A Lost Kingdom
Chapter 4: Survivors
Sarasaland, Mushroom Kingdom
"Beloved Princess, we are ready to attack. King Bowser's army seems to be stationary, so we have the upper hand." a Shy Guy said, looking at its ruler.
Princess Daisy smirked, resting her arms on her hips. "Then let's go. We need to draw blood first, if they managed to take over Toad Town. This should be... interesting." she said.
The Shy Guy nodded. "Sarasalanders! Move out!" it yelled, before the sound of millions of footsteps were heard. Daisy and the Shy Guy stood closely together, as they marched along with the others.
Bowser's Airship
"Your Smelliness, it seems Iggy's devices have picked up more life forms. They appear to be from Sarasaland." Kamek said, as Bowser sat in his throne room.
"Sarsaland!? That's where Daisy is! You keep your ugly claws off of my friends!" Peach shouted, before Boom Boom covered her mouth.
Bowser chuckled. "Gwahaha! Do not fret, princess. I am not a cold hearted monster." He said, as Boom Boom and Kamek exchanged confused expressions. "All I'm going to do is get her stoned."
"Nice pun, King Bowser!" a Goomba shouted from the distance.
"After all," Bowser continued. "I DO need a representation of every corner of the Mushroom Kingdom; Sarasaland included." the Koopa King gave another chuckle. "Kamek, tell the kids to prepare their airships. Boom Boom, you leave our peachy princess with me. Go get Pom Pom and the rest of the Koopa Troop. I will join you shortly."
Kamek nodded, quickly flying off, as Boom Boom handed Peach to Bowser and sprinted to the hallways.
"You won't get away with this, Bowser." she said, spoiltley.
"I already have, princess. Without Mario, your kingdom is practically begging to be taken over!"
Peach shot him a deadly look. "You've done something to Mario, havent' you!? What have you done to my Mario!?" she shouted.
"Jeez Louise, princess. I'm not the one who sent him an invitation to Brooklyn. That was his 'ex-girlfriend', who Mario's probably head-over-heels for now. Why else would he leave?" Bowser asked, raising a brow, hoping to get into Peach's head.
Peach mumbled something below her breath. "Mario loves me, Bowser. And I love him, not you."
Bowser's eye twitched. Peach's statement had hurt him, but he regained his calmness. "We'll see who he loves once he never wants to come back again!" He replied. "King Boo, come watch over Peach. I have a prize to collect. Gwahahaha! And tell your little Boos to come give me a help, too." He said, getting up.
"Yes, your Majesty." A dark voice said, as the king of the dead materealized behind the roped up princess. "She's not going anywhere, Sire."
Bowser grinned. His day was going prefectly.
Brooklyn, USA
Mario sat at the construction site. Color was drained from his body. He had no emotion left, other than depression. He had ran out of ideas, and everytime he thought of one, they went as quickly as they came.
He had given up.
The plumber looked up at the night sky. What a beautiful night to abandon everything he loves. His girlfriend, his brother, his friends, his home...
Something emerged from the Warp Pipe, which Mario heard. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Hopefully not. He turned around slowly, and saw something that brought the color right back to his body.
"BUDDY!" He yelled, running up to the fellow who had just emerged, embracing him in a hug that almost strangled him. Nabbit let out a few squeaks of help, as Mario pulled away. "Sorry, there. What's your name? Nabbit, was it? I remember chasing you after you stole Toad's belongings."
Nabbit rubbed the back of his neck, a sweatdrop appearing on his head.
"Heh, it's alright. I heard you helped Luigi and the Toads save Peach when I visited Rosalina. You're cool in my book, Nabbers." he said, giving him a thumbs up. "Now," he continued. "Let's get going before everybody sees me talking to a purple rabbit."
The thief nodded, leaping into the pipe. Mario let out a cheerful "Yahoo!" as he too jumped into the pipe, a smile plastered on his face as he finally ventured to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Sarasaland
The Sarasalanders spotted some enemies. What seemed like the whole Koopa Troop; Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Bullet Bills, Boos, Monty Moles, Chain-Chomps, Dry Bones, the lot. Luckily, Sarasaland had a few species too; consisting of Goombos, Bombshell Koopas, Bullet Biffs, Bunbuns, Fire Snakes, and Tokotokos. The armies both stopped their march as they reached a space between them.
"Sarasalanders," a voice rang. Daisy could almost smell the stench that came from what was obviously Bowser's voice. "Surrender now and no harm shall be done! If you fail to surrender, conditions will have to be met. So, what shall it be?"
"NEVER!" The tomboy princess shouted back, earning the cheers of the many species of allies. "NEVER SHALL WE SURRENDER TO THE KOOPA TROOP! YOU GUYS DESERVE TO GET SHOWN WHO'S BOSS, REGARDLESS OF MARIO GOING MISSING OR NOT!"
"Very well," Bowser said. "If you're looking for a fight, you'll get a fight. Koopa Troop, attack!" he yelled.
"Sarasalanders, charge!" Daisy yelled back.
Screams and shouts came from both sides, as the two armies ran in front of them. Species wise, they were even. Leader wise, the Koopa Troop was winning. They had Bowser, his eight children, Kamek, Boom Boom and Pom Pom. All Sarasaland had was Daisy and her Shy Guy friend.
Explotions were seen, as Bombshell Koopas sacrificed their lives against those of the Troopas. Goombas and Goombos headbutted, as Bullet Bills and Biffs collided, Piantas hitting several Monty Moles with palm tree-crafted weapons. The Sarasalanders were winning! But not for long. The Boos easily outsmarted the Shy Guys, scaring them off as Banzair Bills took out a majority of the Bullet Biffs. The Piantas were getting attacked by groups of Monty Moles, and they failed to keep on their feet. Tokotokos smashed into many Dry Bones, which only built back together as a much bigger Dry Bones, which simply crushed the Tokotokos.
"Princess, our allies are getting beaten! What shall we do?" he asked, frowning. Daisy's mind searched for ideas, until only coming to one. Brute force. There was no outsmarting them now.
"Stay here." she said, as she got up.
"But, prin-"
"Stay."
The Shy Guy gulped, nodding slowly. "I-I wish you luck."
Daisy jumped off of her throne, sprinting towards battle. She kicked Goombas, threw shells, dodged Boos, everything. She was sweating like crazy, but it was worth it. The airships owned by the Koopalings had fired several cannonballs. A Hammer Bro. threw his signature hammer, and Daisy's high heels were destined to trip.
"Gah!" she moaned, picked herself up. She looked up, eyeing the firery cannonballs. Her life flashed before her highs. Being saved by Mario, becoming gal pals with Peach, getting invited to sports and parties, meeting Luigi... She teared up and closed her eyes, the tears now forcefully dripping. She waited for the pain, gritting her teeth. She wished she could see Luigi one last time.
But that pain never happened.
She looked up, and noticed something that was more than bazarre. It was Waluigi.
"Haha! Take that, you dumb turtles!" he taunted. He somehow, by Waluigi's logic, had reflected the cannonballs with his tennis racket. He looked at the princess, offering his hand.
She reluctantly grabbed it, as he helped her up. "You okay, orange lady?" he asked. Waluigi didn't really care about women, just about money, fame and winning. He was never the best at remembering anybody's names, except for Wario, Mario, Luigi and Bowser.
"I-I, guess. Thanks for the save, Waluigi." she said, replied with twirl of his racket, in an attempt to show off.
Bowser Town
Mario and Nabbit emerged from the Warp Pipe. The first thing they heard were explosions. Nabbit covered his ears, but Mario was too busy obverving his surroundings.
"Is this Toad Town?" he asked. Nabbit nodded. "Where are the Toads? Where is the life? What happened?"
Nabbit pointed to the giant Bowser fountain in the centre of the town. Mario gulped. "Bowser took over, right?" Nabbit nodded once more. Mario sighed. "This is becoming a job for me."
The plumber looked up, and he spotted a flying Airship.
"If we're gonna save the princess, we need to get inside there. Nabbit, you got any Power-Ups?" Mario asked. Nabbit shook his head, signaling that his bag had been vaporized.
"Dag nabbit... Without a Propeller Mushroom or any mode of flight, we're gonna have to climb the castle. And that won't be easy."
Bowser's Airship
Daisy and Waluigi were getting chased.
"There's no escaping!" shouted Larry Koopa.
The unlikely duo ran through the corredors of the airship, desperate for a place to hide. Roy Koopa had tracked them down, and knew Waluigi all too well. The Koopa got a Gold Flower, and placed it on the floor. "Hey, purple d00d, c'mon over here!"
Waluigi stopped in his tracks, curiously looking behind him. He grinned, running back and falling straight for the bait. "GOLD!" he exclaimed, before some guards wrapped ropes around him. "What do you think you're doing to Waluigi!?" he asked, as they tightened the ropes.
"It's time you get your skinny backside where it belongs!" Roy said, walking towards the cells.
...
...
...
Daisy kept running. The no longer knew where she was going, but saw two Monty Moles run towards her. She turned left, spotting a room. The princess quickly opened the door, just as quickly shutting it, before doing what she thought was locking it. She panted, out of breath. What now?
"Well, well, well." King Boo cackled. Daisy's eyes shrunk, gulping. She was toast.
"G-G-Get away from me!" she stood her ground. "You don't know who your messing with! I'm the princess of Sarasaland, a-and they're able to kick your boss' butt anytime!" she shouted.
King Boo did his trademark laugh, which sent chills down both Peach and Daisy's spines. "Is that so?" he asked. "Then I suggest you look at this." he said, before nodding to some giggly voices.
Two Boos flew in. They both held onto Daisy's Shy Guy friend. The princess gasped.
"I-I'm sorry, princess... I have failed you..." he said, getting taken away.
"You're gonna be sorry, ghosty..." she mumbled, which King Boo surprisingly heard.
"Tsk tsk. Come on in, Basilisx." the Boo said, as two electronic doors opened and a figure emerged.
"Hello, your Ghossstlinesss." a sinister voice called. Basilisx was a Koopa Troopa, but instead of the usual yellow and green/red color scheme, Basilisx's scales consisted of grays and blacks. The Koopa wore a helmet with a single spike on it, and sported Wolverine-like claws, in which he used for ripping his prey apart. Under his helmet, were a pare of red eyes. "Would you like me to sssstone thisss peasssent?"
King Boo nodded, grinning. Daisy struggled to keep her guard up, shivering like mad.
Basilisx smiled, grimely. "Very well."
A flash of red.
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...
"DAISY!"
Everyone in the cells looked up.
"Man, Waluigi thinks this is dumb!" the lanky doppleganger said, crossing his arms.
"Oh, what I'd do to smell a pair of daisies." Dixie Kong sighed, in which Diddy conforted her.
"Say, where'd D.K go?" Cranky Kong spoke.
Luigi knew that voice. It was Peach's, and something had happened to Daisy. Luigi's known kindness was wearing thin, just like his patience. He violently threw a punch at the cell bars, in which he quickly pulled back and grabbed with his spare hand.
"Ouch!" he cried, sighing.
Peach's Castle, Bowser Town
Nabbit easily parkoured on the several towers of Peach's Castle, although he went visibly slower than normal in order to let Mario catch up, who wasn't so good at parkour.
"How-" he panted. "-do you do this...?" he asked, taking a break. Nabbit shrugged. "Not much of a talker, eh?"
Their 'conversation' ended once a window swung open, catching the views of both of them. Shroobs had invaded the castle. Mario was confused. Weren't the Shroobs banished and gone completely a couple of years ago?
It didn't matter. What mattered was the task at hand, which was boarding the airship. But that was proven difficult, as the Shroobs had stolen the cannons used by the Toads and started firering at the heroes.
"Whoah!" the plumber exclaimed, doing a summersault and jodging one. He proceeded to jump onto the roof, dodging another attack. The Shroobs aimed their guns at the roof, which destroyed part of it. Mario was caught off balance, and would of fell, if it wasn't for Nabbit grabbing his hand. "Thanks, Nabs." he said, getting back on his feet. Mario sprinted towards the Shroobs, dodging various shots, before jumping ontop of one's head, stealing its gun. The italian fired various small blasts, which startled the Shroobs.
It was one step ahead. The duo carefully jumped on the castle's flag, which acted like a spring, sending them onto a bridge off of the airship. Climbing on, the two had succesfully done their job.
"Now, where is everyone?" he asked, Nabbit shrugging in response. They saw a vault, which was stupidly left open. With no other option, they agreed to look inside for anyone.
They were shocked. They saw many figures, all standing still. Donkey Kong, Wario, Daisy, Goombella... the list went on as they walked through a garden of statues. They were all turned to stone, as if they had looked at Medusa. The only thing that wasn't stone, was what caught Mario's attention the most. A struggling Yoshi egg.
His instinct told him to jump. And he did, cracking the egg. Mario smiled excitedly, seeing his best buddy pop out.
"Yoshi!" the creature exclaimed, embracing Mario in a hug.
"Hey, Yosh! Long time no see!" the plumber said, as Nabbit just stared. "Listen, I'd love to stay and gossip, but we need to save all our friends. Do you know where Peach is?"
Yoshi nodded, signaling for Mario to follow him. "Yoshi Yoshi!" he lowered himself, allowing Mario to hop on his back, just like the good ol' times. "Then let's go!" he said cheerfully.
The trip stopped immediately after a while they exited. The room was surrounded by jail cells.
"Luigi? Toad? Toadsworth? Waluigi!?" Mario said.
His presence made everyone's face light up.
"MARIO!" they all shouted, minus Waluigi and Cranky Kong.
"Bro!" Luigi said, a smile on his face. His hope was restored. "How'd you get back?" he asked.
Mario chuckled. "If you're gonna thank somebody, thank this guy." the plumber said, stepping aside and revealing Nabbit, who timidly waved. "He helped me get back here."
"Nabbit! It's been a while since you last helped me! Good to know you haven't gone back to your evil ways." Luigi said.
"Oooooh, c'mon! Waluigi wants out!" Waluigi shouted.
Mario searched for keys. There were none there. Bowser had surprisingly pulled a smart move. He turned to his dinosaur friend. "Yoshi, do you think you could picklock the keyholes with your toungue?"
Yoshi looked at the bars, before nodding, not really sure if he could. The reptile walked up to Luigi's cell, and stuck his toungue out and fiddled around, before the cell door surprisingly swung open.
"Freedom!" shouted Toad.
"Thank you, Master Mario and Master Yoshi." Toadsworth said, nodding.
"Now our turn!" Diddy said, pointing to the Kongs' cell.
Yoshi did his trick, and the three primates all walked out. "Thank you, Mario." said Cranky. "I am sorry for kidnapping your girlfriend."
Mario laughed nervously. "I-It's fine, honest."
The Toad Brigade Captain spoke up. "It seems like the princess is near! We better hurry if we want to save her!" Mario nodded, before hopping on Yoshi and sprinting off, the others following closely behind.
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Bowser had returned from battle. The Koopa Troop had, no doubt, won the war. Every Sarasalander left unkilled were forced to work in slavery alongside the Toads. King Boo had left and instead stood Boom Boom with Peach, Basilisx still present next to Bowser.
"Gwahaha! This couldn't get any better!" he said, bitting a chunk off of his chicken wing.
"Fun's over, Bowser!" Mario shouted, Peach automatically brightening up.
"Mario!" she called happily.
"MARIO!?" Bowser shouted, crushing his meal. "HOW DID YOU GET HERE YOU... YOU... YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING MUSHROOM FREAK!?"
Mario smirked. "That's none of your concern." he said, crossing his arms. "Now hand over Peach, or else." he shot a glare at his nemesis.
"Or else what?" Bowser said, returning the glare. "You gonna jump on me?!" he cackled.
"That actually always works!" Luigi said, giving Mario some back up. Bowser didn't approve.
"Grr... Basilisx!"
"Yesss, your Majesssty?" he answered.
"Show this punks who's boss!" Bowser yelled, pointing at his enemies. Basilisx simply nodded.
Mario, Luigi and Yoshi knew Basilisx all too well.
"CLOSE YOUR EYES!" The brothers shouted, as the duo and Yoshi shut their eyes.
"Huh?" everyone asked.
A flash of red.
Before the question could be answered, all of Mario's allies were turned to stone. Toad had trusted Mario's word and shut his eyes just in time, and Nabbit had covered his eyes with his ears. Toadsworth, the Toad Brigade, the Kongs and Waluigi, however, were all too late.
"Oh no!" Peach said, covering her mouth.
Bowser grinned. "Basilisx, show the survivors what you can do. Tell them how you can kick plumber butt without turning them to stone!" he said, Boom Boom chearing.
"Asss you wisssh." Basilisx said, his claws shimmering. "Get ready to enter a world of pain in which you are not familiar..."
They gulped.
Basilisx aimed for Mario. The Koopa ran forwards and started slashing violently, Mario crying in pain.
"Mario! Leave him alone!" Peach shouted, helplessly.
Luigi gritted his teeth, getting his hammer out. He jumped into the air, slamming the weapon down on the Koopa's head, causing him to stop attacking Mario.
"How dare you, fool!" he said, growling.
Basilisx reverted into his shell, spinning around and around, causing Luigi to get dizzy. The Koopa striked, aiming for the plumber's head, but Yoshi's toungue interferred and Basilisx was trapped in Yoshi's mouth. The dinosaur painfully but succesfully turned the shell into an egg, and threw it into the air. When falling down, Toad managed to kick it into a wall.
Basilisx came out, damaged. They were beating him. He slashed at Luigi, who dropped his hammer. The Koopa quickly picked it up, throwing it at Yoshi. Before the reptile could react, Yoshi was sent flying into the floor. Nabbit went to strike, throwing a punch, but Basilisx ducked and fury swipped at him, startling the thief. The Koopa jabbed him in the stomache, and pushed him into Toad. Luigi's hammer had just managed to fall down, and Basilisx skillfully cought it, running towards Mario.
The plumber jumped over the turtle, whom reverted to his shell. Basilisx went spinning towards Mario, who was trapped in the attack, rendered immobile as he was forced to sit through the pain. After the attack, the Koopa came out of his shell and knocked Mario's chin upward with the hammer.
"Bowser! Press the button!" Boom Boom begged.
"What button?" Peach thought to herself.
Bowser rolled his eyes. "If it would shut you up, then fine." the Koopa King pulled a lever, in which a pillar rose up with a button on it. "Basilisx, return to your stand!"
Basilisx obediantely did as told, jumping to Bowser's side. With the push of a button, the floor beneath the heroes fell.
"Gaaah!" the screamed.
A giant claw emerged, one Bowser had previously used to throw Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad out of Peach's Castle. But this one, was relatively larger. The stoned heroes were placed in a corner, as they would lately join Donkey Kong, Daisy and the others. As for the others, they were sadly caught in the palm of the metallic claw, and struggled to escape.
"Adios, mis amigos!" Bowser shouted, poorly speaking in spanish with a wave of his hand.
The claw went round and round in circles, as it threw the heroes far away, to the outskirts of the Mushroom Kingdom. All they had now were themselves, and they had no plans of letting Bowser get away with what he had done.
With the group now stuck in what seemed like a forest, an adventure awaits Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad and Nabbit.
To be continued...