Mario and Bowser: Frenemies Forever

Chapter 26: More Karting With Bowser (The End?)

Created: 7/23/17 - 8/11/17

Disclaimer: Mario belongs to...Nintendo! Who'd a thunk it?

Author note: Took a break and now I'm back. This short chapter will capture the tone of the very first chapter. Last, be sure to read the bottom notes.

It was another day at the races. A Mario Kart race took place, this time in the sunny, mellow fields of Donut Plains 3. As was custom, twelve racers fought to win the gold reserved for only the best of the best. Participating was Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Toad, Bowser, and several others. During the first lap, Toad and Yoshi took the early lead with their enhanced acceleration but once heavy hitters like Donkey Kong and Bowser reached max speed, they were pushed away. Mario, Luigi, Peach and other intermediate weights stayed in the middle of the pack fighting the rush of flung projectiles while also trying to stay on the bumpy and curvy track. This happened for two laps before Mario broke to the front with the help of a starman. After taking Donkey Kong out with a well aimed green shell, Mario hot on Bowser's trail and they were now in the middle of the third and final lap.

Bowser immediately went for brute force. He swayed his kart purposefully in Mario's path but took wider turns as a result, allowing Mario to slip through and catch up. Bowser had a single banana in reserve but he couldn't risk deploying it for Mario. Red shells were always a looming threat. With the finish line visible behind a final curve, Bowser decided he was just going to have go for the gold.

"Pass me and get roasted, plumber boy! This race is mine!" Bowser growled.

Mario however did indeed pass him. "Sorry koopa! Meet you at the finish line!" he teased.

Bowser growled again as he pressed his giant feet harder on the gas pedal. He couldn't stand to lose yet another Mario kart. And not to Mario of all people-

ZAP!

A thousand volts of electricity rushed through Mario and Bowser's karts, spinning them out. Toad zoomed up, the user of the electric weapon and confirming that this is Mario Kart 8 apparently. (A/N: Only that game will you get lightning at third.)

"Yah-hoo! I might actually win this!" Toad exclaimed. In his joy, he failed to see the banana peel that fell from Bowser's kart. Toad spun out a few feet away from the finish line and off into the grass sideline.

"I can still win this!" Bowser, now seared and miniaturized took off, not even batting an eye towards Mario. Sweat dripped from his scaly forehead as he puttered towards the finish line just a few feet away. The finish line banner shone as he drew near...Or maybe that was just in Bowser's head. Either way he'd finally win a Mario Kart, proving to Mario that he was indeed the better racer...

...Except that that would be another day because Yoshi sped ahead with his triple mushrooms and snatched first place.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Was the last thing everyone heard as Bowser missed out on first place by and inch and got second instead.

Later after the race, the participants were in the Mario Kart lobby. It was a small partially enclosed room with tables and refreshments for the racers. The trophies and ribbons had already been distributed and photos taken by the paparazzi. Now, only few of the racers still lingered around.

"GAAAAHH!" Bowser screamed in frustration. He had been in an irritable mood (more than usual at least) and the death grip he had on his silver trophy hadn't loosened one bit. He sulked in a random corner of the room, away from everyone else.

Mario, who wore a 'fifth place' ribbon around his neck, stolled up in his usual good sport way. "Bowser, you got second. You even beat ME!"

Bowser glared at his rival. "Yes, I clearly see the silver trophy in my claws and the dinky ribbon around your neck. It suites you, but you'd look better with a 'twelfth place' one if you ask me. Problem is, I lost to green freak!"

"D-did someone call Luigi!?" Luigi asked, his "fourth place" ribbon swinging from his neck after having dashed over from the drink machines instinctively at the slightest suggestion that someone might have mentioned his name... Or something close enough.

Bowser rolled his eyes. "No, the other one…"

"Yoshi yoshi! What's up?" Yoshi greeted. "Wait, I'm not a green freak!"

"Whatever...Didn't I say something long ago about these extra characters?"

"I'll allow it," Mario added with a shrug. "These guys took part in saving the day a week ago, while you and I wasted time during all sorts of other things."

Bowser was about to retort before the thought it over seriously. "Guess you're right... So you losers can stay, but don't get comfortable!"

"Yes!" Luigi cheered, ignoring the insult.

"So what are we going to do today?" Yoshi asked.

Bowser approached Mario menacingly but theatrically. "Listen plumber, what I'M gonna do is call you on the phone and we will meet again. My family knows the deal now, so I'm not holding back!"

"Oh really?" Mario asked playfully. "So before you were just going easy?"

"Yes! I mean no! Point is, I will get first and you will get...NOT-first!"

"Why don't we just partner up again? You'd be guaranteed to win," Mario innocuously added.

"No! I know you're trying to play peace keeper or something!"

"Nah, it's just that me and Weegee cut our phone bill and I only have half the minutes I use to. Why don't we email each other sometime?"

Bowser stomped the ground. "Whatever! I want a rematch, mustache moron!" He scribbled something down on a piece of paper and shoved it towards Mario. "Everyone knows your idiotic email, but that's mine!"

"Mariodestoryer1985?" Yoshi asked, getting a peek of the paper. "Your name's in his email!"

"And it's at a hotmail domain too. Who still uses that, bro?" Luigi whispered, suppressing laughter.

"I heard that!" Bowser shouted, slightly red in the face. "I will email you and you will lose!" Bowser ran off like he always did when things got to weird.

"Wow and enemy and a fan…" Luigi mused. "I wish I had a dangerous but faithful rival always trying to hurt me and everyone I care about… Wait, I don't want that at all. Forget I said that..." Luigi exited stage left, because for once, it didn't suck to be him.

"Well, I'm going to eat my fourth meal for the day. What about you?" Yoshi asked, turning to Mario.

He tucked away the paper into a pocket. "Me? Guess I'll just follow you guys around while I wait."

"For what?"

"That email," Mario answered with a smile. "Because that's what frenemies are for. Frenemies forever..."

The End?….

Author note: Yes I used a bookend. It seemed to be the best way to show how things really are back to normal, but there's still some unanswered things that will be addressed. I have a minimum of two epilogues planned because I want start back working on my overview of this story on Tumblr. Peace out!