This is where we will meet the TRUE villain of this story!

Enjoy! ;)

Chapter 7: Bowser's Fiery Castle and Meet Rashay

Mario made his way to the opened gate that was next to the 'M', 'L' and 'W' doors, taking him into the dark cave area where sounds of boiling lava could be heard. There was a sign placed in front of the closed double doors. It reads:

'I don't know what you are up to, Mario, but I'm sure I wouldn't like it. Good luck on breaking through this gate…

BWA HA HA!

-Bowser'

"I knew it… It was too good to be true!" Mario growled under his breath, thinking it was Bowser who started all of this mess. "That's exactly why I'm going after you!"

He wastes no time and crosses the bridge on the right side. There was an opened door at the other side leading to Bowser's Castle. Feeling determined as always, Mario goes through the door.

Bowser's Fiery Castle looked a lot like his other castles from the Galaxy games; it was filled with lava, had a road made of stone followed with a red carpet, fire bars and Podoboos, Thwomps, many gaps and so on. Mario followed the road as always, which made him remind of the three Bowser Roads from his first adventure alone in Peach's Castle.

"I guess Bowser doesn't grow tired of roads, after all." He said to himself.

He came across a platform with rotating fire bars, which were typical and commonly seen in many fire levels from previous adventures. Then, he climbed a series of stairs and found a lonely stone block pillar. He follows the stone block path and eventually, came upon a hidden Star!

"Whoa! Who knew that Bowser would hide a secret Star in his new castle?" Mario said surprised as he grabs the Star and climbs back up.

Next, he had to climb on top of a Thwomp to take him to the upper part of the area. After he stepped onto another platform, three Goombas popped out of the ground. He defeats them, then avoids some Podoboos jumping out of the lava and climbs another set of stairs to the next section of the area.

"Damn! This castle is huge!" Mario commented.

The next section leading to a log bridge had lots of Bullies, all of them had red horns instead of their traditional yellow. After the Bullies section, there was a checkpoint flag, which was unusual to be seen in here.

The final section was a log platform lava ride filled with Podoboos and fire pillars. Once Mario reached the end, he turned to his right and there was Bowser standing at the other side of a log bridge. Next to him was a closed gate where the key to the double doors was. Mario stepped out of the log platform and Bowser spoke to him:

"Pestering me again, are you, Mario? Can't you see that I'm having a merry little time, making mischief with my minions? Now, return those Stars! Or else I'll fry you with my fire breath!"

"You'll pay for what you're doing to the Mushroom Kingdom!" Mario hissed.

Bowser begins to breathe fire at Mario, but he moved out of the way and continues to run on the bridge to reach Bowser. Once he was close to him, Mario tries to grab Bowser's tail like he always do, but Bowser jumped to the opposite side of the bridge.

"What?" Mario wasn't expecting that.

"Gwa ha ha! Too bad, Mario! You won't get me like last time! Think again!" Bowser mocked him.

"If I'm not supposed to grab him by the tail this time, then what other method I have?" Mario said in his thoughts. He then looked at the Bob-ombs at his side and at the other side of the bridge next to Bowser and got an idea: "That's it! I should chuck a bomb at him!" he starts to run after Bowser again.

"What is it, Mario? Got any ideas of how to defeat me?" Bowser teased while smirking. He breathes fire at Mario again.

"You bet I have one!" Mario smirked back at him while dodging the fire.

He goes behind Bowser and grabs a Bob-omb.

"So long-a Bowser!" Mario taunted as he throws the Bob-omb at Bowser.

"NO! Not the famous taunt!" Bowser shouted as the Bob-omb was heading to him.

Bowser roars in pain and gets launched towards the middle of the bridge after the Bob-omb hit him. He lands on his back and laments in defeat:

"GRRRR! I CAN'T stand losing to you over and over, Mario! You're so annoying to beat!"

"Now, what was the point of using the moon to crash onto the Mushroom Kingdom? Did you forget that it could also crash onto your lair too?" Mario questioned him angrily.

"Wait… What are you even talking about? I didn't even do that! I was just starting my own plan on capturing the princess by sending the Goomba Bros!" Bowser said.

"You mean… You have nothing to do with the moon?" Mario's eyes widened after hearing Bowser's words; that wasn't part of his plan at all?

"Of course not, you moron!" Bowser replied sternly. "Well, whatever… I'll get you next time! Don't think this is over yet, Mario! Remember that!" he then vanishes.

Eventually, the gate trapping the key opens up. As Mario walks towards the gate, he was thinking about what Bowser said; if he didn't start all that, then who? Was there a new enemy superior to Bowser that attacked?

He decided to think about more of that later. For now on, he grabs the key and exits the castle.

Upon exiting, he spots Yoshi and Peach heading towards him together.

"Mario! You came back at the right time! The princess has something to tell you." Yoshi said.

"Well, I just beat Bowser by myself and he told me that he didn't send the moon out of its orbit at all." Mario said.

"Yes. After some researches I did in my castle, I found out it wasn't really Bowser who started this." Peach said. "Mario, I've listened to the stories of the people around the Mushroom Kingdom and it looks like we are under attack right now! Not by Bowser, of course."

"You mean a brand new different villain?" Mario guessed.

"Correct. Someone is stealing our planet's energy! He's probably also the one responsible for the moon getting closer." Peach replied. "We found some building on the moon that is probably where they operate from. The only way to stop him is to-…"

All of a sudden, a barrier appeared around Peach and it starts levitating away from Mario and Yoshi!

"AAHHH!" she screamed.

"PEACH!" Mario shouted.

Then, a strange transparent figure with black hands, green eyes and a grinning mouth showed up, laughing evilly.

"Well, hello there! I'm guessing you don't need this thing anymore?" the figure teased.

"You are kidding! I do need her! Give Princess Peach back!" Mario yelled at him.

"What's that? You do? Well, too bad, I'm taking it." The figure teased again.

"W-Who are you?!" Yoshi asked.

"I am Rashay, the destroyer of worlds with great energy." The villain named Rashay answered. "I see you both gathered quite a lot of energy. Is it from those Power Stars everyone keeps babbling about? What a wonderful coincidence. I happen to need them."

"And why do you need them?!" Mario growled.

"Hmm… How about a trade? You bring me 80 Stars and I will give you this thing back?" Rashay said. "Who knows, maybe, if you accept, I'd also stop the moon from crushing your kingdom?"

Mario remained speechless, still glaring at Rashay. Yoshi looked at Mario worriedly. Rashay then continued:

"Well, if you don't want to, that's fine too. It's not like that'll be the end of the world. Just kidding, it will be the end of the world! See ya!"

He begins to leave while laughing, carrying the princess with him.

"MARIO! HELP ME!" Peach called for her hero.

Soon, Rashay and Peach were nowhere to be seen. Mario stood in place, motionless and crestfallen.

"Mario…? You okay?" Yoshi asked in concern; he never saw Mario act like that before.

"Rashay… You leave me no choice… I WILL gather the Power Stars to defeat you, and I WILL get Peach back from you!" Mario said to himself, growling under his breath.

"Wow, he sure is angry…" Yoshi said in his thoughts.

Mario takes a deep breath and turns to Yoshi, but he still had a serious look on his face.

"Come on, Yoshi. Let's open the doors to the next area and gather the Stars while also trying to save my brother and my frienemy." He said in a serious tone.

"Umm, OK…" Yoshi replied.

To be continued…

Uh oh... Peach has been kidnapped! Next chapter coming soon! Please review.