Now the story actually begins...:P
Enjoy!
Murder on the Excess Express
Chapter 1-Arriving At Rogueport
Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy all took step off the boat arriving at Rogueport.
"Who did you say this Pennington fellow was?" Peach asked for the third time in the past hour.
Mario, who was glancing around at the horrid scenery, finally made his reply, "He's an old friend. We were on the Excess Express last year…"
Peach nodded slyly, still unsure whether Mario as telling her the truth.
"Why did the letter bring us to the dreadful place?" Daisy asked in disgust, a horrified and displeased expression on her face.
For a moment, Mario didn't decide to reply, but when Daisy kept nudging him constantly for an answer, he finally gave in, "This is where we board the train…and get our tickets."
Daisy was still not satisfied, even if Mario's answer was legitimate enough.
The town of Rogueport hadn't appeared to change one bit since Mario had been there last. Tough and mean looking residents still accompanied the place. Graffiti was all over nearly every single wall, and you got that impression that you…weren't wanted…
"Mariooooooo!" A feminine voice off in the distance called.
Mario knew he recognized the voice, but he couldn't just place who it was. Without further ado, Mario whirled around to see who had called to him. To his surprise, he saw the purple monster of a woman, Flurry.
"Flurry!" He called, a tinge of delight and confusion in his voice.
"I haven't seen you since…who knows when!" Flurry replied.
Daisy and Luigi exchanged confused glances, both of them reading 'Who is this woman?'
Peach, like Mario, had recognized Flurry from the previous year.
"Oh, and look!" Flurry squealed, delighted, "It's Peach!"
After excited about Peach's return, Flurry quickly flew over to the princess and embraced her tightly.
Because of this, Peach felt like she was getting her breathe sucked right out of her. She tried squirming away, but all that did was cause Flurry to hug her even tighter. She felt as though she were a tiny critter being strangles by a mean, deadly anaconda…
After escaping Flurry's death squeeze, Peach immediately bent over to regain her breathe.
"And who are those two?" Flurry asked, pointing at Luigi and Daisy.
"This is my brother, Luigi," Mario pointed to his brother, "And this is his girlfriend, Daisy.
"Oh, it's so nice to meet you!" Flurry exclaimed, looking at the highly confused couple.
A quick question formed in Mario's mind, "Where's Goombella? And Vivian? And-," Before he could finish, Flurry's powerful voice cut him off.
"Goombella is doing something with Professor Frankly. She said it was really important, and they're out of town. Koops is…I don't know where. That Yoshi character is at an important match in the Glitz Pit. Vivian is already at the train station…she should be getting on the train soon…we'll see her. And finally, Bobbery is still out sailing the seas with Cortez."
Mario nodded, but had practically fallen asleep by the time Flurry was talking about Yoshi, "So it's just you and Vivian?"
Flurry nodded shyly, glancing behind her at the looming archway leading into the main part of town, "We better head over Frankie's place to get those tickets…"
Peach also wanted to know who Frankie was, but she dared not ask, already realizing that her constant questions were getting on Mario's nerves.
Flurry looked at Mario, "Let's go…"
Getting the Tickets
"Good day to you!" Frankie exclaimed almost immediately as Mario entered his office. It was a pain trying to remember the secret password to get to Frankie's office, so after almost ten tries, the Boo downstairs just let him in.
"How are you today, Frankie?" Mario didn't really know what he was saying. They needed to get out of there before the missed the train!
Frankie nodded, "I'm fine, and yourself?"
Mario also nodded, glancing over at Francesca. She had a huge grin spread across her face, extremely pleased that Mario had returned.
"What have you been up to these days?" Frankie asked to the plumber, who was still staring at Francesca. It took him a moment that he was being addressed to, forcing Frankie to repeat the question.
Mario answered truthfully, which eventually caused him to remember the real reason they were there. As much as Mario would have liked to chat, they had a train to catch, "I'm sorry I can't talk for very long, but could you please give us…" Mario began counting the amount of people in his group, "Five tickets for the Excess Express to go to Poshley Heights?"
Frankie nodded, "Sure! Anything for you! I'll even give 'em to you for free, just because you're such a good friend."
"And because you saved the world…" Francesca added, glancing at Frankie, her fiancé.
"Yes, that of course…" Frankie agreed, opening one of the drawers in his desk.
Francesca smiled at Mario as Frankie brought out five tickets.
"Here you are…" He said, "Five tickets."
Mario nodded in approval, "Thanks…"
Frankie, curious, asked, "What are you gonna do in Poshley Heights?"
Before Mario could answer, Francesca bellowed in, "Can't you see that these people would like to get out of here?! If you keep talking, they'll miss their train!"
Frankie turned around, facing Francesca. She had an evil look in her eye, which always meant trouble, "I'm sorry, bacon burger, but I'm just so curious about what Mario's been up to these days…"
"Enough of the nice talk!" Francesca yelled, ordering to of the pianta security guards to escort Mario and his friends out, "Goodbye Mario!"
Mario smiled at her, "Goodbye Francesca!"
After being led down to the item shop, Flurry quickly remarked, "Let's go, before we miss our train!"
"What time is it?!" Daisy demanded, eager to know if they would have time to make it to the station.
"It's 8:50," The female Boo running the item shop answered, "If you plan to catch the 9:00 AM, you better get going, quick!"
"Thanks!" Was all Mario managed to say as Flurry quickly shoved him, and everyone else out the door.
"Hurry!" Flurry urged, getting more jumpy and frantic by the second.
"Hold your horses…" Daisy remarked, looking around, trying to find the train station, "…Where are we?!"
After quickly rolling his eyes, Mario answered, "Just follow me! Let's move fast!"
On the Train
Almost reaching the train, the group got caught up in a large crowd, taking even more time. After saying 'excuse me' more than twenty times, the group had finally made it out, the train station directly in front of them.
"Hurry up! You just made it!" The Toad conductor said, ushering the group onto the train.
"That was a close one…" Peach managed to mumbled after stepping on.
"Now, I'll just need to take your tickets…"
Mario nodded, handing over the five train tickets. He didn't even have time to give everybody one after stepping out of Frankie's office, so he just held onto all five.
"Let's get our rooms," Mario said, escorting the group to room 5.
"Who'll stay in here?" Daisy asked, looking around the room.
"Well, it seems as though two people can stay in each room," Peach answered, taking advantage of the fact that there were bunk beds.
Flurry glanced around, waiting for someone to reply. When stillness filled the room, she finally said, "Vivian and I already have a room…room 7 to be precise…"
Mario nodded, "Well then you two can have that room…," Mario checked the tickets to see what rooms they had, "Room 5…room 7…and room 1."
"I'll stay with my brother in here," Luigi suggested, "And you two girls can take room 1…" He pointed to both Peach and Daisy.
"That's fine with me!" Peach nodded. She was actually quite happy to stay with Daisy. They had always been best friends, so it would be nice seeing her.
Mario nodded in approval, having liked the room arrangements.
Daisy quickly picked up the flower patterned suitcase she had put on the ground, "I'm gonna go unpack…"
The others nodded.
"I come with ya…" Flurry offered, following.
Daisy had no objections about Flurry coming along. She just seemed…confused on why Flurry would do such a thing.
Phew! That was a close one! Mario and his friends almost missed the train! What will happen next? Only reading chapter 2 can answer that question...