Chapter 1 - Storming Koopa Bros. Fortress

The party headed out the eastern path and came into conflict with Koopa Troopas alongside the Bowser Goombas before they reached the crossroad that divided to heading to the Fortress or to Koopa Village.

Tackling the Fortress now was going to be an issue, so the party agreed to hit up Koopa Village to see what they could do and not a moment too soon enough as it seemed that trouble was a afoot as a Koopa greeted them at the entrance.

"Can it be...? Are you Mario?"

"That's-a me! Now what...?"

"Welcome to Koopa Village!" The Koopa looked panicked as he spoke fast. "I wish we could really welcome you, but we're in big trouble. Can't you see what kind of madness is going on? This village is in an uproar because of the Fuzzies." The Koopa blinked before he asked. "You... do know what Fuzzies are like, don't you, Mario? They look like black static balls with toothy grins and googly eyes."

"That sounds... familiar..." Amethyst answered as the Koopa continued.

"Mean guys. They're really naughty." Out of nowhere, a said black fuzzball dropped and slammed into the Koopa before leaping away, with the addition of a shell as the Koopa now wailed as he pleaded. "Oh, no! Stupid Fuzzy! Get back here with my shell!" They chaos was apparent as Fuzzies trolled and terrorized the local Koopas before Mario spoke with Hammer in hand.

"Come on, we got to clear these menaces out before they run this town to the ground!"

"Yes, sir!" With that, they started to clear out the Fuzzies that were running rampant and stealing shells left and right, returning the shell back to the Koopas who thanked them which is nice, though they were part of the same race as Bowser and his kin, they were residents of the Mushroom Kingdom and shouldn't be made a fool of at all as they approached a shell house that was undergoing some serious commotion as a voice called out.

"Who's there? I'm kind of busy right now!" The party leapt out of the way when the door were busted opened from the inside to a half-naked Koopa, a red bandana tied around his neck, doing a baseball slide before getting up and dusting himself off with the door closing before turning to the party before speaking again. "What!?" He paused before exclaiming to the overall-wearing, red plumber hero. "Wait... Could it be...?! Aren't you Mario!?"

"He sure is excited..." Amethyst mused as the Koopa composed himself, but still in awe.

"You are! My name's Kooper!" Alex blinked as... for a sec there, something echoed in his head, like the call of a cop on a thief, so that was weird as Kooper continued. "Oh, I'm so psyched to meet you!" He lost the excitement as he continued to speak. "Us meeting here has gotta be fate or something."

"Fate is one word I really wouldn't use lightly..." Goombario answered as Kooper continued.

"I need a huge favor... I hope you'll help me out." He cleared his throat in explaining. "This wild Fuzzy took my shell, which, next to my life, is the most important thing I have. I can't go out without my shell, period. Way too embarrassing." The party glanced down and back up to the tan tank top and star boxers before back up as Kooper took them all in and grimaced to the bandages on Alex. "Though, I guess when you get dropped a bit too high, your life and your shell are kinda out there, sorry for the bad taste."

"It's fair..." Alex nodded as he shifted a bit, his life wasn't in danger anymore, but a cracked shell wasn't easy to fix, especially when it is made from fragments of Koopian Steel as Kooper continued.

"The problem is, the Fuzzies are too fast for me to catch alone. So if you don't mind, can you help me get my shell back?" He bowed for the help. "I'm begging you!" Goombario spoke up again.

"Hey, guys. It looks like he's in a bad way. We ought to help him out." They nodded as they turned back to Kooper as he explained.

"The Fuzzy that took my shell is just inside my house. I'll guard the door while you grab him like: Whump!" They nodded, but Kooper should have told them that he had a back door as the Fuzzy escaped through the back and they gave chase of the thieving fuzzball as its buddies tried to stop them from pursuit, to no avail. They finally arrived to a small forest as the bloody black puff taunted.

"Come get it if you can!" It laughed as Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose in disbelief. "Guess where I'm hiding?"

"...Can't your girlfriend just... burn the Fuzzy out?" Mario asked Alex as he replied while keeping the Fuzzy in his sight.

"And risk burning down this forest and alerting the Koopa Bros. to our position, no, she can't." Alex answered and Mario nodded as the juggle was done before Alex spoke. "Hit the second tone." The plumber nodded as he slammed the hammer into the second tree and the shell nearly made it to the ground before it was webbed and the Fuzzy spoke.

"Meee-ooh? Not bad, chump! But that was just a warm-up!" It crept back up as Alex mused in surprise.

"So they are part-spider... good to know..." Alex noted it down as it now explains why exactly they can suck life like that before they switch-up was done again before Alex huffed. "FORE!" And he punched the fourth tree, the shell nearly making it before getting webbed again as the Fuzzy exclaimed.

"York!? Meeoork? You got me twice!? Must've been luck! Now I'm serious!" It crept back in and taunted again as the speed was nearly invisible as the party spoke in looking for the right one.

"Which one is it!?"

"This could be a problem..." Mario grimaced as he fingered his hammer as Amethyst turned to Alex.

"How can we tell which tree is the right one...?" Alex hummed with closing his eyes and pulsing, Mario pausing with a turn. He didn't see what was under the eyepatch of tinted glass, but it was powerful, mighty magical energy indeed as the blue eye opened and he guessed the other did the same before Alex spoke.

"Bario, follow your role model's strike." Goombario blinked before he gasped silently and grinned before taking a running jump and slammed hard on the second tree as the shell dropped with line stopping it, but the Fuzzy was not so lucky as it yelped.

"Meeeeooooooh, noooo!" The thing popped up as it yelped. "I give! Uncle! Here, take the stupid shell!" They obtained Kooper's Shell with a toss as the Fuzzy voiced. "You're too tough for me. I won't be bad anymore, I promise. ...Maybe." That was as much assurance as they needed, to be honest, as it reeled itself back up and the party moved to meet up with Kooper when he came striding in with wrath his witness and guide.

"Mario! There you are! I realized I have to take a stand against these Fuzzies! If I can't get my own shell, I'll lose my reputation! I don't even care that I have no shell on! I'm gonna show those Fuzzies what's what!" Goombario was happy to say otherwise on the game of 'juggling tree Fuzzies'.

"We already got the shell back." Mario extended the shell to Kooper as he cheered.

"Oh, yes! Yes! This is my shell, all right! Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Got my shell back! Uh-huh! You're the greatest, guys! I own you big time!" He took the shell and tossed it up before jumping in slipping it back on and pumping his fist up with a smile as Goombario answered.

"Good to hear you're happy." Kooper hummed before he asked with looking to Mario.

"Say, Mario... I have an idea... Do you happen to know Professor Kolorado?" Mario hummed before he answered.

"I can't say that I have." Alex looked ot Goombario and he nodded with stepping back and the Koopa with the metallic arm spoke to Mario's attention.

"He is a Koopa who is a professor in the field of archaeology. He also has come to be known as an explorer who takes to the field to discover any new finds."

"Right!" Kooper answered as he continued. "Well, I live next to him. I've been admiring Professor Kolorado ever since I was in my egg!" Amethyst huffed with a playful tone and Alex rolled his eyes as this sounded like another 'Koops' character as Kooper continued. "Nothing would make me happier than traveling the world, solving mysteries like he does!" Kooper got a bit timid on the request before he blurted it out. "So... Do you think... Could I... Please take me with you, Mario! I'll help! C'mon, lemme go!"

"What do you think, Mario?" The plumber thought about it before he came to the right choice, since Amethyst was more of a 'Fire Bro' Koopa and Alex's shell was damaged, Kooper would be the only one who could help them in getting through the Fortress of the Bros. as he agreed.

"A-Okay, Kooper, you can come with!"

"Oh yes! Yes! I'm on my way!" Kooper voiced as he proclaimed himself. "I swear, I, Kooper, will follow you anywhere, even to the ends of the earth!" And with that, Kooper joined the party, adding it up to five members now as his skills were the same as Koops' own, but the pair of time-travelers didn't say a thing as they made to leave, but the Fuzzies had other plans in picking a fight and were, in a word, 'cooked' when Amethyst got her chance and just roasted them all as the party headed on out to get to the Fortress and stop the Bros. from keeping a Star Sprite to themselves and liberate the location from their grasps.

So, with some preparation back in Koopa Village, they set out toward the Fortress, raising the bridge lowered by the Bros. across the river and pressed on through the Paratroopas and other foes that dare to bar them out as they passed a overbrush of foliage and moss-covered ruins of a outward perimeter before gazing upon the solemn Fortress that towered before them. Alex folding his arms as he spoke. "So this is Koopa Bros. Fortress... not really up to date as I was expecting..."

"It was originally called the Bob-omb Refuge, but I think that the Bros. may have taken over and locked up the neutral Bob-ombs up to turn this place into Bowser's domain." Goombario voiced as Kooper added to it.

"I heard the same, apparently, Bob-ombs were too prone to exploding that the Koopa Bros. had made sure that none could stand up to them and kept the loyal guys to Bowser free to handle any invaders, if any come a-knocking."

"Whatever the case..." Mario voiced his opinion as he stared at the Fortress with a gaze of resolve. "We are here to contend with the Bros. and their mission, we will rescue the Star Sprite and go on to save Peach from Bowser's grasp."

"No arguement here." They all moved as one to the door as it swung open, the Black Bro coming out before yelping to the party's arrival.

"Whoa! Mario! What the...! Oh, we're in a world of hurt! Mario's here already! I gotta tell the leader! Red Kooooooopaaaa!" With that, he booked it back in with a heavy slam of the doors before the party sweatdropped.

"That was..."

"Where did Bowser get-a these guys...?"

"Same old Black, from the looks of it..."

"How did Koopas descend from dragons, exactly...?"

"First mission of the journey and the first boss is part of a team...?" They all exhaled before Mario voiced the move.

"Let's-a go, we have a job to do!"

"YEAH!" With that, they entered the Fortress of the Koopa Bros...