As the little girl hum's her favorite song down the path she feels rain drops dripping down on her head. She takes out her blue umbrella and runs towards her grandfather.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" Yells Melody.
"Yes sweetheart what is it?" Says the old man James kneeling down to her height.
"Did the weatherman call for a storm?" Melody says with fear in her eyes.
"Well it's just raining and that's all we need to worry for now ok?"
"Ok….wait one more question!"
"Yes?"
"Are we almost there yet?"
"I'm afraid not sweetheart, we have a long journey ahead of us."
"Oh...well when do we get there?" Says Melody with curious eyes.
"I'm not for sure, we have to stop at an old friend of mines first, then we will be on our way that way ok?"
"Ok!"
Then after that Melody quickly runs over by Luigi & Mario's side.
"Hey there kiddo!" Says Mario with a smile.
"What you up to?" Asks Luigi.
"Not much…. Do you guys have girlfriends?"
"Yes we do, Peach is mine and Daisy is Luigi's." Says Mario proud.
"Dangit!" Whispers Melody under her breath.
"What was that Melody?" Asks Luigi.
"Oh me?...Well I said….what I said was…"
Before Melody could finish her sentence a loud shriek was heard from the distance.
"AHHH!" Screamed the helpless cry.
"What was that?" Says Iredesa a little freaked out.
"Sounded like a scream." Says the old man.
"Someone's in trouble Luigi, come on we gotta help them!" Says Mario.
"In that dark spooky forest?" Luigi says cowardly.
"Yes of course!" Yells Mario.
The scream grew louder than before.
"AHHH! Someone please help me!"
"Come on Luigi you can do it, I know you can!" Says Melody grabbing Luigi's hand and smiling at him.
Luigi smiles back down at the little girl and gives in.
"Alright lets a go!" Says Luigi.
"That was quick….thanks Melody!" Says Mario laughing.
"Yup no problem Mario!"
"Now just wait here for us will be back in a jiffy!" Exclaims Mario.
"You got it." Salutes Iredesa all sarcastic like.
"Don't be rude Iredesa!" Yells Melody as she punches Iredesa in the arm.
"Ow, ok ok, Geez…"
Luigi and Mario raced through the forest as fast as they could, the faster they ran the louder the scream was it seemed.
"It seems like this forest goes on forever!" Yells Luigi.
"Yeah no kidding!" Yells Mario back.
Finally Mario and Luigi stop to see Jasper about to attack Pauline! They quickly hide behind a bush while Mario comes up with a plan to tell Luigi.
"It's Pauline! But what is she doing out here by herself?" Wondered Mario.
"Ummm can't we just pretend we didn't see her here with Jasper attacking her?" Luigi pleads.
"Luigi! Remember our rule? Even if it's our darkest enemy we still need to help!"
"But Pauline…..Well she's just rude!" Luigi says frustrated.
"You don't think I know that? Now come on I have a plan!"
"Alright what is that?"
"Ok, I want you to distract Jasper while I get Pauline out of here ok?"
"Umm Mario… You might want to switch on that one."
"Why?"
"Well you really think it's a good plan to have me take on Jasper since I'm scared of ghosts, and you taking Pauline? Who knows she could pull anything on you!"
"You're right…..why would I think that?" Laughs Mario.
Luigi just shrugs his shoulders.
"Ok, on the count of three." Mario whispers.
"Got it!" Says Luigi.
"One…..Two…..Three….GO!" Yells Mario.
Mario quickly runs up to Jasper and punched him a good one, while Luigi quickly grabbed Pauline.
POW! (That's gotta hurt!)
"Hehe what's this? A fat plumber trying to beat me up?"
"You really want it today don't you Jasper?"
"Go ahead hit me all you want loser!"
Rain starts pouring down hard along with lightning striking everywhere!
"UGGGGGHHHHH!" Says Mario punching right through Jasper.
"Looks like you missed me!" Says Jasper sticking out his tongue. " Go ahead… try it again!"
Mario punches once again, but this time when Jasper disappears, Mario goes right through, and punches a tree!
"OW OW OW!" Yells Mario looking at his bloody knuckles.
"Hurts doesn't it? Have you learned your lesson? Probably not!" Says Jasper as he punches Mario in the gut.
"Umph!"
"What can't handle it? You know something? You're even more pathetic than I thought!" Yells Jasper punching Mario across the face.
"Yup that's going to leave a mark!" Says Mario as his knees hit the ground.
"How much more easier can this get?" Jasper says smiling.
"Ya know Jasper, you may have won this battle but you will never win the war!" Yells Mario.
"Oh yeah what's that suppose to mean plumber?"
"You know exactly what it means!" Mario exclaims as he spits in Jaspers face.
Jasper wipes the spit off his face in disgust, then punches Mario in the face one last time.
"You just don't learn do you?" Jasper says in anger.
Mario is badly wounded and just stays there laying on the ground.
"Well I had my fun…, bye for now Mario!" Jasper laughs.
"Why because you're too weak to kill me? Laughs Mario.
"Ya know, if I was you Mario I would just keep my mouth shut! I can make your life miserable right now, since technically your life is in my hands! Not to mention the Lord of the Boo's wants to torture and kill you in so many ways!" Yells Jasper.
"Like it wasn't miserable already with you people in it!" Yells Mario back.
"Don't worry it will be worse than it is know!"
Then before leaving Jasper whispers these words into Mario's ears.
"Why don't you just give it up already!? You'll never amount to anything, you think you're strong and brave because you're Mushroom Kingdom's hero? Well that's about to all change!…" After Jasper says this he floats back into the deep forest.
The rain finally stops, and all is quiet.
LUIGI AND PAULINE
While Mario and Jasper were fighting here's what was happening with Luigi and Pauline! (Oh by the way! Luigi is carrying Pauline in his arms while running!)
"Oh Luigi! You're my hero!" Says Pauline looking all lovey dovey in Luigi's eyes.
"So…..Heavy….." Luigi says while his face is turning red, and short of breath.
"Here let's take a break I think we lost Jasper!" Says Luigi as he sets Pauline down on a log.
"Luigi…."
"Yeah Pauline?"
"Has anyone ever told you how great of a handsome, brave, and strong hero you are?"
"I am?...I mean….I am?"
"Of course! I mean look at you! Girls must go crazy over you!"
"Pauline where is this going?"
"No where silly! I'm just asking!" Says Pauline with an innocent smile on her face.
"So girls go crazy over you right?"
"No not really…. just Daisy, and that's all I need…..is her."
"You have got to be kidding me! No other girls?" Pauline says trying to act shocked.
"Nope not at all, just Daisy, and like I said before, all I need is her."
"Poor, poor Luigi!" Says Pauline shaking her head.
"Why poor me?" Asks Luigi confused.
"Well for starters your brother has all the fame, girls, I mean everyone looks up to him, and what do you get? Absolutely nothing! Not even a single thank you!"
"Switch it to more of crazy girls! Especially his Ex girlfriends! Besides I get thanked a lot of times!" Yells Luigi.
"Oh yeah, like who? Who thanks you?" Yells Pauline back.
"Well Peach does and…..and so does Daisy!"
"Face it Luigi, no one likes you!" Laughs Pauline.
"Why would you say that? People do too like me!" Exclaims Luigi.
"If they did they would appreciate you more! At least the same way as they do with Mario!" Pauline shot back.
Luigi than stops, filled with anger he gets up.
"C'mon lets go, It's getting late, and everyone's probably worried."
Once Luigi turns around to walk away Pauline smirks as she see's the anger and frustration building up inside of Luigi.
"I got him right where I want him!" Thought Pauline.
BACK TO MARIO
Mario gets up holding his stomach and starts to walk up the path, his face full of blood and his body left weak.
"Jasper isn't weak that's for sure!" Mario thought out loud.
"At least the rain has stopped!" Mario says as he wrings out his red cap.
"As soon as I get back the better! I just hope my new friends haven't left me, and are making camp!"
BACK TO IREDESA, MELODY, AND GRANDPA JAMES!
"They have been gone for about an hour now! Should we go and try to find them?" Iredesa asks.
"No not yet, it's dangerous out there! Plus Mario and Luigi said they'd be back." Says James.
"Are they going to be ok Grandpa?" Asks little Melody.
"Of course they are sweetheart! Iredesa dear, will you pitch camp please? So everythings ready when they get back?"
"Yes father."
"I'm going to get a fire started, would you like to help me get some wood Melody?"
"Yeah! Of course Grandpa!"
"That's my girl!" Says the old man smiling.
All is silent as Melody and her grandpa walk into the forest for wood until Melody is the first one to speak.
"So are we going to see that friend of yours tomorrow grandpa?"
"We'll have to, we can't now since it's getting darker out."
"Why not grandpa?"
"Why not? Well because it's very dangerous when it get's dark out!
"I'm scared of the dark grandpa!"
"Don't be! As long as you stay with me and listen to me and your aunt, you'll be fine! Ok?"
"Ok." Says Melody shaking her head.
As they gathered the wood Iredesa put up all the tents, finally everything is finished and ready for when the Mario bro's come.
"Did Melody fall asleep yet?" Wonders Iredesa
"Yup, she's fast asleep like a baby." Smiles James
"So dad, what do you think about these Mario brothers?" Asks Iredesa taking a seat next to the campfire by her dad.
"Well they're good people, I'm pretty sure if we are ever in danger they'd be here to help."
"Yeah I know…. but what if they're just using us?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well ya know...like after they get their information on where to go, they'll just ditch us, and leave us somewhere left to die…."
"Now young lady! They wouldn't do such a thing! Don't think such silly things!" Says James ashamed of her words.
"Seriously father! You can't always accept the positives in life! We need to be prepare for the negatives also!" Yelled Iredesa.
"Iredesa! Lower your voice please!" Hushes the old man.
"UGH! I'm going to bed! Goodnight!" Says Iredesa storming off into her tent.
The old man James sits by the campfire until finally Mario, Luigi, and Pauline arrive.
"Mario! Luigi! We were worried about you!" Says James relieved.
"Don't worry about us were fine" Says Mario.
"Mario!" Exclaims James"
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" Says Mario pointing at his teeth.
"No, your face! It's…..it's all bruised up!"
"Oh that? Pfff! Yeah that's nothing!"
"What happened?!"
"Oh just Jasper, that's all."
"Well come on let's get you guys into bed, and before I forget to ask but who's this young lady?"
"Oh this is Pauline my ex girlfriend, Pauline, James, James, Pauline." Says Mario introducing them both to each other.
"Nice to meet you Pauline!" Says James with a smile, while shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you too." Says Pauline trying to smile, shaking his hand back.
"Now that we met can we please go to bed now?" Asked Luigi a little annoyed.
"Someone's crabby!" Laughed Mario.
Luigi punches Mario in the arm.
"Ow!" Mario says as he rubs his arm.
"Alright boys goodnight! And if you follow me miss I'll show you where you'll be sleeping tonight." Says James.
"Thank you….James right?" Asks Pauline.
"Yup!"
"Do you have a family at all?"
"Yes ma'am, I have a daughter named Iredesa, she's 18 years old, and I have a granddaughter that is 6 years old named Melody!"
"Your daughter had a child at twelve years old!?" Asked Pauline shocked.
"Oh heavens no! Melody lost her real mother when she was three."
"What happened to her mother?" Pauline asked curiously.
"Well, she died in a car accident…" Said James quietly.
"How did it happen?"
"A drunk driver hit her…...smashed her car, rolled it, and went into a ditch…." James said with tears in his eyes.
"Oh…..I'm so sorry…."
"It's fine."
"So were you related to her then?"
"Melody's mother? Yes I was, she was my daughter… Her name was Lily….She died at the age of 26."
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be! It's fine, here you go, I'm pretty sure you're tired so get some rest ok?" Says James opening up the tent for her.
"Goodnight." Says James.
"Ok goodnight…Wait actually I have a question."
"Yes?"
"Why are you helping the Mario brothers?"
"Because they're nice, and would help us if we were in trouble."
"I see….Well goodnight!" Says Pauline slamming the tent flaps.
"Wait what do you mean….? Oh nevermind! Goodnight." Says James walking back to his tent.
PEACH AND DAISY
"*Yawns* How long does this forest go on for?" Asks Daisy a bit tired and annoyed.
"*Yawns* I don't know… maybe tomorrow morning will find a way out of here…" Says Peach tired.
"Yeah hopefully…."
"Hey what's that over there!?" Says Daisy seeing a lit area.
"I don't know should we go check it out? Or would that not be a good idea….?"
"I say we go check it out!" Shouts Daisy.
"Of course I had to ask the brave girl!" Says Peach rolling her eyes.
"Yup you walked into that one yourself." Laughed Daisy.
"Now let's go!"
Daisy and Peach ran as fast as they could then finally reaching their destination, they stop.
"It's a house." Says Peach.
The house looked like an old abandoned cabin, with a couple broken windows, and the door seemed to be a bit off.
"Do you think someone's living in there?" Asks Peach curiously.
"I don't know, let's knock."
Peach gently knocks on the door, and the door opens up slightly.
"Whoa….That's a sign I'm going in!" Yells Daisy.
"Daisy don't!" Yells Peach with a scared tone in her voice.
Inside the cabin looked like an average house that you'd live in, it had a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and etc!
"What? Look at this place! Oooh a fireplace! Here hand me some wood would ya? Ha! get it would ya?"
"You're hilarious." Says Peach sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"You know it!" Says Daisy winking.
"Here." Says Peach as she hands Daisy the wood one piece at a time.
"Can we get a fire going on quick? I'm cold!" Says Peach shivering.
"Sure if you can find me some matches or something to start it with."
"Here, I'll look for some matches, you look for something to sleep on ok?"
"Sure thing!"
Before Peach even begins to look Daisy says something out loud.
"OH MY GOSH!" Screams Daisy.
Peach and hurries and runs toward the kitchen area.
"What? What is it?!" Peach asks with a worried tone.
"They have a refrigerator!" Exclaims Daisy.
"Now I can have my long romantic walks to the fridge!" Daisy laughs.
" *Facepalm* Really Daisy? Really? I thought you were in trouble!" Yells Peach.
"I am in trouble….in trouble by this fridge about to make me fat and tempt me into eating it's delicious food!" Daisy says all big eyed at the black fridge.
"Only you Daisy...Only you…." Says Peach laughing.
"Alright, I'm going to go find the matches, maybe they'll be in one of these drawers, hopefully." Says Peach.
Peach looks in almost all of the drawers until she finally finds the one that has the matches in them.
"Yes! Found them!" Peach yells excitedly.
"Well what are you waiting for then? Light that fire up!" Yells Daisy back.
Peach runs towards the living room and quickly lights the fire.
"Ahh nice and warm." Says Peach smiling.
"Hey Peach I found a closet!"
"What's in it?"
"Beds!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah! Like those cot beds!"
"Sounds good to me! Bring them out by the fire!"
"Already ahead of you!" Says Daisy standing by the doorway with two beds.
"I can't believe this how lucky can we get?!"
"And guess what the best part is?"
"What's that?"
"They come with pillows and warm blankets!"
"Wow I guess we can get pretty lucky! Are we not?" Says Peach helping Daisy putting the stuff by the fire.
"Pretty lucky…., But I still wish Mario and Luigi were here…." Says Daisy looking down at the floor.
"Hey, will see them soon, maybe as soon as tomorrow." Peach says as she puts her hand on Daisy's shoulder while smiling at her.
"Yeah hopefully." Daisy says as she smiles a bit.
"Let's get some rest now ok?"
"Ok goodnight." Says Daisy as she rests her head on the pillow.
"Goodnight." Smiles Peach.
After a few minutes of quietness the door suddenly bursts open with wind blowing in, there stood a mysterious person in the dark staring down at Peach and Daisy.
"AHH!" Screams Peach and Daisy with horrified looks on their faces.
Then all is silent again.
