PURPLE CHAPTERS: AN OLD ENEMY

Chapter Purple 1: The Mysterious Spaceship

Maggie was the first to wake up in Rio's room. She looked outside and just noticed the sun about to rise. This time, she woke up much earlier than yesterday to make sure no one would wake her up. For fun, she went to the closet where Rio was sleeping and slowly opened it to make as little sound as possible. The door did squeak but it was not enough to disturb Rio who was still sleeping. Maggie gave him a little kiss on what she deemed to be a cheek. Since Rio was just a paper plane, it was hard to distinguish one facial trait from another. The kiss slowly woke him up.

"Oh? Good morning, Maggie. Are you already ready to go?" He yawned.

"Not yet but I wanted you to wake up so we could start together." Maggie giggled.

They left the closet and began their preparation. Maggie did not have much to prepare aside her bag so she helped Rio pick up his papers afterwards. Then, someone knocked at the door. The swan went to answer it. It was Birdo. She seemed ready to go judging by the luggage she was carrying.

"Hi Birdo! Is everyone at the other room ready?" Maggie asked.

"Actually, I wanted to tell you I have to go back to Flaxen City." Birdo replied.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I have to switch my agent first then do a test with my new agent to see if we can still get the same popularity as before."

"Would you like us to bring you back there before we leave?"

"Thanks but I already have a friend waiting for me at the reception. Don't worry though. I'll come back with you once everything is set for my singing career."

"Alright. See you next time, Birdo."

"You too."

The door closed. Maggie went back to Rio who was now ready. They both left room 810 and went to their other room. Everyone else was also ready though only Mario, Luigi and Daisy would come with the origamis. With everything set, the group went to the minivan and drove to the Purple Region.

"I've heard something terrible happened to Bowser City there." Maggie brought up.

"Indeed, a bunch of piranha plants and dry bones took over the city forcing everyone to evacuate the entire region. They built a giant wall around it to contain the invasion." Rio explained.

"But piranha plants can easily go under the wall. How is it that we don't see any of them outside the Purple Region?" Daisy pointed out.

"That's a great question. I suppose they built the wall in depth until they reached the rock. I doubt piranha plants can go through rocks." The paper plane replied.

"That must've costed a fortune to Bowser." Maggie laughed.

"It sure did but he had no choice. It was the only way he knew that could stop the monsters to spread any further on the Rainbow Continent. Plus, it would've been seen as an international act of criminal negligence which would be far worse than all the times he kidnapped Peach combined."

The minivan stopped at the giant wall. An outpost was built inside the wall. The group left the minivan and entered the outpost. Not many people was inside except a few hammer bros. One of them went to see the group. This one was not pleased to see them.

"Where do you think you're all going? The region is off limit to tourists." The hammer bro said with his authoritarian tone.

"Hello. I'm Rio and I'd like to enter the Purple Region to investigate what happened to the city." The paper plane said.

"Can't do. You need a special permission from a highly ranked person from the Koopa Kingdom. Here are the names of said person."

The hammer bro pointed a board with less than a dozen names on it. Though Maggie and Rio knew who the two first names, Bowser and Kamek, were, they had no idea who the seven other people were. Mario and Luigi might have an idea about those but, being unable to speak, it would take a bit too long for them to explain. The hammer bro then looked back at the group. It was then he noticed the Mario brothers.

"Oh? You have those two with you? Why didn't you say anything about them earlier?" The hammer bro asked.

"Is there something wrong with them?" Maggie asked.

"Not at all. Since you have the famous Mario brothers with you, we can make an exception to the rule. Besides, it's not like we can stop them with how strong they are."

"Thanks!" Daisy simply said.

"Another thing: there are strange cases of abduction that had been reported in the recent years." The hammer bro brought up.

"Abductions?" Rio asked.

"Yeah, we can them strange because, whenever someone gets abducted, he's immediately put back at the same exact place as if whatever is abducting those people is looking for someone in particular."

"We'll be careful then."

The group left the outpost through the opposite door. They were now in the Purple Region. Its tall buildings were still standing albeit decaying due to the lack of maintenance and the overgrowth of vegetation. Bowser City was a few miles away from the border but the group could see all the plants growing on the skyscrapers. The group slowly walked toward Bowser City while looking around. The road leading to the city was heavily cracked and plants grew through the cracks. As the group approached Bowser City, they heard a weird unfamiliar sound. It seemed to be coming from above. They all looked up and saw an UFO hovering above them.

"Oh no! We're gonna get abducted!" Maggie screamed.

The UFO had a round light under and it fired a beam of light at the group. Everyone was slowy being dragged into the ship. There was nothing they could do. When they reached the ship, they were completely blinded. They all woke up in a holding cell. There did not seem to be anyone else around. A few minutes later, a snake went to see the prisoners. Daisy jumped at the barrier that separated the snake from the group.

"What's the meaning of this!?" She yelled, infuriated.

"The captain would like to see you. He said he knows you and some of the others currently with you." The snake replied.

"But I don't know anyone who owns a spaceship."

"The captain has an interest in you."

The snake opened the cell and the group left it. They walked through the corridors and noticed the unusual but familiar minions acting as the crew.

"Daisy, who would want you?" Rio asked.

"I don't know. I remember I've been kidnapped by someone once but never again. Maybe that person is the one who wants me." The woman brought up.

"Don't you remember his name?"

"He never told me."

The group kept following the snake until they reached a door "guarded" by a strange humanoid. It looked like a small purple goblin with pointy ears and was around the same size of a toad and probably a bit taller than one and had two fangs coming out its mouth upward. It was wearing a black top hat and a vest of the same color. Since the vest was open, everyone could see its white shirt that matched color with the shoes and the red bowtie which matched its pants. It held a cane and had its eyes closed. It boasted a confident pose in front of the group.

"You must be Daisy." The goblin greeted as he tipped his hat to the group.

Everyone saw the yellow hairs on the goblin's head. They were well-combed for something a bit too hideous for such care to its look.

"Yes. Who's asking?" Daisy asked back.

"My master is very eager to meet you. He has also given permission to your friends to come on the bridge."

The goblin opened the door and the group entered. They found themselves in a pitch black room. Lights turned on one by one and everyone noticed the shadow of a tall imposing stranger wearing a cape. Maggie was trembling a little but Mario saw her and reassured her.

"Master! Your guests are here." The goblin said.

The shadow turned around. It began longing the walls.

"Ah! At last, you have come back! After all those years of searching you two, I have finally succeeded and no one shall stop me this time!" The shadow spoke.

The voice was monstrous. Maggie was already convinced the captain was some sort of otherworldly demon that could preyed on even the strongest people. If this thing managed to capture Daisy once, she was afraid of its true power.

"Who are you?" Daisy asked.

"Do you not remember me!? I have captured you a long time ago only to be beaten by that pesky plumber! Today, this will change! Today, my victory shall triumph over even the most powerful hero in history or my name is not TATANGA!" The shadow spoke.

Maggie let out a scream. Something odd happened. As the shadow longed the wall toward the wall, it shrank to the point it became as small as the goblin. From the shadow emerged another purple goblin. This one seemed to be more bat-like with its slightly bigger ears and its nose. It was wearing a frilled black uniform and a cape. It approached the group. Daisy seemed more charmed than afraid.

"You look so adorable!" She said to the second goblin.

She then took it in her arms. Tatanga became annoyed.

"I'm not adorable! I'm evil! Put me down!" He said.

Daisy obliged and put him down. The others looked at him, all about to laugh. Tatanga exasperatedly sighed. He did not expect to be treated like a pet on his comeback in his evil schemes.

"So, who are you again?" Rio asked.

"I just said my name!" Tatanga reminded the paper plane.

"I know but who are you again?"

"I was the one who kidnapped Daisy long ago! Show me some respect at least!"

"Oh! I remember now. But, you only tried once, right?"

"I've been planning for years to get her back without anyone getting in my way. And today is the day I'll put my plan to execution!"

Tatanga pulled out what seemed to be an old handheld videogame console.

"You're gonna fight us with a Gameboy? You can't be serious!" Maggie laughed.

"Just watch." The alien simply said.

He pressed a button on the Gameboy which turned it on. The screen became white and then a pixelated arm came out the screen and grabbed Daisy and Mario, pulling them into the Gameboy. The origamis gasped as they saw their friends being beaten by an old videogame console. Tatanga seemed surprised.

"It worked!? It worked! I can't believe it! Katsini! Bring out the champagne! I did it after years of careful planning!" The alien exclaimed.

"Yes, master." The other purple goblin said.

Katsini left the bridge. There was only Maggie, Rio and Luigi remaining in the group.

"What about us?" Maggie asked.

"You? I don't have business with any of you. You can leave the ship." The alien said.

"But we need Mario and Daisy." Rio brought up.

"Too bad. You'll have to beat me and I have the power so don't try!"

As he was boasting of his exploit, Tatanga accidently dropped the Gameboy on the floor. It hit the floor but did not break. Rio tried to take it from the alien but the latter was quicker. Rio immediately backed off as Tatanga aimed the Gameboy at him.

"HA! Did you really think you could outsmart me!? Guess again!" Tatanga taunted.

He pressed the same button on the Gameboy. Rio closed his eyes. Though, something seemed very wrong presently. The look on Tatanga's face became more and more awkward. Maggie and Luigi just stood there and noticed that he was holding the Gameboy to aim at itself.

"Oh scrap…" The alien let out before…

The pixelated hand came out the device once again. It grabbed Tatanga's face to pull him into the Gameboy. Three persons were now trapped inside the videogame console. The others went to it to examine it. Katsini just returned with a bottle of champagne. He was not surprised of the situation.

"Excuse me, Mister Katsini. How do we free everyone from this thing?" Maggie asked.

"The device plays an old game named Super Mario Land. You'll have to beat the game to free everyone." The butler answered.

Maggie slowly looked back at the Gameboy. Rio was thinking she was not up to the task but she seemed confident.

"I've been waiting for all those years for this one moment in my life. Finally, I get to use my skills once again." She brought up, somewhat on the verge of tears.

(Gami… I know you would've wanted to see me beat the game for the first time. I'm sorry but I have to do it know without you around… To save my friends…) she thought.

She took the Gameboy in her wings and started a new game. She went through the four levels carefully as she did not want to have to start all over again. She came at many times to lose a life and sometimes to even get a game over but she managed to save her playthrough and press on. When she got to the final boss, she was excited and nervous at the same time. She never got to that point. She always lost before so she had no idea what to expect. Eventually, she succeeded in beating the game and could finally hear the credits theme play. Once the credits were over, the screen flashed and everyone was back. Mario and Daisy were perfectly fine.

"Woohoo! You did it, Maggie!" Daisy congratulated.

Everyone gathered around Maggie to do the same. They then heard someone groaning in pain. They looked around and saw Tatanga all beaten up and lying on the floor.

"I'm done. I give up. It's a complete humiliation to lose to a tiny paper swan." He lamented.

Katsini decided to offer the bottle of champagne to the group. The group would love to drink it now but they were on a mission and needed their entire mind into it. They kept the bottle with them. Though, Maggie was still looking at Tatanga. She went to see him. The alien had his eyes closed.

"Mister Tatanga, it was a genius plan you had there." Maggie complimented.

The alien opened his eyes and looked at Maggie.

"Just leave me alone, kid." He replied.

"I admire you take time to plan something to ensure you wouldn't fail too many times… unlike Bowser."

"Thanks, kid. But I'm done."

"Don't give up. What happened earlier was just a common mistake we all do."

"So you'll encourage me to kidnap Daisy again?"

"If that's what you want to do, then go for it. Just remember there will always be obstacles in your way that you'll have to surpass like us."

Tatanga smiled at her. He stood back up and approached the origami.

"I guess I'll just take a break then." He declared.

"In that case, is there something else you had to do?" Maggie asked.

"Not much. I won't plan another scheme before at least a week, just to take a break of that stuff."

"In that case, would you like to join us in our journey?"

"What kind of journey?"

"We're travelling across the Rainbow Continent to get Origami Stars to reach the Silver Palace. Bowser kidnapped Peach and took her there."

"Alright. I guess it won't hurt to be a hero once in my career. Katsini! Prepare the teleporter! Where do we go next, Miss…"

"Maggie, and it'll be in Bowser city."

"You heard her, Katsini!"

"Yes, master." The butler said.

The group, now with Tatanga in it, followed their new friend to the teleporter room. Katsini had everything already prepared to beam back down to where the group was previously abducted. Everyone stood on the beacon and Katsini programmed the computer controlling the teleporter to activate it. A beam of light appeared and everyone inside it vanished.