Bowser's Castle was a fitting name for a castle of that size and design. It was dark, it was dangerous, and it was filled with lava, which contributes to its unbearable heat. Luigi still had vivid memories of last's years race in this very same course - it wasn't pretty, and he fell in, and although the structure of his kart protected him from any burns, it gave him a Did Not Finish.
The course is a typical course in the Special Cup. It starts outside the actual castle, on a narrow road on a lake of lava. The course, after a row of 3 item boxes, curves into a narrow wooden ramp which goes downhill and then uphill, and, during that section, there are a series of speed boosts which the racer can use. If done correctly, the racer will be flung into the entrance of the actual castle. The margin of error allowed in this part is relatively large, but if a racer completely and utterly misses, a DNF is given.
The entrance is shaped like Bowser's head, which it was designed after, and is fearsome sight. The racers then have to go through a wide hallway with notoriously placed poles. Any stuff up here and a crash is pretty much guaranteed. After that hallway is some small steps leading down, and then an even harder U-turn with no fence. An unsuccessful turn means straight into lava and DNF ing. Another tight turn leads to a half-pipe, with the presence of lava all around it. 3 item boxes are found in the middle. Speed boosts allows experts to simply blast through the course, but it isn't so easy - a giant robotic Bowser statue at the other end shoots out banzai bills (big bullet bills with an evil grin) which, if they hit, would cause a racer to be flung up to the air. After the half-pipe, the course branches in two, which then eventually leads back and merges. The course continues onto a large turn which racers can drift on, before the path leads out of the castle and to the start/finish line.
Luigi, who had just woken up, at 4'oclock in the morning, knew that he had to face the course that day - something that is really daunting. He didn't sleep well that night - his dreams were filled with lava and danger, and saw Toadbert still soundly asleep in his own little bed, looking as if he hasn't got a care in the world. Luigi was careful not to wake his mechanic, and went out for an early-morning stroll to clear his head. The sun was just peeking up above the horizon, and there was still mist clinging to the unbearably cold air. The town's residents were all fast asleep. At the town square, Luigi thought of his encounter with Lumalee - but there was no star children here today. The mechanic shop, unsurprisingly, was now open.
When he got back to the house, Toadbert was already up and dressed. Luigi took off his heavy green jacket and replaced them with his trademark green overalls and cap. Then it was off to the races, at Bowser's castle.
The castle was so far off, it required Team Luigi to be on the road at 5 (and even then the race starts at 8 at night!). After a quick meal of mushroom and eggs, the L Charger was all ready to go. Even with starting so early, Mario, Rosalina, Yoshi, Bowser Jr. and Bowser were all there, practising. Luigi drove into his pit, which, extremely surprisingly, was far off from the ones of the other five. Instead, it was positioned between the ones of two very low-profile racers - Diddy Kong and Princess Daisy's, both who have not arrived yet.
Soon, it was time to start the race. It was now late and the sky was dark. Lakitu, did his usual actions, and then it was blast off.
Luigi was behind Mario and ahead of Rosalina, due to his starting position, and got the item box on the left - a mushroom. He overtook Mario, whose bob-omb went dangerously close to the L Charger, but luckily it didn't cause any damage, and Rosalina's golden mushroom blasted her to first place.
They soared through the sky, to land on the entrance to the castle. Rosalina expertly dodged all of the poles and Luigi followed her, unable to take the lead. Soon, it was down the flight of steps, and to the U-turn - which Luigi totally forgot - and he slammed on the brakes. Swerving left, Luigi still managed to retain his place. Up another series of speed boosts and suddenly it was the half-pipe section. The Bowser machine instantly whirred to life and shot its first Banzai Bill, directed at the star princess, but the Rainbow Comet easily avoided it. Unfortunately, it made mincemeat of Luigi.
The Banzai Bill threatened to crack the fragile roof of the L Charger, but luckily it remained intact. Even more luckily was that the 3 item boxes midway through the pipe hid only bananas and bloopers. Luigi put the pedal to the metal, all 6 cylinders clicked to life, the two exhaust pipes clogged with smoke and the 'Charger charged off behind the Rainbow Comet, seeking revenge.
But first he had to overtake the koopa prince - Bowser Jr., who had slipped into 2nd whilst at the half-pipe area. Luigi kept his distance from the spiked clown-kart, afraid of some very serious damage it might cause. In fact, the design had already caused controversy in the Mario Kart world, with fans claiming it is an illegal weapon, and yet Jr. claimed the spikes to be merely decoration, and went on to insist that he'd never attack another racer with them. But every racer knew the basic idea: keep away from them.
And so, when the course branched, Luigi took the different route, hoping to get past Jr. He wanted a mushroom so bad, or better, a golden one, but the item boxes were still a fair distance away and so he couldn't. Jr. came out of his route, a mere inch from the L Charger.
"Whoah!" Luigi cried.
Bowser Jr. flashed him a look. It wasn't a "Hello, lets race!" kind of look, but more of a "Get away or I'll ram, destroy your kart and you also!" kind of look. But Luigi wasn't going to be intimidated this easily, and flashed the look back - the racers continued side-by-side.
"It looks like a feud is started between these two racers!" Lakitu told the audience, unaware it started a long time ago.
Bowser Jr. made his move, but it was already the wide turn - Luigi drifted and Jr. all too easily had to brake for his life. Fog was forming on the L Charger, making it difficult to see, due to the sheer intensity of the heat outside. "Luigi, come on!" Luigi muttered himself as he crossed the start/finish line, and, as lap 2 started, in second.
Rosalina got a bob-omb, which she tossed without any hesitation at nothing in particular, but Luigi, who got the same item, was more determined. He didn't want to sling that walking bomb too early, he had to get in range of the L Charger. Meanwhile, in the pits, Toadbert was looking intently into his screen. Dixie Kong, Diddy Kong's mechanic, was right next to him, and a crayzee dayzee, Daisy's mechanic, was on the other side. Toadbert also saw that Mario has just got himself a red shell.
"Luigi! Red shell!" Toadbert warned.
Luigi got the message. He quickly slammed on the brakes just as Mario fired his shell - and it aimed for Rosalina instead.
The audience cheered at Luigi's quick thinking. This was the second time he'd done this - except last time it was in Wario's Gold Mine, the victim was Bowser Jr., and the weapon was a blue shell.
By then, it was time for the U-turn leading to the half-pipe. Luigi once again forgot about breaking and took it at a much-too-wide angle - once again. Toadbert shook his head in frustration and despair.
Luigi carried on, keeping a close eye on Mario's aggressive driving style. He fired the bob-omb, but it was a blatant miss. The red-hatted plumber, however, was patient and kept his time. The big Bowser machine went to life and spewed out a Banzai Bill - going straight to Rosalina - but the star princess managed to swerve around it again. The second one was aimed at Luigi, and also didn't hit.
It was now midway through the half-pipe - and the racers scrambled for the item boxes. Rosalina got triple green shells (Luigi punched the wheel), but he found out that his was a blue shell.
Now, blue shells are unavoidable - even if you have three green shells orbiting you. He quickly fired it, and it smacked the Rainbow Comet up - just in front of the machine - whilst it was firing a Banzai Bill.
Rosalina was flung all the way through the air, coming down hard right onto Yoshi's Yoshi Egg. The Rainbow Comet smashed clean through the 'Egg's protective shell, and it disintegrated. Parts flew everywhere, and the fly guys instantly rushed and took out its occupants - before the karts exploded in a spectacular plume of smoke and kerosene.
The crowd held their breath - and the lumas wailed unhappily. Two ambulances were already on the scene. Luckily, Rosalina sustained no serious injuries - and not only was she cleared to race on Rainbow Road, her kart was savaged relatively intact - all its systems were working - a miracle! There were only some dents - clearly showing the solid steel structure was as durable as ever.
Yoshi wasn't so lucky. His injuries were slightly more serious - quite a few nasty bruises - and also, his kart was in pieces.
Luigi was unaware of this, of course. He continued to race on and on through the course with Mario already trying to overtake. Through the start/finish line - lap 3 - and the item boxes were a banana and a lightning. Mario's lightning shrunk everyone down, and he went into 1st - which he kept all the way until the start of the fifth and final lap.
Luigi still kept his place (he'd already successfully dodged four green shells) as he got an item box. A red shell - just the thing to bring Mario down.
The problem was, it was already the ramp leading to the castle, and Mario was up in the air. And so the shell merely fell into the lava and disappeared.
Luigi screamed. It was a stupid, stupid mistake - and one that lacked common sense.
And so he had to contain himself - and dodge another one of Bowser Jr.'s shells - as he made his way to the half-pipe. But once again, it wasn't anything helpful - a banana.
The audience waited eagerly at the home straight. Looking at the final turn, the first racer came into view. It was Mario, who punched his fist in the air as he crossed the line and slowed.
Second was a battle between Luigi and Bowser Jr., eventually won by the plumber.
"Hey" Luigi greeted Toadbert.
"Did you see the crash?"
"Huh?"
Luigi had been so preoccupied with racing that he didn't even notice the debris - remains of the Yoshi Egg on the track.
Toadbert told Luigi all about the incident, and he went over to the pits of the green dino. His mechanic was busy, and Yoshi was still shaken by the incident.
"You alright?" Luigi asked.
"Yoshi okay"
Lakitu recapped the race, and then showed the times:
Driver: | Kart: | Time:
Mario | Red Racer | 7:29:30
Luigi | L Charger | 7:30:58
Bowser Jr. | Koopa Chaser | 7:31:03
Donkey Kong | Konga Kart | 7:34:16
Waluigi | Purple Buster | 7:35:23
Wario | Gold Buster | 7:36:21
Toadette | Pink 'Shroom 2 | 7:38:10
Peach | Heart Kart | 7:39:45
Bowser | Koopa King | 7:39:55
Toad | Mushroom Dynamite | 7:40:58
Daisy | Flower Power | 7:42:00
Koopa Troopa | Shell Smasher | 7:43:20
Diddy Kong | Banana 1 | 7:44:31
Birdo | Pink Powerhouse | 8:11:38
Rosalina | Rainbow Comet | DNF
Yoshi | Yoshi Egg | DNF
It was certainly bizarre - two of the very best racers in the Mario Kart tournament DNF'ing. A column of lava blasted into the air, captivating the audience for a few seconds, but then all eyes were back on the scoreboard as the scores showed. Mario was creeping ever-so-closer to Luigi - he had already stolen two victories from him.
Luigi knew he had to improve his game at Rainbow Road - final course of the tournament.
Driver: | Kart: | Score:
Luigi | L Charger | 71
Mario | Red Racer | 69
Bowser Jr. | Koopa Chaser | 54
Rosalina | Rainbow Comet | 53
Yoshi | Yoshi Egg | 41
Donkey Kong | Konga Kart | 32
Wario | Gold Buster | 27
Waluigi | Purple Buster | 24
Toadette | Pink 'Shroom | 22
Peach | Heart Kart | 20
Bowser | Koopa King | 13
Daisy | Flower Power | 9
Toad | Mushroom Dynamite | 2
Diddy Kong | Banana 1 | 1
Koopa Troopa | Shell Smasher | 0
Birdo | Pink Powerhouse | 0
Toad would get his second point, but the real focus is now between the Mario bros. Luigi went back to the pits knowing that it was do or die - it was now close.
"How many days until Rainbow Road?" Luigi asked, just to make sure.
"There's 5"
Unlike the normal gap (2 days), an extra three was added to give racers time to do extra preparations. But that doesn't mean tackling Rainbow Road is now easy - nothing could be further from the truth.
"Team Luigi!" Luigi shouted. This time, he was taking home the cup.
"Team Luigi!" came Toadbert's response.