Chapter Three: Dance Lessons

Honk Honk! Courtney had been honking the horn for a solid 2 minutes before Mario came stumbling out of the house. The two had a very important appointment with the man who was going to help get Mario home, Don Believeinme. Dons office was only 15 minutes outside of town and Mario was excited about what he would do to help him.

"Welcome, to the one and only Don Believeinme's hut of wisdom. How can I be of assistance to you two today?" Don resembled a sixteenth century wizard, with a white beard down to the floor and a 6 foot tall walking stick. The man looked about 89 and was 4 feet tall. He took the two behind a black dusty curtain and sat at a table where, sure enough, there was a pink crystal ball in the center.

Courtney took a deep breath before beginning her tale. "This guy here, got transported via lightening to our world, Earth, from his world, the Mushroom Kingdom. He needs to go back there and we need help cause to be honest, we have no clue how to get him there." Mario crossed his fingers under the table.

"Mushroom Kingdom, eh. Never heard of it. But Im sure there are thousands of places in the universe that house lands of diverse people." Don was now stroking his beard and thinking to himself. Courtney let out a sigh of relief that she had found someone who didnt have a clue who Mario was, and could sincerely and honestly help them.

"Did this happen from the thunderstorm we had two nights ago?"

"Yes sir."

"Lightening, yeh said?"

"Yes sir."

"Simple, heres what you need to do, Mister-"

"Lupe."

"Lupe?" Courtney questioned. She giggled at the alias.

"Mister Lupe, Im going to give you a special piece of metal. It is supposed to storm tonight at midnight, hold up the metal and get struck by the same bolt of lightening that transported you here. Since it has been less than a week, the Mother Bolt will still be in the atmosphere." He handed the two foot metal rod to Mario, who quickly snatched his homebound ticket out of the old mans hands. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask now, if not then our session is over and I will take your ten dollars now." Courtney handed him the money and the two scurried thankfully out of the hut.
"I cant wait! Midnight I'll be on my way home! I cant wait to see Peach and tell her how much I missed her, and about how good you have been to me, Courtney. Thank you." He smiled at Courtney as they drove home. Courtney was relieved that this big mess would be over with, before her parents arrived home next Sunday.

"Oh my gosh Courtney! What is up girl havent talked to ya in forrrrever. Anything you need to talk to me about sweety? I know sometimes times are hard but there is no sense in going off the panhandle." Sara had obviously caught wind of Britts conversation with Courtney and called to talk about her unhealthy infatuation.

"What, you think Im crazy now too?" Courtney was sitting on her bed working on homework, sick and tired of her friends treating her like she was some sort of freak just because she liked video games. "Because Im telling the truth. Its up to you and Britt to believe me."

Sara had no clue how to respond. She was a little more sensitive than Britt and definately did not want to hurt her feelings. "Its not that we dont believe you, I mean Courtney, listen to yourself. Its just impossible that Fario, Stario, Mario whatever his name is at your house. Its humanly impossible, he is a video game sweety!"

"Hes not just a game Sara, he is real! A real human being! And I can prove it!"

"Oh yeh, how missey, I can not wait to hear this one." Sara too was starting to get very annoyed, very quickly.

Courtneys blood was boiling. She just for once wanted to prove to her friends that she wasnt crazy, that she was right. "Hes my date for prom." She blurted it without even thinking, and once she realized what she said, she felt utterly stupid. What am I thinking she said to herself. He'll be gone by then. Stupid stupid stupid...

Laughter exploded from the other end. Hysterical, ear bursting laughter. "Seriously? Courtney, you are going to make a fool out of yourself, bringing a Mario impersonator to your senior prom.-"

"He isnt an impersonator-"

"Alright, I will bet our friendship, plus your friendship with Britt on this. We've been looking for ways to get rid of you for a while now." Dial tone was heard and Courtney threw her phone to the floor. It was ten minutes before midnight, and she needed to stop Mario from going home before she did make a complete fool out of herself.

"Mario! Stop! Put the rod down!" The storm was moving in and the winds were blowing debris all over her backyard.

Mario was on his tip toes with the rod from Don, desperately hoping that the lightening would hurry and strike him so he could sleep in his own bed tonight. He turned around when he heard Courtney yell for him. "Stop? Are you kidding? Im ready to go home. This has been fun and all but it isnt the place for me."
"You have to go to prom with me. I made a bet that I would take you as my date so my friends would stop thinking Im psycho."

"Absolutely not."

"Please Mario, they are the only friends I have! They bet their friendship with me on this. Please help me.." Tears were welling up in her eyes. Mario threw the rod the ground. It landed with a heavy thud.

"Look I respect that your friends mean so much to you, but I have a life that I need to get back to." He pushed past Courtney and slammed the back door as he went inside. She didnt know whether to be thankful or feel like crap because she was forcing him to stay on Earth. It was clear that he wanted to go home, and she was holding him back.

"Mario, look, Im really sorry," Courtney later tried to comfort a sulking Mario, who was laying on the couch surfing the tv. He ignored her. "I know how hard it must be to wake up in a completely different world, away from your family and friends. Im trying to help you, I really am, and I got to thinking...if you want to go home, then please feel free to. I dont want to force you to stay here."

Mario sat up a little bit and turned the tv off. "Sorry for storming off, I dont mean to be so upset, but you must understand where I am coming from. I dont know where I am, or even if this lightening thing will actually work, what if it sends me across the universe again and I never get home? Im just terrified, and I miss my brother, Peach, just everything in general about the Mushroom Kingdom." He noticed that Courtney was staring at the floor, a look of terrible guilt on her face. He melted on the inside. "When is your prom anyways? Ive never been to one, it may be a nifty experience for the both of us."

"Next week-"

"WHAT? Next week! Are you kidding me?" He jumped to his feet like a firecracker had went off in his pants."I have to stay here another week? I am never getting home."

"Yes you will, look tomorrow is senior skip day, so were going to go look for some prom stuff. My dad is a business man so I am sure he has a suit upstairs. I know youre supposed to technically wear a tux, but ya know what, I dont have the money to buy you one. Everything will be ok. You will get home one way or another."

"But..." Mario began, "I have no idea how to dance. I dont want your friends to think you brought a lame prom date."

Courtney began to giggle. "Mario, youre going to be a lame prom date no matter what. Here, let me show ya how to dance." She ran to the cd player and popped in an upbeat pop mix and began moving to the beat. The quirky movements and off beat rhythm she was dancing to made him think of Peach dancing in her bedroom when she was younger to whatever the "cool" song was at the time. As she stumped her toe on the coffee table, it was obvious that Courtney, like Peach, had no clue whatsoever as to what she was doing. "Come on Mario! Dont just stand there, get up and move with me!" She grabbed his hands and pulled him towards her. He began to snap his fingers and move his feet awkwardly. She couldnt help but laugh. By the end of the 30 minute lesson Mario had learned everything from the Stanky Leg, to the Electric Slide, all the way to the Dougie.

The two collapsed to the couch. "Shew, now that is a workout."

"Yup. I used to be on drill team, this is nothing compared to that."

Mario felt like his heart was about to explode. "Is that all the dancing that they are going to do? I dont think I can move anymore."

Courtney just stared at him. "Naw, we forgot the slow dance, but it can wait until tomorrow. Im going to bed." She made her way to the stairs. "Youre going to be ok, I promise Mario. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Courtney, see ya in the morning." He snuggled up against the tiny couch cushions and quickly drifted off to sleep. His dream was a pleasant one of his dear Peachy shopping with her best friend Daisy.

It had been almost three days since Mario stormed out of their argument, and still Peach had heard no word from him. Luigi had filed a missing persons report and all they could do now was wait for a tip. Peach tends to bake when she is nervous, so the castles kitchen was overflowing with cake related edibles. As much as he wanted to make her feel better, Luigi had had about enough of eating cake after cake.

The day came and went, and by sunset Luigi recieved a call from the station, in regards to a tip recieved from a young toad earlier that day.

"Yes sir, this is Luigi speaking. A tip? Well thats great...oh my...they actually saw this happen? Oh my, I dont know what to say. Thank you so much." His face went pale as he hung up the phone. Everything around him began to spin out of control. And Peach, oh sweet Peachy..how was he supposed to tell her that Mario, the love of her life, had been struck by lightening?