CHAPTER 4
REVENGE

Before Bowser stood his first seven offspring, as if troops called up for inspection.

"My heirs, for many years I have waited for this moment. No longer are you children. You have put aside your immaturity and embraced what it means to be a ruler."

Bowser was silent as he stood, chest out in pride, gazing at each of his children in turn. "Finally, we shall capture the Mushroom Kingdom as our own, and destroy those vile Mario brothers. Many times I have tried, and yet failed. However, with age comes wisdom," Bowser pointed at one of his children but they knew the message was intended for all, "don't ever forget that."

Bowser continued, "It has been almost two weeks since our capture of Daisy and Yoshi, and the time for our attack has come. So, it is now with great pride that I gift you with something to aid in our fight, your own glass airships."

The seven smiled and looked at each other, then turned their attention back to their father.

"Iggy, I grant you the Punisher."

"Morton, I grant you the Destroyer."

"Wendy, I grant you the Malice"

"Ludwig, I grant you the Iron Fist."

"Lemmy, I grant you the Vengeance."

"Roy, I grant you the Devastation."

"And Larry, I grant you the Hostility."

With each name, Bowser would hand his children the symbol of authority over their respective vessels, taken from off a velvet pillow, held aloft by a slave.

His children thanked him each in turn; and after the pleasantries had dispensed Bowser continued, "Now here is our plan of attack. I regret to inform you that I could not tell you before; we just could not take the risk of our plans getting out. In two days, Princess Peach will be holding a banquet in honor of our little helper, Fingle. Mario and Luigi will be there, and that is when and why we shall strike. Myself and a fleet of air ships will descend upon them and take them by force. You, my children, will each take your airship with others to the locations of the Mushroom Kingdom's armories. At the fifth hour from the setting of the sun, exactly, you are to bombard first, not the armories, but the watch stations, and then destroy all ways out of each town. This will prevent word from getting out that there is an attack; then, destroy the armories. Make sure there is absolutely nothing left!"

Morton spoke up, "But father, if all of our attacks or to be coordinated at the same time, then why does it matter if word gets out? Will you not you be starting at the same time as well?"

Bowser responded, "Good question, my son. But, no, I will not be staring at the same time as you are. As you are aware, my power in dark koopa magic has grown much over the years. I'm going to use it to make my entrance, not only to frighten them, but to conceal our arrival, for I will not have any glass airships with me. Koopa magic can sometimes take time, so I need to have absolute surprise."

Bowser's children grinned with delight.

"Then," their father continued, "When you have finished with the armories, land your fleets and deploy your troops. Send the cannon fodder first, the Goombas. If they are destroyed, it is no great loss. Once they have worn down the population, though, send the armored Koopatrol out. They are to show no mercy. Instruct them that anyone who does not swear ultimate allegiance to me, is to be put to death on the spot. They are to preserve all those five years of age and younger alive. Their minds are young and can be molded to love their new masters. This time we shall have success!"

Again his children were smiling, only more widely this time.

Bowser walked the steps up to his throne and turned to face them before sitting. He opened his arms to encompass his children, and said in a mighty voice, "Pillage, plunder, burn down and destroy! Take what you wish! Show no mercy! At last, what is theirs shall be ours, and we shall reign supreme!"

In the eyes of his children, the image of the huge beast before them with arms outstretched, between massive stone pillars, backed by his grand imperial throne, and the torch stands that cast a glow up upon him, he appeared to be as a god towering over lesser mortals. This was impressed all the more so while he slowly sat down and clutched the ends of the armrests as the soft sound of a gong repeatedly crashed that ceremonially ended all audiences with the king.

***

It was the night of the banquet in Fingle's honor, and a heavy and foul mist enshrouded all of Toad Town. Many of the guests were late for they could not find their way to Peach's castle as they were blinded by the vapors. Yet, inside the Princess' palace, the air was clean, and the ballroom well lit, but a thick cloud of uneasiness hung over those inside.

The formalities had ended, Fingle was honored, and everyone was milling about on the floor as glasses chimed together and festive music flowed from the musicians.

A lighthearted laugh came from a group of four conversing, "Oh Mario, don't you think Fingle is just so funny!" Peach laughed as she playfully slapped Fingle on the arm.

"Princess, your too kind," Fingle responded, "It's good to see you laugh again."

Fingle's remark quickly darkened Peach's mood as she recalled Daisy and Yoshi. Her mood became serious as she looked at Mario and Luigi. "As you know, Daisy and Yoshi have been abducted. We don't know who it was, but, I was going to ask if you two could help us find them. You are the best we have in the, hmm," Peach quoted with her fingers, "rescuing business."

The brothers smiled, "Of course we'll help."

"Oh thank you so much," Peach gratefully bowed.

"And besides, it's probably Bowser," Luigi quipped, "We've beaten that imbecile so many times before, it'll be a piece of cake!"

"Let's hope so," replied Fingle. But wanting to get the attention off of Bowser, he happily said, "Speaking of cake, lets go get ourselves some."

Mario readily agreed, "Now that sounds-a like a plan!"

***

"My Lord, we shall be over Toad Town in five minutes."

Bowser stood at the wheel of the airship, staring off into the distance, "Excellent commander. Take the helm." Bowser walked to the edge of the bow of the ship, where Kamek was waiting for him.

"Are you ready, my Lord?" he asked.

"Yes. Let us finally remove Mario's shadow over us," Bowser replied.

With that, Bowser and Kamek both lifted up their hands through the thick clouds that they had made to conceal his fleet. As they uttered a long string of words, their voices being in harmony, a thick gloom formed over Toad Town and slowly descended upon it. "Now they'll be blind in the dark," Bowser smiled.

Bowser slowly walked up to his throne upon the highest level of the deck and sat in dark thought of what was to come. His imaginations of malice was interrupted when the acting commander strode up to him and reported, "My Lord, we are in position over the Princess' castle."

Bowser sat down, "Good, begin the attack."

***

As Peach, Fingle and the brothers made their way to the banquet tables for their sought after treat, a low droning noise interrupted the party. It was heard by all and increased ever louder. No one knew what to do; they all stood, staring at each other in fear. Above, the chandelier began to sway back and forth as the noise began to vibrate and shake the building.

"Mario," cried Peach, "What's going on?!"

Mario's answer never reached the Princess' ears, for the sound of his voice was drowned out by an enormous blast of thunder that shook the entire hall. Terror stricken, everyone bent their backs and threw their hands above their heads. The force of it was so great that the foundations of many structures were split and the windows in all buildings were blown out into the streets.

Shrieks and panic arose as the great glass dome of the ballroom was shattered and it's razor pieces fell in on those below.

The great crasing of thunder continued as streaks of fire began to rain down from the sky. Their terrible sound ripped through the air as they smashed into the ground forming a ring around the castle, making escape impossible. Chaos was added to mayhem as the sound of a mighty war horn was sounded over Toad Town, and a great and terrible voice ushered forth from the shredding thunder, echoing over the entire valley;

"I AM BOWSER! FROM THIS DAY FORTH, YOU SHALL SERVE ME!!!"