The concealed sun struggled to pierce through the heavy clouds that shadowed the badlands. Still on saddle Mario and Yoshi crossed over the inhospitable land at a steady, but brisk pace to avoid any prying eyes that could pose a threat to them and their rescue mission. A faint cloud of dust marked the trail of the two heroes as their journey to the forbidden mountains continued.

"Duck behind that ledge, Yoshi." Mario instructed as they neared the edge of the dried lake bed.

Obeying Mario's instructions Yoshi slowed his pace and stopped just a few inches behind the rock formation. Hugging his side against the ledge Yoshi carefully crept to the side of the formation to peek around the corner.

"I knew it..." Mario glared at the small squadron of patrolling minions that guarded the border. "We're going to have to be stealthy if we want to get in! Are you ready?"

Yoshi nodded once as he focused on their enemies.

"Then let's go!"


Princess Daisy sighed sadly as she watched the wicked guards march across the Castle grounds for the hundredth time that afternoon. She tried to remain positive, telling herself that a rescue party would soon come storming over the grounds to her rescue, but as the day went on uneventfully her hope began to fade.

"Maybe... Maybe no one is strong enough to beat Tatanga." She sat down in the corner of the stone walled dungeon, she pulled her legs up to her chest and hugged her knees. "Maybe I should just... surrender?"

She felt a tear roll down her face.

"No! I won't!" She wiped her tear away. "I won't give up, I won't let Tatanga win. If I'm going down then I'm going down swinging! I'll keep fighting; I'll fight for my kingdom, for my friends and for my family! I can't give up now, I won't!"

A wicked laugh escaped through the bars of the dungeon door as Tatanga sneered through the small window at his prisoner. "Such spirit. Just like your parents..."

Daisy glared angrily at the purple villain over her shoulder. "And just like my parents before me I will stop you from harming my Kingdom and my people!"

"We'll see, this should be quite... entertaining." Tatanga licked his sharp teeth with his forked tongue. "In the meantime I'll have to make due with the Mushroom Kingdom."

Daisy's blue eyes widened with concern. She turned back toward the cell window, quietly, but only for a moment. "What have you done?"

Tatanga laughed again as he turned from the door. "You'll know in time, my dear." His voiced echoed in a taunt as he strolled down the stone, cold corridor.

Covering her mouth with her hands Daisy suppressed a frightened sob. "No... Please be alright..."


With Luigi still resting unconsciously on her lap, Peach watched as Dr. Toadley pressed the bell of his stethoscope against Luigi's chest to listen to his heart. Two Guards stood behind the good doctor, a stretcher in their hands.

"Hm..." Dr. Toadley removed his stethoscope and hung the instrument around his neck. "His heartbeat is strong and no sign of respiratory distress, but he is running a fever."

"What can we do?" Peach wondered sincerely.

"Get him back to his bed and let him rest. Those burns are beginning to heal, but it will be some time before he's recovered fully."

"I understand." Peach brushed a lock of Luigi's brown, sweaty hair from his face. "Guards, will you please carry him back to his Private Chambers?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The Guards lifted Luigi up from the ground and onto the stretcher.

Peach and Dr. Toadley followed as the Guards carried Luigi out of the War Room and down the partially cleaned corridor. All seemed calm and somewhat normal when a thunderous crash rattled the Castle. Falling to their knees in the corridor, the Guards scrambled back to their feet to protect the Princess as she tried to cover Luigi's face with her own body to keep any falling debris from striking him.

Dr. Toadley sat on the floor, confused. "What on earth was THAT?!"

A second thunderous crash answered the good doctor's question. A portion of the wall in the corridor was broken loose, exposing the interior of the Castle to the exterior. A large, purple dragon-like beast sat outside the Castle, its fiery breath bombarding the building with orbs of flame and energy. It's leathery hide was a deep purple, almost black. It's three glowing yellow eyes only intensified its shady pallor. On four large claws it stomped the grounds and slashed at the building, its broad strong wings blew gusts of wind down on the Royal Guards. Its long tail slammed up and down on the ground like a whip cracking in the hand of a cruel tyrant.

Peach sat on the floor in shock, her hand unconsciously squeezing Luigi's shoulder. "We... We need to fight back!" She finally declared as she found her voice. "Stop that beast before it attacks Toad Town!"

The loud commotion roused Luigi from his unconscious state. He opened his fever red eyes and watched as the blurry world slowly came into focus. Sitting up, his good arm supporting his entire weight, Luigi looked at the chaos taking place all around him. "Princess? Are you hurt?"

"N-no." Peach stammered, the fear in heart was taking over her voice. "But we n-need to stop that... Thing!"

The Royal Guards were attempting to lay siege the destructive foe but their spears, swords and shields couldn't penetrate the strong beast's defenses.

A large glowing fireball of yellow formed in its gaping maw just seconds before it was released onto the Castle, through the large hole in the wall.

Unable to move, unable to think, Peach kneeled on the ground frozen in fear as the fireball quickly approached her position. Just seconds before the fire engulfed her a blur of motion scooped her up and out of harm's way. Instinctively she buried her face into the chest of her savior, only to feel the distinct fabric of bandages. "Luigi!" She looked up into his blue eyes. "You saved me!"

Luigi put her down after positioning himself behind a large marble pillar out of the beast's range. "Of course."

"Th-thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." He replied with a light blush. "Just stay safe, I'll be back."

"What?! You're not going to actually fight that thing, are you?!"

"I have to." Luigi confirmed as he peeked around the pillar at the beast on the other side. "This is my Kingdom too. My home."

The beast roared and growled viciously as it sprayed the exterior of the Castle in gilded flames. It swung violently at the numerous Royal Guards at its feet and batted its wings to blow the thrown spears off target.

"Tell the Guards to hold their ground, I can expose a weak spot." Luigi swiftly ran back down the corridor, through the hole in the Castle wall and onto the charred Castle grounds just a few feet from the beast.

Forming a bright green fireball in his hand Luigi launched the burning projectile at the purple monster. The fire of course didn't have the strength to damage the beasts strong leathery hide, but it was enough to get its attention. Turning its head to face Luigi, its long neck craning, it snarled and launched another fireball at the sole hero.

"Good, that's what I want you to do..." Luigi commented as he easily leapt out of the way of the burning orb, but his tired body was quickly giving up on him. On shaky legs he landed behind the beasts long, scaly tail. "Now... Show me your pretty smile!"

As if on cue the beast opened its mouth once more to form another fireball. With his opportunity now open Luigi used his power over thunder to create a bolt of lightning in his hand. With a single strong motion the electrical charge shot forward from Luigi's two fingertips and into the beasts mouth, stunning the monster. It roared out in pain as the painful jolt burned its mouth and blinded its vision.

The lightning passed through the fireball but it did not destroy it. The golden orb of fire continued on its course and struck Luigi before he had a chance to move out of its path. Just as easily as he had been struck down before, the fireball hit the ground at Luigi's feet and the shockwave sent him flying backward. He slammed hard against the Castle wall, unconscious.

"Luigi!" Peach cried out in horror as she watched him hit the wall and lay in a heap on the charred grass.

As Luigi struck the wall and fell to the ground the Royal Guards moved in on the beast. Unable to see and in too much pain to create another fireball, the beast was helpless.

Spears and swords penetrated the tough hide of the beast through its vulnerable throat. Hit by hit the beast succumbed to its wounds and fell on the battlefield in which it landed.

In a plume of purple smoke and a puddle of gilded blood, the beast's body faded away into the air. All that remained was a handful of damaged purple scales that laid scattered about in the quickly evaporating blood pool.

...to be continued...