The koopa at the gate looked them over, a bored expression on his face, and held out a hand, "Tickets please."
Daisy quickly handed them over, giving Peach a glance and a smile, "This is going to be a awesome."
Peach just nodded, her heart fluttering in her chest. There was nothing wrong here, but why did she feel as if there was? The maze was just that, a maze. Only people dressed up as monsters ran around in there, there was no danger.
Or was there?
Suddenly there is a beeping noise and everyone looks at Linea who is flipping open her phone, "Hello? Oh, hi Dad."
"Keep the line moving please." The koopa at the gate said grouchily.
Linea looked at them, "Guys, I'm sorry. I have to take this."
Yoshi frowned for only a second then gave his friend a bright smile, "I'll step out with you Lin."
"Yoshi, are you sure? Don't you-"
He placed a hand on Linea's shoulder and the Yoshi flushed, "Yes Linea, I'm sure."
Daisy grinned at Peach who smiled back. They watched the couple disappear through the line and head for the barn in the distance.
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Congrats! For now Yoshi and his friend are safe! :D But be careful in the future, they may be introduced again ;)
00oo00oo00oo00
"Ahem." They all looked at the koopa manning the gate and everyone blinked.
"Sorry." Daisy laughed, "We're heading in now."
She grabbed onto Peach's arm and pulled her forward, the girl taken by surprise, and having no choice but to be led into the darkness of the maze, into the corn.
Peach still tried and successfully stopped, and Daisy halted with her, "What's wrong Peach. Seriously, you have been acting weird all night."
"I…well." Peach reddened slightly, "I apologize Daisy, I don't want to ruin your fun…I'm just…well, afraid I suppose."
Mario's gloved hand was on the pink princess's shoulder and she shivered slightly at his touch, though he only took it as her being cold and wrapped his scarf around her neck, "Don't worry Princess, we will walk through as a group."
"Yup." Daisy said, and latched on to Luigi who blushed faintly, "We will walk into this maze together. No problems whatsoever, just relax and lets all have fun."
"You're right." Peach looked up to smile at her friends, "I'm ready now."
The maze was dark, the corn stalks on both sides as solid as brick walls. Peach heard a terrified scream and felt her heart start up again. She held herself firm, though, and kept walking forward into the maze, in a comfortable place in the middle, surrounded by friends.
Everything was going smoothly until the first one came out.
"GARAGH!"
Peach screamed as a hooded figure popped out from her left.
"Run!" Daisy screamed and they all went dashing to their right, down another path, the corn brushing against their clothes as they ran.
Soon both sides assaulted them and they ran forward everyone screaming in surprise and excitement. After awhile these pursuers lost interest and they were on a quiet path again.
"This is so cool." Daisy whispered excitedly, "What do you think Lou?"
Luigi's mustache was quivering a bit but he nodded. Mario just gazed ahead, in a relaxed pose. Peach wasn't even sure if he had screamed once so far. The thought made her feel more at peace, she had her hero with her. Nothing could go wrong. But the girl didn't see that it would…very soon.
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He walked along side the road, his hands in his pockets. The toad had been traveling a mile back home from the casino. He had taken in some good cash but now it would seem that his luck had ran out. His car had blown a tire and now the toad was walking down a rural highway, the cool breeze whipping against his jacket.
I'll get help soon; he thought hopefully, can't be too far now. Yep.
The moon up above, full and bright, was soon wrapped in dark clouds. The toad walked alongside an empty long field before heading up hill.
When he reached the very top he looked down the hilly road to spot something.
"Lights." He smiled feeling relief flood him. He could hear voices and see lights not far away. Below him was also a massive cornfield. The toad walked along side it, the road to his right silent and empty.
The silence was starting to weigh on him so the toad began to whistle. He did this for a while and he walked. After a few minutes he stopped. He had heard something.
He glanced to his left at the tall stalks of corn and frowned. It was a rustling noise; maybe an animal was foraging in there? He wasn't sure, but he just ignored it, and began walking again.
Soon voices could be heard clearer and he smiled. Almost there! He heard a rustling noise again and turned to look at the corn again, still smiling. The toad lost that smile pretty quickly when the rustling noise grew, something heading his way.
He gasped and stepped backwards and felt himself trip. He toppled into the ditch his feet up in the air, the rustling gaining speed. The toad tried to right himself, his little hands digging into the ground, trying to gain his feet.
The rustling then stopped and he paused, his gaze still on the ground, still as stone. Then, ever so slowly he looked up.
00oo00oo00oo00
The group had been running through the maze when they heard something that stopped them in their tracks, Luigi running into his brother with a cry of surprise.
A blood-curdling scream sounded off somewhere, the noise bouncing off the walls of corn and circling them like a tornado. Peach felt chills rush down her back and without thinking about it, grabbed onto Mario's gloved hand.
"What the heck was that?" Daisy looked puzzled, "That sounded more…real?"
"Pain." Mario murmured, "Like the person was being hurt, it was not an excited scream."
"What does that mean?" Peach asked, "Should we leave? Or is it just part of the maze?"
Suddenly a figure popped out in front of them and everyone but Mario screamed, Luigi popping five feet off the ground. They all groaned in unison when they looked at the toad in front of him.
He looked really freaked out, his body quivering, "T-thank goodness, there are more of you. I thought I was a-alone."
"Are you alright?" Peach asked him.
"Princess, d-did you hear the scream?"
Daisy and Peach shared a look then they both nodded, "Yes." Daisy said, "We all heard it."
"M-my group, we split up after being chased by the people in the maze." The toad explained, "I can't find them now, and I f-found…."
"What did you find?" Mario asked.
The toad held out his hand they all eyed the object with wide eyes.
"You got to be kidding me." Daisy said with disbelief, "That's…."
"Blood." Mario finished, his eyes narrowed.
"W-what? Oh no." Luigi groaned.
Peach stared at the little toad scarf, the pink heart pattern crimson half through with what looked to be blood. She felt sick when she smelled it, oh my gosh it was blood. She didn't have to be close to it to smell that stench. She felt herself step backwards clumsily, dizzy with anxiety. Peach felt a hand steady her from falling, and gave Mario and thankful smile.
"Okay, that's seriously creepy." Daisy commented, looking uncomfortable.
The toad then burst into tears and Peach felt herself move to wrap her arms around him. She couldn't just watch him cry his eyes out without trying to help; it wasn't in her nature to sit aside.
Suddenly there was a rustling noise and everyone froze, the toad falling silent. They listened but it was gone.
"What the heck was that?" Daisy questioned, unease in her voice.
The rustling began and came at a straight arc towards them; everyone panicked and stepped backwards just as an axe sliced down between them.
"EEEK!" Daisy screamed falling backwards onto Luigi who fell to the ground, Mario just kicked forward at the figure standing before them in black robes, and watched the stranger fall to the ground himself.
"Hey!" The axe guy yelled.
Everyone looked on in confusion, that voice…
Mario frowned and pulled back the mysterious figures hood, it was no other than: Wario.
"Ugh! You jerk face!" Daisy scowled, reaching her feet, and helping up her boyfriend.
Wario, grinned, his mustache curling upwards mischievously, "Wimps, its almost Halloween, its not illegal to have a little fun."
Peach just frowned, placing a hand on her heart to try and steady its beat. It was a disappointment that Mario was related to this man. Hopefully their kids would not look anything like-Peach blushed at the thought and shook her head to clear away the images. Why on earth would she think of something like that?
"I'm gonna sock you one if you don't get moving NOW. You could have killed us! What moron runs around attacking people with AXES?" Daisy growled, waving her first at him.
"Tch, whatever." He held up the axe, "It's plastic." Wario grinned widely at everyone, meeting Mario's glare with an especially big smile, "See ya later losers."
They all watched as he slipped away into the corn. They listened to the rustling until it disappeared.
"What an ass." Daisy mumbled, giving the toad an apologetic look, "I'm sorry about him."
The toad nodded a little shaky still, but able to speak, "C-can you help me find my friends? My girlfriend's name is Marni; I'm also looking for my brother Dan. Marni is wearing a pink outfit, blond hair. Dan is wearing a blue long shirt and a brown scarf. Both have orange spots, like mine. Please? I can't do this alone, I-I'm scared."
"Okay sure, should we split up?" Daisy turned to look at the group, and Peach felt ice cold. In scary movies, splitting up was always a horrible idea.
"What do you think Mario?" Luigi looked at his brother.
