The sun rose above the rolling hills of the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario slowly opened his eyes as rays of sunshine hit him. Covering his face he peered outside through his window into the light of day. He eventually got out of bed. He jumped into his normal clothes and slipped on his brown boots, before heading for the door. As he stepped outside he turned round to see Luigi still sleeping.
Mario shut the door and ambled down the front porch out into the magical land once again. After mounting his tenth hill of the day he saw a castle in the distance; Peach's Castle. He slid down the mountain and was about to continue his journey when noticed a mushroom on the ground and, well, he was hungry. So without second thought, he consumed it quickly and continued his journey.
All was normal until he felt drowsy. His head started spinning and his vision blurred. His legs buckled and he fell unconscious. When he woke up, he found himself dangling on a rope above a spitting, fiery pit of lava. In alarm, he struggled about but his hands were tied and he couldn't escape. He slowly raised his head to see his sworn arch nemesis; Bowser. And with him was Princess Peach, who immediately recognised the red clad plumber.
"Help me, Mario!" she cried as she was taken out of the room by Bowser's Minions.
All Mario could do was helplessly watch. He hung his head in hopelessness. It couldn't get any worse.
Bowser left the room momentarily and Mario tried to use this chance to try to grasp free from the tight clutches of the rope. He needed to be careful or he'd be swallowed by the lava. He had nearly gotten out when Bowser entered the room with a TV screen. Switching it on, Luigi face appeared and he was in a small room and the walls were made of spikes.
"Mario? Mario? MARIO!" He said as the walls closed in on him.
In horror, Mario watched as Luigi was slowly crushed by the spikes.
"LUIGI!" He cried.
Bowser stopped the video. He stared menacingly at Mario before he climbed a flight of stairs that led to the rope Mario was dangling on by. He pulled a massive knife and quickly worked away at the rope. Mario knew there was no way he would be able to escape. Bowser was finally at the very last strand and Mario was sweating from the immense heat of the lava. This time he wouldn't be able to jump his way out of this one..
Finally Bowser cut the rope and Mario plummeted into the lava.
"Game Over, Mario!"
He heard Bowser's triumphant laugh as the lava consumed him.
It was dark, very dark. Mario put his hand in front of him but there was nothing. Was this what it was like to die? He sat down alone in the darkness. He felt himself being swallowed up. He was becoming part of the darkness. He was left without hope until he heard a voice.
"Mario, Mario! Don't give up yet!" said the voice. It was gentle, soothing and calm yet affirmative. "You must come back! The Mushroom Kingdom needs you! Come back! Come back!"
And the gate was opened. Mario saw the light. He saw the way out. Mario was determined to defeat Bowser once again. As he dashed to towards the light it got brighter and brighter. The light filled his vision.
When Mario opened his eyes again he was in bed and on the other side of the room was Luigi sleeping soundly. He was back.
He had Respawned.
