Without further protest or objection the two Hammer Bros. followed Mario closely as the red-clad hero easily maneuvered across the barren landscape. The endlessly flowing lava moats, rocky pathways, deep drops, massive gorges, towering mountains and patrolling Dry Bones weren't enough to deter Mario from his quest to end Bowser's reign of terror once and for all. This was the night he would take his final stand against the reptilian tyrant. Failure was not an option.
Setting worn boot onto the first iron plank of the extended drawbridge leading into Bowser's Castle, Mario stood firm and drew his gaze ever upwards taking in the intimidating sight that was the Castle of Bowser.
"Mario?" The blue shelled Hammer Brother stood a few paces behind Mario. "We can't stop you, and we won't even try. But please, think this through!"
Silently Mario glanced at the two Hammer Bros. who had followed him through the Dark Land.
"Think of how this will affect everything!" The green shelled Brother tagged on. "We know Bowser is cruel and deserves any punishment you can deal out, but... If you take his life then-" Unwilling to finish his statement he chose to only bow his head in sympathy as he became quiet.
Unphased by the reformed Hammer Bros. pleas Mario returned his gaze to the Castle. Just as the sun in the distance had finally set a flash of lightning and the roar of thunder cracked across the land, illuminating the stone structure in eerie light. At the very top of the Castle, perched atop the peak of the highest tower, the familiar form of Bowser stood idle as he watched over his desolate Kingdom.
"Tonight," Mario looked down at his dirtied, blood stained hands one last time. "everything changes."
Rain fell in slow, cold drops onto the hero's bold form as he crossed the bridge.
The storm that had begun dousing the Dark Lands in a summer time rain had reached the border to the Mushroom Kingdom. The air was cooler and smelled of fresh rain as the storm steadily approached the hospital. Small drops of rain spotted the windows and brief flashes of lightning shone through, casting unsettling shadows throughout the building.
"Allow me, Princess Daisy." Toadsworth walked over the large window and pulled the dark curtains shut. "Let's not have a storm inside the hospital."
Daisy nodded appreciatively as the seasoned Ward smiled warmly. "Thank you Toadsworth." She kept her hand on top of Luigi's as she watched him continue to lay helplessly in the bed. "I wonder if the storm would help wake Luigi?"
His smile fading Toadsworth stood at the young Princesses side. "I fear a storm wouldn't be enough to rouse Master Luigi from his sleep on this night." Placing a warm hand on her shoulder he offered one final piece of comfort. "But no man can sleep forever, my dear. Just give him time."
Luigi seemed disturbingly like a corpse as he remained unconscious and unmoving in the bed. The heart monitor beeped slowly in perfect synchronization with his own heart as it continued to beat inside his broken chest. The respirator forced his weak and injured lungs to take in the breaths of oxygen he so desperately needed, providing a low hum to the otherwise stagnant beeping sound. Snaking I.V. tubes of blood, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers ran all over Luigi's body, almost like he had fallen into some kind of morbid trap.
"I just hate seeing him like this..." Daisy delicately ran her hand down the side of his face that wasn't covered in bandages. "He has the most beautiful blue eyes, I wish I could look into them again."
A soft knocking at the partially opened door drew the attention from Luigi and to the visitor. A female Toad Nurse, one with a dark pink cap and light purple spots walked into the room holding a small, white cardboard box in her hands. "Excuse me, but I have some of Luigi's personal affects."
"Oh?" Daisy was surprised to see the Nurse with the box of Luigi's things, as it was unusual for the hospital staff to transport such items. "Is there a problem?"
"Goodness, no." The Nurse honestly replied. "It's just hospital policy to keep each patient's personal belongings with the correct patient."
"All of his things are tucked inside that one small box?" Daisy asked inquisitively.
She gave an awkward smirk as she answered. "His clothing was already in tatters when the doctor cut them off, we had to toss them. The rest of his things are... I'll just place this in the drawer in the table." The Nurse was obviously uncomfortable talking about it, as she too was fond of the heroic Mario Bros.
"No, I'll take them." Daisy offered with a smile. "Please."
Trusting in the good Princesses integrity the Nurse handed her the box and quietly took her leave.
Setting the box on her lap Daisy opened the lid and peered inside. Luigi's very worn, but somehow still intact, boots were in the middle of the box. Tucked inside one of the boots was a leather strapped watch, with its glass face cracked and the battery dead. Inside the opposite boot was a blood stained piece of paper that was folded into a rectangular shape.
Taking the watch out of the boot Daisy noted the time on the now stopped watch as it sat in the palm of her hand. "Two minutes past nine..."
Toadsworth did the math in his head. Between the time Luigi's watch stopped and Mario's return to the Mushroom Kingdom almost seventeen hours had passed. 'By Jove,' Toadsworth thought to himself. 'in less than a day Bowser managed to do all this chaos, to create so much pain... And for what?'
Placing the watch back inside the box Daisy then removed the paper. "What's this?" She unfolded the paper carefully to examine its printed content. As she read the words on the paper she felt more tears welling up in her eyes and a smile on her face. "Luigi... "
Princess Peach walked inside the room, her own tears welling up in her eyes and threatening to fall at any minute. "How is Luigi?" She asked, trying to avoid eye contact as she stood beside Daisy, opposite of Toadsworth.
"Peach," Daisy knew something was wrong and needed to know. She folded the paper back up and slipped it inside the box. "what's happening? Where's Mario?"
Alone Mario infiltrated the massive Castle. Unwilling to risk anyone else getting harmed, or killed, he chose to face Bowser by himself. The two Hammer Bros. couldn't bring themselves to follow, even if he would've allowed it. As much as they despised their former King, the duo weren't brave enough or ready to face the powerful Koopa in battle. Standing guard outside the Castle's drawbridge the Brothers waited either for Mario to return in one piece, or for his broken body to be carted outside...
Scaling the spiraling staircase centered in the Tower, Mario fearlessly ran to the top and pushed open the hatch leading to exterior roof. Standing on top of the Tower in the now pouring rain in the dark night, Mario produced a fireball in the palm of his right hand while his left hand took a firm grip on the stone fixtures attached to the roof.
"Bowser!" Mario called out, the howling wind of the storm suddenly picking up with a violent gust as his echoed across the Dark Lands. "Face me!"
In the distance from the neighboring Tower, enshrouded in darkness a wicked laugh responded to Mario's demand. Stepping out of the shadow just enough for his face to be illuminated by the orange glow of the flowing lava far, far below, Bowser's sinister grin shined brightly against the black sky.
"You've finally arrived." Bowser taunted as another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky above. "Alone? Where's your Brother?"
At those words Mario saw only a flash of red as he threw his fireball with all his strength directly into Bowser's ugly face. The powerful Koopa King was able to put his strong hand up in time to block the attack, suffering not even a scratch from the burning projectile.
"Pitiful." Bowser callously remarked as stepped further away from his concealing shadows. "Just like Luigi."
The rage that was slowly eating away at Mario's heart had found the core. Nothing but unparalleled hatred and unbridled anger filled his heart on that storm worn Tower.
"You'll pay!" Mario declared as he leapt from his Tower to the next where Bowser stood unflinching, still half bathed in the shadow.
His garnet eyes locked onto Mario's blue eyes. Bowser not only side stepped Mario's landing, but managed to jump from the Tower to the long bridge-like rampart of the Castle's main structure without breaking a sweat.
"You want me?" Bower taunted vilely. "Come get me!"
Glaring as Bowser, his heart aching with a burning pain, Mario leapt from the Tower to the rampart in pursuit of his target. As he made his perilous leap Mario's body became engulfed in an aura of red fire. The cold rain touching the incredibly hot aura evaporated instantly creating a cloud of steam and vapor that surrounded Mario in an ethereal white colored fog.
"I'm right here..." Mario nearly spat with an animalistic snarl. "This ends now."
Sneering with a sickening amusement Bowser took a fighting stance, one claw raised high over his head and the other at his side ready to slash at anyone or anything who came too close to his form.
Creating another fireball in his hand Mario took no notice of the intensity of his aura turning the fireball from its usual orange-red color to white as the heat increased dramatically.
The storm raged on. Wind blew loudly in all directions stirring up dust and ash from the nearby volcanoes. The stone roof top of the Castle was now littered with many slick spots and cold rain puddles, making movement a cumbersome task. Deafening thunder and blinding lightning only burdened the grief stricken heroes quest for revenge that much further.
"This will be interesting." Bowser continued to torment Mario with his cold words. "Perhaps you'll put up a more challenging fight than that worthless Brother of yours."
Mario's anger and hatred reached its peak. Charging at Bowser with an aura as fire to protect him, Mario was intent on spilling first blood in this battle. The final battle between Super Mario and King Bowser.
...to be continued...
