Bloxxel64

Alex doesn't have problems himself besides his fear of water slides. He's just never been on an adventure before, so he'll eventually get used to the dangerous obstacles.

breath20k

Well said!

LiamTheYoshi

I'm glad they're okay too. I'll be honest, the "human ladder" is one of the riskiest ideas one has ever imagined.

mariobroultimate

What's also impressive is that Bowser waited until Mario thought everything was clear before executing his plan.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I recommend listening to the OC ReMix song "Monstrous Turtles". It'll fit the atmosphere for the next level.

6B - Boom Boom's Fortress

It's 7:20 AM on January 15, 2006. The rising sun's rays peeked through the tree branches, slowly waking Mario up.

"Ugh… Morning already…?" Mario groaned. He lifted his head up to see Luigi and Yoshi still sleeping. Just as he stood up, he noticed Alex wasn't at his place and his backpack was left behind.

"Alex? Where did he go?"

Mario went up to Luigi and nudged his shoulder.

"Bro! Wake up!"

"Mario… What time is it…?" Luigi asked in a groggy voice.

"It's time to get up, isn't it?"

"I guess so…" Mario helped Luigi on his feet.

"Alex is gone."

"What?!" Luigi gasped. Yoshi suddenly woke up, having overheard Luigi.

"What happened?" Yoshi asked.

"Did you hear me? I saw Alex doze off next to that tree!" Mario pointed to the tree Alex slept against. "But he's not there!"

"Is he upset about something?" Luigi wondered while Yoshi stood up.

"I don't know, but I'd better find him. You and Yoshi stay here."

"YAHOO!"

Alex leaped out of the trees to Mario's left and landed on the other side of the pond. He was wearing a replica of Mario's trademark outfit with the difference being the letter "A" on his cap. He was not wearing a fake mustache, though.

"Alex! You startled us!" Mario exclaimed. "How did you jump from there to here?"

"I don't know," Alex replied before showcasing his outfit. "I took this outfit Mom made for me to wear for today, and I wanted to surprise you. But I decided to jump like you and I went as high as the leaves."

"I… I don't believe it…" Mario said with shock. "Your outfit made you Super like me…?"

"It did! Watch me backflip!" Alex did a high backflip and did the V-sign upon landing. Everyone gave him a round of applause.

"Mamma mia! You're actually a Super Mario Brother now!" Mario cheered. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you, Mario," Alex thanked Mario. "I wish I had a mustache like you and Luigi."

"One day, you will, buddy," Luigi said.

"All right-y! Let's find the last Magic Mushroom, and then it's off to Bowser's hideout!" Mario declared.

"YEAH!" Alex, Luigi, and Yoshi exclaimed in unison. The group exited the grassy area and walked down the dirt hill that was connected to Booster Pass.

"Let me tell you what Booster Tower is," Mario stated. "It was in there that Princess Peach was once held captive by this crazy person called Booster. He wanted to marry her so badly, but the funny thing was he didn't know what a marriage was."

"Very funny, Mario," Alex giggled.

"Luckily, I rescued Princess Peach from Booster. He wasn't that bad of a boss. Just a little cranky."

Ten minutes later, Mario and friends were closing in on a tall tower with X-shaped wood planks placed all over the walls. But there was a long sign above the front door that read, "BOOM BOOM'S FORTRESS".

"Huh? I thought this was Booster Tower," Alex pointed out.

"Me too. Maybe Booster moved out and Bowser's trusty minion Boom Boom took over," Luigi said. "You played Super Mario Bros. 3, right?"

"Yes. I remember him."

Mario approached the front door and opened it. "After you, guys."

Luigi, Alex, and Yoshi walked inside the fortress before Mario came in last and shut the door.

The first room they entered resembled an abandoned hotel lobby with gray and black squares covering the floor. The walls had the same X-shaped wood attached to them. There was a staircase on the left leading to an open balcony, and a single door stood in the top center of the room.

"Was this a hotel once?" Alex asked.

"I don't know, but it looks like it," Mario replied. "Let's take the stairs." Mario led Luigi, Alex, and Yoshi up the stairs to the open balcony and toward the top center door.

Engraved on the door was a message saying, "COME INSIDE IF YOU DARE!"

"Oh boy. I don't like the sound of that," Yoshi said.

"Me neither," Mario agreed. He opened the door and went inside the next room; the rest of the group followed him in.

The next room was a small dark area with Boom Boom's signature in the form of a neon sign on the left wall. In front was a metal door with a faint red light above it. Finally, distant rumbling can be heard if everyone stayed quiet.

Alex pressed his ear against the door to figure out what the rumbling is. After a few seconds, a big smile grew on his face.

"I know what we're about to enter," Alex beamed.

"How do we open this door?" Luigi asked. Mario stepped underneath the red light and stared at it. The door slowly opened up afterward, letting in a bright orange yellow glow. Before the group's eyes was a giant lava pool with blue brick walls in the distance.

They exited the door and found themselves in a castle-type level one would play through in a typical Mario game.

"A castle level!" Alex exclaimed. He gazed at his surroundings briefly. "Oh, this is going to be awesome!"

The giant lava pool surrounded a narrow metallic purple gray floor with Lava Bubbles emerging from time to time.

"Do you feel hot, Alex? Like, are you sweating?" Yoshi asked.

"No. I'm fine."

"Okay, guys! Onward!" Mario cried, pointing forward. He led the way with Alex, Luigi, and Yoshi following behind. The group jumped onto a ledge that had a line of eight Coins. Everyone each took two for themselves. The ledge led to a passageway with Fire Bars hanging from the ceiling and floor.

Just at the end of the passageway were two Brick Blocks and a Yellow Exclamation Point Block. Inside the Yellow Exclamation Point Block was a Super Leaf, which Luigi took for himself.

Mario and friends entered another giant area with a lava pool surrounding the floor. There were four Red Koopa Troopas walking up and down; Mario took care of them with no problem. A long pit separated two parts of the floor; the only way across was to jump over four platforms made of skulls.

Alex got on Yoshi's back while Mario and Luigi made it across the pit safely. Yoshi Flutter Jumped over the pit as the skull platforms dropped into the lava earlier. Ahead were three smaller pits with four Coins above them. It was after the third small pit that the group reached an elevator leading to the next floor.

After everyone entered the elevator, Alex took out his Fire Flower and crushed it in his hand. This turned his cap and overalls white with his shirt retaining its red color. In addition, faint red flames covered his gloves.

"That's a nice Fire form, Alex," Mario remarked. "I wonder what your fireballs will do."

"Me too."

It took five seconds for the elevator to reach the next floor, which was inclined upward a small bit. This time around, the group had to jump over an angry Rhomp rolling toward them and run fast enough to avoid getting crushed by three Thwomps.

On the next ledge, three Dry Bones' paced back and forth; they barked and charged the group upon eyeballing them. Mario was able to stomp on the Dry Bones' and shatter them temporarily, giving him and the others time to run ahead. After jumping over another small pit, Mario and friends found three Yellow Question Mark Blocks; they each held one Coin.

Finally, there was another pit that was too long to jump across normally. The only way was to time a jump perfectly on a spring in the middle of the pit and make it to the other side.

Alex took one look at the pit and spring and became worried. "Am I gonna make it, Mario?"

"Yes, you will, Alex," Mario replied. "You jump as high as me, so there shouldn't be a problem."

"Okay."

Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi stood by as Alex prepared to leap across the pit. He stepped back a few steps and sprinted before making a forward jump to the spring. Alex landed on the spring with one foot and catapulted himself to the other side; he tumbled forward upon landing. Alex looked back to see Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi applauding for his stunt.

"That was brilliant, buddy!" Mario exclaimed. "Great job!"

"Thank you!"

Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi proceeded to cross the pit too and rejoined Alex. Just up ahead were two red double doors with black borders.

"What's our plan?" Luigi asked.

"Well, since you and Alex have powerups, me and Yoshi will observe the battle and join in if you need help," Mario stated.

"I don't need your help, Mario," Alex boasted with a smile. "Me and Luigi got this."

"That's my Alex," Mario beamed. He walked up to the doors and held them open to let Luigi, Alex, and Yoshi inside. Mario entered the next area last and closed the doors behind him.