Please read this first-Hey there, and thanks for checking out my new fan fiction, The Darkening! I think (and hope) that this will be like something you have never read before, or, at least, contains unique characters that are hardly ever used in a fan fiction. Also, if you could, check out my other story, Murder on the Cheep Cheep Blimp. I think you'll enjoy it.

But anyway, back with this story...well, it contains major spoilers regarding Super Paper Mario. If you haven't played that game yet, I'd highly suggest you do so before reading this fan fic, unless you don't mind reading about some of the more major plots in the game.

So, I hope you enjoy this fan fic, and to those of you that are reading Murder on the Cheep Cheep Blimp, I am, by no means, discontinuing that fan fic. If anything, I've reached a major plot in that story and I can't wait to write it.

Disclaimer-Nintendo owns the characters, the game, etc.

Prelude

And there he stood, inside the castle of King Croacus the Fourth, looking mysteriously around the long, regal room in which he was situated. Mounted to the walls were four interesting looking pictures honoring the four King Croacuses, all matching the same physical appearance, save for their color. Adjusting his red cap, the famous hero, Mario, moved towards the first of the pictures, analyzing the gray colored flower in awe. Underneath was a few sentences which he turned his attention to. The sign they were written on read as follows...

King Croacus the First

(Reign: 1-496)

The first king of the Flora Kingdom, Croacus I is known as the greatest of kings.

He united the Floro Sapiens under a single cause, creating the Flora Kingdom.

He made a capital here and established a calendar, begun at the kingdom's birth.

Heavily armored, he bore deadly thorns and came to be called the "Iron Rose."

The kingdom's infrastructure and early roads were built by Croacus I's design.

But when his successor, the prince, wilted unexpectedly, so did Croacus I's spirit.

The Flora year 444 marked the start of his reign of fear, "The Darkening."

Eventually Croacus I and his foul regime were overthrown in a sappy coup d'etat.

The king was struck down, marking the official end of The Darkening.

His wilting words were said to be "The Iron Rose shan't wither!" But wither he did.

He raised his eyebrows and looked a few feet to his left. His pixl friend, Tippi, was watching him from behind. She was about to question what he had read on the sign, but instead decided to remain silent and let him walk over to the second picture. Featuring a portrait of a white hued flower, Mario glanced down and read the correlating sign underneath.

Queen Croacus the Second

(Reign: 496-1298)

Croacus II was the daughter of the greater ruler King Croacus I.

Croacus II was imprisoned for being critical of the former king's policies, but...

When he was overthrown by the people, Croacus II was freed and given the throne.

Her efforts to reduce taxes and study diseases made Croacus II very popular...

Eventually, her influence helped erase the scars The Darkening had left.

She also compiled a Floro Sapiens prehistory called "The Flictionarion."

The book was to be her legacy, a historic mark of her benevolent influence.

Croacus II feared the fight for the throne that might ensue if she bore many heirs.

She had but one heir, late in her life. This earned her the name "The White Maiden."

Mario took a moment to take the words in, then nodded, satisfied, and maneuvered to the next of the pictures. Behind him, princess Peach shared matching feelings with Tippi, wondering just what might have been written under those pictures. She took the initiative to read the first while Mario read the third...

King Croacus the Third

(Reign: 1298-1385)

Croacus III was just one when his mother wilted. He became the youngest king ever.

The young king had a great predilection and talent for poetry and art...

His talent was evident in works like "Ice Rose," a book of poems from his 37th year.

But he was also afflicted by a terrible disease from the time he was born...

Without ever impacting the affairs of his kingdom, he wilted at age 88.

The cause of his wilting was never made public. Many suspected a conspiracy...

This was never confirmed.

Mario stared at the young king for a moment, noting the blue color of his facial features. Only one more picture remained to his right, though, and, from behind, the Koopa king, Bowser, watched as Mario, Tippi, and Peach were all reading a separate picture. Even though he wasn't much a fan of reading, he figured it couldn't hurt to join them. And as Mario approached the last picture, he shuttered at the thought of having to soon battle the figure that made up the contents of the portrait. The final king was of red color, and the words underneath his picture read as follows...

King Croacus the Fourth

(Reign: 1385-present)

Formerly a regent for the King Croacus III, he ruled in place of the frail child king.

After Croacus III's wilting, his service was recognized, and he was made king.

His stabilizing influence and political savvy made him popular and well known.

His recent achievements include:

In Flora year 1625, he invented a method for mind-controlling Cragnons.

In Flora year 1626, he spearheaded an initiative to enslave Cragons en masse.

And indeed, that was just what Mario was trying to stop...