A/N: Let me just say, there are SO many things that can be done with red. Eventually, I decided on a tribute to Bowser's least favorite plumber. I wrote this to practice working on my action scenes. Enjoy!
"Koopalings, in position!" Bowser bellowed. The thudding footsteps came closer; they were coming up the steps. A low growl registered in Bowser's throat. "Get ready."
The Koopalings hunkered down in their pyramidal formation, Princes Ludwig and Roy at the front and the youngest ones shielded in the middle. The doors burst open with a kick and Mario entered the room, his eyes ablaze and his chest heaving.
"Tired already, Plumber?"
Mario narrowed his eyes and equipped a fire flower. "Kids, guard your Mama Peach, it's about to get hot in here."
The Koopalings moved to form a tight protective circle around the stoic Peach, who watched with silent blue eyes.
In a flash, Mario leaped higher than any human had any right to, sending a rain of fireballs straight for the Koopa King. The well-practiced Koopa dodged like a pro, touching his claw to the smooth cobblestone floor.
"You call that a fireball?" he raged. Bowser allowed his throat to open up, gathering precious ammunition, oxygen from the surrounding air. He produced a swirling mass of fire between his mighty jaws and exhaled it into a burning stream.
Mario barely managed to jump away in time, the rubber slightly melting off the bottom of his shoes. His feet hit the ground and he looked up with a sneer.
Roy cracked his knuckles, grinding each phalange mercilessly against his scaled palm. Mario hardly had time to sidestep as the large Koopaling barreled toward him, fists swinging. The plumber whirled around, grasping the Koopaling's scaly tail to send him flying toward his brothers and sister.
Seizing the opportunity, Wendy sent a barrage of her signature candy rings toward the distracted plumber. The rings bounced off the ceiling and walls dangerously, attempting to find their way around Mario's neck.
Meanwhile, Bowser had geared up for another round of fire breathing, joined with Ludwig. Mario flipped and jumped with wild abandon, dodging fire, rings, punches, and deadly sports equipment courtesy of Larry and Lemmy.
Sweat tricked down Mario's brow. He aimed a jump for Bowser Junior. His boots sped downwards toward the Koopaling's head. He was swiftly interrupted by a well-timed backhand from Bowser, swatting the plumber as one might a bothersome bee. Bowser grimaced. Only a coward would pick off the youngest son first.
Meanwhile, Iggy released the Bob-ombs. They dropped from their cages in the ceiling, landing on the floor with hollow plops. Young Morton's big mouth wasn't impressive for generating fire yet, but the width of the orifice gave his sparks a remarkable spread. The crackling Koopaling's sparks were enough to light the wick of every Bob-omb on the floor. The Bob-ombs began to run about in panic with the knowledge of their impending self-destruction. Remembering a semblance of their training, they flew toward the plumber in droves.
Mario's brow wrinkled in a frown. He picked up the panicked bombs and launched them back toward Bowser and the Koopalings.
"Incoming!" Iggy screamed. Every Koopaling immediately tucked into his or her shell. Bowser clutched Peach closely as he shielded her from the impending explosion.
Flames licked over and around the room and countless Bob-ombs exploded over and around the Koopas. The Koopalings carefully poked their heads out of their shells. The entire room was blackened with soot and Mario's silhouette was flickering.
Iggy groaned, "Oh no, not again. Guys…"
Peach removed herself from Bowser's grasp and looked around, her gentle face smudged with charcoal.
Wendy rolled her eyes, "Don't, like, blame it on us. The Bob-ombs were your stupid idea in the first place."
"Mama Peach! My job was to protect you! Did I do good?" Junior smiled up at his mama, waiting for praise and admiration.
Bowser growled, "Enough! Iggy, go fix the simulator. This plan will never work."
Peach turned to Bowser with surprising softness. She touched his arm lightly, knowing he was likely to be in a bad mood. He looked back at her sheepishly, embarrassment in his eyes.
"Is it always so violent?"
"Not always," he muttered. "Sometimes it's over faster than I'd like. That's why I had Iggy build the simulator, so we could understand his pattern of attack and reduce casualties. It's the ultimate training machine. It watches and copies all his moves. By now, we've got data on all his power-ups. Fire, raccoon, penguin, you name it. We've even got a prototype of Green 'Stache."
"Does it hurt?" Peach asked. "I mean, if you get hit by an attack?"
"Well, normally it's not exactly a trivial matter to have that fat plumber land on your skull, but the simulator allows you to feel you got attacked without the full force of the blow. So, no, not really."
"Simulator's fixed, Dad!" yelled Iggy from inside the control room. "All that dust and soot got sucked into the computer fan when we blew up the Bob-ombs…let's not do that again."
"Alright, everyone. Again!" yelled Bowser.
The Koopalings groaned while rubbing their sore tails and complaining about all the other things they had to do that day.
"Um, Bowser," started Peach, "it looks like everyone might be ready for a break. Maybe we can go have some tea and then afterwards…" Peach fiddled with her fingers.
Bowser's eyes softened, Peach was just too cute when she was nervous. "Afterwards what?"
"Do you think, maybe…I could have a try?" She looked up hopefully, her eyes shining mischievously.
"Absolutely. To tea then!" Bowser commanded, leading his excited Koopalings up the stairs, all eager to see the normally delicate Princess Peach whale upon their simulated arch nemesis in red.