Chapter 3: Under Everything

Fawful

Fawful spun into the familiar dimension he called home: the Mushroom World. His 2D box disappeared and he planted his feet on solid ground. Watching the others flip in as well, he suddenly realized what he had gotten himself into.

He was a Hero now.

His mind was dazed, angry, and confused at the same time. After a lifetime (well, nine years of it) of being raised a villain, he was a hero, a "good guy." He had helped his Mistress with her insidious plot to rule the world, he had gone into hiding due to his reputation, and he had almost taken over the Mushroom Kingdom in his own plot...

And now, his role had been completely and utterly turned around.

He shook his confused head; what was he going to do? Looking up at the sky, seeing a small, dark vortex swirling in the distance, he knew he had to stay with the Mario Bros. and the rest of them, or he wouldn't survive. Dimentio would find him. He bowed his head.

'O Great Cackletta...' he murmured. 'Fawful must give the apologies. He is...nothing now. Not a villain, not a toady...nothing.'

'So!' Mario exclaimed. 'Here we are, the Mushroom Kingdom.'

'Well it's not like we haven't been here before,' Mimi replied.

'I suppose that's true.' Mario looked around. They were standing in a small field, the green grass swaying in the wind. A few white clouds had gathered in the sky, and a small town could be seen in the distance. 'Where do you suppose we start?'

'Well, I dunno wha' you all think, but I got nothin',' O'Chunks confessed.

'Me neither,' Mimi said.

'Neither do I,' Nastasia reinforced. Timpani and Blumiere said the same.

'Well, I guess it's up to us,' Mario said, referring to the Heroes. 'What should we do first?'

'Well...' Peach thought. 'We should gather some allies. The more people we have on our side, the better.'

'That sounds great! I could try and find my old adventuring friends!'

'Yeah!' Luigi exclaimed. 'I could always find my old Waffle Kingdom pals.'

'I doubt anyone I know would hang around with you losers,' Bowser growled.

'Bowser!' Peach scolded.

He winced. 'Sorry!'

'What about you Fawful?' Mimi asked. Fawful stared at the ground. 'Fawful?' She went over and snapped her fingers. 'Fawful?' she yelled.

'GAH!' Fawful jumped ten feet into the air and stumbled. 'Whating?'

'Do you know anyone that could help us?' The shape shifter asked him.

'Er...' Fawful scratched his head. 'No. Fawful is not having any acquaintances anywhere. He is being alone.'

'Oh...' Mimi looked at her feet. 'I'm...sorry to hear that.'

'Do not be worrying your head that is green,' Fawful said, attempting a smile. 'I have had the growing used to it.'

'Well?' Mimi asked, as Mario's and Luigi's Mailbox DSs, upgraded versions of the old Mailbox SP, buzzed and played little tunes. They had played numerous times, and both Bros. took a look at them.

'Hm...' Mario muttered. 'This isn't good! None of them can come!'

'What?' Timpani exclaimed. 'How can they not help?'

'I guess they just got on with their lives. Adventuring with me made them really well known...'

'Ack!' Luigi cried.

'What is it Luigi?' asked the older Bro.

'They...they...they, uh, couldn't make it either,' he sputtered. 'They're, uh, too busy. Yeah...'

Mimi snatched the device out of his hands. 'Gimmie that!' she demanded and looked at the screen. 'Wow! I've never seen so much hate mail in my life!'

Luigi grabbed it back. 'H-hey! I'm sure they're just...having a rough day!'

'All of them?' Mimi smirked.

'Um...yeah.' Luigi gulped and laughed, embarrassed.

'So, let me get this straight...' Bowser said. 'NO ONE'S gonna help you?'

'No, I guess not,' Mario replied.

'Gwa ha ha!' Bowser laughed. 'I should have expected as much from you Zeroes!'

'You're a Hero too Bowser,' Peach reminded him. Bowser ignored her.

'Do you have any ideas then?' Timpani challenged.

'You bet I do! My minions would be happy to help their king!' the Koopa King chuckled.

'Are you sure about that...?' Luigi asked. 'I wouldn't feel good about travelling with a bunch of people that could kill us in our sleep!'

'They won't attack you unless I say so, and I won't. Not while we're...working together.' He growled.

'You'd think you'd be used to it by now,' Mario said.

'Well, I guess we'd better go to Bowser's Castle...again,' Peach sighed.

'Follow me!' the great turtle commanded.

Everyone began walking, and Fawful's gaze had drifted down to the ground again. He stood still, not registering the group's movement. Mimi turned and looked back; seeing him, she ran back and tugged on his cloak. 'Fawful?' she asked.

'Hm?' He looked up and turned around, a dejected look on his face. 'Oh, Mimi! Where are the rest of the Heroes being?'

'On their way, over there.' She pointed.

'Oh! We should make haste!' Fawful ran after them.

'Yeah, exactly what I came over here to tell you...' Mimi ran as well.

The great shadow of Bowser's Castle loomed on the horizon. 'Well!' Bowser beamed. 'Here it is!'

'That is quite a castle,' Blumiere admired. His eyes scanned the great, stony fortress, lava bubbling in the moats throughout. Many bottomless pits (literally bottomless) were dug out in it, which all its residents had to be weary of, lest they suffer an early demise. 'Although it seems more...dangerous than friendly to those living there.'

'Nah, everyone's always fine,' Bowser assured.

'So, uh...do we all just walk in there?' Luigi asked.

'Yeah, sure, if you want to get lynched,' Bowser snorted. 'No one's gonna pay attention to me if you're here. Stay, and I'll go in.'

'Okay then. You're the boss for now,' Mario said.

'HAH!' Bowser pumped his fist in the air. 'You bet your mustache I am!' He marched off.

'Um...excusing me,' Fawful said, getting everyone's attention. 'Fawful is wanting to take a walk, for the easing of stress.'

'Yeah, you probably should,' Peach advised. 'You're most likely more wanted in Bowser's Castle than we are.'

'That is probably being true,' he agreed. 'Fawful will be back soon.' He turned and walked away.

He continued to walk, trying to get his mind off of his confusion. Him, a Hero? He still wasn't used to it, and probably would never be. 'I have much stress!' he shouted. 'Why am I being haunted by these shoes of goodiness?' He stopped and sighed. 'Such stress...' Shaking his head violently, he slumped. 'How can things be getting any less good than it is already being?'

'Jeez, you just can't stay gone can you?' a voice called.

Fawful leapt up and immediately readied his Headgear for battle.

Bowser

Bowser opened the doors of his castle and roared loudly. 'MINIOOOOONS!'

Everything in the castle stopped for a moment as every occupant turned to look at Bowser. Then they ran at him. 'BOOOOOOOOOWSEEEEEER!' they all screamed. Bowser was assaulted with a flurry of noise and questions.

'Where'd you go?'

'Did you get kidnapped again?'

'What's the plan?'

'Care for some fried eggs?'

'Minions, your King is back! GWA HA HA!' Bowser laughed in his signature growling way.

'Your evilness?' Kammy Koopa, dressed in her usual purple robe and hat, shoved her way through the crowd of Goombas, Koopas, Shy Guys, and all the other minions to get into Bowser's view. 'You're back?'

'Kammy! Please tell me things were taken care of when I wasn't here!'

'Well, er...you see, your Grouchyness...' she muttered. 'We just have never planned things like this. Who kidnaps the King of the Koopas?'

Bowser smacked his face with a scaled, clawed hand. 'Gah! I can't trust anyone!'

'I never said I didn't try my best!' she defended. 'It was just too...disorganized.'

'GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!' Bowser yelled, spewing fire from his mouth. All his minions scattered. 'Forget it! Listen, I'm gonna be gone for a while, okay? Hold up the fort and all until I return.'

'"Gone?"' the old Magikoopa repeated. 'Why?'

Bowser growled with distaste. 'Another one of those "save the universe" things. Now outta my way you hag! I need to talk with someone!' He shoved her aside and trudged off to the deeper regions of the castle.

Kammy shook her head. 'His Crabbyness has become far too involved with that plumber...' She sighed.

Thud thud thud!

Bowser pounded on a door leading into a study. 'Hey!' he bellowed. 'Open up!'

'King Bowser?'

The Koopa King turned to see a generic Magikoopa looking up at him. 'What is it?' Bowser demanded.

'He isn't in at the moment. I thought I should let you know.'

'He's WHAT?' Bowser stopped his foot. 'When is he ever NOT in?'

'Well, perhaps you should wait for him to return.'

'Bah! Forget that, there's no TIME to wait!' Bowser turned. 'I'm going!' He walked towards the exit of Bowser's Castle. 'Hmph!' he snorted. 'Where the heck is he?'

Fawful

Fawful's Headgear rockets shot him up to the air as his assailant conjured a broom and took off after him, their fight in full force. Fawful shot blasts of energy from his helmet and his enemy swerved around them, giving a swing of his golden wand and firing blue magical projectiles. Three shapes circled around the flame-like attacks: a circle, a triangle, and a square. As Fawful weaved to and fro, his Headgear's jaws snapped. He dropped and caught one of the attacks in its jaws, which glowed in the glass containment unit.

An idea sparked in Fawful's big brain. He grinned and caught more and more. His attacker frowned. 'What are you doing?'

'Oh, nothing that is being much of anything,' Fawful answered. He shot at him, catching more projectiles as he flew and smashed Headgear-first into his enemy's stomach. The two of them smashed into the ground, dust and earth flying everywhere. The Headgear turned the Beanish boy to a standing position, the teeth clamped around the other one's chest.

Fawful grinned his wide, toothy grin. His attacker groaned in pain. 'You must have had the knowing, fink-rat,' Fawful said smugly. 'You must have known that I would have the destroying of you one day!'

His assailant clenched his fist around his wand tightly. 'Ha...ha...very...funny!' He shoved the wand into the boy's face and fired. Fawful flew through the air and landed with a loud thunk! He brushed off his blue robes and aimed his wand. 'Now Fawful, I want you to give up while you can.'

'Pah...' Fawful grunted, standing up. 'Whying? What is the silver lining for Fawful then?'

'Lord Bowser might imprison you instead of killing you,' he answered.

Fawful laughed. 'Hahahaha! Yes, righting! I have much relief!' He shot the magical energy he had gathered at his enemy, who was blasted off of his own feet, much like Fawful had been. 'Not!'

Fawful's attacker got up. The two figures stared at each other, panting. 'Stupid...kid...' the attacker gasped.

'Old...nanny!' Fawful shot back.

The attacker threw up his hands. 'For the last time, I am Bowser's ADVISOR!'

'Kamek!' Both of them turned. Bowser and the rest of the Heroes ran up to them both. 'What the heck have you been doing?'

'L-Lord Bowser?' Kamek gapped and sank to his knees, gasping. 'Haah...haah...Buh-Bowser, I...Fawful...he...kidnapped...'

'Just shut it!' Bowser snorted and crossed his arms.

'Buh...but...!'

'You have no idea what's going on, do you?' Mario observed.

'YOU!' Kamek jumped up and aimed his wand. When Bowser didn't react, he put it away. 'Oh no...not again.' He smacked his face with his hand. 'And I'd thought I'd seen the last of it after the Chaos Heart incident...'

'Funny you say that,' Mimi said. She pointed to the Void. 'We're in the middle of another one.'

Kamek groaned and muttered something about getting too old. 'Who're all of you?'

'Oh yeah, you haven't got a clue,' Bowser said. He went on to explain the current situation in as quickly as possible. He explained how when he kidnapped Peach Dimentio showed up and kidnapped him. After that, Mario took it from there, telling him the capture of Peach and Luigi, about how Fawful had been involved and how he had gone to Castle Bleck to save them. Then he explained how the Chaos Heart and Void had been created again and how now Dimentio was on his own and Fawful was with them.

'Okay...' Kamek said, scratching his head. 'I understand everything except for one thing...' He pointed a thumb at Fawful. 'Why did you bring him along?' Fawful glared at him.

'Because he's vulnerable,' Mario answered. 'Dimentio would probably want him out of the way before us even.'

'And why is that a problem?'

Fawful stomped his foot. 'Because Fawful is not wanting to end up dead again, that is being the problem!' he yelled.

'"Again?"'

'Never of the minding!'

'This is serious!' Mario exclaimed. 'We need all the help we can get. Dimentio's a powerful enemy, and who knows what kinds of tricks he has up his sleeves that we know nothing about? That's why we stopped here, to get help.' He stopped. 'Speaking of which, why didn't you find anyone Bowser?'

'Gwa ha ha!' Bowser laughed in response. 'I did.'

'Really?' Kamek said. 'Who was it? Kammy again?'

'Nope.' The Koopa King pointed a claw at Kamek. 'You're coming with me!'

Kamek's mouth dropped open. 'You aren't serious!' he exclaimed. 'Who'll watch the castle?'

'I'm sure Kammy will do a good job.'

Kamek scowled. 'Kammy...' he spat. 'Er...your Ferociousness, I think I'm getting far too old, I think I should probably—'

'Aw, what is being the matter?' Fawful shot. 'Is the nanny too scared? Does he have more contentness to sit around and change the Koopas' smelly diapers?' He blew a raspberry.

'That's it!' He shot a blast at Fawful who flew through the air upon impact. Running over to him, he aimed his wand.

'KAMEK!' Bowser grabbed Kamek's arm (which Bowser's whole hand could hold) and lifted him into the air.

'WAH!' Kamek screamed.

'We NEED him you idiot!' Bowser roared. 'Didn't you hear Mario? We need all the help we can get! And that includes you!' He dropped him and the Magikoopa rubbed his arm. 'Now you'll join us or I'll feed you to the Chain Chomps!'

Kamek cringed before his king's might. Never before had he been before Bowser's true wrath...or, if he had, he had never caused it. Fawful swore he could hear the old man's heart beating in his chest. A wide grin crossed his face. Kamek stood up. 'Okay...' he said, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper. 'I...I'll come. I'll come...'

Bowser patted his back. 'Bwa ha! I knew you'd see it my way!'

Fawful felt the overwhelming need to laugh out loud, but he held it in, moving up to the rest of the Heroes. As he passed Kamek, he giggled and make an exaggerated coughing noise, muttering "nanny." Kamek glared and Fawful's grin widened. 'I have chortles...' he whispered.

'If you want to say something, say it to my face,' Kamek growled.

'O of the kay.' Fawful turned around. 'HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!' he laughed, letting it all out of his chest. 'I, have, CHORTLES!'

Kamek buried his face in his hands. This was going to be a long journey for him, Fawful knew. Heck, he'd make it even longer for him.

Fawful actually collapsed on the ground and rolled. 'HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!'