So, in the last chapter, Prince Peasley followed Popple into an unidentified region above HooHoo Mountain. He sneaked inside to see a brand new enemy, the Marionette Mistress. While he was doing that, Mario, Luigi, and Starlow were heading to Joke's End, where Cackletta is hiding. Now, without any further ado, let the third chapter begin!
Chapter three: The Nightmare returns
"Mother! Urgent news!" Prince Peasley flew to Beanbean Castle as quickly as he could to warn Queen Bean and the Bros about the new imposing threat.
"Peasley, what is it? I'm trying to figure out what to do about Cackletta and the stolen Beanstar!" Queen Bean said, slightly annoyed.
"Earlier today, a thief stole the Beanstar, correct? Well, upon following them, I find their secret gathering area!" Peasley said in a serious tone.
Queen Bean suddenly paid more attention to her son. "A secret gathering point? Oh, do tell!"
"It is located north of HooHoo Mountain, perhaps fifteen or twenty miles. It is where the stole Beanstar is." Peasley explained.
"This is very big news! A royal letter of urgency has been sent to the Mushroom Kingdom. They replied that the Mushroom Kingdom's finest troops will be sent here to serve and fight for the Beanbean Kingdom. Perhaps we should send them to this secret location you speak of?" Queen Bean suggested.
"No. Our knowledge of the enemy's base should remain unknown to them. I believe we should send not soldiers, but instead spies to gather information." Peasley replied.
A long silence filled the throne room. A silence that seemed forever. Finally, Queen Bean said "Very well, Peasley. The Red and Green noblemen are searching for Cackletta. By now they're heading to Joke's End."
Prince Peasley suddenly remembered what the masked madam had said. "I must warn the Brothers about the urgency of the situation! Where are they now?!" Queen Bean replied with "By now they are most likely at Oho Oasis, why do you ask?"
Peasley hopped on his magic bean and flew out an open window. "Where are you going?" Queen Bean yelled. "To Oho Oasis Hopefully we can arrange a plan of attack with the Brothers!" And just like that, Peasley left as quickly as he came.
(Meanwhile) "KAMEK! GET OVER HERE!" Bowser yelled. Bowser, Kamek, and his three royal guards, (Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplok, and Sergeant Guy) were with Bowser in the middle of TeeHee Valley.
"What is it your brutalness?" Kamek asked as he wobbled up to Bowser. Bowser was looking at a strange rock like relic in the ground. "What's that weird looking thing in the ground!?" Bowser demanded.
Kamek looked at the object Bowser was talking about. "I…don't know sir." Kamek admitted. "WHAT!? What do you mean you don't know?! Uh, fine…get those three dumbbells over here then!" Bowser said.
Private Goomp walked up to Bowser, with the other two trailing behind. "Private Goomp, identify that strange looking object over there." Bowser said in a respectful tone.
It was a dark rock. It had a purple glow emitting from it. It had a reflective barrier around it as well. "Looks like a rock." Private Goomp reported. "YOU DON'T SAY?!" Sergeant Guy sarcastically mocked.
Corporal Paraplok inspected the rock while the other two were arguing. "You know, it does look somewhat familiar…" He walked up to rock and knocked on it. "If I'm not mistaken, sir, this looks like a Nightmare Chunk." He concluded.
"…WHAT'S THAT!?" Bowser yelled. "Your evilness, don't you remember the whole Pi'illo Island incident?" Kamek reminded. Bowser thought about it for a while.
"Now that you mention it, isn't that the place where that Bat freak wanted the Nightmare Stone?" Bowser asked. "Yes Sir." Sergeant Guy replied.
"Well, what the heck is it doing here?" Bowser questioned. No one answered. "None of you idiots have any idea?" Bowser angrily asked.
Silence. Finally, Kamek said "Perhaps we should open it and see what's inside…" Kamek suggested. "How?" Bowser asked.
"ALLOW US TO DO IT SIR!" Private Goomp yelled. "Oh? Well then, get to it!" Bowser yelled. The three all stood beside the Nightmare Chunk.
"So, how are we gonna break it?" Private Goomp asked. "WHAT? You mean you don't have a plan!?" Sergeant Guy whispered.
"Okay, stay calm. Maybe we can Sergeant's wand to break it open!" Corporal Paraplok whispered. Without a moment's hesitation Sergeant Guy took out his wand and whacked it a few times. It only made a small crack.
"Okay, that's enough!" Bowser screamed from the distance. Bowser punched the Chunk where the crack was and the whole thing fell apart. "THAT'S how you do it!" Bowser chuckled.
From the mist, a glowing presence emerged from the Chunk. "Um, Lord Bowser?" Kamek said in a fearful tone. Bowser turned around to see a standing, tall figure.
"SCREE! I LIVE!" It yelled in a hoarse voice. "Wait a second, isn't that-" Private Goomp began. "ANTASMA LIVES WONCE MORE!" he yelled.
Antasma turned his attention to Bowser. "SCREE! You?! Vat are you doing here?!" Antasma screeched. Speechless, none of them said a word. "Ah, it doesn't matter! I'm free again! And now that I'm free, I'm going to take over vee world!" Antasma looked at Bowser. "Without you!" Antasma yelled as he turned into a bat and flew off.
A long moment passed before anyone said anything. "Sooooooo…..what now boss?" Private Goomp asked. "BAH! I know him, I know him well! He's too weak to fend for his own! Besides, we're already on a mission!" Bowser looked towards the direction of Joke's End. "To beat Cackletta!"
"Does that mean we're going after Cackletta?" Kamek asked. "Yeah, what you do you think genius?" Bowser scoffed. "CORPORAL PARAPLOK!" Bowser yelled. "Ye-yes boss?" Corporal Paraplok nervously asked.
"Start up the Koopa Cruiser! We're going to Joke's End in style!" Bowser said in a childish grin. The three rushed off, leaving Kamek and Bowser alone. "…Lord Bowser?" Kamek asked. Bowser sighed. "What?" "Well, I've heard word of a secret club north of HooHoo Mountain."
Bowser seemed more interested now. "Go on," we urged. "Well, a new villain has stolen the Beanstar, and the Beanish government totally don't know how to approach the situation…"
"What's your point?" Bowser asked. "Well, what of Antasma joins this new villain's little army?" Kamek asked in a concerned tone of voice.
"Eh, I'm the biggest, most evil person in this entire Kingdom! Why should I be worried if I'm going after the biggest threat in this Kingdom!" Bowser joked.
Kamek shrugged. "Just thought you should know, sir." He said. "Hey, loosen up a bit! Nothing's gonna happen. And something does happen, I'll be the one who caused it!" Bowser laughed.
"Koopa Cruiser is ready, sir!" Sergeant Guy yelled from the background. Bowser and Kamek boarded the ship without any second thoughts. After all, what's the worst that can happen?
Antasma was flying all around the Beanbean Kingdom, totally clueless. "VAT?! Where am I!? Vis doesn't look like vee Pi'illo Kingdom vat all!" he said.
He was flying in the Stardust fields, aimlessly flying about. He was confused beyond reason. How did he get all the way from Pi'illo Island to the Beanbean Kingdom!?
Antasma sighed and landed on the ground, near a dusty old cannon. "Vat I'm going to do?" he asked to himself.
"I believe I can be of assistance." A voice said from the shadows. "Who goes there!?" Antasma demanded.
A confident young lady stepped from behind a dead tree. "Hello there, Bat King." She said. "Wait vat? Who da devil are you?" Antasma asked.
She giggled, and then revealed her full face. She was wearing a happy go lucky mask. "I am the Marionette Mistress." She said in a intimidating voice.
Antasma became less tense after hearing her incredibly silly name. "…Good for you?" Antasma said, half joking.
She then took a knife out of her pocket and at an instant threw it near him, nearly cutting his eyes out.
Immediately Antasma shut up. "As I was saying," she continued as if nothing just happened.
"I've seen your performance against the Brothers of red and green. I have a offer for you." She said quietly.
"Join me." She said bluntly. "Vat?" Antasma said in a dazed way. "You want your revenge against the Brothers and Bowser, do you not?!" She said excitedly.
"Vell, I suppose." "And you and you want to rule the world, don't you?" Silence.
The Mistress held out her hand. "Then all you have to do, is follow me to victory." Antasma didn't do anything for a while. Finally, he shook hands with her.
"Excellent!" she said. She then gave him a slip of paper. Antasma looked at it. It was the picture of a small star. "That's the Cobalt star." She said. "And simply put; I want it." She said in a keen fashion.
"Where can I find it?" Antasma asked. "Supposedly, it should be in the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach's Castle." She said.
Antasma nodded. "Peach…she is vee Princess, yes?" Antasma asked. "Correct." She said. "Now, the castle will be heavily guarded. So sneak in, and don't get spotted or cause trouble with the Toad."
With a devilish smile, the deal was sealed. Antasma turned into a bat and flew off. The Marionette Mistress smiled, and returned to the shadow where she came from.
With Mario and Luigi, along with Bowser in the Beanbean Kingdom, no one will be there to stop Antasma in the Mushroom Kingdom. Almost as if the Mistress planned this to happen all along…
WHAT A RUSH! Antasma is going to the Mushroom Kingdom, and no one, not even Bowser, knows about it! I'm having a REALLY fun time writing a new chapter every other day! :D And I know, this chapter was SUPPOSE to come out yesterday, but I kinda over looked it was Christmas. :p Anyhow, if you have any suggestions or criticisms, please let me know! (But please be constructive) This is Genral, G signing off!
The Mario RPG series (Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam) is produced by AlphaDream Vanpool and published by Nintendo. I do NOT own Mario or the Mario brand.