Super Mario Bros Special

Mario was gone with the wind. The closer he got the more details he noticed about the castle. It was in the middle of nowhere save for a lake and a ridge to the side with a waterfall. The white smooth stone structure with a pink roof stretched into the sky with a little weathering and a touch of green moss. Birds chirp and the air was fresh, maybe even a bit sweet, but area also felt dead…

Mario cross the moat and knocked. Right away the door swung open revealing yet another short vested person, this time with a blue hat.

"You're not looking for the princess are you? She's locked up in another castle!"

"Nooooo way!" reply someone behind Mario. That plumber spot the farmer from before tumbling down that hill he'd just come from. "What do you *pant* mean the princess isn't *pant* here? I've only been gardening for-" The farmer stop to check his watch then glanced upwards with a sheepish look. "... I guess I shouldn't promise the princess I'll be outside only for an hour while wearing a dead watch. It's been a long time ain't it? No wonder I'm so flipping tir-"

Abruptly the farmer fell out at Mario's feet, startling the plumber and the door guy alike.

"Oh dear oh dear oh dear. That was 'Toad' stranger, the princess's guard. Without him around we stand no chance."

Mario bent down and poked at the farmer, not seeing a response. What a role reversal! There was only one other thing to try.

"Stand clear. Here goes nothing!" Leaning over Toad's body, Mario took a deep breath before the Toad's eyes opened buckwide.

"Wait! I'm alive!" Toad pushed Mario off.

"You just saved Toad, by boogity. I must know what is your name," The guy in the door pressed.

Mario picked himself up from the hard ground. "It's- ouch! Mario Mario. I'm not repeating myself. That's how it goes."

Toad gasped. "I'm Toad Toad! Neat. Toadbert, this guy is from the Brooklyn Kingdom. He showed up outta nowhere."

"Where is that?" The guy with the glasses, 'Toadbert' turned Mario's way.

"New York?"

"Is that near New Donk City?" Toadbert asked.

"Uh never heard of that. It's close to Jersey City."

"Where's that?" Toad asked.

Mario began to walk off. "Thanks for tying but I'll just find the nearest major highway. It won't be hard from there. Bye." And so Mario marched straight up the other nearest hill, not letting go the belief that maybe he could still wake up from whatever was happening. How far could a sewer system really take him from downtown?

At the apex of this hill he saw a forest farther down with high rising trees and woodland creatures rustling in the foliage, near yet unseen aside from to hungry looking plants like what he was tangled in upon arrival being planted just outside the rickety gate containing the greenery.

"Yeeah, we're going to need some powerups."

Mario jolted. "Toad?"

"Yep. Ready for the adventure?"

Mario couldn't help but to pout. "I'm just trying to find a highway."

Toad snapped his fingers. "A 'high way'? Yeah, I can show you that but we need to cut through there to get to Toad Town."

Mario thought about it for a second. "Okay, fair enough. This Toad Town would have to have a visitors center with a map. One question. Do those plants with teeth bite humans?"

"Piranha plants? Yeah, all of the time actually," Toad replied, walking down hill.

Mario repressed a shiver as he followed. It wasn't like him to shy away from action but something told him the dangers he might face here would be nothing he'd ever seen before.

Next time: More locals? And some action!

Dates: 12/22- 12/30/18, 1/15/19