," The princess said.
"Well, she should probably be more careful," Her sister replied. "Well, mother wanted to see us."
"What for?" The princess asked as they entered the throne room.
"Lucinda, Coco," The queen said from her throne. "I have been expecting the two of you."
"Yes mother," Coco spoke, looking at the covert heroine.
"I am here, mother," Lucinda spoke.
"Another report of that troublemaker in that ridiculous outfit," The queen said. "You two had best stay in the castle today. I don't want you thinking that this is an alright thing to do."
"What are you talking about?" Lucinda asked. "Are you talking about that plumber?"
"Yes, that ruffian," The queen said, distaste in her voice as she brushed her orange locks behind an ear. "I expect the both of you to view her the same."
"From what I heard, all she did was arrest some guy," Lucinda said. "Sounds like someone's got too much time on her hands."
"And how do you know that this hooligan is a woman?" The queen asked her.
"Literally every report on this chick says it's a girl." Lucinda shrugged. "I mean, she doesn't try to hide it."
"She should have joined the royal guard like everyone else who attempts to attack people on the streets," The queen said. "Now, I want no more word about this."
"Yes mother," The princesses said, nodding as in walked a messenger Toad, dressed in pink with mushroom shaped pigtails.
"Your highness," She said as another Toad walked in behind her, this one carrying a parcel in his hands. "Prince Peasley has arrived and seeks an audience with your daughter."
"Tell him I said he can take his audience and shove it—" Lucinda began before a quick look from her mother stopped her.
"Send him in," The queen said as the Toad nodded. In walked a Beanish male about Lucinda's age, a smug look on his face as he walked up to her. He was dressed in the garb of Beanish royalty with a rapier on his belt and took Lucinda's hand and kissed it.
"My lady, you look fine," He said, smug look still on his face. Lucinda simply glared, wrenching her hand away as her mother raised an eyebrow.
"And you look like shit," Lucinda said. "Now, refrain from touching me or I'll take great pleasure in impaling you with your own sword."
"Such harsh words," Prince Peasley said as the two engaged in a staredown. "But, are you sure you're willing to back them up?"
The stares set the room on edge. The queen stood from her throne and stood next to them, lest they begin to fight. It had happened before and it was certain to happen again if she did not intervene.
"Both of you are going to behave like royalty or I shall have you thrown in the dungeon like those who fight," She said, that authority in her voice as she separated them. "Now, state your business."
"I'm here to reclaim the thief that your so called superheroine arrested," Prince Peasley said. "I simply asked for the princess because that sounds less pompous."
"Like you could ever sound less pompous," Lucinda said as a quick jab to her ribs stopped any further arguments.
"Then, Toadette will retrieve him for you," The queen said. "You will wait here."
"Very well," Prince Peasley said, standing closer to Lucinda, who began to pull back for a heavy handed punch. However, the queen stopped her from enacting said punch, which caused her to huff.
Eventually, Toadette returned with the two thieves, giving them to the prince.
"Thank you for your patronage," The prince nodded as h walked out with the two of them. "I shall remember this."
Lucinda rolled her eyes and began to walk back to her room. Upon reaching the door, however, her mother said something to her.
"Your behavior could use some work," She said. "I expect you to treat the son of one of our allies better."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Lucinda said, scoffing. "It's just that I've never understood the masculine side of this whole royalty thing and how to act. I wonder why that is."
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady," The queen said. "I'm doing as best I can to raise you two singlehandedly."
"And why is that?" Lucinda turned, facing her. "Why is that? Every time I ask, you dodge the question."
"Because it's not your right to know," Peach stated.
"I think it is!" Lucinda shouted. She opened her room door without another word and shut the door. The queen sighed sadly, returning to the throne room.
Inside of her room, Lucinda tensed as she heard something in her closet. She opened the door to find a Toad in pink, similar to the messenger Toadette, but this Toadette was a good deal younger, at least five years younger than Lucinda herself. Lucinda had taken a liking to her early on and nicknamed her 'Pink'
"What are you doing in my closet?" Lucinda asked.
"I," The Toadette began. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to see your cool stuff and I didn't think you'd say yes."
"Well, what makes you think I'd say it now?" Lucinda raised an eyebrow.
"Because I think it's so cool and you do such a good job protecting us and all that." Pink said, her voice a squeak.
"Huh?" Lucinda asked, having hoped that it wasn't what she was thinking it was. Because that would be a problem.
"I know your secret," Pink said quietly. "I just… I saw you take off your costume one time and I realized it was you. You're my hero and I just wanted to see some of the things that you have."
"Look," Lucinda said. "I don't think you should be in here. But, I think you should be more careful."
"I'm sorry," Pink looked down. "I just thought it would be okay."
"How about I show you one thing?" Lucinda asked.
"Okay," Pink nodded. Lucinda opened a small chest in the back of her closet. Inside sat a small crown that seemed to have eyes.
"I just found this one time," Lucinda said. "No idea what it does, but it's magic. I keep it here so no one else can use it."
"Woah!" Pink exclaimed. "Cool!"
"Shhh," Lucinda said. "Now, you can't tell anyone about anything I show you, alright?"
"Promise," Pink nodded, scurrying to the door. "I'll see you later. My mom's gonna wonder where I am."
"Have fun," Lucinda said. "Good luck."
Pink nodded, leaving the room. Lucinda sighed, closing the chest and hiding it once again. She decided to take a nap and actually get some rest, knowing she'd be undisturbed for a while.
Well, this should be interesting. Let's see what happens next.
Note: so, a little disclaimer about this story. I know I have several other Mario fics I haven't been working on, but this one was one I had had and was trying to do for a bit. I took inspiration from Super Mario Bros Z and various works inspired by it to craft how I wanted the fighting to go. Obviously, this was a small fight, but it's Popple so who cares? But, this was an interesting thought I had. I hope you enjoy it.