Chapter 12 – Fire and Thunder

"Ugh…where am I?"

Luigi asked himself that mentally as he got up from a faceful of sand. From the looks of it, he concluded that he had landed on some sort of beach. As he looked around, he realized that someone was not with him.

"Mario? Bro? Where are you?"

Fortunately, the red plumber was only just a few steps away, with only his head sticking out of the sand as two crabs were bothering his dazed face.

Luigi immediately rushed over and huffed. "Shoo! Shoo!"

The crabs scattered, allowing Luigi to pull his brother out of the sand.

Mario shook his head. "Huh? Luigi? Where are we?"

A few more steps later, the brothers found an old tape machine that they played.

It has been a week since our Oho Civilization Research Expedition reached this island. We have named the mysterious creatures native to this island the Oho Jee. It is strange…they use the same spoken vocabulary that we do, but none comprehend what they mean…

"Look Mario," Luigi pointed out a sign. "It says we're in 'Oho Oasis'."

"Good to know, but right now, we need to find a way out of here and back to the mainland."

After walked around for a bit, they soon met the native Oho Jees who, as the recording described, spoke in a very odd, but decipherable manner. They weren't much help when the brothers asked how to get off the island, though they did mention something about 'The Palaces of Fire and Thunder'. Deciding to investigate one each, Mario went for the Fire Palace while Luigi headed to the Thunder Palace.

The Fire Palace seemed to be ancient yet simple. Mario ended up wandering all the way to the center where there was a large stone slab. A picture of a Hammer seemed to tell Mario to use his on it, resulting in the slab breaking as a light flew to the ceiling and brightened up the dark room.

Without warning, a figure in a sun-shaped mask appeared before him.

"Welcome! Yes, welcome! Welcome to the Fire Palace!" the figure greeted. "I have been waiting for you. I have waited many long years, smoldering like embers."

"Huh?" Mario pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, for you I have kept waiting, and waiting, and WAITING! In fact, the last time anyone came through here was…3000 years ago!"

"What?!"

"Oh, waiting just burns me UP! But enough about that…so, why have you come?"

"Well, actually, I'm hoping that we might find something here to help us get off this island." Mario answered.

"Huh? You, uh…this place…"

The figure looked around at his surroundings.

"Um…this place of power…it is, uh…this place is…now, wait a second…just what kind of place was this, anyway? What was it that I was planning on doing? Am I allowed in here? Huh? Wait just a minute…Where am I? WHO am I?!"

Mario could only sweatdrop. The figure scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Hm! I guess having no guests for 3000 years takes a toll. Everything just seems to…slip one's mind!" he laughed at his own joke. "How humorous! So I guess you can do what you want! I won't stop you!"

The figure disappeared in a burst of flame. Mario would've tried to comprehend what just happened hadn't it been for a giant glass orb the figure was standing in front of. Inside the orb was a great flame, and for some reason, Mario felt drawn to it. He reached out his hands and touched the glass.

"AHHH! HOT! HOT!"

Mario immediately yanked his hands back out, and reflexively shook them.

The first thing he noticed however, was that his hand was now on fire, yet it did not come with any burning sensation. Mario stared at his aflame hand in wonder, knowing inside that the fire did not hurt him.

Suddenly, a burst of flame heralded the earlier figure's return. "Oh! Wait! I just remembered! I am Firebrand, and this is the famed Fire Palace, where we teach the ways of the blistering Hand Power!"

"Hand Power?"

"Yes…it is all coming back…I have been waiting for you. You want the Hand Power, right? You want to master the fiery Hand Power known as the Firebrand, do you not? You do, right? Right? RIGHT? You do not need to tell me. Your pose says it all."

Mario was still staring at his hand, though faced up to look at Firebrand.

"I shall instruct you in the arts of the Firebrand!" he held his hand out. "First, you hold out your hand. Then you focus and try to generate the fire in your hand." He closed his eyes as a small fireball appeared in his hand. "Then once you have charged enough energy, release it in a BURST!" thrusting his hand forward, a small waved of fire pushed forward before dissipating. "Only then shall you shoot forth a mighty blast of flame! Perhaps you should try it once."

Mario closed his eyes as he concentrated on summoning the flame. Soon enough, the fire appeared in his hand once more. He then released the flame in a small blast.

"I got it!"

Firebrand nodded. "I see no problem with your skill. If you just do this action near something flammable, you should have no problems! Surely this skill will open new paths in your life! Wouldn't you agree?"

Mario nodded.

"So…FAREWELL!"

Firebrand departed in another burst of flame. Mario stared for a few seconds before wondering what became of Luigi.

The Thunder Palace was a structure that still stood strong in spite of age. At the core of it was a large stone that, if the picture on it was any indication, told Luigi to use his Hammer on it. As soon as he did, the room went dark as bursts of lightning struck all around him. One particularly large one struck right in front of him, and revealed a figure wearing a mask that resembled the moon.

"To you who have wondered into Thunder Palace…" said the figure, "These are the training grounds for the chosen few. I know not how you found your way here, nor how you managed to enter this place…but I have no business with you…and you have none with me. Depart, posthaste." The figure teleported away in another burst of lightning.

But Luigi wasn't listening, for he was distracted by the large glass sphere behind where the figure was. Inside it was a ball of light with electricity sparking everywhere inside the sphere. Luigi's hands were drawn and touched the glass.

"WHOOOOOAAAAA! MAMMA MIA!"

Luigi recoiled as the feeling of being electrocuted was brought to a halt. Yet, as he observed his hand, blue sparks were now dancing around it, though brought no harm.

Without warning, the figure from earlier appeared in another bolt of lightning.

"CRRRACKITY! Wh-who dares to touch the great Thunderhand spark?! Impertinent fool!" he took a closer look at Luigi's hand. "And yet, you have touched the great Thunderhand spark, but still stand before me, so…" he thought for a moment. "Hm…perhaps you have the qualities needed to master the galvanic Thunderhand technique…"

"Hm? Really?" Luigi asked.

"Very well! I, Thunderhand, shall instruct you in the art of the Thunderhand."

"Okay. So how do I…?"

"First, you reach your hand out. Next, focus as you charge up the electricity in your hand." As he said this, his outstretched hand began sparking up. "Then finally, unleash all that energy with a shock!" the orb of electricity that had built up in his hand was released as a blast of mighty sparks. "Only then shall you release a burst of thunder and lightning. Perhaps you should try it once."

Luigi nervously tried to focus, but was surprised when sparks began dancing around his hand once again. He concentrated more intensely and soon enough he created and released his own electric orb from his hand.

"I…did it!"

Thunderhand nodded in approval. "Hm! Very well done…it is wise to use this power when an apparent conductor of electricity is nearby." He turned away. "You have done it! It is done! You have released me!"

"Uh…your welcome?" Luigi said in confusion as Thunderhead disappeared in another bolt of lightning. "Hm…I wonder how Mario's doing..."

The Mario Bros. met up back at the area where they had crash-landed, and soon learned of each other's new abilities.

"So, you can generate lightning in your hands now?" Mario asked Luigi.

"And you can set your hand on fire." Luigi replied.

As they demonstrated their new powers, an Oho Jee walked up to them. "Fire and Thunder…I…don't tell no one big secret of stone wall over there. No one. No. How offering up the fire and the brimstone to the hole in the wall makes things happen…I don't never tell nobody that! No way! No how! No!"

"How odd…" Mario thought as the Oho Jee ran off. "Hm…hole in the wall…"

It didn't take long to find out that there was a wall with two holes that looked suspiciously like places where the brothers could try out their new hand powers. Mario poured fire into one hole while Luigi did the same with electricity in the other. A rumbling noise sounded as a bridge rose up right next to them. Said bridge led to a large pipe, which the Mario Bros. went into in hopes of finding their way back.

"AAAHHHH!"

As soon as they entered the pipe, Mario and Luigi were screaming as it sent them tumbling all the way down until they hit the bottom. When they exited, they were greeted with a rush of water as they were somehow now at the bottom of the ocean. The Oho Ocean Seabed, to be precise. Sure, the Mario Bros. may be able to survive underwater, but they couldn't speak if they tried.

Somehow, their new Hand Powers still worked underwater without any repercussions, as Mario used his Firebrand to burn down some foliage blocking the way, while Luigi could still user Thunderhand without electrocuting the entire ocean.

As they were exploring, hoping to find a way back to the mainland, something bonked Mario on the head, and that something, as Mario found out by looking up, was a Goomba in a diver's helmet, or a Goomdiver. Mario took used his Hammer to take a swing at it, but the Goomdiver only floated out of the way. Luigi has to use a Jump attack to reach it, and a follow-up Bounce Bros. defeated it.

As they ventured through the ocean floor, they soon found out that their Hand Powers were required in order to operate certain devices (such as Thunderhand being used on conductive orbs) and open up new areas. But then, they wondered…could these Hand Powers be used for battle as well?

As if to answer their question, more Goomdivers appeared to attack, and they were accompanied by a familiar kind of enemy known as the Blooper.

Mario swam forward as he attempted to use Firebrand on one of the Goomdivers. He felt the power build up in his hand, and then released it just when he felt that it had built up to its fullest, succeeding in burning the Goomdiver.

Luigi then tried the same thing with his Thunderhand ability, using it to electrocute a Blooper. Knowing now how to use their new powers in battle, both Mario and Luigi unleashed their Firebrand and Thunderhand to defeat the remaining enemies.

As they continued through the seabed, they encountered even more Bloopers, not to mention a variant of Pestnut that had purple spines instead of green, which they decided to call an Elite Pestnut (humorously enough, they still released Beanies once their shells were broken, but said Beanies were not made for underwater fighting and so floated away to the surface).

After about an hour of swimming, the Mario Bros. finally found another pipe that they ascended to the surface. Once they reappeared on the other side, they found that they had reached the Beanbean Outskirts. And just a few meters away, they found a familiar face.

"Hey! Prince Peasley!" Mario called out.

The Beanish royal turned around. "Ah, Mario and Luigi!"

"It's so good to see you again!" Luigi exclaimed as the prince walked over to them.

"Yes, I have searched high and low for you two! I feared that you'd met a terrible fate!"

"Well, you see, the Beanstar-" Mario began.

"Say no more. I know the Beanstar split into four pieces. They have scattered. It is sad, really…"

Luigi looked downtrodden. "Yeah, I know. We're sorry about what happened…"

"It is quite alright, good sir. I am sure it is not your fault."

"Well, if you want, we can help you find them." Mario offered.

Peasley shook his head. "Of course, I would be most appreciative…but actually, I'd like you two to go to Beanbean Airport."

"Hm? Why?" Luigi asked.

Peasley smirked. "You see, Princess Peach is blessing our fair land with her presence!"

Both Mario Bros. were shocked. "Huh?! She's coming here now?!"

"A dignitary of Princess Peach's stature visiting our kingdom is a very serious affair. And THAT is why," the prince pointed at them, "I would like you two in attendance to greet Her Royal Loveliness. As such, you must head for Beanbean Airport immediately!"

Mario nodded. "By the way, where is Beanbean Airport, anyway?"

"Beanbean Castle Town is not far from where we are right now. Head south from there, and you should be at Beanbean Airport in no time. I am heading there myself, so I'll see you there soon!"

With a wave of his hair, Peasley flew off.

Mario and Luigi stared off for a few seconds, then decided to follow suit. It was time to for them to go see the Princess.

To be continued...

AN: Not much to say here, so...until next time!